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Tag: Army

  • Boko Haram: Army Warrant Officer promoted Captain for gallantry

    Boko Haram: Army Warrant Officer promoted Captain for gallantry

    The Nigerian Army Council has approved accelerated promotion for Garba Abdullahi from Master Warrant Officer to Captain for gallantry, bravery and selfless service.
    The army authorities described the development as a reward for unprecedented show of bravery culminating in an Executive Commission for Abdullahi who moved from Master Warrant Officer to a Captain.
    Abdullahi is of the 159 Battallion, Nigerian Army with serial number 79NA/31553.
    A statement Thrusday night from the Director of Army public Relations, Brig General Sani Usman, noted that Abdullahi displayed exceptional acts of bravery while carrying out his assignments against the Boko Haram insurgents in the Northeast to the admiration of his superior commanders.
     The statement reads: “In recognition and reward for gallantry, unprecedented show of bravery, courage and selfless service, the Army Council has on Monday 16th October 2017, approved the granting of Executive Commission to 79NA/21553 Master Warrant Officer Garba Abdullahi of 159 Battalion, Nigerian Army, to the rank of Captain for gallantry.
    “The accelerated promotion was due to observed outstanding qualities of military professionalism such as gallantry and dedication to service demonstrated by the Non–Commissioned Officer.
    “Garba Abdullahi’s leadership qualities endeared him to his Commanding Officer who deemed it fit to assign him a higher responsibility as platoon commander of one of the arrow head sub-units of the Battalion, the role he played excellently to the admiration of both his superiors and subordinates alike.
    “Under his able leadership, his platoon achieved great exploits of daring, bravery and courage for which the Battalion was reputed. The 159 Battalion is of one the rugged and most experienced cohesive fighting unit that make up Operation LAFIYA DOLE.
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    “The Battalion covers five Local Government Areas in Yobe State and serves as the Brigade’s first line of defence in the northern front adjoining Niger Republic and Borno State.
    “The Battalion primarily occupies a blocking position from where it conducts Counter Terrorist and Counter Insurgency operations to defeat Boko Haram terrorists, deny them freedom of action and assist the civil authority in maintenance of law and order and restoration of socio-economic activities within its area of responsibility.
    “Since their deployment into the theatre about two years ago, the unit has contributed immensely to the decimation of Boko Haram terrorists and also involved in humanitarian activities to the host communities.
     “The elevated Garba has played a significant role in all the successful operations achieved by the unit. The newly commissioned Garba Abdullahi has since been decorated with the badge of his new rank of Captain at the Battalion Headquarters located in Geidam, Yobe State by his Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Owoicho Augustine Obochi, to the admiration of both officers and soldiers of the unit.
    “The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General TY Buratai has congratulated the newly commissioned officer”.

  • Army extends Crocodile Smile II

    The 13 Brigade, Calabar, has extended the ‘Operation Crocodile Smile II’ in the state to November 11.

    The brigade’s Public Relations Officer, Capt. Kayode Owolabi, said this in a statement yesterday in Calabar.

    Owolabi explained that the exercise was extended due to the the success recorded after its launch on October  7.

    He said the exercise, which was supposed to end on October 28, had been extended till November  11.

    “The 13 Brigade wishes to inform the public that the command had extended its Operation Crocodile Smile II that was scheduled to end on October 28, to November 11.

    “The public is also advised not to panic as it continues to see large troops within Cross River and its environs,” he said.

  • Crocodile Smile 2: Army arrest over 40 suspects in Lagos, Ogun

    Crocodile Smile 2: Army arrest over 40 suspects in Lagos, Ogun

    The Nigerian Army on Tuesday said it had arrested over 40 suspects for various offences within Lagos and Ogun states after the launch of ‘Exercise CROCODILE SMILE 2 ‘ by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.

    The army made this known through a statement by the  81 Division spokesperson, Lt.-Col. Olaolu Daudu in Lagos.

    According to him, so far, the troops have being carrying out routine activities associated with the exercise seamlessly along with other sisters services, security and para military agencies.

    “Some suspected criminals have been arrested; drug peddlers, cultists, car snatchers and other criminal elements have been denied freedom of action through patrols, raids, road blocks and checkpoints.

    “On Oct. 4, based on credible  information on activities of pipeline vandals at Ronik Hotel Agbule Egba area of Lagos state, troops of 149 Battalion, 81 Division Nigerian Army were immediately dispatched for a Cordon and search Operation.

    “The troops arrested the suspected pipeline vandals and items found within the hotel premises include 16 loaded kegs of premium motor spirit (PMS), 5 cars and 2 tankers loaded with PMS,” he said.

