DHQ Calls for Good Governance to Win War Against Insurgency, Terrorism

…As Troops  denied Oil Thieves N2.5 bn Worth Of Crude Oil

The Director, of Defence Media Operations,(DMO), Major General Edward Buba at a conference in Abuja on Thursday emphasised the need for good governance to effectively combat insurgency and other criminal activities in the country.

Gen. Buba said, “The classic principle of counterinsurgency is that you cannot win this kind of war militarily.”

Buba stressed the importance of addressing the underlying conditions that fuel the insurgency, Stating, “We have eliminated several terrorists, their leaders and commanders. Troops are continually going after the terrorist and dislodging them from their hideouts.  Despite all these, it would appear that there is more to be done to win this war outside the use of military pressure.

“Accordingly, we must now win this war by changing the conditions that make the insurgents willing to fight. We must also win the war by increasing support for the government at various levels through heart and mind projects indicative of good governance.”

Highlighting the operational activities in the south-south oil-rich region, Gen. Buba revealed that troops had successfully denied oil thieves of over N2.5 billion worth of crude oil in the last two weeks.

Buba said within the period under review troops have recovered 149 cooking ovens, one speedboat, 11 vehicles, 8 motorcycles and 74 illegal refining sites, adding that Troops recovered 2,947,770 litres of stolen crude oil, 251,800 litres of illegally refined AGO, 6,125 litres of DPK and 6,790 litres of PMS.

He also said, troops also discovered and destroyed numerous illegal refining sites,134 dugout pits, 79 boats and 116 storage tanks and other equipment used for illegal activities.

“Troops also recovered 587 assorted weapons and 7,943 assorted ammunition.

“The breakdown is as follows: 207 AK47 rifles, 56 locally fabricated guns, 17 pump action guns, 10 locally fabricated pistols, 22 Dane guns, one FN rifle, 6 double barrel automatic pump action, 2 double barrel guns, 2 x 36 hand grenades and 10 IEDs.

“Others are 4,088 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 2,529 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 138 rounds of 9mm ammo, 39 rounds of 7.62mm refilled ammo, 331 P445 rounds of 7.62mm special, 180 rounds 5.5mm ammo, 2 PKT link of 7.62mm special, 445 live cartridges, 67 magazines, 6 HH radios,14 vehicles, 32 motorcycles, 34 mobile phones and the sum of N4,876,950.00 amongst other items.”