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  • Why Wike declared war on me, by GOC

    The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham, has revealed why Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike declared war on him.

    According to him, he rejected the billions of naira offer from the governor to compromise the February 23 and March 9, general elections in Rivers.

    Maj.-Gen. Sarham, who doubles as the Land Component Commander of Operation Delta Safe, also described as bizarre and spurious allegations by the governor that he was involved in illegal bunkering and leaking the proceedings of the State Security Council meetings to criminals in the state, among others.

    In a statement yesterday the by Col. Aminu Iliyasu, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations of the 6 Division, Maj.-Gen. Sarham, condemned the unfounded and false allegations against him by the Rivers governor, a chieftain of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the video clip released on May 15 by  Simeon Nwakaudu (Wike’s Special Assistant on Electronic Media).

    The GOC said: “Wike’s resentment against me is based on my choice of professionalism and integrity over the billions of naira offered me by the Rivers State governor to compromise the 2019 general elections. My refusal to be bought over and the rejection of the hefty offer is the genesis of Wike’s hatred and vociferous criticisms of me.

    “Although, the Nigerian Army does not wish to take issues with the Rivers State governor, yet, it is important to strongly state that the allegations are false and figment of Governor Wike’s imagination. It is a deliberate effort to tarnish the towering image of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, and the GOC, 6 Division, Nigerian Army.

    “Needless to say that in response to many accusations against the 6 Division, already, some responsible good individuals and groups in Nigeria had exposed the antics of Governor Wike against the leadership of the 6 Division and the Nigerian Army.

    “It is imperative to state that the campaign of calumny against Maj.-Gen. Sarham and the Nigerian Army’s leadership by Governor Wike did not start today. On 22nd February, 2019, Governor Wike brazenly alleged that there was an attempt to exterminate his life by assassins organised by the GOC, 6 Division.

    “As weighty as the allegation was, we are yet to know any action taken by Mr. Wike that guarantees his safety. Mr. Wike has since failed to use civilized and legitimate options to prove his allegations against Maj.-Gen. Sarham.

    “On the mischievous accusation against Maj.-Gen. Sarham of leaking proceedings of State Security Council meetings to criminals in Rivers State, Mr. Wike knows well that Maj.-Gen. Sarham is not a member of the Rivers State Security Council, neither has he ever approached the gates of Rivers State Government House, since his assumption of office as the GOC, 6 Division.

    “Mr. Wike only came face to face with Maj.-Gen. Sarham on the 15th of January, 2019, during the 2019 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Parade at Isaac Boro Park, Port Harcourt.

    “The Nigerian Army wishes to challenge Wike to provide the public with any evidence of such meetings, with Maj.-Gen. Sarham in attendance.

    “Wike’s allegation against Maj.-Gen. Sarham’s selfish involvement in illegal oil bunkering is another reckless, spurious and mischievous accusation.

    “Hence, the headquarters of 6 Division wishes to request the Rivers Governor to take the most civilised way of putting up a petition to the relevant authorities, to make a point.”

    Maj.-Gen. Sarham also assured of the commitment of personnel of 6 Division to the protection of lives and property, as well as the protection of critical national infrastructure in its Area of Responsibility (AOR), for the benefit of the nation.

    The GOC declared that no amount of blackmail and area-boy gerrymandering would affect his resolve and commitment to discharge his roles professionally and in line with the vision of the chief of army staff.

    Wike had on May 15, during a visit by the Commander of Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Akinjide Akinrinade, to the Government House, berated the Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarhem, who he accused of running an illegal oil bunkering ring.

    He accused the GOC of engaging in the deal for the purpose of financing his quest to be appointed as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

    The governor declared that any attempt to appoint the GOC of 6 Division as the COAS would spell doom for the nation’s failing security architecture.

    Rivers governor said: “The GOC is doing illegal bunkering, which he is using to finance his quest to emerge as the country’s Chief of Army Staff. He has his own team that is making money for him, through oil bunkering.”

    Wike also accused the GOC of compromising security in the state, saying “we will have a security meeting and he will release the details to criminals. And the Chief of Army Staff will leave the man here, because he is playing their role.