    He said the suspects have been interrogated, profiled and handed over to NSCDC.

    “In a related development, on Oct. 11,  troops of 174 Battalion, 81 Division Nigerian Army while on a stop and search operation arrested a car robber who snatched a Toyota Venza with reg no. FST 762 CV along Ikorodu – Sagamu road.

    “The suspect who was fleeing with the stolen vehicle rammed into other vehicles and pedestrians in a bid to escape and was arrested by troops.

    “The suspect and the recovered vehicle have been handed over to Owutu Divisional police Headquarters,” he said.

    He also said that five drug peddlers were apprehended with gallons of unidentified chemical substances and Indian hemp on Oct. 14 by  troops of Sector 5, 243 Battalion at Agbara area of Lagos State in conjunction with men of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    “Arrested suspects and items have been handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation.

    “Similarly, raid and clearance operations were carried out on Oct. 14, by troops of 65 Battalion Sector 1 of Exercise CROCODILE SMILE 2 at Ajah general area.

    “Nine suspects were arrested with bags containing Indian hemp.

    “Two of the suspects were alleged to have snatched a female purse containing Samsung Galaxy and Itel phones, Bible, house keys and N1,200   which were also recovered,” he said.

    The spokesman also said another raid operation was carried out by troops of 9 Brigade Garrison Sector 4 at Ipodo, Ikeja general area where five suspects were arrested.

    “Five suspected fraudsters were arrested and items recovered include 4 generators, 4 laptops, scanning machine, colour printer, 3 stabilizers, 10 ups, 3 car chargers and 16 handsets stand.

    “The suspects and exhibits have been handed over to Lagos State Special Task force, Oshodi.

    “On Oct. 15, the Commander Sector 3 of Exercise CROCODILE SMILE 2 handed over 36 suspects arrested by troops of the Sector during a raid operation at criminal hideouts and notorious drug dens in Ikorodu general area.

    “The handover was carried out at Odogunyan barracks in Ikorodu, while the suspects were received by the Area Commander, Nigeria Police Ijede in Ikorodu,” he said.

    Daudu also disclosed that four suspected cult members were arrested around Badagry area on Oct. 15.

    “At about 11.59 pm, gunmen suspected to be cultists attacked Rolex Hotel in Ajara area of Badagry.

    “Following a distress call to troops of 243 Battalion Sector 5 on Exercise CROCODILE SMILE 2 on activities of suspected cultists, troops responded immediately and arrested 4 suspected cultists.

    “Also a follow up of suspected cultists attack, two suspects were arrested in connection with previous attacks at Rolex Hotel.

    “The arrested suspects were detained and preliminary investigation is in progress while suspects would be handed over to relevant security agencies for further investigation and prosecution,” he said.

    The spokesperson reassured the public  that the Division is poised to maintain peace and security in the entire Lagos and Ogun States.

    Daudu enjoined members of the public to cooperate with security agencies by remaining law abiding and giving credible information to the nearest security check point.

    According to him, members of the public can also call 193 and the various telephone numbers that were earlier released. (NAN)

  • Army ends Operation Python Dance in Southeast

    Army ends Operation Python Dance in Southeast

    The Nigerian Army has announced the end of its operation in the Southeast.

    The General Officer Commanding (GOC) the 82 Division of the Army, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Baba Abubakar, on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Yusuf Buratai, formally declare the end of Exercise Egwu Ekek II.

    The ceremony took place on  Saturday night  at Sector 1 Tactical headquarters in Umuahia, the Abia State  capital.

    It was accompanied by the traditional activation of a camp fire to formally signify the successful completion of the operation.

    A statement yesterday by the Deputy Director of Public Relations of Army’s 82 Division, Colonel Sagir Musa, said General Abubakar praised officers, soldiers and personnel of paramilitary organisations that collaborated ,  synergised  and  worked throughout the one month period of the  operation.

    He said: “ The achievements recorded in the attainment of the mission, specific training objectives, improvement in peace and security, curtailing the menace of violent irredentist groups in the theatre of the  e exercise is remarkable. “

    Representative of Abia State governor , Emmanuel Nwabuko, expressed appreciation of the government and people of the state to the numerous achievements of Exercise Egwu Ekek II in sustaining peace, security and stability of the state.

    The governor’s aide recalled that the collaboration between the Army and the state dates back to 2010 and 2011  “when  kidnappers, armed robbers and other hoodlums paralysed economic and social activities in the state”.

