The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Army

  • Rivers Rerun: Army deploys troops to flash points

    The Nigerian Army on Friday directed the deployment of troops to flash points in Rivers ahead of the Dec. 10 legislative elections rerun in the state.

    Maj.- Gen. Kasimu Abdulkarim, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Port Harcourt, gave the order while addressing officers and soldiers at the Divisional Headquarters in Port Harcourt.

    Abdulkarim said the directive was to ensure the prevention of breakdown of law and order before, during and after the elections in Rivers.

    He said that troops would also be deployed to strategic locations, including oil and gas installations and other critical assets in and around the state.

    According to him, commanders will embark on early planning, coordination and liaison with civil authority, Nigeria Police Force, INEC and other stakeholders to ensure hitch-free election.

    “During the election, commanders are to ensure that troops are deployed at flash points, key points and valuable points before, during and after the elections.

    “Troops will be in their respective position by 3 a.m. on the Election Day while monitoring of security situation from the joint operations centre will commence two days before election.

    “Commanders are to ensure that troops are deployed at the outer perimeter of designated collation centres and polling booths in support of the Nigeria Police without getting directly involved with INEC activities.

    “Similarly, commanders are to direct the conduct of patrols; establish checkpoints and roadblocks and provide escort during the election in order to prevent unlawful movements, ballot box snatching and sundry crimes.

    “Also, commanders must ensure that troops deny unauthorised persons access to collation centres, INEC offices and NYSC officials during the election,’’ he said.

    Abdulkarim also directed “local commanders’’ of the army to escort the election materials to INEC office in Port Harcourt.

    He said that troops would identify and curtail hostile individuals, groups and key players; gather information and carry out a show of force within strategic towns in Rivers and adjoining states.

    “Lastly, commanders are to establish a broadband communication network with repeater stations at strategic towns starting seven days before and two days after the election,’’ he said.

    Abdulkarim urged troops to remain non-partisan and document on video as pictorial evidence for use in the event of litigation that might result from their conduct during the elections.

    The GOC also advised troops to strictly adhere to army’s election Code of Conduct and Operational Orders in the rerun elections.

    “This is because any personnel found to flout the army’s position on the election will be severely sanctioned in line with our operational guideline.

    “Officers and soldiers should disassociate themselves with civilians and politicians, especially during the election,’’ he said. (NAN)

  • Army: we’re ready for Yuletide, not IPOB

    Army: we’re ready for Yuletide, not IPOB

    The army says its mock exercises and other security demonstrations are to keep the Southeast safe during the Yuletide, not preparatory to hunting down Igbo secessionist groups. SUNNY NWANKWO reports

    Since the Army launched Operation Python Dance in Awka, the Anambra State capital, on November 28, with a directive that the exercise be reenacted in other formations across the Southeast, one question has stood out: is the Army about to crack down on the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB)?

    No, said Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division Enugu, Enugu State, Col. Sagir Musa; it is only a security strategy to keep the region safe during the festivities.

    At the 14 Brigade Headquarters in Ohafia, Abia State where our reporter witnessed the Python Dance launch, there were mock crisis situations which the army swiftly put under control, to demonstrate its readiness to contain crisis. Some members of the public also saw how the military receives and processes information before moving into a situation warranting intervention.

    The Abia launch was supervised by the Chief of Operations and Training, Army Defence Headquarters, Major General David D. Ahmadu.

    The Python Dance exercise, according to Col. Musa, will last one month, ending in January. Other security and para-military organisations in Abia also witnessed the exercise.

    Major General Ahmadu shed more light on the IPOB and MASSOB issue, clarifying that Operation Python Dance was designed to enforce peace, without necessarily targeting any secessionist groups.

    The army has come under heavy criticism by pro-Biafra groups, which claimed that the military was planning to declare a state of emergency in the Southeast and was using the Python Dance not only to check the activities of pro-Biafra agitators but also hunt down anyone who would take to the streets in solidarity with the detained leader of IPOB and Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

    Maj. General Ahmadu said, “We are not zeroing in on IPOB, MASSOB or any other group for that matter; it is for general internal security. Everybody needs peace in the region and that is what the exercise was meant to provide by checkmating the activities of hoodlums in the area and not necessarily targeting any group”.