    “How will security of the state be with such a man as the GOC? He will compromise when fighting to reduce crime. They sent us a GOC who destroyed the security architecture of the state.”

    Rivers governor wondered what the Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe would do when they encountered the illegal oil bunkering team of the GOC, 6 Division, claiming that Rivers people stopped the GOC and his “accomplices” from imposing a governor on the state during the last general elections.

    He said: “A man came to plot coup. The people resisted him for plotting coup. You want to impose a party that has no candidate for National Assembly and State Assembly elections on the people. How will such a party win the governorship election? A party that nobody has seen their posters, Rivers people said no.

    “He (GOC) has result sheets. Let him bring the result sheets to the tribunal. Army now has result sheets. That is now part of their mandate.”

    Wike assured the Joint Task Force Commander that the Rivers government would support the operations to ensure that they adequately defend the Niger Delta, especially Rivers State.

    “Anybody who wants to help us fight crime, I will support.  I will never support those involved in illegal refineries,”, he said.

  • GOC: thugs will be dealt with

    The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham, has declared that personnel of the division will  deal with political thugs in Rivers State and other parts of Niger Delta.

    He made the declaration yesterday in Port Harcourt through 6 division’s Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Aminu Iliyasu.

    The 6 Division covers Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states.

    The GOC said: “Credible intelligence available to Headquarters 6 Division, Nigerian Army has uncovered an unholy plan by some political actors within its Area of Responsibility (AOR) to arm and sponsor miscreants, in addition to using military-like fatigue dress for deception to cause pandemonium at polling stations for their political gain.

    “While covert efforts are ongoing to track the source of the weapons and the agents involved, in conjunction with sister security agencies, authorities of 6 Division wish to unequivocally state that anyone found to be disrupting the electoral process, under any guise, will be decisively dealt with, in accordance with the laws, no matter how highly placed he or she is.”

    Maj.-Gen. Sarham also reassured the “good people” of Niger Delta of providing adequate security, in conjunction with other security agencies, before, during and after this year’s general elections.

    The GOC lauded the Niger Delta indigenes for the cooperation and assistance rendered to the division, particularly in information dissemination. He urged them to do more.

  • Polls: Army GOC threatens Wike, PDP with legal action

    —Demands unreserved apology, withdrawal of frustrating statements within 72 hours or face legal action

    THE General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham, has berated Governor Nyesom Wike and other members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers over their reckless comments against the 6 Division and its personnel.

    Maj.-Gen. Sarham also demanded an unreserved apology from Wike and theCommissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah, a lawyer, who doubles as the Director of Information and Communications of Rivers PDP Campaign Council, as well as the withdrawal of the offensive and frustrating statements within 72 hours or face legal action.

    The 6 Division covers Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states in the Niger Delta.

    Okah, yesterday in an online statement, accused a Senior Officer of 6 Division, Brig.-Gen. Nasiru Najaja, who is the Commander, 6 Military Intelligence Brigade, of allegedly tampering with sensitive electoral materials in Port-Harcourt and planning to rig Presidential and National Assembly elections in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The GOC, through 6 Division’s Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, said: “The attention of Headquarters 6 Division, Nigerian Army, has been drawn to some unscrupulous and wicked assertions by one Barr. Emma Okah, who claims to be the Director of Information and Communications of PDP Rivers State, in a statement he issued and published in an online medium.

    “In the most bizarre and slanderous statement, Emma Okah criminally and frivolously accused the person of a respected professional, Brig.-Gen. Nasiru Najaja, the Commander 6 Military Intelligence Brigade, to the effect that the senior officer was prevented access to the Port Harcourt Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) premises by some so-called PDP members, who stopped him from tampering with sensitive electoral materials. Okah went ahead to brazenly accuse the institution of the 6 Division for planning to rig the election in favour of another political party.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, as part of the Nigerian Army’s constitutional responsibility of aiding civil authority and our mandate to safeguarding key points and vulnerable points of our dear nation, troops of 6 Division were accordingly deployed and further reinforced at various locations, including the CBN, Port Harcourt, where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) usually deposits sensitive materials before, during and after elections.

