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Tag: Col. Sani Usman

  • Exercise Python Dance: Army rolls out dedicated lines for information

    Exercise Python Dance: Army rolls out dedicated lines for information

    Dedicated GSM lines for the general public to call, as regards any information or request for help during the ongoing Exercise Python Dance in the South East, has been rolled out by The Nigerian Army on Tuesday.

    According to a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, the numbers are:

    Headquarters 14 Brigade, Ohafia, Abia- 07068688482.

    Headquarters 14 Brigade, Ohafia, Abia- 07068688482.

    Headquarters 302 Artillery Regiment, Awka, Anambra- 07011115583.

    Headquarters 24 Support Engineer Regiment, Abakaliki, Ebonyi -09053974736.

    Headquarters 82 Division Garrison, Enugu- 08063282844.

    Headquarters 34 Brigade, Owerri, Imo- 08171609638 and 08065642870.

    The Python Dance, a training exercise to update troops in the South East on operational rudiments was launched by the army on Nov. 27 and expected to round off on Dec. 27.

  • Troops arrest suspected Boko Haram militants in Maiduguri

    Troops on Thursday arrested several suspected Boko Haram militants in Maiduguri, Borno State.

    The acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday, said the arrested persons had been handed over to  the military investigation committee for further action.

    He added that 18 cows recovered from the insurgents had been handed over to the cattle market committee for screening, identification and subsequent return to their rightful owners.

    Usman said while some of the suspected terrorists were arrested at cattle market, others were apprehended at check points.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that those arrested are – Abur Modu Magaji, Ibrahim Chari, Bulama Magaji, Nde Ngude, Mustafa Fannami, Abubakakar Modu, Mohammed Merai and Abur Mustafa.

    Others are – Bakura Agwala, Jatau Yaga, Umar Modu, Abacha Umar and Umar Babagana.

  • Suspected Boko Haram militants kill six in Borno

    Suspected Boko Haram militants on Monday killed six people in an attack on a commercial convoy being escorted by the army in Borno State.

    Boko Haram has killed more than 15,000 people and displaced 2.4 million across Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad during a seven-year insurgency aimed at creating a state based on a radical interpretation of Islamic law.

    Nigerian army spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, said suspected Boko Haram members who were foraging for food ambushed troops escorting the commercial vehicles from Damboa to Maiduguri, a journey of around 50 miles (80 km).

    “Unfortunately, five civilians lost their lives at the incident and another died on the way to the hospital. Three soldiers also sustained injuries,” the army spokesman told Reuters.

    Boko Haram controlled a swathe of land in northeast Nigeria around the size of Belgium at the start of last year, but has been pushed out of most of that territory by the Nigerian army, aided by troops from neighbouring countries.

    The militants have nevertheless continued to carry out suicide bombings in northeast Nigeria and neighbouring Cameroon, Niger and Chad.

  • We are flushing out criminals in Niger Delta – Army

    The Nigerian Army on Monday said it is flushing militants and criminal elements out of the creeks of Niger Delta as its military exercise, Operation Crocodile Smile enters the third day.

    The Army has also arrested several suspected oil thieves while destroying at least two illegal refineries operated by suspected oil bunkerers.

    According to the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, troops of the 4 Brigade have made tremendous progress in the raid on suspected criminal hideouts in the creeks around Ajaosolo, Okogho, Opumani and Obodo areas.

    The Army spokesperson said following intelligence reports, two illegal crude oil refineries were identified and destroyed by the troops traversing Ayakoromo and Esaba water ways in Burutu local government area of Delta State.

    Troops also intercepted suspected illegal oil bunkerer with one “Cotonou Boat” laden with crude oil, 3 X 40 Horse power Yamaha Speedboats and 5 X 200 Liters of illegally refined diesel oil.

  • Army arrests three suspected kidnappers in Bauchi

    Troops of 33 Brigade, Nigerian Army, deployed at Forward Operation Base (FOB) Toro, Toro local government area of Bauchi State, on Wednesday arrested three suspected kidnappers in the state.

    The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, disclosed this in a statement released on Thursday in Abuja.

    Usman said two of the suspects were arrested at Badiko village in Toro local government area, “following a tip-off by well- meaning Nigerians.”

    Usman gave the names of the suspects as Dayibu Abdullahi and Nasiru Adamu.

    He said the soldiers had also recovered a bag containing N439,000 and some personal effects from the suspects.

    “Preliminary investigation shows that the amount was their share from a paid ransom of a recent kidnap incident,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the Army spokesman as saying in the statement.

    He said the other suspect, Jibrin Dakam, was caught by the troops at Magama, also in Toro local government area, on the same day.

     

  • Fulani leader surrenders ammunition in Zamfara

    A Fulani leader in Zamfara State, Alhaji Ruwa, has voluntarily surrendered his ammunition to troops of the 223 Battalion, 1 Brigade Division of Nigerian Army.

    Ruwa also promised to ensure that his subjects do same soonest.

    He handed over two locally fabricated pistols and three Dane guns to the army.

    The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said the Fulani leader also promised to persuade all other known armed bandits to come out and renounce their illegal vocation.

    “This is in continuation of ongoing efforts to rid Zamfara State of the menace of livestock rustling and armed banditry,” the army spokesman said.

