The Nigerian Army has postponed its 77 Regular Recruitment exercise earlier scheduled to hold from February 26 to March 9 till further notice.
A statement by Col. Aliyu Yusuf on behalf of the Director of Army Public Relations yesterday, said a new date for the exercise would be communicated in due course through the media and Nigerian Army Recruitment Portal (recruitment.army.mil.ng).
Yusuf said the authority “highly regretted inconveniences caused” by the postponement.
Deputy Director, Army Public Relations of 6 Division, Port Harcourt, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, said
Agulegbu was planning to attack security agencies’ locations, churches and schools in Rivers, before he was gunned down by a combined team of soldiers and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Iliyasu said: “In compliance with the Presidential directive to fish out and bring to justice the perpetrators of the heinous killings of 23 innocent residents of Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) of Rivers State on January 1, 2018 by the notorious Don Waney criminal cult group, troops of 222 Battalion, Nigerian Army, in conjunction with operatives of the DSS, Rivers State Command, tracked one of the members of the killer criminal gang, Augustine Agulegbu, the CSO to the late Don Waney, and the 6th in command of the criminal gang.
“After painstaking efforts by the security agencies, Agulegbu was traced to his hideout at a location along New Sapele Road, Obiaruku in Ukwani Local Government Area of Delta State in the early hours of February 14, 2018. He was among the killer squad that killed 23 worshippers returning from the crossover service on January 1, 2018 at Omoku, Rivers State.
“Reliable information also has it that he (Agulegbu) and other gang members, still at large. were already making plans to attack security agencies’ locations, churches and schools within Rivers State, as a reprisal to the clampdown on their remnants now at large. Agulegbu was, however, shot in an encounter with the security operatives and died before reaching the hospital.”
Deputy director, army public relations also revealed that Agulegbu’s body had been brought to Port Harcourt and handed over to the Rivers police command.
The Nigerian Army yesterday paraded 26 ‘repentant’ Boko Haram members in Maiduguri, Borno State, after they surrendered to the military authorities.
The former terrorists surrendered in Damboa Local Government Area of the state last week and turned over their arms and ammunition after which they were taken to Maiduguri for de-radicalization.
More than 2300 fighters have surrendered in the last 13 months following intensive military action and seizure of the Sambisa forest, the main enclave of the insurgents.
Recent statistics reveal that over 25,000 people have been killed in the insurgency since 2009 and at least 2.4 million Nigerians displaced in the northeast states of Adamawa, Yobe and Borno.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai yesterday said that the army would conduct more exercises this year to assist the civil authorities to deal with internal security challenges in parts of the country.
Buratai spoke to reporters after leading troops on a 15km Route March in Maiduguri.
Coming up, according to him, are Exercises Harbin Kunama III, Crocodile Smile III and Egwu Eke Dance III.
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Exercise Harbin Kunama I and II were conducted in 2016 and 2017 to deal with the menace of cattle rustling and herdsmen/farmers clashes in parts of North-West and North-Central.
Crocodile Smile and Egwu Eke Dance took place in the Niger Delta and the South-East, respectively last year to tackle pipeline vandalism, oil theft and piracy, violent agitation and kidnapping.
Although Buratai said there would be no special exercise to address recurring herdsmen/farmers clashes in Benue, Taraba and part of Nasawara State, he said: “We are going to train on general areas which could include that aspect (Benue killings) as well. But our focus will be to ensure that security is provided across the country.”
The defence chief charged the troops to be prepared for deployment to any part of the country at short notice, to assist civil authorities to tackle internal security challenges.
He said he had approved funds for training in 2018 and therefore, they should expect “robust training” during the period.
According to him, “this is to enable us to accomplish the task assigned to us by the Commander-In-Chief.”
The traditional ruler (Ovie) of Uvwie Kingdom in Delta State, His Majesty, Emmanuel Sideso, Abe I, (JP) has appealed to the Federal Government to halt reselling of land acquired from the community for use by the Nigerian Army’s Effurun Barrack in the state.
The monarch, who spoke with our reporter, claimed that the officials of the 3 Battalion of the Nigeria Army have allegedly turned into a land selling body, much to the angst of the original owners of the land, who have no plan to farm and build homes as a result of the acquisition of the land.
Abe Sideso I recalled that the military took possession of the land in 1975 without paying compensation to the people, adding, “The community gave out land for public purpose, not for private or commercial purpose, to the Nigerian Army.
“The army is not using most parts of the land and we do not have place to farm. They should give us the area, which they are not using. I wrote to them in 2009 no response. The next thing (they did) was that some houses in the village (in the area unoccupied by them) were marked for demolition because we asked that part of our land not in use should be given back to us”.
“Imagine that the army floated a strong property company and started selling the land? We are not a violent people. I promised myself that no blood would be spilled.
“Even the areas that were not part of the land (given to the army) are included in the alleged certificate of occupancy.
