The Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja has said the continuous injection of trained troops and specialist equipment into the theatres of operation for specialized operations has reduced crime in the country.
According to the Nation, the COAS said this on Tuesday, April 16, at the Chief of Army Staff first quarter conference 2024, at the Command Officers Mess Abuja.
He said also said troops’ operations in the South East against the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra and the Eastern Security Network, and operations against oil thieves in the Niger Delta region have yielded positive results.
The COAS said: “There is no denying that since we came on board, despite a few apparent challenges and setbacks, we have made considerable progress in stabilizing the country’s security. But for our concerted efforts, the insecurity that would have developed across the country is better imagined than experienced.
“Our continuous injection of trained troops and specialist equipment into the North East theatre for specialized operations such as MOUNTAIN SANITY II, LAKE SANITY II, and DESERT SANITY III have continued to complement efforts to degrade ISWAP/JAS terrorist groups by the Theatre Command. These efforts have greatly improved the security situation in the North East and have expectedly enhanced the trust and confidence of the public towards our troops.
“Similarly, intensified offensives to eliminate armed bandits and other criminal elements in the North West and North Central regions are yielding positive outcomes. We have continued to project forces in Operations HADARIN DAJI, FOREST SANITY, and WHIRL PUNCH while ramping up offensives to eliminate bandit enclaves.
“These operations have destroyed criminal hideouts, neutralized scores of bandits, and subjected the remaining ones to situations where they are mainly on the run.
“Relatedly, our troops deployed in the South-South and South East regions on Joint Task Force Operation DELTA SAFE and Operation UDO KA have continued to perform creditably. Both operations have undoubtedly led to the neutralization of a significant number of IPOB/ESN criminals, the recovery of numerous weapons and ammunition, and the destruction of several illegal oil refineries.
“Additionally, our collective efforts in Operations DELTA SAFE and UDO KA have substantially increased daily crude exploration output with a corresponding boost to Nigeria’s foreign reserve and other economic indices.”
The army chief said that to enhance troops’ efficiency in the battlefields, the Nigerian Army had exposed troops to specialized training that are attuned to current realities and global best practices.
