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Tag: Lafiya Dole

  • Air Force strikes Boko Haram in Borno

    The Nigerian Air Force said on Tuesday that it has carried out air strikes against Boko Haram terrorists at Auno, Borno State.

    It said in a statement that the attacks on the terrorists followed exchange of gunfire between ground troops and the terrorists throughout the night.

    The spokesman of the Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola explained that Boko Haram trucks were destroyed while several Boko Haram terrorists were neutralised.

    He said :”The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has destroyed some terrorists’ gun trucks in air strikes conducted at Auno in Borno State.

    ” The attacks were executed Tuesday, 7 January 2019, whilst providing close air support for ground troops who were responding to an attack on their location.

    Read Also: IGP appoints Lakanu as new Force secretary

    “The ATF scrambled a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet and an Mi-35M Helicopter Gunship, supported by an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, to locate and engage the group of terrorists’ gun trucks.

    “Overhead the target area, the ground troops were seen engaging the terrorists, who were in a convoy of gun trucks, in a fierce gun battle.

    “After deconfliction, the Alpha Jet and Mi-35M took turns in engaging the terrorists causing them to beat an immediate retreat. In the process, 3 gun trucks were hit and destroyed while several of their fighters were neutralized.

    “The ball of fire from exploding munitions in one of gun trucks was visibly seen. Some of the survivors, who were seen attempting to flee the location, were taken out in follow-on attacks. “

  • Air Force strikes Boko Haram base in Borno

    The Nigerian Air Force said on Thursday that it has launched air strikes against Boko Haram terrorists’ base and facilities in the northern part of Borno.

    It said the strikes resulted in the death of the insurgents who had gathered to attack Nigerian troops.

    According to a statement signed by the Director of Public Relations and information of the NAF, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, the attacks destroyed the terrorists’ logistic base and their vehicles at Tumbun Sale, a village in northern part of Borno State.

    Air Commodore  Daramola said :”The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has destroyed a Boko Haram Terrorist (BHT) logistics base, along with some vehicles, at Tumbun Sale in Northern Borno State.

    “The operation was conducted on 23 October 2018 after Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions revealed the presence of some BHT vehicles and several fighters camouflaged under thick vegetation within the area, where the BHTs had converged in order to launch attacks against own troops’ positions.

    Read Also: Boko Haram sacks two communities in Borno

    “Accordingly, the ATF scrambled 2 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet aircraft, supported by an ISR platform, to attack the target area in multiple waves.

    ” The first wave of attacks recorded direct hits on a suspected BHT ammunition/fuel dump, sending it up in flames.

    “Subsequent strikes also resulted in the destruction of some vehicles and neutralization of several BHTs. The few surviving BHTs, that were seen fleeing the area, were mopped-up in follow-on attacks.

    “The NAF, working in concert with surface forces, will sustain the tempo of operations with a view to destroying all remnants of the terrorists on the fringes of Lake Chad and other areas in Northern Borno. “

  • Military court martial: Two soldiers bag 10 yrs for abduction

    The on-going military court martial of soldiers of operation Lafiya Dole over violations of human right in the Theatre has sent two soldiers to ten years imprisonment.

    The President of the General Court Martial (GCM) 7 Division Nigeria of Army Brig. Gen. Olusegun Adesina while delivering judgement on Wednesday said the action of the soldiers was unlawful and against the ethics of the armed forces.

    The two soldiers were charged for abduction and forceful collection of money from innocent victims amounting to the sum of 1 million naria.

    Brig.Gen Adesina said the accuse were standing trial ” for 3 count charges include abduction of Alhaji Hassan on the 19th November, 2017 at his residents in Ruwan Shanfi area of Maiduguri to unknown location, forceful demand and reception of the sum of 1 million Naira after he was threatened as BHTs sponsor”.

    The soldiers confessed committing the offence.

