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Tag: Mansur Dan-Ali

  • Buhari, security chiefs meet over herdsmen/farmers clashes

    Buhari, security chiefs meet over herdsmen/farmers clashes

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met with security chiefs towards tackling the herdsmen and farmers clashes in the country.

    The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.

    According to him, several issues including the country’s security challenges were discussed at the meeting.

    He blamed the blockage of grazing routes for the recurring clashes between herdsmen and farmers in several parts of the country.

    The minister also disclosed that Nigeria is planning to buy jets from the United States.

    He said his ministry and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) would set up a committee to work out the modalities for the transformation of the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons to a National Commission.

     

     

     

  • Joint military operation with Cameroon ongoing in North East – Dan-Ali

    Joint military operation with Cameroon ongoing in North East – Dan-Ali

    A joint military operation involving the armed forces of Nigeria and Cameroon is currently ongoing in the North East, the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, has said.

    Dan-Ali stated this during chat with journalists after the Juma’at service at the National Mosque, Abuja, to mark the 2018 Armed Forces Day.

    He said the joint operation was aimed at flushing out remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists in the North East.

    The minister said: “In the North East, I can say we have made great success. As I am talking to you, there is an operation going on between Nigeria and Cameroon.”

    He urged other neighbouring countries to collaborate with Nigeria in routing the insurgents.

    Dan-Ali pledged the readiness of the military to continue to defend the territorial boundary of the country and in addressing internal security challenges.

    Also, the Minister of Interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd), said government had put in place structures to address internal security challenges and was “re-enforcing those structures.’’

    NAN

     

     

  • Buhari extends tenure of Service Chiefs 

    Buhari extends tenure of Service Chiefs 

    The President and Commander in chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, has extended the tenure of all the service chiefs.

    In a statement signed by Col. Tukur Gusau, the Public Relations Officer to the Hon. Minister of Defence,  Mansur Dan Ali said the President’s took the decision, “having carefully reviewed the on-going military operations across the nation and the efforts of the Chief of Defence staff and the Service chiefs in the counter insurgency operations in the North East coupled with the security situation of the Niger Delta region, has graciously approved the extension of tenure of service of  General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai, Chief of Army Staff; Vice Admiral Ibok-EteIkwe Ibas, the Chief of Naval staff and Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, the Chief of Air staff,” the statement said.

    While citing the constitutional powers to carry out the decision, the statement said, “This extension is pursuant of the powers conferred on the President and Commander in chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by section 218 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and section 09.06 of the Harmonised Terms and Conditions for Service for officers (2012) Revised”.

    The Honourable Minister of Defence Mansur Muhammad Dan-Ali congratulates  the Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs for earning the confidence of the President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Force of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the people of Nigeria  leading to their extension of service.

  • Buhari approves new measures to check terrorism

    Buhari approves new measures to check terrorism

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday ordered a military crackdown on bandits operating in rural communities in Zamfara State, following fresh attacks on some communities in Shinkafi and Maradun Local Government Areas.

    The President in a statement signed by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President, has approved the request of the Minister of Defence, Brig-Gen. Mansur Dan Ali (rtd) for the stationing of a full battalion of Special Forces in Zamfara State to enable the army to carry out the new mandate, and the operationalization of the newly-established 8 Division of the Nigerian Army in Sokoto in the new Order of Battle (OBAT).

    President Buhari has also approved the movement of the 1 Brigade of the Nigerian Army from Sokoto to Gusau upon the take-off of the 8 Division.

    “To tackle the desperate actions of Boko Haram terrorists in the North-east, through the use of mostly female, underage girls as suicide bombers, President Buhari has equally approved the setting up of an intelligence fusion centre in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, for the purpose of gathering and sharing intelligence among the security agencies in the country.

    “This phase of the war will be intelligence-driven and the new centre is expected to intensify the harvesting and sharing of intelligence so as to bring to an early closure, the desperate last-minute activities of the terrorists,” the statement reads.

