With Sustained Onslaught, Terrorists Now on the Run, Army Chief, Lagbaja, Boasts

•Says nation’s security better imagined than experienced without military operations 

•Air strikes kill 30 terrorists

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
 

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, yesterday, declared that sustained onslaught of the Armed Forces had put terrorists on the run across the country.

He said without operations of security forces, the security situation in the country was better imagined than experienced.

This came as air strikes killed 30 terrorists in Lake Chad.

The Nigerian Air Force Headquarters said, in a statement, that the air interdiction conducted by the Air component of Operation Hadarin Daji(OPHD) executed precision air strikes on the hideouts of ISWAP terrorists nestled within Kolleram village along the shores of Lake Chad which killed 30 terrorists.

Lagbaja said sustained military operations contributed significantly to stabilising the country’s security.

Lagbaja, who spoke at the opening of the Chief of Army Staff First Quarter Conference 2024 said security situation would have been better imagined than experienced without the intervention of the security forces

“But for our concerted efforts, the insecurity that would have developed across the country is better imagined than experienced.

“Our continuous injection of trained troops and specialist equipment into the North-east theatre for specialised operations such as Mountain Sanity II, Lake Sanity II, and Desert Sanuty III have continued to complement efforts to degrade ISWAP/JAS terrorist groups by the Theatre Command.

“These efforts have greatly improved the security situation in the North-east and have expectedly enhanced the trust and confidence of the public towards our troops,” he said.

The army chief asserted that  intensified offensives to eliminate armed bandits and other criminal elements in the North-west and North-central regions were yielding positive outcomes.

“We have continued to project forces in Operations Hadarin Daji, Forest Sanity, and Whirl Punch while ramping up offensives to eliminate bandit enclaves.

“These operations have destroyed criminal hideouts, neutralised scores of bandits, and subjected the remaining ones to situations where they are mainly on the run,” he said.

Meanwhile, air strikes killed 30 terrorists in Lake Chad.

The Nigerian Air Force Headquarters said, in a statement, that the air interdiction conducted by the Air component of Operation Hadarin Kai (OPHK) executed precision air strikes on the hideouts of ISWAP terrorists nestled within Kolleram village along the shores of Lake Chad, which killed 30 terrorists.

“In a decisive blow against terrorism, the Air component of Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD) has executed a precision airstrike on the hideouts of ISWAP terrorists nestled within Kolleram village along the shores of Lake Chad.

“The operation, conducted on 13 April 2024, yielded significant success as the Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) post-strike conducted revealed the neutralisation of over 30 terrorists.

“Among those neutralised were some senior commanders such as Ali Dawud, Bakura Fallujah, and Mallam Ari.

“Additionally, numerous vehicles, motorcycles, and logistical assets were destroyed, severely hampering the terrorists’ operational capabilities,” it said.

The statement said, “Intelligence gathered after the air strike further indicated that the aerial bombardment effectively obliterated a key facility within the Kolleram enclave, which served as a hub for the terrorists’ food processing activities, including grinding machines.”