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Tag: Col. Sani Usman

  • Troops recover cache of arms, ammunitions in Borno

    The Nigerian Army on Sunday said it had recovered cache of arms and ammunitions in Gamboru, Borno State.

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

    The statement said the troops conducted raids at Gamboru town early on Sunday morning following a tip off.

    “The troops recovered three AK-56 rifles and two AK-L rifles with registration numbers; AK-L-AGB 1172, AK-L PU2879, AK-56-2556688, AK-56-22622832 and AK-56-22622315, respectively,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the army spokesman as saying in the statement.

    “They also recovered 235 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition and seven AK-56 rifle magazines.

    “The Nigerian Army wishes to commend those good citizens that alerted the military for the timely and useful information that led to this recovery.

    “This is the type of cooperation and support we always require from citizens of this country to enable us clear the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists.

    “We wish to reiterate the need for all to be more vigilant, security conscious and report any suspicious movements or persons to the nearest security agency.”

    The statement added that troops on Operation LAFIYA DOLE on Saturday night carried out successful ambush against Boko Haram terrorists at a crossing point off Damboa road.

    “The ambush party decisively dealt with the terrorists riding on bicycles at a crossing point off Damboa-Kubwa Road towards Multe village axis.

    “The team killed one terrorist, while others escaped with gunshot wounds.

    “The troops recovered one AK-47 rifle with registration number 565907530 and14 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, a wooden Dane Gun shaped to the resemblance of an AK-47rifle, one fabricated double-barrelled pistol and four bicycles,’’ the statement said.

  • 19 soldiers, three others wounded in Boko Haram ambush

    The Nigerian Army on Thursday said 19 soldiers and three civilian joint task force members were wounded in a Boko Haram ambush at Guro Gongon village, Borno.

    A statement issued in Abuja by Army spokesman, Sani Usman, said an undisclosed number of insurgents were killed during gun duel with troops.

    He said the incident occurred while the troops were returning to their defensive positions after a clearance patrol at Guro Gongon village and environs.

    Usman said while the wounded soldiers were responding to treatment, a search and rescue party comprising Special Forces personnel had been dispatched to the area to find missing soldiers.

    “Today morning, troops destroyed the terrorists’ makeshift camps and recovered quite a number of weapons, equipment and foodstuff in the process.

    “The recovered items include one Gun truck mounted with an Anti-Aircraft Gun, a MOWAG Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), one Rocket Propelled Grenade Tube, one Light Machine Gun, three AK-47 rifles and motorcycles.

    “However, the gallant soldiers who are basking on the success recorded in the operation, while returning to their defensive locations, ran into ambush mounted by a group of Boko Haram terrorists who came to reinforce their fleeing comrades.

    “The troops fought back gallantly, killing several insurgents. However, 19 soldiers and three civilian JTF members were wounded, while a few others were missing in action,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the army spokesman as saying in the statement.

     

  • Troops kill 42 Boko Haram fighters in Borno

    … Rescue 38 women, 42 children

    The Nigerian Army on Thursday said 42 Boko Haram insurgents were killed during a clearance operation conducted by troops at Garere village, Kukawa local government area of Borno State.

    The Army spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, disclosed this in a statement in Maiduguri, the state capital.

    Usman added that 80 hostages comprising 38 women and 42 children were rescued during the operation carried out on Tuesday evening.

    He said the operation followed an intelligence report on the convergence and massing up of the insurgents in the area.

    He said the intelligence report revealed that insurgents were planning attacks on communities in the area.

    “The operation tagged “Operation TIGER CLAW” followed a confirmed intelligence report on the convergence and massing up of dislodged Boko Haram terrorists at Garere village in Kukawa,”  the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the army spokesman as saying in the statement.

    “The intent was to carry out attacks on some isolated communities but troops on fighting and clearance patrol Code-named “Operation TIGER CLAW” on Tuesday swooped on the terrorists.

    “During the operation, 42 Boko Haram terrorists were killed, while unconfirmed number of the insurgents escaped with gunshot wounds.

    “Similarly, 38 women and 42 children held captives were rescued from the insurgents.”