  • Insinuations against military untrue- Commandant

    Insinuations against military untrue- Commandant

    The Commander, 16th Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General, Kelvin Aligbe, has  urged Nigerians  to see the army as its pride and to take ownership of the military institution.

    The commander spoke in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, when he led troops to undertake environmental sanitation and to donate medical materials to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) and other hospitals as part of activities for the ongoing Operation Crocodile Smile II in the Niger Delta region.

    He urged the people not to panic during the period of the military operation adding that the exercise was designed to improve the professional capabilities of soldiers.

    Aligbe said the insinuations and suspicions against the military exercise were untrue insisting there was no cause for alarm.

    “Nigerians should take ownership of the army and see the army as the pride of the nation and that’s exactly what we have come here to demonstrate within the context of operation crocodile smile II.

    “Operation Crocodile Smile II is intended to increase the rhythm of our combat operations in the creeks and land-based activities.

    ”At the end of the day, the operational skills of all those participating will be sharpened and of course, we would have gained more mileage in our operational capabilities.

    ”This, of course, you know a lot resources have been committed to the operations to boost what we are doing and so what probably we would have covered in three months will be able to cover in just one month.

    ”So, the operation is going to increase the rhythm of our operations as well as the mileage we are going to attain in terms of our operational gains.”

    Aligbe said the sanitation was one of the series of activities lined up for the operation adding that aside from the routine activities in the creeks, rivulets and all land patrols for confidence building, the military also decided to undertake some community relations activities.

    He said the donation was part of the medical outreaches of the Army within the context of its community relationship in their area of operations.

    He denounced rumour that the Army was giving vaccines and carrying out immunisation at schools.

    Aligbe said: “During our medical outreaches, we do not give vaccines, we do not do immunisation. We do basic medical checks and then offer medical materials to individuals that need them and it not by force.

    ”You will be surprised that in this time and age when you have social media that not even a shadow of the so-called people dressed in military uniform were caught on camera, especially with everybody having a cell phone that has camera in it.

    ”Not even one school, not anywhere the same message, the same rumour that was heard in other states. Unfortunately, the rumour was replicated here in Yenegoa on Friday and caused a lot of apprehension. But as leaders, we must stay on the path of truth in making sure that the services that is expected of us are delivered to the people.”

    In his remarks, the FMC Public Relations Officer, who received Aligbe and other Army officers on behalf of the hospital management, said they were highly elated to receive the medical items.

    Akpedi said: ”As a federal government facility, we are highly elated to receive the medical items.

    ”We know very well that this is the beginning of better relationship with the Nigerian Army not just for the staff of this hospital but Bayelsa State in general.”

  • Army denies death of 30 soldiers by ISIS

    The Army has debunked reports by an online medium that 30 soldiers were killed in an ambush by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

    A statement by the Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, on behalf of the Theatre Command of operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, dismissed the publication as mere propaganda by the drowning Boko Haram insurgents.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole has been drawn to a story were Chris Tomson claimed ISIS was responsible for the ambush against the Army’s convoy, killing 30 soldiers.

    “It is pertinent to state that contrary to the report, there was no such attack or ambush on any convoy of troops of operation Lafiya Dole by ISIS, or any other adversary within or outside the theatre of operation.

    “The report is false and an attempt by Boko Haram terrorists to remain relevant and portray seeming potency. The graphic images used to support the article has been closely studied and found to lack nexus to any recent operational engagements of operation Lafiya Dole.

    “The photographs are not a reflection of recent operational encounters of Lafiya Dole. The concocted story is, therefore, unsubstantiated and lacks credibility. Troops did not, at any time, have an encounter with ISIS terrorists, neither have they suffered from such fictitious attack as claimed.

    “The public is enjoined to discountenance this mischievous publication as it lacks the least iota of truth.”

     

  • Buratai mourns Malu

    Buratai mourns Malu

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has commiserated with the family of the Lt.-Gen. Victor Malu, a former chief of army staff, who died on Monday.

    He said in a statement issued by the army spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman that he “received with deep shock the sad news of the passing away” of Malu.

    Buratai prayed to God Almighty to grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

    The late Malu was said to have died at a hospital in Cairo, Egypt, on Monday.

    Born on Jan. 15 1947 at Katsina-Ala, Benue of Tiv origin. Malu enrolled in the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna in 1967.

    He was part of the 3rd Regular Course and got commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant upon graduation in 1970.

    Malu held various positions in his military career, including Commander, the Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS ) peace-keeping force (ECOMOG) from December 1996 to April 1998.

    He was Chief of Army Staff between May 1999 and April 2001.

    During his service, he contributed immensely to the sustenance of democracy, peace and security in the country.

