as Nigerian troops kill 39 terrorists and arrest 157 others
Vice President Kashim Shettima has admitted that bad governance is the cause of the prevalence of banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of violent crimes in Nigeria, especially in the northwest region.
Shettima made this submission on Wednesday, August 30, when he hosted the Coalition of Northern States’ Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (CONSCCIMA) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
In the vice president’s view, re-engineering and re-strategising” affairs in the north is necessary to catapult the region into “accelerated” development.
He expressed belief in the proposal for stakeholders in the north to go back to the drawing board, re-assess the state of affairs in the region, and develop robust platforms for re-engineering our society.
He said; “It is imperative for the north to embark on the re-strategising and re-engineering of the region to reposition it for accelerated development.
“Most of the issues highlighted by the president of CONSCCIMA are very poignant as these are issues that touch the lives and wellbeing of our people.
“There can never be development without peace, and there can never be peace without development.
“Especially in the north-west through the Pulaku initiative. The Pulaku initiative is a robust solution towards addressing the challenges in the northwest.
“It is a solution aimed at addressing the challenges of banditry, kidnapping and the situation in the northwest, which cannot be divorced from the issue of governance. Poor governance has a direct bearing on what we are harvesting in the north-west.”
Meanwhile, troops of the armed forces eliminated 39 terrorists, apprehended 159 others and rescued 109 hostages in different operations in the last two weeks
Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, said this on Thursday in Abuja at a bi-weekly news briefing on military operations across the country.
He said troops of Operation Hadin Kai ambushed and arrested Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in Gwoza and Tarmuwa Local Government Areas of Borno and Yobe, respectively in the Northeast.
He said that the offensive led to the surrender by some terrorists at Gwoza area of Borno and resulted in the elimination of some others; the rescue of hostages and the recovery of arms and ammunition.
He added that in another operation, troops neutralised 11 terrorists, arrested 45 others and rescued 34 hostages within the period and recovered large cache of arms and ammunition.
According to him, troops recovered six AK47 rifles, one HK21 gun, one GPMG, one fabricated gun, 11 AK47 magazines and 34 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
They also recovered 17 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, one bandolier, and seven empty cases of 7.62mm special, five motorcycles, eight mobile phones and N368, 950.
Mr Buba said the air component of the operations acquired and engaged terrorists’ enclaves at Wulde in Borno, adding that the outcome was being monitored.
He said that in the North Central, troops of Operation Safe Haven neutralised two gunmen, rescued three hostages and arrested 15 crime suspects during the period.
He added that the troops arrested two suspects in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, one of whom was a notorious armed robber on the wanted list of a security agency.
According to him, troops recovered three AK47 rifles, one fabricated AK47 rifles, one fabricated pistol, one Dane gun and 41 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition in the state.
Operation Whirl Stroke the North Central also arrested a member of notorious violent extremist group in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue, neutralised terrorists and rescued hostages.
Mr Buba said troops recovered one FN rifle, five rounds of 7.62mm NATO, and neutralised two terrorists, arrested 11 suspects and rescued six hostages.
The defence spokesman said troops of Operation Hadarin Daji in the Northwest neutralised 12 terrorists, arrested 33 others, rescued 40 hostages and recovered three AK47 rifles, 18 motorcycles and three mobile phones.
Mr Buba also told newsmen that the air component of the military operations conducted an interdiction of terrorists at Sububu Forest in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State and degraded terrorists at the location.