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Tag: Nigerian Army

  • Yobe donates vehicles worth N350m to Nigerian Army

    Yobe donates vehicles worth N350m to Nigerian Army

    The Yobe Government on Thursday donated 20 hilux operational vehicles worth N350 million to the Nigerian Army.

    Gov. Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe handed over the keys to the vehicles to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, at Government House in Damaturu.

    The army chief was in the state in continuation of his tour of military formations and visit to troops in frontline in the North East.

    The governor said that the donation of the vehicles was to enhance the military operations aimed at flushing out remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists, as well as to tackle other forms of criminality in the state.

    Geidam disclosed that so far, the state had donated 300 vehicles to the army other security agencies, including the 20 he handed over to the army on Thursday.

    Responding, the chief of army staff commended the governor for his commitment to the security of the state and by extension the North East and the entire country.

    Read also: Boko Haram kills five soldiers in Yobe attack

    Buratai recalled that apart from the vehicles, the state had donated lands to the army to build the Nigerian Army School of Special Forces at Buni Yadi and Army Level 2 referral hospital, close to the state capital.

    Earlier, Buratai inspected the site of the hospital, where construction work had begun, and inaugurated accommodation for officers and soldiers on transit, at the Army headquarters Logistics Base 2, Damaturu.

    NAN

  • Boko Haram kills five soldiers in Yobe attack

    Boko Haram kills five soldiers in Yobe attack

    … 30 missing

    At least five soldiers were killed by fleeing Boko Haram fighters at Kanama, headquarters of Yunusari local government area of Yobe State on Saturday evening.

    30 soldiers are also reportedly missing in the dastardly attack lunched on Nigeria troops at the remote northern town in Yobe.

    However, the Nigerian Army  has dismissed reports that some soldiers were killed in the attack.

    An eyewitness, Modu Lawan, said the insurgents who dressed in military attire, stormed the village with seven Hilux vans on Saturday.

    “We thought they were soldiers because everything about them was like soldiers – their dressing and vehicles. They passed through the town but did not touch anybody. They went straight to the military base and we started hearing serious gunshots,” Lawan said.

    The Chairman of Yunusari local government area, Hon. Ali Yerima, could not confirm the casualty figure in the attack.

     

  • Troops recover 200 cows from rustlers, kill three terrorists

    Troops recover 200 cows from rustlers, kill three terrorists

    The Nigerian Army said on Tuesday that troops of the Operation Lafiya Dole operating in Borno State have recovered over 200 cows from Boko Haram members, while three of insurgents were killed during encounter with soldiers.

    According to the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman, the troops also recovered weapons of different calibre from the Boko Haram fighters.

    Usman said in a statement in Abuja that “troops of 21 Brigade, Operation Lafiya Dole, in conjunction with elements of 121 Battalion, on Friday, December 22, 2017, laid an ambush for Boko Haram terrorists at one of their suspected crossing points near Firgi, Bama local government area of Borno State.

    “During the ambush, the troops neutralized one of the terrorists suspected to be an expert Improvised Explosives Device (IED) expert, while other terrorists escaped with gunshot wounds. The gallant troops recovered one gas cylinder suspected to be for IED, two water bottles and one motorcycle.

    “In another development, troops of 3 Battalion, 22 Brigade,  Operation Lafiya Dole on Saturday, December 23, 2017 following a report that suspected Boko Haram terrorists have rustled and  carted away over 200 cows at Makandari Village in Kala Balge local government area, mobilized a fighting patrol which pursued the terrorists to Beneri village where contact was made.

    “The patrol team engaged the terrorists and neutralized two of the criminal Boko Haram cattle rustlers. They recovered one AK-47 Rifle, an empty Magazine, two Motorcycles and one National Identity Card. In addition, the gallant troops also recovered all the rustled cows and returned to the rightful owners.’

    Meanwhile, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major Gen. R. I. Nicholas has given insight into how soldiers repelled the attacks of some Boko Haram terrorists at Molai area, outskirts of Maiduguri on Christmas day.

