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Tag: Army

  • Army, Police probe clash of their men in in Ibadan

    Army, Police probe clash of their men in in Ibadan

    The Nigerian Army, 2 Division, Ibadan and the Oyo State Police Command yesterday said that the Wednesday/ Thursday bloody clash between soldiers and policemen in Ibadan, Oyo state capital were being investigated with a view to apprehending those that were involved.

    According to the leadership of the two sister security agencies, anyone found culpable would not go unpurnished.

    The two security agencies disclosed this during a joint military, police press conference held at the Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, Ibadan.

    Present at the occasion were the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations Department, 2 Division, Ibadan, Lt. Col. Mustapha Ankar; Assistant Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department, Mr. Dansuki Galadandi (ACP); and the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mrs. Bisi Ilobanafor.

    The PPRO said there was only an altercation between a police woman and two soldiers in mufti.

    She said: “There was an altercation when a woman police, who had just closed from work was on her way home. The woman was in mufti when two men who were on motorcycle (also in mufti) assaulted her. When she retorted, they beat her up and she called for help.

    “The three policemen who went to the scene to ascertain what went wrong were stabbed on the chests and buttocks by the men who were later found to be soldiers.

    “One of the policemen shot into the air to alert the police station nearby. He fired another shot on the ground and the ricochet of the bullet injured one of the soldiers on the leg.

    “The Divisional Police Officer at Mokola ordered that the men (including the soldier) be rushed to the hospital for treatment.

    “On Thursday, after 3 pm, some soldiers brandishing hammers, clubs and other objects attacked Mokola Police Station. They were curtailed with utmost restraint.”

    She said one of the soldiers who fell while they were being pursued was arrested by the police. According to her, the GOC ordered that he should be handed over for investigation.

    She said: “What happened on Thursday was an unfortunate incident. We are to ensure the security of the nation and its people and we only have common enemies – criminals and terrorists. There is huge collaboration between the army and the police.”

    Ankar said: “The issue being exaggerated in the social media is unfortunate. The 2 Division is in harmony with the police in this state. Presently, we are doing joint training with the Police and Civil Defence on how to make Oyo State a safe place.

    “Actually there was a clash, but it is being resolved. The GOC and the CP were contacted and they directed that there should be joint investigation of the 23 soldiers that came to attack Mokola Police Station.

    “There is no problem any longer. The matter has been dealt with.”

  • Army boosts anti-kidnapping war

    Army boosts anti-kidnapping war

    The governments of Southeast states have found a formidable ally in the battle against kidnappers. The new General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, Major-General Adebayo Olaniyi, boosted the anti-kidnapping onslaught as he toured the region.

    Gen. Olaniyi said said that one of the primary responsibilities of the Army is the defence of the country against any external aggression. However, he added, it would not shirk its responsibility of complementing efforts of other security agencies in their quest to ensure that internal enemies who may want to disrupt societal peace and cause harm to others are checked.

    He expressed his worry over the activities of kidnappers and armed robbers who hold people of the Southeast to ransom.

    He pledged the commitment of officers and men of the 82 Division to ensuring that those who perpetrate evil against the society do not go scot-free.

    Gen. Olaniyi promised that military formations under his division would assist in combating violent crimes and checkmate kidnapping and other vices in the zone.

    On indiscipline among Army personnel, General Olaniyi said it would not be business-as-usual as he warned that acts would no longer be tolerated.

    The general spoke when he visited the 302 Artillery Regiment Onitsha and 14 Field Engineer Regiment Onitsha, as part of his familiarisation tour of military formations under his command.

    Gen. Olaniyi visited 302 Artillery Regiment; 14 Field Engineers Regiment; vehicle repair stand, cantonment barracks building and its ongoing renovation work; Cantonment Mess and new naval out-post station in Ogbaru, among others.

    During the visits, Gen. Olaniyi held discussions with Col. Taritimiye Gagariga, Commander of Onitsha Military Cantonment; Lt Col Bayode Adetoro, Commanding Officer 14 Field Engineer Regiment Onitsha and Captain Godson Ohaeri, Officer in charge of Military Police at the cantonment.

    Their discussions were based on how to improve the integrity of the Nigerian Army, and increasing security surveillance in Anambra State and the regiments that make up the 82 Division. He was particular about improving security of life and property by preventing kidnapping and violent armed robbery. He also discussed improvement of Army and civilian relations.

