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Tag: Army

  • Troops Kill 4 Boko Haram members in Borno

    Troops Kill 4 Boko Haram members in Borno

    Four Boko Haram members were on Thursday killed by troops operating in the Northwest of the country, Nigerian Army Spokesperson, Brigadier General Sani Usman has said.
    One of the insurgents was killed in an ambush laid by soldiers along Firgi-Pulka road in Bama local government of Borno state, while three others were eliminated as they disguised as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) with the aim of penetrating a military barrier.
    He said a major disaster was averted by the troops in one of the operations as they prevented the Boko Haram members from carrying out a suicide mission.
    Brig. General Usman, in a statement, said the troops of the 151 and 202 Battalion of 21 brigade and the crack troops of 22 Brigade of operation Lafiya Dole both displayed gallantry in the operations.
    He said: ” The Troops of 151 and 202 Battalions of 21 Brigade Nigerian Army, under Operation LAFIYA DOLE in furtherance of clearance and blockade Operation DEEP PUNCH II in separate but well-coordinated attacks simultaneously on Wednesday, 4th October 2017 at about 10:00am laid ambush on unsuspecting Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) along Firgi-Pulka road in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
    “The Troops engaged the terrorists with a heavy fire causing the terrorists to abandon their weapons and flee in disarray with Gun Shot wounds. In the first instance upon exploitation, troops recovered from the ambush site one General Multi-Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) and one motorcycle.
    “They also successfully discovered and safely detonated an unexploded ordnance. However, the troops followed with a hot pursuit, neutralized one terrorist and recovered 6 bundles of zinc.
    “In the same vein, crack troops of 22 Brigade of Operation LAFIYA DOLE displayed gallantry on 4th October at about 6:05pm by intercepting 3 Boko Haram terrorists disguised as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and trying to infiltrate a barrier.
    ” The vigilant troops engaged the suicide bombers forcing them to hastily detonate their suicide vest. The troops recovered 2 AK-47 rifles, 2 magazines with several rounds of ammunition and amongst other items.
    “The troops’ action saved what would have been another evil machination of BHTs ploy to utilize suicide bombing to inflict heavy casualties on soft targets”.
  • Python Dance: Army launches medical outreach

    Python Dance: Army launches medical outreach

    The Nigerian Army has launched a free medical outreach in Ovim, Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia, as an integral part of the ongoing Python Dance II exercise in the South-East of the country.

    A statement signed by the Deputy Director of Public Relations, 82 Division, Col. Sagir Musa, and made available to newsmen in Enugu, described the programme as a success.

    Musa said that the programme followed a directive by the Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.

    He said that the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika and other dignitaries were present at the event.

    “One interesting aspect of the exercise is the generous donations of rice, dental and optometry services, malaria and de-worming tablets, eye glasses, treated mosquito nets to the locals, among others.

    “In addition to the de-worming tablets, school children were given packets of biscuits, chewing gum and chocolates,” Musa said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ihejirika is from Ovim.

    Meanwhile, Musa said that various formations and corps commanders of the Nigerian Army training institutions had been visiting areas covered by the Python Dance II.

    He said that the visits, as directed by Buratai, were designed for interaction with the troops and assess the success of the ongoing exercise.

    He said that the commanders were conducted round some field locations and check-points along Enugu-Nsukka and Enugu-Abakaliki axis.

    “The Commander of Nigerian Army College of Logistics, Maj.-Gen. RC Duru, visited Sector 2 Operational Headquarters, where he was briefed on the exercise.

    “The commander was later conducted round the hitherto volatile areas of Ohaji Egbema in Imo State.

    “So far, the entire South-East has been peaceful and people are seamlessly carrying out their normal businesses,” Musa said.

