The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Army

  • Army vows to fish out killers of colonel in Ibadan

    Army vows to fish out killers of colonel in Ibadan

    The Nigerian Army has vowed to track down killers of the erstwhile Commandant, Command Secondary School, Apata, Ibadan, Col. Anthony Okeyim.

    In a statement by the Deputy Director, Public Relations, Col. Timothy Antigha, for 2 Division yesterday, the army said it would do everything possible to fish out Okeyim killers as it works in conjunction with the police and the Department of State Services.

    The division assured that the joint investigation “would not be concluded until the perpetrators of the crime are identified and brought to justice.”

    The division also revealed that the autopsy conducted on the deceased showed that the late senior officer died as a result of intracranial pressure arising from fracture of the skull.

    The division said: “Any other stories connected with this case that is being spread by certain faceless individuals are false, diversionary and   aimed at derailing the ongoing investigation.”

    Col. Okeyim was murdered in the premises of Command Secondary School Apata Ibadan on December 12, last year. The division in conjunction with the Oyo State Police Command and the Department of State Services in Oyo State commenced investigation into the incident.

    Col. Antigha said the investigation was still ongoing, adding that appreciable progress has been made.

  • Army arrests 963 Boko Haram suspects in Borno

    The Nigerian Army on Wednesday said it has arrested about 963 persons suspected to be Boko Haram terrorists during an operation in Borno State.

    The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.- Gen. Lucky Irabor, disclosed this  at the weekly review of the Operation Rescue Final at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri.

    “On January 3 at about 1240hrs, four women and 13 children were apprehended by vigilantes at Buni Yadi and were later handed over to our troops,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted Gen. Irabor as saying at the forum.

    “Preliminary investigation revealed that the women were wives of Boko Haram terrorists who fled from Sambisa forest as a result of our operations. All suspects are in our custody undergoing investigation.

    “On January 9, a surrendered Boko Haram member was identified as a male sympathiser and spy in Monguno area. We also identified two wives of Amir (Boko Haram Commander) from the arrested members.”

    He added that on January 5, at about 1030hrs, following a tip-off, troops and the Civilian Joint Task Force arrested four Boko Haram suspects at Shuwari village.

    “The suspects are: Modu Auwami, Mamye Modu, Usman Kachanawa and Mallum Maji.

    “During preliminary investigation, some local witnesses identified Auwami as one who provided medical treatment to injured terrorists.

    “The other three suspects claimed they were abducted by the terrorists and that they only spent few days in their camps,” the army commander said.

    He said the suspects were now in the Army’s custody undergoing further interrogation.

  • Insurgency: Army recovers corpses of 15 soldiers, officer declared missing

    Insurgency: Army recovers corpses of 15 soldiers, officer declared missing

    The Nigerian Army said it had recovered corpses of “one officer and 15 soldiers’’ earlier declared “Missing in Action” during an operation to dislodge the Boko Haram insurgents from Gashigar Area in Borno on Oct. 16, 2016.

    The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.- Gen. Lucky Irabor, disclosed this at a weekly review of Operation Rescue Final at Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri, on Wednesday.

    “The corpses were recovered along Kamadugou River line area in Maiduguri.

    “Among the recovered corpses was that of Lt.-Col. K Yusuf, the former Commanding Officer (CO) of 223 Tank Battalion.

    “They have since been buried in Maimalari Cantonment Cemetery with full military honours,’’ Irabor said.

  • Army sets up Operation Accord to deal with herdsmen killings

    A military initiative against the incessant killings of innocent Nigerians by Fulani herdsmen is on the way, the Defence Headquarters announced on Friday.

    Code named Operation Accord, the initiative is expected to deal with the menace of herdsmen who have been on the rampage in several states of the federation, killing people at will.

    Southern Kaduna is the latest to fall victim of their atrocities where hundreds of people were killed, sparking outrage across the country.

    The Director of Defense Information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, broke the news to journalists in Warri, Delta State, a day after President Muhammadu Buhari ordered that decisive measures be taken to stop the recurring violence in the area.

    He said:” The issue of criminal herdsmen killings will be a thing of the past once the operation kicks off.”