    NAN

  • Army searches Kanu’s home for arms

    Army searches Kanu’s home for arms

    Prince Emmanuel Kanu, the younger brother of the Leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra ( IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has alleged that soldiers have again invaded their Afaraukwu Umuahia family home and carted away some household items.

    Prince Kanu said that the invasion by the soldiers took place on Sunday afternoon.

    He accused the invaders of looting the palace and making away with such items as television, generating sets, clothes among others belongings of the family.

    Kanu called on the international community to prevail on the Nigerian Army to stop raiding their home, and to produce his bother whose whereabouts according to him has remained unknown  since after the September 14 military invasion of the compound.

    But when contacted the Desk Officer of Operation Python Dance in charge of Abia State said no household items were removed from Kanu’s home.

    According to him, the operation was based on the intelligence that arms were hidden in the compound.

    He said “the things  removed may be technical items”, adding that “somebody was arrested with weapon in the compound”.

    The Army Officer who preferred to be simply identified as Desk Officer for the operation also said it was a joint operation with the police, and directed further enquiries  to the police.

    Efforts to get the reaction of the police however was not successful  as the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr. Geoffrey Ogbonna did not pick the calls to his cell phone.

    He also did not respond to a text message sent to his phone as at the time of filing this report.

    The Commissioner of Police Mr. Anthony Ogbizi did also not pick his calls even though it rang out twice.

  • Niger Delta: Army deploys troops for operation crocodile smile

    Niger Delta: Army deploys troops for operation crocodile smile

    The Nigerian Army says it has deployed troops for the commencement of “Operation Crocodile Smile”  in the six Niger Delta states.

    Maj.-Gen. Enobong Udoh, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, said this on Saturday while addressing troops to signal commencement of the exercise.

    Udoh said the operation was confidence building patrol rather than a show of force as widely reported.

    READ ALSO: Army to begin ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ in Ogun

    “Operation Crocodile Smile is not a show of force but a confidence-building patrol that seeks to reassure the people of Rivers state and the Niger Delta that the army is ready to work.

    “We are ready to work in close synergy and collaboration with other security services and agencies of government to ensure that there is peace and security for the people.

    “Our operation aims to reassure the public that we are ready to fight crimes like cultism, militancy, and kidnapping so that people can go about their business without fear,” he said.

    Udoh said that troops would carry out collaborative patrols with the Nigerian Police, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Immigration Service and the Department of State Security (DSS).

    Others are Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, Nigerian Customs Service and personnel of the Nigerian Prison Service.

    He said the division would carry out the exercise in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states while another formation would cover other states in the Niger Delta.

    “Army, police and other security services was established to ensure peace; enforce law and order and create the enabling environment for economic activities to thrive.

    “This is our ultimate mandate, and, as such, we urge Nigerians to give us the necessary support to enable us to succeed,” he said.

    The three weeks exercise is slated for Oct. 7 to Oct. 28. (NAN)

  • Army ordered to pay N85m damages for civilian’s death

    The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the Nigerian army to pay the family of the late Mr. Olajide Enilari N85million for causing his death.

    The family sued the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, Attorney-General of the Federation, Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration, Private Friday Ameh and one Nimmack Nappon.

    The family claimed Ameh and Nappon assaulted the deceased on January 29, 2009, which resulted in his death.

    Among others, they sought a declaration that army’s failure to ensure that the deceased was given proper medical attention from the injury inflicted on him by Ameh and Nappon, violated his right to life as guaranteed by Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution.

    The family sought N50million as exemplary/aggravated damages, and N35million as general damages.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba, in his verdict, agreed that the defendants “behaved in a most irresponsible, unaccountable, insensitive and callous way.”

    A copy of the judgment, delivered on March 30, was made available to newsmen yesterday.

    The suit was filed by a human rights group, the Access to Justice (A2Justice) on April 28, 2009, on behalf of the deceased’s family.

    Justice Buba held that the principle underlying the award of exemplary damages is that it would deter others from infringing similar rights.

    When the case commenced, the defendants raised the issue of self-defense, alleging that the deceased first hit the military personnel driving the vehicle and ran away.

    The defense counsel further argued that it was in the course of apprehending the deceased that an angry mob gathered with dangerous weapons to attack the officers, who then used the deceased as a human shield, to ward off the crowd at the scene of the crime.

    After careful consideration of the evidence (oral and documentary) of the parties in the suit, the court found no merit in the defense.

    Justice Buba was of the view that it was inconceivable that an armed mob would attack military officers for merely apprehending a civilian.

    He said it was also unfathomable that none of the officers sustained any injury from the attack.