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Tag: Aminu Iliyasu

  • Rivers LG Polls: We are on standby – Army

    The Nigerian Army on Friday said soldiers would be on standby to forestall possible violence in Saturday’s council elections in Rivers.

    Col. Aminu Iliyasu, Spokesman of the Nigerian Army 6 Division, Port Harcourt, told our reporters that  soldiers would be deployed at strategic points several kilometres away from polling centres.

    He explained that the army was adopting that position because “we are not directly involved in the election and no soldier is going to be deployed for any election duty’’.

    Read Also: Army re-strategising to end insecurity, says Buratai

    According to Iliyasu, it is only the Police and Department of State Security that have the constitutional responsibility to provide security in the election.

    “However, we are always on alert whenever there is election. We will only be on standby at the periphery in case our services are needed,” he said.

    Iliyasu said that soldiers were banned from going into polling centres and escort polling materials to the centres.

    The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) will conduct the elections in the 23 local government areas of the state.

    NAN

  • Army raids militant camp, uncovers human skulls

    Army raids militant camp, uncovers human skulls

    The Nigerian Army says it recovered from militant camp in Omoko, Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers, cache of arms and seven decomposed human skulls.

    Col. Aminu Iliyasu, Spokesman of 6 Division in Port Harcourt told newsmen on Tuesday that five males and two females were arrested at the camp.

    Iliyasu alleged that some militants and their fleeing leader, Don Wanny, kidnapped and killed several innocent citizens in Rivers and Bayelsa states.

    The spokesman listed weapons recovered from the camp as two AK 47 rifles, one General Purpose Machine Gun, 18 AK 47 magazines, three FN rifle magazines, 39 7.62mm Nato ammunition and 20 9mm ammunition.

    Others, he said were 7.62 mm ammunition, five Icom and Mag hand-held radios, two 25kg bags of cannabis, nine pairs of military camouflage, 10 human skulls and several bones.

    According to him, the raid is part of renewed strategy by the division to restore law and order in Omoku which has been terrorised by criminals for long.

    “On Monday, we received a tip-off, and thereafter, troops raided the camp and shrines of a notorious militant, cultist, kidnapper and an ardent oil thief popularly known as Don Wanny.

    “After about an hour of gun fight, our troops overpowered the criminal elements due to superior fire power that sent the criminals scampering for safety,” he said.

    Iliyasu said some of the alleged criminals, who sustained gunshot wounds escaped by jumping into Orashi River in the area.

    “However, seven of the suspects including two ladies were arrested, while they attempted to escape in the encounter that occurred at about 2:35 a.m. on Monday.

    “It is believed that the main culprit, Don Wanny was not at the location during the encounter but concerted efforts are on to track, arrest and bring him to justice,” he said.

    Iliyasu thanked residents of the area for cooperating with security agencies and urged them to continue to provide timely information that would lead to arrest of criminals in the state and its environs.

    NAN

  • Six division, Nigerian Army holds sanitation in Port Harcourt

    Six division, Nigerian Army holds sanitation in Port Harcourt

    The 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, on Tuesday conducted a sanitation exercise at Mile 3 Park, as part of Operation Crocodile Smile II in the Niger Delta.

    The  Army is conducting educational, medical and sanitation outreaches in areas where ‘Exercise Crocodile Smile II’ operation is going on.

    Col. Aminu Iliyasu, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Division, Port Harcourt, said that the clean-up  was a humanitarian exercise of the Army within its Areas of Responsibility ( AOR ).

    Iliyasu said the Army had always been involved in humanitarian activities as its contribution to the society as well as to build confidence among the populace.

    Mr Glory Nnokam, Deputy Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers ( NURTW ), Npkolu-Oroworukwo Motor Park, Mile 3, Port Harcourt, commended the Army’s gesture.

    “We are very surprised that they are here to clean the park for us, this is quite commendable.

    “You can see that people are not running because sanitation is good, and we are happy,” he said.

    Nnokam said that it was wrong for people to perceive the Nigerian Army as a wicked institution, adding that if the Army personnel were inhuman, they would not clean up the park.

    Chief Godwin Emenike, First Trustee, NURTW, Mile 3 Park, said that he was happy with what officers and men of the 6 Division had done.

    “You can see me, I’m sweating because when they came and said they were for sanitation, I started mobilising wheel barrows, shovels and brooms for them to work with.

    “They are really cleaning the place very well, I am very happy and wish they will do this again in the future,” Emenike said.

    He said that only criminals would run away when they saw the Army.

    “When they came, I went to them and asked why were they in the park and they said they wanted to clean our environment.

    “You can see the women helping them too, the Army is here for good,” he said.

    NAN

  • ‘Army not directly involved in Oyibo crises’

    ‘Army not directly involved in Oyibo crises’

    The Nigerian Army says it is not directly involved in ongoing operation to restore law and order in Oyibo Local Government Area of Rivers.

    Col. Aminu Iliyasu, Spokesman of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt on Thursday.

    Iliyasu said the army only assisted the police on Tuesday following violent clash between members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Hausa community.

    According to him, troops has since been withdrawn to strategic locations while the police are now fully in control of the situation.

    “Some persons are just trying to stir up tension by insinuating that the army was involved in shootout with IPOB members in the early hours of Thursday.

    “If any security agency had shootout with anyone; then it is definitely not the army that took part in the shootout.

    “This is because the army has since withdrawn troops on Tuesday after normalcy was restored to enable the police to discharge their constitutional mandate.

    “However, soldiers are currently on standby in case the situation escalates beyond what the police can handle. It is only in that situation that the army will intervene,” he said.

    The spokesman said that no arrest was made by the army during its brief intervention in the clash that ensued between IPOB members and the Hausa community.

    He said that relative calm had been restored with social and economic activities returning to the area.

  • Army kill notorious cultist, recover arms

    Army kill notorious cultist, recover arms

    Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in the early hours of Tuesday shot dead a notorious cultist during a gun battle in Sime community, Tai Local Government Area of Rivers.

    Col. Aminu Iliyasu, the division’s Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, made the disclosure in a statement issued to newsmen on Tuesday in Port Harcourt.

    He said that the deceased cultist was the leader of Dey Bam secret cult group fingered in extra judicial killings.

    He added that the late cultist was on the wanted list of Rivers Police command.

    Iliyasu said one suspected cultist was arrested while several others fled the scene with gunshot wounds in the operation that lasted several hours.

    “Troops of 29 Battalion deployed to Ebubu, Eleme LGA and the anti-robbery team deployed along Port Harcourt–Akwa Ibom road conducted a successful raid operation in Sime community.

    “During the operation, the troops engaged in gun duel with members of the notorious Dey Bam cult group led by one Mr Supreme, who has been on the wanted list of Rivers government.

    “Supreme was shot during the gun battle and later died as a result of excessive bleeding while several others (suspected cultists) escaped with gunshot wounds.

    “One SIGP228 pistol with registration number 299MME225 and ten rounds of 9mm ammunition were recovered during the raid,” he said.

    Iliyasu said one suspected cultist was arrested and handed over to Rivers Police command for further investigation.

    The spokesman said the raid was part of the army’s clampdown on persons and groups involved in criminality in the state and its environs.

    According to him, the division has already deployed troops to strategic locations to safeguard lives and properties of residents of the state.

    “Cultists and other criminal elements are hereby warned to desist from wicked acts and embrace the amnesty programme currently being offered by Rivers government.

    “The division urges the residents to assist it with credible information that will lead to the arrest of criminals in their domain,” he pleaded.

    Iliyasu said informants could reach the division through the following numbers: 09072509436, 09072509437 and 09072509438.