The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Army

  • Army destroys illegal oil truck in Benin

    In its effort to check illegal oil bunkering, the troops of 4 Brigade Nigerian Army Benin on Thursday destroyed a truck containing suspected illegal refined Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

    A statement by the Army Public Relations Officer, Captain Abubakar Abdullahi said the truck which was intercepted last month along Sepele bye pass in Benin city  was set ablaze Thursday after a laboratory test confirmed  it contained contaminated PMS emanating from illegal refining facility.

    Abudullahi said the destruction of the truck was aimed at sending a clear warning to all those involving in illegal oil bunkering and pipeline vandalisation to desist from such illegal venture before been apprehended by our troops.

  • Army redeploys 88 Generals, 19 Colonels

    Army redeploys 88 Generals, 19 Colonels

    The Army announced yesterday the posting of 88 Generals, comprising 36 Major-Generals and 52 Brigadier-Generals.

    Also redeployed were 19 Colonels.

    Among the deployed officers are: Brig.-Gen. A. B. Omozoje, who now heads the Guards Brigade; Brig.-Gen. A. O. Folorunsho, to 81 Division; Brig.-Gen. B. A. Akinroluyo, moved to 3 Division; Brig.-Gen. A. G. Okunola, moved to 82 Division; Brig.-Gen. E. O. Udoh, now heads the 7 Division.

    Addressing reporters on the postings yesterday, the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Olajide Laleye, warned the public not to use the postings to overheat the polity.

    He said: “Insinuations and mischievous interpretation of a purely professional, unbiased and thoroughly thought out process should not be trivialised by undue and unfounded speculations.”

    The spokesman assured the nation on the Army’s commitment to the fight against insurgency in the Northeast

    He said: “The operations are still ongoing and the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, would continue to combat terrorism in all its ramifications.

    “It is also pertinent to reiterate that the media have an important role to play in the ongoing fight against terrorism.”

    Also, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Usman Jibrin, has approved the redeployment of 75 senior officers to man various commands in the Nigerian Navy.

    The redeployment was announced in a statement yesterday in Abuja by Commodore Kabir Aliyu, the Director, Naval Information.

    The statement said the redeployment cuts across naval personnel in the Navy Headquarters, Defence Headquarters and tri-service institutions.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise involved 29 Rear Admirals, 28 Commodores and 18 Captains.

    Those affected, according to the statement, include Rear Adm. E. O. Ogbor, the Chief of Policy and Plans, Naval Headquarters, who is now Chief of Administration, Defence Headquarters.

    Also affected is Rear Adm. S. A. Akinwale, the Director of Logistics at Defence Headquarters. He is the new Director, Project Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate at Naval Headquarters.

    The statement said Rear Adm. A. O. Ikioda was appointed the Chief of Policy and Plans, while Rear Adm. I. E. Ibas is the new Chief of Logistics.

    Also, Rear Adm. I. A. Oyagha is now the Chief of Training and Operations at the Naval Headquarters

    “Rear Adm. S.H. Usman moves from the Central Naval Command to the Logistics Command as Flag Officer Commanding, while Rear Adm. P. A. Agba is the new Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Yenagoa.

    “Rear Adm. O. C. Medani is the new Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Calabar.

    “Other senior officers redeployed include Rear Adm. I. A. Ajuonu, Group Managing Director/CEO, Navy Holdings Limited, and Rear Adm. O. E. Ekwe, Admiral Superintendent, Naval Dockyard Limited,” the statement said.

    Rear Adm. D. O. Osuofa is now Navy Secretary, while Rear Adm. A. B. Afolayan will serve as Director, Medical Services.

    The statement also said Rear Adm. O. P. Ozojiofor is the Director of Training at the Defence Headquarters, while Rear Adm. A. Shettima is the Managing Director, Naval Hotels and Suites Limited.

    Others affected by the redeployment include Rear Adm. O. U. Emele as Director of Logistics, Defence Headquarters and Rear Adm. A. Johnson as Commander, Fleet Support Group (West).

    Rear Adm. L. O. Iwuoha, is the Admiral Superintendent, Naval Doctrine and Assessment Centre, and Rear Adm. H. O. Ngonadi is the Director of Development at the Defence Headquarters.

