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Tag: Military

  • The Nigerian Military vs our enemies of progress

    By Solomon Oseke

    These are indeed interesting times in Nigeria where the media has elected to be on the other side of the divide, churning out divisive news items that serve the country no good, all in return for a plate of porridge. It is also a sad epoch in our existence as a people and as a country where some news platforms have taken the role of being the mouthpiece of the enemies of Nigeria.

    I get confused most times on how we got it so wrong in this country like we are a bunch of uneducated folks that know nothing about National interest. Some news platforms now see it as the fad to lead the assault against the government not for what it worth but to promote the interest of their paymasters that have refused to come to terms with the reality that Nigeria belongs to all of us and not a select and those that have also refused to come to terms that it is no longer business as usual where a few share the commonwealth of the people at the detriment of the over 180 million Nigerians.

    These news platforms are obsessed with everything about Nigeria. From the choice of the President to who has the right to appoint and sack Service Chiefs in the country. The Nigerian Military has also not been spared from their venomous attacks. Day in day out, we are regaled with fictitious stories about the President and how whatnot about the operations of the Nigerian Military in North-East Nigeria.

    This trend is indeed worrisome and should give all well-meaning Nigerians a reason for worry because as it stands, we are not only fighting terrorism in North-East Nigeria, we have also been confronted by lack of patriotism from a constituency that is meant to maintain editorial independence, accuracy and fairness, social responsibility and public interest.

    This is the starkness of the reality confronting us as a country now and a vivid definition of the enemy within. The enemy within are those that use their positions to cause havoc rather than promote peaceful coexistence in the society. The enemies within are those who would stand truth on its head by publishing false and misleading stories for the consumption of the general public. The enemies within are those who would intentionally spread inaccurate figures from the North East and push to the public space without minding the consequences of such actions on the overall psyche of the fighting troops as well as the generality of Nigerians.

    The enemies within are those who would collect gratification from members of the opposition and spread propaganda using their news medium all in the name of playing politics and at the detriment of National Interest. The enemies within are those who are not happy with the gains been recorded by the Nigerian Military in the war against terrorism in the country. The enemies within are those who would leak to the Boko Haram terrorist the operational strategies of the Nigerian Military.
    The enemies within are those who quote military commanders out of context to destabilize the system, and the enemies within are those that wine and dine with the enemies of Nigeria in their quest for the disintegration of Nigeria. And the list goes on.

    I have had reason to state in numerous forums that the challenges facing Nigeria are orchestrated and sustained with the active connivance of some news platforms that have elected to be the devil’s advocate in time as critical as this in the annals of the country.

    In recent times, the worst hit is the Nigerian Military in the theater of operations in North-East Nigeria. It is so grave that now these individuals twist everything that comes from the theater of operations to give a different interpretation to the general public. The recent casualty of their mischief is the theatre commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, where he was quoted out of context in such a despicable manner.

    I am at a loss as to how we got it so wrong in Nigeria. As a start, since 2015, when President Muhammadu Buhari assumed leadership of the country, Nigerians sighed relief and wished for our hopes and aspirations to be translated into tangible realities. This much we saw with the quality of appointments into critical areas of the Nigerian economy, including the Nigerian Military.

    Using the Boko Haram war as an example, the Nigerian Military hit the ground running after the presidential directive for the relocation of the military command to Maiduguri in Borno State. And in less than a year, we saw tangible results with territories under the control of the Boko Haram group recaptured. The leadership of the Boko Haram group was dislodged from their operational headquarters in Sambisa Forest, and their remnants scattered all over the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin region.

    Nigerians were relieved. They were grateful and encouraged the Nigerian Military to do more to put an end to the activities of the Boko Haram group. Little did we know that some were not happy, and they consequently ganged up against Nigeria. And as funny as this might sound, the likes of Sahara Reporters led this charge in their onslaught against Nigeria.

