PRESS CONFERENCE BY THEATRE COMMANDER OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE MARCH 1, 2017 IN MAIDUGURI
The
gallant troops have continued to consolidate the peace. This brief,
therefore, will touch on some of the operations and other related
issues. Details are as follows:
a. Clearance Operations. Our troops have conducted some clearance operations during the period under review as follows:
On
1 Feb 17 at about 0950hrs own troops cleared BHT camp at DUSALA where 6
BHT members were killed. Items captured include one Light Machine Gun, 2
RPG tubes and one extra AA gun barrel. Thereafter, our troops came in
contact with BHT at BUK where a fire fight ensued. Sadly, 3 soldiers
were killed in action while 5 others were wounded. Furthermore, some BHT
equipment were recovered which include 9 AK47 rifles, 3 FN rifles, 2
RPG bombs, one mortar tube, one Shilka gun, one gun truck mounted with
AA gun and 2 Hilux vehicles.
On 7 Feb 17, own troops
successfully cleared NGAWUMARI, BULABURE, CHONGOLO GANA, SIRAJA and ZAYE
NGUSA villages. Troops encountered BHT elements at CHONGOLO GANA
villages and successfully cleared them where 13 BHT were killed. Some
BHT equipment captured include arms, ammunition, 2 vehicles, 5 motor
cycles and 9 bicycles. Also, 5 women and 15 children suspected to be BHT
families from MODUN AZAREM villages were intercepted enroute SIRAJA
village.
On 21 Feb 17, own troops cleared MANDAKA and LEMU during
advance to GATHA village. The advancing troops encountered and killed 2
BHT at GATHA while a member of vigilante was wounded in action. Items
recovered from the insurgents include a list containing names of
suspected BHT members, an IED vest, 2 solar panels, a BHT flag, 4 copies
of Quran, a national identity card and a voters card. A total of 59
women and children suspected to be held captive by the insurgents were
also rescued and are being profiled.
Own troops in conjunction
with vigilantes commenced advance on 19 Feb 17 at about 0700hrs and
successfully cleared BULTAURI KURA, BULABILI, AMBIYA TASHA and TORO
villages. Others include GOL, ZINDIYA, BURBUR, MANGUSUM, TALALA, AJIGIN
and DOKSA. The troops cleared the villages. However, a soldier was
killed in action while 3 others were wounded in action. Items recovered
include assorted ammunition, 13 BHT flags, 3 Holy Quran, a Motorola
radio, 2 grinding machines, 5 dane guns, an FN magazine and a packet of
Maggi. Others include 2 camouflage jungle hat, 6 Arabic books, a pair of
camouflage uniform and a bandolier.
On 22 Feb 17 at about
0830hrs, troops carried out a sweep along DAMASAK – GASHIGAR – GIRI 1 –
GIRI 2 – JABULAM – ABADAM – MALLAM FATORI axis. The troops made contact
with BHT at GIRI 1 and JABULAM villages where 13 BHT were killed. All
BHT camps along the axis of advance were cleared and destroyed. One
soldier was wounded in action.
b. Ambush Operations. Own troops conducted some ambush operations against the fleeing BHT as follows:
On
14 Feb 17 at about 0445hrs, own troops laid an ambush at a BHT crossing
point between KUKARETA and NGAMDU where 3 BHT members were killed.
Items recovered include one AK47 rifle, 3 magazines, 2 RPG bombs, 50
rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, a den gun, some local charms and 2 knives.
On
21 Feb 17 at about 1200hrs, own troops sprung an ambush at BHT crossing
point within FIRGI along road PULKA - BANKI Junction. The troops made
contact with BHT and killed 3 of them. During the operation, one of our
trucks was slightly damaged. The items captured and destroyed in situ
include one AK47 Rifle and magazine, 7 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, 3
bicycles and some food condiments.
c. BHT Ambush.On 9 Feb 17 at
about 1930hrs, own convoy of troops including 6 BOSG buses conveying
some young soldiers encountered BHT ambush along AJIRI – DIKWA road. The
troops engaged the BHT but 8 soldiers were killed in action. Also, 18
other soldiers were wounded in action while 3 others were missing in
action. A Canter vehicle, a gun truck, 7 AK47 rifles, 2 radios and some
equipment were lost in the ambush. Efforts have been ongoing to find all
the missing soldiers and to recover the lost equipment.
