Troops identify bandits’ haven, kill 50, arrest 114, rescue 49 hostages

The military high command has identified where violent extremists take shelter, as troops on the frontline decimated 50 terrorists and rescued 49 hostages within one week.
Director of Defence Media Operations (DMO), Maj-Gen. Edward Buba, who made the disclosure, yesterday, noted that the safe havens provided a support base for insurgent activities.

According to him, the military is constantly restrategising and modifying its operations to overcome the changes in tactics of extremists operating across the country.

“Accordingly, the ongoing counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations are designed to ensure that uncertainty is replaced with certainty.
“Among the central issues on the ground, in terms of setting security conditions and overcoming instability, are the safe havens of some of these violent extremist groups that have existed for many years.”

He noted that the safe havens provide the flow of funding, materials, weapons, fighters, command and control that support terrorism and insurgency.

“There are safe havens spread across various theatres, from the tumbuns in the North East to other locations such as national parks, game reserves and forests across the country. The military has identified several of these safe havens, and operations are targeted towards ensuring that they are completely dismantled. Recently, one of the safe havens in Aku Forest in Okigwe, Imo State, in the South East was invaded. Troops found unspeakable and unprintable activities going on in the camp.

“These extremists are cannibals feasting on fellow humans and slaughtering them for other devilish acts. The operations of the last one week resulted in 50 neutralised terrorists, while 114 of them were arrested,” he added.

Buba disclosed that troops arrested 19 oil thieves and rescued 49 hostages.

He assured: “The military will continue to fine-tune its operations to ensure maximum protection of citizens and restore security across the country. We are getting it right and continue to encourage citizens that know something to say something, so that we can do something about it. Together, we win the fight.”