In a resolute display of defiance, Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters (DHQ) issued a stern warning to terrorists, stating that if they had children, others would raise them.
The warning came following a harrowing incident in Shiroro, Niger State, where a confrontation with insurgents led to a fierce firefight.
During the confrontation, the DHQ reported a that three officers, 22 soldiers, and two pilots along with crew members lost their lives in the line of duty. Seven individuals were wounded during the intense engagement. In response, an Air Force aircraft was swiftly deployed to evacuate the fallen and the wounded, destined for Kaduna.
However, tragedy struck once more when the evacuation mission took an unforeseen turn. The aircraft met with a disastrous crash, adding another layer of complexity to the already dire situation.
Maj Gen Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations (DDMO), emphasized that the crash was not the result of enemy action, contrary to circulating reports. He stated that an investigation is presently underway to uncover the true cause behind this unfortunate incident.
Amidst the challenges faced, there emerged a silver lining. The DHQ revealed that during the encounter, the armed forces managed to neutralize 28 terrorists, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to safeguarding the nation.
He warned, “No group will strike our own troops without injurious consequences. Troops will use superior force to eliminate enemies of state.
”Troops will bring overwhelming military force on any group undermining the peace of the nation. It is stating the obvious that the Armed Forces possess the power and the will to hunt down those who wish to bring harm to our citizens.
“The ongoing operation is a direct message to those who question the resolve of the military. It is also a message to members of the violent extremist groups that think that they can hide.
“They can rest assured that others will raise their sons and daughters, that is if they have sons and daughters.
”I wish to, on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, express my heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of officers and men, who were killed in an ambush by terrorists and the fire-fight that ensued. Three officers, 22 soldiers, two pilots and crew members died, while seven were wounded in action.
”Casualty evacuation followed, while the operation was on return to Kaduna, the plane carrying 17 previously killed crashed. Seven wounded in action, two pilots and two crew members were killed.”
During the briefing, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Air Force, addressed the aircraft crash, indicating that the cause remained uncertain.
”At the moment, we don’t know what caused that aircraft to come down,” Gabkwet explained.
He strongly condemned baseless social media posts that speculated about the incident.
Shifting the focus to other ongoing operations across the nation, Maj Gen Edward Buba provided an update. Over the past two weeks of operations, the troops accomplished a significant feat by neutralizing 28 terrorists and apprehending 92 of them. In addition, they detained six gunrunners, three kidnappers, six collaborators, and seven individuals involved in oil theft.
Amid these operations, the dedication of the armed forces yielded tangible results. A total of 82 kidnapped hostages were successfully rescued, and troops seized stolen oil and petroleum products valued at N876,451,800. Alongside these accomplishments, the troops recovered an arsenal of 108 weapons and 564 ammunition.
Shedding light on activities in the Niger Delta region, Buba disclosed that troops had discovered and dismantled 36 dugout pits, 62 wooden boats, 73 storage tanks, one vehicle, and 75 cooking ovens. Additionally, they uncovered four pumping machines, five outboard engines, and identified 33 illegal refining sites. These efforts underscored the armed forces’ commitment to maintaining security and stability across different areas of the country.