    Usman said the women and children were taken to the military medical facility in Baga for medical check up.

    He said the patrol team also recovered 504 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition, 162 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, one Land Cruiser Jeep, 34 Jerry cans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).

    Usman said 55 motorcycles used by the insurgents were also demobilised during the operation.

  • Troops kill 19 insurgents in Borno

    The Nigerian Army said on Saturday that it had killed 19 suspected Boko Haram insurgents, including one of their commanders during a “clearance operations” in Chukungudu village and surrounding communities in Borno.

    The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement in Maiduguri that the operation followed the receipt of credible information on the presence of the camps and facilities of the insurgents in the village.

    He said a carefully planned and deliberate attack, comprising troops of 22 Brigade Garrison, 153 Task Force Battalion of 7 Division, 8 Task Force Division, Nigeria Air Force Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) and some Civilian JTF, was carried out.

    “While advancing to the location, the troops encountered Boko Haram terrorists ambush positions at Muskari, Gilam and Hausasi, before descending on their main objective at Chukungudu.

    “During the encounter at the camp, the troops killed 19 Boko Haram terrorists, including their notorious leader in the area called Ameer Abubakar Gana,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted Usman as saying in the statement.

    He said the troops also uncovered and destroyed Improvised Explosive Devises (IEDs) making factory during the operation.

  • Troops rescue 247 Boko Haram captives, capture 77 terrorists

    The Nigerian Army said on Wednesday said troops prosecuting the war against Boko Haram in the North East have rescued 247 people taken hostage by terrorists in the region.

    The troops also arrested 77 Boko Haram fighters during raids on the terrorists’ hideouts in Borno State.

    The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement on Wednesday that captives were rescued by the troops of the 81 Battalion, the 251 Task Force Battalion, and 25 Task Force Brigade on May 30.

    He said, “Nigerian troops deployed in Operation Lafiya Dole and their neighbouring counterparts under the Multinational Joint Task Force have been very busy clearing the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in their respective areas of responsibilities.

    “In the process, they were able to rescue quite a number of abducted persons, arrested suspected Boko Haram terrorists and recovered weapons and equipment. “

  • Troops kill cattle rustlers in Zamfara

    Soldiers from 1 Division, Nigerian Army, have killed two notorious cattle rustlers suspected to have killed seven persons in Bungundu local government area of Zamfara State.

    The Army Director of Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said the action was to intensify clearance operations against cattle rustlers and armed bandits in Kaduna and Zamfara States.

    Usman said the troops also arrested five armed bandits earlier declared wanted by army authorities and recovered arms and ammunitions from them.

    “The troops also conducted a clearance operation in Kuduru, Birnin Gwari local government area of Kaduna State where they arrested five cattle rustlers, recovered arms and ammunitions and then destroyed the armed bandits’ camps,” he stated.

  • Troops capture nine Boko Haram fighters in Borno

    … Kill three

    Troops fighting Boko Haram militants in Borno State on Sunday captured nine members of the sect hiding in fox holes in the state.

    The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement on Monday that the troops of the 22 Brigade Garrison, captured the insurgents during a clearance operation at terrorists’ hideouts of Cinga, Mallum Maja, Bosuma and Murye villages.

    Usman, who said three insurgents were killed by the troops, claimed the sect members were terrorizing innocent villagers with dangerous weapons before the operation.

    He said troops recovered from the insurgents, nine dane guns, three machetes, one bow with arrows, six motorcycles used by the Boko Haram terrorists to ferry slaughtered cow meats to terrorists’ hideouts, one tricycle, four Tiger generators and one solar panel.

    He said, “In compliance with the military high command’s directive which is to ensure that all villages and towns are cleared of remnants of Boko Haram terrorists, troops of 22 Brigade Garrison in Operation Lafiya Dole, on Sunday, May 1, 2016 cleared four villages of Boko Haram terrorists hiding in the area.

    “The terrorists hibernating in Cinga, Mallum Maja, Bosuma and Murye villages, were armed with dangerous weapons and have been terrorizing the communities. During the operations, three Boko Haram terrorists were killed, while nine of them who tried hiding in foxholes and dug outs were identified and captured alive.”

