Tag: Army

The Nigerian Army has gathered its chief clerks in a convention to expose them to new technologies, skills, and innovations they need to navigate the changing threats in cyberspace.

The Chief of Personnel Management Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, who spoke on Tuesday at the convention that attracted hundreds of army staff in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, emphasized the importance of efficiency and effective use of technology in office management by the clerks.

Yahaya observed that the chief clerks played a vital role in the Nigerian Army’s formations, establishments, and units stressing that it was essential they stayed up-to-date with the latest best practices and techniques in office management, particularly in the face of emerging trends and threats in the cyberspace.

He said the theme of the Convention, Enhancing the Capacity of Nigerian Army Chief Clerks in Office Management through Effective Employment of Information and Computer Technology, was carefully selected to address the challenges in cyberspace.

Yahaya said the convention was designed to expose personnel to new and innovative techniques in data management, clerical duties, organization, and office management.

He said: “Considering the vital roles that Chief Clerks play in our formation headquarters, establishments, and units, the importance of the Chief Clerks Convention cannot be overemphasized.

“This is particularly so as we continue to navigate the ever-changing office management operating landscape which demands that we stay up-to-date with the latest best practices and techniques in line with emerging trends.

“Moreso, information and computer technology which more than ever before have continued to find application in our daily office activities albeit with threats in the cyberspace further emphasize the need for continuous training of chief clerks who handle all our documents, supervise other clerks and manage our offices.”

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Yahaya urged the participants to carefully follow all presentations and take an active part by making meaningful contributions based on service experiences during the interactive sessions.

He assured them that all suggestions, contributions, and comments made would be duly noted, while those worthy of implementation would get expeditious attention.

In his remarks, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Jamal Abdussalam noted that the convention was to enhance professionalism and responsiveness for optimal performance as chief clerks.

He said that the theme was well crafted to reflect the Army’s commitment to leveraging technology for improved productivity.

 Abdussalam urged participants to actively contribute to the discussions, stressing that their input would be invaluable in identifying lapses in the army’s administrative structure.

He said: “Additionally, the ways of mitigating the risks associated with social media and ensuring responsible information sharing will be highlighted.

“This is in furtherance to discussions on ways of streamlining record management and filing systems and your role in career planning and management to support the professional development of Nigerian Army soldiers.

“I therefore encourage you to listen attentively and participate actively throughout this gathering. Your participation and of course, contributions will help to identify lapses in our administrative structure.” 

Soldiers from the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army yesterday freed an investigative journalist arrested at an oil bunkering site in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The arrest of Fisayo Soyombo had sparked an outrage with individuals and groups including Amnesty International International and political activists like Omoyele Sowore and Deji Adeyanju calling for his release.

In a statement yesterday, the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), an organisation founded by Soyombo, confirmed his release.

The statement reads: “We can confirm that our founder ‘Fisayo Soyombo has now been released by the Nigerian Army, following the intense media campaign you all mounted.

“FIJ acknowledges the Nigerian Army’s deliberate mischaracterisation to suggest an involvement in “illegal oil bunkering.

FIJ will also address this statement appropriately.

“Our immediate concern is regarding the safety of ‘Fisayo Soyombo in view of extensive information sharing with the Army on his fieldwork during the period of his detention.

Read Also: Army clarifies arrest of investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo

“We are assessing the situation and hoping that his safety will not be jeopardised after release.”

Clarifying Soyombo’s arrest earlier, the Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, said that Soyombo was arrested by army personnel on patrol at the site of an illegal oil bunkering

Danjuma said: “You would recall that the Division has scaled up its anti illegal oil bunkering operations with huge operational successes recorded.

“Only recently, intelligence revealed the existence of a notorious gang of oil thieves noted for bursting pipelines and illegal connections for oil theft in the region. In a deliberate operation conducted, troops trialled the criminals to an illegal oil bunkering site.

“In a subsequent operation carried out, troops swooped on the site, where arrests were made, including one Fisayo Soyombo who was also arrested at the scene”.

Danjuma said all the suspects were undergoing preliminary investigation to ascertain their level of involvement in economic sabotage.

He said: “Therefore, his arrest is not unconnected with the activities of these oil thieves in the region. It is, therefore, important for media outlets to ensure the veracity of their information before they place them in the public domain.