  • Operation Crocodile Smiles’ coming to Ogun soon – Army

    Operation Crocodile Smiles’ coming to Ogun soon – Army

    The Brigade Commander, 35 Artillery Brigade, Nigeria Army, Alamara, Abeokuta, Basil Adoke, has advised residents of Ogun State and visitors not to panic with the imminent coming of a military campaign tagged ‘Operation Crocodile Smiles’ in the state.
    Basil said the exercise, when it eventually arrives and commence, would be targeted only at “miscreants and other criminals,” adding that the law abiding members of the society have nothing whatsoever to fear about it.
    The Brigade Commander who made this known at the Government House, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, in his remarks during the cutting of the 57 Independence Day anniversary cake, said though the  state is “relatively peaceful,” there was also the need to sustain the peace.
    “Operation Crocodile smiles will take care of miscreants and nobody should panic or entertain fear about it except miscreants. There is relative peace in Ogun State but the peace should also be sustained,” Adoke said.
    Earlier, Governor Ibikunle Amosun in his remarks, expressed the confidence that his successor would do better than him as the bar of governance has been raised in the state since May 29, 2011.
    Amosun recalled that the tell tale sign among others, that a successor would out-perform him, include the World bank’s $350m credit facility being extended to the state government to access at one percent interest rate.
    He noted that Lagos state government during the era of Babatunde Fashola, SAN, availed itself of such soft loan facility and that the incumbent administration in Lagos has also  accessed part of that initiative started by Fashola to embark upon the on – going  projects in the state.
    According to the Governor, should the Ogun State government accessed the $350m credit facility, even succeeding administration would access part of the fund.
  • Troops kill 1, repel Boko Haram attack in Borno

    Troops kill 1, repel Boko Haram attack in Borno

    The Nigerian Army on Saturday said it had killed one Boko Haram member after repelling an attack by the insurgents at Bocos village in Bama Local Government Area, Borno State.

    Lt. Col. Kingsley Samuel, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 7 Division, said this in a statement issued on Saturday in Maiduguri.

    Samuel explained that troops ambushed a group of the insurgents while trying to cross Banki Junction along Bama road on Friday.

    He said that the troops killed one insurgent and many others escaped with gun shots, adding that a number of items including foodstuff were recovered from them.

    Samuel disclosed that the troops also repelled another attack by the insurgents at a security outpost in Bama general area.

    He added that one police officer and a female displaced person were killed in the attack.

    “The Nigerian Army Mobile Strike Teams (MSTs) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE at about 6:00 pm on Friday, 29th September 2017 laid ambush on Boko Haram terrorists crossing Bocobs village along Banki Junction, Bama Road in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.

    “The troops sprang on the unsuspecting terrorists and neutralized one of them while several others escaped with gun shots wounds.

    ”The troops recovered several items including three bicycles, five Jerry cans and two bags of maize.

    “On the same day at about 7: 00 p.m. troops of 202 Battalion of 21 Brigade successfully repelled insurgents attack on an outpost within Bama general area.

    “Unfortunately a police personnel was killed in action while a female Internally Displaced Person (IDP) was hit by a stray bullet,” Samuel said.

    According to him, the Commander of 21 Brigade on Saturday visited the scenes of the attack, attended the burial of the deceased IDP and commiserated with the IDP community. (NAN)

  • Army kills 2 Boko Haram food suppliers in Borno

    Army kills 2 Boko Haram food suppliers in Borno

    The army said Friday that its men have killed two suspected Boko Haram food and logistics suppliers.

    The suspects were ambushed and killed at Malamti village in Guzamala Local Government Council of Borno State, according to the  Deputy Director, Army Publication Relations, 8 Division,Col. Timothy Antigha.

    Antigha said in a statement in Maiduguri that food items, consumables and animals were recovered from the scene

    He said troops of the 242 Battalion of 8 Task Force Division had intensified campaign to deny the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in the Lake Chad Basin freedom of action and access to logistics within its area of responsibility.

    His words:“At about 3.00 a.m. on Thursday, troops responding to a distress call, intercepted terrorists mounted on 14 horses in Malamti village, Guzamala Local Government Area of Bornu State. “The troops killed two terrorists; recovered two AK-47 riffles, three magazines, 26 rounds of 7.26 mm ammunition and one hand grenade from the insurgents.

