The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Army

  • One killed in Bayelsa as hoodlums engage soldiers in gun duel 

    A suspected armed robber was killed in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, yesterday in a gun battle between his gang and troops of the 16th Brigade of the Nigerian Army.

    A statement signed by Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 16th Brigade, Jonah Danjuma, said the gunmen numbering seven first opened fire on the troops.

    He said one of the hoodlums attempted to disarm a soldier, but was neutralised by the troops.

    He said: “Troops of 16 Brigade Nigerian Army on routine patrol were attacked  at Swali market area in Yenagoa metropolis by gunmen on  February 22.

    “The gunmen numbering about seven opened fire on own troops. One of the bandits attempted to snatch a riffle of one of the soldiers. In the process, he was neutralized while others took to their heels. Efforts are on to track t“There are allegations that these criminals have been robbing people around Swali market for sometime now. Unfortunately, luck ran out of them when troops closed in on them and  recovered their weapons”.

    Read also: Mahmood’s thankless job and sore losers

    He named the items recovered from them as one locally-made pistol; two locally made 9mm ammunition; one Itel mobile phone and the sum of N8,350.

    He said: “The brigade wishes to reassure the good people of Bayelsa and its environs of the safety of their lives and property.  Also, criminal elements brandishing arms are advised to turn them in to security agencies or be ready to face the full wrath of the law”.

  • Army dismisses video of human rights abuse

    The Nigerian Army Thursday dismissed trending videos of human rights abuse circulating in the social media, insisting that the persons in military uniforms are not its personnel.

    It said in a statement endorsed by its Acting Director of Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa, that going by the reforms initiated by the present leadership of Lt. General Tukur Buratai, the dress code of military personnel has changed compared to the ones put on by those in the video.

    Colonel Musa maintained that Lt. General Buratai would not condone flagrant violation of human rights especially by soldiers, but that he has done everything possible to ensure that soldiers strictly abide by their codes of professional ethics and rules of engagement.

    He said: “looking at the video closely and carefully, even without or before deliberate investigation is conducted, one can raise salient fundamental common sense observations with regards to the video especially on the 3 persons that are dressed in camouflage uniform. The observations are:

    “The persons in uniform, – all of them – completely – lack military bearing. None of them is fully dressed like present day Nigerian Army (NA) personnel. The camouflage is not the proper NA camouflage in use today. This can easily be compared and corroborated.

    ” The style of their dressing and the dressing itself, – is at variance with the dressing pattern of contemporary NA soldiers – No name sign on the chest, desert boots on woodland camouflage?

    “Again, putting on belt on top of camouflage uniform has since been banned in NA dress code! Look at the black boot of one of the soldiers in the video – looking – too Civil!

    “The setting/the environment in which the atrocity, – the rights abuse was conducted is also suspicious. ‘Soldiers’ carrying a suspect into a private house not barracks?

    “And watching carefully from the victim to the perpetrators of the abuse, – the whole show, the drama appeared staged managed.

    “Ordinarily, how can soldiers of a national army abducted and brutalized in a manner as shown in the video a fellow country man or woman and records it only for public to watch? Of what gain is that to him or them as shown in the clip. In other words there is more to this evil machination.

    “Significantly, with the silent professional transformation going on in the NA and the professional temperament of the NA leadership at all levels of command, one will be doubtful of the conduct of these “fake soldiers’ as shown in the video recording.

    “NA will surely investigate and make its findings public. Anyone found culpable will be dealt with decisively and appropriately.“

  • Army cautions personnel on politics

    The Nigerian Army has again warned its personnel against involvement in politics.

    Also yesterday, the Inspector-General (IG) of Police Mohammed Adamu, warned troublemakers, especially ballot box snatchers to perish the idea of disrupting the rescheduled polls.

    The Army described as untrue the allegation that its officers were involved in Rivers State politics.

    Sounding the note of warning in a statement in Abuja by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, the army warned its personnel and officers to stay away from political campaigns or escort of Very Important Personalities (VIPs) for political missions.

