The Defense Headquarters has officially declared Nigeria to be at war and is calling on citizens to unite with the military in a collective effort to secure victory.
The Independent reports that Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defense Media Operations as having provided updates during a biweekly media briefing, revealing significant achievements in the past month.
In the fight against terrorism, troops eliminated 266 terrorists, affected the arrest of 463, and successfully rescued 116 kidnapped hostages throughout January.
General Buba emphasized the importance of unity, stating, “Our nation is at war, and wars can be complex and ugly.” He called on citizens to recognize their role in the conflict and urged a collaborative approach to address the ongoing security challenges.
He also emphasized the need for citizens to rise to the challenge and urged various segments of society to emulate the dedication of the troops on the frontlines in working towards the common goal of eradicating violence and restoring peace.
Throughout his address, he expressed pride in the diverse origins of the troops, emphasizing their united front against violence. Drawing parallels with achievements in sports, music, and other fields, he asserted that with resilience, the nation could extinguish the flames of violence.
Despite recent events, he reiterated the Armed Forces’ commitment to restoring peace and security for citizens. Troops have been relentless in their efforts, neutralizing terrorists, arresting extremists, and rescuing hostages. Operational successes include the recovery of various weapons and ammunition and the prevention of oil theft.
In January alone, troops operating in the south-south prevented oil theft amounting to N2,821,503,962.00. Notable recoveries included 237 AK-47 rifles, 26 locally fabricated guns, and substantial quantities of stolen crude oil.
The week under review saw additional accomplishments, with the neutralization of 105 terrorists, arrests of 140 individuals, and the recovery of weapons, ammunition, and stolen resources.
General Buba reassured the public that the Armed Forces would proceed with their mission professionally, hunting and destroying terrorists across the country.