    “Other items include 18 mobile phones, three mini solar panels, soaps, detergents, bundles of assorted clothes and 8 horses. “Unfortunately, two soldiers who sustained injuries during the engagement are currently receiving medical attention.”

  • Troops kill bandit, recover rifles in Zamfara

    Troops kill bandit, recover rifles in Zamfara

    Troops of 1 Division on Thursday killed a suspected bandit in Tsafe local government area of Zamfara.

    The Army Spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

    Usman said the troops also foiled an attempt by the bandits to cause mayhem in the area.

    He said one personnel of Federal Safety Commission (FRSC) was killed by the marauders before the arrival of the troops.

    The army spokesman said the soldiers recovered two AK-47 rifles, six magazines and seven motorcycles from the hoodlums.

    NAN

  • IPOB/Army clash: IGP promotes slain officer

    IPOB/Army clash: IGP promotes slain officer

    The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has conferred a post-humous promotion on the late Assistant Superintendent of Police, Cyril Nwosu who was killed when suspected members of IPOB attacked and burnt down the police post in Ariaria Aba.
    The dead police officer who was yet to be confirmed as a substantive  as a ASP, was confirmed by the IGP during his visit to Abia state to see things for himself and also assess the security situation in the state after the clash.
    Idris said that the recent crisis in the state was a trial to all of Nigerians, adding that the country has come out stronger and appealed to all stakeholders to take the unity of Nigeria as a priority.
    The IGP lauded the role of the traditional institutiona in peace-building and fostering national unity especially during the crisis that engulfed the state recently and thanked them for their role in ensuring that peace reign supreme in the state.
    The Nigerian police boss spoke during a courtesy call on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in Umuahia while on his official visit to the state to show solidarity with the state government over the recent crises.
    Idris said that there has been many security challenges in the state in recent time and thanked the security agencies for raising to the occasion.
    “We have seen a lot of changes in Abia, the crises experienced in the state in the past few days are events that are not new, where some misguided elements tried to achieve their dreams in a wrong way.
    “I believe Nigeria must be stronger, every part of Nigeria has its strength, if will we try to harness this strength together, we are going to make this country far better than we are now”.
    The IGP commended the Governor Ikpeazu for his role in dousing the tension, stressing that his timely imposition of a dusk to dawn curfew went a long way to bring peace and sanity within the state and its people.
    Responding, the Abia Governorreaffirmed his commitment to ensure protection of lives and property of Nigerians living in the state irrespective of where they may come from so long as they reside in the state.
    Ikpeazu maintained that Abia will continue to harbor and take all Nigerians residing in the state as brothers and thanked the Inspector General of police for responding to the needs of all parts of Nigeria.

  • Coalition lauds FG, Army over proscription of Biafra group

    The judgment by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja proscribing the Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra [IPOB], and labeling them a terrorist group has been applauded by the Concerned Citizens Coalition of Nigeria [CCCN].

    The CCCN, an Abuja-based coalition group says it is happy with the judgment and commended the Military on being proactive in safeguarding every citizen of the country.

    In a press briefing held on Thursday, September 21, 2017 in Abuja, the CCCN through Dr. Musa Omale, its National President, said the Federal Government has taken the right step in the right direction.
    Parts of the press statement reads:

    “Dear Partners in Progress,

    The Federal High Court in Abuja under Acting Chief Justice Abdu Kafarati, on Wednesday, September 20, 2017, ordered that the Indigenous People of Biafra [IPOB], is a terror organization.

    The order also effectively designated any activity carried out under the name of the group as an act of terrorism.

    The Concerned Citizen Coalition of Nigeria (CCCN) lauds the Court Judgement proscribing the IPOB and its designation as a terror group.

    The judgment is a vindication of the concerns earlier expressed by the Nigerian Army that what troops are confronting in the South East is pure terrorism.

