The Nation Newspaper

Tag: military

  • Military: no amount of distractions ‘ll deter us from ending terrorism by December

    The military yesterday said no amount of distractions would deter it from ending terrorism by December.

    The Theatre Commander, Operation “Lafiya Dole”, Maj.-Gen. Yushau Abubakar, gave this assurance while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

    Abubakar was reacting to the recent spate of suicide bombings by suspected insurgents in some parts of the country.

    He pointed out that the bombings were aimed at diverting the attention of the military from achieving its target in the anti-terrorism war.

    “I want to assure all that for every second that passes, we get more committed to fighting the insurgents; we cannot be deterred.

    “We are doing as much as we could to ensure that we completely eradicate the insurgents as quickly as possible because we are aware of the timeline within which to complete the task,” he said.

    He said the military had already gotten clues about those involved in the recent suicide bombings in Maiduguri.

    “We searched the houses and certain items that we recovered at the vicinity, gave us some clues,” Abubakar said.

    He said although investigations had commenced on the clues, it would take time before reaching a conclusion.

    “Investigation on those that we suspect are either participating or hiding, fuelling or conniving with those that carried out those acts, is ongoing.

    “They will be exposed in due course,” Abubakar assured Nigerians.

    He appealed to Nigerians to be security conscious to avoid future reccurrence.

    “The citizens need to know that security is their personal responsibility as individuals.

    “They must be able to secure themselves and doing so means they need to be security conscious.

    “Any suspicious movement within the environment should be reported to security agents immediately,” he advised

    Abubakar said the military was working on a strategy that would enable individuals pass vital information to security agents without being noticed.

  • Maiduguri’s explosion routine test, says military

    The 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri yesterday said the early morning explosion in the out skirt of Maiduguri emanated from routine testing of military equipment.

    Spokesman of the Division, Col Tukur Gusau, urged residents not to panic.

    “It is a routine test firing of our weapons to ensure that they are in a state of readiness,” he said.

  • Army denies attack on Maiduguri, calls for calm

    The military authorities in Maiduguri have denied that Maiduguri the Bornu State capital  was under attack on Sunday.

    Residents of Maiduguri had reported heavy sound of explosions from some parts of the town on Sunday with the situation causing serious panic in the metropolis which has recently come under suicide attacks by some suspected members of the Boko Haram insurgents.

    But the Spokesman of the 7 Division Nigerian Army Maiduguri Col. Tukur Gusau told our correspondent on phone in Maiduguri that the army was just test-running their equipment and called on the people not to panic.

    “There is no attack in any part of Maiduguri as I speak with you today (Sunday). The sound the people are hearing is from our men. It is a routine check of our equipment and hardware.  We are testing our equipment as part of measures to ensure that they are in good shape so as to be alert and ready for any eventuality.

    “We are however appealing to residents of Maiduguri not to panic but to remain calm. Maiduguri is not under attack. The military is fully in control.

    “We are calling on the good people to always report any suspicious moment of persons around your neighborhood so as to separate the good people from these terrorists,” Col. Gusau said.

     

  • Why we banned donkeys in Northeast, by military

    Why we banned donkeys in Northeast, by military

    •Says about 200 surrendered insurgents de-radicalised

    The military has said it banned donkeys in the Northeastern part of the country to impede fleeing terrorists from using them to wreak havoc.

    Director of Defence Information (DDI) Colonel Rabe Abubakar said this during a visit to The Nation headquarters in Lagos.

    He stated that the ban was necessary in view of the dismantled Boko Haram terrorist attacks on soft targets.

    According to him, since the insurgents do not have vehicles, they resorted to the use of donkeys, a common practice in the region that will not arouse suspicion.

    Col. Abubakar also spoke on the recent attack by terrorists at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Adamawa State, noting that it would have been more disastrous save for the presence of military personnel at the camps.

    He stated that the bombers blew themselves up around the warehouse after they could not enter the main camp where women and children were.

    “Tremendous improvement has been recorded by the military, having had what it takes to prosecute this war. We have the right leadership, armament and equipment, and the morale of the troops is now high.

    “Most importantly, the whole structure has been streamlined in such a way that every segment in the force has been allotted responsibilities to execute in fighting the war. “Boko Haram’s cell and its affiliated centre of gravity have been smashed and operations will continue to the next level to ensure they are completely decimated so that our nation can be one and never again could any territory of this country be claimed by any group. We are working round the clock and all areas formerly under the control of the terrorists are now fully under us.

    “A lot of security apparatus have been updated and personnel are physically on ground to ensure the safety of displaced persons at the general areas where they are before returning to their communities.

    “We are mindful of the fact that there have been some soft target attacks here and there, in the form of suicide bombing, and we want to say that it is one of the characteristics of insurgents the world over.