“We have had a peaceful demonstration. I know how strategic Uvwie is to the nation, so any violence will affect the nation economy and that of Delta State” the monarch said.
Speaking further, the monarch recalled that in 2017, the kingdom drew global attention to their plight, adding, “Our lawyers wrote another petition to them. The Chief of Army staff sent the Military Intelligence to come and see things. We have not heard anything from that potent undertaking for the Nigerian Army.
“We are appealing to the Army to release to us our unused land. There is evidence of our land being sold by the army to people” he stared.
•Air Force rains bombs on sect’s fortress
Seven terrorists of Boko Haram have been killed by soldiers in the latest military assault on the sect’s Sambisa Forest hideout.
The Army said yesterday that remnants of the terrorists were neutralised in a ‘decisive operation.’
The Air Force simultaneously rained bombs on the forest as the terrorists tried to interfere with land operations by the army.
The Army spokesperson, Brigadier General Sani Usman, said a number of the terrorists escaped with gun- shot wounds.
Two soldiers were wounded during the encounter and were subsequently evacuated by the Air Force to the hospital for treatment.
He said: “Troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE involved in Operation DEEP PUNCH II have continued to deal decisively with remnants of Boko Haram terrorists hibernating in Sambisa forest and other parts of Northern Borno State with tremendous successes.
“The troops with effective support from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), had contact with the terrorists while advancing into Sambisa forest.
“During the encounter and further exploitation, the troops destroyed Boko Haram terrorists’ equipment, make-shift accommodation around Camp Zairo, Improvised Explosives Device (IEDs), Booby traps, other delaying obstacles and devices.
“The gallant troops recovered 1 Gun truck, 1 Anti-Aircraft Gun, 1 Machine Gun, a Pistol, large quantity of Anti-Aircraft Gun ammunition, a 120mm Mortar Base Plate and a Dane Gun.
“Similarly, the troops destroyed 11 Boko Haram terrorists Gun trucks, 12 Hilux vehicles, 3 Canter trucks 2 Double Barrel Rifles, 30 Bicycles, Power generating sets, cylinders, printers, military kits and IED making workshop.”
An impressed , Major General IM Yusuf , the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division who doubles as Commander Sector 1 Operation LAFIYA DOLE, has visited the troops harbour location to convey the Chief of Army Staff’s and Theatre Commander’s commendations to the troops for the wonderful job.
The Air Force ,in a separate statement by its Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, said : “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter aircraft, on 25 January 2018, successfully neutralized several Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs), who were poised to interfere with ongoing operations in the Sambisa general area.
“A NAF Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform had sighted several BHTs on vehicles and gun trucks, which were carefully concealed in a forested area.
“Consequently, three NAF fighter aircraft were detailed to provide Close Air Support to own surface forces, which also engaged the insurgents.
“The fighter aircraft launched a bomb attack on the insurgents’ defensive positions while another wave of bomb attacks was launched at the insurgents’ gun trucks and vehicles, causing one them to go up in flames.
“Thereafter, one of the aircraft strafed a fleeing BHTs vehicle with rockets, destroying the gun truck in the process.
“The NAF aircraft’s mission destroyed not only the vehicles but also the workshop previously used by the insurgents to repair and retrofit their vehicles and equipment.”
The army and air force claims could not be independently confirmed.
The Army has neutralised seven remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists in the Sambisa forest and Northern Borno on Friday in an operation supported by the Air Force.
According to a statement by Brig.-Gen Sani Usman, the Director of Army Public Relations late Friday, troops also destroyed 11 gun trucks and 12 Hilux vehicles during the operation.
Usman said that other terrorists’ equipment destroyed were make-shift accommodation around Camp Zairo, Improvised Explosives Device (IEDs), booby traps and other delaying obstacles and devices.
“In addition, the gallant troops recovered one gun truck, one anti-aircraft gun, one machine gun, a pistol, large quantity of anti-aircraft gun ammunition, a 120mm mortar base Plate and a dane gun,” he said.
Usman added that three canter trucks, two double barrel rifles, 30 bicycles, power generating sets, cylinders, printers, military kits and IED making workshop were also destroyed by troops.
“Unfortunately, two soldiers were wounded during the encounter.`
“The wounded soldiers have since been evacuated by Nigerian Air Force and are responding to treatment,” according to the army spokesman.
He said the GOC 7 Division and Commander, 26 Task Force Brigade, Maj.-Gen. I. M. Yusuf, and Maj.-Gen. I. M. Obot, have visited the troops and commended them on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, for a job well done.
Usman urged the people of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states to report any fleeing Boko Haram terrorist seen around their communities.
He also urged them to look out for the wounded terrorists and report to the nearest military or Police location. (NAN)
The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, said on Friday that 147 officers of the Nigeria Police Force and sister security agencies in Zone 5, have been trained to counter terrorism.
