The Nation Newspaper

Tag: military

  • ‘Top Boko Haram commanders killed in military operation’

    ‘Top Boko Haram commanders killed in military operation’

    The Army said yesterday it had neutralised several Boko Haram commanders and many of their foot soldiers in the ongoing operation against the insurgents in the Northeast.

    Its spokesperson, Sani Usman, said in a statement that the operation was conducted jointly with the Air Force.

    Usman said the operation, undertaken based on “credible intelligence information,” targeted Boko Haram hideouts, adding that “more details of successes achieved will be made available as the operation continues”.

    The spokesperson named five top Boko Haram commanders neutralised in the operation as including Abu Dujana, Man Tahiru, a Deputy to Boko Haram terrorist group Hisba leader, Man Chari, Malam Abdullahi Abu Sa’ad and Goni Bamanga.

    “The Nigerian military would continue with the concerted onslaught on the reported Boko Haram terrorists’ locations till they have been eliminated,” he added.

    The military is presently engaged in counter-insurgency efforts in the Northeast to curtail the activities of the Boko Haram, which has claimed thousands of lives and displaced many.

  • How we abducted Chibok girls, killed students-Former Boko Haram Commander

    How we abducted Chibok girls, killed students-Former Boko Haram Commander

    A top Commander of the Boko Haram insurgent group has surrendered himself to the military following intensive campaigns by the military against the activities of terrorists in the northeast of the country.
    Auwal Ismaeela who surrendered himself to the authorities also admitted he played a major role in the abduction of Chibok Girls  in Borno state and killing of youths in Madagali, Adamawa state.
    According to a publication by PRNigeria, Ismaeela “confessed to several acts of bloodletting on innocent people and destruction of properties across the length and breadth of the North-eastern part of the country.”
    Ismaeela who was interviewed by a team of the online publication (PRNigeria) at a military facility for the repentant and surrendered Boko Haram members in the North-East, was quoted to have expressed regrets for the atrocities he committed against humanity.
    The publication reads: “The Commander, Auwal Ismaeela is currently cooperating with the Nigerian Military with useful information on locations and hideouts of other top Commanders of the deadly sect. He regretted his actions as according to him, run counter to several Islamic injunctions.”
    Ismaeela encouraged other top commanders of the sect to give up and surrender to the military.
    The -Ex-Commander said: “My self and Abu Hafsat a Boko Haram commander led other squads to abduct the Chibok girls.
    “We led the operations to invade Gwoza, Bama, Limankara mobile barrack, Bita, Bosso, Madagali, Chibok, Pulka, Firgi, and Mubi.
    “In Madagali which was my home town, myself, Adam Vitiri, Abu Adam and Habu Kudama, some high ranking Boko Haram Commander led an operation in 2014 where we killed some students and youths at the Central Secondary School in Sabon Garin Madagali.
    “In one of the operations, I abducted my wife named Maryam who had two kids for me in Sambisa Forest.
    “It is unfortunate that I was brainwashed and misled not only on some abductions, but in the killings of my own people that were innocent. I wholeheartedly regret my actions.
    “During a battle in Konduga where myself and other Boko Haram commanders led the operations, I lost my right leg and was almost got burnt. Even at that, I did not stop fighting for the cause. Sheikh Shekau ordered that I should be given a tricycle which I continued to use for various operations before I eventually surrendered.”
    He gave several reasons for his decision to voluntarily surrender to the Nigerian troops after realising the misleading sermons, barbaric indoctrination of the sect leaders and atrocities being committed in some of the Boko Haram camps.
    He said: “I willingly surrendered to the military because I was tired of the senseless killing and fight. I realised that our people have resort to stealing and all sort of atrocity contrary to the teaching and practice of Islam.
    “Women were being raped, sometimes publicly. Children died from malnutrition and disease as the living condition became harsher. As there was no food in the camp, people died every day because of hunger.
    “I will continue to cooperate with the security agencies in providing useful information on our mode of operations and to disclose top-secret hideouts of our commanders.”

