The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Army

  • Don’t politicise Nigerian Army

    Don’t politicise Nigerian Army

    SIR: The rumour of ethnic agenda in the recent promotion, recruitment, retirement and redeployment in the Nigerian Army is unhealthy and unfortunate. It is a pity that some people still want to hide under politics and ethnicity to destabilize/distract Nigerian Army at this critical time of general insecurity.

    Military service all over the world is a call to service and it should not be seen as civil service where professionalism is sacrificed on the altar of the so-called “Federal Character”.

    It is no gainsaying that Nigerian Army is one of the best in the world for discipline and selfless service both at home and sometimes at the United Nations..

    Nigerian Army is currently fighting a great battle against the Boko Haram sect at home and other Islamist terrorists in Mali in conjunction with other foreign troops; therefore it is expected of politicians to face the business of the politics and give the Nigerian Army the necessary support she needs and not to distract her.

    Since Nigerian Army has her own court and different boards of enquiry, any officer (serving or retired) that has any complaint or grievances against any action taken by the army should obey first and then make his/her complaints at the appropriate army quarters and not to “bloody civilians” as the military would say.

    The discipline that the army is known for should be upheld and strengthened and any officer that wants promotion by lobbying and through cheap black mail must be dealt with militarily.

    The executive and the National Assembly must allow the army to do their job. They should not listen to rumours from disgruntled elements within the army.

    As Nigerian Army’s spokesperson has rightly said of the officers carrying rumours during the first quarter of 2013 Chief of Army Staff Conference in Abuja on Monday February11, “if they had no ulterior motives, they would have sought to air their grievances through official channels of communication which are available for redress by any genuinely aggrieved person over a policies or action of the Nigerian Army”.

    The Chief of Army Staff also recalled during the conference that in the inglorious past of the nation, it is the same disloyal officer in the army that always stage coups and counter-coups in order to achieve their selfish objectives.

    The general public must also desist from carrying rumours or false information about the state of the security of the nation. Members of the Boko Haram sect are no respecter of any person, as they are attacking Ibo, Hausa and Yoruba regardless of anybody’s status or religion.

    The Nigerian Army under the leadership of Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika must commit itself to rewarding hard work and performance not parochial for postings and appointments. On the bombing of Jaji Cantonment, Nigerians await the final report of the board of enquiry; it must not be swept under carpet.

     

    • John Tosin

    Osogbo, Osun State

  • Army gets new PRO

    Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, on Monday in Abuja assumed duty as the new Director of Army Public Relations.

    Attahiru takes over from Maj.-Gen. Mobolaji Koleoso, who was deployed to the Defence Headquarters as the Chief of Military/Civil Affairs.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that until his appointment, the new Director was an Assistant Director in the Department of Policy and Plans, Defence headquarters.

    In a brief hand over ceremony at the Army headquarters, the outgoing Director thanked journalists for the cooperation given to him during his assignment.

    He urged them to extend same to the new Director.

    In a related development, Brig.-Gen. Bamidele Olawunmi has been appointed as the Principal Staff Officer to the Chief of Army Staff.

    Olawunmi takes over from Brig.-Gen Leo Irabor, who was deployed to 43 Signal, Kaduna.

     

  • Army investigates men on alleged illegal duty in Edo

    The Army Headquarters has begun investigation into the presence of some soldiers on guard at an oil company in Iwevbo quarters of Obagie-Nunaume, an oil-rich community in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State.

    The soldiers were allegedly on illegal duty having abandoned their duty posts without clearance from the commanders.

    It was gathered the lid was blown off the illegal security surveillance by a petition from the Obagie-Nunuamen Community Development Association leadership against the activities of Newcross Petroleum limited.

    Sources confirmed that a fact-finding Military Police investigation (MPI) team was deployed from the Second Division of the Nigerian Army, Ibadan to the community last week on the strength of the petition.

    The community accused the oil firm of exploration without regard to the rules that govern the process and illegal hiring of  men of the Nigerian Army from a unit outside and unknown to the 4 Mechanised Brigade in Benin City to provide security for its field staffers at Iwevbo quarters.

    The MPI officer-in- charge of the investigations, Sergeant Steve Unas, said the team was mandated “to come and look into the community issues raised in their petition of unwanted soldiers’ faces and Newcross Petroleum Limited that are encroaching on their land to exploit their oil without permission.”

    He said the aim of the investigative team was “to know whether the military personnel are there by federal government permission to do so on their (community) land or not.”

     

  • Army division gets new generals, colonels

    Ten military officers at the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, have been promoted to Major-General, Brigadier-General and Colonels.

    Among those promoted are Maj.-Gen. T. Y. Buratai; Brigs.-Gen. J. A. Orokpo and Koko Essien.

    Those promoted to Colonels include N. U. Muktar, O. S. Abai, P. P. Malla, E. E. Eyong, J. C. Akpan, Hamzah A. Gambo and M. T. Abdullahi.

    The General Officer (GOC) Commanding the division, Maj.-Gen. Olayinka Oshinowo decorated the officers with their new ranks.

    He urged them to be conscious of the additional tasks in the discharge of their duties following their promotion.

    The senior soldier expressed gratitude to God and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, for the promotions.

    Brig.-Gen. Essien thanked President Goodluck Jonathan and the Army Council for approving their promotion.

    The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Hamzah Gambo, who also was decorated, promised to maintain the high standard of dedication to duty.

    He noted that gesture would spur him and his colleagues to live up to the expectations of their ranks.

