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Tag: COAS

  • How ex-Air Force Chief, Umar bought N2.38b houses in two years

    How ex-Air Force Chief, Umar bought N2.38b houses in two years

    …Renovated two with N140m

     

    A Federal High Court in Abuja heard Monday how a former Chief of Air Staff (COAS), Mohammed Dikko Umar allegedly bought five choice houses in Abuja, Kano and Kaduna valued at about N2.38billion within two years.

    The court was also told that Umar, who was COAS between October 2010 and September 2012, directed the payment of N558.2million to him monthly as upkeep allowances beside his legitimate earnings as an officer of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

    A former Director of Finance and Accounts at the NAF Headquarters, Abuja, Air Commodore Salisu Abdullahi Yushau (rtd), who disclosed this, said he believed that the funds Umar deployed to acquiring the five houses were from the N558.2m he got monthly.

    Yushau, who gave details of how the houses were bought by Umar, using different names, spoke as the first prosecution witness at the trial of Umar, who is facing a seven-count charge of money laundering. Umar, in the charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is accused of diverting United States dollars’ equivalent of N4.8b.

    Led in evidence by lead prosecution lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir, Yushau, who said he participated in the purchase of the houses upon instructions from Umar, said the ex-COAS spent about N140m to renovate two of the houses.

    Dressed in white native attire like Umar, who sat directly opposite him at the other end of the courtroom, Yushau, who said Umar facilitated his appointment as the Director of Finance and Account, testified for about two and half hours.

    As the witness spoke, Umar, who kept a straight face, occasionally stared at the witness when he (the witness) tried to describe, in detail, all that transpired.

    Throughout his testimony, Yushau kept referring to the defendant as “my boss, the then Chief of Air Staff,” to the extent where Tahir had to insist that he (Yushau) refer to Umar as the defendant, to avoid ambiguity in identification.

    The witness said, although he had indicated his intention to quit, Umar, who was so impressed with his performance, insisted that he served his (Umar’s) successor, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.

    The witness said: “NAF was receiving about N4b monthly (a little above N4b, about N4.1b).  However, the actual figure that we usually paid as salaries monthly was between N2.3 to N2.4b.  The balance of about N1.6b was made.

    “From this N1.6b, the sum of N558, 200,000 was usually set aside for the upkeep of the Chief of Air Staff.  The sum of N120M was also earmarked for the office of the Director of Finance and Accounts.  But on assumption, I told the Chief of Air Staff that my office did not require that amount of money.

    “So, the sum of N120m was put under the Chief of Air Staff’s office, which he was using for visits to NAF formations and other welfare issues.  The balance of about N1b was used for training, maintenance of NAF assets, fleets, and other priority projects. These projects included barracks construction, renovation of barracks accommodation for officers and men, and any other projects that the Chief of Air Staff may wish to undertake.

    “This sum of N558, 200,000 was usually converted to USD and taken to him at home.  The money was usually brought to me by the Finance Officer, Headquarters NAF Camp by name, Group Captain Bukar.

    “In some occasions, I asked the Finance Officer to accompany me to his (COAS’) official residence at Niger Barracks, so that he can witness the delivery of the money to the Chief of Air Staff.  This practice lasted up till his retirement in Sept. 2012.

    “I believe he was using the money for whatever he wanted to do.  However, there were some properties which he purchased and I believe the money could be from the money we usually give to him,” the witness said.

    On how the houses were purchased, Yushau said: “Sometimes between November 2010 and January 2011, my boss, the Chief of Air Staff, the defendant called me and asked me to get somebody, who can find a house for him around Maitama, where he intends to settle down after his retirement.

    “I got a brother to a colleague of mine, Barrister Husseini Umar of Capital Law Firm and told him what my boss the D wanted.  After a couple of days, he came back to me and told me he has found a house at Vistula Close, off Panama Street Abuja. I went and inspected the place with him, and I informed the defendant that the lawyer has located a very nice house.