    “When they are completely degraded, the next thing they do is to ensure that they attack soft targets where harmless people are, but they lack the capability to confront the force. These kinds of things I believe may continue for sometime. Even with that, the military is not in anyway folding its arms. We are equally replanning and adopting different strategies.

    “That is why we banned the use of donkeys, horses in that general area. We discovered that the insurgents now use them because they do not have vehicles. We had to ban the use of animals, it is not a convenient thing but we must understand that the security and safety of our country and citizens is paramount.”

    Col. Abubakar also said the military has de-radicalised about 200 surrendered insurgents, who he said were still being investigated and rehabilitated.

    He admitted that some of them were surrendering because they could no longer withstand the military’s attacks, adding that the Defence Headquarters was planning to put a channel in place to receive and treat repented terrorists in accordance with international best practices.

    While noting that the multinational Joint Task Force (JTF) had blocked the entry and exit channels of the Sambisa Forest, Abubarkar said the terrorists inside the forest had been restricted and denied access to logistics.

    On the whereabouts of the abducted Chibok girls, he admitted that the issue was yet to be resolved, just as he noted that hundreds of other hostages were freed regularly and taken to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.

    He discountenanced the purported recordings recently made by Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, describing him as extremely insignificant in the ongoing war.

    “Shekau is extremely insignificant in the ongoing war. He is an individual and if he was alive and relevant, he would have come out.”

    While commending this newspaper for its responsible reporting of security issues, and for supporting the security agencies in the war, Abubarkar noted that the fight against terrorism cannot be won with the guns alone.

    In his response, this newspaper’s Managing Director, Victor Ifijeh noted that the war against insurgency was a collective exercise, adding that it affects everyone.

    He acknowledged that the media has changed its reportage of security issues, because it was conscious that terrorism thrives in publicity.

    Ifijeh however stated that the media has been severely condemned by those who feel it has gone soft in reporting events as they unfold in the war against Boko Haram.

    While noting that tremendous successes have been recorded by the military, he called on internal security agents to be alive to their duties in order to forestall the infiltration of communities by Boko Haram.

    He said: “We subscribe to the fact that we have no other country but this. It is why we must support your current drive, initiative against terrorists particularly in the north east zone to make it safe for all.

    “As a business, we are equally affected in that part of the country. I am not sure that newspapers do very well in that region now like they used to before the terrorists took over. For days a times, we do not circulate in that region. When we even do, we find it difficult to go and collect our proceeds.

    “Even people who sell for you give you one excuse or the other. So, it is in the collective interest of all that there is peace. This is why we will continue to support the initiative of the current leadership of the military.

    “I believe you started very well because only recently, the Chief of Army Staff went with some journalists to Gamboa. We read features of how he spent the night in that community and that was very good.

    “We have nothing against the authorities. We will continue to corporate with you and do everything that is in the collective interest of the nation.

    “You asked the media to be more patriotic in the way it reports issues about the ongoing war. I will tell you that we have come under serious attack by some people who feel that the media is now soft in the way we report events as they unfold.

    “About four or five months ago, if terrorists struck in any part of the country, it will be a headline news but today, you hardly see that. I remember someone recently tabulated the number of people that have been killed and said within three months, over a thousand have been killed and that the media has been silent.

     

  • Military can meet Buhari’s deadline in crushing Boko Haram, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has hailed the military for its string of successes in the battle against Boko Haram, saying the impressive performance has shown that the terror group can indeed be defeated within the time stipulated by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the continued push to dislodge the terrorists from their fortress in Sambisa Forest and elsewhere, the dismantling of their major fuel depot and other logistics and the rescue of many innocent people from the clutches of the terrorists are clear indications that the military has gained the upper hand against Boko Haram.

    It said the mere fact that the terrorists are now surrendering in droves to the gallant troops is the clearest indication yet that the bandits are feeling the tremendous heat which has been turned on them.

    APC urged the troops to continue with their gallantry and patriotism until they have finally silenced the terror group that has caused the nation so much pain, stressing the need to step up intelligence gathering to stop the lone wolf suicide bombers.

    The party also hailed the Service chiefs for their leadership, saying their personal examples – which have seen them on the battle front many times – have made all the difference in motivating their troops.

    ‘’The bigger picture of the impending Boko Haram defeat is the restoration of the much-vaunted capability of the Nigerian military and its globally-acclaimed professionalism that have vaulted Nigeria to the elite group of top global peace-keeping nations.

    ‘’The sharp turnaround in the war against Boko Haram, which had hitherto seen the terrorists gaining territories and striking at times and places of their own choosing, is also an indication of what a nation can achieve under a purposeful, committed, disciplined and sincere leadership,’’ it said.

    APC urged Nigerians to continue to support and pray for the troops.

