Following reports of possible threats of terror attacks during the transition period, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has assured Nigerians of peace and security before, during and after the transition of power, saying “there is no cause for alarm, everything is under control.”
The military high command also assured that it would work with the Nigerian police and intelligence community to nip all threats to national security in the bud.
Among others, Kaduna state Governor Nasir el-Rufai alerted security agencies not to take anything for chances ahead of the May 29 handover date.
The governor had raised the concerns Wednesday in Kaduna while reviewing the 2022 Annual Security Report and First Quarter 2023 Security Report presented by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan.
Specifically, the governor called for intensified and sustained simultaneous ground and air kinetic actions across the seven frontline states of the North-west region and Niger state, which he said, had continuous and contiguous forest ranges and most heavily impacted by the security challenge.
“We appeal for an escalation of security operations over the 39 days remaining till the end of the tenure of this administration and beyond so that the change of baton at the federal level does not result in a dangerous lull that criminal outlaws can exploit.
There is every reason to intensify and sustain simultaneous ground and air kinetic actions across the seven frontline states of the Northwest region and Niger which have continuous and contiguous forest ranges and are most heavily impacted by this security challenge,” the governor had said.
DHQ assures
But the DHQ assured there is no cause for alarm , and warned any individual or group trying security breach to have a rethink.
Director Defence Media Operations Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami said this Thursday while answering questions from journalists in Abuja, during the fortnightly briefing on troops activities and operational successes in the various operational theaters within the 6 geo-political zones of the country from April 6 to April 20.
He said: “As far as the internal security of the nation is concerned, the police is the lead agency. We are only providing assistance to civil authority and civil power.
Just like the general elections came and gone and winners have been announced, transition of power will also come and go peacefully. People are just being apprehensive and situating situations that are not there.
“You will recall that there was a US travel advisory and up till now we are still waiting for the consequences. People have been predicting that the country is finished but nothing has happened up till now. Members of the armed forces like I will always tell you, we are not resting on our oars to ensure that peace and security is sustained in this country.
“I equally assure also that the intelligence community are working round the clock just as the Armed forces are working to ensure there is peace and tranquility.
And I can assure you there are a lot of follow up operations going on round the clock. Every day people are being arrested.
People who are on the verge of committing crime are being arrested, people who are moving weapons from one point to the other to go and commit crime are being arrested everyday as reflected in today’s briefing.
“So both the intelligence community and members of the armed forces are working round the clock to make sure we nip these things in the bud and if it happens, we respond to it appropriately.
So people should not be afraid that when the present administration hands over there will be calamity all over the place. I can assure you that we are ready to address whatever security challenge that comes up.
So, people should go about their normal duties and forget about the unnecessary apprehensions that people are causing to put Nigerians on their head. No cause for alarm, everything is under control.”
The Defence spokesperson also assured Nigerians of adequate security during the Eid El Fitr celebration.
“Easter came and went and there was no problem. The same thing Sallah will come and go definitely there will be no problem. There might be one or two isolated cases but it will definitely be addressed accordingly,” he said.
Successes recorded
Speaking during the briefing, General Danmadami said troops of Operation HADIN KAI in the North East and Operation HADARIN DAJI in the North West neutralised 54 Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the last two weeks.
He disclosed that troops also rescued 216 kidnapped victims and arrested 73 terrorists at different locations within the general area of operations.
According to him, a total of 501 Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and their families of 60 males, 176 females and 266 children surrendered to troops at different locations within the theatre of operation.
He said: “Notably, on 9 April 2023, troops acted on credible information and raided suspected terrorists enclaves within Askira Uba, Gwoza and Damboa Local Government Areas of Borno state. In these operations troops made contact with the terrorists and following the various encounters troops neutralized 4 terrorists while others escaped with gunshot wounds.
“Troops destroyed their camps and enclaves and further exploited the surrounding bushes where they discovered and rescued 136 civilians comprising 46 adult females and 90 children.”
He said troops on patrol arrested 5 suspected terrorists logistic suppliers enroute Damasak in Mobbar local government area of Borno state.
“Items recovered from the suspect include assorted food stuffs, beverages, food flasks, toiletries, cooking oil, soft drinks and cash.
“Same day, troops also arrested 3 suspected Boko Haram terrorists/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists logistic suppliers with 3 bags of gum Arabic at Benishiekh Market in Kaga Local Government Area of the same state. The suspects revealed that the gum Arabic was given to them by the terrorists to sell on their behalf and return the proceeds.”
General Danmadami said all recovered items, arrested terrorists, terrorist’s logistics suppliers, were handed over to the relevant authority for further action, while the surrendered terrorists and members of their families were being profiled for further action.