    “It was a 5-bedroom duplex, with a guest chalet, a swimming pool and 2-bedroom boys quarter attached to the house.  My boss, the defendant asked me to arrange for inspection.  Barrister Husseini Umar gave us a time in the evening and I went and picked the defendant. We went to the property where we met Barrister Umar in the evening. Because there was no light, I went with torchlight.

    “The defendant saw the house and was happy with it and gave the go-ahead to Barrister Umar to negotiate the purchase of the house.  The price of the house was then agreed at N700M. The defendant authorised the purchase and asked me to take the money from the money we normally give to him monthly. And I then directed the Finance Officer at the Hqts, Group Captain Bukar to give the lawyer the equivalent of N700M which was given to the lawyer in USD.

    “The defendant gave me the name on which the deed of assignment should be prepared.  That name was Mohammed Maijamaa.  I gave the name to Barrister Umar. After they completed the documentation of the purchase, the deed of assignment and power of attorney were brought to me for onward transmission to the defendant,” Yushau said.

    On the second house, he said the defendant called him sometime in early 2012 and told him to get him another property in Asokoro, because he (Umar) was tired of living in Maitama.

    He said through the efforts of Barrister Umar, a property at in Plot 1853 Deng Xiao Ping Street, off Mahima Mohammed Street Asokoro was got for the defendant, which he later bought at N850m.

    “This is a property of duplex of about 6 bedrooms, an underground hall, BQ, a gym, swimming pool, and 2 bed room guest chalets. Just like the previous house at Maitama, he also gave me the same name – Mohammed Maijamaa, for the preparation of the power of attorney and deed of assignment.

    “Thereafter Barrister Umar brought the title deed, the power of attorney and deed of assignment to me for onward transmission to my boss the defendant.   After that he said he wanted a mosque to be constructed, the fence to be redesigned, and the swimming pool to reduce the depth because of children.

    “So one Architect Saka was invited to carry out the job.  The price was agreed at 66m and my boss, the defendant gave the go-ahead for the payment to be effected.  That was the end of that transaction,” he said.

    On the third house, the witness said the defendant, sometime in 2011, directed him to scout for a house for him to buy in Kano, so that when he visits his home state, as the COAS, he will not need to rent accommodation.

    “So I went to Kano, and through a friend by name, Jubril Shuaibu Ala, we got an agent who helped us scout for a house.  That was how House No 14 Audu Bako Way Kano was purchased.  The house was a 7- bedroom duplex with an enclosed swimming pool, about 3 living rooms, a study, a lawn tennis court, and a squash court and also I think a 2-bedroom boy’s quarters.

    “The house belonged to one Sudanese by name Mustapha. I inspected the House, and came back to Abuja to brief my boss the defendant.  During our next visit to Kano, we went with him to the house at night.  He (Umar) inspected the house and met the owner and had some discussions with him.

    “Subsequently, the amount was agreed at N250m. The defendant, after returning to Abuja, gave me the money to pay in USD.  I called Jubril Shuaibu Ala, who facilitated the transaction to come to Abuja and collect the money.

    “I gave him the amount as agreed in USD. And he went and effected the payment.  I cannot remember the actual name he gave for the preparation of the title deeds, but all the documents were given to me and I handed over to the defendant,” the witness said.

    Yushau said he also assisted Umar to buy a property at No 8 Kabala Road Kaduna, from a former Commandant of Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Air Vice Marshal Sunday Ali Leks.

    He said when the defendant told him he needed a property in Kaduna, “I told the defendant that there is this guest house that was sold to Leks and he wanted to sell it.  He told me knew the house but he did not want Leas to know he was the one buying.

    “So I got a friend by name Alhaji Kabiru Ismaila who was into properties to go and assess the value of the property and that my boss the D was interested in buying. Because I told him my boss the defendant didn’t want Leks to know he was the one buying, we agreed that Ismaila would buy the property in his name.