     

  • What does the military do to our loved ones?

    SIR: A while back, a close friend of mine and neighbour, decided to pursue his dream of joining the Nigerian Army. Was it a cool decision for his friends and family? Yes. Were we expecting him to preserve a chunk of his admirable gentle nature—which we all loved him for, despite the rigours of military training? I didn’t see why not!

    Anyway, he successfully scaled through selection and began active service. He visited home whenever he could, but everyone could tell he obviously wasn’t the same person. His first strange behaviour as a soldier, started when he aggressively threatened to beat up an elder sibling—whom he once revered, for ‘crazily thinking’ he was the same ‘old submissive civilian.’

    On one of his visits, we had planned a weekend getaway, so we joined a local bus headed for our hangout location. While in the bus, we chatted away, and had a few laughs until he began narrating the torrid experiences he had gone through as a recruit, and how some of his friends didn’t make it because they either lost their lives or sustained severe injuries. Soon enough, it was time to pay our fare, and of course, the rock-faced bus conductor didn’t dare request payment from my soldier-friend who was partly kitted out in his uniform. I stretched out to pay for mine, but was immediately rebuked by my friend who ordered the conductor not to collect any money from me. That seemed rather awkward, but the bus conductor—who was far much older than we were persisted, (after all, I was just a mere civilian passenger who was privileged to sit next to a soldier).

    My soldier-friend didn’t speak any further and remained silent until the bus stopped. He hastily jumped down, and seized the conductor by his pants, while he pulled out the scary looking belt attached to his uniform. It was stunning how he tirelessly whipped the bus conductor who kept screaming out in pain, and only stopped the whipping when other drivers at the park strongly pleaded with him to forgive their poor colleague. We slowly left the crowded scene in a walk of shame (well at least, for me who couldn’t bear the eyes of bystanders staring at me in a weird way).

    I couldn’t help but wonder… What engineered my soldier-friend’s strange and aggressive behaviour? Was he trying to protect me by denying someone else of his rights and money? Or was he more concerned about a mere ‘civilian’ bus conductor who hurt his army ego by demanding bus fare from his friend who was sitting right next to him? I pondered real hard and made a solid resolution to confront him head-on. Well, I really did try to break the awkward silence that had ensued between us, but on a second thought, I wouldn’t hurriedly advice a man who just mercilessly whipped a bus conductor with a monster belt and was obviously still fuming in rage. I wasn’t prepared to be at the receiving end of that belt just yet!

    I never had a second chance to advice my soldier-friend who later relocated, and we lost contact. Now, I’m asking. Do our soldiers lose a bit of their conscience and humanity at the academy? Is there a radical or monstrous anti-civilian ideology which makes it difficult for our soldiers to perfectly fit into society? What does the military do to these men?

     

    • Nimi Princewill,

    princewill.nimi@yahoo.com

  • Military ‘will step up operations’

    Military ‘will step up operations’

    MILITARY operations are to be enhanced, following an order from President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday.

    He gave the order during the National Security Council meeting with top security chiefs, led by Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, at Aso Villa.

    On Monday, the President, in a broadcast, promised a rough time for those he described as “terrorists and criminals (who) must be fought and destroyed relentlessly so that majority of us can live in peace and safety’’.

    He also told the armed forces not to let the success achieved in the last 18 months in the fight against insurgents “be a sign to relax”.

    Gen. Olonisakin told reporters after the meeting that the military would enhance its operations in line with the President’s directive.

    ”We are going to enhance our operations in all the areas that we need to do that.

    “He has given the necessary directives which will be carried out by the military and the security agencies.

    “He also directed that we must ensure that lives and properties of the citizens are protected and we must make sure that we secure the whole nation and also that troops that are outside carry out their jobs effectively,’’ Gen. Olonisakin said.

    He added: “We have been meeting with Mr President for the last three hours.

