The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Army

  • Army invite applicants for Direct, Short service commission

    The Nigerian Army has invited eligible Nigerians to apply for the Short Service Combatant (SSC) Commission course 45/2019 and Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC) course 24/2019.

    The applications open to only serving military personnel (sponsored by any of the services of the Nigerian Armed Forces to civil institutions) and civilians were announced October, 19 2018 in newspaper adverts.

    Submission of all applications are expected to end on the 30th of November,2018.

    For more information, call 08179269294 and 08118881694 or check the DSSC/SSC section on www.army.mil.ng.

  • Army hands over 680,000 adulterated diesel, kerosene to EFCC

    The Nigerian Army has seized over 680,000 litres of adulterated diesel, kerosene and “black oil,” an official said.

    Brig.-Gen. Sunday Igbinomwahia, Chief of Staff of Nigerian Army 6 Division Port Harcourt, spoke at a formal handover of 17 trucks to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Port Harcourt on Friday.

    Igbinomwahia said that the products, if supplied to the public may have led to explosions and possible deaths.

    He explained that the trucks and petroleum products were seized after troops raided an abandoned compound formerly used by Union Dicot Salt Company in Port Harcourt.

    According to him, illegal bunkers used the illegal refining facility to store and deliver substandard petroleum products to unsuspecting users.

    “The 17 trucks had been in our custody since Oct. 2 it was seized to enable investigators to determine the authenticity of the petroleum products.

    “Our investigators after carrying out thorough preliminary investigation on the matter came to the conclusion that the petroleum products were illegally refined.

    Igbinomwanhia said each truck was loaded with about 40,000 litres of adulterated petroleum products awaiting distribution to the public before there seizure.

    Read Also: Missing General: Army hands 13 suspects to police

    The officer said the seizure was made by the division’s Special Company that was specifically set up to checkmate activities of illegal bunkers in the state.

    “We have concluded our preliminary investigation, and as such, the trucks and other exhibits will be handed over to EFFC for further probe of the case.

    “The division is in forefront of fighting criminals who are hell bent to sabotage the nation’s economy through there illegal bunkering and vandalism of pipelines,” he said.

    Igbinomwanhia said the division’s special task force had so far seized over 300 suspected illicit trucks and vehicles that were currently in different stages of investigation.

    Receiving the trucks and products, Mr Abdulhamid Bawa, Head of Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Management Directorate of the anti-graft agency, said the commission would conduct speedy investigation into the matter.

    “The petroleum products will be sent to the Department of Petroleum Resources to determine if the product is genuine or adulterated.

    “If the product is genuine, then there is no case; but if found to be illegally refined then the owners of the trucks would be arraigned in court,” he assured.

    NAN

  • Boko Haram sect members “neutralised”

    The Nigerian Army said that six soldiers sustained injury while repelling Boko Haram insurgents in an ambush at Arege area of Borno on Friday.

    Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, Army Director, Public Relations, announced this in a statement he issued in Maiduguri on Saturday.

    He said that scores of the insurgents were neutralized while others escaped with various degrees of injury during the encounter.

    Read Also: ‘Boko Haram: Ungodly, a crime against humanity’

    Chukwu said that one vehicle was recovered from the terrorists, while three gun trucks were destroyed by the troops of Sector 3, deployed in operation LAFIYA DOLE.

    “Unfortunately, six soldiers sustained various degrees of injury and are currently receiving medical attention at the military facility.

    “The public is once again reminded to report any suspicious movements or activities in their areas to the law enforcement agents for prompt action,’’ he announced.

    NAN

  • Army conducts show of force in Borno

    The Nigerian Army, in conjunction with other security agencies, conducted a show of force in Dikwa Emirate in Borno on Saturday to demonstrate their commitment to protect the people.

    According to a statement by the army spokesman, Brig.-Gen Texas Chukwu, the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, participated in the exercise.

     

    Read also: Missing Army chief wanted dead or alive

     

    Chukwu reported the Commander of 22 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. John Ochai to have commended the troops for their combat readiness and endurance and urged them to maintain the momentum.

