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Tag: Nigerian Army

  • Kaduna: Army infantry corps conducts annual range classification exercise

    The Nigerian Army Infantry Corps on Friday said it would conduct its annual range classification exercise in Jaji, Kaduna State, on April 30.

    The Infantry Corps Assistant Director Army Public Relations, Capt. Victor Olukoya, disclosed this in a statement issued in Kaduna.

    According to him, Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Department of Land Warfare Headquarters, Armed Forces Command and Staff College and Armed Forces Simulation Centre, Jaji, will be conducting its combined Annual Shooting Range Classification exercise.

    Read Also: Kaduna trains 540 youths

    “The shooting exercise will involve mass movement of men and equipment and the firing of live ammunition.

    “The authority has put in place safety measures and precautions to ensure a hitch-free exercise.

    “However, residents living in the surrounding settlements are advised to stay away from the range general area, and not to panic when they notice the movement of men and hear the firing of weapons.

    “As this is only a routine military exercise meant to improve the marksmanship proficiency of troops,’’Olukoya added.

    NAN

  • Danjuma: Army to make panel’s report public

    The Nigerian Army on Wednesday promised to make public the findings of the panel set up to investigate the allegations levelled against it by former Minister of Defence, Gen. T.Y. Danjuma (retd).

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, made the promise when the panel led by its President, Maj.-Gen. John Nimyel, submitted its report.

    Buratai set up the panel on April 9.

    He also received the report of the 17-member Committee on Arms Verification which he set up on March 19.

    Danjuma on March 24 alleged that some troops on internal operation in Taraba colluded with killers and suspected herdsmen and did not protect residents against attacks.

    “You must rise to protect yourselves from these people; if you depend on the armed forces to protect you, you will all die

    “I ask all of you to be on the alert and defend your country and defend your state,” he said.

    Danjuma’s call had ignited mixed reactions across the country, forcing the army to constitute the panel to get to the root of the allegations.

    But receiving the report, Buratai said: “We will take every aspect of this report very seriously. We will make this report available to appropriate superior authorities.

    “We will also make this report available to the media so that they will see clearly what transpired and to see whether the allegations against the military, particularly the Nigerian army, is grounded or whether it is true or not.’’

    Buratai, who said making the report available to the public would clarify the allegations, thanked the panel members for their painstaking efforts and sacrifice.

    NAN

     

  • Troops kill Boko Haram fighters, rescue five hostages

    The Nigerian Army said on Tuesday that troops have killed a number of Boko Haram fighters and rescued five people held hostage by the terrorists.

    The Army Director of Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Texas Chukwu, said in a statement that the troops also destroyed a bunker and an Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) factory belonging to the terrorists.

    He said: “Troops of 27 Task Force Brigade in conjunction with the Nigerian Air Force and Civilian Joint Task Force while on clearance operation on 22 April 2018 destroyed another Boko Haram enclave at Buk in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.

    “During the operation, some members of the Boko Haram terrorists were neutralised while others fled the scene following the superior fire power of own troops.

    “Items recovered include: one truck, one gun truck, three motorcycles, one tricycle, a bunker and an IED factory.

    “These were discovered and subsequently destroyed.

    “Five aged women who were held hostage by the terrorists were also freed during the operation.

    “Unfortunately, two soldiers sustained various degrees of injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the military facility.”

  • Borno: Troops destroys Boko Haram IED factory, rescues hostages

    The Nigerian Army on Tuesday said its troops destroyed a Boko Haram insurgent’s Improvised Explosive Device ( IED ) at Buk village in Damboa Local Government of Borno in its ongoing clearance operation.

    Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, the Director, Army Public Relations, said in a statement in Maiduguri that the troops on Sunday destroyed the insurgents’ camp, killed a number of them and rescued some persons from captivity.

    Chukwu said: “Troops of 27 Task Force Brigade in conjunction with the Nigerian Air Force and Civilian Joint Task Force ( CJTF ) in the ongoing clearance operation destroyed another Boko Haram enclave.

    Read Also: Army destroys Boko Haram training camp in Borno, kill one insurgent

    “During the operation, some members of the Boko Haram terrorists were neutralised while others fled the scene following the superior fire power of the troops”.

    “Five aged women held hostage by the terrorists were also freed during the operation. Unfortunately, two soldiers sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at a military facility.”

    Chukwu said that the troops also recovered one truck, one gun truck, three motorcycles and one tricycle.

    The army spokesman added that a bunker and an IED factory were destroyed by the troops during the operation.

    NAN

  • Troops destroy Boko Haram training camp in Borno

    The Nigerian Army on Monday said its troops had destroyed a Boko Haram insurgents’ training facility at Benisheikh, Borno. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Operation Lafiya Dole, made the disclosure in a statement issued in Maiduguri.

