The Nation Newspaper

Tag: military

  • Amosun, Aregbesola, Wike hail military on defeat of insurgents

    Governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and Nyesom Wike (Rivers) have hailed President Muhammadu Buhari as well as officers and men of the Armed Forces for their gallantry and success in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency.

    Amosun gave his commendation while speaking after inspecting a special parade by the Nigerian Legion, Navy and Army at the 2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration at the Arcade Ground, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, yesterday.

    Thanking the military for restoring peace in the Northeast, Amosun urged Nigerians to live in unity, irrespective of differences in gender, tribe, religion and political affiliations.

    The governor, top officers in the military and paramount rulers laid wreaths at the cenotaph in honour of fallen heroes.

    The governor also released 57 white pigeons as a symbol of national peace, with each pigeon representing the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas.

    The fallen heroes were later honoured with a 21-gun salute.

    Aregbesola hailed Buhari, ýthe Nigeria Armed forces and other security organisations for subduing the activities of Boko Haram group in the Northeast.

    The governor spoke at the grand finale of the 2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration, at the Military Cenotaph, Osogbo.

    Aregbesola lauded security agencies for destroying the Sambisa Forest base of the group.

    According to him, the nation would not forget the gallant soldiers and security officials, whose lives have been lost in the cause of putting down the Boko Haram uprising.

    He also commiserated with the government and people of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba and others caught in the throes of the group, whose people have been brutalised, killed or kidnapped and many now in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.

    Aregbesola added that the annual remembrance of fallen heroes and survivors of the Nigeria Army would be incomplete, if the country failed to retrace its past and device popular means of living in unity.

    In Port Harcourt, Wike noted that the President and service chiefs deserved commendation for strengthening the armed forces to take up on the elements, who had been threatening the country’s peace.

    At the event, Wike announced a N100 million empowerment scheme aimed at improving the living condition of the families of deceased ex-servicemen and legionnaires.

  • Minister assures military retirees of prompt payment of allowances

    Minister assures military retirees of prompt payment of allowances

    Minister of Defence Mansur Dan-Ali has assured that the allowances of legionnaires will continued to be paid promptly by government as part of efforts to ensure their welfare.

    Dan-Ali gave the assurance yesterday in an interview with reporters after the ceremony to commemorate the 2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Day at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

    He said the need to promptly pay them informed the introduction of identity cards for military retirees in 2016, adding that their allowances had been improved upon.

    He encouraged the troops in the frontline in the Northeast to continue to give their best.

    Also, in an interview, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, hailed the troops for doing their best for the nation.

    “I will use this opportunity to commend our troops in the various operations, both the one within Nigeria and outside of Nigeria.

    “They have been doing creditably well and we appreciate their contributions to peace both within and outside.

    “I enjoin them to continue to do more, to be more professional, to be more diligent and also, to be more hard working in all their duty posts,’’ he said.

    The chairperson of widows of fallen heroes, Mrs. Veronica Aluko, hailed the armed forces for taking care of families of officers and men who had paid the supreme sacrifice in defence of the nation.

    “The armed forces have done a lot; they have even recognised us and given us a name,’’ she said but appealed for empowerment of widows through skills acquisition.

    Chairman of the Nigerian Legion Col. Micah Gaya (rtd) urged government not to relent in supporting the legion so that they could in turn assist dependents of fallen heroes.

    “The fact of the matter is that we know that this day is celebrated every year.

    “But what we are looking forward to is the improvement that will follow, in terms of being able to help the widows, the dependents of the fallen heroes, not just the ceremonial part of it.

    “That is why I will appeal to government to assist the Nigerian Legion so that we will be able to meet with our constitutional responsibilities of taking care of the dependents of the fallen heroes,’’ Gaya said.

  • Military operations in Southern Kaduna, Kano, Plateau soon- Buratai

    Military operations in Southern Kaduna, Kano, Plateau soon- Buratai

    To rid the country of criminals and troubleshooters, the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai on Thursday said that the Nigeria military will soon commence exercises named Kunama 2 in Southern Kaduna, parts of Kano and Plateau States.