    The Army Chief of Training and Operations was of the view that by involving its officers and men in internal security of the nation, the military had not in any way contravened any section of the constitution.

    He said the army would rather work with sister organisations and para-military agencies to ensure the success of ‘Operation Python Dance’ in the Southeast from December till January 2017.

    The Brigade commander of 14 Brigade, Ohafia Brig-Gen Lawrence Fejokwu told journalists that the exercise, which he said was the first of its kind in the area, would see the military working with other security agencies to ensure that peace reigned in the area during the Christmas period.

    Fejokwu said if necessary, the army would assist the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in ensuring that the roads were made free for easy follow of traffic during the yuletide.

    The 14 Brigade Commanding Officer stated that since IPOB and MASSOB are not posing any security problem in the state, ‘Operation Python Dance’ was not specially targeted at them, stressing that kidnappers and those who involved in other crimes would have no hiding place.

    All the military and para-military organisations operating in the state, except the police attended the launching performed by Maj.-Gen Ahmadu and other top military brass including commander of 144 Battalion, Asa, Lt.-Col Umar Kasim Sidi.

     

  • Army empowers military personnel

    The Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC) Oshodi has empowered 507 retired personnel with skills for self reliance.

    The personnel, comprising 375 from the Nigerian Army (NA) and 132 from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) were trained for six months on crop and fish farming, craftsmanship and other small scale businesses.

    According to NAFRC Commandant, Air Vice Marshal Christopher Gudi, more than 40,500 retirees have benefitted from the scheme and were doing well in their chosen businesses.

    He said the initiative was to enable the beneficiaries seamlessly adjust and appropriately blend with the envisaged peculiarities of retirement.

    “They are expected, while in retirement and active socio-economic activities, to continue to positively contribute to the achievement of national objectives. This is in fulfillment of the mandate of NAFRC, at inception in 1945.

    “Available records indicate that more than 40,500 retirees who got re-educated in NAFRC are outstanding entrepreneurs and could hold their own anywhere.

    “NAFRC has recorded some modest achievements in enabling wealth creation and hike in living standards among most retired personnel of the Armed Forces. More concerted efforts are ongoing to expand the training scope in NAFRC through the participation of retiring commissioned officers.

    “Currently, retiring officers of the Armed Forces are being trained by the Centre in partnership with EMPRETEC Nigeria Foundation and the Pan Atlantic University. More than 300 retired officers have been trained in entrepreneurship and managerial skills through the partnership.”

    Continuing, Gudi said graduation would be held in honour of the trained soldiers, adding that the Minister for Defence and the Service Chiefs were expected to attend the event.

  • Army Council confirms 227 promotions

    The Army Council Friday, approved the promotion of 227 senior officers from various ranks to the next higher ranks in the Nigerian Army. Those promoted include 21 Brigadier Generals to Major Generals, 93 Colonels to Brigadier Generals and 113 Lieutenant Colonels to Colonels.

    The newly promoted officers are Brigadier General CM Abraham Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Brigadier General OU Obono, Acting Corps Corps Commander, Nigerian Army Artillery Corps, Brigadier General PJ Dauke Acting GOC 3 Division, Brigadier AA Nani Acting GOC 8 Task Force Division, Brigadier General JB Olawunmi, Acting Coordinator, Nigerian Army Aviation Corps, Brigadier General CC Okwonkwo, Commander 48 Task Force Division Engineers, Brigadier General MSA Aliyu and Brigadier General AM Jalingo, were all promoted to the rank of Major General, among others.

    Among the Colonels promoted to the rank of Brigadier Generals are Colonel IY Dogara, Colonel EO Aikhomu, Colonel Aminu Bande, Colonel IFD Briggs, Colonel PA Alamba, Colonel UU Bassey, Colonel UT Musa, Colonel AS Ndalolo, Colonel AI Taiwo, Colonel Y Hassan, Colonel IOO Olotta and Colonel UT Utaru.
    Others include the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel SK Usman, Acting Director of Chaplain Service (Roman Catholic) Colonel CC Iroegbu, Acting Director of Chaplain Service (Protestant), Colonel DD Danfulani, and Acting Director Islamic Affairs, Colonel SG Mustapha.