  • ACF urges military to expose Boko Haram backers

    ACF urges military to expose Boko Haram backers

    The Arewa Consultative Forum has condemned in strong terms those allegedly aiding and abetting the activities of Boko Haram insurgents in the Northeast and other parts of the  country, saying they are enemies of Nigeria.

    The northern socio-cultural group was reacting to comments from Army authorities that some prominent politicians, and groups from the Northeast had been meeting marabouts to reverse the gains already recorded in the fight against the insurgents by the military.

    The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col Sani Usman had said among others that “the Nigerian Army wishes to inform the public and send a very strong and serious final warning to some prominent individuals and political groups who hail from Borno state in particular and Northeast generally, that there is information of plans by some highly placed individuals and political groups to undermine and scuttle the fight against terrorism and insurgency in this country. The unscrupulous individuals and their cohorts are determined to reverse the gains made and scuttle our efforts at achieving the Presidential directive to defeat Boko Haram terrorists within three months”.

    Speaking against this background, the ACF demanded a thorough investigation into the allegation and asked the military to expose all those behind such acts.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, Muhammad Ibrahim, in a statement ,yesterday in Kaduna, noted that the body considered those behind such devilish act as simply “wicked”.

    The ACF said the alarm raised by the Army was “grave, disturbing and worrisome, considering the efforts being put by the military and other security agencies to end the insurgency in the Northeast region.”

    The statement reads: “It is callous, wicked and unfortunate that some prominent individuals place their personal benefits above national interest, the daily killings of innocent lives and destruction of property as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency in the last six years.

    “ACF urges the military to thoroughly investigate the clandestine activities and other diabolical efforts of these politicians, expose and prosecute them to serve as a deterrent to others. Nigeria cannot afford to treat such unscrupulous groups or individuals with kid gloves at this material time that all hands are on deck to restore peace and order in the Northeast subregion and the country in general.

    “ACF will support and encourage the military to take any lawful action against the so called prominent elders and politicians undermining the effort of the Federal Government to combat terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria.”

  • Military dismisses purported Shekau audio message

    Nigerians should dismiss the purported audio message from Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau and draw  confidence from the military’s continuing success in the fight against insurgency, the military has said.

    The Defence headquarters in Abuja said the audio clip is fake and the Boko Haram sect, which it described as a “devilish and anti-human group”, is being decimated by the armed forces’ ongoing operations.

    A statement issued on behalf of the armed forces by the Acting Director, Defence Information, Col. Rabe Abubakar, yesterday, urged citizens to go about their normal businesses, as the areas liberated from the Boko Haram insurgents were safe.

     

     

     

     

  • Military dismisses Shekau’s audio message

    Military dismisses Shekau’s audio message

    Nigerians should dismiss the purported audio message from Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau and draw more confidence from the military’s continuing success in the fight against insurgency, the Nigerian military has said.
    According to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, the audio clip is a fake and the Boko Haram sect which it describes as a “devilish and anti-human group” is being decimated by the Nigerian armed forces’ ongoing operations.
    In a statement issued on behalf of the armed forces by the Acting Director Defence Information, Colonel Rabe Abubakar on Tuesday, he urged citizens to go about their normal business as all areas liberated from Boko Haram sect’s control can now be freely explored.
    “The military viewed as irrelevant and fruitless effort the motive behind the recent audio clip presumably released by Shekau, the acclaimed leader of Boko Haram sects.
    “The Armed Forces is using this medium to appeal to the good citizens of Nigeria not to lose sleep over the concocted audio rhetoric of the waning terrorist sect which is a usual antic of a drowning person struggling to hold on to anything to remain afloat.
    “The Nigerian Armed Forces is not considering any particular person in the terror group to be much relevant in the ongoing onslaught against insurgency in the North East. Shekau or any of his cohorts would not deter the spate of the military operations to rid the country of criminals hiding under strange religious ideology to kill innocent Nigerians,” he stated.
    Stressing that members of the Boko Haram and their strange ideologies are being effectively wiped off in the military’s areas of operation, he advised that Shekau or his impersonators should give serious consideration to surrendering.
    “The Armed Forces wishes to reiterate that It is a well known fact that the terrorists have been seriously decimated and the tremendous effort and achievement recorded in the recent time by combined forces of the Nigerian Army and the Air Force is commendable.
    “The Armed Forces did not lie about the successes recorded so far in its counterinsurgency operations and for avoidance of doubt, the liberated communities in the North East, which were hitherto under the throes of Boko Haram terrorists, are free for interested person or body to explore.

    “The military does re-state that in the recent time a number of Boko Haram members have been surrendering and denouncing radicalization.

    “Our candid advice to Shekau or his ghost; cohorts or impersonators is to toll the line of their fellow comrades and surrender now as no more hidden place for him or his criminal gang to operate freely any longer.

