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Tag: Army

  • Appreciating Nigerian Troops @ Christmas

    Three weeks ago, I stumbled across a picture on social media, which invoked sympathy. It got me thinking for a long time. The selfie was that of a gallant soldier fighting Boko Haram terrorism in the desert of the Northeast.

    It was the birthday of this soldier, a special day in his life and a day every other human being celebrates in style, pomp and pageantry. But the soldier’s case was different. He was “celebrating” the birthday on his duty post on the battlefront. What I saw displayed as spicing this special day of the soldier were a famished plate of rice, a pack of fruit juice and two sachets of pure water.

    That soldier had no pleasure of listening to his wife or children or friends sing to his pleasure the sonorous song; “happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you….; how old are you now?” You can say, it is self-approved depravity for the sake of peace and security of our country.

    Sadly too, he didn’t mark this special day in forlornness alone, by the absence of his wife, children, family members, friends and associates; but no one feted him with birthday gifts or some special treats peculiar with such celebrations.

    Even when he invited Nigerians on social media to join him in marking his birthday, he was ignored, as there were few responses. Almost a day after he made the post on Facebook, there were only about 20 “likes” and even fewer comments. That’s our mindset and perception on troops, who have sacrificed everything, including their lives for us to have peace and security.

    While I reflected over the fate of this soldier, what assailed my thoughts endlessly was a sense of guilt. His plight symbolizes the lack of concern on our troops battling insurgency in the country.

    There is no external aggression on Nigeria. Boko Haram is basically an internal problem. So, i tried to find justification for the emergence and sustenance of Boko Haram insurgency, but could not find any reason to placate me.

    Next, I felt empathetic; not for the soldier, but for the aloofness of some Nigerians in appreciating the grave task of quelling the Boko Haram scourge by soldiers. I was piqued more with the consistency of this collective reticent disposition for our troops who have sacrificed everything to give us peace, comfort and security in our homes.

    And December 25, 2018 was another big day in the lives of Christians globally. The commemoration of the birth of our Lord and personal Saviour Jesus Christ, a feast marked with funfair. The celebrations are usually elaborate and planned overtime.

    It is a season observed with the signature of visits to family members and friends, exchange of gifts, carnivals, social parties, work breaks, and other social interactions laced in leisure and relaxations. These are the comforts the rest of Nigerian Christians enjoy at every yuletide.

    But on the reverse side, our gallant troops combating Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast are painfully deprived of these liberties on account of official duties. We must know that special and catchy festive days like Sallah, Christmas and New Year celebrations are auspicious days insurgents love to strike to disrupt the pleasure such days stimulate in the citizens.

    Terrorists consciously plot and embark on atrocious acts that would replace the pleasure and happiness with sorrows and agonies. It has been the tradition and in the past, and insurgents had always succeeded. But today, the vigilance and combative dexterity of our troops has truncated such terrorists’ atrocities on the people.

    And in the Northeast, Boko Haram terrorists were very active in the last week preceding Christmas. They schemed to overwhelm our troops with serial strikes to prepare fertile grounds to unleash the final onslaught on Nigerians on Christmas day. But our brave troops never gave them a chance.

    On Christmas eve, while our mothers, wives, aunties and the likes were making last minute shopping for the Christmas or cooking favourite delicacies for us to celebrate the festivity, our troops were in the tranches battling insurgents. Back home, their wives and mothers also prepared same sumptuous meals, but the soldier was nowhere the warmth of home to savour the dishes.

    And these tales are far from fiction, but reality. On Christmas eve, the hour most of us had started our Christmas holiday in cozy homes or leisure spots, our troops fought and repelled terrorists attack on Forward Operational Base at Kukareta in Damaturu LGA. It was after troops had earlier successfully overpowered insurgents who ambushed them along the Maiduguri-Damaturu highway after a fierce battle.