    The ruling should now put to rest any controversy over the nature of IPOB whose criminal activities have no connection with agitation for a fairer share of the nation’s resources.

    We commend the Nigerian Army for promptly identifying IPOB as the existential threat it is to the country and for not giving up even when aggressive propaganda was mounted to attempt ridiculing its assertion.

    The court order has vindicated the position of the Nigerian Army as the best friend of the Nigerian people and humanity that would stop at nothing until its mandate to defend the land from external and internal insurgencies against the county are all halted.

    Their selflessness, patriotism, and devotion to the country are quite commendable and must be saluted at all times.

    This coalition urges the Army to remain committed to the ideals of democracy in its onerous duties of defending the territorial integrity of our country from both internal and external aggressors in the country.

    We wish to commend those Nigerians that displayed uncommon patriotism to agitate that IPOB should be called what it is, a terror organization. Nigeria is bigger than any parochial interest and we must keep it so.

    It is important we are not taking the Boko Haram route again when people initially maintained an air of indifference because they chose to view the terror group from political, religious and ethnic perspectives.

    May we use this opportunity to call on the Nigerian Police Force and the Department of State Services [DSS], to immediately go after all the known IPOB terrorists other than its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
    There are several videos showing the faces of these terrorists particularly the ones documenting the launch of their militant arm, the Biafra Secret Service.

    The terror group had boasted of having its cells outside of the South East, so attention should not only be focused on the area alone but the dragnet should be all over the place.

    Security agencies must also put the other separatist groups in the country under watch so that IPOB members do not migrate to such entities to continue terrorizing citizens.

    We appeal to the government to educate Nigerians, especially media practitioners, on the implications of advancing terrorist propaganda. The Anti-Terror law has strict provisions for anyone that engages in this.

    While ignorance is no excuse in law, it is nonetheless important to sensitize citizens about the provisions of this law especially as it affects communicating on behalf of terrorists.

    We, therefore, hope that stakeholders would pay heed and stop publishing contents from terrorists.

    Beyond successfully designating IPOB as a terror group, we urge the Federal Government to immediately commence dismantling the group’s network and its infrastructure. Its source of finance must be blocked and anyone that contributes to its funding should be appropriately dealt with.

    IPOB’s foreign connections should be probed and strongly worded communication should be sent to any country found to be hosting the terror group’s cells.

    On the domestic front, we urge that the government to begin to attend to legitimate agitations that are presented through recognized representatives.

    Our counsel at this point is that we should not make the mistake of localizing the call for fair treatment to one ethnic group. All the ethnic groupings in the country each have one grievance or the other.

    They should all be looked into without favoring one group over the other so that no one would again use situations that are collectively deplored as excuses to start terror groups.”

  • ‘I Go Dye’ commends army’s handling of IPOB agitation

    ‘I Go Dye’ commends army’s handling of IPOB agitation

    Following recent agitation for the creation of an independent state by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), celebrated stand-up comedian, Francis Agoda, aka ‘I Go Dye’, has commended the Nigerian Army for the role it played in dousing the tension in the South Eastern part of the country.

    In the chat with the Nation, the UN ambassador also said that politicians who have failed to address the issue should be blamed.

    “The recent agitations in the country, especially the South East led Kanu’s (Indigenous People of Biafra) IPOB is a failure on the part of the legislators and governors who were elected to protect their people. Why should all of us who have taken a pledge to defend the unity of this country through the national anthem, actively watched a civil situation expand into a monster, now been curtailed by the military? What a failure on our democracy,” he observed.

    Continuing, he said: “Let me remind us that almost all democratic institutions failed to mediate on the issues prior to this time, until the military stepped in to control further damage. I keeping wondering what were the honourable legislative members of both the State and Federal Houses of Assembly were doing all along, to redeem the situation or proffer as an alternative, to  peacefully resolve the issues before the military got involved?”

    Speaking further, ‘I Go Dye’ observed that until the military came into the southeast, majority of well-meaning business people were afraid and were losing money every day for fear of the unknown.

