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Tag: Nigerian Army

  • Troops kill three Boko Haram insurgents in Borno

    Troops kill three Boko Haram insurgents in Borno

    The Nigerian Army said on Saturday that its troops killed three Boko Haram insurgents at Gajibo village in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State.

    The Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Theatre Command, Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this in a statement issued in Maiduguri.

    Nwachukwu said the troops killed the three insurgents, when a group of terrorists attempted to attack Gajibo community on Thursday.

    He disclosed that the insurgents, who launched the attack on the village in a Military Personnel Carrier and gun trucks, were repelled by the troops.

    “Troops of the 22 Brigade deployed in Operation Lafiya Dole on Thursday evening killed three Boko Haram insurgents in an encounter that ensued when a group of insurgents attempted an attack on Gajibo community in the fringes of Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State.

    “The insurgents armed with Armoured Personnel Carrier and gun trucks met with fierce resistance from the troops, who successfully defended Gajibo village after routing the insurgents. Troops also recovered three AK 47 rifles from the insurgents.

    “Currently, troops are further exploiting the success of the counter offensive and are still in pursuit of the insurgents,” he said

    The deputy director said the troops fought gallantly to defend the town and push back the attackers.

  • Troops capture Boko Haram commander, kill four

    Troops capture Boko Haram commander, kill four

    Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have captured a Boko Haram Commander and neutrilized for members of the sect in a clearance operation at fringes of Sambisa forest, the Director of Public Relations, Nigerian Army, Brig. General Sani Usman, has said.

    In a statement issued in Abuja, General Usman said the Boko Haram Commander is currently under-going interrogation, while the troops also rescued 212 persons alive from the terrorists.

    The statement reads: “Troops of 3 Battalion, 22 Brigade Nigerian Army, Sector 1, Operation LAFIYA DOLE,  in furtherance of the ongoing clearance operations in conjunction with 22 Mobile Strike Team and some Civilian JTF, has on  Tuesday, 28th November 2017 achieved a remarkable feat.

    “During the operation, they were able to clear Boko Haram terrorists from their hideouts located at Kala, Jawara, Mada, Mika, Gakulba and Kutilax (Sanga), northern fringes of Sambisa forest and  fringes of Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno State.

    “At Sanga, the terrorists on sighting the approaching troops from their observation post, they dashed into the adjoining Amchada forest.

    “The relentless troops pursued them further and neutralized 4 Boko Haram terrorists after a serious exchange of gun fire, captured one of the terrorists commanders, the “Ameer” of Chawa, Amman Judee alive and rescued 212 persons held hostage by the terrorists.

    “The captured terrorist’s leader is undergoing further interrogation while the rescued persons are being documented and the underaged children were administered oral polio vaccines”.

  • Army rescues 212 captives, capture one Boko Haram commander

    Army rescues 212 captives, capture one Boko Haram commander

    The Army on Tuesday rescued another 212 persons held hostage by the terrorists after they cleared remnants of insurgents from some villages in the northern fringes of the Sambisa forest.

    They also captured one Boko Haram commander, “Ameer” of Chawa, Amman Judee and neutralised four terrorists, according to a statement by Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, the Director of Army Public Relations on Tuesday.

    Usman said the captured terrorists leader was undergoing interrogation, while the rescued persons were being documented and underaged children among them administered oral polio vaccines.

    Earlier in the week, troops rescued 30 persons held hostage by the terrorists during clearance operations in eight villages at Bama Local Government Area of Borno.

    NAN

  • Vehicles dealers seek reduction of duty payment to 20 percent

    Vehicles dealers seek reduction of duty payment to 20 percent

    Members of the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON) Tuesday pleaded with the Federal Government to reduce the duty pay value on imported vehicles from its current 35 percent to 20 percent.

    According to the association’s National President Ajibola Adedoyin, there has been an onslaught on all unduly vehicles at various car parks across the nation by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and even in some instances including the Nigerian Army.

