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Tag: military base

  • Relocate military bases, barracks to hinterlands to tackle crimes, FNM tells FG

    Relocate military bases, barracks to hinterlands to tackle crimes, FNM tells FG

    The Future Nigeria Movement (FNM) has appealed to the federal government to order the immediate relocation of all military bases and barracks in city centres to the hinterlands to tackle crimes and terrorism in the country.

    The leader and founder of FNM, Livingstone Wechie, insisted that such facilities should be relocated to the outskirts, rural, and urban areas across the country to help contain security challenges.

    Wechie in a statement in Port Harcourt on Thursday, November 30, observed that there are about 180 military bases and barracks across the country and that most of them are either located within the city centres or have been seriously caught up, encroached upon, and overrun by urbanisation.

    He said: “The implication is that the civilian and military population mix can compromise Nigeria’s security climate and architecture as is the case.

    “It is important to note without prejudice that in the event of territorial attacks, it is easier for logistical deployment of hardware from those non-urban areas, and quick responses will be better achieved.

    “The city centres should be left mainly for the police and civil defence including other intelligence security institutions of state to interface with civilians and manage internal security challenges as is constitutionally required.

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    “The high visibility of military personnel in regular civilian activities and settlements is undoubtedly demystifying and undermining our military forces.

    “The duty of the military is principally for the protection of the nation’s territorial integrity.

    “Their concentration on the internal daily activities in the urban areas stand a chance to ostensibly compromise that patriotic duty.  Most of the high crimes including terrorism, banditry, highway kidnappings and others take place in the various areas outside the urban settlement because they are easy entry routes that have been conquered due to lack of adequate military control”

    Wechie said the relocation of military bases and barracks would result in making available massive land for economic development within the urban areas.

    He added: “Some of these lands can be reallocated for industrial and other real estate purposes while others may be reallocated to the original native owners as incentives for their age-long patriotic contribution to national development vide critical state infrastructure.

    “FNM recommends that the welfare of both the military and other security agencies including the Nigerian Police Force should be made a national emergency or priority.

    “The welfare outlook of our security personnel is most embarrassing and this has made them beggarly, vulnerable for all sorts of compromises and willing tools for extremely abusive tendencies. To this effect, all steps must be taken to save the situation to avert the disaster at hand.”

  • Senator seeks military base on Akwanga road

    Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Senator Philip Gyunka, on Monday asked the Federal Government to establish a military base along Garaku-Akwanga road to help tackle incessant attacks along the road.

    Gyunka (Nasarawa north) said that establishment of a military base on the road will also help to curb increased cases of kidnapping in the area.

    The lawmaker made the appeal after visiting Akwanga General Hospital to commiserate with victims of a fresh attack in Numa-Choku, a community in Akwanga Local Government.

    A pregnant woman and several others were said to have been killed by herdsmen at a naming ceremony on April 14 in Numa-Chuka community, 10 kilometers from Akwanga, Nasarawa State.

    He noted the high spate of criminal activities in the area had not only claimed lives but has put fear in residents, motorists and people doing business in the area.

    The establishment of military base, he said, would go a long way in curbing the menace and giving people the confidence to go about their daily activities freely.

    According to him: “Last week Wednesday, I raised a motion on the herdsmen killing of our people in three villages, Mante, Nindan and Katanza.

    “Herdsmen attacked a village where a lady was coming from an occasion. She was raped and killed and that resulted in a clash in the community.

    “Our traditional ruler was able to bring the situation under control and the matter was resolved.

    “While we were trying to get over that, there was a fresh attack in Numa-Choku, a neighbouring village to those three communities.

    “The celebrant and the parents were all killed and woman lost four of her children and a pregnant daughter in-law. So pathetic.

    “These are harmless people who were having a naming ceremony.”

     Gyunka urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to visit the affected communities to help provide relief materials to victims.

    He asked for stringent enforcement of existing laws to prohibit the bearing of arms by unauthorised persons.

     Gyunka said: “I feel there should be a strong law that will forbid bearing of arms.

    “The issue of ECOWAS free movement has done Nigerians more harm than good because people come into this country with arms, only to turn against the citizens.

    “In other countries they people are properly checked before allowed residence but it is not same in Nigeria.

    “Our borders are so porous that people come in armed, harass citizens, kill, maim and return to the bush.”

  • Buratai hails troops for neutralising insurgents in Borno, Yobe

    THE Nigerian Army said yesterday that scores of Boko Haram terrorists have been neutralised between Borno and Yobe axis when they attempted to overrun a military base.

    Deputy Director, Army Public Relations Colonel Ado Isa said following the feat, Chief of Army staff Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai sent words of encouragement to the troops for their gallantry.