    Rear Adm. T. G. Epelle is the new Director, Medical (Admin/Logistics), Defence Headquarters, while Rear Adm. E. G. Ofik, is the Chief Staff Officer, Western Naval Command.

    Rear Adm. S. E. Ogoigbe is now Deputy Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji while Rear Adm. A. L. Akintola is posted to Naval Shipyard, Port Harcourt as Admiral Superintendent.

    Also, Rear Adm. J. K. Ango is now the Director of Plans, Defence Headquarters, while Rear Adm. A. A. Osinowo is now the Chief Staff Officer, Headquarters, Naval Training Command, Apapa, Lagos.

    Also, Rear Adm. R. O. Osondu is now the Chief Staff Officer, Logistics Command, Oghara, while Rear Adm. J.O. Oluwole is the Director of Equipment, Standardisation and Harmonisation, Defence Headquarters.

    Rear Adm. F. D. Bobai, the statement added, is now the Chief Staff Officer, Headquarters Eastern Naval Command.

    “The new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Naval Engineering Services Limited is Rear Adm. A. O. Odeh, while Rear Adm. S. A. Ahmadu is now the Commander, Central Pay Office, Apapa, Lagos,” it said.

    The statement also said Commodore O. E. Uwadiae is the Commander, NNS BEECROFT, while Commodore E. G. Ochai is the Commander, NNS Pathfinder.

    It also said Commodore B. T. Yusuf has been appointed as the Director of Naval Accounts, adding that the effective dates of the appointments range from February 14 to February 17.

  • Army redeploys 88 Generals, 19 Colonels

    The Nigerian Army on Wednesday announced the posting of 88 Generals, comprising 36 Major Generals and 52 Brigadier Generals.

    Also redeployed were 19 Colonels who were moved from their current postings to new ones.

    Among the affected officers are – Brigadier Gen. A.B. Omozoje who now heads the Guards Brigade; Brigadier Gen. A.O. Folorunsho moves to 81 Division; Brigadier Gen. B.A. Akinroluyo has been moved to 3 Division; Brigadier Gen. A.G. Okunola goes to 82 Division; Brigadier Gen. E.O. Udoh now heads the 7 Division.

    Briefing journalists on the postings, the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Olajide Laleye warned members of the public not to use the postings to overheat the polity.

    Laleye said, “Insinuations and mischievous interpretation of a purely professional, unbiased and thoroughly thought out process should not be trivialised by undue and unfounded speculations.”

    The spokesman restated the Army’s efforts and commitment to the fight against insurgency in the Northeastern part of the country.

    “The operations are still ongoing and the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies would continue to combat terrorism in all its ramifications.

    “It is also pertinent to reiterate that the media has an important role to play in the ongoing fight against terrorism.”

     

  • Boko Haram: UI, Army to research on solution

    The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), Prof Isaac Adewole, has said the fight against Boko Haram requires academic and strategic research.

    This is coming on the heels of the assurance by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) that the sect’s insurgency would end soon.

    But the sect, early in the week, killed scores of people, injured others and destroyed property in Adamawa and Borno states.

    Prof Adewole spoke yesterday when he visited Maj.-Gen. Ahmed Jibrin, the general officer commanding (GOC) 2 Division, at Ojoo, Ibadan, Oyo State. He said there was need for strategic research into the real reasons for the escalating violence.

    The vice chancellor proposed a framework in which UI would partner the Army to go into the “heart and soul” of the people and produce strategic methods of curbing the sect’s members.

    According to him, the declaration of the Chief of Defence Staff that the insurgency would end in April, was realisable, with new methods and strategic research.

    “The Chief of Defence Staff said the insurgency will end in April. I do not have the facts and information that he has. But, I believe that winning a war involves winning the heart and soul of the people. The university can partner the military to find out what are the real reasons for the insurgency,” Prof Adewole said.

    The vice chancellor also said the proposed partnership between the Army and UI’s Department of Strategic Studies would help in “re-teething and retooling” the military’s work force.

    Jibrin said there was a standing committee on land matters involving the military, including the university’s old site at Eleyele, Ibadan.

    The GOC said a final decision could not be taken immediately but promised to set up a committee that would liaise with the university and sort out the details.

  • Northern elders’ threat, statement ill-conceived, says Iheijirika

    The immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt.- Gen Azubuike Iheijirika described the threat and statement credited to the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) as ill-conceived.

