In Big Push against Terrorists, Army Rolls Out Massive Offensive Plan

*To tackle peculiar challenges in four geo-political zones

*Seven abducted NYSC members spend day 52 with abductors in Zamfara
*Eight students of Federal University Gusau, five of Federal University Dutsinma also with kidnappers

Bennett Oghifo in Lagos and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The Nigerian Army yesterday announced a massive offensive plan against terrorists in the South-east, Middle Belt, South-south and South-west.
This is coming as seven graduates from Akwa Ibom State, abducted in Zamfara State on August 17, on their way to the Sokoto State NYSC orientation camp, clocked 52 days in the dungeons of terrorists.

Also, eight of the 30 students abducted at Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State on September 29 and four female students abducted last Wednesday at Federal University Dutsinma, Katsina State are still with terrorists in the two states.
At a media briefing in Abuja, Spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Brig-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, said the special offensive against terrorists would start from October to December 2023.
The Army code-named the mission in the South-east as Exercise Golden Dawn III, which it said is aimed at restoring peace in the area during the yuletide celebration.

He said the army would also launch Exercise Enduring Peace III in the North-central and Exercise Still Waters III in the South-south and South-west.
He said Exercise Golden Dawn III would address terrorism, kidnapping for ransom and killings in the South-east.
Nwachukwu maintained that the exercises were in line with the Nigerian Army Training Directive for the year 2023 in collaboration with other security agencies.
“These exercises are designed to improve individual and collective professional competence and would dovetail into real time operations to tackle various peculiar security challenges in the geo-political zones”, Nwachukwu said.

He maintained that the exercise is aimed at tackling security challenges such as armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, communal clashes and sundry crimes which become more pronounced in the build up to the yuletide when many citizens return home to celebrate Christmas.
“The exercise will focus on enhancing the capabilities of our troops in intelligence gathering and effective, proactive response to criminalities. With the exercise, we aim to improve the security in the South-east and ensure safety of the populace during the period that will culminate in the yuletide,” he said.
Giving further details on other exercises, Nwachukwu said Exercise Enduring Peace III is focused on North-Central to address farmer-header conflicts, cattle rustling, banditry, kidnapping, ethno-religious conflicts and terrorism among others.

“The exercise will equip our troops with the necessary skills to combat banditry, including hostage rescue operations, intelligence-driven raids and effective coordination with other sister services and security agencies.
“Exercise Still Waters III, taking place in the South-South and South- West will target the menace of cultism, robbery and kidnapping. It will equally seek to address the challenges of pipeline vandalism and other forms of economic sabotage”, he said.
He affirmed that the exercise will also focus on securing critical infrastructure.

“Our troops would be trained on advanced surveillance techniques, rapid response tactics and the use of technology to effectively counter pipeline vandalism.
“By conducting this exercise, we aim to curb economic sabotage, protect national assets and ensure a stable environment for economic growth”, he said.
Nwachukwu noted that the Nigerian Army recognised the importance of collaboration and synergy among various security agencies in boldly confronting these security challenges.

“Accordingly, the Nigerian Army have been working closely with sister services and other agencies, including the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Customs Service among others, to ensure well-coordinated and effective responses to these threats.
“Joint training exercises and intelligence sharing will be key components of our approach”, he said.
The Director of Public Relations reiterated that the Nigerian Army was resolute and committed to surmounting emerging security challenges in troubled parts of the country.

“Through the upcoming training Exercise Still Waters III, Exercise Golden Dawn III and Exercise Enduring Peace III, we project to enhance the capabilities of our troops, improve synergy with sister services and other security agencies and ultimately ensure the safety and security of the populace,” he said.
On the likelihood of a hijack of the exercises by fake soldiers, who might take advantage of the exercises or troop members in uniform who could use their position to intimidate civilians and eventually abuse the exercises, Nwachukwu said the Nigerian Army has a mechanism for checkmating abuse of projects.

Abducted NYSC Members Spend Day 52 with Abductors

Seven graduates from Akwa Ibom State, abducted in Zamfara State on August 17, on their way to the Sokoto State NYSC orientation camp, clocked 52 days today in the dungeons of terrorists.
Also, eight of the 30 students abducted at Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State on September 29 and four female students abducted last Wednesday at Federal University Dutsinma, Katsina State are still with terrorists in the two states.
 The traumatised parents of the NYSC members have so far paid N13 million to the terrorists, yet, they have refused to release them.
As at press time, the terrorists were demanding an additional N200 million ransom.

A family member of one of the abductees remarked: “We don’t know how we are going to raise that kind of money. Everybody was shocked when two parents told us that after they paid the final N8 million (to make up the N13 million ransom negotiated), the terrorists suddenly refused to release our children.
“They said instead, the kidnappers contacted them to demand an additional N200 million ransom. We have paid N13 million already. First, we paid N5 million, later N8 million. Some parents sold their lands, and some even collected loans to raise the N13 million. We have not received any help from the government. So, how are we going to raise this fresh ransom of N200 million? We have deliberately kept this development from my mother. I don’t think that poor widow will survive if she hears this. We are suffering and helpless.”

Another of the affected parents remarked: “Terrorists are molesting our children and the government can’t rescue them. They are communicating with us, parents and relatives, on the phone and we have given the numbers to security agents, yet, they have failed to do anything positive. This is horrific.”
Two weeks ago, the Director General of the NYSC, Brig. Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed, said the agency was working with security agencies to secure the release of the abducted NYSC members.

Speaking at an interactive session with members of the House of Representatives Committee on Youth Development, Ahmed said: “We have full synergy among the agencies.”
But an indigene of Akwa Ibom State, who is also a journalist, Ibanga Isine, in a piece titled, “Free Kidnapped Corps Members: An Open letter”, addressed to the NYSC Director-General, and copied to President Bola Tinubu; President of Senate, Godswill Akpabio; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar and Minister of State, Defence, Bello Matawalle, alleged that the NYSC DG was not doing enough to free the abductees.

Ibanga said: “With due respect, General, how do you sleep in the night knowing that peoples’ children who simply answered the call to serve their country are languishing in the camp of brigands who can take their lives at any time?
“If your child or that of President Tinubu was captured in this way, would you act as if nothing had happened or that you were not responsible for them just because they did not make it to the camp?”

The terrorists that abducted the Federal University Gusau students invaded three private hostels in Sabon Gida village, near the university around 4am, shooting indiscriminately, before kidnapping them.
Another nine construction workers engaged within the university were abducted on the same day.
 No fewer than 22 of the abducted students have so far regained freedom, with eight others still with the terrorists.
 The Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, summoned an emergency security meeting following the abduction of the university students.
The governor directed the Deputy Governor, Mani Mallam Mummuni, to provide all the necessary support to the security agencies to restore normalcy in all affected areas.

At Federal University Dutsinma, the five female students were kidnapped in their residence located behind Mariamoh Ajiri Memorial International School along Tsaskiya Road.
Meanwhile, the Senate this week summoned the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Hassan Abubakar, over raging terror attacks in the country.
Also invited were the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The senators asked security agencies to be more proactive and ensure the rescue of the abducted female students of Federal University, Dutsinma, as well as the NYSC members kidnapped in Zamfara State.

They also urged the armed forces to conduct special operations to dislodge bandits in the North-west and in other parts of the country and also called on the federal government to address the manpower deficit in the armed forces and police.