    “We updated him on all security issues around the country, within the country and outside the country where our troops are (operating).

    “He has been receiving regular briefings from the acting president and he has been going through the print media and electronic media to follow the happenings in the country,

    “At the meeting, he directed on some areas we should look at so as to enhance our operations in the country.”

    “In his address (broadcast) he talked about the unity of the nation, which is non-negotiable. We have all been fully instructed to ensure that that directive is carried out to the letter,” he said.

    Asked what the President said about IPOB’s secret service, the General said: “The issues of threat, all security threats were treated one after the other, ranging from terrorism to kidnapping, herdsmen/farmers clash, to IPOB issue. Comments were made as to what to do as regards those issues.”

    On whether troops were being mobilised to the southeast, he said: “Every security like I said, is being treated and we are going to enhance our operations in all the areas. We need to do that.”

    Asked if the President was worried about Boko Haram, despite the military’s efforts, the Chief of Defence Staff said: “On the Boko Haram issue, you all know it is an asymmetric warfare. It is not that the Boko Haram has stepped up their game, it is just the issue of suicide bombing that has been the problem and, of course, we are also working with the security agencies and the intelligence agencies to make sure that we address that menace.”

    At the meting were: National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno, Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS), Alhaji Lawal Daura; Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Air Vice Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) and Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris.

    Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ekwe Ite-Ibas was represented.

     

  • Understanding Fayose’s Obsession With The Military

    Even primary school pupils in Nigeria tease themselves with the name of the Governor of Ekiti state, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, as a dippy, brainless soul, whose heart is unrepentantly steeped in evil. In Ekiti state where a rigged election conferred on him the noble task of state leadership, he administers a democratic state like a tyrant or dictator.

    His cursed tongue spares nobody with the senseless verbal offensives. Fayose, the shoemaker cum politician, also claims he is a pastor, but commandeers the power of God Almighty over life and death, by insanely predicting the death of President Muhammadu Buhari. His professed religiosity of the criminal ilk, hardly place him on a pedestal to discern good from evil.

    Same emergency jurist invites thugs to invade courts, the temple of justice; he arms thugs to protect suspected criminal elements to evade justice like former Aviation minister Femi Fani Kayode (FFK) or his wife, or Apostle Johnson Suleiman of Omega Ministries Inc.

    Only acquiescent to violence, he would tyrannically storm the Ekiti State House of Assembly and chase lawmakers into exile. He cannot pay Ekiti civil servants despite monthly federal allocations to the state and three tranches of bailout funds from the Presidency amounting to billions of naira. While Ekiti state is steadily ebbing towards extinction on the development among Southwestern states, Fayose’s indices of personal growth and development have kept appreciating to the skies.

    Like his boss, former President Goodluck Jonathan, corruption is mere stealing, so the Governor has neither conscience nor limit to embezzlement of public funds. That’s why he dipped his hands into the $2.1 billion Arms Procurement Fund, which is scandalously referred to as the Dasukigate.

    Fayose hates any decent conduct or Nigerian, but infinitely loves crooks and roguery. That’s why even in the Dasukigate arms procurement scandal, Mr. Musliu Obanikoro was his ally and comrade in thievery. But the poor soul has confessed to sins and is returning his loot, while seeking the face of God in penitence. But such decency is not part of the religious, parental or leadership orientation of Governor Fayose.

    As a Pastor, he has murderous instincts that run riot like a hungry lion which breaks loose from its cage. Only God Almighty has the accurate statistics of Ekiti state civil servants who have died silently from the fangs of hunger because the Governor embezzled their salary.

    No one can disclose the number of Nigerians Fayose murdered in cold blood through Boko Haram insurgents by diverting and embezzling funds voted to procure arms to battle insurgency in the Northeast. No data still, on the number of Ekiti people he used a compromising military to murder in the last guber ballot that dashed him “victory.” A man in his dilemma would certainly be tormented by the spirit of the innocent dead.