    Retired Colonel George Molokwu, the Security Adviser to Governor Peter Obi, represented the governor at the event. Colonel Gambo H. A., Media Relations Officer, 82 Division Enugu anchored the interaction.

    Olaniyi, who was Corps Commander, Nigerian Army Engineers before his new appointment, assured that the Ihejirika administration has concluded plans to resuscitate the moribund water treatment plant in the barracks.

    On the Army Bridge which the Lt.-Col. Adetoro-led group of Army engineers are constructing at Ugbenu for the Anambra State government, Olaniyi said it is part of efforts at enhancing civil and military relationship.

    Noting that the bridge is about 60 per cent completed, he thanked Governor Obi for his support to the military in Onitsha as well as a council chief who promised to renovate the Army Primary School.

    He advised officers and men of his command to maintain high level of discipline.

    He said: “You must not extort money from members of the public.

    “Any one of you caught extorting money from the public as well as engaging in any form of misconduct would be appropriately dealt with.

    “As disciplined men of the Nigerian Army, you must take care of your weapons and I will be very happy if you don’t indulge in any form of undisciplined behaviour.   He commended Governor Obi for donating patrol vehicles to the Army as well as other logistic supports.

    “The governor deserves commendation from the Nigerian Army for his unrelenting support in various ways. We are hopeful that he would fulfill his promises to the effect that he would resuscitate some of the social amenities here,” he said.

    The GOC, however, urged the governor to redeem his pledge of resuscitating the water scheme and re-constructing roads in the cantonment.

    He equally commended Commander of Onitsha Military Cantonment and Commanding Officer 14 Field Engineer Regiment Onitsha Col. Taritimiye Gagariga and Lt Col. Bayode Adetoro respectively for their steadfastness in maintaining military standards.

    “I am proud of the officers here. You are steadfast in your operations. You are also meticulous as manifested by the facts on your records.

    Olaniyi also thanked the residents of Anambra State for maintaining cordial relationship with the Army in the discharge of their duties which he said are taxing.

    Responding, Col. Taritimiye Gagariga, assured the GOC that the cantonment would continue to maintain high standard and the tradition of discipline for which the Nigerian Army is known.

    “We would maintain strict professionalism as there would be no room for misconduct. We would continue to maintain the cordial military-civilian relationship for the benefit of our great country and her people,” Gagariga said.z

  • 25 soldiers wed in Army barrack

    25 soldiers wed in Army barrack

    Twenty-five soldiers on Monday  took their heartthrobs to the altar in a special mass wedding at the 302 Artillery Regiment of the Nigerian Army, Onitsha as part of activities to mark the Easter celebration.

    The soldiers and their brides filed up at the St Peter’s Military Church (Anglican) as early as 10 am to take their nuptial vows as the Vicar and officiating Minister, Capt. (Rev) B.G Newton called on the newly wedded couples to always put God first in whatever they do in order to bless their marriage.

    Capt. Newton reminded the 25 couples of their responsibilities to the society, adding that since family is the first society, the need to train their children in the fear of God and in accordance to the rules and norms governing the society is apt.

    He challenged the soldiers and their spouses to take their spiritual lives very seriously as well train their children to obey the laws of the land in order to raise good leaders of tomorrow instead of allowing them to stray from the will of God.

    One of the couples Sgt and Mrs. Chindo Larai on behalf of others thanked God for giving them the opportunity to be united in love through wedding and promised to use the new status given to them to make a better society.

  • Army moves to check aliens’ incursion

    The Brigade Commander, 1 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Tasi’u, has called on Governor Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi State to partner with the Army in preventing incursions of bad elements from neighbouring countries.

    Tasi’u made the call in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday when he paid a visit to the governor.

    He described the state as strategic, saying: “I am here to rub minds with the government on aversion of common threats from across the borders.

    “I commend the diplomatic approach by the state government in preventing breach of peace with communities in neighbouring countries.

    “The 1 Brigade of the Nigerian Army I am heading will partner with the state to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria.

    “The new security challenge facing the country was the exploitation of the peaceful nature of Nigerians by bad elements to invade and cause havoc in society but we would counter such,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the commander as saying during the visit.

    He called on the state government to embark on enlightenment campaigns on the need for members of the public to remain alert.