d. BHT
Attack. On 24 Feb 17 at about 2359hrs, some BHT elements in gun trucks
and on motorcycles attacked our troops location at GAJIRAM. Sadly, one
officer and 10 soldiers were killed in action and one other soldier was
wounded in action. Some of our equipment lost include a gun truck
earlier captured from BHT, 11 AK47 rifles and an RPG tube. Two BHT were
killed in action as well as 5 motor cycles and one AK47 rifle were
recovered. Furthermore, the troops pursued the BHT and recovered a
Toyota Land cruiser vehicle that was used by BHT during the attack.
other items recovered include 9 rounds of 12.7mm, a metal link for
12.7mm, assorted hard drugs, a note with BHT names in Arabic inscription
and a micro chip containing audio messages in Kanuri, Hausa and Arabic
preaching.
e. Discovery of Indian Hemp. On 2 Feb 17 at about
0810hrs, own troops at Song checkpoint stopped a Honda vehicle with
registration number BDG 266 EE Lagos with 2 persons onboard for a
search. On questioning, the driver identified himself as a policeman but
when the soldiers at the checkpoint insisted that the vehicle must be
searched, the driver refused and took off. The troops took action and in
the process, the driver was pursued and while fleeing, he crashed into a
fence which led to his death. A passenger was wounded and evacuated to
medical centre in GOMBI for treatment. Items discovered in the vehicle
include a fake Nigeria Police Inspector's ID card and a military belt.
The vehicle was searched and discovered to be fully loaded with parcels
of substance suspected to be Indian hemp. The suspect and the exhibits
were handed over to Nigeria Police and NDLEA at GOMBI respectively for
further action.
f. Arrests. Our troops have arrested several BHT suspects within the period. Some of the cases include:
(1)
On 16 Feb 17 at about 1425hrs, own troops deployed at MAFA intercepted
one Hassan Adamu aged 27 years. Some locals fetching fire wood informed
the troops that the suspect was trying to infiltrate into MAFA town. The
suspect has confessed of being a BHT member who is tired of their
ideology and wanted to surrender. He is in custody undergoing
interrogation.
On 21 Feb 17 at about 1630hrs, own troops
intercepted a BHT suspect named Ari Arimaye from BULA – UMARI village
who disguised as an IDP to gain access into IDP camp at BANKI. The
suspect was searched and the sum of N1,264,000.00 and CFA160,000.00 were
found in his possession concealed in a black sack.
On 26 Feb 17
at about 1740hrs, own troops in collaboration with personnel of DSS
Tracking Team arrested 3 BHT suspects at Arawa and Mallam Inna area in
Gombe metropolis. The suspects are Bilal Muhammed Umar, Bashir Muhammed
and Muhammed Maigari Abubakar. They confessed to have fled from Chad
Republic and belong to Albarnawi group. The suspects were arrested with
some IED materials. They are in custody for further investigation.
g.
Destruction of Suspected BHT Motor Cycles.On 10 Feb 17 at about
0620hrs, own troops deployed at BARA while on fighting patrol to
NJIBULWA village discovered a total of 301 motor cycles suspected to be
mustered by/for BHT. The motor cycles were all destroyed in situ.
h.
Interception of Female Suicide Bombers. On 7 Feb 17 at about 0710hrs,
own troops in conjunction with CJTF intercepted 2 female suicide bombers
behind NNPC Mega Filling Station along MAIDUGURI-DAMBOA road. The
suicide bombers were sighted while advancing towards the line of
vehicles queuing to buy fuel from the station. Own troops deployed in
the area immediately mobilised to the place and the suicide bombers
started running away. They were pursued by the troops and one of them
removed her suicide vest and surrendered to troops while the other one
continued running. The troops shot down the second suicide bomber when
she got to a safe distance far behind the Mega Station. The police EOD
team removed the suicide vest from the body of the second suicide bomber
and later detonated both vests in situ. The arrested female suicide
bomber has been undergoing interrogation.
i. PBIED Incidences.On
17 Feb 17 at about 0250hrs, 2 female suicide bombers came to MUNA DALTI
and when challenged by CJTF they quickly detonated their suicide vests.