    He spoke with State House correspondents at the end of about six-hours security meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, troops are already on ground to stop the killings in Southern Kaduna.

    He also said that other operations in the North-East, South-South, and South-East are on course.

    He said: “Our troops are already in Southern Kaduna, we have our special forces operating there along with all other security agencies and we intend also to have an exercise very soon in Southern Kaduna to cover some part of plateau and indeed part of Kano state.

    “So it is part of our strategy for this year, to continue all the exercises we have had before. We will be having exercise Kunama two, which will come into Southern Kaduna state and part of Plateau and Kano state.

    “Croccodile smile in the Niger Delta and indeed the Python dance, but we are going to rename the Python Dance for the South East this year also,” he added

    On Sambisa forest, he said: “We are continuing our operations in that area, Lafiya Dole mandate and the troops are still moving all over the area.

    Asked if there is new directives from the President on the North-East, he said: “The directive is there, we are still pursuing it and it is a task we must accomplish at all cost.”

    The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali also disclosed that major security issues in the country were discussed at the meeting.

    “The Southern Kaduna, the Niger Delta issues and other major crisis areas were discussed and resolutions were passed.

    “Like I said in the Southern Kaduna we have our troops being moved and they have already taken places, operation is going on and I believe that very soon it will come to an end.” He said

    He said that no conclusion was reached at the meeting on The Gambia crisis, pointing out that it was not a national issue affecting Nigeria.

    But he was optimistic that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was adequately handling the matter.

  • Lalong hails military’s peace effort 

    Lalong hails military’s peace effort 

    Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has praised the commitment of the military in defending, uniting and ensuring peace in the country.

    Lalong spoke yesterday during the Armed Forces Remembrance Mass at Church of the Immaculate Conception (CIC), Zaramaganda, Jos.

    According to him, the military gave its best to keep Nigeria one, noting that some of them paid the supreme price in the course of duty.

    His words: “I want to particularly praise the military for defeating insurgency in the Northeast. I thank those who died in the process and pray God to grant their families the fortitude to bear the loss.

    “For those still serving, don’t be discouraged in defending us, because peace is better than war.

    “I praise President Muhammadu Buhari for the defeat of Boko Haram; it wouldn’t have been possible without his commitment as the Commander-in-Chief.”

    The governor noted that the mass was an opportunity to pray, not only for the fallen heroes, but for retired and serving ones.

    According to him, the military personnel need prayers, daily, to help them overcome challenges on the job.

    Commander, Operation Safe Haven, Maj.-Gen. Nicholas Rojas, said the day was a great one in the life of soldiers.

    He appreciated the people for their prayers, saying it helped to restore the peace being enjoyed in the state.

    “We count on your support for peace in Plateau and we urge you to continue to pray for us,” he said.

    Gen. Rojas appreciated Lalong for his support, which according to him, was instrumental to the prevailing peace in the state.

    Rev. Fr. Cletus Ikpa, who celebrated the Mass, prayed for the families of the fallen heroes, ex-service men and those still in active service.

    Ikpa particularly prayed for those still fighting insurgency in the Northeast, asking God to protect them as they fight to protect the defenseless.

  • Nigeria to get 3m euros from Germany for military equipment

    Germany is to provide Nigeria with three million Euros for the procurement of surveillance equipment, mobile medical care unit and other support services for the country’s armed forces .

    The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, stated this yesterday at a joint news conference with German Defence Minister Ursala Von dar Leyen, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, in Abuja.

    The German minister was in Abuja to hand over some military equipment donated to Nigeria.

    Dan-Ali said the money would be provided through the extension of the German Technical Advisory Group Agreement for three years – 2017 to 2020.

    The minister said under the existing agreement between the two countries under the group, 2012 to 2016, Germany had donated two mobile care units with extensive care unit facilities to the country.

