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Tag: Brig. General Sani Usman

  • Troops capture Boko Haram commander, kill four

    Troops capture Boko Haram commander, kill four

    Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have captured a Boko Haram Commander and neutrilized for members of the sect in a clearance operation at fringes of Sambisa forest, the Director of Public Relations, Nigerian Army, Brig. General Sani Usman, has said.

    In a statement issued in Abuja, General Usman said the Boko Haram Commander is currently under-going interrogation, while the troops also rescued 212 persons alive from the terrorists.

    The statement reads: “Troops of 3 Battalion, 22 Brigade Nigerian Army, Sector 1, Operation LAFIYA DOLE,  in furtherance of the ongoing clearance operations in conjunction with 22 Mobile Strike Team and some Civilian JTF, has on  Tuesday, 28th November 2017 achieved a remarkable feat.

    “During the operation, they were able to clear Boko Haram terrorists from their hideouts located at Kala, Jawara, Mada, Mika, Gakulba and Kutilax (Sanga), northern fringes of Sambisa forest and  fringes of Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno State.

    “At Sanga, the terrorists on sighting the approaching troops from their observation post, they dashed into the adjoining Amchada forest.

    “The relentless troops pursued them further and neutralized 4 Boko Haram terrorists after a serious exchange of gun fire, captured one of the terrorists commanders, the “Ameer” of Chawa, Amman Judee alive and rescued 212 persons held hostage by the terrorists.

    “The captured terrorist’s leader is undergoing further interrogation while the rescued persons are being documented and the underaged children were administered oral polio vaccines”.

  • Army Promotes 45 Generals, 92 Colonels

    Army Promotes 45 Generals, 92 Colonels

    The Nigerian Army on Monday night announced that a total of 45 Brigadier Generals have been promoted to the rank of Major Generals by the Nigerian Army Council, while 92 Colonels are also promoted to the rank of Brigadier Generals.
    According to a statement from the Director of Public Relations, Nigerian Army, Brig. General Sani Usman, the promotion was approved on Monday 20th November by the Council.
    The statement reads: “The Nigerian Army Council has today Monday 20th November 2017, approved the promotion of 45 Brigadier Generals to the rank of  Major Generals and 92 Colonels to the rank of Brigadier Generals respectively.
    “Some of those promoted to the rank of Two Star Generals (Major Generals) include Brigadier General HO Otiki, Acting Commander Defence Headquarters Garrison, Brigadier General OO Soleye, Acting Director Veteran Affairs, Defence Headquarters, the Acting Provost Marshal, Brigadier General AT Hamman, the Acting Military Secretary, Brigadier General F Yahaya, the Acting General Officers Commanding 3, 7 and 8 Divisions, Brigadier General BA Ahanotu, Brigadier General IM Yusuf and Brigadier General SO Olabanji respectively,
    “Acting Commander Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps Brigadier General JI Unuigbe, Brigadier General AA Jidda, Acting Commander Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport, Acting Chief of  Accounts and Budget (Army), Brigadier General JE Jakko, Commandant, Depot Nigerian Army, Brigadier General VO Ezugwu and Brigadier General ACC Agundu, Director, Foreign Liaison, Defence Intelligence Agency, Acting Commander, Headquarters Command Army Records, Brigadier General HE Ayamasaowei and Brigadier General MS Yusuf, Commander Guards Brigade, while late Brigadier General BA Raji, was promoted posthumously.
    “Similarly, Brigadier General OF Azinta, Commandant Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre and the Commandant Nigerian Army School Infantry, Brigadier General J Sarham, Brigadier General TA Gagariga, Commander Nigerian Army School of Artillery and Brigadier General LF Abdullahi, the Acting Commander Nigerian Army Education Corps have also been promoted Major Generals, as well as Brigadier General JGK Myam, Acting Director Operations and Brigadier General US Yakubu, Acting Director Peacekeeping Operations, amongst others.

    Read also: Army destroy 46 oil bunker sites in Niger Delta

    “While those elevated to the rank of One Star Generals (Brigadier Generals) includes Colonel A Israel,  Colonel COC Ekulide of Defence Headquarters, Colonel SOF Olowolayemo, Colonel JTE Chukwu, Colonel EE Eyong and the prolific writer, Colonel DC Nengite, as well as Colonel CA Dalhatu and Colonel UN Babangida.
    “Others include Colonels UI Mohammed, Colonel NU Mukhtar, Colonel OG Onubogu, Colonel ST Shafaru,  Colonel GG Shipi, Colonel AS Ishaq of 8 Division Provost Group, Colonel AOI Kalajaiye, Colonel JC Mbibi, Colonel JTE Chukwu, Colonel HA Gambo  and Colonel LB Mohammed, amongst others”.
  • Army begins exercise crocodile smile II

    Army begins exercise crocodile smile II

    The Nigerian Army has said that it would begin exercise Crocodile Smile II in the south-south region of the country by Friday, 13th October.