  • Army uncovers Boko Haram’s new mode of dressing

    Army uncovers Boko Haram’s new mode of dressing

    The Nigerian Army said on Tuesday that its troops had uncovered Boko Haram’s new mode of dressing and means of identification.

    This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman.

    According to the Army spokesman, Boko Haram fighters are now identified with uniform made of green-colour material and use of ropes on their legs and neck.

    Usman said the discovery was the latest development in the ongoing clearance operation against remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East.

    He said troops of 22 Brigade Garrison and 3 Battalion made the discovery on Monday while on a long range fighting patrol of Gima village in Ngala Local Government Area of Borno.

    Usman said the troops came in contact with some elements of the Boko Haram insurgents in the area who scampered to safety on sighting the team.

    He said the team was, however, able to apprehend two terrorists in their new-styled uniform during the operation at Gima village.

    He added that the patrol team recovered one Isuzu Canter lorry which was concealed with grasses, five motorcycles and two bags of gunieacorn.

    The Army spokesman listed other items recovered in the operation as three Dane guns, a solar panel, three bows and arrows, among others.

    He said the arrested suspected insurgents were currently being interrogated to further assist in the clearance operation.

  • Army parades fake colonel, serving soldiers

    The Nigerian Army on Friday paraded a fake colonel, Mr. Prince Onyemauche and three serving soldiers who until their arrest had indulged in fraudulent activities in different parts of the country.

    The Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, made the announcement at a news conference in Abuja, where the suspect was paraded.

    Usman said the suspect was arrested in Gwagwalada on February 17 alongside three soldiers, including one Staff Sergeant Jacob Philip, by troops of 176 Special Forces Guards Battalion.

    He said the suspect had earlier escaped being caught at an Abaji military checkpoint where he claimed to be a colonel in the Nigerian Army.

    Usman said the suspect was arrested with one vehicle and other items including a rifle, a Luger pistol, several rounds of ammunition and cell phones among others.

    “The suspect was driving a grey-coloured Toyota Tacoma Pick-up van with registration number Lagos LSD 05 BM at the time of his arrest.

    “The suspects were moved to Gwagwalada barracks where a search was conducted on the Toyota Tacoma van.

    “Items found in the vehicle include an AK 47 rifle and four magazines, out of which two were empty, while the other two were loaded with 42 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

    “Others include a Luger pistol, 21 x 9mm parabellium ammunition, six cell phones, one Samsung galaxy tablet, 12 cheque booklets, six ATM cards and the sum of N1, 011,300,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the army spokesman as saying on Friday.

    Usman said investigation revealed that the suspect had been illegally using soldiers as escorts while travelling outside Lagos to his village in Imo and sometimes to Abuja.

  • Army commutes soldiers’ death sentence

    Army commutes soldiers’ death sentence

    The Nigerian Army on Saturday commuted the death sentence handed to 66 soldiers earlier this year to 10 years imprisonment.

    The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said this in a statement on Saturday.

    The 66 out of 72 soldiers tried for mutiny and other charges were sentenced to death by firing squad by military special courts between January and March this year.

    The statement said the cases of other soldiers were being reviewed and would be made public once the reviews are completed.

    The decision to commute the soldiers’ sentence, the statement said, was taken after thorough consideration of petitions by concerned citizens.

    The petitions caused the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, to order a legal review of the cases, it added.

    The statement reads:

    “The soldiers were arraigned on several count charges that include criminal conspiracy, conspiracy to commit mutiny, mutiny, attempt to commit an offence (murder), disobedience to particular orders, insubordinate behaviour and false accusation, among others.

    “They were tried, discharged on some charges but found guilty and convicted on other charges which included mutiny. Out of the number, 66 were found guilty on some of the count charges and sentenced to death, while five were discharged and acquitted and one was given 28 days imprisonment with hard labour.

    “The directive was carried out to examine the merit of each case. It was on the basis of the review and recommendations that the Chief of Army Staff commuted the death sentence of the 66 soldiers to 10 years jail term. The sentences are to run concurrently.”