    Promotion in the Nigerian Army is an annual exercise by the Service to qualified personnel who have distinguished themselves over a stipulated period of time. Earlier in the year, the Nigerian Army carried out several promotion exercises for other categories of its personnel. These include the Junior Non-Commission Officers (JNCOs), Senior Non-Commission Officers and Warrant Officers category, as well as Junior officers from the rank of Second Lieutenant to Lieutenants, Lieutenants to Captains and from Captains to Majors.

    The approval of the promotion by the Army Council for the senior officers is the last for the year. The promotion exercise is expected to re-energise the beneficiaries towards the discharge of their onerous tasks and responsibilities.

  • Sultan urges Army not to lose focus

    Sultan urges Army not to lose focus

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged the Army to be focused and undeterred by negative comments.

    He spoke in Sokoto at the weekend when the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, visited to condole with him on the death of the 18th Sultan, Ibrahim Dasuki.

    Sa’ad Abubakar III noted that Nigeria is a difficult society, saying “we are aware of what you have been doing to restore security confidence in the average Nigerian.”

    He said the armed forces should not lose focus in the struggle to restore peace, especially in the Northeast.

    “We sincerely laud your success and efforts at restoring peace and hope in the lives of the people.

    “We have been following things and wish to express our satisfaction with the changes. We will also continue to rally the government’s support to continue to equip you for your strategic operations and responsibilities of protecting the country’s territorial boundaries.”

    Buratai described the late Dasuki as a pillar, whose contributions to public reforms, especially in the local government service, remain unique in the administration and security of the country.

    “We will continue to learn from his good work and legacies and pray Allah to grant him eternal peace,” he said.

  • Drama at Reps hearing as victim identifies alleged killer of brother

    …Confusion over conflicting submissions
    There was drama Monday as a victim’s brother identified one of the people that allegedly buried his brother alive.

    There was a stirring in the House of Representatives committee on Army in its investigative hearing on the killings of unarmed civilians in the South East, when Mr. Eric Kayinee identified one of the supposed killers of his brother and  pointed at a man sitting in the hall, saying the man was present when his brother was buried alive.

    According to him, his brother, Popbi Kayinee, an APC Chieftain was buried alive for political reasons by a notorious Solomon Ndigbara’s gang and the man was part of those that did it.

    The Hon. Rilmamnde Shawulu headed Committee said the name of the man should be collected for further investigations.

    Another man in the hall who was threatening the man who was identifying the alleged culprit was reprimanded by the committee.

    The accused man, Thomas Nwafor, who said he is from Ebonyin state and does fast food business was put under oath by the committee.

    But he denied the allegation that he was at the scene of the crime, and that he assisted in burying Kayinee alive.

    “I don’t know him. My own two brothers were killed. I don’t know Solomon Ndigbara, I don’t know this man (the accuser) I don’t know anybody in Yeghe,” he said.

    At the committee hearing, there were confusing reports, claims and counterclaims by the different stakeholders leading the committee with a string of mysteries in deciding if it was the police, military, militants, cultists of political hatchet men that were responsible for the killings in Ogoni.

    Col. O. N. Taiwo spoke on behalf of the Army saying the matter is still being investigated.

    The Inspector General,of Police, Ibrahim Idris, represented by Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, Francis Odesanya said the military were on patrol and they were ambushed by cultists/militants.

    He said two people were charged to court from the group that attacked the Army, adding that they moved straight to the APC secretariat and set the place on fire.

    According to him, the two were identified by people who said they were part of the group  that caused the mayhem.

    He said 5 people were killed while ambushing the army, contrary to the petition from Civil Liberties Organisations which said there were 34 people were killed by the army without any identifiable provocation.

    The Civil Liberties Organisation in its report to the committee on the invasion of Yeghe and other Ogoni Communities by the Nigerian Military operatives said:

    ” February 22 and 23, 2016 were days of blood, fire and bullets in Ogoni land, one of the major ethnic nationalities that make up Rivers State. On that fateful day, soldiers, dressed in full military regalia and armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed some Ogoni Communities in a manner that made many to wonder if war had been declared on Ogoni.