    The soldiers further narrated that they “evaded the victim’s (Alhaji Hassan) house with a Honda 98 model and dragged the victim out and forcefully took him to Railway Area of Maiduguri, where he was threatened and tagged as Boko Haram sponsor and subsequently demanded N3m.

    “However, the victim begged and agreed to pay a million naira and then, he took the accused soldiers to his shop at Banban line district where he gave them N1m naira as promised”.

    In his judgment, Brig. Gen. Adesina said; ” having considered all pleadings by defense counsel, on 1st count charge, you Sergeant Aliyu Hassan and Corporal Nasiru Bello are hereby sentenced to 5 years in prison for abduction.

    Read Also: Wife of Malaysian’s former PM arrested by anti-graft agency

    “On count 2 charges that your rank from Sergeant has reduced to Corporal and also your rank from Corporal to private for illegal behavior on uniform; third count charge for extortion of 1 million naira from victims, you are are hereby sentenced to 5 years in prison respectively and service of term shall runs concurrently.” Brig. Gen. Olusegun Adesina read.

    The affected soldiers are Sgt Aliyu Hassan and Corporal Nasiru Bello.

    The Nation checks revealed that the General Court Martial in Maiduguri has imprisoned a number of soldiers for different offences for more than one year now.

  • Boko Haram: NAF Jets destroys meeting venue, Kill insurgents

    The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) disclosed on Monday that Boko Haram meeting place at Jabullam in Borno state has been destroyed with air strikes.

    The Spokesman of the NAF, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said in a statement that the strikes were conducted through the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole after an intelligence report had established the presence of the terrorists in the buildings.

    Air Commodore Daramola also said some terrorists were killed during the air strikes.

    The statement reads: ” The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has destroyed a Boko Haram Terrorist (BHT) meeting venue at Jabullam in Northern Borno State.

    “The attack was carried out on 28 September 2018 following credible human intelligence reports indicating that some buildings within the settlement were being used for meetings attended by BHT leaders.

    “Accordingly, following confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions which identified the target building and surrounding structures, the ATF detailed a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet aircraft, which attacked the location and recorded direct hits on the target leading to the obliteration of the building and neutralization of the BHT occupants. ”

    “The NAF, working in concert with surface forces, will sustain the momentum of operations with a view to destroying remnants of the terrorists in the fringes of Lake Chad and other areas in Northern Borno”.

     

  • Troops neutralise three terrorists in Borno

    The Nigerian Army said on Friday that three Boko Haram terrorists have been killed in Borno by troops of operation Lafiya Dole.

    The spokesman for the Army, Brig Gen Texas Chukwu said in a statement that some weapons were also recovered from the terrorists.

    The statement reads : “Troops of 151 Battalion deployed in Operation LAFIYA DOLE, has successfully neutralized three members of the Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) in the early hours of Wednesday, during an ambush along Banki Junction- Mayanti village in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.

    “Items recovered include

    Three AK 47 rifle.

    3 Magazines.

    32 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

    One motorcycle.

    Two Android phones.

    “Efforts are on by the troops to get the other fleeing members of the Boko Haram terrorists.”

  • Air Force bombs Boko Haram facility in Borno

    Kill scores of insurgents

    The Nigerian Air Force said on Tuesday that it has again bombed a training facility of the Boko Haram terrorists located in parts of Borno State.

    It added that several members of the insurgent group were killed during the air interdiction.

    A statement from the spokesperson of the Air Force, Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said the operations were carried out after its intelligence platform had established the presence of the terrorists in the area.

    The statement reads: “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has recorded further gains in the ongoing air interdiction operations designed to wipe out remnants of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) within the fringes of Lake Chad.

    “This occurred as the ATF on Monday, 20 August 2018, conducted air strikes on BHT camps at Zanari and Tunbun Rego in Borno State.

