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Tag: Nigeria Army

  • Boko Haram: Army confirms raid on UN house in Maiduguri

    Boko Haram: Army confirms raid on UN house in Maiduguri

    The Nigeria Army says it has intensifies condone and search operations within Maiduguri metropolis and its environs.

    According to a statement signed by Lt. Col. Kingsley Samuel on behalf of the Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole and  made available to journalist in Maiduguri explained that the operations became expedient, the, “Theatre Command received credible information from one of its  credible sources that some high value BHT suspects had infiltrated into Pompomari Bye-pass”, of Maiduguri metropolis.

    The statement also noted that the search operation was carried out in 29 houses in the general area including a building hosting United Nations Staff.

    The UN building is said to belong to the late Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Mala Kachalla.

    The statement read in full:

    “As part of ongoing counter insurgency operations, the Theatre Command Operation LAFIYA DOLE has been conducting several clearance as well as cordon and search operations in urban and rural areas within the Theatre. The clearance operations effort has been yielding several successes. It has forced the Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) to change tactics and resort to employment of suicide bombers to target military locations and the populace.  This necessitated the need to intensify Cordon and Search in Maiduguri metropolis and environment.

    “In the last one week cordon and search operations were conducted in Jiddari –Polo, Muna Garage, Jakana amongst several other areas. On 10th August 2017, Theatre Command received information from one of its credible sources that some high value BHT suspects had infiltrated into Pompomari Bye Pass.  It therefore became expedient to take preemptive action by combing the general area through a cordon and search operations.  The operation was successfully conducted as over 30 houses were searched.  One of such included a property which was said to be occupied by United Nations Staff, although the property did not carry a UN designation.  On the whole, operation in the general area was successfully concluded but no arrest was made because the suspects were not found.

    “The command wishes to assure the general public that these operations are being conducted to safeguard lives and properties but not targeted at any individual or group.  The general public is cautioned to avoid peddling rumors which may cause disaffection and to remain law abiding”.

    The statement of the army is coming on the wake of wild rumors on the social media in Maiduguri that the leader of Boko Haram Abubakar Shekau was arrested by troops in Maiduguri.

    So far, no security source has confirmed the rumour of Shekau’s arrest.

  • Speed violation, overloading among leading causes of road crashes – FRSC

    Speed violation, overloading among leading causes of road crashes – FRSC

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has identified speed violation, use of cell phone while driving and overloading as leading causes of road accidents in the country.

    Mr Rindom Kumven, its Sector Commander in Delta, and Mr Dickson Amromawhe, Coordinator, Special Marshall Unit, identified the causes on Wednesday, at the FRSC Town Hall Forum in Warri.

    The Forum was organised for stakeholders to examine measures to minimise loss of lives through road crashes.

    Kumven particularly condemned the habit of writing and send text messages on phones while driving, lighting of cigarettes, intake of alcohol and non-use of seat belts.

    “Such habits are very dangerous and must be avoided,” he said.

    He said that the offences were common which prompted the introduction of speed limiters, psychological tests on drivers, and other stiff measures aimed at curbing the violation of traffic rules.

    The commander said that four offenders had so far undergone mental tests in Delta, but added that none was found psychologically imbalanced.

    “The cost of such psychological tests, carried out in designated hospitals, are borne by the offenders,” he said.

    Kumven said that enlightenment on safety on roads had been taken to markets, places of worship and motor parks, and urged members of the public to promote it.

    Amromawhe, on his part, blamed most accidents on the lack of concentration while driving.

    “After a quarrel with your spouse at home, don’t drive.

    “It is emotionally dangerous if you cannot give 100 per cent concentration,” he said.

    The Special Marshal boss, however, advised drivers to keep a safe distance from truck drivers, alleging that some of them (truck drivers) drive under the influence of alcohol.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the forum had representatives from schools, the Nigeria Army,  Navy, Air Force, the Nigeria Police, among others.

    Also in attendance were  chairmen of local governments, lecturers from the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), and youth groups.

  • Army, other security agencies march for peace in Kogi

    Army, other security agencies march for peace in Kogi

    The Nigeria Army and sister security agencies on Thursday held a joint route march aimed at fostering unity between the military and the paramilitary agencies.

    The exercise, according to Brig. Gen. Henry Ayamasaowei, Commander, Headquarters Command Army Records, was also aimed at engendering peace and security in Kogi.