    According to a statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. General Sani Usman, the exercise would complement the on-going exercise Python Dance II in the south-east of the country.

    The army appealed to the people to remain calm and law abiding, noting that the exercise would span across 3 Divisions of the Nigerian Army in the South-south.

    The statement reads: “The Nigerian Army is set to flag off Exercise CROCODILE SMILE II on Friday, 13th October 2017. The Exercise, set to span across 3 Divisions of the Nigerian Army (2, 6 and 81 Divisions), is in line with the 2017 Training Directives which aims at training troops in the conduct of Internal Security Operations in aid of Civil Authorities across the various formations’ areas of responsibilities, based on Constitutional provisions.

    “It will be recalled that last year, between November and December 2016, Exercise CROCODILE SMILE I was conducted within the Niger Delta States to curtail prevailing security challenges then. These challenges include illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism, kidnapping and militancy amongst others.

    “Exercise CROCODILE SMILE II is specifically designed to further the gains and consolidate on the successes of Exercise CROCODILE SMILE I. Additionally, with the operationalization of 6 Division Nigerian Army, earlier in the year, the need to exercise troops in an amphibious environment makes it expedient to hold Exercise CROCODILE SMILE II. Moreover, this exercise will complement the on-going Exercise EGWU EKE II in the South-Eastern part of the country.

    “Let us not be quick to forget the scenario in which these exercises are carried out. EGWU EKE II became expedient due to the mindless assassinations (even in religious places), attack on security personnel, theft of weapons, armed banditry, kidnapping and cultism, among other security challenges. In a similar vein, security challenges in the South West and Niger Delta geo-political regions such as illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism, cultism, kidnapping, militancy and other challenges are becoming rampant.

    “The need for troops to sharpen their skills to cope with these security challenges within the 2, 6 and 81 Divisions’ Area of Responsibilities calls for the conduct of Exercise CROCODILE SMILE II. Also, in actualizing the Chief of Army Staff’s vision, which is to ‘To have a Professionally Responsive Nigerian Army in the Discharge of its Constitutional Roles’, accentuates the call for the conduct of this exercise in conjunction with sister services and other security agencies.

    “This exercise will therefore be conducted with the involvement of other security agencies such as the Nigerian Police and Nigeria Security, Department of State Services, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Customs Service and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, just to mention a few. 5.

    “EXERCISE CROCODILE SMILE II is also conceptualized to leverage on real time intelligence to curtail insecurity, thereby fulfilling both training and operational objectives. Accordingly, Exercise Headquarters would be established in the field to facilitate open communication between members of the public and exercising troops. Emphasis will be placed on raids, cordon and search operations, anti-kidnapping drills, road blocks, check points and other amphibious operations. Community support activities such as medical outreaches will also feature prominently during the Exercise.

    “In this regards, members of the public are enjoined not to panic on seeing the movement of military equipment and troops to staging areas as their safety and well-being is guaranteed at all times. The public is also requested to remain vigilant security conscious and report suspected criminals who will likely flee the military exercise areas to find safe haven among communities. Contact phone numbers of all Brigade commanders in the exercise areas would be made public in addition to the Nigerian Army short code information and call centre 193.”

  • Army indicts Borno community in Boko Haram attack

    The Nigerian Army has indicted the indigenes of Magumeri town, in Magumeri local government area of Borno State of sponsoring a Boko Haram attack on the community.

    The town had on Wednesday evening come under a Boko Haram attack but was thwarted by the troops of 8 Task Force Division, Operation Lafiya Dole.

    The terrorists, who came with some vehicles at about 6.00pm, attempted to set the town ablaze and kill the residents while the troops were able to neutralize some of the attackers and those that escaped with gunshot wounds were pursued.

    The troops also recovered three vehicles and large quantity of arms and ammunition.

    But in a suprising turn of event, Director Army Public Relation, Brig. General Sani Usman, said investigations have shown the attackers came from the community itself and are well known to the people.

    Usman said: “While troops are still consolidating and mopping up, it is imperative to state that preliminary investigation shows that the attackers of Magumeri came from the same community. The terrorists that attacked the village are well known to the people.

    “It should also be noted that the village was never attacked throughout the period of the insurgency for some inexplicable reasons.  The terrorists and their collaborators hibernating in the area were never exposed. There seems to be unholy alliance between the terrorists and the villagers.

    “Consequently, we are constrained to state that it’s now high time for the people to take up the fight themselves and help the Nigerian military and other security agencies to protect them. It is a grievous mistake and criminal offence to continue to shield or harbour any known Boko Haram terrorist in their midst.”

    While stressing the need to report terrorists’ activities to security agencies, the army spokesman said terrorists are inhuman and barbaric, therefore cannot be trusted to spare anyone in perpetuating their inhuman acts.

    “It is imperative that all communities in the North East especially Borno State, should fully cooperate with the military and the security agencies by exposing Boko Haram terrorists in their respective towns and villages,” he said.