    Read Also: Borno denies Boko Haram attack on Alau Dam

    “The air strikes at Zanari were planned and executed based on intelligence reports indicating that the BHTs had established a training camp in the village and were converging in an area prior to departing for an attack on own troops locations around the Lake Chad area.

    “Accordingly, the ATF scrambled 2 NAF Alpha Jet aircraft for a pre-emptive strike on 2 specified locations within Zanari, where the BHTs were assembled.

    “The fighter aircraft acquired and attacked both locations, neutralizing several BHTs, with only few survivors seen fleeing the area. These were later mopped up by follow-on rocket strikes.

    “Similarly, another identified BHT rendezvous point and staging area on the outskirts of Tunbun Rego was also attacked and destroyed by the Alpha Jets.

    “The NAF will continue to deploy its platforms to conduct intensive Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions in the entire Northeast aimed at discovering the possible locations of remnants of BHTs and neutralizing them. “

  • Boko Haram: Theatre Commander seeks protection of troops’ human rights

    The Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Rogers Nicholas has called for the protection of the human rights of troops of Operation Lafiya Dole.

    According to the Theatre Commander, the rights of soldiers are also been violated by both members of the public and the insurgents but no one seems to be talking about it.

    Major General Rogers Nicholas who was receiving the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Mr. Tony Ojukwu who paid him a courtesy visit at the Theatre Command office in Maiduguri called on the commission to also address the various human right abuses meted to troops in the Theatre in the course of discharging their duties.

    Gen Roggers Nicholas who particularly took a swipe at Amnesty International for the alleged bias criticism of the Nigerian troops described as enemies of the nation those whose objectives according to him want to destabilize the troops and frustrate the fight against Boko Haram insurgents.

    He commended the Commission for taking interest in what the Command was  doing to change the negative narratives  associated with the fight.

    Earlier in his address, the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission, Mr. Tony Ojukwu said he was at the Theatre to partner with Command on mainstreaming human rights issue in the operations of the troops.

    Mr. Ojukwu said that the commission is more than ever ready to train the troops to respect the rights of the people and still do their work diligently.

    Commenting on the criticisms of the Amnesty International against the Nigerian  Army, Mr. Ojukwu said, “the Amnesty International as a watch-dog cannot be prevented from doing her job. My advise however is that you should be as transparent as possible with all your dealings so that you don’t give room for speculation.

    “You need to do your work properly by trusting us to help you. When we criticize you, you don’t get as agitated as when Amnesty International do. Why will you then get more worried with somebody that just jump into the country and go speak with some market women instead of we that are with you?,” Mr. Ojukwu asked.

    Highlights of the courtesy call was a visit to wounded soldiers at the military hospital in Maialari Barracks  and people in detention at Giwa Barracks by members of the commission.

  • Boko Haram: Military to clear Lake Chad for framing activities

    The military has announced its resolve to clear the Lake Chad Basin of Boko Haram remnants to pave way for the return of IDPs and the resumption of fishing and farming activities in the area.

    The Commander Operation Last hold of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Abba Dikko stated this at press briefing in Maiduguri.

    The briefing which was coordinated by the The Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Rogers Nicholas had in attendance all security agencies working in the theatre as well as International Non Governmental Organisations.

    According to Maj. Gen Dikko, the operation will be used as part of the Army Day Celebration for 2018 and would be used to facilitate the return of displaced people from the area to return to their farms and continue their normal lives.

    He informed that the operation will last for four months.

    While giving the details and objectives of the operation, Maj. Gen. Dikko said;

    “Undeterred by the mutating posture of the Boko Haram, the Nigerian Army is determined to consolidate on its recent gains in the ongoing push especially in the Northern most part of Borno. Accordingly, this year’s Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2018 will be commemorated with the conduct of an operation tagged Operation LAST HOLD in Northern Borno within the North East Theatre. The design is to deploy personnel and equipment to showcase the combat efficiency of the NA and thereafter conduct operations to totally destroy Boko Haram locations in the Lake Chad Basin general area.

