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Tag: Brig-Gen. Victor Ezugwu

  • Army rescues 30,000 women, children from Boko Haram in 14 months

    The Nigeria Army on Wednesday said it had rescued 30,000 women and children held by Boko Haram in Sambisa Forest in the last 14 months.

    Brig.-Gen. Victor Ezugwu, the outgoing Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Nigerian Army, made this known at the handover ceremony in Maiduguri.

    Ezegwu attributed the successes recorded so far in the fight against insurgency in the North-East to doggedness, hardwork and determination of troops in the frontline.

    “Successes recorded so far is as a result of collective efforts of all of you here.

    “I cannot take this glory alone because I could not have achieved anything without your support and encouragement,” he said.

    The GOC, who urged troops to increase the momentum in the campaign to flush out the remaining terrorists in the region, said all hands must be on deck to end Boko Haram.

    Ezugwu paid glowing tribute to the past GOCs of the Division for laying solid foundation at the formative age of the Division.

    “We cannot forget  the efforts of our past GOCs, who laboured to build this Division before my assumption of duty as the sixth GOC.”

    He pledged that the Army would not forget those who died in the service of the nation.

    “The death of these gallant men and women will not be in vain.

    “We that are still alive must double our efforts towards total elimination of insurgency in the region so that their death will not be in vain.”

    He thanked the Chief of Army Staff for providing necessary support needed to execute the war in the North-East.

    “Let us thank God for giving us Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai as the COAS. He provided us with all we needed to fight this war.

    “He practically took it upon himself to plan the war strategies and we all can see the results of such efforts”.

    Ezugwu described the incoming GOC as a hardworking and gallant senior officer, who knew the  terrain very well having served as Brigade Commander in the Theater.

    He urged troops to extend the support he enjoyed to the incoming GOC.

    The outgoing GOC was recently posted to Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria, Kaduna State and is being replaced by Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Yusuf after serving for 18 months as the Acting GOC of 7 Division.

     

  • Army inaugurates court martial, tries 20 soldiers

    Army inaugurates court martial, tries 20 soldiers

    The Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division of the Nigerian Army,  Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu, on Wednesday inaugurated a General Court Martial (GCM) in Maiduguri, Borno State.
    The GCM would try four officers and 16 soldiers accused of different offences under the Operation Lafiya Dole. The offences were allegedly committed within the theatre of operation of operation Lafiya Dole.
    Brig. Gen Ezugwu said the GCM was set up following a directive from the Army Headquarters. (AHQ).
    The Acting GOC said the GCM was convened to try four officers and 16 other ranks of the Nigerian Army who have committed various offences.
    “As you are all aware, discipline is the bedrock of the military profession and to have a disciplined body of officers and men, there must be justice because it is when there is justice that discipline can be achieved.
    “Justice implies that infractions of the law must be promptly reported, investigated and the accused persons prosecuted within a reasonable time through the laid down rules, regulations and procedures,” Ezegwu said.
    He warned that both prosecution nd accused person and their counsels must shun all forms of antics such as request for frivolous adjournments which could lead to unnecessary delays in the trial processes.
    He called on the President and members of the GCM to dispense their duty in accordance with the appropriate extant laws and ensure that  decision on all the cases  is not in  beclouded with bias, external pressure or by extraneous factors.
    While assuring the accused of fair hearing and adherence to their fundamental human rights, he pleaded with the members of the GCM to ensure that the judgement passed on the accused persons will stand the test of appellate court, public opinion and above all, that of the Almighty CreatOr
  • Boko Haram: Army cautions media on negative reports

    Boko Haram: Army cautions media on negative reports

    The Nigerian Army on Monday cautioned media practitioners in the country against negative reports that would hamper the ongoing war against terrorism in the North East.

    Brig.-Gen. Victor Ezugwu, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, stated this while speaking with newsmen in Maiduguri.

    Ezugwu said that the call became imperative because the media had great role to play in the success of the anti-terror war.

    “Nigeria must defeat Boko Haram; for us to be able to make progress, the media has a role to play in this.

    “What you tell the people should be positive, so we can get maximum support from them,” he said.

    Ezugwu said that the military had recorded tremendous successes against the terrorists lately.

    “I was privileged to be with the troops some few days ago in Sambisa, they are very professional in their approach to the task and objectives given to them.

    “So far so good, they are on top of the situation, it is a very different ball game now,’’ he said.

    Ezugwu added: “Troops are better equipped, well coordinated, with the Air Force playing its role too.

    “We have our information moving from the air to ground forces, the teams are working in synergy and the result is very obvious.’’

    The GOC however lamented that some media reports had been discouraging on the issue.

    “What we want you to do for us is please be very positive towards our course and towards the anti-insurgency fight that we are conducting,” Ezugwu said.

  • Boko Haram fighters ambush army GOC’s convoy in Borno

    Boko Haram fighters on Tuesday morning ambushed the convoy of the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division of Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. Victor Ezugwu, while he was visiting  troops in Bama, Borno State.

    The ambush was later cleared by soldiers and several terrorists were killed in the process.

    One soldier was also killed and two others injured in the incident.

    Items recovered from the terrorists included a Toyota Hilux vehicle, two AK-47 rifles and several ammunitions.

     

  • Army releases 275 Boko Haram suspects in Borno

    Army releases 275 Boko Haram suspects in Borno

    The army on Friday released 275 detainees after clearing them of being members of the Boko Haram sect.

    The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major Gen. Hassan Umaru handed over the detainees to Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, at a ceremony in Maiduguri, the state capital..

    Umaru said the detainees included 271 Nigerians.

    Two of the released foreigners are from Cameroun and the other two from Niger Republic.

    Umaru said: “Today we are releasing 275 persons who have been in detention over suspicion of being involved in terrorism.

    “Our crack team of joint investigators has screened and cleared the persons that are in the process of being released here today.”

    Umaru said the detainees included 142 males, 49 females, 22 under aged and 50 children of cleared females.

    “The persons being released comprise 142 males, 49 females, 22 under aged, 50 children of cleared females, two Nigeriens and two Cameroonians,” the theatre commander said.

    He said they were released in line with the principles of justice and fair play.

    Receiving the detainees, Shettima commended the military for a job well done.

    He said: “Today bears a sense of professionalism, justice, equity and fairness of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

    “The 275 suspects were picked from several locations at different times and were adjudged to be clean after through investigations.”

    Shettima said the action had confirmed that the military was a respecter of the law.