    Col. Musa said it had become imperative to make the army’s position known considering the fact that members of the public might be misled to believe the unsubstantiated allegation of the involvement of a military officer in the Rivers state saga.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Nigerian Army (NA) has been drawn to an allegation of involvement of one of its officers in politics in Rivers State which was found to be untrue.

    “The Nigerian Army would have ordinarily ignored such baseless insinuations but for the unsuspecting members of the public who may be misled to believe the unsubstantiated allegations of political involvement of a military officer.

    “The Army has made it sufficiently and consistently clear that none of its personnel will be involved in political campaigns,  escort of VIPs for political missions and above all, aiding or supporting any political party as has been circulated in official circulars and statements.

    “Although a detailed press statement has been released, the need to further make the position of the Nigerian Army clearer is therefore imperative.

    “Our Rules of Engagement and Code of Conduct have not assigned any political role to the Army in this regard. The Army’s involvement starts and ends with the provision of a peaceful and secure environment for the conduct of 2019 General Elections.

    “The Nigerian Army strongly believes that the Citizens, like responsible media, have complementary constitutional roles to play, especially towards ensuring national security, information management, peace, and safety of Nigerians.

    “The Army will continue to achieve and sustain constructive engagement, obedience to the rule of law and obedience to constituted authority at all time in the spirit of civil-military relations.

    “The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has consistently called on soldiers to uphold the tenets of military professionalism and be guided by the rules of engagement and the constitution of Nigeria toward sustaining a responsive army in the discharge of its constitutional roles.

    “Therefore, any insinuation or assertion against this open declaration is not only mischievous but politically motivated with the intent to tarnish the reputation of the Army which has been built on discipline and obedient to civil authorities under the leadership of the Chief of Army Staff.

    “Members of the public are therefore urged to always ignore information attributed to the Nigerian Army that are contrary to its core values of professionalism, respect for others and open declaration on the rules of engagement.”

    The IG told Nigerians that the Police have been mobilised to deal with anybody planning to snatch ballot boxes or make trouble during the elections.

    He gave the warning in a chat with reporters after the security meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting had reviewed security situation in the country, especially towards the general elections.

    IG Adamu assured that the police were ready to protect every eligible Nigerian to exercise his or her civic responsibility.

    “Anybody that tries to disrupt the elections by engaging in ballot boxes snatching, he said, would have himself or herself to blame,” Adamu said.

    He also said that any act of thuggery and touting during the polls would be met with grave resistance.

    The IG said: “Today, members of the security community and intelligence community came and briefed Mr. President on the security situation in the country.

    “We deliberated on the consequences and came up with the resolve to further provide adequate security within the country so that the electorate will come out and cast their votes without any fear of molestation.

    “Every Nigerian is encouraged to come out on the Election Day and cast his or her vote without any fear of molestation. The security personnel are ready and prepared to protect everybody.

    “Anybody that feels that he can come out and disrupt process should have a rethink because that situation will not be allowed. If you plan and allow yourself to be used as touts, whatever happens to you, you will take it.

    “Ballot snatching, ballot buying, thuggery will never be allowed, anybody that is planning to snatch ballot boxes or planning to be used as a tout, will have his or herself to blame on the Election Day. So, you better don’t allow yourself to be used.”

    The directed officers from the rank of Assistant Superintendent (ASP) upward earlier deployed for election duty to return to their bases.

    This followed the recall of officers from leave in a signal released by the Force Secretary.

    Sources told The Nation that the directive was not unconnected with the need to ensure adequate security before, during and after the general elections.

    “Though election was postponed, we were still asked to ensure security at all INEC offices and facilities. We have been at INEC since Friday. Only officers from the rank of ASP and above were directed to return to their bases.

    “We have been guiding INEC election materials until on Monday that they eventually moved them all to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    “There are fears that some criminally-minded people and thugs sponsored by politicians might want to disrupt election, so, the need to have enough hands ready.