    “The price was agreed with Leks at N80m.  I told the defendant about the arrangement. He gave the money and asked me to purchase the property from Leas.  It was paid in the USD equivalent of N80m.

    “Thereafter my boss asked me to get somebody to reconstruct the house.  Alhaji Ismaila was also into this job.  He was subsequently given the job to reconstruct and add some structures within the house.  The price was agreed between N75m to N80m.  Alhaji Kabiru Ismaila completed the job and the house was handed over to the defendant,” the witness said.

    He said the last house was the one the defendant bought at Plot 3B, Street 2, Ministers Hill, Mabushi, Abuja at N500m.

    The witness said he got the house from a colleague, Group Captain Bukar, which he later gave the defendant to occupy when he was to vacate his official residence and his Asokoro house was not ready.

    “At that time, we could not get any property that we could let for one year. So, I remembered about this house at Mabushi. I met my boss, the defendant and asked him if they could manage that place at Mabushi.  I explained to him how I came about the place.

    “He told me to tell my wife to pick his wife and show her the place.  His wife was happy with the place when she saw it.  That was how they moved into the house to enable the new Chief of Air Staff move into the official residence.  They were living there up to the time I was retired on 31/12/13.

    “Sometimes early 2014 he told me that it was time for them to give me my house but I felt there was no way I could move into a house that was occupied by a former Chief of Air Staff.  I told his cousin brother, Abdullahi Mahmoud Gaya now a House of Representatives member, that there was no way I was going to stay in the house.  So if they move I would have to sell the place.

    “He (Gaya) went and discussed with his brother my boss the defendant. And sequel to their discussion, it was agreed that my boss, the defendant should pay me N500m for the house.  I told Bukar of the development and gave him the reason for taking the decision.

    “I subsequently collected from my boss the USD equivalent of N500m from his house, and I used part of the money to repurchase my No 8 Embu Street Wuse 2 from Bukar, who was at that time in the UK.  That was how the transaction ended,” Yushau said.

    At the commencement of the day’s proceedings, Tahir gave the prosecution’s opening statement, pursuant to the provision of Section 300 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), during which he presented a picture of the prosecution’s case against the defendant and how it intends to lead evidence to prove its case.

    When Yushau ended his testimony, defence lawyer, Hassan Liman (SAN) sought a short adjournment for him to cross-examine the witness. Tahir did not oppose, following which the trial judge, Justice Nmandi Dimgba adjourned to February 16 for continuation of trial.

     

  • Boko Haram: Army may relax restrictions in Northeast – COAS

    The Nigerian Army may relax restrictions placed on some insurgency – prone areas in the Northeast, it emerged Monday.

    According to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai, with the degradation of the Boko Haram insurgents, it  is possible to review and relax  some restriction placed on human and vehicular  movement in some parts of the region.

    This was disclosed during an interactive session between House Committee on Army and the COAS.

    Brig Gen. Bassey Etuk, Director (Operations Department) represented the COAS.

    Chairman of the Committee, Riman Shawulu  (PDP, Taraba), in his opening remarks said the meeting was at the instance of a motion on the inability of farmers in Yobe State to access Premium Motor Spirit ( PMS ) to power generating plants used on their farms.

    In addition, the House also mandated the Committee to lias with the Army on the inability of farmers in some parts of Adamawa State to access fertilizer due to restrictions orders by the Nigerian Army.

    According to the Committee, 95 percent of Yobe State population, who were farmers, could not access petrol due to restrictions from the Army.

    The Committee proposed that the farmers could access the product in jerry cans through their Village heads to prevent it getting into the hands of insurgents.

    On the complaints of farmers in Adamawa south that have not experienced Boko Haram insurgency but equally affected by restriction on movement of fertilzer, the Committee requested the Army to consider relaxing the restriction in order to prevent possible outbreak of famine in the area.

