Russian fighter jets arrive, military plans fresh bombing of Lagos creeks

The Nigerian Air Force has acquired two new Russian Mi-35M fighter jets, which will, among others, combat militant activities in Ikorodu, Lagos State, sources told The PUNCH on Tuesday.

It was also gathered that the military, through Operation Awatse, was putting finishing touches to its plans to launch an aerial offensive on Isawo in the Ikorodu area, believed to be the militants’ stronghold.

The Defence Headquarters, Abuja, however, told one of our correspondents that it would not release details of any operation as a formal briefing on Operation Awatse would be held later.

The Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. John Enenche, added that the military would not release any sensitive information yet.

“Just be patient with us. You don’t have to jump the gun. I have heard about the incident. We have information at the strategic level, which cannot go out yet,” he stated.

Sources told The PUNCH that the Russian fighter jets would be deployed for operations after the NAF anniversary next week.

Enenche had said last week that Operation Awatse was ongoing, urging the residents of Lagos and Ogun states to supply credible information to the military.

He said, “The Operation Awatse by the Armed Forces is aimed at curbing pipeline vandalism and petroleum products-related criminality with negative socio-economic consequence for the country.

“It is ongoing. Surveillance is key to the success of the military in this operation, which is based on accurate and timely intelligence. In this regard, the general public around Lagos and Ogun states in particular are very useful for more successes in this operation.”

One of the sources, a top NAF officer, said the time of the bombing of the Isawo creeks and environs would depend on several logistics.

He said, “I can confirm to you that the NAF has acquired two new Russian Mi-35M fighter jets, which could be deployed for this operation. The jets will be inducted into the inventory during the NAF anniversary next week.

“It doesn’t cost the military any efforts to bomb the creeks again. It is a big possibility now. But we want to put proper logistics in place to avoid an episode like the Rann camp in Borno State.”

Another source said, “The Operation Awatse men have been given marching orders from the DHQ to step up their game against the militants. They are working on various strategies, including an aerial strike. But it is premature to release lot of information.”

It was also learnt that six Nigerian pilots, training in Russia to man the fighter jets, would return to Nigeria on Thursday (tomorrow).

Senate demands military, helicopter, gunboats deployment

Based on the recent attacks by militants on communities in Lagos State, the Senate has called on the Federal Government to ensure better security in the state and the Federal Capital Territory.

The lawmakers also called for the deployment of troops in the areas.

The Senate made the demand based on a motion moved by Senator Gbenga Ashafa, an All Progressives Congress lawmaker from Lagos East, at the plenary on Tuesday.

The lawmakers unanimously granted the prayers of the motion, which include to “advise the Federal Government to direct the Inspector-General of Police to immediately instruct the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, to beef up the strength of the task force already on the ground in order to effectively secure all the affected creeks and communities.”

Another prayer approved by the lawmakers was to “advise the Federal Government to direct the Inspector-General of Police to immediately make available sufficient helicopters for aerial surveillance and gunboats to the Marine Police Department of the Lagos State Police Command, in order to enable the state command to effectively tackle the activities of the militants.”

The Senate also “urge the Army, Navy and other security agencies to assist the Nigeria Police in its quest to rid Lagos State, particularly the creeks in the Lagos East Senatorial District, of criminal syndicates making use of its waterways to perpetuate crime.”

Moving the motion, Ashafa said the Senate noted “with urgent and grave concern” the recent increase in the activities of criminal syndicates” who, he said, specialised in kidnapping and carrying out militant activities in Kosofe, Epe, Ikorodu, Ibeju Lekki Local Government Areas of the state.

He said, “The Senate is alarmed that the recent kidnap incidents have assumed a totally new and disturbing dimension in the sense that just on Sunday, April 9, 2017, a Nigerian Army captain, identified as Muhammed, two other soldiers, four policemen and a civilian lost their lives after suspected militants attacked Ishawo in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

“The late security operatives were responding to a distress call after the militants stormed and kidnapped some residents of Woodland Estate close to the Ishawo creeks with about 10 speedboats, according to reports relayed online. It was also reported that other innocent citizens, who were seriously injured, are now receiving treatment at the Ikorodu General Hospital.

“The Senate observes that the activities of these criminal syndicates have caused untold hardship to the people of Lagos East Senatorial District and the intervention of the Federal Government is urgently required.”

Ashafa lamented that the activities of “these criminals” had forced law-abiding residents of coastal and riverside communities of the affected communities to flee their communities and livelihood out of fear.

He said, “The Senate is further concerned that on Friday, 7th April, 2017, one Mr. Ademola Salami, a 42-year-old plank dealer, was kidnapped in Ise community in the Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos East Senatorial District by seven dare devil abductors, who escaped in a gunboat via the river. The abductors have now demanded the sum of N100m as ransom for his release.

“The Senate notes that the situation is now so bad that even prominent citizens of Ise community, including the Kabiyesi, Onise of Ise, Oba Ganiyu Adegbesan, have vacated the community due to the level of insecurity in the area.

“We are disturbed that for the past seven years, a divisional police station, inaugurated in Ise, has been a ghost of itself as no police officers were deployed there until the recent attack.”

Ashafa further recalled that between April and July 2016, there were reports of militant activities in some communities in Ikorodu, including Elepete, Agbede, Ishawo and Igbo-Olomu, which led to the death of residents.

He said the militants were reported to have stormed the communities through the creeks using gunboats.

Seconding the motion, Senator Joshua Lidani, also lamented that cases of kidnapping were on the rise in Abuja, calling for more security in Nigeria’s capital and other parts of the country.

He said, “Even in Abuja here and only about four weeks ago, a relation of mine and his wife were kidnapped in Gwarimpa. They were taken away to somewhere in Suleja and a ransom had to be paid before they were released.

“Similarly, the owner of a filling station in Gwarimpa was also kidnapped and a ransom had to be paid before he was eventually released. There are other incidents and rampant cases of kidnappings and other criminal activities.

“I think there is the need for the State Security Service and the Nigeria Police to rise to their responsibilities and ensure that they are able to apprehend all those engaged in kidnapping.”