The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has ramped up intelligence gathering in its counter-insurgency operations to eliminate terrorist threats and ensure no safe havens for attacks. This intensified effort follows a report from the Dutch think tank, Clingendael Institute, which stated that jihadi fighters from the Sahel region have crossed into Nigeria through the Benin Republic border.
According to the Clingendael Institute, the extremists have settled in Kainji Lake National Park in Niger and Kebbi states. The report also noted the resurgence of banditry in areas controlled by the militant jihadist organization Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin in Benin.
In response, Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Organization (DMO), emphasized that the renewed operations are focused on destroying terrorists and their support networks. He added that operational adjustments have been made to prioritize protection for farmers to ensure a successful rainy season.
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“The armed forces have intensified intelligence collection efforts targeted at hunting terrorists and striking them where they may be hiding and hibernating. The aim is to kill these terrorists and the infrastructure that supports them. Additionally, operational adjustments have been made to prioritize protection for farmers to ensure a successful rainy season farming,” Buba stated.
During the past week, the military has made significant strides in its operations. Troops neutralized 220 terrorists, arrested 395 individuals, detained 55 perpetrators of oil theft, and rescued 202 kidnapped hostages.
A total of 432 assorted weapons and 9,004 rounds of ammunition were recovered, including 3 PKT guns, 83 AK47 rifles, and 2 RPG launchers.
In the Niger Delta, troops discovered and destroyed 51 dugout pits, 38 boats, 51 storage tanks, and 105 illegal refining sites. They recovered 1,099,860 liters of stolen crude oil and 1,101,700 liters of illegally refined AGO.
Major General Buba assured that troops would continue to employ significant firepower to neutralize terrorists and disrupt their activities across the country. He reiterated the DHQ’s commitment to winning the war against terrorism, stating, “Winning the war against terrorists is non-negotiable.”