    Colonel Isa explained in a statement that some of the fleeing terrorists escaped with gunshot wounds and their gun trucks and weapons were destroyed.

    He said: “The dogged troops of 152 Battalion successfully crushed some members of the Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) when they attempted to infiltrate their location yesterday, March 11, 2019 at about 1900hrs around Bula – Yobe, Banki axis in Borno State.

    “The terrorists in their futile attempt came in with several gun trucks mounted with Anti-Aircraft Guns and motorcycles.

    “The troops engaged the terrorists with superior firepower and inflicted heavy casualty on the BHTs and their equipment.

    “The fierce gun battle set confusion and disorganisation in the terrorists camp, withdrawing in disarray while the troops gave them a hot pursuit.

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    “In that process, unconfirmed number of terrorists were neutralised while several others fled with gunshot wounds.

    “A gun truck mounted with Anti-Aircraft Gun and several motorcycles belonging to the BHTs were destroyed while one gun truck mounted with anti-aircraft gun and mortar carrier were captured from the terrorists.

    “The Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major-General Benson Akinroluyo, through the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Sector 1, Operation Lafiya Dole, Brigadier General Abdulmalik Bulama Biu, extolled their effort and sacrifice and also conveyed the Chief of Army Staff’s (COAS) special commendation for their dogged fighting spirit and brilliance. He urged them to maintain the aggressive posture and sustain the offensive.”

  • Army dismisses report of fresh Boko Haram attack on military base

    The Army said yesterday that there was no truth in a report of fresh Boko Haram attack on a military barrack in Borno State.

    A news agency report had alleged the death of ‘at least 30 soldiers’ when insurgents ‘overran a military base’ in the northern part of the state late Thursday.

    The terrorists allegedly overwhelmed the troops who were forced to withdraw before reinforcements came.

    But contacted yesterday to confirm the report, an army contact dismissed it as fake.

    He said: “Where did you get this fake information, please?”

     

  • Pupils learn discipline at military base

    Pupils learn discipline at military base

    The Royal Masters School (RMS) Agidingbi, Lagos, moved its classroom to the military base when its pupils embarked on an excursion to the Military Cantonment, Ikeja, to learn discipline.

    Captain Mamuda Husseni gathered the pupils in front of the camp’s  9 Brigade Garrison, where soldiers displayed a welcome routine for them.

    The pupils, who clapped enthusiastically after each routine, also enquired on grey areas.

    The idea of a cell seemed to intrigue them as they asked, to Sgt Adewale David’s negative response, “Can we see the suspects in the cells?”

    They moved to the 9 Brigade Supply and Transport department, where Lt Col Okorie and Oliseh showed them military vehicles and supplies.

    Finally, the 9 Brigade band entertained the pupils with musical notes and intriguing instruments.

    Year 4 pupil, Obinna Amaechi said: “I now understand how the soldiers need discipline to follow commands so that they won’t get in each other’s way.”

    Public Relations Officer of the school, Mrs Olabisi Adeosun, said the theme of this term is discipline; hence the choice of the military base.

    Adeosun who coordinated the excursion advised pupils to “take the lesson now, because it is easier to learn and make a part of you.”

    She continued: “It is more difficult to try to make over what you missed later in life. You can’t be successful in any area of life without being disciplined. You can’t make success in a place where you don’t fit in and fitting in takes discipline.”

    Cpt Husseni, who acted as their escort in the cantonment said: “I believe the experience is good for them, because I am sure they have learnt enough to make them see how discipline can facilitate their achievement of goals in school and later in life.”

  • Pupils learn discipline at military base

    Pupils learn discipline at military base

    The Royal Masters School (RMS) Agidingbi, Lagos, moved its classroom to the military base when its pupils embarked on an excursion to the Military Cantonment, Ikeja, to learn discipline.

    Captain Mamuda Husseni gathered the pupils in front of the camp’s  9 Brigade Garrison, where soldiers displayed a welcome routine for them.

    The pupils, who clapped enthusiastically after each routine, also enquired on grey areas.

    The idea of a cell seemed to intrigue them as they asked, to Sgt Adewale David’s negative response, “Can we see the suspects in the cells?”

    They moved to the 9 Brigade Supply and Transport department, where Lt Col Okorie and Oliseh showed them military vehicles and supplies.

    Finally, the 9 Brigade band entertained the pupils with musical notes and intriguing instruments.

    Year 4 pupil, Obinna Amaechi said: “I now understand how the soldiers need discipline to follow commands so that they won’t get in each other’s way.”

    Public Relations Officer of the school, Mrs Olabisi Adeosun, said the theme of this term is discipline; hence the choice of the military base.

