The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Brig-Gen. Sani Usman

  • Soldier die, 13 injured in Borno Army operation

    The Army has confirmed that one soldier died, two missing and 13 others are wounded in an ongoing operations to rid remnants of terrorists from their hide outs in Borno and North east generally.

    Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman made this known in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

    He said that the operation involved ambushes, cordon and search of the suspected remnants hiding places in the remote areas.

    Usman said that efforts were ongoing to locate the two missing soldiers.

    According to him, on Wednesday, troops of 159 Battalion Artillery Detachment based on information and confirmation on the presence of suspected Boko Haram terrorists at Tula Udah Forest, carried out heavy bombardment to neutralize them.

    “Similarly, based on tip-off on the presence of foreign elements of Boko Haram terrorists from Chad and Niger, troops carried out cordon and search operations at Gombe International Hotel, Gombe State.

    “However, nothing incriminating was found. More vigilance is being maintained in the area,’’ Usman said.

    He said during the operations, 505 people, including male, female and children were rescued, while nine arrests, including six suspected terrorists, two fraudsters and one drug peddler were arrested.

    Usman said that one Boko Haram camp was destroyed during the exercise and two vehicles recovered, adding that the owner of one of the recovered vehicles was also arrested.

     

  • Troops clear Boko Haram fighters from border villages

    Nigerian and Cameroonian troops have cleared Boko Haram terrorists from seven villages in the border between the two countries in a two-day joint operation.

    The towns and villages, according to a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by the Nigerian Army Spokesman, Brig-Gen. Sani Usman, are – Siyara, Kote, Sigawa, Bulabundibe, AdeleKe, Tchatike and Lamukura.

    Usman said Col. Dourai and Lt.-Col. Mohaman of the Cameroonian Defence Forces led the operation which ended on Tuesday.

    He said the troops were drawn from Cameroon’s Battalion Rapid Intervention (BRI) and the 151 Task Force Battalion of 21 Brigade, Nigerian Army.

    “While conducting the operation the troops came in contact with Boko Haram terrorists and neutralised many of them, apprehended two others, while many others escaped with gunshot wounds.

    “The Troops further recovered an unserviceable Toyota Canter, seven Dane guns, five Boko Haram terrorists’ flags, four vehicle tyres,  two motorcycles and vehicle spare parts,’’ Usman said.

    NAN

  • Army rejects video on soldiers’ maltreatment

    The Nigerian Army on Wednesday said the current video clip being circulated, alleging maltreatment of some soldiers was shot about six months ago by some disgruntled elements.

    The Army Spokesman, Brig-Gen. Sani Usman, said in a statement that the video was shot when 29 Task Force Brigade captured Alagarno Forest and environs in Borno.

    “It is disheartening that some mischievous elements have decided to circulate it now, creating the false impression that it is a recent occurrence,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the army spokesman as saying on the matter.

    “We wish to state further that the matter was conclusively investigated at the time, several months ago.

    “The Board of Inquiry actually showed that, at the time of the incident, the unit’s water tanker still contained water, but a soldier mischievously concealed it.

    “That soldier was charged and punished accordingly.”

    He added that in addition to the unit’s water tanker, a borehole was subsequently drilled at the location and is still serving both the military and adjoining communities.

    “We wish to restate with utmost concern the continued commitment of the Nigerian Army to the total welfare of all its personnel,” Usman said.