  • 90,000 Military Pensioners to Undergo Verification Nationwide, Says Board

    90,000 Military Pensioners to Undergo Verification Nationwide, Says Board

    No fewer than 90,000 military pensioners are expected to go through a national verification exercise beginning on Monday 27th November, the Acting Chairman of Military Pensions Board, Brig. General Adekunle Adesope has announced.

    Gen. Adesope at a media briefing in Abuja on Monday said the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan Ali would flag off the verification exercise at the Mogadishu Military Cantonment, Abuja.

    According to Gen. Adesope the exercise which was last conducted in 2015 would be conducted in all the 36 state of federation and the Federal Capital Territory at the same time.

    He advised military pensioners residing abroad to “visit Military Pensions Board office, Abuja for verification whenever they are in the country from 27 November 2017 to 28 February 2018.”

    The Acting Chairman further disclosed that the exercise was being conducted to ensure that the biometric data of military pensioners are taken to avoid mistakes and lay to rest any misgivings on the issue of military pensioners in the country.

    Gen Adesope said: “This briefing is aimed at enlightening our esteemed pensioners and the general public on the modalities, time lines, venues and general expectations from the retirees during the 2017 verification exercise.

    “The brief will cover the conduct of the exercise, eligibility for verification and biometrics data capturing amongst other details. The exercise is therefore a veritable avenue to verify all existing pensioners on the Boards current pay roll and update their records as necessary.

    “The 2017 verification exercise is scheduled to take place from Monday 27 November to Saturday 9 December 2017 in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja and all the 36 states of the federation. For the convenience of our esteemed pensioners, specific dates have been allotted to the various rank groups.

    “This is a deliberate plan to have manageable crowd throughout the period and thus ensure a hitch and stress free verification exercise. The conduct of verification exercise will involve finger print capturing matching with the biometric details currently in the MPB pay roll data base.

    “Accordingly, pensioners’ cooperation, patience and orderliness would be required to ensure a smooth exercise. The detailed dates allotted  to various rank brackets of the pensioners for the verification exercise are as follows, Pte LCpl and equivalents 27 a 30 Nov 2017, Cpl Sgt and equivalents 1 ~ 3 Dec 2017. SSgt AWO and equivalents 4 -5 Dec 2017.

    “Others are 2/Lt Capt and equivalents ~ 6 Dec 2017, Maj Col and equivalents 7 Dec 2017, Brig Gen & above and equivalents 8 Dec 2017, all absentees of stipulated dates and those critically sick and hospitalized 9 Dec 2017,” Gen. Adesope stated.

  • Army finally admits going to Kanu’s house – IPOB

    Army finally admits going to Kanu’s house – IPOB

    The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has drawn the attention of Nigerians and the entire world to the statement made by the Nigerian Defence Minister General Mansur Dan Ali Rtd on a TV program called Question Time where he admitted sending soldiers to Nnamdi Kanu’s house in Umuahia.
    IPOB through a statement by its media and publicity secretary Emma Powerful said that Dan Ali during the program confirmed that Nigerian Army went in search of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in his home, having previously denied the involvement of the army in his abduction and disappearance since the invasion of the 14th September 2017.
    The statement reads: “The barefaced lies of the Nigerian Defence Minister General Mansur Dan Ali and that of the Federal government against our leader and organisation is beginning to unravel before the eyes of the world”.
    “By admitting publicly that soldiers were sent to Isiama Afaraukwu Ibeku to look for our leader without any order or warrant from a court of law confirms the contempt in which Nigerian government holds the rule of law and their judicial process.”
    “It is, therefore, incumbent upon civilized nations of the world and organizations alike to ask the APC led Nigerian government why they decided to send armed soldiers to invade Kanu’s residence.
    “Another question that must be asked is why would the government deny this obvious fact when there are incontrovertible proof based on available CCTV evidence that Nigerian soldiers undertook this outrageously murderous raid in a peaceful village that resulted in the disappearance and presumed death of our leader.
    “In the immortal words of Mansur Dan Ali the army ‘went to look for him but he wasn’t there’. This means that the army deliberately ‘went’ and stormed his home.
    “The words to note here is that the army went to look for Kanu, contrary to the lies emanating from the government that Operation Python Dance II was not targeted against IPOB.
    “Since by the admission of the Defence Minister our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was not there during the invasion of his residence, why deny that no invasion took place. This culture of denial, lies and subsequent admission makes it impossible for any neutral observer to believe any word coming out of the mouth of any official of the Buhari regime regarding the issue of IPOB.
    “It is also on record that the Nigerian government, Army and Defence Headquarters Abuja initially denied ever coming near or invading Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s house in Afaraukwu Ibeku Umuahia Abia State that resulted in the cold-blooded murder of  28 people including that of his two cousins.
    “With these lies upon lies coming from the government over this military invasion, it is therefore reasonably expected to conclude that the army is also lying about not having our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in their custody”.
    “Is the world waiting for Biafrans to pick up arms to demand the release of the body of their leader before they know IPOB is serious about ascertaining what the Nigerian government did with him”.
  • Minister lauds Armed Forces for defeating Boko Haram