    And our troops have continued with this vigilance. On Boxing Day, we sent gifts to our beloved ones. But the soldier on the battle front never received any gift from us and not even a word of appreciation. Many of us never remembered that these soldiers have families; we were not encouraged by the spirit of the festivity to either visit or extend a gift to these families.

    Read Also:Army battles Boko Haram fighters infiltrators in Baga

    I searched Facebook and there were very little Christmas goodwill messages for our troops. But we extended same to people and institutions. This is not forgetfulness, but a deliberate act of taciturnity toward our troops.

    But the soldiers are there; out in the cold winds of this season, eating regimental dishes; instead of what he would have loved to eat at any given time, like we freely select our menus every day and time. Yet, we have no feeling for them even on special occasions like Christmas.

    We must search ourselves inwards; we should expand our reflections and dispassionately assess the counter-insurgency operations against Boko Haram terrorists, mounted by the Nigerian military, especially the Nigerian Army. The truth about the positive impact will ceaselessly stare us in the face.

    No Nigerian can convince himself sincerely that he is not excited with the Army’s stoppage of bomb explosions in Abuja or any other part of the North as obtainable before now. Even if we pretend, it is incontestable that the Army under the command of the COAS and leader of the counter-insurgency operations, Lt. Gen. TY Buratai have reduced Boko Haram operations to confined obscure areas in the Northeast.

    It cannot be disputed that the Army have performed marvelously. Those in doubt should ask other countries of the world which are under the spell of terrorism. It’s tough and nightmarish. Victory against insurgency is not earned so cheaply. But the Nigerian Army has continued to prove its might against terrorists.

    I have no doubt that for every day Nigeria and the citizenry enjoy peace, there are people out in the trenches working tirelessly to entrench this peace and security. The Nigerian military and other security agencies who are anchoring this great altruistic national service for peace and enhanced security in our country and for our sake, deserves our acknowledgment and appreciation.

    Our spirit of togetherness is not yet broken and when we collectively support our Armed Forces, Boko Haram insurgents cannot triumph over us. Let’s re-order the direction of our perceptions and begin to look at the soldier on the battlefront as our son, brother, husband and symbol of the Christ-like motif, which has offered the plank for the peace and security of our dear country.

    Murphy is a security expert and wrote this piece from Calabar.

  • We’re in control of Baga, says Army

    The Army declared yesterday that it never lost  control of Baga in northern Borno, dismissing reports  that Boko Haram insurgents overran the area.

    The Chief of Training and Operations, Maj.-Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, told reporters in Maiduguri that  troops successfully repelled an  insurgents’ attack and secured Baga and its environs.

    “Baga, as I speak with you, is not in the hands of Boko Haram insurgents. They contested it, but lost the battle in the last 24 hours of attacks on our base,” he said.

    He added: “We have taken control of Baga. I am talking about the position of Baga as at yesterday when we stabilised the situation.

    ”Our troops have taken control of Baga town and its environs.”

    But The Nation confirmed that  hundreds of Baga  residents including women and children  have fled in droves to Maiduguri following the battle in the town.

    It was also gathered that road transport  fares from Baga to Maiduguri have been hiked by  more than 50% following the development.

    It now costs a minimum of N10000 per head.

    Some earlier reports said  Boko Haram insurgents had overrun the fishing town on Nigeria’s  border with Chad and Niger Republics, and hoisted their flags, a situation which forced the inhabitants to flee.

    Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Sani Kukasheka Usman, said the insurgents on Wednesday Dec. 26, 2018; attacked the 7 Brigade, Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), based  in the town at about 7:00 pm.

    “The troops along with their Nigerian Navy counterparts put up a very determined fight to repel the attack throughout the night, while Sector 3 Operation LAFIYA DOLE sent in reinforcement who are in hot pursuit of the terrorists.

    “Similarly, a Search and Rescue team has been constituted.

    “The Nigerian Air Force component has also been mobilised and are engaging the fleeing terrorists. Unfortunately; a naval personnel was killed in action.”

