Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has hailed authorities in the country’s security sector for building a synergy that helped them to foil a planned attack by Boko Haram terrorists in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State.

Operatives of the Nigerian Army and the Department of State Service reportedly foiled the planned attack for which HURIWA is applauded the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Chris Garba, the other security chiefs and the National Security Adviser for their current efforts at achieving sustainable synergy in the counter-terror war.

It, however, advised the security heads to devise a means of fishing out internal moles within the security institutions allegedly undermining the war on terror by providing strategic operational information to terrorists and other armed non-state actors who have continued to constitute a cog in the wheel of progress, national stability, security and sustainable development of the country.

HURIWA stated that constitutional democracy makes no meaning where there is no security of lives and property.

Reports say the Boko Haram terrorists had planned an attack on Kano State but the raid by security operatives in Gezawa Local Government Area of the state prevented the imminent attack on Friday morning. This was contained in a statement on Friday by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu. He said the troops swooped on the terrorists and arrested them before they could strike.

During the operation, the joint troops of the Nigerian Army and the DSS recovered five AK 47 Rifles, five AK 47 Rifle Magazines, one Rocket Propelled Gun (RPG), five RPG Bombs, six Hand Grenades, five pairs of Desert Camouflage Uniforms, 10 pairs of magazine pouches and some Improvised Explosive Device (IED) making materials.

According to Nwachukwu, “Joint troops of the Nigerian Army and the Department of State Services have successfully averted an imminent attack on Kano by insurgents. In a dawn raid operation carried out on the terrorists’ hideout in the early hours of today, Friday, 3 November, 2023, troops of 3 Brigade, Nigerian Army, in close cooperation with the Department of State Services (DSS), conducted a well-coordinated raid operation in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State. The operation was aimed at uncovering and apprehending suspected Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) believed to be planning a major operation in Kano State.

“Consequently, the troops swiftly swung into action and apprehended two BHT suspects, who are now in custody. During the operation, the joint troops of the Nigerian Army and the DSS recovered five AK 47 Rifles, five AK 47 Rifle Magazines, one Rocket Propelled Gun (RPG), five RPG Bombs, six Hand Grenades, five pairs of Desert Camouflage Uniforms, 10 pairs of magazine pouches and some Improvised Explosive Device (IED) making materials.

“The interagency cooperation between the Nigerian Army and other security agencies as exemplified in the conduct of this operation, is a testament of the strength of our collective resolve to defeat insurgency and other security challenges.”

Reacting to the development, HURIWA, in a statement by its National, Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, stated that this significant feat deserves the highest commendation given that the citizens have witnessed series of bloody attacks by terrorists, bandits and all categories of armed non-state actors for months, thereby making Nigerian skeptical about the capacity of the armed forces to combat, degrade, decimate and defeat these enemies of Nigeria.

HURIWA therefore charged the armed forces to rescue all the citizens kidnapped by terrorists over the years and launch massive combat operation against terrorists and kidnappers deep in the different forests of Nigeria. The rights group said it was therefore elated that the insistence of the President that the different segments of the armed forces of Nigeria must work jointly and collectively to eradicate all the threats against national security interest of Nigeria, has started yielding dividends.

The Rights group urged the office of the Chief of Defence Staff, National security Adviser, other service chiefs and the Director-General of the Department of State Services to maintain the commendable strategy of working in synergy since the overall objective is to defeat terrorists and make the Country safe for all to do their legitimate businesses without fear of attacks or bloody violence as it has been in over 8 years now.

HURIWA maintained that so long as officers and operatives of the security agencies adhere strictly to the rules of engagement, respect the human rights of citizens and operate as patriotic Nigerians, the rest of the civil populace would extend their unalloyed support and solidarity to the men, officers of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to safeguard national security.

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