The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Army

  • Four soldiers killed in Borno explosion

    Four soldiers killed in Borno explosion

    The Army confirmed has confirmed that one officer and three soldiers were killed when their patrol vehicle encountered Improvised Explosive Device (IED) hidden on the road between Kangarwa and Alagarno village in Borno on Thursday.

    The Army Spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, confirmed the incident in a statement on Friday.

    He said three other soldiers sustained various degrees of injuries, while the patrol vehicle was completely damaged.

    Usman, however, said three suspected terrorists who planted the explosive and hid themselves had been fished out and neutralised.

    The army spokesman added that apart from clearance operations, troops stationed at Banki in Borno rendered humanitarian assistance to over 887 Nigerian refugees who had returned from Cameroon since Tuesday.

    He said the troops, also on Thursday, handed over Miss Jada Hachaba, who was abducted by the terrorists to her mother at Gulak in Adamawa.

    The army spokesman said Hachaba escaped from the terrorists’ captivity, adding that she was handed over in the presence of the District Head of Gulak.

    At Buni Yadi in Yobe, Usman said troops discovered a 122mm D30 unexploded ordinance inside an uncompleted building at the Federal Low Cost Housing Estate.

    He said the explosive ordinance team was drafted to the scene to safely detonate the explosive.

    Usman said based on credible information, troops arrested two suspected Boko Haram collaborators/informants; Abubakar Ahmed, 23 and Aji Maina, 45, on Wednesday.

    “Both were arrested at Garin Gada and Kanamma after painstaking trailing.

    “Abubakar Ahmed was arrested while trying to collect relief materials for onward conveyance to Boko Haram terrorists, while Aji Maina was arrested while on transit at Kanamma enroute Gamari in Niger Republic,’’ he said.

    NAN

     

  • Army has contributed to democratic process – Buratai

    Army has contributed to democratic process – Buratai

    The Nigerian Army said on Friday it has contributed immensely to the democratic process in the country through robust participation in peace support and internal security operations.

    The army said it contributed to the nation’s democratic process by consolidating, especially in the last one year on the gains so far achieved in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency and other domestic threats.

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, made the remarks at a news conference to begin the 2017 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL), which holds on every July 6.

    The army which came into being in 1863 is now 154 years old.

    Represented by Maj.-Gen. Christopher Jemitola, the Chief of Policy and Plans, Buratai said the 2017 event was organised to sustain the rich history, traditions and values of the army.

    The theme of this year’s event is: “Sustaining the Successes of the Nigerian Army in Tackling Contemporary and Emerging Security Challenges.’’

    “This theme was deliberately chosen to reflect on the successes recorded by the Nigerian Army in the fight against insurgency in the North East and other forms of criminalities across the nation.

    “The liberation of all parts of the country hitherto claimed by the Boko Haram terrorists and the eventual collapse of the once dreaded Sambisa forest are clear testimonies to this fact,’’ Buratai said.

    He said the annual event was an opportunity for the army to take stock, assess its performances, inter-face with members of the public and set goals for the succeeding year.

    NAN

  • Nigeria, Italy to finalise agreement on military, defence cooperation

    Nigeria, Italy to finalise agreement on military, defence cooperation

    Nigeria and Italy will soon finalise a draft technical agreement on military and defence cooperation and operations, the Defence Minister, Mansur Dan-Ali has said.

    The minister said this when he met with that country’s Minister of Defence, Madam Roberta Pinnoti in Rome on Monday.

    A copy of the minister speech was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja by his spokesman, Col. Tukur Gusau.

    Dan-Ali said that the agreement was expected to facilitate exchange of data and experiences on technical matters affecting preparation and conduct of combined naval operations on counter-piracy awareness and oil platforms protection.

    The other things the agreement will facilitate, according to the minister, are the holding of combined counter-piracy exercises and other maritime security activities in international waters and territorial waters of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “Train Nigerian Navy personnel ashore and on-board of the Italian vessels.

    “Arrange working meetings and briefings ashore and on shore between experts to discuss the implementation of this agreement and results of training and cooperation activities.

    “Take measures to improve the readiness of the parties to conduct combined naval operations; engage some Italian companies in the area of repairs and remodeling of some Nigerian Army self-propelled artillery equipment,’’ he said.

    The minister also said the draft would consider cooperation in any other field of naval activities at practical level.

    “I can assure you very soon that the two countries will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen out the cooperation,’’ he added.

    Dan-Ali said that Nigeria and other countries along the gulf of Guinea suffer a lot of criminal activities, from drug and human trafficking, piracy, robbery and other criminal maritime activities.

    He said: “this practice no doubt is a threat to the existence of humanity and economic development of our nations.