    Tasi’u said that this was particularly true for those “criminals pilling dangerous weapons to cause havoc.

    Responding, Dakingari assured the brigade commander of maximum cooperation with the army in the protection of lives and property.

     

  • Northerners in Anambra run to police, army

    Northerners in Anambra run to police, army

    •Bayero: we don’t know why this is happening
    •ANPP urges Fed Govt to be proactive
    •House of Reps wants end to terrorism

     

    Following Monday’s suicide bomb attack in a Kano motor park, northerners in Awka, the Anambra State capital and Onitsha are leaving for fear of reprisal attacks.

    They closed their business premises to seek protection at the Artillery Regiment of the Army and Central Police Station, Onitsha.

    The police and army yesterday tried to douse the tension.

    Tensions were further heightened when members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) were sighted on major roads in Onitsha and Awka.

    MASSOB’s leader Ralph Uwazuruike said there would be no reprisal attack.

    He said: “We are not known for bloodletting and Ndigbo cannot be cowed into shedding blood but we want an end to this senseless bloodletting of Igbos in the North in whatever name called.”

    The Chairmen of Ndigbo Unity Forum and Anambra Traders’ Forum, Augustine Cukwudum and Dede Uzor Uzor condemned the attack in Kano and described it as barbaric and a threat to the country’s unity.

    They lauded the prompt intervention of the Commander, 302 Army cantonment, Onitsha , Col. T Gagariga, Navy Commander A. Ahmed and the Onitsha Area Commander, Mr. Benjamin Wordu who calmed frayed nerves.

    Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Emeka Chukwuemeka assured northerners of their safety.

    Chukwuemeka said anybody who insisted on going would not be prevented, adding that adequate security had been put in place.

    One of the Hausa leaders said they were packing because the Igbo could retaliate what happened in Kano.

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Anambra State condemned the attack.

    The ANPP chairman, Chief Pat Orjiakor, said security must be beefed up in Kano.

    Orjiakor said:”Who will replace those buses and other vehicles lost in the bombing which belonged to Ndigbo; more than half of the people who lost their lives are all Igbo.

    “What I am saying is that PDP government, both in the state and federal levels have lost control of things in this country and they have no moral rectitude to stay in power.

    “We have lost this number of people because of lack of their leadership qualities. Everything is falling apart in Nigeria Because of (PDP) and yet, they want to stay in power.

    “We are working seriously in making sure that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is well-positioned and there is no amount of underground business by PDP that can stop the moving train.”

    The ACN chairman, Chief Amechi Obidike, said the government should probe what led to the bombings.

    He said: “All these misfortunes in Nigeria today are as a result of PDP’s insensitivity to the plight of their people. If Nigerians fail to rise up against the misrule of this torn umbrella by the year 2020, there may not be anything called Nigeria again.”

    The ANPP urged the Federal Government to increase its intelligence gathering in order to effectively check the rate of insecurity in the country.

    In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Emma Eneukwu, in Abuja yesterday, the party said: “The ANPP received the news of the Monday bombing of a motorpark in Sabon Gari, Kano, by unidentified terrorists which killed scores of innocent Nigerians, with deep shock and sadness.

    “Once again, the wicked act of a few elements of terror has further pushed our great country to a possible anarchy.”

    The party condemned the barbaric act, its perpetrators, sponsors, and commiserated with friends and families of the death in the dastard act and wished the injured quick recovery.

    According to the statement, the principal task of any government is to secure the lives and property of its citizens.

    “It is high time our government faced the duty it owes every Nigerian squarely.”

    The party called on the nation’s security agencies to leave no stone unturned in unravelling “this heinous crime against humanity”.

    “It is crucial that every necessary measure be taken to defuse the prevalent atmosphere of hopelessness in the nation as precipitated by terror attack in Kano.

    “It is now manifest that the forces of evil, nibbling at the fabrics of our corporate existence as a country, will go to any length, no matter how diabolical, to achieve their satanic objectives.”

    ANPP enjoined Nigerians to resist the urge to despair “in such a time like this because that is exactly what these elements want to achieve”.

    ANPP expressed optimism that Nigeria would soon surmount its present troubles.

    The House of Representatives yesterday mandated its four committees on police, public safety and national security, Army, and defence to work with the executive arm of government to end terrorism in Nigeria.

    The committees are expected to report back to the house within four weeks.