    “Brig.-Gen. Najaja, as the Coordinator of all deployments, was at the CBN, Port Harcourt and other locations to assess the level of troops’ deployment and alertness. This deployment must have thwarted Mr. Okah’s sinister plans and that of his paymasters, thereby making such frustrating statements.

    “Emma Okah and his cohorts are advised to henceforth restrict their politicking to themselves and avoid dragging the respected institution of the Nigerian Army and its personnel for cheap popularity. The 6 Division and indeed the Nigerian Army have over time reiterated and genuinely demonstrated our neutrality and apolitical posture and will continue to play our constitutional mandates responsively and professionally, despite the distractions.

    “The 6 Division wishes to categorically demand an unreserved apology and withdrawal of the slanderous statements by Emma Okah against the Nigerian Army and the person of Brig.-Gen. Nasiru Najaja within 72 hours, failure of which will lead to institution of legal proceedings.”

    Maj.-Gen. Sarham also reassured the good people of Rivers State and the crude oil and gas-rich Niger Delta region of the 6 Division’s unflinching resolve to protect lives and property, in conjunction with other security agencies, for a conducive atmosphere in the entire region.

    The GOC also hailed the people of Rivers State and the Niger Delta for their continued support and cooperation with the division in the area of provision of useful and timely information, which he said greatly assisted the operations of the division, while urging them to do more.

     

  • Photos: Ooni welcomes new wife to palace

    Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has welcomed his new Olori into his palace in Ife, Osun state.

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  • Army seeks collaboration with security agencies to tackle insurgency

     The Nigerian Army has called for closer collaboration with security agencies in Borno, to facilitate successful implementation of the counter-insurgency campaign.

    Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, the Director, Army Public Relations, in a statement issued on Saturday in Maiduguri, quoted Brig.-Gen. Bulama Biu, the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division, as making the call at a meeting with heads of security agencies in the state.

    According to the statement Biu called for synergy and cooperation towards evolving new strategies in the ongoing fight against insurgency and other sundry crimes.

    Biu stressed the need for routine interaction between stakeholders with a view to strengthen cooperation, intelligent and information sharing among them.

    Read Also:Missing General: Army clarifies rumour on military operations

    While commending the agencies for discharging their duties effectively, Biu called for proactive measures to review strategies to meet the security challenges occasioned by the political transition period.

    Biu reminded the agencies of the need to be proactive so as not to allow breach of peace and checkmate unholy political gatherings.

    The meeting was attended by the Commissioner of Police, Mr Damian Chukwu, Comptroller of Customs, AB Abdullahi, and the Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ibrahim Abdullahi.

    Others were Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ijafaru Bukar, and Comptroller, Nigerian Immigration Service, Abdulfattah Adamu, among others.

  • Army assures farmers of security

    The Nigerian Army has pledged to guarantee the safety of farmers in Borno, to enhance the production of paddy rice and other food crops.

    Brig. Gen. Texas Chukwu, Director, Army Public Relations, in a statement issued on Thursday in Maiduguri, quoted Brig. Gen. Bulama Biu, the Acting General Commanding Officer (GOC), 7 Division, Maiduguri as making the pledge when members of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) paid him a courtesy visit in Maiduguri.

    The statement quoted Biu as saying that the army would provide security to farmers to enable them cultivate their farmlands and ensure their safety to encourage agricultural activities.

    Biu noted that rice farmers were critical partners in ensuring food security for sustainable social and economic development in the country.

    He tasked farmers to be law-abiding and ensure that they followed due-process in the discharge of their business.

    In his remarks, Alhaji Bulama Mohammed, the chairman of the association, lauded the military over the successes recorded in the counter-insurgency campaign in the northeast.

    Mohammad sought the support of the military to ease movement of the produce to the market.

  • Your sacrifices will not be in vain, GOC assures troops

    Maj.-Gen Muhammad Muhammad, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division, Nigerian Army, has assured troops serving in Operation Zaman Lafiya Dole in the Northeast that their sacrifices will not be in vain.