    Ayamasaowei, who addressed the personnel after the exercise at Chari Maigumeri Barracks in Lokoja, said that the initiative would enhance understanding and ensure harmonious working relationship among the services.

    “For us in the army, it is a routine exercise carried out every first Friday of the month, but we decided to involve our sister agencies to foster unity among security services.

    “Asides the primary function of physical exercise to keep us fit and alert, it also engenders fellowship and builds mutual understanding among us.”

    Briefing newsmen, the army officer said that the security agencies would gain more respect as members of the public would see them as one united front ready to protect everyone from any danger.

    “For the criminals, this togetherness will send a clear signal that it is no longer business as usual,” he said.

    He urged the personnel to work harder to stamp out kidnapping and other vices, and commended Gov. Yahaya Bello for donating vehicles and ensuring prompt payment of allowances to security agencies on the field.

    Commenting on the exercise, Mr. Edward Ebouka, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), said that the paramilitary and the military had a common purpose – preserving law and order, and protecting lives and property.

    “When we meet like this, we develop synergies and get to know ourselves in order to foster unity and jointly combat criminality.

    “Our unity will give the residents confidence that the law enforcement agencies and the military are on ground and prepared to rid Kogi of criminal elements,” he said.

    Among security services that participated in the exercise were the army, navy, police force, as well as the immigration and prison services.

    Others included the Customs, Department of State Services, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the National Youth Service Corps.

     

     

  • Army investigates 1,400 Boko Haram suspects in detention

    The Nigeria Army says no fewer than 1,400 suspected Boko Haram members arrested by the military are undergoing investigation at its  detention facility.

    Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, the outgoing Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, said this during a handover at the army command headquarters in Maiduguri on Tuesday.

    Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru took over from Irabor who was posted to serve as the Force Commander Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).

    Irabor said a sizable number of the terrorists were intercepted, some were arrested while some willingly surrendered to troops of Operation Lafiya Dole.

    “Investigation is still ongoing and I can assure you that many of the terrorists have owned up that “they actually took part in the activities of Boko Haram.

    “They are still undergoing process of de-radicalisation as part of the efforts to fully reintegrate them into becoming meaningful citizens.

    “On how many we have taken to court, I can only tell you that we are collaborating with the Ministry of Justice to commence that process.

    Irabor said the army had recorded remarkable progress in the fight against Boko Haram in the last one year and had continued to work tirelessly to conclude the operation.

    “In the past, a lot of operations were conducted and we had related some of them to you. We had strived in ensuring that peace returned to the North-East.

    “I urge the new theatre commander that it should be sustained.

    “Boko Haram has done no good to anyone. Your life, my life and that of average Nigerian’s, officers and soldiers must not be at stake.

    “So, we as responsible citizens have a role to play in bringing new ideas and innovations to deal with the new tactics of Boko Haram.”

    Responding, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru urged the Nigeria media to continue to give its support to the military to enable it to win the war against Boko Haram.

    Attahiru said it required a multifarious approach to win the war against insurgency; the command would continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders and the civil society to win the war.

    “The command would also open Human Right Desk at the Division where cases of erring officers and soldiers are reported and treated”, he said.

     

  • Army rescues 30,000 women, children from Boko Haram in 14 months

    The Nigeria Army on Wednesday said it had rescued 30,000 women and children held by Boko Haram in Sambisa Forest in the last 14 months.

    Brig.-Gen. Victor Ezugwu, the outgoing Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Nigerian Army, made this known at the handover ceremony in Maiduguri.

    Ezegwu attributed the successes recorded so far in the fight against insurgency in the North-East to doggedness, hardwork and determination of troops in the frontline.

    “Successes recorded so far is as a result of collective efforts of all of you here.

    “I cannot take this glory alone because I could not have achieved anything without your support and encouragement,” he said.

    The GOC, who urged troops to increase the momentum in the campaign to flush out the remaining terrorists in the region, said all hands must be on deck to end Boko Haram.

    Ezugwu paid glowing tribute to the past GOCs of the Division for laying solid foundation at the formative age of the Division.

    “We cannot forget  the efforts of our past GOCs, who laboured to build this Division before my assumption of duty as the sixth GOC.”

    He pledged that the Army would not forget those who died in the service of the nation.

    “The death of these gallant men and women will not be in vain.

    “We that are still alive must double our efforts towards total elimination of insurgency in the region so that their death will not be in vain.”

    He thanked the Chief of Army Staff for providing necessary support needed to execute the war in the North-East.