    The COAS, in his response said the affected areas were in the three States that constitute the theater of operation of Operation Lafiya Dole and that the military was aware that the decimated insurgents use the products in question to carty out their nefarious activities on motorcycle and other means  to infiltrate and destroy communities.

    Saying that the Boko Haram insurgents have been degredaded, he added”The Army is not unaware of all manners of tricks used by insurgents to obtain means of livelihood for survival and that is the reason behind restrictions on certain products.

    “However, since we don’t want the economic life of the people to be negatively affected, we will look into the Yobe request of using fuel to power equipment or fertilizers distribution in Adamawa”.

    While he enjoined the House to make a formal request to that effect, the Army boss said the control of certain products like fertilzer and petrol became inevitable because they are components of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED).

    “We need to control the movement of some of these products, fertilizer is a component used for IED and have to be controlled but with the degredation of the insurgents, the relaxation of some of the restrictions is possible,” he added.

    Babale Bashir (APC, Kano) however cautioned that while looking at possible relaxation of some of the restrictions, Nigerians should note that the restrictions were not meant to foist hardships on Nigerians but to protect them.

  • NNPC, COAS, DSS get petition on murdered security guard

    NNPC, COAS, DSS get petition on murdered security guard

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Chief of Army Staff and the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS) and  have been petitioned over the killing of a security guard,  in Ogun State on Wednesday.

    A pipeline surveillance outfit, King Young Lion Security, in the petition signed by its Media Director, Mr. Abdul-Kabir Akinpelu, and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Friday, accused some men in military uniform of being responsible for the death of the security guard, Mr. Adura Omoboye

    According to the petition, Omoboye who was a part of the surveillance team assigned to keep watch over the petroleum pipeline at Idi-Mangoro Tent, Sagamu, was gruesomely murdered at about 9 am on that day.

    Calling on the relevant agencies to ensure that the culprits are brought to book to forestall a reoccurrence, Akinpelu described  the killing of the deceased  as unfortunate and uncalled for.

    He said: “The men who were dressed in military uniform and came in a Mitsubishi L300 pick up truck with registration number NA 003 ostensibly came to steal fuel from the pipeline as they bore several empty jerry-cans in their vehicle.”

    He stated further that the  efforts made by the surveillance team to intercept the vandals led to the engagement of the team and this resulted in the death of Omoboye.

    Akinpelu said while all the uniformed men escaped in the confrontation, the team was able to recover items like the Mitsubishi L300 pick up van, three jungle hats, a magazine and a mobile telephone.

    He said: “At this juncture, we call upon the army authority, the directorate of state security service, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation as well as all other relevant government agencies to probe this matter to forestall the likelihood of a reoccurrence, since the vandalization of this vital facility has clearly become second nature to some unpatriotic men of the armed and paramilitary forces.”

  • Boko Haram will soon become history, vows COAS

    Boko Haram will soon become history, vows COAS

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Yusuf Buratai has said the issue of Boko Haram terrorists would soon become a thing of the past, saying the army is winning the fight against the insurgents in the North-East.

    General Buratai made the promise yesterday, at the Government House Owerri, when he paid a courtesy call on Governor Rochas Okorocha, along with other senior military officers, including the GOC, 82 Division of the Nigeria Army Enugu, Major-General Attahiru.

    The COAS said the team was in the state as part of a familiarization tour of the Army Brigade in the state, with a view to knowing their challenges.

    He added that the visit had been delayed by the situation in the North-east which has kept him busy in the area.

    In a press statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sam Onwuemeodo, the army boss said that the Nigerian Army would continue in its present role of monitoring elections in the country until it is served   with the copy of the court order barring soldiers from engaging in such roles.

    He also expressed appreciation for the support the state government has given to the army brigade, which he said had contributed to the stable security situation in the state.

