…Asks residents in forested areas of North-West zone to relocate
The Nigerian military authorities have advised residents of forested areas in three North-Western States to relocate, ahead of a planned bombardment campaign against bandits and terrorists in the areas.
The military, which gave the advice through broadcast advertisements aired in Pidgin English, Hausa, Kanuri and Fulani, on radio and television stations in Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna States, said the exercise is to ensure that the residents are not affected by the bombardment. The advertisements, which promised to protect the life and property of Nigerians, were confirmed by a military source.
Meanwhile, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major-Gen. Musa Danmadami, in an issued statement on Thursday, said that in the past two weeks, combined forces of the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force sustained aggressive operations to deny terrorists further freedom of action.
He said troops conducted fighting patrols, ambushes and clearance operations at communities, villages and towns in Kukawa, Monguno, Kaga, Dikwa, Biu, Damboa, Gwoza, Mafa, Konduga, Bama and Guzamala local government areas, all in Borno State.
Danmadami noted that two key Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commanders, Abu Asiya and Abu Ubaida, a.k.a A Qaid, were neutralised on September 12 and 15, 2022, at Parisu and Shehuri general area, in Sambisa forest, respectively. Within the period in review, troops neutralised 36 terrorists, rescued 130 civilians, and arrested 46 suspected Boko Haram terrorists as well as 12 suspected Boko Haram terrorists and ISWAP logistic suppliers”, he explained.
He noted that a total of 368 suspected Boko Haram terrorists and ISWAP criminals and their families, comprising 53 adult males, 116 adult females, and 214 children, surrendered to troops at different locations, adding that the armed forces, in collaboration with other security agencies, recovered crude oil and gas worth over N537 million within the last two weeks, as they sustained aggressive operations in the Niger-Delta region.
Danmadami added that the troops conducted patrol, raids, clearance and ‘swamp buggy’ operations in the creeks, villages, communities and towns in Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers States.
