North East: Nigerian Army Places N5 million Bounty On Any Information On IED

North East: Nigerian Army Places N5 million Bounty On Any Information On IED

The theatre commander Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Rogers Nicholas during a press briefing on the security situation in the North East on Thursday 21, June 2018 placed a N5 million bounty on any credible information leading to discovering of improvised explosive device in the North East.

Read his statement below:

1. Gentlemen of the press, I most sincerely welcome you all to the Headquarters Theatre Command, Operation Lafiya Dole, venue for today’s briefing.

You will recall that the Theatre has been engaged in the conduct of several Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency operations in the North East region with some considerable successes. However, the complex and adaptive nature of the Boko Haram Insurgency has resulted in the dissident group still sometimes, being engaged in abductions, attack on soft and vulnerable targets, Improvised Explosive Device attacks (IED) and suicide bombings.

Undeterred by the mutating posture of the terrorists, the Theatre Command is determined to consolidate on its recent gains in the ongoing operational push to strangulate Boko Haram terrorists in the entire Borno.

It is therefore expedient that this press conference be held to bring the media up to speed with occurrences within the theatre as well as acquaint you with some of the steps already taken to prevent the insurgents from further enjoying the freedom of action . Though the insurgents have remained unrepentant in their morbid attempts to be relevant, Operation Lafiya Dole remains resilient and will continue to conduct operations in order to completely destroy Boko Haram in both the Sambisa and the Lake Chad Basin general area. Right now local administration is beginning to regain its footing in some Local Government Areas and the Chief of Army Staff has inaugurated Operation Last Hold to support the the people return to their communities to engage in meaningful socio-economic activities such as farming and fishing. Be rest assured that the troops will be practically on ground to help clear the fields and till the ground for the returnees to resume their farming. Fertilizers that do not constitute any security threat will be permitted for farmers. during the farming season.

Publicity has been identified as the oxygen for terrorism, but here in Nigeria, it observed that the Press perhaps inadvertently provides the terrorists with the oxygen to keep them alive by allowing news reports on the atrocious activities of the terrorists to trend for long in the media and according them undue publicity. Remember that in issues of national security, it is Nigeria first before any other interest.

It is pertinent to mention here, the public needs to understand that the war in the North Eastern Nigeria is not conventional but asymmetric, where the enemy is within.

I urge members of the public to assist the security agencies with useful information on the location of IED making factories, from where the suicide bombers are primed before been conveyed to their target locations.

I am giving a 5 million naira bounty to any one who volunteers genuine informantion to leading to the uncovering of Improvised Explosive Device factories.

May I seize this opportunity to express appreciation to the general public for their patience and support towards a decive defeat of our common enemy. I urge you all to remain vigilant and security conscious, as suspected insurgents may be fleeing from military operations in the North East and seeking safe havens amidst your communities. Members of the public are also enjoined to report any suspicious activity or movement to the nearest military formation or other security agencies for prompt action.

Gentlemen of the press, you have always been our partners in progress; hence we are using this opportunity to request you to give all operations in the theatre the widest publicity in your respective medium. On this note, on behalf of officers, soldiers and other security agencies .

I thank you all for honouring our invitation.