THE Defence headquarters has expressed reaches to deal with threat of attacks during May 29, handover ceremonies saying troops fighting to rid the country of criminal elements in several theatres of operation eliminated 53 terrorists, bandits and kidnappers while 269 terrorist collaborators, oil thieves and criminal herdsmen were arrested within the last fortnight.
It disclosed that more than 125 persons abducted by criminal elements in different parts of the country were rescued from their abductors by troops after fighting raids on their hideouts and enclaves.
This was disclosed by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami, while briefing newsmen in Anuja. Ge n Danmadami urged Nigerians who were getting apprehensive over intelligence reports from states in the North showing that terrorists and bandits were planning to unleash attacks on citizens during and after May 29, handover cereminies, not to panic as the armed forces would deal with any such plan.
He said: “As for internal security, the Nigerian Police are the first responders. We provide support when called upon.
“Such threats were issued before elections but elections have come and gone and we ensured elections held in every part of the country. There was also a perceived threat and foreigners were apprehensive but we handled the situation.
“This will not be an exception. The armed forces and intelligence agencies are working round the clock to nip any criminal plan. There is no cause for alarm. Everything is under control. Criminals are being arrested everyday, arms and ammunution are being recovered and arrests are being made, all to contain these criminals.”
He disclosed that troops fighting economic sabotage discovered and destroyed 46 illegal oil refining sites, 241 storage tanks, 295 cooking ovens, 29 wooden boats and 38 dugout pits.
He said: “In the North East, troops neutralised 24 terrorists, arrested 40 terrorists logistics suppliers including one female, four terrorists informant, and rescued 206 civilians, while a total of 501 Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province, ISWAP, terrorists and their families comprising of 60 adult males, 176 adult females and 266 children surrendered to troops at different locations within the theatre of operation.
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