    To comment on the weird and extremely inhuman aberrations of Fayose is like wasting precious time. But sometimes, it becomes imperious because he is a man trapped by hallucinatory prophesies. He is constantly in trance and dreams “really big dreams.” Not too long ago, he bemused Nigerians again by mouthing a prophesy to the effect that God has revealed of crowning him President of Nigeria in 2019.

    But Nigeria is not a country in devils kingdom and his ardent acolytes like Fayose have no chance to rule it. Imagine, Fayose as President of Nigeria! God Almighty does not hate Nigerians to the extent of enthroning a debauch and devil like Fayose as the leader of Nigeria. And readers’ comments that followed the story indicated the extent Fayose is isolated even by members of his own family. One simply said “God forbid.”

    Surely, Governor Fayose knows that his political sunset is lurking in the corner, as Ekiti people are warming up for the governorship polls in 2018. Fayose knows even the devil he worships garbed with the garments of a Pastor would not save him from the rage of Ekiti people in closing his political chapter. He is truly the devil’s incarnate who has devoted his energies and time to prove these past years. Little surprise former President Obasanjo chased him out of Government House.

    Frightened by this inevitable possibility, Fayose is stiff scared, like a little child cast in the den of lions. If Fayose lost his mind before, he has now buried his heart completely, with just months to the termination of his political journey. He has intensified his odious attacks on personalities and institutions like a dog in the early stage of madness.

    Fayose’s latest victim is the present leadership of the Nigerian military. Fayose dared opened his fouled mouth to cast aspersions on the Nigerian military which is battling the counter-insurgency war. Nigerians do not need an empty head like Fayose to tell them whether Boko Haram insurgency has been defeated or degraded. Referencing corruption in the present military leadership by a character like Fayose is the most amusing angle to it. May Fayose be counseled to begin to cultivate peace for his soul by returning the billions he allegedly looted from the Dasukigate meant for procurement of arms for insurgency in the Northeast.

    To make reference to Transparency International (TI) report on corruption in defence procurement contracts illustrates the extent Governor Fayose is uninformed and shamefully and poorly exposed, even to information in public domain. TI’s Nigeria’s Country Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Auwal Rafsanjani refuted the report from his organization and lucidly stated that the fraudulent defence contracts were under the regime of Fayose unpopular boss, former President Jonathan. And Rafsanjani regretted the error in time placement of the report. This was done on a live television program and the records are there for a Fayose who talks before thinking to peruse maybe sometimes in prison after his tenure.

    Therefore, to twist the facts today only demonstrates Fayose’s incurable madness and ignorance. Facts are sacred, but lies are retold several times without impact. What Fayose cannot twist is that the current military leadership has not awarded arms contracts to political chieftains of his opposition political party, the PDP and the Christian Association of Nigeria’s (CAN) President.

    In the past, CAN leadership airlifted dollars out of the country in the guise of buying arms, but ended up purchasing repainted or refurbished arms at Wuse market in Abuja to fight Boko Haram. Bulk of the money developed wings. If Fayose’s retentive memory is this poor, it is these clan of defence procurement contractors, the Transparency International report alluded as clarified by Rafsanjani.
    However, Fayose’s baseless vituperations on the Nigerian military is understandable because he sees in them decent and professional soldiers not susceptible to his dubious influence to rig him back to power next year. Fayose dreads a military leadership that would not assist him and his clan of politicians to snatch ballot boxes like what happened in the last governorship elections that gave the polluted and regrettably victory to him as Governor of Ekiti state.

    Now sitting on a throne not designed for him, Fayose is equally confused as all doors have closed against him. This is no doubt a haunting reality as Fayose who brags as a “General” in the act of election- rigging, which earned him the title of “Generalismo of Ekiti” politics is in serious trouble.

    But the chips are down for Tyrant Fayose, as there is no hiding place for him. His abhorring failure to deliver on his campaign promises to Ekiti is giving him sleepless nights. But it’s too late in the day to make amends, having wasted productive years, chasing shadows, perfecting the mastery of the art of abuses and looting or embezzlement of public funds.

