The Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd), has expressed satisfaction with the gallant performance of the Military in the ongoing operations against criminal elements in the six geo-political zones of the country. General Magashi stated this during a Joint World Press Conference held at Radio House in Abuja, where his counterparts in the Ministries of Police Affairs, Interior, and Information and Culture also rendered accounts of their efforts in tackling insecurity across the nation.
Military Achievements
The Defence Minister highlighted the success of Troops of Operation Hardin Kai in the North East, who have effectively denied ISWAP and Boko Haram terrorists the freedom to coordinate attacks, leading to significant casualties, depletion, and depression among the terrorist ranks. In the last four weeks, sixty-six terrorists, including ISWAP commander Madu Chaka Bem Bem, were neutralized, twenty others were killed, fifty-five were arrested, and fifty-two civilians were freed from captivity.
General Magashi emphasized that criminal elements have been substantially degraded and defeated in compliance with the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. He noted that troops of Operation Hadarin Daji in Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, and Zamfara in the North West have also performed commendably, countering bandits and kidnappers.
Assurance of Commitment
Reassuring President Buhari and Nigerians of the military’s total commitment to defending the nation’s territorial integrity, General Magashi outlined similar operational successes recorded in the North Central, South East, South South, and South West regions. He also thanked the President for the unwavering support that the Armed Forces of Nigeria continued to enjoy, even in their current participation in peace support operations in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.
Police Affairs Update
The Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, reported that the Police Force has been repositioned and re-equipped to effectively change the security narrative across all states. He cited significant achievements, including the recovery of two hundred and forty-eight weapons in Borno State, the arrest of one hundred and eighty-one suspects in Delta State, and the apprehension of forty suspects in Niger State over the past four weeks.
Interior Ministry’s Warning
Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, issued a stern warning to criminal elements, advising them to stay away from correctional centers across the country, or they would face severe consequences. He advised Nigerians not to obstruct the operations of the Federal Fire Service in responding to fire emergencies. While acknowledging the support from the military and sister agencies in joint operations, he assured Nigerians that incidents of jailbreaks would not recur and that arsonists, vandals, and other criminals would face the full wrath of the law.
Information and Culture Ministry’s Perspective
The convener of the press briefing, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, praised the military for their ongoing success in crushing criminal elements in accordance with President Buhari’s directives. He highlighted the enormity of Nigeria’s security challenges, which could have overwhelmed other nations, yet Nigeria remains resolute in ending terrorism, banditry, and other forms of crime. He appealed to Nigerians to view security as a collective responsibility and thanked the media for their role in nation-building and national defense.
Conference Attendance
The conference was attended by high-ranking officials, including the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Defence, Dr. Abubakar Ibrahim Kana, mni, and the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Shuaib Belgore. Also in attendance were the Chief of Defence Staff, General Leo Irabor, the Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Isah Jere Idris, the Federal Fire Service Comptroller General, Engineer Abdulganiyu Jaji, as well as top Chief Executives of Agencies, Parastatals, and members of the media.
This joint briefing underscores the comprehensive efforts and achievements of Nigeria’s security apparatus in addressing and mitigating security challenges across the nation. The collaboration among various ministries and security agencies highlights a united front in ensuring peace and stability in Nigeria.
Signed,
Mohammad Abdulkadri
Special Assistant to the Minister of Defence on Media and Publicity
5th September, 2022
