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Tag: Brig-Gen. Sani Usman

  • Troops kill bandit, recover rifles in Zamfara

    Troops kill bandit, recover rifles in Zamfara

    Troops of 1 Division on Thursday killed a suspected bandit in Tsafe local government area of Zamfara.

    The Army Spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

    Usman said the troops also foiled an attempt by the bandits to cause mayhem in the area.

    He said one personnel of Federal Safety Commission (FRSC) was killed by the marauders before the arrival of the troops.

    The army spokesman said the soldiers recovered two AK-47 rifles, six magazines and seven motorcycles from the hoodlums.

    NAN

  • Politicians causing crisis in South East – Army

    Politicians causing crisis in South East – Army

    The Nigerian Army has accused some unnamed politicians of attempting to cause crisis between its personnel and people in the South East for their selfish interest.

    The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, stated this on Friday.

    Usman was reacting to the face-off between the army and members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Abia.

    He said: “It is so sad and unfortunate that a particular group of people, for political expediency and mischief, are trying to set the military and Nigerian society against each other.

    “It is sad and unfortunate.”

    The army spokesman, however, maintained that despite the face-off, the army would go ahead to conduct its “Operation Python Dance II,” due to commence on Friday.

    “It will commence on 15, September 2017. The troops have been conducting themselves professionally within the ambit of rules of engagement and code of conduct and where there are noted infractions, appropriate measures will be taken.’’

    Usman described the face-off between the army and members of IPOB in Abia as an isolated issue which was being blown out of proportion by some people.

    “These isolated incidences, instigated by miscreants and mischief makers, therefore, should not be taken as something that should jeopardise the military exercise going on in that place.

    “It is really sad and unfortunate that people will not find time to ask question about the essence and activities involved in respect of exercise Egwu Eke II before jumping into conclusion.

    “The exercise is taking part in the entire South East and Cross River, why should we have problem in one state – Abia.

    “There is no reported problem in Imo, Ebonyi, Anambra, Enugu and Cross River States,” Usman added.

    The army spokesman called for understanding, saying there “is need for all of us to be more responsible, exercise understanding about the issues at hand, support and encourage the military to perform its legitimate duty.

    “The exercise we are having has been scheduled since last year – 2016. It is not targeted at any segment of the Nigerian society.

    “As a matter of fact, it was because of the encouraging feedback that we have about the conduct of exercise Python Dance I in 2016 that brought the idea of having another exercise.

    “And being a responsible organisation, people said Python Dance seems to be something awkward, so, why don’t you call it in the native language of those people so that they can understand it just like you have exercise Harbin Kunama.

    “We have had exercises in other parts of the country.

    “As soon as we are done with exercise Egwu Eke II, we are embarking on exercise Crocodile Smile II which is also a scheduled training exercise in the circle of the Nigerian army training year, 2017.

    “And this time around, beyond the South South Zone, it will be extended to the South West zone, involving 2 Division, 6 Division and 81 Division,’’he stated.

    He argued that Egwu Eke was not an operation but a training exercise intended to sharpen the skills  of those involved.

    NAN

  • Updated: Boko Haram sympathizers unpatriotic – Army

    Updated: Boko Haram sympathizers unpatriotic – Army

    …Troops rescue six abducted herdsmen

    The Nigerian Army has condemned attempts by alleged sympathizers of the Boko Haram sect to undermine ongoing military operations against the insurgents in Northeast through malacious publications in the media.

    This came just as troops of Defence Company, 27 Brigade Nigerian Army, rescued six villagers abducted by terrorists in Kamuya village, Yobe State on Saturday.

    The Nigerian Army Spokesman, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman, who confirmed the rescue operation in a statement, also drew attention to some syndicated reports in the media that were aimed at tarnishing the image of the army and dampen the morale of troops operating in the Northeast.

    He said: “Today Friday, 8th September 2017, at about 7:30 a.m. troops of Defence Company, 27 Brigade Nigerian Army, on Operation Lafiya Dole deployed at Kamuya, Yobe State, received report from some herdsmen that some suspected Boko Haram terrorists have abducted six persons from their village.

    “The troops in conjunction with local vigilante familiar with the area trailed the terrorists up to Mangari village which is about 20 kilometres away from Kamuya, where they exchanged fire with them, neutralizing two of the terrorists and rescued the abducted persons.