The I-G made this disclosure at the closing ceremony of the five-day National Counter Terrorism Incident Commanders’ Management Course held in Benin.
Idris represented by Commissioner of Police in Edo, Mr Johnson Kokumo, said that the Force would continue to synergise with sister security agencies to counter terrorism.
“The Nigeria Police will continue to partner with other sister security agencies to curb any form of criminal activities, especially terrorism in the country.
“The training is a clear indication of the willingness of police to synergize with sister security agencies to sustain peace in the country.
“The training is to impart new security knowledge on the participants.
“The Police will always make his officers and men available to attend similar training when called upon by sister security agencies,’’ he said.
In his remarks, the Assistant Commissioner, ACP Emmanuel Aina, urged the participants to domesticate the thematic concerns of the training in their various formation and agencies.
He said the training has further exposed the participants to taking urgent steps to respond to emergencies timely without recourse to who should take the lead with other security agencies.
Earlier, the lead facilitator for the training, CSP Okon Asuquo, thanked the I-G for approving the training.
He said the training has further exposed participants to contemporary policing challenging issues through group discussion, presentations, simulations and lectures.
He said the concern was to demonstrate practically various topics such as major incidents, method of terrorist attacks, and multi-agency response to incidents.
The 147 officers drawn from the Police, Army, FRSC, NSCDC, EDSMA, Nigeria Fire Service, and DSS, who successfully participated in the training programme, were presented with certificates.
NAN
The Nigerian Army has urged the National Assembly to increase its budget by N18. 177 billion to enable it effectively fight against terrorism, pipeline vandalism and other security challenges.
It also said it should be removed from the zero based budgeting (ZBB) otherwise known as the envelop budget ceiling system adopted by the Budget Office of the Federation.
Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff, made the demands on Thursday during a budget defence session with the House committee on army
According to him, the envelop budgeting system was making the Army ineffective operationally and this is against the grains of current reforms being carried out.
The Army, he said requires at least N39, 800 billion capital components and had requested for N261.6 billion, but the Budget Office approved only N233.05 billion in the budget estimates, currently with the National Assembly.
To allow the service tackle “increasing accommodation deficit, high demand for operational equipment, vehicles, arms and ammunitions in various operations areas across the country,” the Green Chamber needs to increase the budget by N18 billion he noted.
“It is in consideration of the aforementioned priorities, coupled with the new NA ORBAT implementation that the NA is seeking your kind appropriation of the sum of N39,800,211,098 billion for capital expenditure” he said.
Buratai noted that in compliance with the budget ceiling given by the ministry of budget and national planning, only N21.623 billion was proposed and that the disparity between the actual capital budget requirement and the ceiling instituted by the ministry of budget and national planning is a “matter that calls for a more in-depth consideration by the National Assembly.”
“My passionate appeal for N18.177 billion over the ceiling capital appropriation, if approved by this hallowed chamber will enable the Army procure the strategic assets and platforms needed to support the implementation of ORBAT 2016.
“This will also boost the operational activation of the newly established Divisions (6,7, and 8), cater for the deficiency of arms, ammunitions as well as uniforms to kit the NA personnel.
“I wish to state that the approval will ultimately enhance the functionality of the Nigerian Army Aviation corps which is established to complement the efforts of the Nigerian Airforce and Joint Task Force (JTF) to combat terrorism, pipeline vandalism and other security challenges”
Lawmakers agreed that because of current challenges being faced by the Army to tackle insurgency, there was need for it to have some measure of budgetary flexibility, and so the need to remove it from the envelop budgeting system.
Hon. Rimam Shawulu, Chairman of the committee, noted that Army barracks across the country were dilapidated. Recent oversight visits of the committee, shows that rather than renovation old buildings, it was better to start up new structures.
Men of the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army yesterday crushed a “notorious” Indian hemp syndicate inside a forest in Owo, Ondo State.
The operation followed a tip-off on the activities of the suspected gangsters at a hideout in the remote forest in the community.
It was learnt that during the operation, there was an exchange of fire between the troops and the suspected Indian hemp merchants, who reportedly fled due to superior fire power of the soldiers.
The drug dealers were said to have been operating in the farm with impunity.
The troops reportedly recovered 63 bags of Indian hemp, 23 expended cartridges and nine unexpended cartridges.
Criminal activities of the syndicate are rampant, especially in Owo, Ogbese and Ose axis of the Sunshine State.
Late last year, officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (NDLEA) from the six geo-political zones were in Ala Forest, near Ogbese, in Akure North Local Government Area, for an overnight operation.
They were said to have destroyed several acres of suspected cannabis plantation.
The Assistant Director of Army Public Relations at Owena Barracks in Akure, Major Ojo Adelegan, urged the public to always give the security agencies useful information on criminal acts in the state.
He also warned criminals to stay away from the state, saying there is no room for any illegality and undesirable elements in the Sunshine State.