    At the ceremony were former Minister of Information, Frank Nweke Jnr.; the Commander, Army Records, Maj.-Gen. A. Chukwu; the Air Force Base Commander in Enugu, Air Commodore Jacob Gbamwuan; Police Commissioner Musa Daura and commanders in the 82 Division.

     

  • Army faults Amnesty report on rights abuses

    Army faults Amnesty report on rights abuses

    The Army has condemned the recent Amnesty International reports which accused the Joint Task Force (JTF) of gross human rights violations in some parts of the North.

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, told reporters in Abuja yesterday that the methodology used by the International Human Rights Group was faulty.

    Represented by the Chief of Civil Military Affairs, Maj.-Gen Bitrus Kwaji, he described the report as unbalanced and highly subjective in favour of the aspirations of Boko Haram.

    He said the military was never contacted or consulted when the Amnesty International was gathering information and conducting interviews from members of the sect from which they concluded their report.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that Amnesty International last week in a report entitled: “Nigeria: Trapped in the Circle of Violence’’, highlighted the nation’s security challenges, oil spills and demolition of houses.

    “The serious human rights violations carried out by the security forces include; enforced disappearance, torture, extrajudicial executions, the torching of homes and detention without trial,’’ the report said.

    Gen. Ihejirika, however, debunked such allegations as biased and ill-conceived with the intention of rubbishing the efforts which the military had been making to restore peace, protect lives and properties, law and order.

    According to him, I am happy to observe that Amnesty International recognised that all the acts of Boko Haram are against Nigerian laws.

    “They also recognised the fact that Boko Haram attacks were against civilians, this was a crime against humanity.

    “We, however, disagreed with the mythology used to get the reports which did not give the military fair hearing.

    “In their report regarding the methodology used, it admitted it spoke with affected members of the public in Borno, Bauchi, Kano and Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

    “The Amnesty International also read newspaper reports and statements from Boko Haram.

    “No where did they state that they got in touch with us. They never made any effort to reach us. We have our modes of operation, which were being complied with by our officers.”

    “There have not been any reports of violation or our officers going outside their rules of engagement,” he noted.

    He said, “we want to say that we have not been contacted by Amnesty International on any act of high-handedness by our soldiers, of which their commander is a battle tested professional.’’

    He emphasised that the Amnesty International should have felt the pulse of the military.

    The Army Chief said that Amnesty International report was skewed in favour of Boko Haram, not taking into cognisance of military efforts to ensure peace and security of law abiding citizens.

    He debunked the allegations that JTF was in anyway involved in the killing of the civil war hero, Gen. Mohammed Shuwa.

    Gen. Ihejirika said, “such allegations casts doubt on military patriotism and that they (JTF) cannot kill one of their own

     

  • Akeredolu urges police, army to prosecute arrested state officials

    Akeredolu urges police, army to prosecute arrested state officials

    The flag bearer of the Action Congress of Nigeria in the Ondo State governorship election, Rotimi Akeredolu, has warned security agencies against destroying evidence in relation to the arrest of some senior government officials arrested with guns on Saturday.

    Akeredolu said he was in possession of information that a serving Commissioner of Special Duties, Niran Sule and Chairman, Caretaker Committee, Owo, Tunji Ojomo were arrested by soldiers at a check point in the Iloko area of Owo.

    Although no pictorial evidence exists, the news in the whole of Owo, Akure and other towns in the state is that Sule and Ojomo were arrested in the early hours of the day with guns.

    They were said to be on their way to the city from Fingerprints Hotel where they slept.

    Akeredolu spoke with journalists after casting his vote in Ward 5, Unit 6 Owo around 1pm on Saturday.

    He expressed satisfaction with the process in his polling unit, but said he could not say the same for the entire Owo city, the entire state and what must have happened before and after he voted at his polling unit.

    Akeredolu condemned the reported disenfranchisement of voters at Idanre, who were allegedly chased away from about 69 polling units by hoodlums.

    He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to take steps and allow voters to cast their votes.

    He urged the police, particularly the commander in the area to ensure that state officials arrested were not allowed to go unpunished.

    The ACN candidate appealed his supporters to go about the voting process peacefully.

    He told them not to being intimidated by the presence of security personnel.

    His wife, Betty Anyawu-Akeredolu expressed delight over the high turnout of voters.

    She said the development showed the people were yearning for a change.

     

  • Army committed to fight against terrorism – Ihejirika

    Army committed to fight against terrorism – Ihejirika

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, on Thursday in Kaduna reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian Army to stamp-out terrorism and other security challenges.

    He said that the army would have no choice but to improve on its counter insurgency and counter terrorism training and operations to achieve set goals.

    Ihejirika spoke at the closing of a four-day Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps (NAIC) exercise, code-named “Exercise HANKAKA-TSAUNI II.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria says exercise was aimed at testing and improving the process of providing timely and actionable intelligence to support the operations of the army and other national security operations.

    He said the environment in which the operations were conducted required a robust and flexible intelligence apparatus capable of supporting full operations and mitigating the unpredictability and lethality of threats.

    The COAS was represented by the Commandant, Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Centre (NAPKC), Jaji, Maj.-Gen. John Zaruwa.

    He said adequate intelligence support would provide strategic decision makers, operations planners and tactical commanders with the focus required for the conduct of operations.

    “Terrorism has continued to plague our world. As we all know, terrorist organisations rely heavily on secrecy and anonymity to carry out their agenda.

    “Intelligence gathering and exploitation are best suited to stripping away this critical layer of protection and making them more vulnerable to infiltration, investigation and arrest,” Ihejirika said.

    He said that terrorists had continued to further their cause through the understanding of the society and continued to unleash fear and mayhem on the unsuspecting populace.