The Army has taken a significant step to prevent the killing of its troops through ambush by terrorists and bandits.
In the last one month, 24 Army officers and men were killed through ambush in Delta and Niger states, while on peace missions.
Yesterday, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, hinted of the plan to take delivery of Mine-resistant Ambush-Protected (MRAP) vehicles in the next few weeks.
This is to ensure safety of its personnel in the battle against terrorists and economic saboteurs.
The Amry is engaged in different operation in virtually all the 36 states.
Gen. Lagbaja added that the Aviation unit of the Army will soon take off.
MRAP vehicles are a family of automobiles designed to provide increased crew protection against operational threats, such as Improvised Explosive Devices(IEDs), mines, and small arms.
There are different categories of MRAPs with the most popular being Cougar 6×6, an advanced ballistic and blast-protected type that can seat 10 fully-equipped soldiers.
Army Aviation is generally separate from the Air Force. It usually has a full complement of its own helicopters and light support fixed-wing aircraft.
Gen. Lagbaja did not give the number of the MRAPs being expected when he spoke to troops of the 23 Brigade at the Gibson Jalo Cantonment, Yola in Adamawa State. However, he revealed that some of the assets for the NA Aviation would be on the ground before July.
He told the troops that the awaited special purpose vehicles, the NA Aviation, and other projects, were evidence of progress being made by the Army due to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s support.
He said: “The government, in its effort to reposition the Army, is doing a lot. In the next few weeks, we are expecting mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles to enhance the conduct of our operations nationwide.
“With the support we are getting from Mr President, putting everything together, in the foreseeable future, I see the security situation across Nigeria improving tremendously.”
The Army chief also told the troops that he chose to visit them for a first-hand experience on their challenges and how they conduct their operations.
He added: “I want to encourage you to be unrelenting in the discharge of your duties. Is it anti-banditry, counter-terrorism, normal internal security operations? Whatever task you are given, you should take it as a duty that must be discharged creditably. The Army will address the challenges that confront you and your families.”
- Three terrorist commanders, 715 others killed in three months
The Defence Headquarters yesterday said that air strikes by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) killed three terrorist commanders – Ali Dawud, Bakura Fallujah, and Mallam Ari – in Kolleram, Borno State.
It added that several terrorist leaders and their combatants were neutralised during air strikes on their enclaves in Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, and Zamfara states in the past three months.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, who made these known to reporters in Abuja, also said that 146 criminals were arrested and 465 kidnap victims rescued.
Buba added that troops seized 2,563,335 litres of stolen crude oil, 254,620 litres of illegally refined diesel, 1,050 litres of kerosene, and 8,000 litres of petrol in the last three months.
He said: “Furthermore, troops recovered 937 assorted weapons, 23,034 assorted ammunitions and denied the oil thieves of N2. 6 billion.
“Troops are conscious and are not losing sight of the importance of momentum when it comes to fighting such vicious adversaries.
“The current situation depicts a strain of tactical achievements in degrading the terrorists by dismantling most of the terrorist infrastructure in the Northeast, killing the majority of the combatants, and killing a lot of their senior combatants.
“It must be noted that many of the terrorist commanders as well have been taken off the battlefield.
“Ongoing operations have suppressed the terrorists and prevented them from achieving their strategic objectives.
“Troops have equally denied the terrorist freedom of action and disrupted their activities, thereby reducing their effectiveness. Nevertheless, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to rid the environment of terrorists and the military is not resting on its oars.”