    Adeosun who coordinated the excursion advised pupils to “take the lesson now, because it is easier to learn and make a part of you.”

    She continued: “It is more difficult to try to make over what you missed later in life. You can’t be successful in any area of life without being disciplined. You can’t make success in a place where you don’t fit in and fitting in takes discipline.”

    Cpt Husseni, who acted as their escort in the cantonment said: “I believe the experience is good for them, because I am sure they have learnt enough to make them see how discipline can facilitate their achievement of goals in school and later in life.”

  • Gunmen sack military barrack in Bayelsa

    Gunmen sack military barrack in Bayelsa

    •Four soldiers, one policeman killed in night operation
    •Arms, ammunition, gunboat seized

    Fear about the return of militancy in the Niger Delta yesterday enveloped Bayelsa State following a daring attack by unknown gunmen on  a military base at Ogbolomabiri in Nembe Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

    The gunmen suspected to be militants overran and sacked the Joint Task Force (JTF)/Operation Pulo Shield base, killing four soldiers and a mobile policeman.

    They struck in four speed boats loaded.

    The task force is charged with the responsibility of keeping the peace in the state which was notorious for kidnapping, piracy and illegal bunkering.

    Oil bunkering has long been a major cost to Nigeria’s treasury, which depends on oil for around 70 percent of its earnings.

    Another mobile policeman went missing after the incident which occurred at 11:30pm on Friday.

    The gunmen were said to have invaded the base in a coordinated land and water operation.

    Sources said they  ransacked the base and took their time to cart away all the rifles and ammunition of the security operatives.

    An army gunboat was also said to have been taken away by them.

    A source who described the incident as horrific said the security operatives were overwhelmed by the number and sophisticated weapons of the attackers.

    The source said the gunmen operated  for over 30 minutes shooting unceasingly.

    He said: “It was a shooting spree. Though the security operatives were caught unawares, there was little or nothing they could do because of the number of the gunmen and the kind of arms they came with.

    “Some of the gunmen engaged the military base from the waterways while others were shooting from land. The security operatives tried unsuccessfully to stop them. They paid with their lives. Some few fortunate ones escaped”, he said.

    He added: “It was obvious that they came for the arms and ammunition of the soldiers. They carted away all the arms and rifles and fled with a military gunboat.

    “We don’t know the motive behind the stealing of arms in this area. Could it be because of the forthcoming election or could it be a plan to start a fresh round of militancy in the region?”

    A top security source who also spoke in confidence described the attack as planned, coordinated and executed with the evil intention of stealing and stockpiling arms.

    He said the action of the gunmen caused panic in Nembe communities.

    The bodies of the murdered security operatives were recovered and deposited at the mortuary of the Nembe General Hospital.

    Continuing, the source said:”there is a serious problem in the Niger Delta region. We have been raising the alarm of functional and active militant camps operating in the region despite the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).

    “The most disturbing one is this trend of attacking security operatives and stealing their arms. They have been doing this. The one they did in Cross River State was also massive. They are stockpiling arms.”

    Defence spokesman Colonel Rabe Abubakar blamed the attack on  “suspected oil bunkerers”.

    He said: “The Joint Task Force Operation PULO SHIELD has moved into action to arrest and apprehend the perpetrators of this unpatriotic and callous attacks.

    “The military will deal decisively with anybody or group involved in this and similar acts of attacks or sabotage on the nation’s economy.”

    He  advised the general public in the affected community to go about their normal business activities, and solicited their cooperation by given timely information to the military or any other security agencies to avert future re-occurrence of the ‘ugly incidence’.

    The Defence Headquarters also reiterated its commitment to ensuring the protection of lives and property of innocent citizens nationwide.

    Speaking separately on the development, JTF’s Coordinator, Joint Campaign Media Centre (JMCC), Lt. Col. Isa Ado, said :  “We are working on getting the  real details. The JTF is on the move to apprehend the hoodlums. We won’t relent on our efforts of fighting criminality in the region.”

    The Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Mr. Butswat Asinim, said details at the disposal of the police suggested that four soldiers and a policeman were killed in the attack.

    He said: “On the 7 August, 2015, at about 11:30pm, four speedboats loaded with unknown gunmen, suspected to be sea pirates attacked the Joint Task Force (JTF) Base, at Nembe Water front, in Nembe LGA, killing four soldiers and one policeman.

    “The gunmen carted away two HP Guns and other arms from the Base. A combined team of the JTF, Marine Police and the Navy are combing the creeks to recover the arms and arrest the culprits”.

    A combined military and police team was searching local creeks to find the attackers last night.