    The submission. Signed by the Zonal Chairman, Chinedu Uchegbu and the Livingstone Wechie Deputy Director, Relations/ Communications demanded further investigation and prosecution of the officers involved in the killings, “including Magnus Abe and Bari Mpigi.”

    But in a twist, the Ogoni Generation Next Project in a submission signed by its facilitator Comrade Kadilo Kabari and Secretary Kenedy Friday said they ” have dispassionately looked at the issues raised by the CLO South- South Nigeria to the Committee and have come to the irresistible conclusion that the petition is laden with distortions to deliberately mislead the Honorable House.

    Cauline Nagbo, a former desk officer of MOSOP, President Ogoni women forum, while speaking also faulted the CLO petition saying it was a plot to get the military out of the region so that mayhem can reign.

    According to her, the military is needed in the region in order to safeguard the lives and property

    The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps in their presentation made by Obiekwe Augustine said ” report from our officers in Rivers State shows that prior to the 19th March 2016 rerun election in Rivers  States there were tensions and apprehensions in Ogoni land based in the information that one Mr. Solomon Degbara, a suspected a militant, had in his possession a large cache of arms and ammunitions for the election.

    “The intelligence was shared by the relevant agencies and the security outfits that had the direct mandate commenced operation. Our report shows that the Civil Liberties Organisation saw it as invasion of Ogoni land and went to court.”

    The Chairman of the committee expressed dissatisfaction with the disparities in the submissions of the Army and the Police especially in terms of cause of the shooting and the number of casualties as well as other glaring inconsistencies.

    He read out a letter purportedly written by Senator a Magnus Abe in which he chided the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara for allowing the investigation.

    According to Shawulu, the Senator in the letter said the Speaker as an APC member should not have allowed the investigative hearing.

    Shawulu further said: “We are not interested in issues of Party. The author could be in another party in the next one year. We’re interested in Ogoni and the integrity of the Nigerian Army.

    “The principal allegation is against the army. And what we want to establish is if the MDA we are over sighting has done anything wrong.

    “We want to see in understanding what has happened if we could make adjustments, especially in the Nigerian Army.”

  • Boko Haram kills another senior officer

    Barely two weeks after a senior Army officer, Lt. Colonel Muhammed. Abu-Ali was killed in a Boko Haram ambush, another officer Lt. Col B U Umar commanding officer of 114 TF battalion of the Nigerian Army has been killed.
    Confirming the incident to The Nation, a senior Army Officer said Umar was ambushed alongside his troops on Monday morning on his way to Bita.
    He said the late officer and his troop were returning from Mubi , Adamawa state which has been reclaimed from‎ Boko Haram insurgents when his vehicle stepped on an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
    ‎The military source said details of the incident would be released as soon as the military concluded it’s initial arrangements.
    He however denied that there was heavy casualty saying only Umar was fatally wounded in the incident.
    The late Umar was a member of the 48 Regular Course in the Nigeria Defence Academy, NDA.
  • Army, Air Force in counter attack in Kangarwa

    Army, Air Force in counter attack in Kangarwa

    Following the death of Lt. Colonel Abu-Ali and six others in an attack on their Mallam Fatori, Borno State location, the Army and Air Force  have begun a series of counter attacks aimed at further reducing Boko Haram strength.

    Involved in the offensive are troops of the 119 Task Force Battalion, 8 Division deployed in Kangarwa, Kukawa Local Government, three fighter jets and one Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft.

    Thirteen terrorists were killed, a soldier died while three others were injured.

    The Army offensive began at about 4 pm and lasted about four hours, while the Air Force conducted operations from 5 pm till about 7:15 pm. Some insurgents fled with gun wounds, leaving their logistics and weapons.

    Troops neutralised two Hilux vans and recovered another one. A Browning Machine Gun (BMG), Anti-Aircraft Gun (AAG), two General-Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), Light Machine Gun (LMG), two Rocket Propelled Guns (RPG), seven tubes and bombs, five AK-47 rifles and 550 rounds of Anti-Aircraft Gun ammunition, were recovered.

    Before the attack on Kangarwa, the Air Force conducted some day and night operations.