    “There have also been pockets of violence like in Kano, Akwa Ibom and remember that Boko Haram also attacked some communities in the morning of the Election Day. All these have been analysed and those at the top arrived at the conclusion that any policeman or woman currently on leave be called back.”

    But some Police Mobile Force (PMF) operatives said they were yet to receive their election duty allowance, an issue The Nation gathered.

    A sergeant who said he was yet to receive the N35,000 duty allowance, told our reporter that a signal was sent yesterday requesting that the names and account details of all those affected be forwarded to the force headquarters.

  • GOC: thugs will be dealt with

    The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham, has declared that personnel of the division will  deal with political thugs in Rivers State and other parts of Niger Delta.

    He made the declaration yesterday in Port Harcourt through 6 division’s Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Aminu Iliyasu.

    The 6 Division covers Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states.

    The GOC said: “Credible intelligence available to Headquarters 6 Division, Nigerian Army has uncovered an unholy plan by some political actors within its Area of Responsibility (AOR) to arm and sponsor miscreants, in addition to using military-like fatigue dress for deception to cause pandemonium at polling stations for their political gain.

    “While covert efforts are ongoing to track the source of the weapons and the agents involved, in conjunction with sister security agencies, authorities of 6 Division wish to unequivocally state that anyone found to be disrupting the electoral process, under any guise, will be decisively dealt with, in accordance with the laws, no matter how highly placed he or she is.”

    Maj.-Gen. Sarham also reassured the “good people” of Niger Delta of providing adequate security, in conjunction with other security agencies, before, during and after this year’s general elections.

    The GOC lauded the Niger Delta indigenes for the cooperation and assistance rendered to the division, particularly in information dissemination. He urged them to do more.

  • Army rescues 14 children from traffickers

    Soldiers have rescued 14 children aged three to 13 years from traffickers.

    The human traffickers, two women- Evelyn Jerry, 27, and Stephen Rebecca, 30, as well as a man, Richard Patrick, 38, were arrested and handed to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

    A representative of the Press and Public Relations Unit of NAPTIP, Nneka Aniagoh, said this in a statement yesterday.

    She said the victims comprising nine females and five males were crammed into an eight-seater bus, Alhambra Sedan, with Plateau State registration number JJN 964XB, where they struggled for space, adding that they were taken from Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State and heading for Ekpoma in Edo State.

    NAPTIP Director-General Dame Julie Okah-Donli thanked officers of the Army and Nigeria Immigration Services for their efforts in rescuing the victims.

    She told the public that the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, prohibits the employment of children below the age of 12 as domestic workers, and warned that those found culpable would be severely dealt with.

     

  • Monarch scores Army high in war against insurgency

    The Olowu of Owu-Kuta, Oba Adekunle Oyelude Makama, has hailed the Army for its noble role in the fight against insurgency and armed banditry across the country.

    The monarch, who addressed a world media briefing in Lagos yesterday, titled: While Politicians Think about Next Election, Royal Fathers Think About Secured and Safe Country, said there was need for improved budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Defence.

    He said this would lead to accelerated equipping of the military to confront the challenges of modern, urban and conventional warfare.

    Oba Makama expressed happiness that all the reasons adduced for the postponement of the general elections by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakub, the Armed Forces were not accused of bias in the discharge of their duties.

    The monarch saluted the courage of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, for displaying professionalism in his duties, despite the daunting task to contain the Boko Haram and other forms of banditry.

    He urged politicians not to play politics with our Armed Forces, the symbol of the nation’s unity.

    “I invited you to share my thoughts about our country and the Armed Forces. Some of you are familiar with my intervention on the need to support our Armed Forces in order to boost their morale for optimum performance. In my previous media interactions, I called for support for the Armed Forces from local and international community since the whole world is a global village in order to defeat the Boko Haram insurgents and other groups threatening our internal cohesion.