    Also donated to the country by Germany, according to Dan-Ali, are Vallon metal detector/Improvised Explosive Device and Explosive Ordnance Disposal equipment, as well training of personnel and maintenance of the device.

    He said Nigeria had also received three Mobile Tactical Ground Surveillance Radar systems from Germany for border security in the Northeast.

    The minister thanked Germany for the assistance it had extended to the Nigerian armed forces so far to enhance their capacity to fight the Boko Haram terrorists.

    “As we are all aware, terrorism is a threat to the existence of humanity and its development. We must, therefore, continue to stand resolute and united in our fight to stamp terrorism out of the planet,’’ Dan-Ali said.

    The German defence minister who handed over the equipment to Dan-Ali, noted that combating terrorism was both “difficult and dangerous.’’

    “Everywhere, the terrorists live bloody trail of destruction and death and time and again, they single out the most vulnerable of their targets like children just like the Boko Haram does in Nigeria.

    “This is why it is in our common interest that the population at home in my country, as well as here in Nigeria is safe so that the economy can grow again.

    “Because that is the basis for jobs and prosperity so people can believe in the future in their homeland,’’ Leyen said.

    According to her, terrorists abuse religion for their evil purposes. Terrorists spread terror and violence all over the world, in France, Belgium, Aghanistan, Iraq, Turkey, Germany and here in Nigeria.

    Leyen said the objective of the cooperation between her country and Nigeria was to assist the country to “conduct crisis prevention, crisis management and peace building operations.’’

    “To complement this, Germany is focusing on practical, very concrete issues – the capability and equipment the Nigerian servicemen need most urgently such as the protection against the many IEDs place by the Boko Haram.’’

    She noted that Nigeria was fighting a hard but most important fight, promising the support of her country.

  • Nigeria to get 3m euros from Germany for military equipment

    Nigeria to get 3m euros from Germany for military equipment

    Germany is to provide Nigeria with three million Euros for the procurement of surveillance equipment, mobile medical care unit and other support services for the country’s armed forces .

    The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, announced this on Sunday at joint news conference with the German Defence Minister, Ursala Von dar Leyen, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Air port, Abuja.

    The Germany defence minister was in Abuja to hand over some military equipment donated her country to Nigeria.

    Dan-Ali said that the money would be provided through the extension of the German Technical Advisory Group Agreement for three years, 2017 to 2020.

    The minister said that under the existing agreement between the two countries under the group, 2012 to 2016, Germany had donated two mobile care units with extensive care unit facilities to the country.

    Also donated to the country by Germany, according to Dan-Ali are Vallon metal detector/Improvised Explosive Device and Explosive Ordnance Disposal equipment, as well training of personnel and maintenance of the device.

    He said Nigeria had also received three Mobile Tactical Ground Surveillance Radar systems from Germany for border security in the North East.

    The minister thanked Germany for the assistance it had extended to the Nigerian armed forces so far to enhance their capacity to fight the Boko Haram terrorists.

    “As we are all aware, terrorism is a threat to the existence of humanity and its development. We must, therefore, continue to stand resolute and united in our fight to stamp terrorism out of the planet,’’ Dan-Ali said.

    In her remark, the German defence minister, who handed over the equipment to Dan-Ali, noted that combating terrorism was both “difficult and dangerious.’’

    “Everywhere, the terrorists live bloody trail of destruction and death and time and again, they single out the most vulnerable of their targets like children just like the Boko Haram does in Nigeria.

    “This is why it is in our common interest that the population at home in my country, as well as here in Nigeria is safe so that the economy can grow again.

    “Because that is the basis for jobs and prosperity so people can believe in the future in their homeland,’’ Leyen said.

    According to her, terrorists abuse religion for their own evil purposes. Terrorists spread terror and violence all over the world, in France, Belgium, Aghanistan, Iraq, Turkey, Germany and here in Nigeria.