    Ochai urged the troops to remain alert at all times while carrying out all assigned tasks.

  • Army seeks collaboration with security agencies to tackle insurgency

     The Nigerian Army has called for closer collaboration with security agencies in Borno, to facilitate successful implementation of the counter-insurgency campaign.

    Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, the Director, Army Public Relations, in a statement issued on Saturday in Maiduguri, quoted Brig.-Gen. Bulama Biu, the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division, as making the call at a meeting with heads of security agencies in the state.

    According to the statement Biu called for synergy and cooperation towards evolving new strategies in the ongoing fight against insurgency and other sundry crimes.

    Biu stressed the need for routine interaction between stakeholders with a view to strengthen cooperation, intelligent and information sharing among them.

    Read Also:Missing General: Army clarifies rumour on military operations

    While commending the agencies for discharging their duties effectively, Biu called for proactive measures to review strategies to meet the security challenges occasioned by the political transition period.

    Biu reminded the agencies of the need to be proactive so as not to allow breach of peace and checkmate unholy political gatherings.

    The meeting was attended by the Commissioner of Police, Mr Damian Chukwu, Comptroller of Customs, AB Abdullahi, and the Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ibrahim Abdullahi.

    Others were Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ijafaru Bukar, and Comptroller, Nigerian Immigration Service, Abdulfattah Adamu, among others.

  • Army bursts illegal oil depot in Rivers

    ..Impounds  16 trucks

    …arrests one

    The operatives of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt,  has uncovered an illegal oil depot,  in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    The landmark discovery was made October 2, 2018, 16 40,000 litre capacity trucks parked in the premises awaiting loading were impounded as one of the operators was apprehended and taken in by the team of Soldiers that uncovered the illegal deal.

     The illegal loading bay was operated at  the facility used by the defunct Union Dicon Salt  located in Macoba, close to the Naval Dockyard,  in Port Harcourt metropolis.

    Briefing newsmen shortly  after touring  round the facility to figure out how the shady activity was carried out by the oil thieves, the Army spokesman  Aminu Iliyasu, a Colonel  said that the bursting of the  illegal petroleum loading depot followed a “discreet information.”

    He spoke on behalf of the General Officer Commanding (GOC),  6 Division,  Major-General Jamil Sarham and said that the activities of illegal oil bunkerers have become  too daring  and have negatively affected lives of members of the public, just as it is affecting the economy of the nation.

    He said,  “With these activities going on in this area,  it means that some people would be super-rich  and some another people will remain super-poor”.

    He described the activities as a serious economic sabotage and environmental pollution dangerous to human lives.

    Read Also: Suspected robbers terrorize Rivers residents

    “When the adulterated product is supplied to members of the public,  it endangers the lives of Nigerians.  If we don’t talk,  it would consume everybody.

    “It is a serious economic sabotage and has dangerous health implications   The 16 trucks were  found in the premises. Ten of the trucks were already loaded with products”, he said

    He warned those involved in the economic sabotage to stop,  or leave the States  under 6 Division, vowing to prosecute any person caught indulging in oil theft.

    He added that whatever is the outcome of the investigation, suspects and exhibits  would be handed over to sister security agencies for further investigation.

    Earlier, Lt. Col. Ibrahim Buhari, Commanding Officer, 29 Battalion, in 6 Division, said 10 of the 16 trucks had already been loaded with products ready for the wee hours of the night to move along with other trucks that  bought genuine products from a legal tank farm being  operated next to the illegal depot to beat security on highway.

    Six power generating sets and different sizes of host were among items recovered at the depot.

    Registration plate numbers of the vehicles were discovered to have been deliberately detached from the trucks, however two of the plate numbers found rested on two of the trucks were marked,  RUM 346 KA and DEG 512 XA.

    The Army said the trucks would be later moved to the Barracks were they would later be formerly handed over to the operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),  for  the prosecution of the suspect and possible appearance of the owners of the trucks, who would want to come to claim their property.

  • Jang laments incessant killings on the Plateau

    Ex-governor of Plateau state and Senator representing Plateau North Senatorial zone Jonah Jang has expressed sadness over continuous killings in his zone, saying the situation is becoming worrisome.