    His phobia on the exposure of his sins after the expiration of his wasted tenure is a pain in the neck. He should start thinking of his journey to the jungle to preside over wild animals, that is self-exile or be prepared to cool his heels in a jail somewhere.

    Fayose is a potential candidate for jail, once he is stripped of immunity. Nonetheless, the Governor has a chance to negotiate his soft landing by at least, redeeming himself in one area that is too glaring. So, as the Ekiti state dictator prepares to face another governorship election in the state, he should endeavor to return Ekiti state’s monies he allegedly looted and pay Ekiti workers their months of owed salaries and entitlements. With this done, at least, Ekiti people would not place a curse on his soul in addition to sending him to the political doom.

    Okanga writes from Agila, Benue State.‎
    ‎

  • Military suspects sabotage in attack on convoy

    Worried by the high casualty figures in Tuesday’s ambush of an oil exploration team, intelligence service has started probing call logs in Magumeri axis.

    It was suspected that some moles in the convoy of the NNPC team might have sold out to Boko Haram.

    The convoy comprised NNPC officials, University of Maiduguri officials, soldiers and Civilian JTF members.

    The death toll has forced the military to go back to the drawing board on how to avert a reoccurrence.

    According to PRNigeria, a military covert media outreach, the probe will determine whether there were moles in the convoy or if there was connivance by those living along the routes.

    The ongoing investigation will also ascertain if there were collaborators in some of the villages in the affected axis.

    A top security source said “The recent deadly Boko Haram attacks which left in its trail  loss of lives, property and abductions has necessitated a joint security intelligence service in examining calls and messages within the Yesu District in Magumeri axis of Borno State.

    “The development has become necessary as moles could be suspected among those in the convoy that include different interest groups to perpetuate their heinous activities.

    The source also revealed that the security services in the course of their assignment will determine whether there is connivance and collaborators by those living along the routes  since the same NNPC explorers have always travelled regularly to the exploration sites on the same route.

    “It is so baffling the shocking ambush by the terrorists when our gallant troops have always provided adequate security cover for the same convoy regularly on that same route and similar ones for months without problems!

    “There are concerns that the planned military onslaught recently announced by the Chief of Army staff(COAS) with a deadline to capture dead or alive notorious position leaders of the deadly sect may be suspended or slowed down because of the capture of some staff of University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) and other abductees being moved to the suspected sites.”

