The Nigerian Army Thursday night said troops have rescued another Chibok girl, Sarah Luka and killed 35 Boko Haram insurgents during the operations.
The Acting Director Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman, who made the disclosure said verification showed that the girl is number 157 among the 219 Chibok girls in captivity.
She was a Junior Secondary School 1 student at the time if her abduction with others.
The statement said: “At about 11.00am today, Thursday, 19th May 2016, troops of 231 Battalion, 331 Artillery Regiment (AR), Detachment of Armed Forces Special Forces (AFSF) 2, Explosive Ordinance (EOD) Team and Civilian Vigilante group of Buratai, conducted clearance operations at Shettima Aboh, Hong and Biladdili general area in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.
“During the operations, the troops killed 35 Boko Haram terrorists and recovered several arms and ammunitions and other items. In addition, they rescued 97 women and children held captives by the Boko Haram terrorists.
“We are glad to state that among those rescued is a girl believed to be one of the Chibok Government Secondary School girls that were abducted on 14th April 2014 by the Boko Haram terrorists.
“Her name is Miss Serah Luka, who is number 157 on the list of the abducted school girls. She is believed to be the daughter of Pastor Luka.
“During debriefing the girl revealed that she was a JSS1 student of the school at the time they were abducted.
“She further added that she hails from Madagali, Adamawa State. She averred that she reported at the school barely two months and one week before her unfortunate abduction along with other girls over two years ago.
“She added that there other three girls who fled from Shettima Aboh when the troops invaded the area earlier today which led to their rescue.
“She is presently receiving medical attention at the medical facility of Abogo Largema Cantonment, Biu, Borno State.”
Tag: Army
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Another Chibok girl Sarah Luka rescued, 35 terrorists killed
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‘How Chibok girl was found’
When the military launched stormed the Baale village near Damboa, Borno State, to confront Boko Haram insurgents, little did they know that one of the over 200 abducted Chibok school girls was among the women rescued during the operation.
After the military operation, an eagle eyed local hunter spotted Amina Ali in company of other women and identified her as one of the missing Chibok girls.
The hunter, who identified himself as Apaagu, said he recognized Amina because he is from Chibok community and knows the parents of the girl very well.
Apaagu, who is a member of the local vigilante group, told journalists in a telephone chat from Damboa that he was the one that picked out Amina and told the military that she is one of the missing Chibok school girls.
“We I saw her, I recognized her because I know her. I told the army that she is one of the Chibok girls that were missing. We picked her out from the other women,” Apaagu said.
He added that the girl was taken to her family house in Chibok where she met her mother in an emotional reunion before she was taken away by the military in Damboa.
“We went with her to her family house in Chibok and met her mother who embraced her warmly,” the hunter said.
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Boko Haram: Troops arrest wanted Boko Haram suspect in Sambisa forest
The ongoing Operation CRACKDOWN on Boko Haram by the Nigerian Troops in Sambisa Forest is yielding significant success according to the military.
It’s latest operation in the area has led to the arrest of one of the wanted terrorists leader, Suleiman Umaru.
Acting Director Army Public Relations Col. Sani Usman disclosed the arrest in a statement.
” In continuation of Operation CRACKDOWN deep inside Sambisa forest, troops have arrested one of the declared wanted Boko Haram terrorists leaders, and also conducted patrols and clearance operations within the theatre of operations.
“At about 1.35pm yesterday troops of 143 Battalion arrested one Sulaiman Umaru, a suspected Boko Haram terrorists group member whose photograph is on the poster containing the photographs of the 100 Boko Haram terrorists declared wanted. He has since been moved to 28 Task Force Brigade Headquarters for further investigation,” Usman statement.
The statement also noted that troops of 21 Brigade engaged in a heavy battle with the terrorists along Dikwa-Maiduguri road where many of the terrorists were killed.
“Troops of 21 Brigade have continued with the clearance operations at Yerimari, while troops of 22 Task Force Brigade Garrison have also embarked on patrols along Dikwa–Mafa-Maiduguri road. The patrol was aimed at picketing the road to keep it safe and open.
“Similarly, the same unit in conjunction with some elements of 112 Task Force Battalion conducted a fighting patrol along Dikwa-Gulumba Gana road. The team had a fierce fire fight with some Boko Haram terrorists elements in which the troops killed quite a number of the Boko Haram terrorists,” it said.
On a sad note however, Col. Usman informed that soldiers on routine patrol ran into some Improvised Explosive Devie(IED) which injured 7 soldiers and 4 Civilian JTF.
The Statement said; “Unfortunately, while on their way back, the team ran into an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at Antul, a village south east of Dikwa, in which 7 soldiers and 4 Civilian JTF accompanying them sustained injuries. The injured soldiers and their civilian counterparts have been evacuated to 7 Division Hospital and Medical Services Maiduguri.