    “Let us thank God for giving us Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai as the COAS. He provided us with all we needed to fight this war.

    “He practically took it upon himself to plan the war strategies and we all can see the results of such efforts”.

    Ezugwu described the incoming GOC as a hardworking and gallant senior officer, who knew the  terrain very well having served as Brigade Commander in the Theater.

    He urged troops to extend the support he enjoyed to the incoming GOC.

    The outgoing GOC was recently posted to Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria, Kaduna State and is being replaced by Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Yusuf after serving for 18 months as the Acting GOC of 7 Division.

     

  • Army launches operation to flush out Southern Kaduna attackers

    Nigerian Army on Wednesday launched a one month special operation code-named “Operation Harbin Kunama” to flush out bandits terrorising the southern part of Kaduna.

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, while launching the programme alongside the state Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, said the operation would ensure that there is no longer hiding place for armed bandits in the state.

    The army chief urged the people of the area to maintain the peace and shun reprisal attacks.

    While assuring that the military will always assist civil authorities to contain any crisis and prevent its escalation, Buratai said the first phase of Operation Harbin Kunama was conducted in parts of Kaduna and Zamfara States in 2016.

    Buratai said, “The aim of this exercise is to ensure that this area is kept safe. I know it has been in the press and generated a lot interest. But we are determined to shoulder the major responsibility of keeping the peace always and it is better to do this job than to leave it until it goes out of hand. God forbid.

    “We will continue to coordinate our activities to ensure that we get our communities to understand each other and then we provide the needed security and the right atmosphere for economic and social activities to thrive.”

    Governor El-Rufai expressed confidence that the bandits that had been attacking farmers in the area would finally be neutralized.

     

     

  • Senate seeks police, military collaboration to rid Lagos of kidnappers

    Senate seeks police, military collaboration to rid Lagos of kidnappers

    The Senate Tuesday resolved to ask the Federal Government to mandate the Nigeria Army, Navy and other security agencies to assist the Police in its quest to rid Lagos State particularly the creeks in Lagos East Senatorial District of criminal syndicates making use of its waterways to perpetuate crime.

    The upper chamber also urged the government to direct the inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to immediately instruct the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, to beef up the strength of the task force already constituted in order to effectively secure all the affected creeks and communities.

    It also advised the government to direct Mr. Idris to immediately make available sufficient helicopters for aerial surveillance and gunboats to the Marine Police department of the Lagos State Police Command to enable the State Command to effectively tackle the activities of militants in Lagos State.

    The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion on “the urgent need for the Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies to intervene in the increased rate of kidnapping in the Lagos East Senatorial District and securing the water ways.”

    Senator Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos East) who sponsored the motion in his lead debate noted recent increase in the activities of criminal syndicates who specialize in kidnapping/militant activities in and around communities in the Lagos East Senatorial District, particularly Kosofe, Epe, Ikorodu, Ibeju Lekki Local Government Areas.

    Ashafa expressed concern that the activities of the criminals have forced law-abiding residents of coastal/riverine communities of the affected communities to flee their communities and livelihood out of fear.

    He further expressed concern that on Friday, 7th April, 2017 one Mr. Ademola Salami, a 42 year old plank dealer was kidnapped in Ise community in Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos East Senatorial District by seven dare devil abductors, who escaped in a gunboat via the river.

    The abductors, he said, were demanding the sum of N100 million as ransom for his release.

    Ashafa said that “the situation is now so bad that even prominent citizens of Ise community, including HRM, Kabiyesi Onise of Ise, Oba Ganiyu Adegbesan, has had to vacate the community due to the level of insecurity in the area.”

    He said that it is disturbing that for the past seven years, a divisional Police station commissioned in Ise had been a ghost of itself as no police officers were deployed there until the recent attack.

    He recalled that a publication had the report of the case of two sand dredgers who were kidnapped in Ibeju Lekki by kidnappers that also stormed the community in a gunboat.

    Ashafa further recalled that between April and July, 2016 there were reports of militant activities in some communities in Ikorodu, including Elepete, Agbede, Ishawo and Igbo-Olomu, which led to the death of residents.

    He said that the militants were equally reported to have stormed the communities through the creeks using gunboats.

    The lawmaker said that he is “alarmed that the recent kidnap incidents have assumed a totally new and disturbing dimension in the sense that just yesterday, 9th April, 2017 an army Captain, identified as Muhammed, two other rank soldiers, four policemen, and a civilian lost their lives after suspected militants attacked Ishawo, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

    “The late security operatives were responding to a distress call after the militants stormed and kidnapped some residents of Woodland Estate, close to the Ishawo creeks with about 10 speedboats according to reports relayed online.

