Inside military ‘battles’ against terrorists, oil thieves

Recently, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, vowed that the adversaries terrorising different parts of the country, particularly those wreaking havoc in the North-west, would be brought to book.  Since then, troops attached to various theatres of operation have arrested, killed top terrorists’ commanders, including Halilu Sububu, the boss of the notorious Bello […]

Recently, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, vowed that the adversaries terrorising different parts of the country, particularly those wreaking havoc in the North-west, would be brought to book. 

Since then, troops attached to various theatres of operation have arrested, killed top terrorists’ commanders, including Halilu Sububu, the boss of the notorious Bello Turji, who has continued to disrupt the peace of many northwestern states. In this report, Weekend Trust spotlights other successes recorded against the enemies of the country.

After a marching order from the top in July to get rid of crude oil thieves, Gen Musa said, “The truth about it is that whatever is happening in the South-south has been ongoing for a very long time and we feel it is time it is stopped.

 “What we are promising Nigerians is that henceforth, the entire South-south will be cleared of any act of vandalism and other forms of criminality.

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 “The president has given us a mandate to ensure that we secure the entire South-south and enable the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and others to carry out their tasks so that we can have improved production.

 “We know that Nigeria relies so much on what we produce.”

He said this shortly after a meeting with the Group Managing Director of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari and other top echelons in the security sector over the dwindling revenue from crude oil, which is the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy.

Although, it was gathered that there are still some challenges being faced by the troops attached to Operation Delta Safe, regarding the complete safety of the maritime domain, the troops, drawn from the three services, appear to have taken the bull by the horns.

Findings revealed that the DSS, operationally known as secret police, and its counterpart from the military, Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), have in recent times stepped up their games in gathering intelligence and sharing with frontline officers.

In the same vein, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has provided what security experts described as “external backing” in order to help the military combat “external forces” while dealing with internal aggression. 

This synergy, according to military officers spoken to, has increased the capabilities of the frontline personnel, as well as enhanced battle-damage on the capacity of the  criminals who are hell-bent on bringing the country to its knees through their activities.

Commenting on the status of the operation in the Niger-Delta, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major-General Edward Buba, explained that troops of Operation Delta Safe had maintained momentum against the activities of crude oil thieves.

He disclosed that troops destroyed several illegal refining sites and recovered stolen products, adding that the air component of Operation Delta Safe conducted air interdiction aimed at curbing security challenges, crude oil theft, damaging of oil and gas infrastructure, illegal refining, as well as sea robbery, with a view to restoring oil and gas production to full capacity. 

Buba stated, “During the operations, several illegal refining sites, storage tanks, reservoirs, barges and boats were destroyed.

“Troops recovered 789,200 litres of stolen crude oil and 64,950 litres of illegally refined AGO. Additionally, troops discovered and destroyed two dugout pits, 58 boats and 39 storage tanks. 

“Other items recovered include; 13 cooking ovens, 35 drums, one motorcycle, one tricycle, four speed boats, 13 vehicles and 65 illegal refining sites.”

Weekend Trust gathered that within the period under review, scores of terrorists’ commanders, particularly those who have continued to wreak havoc in the North-west and North-east have been either arrested or killed. 

On August 17, troops of the Nigerian Army killed three Boko Haram terrorists, including a commander, Abu Rajab during a raid in Sambisa forest in Borno State.

The military operation, which was conducted in collaboration with the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), targeted a terrorist camp in the Bula Daloje, Bama Local Government Area of the state.

After a heavy gun-battle with the terrorists, during which three of them were killed, other criminals were forced to flee. The operation, according to credible sources, led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles and mobile phones.

In the same August, no fewer than five terrorists’ commanders—Munzir Arika, Sani Dilla (Dan Hausawan Jubillaram), Ameer Modu, Dan Fulani Fari Fari and Bakoura Arina Chiki—were killed in the operation carried out by troops of Operation Hadin Kai.

Giving an update, the military spokesman said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai killed 83 terrorists, arrested 56 suspects and rescued 50 hostages in the middle of October 2024. 

He said, “Troops recovered 18 AK47 rifles, six pump action guns, 13 fabricated rifles, eight Dane guns, 814 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 131 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 15 live cartridges, 15 magazines, five vehicles, seven bicycles, four motorcycles, eight mobile phones and the sum of N64,100.00, amongst others.” 

Earlier in February, the troops attached to Operation Hadarin Daji neutralised the head of Is-Al Furqan Province (ISGS and ISWAP), Abu Bilal Minuki, popularly known as Abubakar Mainok, as well as some of his criminal gang members, including Haruna Isiya Boderi.

Mainok, a notorious terrorist, had operated along the Birnin Gwari forest in Kaduna State, as well as the Abuja-Kaduna highway before he met his waterloo on February 21, 2024, Weekend Trust gathered.

Other notorious terrorists’ commanders killed alongside Mainok and Boderi during the operation included Kachallah Damina, Kachallah Alhaji Dayi, Kachallah Idi (Namaidaro), Kachallah Kabiru (Doka), Kachallah Azarailu (Farin-Ruwa), Kachallah Balejo, Ubangida, Alhaji Baldu, among others.

During the operation, at least 35 of their foot soldiers were also eliminated with airstrikes.

In the North-central, the military, in collaboration with the police, restored normalcy to Plateau and Benue states, where issues of cattle rustling, farmer-herders clashes had become the order of the day.   

 

Experts to military, police: Sustain kinetic, non-kinetic operations

Speaking on what the military should do to ensure that the North-east and North-west are freed of terrorism, a security sector reform expert, Chukwuma Ume, said the military and police should move into the already liberated areas.

He also said it would go a long way if the security agencies employed the use of non-kinetic approach to dissuade locals from joining the criminal gangs.

“Let me first say that we cannot entirely rule out the kinetic operation option from the fight against terrorism. What’s obtainable in most parts of the world is the combination of both the stick and the carrot (both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches).

“The problem is that kinetic approach doesn’t have a long-lasting impact. Anybody who wants to solve the problem must come from a structural perspective in foundation by using a non-kinetic approach. 

“You need to ask yourself; what are the predisposed factors to terrorism or militancy? Those problems can be solved without firing a bullet.

“Exclusion, social inequality, poverty, unemployment and even misconduct from law enforcement officers are some of the factors responsible. We still have so many other factors,” Ume said.

 

‘Elimination of kingpins a temporary success’

Ume, who described the killing of kingpins as a temporary success, urged the military to maintain their presence in the areas cleared by troops in order not to give space for the terrorists to regain grounds.

“Why don’t we begin to raise the re-distribution of wealth? Why don’t we open more doors in the decision-making process of the country for economic self-reliance, healthcare services, education and so on. These are more holistic approaches to solving these problems than kinetic approaches.

 “Like I said, the non-kinetic approach cannot be entirely relied on because some people are incorrigible, in the sense that they are not willing to take these opportunities, even if they are provided,” he said.

In the same vein, an intelligence and terrorism expert, Kabiru Adamu, urged the military to work in collaboration with the police to block the source of weapons for the criminals.