In a comprehensive briefing, Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, provided an overview of the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s ongoing military operations from January to December 2023.
General Buba identified major security threats, outlined regional dynamics, and showcased the armed forces’ efforts in addressing various challenges.
According to him the year 2023 saw a diverse range of security threats, including terrorism, armed banditry, kidnapping, oil theft, secessionist agitations, and farmers-herders clashes.
He further explained that these threats were categorized by geo-political zones, with distinct dynamics in each region.
He noted that armed banditry and terrorism prevailed in the North Central (NC) and North West (NW) regions, while the North East (NE) continued to grappled with the Boko Haram Terrorists/Islamic State West African Province insurgency.
In the South-East (SE) and South-West (SW), secessionist agitations by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Yoruba Nation were prominent concerns.
The Director Defence Media Operations stated that the South-South (SS) region faced challenges such as oil theft, cultism, and youth restiveness, while criminal activities like kidnapping, armed robbery, communal clashes, and cattle rustling were widespread across all six geopolitical zones.
General Buba highlighted the pivotal role played by the proliferation of small arms, illegal arms influx through porous borders, and the presence of local arms fabrication factories in fueling security threats.
He emphasized that the Armed Forces of Nigeria responded with both kinetic and non-kinetic efforts to counter these challenges across all regions.
During the reported period, the armed forces achieved significant milestones, neutralizing 6,886 terrorists and criminals, arresting 6,970 suspects, and rescuing 4,488 kidnapped hostages.
Additionally, they recovered 3,320 assorted weapons, 39,075 assorted ammunition, 100,316,600 litres of crude oil, and various other petroleum products.
Major General Buba acknowledged the fluid, complex, and dynamic nature of the security situation, emphasizing the evolving Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTP) adopted by security forces to respond professionally to the ever-changing threats.
He further underscored the armed forces’ commitment to developing necessary enablers to overcome the country’s threats, with a focus on collaborative efforts with other services and security agencies.
Major General Buba expressed satisfaction with the increased stability achieved across various theatres of operations, stating that troops are in a dominant position and making significant strides in the ongoing war against security threats.
Babatunde A.