    He raised the alarm in a press conference in Abuja.

    He noted that the NCS operatives have seized about 400 vehicles worth N1.7billion from different car parks across the country.

    He however noted that it was the government’s automotive policy which was to encourage the patronage of made in Nigeria vehicles that led to the rise in customs duty and levies.

    “The rate is too high. It is the Nigerian populace that buy the vehicles that bears the cost and the pains,” he said.

    The National President recalled that the upon the introduction of the 35 per cent vehicle duty payment, the NCS Comptroller- General, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) only allowed the dealers a slim window if six weeks to come down and pay duty on all unduty vehicles in their car parks.

    He said that owing to the confusion that the short window created, most of the dealers did not key into the window, which has now made them susceptible to the onslaught of the NCS.

    The association that said it will not in any way support any form of illegality, noted that it was seeking the Customs management another opportunity for all the members to submit their vehicles in their car parks for duty payment.

    Continuing, Adedoyin added that “we are quite aware intension of the CG is to block all loopholes and generate revenue for the government in order to carry out its development policies and not to kill existing businesses.

    “Our plea is based on the reasoning that given the window the palpable fear will reduce; NCS will generate more funds for the government while our members’ investment will be protected and further sack of staff will be halted.

    “If given the opportunity AMDON will work with NCS to ensure strict compliance, while we continue to discourage the smuggling of vehicles.”

  • NAFRC prepares 40 Generals for retirement

    NAFRC prepares 40 Generals for retirement

    To ensure a well balanced and productive life after service, the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre ( NAFRC ), Oshodi on sunday commenced a two-week entrepreneurship and management training programmes for 40 senior military officers of the general cadre.

    The officers comprising 15 from the Nigerian Army (NA), 10 from the Navy (NN), 10 from the Air Force (NAF) and five from NAFRC are expected to within two weeks, come up with viable business plans that would be scrutinised by the training facilitators, Empretec Nigeria Foundation.

    Inaugurating this year’s second edition of the course in Lagos yesterday, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin urged the participants to take the training seriously.

    Olonisakin, who was represented by the Chief of Defence Administration, Rear Admiral Muazu Salami, said: “As senior managers of the military enterprise, you are now being prepared to deploy knowledge already acquired in the course of your career to more civil use. There is no doubt that life after service presents peculiar challenges, one of which is the need for retired officers to be able to still engage in meaningful economic activities with the aim of ensuring a productive and wholesome life after military service.

    “This is the aim of this training workshop. l have been reliably informed that this training will expose you to discussions and exercises that would adequately prepare you to handle challenges encountered in retirement, particularly concerning that of starting your own businesses.

    “I therefore congratulate you all on your nomination to this workshop and urge you to take full advantage of the benefits it offers. I also expect that some of the skills you will acquire would add value to your productivity at your respective services.”

    Noting that it was the first time the training was being conducted at NAFRC since its inception in 2011, the CDS said the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) was working towards a review of the mandate of the centre to accommodate new thinking in line with modern trends.

    Aside the inauguration of the training, Olonisakin unveiled NAFRC’s remodelled 50 bedroomed guest house and a newly built resource centre.

    Earlier, NAFRC Commandant, Air Vice Marshal Ajibola Jekennu over 42 thousand servicemen and women have benefitted from the skills acquisition programme of the centre.

    Represented by his deputy, Maj.-Gen. Edward Nze, Jekennu said the participants would be taken through various modules specially designed to meet their needs.

    He said: “Records and feedback we get indicate that a good number of out trainees are doing well in civil life. The centre is not stopping at juts training servicemen. The desire of the CDS to extend our services to commissioned officers informed our collaboration with Empretec Nigeria Foundation.

    “The senior officers entrepreneurship and management training workshop is designed to equip them with essential tools and requisite information towards positioning themselves for productive life after service.

