Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas – Chief of Naval Staff PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZEChief of Nigeria’s Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok Ekwe-Ibas, has expressed the wish of the military, police and other Forces in the war front to completely end the activities of Boko Haram and Islamic State in West African Province in 2020 that is just around the corner.
Speaking to newsmen today, December 30 shortly a meeting between the nation’s service chiefs and President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Naval Chief solicited the support of the media to accomplish the task.
“It is our wish to have the insurgency and terrorism issues resolved once and for all to enable us focus on matters of development.
“At this point, I think you as partners (media men), will also need to do that much to encourage our armed forces and other security agencies to ensure that what we have coming out from you, supports the efforts of the military while you are doing your legitimate work.
“It is our hope that we will get done with this insurgency and terrorism that has besieged our country.”
According to him, the security chiefs met with the President to appraise the year 2019 generally, with emphasis on ongoing operations both within as well as the regional operations.
“With respect to operations within the country, it was generally agreed and noted that the security agencies have done their very best in ensuring that the deliverables are made clear.
“You will recall that the various operations in the country in the northeast, northwest, north central, the southeast as well as the southwest where all members of the armed forces are taking part as well as the intelligence agencies have ensured that we all enjoyed a better holiday period that has just been observed.
“We also recalled that in those areas where the military have been able to achieve desired objectives, from the first quarter of next year, the civil authority will be preparing to take back those responsibilities as the military draws back its forces from those areas to enable it force its attention on other emerging threats and areas of concern.
“It also observed that in the maritime environment, a lot has been done to ensure that our resources are protected. The outcomes of the operations there have seen to the arrest of about six vessels that were involved in stealing of the nation’s maritime resources.
“Mr. President has directed that the council and the members of armed forces ensure a peaceful society in 2020. To that effect, we are more than determined to continue from where we stopped in 2019 and to ensure that we sustain our various operations to ensure a secured Nigeria for all of us.”
“It is our wish to have the insurgency and terrorism issues resolved once and for all to enable us focus on matters of development.
“At this point, I think you as partners (media men), will also need to do that much to encourage our armed forces and other security agencies to ensure that what we have coming out from you, supports the efforts of the military while you are doing your legitimate work.
“It is our hope that we will get done with this insurgency and terrorism that has besieged our country.”
According to him, the security chiefs met with the President to appraise the year 2019 generally, with emphasis on ongoing operations both within as well as the regional operations.
“With respect to operations within the country, it was generally agreed and noted that the security agencies have done their very best in ensuring that the deliverables are made clear.
“You will recall that the various operations in the country in the northeast, northwest, north central, the southeast as well as the southwest where all members of the armed forces are taking part as well as the intelligence agencies have ensured that we all enjoyed a better holiday period that has just been observed.
“We also recalled that in those areas where the military have been able to achieve desired objectives, from the first quarter of next year, the civil authority will be preparing to take back those responsibilities as the military draws back its forces from those areas to enable it force its attention on other emerging threats and areas of concern.
“It also observed that in the maritime environment, a lot has been done to ensure that our resources are protected. The outcomes of the operations there have seen to the arrest of about six vessels that were involved in stealing of the nation’s maritime resources.
“Mr. President has directed that the council and the members of armed forces ensure a peaceful society in 2020. To that effect, we are more than determined to continue from where we stopped in 2019 and to ensure that we sustain our various operations to ensure a secured Nigeria for all of us.”