    “I say with every sense of responsibility that contemporary governance has informally imposed some socio-political duties on us as royal fathers, such that we can no longer fold our arms and watch things go awry.

    “I am happy that of all the reasons adduced for the postponement of the election by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakub, our Armed Forces were never accused of bias in the discharge of its duties. In fact, two days before the election was postponed, our Armed Forces announced to provide support for the police and other security agencies deployed for the election if the need arises. And despite the attack on the convoy of Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima and the attack on Buni Yadi, our Armed Forces was able to dislodge the insurgent and restore hope…”

  • Army to personnel: Stay away from politics

    The Nigerian Army has again issued a strong warning against the involvement of its personnel in any form of political activities.

    Sounding the warning in a statement issued in Abuja by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa, the army maintained that it has made it clear to its personnel and officers to stay away from political campaigns or escort of VIPs for political missions.

    Colonel Musa said it had become imperative to make the army’s position known considering the fact that members of the public might be misled to believe the unsubstantiated allegation of the involvement of a military officer in the Rivers state saga.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Nigerian Army (NA) has been drawn to an allegation of involvement of one of its officers in politics in Rivers State which was found to be untrue.

    “The Nigerian Army would have ordinarily ignored such baseless insinuations but for the unsuspecting members of the public who may be misled to believe the unsubstantiated allegations of political involvement of a military officer.

    “The Army has made it sufficiently and consistently clear that none of its personnel will be involved in political campaigns, escort of VIPs for political missions and above all, aiding or supporting any political party as has been circulated in official circulars and statements.

    “Although a detailed press statement has been released, the need to further make the position of the Nigerian Army clearer is therefore imperative.

    “Our Rules of Engagement and Code of Conduct have not assigned any political role to the Army in this regard. The Army’s involvement starts and ends with the provision of a peaceful and secure environment for the conduct of 2019 General Elections.

    “The Nigerian Army strongly believes that the Citizens, like responsible media, have complementary constitutional roles to play, especially towards ensuring national security, information management, peace, and safety of Nigerians.

    “The Army will continue to achieve and sustain constructive engagement, obedience to the rule of law and obedience to constituted authority at all time in the spirit of civil-military relations.

    “The Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai has consistently called on soldiers to uphold the tenets of military professionalism and be guided by the rules of Engagement and the constitution of Nigeria toward sustaining a responsive army in the discharge of its constitutional roles.

    “Therefore, any insinuation or assertion against this open declaration is not only mischievous but politically motivated with the intent to tarnish the reputation of the Army which has been built on discipline and obedient to civil authorities under the leadership of the Chief of Army Staff.

    “Members of the public are therefore urged to always ignore information attributed to the Nigerian Army that are contrary to its core values of professionalism, respect for others and open declaration on the rules of engagement”.

  • Troops inflict more casualties on Boko Haram terrorists

    The Nigerian Army said on Tuesday that troops have inflicted heavy casualty on fleeing Boko Haram terrorist after an attack at Gajigana on Saturday.

    Its Deputy Director of Public Relations, Colonel Ado Isa, said in a statement that the troops recovered weapons from the terrorists.

    Colonel Isa said :”Following the Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) attack at Gajigana on Saturday 16 February 2019 at about 1850hrs and successfully repelled and fatally dealt with by the gallant troops deployed at Gajigana Forward Operating Base (FOB), an early hours exploitation operation was conducted today 17 February 2019 through their withdrawal route to mob up and clear the general area of the remnant elements of the BHTs.

    “During the exploits, it was confirmed that members of the BHTs suffered heavy casualty based on the splits and flow of bloods around the parapets and the tracks where their deads were dragged away through the escape route.

    “Items recovered along the route includes: One 36 hand grenade, Five 60 Millimetre (mm) Mortar rounds, 13 X 12.7mm rounds, 142 X 7.62mm rounds, one AK 47 magazine and a Night Vision Goggle.

    “Based on the occurrence, the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Sector 1 Operation Lafiya Dole, Brigadier General Abdulmalik Bulama Biu and his team visited the location on Sunday 17 February 2019 to assess the situation and the success of the operation.