  • Army confirms death of Navy personnel in Baga

    The Army has confirmed the death of a Navy personnel in last night’s Boko Haram attack on the 7 Brigade Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in Baga, Borno State.

    A statement by the spokesman, Brig.-Gen Sani Usman, said: “Troops, with their Navy counterparts, put up a very determined fight to repel the attack throughout the night. However, the Naval officer was killed in action.

    The statement reads: “Recall that yesterday, December 26, suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked the headquarters of 7 Brigade Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in Baga, Borno State, about 7.00pm.

    “The troops, with their Navy counterparts, put up a very determined fight to repel the attack throughout the night, while Sector 3 Operation LAFIYA DOLE sent in reinforcement who pursued the terrorists. Similarly, a Search and Rescue team has been constituted.

    “The Air Force component has also been mobilised and are engaging the fleeing terrorists. Unfortunately, a naval personnel was killed in action. So far, no further details of casualties are known as efforts are ongoing to clear the terrorists hiding in Baga and environs.

    “We enjoin all to remain calm as the troops conduct clearance and mop up operations. We implore the public to disregard any contrary information circulating on the attack. We will keep you posted with development on the pursuit and mop up operations.”

     

  • Abuja three years without bombs and still counting

    I sat in anxiety as the yuletide season approached us. Thoughts ran riots in my head. I played out many scenarios as regards the likelihood of a disruption of the festive season by men of the underworld, as in times past. I refreshed my memory to the bomb blasts the rocked previous years on Christmas day and in churches and recreational centres in the FCT and its environs. I could only but nod my head in absolute disbelief.
    Disbelief you might want to ask. Yes, I meant every bit of the word disbelief because of how time flies and indeed how when there is a will, there would always be a way. I counted three with my fingers (2016, 2017 and 2018) and not a single disruption of the yuletide season in Abuja. Not a single bomb detonated anywhere. There was no uproar amongst merry seekers in recreational spots all around the FCT and its environs. People went about their normal businesses without fear. This is unprecedented.
    I have longed told all that cared to listen that God indeed loves Nigeria. The outcome of the 2015 elections that produced the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was indeed a divine intervention in my opinion. I believe the discerning minds would agree with. It is also not by accident that we have had three consecutive years of peace and tranquillity in the festive season in Abuja. And it is also not luck. Some people somewhere have paid the price, and this brings me to the very essence of this piece.
    In some quarters, some have always questioned the constitutional role of the Nigeria Army in the sustenance of peace in any given society. They have also erroneously believed that the role of the army in Nigeria should and always be confined to the barracks. They haven’t given a thought that the enthronement of internal security and peace falls within the purview of the Nigeria Army. And this much they have strived to achieve from time immemorial. But the last three years have seen a more proactive and robust Nigeria Army in the enthronement of internal security and peace in Nigeria, and Abuja is just a case study.
    If anyone told me some four years ago that there would be such a time where the security architecture in Abuja would be top-notch that people would go about their various business without fear, I would doubt it because of the reign of terror that has accompanied festive periods in the FCT. This fact is corroborated with the way and manner many people relocated from Abuja due to the high level of insecurity. I recall I stumbled on a piece written by a former Abuja resident who had to relocate in the wake on the high level of uncertainty but recently returned to Abuja.
    As mentioned earlier, these things didn’t happen by chance, somewhere and somehow the price was paid just like Jesus Christ paid the price for us sinners on the cross of Calvary. If no one gave credit to President Muhammadu Buhari, I would give him high credit. If no one would also appreciate the efforts of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, I and my household would appreciate him. Some might be wondering why I am particular about President Muhammadu Buhari and Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai. Some might also be wondering what it was a spectacular thing that they have done to deserve such high praises. But I would say that, and just like I have always said that the solution to the myriads of challenges facing Nigeria is when our political leaders exhibit that political will. And once that is done, there would always be a way.
    And one of such ways that President Muhammadu Buhari has exhibited a political will is in the appointment of the service chiefs, especially that of the Nigeria Army, which has never been so engaged in the enthronement of internal security in the annals of the country as in the past three years. In the past three years, the Nigeria Army has stretched beyond the elastic limit with various operations around the country simultaneously. But yet it didn’t flop. From the ongoing war against Boko Haram terrorist in North East Nigeria to the militant Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) in South East, and others too numerous to mention. The Nigeria Army has stayed true to its constitutional responsibility.
    They have sacrificed their all to keep the country safe and secured. They have decimated the Boko Haram, even at great sacrifice with the number of casualties recorded. While this is unfortunate, it just goes with the terrain in warfare situations. They have also kept other violent groups in check. They have done quite a lot to keep the country safe and secured. And like I mentioned earlier, when there is a will, there would always be a way.
    In my opinion, the best we can do in the very circumstances is to continually remind the troops that they are the real national heroes of Nigeria. And their sacrifices would never be in vain. For every night they patrol and lie in trenches keeping watch over us as we go to sleep, for the long days and months they spend away from their families and loved ones, every tears they shed for Nigeria, the majority of Nigeria and Nigerians would forever appreciate. It is only those that are ignorant that would not see this great work. And it also those that are myopic that would not agree that indeed President Muhammadu Buhari is God sent to rescue Nigeria from the brinks of collapse. If not for anything, let us learn to call a spade and spade in Nigeria. This is just a word of encouragement to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai and his soldiers.
    Nwachukwu is president, African Mothers of Virtue.