    “I therefore solicit for your cooperation so that together we can stamp out crimes in our maritime environment.’’

    The minister also appealed to the Italian Government to help Nigeria by giving humanitarian assistance to the displaced persons in the North-East part of the country affected by the “inhumanity of the Boko Haram terrorists.’’

    He said that since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office two years ago, a lot has been achieved in the fight against insurgency and other violent crimes across the sub region.

    He noted that Nigeria and Italy had a long partnership economically and security wise, recalling that when the Italian Prime Minister visited Nigeria in 2016, both countries agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.

  • Zakzaky’s followers to march across Nigeria Friday

    Zakzaky’s followers to march across Nigeria Friday

    Members of the Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky led Islamic Movement in Nigeria; popularly known as Shi’ites are to embark on their annual Quds Day marches across the country Friday.

    The Nation recall that, the Shi’ites during similar event in 2014 clashed men of the Nigerian Army and the clash led to the death of over 30 members of the movement, including three sons of El-Zakzaky.

    The 2014 clash was the genesis of the Shi’ites/Army crisis before that of December 2015, which led to the arrest and detention of Zakzaky and his wife.

    Meanwhile, the movement in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesman, Ibrahim Musa said, the march is a peaceful demonstration in support of victims of Zionism and against illegal occupation of Palestine by Israeli.

    According to the statement, “the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) under the leadership of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H) has been in the forefront in observing the Quds Day which is well attended by both Muslims and non-Muslims alike on the last Friday of Ramadan for several decades now. This year’s event is set to hold tomorrow Friday 28 Ramadan, 1437 equivalent to 23 June, 2017.

    “The IMN hereby call on all people of conscience to join in commemorating this annual event by lending a voice to the oppressed people of Palestine, while condemning the Israeli atrocities on them. It is scheduled to take place in over 24 cities across the country, and all are invited to attend.

    “The Day is commemorated based on conscience and not only on religious consideration as victims of Zionism and illegal occupation of Palestine include Muslims and Christians alike. Moreover pro-Palestinian protest marches such as this are organized in all parts of the world including Europe and America to mark the International Quds Day.

    “The third holiest mosque in Islam, Masjid al Aqsa is under the occupation of the Zionist Israeli regime following the illegal occupation of Palestine by Israel. The holy mosque of al-Aqsa is the place through which the holy Prophet of Islam Muhammad (SAWA) undertook his night journey when he ascended to the heavens as mentioned in the holy Quran.

    “The illegal state of Israel had unleashed terror on the innocent but strong-hearted people of Palestine for the past 60 years, killing unarmed men, women and children, demolishing their houses and placing thousands in illegal detention and torture.

    “All these are taking place before the very eyes of the world but for reasons best known to them, the international community is simply looking the other way as this state terrorism is taking place with what could best be described as genocide against the people of Palestine.

    “Left without any help or assistance from the so-called world powers while Israel is dealing deadly blow on the Palestinians, whose lands it had occupied, the entire populace were left to themselves against the terror-laden state of Israel.

    “It is against this background that the leader of Islamic Revolution in Iran, Ayatullah Ruhullah Khomeini declared the last Friday of every month of Ramadan for people of conscience across the globe to express their support for the Palestinian course and condemn the illegal occupation of Palestine by Israel.

    “We will also like to seize this opportunity to call on the Nigerian government to immediately and unconditionally release the revered leader of the IMN, His Eminence, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, who has been most active in this course of struggle for humanity and who in the past lost his children in the cause of this struggle for Palestinian freedom. Today is the 588 days he spent in detention despite a substantive court order for his release”, it said.

     

     

  • Human Rights: Group commends Nigerian Army Report

    A rights group, the Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CSJET) has commended the report of the Nigerian Army into alleged cases of human rights abuses by its personnel engaged in different operations across the country.

    The group said the report has not only cleared doubts in the minds of Nigerians and the international community about the professionalism and discipline of the Nigerian Army, but has once again proven loudly, the innocence of the Nigerian Army which is understandably and conspiratorially persecuted for their sacrifices to end terrorism in Nigeria

    The group in a statement by its Executive Director, Joyce Ogwu described the report by the six-man Board Of Inquiry (BOI) chaired by Major General A. T. Jibril as a confirmation that the current army leadership is committed to adhering to best global standards and respect for human rights.

    She described the report as “thorough” and “impartial,” saying that despite the highly scandalous figures of claims of extra-judicial killings of Boko Haram suspects in Army detention facilities in Borno state and some members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), the panel diligently conducted a detailed, faultless and splendid inquiry by meeting all the different stakeholders covered by the alleged human rights abuses and found the claims by AI very spurious and patently false.