    “Operation LAST HOLD is expected to last for 4 months and it will entail deployment of additional manoeuvre brigades and other critical assets in Borno State. The operation is intended to facilitate the clearance of the Lake Chad waterways of sea weeds and other obstacles obstructing the movement of boats and people across the water channels. It will also ensure the destruction of Boko Haram Terrorist camps and strong points in the Lake Chad Basin general area. The operation will also facilitate the rescue of hostages. The end-state of Operation LAST HOLD is the total defeat of the Boko Haram Terrorist Sect in northern Borno. This will pave way for the return of local administration and people to their responsibilities and communities. Strategically, the conduct of Operation LAST HOLD will facilitate the restoration of fishing, farming and other economic activities in the Lake Chad Basin. Additionally, it will facilitate the relocation of Internally Displaced Persons from IDP camps back to their communities.

    “Operation LAST HOLD is conceptualized to involve the conduct of population influence activities targeted to improve Civil-Military relations in the North East region. In this regard, law abiding members of the public in Northern Borno State are enjoined not to panic as their safety and well-being have been deliberately factored in the operation. The general public is requested to remain vigilant and be security conscious, as suspected insurgents may be fleeing from military operations in the North East and finding safe haven amidst our communities. The public is also reminded to report any suspicious activity or movement to the nearest military formation or other security agencies for prompt action;” Maj. Gen. Dikko explained.

    Read Also: Army in final push against Boko Haram

    Speaking on the Civil Military aspect of the operation, the Chief of Civil Military Affairs of the Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Nuhu Angbazo said the operation will be embedded with sensitization workshops, medical outreach services, moulding blocks for the local people to rebuild their houses etc, stressing that it is aimed at highlighting the humanitarian commitment of the Army to the civilian population.

    “It is designed to feature Nigerian Army’s humanitarian commitment and showcase the combat capability and equipment of the Nigerian Army and subsequently conduct operations to totally destroy Boko Haram Terrorist locations in the LAKE CHAD Basin.
    Accordingly, Civil Military Cooperation activities are embedded in OP LAST HOLD which will commence from 1 May – 8 Jul 18. Activities for NADCEL 2018 will include COAS Press Conference, combined Church Service/Juma’at Prayer in all Formations, Sanitation Exercises and Seminars/Workshops. There will be robust Civil Military Cooperation activities such as medical outreach, sanitation exercises, renovation/const of boreholes and town hall meetings tailored towards winning the hearts and minds of the civil populace within the theatre as well as facilitate the safe relocation of Internally Displaced
    Persons back to their homes.

    Additionally, the Nigerian Army Engineers will mould blocks using compressor machines and assist in building new homes for returnees at their various towns. The Nigerian Army will also cooperate with state governments and ministry of agriculture to assist in land clearing for planting during the planting season. It will provide protection throughout planting and harvest periods with patrols and escorts to ensure food sufficiency. The Nigerian Army Medical Corps will equally deploy medical resources fully to cover the period of the operation. Sanitation exercises in selected locations with large presence of civilians as well as town hall, security meetings and sensitization workshops with traditional rulers, religious leaders, village heads etc will also be held in the following locations:
    a. Monguno.
    b. Gajiran.
    c. Baga.
    d. Dapchi.
    e. Kukawa.
    f. Mallam Fatori.
    g. Gashage.
    h. Arege.
    i. Jilil.’, Gen Angbazo explained.

    He also announced that the state governments of Borno andb Yobe have shown interests to ensure the success of the operation.

    “Already, consultations have commenced with visits to the Borno and Yobe State Governments whom have shown enthusiastic interest in the activities lined up for this operation.
    A mini water project has also been commissioned in Gelengu, Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State. Similarly, consultations with Federal ministry of Agriculture and other relevant ministries are ongoing with the view to eliciting their active involvement in the rehabilitation and location of Internally Displaced Persons back to their communities.