  • Boko Haram: Army fighting criminals, informants- Buratai

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai has said  what the Nigeria Army is facing in the Northeast  is criminality rather than the conventional Boko Haram that started in the region.

    General Buratai who was reacting to questions at end of year dinner with editors and defence correspondents in Maiduguri disclosed that there are powerful people behind the Boko Haram crisis and have kept rebranding it.

    According to him, the original Boko Haram that started has been dealt with it decisively but ” they keep changing their names like we have Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) now. I want to tell you that, even if we finish with ISWAP, those people behind these things will snowball to another name and they will go on and on”.

    Buratai also  revealed that the insurgents are having a field day in their attacks due to their collaborators and informants who they use to monitor everyone including the troops.

    The Chief of Army Staff also disclosed that the funding of Boko Haram has always come from the International connection,  citing the  example of how the Libyian crisis led to high influx of ammunition and aided the crisis in Nigeria.

    Buratai explained that insurgents have different ways of funding and sourcing for equipment, including cattle rustling, kidnapping, and fishing in the Lake Chad.

     He called on the media to join the Nigerian Army in defeating every element of terrorism in the Northeast and the entire Lake Chad Region , adding that,  “with such collaboration, the propaganda which the terrorists devised to misinform and instill fear on the public and troops can be checkmated”.

    Buratai expressed regret over what he described as deliberate falsehood and  campaign of calumny  staged  against the Nigerian Army by some social media platform which according to him is targeted at  demoralizing  troops to the detriment of national security.

    The Army Chief warned that the army will descend heavily against such manner of campaigns with every legal apparatus, stressing that the war against the insurgents cannot be won by the army alone, but with the efforts of every citizen.

    He called  on  media organizations to be objective by highlighting the achievements of the military against the insurgents and de-emphaising the falsehood and propaganda of the insurgents so as the educate the public.

    Buratai while commenting on the army’s recent battle with amnesty international noted that; ” The allegations of human rights abuses against the military by Amnesty International, lack of equipment and nonpayment of allowances to troops are all misleading and not the true .

    “The military authorities have established a human rights desk to promote civil military relationship and enhance justice system as well as reorganize various divisions,” he said.

    He explained that  the dinner was organized to chart a new phase on  Military/ Media relations. He also  commended the media for its effective reportage of the campaign against insurgency as well as restoration of peace in the Northeast.