“The rescued civilians were given medical attention before being handed over to relevant authorities for further action,” he said.
Natives laud security agencies
In a related development, a pro-Nigeria and anti-sabotage group-The Natives- has commended the Nigerian security agencies for their resilience.
They told them to step up their vigilance ahead of May 29 handover date to President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Natives, however, acknowledged that Nigerian security agencies, especially the Department of State Security Service (DSS), the military and the Nigerian Police, deserved global applause for performing optimally before, during and after the just concluded General elections.
In a statement Thursday in Abuja by leader of the group, Smart Edwards, they specifically thanked the Military, Police and the DSS for exposing plot by some opposition elements for an interim national government recently.
Edwards also commended the security agencies for their commitments toward sustaining democracy in Nigeria.
He said the DSS as an establishment acted swiftly to promptly alert and urgently inform the public of the capricious tendencies of desperate feudal political oligarchies, using unsuspecting youths to rubbish all institutions of government and denigrate them to promote anarchy and acts of discountenance in the country.
“We, the Natives, are also using this medium to urge the Nigerian security apparatus to step up their games against the saboteurs as the Nation prepares towards the historic inauguration of the 16th President of Nigeria, another popularly elected President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We must at this juncture openly commend profusely the swift response of the DSS under their Director General, the Defense Headquarters, and the entire Intelligence community for their professionalism and commitment to their democratic obligation by alerting, and distancing the establishment from any complicity and readiness to frustrate any mischievous effort to truncate our much-cherished democracy.
“You may wish to know that pathetic political jobbers parading the nation appealing for Interim national government because of their conspiracy theories and illusions on the outcome of the just concluded elections have attracted shame for themselves and their co- travellers by the dignity of our gate-keepers, a worthy armed forces,” they said.
While emphasising that Nigerian military and the intelligence community deserved global applause, “the Natives said Nigeria has been awake to the emergence of political saboteurs reminiscent of June 12, 1993, roaming the nation in search of collaborators to truncate 24 years of uninterrupted democracy in the country.”
“These saboteurs by their open and sinister moves have been bungled and busted by the vigilance and verity of the Department of State Security.
“So for taking a professional stand and democratic position in the face of intending political catastrophe, protecting our constitution, and non-interference in the statutory roles of the electoral body, our military and intelligence community deserves global applause.
“Towards this end, the Natives of Nigeria encourage the military and the intelligence community to remain ever-committed to civilian rule and sustain their character as professionals and defenders of our sovereignty.
“We acknowledge your quest for more sophistication, better welfare, training, citizen support, and reinvigoration of our military architecture to serve the nation better and thereby sustain our formidable military might in the Region while achieving national unity and cohesion.
“The renewed hope mandate certainly assures us of determination to invest in our security as a critical sector and this will no doubt revamp the glory of our gallant forces with renewed successes as giants of Africa and defenders of democracy,” the group added.
Zelenskyy invites Tinubu
Meanwhile, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has extended his warm felicitations to Nigeria’s President-elect on his election victory.
The Ukrainian leader, in a congratulatory letter he personally signed, expressed his gladness at the peaceful conduct of Nigeria’s just-concluded general elections and particularly praised the victory of Asiwaju Tinubu as the next President of Nigeria.
A statement released Thursday by Tinubu’s aide, Tunde Rahman, quoted Zelenskyy as using the opportunity of the goodwill message to extend his invitation to the President-elect to visit Ukraine on a State Visit as soon as he settles down in office after inauguration on May 29, 2023.
The Ukrainian leader wrote:
“Please accept my sincere congratulations on your election as7 President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Despite extremely difficult testing times, caused by the full-scale armed aggression of Russia against our State, Ukraine is determined to further strengthen cooperation with Nigeria at the bilateral level and within the framework of international organizations.
“We are grateful for your country’s support of the Resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations Organization “Principles of the UN
Charter underlying a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace in Ukraine.
“I count on the active participation of Nigeria in its practical implementation.
We see the further provision of global food security, of which Ukraine was and remains a reliable guarantor at the global level, as an important direction of cooperation.
The fulfillment of this task will be facilitated by the successful implementation of the Ukrainian initiative “Grain from Ukraine”, which is designed to significantly increase the supply of grain to African countries in order to prevent famine.
“Taking this opportunity, I invite you to pay an official visit to Ukraine at a time convenient for you. I am confident that your visit will strengthen the dialogue between our countries and contribute to the further consolidation of joint efforts of the international community aimed at solving the urgent challenges of today, in particular the crisis situation caused by Russia regarding the guarantee of world food security.”
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