    The operations were carried out at Kashimeri, Tumbu Gini, Chukugudu and other strongholds.

  • Army rescues Chibok girl with 10-months-old baby

    Army rescues Chibok girl with 10-months-old baby

    •Nurses 10-month old baby

    Another of the missing Chibok schoolgirl  is out of Boko Haram dungeon.

    Maryam Ali Maiyanga walked into freedom yesterday; 24 days after 21 of those she was abducted with over two years ago by the terror sect were released from captivity.

    The Army said yesterday that Maryam and her 10-month old baby were rescued early in the day during an operation against Boko Haram insurgents at Pulka village in Gwoza Local Government area of Borno State.

    She informed the soldiers that she had the baby boy, named Ali, for a Boko Haram terrorist.

    She and the baby were subsequently taken to a military facility for medical attention.

    Army spokesman, Colonel Sani Usman who broke the news said: “Troops of 121 Battalion, Nigerian Army, deployed at Pulka, Gwoza Local Government Area, Borno State, for Operation LAFIYA DOLE today,(yesterday 5th November 2016), at about 6.00am, while screening some escapees from Boko Haram terrorists hideout in Sambisa forest, discovered one of the abducted Government Secondary School Chibok girls, named Maryam Ali Maiyanga among them.

    “She was discovered to be carrying a 10-month-old son, named Ali. She has been taken to the unit’s medical facility for proper medical checkup.

    “It is imperative to state that troops have been working round the clock to clear remnants of Boko Haram terrorists wherever they might be hibernating and also rescue all persons held hostages by terrorists.”

    More than 270 schoolgirls were seized from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State in April 2014 by the sect, sparking international outrage.

    A few of them managed to escape while they were being taken away.

    Twenty-one of the girls were released on last month after intricate negotiations with the terror sect.

    The federal government promised that negotiations have commenced for the release of more of the girls although about 100 of them are said to have waived the option of returning  home, preferring to remain married to terrorists.

    Maryam and her baby were later in the day handed over to the state government by the commander of the Lafiya Dole counterinsurgency operation in Borno State, Major General Lucky Irabor.

    The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice received the girl on behalf of Governor Kashim Shettima, who had travelled out of the state for an official function in Abuja.

    The Attorney General expressed the appreciation of  the governor, whom he said had sent in commendation to the military for doing the country, the state and the people of Chibok proud.

    He added that due to the lack of flights in and out of Maiduguri on Saturdays, the girl would remain in the custody of the state government, pending the next available flight to Abuja.

     

  • Boko Haram kills Army’s most decorated officer in night attack

    Boko Haram kills Army’s most decorated officer in night attack

    An army officer decorated by the authorities for his courage in the fight against the terror sect Boko Haram, has fallen in a battle with the insurgents.

    Lieutenant Col. Muhammad Abu Ali died yesterday along with three of his men while repelling an attack on a location of 119 Battalion   of the Army at Mallam Fatori, Borno State.

    Ali was, until his death, the commanding officer 272 Task Force Tank Battalion.

    Four other soldiers were wounded in the attack.

    The troops however repelled the attack and killed 14 of the insurgents.

    The loss of Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Abu Ali was a big blow to the Nigerian Army as he has been described as one of the finest and most courageous officer currently deployed against Boko Haram.

    Ali’s exceptional bravery and gallantry earned  him an accelerated promotion from the rank of major to lieutenant colonel and was personally decorated by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai at Gamboru Ngala on September 9, 2015 during an operational visit.

    His colleagues recalled the gallant role he played in the recapture of Baga from insurgents.

    That February 2015 battle is often cited in military circles as one of the army’s fiercest-ever with Boko Haram.

    He was also a key part of the capture of Gamboru-Ngala.

    During that decoration, Buratai praised Ali for his “courage, bravery and exceptional performance in the fight against the Boko Haram terrorists.”

    A soldier who served under him attested to his leadership qualities especially in Baga.

    “He led us with the T-72 when we advanced on Monguno and Baga, and he collected those places,” he said of Ali.

    The troops recovered one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), seven AK-47 rifles and a large quantity of ammunition from the defeated insurgents.