    The resolution was sequel to a motion brought to the floor of the house by Rep. Ibrahim Olaifa, (Accord Party-Oyo) which was unanimously adopted.

    According to Olaifa, several innocent Nigerians have been killed in the last three years due to the activities of a terrorist group.

    Olaifa explained that several conflicting details had been given as reasons why the group unleashed terror on establishments and innocent Nigerians.

    “The economy of the Northern part of Nigeria, its education and other social welfare programmes have nose dived significantly and worsening the standard of living of the people,” he said.

    He said the pattern of operations of the group remained mostly unpredictable, in spite of the huge investments in the nation’s security apparatus.

    “The stakeholders are finding it difficult to agree on how to engage this group in order to end the situation.”

    Olaifa suggested that all efforts must be made to bring the group to the table for final resolution of the crisis.

    The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, also urged the Federal Government to adopt appropriate measures to tackle the lingering insecurity challenges in the country.

    Bayero spoke yesterday at the scene of Monday’s explosion in Sabon Gari, Kano while on a sympathy visit.

    He urged Igbos and officials of transport companies affected by the incident to support the security agencies to bring about lasting peace in the state.

    The Emir, represented by the District Head of Fagge, Alhaji Mahmud Bayero, described the incident as “most unfortunate”.

    “We don’t know why this thing is happening only in Kano,” he lamented and called on the people to continue to pray for the sustenance of peace in the state and the country.

    He prayed to God to replenish whatever the people might have lost during the incident and for the peaceful repose of the souls of those who died.

     

  • Army seizes 453 drums of crude products

    Soldiers from 14 Field Engineers Regiment, Onitsha, Anambra State yesterday intercepted two boats loaded with 453 drums of illegally refined petroleum products.

    The products, which is estimated at N16 million, was handed over to men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

    Handing them over to the Assistant Commandant of the NSCDC and Head of Intelligence Unit, Eme Ugwuogo at the bank of River Niger in Onitsha, Brig-Gen Koko Essien said the Federal Government has assigned the NSCDC to investigate and handle cases of oil bunkering.

    “This is why we are handing over the products to the NSCDC,” he said.

    The Commanding Officer 14 Field Engineers Regiment, Lt. Col. Bayode Adetoro, said the two boats were intercepted on March 12 at 2pm by the soldiers.

    He said the operators abandoned the boats after demobilising them.

    “But my men used their engineering skills to start the boats.

    “They brought the near sinking boats to the jetty and off-loaded the drums.”

     

  • Arms recovered from ex-militants handed over to Nigerian Army

    A total of 39, 880 assorted arms and ammunitions recovered from repentant Niger Delta militants were yesterday handed over to the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu.

    The inter-agency task force set up by the Chief of Defence Staff carried out the handover.

    A breakdown of the weapons include 482 automatic arms, 20,132 ammunitions, 295  magazines and  18, 971 locally made guns.

    They were recovered from ex-militants in Delta, Bayelsa and Lacto Marine men.

    The General Officer Commanding the 82 Division, General Adebayor Olaniyi, said the exercise was a product of the amnesty’s programme which started in 2009.

    The GOC said President Goodluck Jonathan had “reasoned that without security there can be no development; he also reasoned that if the arms had gone out of these areas, it would have done grievous harm to the nation.”

    While commending the task force, he said, “these weapons of mass destruction will be destroyed openly just as they were openly collected from the armed militants.”

    Governor Sullivan Chime lauded the federal government’s initiative in setting up the task force.

    Chime, represented by the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. John Egbo, urged the federal government and all security agents not to relent in ridding the Niger Delta of illegal narms.

    The coordinator of the task force, Air Vice Marshal Gbum, said the recovery was in response to new claims and agitations by some groups that felt excluded from the amnesty programme.

    He noted the task force was not engaging in fresh amnesty, which is beyond its mandate.

    Gbum stated: “The mandate was strictly to verify and reconcile the disarmament records and document qualified ex-militants, who truly submitted weapons to security agencies for inclusion in the Presidential Amnesty Programme.”

    He said the mandate took the task force to two states as well as the Lacto Marine men where claims of ex-militants were painfully scrutinised to ensure their records showed beyond reasonable doubt that they truly disarmed to security agencies.