    She said, “The published report of the Army BOI embodied a thorough, impartial and neutral inquest into the allegations gleaned from the tissue of evidences and testimonies by victims and non-victims alike.

    “The exoneration of the Amy personnel of culpability or complexity in its anti-terrorism campaigns is indication of Nigerian Army’s unflinching commitment and adherence to the highest ethical standards of professionalism and discipline in the execution of its assignments. This is a fact abundantly buttressed by the COAS, Gen. Buratai, as signposted by the setting up of the Human Rights Desk at the Nigerian Army Headquarters (AHQs) Abuja.”

    The CSJET boss reiterated the group’s objection at the role of Amnesty International in the anti terrorism war in Nigeria.

    “The recent repudiation of AI’s claims of human rights violations as contained in its report on army personnel tallies with the proof of emptiness of previous similar reports from the organization conducted by other independent bodies.

    “We therefore call on the Nigerian Government, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the International community among others, to take a critical interest in the conspicuously biased and anti-Nigerian posture of Amnesty International in the country,” she said.

    She appealed to the Army Council to consider reviewing the subsisting sanctions and punishments on Army Personnel, in the event a prima facie case of human rights abuses has been established against any officer.

    According to her, this measure has become imperative in view of the contemporary reality of terrorism and the delicate nature of the prosecution of anti-terrorism war by troops, which often involve the risk of life and death of victims they are constrained to rescue, vis-à-vis safeguarding their own lives.

  • Army confirms arrest of Boko Haram militant

    Army confirms arrest of Boko Haram militant

    The Nigerian Army on Saturday confirmed the arrest of a suspected Boko Haram militant, Aliyu Ahmed, alias “Aliko.”

    The army spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, said in a statement that “Aliko” was arrested on Friday by troops of 33 Brigade following a tip off in Yuga village, Toro local government area of Bauchi State, where he has been hiding.

    The army also said it intercepted four child traffickers and 19 under aged children in Yobe.

    Usman said, “He was found to be in possession of one single barrel gun and one Dane gun.

    “During preliminary interrogation, he confessed that he actively participated in several Boko Haram terrorists’ attacks and also owned an AK-47 rifle which lost during one of the attacks they carried out in 2016.

    “His interrogation continued.”

    He said the four traffickers, who were arrested by of troops of Bravo Company, 120 Battalion at Katarko, were conveying the 19 children from Potiskum to Garin Tuwo, Bungai and Buni Yadi in Gujba local government area of Yobe and Galarabala in Biu local government area of Borno.

    “Both the suspected traffickers and their victims have been moved to the Brigade Headquarters for transfer to National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons,” the army spokesman said.

    NAN

     

  • Army arrests wanted bandit, kidnapper on Kaduna-Abuja road

    Army arrests wanted bandit, kidnapper on Kaduna-Abuja road

    The  Nigerian Army confirmed that troops from the 1 Division in Kaduna State arrested a notorious and wanted leader of an armed banditry, Sani Ibrahim, alias “Burtu”, on the Kaduna-Abuja road on Wednesday.

    Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, Director of Army Public Relations, who confirmed the arrest in a statement on Thursday said, the suspect was picked up when the troops cordoned “armed bandits’ camp at Rijana forest.”

    According to Usman, Ibrahim has been on the wanted list of the security agencies in Kaduna State for a long time.

    He explained that due to disturbing resurgence of armed banditry and kidnappings along Abuja-Kaduna road, the troops carried out clearance operation at the Rijana forest.

    He said one motorcycle and 25 goats were recovered from the camp.

    Similarly, the army spokesman said the troops mounted ambush on Zamfara border with Kebbi and neutralised three armed bandits and recovered 134 cows and 13 sheep.

    He said that operations were ongoing.

  • Biafra: Group to petition US govt over suit against Army Chief, 13 others

    Biafra: Group to petition US govt over suit against Army Chief, 13 others

    The National Committee of Yoruba Youth (NCYY), and the Coalition of Civil Society Groups against Terrorism in Nigeria, have concluded plans, to petition the embassy of the United States in Nigeria, over what it described as another, in the series of attempts, to interfere in the sovereignty of Nigeria, “by some ‘disgruntled’ Nigerians and external collaborators, who have chosen the USA, as an abode to carry out their orchestrated plans, against the Nation’s security agencies, particularly the Nigerian Army.”

    The group, in a media briefing in Lagos on Wednesday, reacted to the decision of a United States (U.S.) District Court for the District of Columbia, which has granted leave to a group of 10 Biafran agitators to sue Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, and 13 others for what it described as their complicity in the 2016 torture and extra-judicial killings of some Biafran protesters.