    The troops also recovered two AK-47 rifles. The rescued persons have been reunited with their family.”

    On the activities of Boko Haram synpathizers, Gen. Usman said: “The Nigerian Army wishes to note with great concern the recent spate of negative, unguarded comments and derogative publications both on mainstream and on online media, denigrating the Armed Forces of Nigeria particularly, the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force by some unidentified, unscrupulous and unpatriotic individuals and groups.

    “This worrisome trend is observed mostly whenever we record successes in our military operations against Boko Haram terrorists and other laudable military endeavours such as when the United States Government decided to sell Tucano aircrafts to Nigeria.

    “It is really surprising that these agents of destruction are not happy with the welcomed development of the sale of weapons and our collective success.

    “The list of their systematic, unrelenting and futile attempts to rubbish either the leadership or ridicule the Services through baseless allegations is quite lengthy.

    “First there was a letter written by some self-appointed leaders of Islamic Movement of Nigeria on 17th August 2017 to United States government exhorting it to rescind its decision to sell Tucano aircraft, weapons and military hardware to Nigeria citing baseless reasons.

    “This was followed by another round of cacophony of lies and unfounded allegations through media interviews by some individuals and bloggers and on Facebook and other social media platforms and followed by concorted statistics by a well-known Non-Governmental Organization alleging that there was resurgence of Boko Haram terrorists activities even when the facts on the ground speaks otherwise.”

     

  • Troops kill several Boko Haram fighters in Borno

    Troops kill several Boko Haram fighters in Borno

    Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole on Monday killed several Boko Haram insurgents in Maiduguri, Borno State.

    The Director of Public Relations, Nigerian Army, Brig Gen. Sani Usman, who disclosed this in a statement, said the Boko Haram members were killed along Firgi-Banki Junction in Borno State capital

    He said : “The Troops of Mobile Strike Teams (MSTs) 21, on operation Lafiya Dole, deployed within the 21 Brigade Nigerian Army Area of Operations, at the early hours of today, Monday 4th September 2017, laid a successful ambush on a suspected Boko Haram terrorists crossing point along Firgi- Banki Junction road, Borno State.

    “The Troops neutralized a large number of the Boko Haram terrorists, while other terrorists sustained gunshot wounds. The troops recovered the following items from the terrorists; 18 Bicycles, 15 Bags of grains, 17 Gallons of grain, five empty gallons, six cutlasses, a sword, water bottles and pairs of slippers.

    “It will be recalled that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. T.Y. Buratai, through the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, recently inaugurated the Mobile Strike Teams (MSTs).

    “The teams are highly trained and well equipped groups injected into Operation Lafiya Dole with the mandate of securing the Main Supply Routes (MSRs) in addition to conducting limited clearance operations.”

     

  • Two soldiers killed in Boko Haram ambush

    Two soldiers killed in Boko Haram ambush

    Troops of the 151, 21 Brigade of Nigerian Army, components of the Operation Lafiya Dole, at the weekend ambushed suspected Boko Haram terrorists and neutralised 12 of them.

    Different items including 18 bicycles were recovered from the insurgents.

    But two soldiers were killed by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) hidden along the road by terrorists.

    The Director of Information, Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman, disclosed these in a statement on Monday.

    The statement said:”On Saturday, 5th August 2017, troops of 151 Battalion, 21 Brigade Nigerian Army, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, sprang an ambush on suspected Boko Haram terrorists along Miyanti-Banki Junction.

    “The gallant troops neutralized 12 Boko Haram terrorists and recovered 18 bicycles, 30 bags of flour, one bag of groundnut, two bags of salt, two baskets of kola nut and five torch lights. Other items recovered a carton of mixed juice sachets, four rolls of brocade material, two packets of sweet, one carton of washing soap, five packets of cold patch, two packets of Maggi cubes, two pairs of bathroom slippers, two packets of yeasts, four packets of Vedan, two rolls of sewing thread, two kegs of herbicide, 14 packets of insecticide, one keg of groundnut oil, a bag of pepper and N4,000.00 cash.

    “Similarly, troops of 81 Task Force Battalion of 22 Brigade, Nigerian Army, on Operation LAFIYA DOLE, on Saturday 5th August 2017, while on patrol cleared Boko Haram terrorists ambush along Dukje-Mada road near Gulumba Gana village.