    While receiving his guests, Governor Rochas Okorocha appealed to the Army Chief to send more operational vehicles and other logistics to the 34 Field Artillery Brigade Obinze to enable the soldiers perform their role more effectively, especially now that Imo has become the fastest growing city in the country outside Lagos and Abuja.

    The governor also pleaded with General Buratai to give approval for the Army to build a Military School in the state, assuring that the state government would provide the land and other logistics.

  • COAS to soldiers: Play politics and get fired

    COAS to soldiers: Play politics and get fired

    Soldiers who get involved in politics will be fired, The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, declared yesterday.

    Warning soldiers to stay clear of politics, the COAS said their role of was to support and protect the nation’s sovereignty.

    He spoke while addressing officers and men of the force during a visit to the 1 Division Nigerian Army Headquarters in Kaduna.

    Buratai said: “Get yourself involved in politics and you have my assurance that you will pay for it.

    “You must remain professional and responsible, we must remain apolitical. We have no role to play in politics. It is not part of our mandate. Our role is only supportive, so we must remain within our mandate.”

    He informed that a committee has already been set up to investigate allegation of involvement of the military in Ekiti State election and vowed that whoever is found guilty of the allegation will pay for it.

    “I will not tolerate any act of indiscipline within and outside uniform. You must remain loyal to government and all constituted authorities,” the COAS added.

    On the fight against insurgency, the COAS said their efforts were yielding positive results.

    He reiterated the determination of meeting the December deadline to flush out the insurgents.

    “We are making substantial progress in the operation in the North East. We are also intensifying our intelligence gathering and support from the populace.

    “Our mandate is not only to defeat terrorism but to also provide humanitarian support.

    “We have succeeded so far in liberating individuals and communities, internally displaced towns have been secured and returned to normalcy and civil administration.”

    On the allegation that the military is seeking for mercenaries to assist them in meeting the December deadline, he said “that is not true”.

    He, however, reechoed the need for synergy between the army and other security and paramilitary agencies in the fight against insurgency.

    COAS also informed the officers that the army has fully keyed into the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and any fund withdrawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is being monitored to ensure accountability and prudency.

    He further charged the officers against any form of corrupt tendencies, stressing that “zero tolerance to corruptioný is being implemented in full.”

  • I’ll not tolerate indiscipline – New Army chief

    I’ll not tolerate indiscipline – New Army chief

    The Chief of Army Staff Maj. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai has said that he would not tolerate indiscipline in the Army.

    The COAS who was reacting to questions from journalists in Damaturu as to whether the over 4,000 soldiers that were sacked by the Army during the Boko Haram fight would be recalled responded that; “what I would tell you is that I cannot tolerate indiscipline in the force.”

    The Chief of Army Staff explained that his coming to Damaturu to celebrate Sallah with the troops is part of the measures to boost the morale of the troops on ground and help him access the equipment and the discipline of the soldiers so as to come up with a better approach to the counter insurgency fight.

    He said: “I cannot tell you why I am here on the strategic level because it’s a strategic decision. We all know the importance of Damaturu and Yobe State in particular.  My presence here is to improve civil military relation, we need the cooperation. My presence will boost the morale of the troops. This is one of the reasons why I am here. To see for myself and it will also help me to access the state of readiness in terms of equipment and indeed their state of discipline and we would be able to access the threat properly from this perspective,” Buratai explained.

  • Ekiti lawyer petitions COAS, NHRC over assault

    An Ekiti State lawyer, Gbolahan Ogunyemi, has petitioned the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and the National Human Right Commission (NHRC) over over his allegedly assault by soldiers in Ado-Ekiti.

    The lawyer, in a petition titled: “Complaint on the assault and inhuman treatment meted out on my person by your officers,” decried how one of three unidentified military officers was instructed to shoot him at a military checkpoint, if he disobeyed their instruction.

    In a copy of the petition yesterday in Abuja, Ogunyemi said: “On May 24, I noticed people were walking under the sun with hands above their heads; and believed they were criminals.