“However, the patrol killed 2 Boko Haram terrorists and recovered 2 AK-47 rifles from them.
“The patrol team had earlier intercepted 31 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), including women and children coming from Sunabaya, Gumule, Garno and Mane-Gana villages.
“During preliminary investigations along with the vigilantes, one of the IDPs, Abacha Bulama, a native of Mane-Gana village, was found to be in possession of the sum of One Million, Nine Hundred Thousand Naira (N1,900,000.00k).
“Although he claimed to be a businessman, his possession of such large amount of money arose suspicion.
“While Bulama has been detained for further investigation, other IDPs have been handed over to Dikwa IDP Camp Manager for screening and further humanitarian assistance.
“On their part, troops of 254 Task Force Battalion, 25 Task Force Brigade have moved to Ngalimeri and shelled Boko Haram terrorists hideouts at Budumairi, Goneri Baleni, Mallam Maitari, Malemiri and Gombori. Although there were no signs of the Boko Haram in the area as they have all fled, however, 35 persons were rescued, screened and rehabilitated at Damboa IDP camp. The troops also arrested 2 suspected Boko Haram terrorists with Dane Guns.
“In a related development, troops of 192 Battalion, 26 Task Force Brigade also carried out clearance operations at Guduf Buba, Yagwa, Gamude, Kwatara Kasa and Kwatara Tsakiya villages. It was observed that at Kwatara Tsakiya, the terrorists have neatly removed the roofing of the dispensary and other buildings possibly to cart away later.
“Apart of the formations and units mentioned above, quite a number of them have maintained blocking positions to prevent Boko Haram terrorists escaping from Operation CRACKDOWN and aerial bombardment by the Nigerian Air Force, while other troops carry out raids, cordon and searches in suspected Boko Haram terrorists hideouts”.
The statement also observed that humanitarian activities have increased in the theatre due to the improved security currently witnessed.
“Due to increased security, the theatre is witnessing increased humanitarian activities by various government and non-governmental agencies,” the statement said. -
Boko Haram: Army clears seven Borno villages
The Army says it has cleared seven more villages taken by suspected Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State, in its bid to end terrorism in the Northeast.
The acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, in a statement yesterday in Maiduguri, said: “As the clearance and rescue operations gain momentum, troops of 28 Task Force Brigade have cleared the enclaves of Boko Haram terrorists at Galtha Baba, Galtha Musa, Bulakurma, Shatimari, Chukruk, Bulangaje and Disa villages.
“During the operation, one insurgent was captured.”
He said three motorcycles, bags of grains, terrorists’ flags and uniforms were recovered.
Usman listed other recovered items to include: suicide bomber’s hijab, a mobile phone, one Dane gun, as well as foodstuffs and cooking utensils.
“The soldiers rescued 15 persons held hostage by the terrorists,” the acting Army spokesman said.
He said unfortunately, two Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) overran an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), but the formation did not sustain casualty, as the damage to the AFVs was minimal.
Usman said the captured terrorist was being interrogated and would soon be handed over to the relevant agencies for prosecution.
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Army clears 7 more villages occupied by insurgents
The Nigerian Army says it has cleared seven more villages taken by suspected Boko Haram insurgents in Borno in its bid to end terrorism in the North East.
Col. Sani Usman, the Acting Director Army Public Relations, stated this in a statement issued in Maiduguri on Sunday.
“As the ongoing clearance and rescue operations gained momentum, troops of 28 Task Force Brigade have successfully cleared enclaves of Boko Haram terrorists along Galtha Baba, Galtha Musa, Bulakurma, Shatimari, Chukruk, Bulangaje, and Disa villages.
“During the operation, one Boko Haram terrorist was captured alive,” Usman said.
According to him, three motorcycles, bags of grains, terrorists’ flags and uniforms have also been recovered.
He listed other items recovered to include: suicide bomber’s hijab, a cell phone and one Dane gun, as well as foodstuffs and cooking utensils.”
“The troops also rescued 15 persons that were held hostage by the Boko Haram terrorists in the area,” Usman said.
He said that unfortunately, two Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) over ran an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), but however, said the formation did not sustain any human casualty as the damage to the AFVs was minimal.
The spokesman said that the captured terrorist was being interrogated and would soon be handed over to the relevant agencies for prosecution.” (NAN)
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Taskforce arrest fake Army captain in Lagos
A fake Army Captain, Gorge Edem has been apprehended at Alausa by the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit (Task Force).
Edem who claimed to be residing at Flat 11, Block 2, intelligent quarters, Nigerian Army Cantonment, Ojo Lagos was paraded Tuesday by the Chairman Lagos State Task Force, SP Saheed Olayinka Egbeyemi at Ikeja.Edem who claimed to be an Army Captain attached to the Military Cantonment, Ojo came for the release of an impounded motorcycle that was arrested at Oshodi Tuesday by the operatives of both the Police and Paramilitary Officers attached to the Agency.