    Senator Jang who was responding to Thursday night killings of 15 people in Jos in a statement signed by his media consultant Garba Clinton said, “The Senator representing Plateau North Senatorial District Dr. Jonah David Jang with a heavy heart and deep sense of grief wishes to hereby condemn in the strongest possible terms, the invasion of Rukuba Road, Jos North Plateau State, a few kilometers from the 3rd Armoured Division of the Nigerian Army in the early hours of Friday 28th September, 2018.

    “The unprovoked attack which targeted innocent unarmed natives in their homes once again reveals the very short life expectation of our people who are no longer safe wherever they are in our towns, villages, and city.

    “This recent surge of mindless killings in Plateau State is a damning appraisal to the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari and the Governor of Plateau State. Under the present administration, hardly a day passes by without news of people getting killed by herdsmen or unknown gunmen with ancestral lands forcefully occupied and people rendered homeless and internally displaced on their own land.

    Read Also: EFCC fails to present witnesses in Sen Jang’s case

    “Before we are all wiped out from the face of the earth by gunmen whose farmiliarization with murder and violence seem to confound our Armed Forces and the overall structure of government, the Senator without equivocation hereby calls on President Muhammdu Buhari and Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State to resign with immediate effect having displayed unfathomable insensitivity and cluelessness in the aspects of security and value for human life.

    “In addition, it is the determination of Senator Jonah David Jang, that Nigerians no longer feel safe with General Muhammdu Buhari as President. Therefore, he wishes to call on the United Nations to intervene in Nigeria and act on behalf of the poor, innocent, and abandoned people of Plateau State and their endangered kinds in the Middle-belt, to protect and guarantee them a future of longevity, pride, and prosperity. A situation where security officials are mobilized to militarize the conduct elections in a ratio of one policeman to one citizen at the expense of communities prone to attacks is unacceptable.

    “While calling on the youths and people of Plateau State to be law abiding, the Senator finds it instructive to admonish them to rise up to defend themselves within the perimeters of the law, as it is now dangerous to trust the Commander-in-chief with our security.

    “Importantly, the Senator representing Plateau North is using this medium to call on the Armed Forces to live up to their sworn duty to protect  Nigerians before the public completely loses faith in them”

  • Army inflicts heavy casualties on Boko Haram

    The Nigerian Army has inflicted heavy casualties on Boko Haram when they attacked Garshigar community of Mobar Local Government Area in Borno on Wednesday.

    Texas Chukwu, Army Director of Public Relations, disclosed this in a statement released on Thursday in Maiduguri.

    Chukwu stated that the insurgents, who were in nine gun trucks, were repelled by troops of 145 Battalion deployed for Operation Lafiya Dole following superior power of the vigilant troops.

    He added that “preliminary battle damage assessment reveals that the overwhelming superior power of the troops devastated the insurgents, inflicting human and equipment casualty on the insurgents which forced them to withdraw in disarray.”

    The director said that the gallant troops regrouped after the fierce encounter and dominated the general area of Garshigar and its environs with fighting patrols.

    “The good people of Mobar Local Government are urged to remain calm and be assured of troops’ commitment to provide adequate security in the general area,” he added.

  • Troops kill seven Boko Haram terrorists, rescue 73 hostages

    The Nigerian Army said Monday night that seven Boko Haram terrorists have been killed by troops while 73 hostages have been rescued during two operations.

    The operations took place in Borno State.

    The Director of Army public Relations, Brig Gen Texas Chukwu said in a statement that some weapons were also recovered from the terrorists.

    Read Also:Boko Haram: Ndume hails military, urges concentration on 3 black spots

    The statement reads: “Troops of 26 Task Force Brigade deployed in Sector One of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, have successfully neutralized 7 Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) and rescued 73 persons in two separate clearance operations in Sirdawala and Valley of Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

    “The Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division Nigerian Army Brigadier General Abdulmalik Bulama Biu commended the troops for the feat.