  • Boko Haram: Military deploys special forces, equipment to Northeast

    Boko Haram: Military deploys special forces, equipment to Northeast

    Indications emerged weekend that the Nigerian military has deployed Special Forces to the Northeastern part of the country to reinforce the numbers of troops on ground in an effort to curtail the recent upsurge of insurgent activities of the Boko Haram group.
    Within the past few weeks the activities of the insurgents have raised concerns about the assurances from the federal government that Boko Haram has been degraded and their remnants would soon be flushed out from the North east.
    However, the group in a couple of weeks has increased its tempo of attacks and suicide bombings within and outside Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, killings scores of people.
    The latest attack by insurgents is  the ambush laid on Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) workers and geologists from the University on Maiduguri who are working on oil exploration activities in the Chad Basin.
    Prior to this attack on NNPC workers, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, gave troops and commanders of the operation Lafiya Dole 40 days ultimatum within which to produce, dead or alive, Malam Shekau who is the leader of the Boko Haram insurgent group.
    The Nation learnt at the weekend that special attention is now focus on the northeast with a view to establish reasons behind the current spate of attacks and suicide bombings resulting in the deaths of lots of people.
    Besides the troops on ground, more soldiers are being ordered to the flash points of the insurgents,  while the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) at the weekend deployed Special Forces and bomb detection cameras and other equipment into the northeast for reinforcement.
    A statement from the Director of Public Relations and Information (NAF) Air Commodore, Olatokunbo Adesanya hinted “the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has introduced additional measures aimed at increasing its operational capability in the ongoing counterinsurgency operations in the North East”.
    The NAF statement reads: “The measures include the deployment of additional NAF Special Forces and personnel of the Regiment Specialty to reinforce Base security and also fight alongside the Nigerian Army troops and NAF Special Forces that were already on ground.
    “In addition, the NAF has deployed thermal imaging cameras aimed at adding more value to the current efforts at detecting and checkmating the activities of suicide bombers before they carry out their suicide missions.
    ” This follows the spate of suicide bombings that have been recently recorded in Maiduguri. The thermal imaging camera uses infrared and reads temperature differences up to an appreciable distance away and can identify a person at an acceptable distance. The cameras, which are mounted on NAF aircraft, can also penetrate obscurants such as smoke, fog and haze.
    “The NAF, in recent times, has stepped up its counterinsurgency operations to further decimate the ability of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) in the North East. The focus has largely been the conduct of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions as well as interdiction missions on identified BHT targets.
    “This is in addition to range of other air operations and humanitarian intervention schemes aimed at winning the heart and minds of the populace in the conflict areas. The NAF remains appreciative of the support it is enjoying from Nigerians in its efforts at putting an end to the madness in the North East Geopolitical Zone of our country.
    Meanwhile, the army authority said it regretted the error in the information it provided earlier on the ambush and rescue of NNPC workers.
    Spokesperson for the Army, Brig. General Sani Usman, described the incident as unfortunate and regrettable.
    In a statement, General Usman said most regrettable was his earlier statement about the rescue of the NNPC staff.
    He said: “The incident of 25th July 2017 where some Boko Haram Terrorists ambushed our troops including members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) escorting some staff of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as well as that of University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) on oil exploration in Borno Yesu District of Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno state is unfortunate and highly regrettable.
    ” Most regrettable also is my earlier release on the said incident about the rescue of all NNPC Staff. The error in the statement was not deliberate. The Nigerian Army in this present dispensation is reputed for timely dissemination of information on activities of our troops in all theatre of operations.
    ” We have strived to keep the public informed on our activities with no intention of distorting any fact. Our troops have doubled efforts in the pursuit of the Boko Haram terrorists while search and rescue is still on-going to secure the safe return of the remaining civilians.
    ” So far the search and rescue team has recovered additional bodies of 5 soldiers, 11 Civilian JTF and 5 members of the exploration team. Contrary to reports in some media, 6 members of exploration team out of 12 that went out are still missing, while one of the NNPC staff returned to base alive.
    “On the other hand, our pursuit team also recovered 2 of our own Gun trucks and an additional Toyota Buffalo Gun truck from the insurgents. In addition, the team also made the following recoveries; 4 Rocket Propelled Grenade Bombs, 4 Rocket Propelled Grenade chargers, 6 AK-47 rifles, 1 Anti-Aircraft Gun, 1 General Purpose Machine Gun,1 Anti-Aircraft Gun Barrel, 1 Rocket Propelled Grenade Tube, 4 Dane Guns, 8 Tyres and 2 Tyre Rims.
    “Other items recovered include 1 Pumping Machine, 2 Tyre Jacks, 1 Super Battery, 5 Reflective Jackets, 3 Toyota Hilux, 4 Jerry cans filled with PMS, 1 Motorola Radio, 1 Geographical Positioning System (GPS), 21 empty Jerry cans, 2 Shovels and 3 Food Coolers. Troops also recovered 122 rounds of PKM ammunition, 213 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, 1255 Anti-Aircraft Guns ammunition, 4 boxes of API 12.7mm ammunition, 1 AK-47 Rifle Magazine, a Digger, 2 Bows and 13 Arrows, 2 LLG Bombs, assorted drugs and assorted working tools.
    “The Nigerian Army condoles with the families of all that lost their loved ones in this unfortunate incident. Search and rescue efforts are on-going. We are counting on the goodwill and support of the populace in volunteering valuable information that could help in the search and rescue operation.
    “What the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists are doing are pure criminal activities of kidnapping to gain funds. This has been noted and will be jointly addressed in conjunction with other security services.
    “The Nigerian Army remains resolute in the fight against terrorism and not relent in its effort to safe guard lives of citizens , properties  and the territorial integrity of the country”.
  • Military prepares 498 soldiers for retirement

    Military prepares 498 soldiers for retirement

    Four hundred and ninety-eight Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) of the Nigerian military were yesterday sworn in into a six-month course preparatory to their retirement.