The fake Army Captain who had harassed both Policemen and Paramilitary Officers that he should be allowed to see the Chairman as a matter of urgency was eventually ushered in to see the Chairman.
After listening to Edem’s pleading, SP Egbeyemi questioned him further on his personality as an Army Captain it later turned out that he was just an engineer and not an Army Officer.
The fake captain who doesn’t know that the Agency policy does not allow release of impounded motorcycles came for the release of a ‘BOXER’ motorcycle with chassis NO D2A18AZ3FMW34913X that was impounded for having contravened the Lagos State Road Traffic Laws of 2012.
He has a fake dependant identity card with Nigerian Army Cantonment, Ojo, Lagos
When questioned on why he impersonated as an Army Captain, Edem said he has been parading himself as an Army Captain for over 8 years out of poverty and collecting money from innocent people who had cases with Nigerian Police-men and Nigerian Customs and that he had deceived many Divisional Police Officers in Lagos State on different cases where he had collected millions of Naira.
He however appealed for leniency from members of the public and the Nigerian Police Force.
“The Lagos State Task Force hereby enjoined members of the public to be wary of fake security personnel who are operating illegally by perpetuating evil and duping innocent citizens of their hard earned resources”, a statement signed by the Taskforce PRO Taofiq Adebayo warned.
Meanwhile, the Agency in the last one week impounded 114 motorcycles who contravened the Lagos State Road Traffic Laws of 2012.
Also, 71 miscreants were screened-out from 269 arrested while 198 were charged to court for various environmental offences.
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Security: El-Rufai donates 51 patrol motorcycles to Police, Army
As part of his efforts to rid the State of crimes and criminalities, Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai on Tuesday commissioned and released 51 patrol motorcycles to the Police Force, the Army and other security agencies in the State.
El-Rufai, while presenting the motorcycles, said 35 of the motorcycles go to the Nigerian police, 2 to the Nigerian Army, 2 to the Airforce, 5 to Nigerian security and civil defence corps, 2 to Federal Road Safety, and 5 to operation Yaki headquarters.
He expressed gratitude to all the security agencies in the State for keeping the State safe from criminals, and urged them to do more in order to completely rid the State of crimes.
He said, “We are here to handover the patrol motorcycles that we promised Operation Yaki and other security agencies like year that will deliver. We have taken time to procure the motorcycles because of our financial constraints, but I am happy that we are here to handover them, it is a promised obeyed.
“On this note, it is my honour and privileges as the governor of the State, on behalf of the State executive council and the State security council to handover these 51 motor cycles to the security agencies.
“The motorcycles will be distributed as follows; 35 to the Nigerian police, 2 to the Nigerian Army, 2 to the Airforce, 5 to Nigerian security and civil defence corps, 2 to Federal Road Safety, and 5 to operation Yaki headquarters.
“I hope and pray that these motorcycles will help the security agencies in carrying out their duties.
“We will continue as the State government despite of our financial constraints to support our security agencies to restore law and order in Kaduna State.
“I want to commend them for all the works that they have been doing, I want to thank the former Commissioner of police who had worked very hard to keep Kaduna State safer.
“And I welcome the new Commissioner of police who has been working round the clock since he came, he made many arrests, and contributed to bringing down the rate of crime in the State. We will continue to support all of you.
“To the glory of God and to the safety and security of the people of Kaduna State and for the use of our very hard working security agencies we handover these patrol motorcycles to various security agencies in the State”.
Responding on behalf of other security agencies, the State commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Audu, thanked the State governor for the donation, promising to use the motorcycles for the purposes which they are meant for.
CP Audu said, “We wish to thank the state government and the executive governor of the State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai for the generous donation made to various security agencies in the State.
“I also want to pledge that we will judiciously use and ensure the motorcycles are used for the security and safety of the State, I assure you that they will be used for the purposes for which they are provided.”
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Zaria clash: Army denies handing over 347 bodies to govt
The Army yesterday denied handing over 347 bodies to the Kaduna State government.
Speaking at the Commission of Enquiry investigating the last December 12-14 clash between the Army and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), otherwise called the Shi’ite, it said it did not give the figure of the bodies it released to the government, adding that it only handed a few bodies to the government representative.
The government said at previous hearing that at least 347 bodies were handed over to it by the Army for mass burial.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mallam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, at a previous sitting of the commission, said not fewer than 347 unknown bodies were given mass burial in Kaduna a few days after the incident.
The Director-General of Interfaith, Muhammad Namadi Musa, claimed he led the burial of the unknown bodies, saying it was carried out at midnight and lasted till 5am.
