By Linus Aleke, Abuja

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Thursday allayed the fears of residents of Abuja, when it said, the military did not deploy tanks in the streets of Abuja as erroneously peddled in certain quarters.

The question on the deployment of tanks followed concerns raised by residents who are unfamiliar with the nomenclature of the military hardware deployed in strategic locations in the city, as well as unusual military presence, as part of an effort to guarantee the security of life and property.

The Military High Command, however, said the military hardware seen in strategic locations like Area 1 roundabout was Armoured Personnel Carriers deployed by Army Headquarters Garrison Abuja, as part of its routine military operations, to keep the city safe and scare away miscreants and other criminal elements.

The Director of Defence Media Operation, Major General Musa Danmadami made this clarification while fielding questions from Defence Correspondent during the biweekly press briefing at Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

He also, noted that recently, the Army War College in Abuja also conducted a military exercise code-named ‘Exercise Star Ride,’ in parts of the city.

The military exercise was designed to further develop Army War College participants’ skills to effectively respond to contemporary security challenges facing Nigeria.

Exercise Star Ride is a culmination of the training packages at the AWCN which involve aspects of National Security, Interagency Coordination, Logistics planning, Counter Terrorism and stabilization Operations.

Major General Danmadami noted that the Nigerian military is working day and night with other security agencies to guarantee peace and security across the federation.

On the issue of millions of naira recovered from terrorist logistics suppliers and collaborators, during military operations in the past two weeks, the military operations spokesperson said, the intelligence agencies are working hard to unmask the terrorist financiers.

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He noted that the military and intelligence agencies are not sleeping on duty, hence the successes recorded against criminal elements across all theatres of operation within the period under review.

He disclosed that in the past 2 weeks, both kinetic and non-kinetic operations were conducted in the various theatres of operations, with significant results recorded.

The brief he said, covered operational activities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies conducted in addressing the various security challenges across the country between the period of 3 – 17 November 2022.

Giving credence to Major General Danmadami’s view, the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet said, that crude oil production has grown by more than half in the last two weeks.

He said, the spike in production is not unconnected with the successful military operations in the Niger Delta region, which has denied oil thieves freedom of action in the area.

He also disclosed that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), will take delivery of no fewer than 36 newly procured platforms in 2023.

Air Commodore Gabkwet further revealed that more than half of the aircraft will arrive the country before the end of January.

He added that with the additional new aircraft, the air power capability of the Nigerian Air Force will receive boost across all theatre of operations.