    Also, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has tasked officers and men engaged in the fight against insurgency and banditry to ensure strict professionalism in their dealings.

    Muhammad gave the assurance yesterday when he visited some wounded soldiers and officers of the operation at 44 Reference Hospital, Kaduna.

    He said in Operation Zaman Dole ward, where the 106 wounded personnel were receiving treatment: “We are here because of this Sallah (Eid-el-fitr) period.

    “A lot of us are out there enjoying the Sallah, unknown to us there are some of our colleagues, who are not able to.

    “The only way to make them feel that they belong to the society is to be with them and share with them so that we give them that sense of belonging and comfort them.

    “Because some of them don’t have limbs, others are with so many challenges; it is by this we comfort them.

    “If we don’t also address them this period of time, it means we have abandoned them. We assure them that their sacrifices are not in vain that is why we are here.’’

    Muhammad assured the personnel that in the next visit, the army would do all within its resources to alleviate their sufferings.

    “Those of them that are in need of immediate evacuation, we will also make concrete steps to make it known to the army authority that this particular patient needs particular attention.

    “You could see from the degree of their ailments, some of them need to be prioritised and based on availability of funds, they will be channelled to the respective medical facilities for medical care,” he said

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), during the visit, the GOC donated 10 cartoons of noodles, 10 cartons of sardine, 20 cartons of biscuits, sugar, beverages, among others to the patients.

    Air Marshal Abubakar while while playing host to members of the Air Component of “Operation Lafiya Dole” at Eid El-Fitr lunch at the Yola Air Force Base expressed satisfaction with the troop.

    Represented by the Commander of the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole, AVM Idi Lubo, the air chief said he was satisfied with the commitment shown by the Force in the fight against insurgency and urged officers to sustain the tempo.

    He said the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) remained committed to supporting ground troops in ensuring total elimination of the insurgents and bandits.

    He extended the goodwill message of the President and Commander in Chief to the troops and assured them of sustained support in areas of equipment and welfare to continue to deliver in containing security challenges.

    The commander of the Yola NAF Base, Air Commodore Anthony Ndace, lauded the CAS for the lunch, which he described as part of gesture to motivate officers and men.

    He listed the recent launch of accommodation quarters and other projects in the base by the CAS and assured him of personnel loyalty and commitment toward discharging their duties.

    He noted that “This shows commitment of the CAS to motivate personnel. We, the commanders are learning on your exemplary leadership.

    “I want to pledge our loyalty to the President and Commander in Chief, and to assure you of our total commitment to the discharge of our assigned tasks.”

     

     

  • ‘GOC not involved’

    The 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna yesterday denied the alleged involvement of soldiers in the demolition of the Kaduna State secretariat of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    The denial followed a call by the affected faction of the APC for the removal of Division’s GOC over alleged partisanship.

    A statement by Col. Muhammad Dole, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations,, denied that soldiers were involved in the demolition of the APC secretariat early Tuesday in Kaduna.

    “The allegation and the attempt to drag the Nigerian Army into the issue of demolition is yet another baseless and unsubstantiated claim to malign the hardworking, loyal and professional officers and soldiers of 1 Division Nigerian Army and discredit them.

    “Contrary to claims, the troops of 1 Division have not been involved in any illegal activity of either harassment of politicians or demolition of their properties in Kaduna and its environs.

  • NAF denies Amnesty International’s allegation of human rights abuses

    NAF denies Amnesty International’s allegation of human rights abuses

    ‘The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has denied that it is involved in human rights abuses during the herdsmen/farmers clashes in Numan general area of Adamawa as alleged by the Amnesty International.

    NAF, in a statement by its Spokesman, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, described the entire allegations by the international body as “lies.’’

    Adesanya explained that on Dec. 4, 2017, NAF was called in by the GOC 3 Division to provide support to troops in curtailing farmers/herdsmen crisis in Numan, Adamawa.

    According to him, the support is in form of “show of force low-level flights.’’

    “To set the records straight, in the early hours of Dec. 4, 2017, a NAF Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance ( ISR ) platform departed Maiduguri to conduct ISR over Numan general area.