    He said in a statement: “This evening, there was an attempted attack by suspected Boko Haram terrorist who came with Person Borne Improvised Explosives Devices (PIED)  and gun trucks to steal foodstuff and also attack troops around Molai area, outskirts of Maiduguri, but met stiff resistance from troops of Operation Lafiya Dole who repelled them and secured the community.

    “No loss of lives to own troops and normalcy has since been restored.

    “Meanwhile troops have been on the trail of the remnants of the terrorists. Unfortunately, during their retreat, they set two vehicles on fire and some thatched houses at the outskirts of the city gate.

    “Both ground troops and the Nigerian Air Force are on hot pursuit and interdicting the fleeing terrorists that are now in disarray.”

  • Army vows to punish erring officers

    Army vows to punish erring officers

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has warned that any act of disloyalty, disobedience to constituted authority and insubordination by officers and  personnel of the Nigerian Army would henceforth be decisively dealt with.

    Buratai further warned that defaulters would be shown the way out of the army.

    Buratai said on Thursday at Jaji, at the Passing out Parade and Commissioning for 205 officer cadets of “Executive Commission Course VII” of Nigerian Army School of Infantry.

    “The Nigerian Army is currently taking stock and undergoing a period of self-appraisal.

    “Therefore, there is zero tolerance for indiscipline and unprofessional conduct.eria newspaper

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    “You have all taken your oath of allegiance to be loyal first to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, thereafter to the Nigerian Army and down the line.

    “Consequently, I command you to avail yourself with the approved Harmonized Terms and Conditions of Service as it applies to your Commission.

    “The Nigerian Army is strictly guided by this document in its engagements and re-engagement of its personnel.

    “I also need to emphasize that as a professional Army, there are established channels of communication with regards to official matters, correspondences and even expression of grievances.

    “You are to be guided by these channels throughout your career,” Buratai said.

    He charged the newly commissioned cadets to contribute their quota to the army’s efforts at preserving the national security.

    Buratai noted that their commissioning was coming at a period when the army was consolidating on the gains of several years of intensive security challenge in the North East, North Central and South South regions.

    NAN

  • Troops kill 20 insurgents, rescue 100 civilians

    Troops kill 20 insurgents, rescue 100 civilians

    The Nigerian Army on Wednesday said its troops had killed 20 Boko Haram insurgents in a clearance operation in the Lake Chad Basin.

    Col. Timothy Antigha, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 8 Division, made the disclosure in a statement in Maiduguri.

    Antigha said that the troops captured 17 insurgents, rescued 100 people, recovered vehicles and ammunition.

    He said the six soldiers that sustained injuries in the operation were referred to military medical facility for treatment.

    He said the operations were conducted in the past two weeks in Islands in Lake Chad region to crush Boko Haram insurgents inhabiting the islands.

    “In continuation of Operation DEEP PUNCH 2, designed to smoke out Boko Haram terrorists inhabiting remote Islands in Lake Chad basin lying within Nigerian territory, troops of 8 Division, Nigerian Army, on Operation LAFIYA DOLE, supported by soldiers of the Armed Forces Strike Group have inflicted heavy casualties on Boko Haram terrorists.

    “The operation which commenced about two weeks ago preceded by coordinated air and artillery bombardments of islands and localities occupied by terrorists.

    “The insurgents sneak into Magumeri, Kauram and other locations to loot property, attack security personnel and villagers.

    “Islands and villages cleared so far include: Arena Chiki, Chikun Gudu, Arena Waje, Sa’ada and Juwe.”

    Antigha disclosed that the rescued civilians included 100 elderly men, women and children, adding that preliminary investigation revealed that most of the rescued persons were held hostage and forced to work in the farms.

    The army spokesman listed the ammunition recovered to include one Mercedes Benz Truck; two gun trucks, two pick up vans, one Anti – Aircraft machine gun, five AK-47 riffles, three Fabrique Nationals (FN) Riffles, two G3 Riffles and one Pump Action Riffle.

