How We Stopped the Criminal 'Sit At Home Order', Restored the Trading/Business Culture of the South East - Operation Udoka Force Commander

The Force Commander, Operation Udoka, the Joint Task Force, combating insecuity and the seccessionists activities of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra IPOB and its militant wing, ESN Major General Hassan Taiwo Dada has said that the military and other security agencies brought the sit at home order in the zone to an end by exposing the criminality of the group and convincing the people that the military is not their enemy.

The Force Commander who also doubles as the GOC 82 division, made this known while briefing on the activities of the task force in Enugu.

He said, "The truth remains and has been laid bare that the IPOB/ESN sit at home is all about criminality. Look at the losses being incured every Monday before we brought it to an end. Any average Igbo man wants to go to their shop and do business any day and any time."

"Painfully the people that IPOB claim they are fighting for are the victims of their criminality. The people being killed, kidnapped, used for rituals, some disappear only for their bodies to be found in shrines, they are the same Easterners

"So the fact remains that these are just criminals using seccessionist agenda to decieve the people even with the sit at home order.The people of the South-East have come to the realization that these elements are using the agenda as a smokecreen

While  noting that it took a lot of meticulous planning, consistency and demonstration of power on the side of troops and other security agencies to tackle the IPOB menace and other security challenges, the FC said, "It is the right of everybody to protest but you do not have the right to stop people from earning their legitimate livelihood."

On how the task force was able to buy into the hearts and minds of the people and convince them that the military is not their enemy, Gen. Dada said several non kinetic exercises were carried out in all the sectors of Operation Udoka covering all the South East states.

"Winning the hearts and minds of the people helped to enhance intelligence. gathering. This was done through several medical outreaches to communities, even up to some rural villages without medical facilities. 

"Humanitarin support and donation of relief items to widows, the elderly, children's homes, educational support through provision of books and writing materials desks and chairs and random clearinc of blocked drainage among other sanitation exercises conducted by troops have helped to boister belief that and cooperation." He said.

Gen Dada however vowed, "We will leave no stone unturned to make sure that we restore the glory of the South East."

Commenting on the peaceful coexistence of all in the South East and the fact that past complaints of security agencies providing cover for some groups who perpetrate crime and not being neutral, the Force Commander said, "The military teaches us to be neutral in all our endeavours. My coming here is to confront insecurity, restore normalcy for social and economic development to thrive.

"I don't want to know whether you are Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa or Edo. if you commit crime, go against law and order, it dosen't matter where you come from, you will face the consequences. There are laws, and there is a rule of engagement to deal with every criminality," he also said.

The Force Commander however urged the media to be wary of the propaganda of the criminals saying, "Look critically at cases of propaganda being churned out by their sympathisers and patrons. Their children are going to the best schools abroad while the schools here are being destroyed by misguided elements and the youths being deceived into criminality."

While commending the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa for the strategic guidiance and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja for the operational, logistics and other support, the Force said though it is not yet over as challenges still exist, the task force is not resting on its oars.

Consequently, he said, "In the first quarter, between December 2023 and April 2024, troops of Operation Udoka conducted 183 clearance operations in all sectors.

"Troops arrested neutralized 35 terrorists, arrested 258 suspects during anti bunkering operations, rescued 117 kidnapped victims during anti-kidnapping operations.

"Troops arrested 137 criminal elements, troops identified and destroyed 16 IPOB camps, destroyed 50 hideouts at Command and Control Centre, Mother Valley while 15 high profile fighters were neutralized

"Troops recovered 52 explosives and other bombs, recovered 153 assorted weapons, 6,038 ammunitions."