    “On getting to where the soldiers were one of them shouted at me to raise my hands above my head, as I tried to obey out of duress and intimidation, the supervising officer called me out of the throng of people and asked me who are you?

    “I responded that I am Barrister Ogunyemi Gbolahan Samuel, then, he said you are not above the law because you are a barrister, barrister my foot.

    “The supervising officer shouted at me to be quiet, ordered me to go back to the starting point and trek down with my hands raised above my head, to which I declined. It was at this point I informed him that I was in Ado for an important meeting which was to begin at 2pm.

    “To my surprise, he called one of the junior officers that he should deal with me and if I made an attempt to walk I should be shot.

    “I was falsely imprisoned on that spot for more than 40 minutes with threats to my life.

    “Another junior officer hit me with a plank on my knee and I was bleeding from the punctured hole in my leg. I was beaten publicly in the presence of by-standers and passers-by.

    “In the process of such degrading treatment, a soldier biked down in mufti came to the scene and he pleaded with the three soldiers to let me go.”

    Ogunyemi urged the relevant authorities to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

     

  • Ex-Warrant Officer sues Army, COAS for unpaid benefits

    Ex-Warrant Officer sues Army, COAS for unpaid benefits

    HE was a Master Warrant Officer of the Nigerian Army. Mr Stephen Aigbe detained for ten years for alleged mutiny.

    Aigbe has been estranged from his family since 1996 when he was detained and thought dead.

    Aigbe was accused of attempting to kill the former late Head of State, Gen Sanni Abacha. The offence was ‘slammed’ against him in 1996 by the authorities of the 2 Division of the Nigeria Army. He was subsequently arraigned before a camp commandant panel. Though he was not found guilty, he was denied a court martial and access to get a lawyer.

    Aigbe said: “Following a conspiracy, I was accused of writing an anonymous letter against a certain Col. H. A David after which a board of Inquiry was set up to investigate the matter.

    “I was in confinement on mutiny trial for ten years having written several unreplied redress letters to relevant authorities that are verifiable and I kept wondering about the way the military system has been used to work extreme injustice and hardship on me and family. I have served the Nigeria Army for 36 years and I deserve the best.

    “Lawyers also contributed largely to my plight. I have had experiences with different lawyers. It is painful. I had one Barrister Toyin Okebukola, who having received professional fees refused to show up in court and refused to make available to me judgment proceedings.I wrote to the Nigeria Bar Association, Oyo State as her conduct is a breach of contract.

    Recounting his experience in detention for ten years he said, “ It is only by the grace of God that I still exist. During that period, I could not see my wife and six children because they had told them that because of the offence I had committed they should not expect me back. I was alienated from my whole family. To eat was a problem, only people who felt sympathetic gave me something with which I was feeding.

    “During the time I was in detention, they went to my apartment at Odogbo Barracks, they burgled and shared everything I had. When I was released, I had nothing to start another life. I have not been able to see my family since. I am indigene of Edo State, I cannot even go home.

    “ I was framed up during Abacha’s regime; they said I wanted to kill Abacha. I was charged with a mutiny case, and within ten years, the mutiny case dragged on and I was in detention from 1996 to 2006. When they discovered my date of discharge had lapsed, I was taken to Oshodi. It was there I discovered the army had erased my record.”

    He said after the Oshodi experience, he was taken back to Ibadan, but he was threatened that he would be locked up by a Lieutenant Colonel. This prompted him to seek legal redress.

    “I took the case to the Federal High Court, Ibadan but it was not given prompt attention. After five years of stalling the case, which I view as a conspiracy, it was transferred to the National Industrial Court. From 2009 to 2013, there were only adjournments as the defendants lawyer failed to show up in court.