    Sahara Reporters and their agents have been at the vanguard of ensuring that Nigeria does not know peace. They have twisted and falsified figures. They have misinterpreted government policies and efforts towards ending the war against terrorism in Nigeria. They are in the habit of going to town with false casualty figures in an attempt to instigate mutiny in the Armed Forces.

    This was the case during the Goodluck Jonathan era, and they succeeded, and Nigeria suffered the consequences. And ironically, this same strategy is what is happening now in Nigeria, and Nigerians must be aware of this nefarious plot against the Nigeria Military.

    We must realize that they are more ferocious than before and would stop at nothing to ensure that they achieve their notorious agenda. It is, therefore, no surprise that the Nigerian Military is their strategic focus due to its exploits in the war against terrorism in North-East Nigeria. But for how long they intend to carry on remains to be understood. This would only be possible if Nigerians allow it.

    In all of these, I am more than convinced that all those that have elected to be on the side of the evil plot against Nigeria would be indeed put to shame. And how would this be possible? This would be possible if all Nigerians, as a matter of urgency, begin to disregard the activities of Sahara Reporters and their agents scattered all over Nigeria.

    The good news is that Nigeria is indeed bigger than those individuals and their agents that are against the interest of Nigeria. I firmly believe that Nigerians would, in one voice, reject and rebuke those that are against our progress as a people and as a country.

    The government also has a role to play. They must strive to control the narrative in the media to feed Nigerians with the actual situations of things at all times and every given opportunity. They must not allow the likes of Sahara Reporters and their agents to take the lead as this might have harsh consequences for the morale of its troops in operation in North-East Nigeria.

    Nigerians must stay united in our quest for sustainable growth and development. We must form a common voice to defeat the enemies within and as well as the enemies of our progress. Nigeria is indeed on the path of greatness. I salute the enormous sacrifices of our Military and can only encourage them to do more in service to fatherland.

    Oseke wrote this article from Auchi.

  • Stay away from military, Congress warns ethnic bigots

    Stay away from military, Congress warns ethnic bigots

    ….Lauds COAS, Buratai’s patriotism

    The Progressive Yoruba Youth Congress (PYYC) has warned ethnic bigots to steer clear of the military and avoid politicizing its internal administrative matters.

    PYYC’s caution trails the manner the recent reshuffling of senior officers was interpreted in some quarters despite being an obvious routine exercise.

    In a statement signed by president, Mr. Kola Salau, the Yoruba youths said it is “disappointed that certain interests are attempting to incite the Yoruba nation to take offence” at the redeployment of commander Operation Lafiya Dole.

    PYYC wondered why the same group didn’t put in similar energy when one of them, Lieutenant General L.O. Adeosun, was given an accelerated promotion.

    The Yoruba youths, however, expressed its support for the military, the Army, in particular, under the leadership of Lt. Gen TY Buratai.

    According to PYYC, the Army chief has shown exceptional patriotism and passion for competence and capacity over personal interest.

  • Nigerian Military confirms index case of Coronavirus

    The Nigerian Military on Monday, confirmed that an unnamed military officer, who recently returned from a foreign assignment, has tested positive, becoming the index case for the Armed Forces.

    The Officer according to him has been admitted at the Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, Abuja.

    Confirming this on Monday, Coordinator of the Defence Media Operations, Major-General John Enenche, who briefed journalists at the Defence Headquarters Abuja, said the military will unveil 17 isolation treatment centres across the country for the treatment of the dreaded virus.

    He said Armed Forces will enforce the restriction on movement as contained in the Presidential order.

    He listed the isolation and treatment centres to include; the 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Yaba, 2 Division Hospital Ibadan, Military Hospital, Port Harcourt, Navy Reference Hospital, Calabar and the Military Hospital, Benin.

    Others were the 211 Regiment Group Medical Centre, Owerri. 82 Division Military Hospital, Enugu, 161 Nigerian Air Force Hospital, Makurdi, 22 Brigade Medical Centre, Ilorin. 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, 465 Nigerian Air Force Hospital, Kano and the 263 Nigerian Air Force Reference Hospital, Daura.