    The group, through its President, Comrade Oladimeji Odeyemi, said it hoped to use the petition to remind the US Government that the activities of those persons, who now seek to hide under the US Judicial system, to distract Nigeria’s ongoing war against terrorism, separatist agitation and all forms of insurgency, had posed several security threats not just to Nigeria, but also to other countries of the world, including the United States.

    Comrade Odeyemi said, contrary to claims by these persons, who he described as agent provocateurs that there is a continuous clamp down on Protesters and their families in Nigeria, it is the Biafra agitators, mainly from the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) sect, that have been harassing innocent Nigerians, at every given time, that they embark on their activities.

    The group says it will also use the medium to mobilise for the support of the United States government and other international bodies to assist Nigeria in promoting and sustaining the peaceful atmosphere, currently being experienced in the country, as a result of the brilliant effort of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, coupled with the untiring commitment of the nation’s security agencies, particularly the Nigerian Army, under General Tukur Buratai, towards a total restoration of peace in most already troubled parts of the country.

    “We wish to advise those persons and their political patrons, who think they can hide in foreign lands to truncate the ongoing process of sustaining our country’s Unity and mutual trust, to have a rethink and join in the ongoing process of building a new Nigeria.

    “The Nigerian Army and its leadership have come of age and enjoys the massive solidarity and support of our people, who can now differentiate between what was obtainable in the past, and an Army, now built on quality service and integrity” Odeyemi summed.

  • Ramadan: Muslim groups kick against exercise, activities by NYSC, Army

    Ramadan: Muslim groups kick against exercise, activities by NYSC, Army

    A coalition of no fewer than fifty Islamic Propagation Organisations under the auspices of the Da’awah Coordination Council of Nigeria (DCCN) have vehemently lamented the conduct of some activities by the Nigerian Army and the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), during the ongoing Ramadan fast.

    They kicked against conducting such exercise and activities‎ during the holy month of Ramadan by the authorities. The coalition group, hitherto, decried the ”recalcitrance” of the Nigerian Army and the NYSC for conducting the screening of new recruits and camping, during the Ramadan fast period.

    The coalition made known their feelings Wednesday in Sokoto at a news briefing by the Council’s National President, Malam Lawal Maidoki. Maidoki said, “despite pleas, appeals and protests, the duo had continued to put some Nigerian Muslim youth to the rigours and temptation of their respective camps in the sacred Ramadan period.

    “This act of insensitivity betrays the contempt with which Islam and its sanctity are being treated by such common national symbols as the Nigerian Army and the NYSC, among many others.

    “As Muslim organisations, we consider the scheduling of the selection and the training exercises by the duo as a deliberate attempt of short-changing the Muslim youth.”

    According to him, Nigerian Muslims,” do not regard as any good gesture,” the exemption of Muslim youth from the rigours of the training in Ramada period.

    “On the contrary, we regard such gesture as another denial of fundamental opportunity to get exposed to the diverse survival skills the camp such as that of the NYSC stands to offer.

    “As such, the only solution to this clear injustice lies in the avoidance of all training and selections in our camps during the period of Ramadan,” Maidoki, averred.

    The National President, however, called on the Muslim Ummah to utilize the period of Ramadan, ” to pray to live to witness a better Nigeria, where all Nigerians will be treated equally.”

  • Troops kill Boko Haram militants in Borno

    … Rescue nine children

    Troops of the 3rd Battalion, Nigerian Army, alongside members of Civilian JTF at the weekend, killed some Boko Haram insurgents operating at Jarawa Village, Kala Balge local government area of Borno State.

    The Director of Public Relations, Nigerian Army, Brig- Gen. Sani Usman, said in a statement issued in Abuja that the operations were carried out by the 22 Brigade Nigerian Army of Operation Lafiya Dole.

    He said: “Following credible and confirmed information about the convergence of some elements of suspected Boko Haram terrorists at Jarawa village, Kala Balge local government area of Borno State, troops of 3 Battalion, 22 Brigade Nigerian Army of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, in conjunction with some Civilian JTF, on Sunday June 11, 2017, carried out a successful clearance operation along that axis.

    “At about a Kilometre to Jarawa village, the troops entered heavy Boko Haram terrorists’ ambush, which they successfully cleared after some minutes of fire fight. They followed that up with hot pursuit of the fleeing insurgents into the nearby forest.

    “The troops were able to neutralize a large number of Boko Haram terrorists including the notorious Abu Nazir, the terrorists’ Amir in Jarawa during the operation.

    “They also captured several weapons including an AK-47 rifle, one Double barrel gun, one primed heavy Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and three motorcycles.

    “Additionally, they rescued nine abducted children undergoing training at the terrorists’ training camp in the village.

    “The minors have been evacuated and are being given preliminary humanitarian assistance in preparation to handing them over to Kala Balge Internally Displaced Persons Camp Management Committee.”