The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Army

  • No decision to train regular recruits in Sambisa forest – Army

    No decision to train regular recruits in Sambisa forest – Army

    The Nigerian Army has refuted report that it will be training the 76 Regular Recruits Intake (76RRI) in the Sambisa forest.
    The Army spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman in a statement yesterday urged the public to disregard message on the social media purportedly emanating from the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai to that effect.
    Usman described the message as “mischievous”, saying “this is not true”.
    “Members of the public are therefore requested to disregard it in its entirety.
    “They should also be wary of fraudsters that request for gratification from interested candidates or their families. Recruitment into the Nigerian Army is free.”
    Meanwhile, Usman said that more armed bandits had surrendered their arms in Zamfara on Friday.
    He said that the following arms and ammunition were surrendered – three AK-47 rifles, two G3 rifles, one small machine gun, three pump action guns, one teargas launcher, three teargas canisters and 690 locally made Dane guns.
    Others recovered are 192 locally made pistols, eight locally made pump action guns, 17 Locally made revolvers, 60 locally made multi-barrel pistols and 13 locally made double-barrel rifles

  • Army denies molestation of women in Ogoni

    Army denies molestation of women in Ogoni

    The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has denied molesting women or other people in Ogoniland’s four local government areas of Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme. It declared that some cultists and other criminal elements in Ogoniland were crying wolf where there was none.
    The Division, through its Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, stated this yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
    It said: “The attention of 6 Division, Nigerian Army has been drawn to a malicious publication in some online media on the purported molestation of some women in Ogoniland by some recently-deployed soldiers.
    The Division wishes to assure the good and peace-loving people of Ogoniland, Rivers indigenes and Nigerians at large that the publication is totally false, mischievous and is at best a failed and unsubstantiated attempt by some cultists and other criminal elements in Ogoniland at crying wolf where there is actually none.”

  • One officer, three soldiers killed chase of terrorists

    One officer, three soldiers killed chase of terrorists

    One officer and three soldiers have died after troops from the Nigerian Army on Operation Lafiya Dole chased fleeing Boko Haram terrorists to five villages in northern Borno.

    The terrorists had earlier attempted to infiltrate Magumeri village but were repelled by a strong force from the Nigerian Army. The Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Usman later accused the villagers of conniving   with the terrorists.

    According to him, after  hot pursuit and mop up  the troops were able to neutralize an unconfirmed number of Boko Haram terrorists  and recovered one  Gun truck, two Anti-Aircraft Guns, two Extra Barrels,   two Rocket Propelled Grenade Bombs, 31 pieces of Nitrogen 57mm Bombs, one  roll of Nitrogen cable and a  60mm Mortar bomb.

    Others are:  Assorted General Purpose Machine Gun and Anti-Aircraft ammunition and their links, 3 spare vehicle tyres with rims, one  vulcanising machine, one  Qlink Motorcycle,  foodstuffs and  three Boko Haram terrorist sown camouflage.

    Meanwhile troops of 22 Brigade Nigerian Army during a fighting patrol cleared Boko Haram out of Gujari village, Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State. This followed information about the convergence of the terrorists at area aiming to launch attack on some of the nearby communities.

    The Army spokesman said during the operation, the troops killed two Boko Haram terrorists while an unspecified number escaped with gunshot wounds into thick forest.

    At the location however, the troops discovered and destroyed a tailoring shed while they also recovered one Rocket Propelled Grenade Bomb, three DaneGuns, one  Double Barrel Pump Action Gun, two Bandoliers, 23 Empty cases of Shilka Gun Ammunition, two Initiation water container and one Motorcycle battery among other items.

  • We are tired of life under Boko Haram, say repentant terrorists

    We are tired of life under Boko Haram, say repentant terrorists

    At least nine members of the Boko Haram terrorists group have willingly surrendered to the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole deployed along Dikwa-Gulumba Gana road in northern Borno saying they were tired of life under Boko Haram.

    The former terrorists who came from  Tambashe Village in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno state are also currently being held and interrogated by the Nigerian Army to determine the truth of their case.