    Also listed were 119 Composite Group Medical Centre, Sokoto, 261 Nigerian Air Force Reference Hospital, Bauchi, 163 Nigerian Air Force Hospital, Yola, 7 Division Military Hospital, Maiduguri and 27 Task Force Brigade Field Ambulance, Damaturu.

    According to Enenche, “A Committee headed by the Chief of Defence Training and Operations, Major General Leo Irabor, is in place interfacing with all relevant Ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria managing the COVID- 19 pandemic.

    “As mentioned in my first briefing regarding COVID-19, there are 17 isolation and treatment centres earmarked which are spread across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

    “Further to this, a good number of Armed Forces of Nigerian medical personnel have been earmarked to be trained on the management of COVID 19 cases, which will done in liaison with Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)”.

    He continued that, “in the same vein, about 48 Disaster Response Units of the Armed Forces of Nigeria are on Notice To Move in conjunction with NEMA. These units will handle operations other than medicals that may arise in the course of this non kinetic military operation.

    “Finally, the Armed Forces of Nigeria is to implement all restriction on movement in line with the Federal Government of Nigeria. For the avoidance of doubt this include the Presidential Directive given by the President Commander In Chief, during his address to the Nation on the COVID 19 Pandemic, on 29 March 2020.

  • Covid-19: Lagos to flood streets with military, police from tomorrow to keep nonessential people off streets

    Following a virtual meeting held between Lagos State Government, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Nigeria Employers Consultative Assembly (NECA) on Wednesday, a resolution to engage the Nigeria Army and police was reached to ensure compliance of a partial lockdown in Lagos.

    According to reports, the said meeting held in Lagos between 11am – 1.00pm , 25th March 2020, on COVID -19 Update.

    Below are the highlights of the Sanwo-Olu’s response based on the issues and challenges companies raised;

    · NECA (FMCG & Pharmaceutical companies) – about 24 participants including PZCN represented by Kayode and myself; Others are Nestle, Unilever, Nigeria Breweries, Frischland, Promascido, Flourmill, Honeywell Flourmill, Spar, Niemeth Pharmacy, Shoprite, Cadbury, Emzor Pharmaceuticals, etc.

    · NB PLC provided IT facility to enable the meeting.

    · Lagos will not be on complete lockdown but slow down. Intention is to take non essentials out of the street.

    · There will be increased military presence (army, police, navy, air force and other para military organisations) as from tomorrow on the road to ensure compliance.

    · Security – the police & military will be well briefed to be cautious with citizens to avoid untoward incidents. Government will over index on security.

    · FMCGs are essential goods classified as daily need products, foods and drugs, beverages, health and hygiene products, medicaments, etc.

    · Employees of these companies must carry their IDs to and from work to ensure easy identification and smooth passage.

    · All Food markets shall remain open.

    · The retail chains – Spar, Game, Shoprite etc. shall remain open daily. People should not panic buy. Government will ensure that supplies are kept flowing.

    · Government will open additional 50 – 60 emergency markets in school premises that will be allocated to FMCG companies to go in and erect stands to sell their essential goods for people who cannot go to Spar and Shoprite to go and buy their daily needs.

    · Electronics markets, shops, spare parts markets, clothes markets and all classified as non-essentials shall be closed down.

    · Transport for intra city commuting shall be allowed to operate, especially Lagos State Transport Buses.

    · Trucks carrying inbound supplies or outbound products of FMCG companies will be allowed to operate to ensure supplies continuity of essential products. These trucks must have means of identification to enable law enforcement identify them easily. To this end, we will get our transport to make cardboard with PZCN logo for easy identification.

    · Intercity and Interstate supplies are a challenge outside Lagos because most states governments have imposed no entry into their state especially from Lagos. The Governor promised to put a call immediately after the meeting to Chairman of Governors forum of the federation who is governor of nearby Ekiti State (Gov Fayemi) for him to use his office and prevail on all state governments to co-operate and allow SC trucks of FMCG companies delivering essential raw materials and products supplies free passage into and through the states of the federation to ensure supply continuity. How fast and far this will happen remains to be seen. We will monitor deliveries across the countries and update.

