Defence Headquarters gives update on ‘Operation WHIRL PUNCH’
The Nigerian Defence Headquarters has given an update on the activities
troops of the Operation WHIRL PUNCH being conducted by the troops of 1
Division Nigerian Army across the nation.
The DHQ said the troops in the course of their operation restored
normalcy along Kaduna – Abuja Expressway and Birnin Gwari and its
environs as well as Niger State, which were hitherto devastated by the
activities of bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers and cattle rustlers.
John Agim, spokesman of the DHQ in a statement on Monday, said several
assorted sophisticated arms, ammunition and large herds of cattle were
recovered from the bandits, kidnappers and cattle rustlers.
The statement reads:
“This operation is part of the Operation 777, which is being conducted
and coordinated simultaneously nationwide under the auspices of the
Defence Headquarters. Prior to the launch of Op 777, terrorists and
criminals devised different means of evading ongoing operations in
different theatres of operations. However, since the commencement of Op
777 on 8 October 2018, significant and modest operational successes have
been recorded across the nation. Under Operation WHIRL PUNCH, 1
Division NA is tasked to provide security and restore normalcy along
Kaduna – Abuja Expressway and Birnin Gwari and its environs as well as
Niger State, which were hitherto devastated by the activities of
bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers and cattle rustlers.
“In preparation for the conduct of the operations, additional platforms,
establishment of new military/Police formations/units and injection of
more troops were carried out by the Defence Headquarters to ensure the
success of this operation. There is Nigerian Army Forward Operating Base
(FOB) in Birnin Gwari, which will soon metamorphose into 98 Bn in line
with 2016 NA Order Of Battle (ORBAT). The Nigerian Air Force also plan
to establish FOB to support Operation WHIRL PUNCH in Birnin Gwari
general area, Niger State and the entire operation WHIRL PUNCH Area of
Responsibility.
The troops of 1 Division NA, Nigerian Air Force aircrafts, Police and
other security agencies are conducting series of raids, ambushes,
patrols, road blocks and air strikes against the identified
camps/hideouts of bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements within
the operational areas. The general areas where our troops operate are
characterised by thick forests such as the Kamuku, Kuduru, Birnin Gwari
and Alawa Forests; the area also have several high grounds, which
bandits and kidnappers use as staging areas and camps to perpetrate
their heinous acts. To surmount these terrain challenges, we have also
devised ingenious ways of deploying our troops and conducting
operations.
“So far, in this operation, 14 notorious bandits, cattle rustlers and
kidnappers have been neutralised. Likewise several assorted
sophisticated arms, ammunition and large herds of cattle have been
recovered from the bandits, kidnappers and cattle rustlers.
“A total of 18 AK47 rifles, 2 pistols, 3 mobile phones, 1 motorola,
large cache’ of ammunition and 32 Motorcycles have been recovered. The
troops also recovered over 331 cows from rustlers in Birnin Gwari area
and 132 cows in Birnin Yero areas respectively. Along the Kaduna – Abuja
Expressway 49 cows and 42 sheep have been recovered. All the recovered
animals were handed over to their screened and profiled owners.
Additionally, a total of 31 persons (18 Children and 13 Adults) were
rescued from kidnappers within the Area of Operation. During this period
also 5 bandits and 2 informants were arrested and they are currently
assisting the security agencies in ongoing investigation. Unfortunately 2
soldiers were wounded and are currently receiving treatment at military
hospital in Kaduna. Two civilian vigilante assisting troops in the
operation were also killed in action by bandit’s fire.
“Through these special operations, relative peace have been restored and
hence, the troops dominate the operating environment, thereby creating
safe and conducive atmosphere for socio-economic activities to thrive.
It is evident that, now the local traders, motorists, residents of
villages/settlements in these general areas are conducting their
businesses mostly unmolested. The returned of relative peace and
security was made possible through joint operations and synergy of
efforts by the security agencies and cooperative posture of the locals
and vigilante’ groups.
“Let me also address a recent allegation of killing 74 cows belonging to
Fulanis at Riyawa in Sabon Birni area. The Riyawa general area has been
notorious as a den of bandits, cattle rustlers and kidnappers.
Severally, troops had encounters with the bandits who use the difficult
terrain and knowledge of the ground to escape. On 17 November 2018,
based on intelligence, troops conducted a raid on bandits camps in the
area. The bandits were alerted by their dogs. The observed current
practice of the bandits is to use their cows as shield to escape while
firing at troops. This was the case on 17 November 2018 which was not a
deliberate act by the troops to kill the cows.
“Our troops were recently deployed to restore and maintain peace in the
recent Kaduna crisis, the proactive deployment, was applauded for its
critical impact on preventing spread of crisis beyond Kaduna State. It
is equally important to state that, as part of 1 Division’s Community
Engagement Programmes (CEP) during Operation 777, medical outreach
programme was carried out in Sayen Lemu Village in Zaria LGA. Worthy to
mention also is the renovation of 2 blocks of class rooms recently in
Sayen Lemu Village. As part of the CEP also, the troops in Kidandan area
of Giwa LGA, Kaduna State now escort farmers to enable them harvest
their crops. This is coming in the aftermath of recent bandits attacking
and killing farmers in their farms in the general area.”
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