    Meanwhile, soldiers have continued with clearance operations on suspected Boko Haram terrorist’s locations through patrols, ambushes and raids with appreciable progress in their respective areas of responsibility.

    According to the Director Army Public Relations Brigadier General Sani Usman, the efforts have led to arrest,  interception and neutralizing of quite a number of Boko Haram terrorists, as well as recovery of arms, ammunition and equipment.  The aim of the exercise he said is to ensure security in the areas and prevent infiltration by Boko Haram terrorists among the communities.

    He further said the exercise has led to  the arrest of a suspected Boko Haram terrorist, one Mallam Makinta Ibrahim aged 45 years at Bayemari, by troops of the 159 Task Force Battalion.

     The suspect who hailed from Yaro Grematalti Yunusari Local Government Area was also confirmed to be Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) dealer to the terrorists.  He said troops also arrested another suspected Boko Haram terrorist whose name, age and origin could not be ascertained for now as he pretend to be deaf and dumb.

    However, he was found to be in possession of 8 functioning mobile telephone handsets, bunch of keys, 2 passport photographs, 2 amulet charms and a transistor radio.

  • Army to destroy seized arms in Rivers

    The 6 Division of the Army in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, is set to destroy arms, ammunition and explosives recovered from repentant militants in Rivers State.

    The weapons were recovered by members of the Rivers State Amnesty Committee, put in place by Governor Nyesom Wike, who will be the special guest of honour at the event.

    The 6 division’s Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, made the disclosure yesterday in Port Harcourt.

    Iliyasu said: “In conjunction with the Rivers State Amnesty Committee, 6 Division, Nigerian Army will commence the demolition/destruction of the arms, ammunition and explosives that were recovered from repentant militants by the Rivers State Amnesty Committee.

    “The demolition/destruction exercise is slated to take place on Thursday, 16th and Friday, 17th March, 2017 at Igwuruta Army Range from 6:00am to 5:00pm daily. Minor explosive tests will be conducted within Port Harcourt Barracks (Bori Camp) during the same period.

    “The authorities of 6 Division, Nigerian Army wish to inform the general public and in particular residents, commuters and farmers within the two locations not to panic on hearing the sound of the explosions, as they are controlled by experts.”

    The public destruction will end insinuations that recovered weapons were  returned to politicians and their thugs.

     

  • Army detains six soldiers over alleged brutality of woman

    The 81 Division of the Nigerian Army on Wednesday said it had set up a Board of Inquiry (BOI), and  detained six soldiers over the brutality of a woman in Lagos state.

    The incident on 12 March, according to the Division’s spokesperson, , Lt.-Col. Olaolu Daudu, happened in Odoguyan, Ikorodu area of Lagos.

    It involved soldiers of 174 Battalion  and the woman attacked has been identified in various reports as Ruth Orji.

    According to reports, the Joint Legal Action Aids, which is representing her has already sued the military authorities and asking for N250million in damages.

    In its reaction to the incident, the military authorities failed to disclose the names of the victim and her attackers.

    Here is the statement by 81 Division:

    “The attention of Headquarters 81 Division, Nigerian Army, has been drawn to the social media and Newspaper online reports on alleged brutalisation of a female by soldiers”.

    “The incident occurred in Odoguyan, Ikorodu area of Lagos state involving soldiers of 174 Battalion on Sunday, March 12.

    “The alleged incident is highly regrettable, even as the division under the Nigerian Army has zero tolerance for inhuman treatment.

    “Discipline remains the bedrock of the Nigerian Military Profession.

    “It is quite disheartening when such incidences occur even though such incidences will not be treated with any laxity.

    “Consequently, a Board of Inquiry has been constituted by the Commander 9 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Elias Attu.

    “This is to investigate the circumstances that led to the incident, determine the level of the soldiers’ involvement, submit its findings and recommend appropriate disciplinary measures which will be communicated.

    “The brutalised lady, name with held, has been taken to hospital where she is responding to treatment.

    “The six soldiers, also names withheld, are being detained in regards to the incident.

