State of emergency: DHQ assessment team end tour of Yobe, Borno operational areas

AS a follow up to scheduled assessment visits to troops in the North Eastern part of the country, a nine-member Defence Headquarters Operational Assessment Team have returned from Yobe and Borno states to brief the Chief of Defence Staff with updates on the situation in the operational areas of the Special Forces operating in the North-East. The force, which had been tasked in support of the implementation of the State of Emergency is conducting operations to stop terrorism and restore normalcy in the North Eastern part of the country. Director of Defence Information, Brigadier-General Chris Olukolade, said the team visited troops’ location in various parts of Borno and Yobe states and interacted with the troops inside Sambisa forest, while the team leader who is also the Director of Operations in Defence Headquarters, conveyed the greetings and commendation of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), whom he said was very proud of the troops. According to Olukolade, the CDS is satisfied with the high level of successes so far recorded in the operation and urged the troops not to rest on their oars until the entire region was fully sanitised and cleared of all terrorists activities. The team also assured the troops of regular logistic supplies while the mission lasts. The defence spokesman said that the Commanding Officer, while briefing the team earlier, narrated the conduct of the operations to rid the forest of insurgents who had made the location their sanctuary. He said some notorious leaders of the terrorists have been captured while some materials recovered in the camp have also provided useful intelligence for subsequent operations. The team was shown the various weapons including rockets, and locally fabricated weapon accessories . Other items recovered from the terrorists’ camp include a large number of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) making materials among others. Items such as laptops, mobile communication equipment (GSM phones) for shooting and posting online videos, locally made rockets and rocket launchers were among several items seized by the JTF from the arrested terrorists and displayed for the team to see. Also seized are vehicles of different brands belonging to the terrorists, vehicles destroyed by the terrorists as well as their tailoring equipment apparently used for producing fake uniform. These were also shown to the team. The Commanding Officer also said that the unit incurred some casualty in men and equipment. According to him, the troops are currently engaged in night and day patrols of the areas to dominate the forest and apprehend any terrorist who may be lurking around.