  • Troops rescue 88 hostages in Borno

    Troops rescue 88 hostages in Borno

    ...Kill three insurgents

    Troops on clearance operations in the Northeast have rescued 88 people in Bama Local Government Area of Borno and killed three during an encounter.

    A statement signed by Col. Sani Usman, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, in Abuja on Tuesday, said 28 people of those rescued, claimed they escaped from Bula Musa village.

    Usman said the 28 people comprised two men, nine women and 17 children, adding that the troops killed three terrorists during separate encounter.

    “They have been taken to Bama town for screening, profiling and possible handover to emergency management and humanitarian agencies,” Usman said.

    He said that another 23, comprising a man, five women and 17 children were intercepted by troops deployed at Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Bama.

    Usman said this was after they escaped from terrorists in Bula Musa general area on Sunday.

    “In Dikwa, the troops also recorded influx of 37 IDPs, comprising two men, 12 women, 12 boys and 11 girls from Gulumba Gana village which is about 45km astride Gulumba-Kumshe Road axis, Bama Local Government Area.

    “They were screened by the troops and the Civilian JTF who, later handed them over to the Dikwa IDPs camp management for further registration and rehabilitation,’’ Usman said.

    He said those deployed at Nigeria-Cameroon border in conjunction with Civilian JTF also arrested two escaping Boko Haram terrorists named Mohammed Mundilga and Ahmed Ali.

    “The terrorists, who hail from Gamboru Ngala Local Government Area on preliminary investigation confessed that they were Boko Haram fighters, and added that they sneaked into Gamboru from Abbaganaram village, Marte Local Government Area after being tired of staying in the bush.

    ‪”They, terrorists, attempted to disguise and pass on as IDPs but ran out of luck as they were found out. Both of them have been handed over to the Joint Investigation centre for further interrogation,’’ he said.

    ‪The army spokesman said troops also carried out clearance operation and fighting patrol at Wadama, Izakah, Gelemari and Kalizaram villages.

    ‪He said following information that terrorists were extorting residents of Zankari village, troops stationed in Monguno, responded and killed two of them, while one sustained gunshot wounds.

    ‪Usman said the troops recovered one AK-45 rifle and three rounds of 7.62mm ammunition from the insurgents.

    In a related development, Usman said the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) team led by Adam Zanna Karamma had visited Bama IDPs camp.

    He said the team registered internally displaced persons below 17 of age for distribution of non-food items, adding that they would be trained on skills acquisition and construction of temporary shelter.

  • Troops kill suspected cattle rustler in Katsina

    Troops of 35 Battalion, 1 Brigade Nigerian Army, on Friday killed a suspected cattle rustler on Tsambe-Fafare Road, Jibia local government area of Katsina State.

    A statement issued by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col.Sani Usman, on Saturday said the troops were in a joint patrol with Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ((NSCDC), Katsina State, under operation “SHARAN DAJI.”

    He said the operation followed intelligence reports that three gunmen were sighted on motorcycles in the area.

    Usman said the troops swung into action and pursued the suspected armed bandits towards Dumburu forest in Zamfara.

    “The troops killed one of the suspected cattle rustlers and armed bandits, while the other two escaped with gunshot wounds,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the army spokesman as saying in the statement.

    Items recovered by the troops included an AK-47 rifle with registration number 1985PS6288, additional AK-47 rifle magazine and three rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition.

  • Troops arrest fleeing Boko Haram members in Borno

    Troops of the Operation Lafiya Dole have arrested four members of the Boko Haram sect who claimed they were about to surrender.

    The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said the insurgents were arrested as soldiers acting on information from an arrested Boko Haram member, Lawan Abbai, cleared out landmines and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted along military supply routes at Gombori, Borno State.

    The troops also rescued five women and a baby from Boko Haram terrorists at the same general area.

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  • Troops dislodge terrorists, cattle rustlers in two states

    Troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE accompanied by members of civilian Joint Task Force on Monday night thwarted attempts by Boko Haram terrorists to attack Yauri Community in Maiduguri, Borno State.

    The Army Spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, said the attack took place at about 8:00pm on Monday.

    In the encounter, the troops killed five insurgents and recovered two AK-47 rifles, one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), one 60mm Mortar Tube, one Fabrique Nationale (FN) rifle, two Dane Guns, two AK-47 rifle magazines, two FN rifle magazines, 131 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition, 31 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunitions, a 60mm Bomb and N31, 275.00 from the terrorists.

    Usman added that the troops of 1 Division, Nigerian Army, carried out anti-cattle rustling operations in Zamfara same day and destroyed suspected armed bandits’ hideouts in some forests in the state.

    He said the troops carried out the raids at Batara and Ajah forests in Birnin Magaji and Gusau local government areas of Zamfara.

    The army spokesman said, “Although the armed bandits fled the camps, the troops destroyed the camps, recovered three motorcycles and two mobile telephone handsets. They further raided Rimawa forest in Gusau local government area where they arrested two wanted armed bandits – Aliyu Abubakar and Umar Ibrahim.  In Bini village forest, Maru local government area, the troops also arrested a notorious and wanted armed bandits’ collaborator – Umar Dan Bilbili.”