    Others are: one Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) tube, two bombs, two Very High Frequency (VHF) Radios and one Night Vision Goggle.

    The troops also recovered 55 rounds of 5.56 X 45 mm ammunition, 5 Bangalore Torpedo, Two 120mm Mortar Bombs, and 1000 rounds of 7.62 mm Ball Metal Link ammunition.

    Other ammunition included 55 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, 108 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition, two memory cards, two hydraulic jacks and a 1.5 amph battery.

    NAN

  • Army to remain apolitical – Buratai

    Army to remain apolitical – Buratai

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Thursday assured Nigerians that the army would remain responsive and apolitical in the discharge of its constitutional duty.

    Buratai gave the assurance in Ibadan at the closing ceremony of the 2017 Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference.

    He appealed for  the understanding of Nigerians as the army continues to  perform  its responsibilities as enshrined in the constitution.

    The army chief  also promised that the resolutions  reached at the end of the conference would be judiciously implemented.

    “As we enter 2018, the Nigerian Army identified the core values  of discipline, professionalism and responsiveness as the benchmark to reposition the service.

    “There is the need for maintenance culture and  continuous infrastructural development and welfare of personnel in the performance of their operation.

    “I promise to use all available resources that would encourage all officers and soldiers perform optimally in their various command,’’ Buratai said.

    Read also: Buratai: we’ve degraded Boko Haram

    He  said that the objective of the conference had  been achieved as the army performed creditably  well in 2017.

    Buratai  also said that the Official Secrets  Act of 1962 would be applied strictly in the conduct of future army operations.

    He  expressed gratitude to  President Muhammadu Buhari for  the successes recorded by the army.

    Declaring the conference closed, Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State commended  the participants, saying the forum  confirmed the patriotism and unity of the army.

    NAN

  • Army denies suicide bomb attack in IDPs camp, ambush on soldiers

    Army denies suicide bomb attack in IDPs camp, ambush on soldiers

    The Nigerian Army on Tuesday dismissed as ‘misleading’, reports of a suicide bomb attack at an Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs ) camp in Pulka community of Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno.

    The military also described as ‘fictitious’, the purported killing of six soldiers by Boko Haram insurgents in an ambush on Damboa Road.

    Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Operation Lafiya Dole, gave the clarifications in an interview in Maiduguri.

    Nwachukwu disclosed that two suicide bombers infiltrated Pulka town on Monday, one of the bombers was neutralised by the troops, while the other one detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs) in the town, killed two persons and two others sustained injuries.

    He said a military vehicle stepped on an IED device planted on Damboa Road on Sunday, noting that two soldiers lost their lives in the incident.

    “The incident in Pulka occurred inside the town and not at the IDPs camp. The gallant troops neutralised one of the attackers even before causing harm to any one, while the other suicide bomber detonated the explosive killing two persons and injuring two others.

    “There was no ambush by the insurgents on our troops. The soldiers were involved in an IED explosion accident when their vehicle stepped on the device planted on the road.

    Read also: Army kills Three insurgents in Borno

    “Two soldiers were involved in the incident; there was no ambush, no ammunition carted away or six soldiers killed, as being erroneously reported. It is a misrepresentation of facts,” he said.

    Nwachukwu said the military authorities had sympathised with the victims of the suicide bomb attack in Pulka, and reiterated its commitment to the protection of lives and property.

    The army spokesman also called on the people in the region to be vigilant and provide useful information to the military on suspicious activities in their respective communities.

    “Security and peace building is a collective responsibility; I call on community and religious leaders to mobilise their people and cooperate with the military in the fight against insurgency.

    “Boko Haram insurgents do not wear uniform to easily identify them. People must be vigilant to report suspicious persons and contribute to the restoration of peace in the region,” he said.

    NAN

  • No ambush against Buratai – Army

    No ambush against Buratai – Army

    The Nigerian Army on Saturday dismissed report that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, was wounded during an alleged ambush by Boko Haram terrorists in the North East.

