For the first time since he resumed duty, Service chiefs briefed Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on the security situation across the country.
The briefing which took place on Wednesday was also attended by Defence Minister Mansur Dan-Ali, National Security Adviser General Babagana Muguno, Information Minister Lai Mohammed, Inspector-General of Police Idris Ibrahim, Director-General of the Department of State Security Lawal Daura, and other top government officials.
At the opening of the briefing session, Dan-Ali acknowledged that the Federal Government’s support had impacted positively on the capacity of the Armed Forces in the fight againt the Boko Haram terrorists in the northeast and other security threats across the nation.
He said: “On behalf of the armed forces and other security agencies, we pledge our total commitment and loyalty to the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”
The minister said the ongoing operation in the northeast had recorded tremendous success and had led to restoration of normalcy in most parts of the affected areas.
He said the current strategy being adopted involved the simultaneous conduct of consolidation and stabilisation cases so as to enable the civil authorities to take a lead role as quickly as possible.
The minister added that the national troops in conjunction with the vigilante groups successfully conducted clearance operations in villages and Boko Haram camps which led to the recovery of weapons and communication equipment as well as apprehension of many suspects.
“This is being supported by continuous aerial surveillance by the Nigerian Air Force so as to ensure that terrorists do not regroup,” he said.
“In addition, several high profile Boko Haram commanders were arrested and over 20,000 persons mostly women and children held hostage by the terrorists were rescued.
“A number of the terrorists have surrendered to our troops and currently, rehabilitation and deradicalisation process for this category of Boko Haram terrorists and other rescued persons is ongoing.”
According to him, the armed forces are currently providing medical support and basis amenities such as food, clothing, water supply to most IDP camps in the northeast.
“Furthermore, several inter and intra roads and bridges that were impassable due to the security risks have been reopened and damaged ones reconstructed to enhance movement of people and goods in the North East.
“The Nigerian Army Small Arms Competition will be conducted by 7 Division at Sambisa Forest to consolidate the gains achieved so far and further sharpen the skills of our troops.
“Last week, we had a meeting with Ministers of Defence from the Lake Chad Basin Commission and Benin member countries, hosted by Nigeria. The countries include Niger, Cameroon, Chad and Nigeria.
“Memorandum of Understanding for the Multinational Joint Task Force of the Lake Chad Basin Commission to fight Boko Haram terrorists was signed during the meeting. This was aimed at supporting the operations of the MJTF operation Gama Aiki II nicknamed Rawan kada in the North East,” Dan-Ali said.
On the security situation in the Southern part of Kaduna State, he said peace talk was currently ongoing to address the current clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the communities.
“Recently, some religious leaders led by former Head of State, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, were in Southern Kaduna to mediate between the herdsmen and farmers.
“As part of efforts to curtail this menace, Nigerian Army is in the process of constructing a permanent barracks in Kafanchan. Also, the Nigerian Army is expected to conduct exercise Harbin kunama II in Southern Kaduna, Falgore Forest in Kano and the forest in Bauchi to flush out the criminal elements.
He concluded by saying that activities of cattle rustlers and armed bandits generally in the entire North West have been significantly reduced.