    This Day Newspaper Editor,  Mr Bolaji Adebiyi  who spoke on behalf of other editors , thanked the Chief of Army Staff and the Nigerian Army for organizing the dinner which he said is a very good development in the Media/ Military relationship that will identify and  bridge the gap in media management.

    The dinner was attended by Major.General . Lamidi Adeosun, the Head of Military Training and Operations; Major General. Benson Akinroluyo, The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole and Brigadier General Abdulmalik Bulama Biu, Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division, and other senior military officers.

    Others were some representatives of United Nation agencies, Nigerian Guild of Editors and Nigerian Institute of Public Relations Practitioners.

  • AI’s damning report angers Buhari, Army

    Amnesty International (AI) Nigeria was battling yesterday to fend off a major credibility crisis after the military rejected its report on attacks.

    The army accused the rights group of planning to destabilise Nigeria by claiming that 3,641 deaths were recorded in herders/farmers clashes. It called for its expulsion.

    But the organisation insisted on the integrity of tis reports and dismissed the army’s position as “empty threats”.

    President Muhammadu Buhari joined the fray. His opinion  – AI’s operations seem to be dampening the military’s morale.

    In a statement yesterday, Army spokesman Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman said AI’s attempt to destabilise the nation was noted through fabrication of fictitious allegations of alleged human rights abuses against security forces.

    Gen. Usman also alleged that AI had engaged in clandestine sponsorship of dissident groups to protest against the leadership of the military against who unfounded allegations were reportedly leveled.

    A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, Enough is Enough, and BudgIT) have recently called for the probing of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) over the funding of the war against terrorism and other crimes in the country.

    Read also: Fixing crude oil refining business in Nigeria

    The CSOs alleged that the army had not made commensurate achievement in the fight in line with the huge fund the Federal Government allocated to it.

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai,  explained that some of the allocated funds had no cash backing yet and, therefore, not at the disposal of the military.

    Gen. Usman said the local branch of AI, which was hitherto well-respected, had deviated from the core values, principles and objectives of the original parent body in the United Kingdom.

    The military spokesman said: “They have tried over the years, using Boko Haram terrorists’ conflicts, Islamic Movement in Nigeria, some activists and now herders-farmers conflicts.

    “The NGO is at the verge of releasing yet another concocted report against the military, ostensibly against the Nigerian Army.

    “Consequently, Nigerians should be wary of Amnesty International (Nigeria) because its goals are to destabilise Nigeria and to dismember it.

    “The Nigerian Army has no option than to call for the closure of Amnesty International offices in Nigeria, if such recklessness continues.”

    AI dismissed the military’s threat to seal its offices in the country.

    The body said there was nothing to worry over on the military’s verdict that its activities were subversive.

    AI was responding to the army’s reaction to its report on the death toll recorded in the farmers/herders’ clashes in the last three years.

    AI Nigeria Chairman Auwal Rafsanjani said nobody could stop the organisation from documenting and monitoring human rights violations, whether in Nigeria or elsewhere.

    Speaking yesterday at the unveiling of its report “Harvest of death: three years of bloody clashes between herders and farmers”, Rafsanjani said: “Our response to the threat of the military; just like they have threatened to shut down UNICEF activities in the Northeast, I think that rather than this unnecessary hostility on issues that affect all of us as human beings, we will rather advice the military to look at the recommendations that we have provided. Threatening to shut down the operations of AI Nigeria is not the solution to the continued violence, conflicts and criminality we are seeing in Nigeria.

    “We are not a threat, we are rather partners in progress, addressing the lapses of human rights violations but to come and be threatening things that you cannot even stop is a waste of time; nobody can stop AI from documenting and monitoring human rights violations, whether in Nigeria or outside the country, so this is not a threat that really worries us, it is just an empty threat.”

    AI’s Country Director Osai Ojigho said the organisation want the government to live up to its responsibilities, so that if anyone commits a crime, he is arrested and dealth with.