    “It was also reported that other innocent citizens who were seriously injured are now receiving treatment at the Ikorodu General Hospital,” he lamented.

    He said that it is obvious that the activities of the criminal syndicates have caused untold hardship to the people of Lagos East Senatorial district and the intervention of the Federal Government is urgently required.

     

  • Soldiers recover 82 animals in Bauchi State

    Soldiers recover 82 animals in Bauchi State

    A detachment of soldiers from 33 Artillery Brigade, Nigeria Army, Bauchi, has recovered 39 cows and 43 rams from cattle rustlers in Dangarfa village, Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

    A statement by Major Joseph Afolasade, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, of the brigade, said that the animals were recovered on Monday, April 3.

    Afolasade said that the animals were recovered by the soldiers in an operation code-named ‘Brigade Forward’, led by Lt. Haruna Hassan.

    The statement said that some communities in the area had complained to the soldiers that the stolen animals were being moved from Zomo area to Dangarfa, both in Bura District.

    “The soldiers trailed the rustlers to Dangarfa village; on sighting the soldiers, the rustlers abandoned the animals and escaped into a nearby forest.

    “It is a commendable effort. The soldiers will remain there not only to arrest rustlers, but tackle criminals, who have been terrorising innocent people.

    “We have decided to establish a base there to protect the people from criminals hiding in Bura, Lame and Torro forests.

    “The soldiers are still combing the areas to arrest the rustlers,” he added.

    Afolasade said that the operation was in line with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai’s order, directing the Artillery Brigade to clear the remnants of criminal elements still lurking around the areas.

    The spokesman said that the recovered animals had been handed over to the District Head of Burra for onward transfer to the owners.

    He advised local communities to assist the army and other security agencies with useful information that could lead to the arrest of criminals and cattle rustlers.

     

  • Human rights abuse: GOC assures Human Right commission of Cooperation

    The General Officer Commanding 3 Division Nigeria Army Maj. Gen. Peter Dauke has assured the cooperation and support of the Nigeria Army to the National Human Rights Commission into investigation of Human Right Abuses alleged to have been carried out by soldiers in Yobe State.

    The visit of the delegation of Human Rights Commission to 3 Div. Tactical Headquarters Damaturu came barely 24 hours after the GOC had also hosted a Special Board of Inquiry on Alleged Human Rights Abuse by soldiers of Operation Lafiya Dole, headed by Maj. Gen. Ahmed Jubrin (Rtd) set up by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukar Yusuf Buratai to investigation allegations of human right violations published by Amnesty International.

    Maj. Gen Dauke while receiving the members of the Human Right Commission charged them to continue to sensitize the general public on the measure of finding an end to the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency.

    According to him, cases of human right abuse were not reported in Yobe State, while calling on the commission to get more involved in organizing seminar/workshop on Laws of Armed Conflict and International Humanitarian Law which would be beneficial in the ongoing fight against terror in his Area of Responsibility.

    While briefing the GOC, Mr. Tony Ojukwu who represented  the Executive Secretary of Human Rights Commission said the is in partnership with  Human Rights Agenda Network and European Union to promote Human Rights Accountability in Yobe State and the North east in general.

    His words, “as part of the project work plan, the partners are pleased to visit you today to intimate you on the project and solicit your collaboration in achieving the objective of the project,” Mr. Ojukwu said.

    He therefore thanked the GOC for granting them audience and look forward to working together to achieve human rights accountability.

     

  • Army rescues women, children in Sambisa forest

    Army rescues women, children in Sambisa forest

    The Nigeria Army on Wednesday said it had rescued additional 605 women and children during its operation in Sambisa forest.

    The Theatre Commander, Maj.-Gen. Leo Irabor stated this during a press conference at the headquarters of the 7 Division of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri.

    Irabor said that troops on operation rescue final have continued to record remarkable progress in the fight against counter terrorism operation in Sambisa forest.

    He added that “69 male adults, 180 females, 227 male children and 129 female children, were rescued during the operation between Dec. 7 and Dec. 14, 2016.

    “The victims are in our custody for further investigation and interrogation.

    “On the operation, our troops are determined to wipe out the terrorists from their hideout. I can tell you that the counter terrorism operation is already yielding positive results.”