Military: How we used non-kinetic approach to douse insecurity in S’East
The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) has revealed the efficacy of non-kinetic operations, saying its adoption contributed largely to the relative peace and security reining in the South East general area.
Specifically, the Military noted that the decision to adopt the non-kinetic approach to the fight against insecurity in the geo-political entity, side-by-side with the kinetic action, has continued to win the hearts and minds of the indigenes.
The Comm
ander, Sector 5 of Operation Udo Ka, Col. Mohammed Abubakar, made the disclosure at a session with defence correspondents at Orsumoghu in Ihiala Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra State.
The senior officer, who doubles as Commander, 342 Artillery Regiment, thanked the relevant stakeholders for the actionable human intelligence (HUMIT) that has necessitated the return of ‘locals” to their hitherto- deserted communities.
He said: “Before we occupied here, about 8 LGAs were under siege. As a matter of fact, all the locals deserted their communities.
“That was as far back as 2022. We are still fighting, because it is not yet over.
“Importantly, we are focusing more on non-kinetic approach to winning the hearts and minds of our most-cherished law-abiding locals.
“As a matter of fact, we hardly obtained information that could help our operations from the people, but since we adopted the non-kinetic approach, which includes medical outreach, interventions in education, social amenities, among others, we now get relevant Intels that has advanced the cause of the State.
“You may wish to know that as a result of what we have so far achieved, the morale of our troops has remained high, and that is because result defines reality.”
Also speaking, the Garrison Commander Forward Operation Base (FOB) Orlu, Lt-Col. Esuga Akale, said: “Before now, Orlu used to be a hot zone, as people did not use to come out on Mondays.
“We have successfully reined-in criminal elements, who operated in the name of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), but we are going extra-miles to restore confidence in the triumph of the State, in a bid to bring back locals to their ancestral homes.”
Meanwhile, many indigenes across communities in Anambra, Enugu, and Imo states, commended the Military for ending the Monday’s sit-at-home, which had crippled socio-economic activities in the area.