    “This is not a time to trade blames, but a time to sit back as patriots and awaken our loyalty to Nigeria. We all have a responsibility to preserve this nation for our children, but from my point of view the military has been more outstanding  in this regards, we all need to appreciate, thank the soldier and its affiliate institutions for their service to the nation,” he added.

  • FG to take final decision on IPOB proscription – Army

    FG to take final decision on IPOB proscription – Army

    Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai yesterday said the Federal Government would take a final decision on the proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the declaration of the organisation as a terrorist group.

    He said: “There are guidelines as provided in the Act on the Terrorism Act and I’m sure the relevant government agencies I’m talking about will take appropriate steps whether to arrest or whether to do any other actions and we will receive the appropriate directives from the authorities. “

    He also said the army was not under any form of political pressure on the position it took regarding the activities of the IPOB.

    Gen. Buratai said the military had the duty and constitutional responsibility to protect lives and properties in the face of internal and external threats to the territorial integrity of the country, stressing that its actions against IPOB were necessitated by the provisions of the constitution.

    He spoke to reporters after addressing Principal Staff Officers, Corps, Formations and Operations Commanders, Commandants of Nigerian Army and Corps Schools at the 2nd and 3rd Quarters Conference 2017 of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) at the Army Headquarters’ Officers Mess, Abuja.

    He said: “Training is a continuous exercise, apart from the obvious exercises that you see but there are lot of other exercises that…from different force of the Nigerian Army and even from skills. So it is not a new thing, we have been training, we have been exercising on a regular basis.

    “But once in a while we come and carry out a large-scale exercise to harmonise all the aspects of training that have been thought in training institutions and unit formations.

    “Since we came on board in 2015, we have been having series of exercises and we did same set of exercise in 2016 and we are repeating the same thing this year and you are aware of Habin Kunama II, the on-going Egwu Eke II in the South and very soon at the end of Operation Python Dance we’ll move into Crocodile Smile II which will take a lot.

    “This is just to reassure Nigerians, law-abiding citizens that the Nigerian Army and indeed other security agencies are really concerned with the safety and security of their lives and property. You are very much aware of the security challenges in the country.”

    On the proscription of IPOB, Gen. Buratai said: “You see, you said political pressure. You should understand the context by which the Nigerian Army is operating. Nigerian Army is part of the political consideration in the democratic system.

    “It is part of the democratic process. We are not receiving any pressure. We are given what the constitution has provided for us. Constitutionally, what our responsibilities are for us, so we are not under any pressure whatsoever.

    “Whatever anyone is saying, we will refer him back to the constitution. There are several provisions that give us those responsibilities and also to carry out such task as duly assigned by the government or by the constituted authority.”

    “Be rest assured that we don’t have any other role that is outside the constitution.”

    He said the Army would conduct more exercises to sharpen personnel skills and prepare them to tackle emerging security challenges in the country.

    Currently, exercise “Egwu Eke” – Python Dance II is underway in the five South East states – Enugu, Imo, Anambra, Abia, Ebony and Cross River in the South South.

    Gen. Buratai said: “I have given the necessary directives for officers to embark on mission specific training at home and overseas.

    “This is in addition to effort in strengthening and exploring own local institutions.

    “Commanders at all levels are to ensure that orientation cadres are conducted for young officers and soldiers posted to units in order to enshrine aspects of unit regimentation early in them.”

    He charged formation commanders in theatre of operations to imbibe the spirit of in-theatre training based on terrain and the changing “tactics of adversary”.

    Gen. Buratai noted that evolutionary and global security threats were being influenced by political, economic, social and technological factors.

    “Therefore, the need for regular improvement on the existing capacity of the Nigerian Army to be able to deal with present and future security threats is imperative.

    “To achieve this, it is paramount to carry out accurate threats assessment in the formulation of the nation’s security policies which would enhance the ability of the Nigerian Army to deal with these emerging internal security threats,” Gen. Buratai said.