The Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, on Monday unveiled some milestone achievements in Nigeria’s efforts in security and anti-corruption.
Speaking during the August edition of the Monthly Joint Security Press Briefing held at the Agency’s Headquarters in Abuja, Issa-Onilu, explained that in the period under review, the Nigeria Police Force has carried out a total of 326 operations leading to the arrest of 2,109 culprits.
He said 175 kidnap victims were successfully rescued while 78 terrorist attacks were neutralized and 6 arms trafficking rings dismantled, including 720 conflicts resolved by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Unveiling the significant gains in combating drug abuse and arms proliferation, the DG said the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) has made 1,572 raids resulting in 2.9 million kg narcotics, 520 kg tramadol and 7.35 kg methamphetamine being recovered.
Continuing, he stated that 12 AK-47s, 2 GPMGs, and 2,200+ rounds of ammunition were recovered by the NDLEA.
According to the statistics read out by Issa-Onilu which showed the Federal Government’s achievements in strengthening border security and migration control, 82 human trafficking victims were rescued, 495 repatriations recorded, 3,786 e-visas issued, 214 Nigerians returned from Niger Republic and 110 deported from Saudi Arabia for visa violations.
In the protection of critical infrastructure and natural resources, Issa-Onilu revealed that the NSCDC dismantled 12 illegal refineries, 3 mining gangs and 7 oil theft trucks, while the Nigerian Navy seized N752.2 million worth of stolen petroleum products. The Federal Fire Service saved N319.5 billion in fire disasters, and improved response time by 33%.
In the areas of expanding humanitarian and civic engagement responses, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) supported 42 rescued Boko-Haram captives and flood victims in more than 15 States, while the ICPC hosted 352 anti-corruption events reaching 209,339 citizens.
The NOA Boss reaffirmed that national security is a shared responsibility of every citizen, saying “Our gallant men and women in uniforms are recording real, miserable gains. But security does not start on a battlefield – it begins in our homes, our values, our truthfulness and our resolve. Let us protect what is ours, stand with our institutions, and unite behind the cause of a peaceful, progressive Nigeria”.