    Leyen said that the objective of the cooperation between her country and Nigeria was to assist the country to “conduct crisis prevention, crisis management and peace building operations.’’

    “To compliment this, Germany is focusing on practical, very concrete issues – the capability and equipment the Nigerian servicemen need most urgently such as the protection against the many IEDs place by the Boko Haram.’’

    She noted that Nigeria was fighting a hard but most important fight, assuring the support of her country. (NAN)

  • Air chief: our military policy hasn’t shifted

    Air chief: our military policy hasn’t shifted

    It’s not an official policy of the military to move towards East for military cooperation despite ordering 10 Super Mushshak aircraft from Pakistan and a shift to Russia for training and equipment, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar said at the weekend.

    Abubakar spoke in Ibadan to douse speculations that Nigeria might have shifted towards the East and abandoned its Western allies because of problem in the acquisition of more air platforms from Brazil.

    Citing human rights issues and corruption, the United States was reported to have again blocked Nigeria’s efforts to procure the Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano or A-29 Super Tucano light attack from the second retailer, Brazil.

    The light attack aircraft, which is designed for light attack, counter-insurgency (COIN), close air support and aerial reconnaissance, was sold to Brazil by America. It can only be resold to a third party with consent from America.

    Two weeks ago, Nigeria took delivery of four Super Mushshak aircraft of the 10 ordered from Pakistan.

    They will be used to train new pilots to be deployed to the Northeast to clear up remnants of Boko Haram insurgents.

    “East or West to us in the military doesn’t matter. But what is important is what platform is available to us,” Abubakar said.

    He said the purchase of military hardware by the Air Force  was not premised upon geography, but on who has what is needed by the military.

    “Acquisition of military equipment is determined by the result of threat analysis. If you do your threat analysis and you understand it is important to have such and such platform and that platform is in the South or the North, East or West, you go for it and that is exactly what we are doing; it doesn’t matter if it is the East or West,” Abubakar said.

    The  Air chief said although the Air Force had increased its platform about 300 per cent since 2015, there was room for more.

    “You will never have all that you want to have because we would have loved to have certain number of platforms, but we are comfortable with what we have because we are making full use of them. No country will have all that it wants to have.”

    On the war against Boko Haram, he said: “It is common knowledge that security challenges in the Northeast has been substantially addressed. We are at the tail end of the crisis from my reading of the situation, at least from the military point of view. What is happening is suicide attack, though tragic and unfortunate. It is typical of insurgents trying to cause distractions.

    “These are some challenges you always see in society where you have insurgency. The kind of challenges, where you have large convoy of vehicles moving from one village to the other killing people, that is not going to happen again. But as I said, you might still have isolated cases of bombings.”

  • Court remands fake military man for alleged forgery

    Court remands fake military man for alleged forgery

    An Ilorin Magistrate Court on Thursday remanded a 27-year-old man, Amusa Olatunji, for allegedly forging a military identity card.

    The Prosecuting Police, Insp. Nasiru Yusuf, told the court that the accused, on Nov.1, presented himself as an Air force Officer to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at Oke-Ode in Irepodun Local Government area of Kwara.

    According to him, when the DPO suspected the genuineness of the identity card, Olatunji brandished a dagger and threatened to stab any policeman that came close to him.

    He said that the accused was arraigned on a three-count charge of criminal Intimidation, false impersonation and forgery Contrary to Section 397, 179 and 364 of the Penal Code Law.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

    The prosecutor objected to bail of the accused on grounds that the offences were not bailable.

    Magistrate Abdullahi Hassan ordered that the accused be remanded at Okekura Prison, Ilorin, and adjourned the case till Dec. 14, for further mention.

  • 5,000 security personnel for Lagos bye-election

    5,000 security personnel for Lagos bye-election

    No fewer than 5,000 security agents have been deployed by the police ahead of Saturday’s bye-election for Ifako-Ijaiye Federal Constituency in Lagos state.

    Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni made this disclosure during a stakeholders meeting held at the command headquarters in Ikeja.

    Owoseni disclosed that there would be restriction of movement in the election area from 12am, warning trouble makers to stay away.

    According to him, the 5000 security personnel were drawn from the police, military, Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps  (NSCDC).

    The bye-election was sequel to the death of the former representative, Adewale Elijah in August.
    He said: ”This meeting is an opportunity for candidates to sign an undertaking for a peaceful exercise. As candidates and leaders to be, you must be able to control your supporters and agents.

    ”The Police, Military, NSCDC and DSS are collaborating to secure the election. We are going to use 5,000 officers and men.

    ”Political office holders are warned from moving freely with their security aids during the election. No vehicle is parmitted to go close to any polling boots.

    ”The accreditation and voting commence same time. Anyone with observation should reach the officials and not take laws into their hands.”

    In his remark, zonal supervising officer, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chief Shoyebi Adedeji said all sensitive materials have been distributed to the wards.

  • Military, police, others walk for peace in Aba

    Military, police, others walk for peace in Aba

    Military and police personnel as well as other stakeholders have walked 15km in Aba, Abia State, to sensitise residents on partnering with security agencies as the Yuletide nears. SUNNY NWANKWO reports

    Security agencies view the ember months as particularly troublesome. Crimes tend to rise in those months, peaking in December. That was why the military, police, Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) and several other para-military organisations staged a walk in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State, to sensitise residents on providing information to security agencies.

    The PCRC took part in the walk alongside the police, Aba Area Command, Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS), Immigration, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Customs, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigeria Army from 144 Battalion, and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Aba Unit Command, among others.

    The walk lasted for well over three hours. Participants carried various placards, some of which read: Say No to robbery, Say No to kidnapping, Say No to bribery and corruption.

    The walkers covered such major streets as Azikiwe, Hospital Road, Aba-Owerri Road, Aba-Ikot Ekpene Expressway, Ngwa Road, etc.

    Apart from using the event to create the awareness on the need for members of the public to partner with security in fighting crime in their neighbourhoods, the walk also provided the participants the opportunity to assess the level of their stamina and physical fitness.

    Speaking to newsmen on the purpose and significance of the exercise, the Aba Area Commander, ACP Peter Wagbara described the exercise as timely and worthwhile. He said it was in line with the mandate and directives given to all police commands, divisions and stations by the Inspector General of Police to use all pro-active measures in their areas of jurisdiction to fight and prevent crime and corruption; which is also in line with the change mantra of President Muhammadu Buahri.

    “Apart from keeping with the directives from the IGP and the commissioner of police, CP Adeleye Oyebade of sensitizing members of the public to keep away from crime, the walk illustrates the perfect synergy amongst security agencies and to also assure residents of Aba that the Yuletide is going to be free from crime. It also serves as a health tonic for the participants as they used the exercise to improve their health status; become mentally alert and physically strong to combat and stamp out crime in Aba and its environs.”

    Sir James Uzoma, the Chairman PCRC, Aba Central Police Station (CPS) to use the walk to partner with the police in bringing down the rate of criminality in the society.

    “For years back, the relationship between the police and members of the public has not been cordial, but with this exercise members of the public will now willingly come to join the police to fight crime and to also bridge the gap that has been existing between the police and members of the public.  We equally want the police to see members of the public as their friends, because information from members of the public to the police will go a long way to help the police to fight crime.

    “Secondly, we are coming to the end of the year where the quest for people to make illicit money is on the high side, so, the exercise provides us with the opportunity to tell people and residents of Aba that we don’t want crime and as such discouraging people who want to engage in any form of crime this ember months.

    “The four hours road walk I must tell you has increased our energy and strength because anybody fighting against crime must also be physically fit to pursue armed robbers. This is the first edition and with the support from members of the public, we intend to make it a yearly activity and by so doing, it will bolster the relationship between the members of the public and security agencies in Aba and the state at large.”