…Neutralize 9,303 terrorists, arrest 11,789 criminal elements, rescue 4,641 kidnapped hostages
By TOM CHIAHEMEN, Abuja –
The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) and other security agencies in the country have announced that they are working decisively to address insecurity and ensure the safety of citizens by investing in advanced technologies and equipment to enhance their capabilities.
Director, Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Major-General Edward Buba, made this known in Abuja on Thursday, said” the AFN is in a good and strong position in the on-going war against terrorists and their cohorts, with many terrorist leaders killed.
He noted that during the month of May 23 to Jun 24, the potency of the terrorists was largely degraded with 9,303 Terrorist neutralized, 6,988 terrorists including their logistic suppliers and informants arrested, while 4641 hostages were rescued.
Major-General Buba, who disclosed that 9,562 Boko Haram/ISWAP combatant fighters and their families surrendered to security forces, added that in the fight against oil theft, 1,437 perpetrators were apprehended, with 363 neutralized, just as 245 kidnapped hostages were rescued, leading to a marked improvement in prevention of crude oil theft.
Speaking at the maiden joint press briefing by security, defence and response agencies under the auspices of the Strategic Communications Interagency Advisory Policy Committee (SCIAPC) and coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Buba said the security agencies would also focus on other strategic priorities including strengthening intelligence-sharing mechanism to pre-empt and counter security threats more effectively and; deepening partnerships with international allies to tackle regional and global security challenges and leverage best practices.
He attributed the optimal performance of troops in the conduct of operations to “the joint operational environment coupled the synergy with other security and intelligence agencies.
Giving sector updates on the various security agencies, Buba in the last one year, ONSA, which has been pivotal in coordinating national security strategies and ensuring synergy among various security agencies, successfully hosted the High-Level Africa Counter-Terrorism Meeting. The meeting brought together African Heads of Government, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who served as the host President, the UN Deputy Secretary-General, and leaders of other key global bodies.
He explained that the discussions during the meeting focused on stability in the Sahel Region, adding that at the end of it all, the discussions garnered significant commitments to combat terrorism and violent extremism.
He noted that the Nigerian Custom Service generated exceptional revenue of about 4 Trillion (₦3,991,988,348,853.32) and that some of trade facilitation initiatives deployed by the customs included the implementation of the Time Release Study (TRS), the Advance Ruling system, and the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Program.
Buiba the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) through implementation of the e-Border Project deployed e-Gates solutions for border governance, adding that the full automation of passport processing significantly improved service delivery, while the Integration of solar power systems ensured uninterrupted operations of the service.
Buba noted that the activities of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC), as the lead agencies in providing emergency response, had been effective in achieving national resilience and security.
He said the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) achieved notable reductions in road traffic crashes (RTC), noting that the addition of patrol vehicles, ambulances, tow trucks, and motorbikes, improved response capabilities, just as the agency the collaborated with Dangote Group in improving road infrastructure and safety measures in several areas as well as
recruited 3,537 personnel during the period.
Buba said that the Nigeria Police Force and other law enforcement agencies had undertaken significant reforms and operations to enhance public safety, including restructuring and reforming the intelligence department and reopening the Nigeria Police Intelligence School, as well as the launch of the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) and collaboration with international partners, alongside the Schools Protection Initiative and the deployment of helicopters for train escorts along the Abuja-Kaduna route to enhanced security measures.
He noted that digital support systems like the Nigeria Police Force Rescue Me App have been relaunched, leading to significant successes, pointing out that during period of the year, the Nigeria Police arrested 4,796-armed robbery suspects, 3,068 kidnap suspects, 2,474 suspects for rape/sexual crimes, and 1,213 suspects for unlawful possession of firearms.
These are made up of 3,523 suspected cultists, 3,381 suspects for murder/homicide, and 13,382 suspects for other offences, in addition to the rescue of 1,713 kidnap hostages, the recovery of 2,566 firearms and 19,310 rounds of ammunition along with 1,465 vehicles/motorcycles, as well as the prosecution of 29,052 cases out of which 7,675 cases were conclusively dispensed.
Giving account of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Buba said the agency recorded significant feats to bolster internal security and secure critical infrastructure, including foiling of over 48 school attacks and kidnap attempts nationwide during the period, dismantling 1,975 illegal mining sites and 165 illegal local refineries.
Commenting on Nigeria’s Anti-Corruption crusade and efforts to combat Cybercrime, General Buba noted that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) evolved anti-corruption initiatives that have been significant in maintaining law and order, adding that the EFCC) made significant progress in the fight against economic and financial crimes by securing 3,412 convictions and recovering vast sums of money both in local and foreign denominations.
He said: “The recovered amounts include N161,642,239,242.30 (One Hundred and Sixty One Billion, Six Hundred and Forty-Two Million, Two Hundred and Thirty-Nine Thousand, Two Hundred and Forty Two Naira, Thirty Kobo), $43,835,214.24 (Forty-Three Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty-Five Thousand, Two Hundred and Fourteen Dollars, Twenty-Four Cents), £25,365.00 (Twenty-Five Thousand, Three Hundred and Sixty-Five Pounds), €186,947.10 (One Hundred and Eighty-Six Thousand, Nine Hundred and Forty-Seven Euros, Ten Cents),
“The EFCC further recovered ₹51,360.00 (Fifty-One Thousand, Three Hundred and Sixty Rupees), C$3,750.00 (Three Thousand, Seven Hundred and Fifty Canadian Dollars), A$740.00 (Seven Hundred and Forty Dollars), ¥74,754.00 (Seventy-Four Thousand, Seven Hundred and Fifty-Four Yen), R35,000.00 (Thirty-Five Thousand Rand), 42,390.00 UAE Dirhams (Forty-Two Thousand, Three Hundred and Ninety Dirhams), 247.00 Riyals (Two Hundred and Forty-Seven Riyals), and 21,580,867.631 Crypto Currency (Twenty-One Million, Five Hundred and Eighty Thousand, Eight Hundred and Sixty-Seven Crypto Currency Units, Six Hundred and Thirty-One Cents).”
On Maritime Security, Buba said that the increased patrols and international collaborations of the Nigerian Navy led to a substantial reduction in piracy incidents in the Gulf of Guinea in the last 12 months, including the prevention of oil theft which denied the oil theft of an estimated sum of N91,247,052,565.
“Troops equally discovered and destroyed 3,051 dugout pits, 1,276 boats, 3,924 storage tanks, and 408 vehicles. Additionally, the NN anti crude oil theft operations recovered significant quantities of illegally refined petroleum products, amounting to millions of litres,” he added.
At Thursday’s joint press conference, held at the Defence Headquarters, Buba emphasized that the key the successes and achievements recorded the in last one year had been the robust interagency collaboration, adding that those collaborations had ensured comprehensive, strategic, and effective that the security plans.
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