In its recent media briefing in Abuja, the Defence Headquarters stated categorically that the troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria have continued to sustain the operational tempo in land, maritime and air operations across the various theatres of operation in Nigeria.

Indeed, over the past years, the gallant Nigerian troops have launched onslaughts aiming at complete decimation of reign of terror in the North-east zone, particularly in Borno and Yobe sates. And North-western states of Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto.

Thus far, the terror groups comprising the Boko Haram, Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Islamic State (IS) operating in these axes have suffered overwhelming serial defeat as a number of their commanders have been killed in different operations.

During the briefing, the military authorities disclosed that over 40 bandits were gunned down in one fell swoop when the troops stormed their hideouts in the forests.

Just about the same time, but in a different briefing, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor, confirmed that ISAWP leader, Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, has been killed.

As the Chief of Defence Staff puts it, “I can authoritatively confirm to you that Al-Barnawi is dead. As simple as that. He is dead and remains dead.”

He was reportedly killed in August this year even though there was no official confirmation. However, before his death, Al-Barnawi was remarkably notorious.

He sustained vicious attacks on military facilities and troops in the Lake Chad region. Al-Barnawi also destroyed many military super camps in Dikwa, Monguno, Abadam and Marte in Borno, and other military facilities around Geidam in Yobe State.

He was said to have established many cells on the Lake Chad islands and surrounding villages from where his fighters launched attacks on Nigeria, Niger and Chad. And later controlled large swathes of territory in northern Borno, imposed taxes on the local population and earned serious income from fishing, aside the financial and material support he got from ISIS.

The dreaded Al-Barnawi was the son of Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf, who was also killed by security forces in 2009 when he launched a war against the Nigerian state.

Unarguably, the death of Al-Barnawi is no mean feat for the Nigerian military, because this will go down in history as a turning point in the war against terror.

Interestingly, just a few days later, the man who succeeded Al-Barnawi was confirmed killed also. Making this confirmation, the National Security Adviser, Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd), on Thursday said:

“Two days ago, the man who succeeded him, one Malam Bako, one of the prominent leaders of the Shura Council of the Islamic State of West African Province, was also taken out.”

Monguno made the disclosure when he addressed State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting of security chiefs, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the State House, in Abuja.

Monguno added that Abu Musab’s successor, Malam Bako, was also killed along with a prominent member of the ISWAP: “The fact, again, is that the armed forces, the land forces have done an excellent job because in the span of one month we have been able to take out the leadership of the Islamic State of West African Province – that is, Abu Musab Al-barnawi.

“They are also contending with a leadership crisis. You know these things are also accompanied with inherent issues of trust, conflicts, mutual suspicion and other things.

So, the operations being conducted by the armed forces in the northern parts of the country put a lot of pressure on the Islamic State of West African Province, Boko Haram and also the tangential group known as Islamic State in the Greatest Sahara.’’

These developments are concrete evidence of substantial gains the Nigerian troops have recorded in their operations against terrorists. For example, the Operation Hadin Kai, which the military said, sustained aggressive posture with vigour in the North-east.

Consequently, the exercises have yielded substantial results. As a result, several terrorist elements were neutralised and several others arrested, alongside their informants and logistics suppliers. But not only that, a total of 29 terrorists were neutralised and 13 terrorists, along with their informants or collaborators and logistics suppliers were arrested in the course of the operations.

Giving a lowdown of their gallantry, Defence Media Operation spokesman, Brig-Gen Bernard Onyeuko, said “a total of 38 assorted weapons and 968 rounds of assorted ammunition, as well as 48 rustled livestock, among several other items, were recovered.

“So far, a total of 13,243 terrorists and their families - comprising 3,243 adult males, 3,868 adult females and 6,234 children - have surrendered to our troops at different locations in the North-east.”

The sustained offensive, from the look of it, have left the terrorists with a devastating impact in their various camps. Whereas they are counting losses from the defeats, the gallant troops of Nigerian military are celebrating victory. The overwhelming serial defeat the sects have suffered has also made their resort to propaganda irrelevant as a psychological tool of fighting the war. Time was when the terrorists used all propaganda stunts known to the technology space to fight the war.

In the same vein, troops in the newly launched Golden Dawn, Enduring Peace and Still Water crackdown in the South-west, South-south, South-east and North-central zones of the country - under 2 Division, 6 Division, 81 Division and 82 Division - have embarked on the exercises to not only forestall further breakdown of law and order in the areas but also to restore peace, tranquility and safety of lives and property of residents.