    · Garbage clearance off the streets and road by LAWMA – Lagos State Waste Management Authority- shall work all through to remove filth.

    · Government will reach out to Airport and Sea Ports operators (NAHCO; APMT, Maersk etc. ) to get them prioritise FMCG materials clearing over others during this period.

    · Tax incentives and reliefs (breaks) to companies and citizens due to increased cost during this crisis times. Governor mentioned that it is being considered by the State Government.

    · ISOLATION Centres – Government is setting up centres across the state in Yaba, Onikan, Lekki, Gbagada. Target is to achieve 2000 bed capacity by end March.

    · TESTING Centres – Government is setting up 3 testing centres with capacity to test 100 people per day. 2 already functioning and the third is WIP.

    · To conclude Governor released key contacts to NECA members for quick access to key commissioners including Commissioner of Police and his ADC.

    · The NECA forum with Governor shall remain a standing forum for crisis management. Will be meeting once or twice weekly as the case may arise. Members will be notified accordingly.

  • Fajuyigbe: Fajuyi in history & as history (2) – Hope Eghagha

    Fajuyigbe: Fajuyi in history & as history (2) – Hope Eghagha

    By Hope O’Rukevbe Eghagha

    No doubt, Fajuyi’s place in authentic history is assured. He is elevated to the pantheon of men who have stood for principle and will never be forgotten any time events of 1966 are recalled. He has become a historical figure too. And in very positive terms. He represents an iconic age in the history of the military in administration and governance. That spirit died after July 1966. Brigands without honour became commanders of a profession historically associated with honour and decency. It is a tragedy that the nation may never recover from. I have noticed that when heroes of Nigeria are mentioned in the media, nobody mentions Fajuyi. Focus is often on people who held national power. Perhaps it has to do with lack of knowledge or the yardstick which the writers use to define their heroes.

    For some too, Fajuyi’s death was a waste of human resource, a sacrifice too he to make for the bumbling giant that has become Nigeria. If he had stayed alive perhaps it would have been difficult to lead the Nigerian military into paths of brigandage that followed. But what about the officers from that era who remained alive and went on to become villains of the highest order, robbing Central Bank in Benin, amassing billions in foreign accounts, owning the biggest estates and business concern around the world, shooting their way into power and holding the entire country to ransom and purloining an oil well proceeds from which they say they do not know what to do with? Were the Generals who became the nation’s wealthiest men also from the Fajuyi era? Was Fajuyi an exception, an anomaly from that era, and could have become ‘like them’ too were he not taken away from the scene? Not likely!

    The prolonged stay of soldiers in political power made them susceptible to the spoils of office as the politicians had done in the First Republic. The thesis therefore is that we should not have allowed the soldiers to remain in political office. Did we have a say, even though we sometimes called on them to remove an incumbent government? Put properly, the military hierarchy, in order to keep the integrity of the armed forces should not have remained in governance for the many years that they did. General Gowon did nine years and wanted to extend his stay until the red-eyed Murtala Mohammed knocked him off his rockers. Murtala/Obasanjo stayed within reasonable limits and handed over power in the honourable tradition. When Ibrahim Babangida seized power in 1985, he wanted to stay in power for as long as he could dribble us. But for the hand of fate, Abacha would have remained forever! Sadly, when Obasanjo returned in as civilian president, it was reported that he wanted to stay beyond two terms. The taste of political power had altered the military training from Sandhurst.

    In interrogating the Fajuyi heroic action, we should be interested in the meaning of friendship, of loyalty, and of character. We should also be interested in the factors that made a Fajuyi possible in time and in a historical sense and whether in real terms his sacrifice had any effect on the national struggle for cohesion and ethnic unity. Fajuyi was possible because of his character and the prevailing circumstances in the military. Insubordination or ethnicization of the military had not taken full hold. That came later. But in terms of character, Fajuyi could still have been possible just as we have had some officers who served with honour and are currently living or died depending only in their entitlements.