“The division will like to reassure the general public of its commitment and responsiveness in ensuring the activities of criminal gangs, particularly oil thieves, are drastically curbed in the region. This, it is hoped will shore up oil and gas production in the country”.

The Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has ordered an immediate investigation into an alleged brutality by certain officer and soldiers of the Nigerian Army.

This is contained in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Nwachukwu said a viral audio-visual recording circulating on social media platforms, purportedly showed a senior army officer and two other soldiers in an altercation with a man and woman within the Abuja metropolis.

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According to him, the circumstances leading to this incident are not clear at the moment.

“However, the Acting Chief of Army Staff has ordered an immediate investigation to unravel the true circumstances surrounding this altercation.

“The Nigerian army remains committed to serving and protecting all law-abiding Nigerians as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Therefore, we urge the public to be rest assured that due diligence will be applied to reach a logical conclusion on this matter,” he said.

(NAN)

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has debunked the alleged takeover of the Nigerian Army Military Training Area in Kontagora Local Government Area of Niger State.

It described the allegation as “incorrect and inaccurate with realities on the ground.”

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen Edward Buba, said this in a statement on Wednesday.

He said: “While, it is understood that troops have recorded encounters with terrorists in the course of operating in the general area. No inch of the training area has been ceded to the terrorist.  Indeed, troops constantly eliminate the threat posed by terrorist criss crossing the vast area. Our clearance operations in the area have denied the terrorist freedom of action. 

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“Additionally, the armed forces seizes the opportunity to clarify that our ongoing operations, particularly in Niger State, is against terrorist. It is therefore erroneous for such threats to be described in any other form other than terrorist.”

Buba said the military  was working closely with the State Government to ensure improved security in the state and for the citizens. 

“Our troops are not relenting to ensure total destruction of these terrorists wherever they may be hiding,” he said.

Also, spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, said “our training areas remain secured, fortified, and designed to swiftly neutralize any security threat.”

Nwachukwu,, in a separate statement, said the army “remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of our host communities and Nigerians in general.”

He said: “Reports purporting an invasion of the military training area by alleged bandits and the subsequent displacement of residents from 23 communities across Kontagora and Mariga are not only untrue, but are utterly misleading and harmful, as it appears calculated to incite unnecessary panic in the neighbourhood.

“ A thorough investigation by our intelligence unit confirmed that the individuals observed in the area were herders seeking grazing grounds for their herds. No malicious intent was detected, and no hostile actions were observed.

“We acknowledge the palpable unease this baseless claim may have stirred within the Kontagora and Mariga communities, as well as Niger State as a whole. However, we wish to clarify that no credible threat exists in those areas as being peddled, contrary to the information presented by Honourable Abdullahi Isah, representing the Kontagora II Constituency on the floor of the Niger State House of Assembly on 28 October 2024.” 

Commander, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Nigerian Army, Major General Kevin Aligbe, has assured  officers and soldiers that the war against insurgency and banditry would soon come to an end.

Major General Aligbe said the Army would end the fight against insecurity before returning to the barracks.

Aligbe spoke in Akure at a party for candidates that participated in the 2024 Captain to Major Practical Promotion Examination (CMPPE).

He, however, said they would not remain long in the barracks because of a higher task to bring peace to the country abs the world.

The CMPPE President assured the participants that the just concluded  examination would qualify them for selection to attend the Junior Staff Course at Jaji or any of the subscribed staff colleges overseas.

“Having concluded this exercise much the same way you started, it suggests that there was disciplined.

“It suggests that you were prepared, it suggests you are ready for higher tasks you will be undertaking.

“This is a major milestone. You will never forget this experience. We still have challenges of insecurity manifesting in various forms. We must finish this fight so that we can return to the barracks to do other tasks.

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“Be prepared at very short notice to get back to the field either for regional or global efforts towards bringing peace to tbe continent and the world. You must accept this country first. The Army is in good hands.”

He charged them to always have the country in mind.

General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Major General Obinna Onubogu,  who was represented by the Brig. Gen. John Lar, Commander 32 Artillery Brigade, Akure, appreciated the officers for their good conduct during the examination period.

“I know that the examination is concluded but I want to urge the candidates to remain calm and hope for the best,” he said