    The Northern elders, following the replacement of Iheijirika as the Chief of Army Staff on Thursday, have threatened to drag him before International Court of Justice (ICJ) over alleged killings of defenceless civilians in Bama, Borno State by soldiers under the Joint Task Force (JTF).

    Iheijirika, who spoke with State House correspondents on Sunday after worshipping at the Aso Villa Chapel, said that the elders were probably misinformed about the whole situation and ought to grateful to the service chiefs, and officers for making huge sacrifices to safe guide Nigeria and the north in particular.
    With the equipments on ground and the training that the soldiers have undergone, he declared that there is no hiding place for the insurgents.
    Speaking on the Elders’ threat, he said: “My reactions to that is that their statement is ill-conceived, perhaps based on some misinformation. The northern elders should be thanking the service chiefs, my officers and myself for making huge sacrifices, first to see that Nigeria is save and the north in particular since they are the first beneficiaries of the sacrifices being made.”

    He noted that no senatorial zone in the country has not lost a soldier since the measures to contain the insurgents began.

    “There is no senatorial zone in this country that has not lost a personnel of the armed forces it is unfortunate that the same elders, if they are really elders have not cared to send a single condolence message to the military.”

    “I think that their statement is discouraging and it impacts negatively on the counter-terrorist efforts because as we speak, there are soldiers that have not had a meal since yesterday because of the peculiarity of where they are at the moment.”

    On the fight against terrorism under his tenure, he said: “It has been very busy thing, I believe that very soon Nigerians will be very happy because we have put quite a number of structures in place.”

    “I want to say that with some equipment and training that were carried out in recent days, there will be little or no hiding place for the insurgents.”
    Speaking on his next line of action, he said: “The immediate thing is to have a small vacation with my family and thereafter we can then think of what next.

  • Panic as army, police clash in Minna

    THE cordial relationship that had existed between the Nigerian Army and the Police in Minna, the Niger State capital, was destroyed on Friday when three truck-loads of armed soldiers from the 31 Artillery Brigade, Minna, stormed and sacked a police division. The rampaging soldiers held the officers and men at the Paiko Road Police Station hostage for more than one hour, leading to panic in the area, as people ran for their lives for fear of a possible exchange of gun fire. According to sources, the soldiers’ action was to avenge an alleged manhandling of a solider by policemen. The soldier, who was said to have been involved in an accident with a civilian, was said to have been detained at the police station because of his uncompromising attitude. He was, however, released when an Army Lieutenant from the Artillery Barracks intervened in the matter. But trouble allegedly started when another officer at the barracks felt the policemen overreacted, and ordered his men to bring the policemen involved in the matter. It took the intervention of the state Police Commissioner, Mrs. Desire Nsirim, who put a phone call to the Artillery commander, Brigadier General Christ Ilouga, to avert the matter from degenerating to an all-out war. State Police Public Relation Officer, Mr. Richard Oguche (ASP), who confirmed the incident, expressed surprise at the invasion by the soldiers, but said that the situation has been brought under control and that no life was lost during the fracas.

  • Army promotes 102 officers

    Army promotes 102 officers

     … 27 Brigadier Generals become Major Generals

    The Army Council has approved the promotion of 102 senior officers to the rank of Brigadier General and Major General.

    In all, 27 Brigadier Generals were promoted to the rank of Major General while 75 Colonels got elevated to the rank of Brigadier General.

    Among those promoted to the substantive rank of Major General are the Defence Adviser, Nigerian Mission to the United Nations in New York, Brigadier General Lincoln Ogunewe.

    Also promoted are Acting Director, Military Intelligence, Brigadier General Letam Wiwa; Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Military Police, Brigadier General Adamu Abubakar; Commander, Multi National Joint Task Force, Brigadier General Augustine Edokpayi; and Director, Army Physical Training, Brigadier General Shehu Yusuf.

    Other beneficiaries are the Director, Clothing and Stores, Army Headquarters, Brigadier General Augustine Okoh; Commander, Guards Brigade, Brigadier General Emmanuel Atewe; and Commander, 4 Brigade, Brigadier General Patrick Akem.

    This list also includes Commander 34 Brigade, Brigadier General Modibbo Alkali; Director, Defence Information, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade; Commander, 23 Brigade, Brigadier General Fatai Alli; and Commander, 9 Brigade, Brigadier General Adeniyi Oyebade.