    Ojigho stated that the report showed how the government’s inaction fuelled impunity, resulting in attacks and reprisal attacks, with no fewer than 3,641 people killed between January 2016 and October 2018, 57 per cent of them in 2018 alone.

    She said AI visited 56 communities in Adamawa, Benue, Kaduna, Taraba and Zamfara states affected by these clashes and conducted 262 interviews, including remotely with members of communities in Nasarawa and Plateau states.

    Her words: “This report documents the violent clashes between members of farmer communities and members of herder communities in parts of Nigeria, particularly in the northern parts of the country, over access to resources: water and pasture. It also documents the failure of the Nigerian government in fulfilling its constitutional responsibility of protection of lives and property by refusing to investigate, arrest and prosecute perpetrators of attacks.

    “The report shows how government’s inaction fuels impunity, resulting in attacks and reprisal attacks, with at least 3,641 people killed between January 2016 and October 2018, 57 per cent of them in 2018 alone.

    “AI visited 56 communities in Adamawa, Benue, Kaduna, Taraba and Zamfara states affected by the clashes and conducted 262 interviews, including remotely with members of communities in Nasarawa and Ptateau states.”

  • Army versus Wike

    As elections loom, we see the spectre of violence. Or, more appropriately, imagine it. Rivers State is alive with such a hobgoblin. The army of the sixth division has accused the state governor, Nyesom Wike, of assembling some youths to form a vigilante group. The army said it was illegal and called it a “militia group.”

    The division sent a detachment of soldiers to raid and sack the vigilante group at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Nowan Gbam, where the Rivers State government was recruiting and training the youths.

    But Governor Wike has hit back, denying that it was anything novel and anything illegal and anything devoted to violence. It was purely a neighbourhood watch.

    There is some spectre here. Who is manufacturing reality? The army or Wike? The army, for one, has not been all consistent in its language. While the 6 division says it is sure, the Chief of army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai, said it was investigating it and had ordered an inquiry. How could the army be speaking from two voices? Their chief says he is looking into it, while lower down the ranks, the 6 Division says they have found it.

    What is going on? We hope the army is not playing the APC script that has rammed down a position in sync with that of the army. The APC says it is all about disrupting 2019. We recall there is no love lost between the Governor and his predecessor Rotimi Amaechi, and we hope the army is not a marionette of a politician?

    For one, the Rivers State government said it had written the 6 Division about the neighbourhood watch, but the army ignored it. Could it be that the army, as it has failed many times, did not know of the NYSC Camp activity until the letter came, and they responded as though they had been following? They have not acknowledged the letter, and they have not disavowed it.

    Hardball would like to know what the army has to say about it. Again the vigilante watch is not new to the country. Information Commissioner Emma Okocha noted that other states have this, including Lagos, Kano, Imo, and Kwara. And he is right. We know neighborhood watches are potentially deployed for elections, but the army should not shoot from the hip. It may be true that Wike has political designs and may be plotting a militia, but the army should prove it, not merely assert it.

    If the army speaks with two voices and Wike with one voice, who would you believe?

  • NYSC DG, 229 others promoted by Army

    •Navy promotes 87 senior officers

    THE Army announced yesterday that about 230 senior officers have been promoted by the Army Council to their respective next ranks.

    Also yesterday, Navy promoted 87 senior officers to their next ranks.

    According to Army spokesman Brig. Gen Sani Usman, among those promoted were the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brig.-Gen. Suleiman Z. Kazaure, who was promoted to the rank of Major-General.

    Read also: Army: $1b approved to fight insurgency yet to be released

    Brig.-Gen Usman, in a statement, said that 29 Brigadier-Generals were promoted to the rank of Major-Generals, 95 Colonels promoted to the ranks of Brigadier-Generals and 106 Lieutenant-Colonels promoted to the ranks of Colonels.

    The promotion exercise, the Army spokesman said, is expected to re-energise the beneficiaries towards the discharge of their tasks and responsibilities.