    “General Bulama addressed the troops and salute their fighting spirit and urge them to maintain the momentum with assurance that the Division will promptly support them at all times.

    “In that regards, the troops were replenished with more ammunitions and other logistical support on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai to boost their morale and effort in the fight against terrorism and insurgency.“

  • 3 terrorists, 4 civilians killed in fresh Boko Haram attack

    The Nigerian Army yesterday said three Boko Haram terrorists and four civilians were killed as troops engaged the insurgents who launched attacks to scuttle the general elections in Jere local government area of Borno state.

    Its acting Director of Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa, said in a statement that the troops of 251 Task Force Battalion in conjunction with Civilian JTF repelled the attacks from the terrorists and conducted mop up operations in the area.

    Colonel Musa said: “In the early hours of today, there was an attack by unconfirmed number of Boko Haram terrorists using Person Borne Improvised Explosive Device (PBIED) at Jidimari community in Jidari Polo area of Jere Local Government Area of Borno State. This is in their highly desperate, orchestrated and collaborative resolve with their cohorts and sponsors to scuttle the 2019 General Elections.

    “Consequently, troops of 251 Task Force Battalion in conjunction with Civilian JTF immediately repelled the attack, mopped up and cleared the general area. The encounter led to the elimination of 3 Boko Haram terrorists and recovery of 2 AK 47 rifles. Unfortunately, 4 innocent civilians lost their lives as a result of terrorists gun fire in addition to lethal explosion arising from PBIED mainly targeted at a mosque at a prime time of early morning prayers.

    “The carrier of the PBIED and a CJTF who strived to prevent the suicide bomber from accessing the mosque also lost their lives due to the IED explosion. At the moment, troops have dominated the area, cordon and search as well as exploitation are concurrently ongoing. Situation in the area is now calm. Normal routine activities are gradually going on. The army wishes to reiterate its resolve to bring an effective and enduring end to terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria”.

  • Ignore IPOB’s social media propaganda, Army urges public

    The Nigerian Army has condemned circulation of pictures and videos of gory images on social media, saying it is misinformation and propaganda by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, stated this in a statement in Enugu on Thursday.

    Musa said that the illegal group was using the images for falsehood and hate speech to portray the Army and other security agencies in bad light.

    He said that the stunts were specially targeted at the South-East and intended to truncate the successes of Exercise Egwu Eke III also known as Python Dance 3.

    According to him, the posting and circulation of the disgusting videos and pictures is a wicked plot and deliberate campaign targeted at smearing the reputation of the military and other security agencies.

    The army spokesman said that the intention of the peddlers of those images was to insinuate that the bodies were victims of security clampdown in parts of the country, especially in the South-East.

    He said, “the Nigerian Army has observed with dismay that various social media platforms, of recent, have been inundated with gory images and horrific videos.

    “The videos are of few recycled corpses dumped at roadsides and refuse sites in Obingwa-Asa-Aba axis of Abia and other targeted areas in the South-East.

    “Members of the proscribed IPOB have been alleged to be behind the violence-inciting posts, apparently to create panic and tension among the public in their ill-motive towards free, fair and credible general elections.

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    “Some of the images and videos analyzed by the intelligence services show that most of the corpses were suspected to be victims of road accidents, jungle justice or ritual killers.

    “None of the images or videos could be attributed to any military operation as there were no footages to indicate so.

    “While the Nigerian Army will ensure that the peddlers of such fake news and hate speech that could create insecurity in the country are nabbed for prosecutions, the public is urged to ignore such wicked and sickening propaganda.’’

    Musa called on health and emergency agencies at the state and local government levels to be proactive in ensuring adequate evacuation of corpses of victims of road accidents, ritual killings and jungle justice in communities.

    “It is also of security concern that the dumping of abandoned corpses of loved ones in unorthodox mortuaries is becoming rampant.