The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Maj.-Gen. John Enenche

  • IPOB: Kanu not in Military custody – Army

    IPOB: Kanu not in Military custody – Army

    The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said the various military operations going on across the country to deal with the various security challenges would be sustained, noting that Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) group, is not in military custody.

    Defence Spokesman, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, stated this at a news conference in Abuja on Friday.

    Enenche also said that the exercises were being carried out by the armed forces not only to tackle the challenges but to train personnel, adding that they were being done in line with best international practices.

    He declared the unalloyed loyalty of the military to the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Responding to questions, Enenche urged the citizens not to be alarmed in the face of the presence of the military in almost all parts of the country.

    He explained that they were assisting civil authorities to tackle emerging security threats.

    The defence spokesman noted that the emerging threats were not unexpected as the nation passes through various stages of development.

    According to him, some of the advanced countries have also passed these stages where their armed forces are called in to assist civil authorities to tackle security challenges.

    On the whereabouts of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Enenche maintained he was not in custody of the military as being insinuated in some quarters.

    On the quit notice issued to the Igbo by Arewa youths to leave the Northern part of the country on or before October 1, he said that the issue had been addressed by the political leadership.

    He, however, said that measures had been put in place to address any eventuality and assured the citizens that they were safe to live wherever they chose in the country to carry out their legitimate businesses.

     

  • Why NAF bombed displaced persons in Borno – DHQ

    Why NAF bombed displaced persons in Borno – DHQ

    The Defence Headquarters said on Friday that “lack of appropriate marking’’ caused the January 17 air strike by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) that killed several Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Rann, Borno State.

    Rann is the headquarters of Kala Balge local government area of Borno State.

    The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, who briefed journalists on the outcome of the Board of Inquiry set up to probe the air strike, listed other causes of the incident.

    He said the bombing was carried out because the location was not “reflected in the operational map as a humanitarian base.”

    Enenche said: “The main reason that caused the unfortunate airstrike near the IDPs camp at Rann was lack of appropriate marking of the area near the camp where the IDPs were struck.

    “Hitherto, people were not expected to amass at that location.

    “The normal pattern for Boko Haram terrorists before attacking innocent civilians and troops is to amass.

    “Hence, it appeared as a place that could equally be used for enemy activities.

    “Thus, when mass movement was noticed through aerial satellite observation, it was taken for Boko Haram terrorists’ activity, which needed to be neutralised with speed.

    “To avert future occurrence, all locations where humanitarian activities take place in the theatre of operation would be marked appropriately for ground and aerial identification in line with international best practices.’’

    “The board also recommended that geographical and spatial coordinates of all areas of humanitarian activities within the theatre should be forwarded to the Theatre Command Headquarters.

    “There should be timely and mandatory exchange of information between stakeholders, for all activities in the theatre of operation.”

    NAN

     

  • No coup plot against government – DHQ

    No coup plot against government – DHQ

    The Defence Headquarters said on Wednesday that there was no coup plot or any plan whatsoever to derail the present democratic government in the country.

    DHQ expressed unalloyed loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari as President and Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces and the constitution of Nigeria, saying the armed forces would not derail from protecting the nation’s democracy and completely subordinate themselves to civil rule.

    The Director of Defence Information at the Defence Headquarters, Maj. Gen. John Enenche, at a news conference in Abuja, said the clarification became necessary following the comments credited to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai and the reactions the comment generated across the country and the international community.

    He said : “What I am telling you on behalf of the Armed Forces of Nigeria is that nobody should be afraid of any coup, the armed forces is totally loyal to the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, and in complete subordination to civil authority.

    “At all levels of commands we are out there, including our troops and we will remain focus and conscious about the oath of allegiance that we have taken and guided by the constitution of this country. So that is my remarks to you to build on that and then reassure the general public that there is nothing like coup. Nothing like that would ever be supported or ever encouraged.

    “If there is a sign of anything like that, then there are instance and guiding rules and regulations and procedures which we normally follow and we want to assure Nigerians that we are not a different world on our own. We know what is happening all over the whole world, our armed forces, crops of officers and men we have are modern. We are in tune with the best international practice of governance and that is democracy, democracy and democracy.”

     

  • DDI wants strategic reportage of military activities

    The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, has urged the media to strategically report the activities of the military to impact positively not only on troops and Nigerians but also on the international community.

    Enenche, therefore, solicited for accurate and balance reportage of the activities of the armed forces.

    He made the appeal on Tuesday when he paid a courtesy visit to the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Bayo Onanuga in Abuja.

    Enenche, who was appointed the DDI on March 1, however, noted that NAN had been reporting the military well and urged the agency not to relent in doing that.

    “There is need that we package the news about the armed forces of Nigeria, the Army, Navy and Air Force, with a strategic perspective to have more impact on us and the international community.

    “This is good to encourage our troops in the various theatres of operations.

    “My courtesy call on you is predicated on just one thing and I will not talk too much; you are always a balanced reporter for the Armed Forces of Nigeria, which has done us a lot of good internationally, locally and operationally.

    “When you want to know the truth about the news churned out about the armed forces, to a large extent, monitor the News Agency of Nigeria,’’ he said.

    He stressed the need to highlight criminalities going in the North-East and Niger Delta.

    Responding, Onanugu assured that NAN would continue to give priority to the military in its reportage as it was a vital sector.

    “We will continue to partner with the armed forces as long as NAN exists. We so much consider the military important to our operations.

    “All of us know that without security there will be no nation. We have been trying as much as possible to report whatever happens in that sector – military as fairly as possible.

    “You are the armed forces, you are working for all of us in Nigeria, without the armed forces there will be no nation; some rag-tag forces would have overrun everywhere.

    “Count on us, we shall be there for you,’’ Onanuga further assured.

    The managing director, who commended the military for the feat they had achieved in the North-East and other trouble spots, however, lamented that it was being confronted by various security challenges.

    “I pity the Nigerian armed forces, you are living in a very troubled times and all kinds of challenges confronting the military, militancy in the Niger Delta, cattle rustling and others,’’ he said.

    Onanuga further promised that NAN would strengthen its coverage of the Niger Delta to serve as early warning sign to bring to the notice of government and military happenings in that area.