    According to a statement from the Director of Information (DINFO) Navy Headquarters, Abuja, Navy Commodore Ayo Olugbode, 10 Rear Admirals, 25 Commodores, 24 Captains and 28 Commanders benefitted from the new naval promotion.

  • Operator, butchers accuse Army of undermining abattoir

    After eight years of stalemate, the Ibadan Central Abattoir, Amosun Village, opened for business in July. Already, activities are reaching the peak, delivering gains to the operator, butchers, state and local governments. But the stakeholders have been battling the leadership of the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Ibadan for allegedly providing cover for illegal cattle slaughtering at Odogbo Cantonment, an act that is viewed as undermining the Central Abattoir project, writes Southwest Bureau Chief BISI OLADELE 

    Slaughtering and trading activities are in full swing at the Ibadan Central Abattoir (ICA), ending years of unwholesome production of meat at sub-standard abattoirs across the capital city.

    Meat consumers in Ibadan and communities contiguous to it have heaved a sigh of relief as cows and other cattle are now properly examined and certified by veterinary doctors before they are slaughtered for human consumption at the new abattoir.

    The Ibadan Central Abattoir gained its breath after eight years of stalemate caused by inability of butchers, the 11 local government areas in Ibadan and the Oyo State Government to agree on the modality for operating the N2 billion worth of facility. But the stalemate ended in May subsequent to a landmark agreement to allow the interest of the meat consuming public reign over other factors.

    The butchers agreed to relocate. The government renegotiated terms of engagement and the private company which built the abattoir also made concessions. Then, slaughtering moved into the butchery in July and everyone became happy.

    The story has not, however, been fully rosy as a few butchers who are opposed to the facility have been defying government’s order to relocate to the new abattoir. While some chose to slaughter their cattle at the now illegal abattoirs, some allegedly moved to the slaughter slab of the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Odogbo Cantonment located in Ojoo area of the city.

    Southwest Report gathered that the authorities of the cantonment were allegedly shielding the few butchers from arrest by the task force set up by the state government until three weeks ago when the alleged lead butcher at the cantonment, Mr Yekinni Abiola, was eventually arrested.

    But his arrest did not happen by chance. Our correspondent reliably gathered that the butchers and management of the new abattoir petitioned the state government over alleged harassment of butchers and members of the task force by some soldiers from the cantonment.

    The Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development had to send a strongly-worded letter to the leadership of the cantonment to convey the seriousness of the state government over the matter.

    In the petition, the abattoir and butchers accused the cantonment of shielding Mr Abiola and his colleagues who were allegedly slaughtering up to 100 cattle per day in the slab that was meant for a single digit number of cattle. The operator and butchers further alleged that soldiers also provided security for Abiola and his colleagues whenever they took their meat to town for sale. It is believed that the cantonment was generating some revenue through the use of its slab thereby necessitating the need to protect the butchers and their business.

    At the middle of the crisis, two veterinary officers of the state Ministry of Agriculture who  work for the abattoir, Dr Kehinde Oladokun and Dr Ayoola Oladipo were arrested and allegedly brutalised by some soldiers. They were arrested around Bodija Market and taken to the cantonment where they were allegedly beaten up while discharging their duties for the state. They were allegedly viewed as working against the operation of the slaughter slab at the cantonment.

    When contacted, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations (2 Division), Col. Hassan Mohammed, declined comment on the issue, saying it was already in court.

    Abiola was arrested three weeks ago and was dragged to the mobile court established by the government to hear illegal butchering cases. The court sits in the premises of Akinyele Local Government Area, Ibadan.

    When hearing commenced, Abiola pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the three-count charge of slaughtering cattle without valid licence in Ibadan which is within the operational base of the central abattoir.

    He was charged with slaughtering cows in a place not designated and without valid licence contrary to Section 24(1) and punishable under Section 24(4) of the Oyo State Abattoir and Meat Regulatory Authority Laws 2017. But he was granted bail.

    Abiola’s counsels, S. S. Akinyele and Saheed Oyebiyi, had raised a preliminary objection to the charge, arguing that their client slaughtered at the slab which is exempted from the law. By exempting the cantonment’s slab, the lawyers argued that cattle slaughtered in the cantonment are also exempted from the jurisdiction of the central abattoir.

    But the Magistrate, Mrs R. A. Ebeloku-Mustapha overruled the preliminary objection, saying that the defendant failed to show that he had been licensed by the military who had the registration of exemption. She ordered the case to proceed to trial.

    The cantonment slab was exempted from the government’s directive for all butchers to relocate to the ICA based on the fact that the slab was established purposely for meat to be consumed within the cantonment.

    Sitting on a portion of a 10-hectare land along Oyo Road, the ICA offers modern and traditional slaughtering methods with rapid turnaround time and excellent hygienic condition as against the old unhygienic abattoirs. Its operation has since brought about wholesome economic production of meat from the cattle market through inspection, slaughtering and distribution. It has also given room for effective monitoring and control of animal diseases such as tuberculosis, brucellosis and anthrax which are usually fatal.

    The new abattoir has provided opportunity for proper waste management as well as created employment for hundreds of residents. The state government now enjoys improved revenue along with the 11 local government areas while the butchers’ association as a major stakeholder also easily rakes in structured revenue from every animal slaughtered.

    The abattoir was built and managed by C&E Limited on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis for 35 years. It houses two slaughter slab buildings, a mechanical slaughter slab building; pig slaughter slab/holding pen, goat and sheep slaughter slab and lairages.

    The modern abattoir also houses a cold store, veterinary building, a clinic, a police station, a bank building, incinerator, an administrative block and a canteen. Facing the Ibadan-Oyo expressway is the meat market section which is made up of meat shops, stalls, lock-up shops and a mosque. The abattoir currently witnesses slaughtering of between 350 and 400 animals daily.

     

  • Army: $1b approved to fight insurgency yet to be released

    The $1 billion approved to fight insurgency and other security challenges has not been released to the military, Nigerian army claimed yesterday.

    The cash was approved in 2017 for the President Muhammadu Buhari by the National Economic Council (NEC) to be withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) to strengthen the fight against insurgency.

    Fielding questions on Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Weekend File programme, army spokesman Brig.-Gen.  Sani Usman, said the money is still being processed.

    He said: “People should understand also that this is a democratic system in which procurement and of course funding of defense related issues takes such a long time.

    “Take for instance the issue of the $1 billion approved recently by Mr. President, up till now, the process is ongoing. The ministry of defense is still pursuing the matter to the point that when it is done, the armed forces will definitely get more equipment, more arms and ammunition.”

    In April, Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, said the President’s approval was not final because a draft bill would have to be sent to the National Assembly for consideration.

    Brig.-Gen. Usman, however, said that at the moment, what the armed forces have and what have been procured over the last two to three years is being used judiciously.

    The strings of Boko Haram attacks on military formations in the northeast have been blamed on the dearth of sufficient equipment.

    But, the army spokesman said: “To the best of our abilities, all the necessary equipment, ammunition and arms are being given.”

    He expressed sadness over the recent killings of troops, and said legal action would be taken on those fabricating figures around the casualties.

    His words: “So sad and unfortunate that our troops came under enemy attack on the 18th of last month and we suffered causality as we mentioned. Sadly, we lost 23 gallant officers and men and of course some of them sustained injuries.

    “In respect of the effort, we are trying as much as possible to make sure that first and foremost we give timely and accurate information on all our activities and operations bearing national security concern.

    “And then secondly, we have gone a north further to identify where those fake news and fabricated stories are coming from, and definitely our legal department is taking step to make sure that all those involved would be taken to court.”

    He described the visits of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai and the hierarchy of the army to military formations as part of efforts to reverse the trend.