    Other newly promoted Major Generals are Commander, 3 Brigade, Brigadier General IIiyasu Abbah and Acting Commander, Nigerian Army Education Corps, Brigadier General Sunday Adebayo.

    Some of the Colonels promoted to the rank of Brigadier General are Colonel Ali Nani of Training and Doctrine Command; Acting Commander, 37 Brigade, Col. Okoi Obono; Acting Commander, and 21 Brigade, Col. Ibrahim Yusuf.

    Others are Col. Olufunmilola Soleye of Ministry of Defence, and Col. Adamu Jalingo of Department of Civil Military Affairs, Army Headquarters.

    A statement released by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. General Ibrahim Attahiru, said the promotions take immediate effect.

     

  • Army kills 29 Boko Haram members in two battles

    NIGERIAN troops have killed 29 suspected members of the Islamic sect,Boko Haram, in two days of fighting in Borno State , where government is trying to stamp out the four-year-old insurgency in that part of the country , the military said yesterday.

    A raid late on Friday targeted a Boko Haram base in the town of Bita in the Gwoza hills along the Cameroonian border, where the Islamists have set up camp after being pushed out of semi-desert areas further north.

    “During the encounter, 20 Boko Haram terrorists were killed, while scores of vehicles and 50 motorcycles were destroyed. A soldier was killed and three other soldiers were wounded in the operation,” said Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Dole, a spokesman for the army.

    The claim could not be independently confirmed.

    In a separate shootout on Thursday in Damboa area of the same state, the military said it had killed nine militants.

    The United States formally designated Boko Haram and the splinter group Ansaru as foreign terrorists on Wednesday, making it a crime to materially aid them.

  • Army disowns murder suspect

    The Nigerian Army has disowned a “soldier” who reportedly killed a civilian at a viewing centre in Lagos.

    The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division, Gen. Obi Umahi said the suspect, Lateef Oriyomi, who was said to be attached to 65 Battalion, Bonny Camp, was not an army personnel.

    A statement signed by the division’s spokesman, Colonel Kingsley Umoh, urged the police to treat the suspect as an impostor because his is not an army personnel.

    The statement said: “Having thoroughly investigated the incidence and the issue surrounding the self acclaimed soldier, it is pertinent to state clearly Lateef Oriyomi is not a soldier as reported and has never been in the Army.

    “His name is not in the nominal roll of 65 Battalion Bonny Camp, Victoria Island Lagos as he claimed. We have gone an extra mile of checking 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Yaba and the Medical School at Ojo and his name is not on their nominal roll.

    “We strongly conclude that he is an impostor and should be regarded as such.

    “It must be noted that the Nigerian Army does not own a bar, beer parlor or viewing centre and does not deploy its men to such places on guard duty.

    “However it was discovered that the said Lateef Oriyomi has some friends in the Army and this is being investigated for any possible connection with the heinous crime.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • Mali army, rebels clash

    Three Malian soldiers were wounded in clashes with separatist Tuareg rebels, the army said, the first clashes since the two sides signed a ceasefire deal in June.
    The fighting took place near the western town of Lere and comes a week after President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was sworn in, highlighting simmering tensions as he seeks to end cycles of uprisings by northern rebels.
    Last year’s rebellion triggered a coup and the resulting vacuum was then hijacked by better-armed al Qaeda-linked Islamists, who seized northern Mali.
    France sent thousands of soldiers to its former colony in January to halt the Islamists’ march southward.
    A UN peacekeeping mission is now rolling out to ensure stability as French troops gradually withdraw.
    “An army patrol came across some gunmen in four-wheel drives. They refused to follow the army’s orders and opened fire on the troops,’’ said army spokesman Capt. Modibo Naman Traore.
    Traore said three soldiers were wounded.
    Attaye Ag Mohamed, one of the founders of the Tuareg-led MNLA rebellion, accused the army of starting the fighting by surrounding their position. He did not give any toll.
    According to the ceasefire deal signed to allow elections to take place in July and August, Keita has 60 days from the naming of his government last Sunday to start talks over a final deal with the rebels.

    Keita has promised national reconciliation but will be under pressure from southern Malians not to make major concessions to the Tuareg, whom many blame for sparking their country’s collapse last year