Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, has revealed the opportunities the 2021 Armed Forces Remembrance Day has brought.
In a statement released by Adeshina, he said that the day provides an opportunity for the government to chronicle the landmark achievements by the military in tackling security challenges in the land.
According to the statement, Boko Haram is much weaker today than in 2015 and territories controlled by terrorists have now been regained.
See a list of the achievements listed by the presidency:
1. The military from 18 March to 30 December 2020 neutralized 2,403 criminal elements (terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, cattle rustlers, etc.) across the country.
2. Troops also rescued a total of 864 kidnapped victims across the country.
3. A total of 9,684,797 litres of stolen AGO and 33,516,000 litres of DPK were recovered. Benue govt imposes dusk to dawn curfew, gives reason, exceptions
4. Equally, 1,910 criminal elements were arrested and a large cache of arms, ammunition and equipment were recovered during the period.
5. A total of 46,581.8 barrels of stolen crude oil and 22,881,257 litres of stolen PMS were recovered by the troops.
Regional breakdown of March to December 2020 military achievements North-West:
1. 5,281 livestock, 6,951 rounds of ammunition and 120 assorted rifles were recovered from the armed bandits
2. 455 kidnapped victims were rescued and 473 armed bandits killed
3. 461 arrests were made in the zone including high profile armed bandits, gun runners and bandits’ collaborators
4. A total cash of N6,365,550 was recovered from armed bandits and their informants in the zone
North-East:
1. 200 kidnapped victims rescued by troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE
2. A total of 1,385 rounds of ammunition, 45 grenades as well as 95 assorted rifles were recovered from terrorists
3. Several gun trucks were captured, while some others were destroyed during airstrikes
4. 1,805 insurgents/terrorists including commanders were killed by the troops aside scores killed by air raids/attacks
5. 79 arrests were made including high-value targets.
North-Central:
1. Troops of Operations SAFE HAVEN, WHIRL STROKE and THUNDER STRIKE rescued a total of 130 kidnapped victims, and 105 assorted rifles
2. 513 rounds of ammunition and 1,055 rustled cattle were recovered from armed bandits and other criminal elements
3. 1,250 criminals including family members of the Darul Salam sect were arrested within the period
4. Troops neutralized a total of 125 armed bandits including militia gang leaders
South-South:
1. A total of 8,890,300 litres of stolen AGO and 33,516,00 litres of DPK were impounded by troops of Operation DELTA SAFE
2. Troops immobilized a total of 185 illegal refining sites, 85 dugout pits and 163 metal storage tanks within the period
3. Additionally, troops impounded a cumulative total of 31,236.8 barrels of stolen crude oil as well as 12,272,652 litres of stolen PMS from oil thieves
Insecurity:
1. IGP makes one major promise to Nigerians as officers nab 21,296 suspects
2. Also, a total of 47 kidnapped victims were rescued, while 72 vandals and criminals were arrested
3. A total of 4,250 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled smuggled rice were impounded and 45 boats engaged in illegal activities were arrested
4. Troops also arrested a total of 53 pirates and 25 trucks as well as recovered 23 rifles, 65,330 rounds of ammunition and destroyed 23 sea pirate camps.
South-West:
1. Troops of Operation AWATSE in the South-West Zone between 18 March and 30 December 2020 impounded a total of 10,458,600 litres of PMS, 15,345 barrels of stolen crude oil and 345,000 litres of stolen AGO
2. They also recovered a total of 3,594 rounds of ammunition and 14 assorted rifles
3. A total of 23 illegal refining sites were immobilized, while 15 boats and 23 trucks engaged in illegal activities were arrested
4. 35 kidnapped victims were rescued, while 48 arrests were made Grief as 12 people die in 24 hours and Nigeria’s COVID-19 cases soar
North-East security achievements (2015-2020)
1. Revitalization of the Multi-National Joint Task Force comprising Nigeria and her neighbours
2. Relocation of the Military Command and Control Center to Maiduguri in June 2015
3. Launch of Operation Lafiya Dole in July 2015
4. Several towns and villages have been reclaimed from Boko Haram
5. Thousands of hostages have been freed from terrorist enclaves, and tens of thousands of displaced persons have been resettled
6. Several Boko Haram leaders have been killed or arrested, and the arrest of Khalid al-Barnawi of the Ansaru splinter cell brought an end to the terrorists’ tight grip on North Central Nigeria
7. Investing heavily in military hardware, including 23 new aircraft that have already been delivered and inducted into service, while another 18 manned aircraft and 8 Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) are being awaited, in 2021/2022. This is in addition to attack boats, patrol vessels, armoured tanks and so on.
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7. The Army established ‘Special Mobile Strike Teams’ in the Northeast, while the Air Force has established or is establishing new bases in various parts of the Northwest and North Central (Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina). Significant developments that show progress in Borno state and Northeast.
Northeast:
1. El-Kanemi Warriors Football Club returned to their home base in Maiduguri in April 2016, two years after relocating to Katsina State because of the insurgency
2. Public secondary schools resumed in Borno state on Monday, September 26, 2016, after two years of closure
3. Capture of Boko Haram’s operational and spiritual headquarters, “Camp Zero”, in Sambisa Forest, in December 2016
4. Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Borno state chapter, declared the 2017 Easter Celebrations as the best and safest since 2009
5. Arik Air resumed flights to Maiduguri in May 2017, three years after suspending operations to the city Nigeria sets new daily record of COVID-19 as NCDC reports 1354 new cases (list of states)
6. Nigerian military reopened Maiduguri-Bama-Banki Road in March 2018, four years after it was seized by Boko Haram
7. Hundreds of thousands of displaced persons have returned to their homes and communities across the Northeast, since 2015
8. Tens of thousands of hostages have been freed from Boko Haram captivity, including 106 of the Chibok Girls abducted in April 2014, and 105 of the Dapchi Girls abducted in February 2018.
Highlights of Operation Swift Response (partial border closure; August 19 to December 2020)
1. 1,401 irregular migrants arrested
2. Total seizures: • 159,506.7 (50kg) bags of parboiled foreign rice; • 10,447 bags of NPK fertilizer used for making explosives; • 1,974 Vehicles; • 895 motorcycles; • 18,690.
3 Jerry cans of Vegetable Oil, among other seized items.
3. The total monetary value of the apprehended items is about Twelve Billion, Five Hundred and Thirty-Eight Million, Three Hundred and Thirty-Three Thousand, Five Hundred and Forty-Five Naira Fifty Kobo (₦12,538,333,545.50).
Secuirty plans for 2021
1. New NAF bases coming to Katsina and Gombe
2. Launch of Operation Tura Takaibango in Yobe state in January 2021 as a subsidiary Operation of Operation LAFIYA DOLE
3. Launch of Exercise “Taimako Yazo”
4. The Air Force will conduct a total of six of these Exercises between January and June 2021, mostly in the Northwest, particularly in Zamfara and Katsina states.
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