    The personnel, comprising 352 from the Army, 130 Air Force and 16 Navy, willspend the next six months at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre  (NAFRC) in Oshodi to learn different self reliant skills.

    They would be taught business management skills, fashion design, shoe making, laundry, fine arts, photography, printing, soap making, agriculture, wood work, building and civil engineering works, electrical/electronics, fabrication as well as welding to help them re-integrate into civilian life and provide a source of living for them after retirement.

    Admitting the participants yesterday, NAFRC Commandant, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Ajibola Jekennu said the skills acquisition programmes were specifically designed to help build up profitable post-retirement ventures towards self-sustenance and integration into civil society with relative ease.

    He said: “Over the years, NAFRC has evolved from a rehabilitation centre for demobilised soldiers of the Nigerian Army, who were wounded in the second world war and the civil war, to a resettlement centre, which today, prepares retiring servicemen, women of the Armed Forces of Nigeria for productive life after service.

    “The objective is mainly to refocus your attention to the fact that a meaningful and productive life can be pursued even after leaving the service.

    “Hence, the main mission of this centre is to provide retiring personnel wirh requisite skills and trades that could empower you to set up your own cottage industries and enjoy productive life in retirement.”

    Continuing, Jekennu said the participants would be trained on entrepreneurship  an general management skills, security and safety practice, as well as ICT, to help them build up profitable post-retirement ventures towards self-sustenance and integration into civil society with relative ease.

    “The centre has been able to achieve its lofty objective. Feedback from the field indicated that quiet a good number of graduates of this noble centre are doing well in their various acquired skills in the larger society.

    “Today, some of them are even employers of labour. Hopefully, by the time you leave this centre in another six months, each and every one of you would have become skilled professionals, ready to explore and exploit the business world.

    “Your personal commitment, hardwork and sacrifice will propel you to your desired goal. It is important you realise that this is the first time the service is training you for your own benefit. Your success therefore depends largely on how best you utilise the time made available in the programme.

    “I enjoin you go be punctual and regular in all train activities; be prepared to learn from both your seniors and subordinates. Be open-minded, receptive and respectful to all your instructors, both military and civilians.

    “For us at the leadership level, our resolve is to make your stay here and eventual exit from service a pleasurable experience. Major thrusts of our activities are geared towards adding value and improving general welfare.

    “We are determined to provide your basic needs and also create conducive environment for learning. However efforts have been made to enhance the quality of training, welfare and security in the centre.”

     

  • Of military, cash and epaulets

    Cash is king… everything else is caviar! This is one of those bar room wisecracks of those heady days when naira was a sturdy currency of exchange and take home pay did not only take you home but could also frequently take you to some  nice after-work places with your pals.

    It is a call-and-response joke in which someone says cash is king… and someone else completes it as exampled in the opening sentence. And there were dozens and dozens of ‘crazy’ responses like: cash is king… everything else is cruel; or everything else is cold beer; or everything else is ‘bulls’, and so on.

    As one beheld the story of one dozen military officers currently on trial for a total of N102 billion, this joke came rushing to mind. For these top brass military men, one wonders how they would have responded to this joke. Let’s conjecture; let’s try out a few: cash is king, everything else is epaulet. Now epaulets are those fancy shoulder decorations you see on military officers. How apt.