    “The troops neutralized quite a number of the terrorists’ ambush party and recovered weapons. Unfortunately two soldiers lost their lives when their vehicle stepped on an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) buried along the road, while four others sustained injuries. The remains of the gallant soldiers that paid the supreme price and the wounded have been evacuated to Maiduguri.

    “On the day same too, troops of 22 Brigade Garrison Nigerian Army on patrol to Abdiri recovered nine primed cylinders from the terrorists’ Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) making factory at the area. They destroyed the factory along with the materials.

    “In addition, on Sunday, 6th August 2017, troops of 28 Task Force Brigade Nigerian Army, also sprang an ambush against suspected Boko Haram terrorists at Kafin Hausa, Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State. They neutralized one Boko Haram terrorist and recovered an AK-47 rifle with registration number 02527 MTD and a magazine.”

  • Army promotes 6,199 soldiers

    Army promotes 6,199 soldiers

    … Troops neutralize eight female suicide bombers

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur  Buratai, on Tuesday approved the special promotion of 6,199 soldiers serving in Operation Lafiya Dole  in the North East part of the country.

    A statement issued by the Nigerian Army Spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman, said the soldiers were promoted to various ranks between Lance Corporals to Warrant Officers.

    Gen. Usman listed the beneficiaries of the special promotion as follows:

    * Staff Sergeants – Warrant Officers (329)

    * Sergeants – Staff Sergeants (371)

    * Corporals – Sergeants (707)

    * Lance Corporals – Corporals (1,290)

    * Privates – Lance Corporals (3,502).

    * Total 6,199.

    He extended the army chief commendations to the beneficiaries of the promotion exercise and urged them to increase the tempo of the ongoing clearance of the Boko Haram terrorists in the North East.

    Meanwhile, troops of the operation Lafiya Dole have foiled suicide bomb attacks by neutralizing at least eight female suicide bombers who were unleashed by remnants of the Boko Haram insurgents in recent times.

    A statement issued by the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 7 Division, Lt. Col. Kingsley Samuel,  said troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have in the past few days intensified efforts towards checkmating suicide bombings in Borno State.

    He said: “Troops recorded huge feats in foiling suicide bomb attacks by neutralising not less than eight female suicide bombers who were unleashed by remnants of desperate Boko Haram Terrorists to cause mayhem to civilian populace.

    “The Nigerian troops floodgates of interceptions of suicide bombers are glaring as a female suicide bomber was neutralised by troops of 251 Battalion of 7 Division Garrison of Operation Lafiya Dole on Sunday, July 23, 2017 by 8:15 p.m. while trying to infiltrate through the fence of Dalori Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp 2 within Maiduguri Metropolis in Borno State.

    “The female suicide bomber who was sighted by vigilant sentries refused several warnings to halt when challenged.

    “Subsequently, she was neutralized resulting in the detonation of her suicide vest killing herself only without any other casualty on the side of troops or civilians. Unfortunately, the blast from the detonation of the female suicide bomber’s vest created a hole on the fence of Dalori IDP Camp 2.

    “But troops are maintaining strict vigilance on it to forestall any breach of security. Borno State Emergence Management Agency had since evacuated the mutilated remains of the female suicide bomber and disinfected the area.”

     

  • Four soldiers killed in Borno explosion

    Four soldiers killed in Borno explosion

    The Army confirmed has confirmed that one officer and three soldiers were killed when their patrol vehicle encountered Improvised Explosive Device (IED) hidden on the road between Kangarwa and Alagarno village in Borno on Thursday.

    The Army Spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, confirmed the incident in a statement on Friday.

    He said three other soldiers sustained various degrees of injuries, while the patrol vehicle was completely damaged.

    Usman, however, said three suspected terrorists who planted the explosive and hid themselves had been fished out and neutralised.

    The army spokesman added that apart from clearance operations, troops stationed at Banki in Borno rendered humanitarian assistance to over 887 Nigerian refugees who had returned from Cameroon since Tuesday.

    He said the troops, also on Thursday, handed over Miss Jada Hachaba, who was abducted by the terrorists to her mother at Gulak in Adamawa.

    The army spokesman said Hachaba escaped from the terrorists’ captivity, adding that she was handed over in the presence of the District Head of Gulak.