    “The Nigerian Army recognizes the importance and role of the media not just in information dissemination but also for the crucial roles it plays in winning the hearts and minds of the civil populace. To ensure that the general public is carried along, and kept abreast with the activities of the Nigerian Army as regards NADCEL 2018 and OP LAST HOLD, the Nigerian Army has established a Media Operation Centre. The aim of this media centre is to ensure that clear information regarding Nigerian Army operations is passed across to the general public. To achieve this, there will be daily briefings and press releases throughout the duration of OP LAST HOLD leading to the NADCEL 2018 in line with operational objectives.

    “It is important for me at this point to inform the general public that the NADCEL 2018 is planned to be very unique and as such different from previous Celebration. Therefore, the activities to be carried out will very robust in line with the achievement of the operational endstate. Various activities will be simultaneously conducted at different locations as earlier stated and will culminate on the 6 Jul 18 with the grand finale of NADCEL 2018. I want to therefore assure you once again that the media will be carried along on these activities even as we draw nearer to 6 Jul 18. We therefore call on all well meaning Nigerians to support the Nigerian Army and its activities throughout this period.

    “The planned Civil Military Cooperation activities for OP LAST HOLD/NADCEL 2018 are expected to achieve both strategic and operational end states and are geared towards facilitating the quick return of Internally Displaced Persons to their ancestral homes as well as winning the hearts and minds of the civil populace in support of Nigerian Army operations. Let me also use this medium to call on all well-meaning Nigerians, Civil Society Organisation, International Non-Governmental Organisations and the private sector to support the Nigerian Army to ensure the successful return of Internally Displaced Persons to their ancestral homes,” he explained.

    In his remarks, the Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj Gen Roggers Nicholas called on the INGOs to take advantage of the operation and step up their activities and reach out to areas hitherto inaccessible.

    Maj. Gen Roggers also appeal to the INGOs and government to provide agricultural inputs for returnees to enable them carry out their farming activities.

  • Boko Haram: NSCDC deploys 50 personnel to Maiduguri

    Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps  (NSCDC) on Monday says it deployed 50 under-cover personnel to enhance security in Jiddari Polo area of Maiduguri to check security.

    The Commandant of the corps, Ibrahim Abdullahi, disclosed this in an interview with our reporter in Maiduguri.

    Abdullahi, who reassured residents of the area of safety, appealled to them to stop fleeing their homes because of the April 26 failed attack by Boko Haram.

    Suspected Boko Haram members on April 26 terrorised people of Jiddari Polo area of Maiduguri as they used heavy machines and guns while trying to penetrate into the state capital.

    The suspected terrorists were, however, repelled by troops of Nigerian Army as they engaged in hot battle around the cashew plantation on Maiduguri-Damboa road and overpowered the terrorists.

    As the battle went on, residents of Jiddari Polo were terrified and thousands scampered for safety as they flee to other places.

    The NSCDC commander, therefore, said “it was natural when something of that nature happened, people would be afraid but they should recall that the combined effort of security agencies on that day dealt with the situation.

    “The Theartre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Lt.-Gen. Rogers Nicholas, had already directed continued daily patrol to avert recurrence of attacks.

    “We call on the people to be security conscious and establish minimum security in their places of worship to forestall any sudden attack.

    “Also, the move by Borno Government to establish neighbourhood watch would go a long way in complementing the services of security agencies.

    “We also appeal to the media not to cause further damage in the psychy of residents who always depend on news stories as source of information.”

    The commandant said the aim of the insurgents was to instill fear, cause confusion and crippled commercial activities, saying “we want people to be courageous and not to give any chance to the insurgents.”

    NAN

     

  • Boko Haram: Three UNICEF staff declared persona non grata

    Three staff of UNICEF working in Maiduguri have been declared persona non grata by the Nigerian Army over spurious and false allegations on troops of operation Lafiya Dole.