    “The Division remains committed to its tasks as part of the constitutional mandate of the Nigerian Army.
    “The Division continues to enjoin all to be law abiding and count on their support and cooperation,” said Lt. Col. Daudu

  • Troops rescue 211 civilians, clear terrorists from 2 villages

    The Nigerian Army has rescued 211 civilians held captive by the Boko Haram terrorists at Cingal Murye and Maja villages in Northern Borno on Saturday.

    Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, the Director Army Public Relations, said in a statement on Sunday that troops of 22 Brigade Garrison, Operation Lafiya Dole, rescued the victims during an operation in the villages.

    The statement said that one terrorist was neutralised while 11 bicycles were recovered from the fleeing terrorists.

    “In addition, the patrol team escorted two heavy duty trucks and 18 pickup vans to recover Internally Displaced Persons’ food stuff from Mala Maja,’’ it added. (NAN)

  • Boko Haram: Nigerian troops must respect human rights—Commander

    The Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, says  his troops must respect human rights in the counter insurgency operation against Boko Haram terrorists in  the North East Zone.

    A statement issued  on Tuesday  by Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Deputy Director,  Army Public Relations, said Irabor  made the assertion when he received   the representative of the Executive Secretary,  National Human Rights Commission, Mr Tony Ojukwu, in Maiduguri.

    Irabor  said that the provisions of the Operation’s code of conduct and rules of engagement were testimonials to the professional and positive disposition of the command and its troops to human rights and international humanitarian laws in the conduct of the war against terrorism.

    He said  that compliance with human rights and other laws of conflict had been brought into the main stream of training in the Nigerian Army.

    “ Aside the code of conduct which has been adequately distributed to troops, the Nigerian Army has also established Human Rights Desks at the Army Headquarters and Divisional Headquarters,’’ he added.

    He reiterated  that military duties revolved around personal and national sacrifice.

    Irabor, however, expressed dismay that the military which had volunteered to sacrifice for peace and development of the nation was being  perceived  in some quarters as willingly violating human rights.

    He assured the commission  of the willingness of the Theatre Command to partner it in promoting human rights accountability  in the North East Zone.

    Ojukwu, on his part, said  the commission was pleased to acknowledge that the military  was already conscious of the need to carry out the counter insurgency operation with utmost respect for human rights.

    He noted that respect for human rights was beneficial to both the military and Nigeria in general.

    Ojukwu commended the army  for initiating  the quarterly human rights dialogue with the commission, saying it had  further enhanced the human rights disposition of the force.(NAN)

  • Army parade three female suicide bombers

    Army parade three female suicide bombers

    The Nigerian Army has arrested and paraded three girls on suicide bomb mission in Borno State.
    Parading the arrested suicide bombers, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Lucky Irabor said the arrest of the girls has probably saved many lives as no one knows the kind of havoc they would have caused.
    He also explained that the girls were paraded to let the public know that some of the suicide missions are been averted by vigilant security personnel. 
    Major General Lucky Irabor who was speaking on a live media briefing on the activities of Operation Lafiya Dole on Wednesday, also took a swipe at Amnesty International for its report on the operation of the Nigerian Army.
    According to him, the Amnesty International is deliberately and unjustly attacking the Nigerian Army to undermine the success it has recorded on  the Boko Haram crisis.

  • Army, DSS arrest Chadian terrorists

    Troops of the Nigerian Army in conjunction with men of Department of State Services (DSS) on Sunday  arrested three suspected Chadian Boko Haram terrorists of the Albaranawi faction, in Gombe, Gombe State. 
    The three Chadian terrorists suspects, Bilal Muhammed Umar, Bashir Muhammed and Muhammed Maigari Abubakar were tracked down and arrested at Arawa and Mallam Inna Areas of Gombe metropolis after efforts by security operatives. 
    According to the Director Army Public Relations, Brig. General Sani Usman, the suspects were reported to be members of Albarnawi faction of the Boko Haram that operates in Chad and mostly northern part of Borno State but came to Gombe State for another assignment.

    “During the operation, one of them, Bilal Muhammed Umar attempted to escape and was shot on the leg. He was however apprehended and is receiving medical treatment.

    “The terrorists were also arrested with Improvised Explosive Device (IED), materials that they could have coupled and attack parts of the State. The suspects are in custody undergoing preliminary investigation‎,” Usman said.