    Minister lauds Armed Forces for defeating Boko Haram

    The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali Thursday commended personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces for the sacrifice they made to ensure the return of peace in the northeast of the country.

    According to him the armed forces laboured day and night under very harsh conditions with some paying the supreme price to bring the deadly activities of the Boko Haram insurgents to an end.

    He said it was therefore incumbent on Nigerians to appreciate and support the gallantry and sacrifices of members of the Armed Forces by supporting their welfare especially the fallen heroes.

    The Minister spoke with reporters in Abuja to herald the activities lined up for the 2018 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration.

    Dan-Ali noted that the relative peace being enjoyed in the northeast was as a result of the sacrifices of men and women of the Armed forces.

    He said: “They have laboured day and night under very harsh conditions. Some have paid the supreme price , others have been permanently incapacitated, while others are missing in action,”he said, why appealing to the public for assistance for the fallen heroes.

    “On our part, the Federal Government and the Ministry of Defence under my watch will continue to be proactive in attending to their welfare needs.”

    He  said the event would afford Nigerians and foreign nationals working in the country the opportunity to support the families of fallen heroes with donations and other welfare assistance.

    “The ministry is assessing a proposal to make informed decisions that will enhance the welfare of our veterans. The Military Pension Board had continued to deliver on regular pensions for military retirees,”he said.

    The minister warned that the ministry would not tolerate sharp practices in pension administration process, adding that the military health insurance scheme was extended to the retirees and their families.

    “The health insurance scheme has continued to impact positively on the health status of our veterans and their families,”he said.

    Activities lined up for the event include:launch of the Emblem by President Muhammadu Buhari on Oct. 25 at the National Cenotaph, religious services and laying of wreath.

  • Osinbajo unveils five Super Mushshak aircraft to tackle insurgency

    Osinbajo unveils five Super Mushshak aircraft to tackle insurgency

    Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday in Kaduna unveiled five Super Mushshak trainer aircraft acquired by the Federal Government to boost the capacity of Nigeria Air Force personnel in the country.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the five aircraft are among the 10 acquired by the government from Pakistan.

    Osinbajo, who was represented by Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, said Nigeria would welcome more support from friendly nations in its efforts to mow down Boko Haram insurgency.

    “I will not fail to mention that the decision to acquire the Super Mushshak aircraft from Pakistan has greatly promoted the existing bilateral relationship between the two sister countries.

    “It is our hope that we will continue to have the support and collaboration of other friendly nations, especially as we continue to combat insurgency and other security challenges in our country.’’

    The Acting President, who also witnessed the graduation of 16 young Student Pilots from 401 Flying Training School, for the first time in 30 years, pledged that the administration would continue to invest in the country’s air arsenal.