    The three persons are: Priscillia Hoveyda, Maher Farea and Milen Kidane. The Nation findings gathered that all the affected staff are child protection specialists with UNICEF.

    In a statement signed by the Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Rogers Nicholas described as unfounded this is an allegation, adding that the allegations are made by enemies of the military and the Nigerian State.

    Some of the allegations brought forward were that the Nigerian military has raped over 20 girls in IDP camps in Borno State.

    The Theatre Commander regretted that , “It is curious that these allegations were coming at a time the military is at the verge of defeating the menace of Boko Haram Terrorists and bring their criminal activities to a final end”.

    Part of the statement reads; “The attention of the Theatre Commander has been drawn to spurious and malicious allegations of human rights violation in Operation LAFIYA DOLE.

    “The allegation falsely claimed that the Nigerian military is using children below the age of 18 years in the North East to fight Boko Haram. It also said that some boys being detained in Giwa Barracks are being use to cook, as messengers and porters.

    ” This is unfortunate that these allegations are not only untrue but also obviously targeted to malign Nigeria and tarnish the good image of our gallant military that has launched a renewed campaign to bring to an end the menace of terrorism in the country.

    “The persons who made the allegations have seen that the recent results achieved by the Military in decimating the Boko Haram Terrorists is yielding positive result.

    “They are not happy that Nigeria is at the verge of being totally liberated from the scourge of terrorism/insurgency in a very short while,” Gen. Rogers said.

    He also noted that the Military has no history and does not employ any under- age person to fight on its behalf or support it in whatever guise.

    “The Nigerian Military is a thoroughbred professional organization and upholds the fundamental rights of every citizen including children.

    “The Military will not condescend so low to resort to the use of under-age to fight for it. We are an organization that is guided by international best practices in all our undertakings and no amount of blackmail will distract us from our resolve to achieve our mandate of defeating the menace of Boko Haram in the country,” he explained.

    Speaking on the allegations of rape by the military, the Theatre Commander said, it is on record that no military personnel works or is deployed inside the IDP Camp within the Theatre of Operations.

    “The management and operations of such camps is solely the responsibility of the various NGOs working at such facilities and the para-military organizations that provide security at such camps.

    “In a few areas, the military is deployed on the outer perimeter to provide added security to enable workers at the camps to go about their duties without let or hindrance.

    “The military personnel deployed in such areas are under strict instructions not to interfere with activities at such camps but are only there to ensure no harm is brought to workers, IDPs or any person authorized to work in the camp.

    “It is therefore sad and unfortunate that somebody will sit down somewhere and concoct such false, baseless, unfounded and spurious allegation.

    “It is certain that the persons making such allegations are deliberate in their attempts to rubbish the successes achieved so far by the gallant military and will not succeed.

    “In recent times, the activities of the Boko Haram Terrorists have been nipped in the bud and their capacity for coordinated operations has been adequately curtailed.

    “The end of terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria is at the twilight end and enemies of Nigeria and the military are obviously unhappy at the successes and the efforts so far made by the military in the discharge of their responsibilities in the most professional and patriotic manner.

    “We urge the general public to disregard such malicious allegations and continue to support the military to completely rid the country of any act terrorism/insurgency.

    “We assure all well meaning Nigerians that their security, safety and dignity are paramount in our collective effort to bring to a conclusive end, the ménace of Boko Haram.

    “The military has and will remain professional in the discharge of its mandate and will not be distracted by enemies of the country and its military.

    “Consequently upon the foregoing, the following persons working for UNICEF are hereby declared persona non grata in the North East. They are: a. Priscillia Hoveyda. b. Maher Farea. c. Milen Kidane,” Gen. Rogers declared.

    In the mean, a senior staff of UNICEF who spoke on condition of anonymity said “UNICEF is not speaking to the press on the matter. We are trying to resolve the problem at our level. The military is a strategic partner of UNICEF and we cannot engage in a media war with them”.