    When a man sacrifices his life for the community, the immediate family suffers. Often, especially in the developing world, they are forgotten by the establishment. The widow bears the brunt. The kids suffer emotional trauma. And their lives are never the same again. In some cases, the quality of life drops too. Friends of their father go their own way because the real link with the family is gone. So, although one may be a hero to the entire world and bring a good name to the family, the immediate family may not share in the enthusiasm of the larger community. I am not arguing that this is the case with the Fajuyi family.

    If the descent into anarchy had ceased with the tragedy of July 1966, we could have said that Nigeria learnt from the ‘labours of its heroes past’. But contemporary Nigeria is frightening. Bishop Matthew Kukah summed it up at the funeral of the young seminarian who was slaughtered by the Boko Haram scoundrels when he said that Nigeria was not dying for. In other words, Nigeria pays no attention when a worthy deed is done. The Fajuyi remembrance for example, is a local thing. Such an iconic character ought to be national property, a national celebration on October 1st and beyond. Such a character ought to be mentioned in the history books as a lesson to the younger ones. But it may be that we do not need heroes anymore. Bertolt Brecht observed that ‘Unhappy the land that is in need of heroes.’ Indeed, but for Dr Kayode Fayemi’s intellectual disposition, his sense of history and commitment to popular causes, he would not have deemed it necessary to see the drama titled Ifajuyigbe, written and directed by Professor Bakare Rasaki, who incidentally is Commissioner for Arts and Culture.

    As an aside, Bakare ventured into the topic because of his intellectual and/or academic background. A typical politician would not have the time for such intellectual excursions into history. Town and gown can be fruitful, just the way my stay in government brought the JP Clark Building to the University of Lagos through my relationship with Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, then Governor of Delta State, a fact which Professor Rahman Bello, then Vice Chancellor, fully and openly acknowledged when I returned to the Senate of the university in 2015. I will do a full-length essay on this subject in the months ahead.

    In concluding my two-part comment on the heroic example of Lt. Col Francis Adekunle Fajuyi, I daresay that Fajuyi rests in history and has become a historical figure. ‘The ordinary man is involved in action,’ wrote Henry Miller, ‘the hero acts. An immense difference’. The heroic is to be found in acting, doing, and performing. Fajuyi’s spirit of friendship may not resonate with the youth of this generation on account of how they have encountered a fragile and uncaring Nigeria, we may say, does not deserve such an altruistic figure. Yet, humanity needs such characters to affirm its connectedness with the realities of existence.

    Eghagha can be reached on 08023220393 or heghagha@yahoo.com

  • Insecurity: Military reacts to accusation of recruiting repentant Boko Haram members

    Insecurity: Military reacts to accusation of recruiting repentant Boko Haram members

    No de-radicalised Boko Haram member has been enlisted into the military, the Coordinator, Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC), Maj.-Gen Bamidele Shafa, has said.

    Maj.-Gen. Shafa made the clarification on Thursday in Abuja during a chat with reporters after a visit to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

    He said that the military is a professional body adhering strictly to rules and regulations governing its activities, including enlistment.

    Gen. Shafa said: “None of the 280 boys that graduated from the OPSC is recruited into the Nigerian military.

    “We have our criteria for recruitment. To be recruited, you must be a Nigerian, must not have been convicted of any offence, and must not have been a member of any proscribed organisation.

    “So, considering the criteria, none of these boys has been recruited into the military.

    “OPSC just finished its follow-up into the communities and these boys are doing very well. None of them is in the military.

    “So, I want to assure Nigerians that none of these boys has been recruited and I am not sure any one of them will be recruited in the future,” he stressed.

  • Security Meeting: No discussion on fate of Service Chiefs – NSA, Monguno

    The National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, has dismissed speculation in some quarters that Thursday’s meeting of the National Security Council discussed the fate of the country’s service chiefs.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had on Thursday presided over the 2020 maiden meeting of the National Security Council with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and the security chiefs in attendance.

    The meeting came amidst calls in some quarters for the removal of the service chiefs due to the ongoing security challenges in some parts of the country.

