Police deploy 325 bomb technicians to counter extremists
Some 100 terrorists have reportedly been killed as Boko Haram fighters engaged in a fierce battle with Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) rivals.
According to an exclusive report by counter-insurgency expert and security analyst, Zagazola Makama, yesterday, the Boko Haram sect appears to be defeating their opponents, overrunning several of their camps.
Makama noted that he would provide updates on the development with videos and pictures, adding that his new cameraman was doing a wonderful job. The expert disclosed that the clashes occurred between November 5 and 8 across key islands identified as Sahel 1, Dogon Chuku, Mangari, and the riverine basins of Tumbun Gini, Tumbun Dalo, Tumbun Shanu, Mangari, and Dumba.
The report stated that Boko Haram fighters, led by commanders Hassan Buduma and Mohd Hassan, launched coordinated attacks on ISWAP positions, using multiple motorised watercraft equipped with heavy weapons.
EQUALLY, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has intensified counter-terrorism and counter-banditry operations nationwide, with a series of precision airstrikes that neutralised ISWAP terrorists at Mallam Fatori and Shuwaram in Borno State, and destroyed bandit enclaves at Garin Dandi and Chigogo in Kwara State.as well as Zango Hill in Kankara Local Council of Katsina State.
NAF’s spokesman, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said in a statement that the coordinated missions were executed on November 9. He said the strikes represented a decisive phase in the ongoing joint operations under Operation Hadin Kai and Operation Fasnsan Yamma, aimed at degrading terrorist and criminal networks across the northern theatres.
Ejodame explained that in Borno State, the air interdiction missions dealt a heavy blow to ISWAP terrorists entrenched in the Northern Tumbuns. He said simultaneously, NAF aircraft carried out precision air interdiction missions over Garin Dandi and Chigogo in Kwara State, striking bandit camps with devastating accuracy based on credible intelligence.
According to him, demonstrating sustained reach and precision, the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma (Sector 1) conducted an Armed Reconnaissance mission across the Northwest corridor, covering key settlements in Zamfara, Kebbi, and Kaduna states, including Kakihum, Dankolo, Kotonkoro, and Kuyello.
IN a related development, the Explosive Ordinance Disposal-Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) unit of the Nigeria Police Force has graduated 325 bomb technicians and dispatched them to their various stations.
The Commissioner in charge of the unit, CP Hauwa Ibrahim, charged the officers to deploy skills acquired to combat the increasing use of improvised explosive devices and proliferation of chemical and radiological materials in the country.
Hauwa made this known yesterday at the graduation of the 325 officers at the Police Mobile Training School, Ende Hills, Akwanga in Nasarawa State.
He explained that the training is in line with IGP Kayode Egbotokun’s strategic commitment to modernise, build a modern, well-trained and equipped police force capable of effective countering of asymmetric threats, terrorism and other forms of violent extremism confronting the nation.
Hauwa observed that the basic course was carefully designed to equip newly mobilised officers, inspectors and rank and file with the requisite knowledge, technical skills and professional discipline required to safely identify, respond to, and neutralise explosives and CBRN-related threats.
The CP urged the participants to utilise all knowledge, skills acquired during the training to effectively tackle IED-related crimes, advising that the knowledge be shared with other officers in their stations.