    “This was in response to a request by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Armoured Division of the Nigerian Army, following reports of clashes around that location.

    “ Hundreds of people, mostly dressed in black attires, and who appeared armed, were sighted ransacking and setting a village on fire.

    “ In addition, the hoodlums set large portions of farmlands ablaze.

    “Furthermore, some of the men were seen guiding livestock out of the village.

    Read Also:  NAF  kills Boko Haram fighters in Sambisa

    “Consequently, a NAF aircraft was called in to support the Nigerian Army and other relevant security agencies through ‘show of force’ low-level flights,’’ Adesanya said

    He explained that the action of the NAF was aimed at dispersing the huge crowd and thereby stopping the ongoing carnage.

    The spokesman, however, added that after several low passes, the crowd was undeterred and refused to disperse.

    “Rather, the assailants started firing shots at the aircraft and continued with their dastardly act of burning houses within the settlement.’’

    According to him, the aircraft, therefore has to fire shots ahead of the rampaging crowd when it became obvious that they were heading for Numan to inflict further damage.

    The intervention, he said made the hoodlums to scatter and fled to a nearby bridge.

    “Other low passes were conducted by NAF aircraft over the area to prevent the regrouping of the hoodlums around Numan and other villages.

    Adesanya further explained that the hoodlums had set several villages on fire and much destruction had taken place before the arrival of NAF aircraft.

    “Nevertheless, the intervention of the NAF proved decisive in putting an end to the hoodlums’ rampaging activities,’’ he said.

    Adesanya said it was unfortunate that an organisation of the “stature of Amnesty International would believe a ridiculous story that the pilot of an aircraft flying at a high speed would be able to distinguish between a herdsman and a local farmer before deciding which one to bomb.”

    “ Indeed, at the time the NAF intervened in the crisis around Numan on Dec. 4, 2017, there were no two distinguishable groups clashing.

    “Rather, only one group of hoodlums was seen unleashing mayhem on villages near Numan.

    “At no time did the NAF Spokesman identify the hoodlums as herdsmen, as the pilots could not have possibly determined the identities of the hoodlums from thousands of feet in the air.

    “It is significant to note that without the timely intervention of the NAF, nothing would have stopped the huge mass of hoodlums from burning down Numan, where they were obviously heading.

    “ Had they succeeded, they would have killed several individuals and burnt or destroyed more properties.

    “It is better imagined how many more lives would have been lost without the timely and wise intervention of the NAF.

    “It is the responsibility of the NAF to defend Nigerian lives and the NAF could not have simply watched while lives were being taken and properties destroyed.

    “ It is regrettable that Amnesty International never made any attempt to find out NAF’s account of the events of the said date before making its allegations.

    “The report by Amnesty International is therefore deemed to be unfair, one-sided and apparently aimed at embarrassing the NAF.’’

    He described the NAF as “a highly professional organisation, which places high value on respect for human rights.’’

    NAN

  • Army 81 Division gets new GOC

    Army 81 Division gets new GOC

    Maj.-Gen. Enebong Udoh on Friday formally took over as the General Officer Commanding ( GOC ) 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, the Reporter reports.

    At a brief ceremony held at the Division’s Headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos, Udoh’s predecessor, Maj.-Gen. Peter Dauke, handed over the division’s flag to the new GOC after signing the handing and taking over notes.

    Reporter reports that the highlight of the occasion was the inspection of quarter guard where the old flag was lowered and the new one hoisted.

    In his remarks, the outgoing GOC thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, for the opportunity given to him to serve in the division.

    “I had an interesting time working with the commanders, staff and officers of the division.

    Read Also: GOC to Nigerians: pray for military men fighting Boko Haram

    “I give God the glory for the peaceful environment within my seven month stay.

    “We overcome every challenge that crossed our path and I enjoin everyone to cooperate with the new GOC,” he said.

    Earlier, the new GOC said he would do everything in his powers to improve on what his predecessor did.

    Until his posting to 81 Division, Udoh was the GOC 6 Division of the Nigerian Army.

    The outgoing GOC is now the Deputy Commandant at the National Defence College, Abuja.

    NAN