    Nwachukwu said that the troops also killed one insurgent and rescued one person held captive by the terrorists at Afa hideout in the area on Sunday.

    He said that the troops acting on intelligence discovered the camp used for providing instructional training of insurgents’ foot soldiers.

    “Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole deployed at a forward operational base in Benisheikh, have uncovered a Boko Haram training camp where instructional training was provided to its foot soldiers.

    Read Also: ‘Don’t send refugees back to Boko Haram violence’, UN urges Cameroon

    “The camp, located in a hideout in Afa general area, was discovered on Sunday at about 9: 30 a.m. following a tip-off that insurgents were being trained in the hideout.

    “During the operation, troops encountered elements of Boko Haram insurgents who were withdrawing hastily from the camp.

    “In the shootout, troops killed one insurgent, recovered one Dane gun and rescued one Malam Abba, who was held hostage in the camp by the insurgents,” Nwachukwu said.

    He added that the troops had destroyed the camp.

    NAN

  • Buratai: Restoring the Global Image of the Nigerian Army

    Even in the midst of the many national distractions and high politics in the country, one man has earned himself the right to receive accolades for his contributions towards ensuring that order emerged out of scenarios that were once predicted to only end doom for Nigeria. The man is no other than Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff, who has made the unwavering commitment to give Nigeria an Army that meets world standard.

    This month, the Nigerian Army in conjunction with US Army African Command (AFRICOM) held this year’s African Land Forces Summit with the theme “Unity Is Strength: Combating Africa’s Security Challenges”. This was no mere talk shop and photo op event as the state of readiness and troops’ capabilities was put to the test during drills held in General A.O Azazi Barracks in Gwagwalada, Abuja, code named ‘Operation Silent Kill’.
    The COAS used the summit, which is the single largest gathering of African senior military leaders in Africa, to update the world of Nigeria’s successes in degrading Boko Haram. High ranking military commanders fromm Republic of Malawi, Arusha United Republic of Tanzania, Dakar, Uganda, Washington DC and fort Benning, Georgia United States of America are among participants at the summit.
    An immediate plus from this is that Nigeria has something to teach the world about curtailing terrorists, extremists and fanatics, something that other countries can draw lessons from in a world where the cancer of religion fuelled extremism and terrorism is spreading. The Nigerian Army, of course, has things to learn from the summit about the Islamic State, but it was not a one-way street since it as information to share with participants from other countries.
    The participation of AFRICOM and the Nigerian Army co-hosting the summit with US Army Africa (USARAF) is a reality check for those that are obsessed with demonizing the Army and General Buratai as abusers of human rights. These United States agencies would not openly associate with countries that violate the human rights, more so the rights of citizens. Had the human rights record of the Nigerian Army under Buratai been as dismal as certain interests claim then this year’s exercise would have ended as a flop but that was not the case. The Army adheres to the global best standards in the observance of the rules of engagement for the kind of threats that the Army is called up to address in Nigeria.
    The positive reception from this summit must be tapped into in various regards. The contacts must be leveraged to see how the supply of certain military hardware can be made available to Nigeria. Secondly, authorities should exploit which of the countries can be beneficial in stopping foreign terrorists from arriving on Nigerian soil to wreak havoc. Also, without prejudice for their various domestic laws, there should be a way to partner with these countries to eliminate the potentials for devious groups to manage anti-Nigerian Army propaganda from their soils.
    On the part of Nigerians, the decorum exhibited for the duration of the summit and the understanding shown during the drill are unprecedented. We only need to extend the same sense of patriotic support for the military to make further gains against Boko Haram and other insurgent groups. This will fit nicely into General Buratai’s vision of improved military-civil relations that stems from stakeholders having mutual understanding and respect for each other. Once trouble makers see this alliance work for the good of the country they will have no option but to fold up and ply their evil wares elsewhere.
    One is constrained to task the Army boss not to relent in his quest to deliver a world class Army to Nigeria, the legacy of his leadership. He cannot afford to bask in euphoria of the moment as he must keep striving to outperform himself since he has surpassed his predecessors.
    The government would have to provide the financial muscle for the Army to translate vision into realities. The kind of vision Buratai unveiled at the summit, and other fora in the past, is the kind that requires optimum funding of the military with a resolute political will to succeed. It is the least the government can do as its contributions to ensure that the experience the General brought to the job is made to serve the country.
    One would not rule out several groups and organizations rushing to give awards of recognition to General Buratai for what he has been able to achieve with the Nigerian Army in such short time. This would not be out of place since acknowledgement of good work is guaranteed to inspire more good work.