    “ I want justice, I thought the Industrial Court will give justice to a man who has worked for 36 years in the army. I want justice to get my entitlements, I have not been given my gratuity, I am not even on pension, I have been ejected from the one room apartment I had in the barracks. I was not allowed to take any of my property out of barracks, without any redress.”

    Although his case with the National Industrial Court has been withdrawn, Aigbe said he has filed another case at the Federal High Court on his forceful ejection from his apartment despite the fact that he was not paid his gratuity nor pension.

  • TUC urges COAS to redeem pledge

    • Union pleads for condemned soldiers

    The Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria has commended and urged the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant-General Kenneth Minimah, to go all out to reward soldiers as promised during his visit to Baga town in Kukawa Local Government Area, Bornu State.

    TUC in a statement signed by its President, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, also urged the leadership of other security operatives who are participating in the fight to follow suit.

    “We read in the dailies that COAS had boosted the morale of the troops at the scene of the fight when he commended their courage and patriotism in the fight to save our dear country. He told them that every soldier who participated in the Baga operation, whether dead or alive has been promoted to the next rank. While we commend the COAS for the confidence-building trip, we wish to passionately appeal to him to ensure that the promise is fulfilled straight away as it will go a long way in motivating and encouraging the soldiers,” Kaigama said.

    The Congress appealed to the Federal Government and the military authority to temper justice with mercy on the soldiers who were condemned some months ago.

    “Justice, they say serves a better societal purpose when tempered with mercy. And indeed the quality of mercy is not strained. It is twice blessed. It blesses he that gives and he that takes.

    “We can say that when functions are carried out systematically and meticulously, and to the best of ability, the result is success and joy for all,” he said.

  • Terrorism: Reps want Army HQ relocated to Maiduguri

    If the House of Representatives members have their way, the headquarters of the Army should relocate from Abuja to Maiduguri to fast track the battle against Boko Haram.

    According to the lawmakers, the relocation would enable the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Maj. Gen. Kenneth Minimah to be acquainted with the reality on ground.

    The COAS would also be able to devise more effective means of tackling the insurgency, the lawmakers said.

    The decision followed the adoption of a motion by Peter Guntha (APC, Borno), who painted a grim situation in Borno State.

    He said apart from the people and the soldiers killed in Izge village, many others died in Gavva West and East local government, while 150 houses were burnt.

    He said: “In Zalidva village, Sabon Gari, 14 people were killed, while 30 houses were destroyed previously. In Ngoshe town, 46 people were killed, while 30 houses were razed down; seven people were killed in Hambaged and about 140 cattle were taken away.

    “In Chinene village, seven people were killed and also Krawa town, 20 people were slaughtered and 20 shops razed down. Emir of Gwoza’s house at Jaje village was razed with property and food stuffs worth millions of naira destroyed. Several houses in Juba village and places of worship were razed down with property worth millions of naira destroyed.

    “10 people were also killed in Wala ‘A’ and three people in Wala ‘B’, while many cattle were taken away during an attack in the two villages.

    “In Ndufa village, six deaths were recorded and 120 cattle taken away, while in Pulka town one person was killed and eight people were abducted. In Ngoshe Sama village, 18 people were killed and 80 houses were razed, and 150 cattle taken away.

    “A total of about 120 places of worship (churches and mosques) were destroyed by the gunmen between December 2013 to February, 2014.”

    While Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno), said the insurgents appeared more equipped than the security men handling the crisis, Titsi Ganama (PDP, Adamawa) appealed to the government to, as a matter of urgency, tackle insurgency as it was getting out of hand.

    The lawmakers, as part of their resolution, urged the Federal Government to liaise with the governments of Chad, Niger Republic and Cameroon with a view of discussing ways on how to tackle the activities of the insurgents around border areas.

    While commiserating with the people and government of Borno State over the killings, the House also called on the Nigerian military to provide additional personnel to strategic areas in some parts of the villages affected so that security could be strengthened in the areas.

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was also advised to urgently provide relief materials to the affected victims.