‘Decisive Offensives against Insurgents, Bandits Yielding Results’

A rights group, Northern Youth Network (NYN), has said the decisive offensives carried out by the Nigeria Airforce with support of ground troops on terrorists and bandits in the northern part of the country has brought a lot of relief to communities that were tormented by activities of the criminals.

The group explained that the declaration of BokoHaram/ISWAP and bandits as terrorists has provided the impetus for the military to use maximum force to eliminate terrorism and its sponsors in the country.

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The group in a statement signed by its convener, Mallam Abdulrahman Ahmed, pointed out that within the past three weeks, the Nigerian Airforce, assisted by the ground troops, had eliminated several commanders of the terrorist and bandits in Zamfara, Sokoto, Niger, Kaduna and along the lake Chad River basins with thousands of them surrendering to the military.

“The Northern Youth Network has observed with great pleasure, the victories recorded by the Nigerian military in the war against insurgency and banditry in the country in the past weeks.

“Earlier, weapons, motorcycles and other items were recovered from the insurgents.

“The Northern Youth Network profoundly appreciates the Nigerian military and particularly the Chief of Air Staff, Marshal, Isiaka Oladayo Amao.

“We celebrate the soldiers for taking the war to the enclaves of the terrorists,” the group said.

The group averred that as an association that has been involved in peacebuilding in states ravaged by BokoHaram/ISWAP insurgents, the news of these successes is cheering and heartwarming.

It commended the focus and determination of the military, most especially the Nigerian Airforce and gallant troops, who have decimated the terrorists within these weeks, adding that the successes were novel, impressive and unprecedented and urged Nigerians to support the war against insurgency and banditry.

“We rise to commend the Nigerian military. We particularly commend the air component for the sustained bombardment of terrorist enclaves and top commanders in the last 3 weeks.

“The Chief of Air Staff is appreciated for the heat turned on the insurgents with intensive airstrikes.

“We celebrate the ground troops who support the air component by sustaining a fierce offensive on fleeing terrorists and bandits,” the group added.

The group further tasked the military to sustain and intensify the heat on the terrorist until they are eliminated and peace restored to the affected states and regions in compliance with President Buhari’s determination to hand over a peaceful country to his successor.