    A statement signed by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman, said there was no iota of truth in the report and should be disregarded by the public.

    Usman said the army chief is hale and hearty and has been going about his official assignments diligently.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to an online publication circulating mostly on the social media that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai, has been wounded in an alleged ambush by Boko Haram terrorists at an unnamed location in the North East while on his way to pay troops courtesy visit.

    “This is not true. The Chief of Army Staff has not been involved in any ambush. In any case, there was no any recently reported ambush against any of our troops anywhere let alone in the North East.

    “The public should disregard the ambush story as it is fake. Nothing has happened to the Chief of Army Staff, he is hale and hearty and conducting his official duties diligently. The gallant troops are currently dealing decisive blows on the Boko Haram terrorists in the Lake Chad area.

    “Over 60 of the terrorists have either been captured or neutralised in the last three days. The Nigerian Army is also closing up with the political Boko Haram terrorists and their collaborators. They will soon be exposed and the law will take its course against them.

    “We wish to use this opportunity to thank the teeming Nigerians that called and showed concern over this unfortunate fake news. We wish to assure you that no amount of mischief or campaign of calumny under any guise will distract the Chief of Army Staff from his determined efforts of leading a responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional roles”.

  • Army, NGO train 104 on skills acquisition, distributes N3.5m starter packs

    Army, NGO train 104 on skills acquisition, distributes N3.5m starter packs

    The Headquarters, Training And Doctrine Command ( TRADOC ), Nigerian Army, Minna, says it is collaborating with an NGO, Malam Garba Foundation, to train 104 family members of serving army personnel in Minna Military Cantonment on various skills.

    The TRADOC Commander, Maj.-Gen. Rasheed Yusuf, disclosed this in Minna while distributing certificates and starter packs to the trainees.

    “The Skills Acquisition Programme in Minna military cantonment is one major welfare programme initiated by the Chief of Army Staff to empower the family members of the Army personnel,’’ Yusuf said.

    He said the programme was aimed at enhancing the living standard of the wives and children of the serving military personnel.

    “There is no doubt that the programme will reduce poverty and increase economic buoyancy in the barracks and the society,’’ the commander said.

    He said the beneficiaries were trained for one month on leather works, barbing, hairdressing, bead and wire work, multipurpose cosmetics, satellite installation, fashion designing and tailoring, among others.

    He said each participant would be provided with a starter pack in his or her chosen vocation, which they should utilise to improve the lots of their families.

    Malam Garba Abdulmajid, chairman of the foundation, said the army funded the training of 60 participants while the NGO was responsible for the training of 44 trainees.

    Abdulmajid said that the starter packs distributed to the trainees were worth N3.5 million.

    Mrs Grace Osho, Public Relations Officer (PRO), Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association ( NAOWA ), Minna, promised that the beneficiaries would utilise the starter packs to achieve the objective of the programme.

    NAN

  • Army kills Three insurgents in Borno

    Army kills Three insurgents in Borno

    The Nigerian Army on Tuesday said its troops had killed three Boko Haram insurgents in Sabsawa axis of Sambisa forest area of Operation.

    Brig. Gen. Sani Kukasheka, the Director, Army Public Relations, made the disclosure in a statement issued in Maiduguri.

    Kukasheka said that the troops killed the insurgents in an ambush on Monday at Sabsawa while trying to cross into Tangos area.

    Read also:Army rescues 212 captives, capture one Boko Haram commander

    He further disclosed that the troops recovered an AK-47 rifle and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) from the insurgents.

    “Troops of 202 Battalion, Sector 1, Operation LAFIYA DOLE at the early hours of Monday Dec.4, sprang an ambush on unsuspecting Boko Haram terrorists along Sabsawa axis.

    “During the encounter, the troops neutralised 3 Boko Haram terrorists trying to cross between Tangos.

    ‘’In addition, the troops recovered AK-47 rifles and Improvised Explosives making devices from the terrorists,“he said.

    NAN