The Nigerian Army has sent reinforcement troops from some of its formations fighting insurgency in Borno State to join the troops in the South-East region.
It was gathered that the reinforcements were drawn from some battalions including the 231 Tank Battalion in Biu, Borno State, under the 3 Armoured Division, Jos, Plateau State.
Speaking to SaharaReporters, military sources said the troops were drafted to assist security agencies in fighting with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its security arm, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
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“Yes, some troops are moving from the North-East to the South-East as reinforcements. They started moving from Wednesday. Among them are those from the 231 Tank Battalion; they are believed to be more trained in quelling uprisings,” a top source confirmed.
President Muhammadu Buhari had on Tuesday held a meeting with the service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, telling them to adopt certain security measures in the South-East and the South-South geopolitical zones of the country.
Military sources familiar with the development said some of the measures which Buhari approved for the two zones were regular operational procedures to curb the growing violence.
“The police and military have been recording casualties in the South-East during raids and gun battles with the criminals disturbing the region. Therefore, the focus would shift more to air power in the coming weeks. Combat helicopters and other aircraft would be deployed to conduct massive raids on the hideouts from the air. It does not matter whether the hideouts are for the Indigenous People of Biafra or its armed outfit, what the military is looking for are criminals,” the source had revealed.
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“There is also the likelihood of arrest of more traditional rulers, community heads and chiefs by the security agencies to extract key information. The army and police believe that the traditional and community intelligence will be important to suppress the IPOB and ESN uprising.
“The South-East states have to warn their traditional rulers against conniving with the agitators. You see how many traditional rulers were arrested, sanctioned, detained and dethroned in the North-West for conniving with bandits. The same table is turning to the South-East and South-South regions,” another security source had revealed.
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