The Nigerian military reported substantial achievements in its operations throughout 2023, including the elimination of 6,886 terrorists and various criminal elements. In addition, 6,970 suspects were apprehended, and 4,488 kidnapped citizens were successfully rescued across the country. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen Buba Edward, shared these details, highlighting the recovery of 100 million litres of stolen crude oil and 60 million litres of diesel during the operations.
Furthermore, the military efforts led to the neutralization of threats such as armed banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, oil theft, secessionist agitations, and farmers-herders clashes. The threats were analyzed across geopolitical zones, with specific dynamics defined for each region. While challenges like armed banditry and terrorism persisted in the North-Central and North-West, the North-East continued to face Boko Haram insurgents. Secessionist agitations were identified as major threats in the South-East and South-West, while the South-South dealt with issues like oil theft and youth restiveness.
Maj-Gen Buba attributed the proliferation of small arms, porous borders, and local arms fabrication as contributors to increased crime rates in 2023. He emphasized the armed forces’ efforts to address these challenges through both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches. Regarding the recent attacks in Plateau State, Buba explained the difficulties troops faced due to the vast and rugged terrain, making some areas challenging to access promptly.
In response to letters notifying residents of potential attacks, Buba assured that measures were in place to prevent a recurrence and pledged to take action against those responsible for the crimes.
