Troops of the Nigerian Army deployed under Exercise Golden Dawn in the southeast have neutralized a gunman belonging to the Biafran National Guard.
This development was contained in a statement issued by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu.
The Army spokesperson in a statement on Thursday night revealed that the gunmen had launched an attack against the troops at Amaekpu, Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State on Thursday 28 October 2021.
However, the troops resisted the attack and returned gunfire which resulted in the killing of one of the attackers while others escaped with gunshot wounds.
Apart from weapons, the troops also recovered vehicles while one of the gunmen was later arrested in Ebonyi State.
Nwachukwu said: “The assailants, who were heavily armed and conveyed in several vehicles opened fire on the troops’ location, but were met with stiff resistance by the troops.
“In the encounter, the troops neutralized one gunman, while others abandoned their vehicles and retreated in disarray with gunshot wounds. The troops also recovered a pump-action gun, among others.
“While the criminals withdrew, having been overwhelmed, they were promptly intercepted at Eda by troops of forwarding Operating Base Ohaozara in Ebonyi State. The troops recovered additional three vehicles and apprehended one of the gunmen.”
Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha says the Nigerian Military needs to be restructured if it will overcome the security challenges facing the nation.
Mustapha made the submission on Thursday in Abuja when he received the 24-member advisory committee on the reform of the armed forces and defence.
The committee is headed by Alwali Kazir.
The SGF observed that without a rejig of the current structure of the country’s defence, the fight against insecurity may continue for a long time without any end in sight particularly given the nature of Nigeria’s territory.
Naija News understands that the committee was inaugurated in September by the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi with a mandate to look into and make recommendations on necessary reforms in the armed forces.
Receiving the team, Mustapha said he will do everything within his power to ensure support for the works of the committee as he believes they are taking the right steps and need all the support.
This article was originally published on Naija News