The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday allayed fear of another terrorist group taking a foot hold in the country.
It assured the Senate and Nigerians that the military would not allow terrorist group Lukarawa to have a stronghold in any part of the country.
It said with the continued onslaughts against other terrorists/bandits through rejigged operations especially in the Northwest and Northeast, Lukarawa insurgents would be smoked out in no distant time.
The DHQ gave the assurance through the Director of Defence Media Operations Maj-Gen. Edward Buba in Abuja.
The Senate on Wednesday asked the military to halt the incursion of the ISIS-backed terrorist group into the country.
The DHQ last month alerted the nation to the presence of the deadly group in Kebbi and Sokoto states after sneaking in from Niger Republic.
A few days later, the group struck in Kebbi State, but troops responded swiftly by dislodging and neutralising many of them.
Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, also on Wednesday called on troops in battlefronts to step up action against terrorists and bandits
Speaking with reporters at the Defence House, Gen. Buba said troops have remained focused on eliminating the new terror group and others in the North.
He added that in the last week, troops neutralised 115 terrorists, including Munzur Ya Audu, an ISWAP commander in the Northeast.
On the new foreign terror group, Maj.-Gen. Buba said: “I think at this time it is important to say that their (Lukarawa terrorists) history, origin, or their purpose is inconsequential.
‘’What is important is that they threaten our national security. We recognise them as such, and we are going to take them out.
“They have come at a time when our operations in the Northwest have been rigid. As you all know, we now have an operational theatre similar to what we have in the Northeast now in the Northwest called Operation FASAN YANMA.
“Recently, I believe the Minister of Defence (Mohammed Badaru Abubakar) was there to operationalise the air component of that operation. And from the clips that I have shown you in today’s briefing, you know that there is just one thing on our mind, and one thing only is to dismantle these terrorist groups, and destroy their military capabilities, as well as their fighting capabilities. We are doing just that.”
Maj.-Gen. Buba said the military understands that it was at war against a “cruel and vicious enemy,” but was determined to degrade their capability.
Read Also: Troops deplete terrorists’ capability in North, says DHQ
He said: “Overall, troops are mission focused, prepared and motivated to win the war against terrorism. We recognise that it is a difficult task and that there will be casualties. We are doing our best to minimise the casualties.
“On the whole, it is our pride as a force to place ourselves in harm’s way to protect our citizens. We are fully committed to defeating all threats so that citizens can live in a safer and more secure environment. This is the sacrifice we make as a force, for our nation.
ISWAP commander, 114 terrorists killed in seven days
Maj. Gen. Buba also told reporters that troops killed ISWAP commander Ya Audu and 114 other terrorists in one week.
He added that the troops arrested 238 criminals and rescued 138 kidnap victims same period.
The defence spokesman said 145 high-caliber weapons and 3,825 ammunition were recovered from non-state actors.
Other items recovered are 2,093 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 246 rounds, 317 rounds of 7.62mm GPMG/PKM ammo, 129 live cartridges, 28 shotgun cartridges, 500 empty cases of MG ammo, 147 empty cases of 7.62mm ammo, three empty cases of cartridges, and 54 magazines, among others.
Maj.- Gen. Buba also said that troops of Operation Delta Safe destroyed 56 illegal refining sites and arrested 51 oil thieves.
The troops, according to him, recovered 872,070 litres of stolen crude oil and 67,985 litres of illegally refined diesel.
He said: “ Troops also discovered and destroyed 78 crude oil cooking ovens, 21 dugout pits, 56 boats, 56 drums, 26 storage, two speedboats, one barge, two tricycles, one pumping machine, and 12 vehicles, among others.”
Military only after criminals in Southeast
Maj-Gen. Buba also said troops in the Southeast have continued to conduct themselves according to the rule of engagement.
He explained the troops were only after criminals and not innocent citizens.
He was reacting to reports of the arrest of people of Ekenobizi in Umuopara, Umuahia, Abia State after the killing of some soldiers by persons believed to be Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) members.
Maj.-Gen. Buba said: “ On November 13 or thereabouts, our troops at a checkpoint within the vicinity of that community were attacked. And the attack was unprovoked. We recorded three casualties.
“Now, some members of the community say they have abandoned the location, thinking that troops will come there and start killing everybody.
‘’I need to remind you that we are a professional force. That is not how we operate.
“Even as much as there will be consequences for the terror group that escalated that situation, our targets are not innocent Nigerians. Our targets are the terrorists, and we will go after them, or are going after them.’’