    “The troops of 121 Battalion under 26 Task Force Brigade in 7 Division Area of Responsibility/Sector One recorded the victory over the terrorists following a midnight clearance operation to Sirdawala in Gwoza Local Government Area on Sunday 23 September 2018, upon receipt of intelligence that Boko Haram Terrorists where hibernating around Pulka general area.

    “Troops of 121 Battalion in rare display of professionalism tactically located, engaged and neutralized the terrorists hibernating within the community where it achieved the following: Neutralised 6 Boko Haram Terrorists, Rescued 19 persons comprised of 7 women and 12 Children and rescued some animals.

    “In a related development, the troops further proceeded on another offensive operation in the early hours of Monday 24 September 2018 to raid Boko Haram Terrorists hideout in Valley of Gwoza Local Government Area Borno State, recording huge successes as follows:

    “Neutralised one Boko Haram Terrorist, Rescued 54 persons comprised of 18 women and 34 Children.

    “Regrettably an officer sustained injury during the operation and is receiving treatment in a military facility while all the rescued persons are being managed and documented for further handover to the appropriate agency.

    “The Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division Nigerian Army Brigadier General Abdulmalik Bulama Biu, has commended the gallantry of the troops through the Commander 26 Task Force Brigade, Brigadier General Sanusi Dahiru.

    “He urged the troops to maintain the aggressive posture to rout the Boko Haram Terrorists from their enclaves”.

  • NGO urges humanitarian workers to defeat Boko Haram’s tactics

     

    A Non Governmental Organization, the Peace , Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Initiative, PRRI has urged local and International aid workers to put to an end Boko Haram scare tactics.
    The group also condemned in strong terms the killing by the dreaded Boko Haram sect of one its captive, Saifura Khorsa of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) saying that it is time that the world apply pressure in the right places to end the bloodthirsty activities of what is left of the terrorist group.
    PRRI Media Officer, Bukola Olasanmi in a statement issued today in Lagos said the greatest tribute the nation can pay to Saifura is to ensure that terrorism does not win and that the murderers that cut short the life she had devoted to caring for others are hauled before the law to answer for their crime.
    She said, ” We must not allow terrorism to win by falling into fear as the terrorists intended.
    “If Boko Haram intended to scare off intervention and aid workers from helping people in the northeast, we at PRRI have resolved to react different from what the terrorists expected by continuing to provide succour to the communities they have afflicted and we believe that other aid agencies will join in sending similar clear messages to them that humanity will always triumph over the barbaric path they tread”she added
    The PRRI Media Officer urged local and international aid workers not to be deterred by Boko Haram’s twisted action in killing a care giver, something she described as a taboo even in situation of full blown war.
    She said this perverted action of the terrorists should open the eyes of those that have passively advocated for them to see from a better perspective the threat they constitute not just to the immediate geographical area where they are now confined but to the entire world if stakeholders delay further in finding closure by urging decisive action against them.

    Read Also: NAF destroys Boko Haram vehicles

    “We encourage NGOs that already work in the northeast to continue supporting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), including those that have elected to return home to areas that have been totally cleared by the Nigerian Army.
    ” It is important that they are reassured and not allowed to become despondent by panic reactions.
    “PRRI invites the Bring Back Our Girls group (BBOG), Amnesty International and other groups that have sustained advocacy for those being held captive by Boko Haram to explore new tactics that take the advocacy from the comfort of the nation’s capital to and move into the trenches, closer to the theatre of unfolding events in the hope that this will strike a chord and yield results.
    “The expectation is that Amnesty International will, with the dispatch it is known for, approach the International Criminal Court – directly or through its affiliates – to file a petition of war crime and crime against humanity against Boko Haram.
    “This should have the strategic benefit of helping to further isolate the group and criminalize any entity that might still have dealings with it”she said
    PRRI also appealed to the international community and the United Nations Security Council to activate a process of unmasking the foreign countries and international interests that have been reported to be aiding Boko Haram with a view to getting them to cut off such support in view of the sacrilegious act that the terrorists have committed by killing an aid worker.
    “Our position is summed up as there is need to make the repercussions for this singular sad incident costly for Boko Haram and it must be done immediately”she concluded