    “The objective is mainly ri refocus attention to the fact that a meaningful and productive life can be pursued even after service. Managerial experiences and skills accumulated while in service could be skillfully put to use in civilian pursuits in order to live a wholesome, fulfilling life and still contribute to the progress of the country after military service.”

    Giving a run down of the programme, Empretec’s Country Director, Mrs. Onari Duke tasked the generals to give in their best, adding that those with good business plans would have access to local and international grants available.

    According to her, the initiative was from the United Nations and was currently running through 33 countries.

  • Ogbeh wants soldiers to invest in agriculture

    Ogbeh wants soldiers to invest in agriculture

    The Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, on Monday urged officers and men of the Nigerian Army to join other Nigerians and invest in agriculture.

    Ogbeh spoke at a sensitisation programme organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development ( FMARD ) for the Nigerian Army in Abuja.

    “We are here to sentisise army officers and create awareness for them to see agriculture as a business and to strengthen the resolve of those in crops, aquaculture and animal husbandry.

    “Food security is an integral part of national security; that is why the army, whose mandate is to provide national security, cannot afford to avoid attending to food security.

    “Active participation of the army can never be seen as an incursion into an unfamiliar ground but a step in the direction that agrees in principle with one of its core mandate, which is ensuring peace.’’

    Read Also: Agriculture: VC harps on value addition, improved electricity

    Ogbeh, who was represented by Mrs Winifred Ochinyabo, his Special Adviser on Special projects and General Duties, said the strength of a nation lay in its ability to feed itself.

    She noted that because security personnel were trained combatants and not business people, they were usually vulnerable in retirement.

    He said the ministry was determined to enlighten servicemen on the opportunities in agriculture with a view to broadening their knowledge on agribusiness.

    Mr Matthew Owolabi, the Director, Irrigation and Crops Development in the ministry, said the sensitization would strengthen them to choose any aspect of agriculture of their interest.

    Earlier, the Chief of the Army staff, Lt.- Gen. Tukur Buratai, who was represented by Maj.-Gen. I.R. Nicholas, Chief of Linguistics, said the sensitization would encourage them to fall back to agriculture.

    “We will retire to agriculture and we will also contribute to the need of the nation, family and also provide raw materials to the manufacturing companies,” Nicholas said.

    NAN

  • Obasa hails Army over indigenous language directive

    Obasa hails Army over indigenous language directive

    The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, has commended the Nigerian Army on its directive to its personnel to learn the country’s three major indigenous languages — Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa.

    Obasa, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Political and Legislative Matters, Mr Mufutau Egberongbe on Saturday, said the directive showed that the army was passionate about ensuring internal peace and unity in the country.

    “Our argument has often been that security officers should operate in areas where they understand the language, cultures and traditions of the people,” he said.

    The speaker said that was one of the reasons why the lawmakers had constantly advocated for state policing.

    “We also recently resolved to have Yoruba language taught in all schools in Lagos..

    “It is not a personal issue; there is the need to ensure that the language retains its importance in the country.

    “Across the world, people are proud of their languages. They even teach with it in schools and solve major societal issues with it.

    “We know English is our major language here, but we must keep indigenous ones from extinction.

    “With introduction of the three major languages in the military, we are sure of a positive result in the fight against terrorism and other issues threatening our peace as a nation,” Obasa said.

    The Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Usman, in a statement, had said that the army expected its personnel to learn the languages within the next one year.

    He said the directive was in line with a new language policy of the army.

    According to him, the policy will, among others, foster espirit-de-corps and better communication with the populace to enhance information gathering and civil-military relations.

    NAN

  • Army repel insurgents’ attack in Magumeri, Borno

    Army repel insurgents’ attack in Magumeri, Borno

    Nigerian Army on Saturday repelled an attack by Boko Haram insurgents at Magumeri town, headquarters of Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno.