     

  • 52 die in army, Boko Haram clash

    52 die in army, Boko Haram clash

    Fifty two suspected members of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, have been confirmed dead in a raid on their hideout in Maiduguri, the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the city, said yesterday.

    Two soldiers also died during the raid.

    The operation was launched on Friday on a location where some Boko Haram men were found and “we exchanged fire with them and about 50 of them died in the crossfire. We also lost two of our soldiers while three were injured,” said army spokesman Lt Colonel Sagir Musa.

    Earlier that day, at least seven explosions occurred in different parts of the city, just five hours after the departure from there of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    He was in Damaturu and Maiduguri on Thursday and Friday to personally assess the destruction wrought by Boko Haram on Yobe and Borno States, the epicentre of the activities of the sect.

    At a meeting with eminent citizens of Borno at Government House, Maiduguri on Friday, the President dismissed suggestions by the stakeholders to withdraw the soldiers from the state.

    He said he would grant their request only if they agreed to sign a pact with him that he should hold them responsible for any death caused by terrorists after the exit of the troops.

    He expressed disappointment that while terrorism is decreasing in Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi and Niger, it has not in Borno, saying “So, if you elders will not condemn it (Boko Haram activities), you will continue to suffer under the terror of Boko Haram.”

    Human Rights Watch said in a report released last year that soldiers may have committed crimes against humanity during operations aimed at crushing the insurgency.

    The military has been accused of firing on unarmed civilians and razing neighbourhoods following suspected Islamist attacks, while Maiduguri residents also face roadblocks and rolling curfews in several areas.

    “We always tell the soldiers to conduct themselves” professionally, Jonathan said at the Maiduguri town hall meeting.

  • Army recovers cache of arms in Kaduna

    The Nigerian Army on Wednesday said it has recovered a cache of arms buried underground at a house in Kaduna.

    The Commander, Internal Security Force of 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. Tagbo Ude, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Kaduna.

    Ude said several other weapons and explosives hidden in the house were also recovered, after a raid on Tuesday evening following intelligence report.

    The commander said nine people, including two men, two women and five children were arrested at the house belonging to one Hussaini Dei-Dei, an Abuja-based politician.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the house is located near a military barrack, along Sabon Birni road, Kawo New Extension, Kaduna.

    Some of the items recovered include 1,098 rounds of various ammunitions, six AK 47 rifles, 125 pieces of detonators, one light machine gun and one tear gas launcher.

    Others are one FN rifle magazine, five sub-machine gun magazines, four pistols, one loaded light-machine gun magazine, and two reels of detonating cords.

    The rest include 10 prepared improvised explosive devices, nine-volt batteries, three bags of white chemical substance, five pieces of remote control switches, one reel of firing cable and six car number plates.

    “ As a matter of fact, the explosive contents of this paint can bring down the whole of this headquarters (1Division head quarters).”

    He said the house would be demolished as soon as it was cleared of all explosives.

     

  • Court orders Army Chief to confirm sentence

    Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday ordered the Chief of Army Staff to confirm the sentence of Adeosun Kazeem or release him from custody before April 29.

    Justice Agomoh made the order sequel to a charge by Kazeem against the Army for sentencing him to 15 years imprisonment without confirmation.

    Kazeem, a soldier attached to 82 Division, Bori Camp, Port Harcourt was reportedly found guilty of manslaughter after an orderly room trial and was sentenced three years ago.

    The confirmation of his prison terms is yet to be released, despite his continuous incarceration in military custody.

    In his affidavit presented in the court, through his lawyer, Ikenna Oba, Kazeem said the failure to confirm his sentence has infringed on his right to appeal the orderly room judgment.

    He also noted that his continuous stay in the military custody for three years without his jail confirmation negates the provision of Section 148 (1) of the Armed Forces Act, which provides that “if an accused stays in custody for 60 days without confirmation, he should be released unconditionally pending whenever they are ready to renew.

    “My client has been sentenced in the past three years without confirmation of his sentence, if he continues to remain in custody without confirmation his fundamental right has been infringed upon.”

    However the defence counsel, Patrick Agada, objected, saying that his confirmation would soon be released.

    He argued that the accused has already been sentenced for 15 years out of which he has served three years, adding that he has not served longer than he was sentenced.”

    The judge adjourned the case till April 29 for ruling but said: “I wish to hear that the applicant has either been released or confirmed in the next adjourned date.”