    Abiodun is security affairs analyst and wrote from University of Ibadan.

  • Soldier, two others wounded in Army, cultists’ clash

    A solder attached to the 174 Battalion, Ikorodu and two suspected members of the Eiye confraternity were injured during a clash between Nigerian Army operatives and cultists.

    It was gathered that the gun duel took place on Monday afternoon at Eginrin Depression in Ikorodu, after troops stormed the cultists’ hideout while they were carrying out initiations.

    The Nation gathered that the operatives stormed the area following a tip off that one of the new initiates died when he was being tortured.

    The army also recovered a locally made double barrel pistol, five live cartridges, five machetes, four Jack knives, two table knives, three locally fabricated axes with nail-like edges, five mobile phones and a parcel containing substance suspected to be marijuana.

    Others are two Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards, eight identity cards, nine passport photographs, packets of condom, rings and charms.

    Confirming the incident to journalists on Saturday, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division, Maj.-Gen. Enobong Udo said the injured soldier and the suspects were receiving treatment at the Battalion’s Medical Reception Station.

    He said 23 suspects were arrested.

    Udo, who was represented by the Commander, 9 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Moundhey Ali, said the suspects’ arrest was preceded by a shootout between the troops and cultists.

     

  • Army arrests 23 suspected cultists, 15 pipeline vandals

    The Nigerian Army said on Saturday it arrested 23 suspected cultists who were conducting physical training for new recruits, initiation, robbery and kidnapping.

    The army also said it arrested 15 other persons suspected to be pipeline vandals and recovered 31 jerry cans of refined petroleum products in the process.

    The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Enobong Udoh stated this at a news conference at the 174 Battalion, Ikorodu area of Lagos.

    Udoh was represented by the Brigade Commander, Brig.-Gen. Moundhey Ali.

    The GOC, who said the suspects were arrested at different times and locations, said the arrests followed intensive surveillance and intelligence report.

    “In continuation of the crackdown on criminal elements and cultists in and around Lagos and Ogun states, the troops of 81 Division arrested 23 suspected cultists in Ikorodu area on April 16.

    “Over 50 suspected cultists from ‘Eiye’ confraternity were conducting physical training for new recruits, initiation and planning for robbery and kidnap activities.

    “Their arrest was preceded by a shootout between the troops of 174 Battalion Ikorodu and the cultists after which, 23 of the suspected cultists were arrested while others escaped,’’ he said.

    The GOC said two of the suspects sustained gunshot wounds, adding that one of the suspected newly-recruited cultists died as a result of injuries inflicted on him during the cult initiation.

    NAN

  • Troops repel Boko Haram attack in Borno

    The Nigerian Army said on Saturday its troops successfully repelled attack by Boko Haram insurgents at Gamboru-Ngala, Borno State.

    The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, said in a statement that one insurgent was killed while several others fled.

    Chukwu said: “Troops of 3 Battalion on operation LAFIYA DOLE had successfully repelled Boko Haram terrorists’ attack at Gamboru Ngala, Borno State.

    “One Boko Haram terrorist was neutralised during the encounter while other members of the group fled following a superior fire power from the troops.

    ”Unfortunately, one soldier lost his life during the attack.”

    Chukwu disclosed that the troops recovered one Rocket Propelled gun, seven tube, one Anti- Aircraft gun, two AK 47 rifles and two empty magazines.

    The army spokesman urged the people to cooperate with troops and provide useful and timely information to security agencies.

    NAN

  • Army to launch Operation Last Hold in Borno

    The Nigerian Army is to launch “Operation Last Hold” in Borno North and Lake Chad Region to restore socio-economic activities in the areas and fast track return Of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their communities.

    The Chief of Training and Operations, Maj.-Gen. David Ahmad, disclosed this at a news conference on Friday.

    Ahmadu said Last Hold, which would commence on May 1 and to last four months, was intended to facilitate the clearance of the Lake Chad waterways of sea weeds and other obstacles obstructing the movement of boats and people across the water channels

    “It will also ensure the destruction of Boko Haram terrorist camps and strong points in the Lake Chad Basin. The operation will also facilitate the rescue of hostages.

    “The operational end-state of Operation LAST HOLD is the total defeat of the Boko Haram Terrorist Sect.

    “Strategically, the conduct of Operation LAST HOLD will facilitate the restoration of fishing, farming and other economic activities in the Lake Chad Basin.

    “Additionally, it will facilitate the relocation of Internally Displaced Persons from IDP camps to their communities,” he said.

    The Chief of Military/Civil Affairs, Maj. Gen. Nuhu Angbazo, said during the duration of the operation, Nigerian Army engineers would make blocks using compressor machines and assist in building new homes for IDPs at their various towns.

    NAN