Major General Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations at the Defence Headquarters Abuja, underscored the gravity of the ongoing operations against terrorism and insecurity across the nation, emphasizing the imperative for the military to emerge victorious in this battle.
Speaking on Thursday, Gen. Buba disclosed that the armed forces are actively pursuing and apprehending prominent leaders of terrorist groups. He emphasized the non-negotiable nature of the ongoing war, stating, “The ongoing operations against terrorists and insecurity across the country is a war in which the military has no choice but to win, and we are winning the war.”
Providing details on recent operations, Gen. Buba reported that air assets conducted aggressive flights targeting confirmed locations with the movement of terrorist commanders and their foot soldiers. These strikes yielded significant results, resulting in the neutralization of over 38 terrorist commanders and the arrest of 159 individuals associated with these groups.
Highlighting specific instances, Gen. Buba mentioned two major air strikes on terrorist enclaves. One, on December 6, 2023, neutralized several top terrorist commanders, including Machika, a prominent bomb expert and younger brother of the notorious terrorist Dogo Gide. Another strike on December 11, 2023, targeted a renowned terrorist leader, Ali Alhaji ALHERI, responsible for the abduction of students in Zamfara State.
Gen. Buba also reported success in the southeastern region, where troops, in collaboration with other security agencies, apprehended a prominent commander of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, the Eastern Security Network (ESN). The commander, Mr. Uchechukwu Akpa, and three sub-commanders were arrested during a raid on their hideout, preventing a planned takeover of leadership and attacks on troop locations.
The operations of the week also led to the arrest of 66 individuals involved in oil theft and the rescue of 89 kidnapped hostages. In the South-South region, troops prevented oil theft amounting to over N161 million, recovered 67 assorted weapons, and seized 1,194 assorted ammunition. Additionally, troops in the Niger Delta area destroyed illegal refining sites, dugout pits, boats, storage tanks, and vehicles associated with criminal activities.
Gen. Buba concluded by reiterating the military’s commitment to prevailing in the ongoing operations, emphasizing that the armed forces have the upper hand, and the campaign will only conclude when the terrorists surrender or are decisively defeated.