The 2 female suicide bombers killed themselves while 7 members of CJTF
were injured. The injured have been evacuated to General Hospital. The
explosion caused a conflagration which destroyed a total of 13 cars that
were parked. Also, on 24 Feb 17 at about 1940hrs, 2 suicide bombers
attempted to infiltrate BANKI IDP camp.
On sighting own troops
on sentry, one of the suicide bombers detonated the IED vest strapped
to her body killing herself and the second suicide bomber. A member of
CJTF sustained minor injuries in the process and was treated.
j. IED Attack. Some IED incidences were recorded during the period under review:
On
2 Feb 17 at about 1715hrs, own troops while on clearance operation to
TALALA/AJIGIN encountered 2 IEDs about 8km to AJIGIN. Sadly, 2 soldiers
were killed in action and 4 others were wounded in action. The wounded
soldiers have been receiving treatment in our hospital.
Also on 6
Feb 17 at about 0825hrs, own troops while on patrol along NGOSHE –
BOKKO HIDE – PULKA road were involved in an IED incident. Sadly, we lost
a soldier while 4 others were wounded. A Nissan Hilux gun truck and 3
AK47 rifles were damaged. The wounded soldiers have been evacuated to
our hospital and are responding to treatment.
On 19 Feb 17 at
about 1000hrs, our troops encountered IED around BULA JIMBAM general
area while advancing after clearing WAIYARAM village. Two soldiers were
killed in action while 13 others were wounded in action. Our Nissan gun
truck mounted with machine gun and a canter truck were damaged. All
soldiers killed and wounded in action were evacuated to MAIDUGURI for
further treatment.
k. Surrendered BHT. On 16 Feb 17 at about
1600hrs, a BHT member named Ibrahim Adamu from CHIKIN GUDU surrendered
to own troops in MONGUNO.
Air Component Video Clip.
Summary
of Rescued/Arrested/Surrendered BHT Suspects and Other Persons. A total
of 7,898 civilians were rescued/arrested as suspected BHT members while
2 others surrendered to our troops during our operations conducted
between 2 Feb – 1 Mar 17. Also, a total of 8 foreigners were arrested
comprising 4 Chadians, 3 Nigeriens and 1 Cameroonian.
I am
constrained to touch on the recently released Amnesty International
Report for the year 2016. The reason being that the Report made some
unfortunate and unfounded claims regarding the operations in the North
East. Whereas the contents of the report have been condemned, I wish to
join to say that troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE are professional in
conduct and disposition. They operate within the strict guidance of the
Rules of Engagement and the Code of Conduct for troops. What needs to be
made clear is that we have observed a consistent attack on the
institutions charged with the mandate to protect the Nation against
every form of insecurity.
During the trying days of this
operation, Amnesty International and other agents working against our
nationhood, tried fruitlessly to incite the populace against the
military through various malicious publications. Inspite of their
distractions, we forged ahead and decimated Boko Haram. We worked
assiduously to improve on our Civil-Military Relations, the result of
which is very manifest in the unparalleled support, accolades and
encouragement we have received from the populace.
This position
seem to have disappointed the Amnesty International and their unholy
allies. Regrettably, some Nigerians are being used as puppets and agents
of destruction of our national security institutions. It is sad that
when our National Security institutions are gaining traction, these
agents after fabricating their reports, sit back and push Nigerians to
make the Reports known to the public to give it a National Colour of
some sort. What a case of ‘go and destroy your own house’! We must rise
up and stand against this subtle and increasing level of neocolonialism.
We all have a role to play in this direction. Our national institutions
must be strengthened. It is our responsibility so to do. No one can
love Nigeria better than Nigerians. I only ask you, the Press to ‘Shine
Your Eyes’.
6. On that note, I urge the general public to
continue to report any suspicious persons or objects to the military and
other security agencies. Peace-we need, Peace-we have, Peace-we must
work to sustain. Whilst appreciating the support and encouragement of
the C-in-C, CDS, COAS and other Service Chiefs, we remain absolutely
loyal and committed to the cause for which we are assigned to Operation
LAFIYA DOLE. Thank you and God bless.
LEO IRABOR
Major General
Theatre Commander
Operation LAFIYA DOLE
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