    A competent security source told our correspondent that the insurgents attacked a military formation at Magumeri, about 32 km from Maiduguri the state capital.

    The source said that the insurgents attacked the area at about 6 p.m. and shot sporadically in an attempt to infiltrate the town.

    The source revealed that the troops and other security personnel engaged the insurgents and successfully repelled the attack.

    “The insurgents could not infiltrate the town and they were forced to flee after hours of gun battle.

    “No one can ascertain the level of casualties at this time,” he said.

    However, Kaka Audu, a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force ( CJTF ) in the area, said that the insurgents attacked the town from the military check point and Bengel area of the town.

    Audu disclosed that some of the insurgents that attacked from the Bengel axis managed to enter the town and torched some buildings before they were finally pushed back.

    “We came back from a joint patrol with the military around 6 p.m. because intelligence report showed that the insurgents were gathering at the outskirt of the town.

    “Few minutes later, the insurgents attacked with full force from two directions. There was reinforcement from the military and the attack was repelled.”

    Audu noted that powerful echoes of gun shots and explosive devices prompted residents to flee to nearby forest.

    The local militia added that most of the residents, who had earlier run to the bush, returned to their homes later.

    The military authorities are yet to comment on the incident.

    Boko Haram insurgents had in July attacked an oil prospecting team on exploration exercise in the area.

    The insurgents killed several members of the team and abducted five staff of University of Maiduguri.

    NAN

  • Lagos Speaker hails Nigerian Army on introduction of indigenous language

    The Speaker of the Lagos state House of Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, has commended the Nigerian Army on its directive to its personnel to learn the country’s three major indigenous languages — Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa.

    Obasa, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Political and Legislative Matters, Mr Mufutau Egberongbe on Saturday, said the directive showed that the army was passionate about ensuring internal peace and unity in the country.

    “Our argument has often been that security officers should operate in areas where they understand the language, cultures and traditions of the people,” he said.

    The speaker said that was one of the reasons why the lawmakers had constantly advocated for state policing.

    “We also recently resolved to have the Yoruba language taught in all schools in Lagos.

    “It is not a personal issue; there is the need to ensure that the language retains its importance in the country.

    “Across the world, people are proud of their languages. They even teach with it in schools and solve major societal issues with it.

    “We know English is our major language here, but we must keep indigenous ones from extinction.

    “With the introduction of the three major languages in the military, we are sure of a positive result in the fight against terrorism and other issues threatening our peace as a nation,” Obasa said.

    The Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Usman, in a statement, had said that the army expected its personnel to learn the languages within the next one year.

    He said the directive was in line with a new language policy of the army.

    According to him, the policy will, among others, foster esprit-de-corps and better communication with the populace to enhance information gathering and civil-military relations.

  • Buhari approves new measures to check terrorism

    Buhari approves new measures to check terrorism

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday ordered a military crackdown on bandits operating in rural communities in Zamfara State, following fresh attacks on some communities in Shinkafi and Maradun Local Government Areas.

    The President in a statement signed by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President, has approved the request of the Minister of Defence, Brig-Gen. Mansur Dan Ali (rtd) for the stationing of a full battalion of Special Forces in Zamfara State to enable the army to carry out the new mandate, and the operationalization of the newly-established 8 Division of the Nigerian Army in Sokoto in the new Order of Battle (OBAT).

    President Buhari has also approved the movement of the 1 Brigade of the Nigerian Army from Sokoto to Gusau upon the take-off of the 8 Division.

    “To tackle the desperate actions of Boko Haram terrorists in the North-east, through the use of mostly female, underage girls as suicide bombers, President Buhari has equally approved the setting up of an intelligence fusion centre in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, for the purpose of gathering and sharing intelligence among the security agencies in the country.

    “This phase of the war will be intelligence-driven and the new centre is expected to intensify the harvesting and sharing of intelligence so as to bring to an early closure, the desperate last-minute activities of the terrorists,” the statement reads.