The Lagos-based 81 Division of the Army yesterday said it arrested 37 suspected Boko Haram terrorists in Lagos and Ogun States in the last 15 months.
The erstwhile General Officer Commanding (GOC) Maj.-Gen. Isidore Edet, stated this during the handing over to his successor, Maj.-Gen. Ebenezer Oyefolu.
Gen. Edet said the Division, under his watch, arrested the terrorists in different parts of the two states.
“As Boko Haram is being defeated, the terrorists run to other parts of the country.
“From the period I took over in August 2015 till date, we arrested 37 Boko Haram suspects.
“We will continue to arrest them and hand them over to the appropriate authorities,’’ he said.
Gen. Edet said his most challenging moment as GOC 81 Division was the abduction of three of his operatives by militants in Ijagemo Area, on the outskirts Lagos.
“I had to work round-the-clock to secure their release,’’ he said.
“Tackling the challenges posed by the militants wasn’t so challenging because we had to work cooperatively and collaboratively to rout the vandals in Arepo axis. For the Festac axis, the work is still on.
“Commanding 81 Division for me, was an honour. It is the dream of every Infantry officer to rise to command a division. It was a honour I didn’t take for granted. So, I would miss the cooperation and good working relations I had with my personnel.”
On pipeline vandals at Arepo area of Ikorodu, the former GOC said the Army worked collaboratively and cooperatively with other security agencies to rout the vandals from the area.
Gen. Oyefolu, said he would key into the successes of his predecessor to move the Division forward.
Gen Oyefolu was the Deputy Director at Defence Intelligence Agency, Abuja before his appointment.