    He recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had two years ago pledged to build the capacity of the armed forces to effectively address Boko Haram insurgency and other national security threats.

    “These achievements are a demonstration of the commitment and visionary leadership of the administration,’’ he said.

    Osinbajo stressed that the administration had remained committed to its desire of ensuring a peaceful country.

    “This has been a major security policy thrust of this administration.

    “We have since embarked on qualitative training and acquisition of new platforms and other supporting equipment for the Armed Forces and security agencies.

    “We have also sanitised the procurement process of military hardware with a view to eliminating corruption and inefficiency.

    “I make bold to say that we have achieved remarkable savings and infused quality into the system.

    “This has contributed in no small way to the acquisition of these new aircraft without any encumbrances.

    “It is now your responsibility to make good use of the aircraft as we await the delivery of the last batch by the end of the year.

    “I have no doubt that the acquisition of the Super Mushshak aircraft would add impetus to the training efforts of 401 FTS.’’

    He lauded the achievements and transformations taking place in the military, linking the feat to “focused and visionary leadership.”

    “It is heart-warming to see the Nigerian Air Force striving to meet the nation’s security needs through the sacrifices, dedication of the officers, airmen and airwomen,’’ he added.

    Earlier, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar said the NAF has attained 70 per cent aircraft serviceability as against 30 per cent two years ago.

    He said that the training of several combat pilots and other capacity building initiatives had raised the morale of air personnel and their efficiency.

    “We now have the capability to embark on and sustain major operations simultaneously within and beyond our national boundaries,’’ he said.

  • Army special school to train Police, NSCDC

    Army special school to train Police, NSCDC

    The Nigerian Army Special Forces School in Buni Yadi, Yobe, will train “strike forces” which will be deployed in liberated communities in North-East, Defence Minister, Mansur Dan-Ali, has said.

    The personnel of group, according to him, will be drawn from the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other security agencies.

    The minister, who announced this on Sunday when he visited the school, said that the personnel would be trained under a pilot programme and that deployment would start with Bama town in Borno.

    He said that the arrangement would enable troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, to concentrate on the ongoing clearance operations to flush out the remnants of the terrorists.

    He addressed troops undergoing training in the school, and assured them that the Federal Government would provide necessary equipment that would enable them to flush out the terrorists in the zone.

    Dan-Ali said that the insurgents, who had been weakened, had resorted to ambushes, kidnapping and other sorts of criminality, hence the need to re-strategise the operation.

    He urged the troops to remain united and synergise with other security agencies in the fight against the terrorists.

    He advised them not allow the July 25 incident, when terrorists ambushed and killed some troops and NNPC and University of Maiduguri workers, to dampen their morale.

    The minister said that was at the school to see things for himself, after Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, directed the Service Chiefs, to relocate to the Command and Control Centre, to charge of operation.

    The minister commended the troops for the “good job” they were doing for the nation and participated in the firing exercise along with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, Theatre Commander, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru.

    He used the opportunity to inspect 49 newly acquired combat vehicles, including Armoured Personnel Carrier and gun trucks for the school.

  • Osinbajo meets security chiefs over insecurity

    Osinbajo meets security chiefs over insecurity

    … Orders troops back to command centre

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday met behind closed doors with service chiefs over terrorists’ attacks in some parts of the country, particularly in Borno State.

    Several people have been killed recently in renewed attacks by remnants of Boko Haram sect in the North East.

    To check the insurgents’ onslaught, the Acting President has ordered movement of troops back to the command centre.

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, said: “We just finished a meeting with the Acting President and the three Service Chiefs. We agreed that they should move back to the Command Centre again and see what is happening there.

    “We have also agreed that we should get more surveillance devices, cameras that would be able to see distant attackers coming to the position of our troops.

    “So also the period of the raining season is a difficult moment for us. We cannot dominate the environment like we did during the dry season. But effort is geared towards regaining back our areas and we assure that all these ambushes that are happening regularly would be stopped.”