Also, troops of Operation Hadarin Daji dominated the operations theatre with aggressive fighting patrols and other kinetic operations with the support of intensive air operations executed by the air component, resulting in the rescue of kidnapped civilians, neutralisation of armed bandits, recovery of arms and ammunition as well as arrest of some criminal elements.

It is important to note that some of these successes were recorded at Jibia – Katsina Road, where some civilians were rescued. Other places include Daba and Kurya villages in Kaura Namoda LGA of Zamfara State; Nwala village in Bukkuyum LGA of Katsina State where troops neutralised some armed bandits and recovered several assorted arms and ammunition.

Also worthy of note is that troops arrested some notorious armed bandits’ collaborators namely, Mamuda Aliyu Dangulbi, Rilwan Sani Dangulbi, Yusuf Adamu Dangulbi and Yakubu Umar Maihuja at Dangulbi village in Maru LGA of Zamfara State. The suspects have been on the watch list of security agencies.

Similarly, troops of Operation Delta Safe and Operation Safe Haven have sustained the tempo as well as increase the efficiency of their operations.

According to Onyeuko, Operation Delta Safe has sustained operations to forestall the activities of economic saboteurs and other criminal elements in the South-south zone.

He said that troops of Operation Safe Haven have continued to maintain vigilance and dominate the operational theatre with constant land and air patrols to deny criminal elements freedom of action, while Operation Whirl Stroke troops sustained their aggressive postures by executing both kinetic and non-kinetic operations in the North-central zone.

The Operation Safe Haven impounded within the period, a total of 570 parcels and 7 wraps of cannabis sativa worth N17,100,000.00 million. Besides, a total of 11 kidnapped civilians were rescued, 41 criminal elements arrested, 11 assorted arms, including AK-57 rifles, locally fabricated rifles, pistols and SMG; as well as 446 assorted ammunitions and 267 livestock were recovered in the course of the operations.

The Operation Whirl Stroke recorded a huge victory in its fight against insecurity and criminality in the zone, with the arrest of some criminal elements and recovery of arms and ammunition during raid, clearance and ambush operations.

The Defence Media Operation spokesman listed the places where the successes were recorded to include: Ahungwa village in Katsina-Ala LGA, Adiga forest in Okpoga; Bandawa and Giru communities in Lau LGA of Taraba State; Odu and Rukubi villages in Doma LGA of Nasarawa State. He disclosed that within the period, a total of 22 arms, including AK-47 rifles, MGs, and locally-made pistols and 461 rounds of ammunition were recovered, while 15 criminals, including armed bandits, herders and drug-peddlers were arrested and 4 kidnapped civilians were rescued in the course of the operations.

In all, the troops have proved effective in the exercises. And they have demonstrated gallantry in the fights. The current mood could indicate that the Nigerian troops are winning the war against terrorists and bandits. It is equally a clear message to the terror groups operating in these zones and even in the neighbouring Lake Chad axis, that they are losing the fight and should surrender without unnecessary delays.

The real implication for the sustained bombardments by the troops under various operations is that the end of the war against terrorism and banditry is in sight.

The terrorists and their sponsors should not see surrendering at this moment as a difficult choice.

But the Nigerian military should not be content with decimating Boko Haram, IS and ISWAP. Concern is growing over how the military and Federal Government should handle the issue of surrendered and repentant terrorists, informants and sponsors.

At this moment, military high command is urged to be wary of the repentant terrorists who may turn to be infiltrators. This is dangerous. It is pertinent to stress that the non-conventional nature of the war makes it necessary to continuously profile the enemy to avoid catastrophic and regretful incidents in the troops.

Intelligent gathering is very crucial at this stage of the war. The ones that have repented and allowed to mix up with the civil population should be thoroughly monitored with their profile already in the military data storage.

Besides, another worry is impunity and meddlesome by politicians. The military authorities must address this to build trust and give itself a better image. In other words, as an institution, the military should strive to improve its image through military-civilian cooperation aiming at peaceful co-existence.

Another cause for serious worry is the complex problem of corruption perception in the military. That should be addressed urgently. Steps should be taken to do everything not to affect the massive successes being recorded by troops towards winning the wars and ensuring a lasting peace across the country. While this is being tackled, adequate attention needs to be paid to troops’ welfare. It is necessary to leverage the moment to boost morale of troops to motivate them for the final offensive against bandits, terrorists and sundry criminality.

•Nwokocha is Managing Editor, News Express Online newspapers.

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