    A national newspaper, New Telegraph did a beautiful piece of perspective journalism on Friday, June 30, 2017 when it arrayed on its front page, 12 military officers who are on trial for allegedly coveting a collective sum of N102 billion; yes, one hundred and two billion naira (just for the avoidance of doubt). The newspaper had on its front page, a photo collage of these men and the estimated sums they are facing trials for: perceptive and incisive journalism on display.

    But this is not about quality journalism but about a reprobate military institution where cash was king, kingdom and indeed god. Though they are still facing trial, many have returned various sums amounting to billions of naira. The issue here however is that the sums in question are simply mind-bending.

    The officers, mainly generals cut across the three services, namely army, navy and air force. Again, these men are undergoing trial but the figures pasted against their names could instantly make a weak mind migrainoid. Let’s take a few samples: Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Atewe, N19.7 billion; Air Marshal Dikko Umar, N4.8 billion; Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, N3.97 billion; Col. Nicholas Ashinze, N3.1 billion; Admiral Dele Ezeoba, N1.82 billion and among the trio of Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, AVM JB Adigun and Air Commodore G Olugbenga, there is N22.8 billion!

    These sums in question are far larger than the annual budget of some African countries. Again these sums were supposedly finagled at a time Nigeria was fighting a terror war; a time many officers and men perished on the battlefront for lack of ammunition…and Hardball wonders: what manner of system allows individuals unhindered access to so much cash?

  • Military battling 14 security threats nationwide, says CDS

    The military has said it is confronting 14 security threats across the country.

    Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin spoke at a reception organised for him by the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations (UN), in New York, United States.

    The defence chief was at the UN headquarters for the Second Chiefs of Defence Conference, with more than 100 chiefs of defence staff all over the world.

    He said: “By my estimation, we have about 14 security threats that we are confronting, ranging from terrorism, insurgency, kidnapping, cultism, to issues linked to armed robbery.

    “We are handling operations in all the geo-political zones of the country, but the major one is the one in the Northeast, which is ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’.

    “We have, of course operations down South and taking charge of militancy and oil theft; we also have that in Lagos.

    “But the major one is Operation Lafiya Dole, which of course since we came on board, we have stepped up the scheme.

    “Right now, we have been able to decimate Boko Haram terrorists, but what they are doing right now is hitting soft targets through suicide bombers.

    “We realised that to mitigate this particular menace is not only about the military. So, we need to carry the whole nation along to be able to address that.”

    To mitigate incidences of suicide bombing, Olonisakin said the military high command had met with other stakeholders to encourage the populace to provide them with necessary intelligence.

    He said the command realised that intelligence was vital to handling the menace of suicide bombing.

    The defence chief added that the military has started the process of restoring full civil authority to areas formerly controlled by Boko Haram terrorists.

    “We are working alongside the DSS – Department of State Services -, the Police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.

    “We are also ensuring that the civil authority is put in place; places that the military had taken over, we encourage the Police and Civil Defence to come on so they can provide civil authority for displaced people to move in.”

    Olonisakin noted that last week, many Boko Haram militants surrendered.

    He said: “We have what we call Operation Safe Corridor in Gombe that is to handle this kind of surrendered terrorists.

    “I believe in the next couple of days, repentant Boko Haram terrorists will be moved to that Operation Safe Corridor where they will conduct de-radicalisation and integration procedure for them.

    “Down South, of course we have issues too. But the military is stepping up its game to make sure we address the security challenges back home.”

    On peacekeeping operations, the Chief of Defence Staff said Nigeria had met and exceeded the gender percentage, having 16.2 per cent female peacekeepers as against the 15 per cent benchmark by the UN.

    The Nigeria’s Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Bande, hailed Nigeria’s security forces for decimating the Boko Haram as a fighting force.

    Bande said: “Soft targets are being exploited by desperate group but in truth, even beyond Boko Haram, other challenges are also being addressed.

    “What is important is the synergy that has been expressed by Chief of Defence Staff in relation to what all the security agencies are doing together; when we work together, we are secured.”