    The House of Representatives had on Wednesday called on the service chiefs to either resign or be sacked in view of their inability to proffer solutions to the nation security challenges.

    Monguno, however, told State House correspondents at the end of the security meeting that the council which is the highest security body in the country chaired by the President, did not discuss the issue of the service chiefs.

    “The issue of the National Assembly resolution did not come up at the meeting,’’ he said.

    The NSA said the quarterly meeting focused on appraisal of the security situation across the country with a view to finding lasting solutions to the problem.

    He said: “The meeting basically made an appraisal of the current security situation in the country and took a look at the possibilities, the opportunities available to government in addressing most of the recent challenges.

    “There were discussions and at the end of the day, the most important thing that we came up with is the need for collaboration, both between governmental agencies and the larger Nigerian society because of the type of the insurgencies we are faced with, the complexities, the multiplicity of all kinds of issues.

    “There is a need for both parties, governmental agencies on one hand and the larger society to collaborate more vigorously. There is a need for us to deal with these problems in a comprehensive manner.

    “Therefore, council has decided to take a closer look at issues that will help us not just at the federal level or at the state level, but right down to the local government level.

    “But this is going to be done after due consultations with the relevant stakeholders,’’ the NSA said.

  • Forget alternate security plans, Military tells governors after meeting Buhari

    The military high command seems to have sealed the fate of state governments seeking to establish their own security outfit, with an admonition to such states on Friday to forget their move.

    The service chiefs, rising from a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, advised all Nigerians and other “stakeholders, local and state governments, to join hands with the Armed Forces of Nigeria to ensure that our country is secured rather than looking at other methods that are likely going to negate the national community policing policy that the federal government has approved.”

    The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.

    Abubakar’s admonition is seen as a veiled reference to the setting up of the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN) codenamed Operation Amotekun.

    The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, had earlier, on Tuesday, declared Operation Amotekun as illegal because “it runs contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian law.”

    Malami’s statement has been dismissed as illogical and inconsequential by many prominent Nigerians and groups.

  • Buhari allays fears, says troops withdrawal from troubled communities will be gradual

    President Muhammadu Buhari has reassured Nigerians that withdrawal of the military from areas where peace had been restored will not be done in a manner that will expose communities to more risks of attacks.

    The president said the withdraw exercise will be gradual and carefully planned, not abrupt or arbitrary to jeopardise the success already recorded by the military.

    Reacting to concerns and appeals from governors and community leaders over the proposed withdrawal, Buhari said the “administration will not abandon citizens in need of protection.”

    He urged Nigerians, especially public affairs analysts, to carefully study the statement following a security council meeting with service chiefs that the withdrawal of troops would be done after an “assessment” to determine areas where peace had returned to enable civil authorities assume full control.

    Buhari said where it is determined that the withdrawal would not in any way jeopardize peace already achieved, the military pull out would be in a careful and gradual way.

    “You don’t need to worry. We will not expose our people and their communities to harm or danger,” the President assured.

    “The withdrawal is to allow the military focus on its primary duty of defending the nation against external aggression. It is the duty of the police to handle internal security since Nigeria is not at war.

    “The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps will support the police to provide internal security. When it is time to withdraw, nothing will be rushed,’’ he added.

  • Boko Haram, ISWAP attacked Northeast 27 times in 14 days – Military

    Boko Haram, ISWAP attacked Northeast 27 times in 14 days – Military

    Troops repelled 27 attacks from Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the Northeast within two weeks, the military said on Monday.

    The feat, according to the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Rear Admiral Ibok Ekwe-Ibas, who briefed reporters after a Security Council meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari, was achieved by the military in collaboration with regional partners.

    The naval chief, who was speaking on the activities of terrorist groups within and outside the borders, said the military had made a lot of progress.

    He noted that many attempted attacks had been foiled even as many of their leading commanders had been neutralised.

    According to him, the President directed security chiefs to ensure peaceful and stable socio-economic environment across the country.

