The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Olufemi Oluyede, has vowed to curb further spread of the Lakurawa terrorist group in the North West zone.
Oluyede also assured Nigerians that the troops were intensifying effort to dismantle the new terror group in Nigeria.
The National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA), had earlier said Lakurawa terror group posed a significant threat to national security, hence the need for a coordinated effort to dismantle the group in North West before it spread to other geopolitical zones in Nigeria.
Oluyede, however, said operation Fansan Yamma, was making concerted effort to speedily dismantle the Lakurawa terrorist group in the North-west.
Oluyede, who spoke while declaring open the Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference 2024, at Army Headquarters Mess 1 Asokoro Abuja, stated that the operation leveraged intelligence gathering, rapid deployment of special forces, and coordinated air and ground offences to establish control and neutralise threats in North-west.
He also added that efforts were ongoing to engage local communities in information gathering and sharing to foster trust as well as promote a united stand against Lakurawa and other terrorist groups.
These strategies, the COAS said underscored ongoing commitment to safeguarding the nation and ensuring the safety and security of citizens.
Troops Kill 8,034 Terrorists in One Year, Military Refutes Arrival of French Soldiers
The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), has said troops of the Nigerian military killed no fewer than 8,034 terrorists in one year.
This was as the military yesterday dismissed as false, a viral publication alleging that first contingent of French soldiers had arrived Maiduguri to finalisearrangements to establish a French Military base in North-east Nigeria.
The Director, Legal Service and Coordinator, Strategic Communications Interagency Policy Committee at the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA), Zakari Mijinyawa, said that operational activities of troops within the period under review also led to the arrest of 11,623 suspected terrorists and felons and the rescue of 6,376 abducted hostages.
Mijinyawa made this disclosure during the end of the year joint press conference by security, defence and response agencies at the main auditorium of National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), in Abuja.
He also averred that these operational activities of the military equally led to the interception and recovering of over 8,215 weapons 211,459 rounds of ammunition, while also retrieving petroleum products worth over N57 billion.
He disclosed that the deployment of advanced naval assets, including personnel, helicopters, and UAVs, and conducting surveillance and interdiction across the Niger Delta region, contributed significantly to the improvement in maritime security.
Specifically, he said Operation DELTA SANITY, launched by the Nigerian Navy on January 10, 2024, under the leadership of Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, made significant strides in curbing crude oil theft and enhancing security in Nigeria’s maritime domain.
On the alleged arrival of French troops to conclude modalities to establish military base in North-east, the Armed Forces of Nigeria said it was fake, totally false and mischievous.
A statement by Director Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Edward Buba, recalled that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, recently addressed this matter in different media forum, in which he debunked the news and speculations.
Buba urged the public to disregard these news and speculations still making rounds in some quarters, stating that these are the antics of mischief makers.
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