    At Buni Yadi in Yobe, Usman said troops discovered a 122mm D30 unexploded ordinance inside an uncompleted building at the Federal Low Cost Housing Estate.

    He said the explosive ordinance team was drafted to the scene to safely detonate the explosive.

    Usman said based on credible information, troops arrested two suspected Boko Haram collaborators/informants; Abubakar Ahmed, 23 and Aji Maina, 45, on Wednesday.

    “Both were arrested at Garin Gada and Kanamma after painstaking trailing.

    “Abubakar Ahmed was arrested while trying to collect relief materials for onward conveyance to Boko Haram terrorists, while Aji Maina was arrested while on transit at Kanamma enroute Gamari in Niger Republic,’’ he said.

    NAN

     

  • Troops kill Boko Haram militants in Borno

    … Rescue nine children

    Troops of the 3rd Battalion, Nigerian Army, alongside members of Civilian JTF at the weekend, killed some Boko Haram insurgents operating at Jarawa Village, Kala Balge local government area of Borno State.

    The Director of Public Relations, Nigerian Army, Brig- Gen. Sani Usman, said in a statement issued in Abuja that the operations were carried out by the 22 Brigade Nigerian Army of Operation Lafiya Dole.

    He said: “Following credible and confirmed information about the convergence of some elements of suspected Boko Haram terrorists at Jarawa village, Kala Balge local government area of Borno State, troops of 3 Battalion, 22 Brigade Nigerian Army of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, in conjunction with some Civilian JTF, on Sunday June 11, 2017, carried out a successful clearance operation along that axis.

    “At about a Kilometre to Jarawa village, the troops entered heavy Boko Haram terrorists’ ambush, which they successfully cleared after some minutes of fire fight. They followed that up with hot pursuit of the fleeing insurgents into the nearby forest.

    “The troops were able to neutralize a large number of Boko Haram terrorists including the notorious Abu Nazir, the terrorists’ Amir in Jarawa during the operation.

    “They also captured several weapons including an AK-47 rifle, one Double barrel gun, one primed heavy Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and three motorcycles.

    “Additionally, they rescued nine abducted children undergoing training at the terrorists’ training camp in the village.

    “The minors have been evacuated and are being given preliminary humanitarian assistance in preparation to handing them over to Kala Balge Internally Displaced Persons Camp Management Committee.”

  • Boko Haram top member surrenders in Borno

    Boko Haram top member surrenders in Borno

    A high ranking member of the Boko Haram sect, Bulama Kailani Mohammed Metele, has surrendered to 145 Task Force Battalion, 5 Brigade troops at Damasak, Borno State.

    The Army spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Maiduguri.

    Usman said Metele, from Tumbun Bera in Borno, belonged to the Abu Mustapha -led  Mamman Nur’s faction of Boko Haram.

    He said the Boko Haram member was on number 253 on the Nigerian Army’s wanted list released recently by Defence Headquarters (DHQ).

    “He (Metele) is currently undergoing further interrogation,’’ the army spokesman said.

    Meanwhile, two suspected Boko Haram terrorists carrying out surveillance on Kareto and Dangalti villages have been arrested by troops of 158 Task Force Battalion of 5 Brigade based on information.

    Usman said preliminary investigation showed that the duo are on reconnaissance mission to facilitate possible attack on the communities.

    NAN

  • We won’t train recruits in Sambisa forest – Army

    The Nigerian Army has dismissed report that it would be training the 76 Regular Recruits Intake (76RRI) in the Sambisa forest.

    The Army spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, in a statement on Saturday urged the public to disregard message on the social media purportedly emanating from the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, to that effect.

    Usman described the message as “mischievous.”

    He said, “Members of the public are therefore requested to disregard it in its entirety.

    “They should also be wary of fraudsters that request for gratification from interested candidates or their families. Recruitment into the Nigerian Army is free.”

    Meanwhile, Usman said more armed bandits had surrendered their arms in Zamfara on Friday.

    He said several arms and ammunition – three AK-47 rifles, two G3 rifles, one small machine gun, three pump action guns, one teargas launcher, three teargas canisters and 690 locally made Dane guns – were surrendered to the troops.

    Others recovered were – 192 locally made pistols, eight locally made pump action guns, 17 Locally made revolvers, 60 locally made multi-barrel pistols and 13 locally made double-barrel rifles.

    NAN