    He said the meeting appraised the nation’s security situations in 2019 with emphasis on ongoing internal and regional operations.

    Rear Admiral Ekwe-Ibas said the President specifically directed that the council and the members of armed forces ensure a peaceful society in 2020.

    The Naval boss said: “To that effect, we are more than determined to continue from where we stopped in 2019 and to ensure that we sustain our various operations to ensure a secured Nigeria for all of us.

    “On the activities of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), I will also like you to look at it from a broader African perspective. We have in recent past have attacks in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and other countries in West Africa. While it is painful to lose people and from within, I think the military is doing all within its power to ensure that we overcome the menace and the threats posed by ISWAP.

    According to him, the army has been doing its best to end the reign of terrorists groups operating in the northern part of the country, especially the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), noting that recent onslaught against them proved that troops have an upper hand.

    He said: “You will also recall that just two weeks back we have had over 27 attacks from Boko Haram and ISWAP in the northeast alone. Our gallant troops out there were able to repel these attacks and even took out some of their commanders.

    “So, it is a thing of concern but the armed forces of Nigeria are doing all in their powers to ensure that together with other regional partners, that the menace of ISWAP is contained.”

    He informed that the Nigerian Armed Forces will begin the gradual withdrawal of troops from some of their security operations across the country from the first quarter of next year.

    The CNS explained that the withdrawal will follow proper assessment of the success rates of operations.

    Explaining the reason for the decision to end the operations in some parts of the country soon, the naval chief said the Council observed that the forces had done their best to stabilise the security situation in the affected areas.

    He noted that it was agreed that the natural step for security agencies to take is to restore civil security arms to the satisfactorily cleared areas under military operations.

    The CNS said: “We had a security council meeting with Mr. President where we appraised the year 2019 generally with emphasis on ongoing operations both within as well as the regional operations ongoing.

    “With respect to operations within the country, it was generally agreed and noted that the security agencies have done their very best in ensuring that the deliverables are made clear.

    “You will recall that the various operations in the country in the northeast, northwest, north central, the southeast as well as the southwest where all members of the armed forces are taking part as well as the intelligence agencies have ensured that we all enjoyed a better holiday period that has just been observed.

    “We also recalled that in those areas where the military have been able to achieve desired objectives, from the first quarter of next year, the civil authority will be preparing to take back those responsibilities as the military draws back its forces from those areas to enable it force its attention on other emerging threats and areas of concern.”

    When asked to elaborate on the mode to be employed in the planned withdrawal of troops and the areas to be affected, the Naval chief said the withdrawal would follow an assessment of operations in different parts, adding that it is only when success levels had been certified as good enough to be handed to civil authorities that troops would be taken out of an area.

    He said: “Let me make it very clear that an assessment of what the military will do will be based on the situation on ground. It is not expected that the military will withdraw when it is apparent that there are still some threats in such locations.

    “I’m sure we are also aware that the nation is procuring equipment for the military. It is expected that before the second quarter of next year, most of these equipment should be in place. It therefore means that all our hands are put on ground, looking at the technology backed surveillance that will enable the military react more efficiently and effectively.

    “With that it is also believed that the Nigerian police will take the lead in containing security in such areas that must have been assessed to be in the right place to sustain. I don’t believe that a responsibility military will want to withdraw when it is apparent that there is still risk that cannot be overcome by the police.”

    He further said that the armed forces were concerned with the prolonged nature of the fight against terrorism within the country, adding that they were doing everything to see to the end of all operations so that the nation could focus more on development issues, saying “it is our wish to have the insurgency and terrorism issues resolved once and for all to enable us focus on matters of development,” the Rear Admiral said.

    At the Council meeting were: Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin; Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshall Abubakar Sadique; Chief of Defense Intelligence (CDI), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Mohammed Usman; Director-General of Department for State Service (DSS) Yusuf Magaji Bichi; National Security Adviser (NSA) Babagana Monguno; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha and the Nigerian Army Chief of Policy and Plans; Lt. Gen. Lasisi Adeosun, who represented Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai.