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Tag: Army

  • Army tightens noose against Boko Haram terrorists, says Buratai

    Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has said in spite of pocket of attacks by remnant of Boko Haram terrorists in Borno North, the army is tightening the noose against them.

    Buratai, therefore, urged Nigerians and people of the region in particularly not to panic as those attacks do not signal resurgence of insurgency as being insinuated in some quarters.

    He spoke in an interaction session with journalists at Mongunu after he personally monitored and coordinated onslaught against the insurgents locked in between troops’ locations in the area.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the recent attacks recorded in the area, particularly at Damasak, headquarters of 145 Battalion and Gudumbali community, were mainly targeted at troops and their locations.

    While the insurgents attacked Gudumbali on September 7, they attacked Damasak on September 11, shortly after the army chief left the location, but met their waterloo.

    The attacks were believed to have been carried out by a faction of the terrorist group led by Al-Barnawi, which had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA).

    Unlike the Abubakar Shekau faction, the Al-Barnawi faction targets military and its locations and not soft target (civilians).

    Buratai explained that the terrorists carried out those attacks as the noose was being tightened against them and couple with the fact of their knowledge of the terrain in those areas.

    He noted that this was so as in the last two years, not much attention was paid to Borno North in the fight against insurgency and terrorism until now.

    “The Nigerian army is now consolidating in northern part of Borno. You will agree with me that for almost two years, we have not paid attention to northern Borno, until about last year – 2017, when we directed our focus to this area.

    “We were most concern with our efforts in southern and Central Borno, and very little in the north.

    “But now that we have given attention to northern Borno, especially the Lake Chad basin, we have seen the activities of the Boko Haram terrorists coming up.

    “We have seen their reactions to the way we have been dealing with them. All those attacks were as a result of closing in on them that our troops are doing.

    “We will tighten the noose around their logistics bases. But they are taking advantage of knowledge of the terrain to move in between our troops’ deployment,’’ he said.

    Buratai said the recent attacks on troops’ locations at Damasak and Gudumbali only serve to strengthen the army in terms of intelligence capability, fire power and ability to withstand challenges.

    He, however, expressed concern about the difficult terrain of the area couple with the poor condition of roads leading to the communities.

    On the propaganda in some sections of the society, purporting a resurgence of insurgency following the recent attacks, the army chief advised those behind it to desist.

    “When you say resurgence, what does that mean? We have to look at it critically.

    “It is not something you speak about without analysing, without thinking of the consequences on the psyche of Nigerians, on psyche of the traumatised indigenes of this part of the country,’’ he said.

    Buratai accused those behind the propaganda as having ulterior motive.

    “In this type of propaganda they want these people to perpetually remain in IDPs camps and for certain individuals to continue to be suppliers of relief materials and at the end, not even the IDPs do benefit fully from those materials.

    “Those who benefit are somewhere else and we want this to continue in our country?’’ he asked, and cautioned that “certain things must be done with limit’’.

    “We must get it right, this is our country. Anything that happens here – North East, if not contained, be rest assured, it will go round our country.

    “The rumour going on is being propagated to score some cheap interests, whether social, economic, political or whatever.

    “If such propaganda is not contained, it will consume even those who feel they are untouchable,’’ he said.

    On troops’ rotation, Buratai also urged Nigerians not to pressurise the army over the issue.

    He said although the army was addressing the issue, “you just cannot say that soldiers must be rotated anyhow.

    “You cannot use the issue of rotation to pressurise the army.

    “We have our system of relief and we will adhere to it. We have system of leave and passes, casual leave, annual leave, compassionate leave and passes are granted.

    “I think we better get it right. Some people may not understand but I believe those that are reasonable and responsible will understand.’’

    Buratai clarified that rotation “has to do with national security and not politics’’ as the army was apolitical and will remain so.

  • Has Boko Haram become a money spinner for the army brass?

    Coming across such an article with such a title in the Premium Times journal of September 11, 2018 edition, has elicited this response duly addressed to the editor, for the purposes of correcting all the wrong impressions contained in the said article…. This rejoinder has therefore become that avenue upon which the Truth will be anchored. A medium to state in clear terms the factual state of affairs of the Nigerian military operations against the Boko Haram terror group, other than allowing the earlier false impression contained in Bámidélé Adémólá-Olátéjú’s article take preeminence and prominence in the minds of the good people of our Country, Nigeria.
    It is first of all important to state that, having the freedom to write and to express an opinion, should not be taken as liberty to confuse the people, convict the military and make bogus spurious claims of which Bámidélé Adémólá-Olátéjú will surely not be able to substantiate. The acceptable ethics of the writers creed is all about situating the truth and not finding where to anchor a conjecture — The writer of such an article, suggesting that; “Boko Haram Become A Money Spinner For The Army Brass”, went too far, too bleary, far too effete, immoral perhaps as to even suggest a thing as villainous as the Military top personnel, profiting from the prolongation of terror.
    The war on Terror, is not just an indecisive kind of war, everywhere, but a particularly present war, even as The Great American state remembers the 9/11 Terror attacks, still. Has America won the war on Terror on Afghanistan, in Iraq, in Yemen in Syria and in other places yet…!??
    America, with the greatest war machinery the world has seen, will not make such a claim. Such is the reality of the war on Terror.
    Has Nigeria won the war on Terror, yet…!??
    Of course not. Has the Nigerian state made such a claim to have win the war on Terror, hell no.
    What the Nigerian government under the Buhari administration has done is to declare a Technical defeat of the Boko Haram terror, on the same terms, consistent with the international standards of having to drive Terrorists, underground, by defeating their ability to fight in the open and to inflict upon the people a rulership over them.
    Once upon a time, The Boko Haram terror group, was in control of well over 14 local governments and spread over 4 states of the Nigerian Federation.
    Once upon a time, The Boko Haram terror group, established themselves, flag and all, proclaiming a self government over many territories…!
    Once upon a time, the Boko Haram terror group, operated in the open, so much so, the situation in the North East zone was that of a Full-Blown theater of war.
    Today in Nigeria, much like in the other parts of the world and typical of how terror wars become, what we have with Boko Haram in Nigeria are the attacks of the soft target kind, like guerilla wars, of hit-and-run type.
    The matter now becomes, how wise, how prescient, how accurate, how useful is an article that strives to exaggerate the Boko Haram attacks of late, spew such untrue and misleading accusations of the military profiteering from Terror and downplaying the glorious strides of the Nigerian military, who have spared no effort, on ground, from the air and through the use of complex intelligence network, in bringing terror to its knees since the inception of the present administration….
    We should rather be celebrating our gallant Military, our Military leadership, the officers, subalterns, soldiers, who, while we all are asleep, these Heroes are Awake, making sure we all sleep every so soundly…!
    Many will undoubtedly recall that the war against Terror of the years preceding 2015, was of a period of daily reports of loss of lives, property and hope….
    Returning the Nigerian Military to the very positive place of total professionalism therefore became a task for the new Military leadership that took over in 2015!
    Before this present administration took over, of a major hindrance to winning the war against Terror was the very disturbing incessant reports of army mutiny, Indiscipline, various cases of violations of the codes of war….
    Such a destabilizing and debilitating situation was what the new administration and the new military leadership inherited…!
    And there was such a war on Terror, that was very far from being won — whether outrightly or technically.
    We should also not forget that, war is served by many activities quite different from mere conjectures, so that innocent lives and lives of troops will not be lost.
    That Bámidélé Adémólá-Olátéjú, will simply overlook the efforts of the present military leadership, especially that of the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Yusufu Buratai in the way and manner of prosecuting the Boko Haram war, particularly shows a bias, a subjective opinion. Any opinion that will discount the very notable, laudable and decisive victories over the Boko Haram Haram with visible evidence that abound, from captured territories, to captured Boko Haram commanders, to the liberation of thousands of Boko Haram abductees, to the driving away of Boko Haram from the Sambisa forests, to the capture of the Boko Haram headquarters, would not serve the Truth, to the good people of Nigeria; rather it will only serve the purpose of pandering and prevaricating to the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists… And exactly the narratives the terrorists would see thrown up to confuse the polity is that which degrades the military and its leadership.
    Particular mention must be made of the army and its leadership that are involved in many other operations on almost all the zones of the Federation, concurrently. As if coping with all these operations are not enough with many insurgencies that test the country’s security preparedness to the limit, here comes a series of conjectures, targeting an already overstretched army, trying its very best in the kind of situation in which the country has found itself of late.
    Unfortunately, it has now become a different kind of “war”, between The Terrorists and  Harangue of Lyricists like Bámidélé — The War within  and the Attrition in between.
    This war on Terror has claimed hundreds of Gallant and Patriotic men and women of the Nigerian Army.
    And we all owe it to them to honor their resolve to pay the Supreme Sacrifice with their lives, so that, no one, including Bámidélé, has the right to the use of unfounded conjectures to sow deception and Subterfuge…. this Nigeria, we all laboured to build it and we shall not abandon it to be abused in this manner.
    For a country that is in a hurry and troubled by the occasional but far in between terror attacks, there will be emotional reactions and deserving finger pointing at lapses, but that should not lead to dastardly accusations either.
    There are challenges facing the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Buratai as a True leader of men at a very difficult period in our nation’s history.
    He has a vision for the Army, which is to have a Professionally Responsive Nigerian Army in the Discharge of its Constitutional Roles… These were in his own words.
    His present efforts are geared towards totally obliterating the Boko Haram terror and he has so far exceeded the expectations of many. The Northeast today can breathe and thanks to the efforts of the present army leadership.
    To conclude this treatise, allow me to say, what Nigeria needs at these times, is the building of our confidence levels to stand with our armed forces in this war against Terror.
    We must develop the courage to grow the Trust and to accept the tough decisions that go with overcoming our security challenges, including the courage to speak for our armed forces in their various efforts to rid our nation of the enemies to our security.
    We also must have the compassion to listen to the findings of security personnel, as most times the usual narratives may not be exactly representing the truth on the ground.
    A nation does not set out to be a great nation by fiat, but becomes one by the quality of the actions of its citizenry and the integrity of the people at various leadership roles.
    This Rejoinder was written by Comrade Oladimeji Odeyemi, the Convener of the Coalition of Civil Society Groups against Terrorism in Nigeria.

  • Army pledges to defend Nigeria – Buratai

    Damasak, the location of 145 Batallion of the Nigerian Army remained calm on Thursday after troops inflicted heavy casualty on the Boko Haram terrorists.

    The insurgents attack the location on Wednesday at about 6p. m. but withdrew about 11p. m. following superior fire power of the troops.

    In the last 24 hours, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has been in the North-East monitoring ongoing operations.

    He visited Damask on Tuesday and proceeded to Gudumbali, where the terrorists attacked troops locations on Friday.

    Buratai vowed that the military will continue to defend the country and protect its people against attacks, whether external or internal.

    He said such incident would not deter the military as it was common in counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations.

    Already, the army chief said the Operation Lafiya Dole, coordinating the counter insurgency operations in the North-East was being reorganised and reinvigorated to address identified challenges.

    He said this was part of strategies being adopted to prevent recurrence of such attack

    The insurgents, which attacked military locations in around the town, were believed to belong to the faction led by Al Barnawi, which had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in West Africa or ISWA.

    However, a Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who was on the motorcade of the army chief observed that contrary to media publication, the terrorists did not touch any structure in the town, except one troops’ location.

    According to some residents of Gudumbali, who turned out in large numbers to welcome the army chief, the terrorists stormed the town at about 4p. m. on Friday and began to extort money from market women and loot food items.

    NAN also gathered that the troops immediately engaged the attackers, but beat a tactical withdrawal before regrouping to repell them.

    Mrs Zainab Wakil, a resident, explained that they came at a time when the community market which holds on every Friday was still in session.

    “They – terrorists did not attack us, but extort money from us and ordered us to stop trading. We left our wares and ran into the bush.

    “We were in the bush until Saturday morning. We came out after we noticed that soldiers, who withdrew had came out to chase away the insurgents,” she said.

    Wakil maintained that the Boko Haram terrorists did not attack or kill any of the villagers before they fled at about 1a. m. on Saturday.

    Mr Kachala Aliyu, another resident of Gudumbali, also told newsmen that the insurgents did not kill anybody in the town.

    Aliyu said that after extorting money and looted food stuff from the traders and disrupted trading in the market, they went straight to the troops’ location.

    Read Also: Army, Police caution IPOB over sit-at-home order

    Unlike the faction led by Abubakar Shekau, the Al Barnawi faction of the Boko Haram group targets the military and its locations in its attacks, not civilians.

    In the heat of the insurgency in 2014, the terrorists attacked troops in Gudumbali, where the army suffered heavy casualties, and razed the community. It was recaptured in 2015.

    The army had set up a cenotaph in the community, which was inaugurated by the Chief of Army staff in July, to immortalise officers and soldiers, who paid the supreme price in the fight to liberate Gudumbali.

    Residents of the town, who were displaced since 2014 began to return to the farming community in June after the army launched: “Operation Last Hold” in May.

    The exercise was designed to facilitate the return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno North and Lake Chad Basin, to their ancestral homes.

    Gudumbali is located at about over 250km of Northern Borno, but just 25km to Niger Republic.

  • Breaking: Army, Boko Haram in heavy gun battle in Damasak

    Damasak Local Government Area of Borno state is currently under crossfire between Nigerian soldiers and Boko Haram fighters.
    The battle is raging at the time of filing the report.
    A competent Militatry source, told NAN that the military and the terrorists were currently engaging in a heavy gun battle.
    He said that the insurgents stormed the town to attack a military formation in the evening but they met stiff resistance from troops.
    Reacting, Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, who comfirmed the attack to NAN through text message, said the troops were dealing with the terrorists.
    Chukwu said that ” Troops of 145 Bn in Damasak, Borno State are engaging Boko Haram Terrorists who came to attack their location at about 6 p.m. this evening.
    “Fierce battle is on going right now. The troops are dealing with the terrorists.
    Details later…

  • Army, Police caution IPOB over sit-at-home order

    The Army, Police and other security Agencies in Imo state, Monday warned members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) against disrupting public peace over the September 14 sit-at-home order.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Dasuki Galadanchi, Brigade Commander, 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, Brigadier General H.I Bature, and other Heads of Security Agencies, said they were ready to confront IPOB and other separatist groups.

    Read Also:Ohanaeze, Youth Group reacts to IPOB’s sit-at-home order

    Describing the secessionists as “miscreants”, the CP said that the proposed sit-at-home order was not in tandem with the laws of the land.

    He therefore advised the members of the public to ignore the call for the sit-at-home and go about their lawful businesses without fear of any attack.

    Galadanchi, informed that the security Agencies would from Tuesday begin what he called “operation show of force” across the state to sensitize the people on the need to ignore the IPOB order.

    He said, “The Heads of all the security in Imo state are working together. We are here to tell the world that we are saying no to the proposed sit-at-home order on September 14 by IPOP.

    “We want to tell members of the public that anyone who has any genuine business on that day should go about his or her business. We have resolved among ourselves to protect the citizens”.

    The CP continued that, “IPOB members should remember that where one person’s right ends, the other person’s own Begins. Imo state must be great in our time. The sit-at-home order by IPOB is at variance with the law.

    “Anybody who tries to threaten law abiding citizens in the name of sit-at-home will have the security Agencies to contend with”.

    The CP said that during the joint operation show of force, all the security Agencies would exchange ideas, share intelligence in order to prevent IPOB members from fermenting troubles.

    The brigade Commander said that the security Agencies “have the capacity and ability to contend with the IPOP members.”

    The army chief urged the pro-Biafra group to explore lawful channels in pressing home their demands instead of threatening public peace.

  • Normalcy has returned to Gudumbali in Borno, says Army

    The Nigeria Army on Sunday said normalcy has returned to Gudumbali in Guzamala Local Government area of Borno state after a combination of troops from 82 Division and the 158 Task Force Battalion engaged Boko Haram Terrorists in a combat which lasted several hours.
    The Army however said no human casualities was recorded on the encounter.
    Army Spokesman, Brig. Gen Texas Chukwu, said in a statement that it is important for residents of the village to remain calm and go about their normal business without any fear. He however called on the people to remain vigillant and report strange faces to the authorities.
    “Combined troops of 82 Division Task Force Brigade and 158 Task Force Battalion conducting Counter Insurgency Operations in North Eastern Nigeria, on Friday 7 September 2018 had an encounter with Boko Haram insurgents in Gudumbali in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno state.
    “The encounter took place when the insurgents attacked the community, set some buildings ablaze and quickly withdrew from the community. However, no human casualty was  recorded in the encounter. The troops have regrouped and normalcy have been restored. The troops have also been reinforced with additional troops to dominate the general area.
    “It will be recalled that Gudumbali is one of the communities in Borno state, that were recently reoccupied by Internally Displaced Persons who had voluntarily returned to their ancestral homes.
    “The people of Gudumbali community and Guzamala Local Government in general are urged to remain calm and resilient as Operation Lafiya Dole troops tirelessly combat the terrorists. They are also implored to maintain high level of vigilance and monitor strange faces to prevent fleeing Boko Haram terrorists from infiltrating and hibernating in their communities.
    “The good people of the North East are assured of the unalloyed resolve of troops of Operation Lafiya Dole to continue to combat the Boko Haram terrorists in the region”

     

  • Boko Haram attacks Borno town, Guzamala

    The Nigerian Army on Saturday repelled a deadly attack on its troops by Boko Haram at Gudunbale in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno in the early hours of Saturday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that scores of insurgents in gun trucks and various calibre of arms stormed the town and engaged in fierce battle that lasted for many hours with the troops.

    NAN learnt that the fighters were said to be with the Boko Haram faction under the leadership of Abu-Mosad Al-Barnawi.
    Malam Bukar Mele, a returnee, told NAN that the attackers invaded the town unexpectedly and asked the villagers to run away for their lives.

    Mele said he immediately took his family and began running just as they (Boko Haram) instructed the residents, leaving behind his belongings.

    “They told us in Kanuri to vacate the place so that what they came to do will not affect us. So we all took to our heels in different directions for safety,’’ he said.

    Mr Abdul Bari, another local in the area, said they insurgents assured that they did not come with intention to kill civilians.

    “Their target was the military and not civilians. This is what they told us as they ask us to get out of their sight within a blink of an eye. The insurgents were fully kitted with khaki and covered their faces.

    “After one minute, they began shooting from the gun truck facing the military location. There were sounds of sporadic gunshots from many directions. I don’t know what happened but the army was engaging with the terrorists,” he said.

    Alhaji Mamman Durkwa, the Deputy Governor of the state, who confirmed the development, said security forces were on top of the situation.

    “It is unfortunate to confirm to you that there was an attack by Boko Haram extremists on a military base and other communities of Gudumbali.

    “Thousands of the people who were displaced and spent some years in resettlement camps in Maiduguri have returned back recently after the liberation of those surrounding communities by our gallant security forces.

    “I regret to inform you that there was another attack by insurgents in Gudumbali, but I am yet to get the number of casualties.

    “I just spoke with the Police Commissioner, Mr Damian Chukwu, and the Brigade Commander in Monguno, both confirmed to me that the attack actually took place, and our security forces were on top of the situation,” Durkwa said.

    Reacting, Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, Army Director Public Relations, who confirmed the attack on phone, said the troops had promptly repelled the attack and restored sanity in the area.

    “I can confirm that there was an attack in Gudumbali, but the situation was brought under control contrary to the report that the Boko Haram had taken total control of the area,” he said.

    NAN recalls that about 2,000 IDPs comprising 200 households had returned to Guzamala to resettle.

    The returnees are encouraged to resume their traditional occupation of farming and fishing as well as other socio-economic activities following relative peace in the area. (NAN)

  • Army kills 14 terrorists, rescue 21 hostages

    The Nigerian Army said it had nutrialised 14 Boko Haram insurgents and rescued 21 hostages in Pulka village in Gwoza Local Government area of Borno.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the insurgents had on Tuesday, ambushed military escort at Amdaga area in Pulka and burnt one passenger vehicle as well as abducted some travelers.

    Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, who disclosed this in a statement in Maiduguri on Friday said the terrorists were alleged to have haboured the insurgents that ambushed the civilian vehicle.

    “The troops have nutrialised 14 Boko Haram and rescued 21 civilians, comprising six women and 11 children.

    Read Also; Army  kills Boko Haram insurgents in Borno

    “Troops of 192 Battalion of 26 Task Force Brigade of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, in conjunction with Civilian Joint Task Force, neutralised the insurgents on Thursday.

    “The troops engaged and subdued the terrorists, following a superior fire power of troops in the village.

    “Four men injured during the attack are being attended to at the military hospital,” he said.

  • Army kills Boko Haram insurgents in Borno

    The Army has killed Boko Haram insurgents in clearance operations in Borno State.

    A statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Chukwu Texas, added that two AK-47 rifles and 147 animals were recovered and returned to their owners.

    The statement said: “Troops of Sector 3 on Operation Lafiya Dole, in conjunction with 82 Task Force Battalion, following a tip off embarked on a long range clearance and link up patrol resulting in the killing of many Boko Haram terrorists in Gesada, Guzamala Local Government Area Borno State.

    “The terrorists met their end when they came to the village to extort money and rustle livestock. Two AK-47 rifles and 147 livestock were recovered.

    “The animals were returned to their owners in Matasari after proper screening and confirmation by the Bulama and Civilian Joint Task Force in Jentilo, Kukawa Local Government Area.”

  • Army kills several Boko Haram members, recovers livestock

    An unspecified number of Boko Haram terrorists have been killed by the Nigerian Army in clearance operations in Borno State.
     
    A statement signed by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. General Chukwu Texas also disclosed that a total of 147 animals rustled were recovered and returned to their owners.
     

    Two AK47 riffles were also recovered from the operation.

    The statement reads; “troops of Sector 3 Operation LAFIYA DOLE in conjunction with 82 Task Force Battalion following a tip off embarked on a long range clearance and link up patrol resulting in the killing of many Boko Haram terrorists in Gesada village, Guzamala Local Government Area Borno State.

    “The terrorists met their waterloo when they came to the village to extort money and rustle livestock belonging to the villagers.

    “Items recovered include  Some  livestock  Two  AK47 rifles

    “Similarly, troops returned 147 livestock recovered from Boko Haram terrorists in Matasari village to their owners after proper screening and confirmation  by the Bulama and Civilian Joint Task Force in Jentilo village of Kukawa Local Government Area”.