  • Military uncovers Boko Haram business centre in Borno

    A fake business centre specialized in the production of fake National Identity Cards for men of the Boko Haram has been uncovered by the men of the 7 Division, Nigerian Army in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

    The business centre situated at the busy Post Office area of Maiduguri according to the military was before its discovery being operated/managed by Mr. John Zakariya and Mallam Makinta Umar.

    The duo have been arrested and are now assisting the military with useful information.

    The discovery was contained in a press statement signed by Colonel Tukur Gusau, the Deputy Director Army Public Relations.

    [ad id=”403656″]Gusau in the statement said “the arrest of the accomplices were made possible after a Boko Haram terrorist who was earlier arrested confessed to Joint Investigation Centre that the suspected persons were in the business of producing ID cards for the terrorists group.

    “The items recovered from the accomplices include; computer laptops, memory sticks, still camera among others.

    ” During preliminary investigation, it was discovered that the accomplices produces fake National Identity Cards and other documents for the terrorists in a Business Centre located in Maiduguri.
    “These documents enable the terrorists to move freely to various destinations and carry out their terrorists activities, killing and inflicting hardship to the Law abiding citizens in the country.

    “The documents also facilitate the smooth movement of the terrorists to neighbouring countries to network with other terrorists.

    “This act by the accomplices is detrimental to the ongoing effort of the various security agencies under Operation Lafiya Dole”. Gusau’s statement added.

  • Rivers monarch cries out as subjects abandon community over fear of military attack

    Rivers monarch cries out as subjects abandon community over fear of military attack

    Bodies were found in the bush close to the Emohua Model Secondary School in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State. The bodies were not of ‘bloody civilians’. They were of two members of the Joint Task Force (JTF). That was in August. The Army, whose men were killed by unknown people, was angry and it gave an ultimatum: the killers must be produced by the community in seven days. The seven days lapsed on September 1. The community has no clue as to who the killers are.

    Now, the people are running. They are afraid the military will come after them and vent their anger on the community.

    The monarch of Emohua, His Royal Majesty Eze Vincent Chituru Okor, the Nne NewEli of Emohua Kingdom, is sad that his community has been deserted.  He was at The Nation’s office in Port Harcourt at the weekend. He wants his subjects, who are leaving the community, to stay back because the army had ruled out a reprisal attack.

    The monarch said: “Because the ultimatum was given which elapsed on Tuesday, September 1,  delegation from the paramount ruler of Emohua, led by Chief Dr. Esezi Obilor, met with the Brigade Commander in-charge of the Rumuokoro Army Barracks in Port Harcourt on Friday, August 28, 2015.  The other members of the delegation are Chief Barrister Gabriel Enyi, Chief Vincent Chukwu and Engr. Nnamdi Abah.

    “The meeting was prompted by the 7-day ultimatum handed down to the Emohua Monarch to produce and surrender to the Army the killer(s) of a soldier and a policeman attached to JTF, whose dead bodies were found along the ever-busy Emohua-Kalabari highway at ending of the month of August. The same road leading to where the bodies were found stretched from the Choba East/West Road  and end to the three  Kalabari Local Government Councils of Akuku-Toru, Asari-Toru and Degema.  To be frank, apart from the mass exodus of residents from the communities, the rest are living in great fear.  There is panic everywhere.

    “The delegation commiserated with the Brigade Commander, Lt Col. A.A. Lawal over the death of the security personnel and craved the understanding of the military in the peculiar circumstances of the matter.  The history of this notorious highway mocks the very essence and meaning of the army’s ultimatum.  It was on this road that one Progress Onuekwa of the Mgbo Royal House of Emohua was abducted about three months ago.  He has not been seen since then.  The police have several reports of vicious criminal activities along this road.  Emohua, in every good sense, cannot be held solely responsible for the death of the men.

    “The delegation prayed the security and law enforcement agencies to deploy the awesome intelligence and other resources at their disposal to apprehend and punish the culprits: Emohua lacks the competence and capability to do so.  Emohua would enlist the Special Anti-Robbery Squared stationed at the Emohua-Ogbakiri junction of the East-West road in the task of dislodging violent criminals. Emohua will offer any form of help to the military and law enforcement agencies in her effort to fish out and punish all those behind that dastardly crime.”

    He further stated that Emohua had not exonerated any individual or group of persons from the killing of the two security agents. He added that it had duly taken adequate traditional measures to ensure that such heinous acts were nipped in the bud.

    He said during a meeting with the Brigade Commander, Lt Col. A.A. Lawal, he assured the delegation that the army would not go to the extreme length of a military reprisal on the people of Emohua.

    “There is no need of running away from the community; the commander has said he is not going to attack the community. He only advised that the community should do everything within its powers to assist the military authorities in identifying criminal elements in the community, especially those who masterminded the killing of the officers. The commander also assured the community that regular military patrols along the Emohua-Kalabari Highway and environs would be intensified.”