He said: “On December 13, 2015 I received a phone call from the SSG to come to the Government House, after which I was directed to go to Zaria to find out the number of bodies and how they would be buried.
“At the Army depot, the SSG directed me to meet one Major Ogundare regarding the bodies there. After introducing myself, he refused to let me know the number; but later on, the SSG called me and told me the number.”
The Army said few bodies, and not 347 bodies, were handed over to the government for burial.
At the resumed sitting of the commission yesterday, a medical officer from the Army Depot, Zaria, Major Uche Agulana, said contrary to the government’s claim that 347 bodies were buried in mass grave, he handed over few bodies to the representative of the government.
Cross examined by counsel to the commission, Agulana said he did not keep the record of the deaths, because, according to him, he was busy at that time “trying to save the lives of those brought to the hospital.”
The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Mechanised Division, Maj-Gen. Adeniyi Oyebade, said the Shi’ite attacked soldiers on that day.
He added that it was that situation that prompted his men to apply force to restore law and order.
When asked by the chairman of the commission why the Army did not inform the Police before invading the home of the detained leader of the Shi’ite, Sheik Ibrahim El- Zakzaky, since the matter was a civil one, the GOC said the police had no enough manpower to curtail the IMN members.
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Civilian JTF, Army foil suicide attack in Borno
Another suicide attack was on Saturday foiled by men of the civilian JTF and Troops on 7 Division Nigeria Army at Ummarati Village near on the outskirts of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Ummarari community has been recently hit by suicide attack with the last one on a mosque more claiming more than ten worshippers were killed.
In a statement signed by the army spokesman Col. Sani Usman, the suicide bomber blew himself off while he was being prevented by some vigilant troops from wrecking havoc on the community.
The statement read; “Troops of 7 Division Garrison Forward Operation Base (FOB), today averted yet another suicide bombing catastrophe on Ummarari community by suspected Boko Haram terrorist at about 7.00am this morning.
“The suicide bomber was intercepted by the vigilant troops and the Civilian JTF while making attempt to enter the village to detonate his dangerous cargo on innocent persons in the Ummarari.
“The suicide bomber detonated the strapped Improvised Explosive Device (IED) vest on his body, thus killing himself instantly when he was forced to halt based on suspicion that he was carrying suicide bombing material.
“Thankfully, there was no any other casualty other than the suspected suicide bomber. Troops along with the Civilian JTF at the village are now combing the surrounding area to forestall further attacks and clear the environment of likely remnants of Boko Haram terrorists hibernating.”
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Army operation will clear criminal gangs from Bauchi forest – Buratai
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said the Army’s training and simulation exercise titled `Operation Shirin Harbin’, would also help in clearing criminal hideouts in the Alkaleri forest in Bauchi State.
Buratai said this while assessing the performance of Troops and their Commanders participating in the exercise in the Alkaleri forest.
He said apart from improving the combat readiness of the troops and the testing of high caliber weapons, the exercise would address security threats around the area.
“This area is a very good training ground but during this exercise we will be killing two birds with a stone.
“It is a training exercise and it is also a real operation as we hope to clear any hideout of criminal gangs that are known to be operating in the fringes of the forest.
“This is the starting point for us to be more professional at this particular time,’’ he said.
He said the exercise had brought out the best in the Nigerian Army both in terms of troops combat readiness and in the handling of high caliber weapons.
He said some of the equipment used in the exercise had been abandoned in the workshop for many years.
According to him, some of the equipment were not usable but had been repaired and would be used in real time situation.
He said the exercise was a demonstration of the judicious use of funds allocated to the Army by government.
On his part, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, said the exercise was unprecedented stressing that such exercises would return the Army to its days.
Olonisakin said the exercise would prepare troops and their equipment for present and future engagements both in Nigeria and beyond.
“This exercise which is a command exercise is aimed at training troops and their commanders.
“Having seen what we have witnessed here, I know that the commanders out there will do better than what they have been doing.
“I am impressed because for some time we have not had it this way, under this particular exercise, the correct personnel are deployed and the right equipment are used,’’ he said.
Also speaking, the Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Nuhu Gidado, Commended the Army for choosing the state for the exercise.
He said the exercise would help to address some of the security challenges confronting the state being perpetrated by some criminal elements operating from the Alkaleri forest.
`It is more than a privilege having them conduct this exercise here in Bauchi state, because for a very long time we have had pockets of criminal activities coordinated from this forest.
“This particular exercise has given us hope that our people can now live in peace,’’ Gidado said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise featured simulation exercises using tanks and other caliber of weapons as well as real combat operations deep into the forest.
NAN also reports that the exercise is organised as part of activities marking the 2016 Nigerian Army Day Celebration. (NAN)