    Abubakar, who also spoke on other security issues said, “we have over 13 operations that are going on in the country. We are moving up from the Northeast which we have just accomplished. The armed forces will not rest until we rescue all the captives (from Boko Haram).

    He dismissed allegations that soldiers were terrorizing individuals or groups in the Niger Delta region, but noted that no individual or group of persons were beyond the reach of the law.

    “The armed forces are where they are to provide security and enabling environment to enable businesses thrive,” he said.

    “The presence of soldiers is to achieve the mandate given to it by the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “The insinuations are from those who see our presence as an impediment to their activities. We should not in any way condone any group that will cause problem economically or politically in this country.”

     

  • Military will not disclose Chibok girls’ whereabouts – DHQ

    Military will not disclose Chibok girls’ whereabouts – DHQ

    Despite the liberation of Sambisa forest where the Chibok girls were reportedly kept by their Boko Haram captors, the Nigerian military has said it would not disclose the girls’ whereabouts.

    Over 200 students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno, were abducted from their hostels in April 2014.

    About 30 of them have regained freedom since last year, while others are still in captivity.

    Briefing journalists on Thursday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the Acting Director of Defence Information, Defence Headquarters, Abuja, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubarkar said “neither the military nor any security agency will give information on the Chibok girls in order not to jeopardize their safety.”

    Abubarkar, who assured that the military will do everything to rescue the girls however pointed out that “information on strategy to rescue the will never be disclosed.”

    On Boko Haram, the Defence spokesman said the terror group is now in disarray and had been destroyed.

    He said the pockets of attacks being witnessed are carried out by escapees, stating that” Boko Haram can never regroup as they did in Sambisa forest.”

    He also said the female suicide bombers are persons who were drugged before they are sent on the suicide mission.

     

  • Rivers: Army kills 5 suspected cultists

    Rivers: Army kills 5 suspected cultists

    Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army on Wednesday shot dead five suspected cultists during a gun battle in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers.

    General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Port Harcourt, Maj.-Gen. Kasimu Abdulkarim, who confirmed the killings, said the battle was part of “Operation Cleanup” of cultists and militants terrorising residents.

    According to him, troops have so far recovered five AK 47 assault rifles from cultists in the area since January 1.

    “Army 6 Division has recorded appreciable successes in its bid to rid the local government of cultists and brigands,” Abdulkarim added.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), gathered from community sources that the incident started when troops stormed the area after receiving distress call over the cultists.

    Eyewitness account said the suspected cultists invaded Omoku town on Tuesday night and shot dead two unidentified young men before making attempt to escape.

    “After killing the men, they shot sporadically before soldiers closed in on them”, an eyewitness said.

    NAN recalls the division recently launched a major operation in the area shortly after a DSP Mohammed Alkali and his orderly were beheaded by cultists during the Dec. 10 legislative elections in the state.

  • Three female suicide bombers killed in Borno

    The Nigerian Army on Wednesday said it had killed three female suicide bombers when they came across  troops along Dutse area in Gwoza local government area of Borno State.

    The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.- Gen. Lucky Irabor, confirmed the incident to journalists in Maiduguri.

    Irabor said the three female suicide bombers were intercepted following an intelligence report on their mission to Limankara in Gwoza Council.

    “Just this morning, we intercepted the bombers but the three of them resisted and tried to ram into our troops. And of course, we had no choice but to open fire on them,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the army commander as saying to journalists on the matter.

    He said the Nigerian troops and their Cameroonian counterparts had been making remarkable progress and recoveries in Ngwoshe axis and Gwoza hills.

    “Our troops and those of the Camaroon Republic have been recording tremendous successes in flushing out remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists in that axis.

    “And of course during the operation, we discovered stockpile of arms and ammunitions.

    “We also intercepted 30 cows at cashew plantation here in Maiduguri.

    “We also arrested one of the most wanted Boko Haram terrorists, number 164 on our list,” he added.

     

  • Army deploys 800 troops to Darfur

    The Nigerian Army has prepared 800 combat-ready troops for deployment to Darfur region in Sudan to compliment the United Nations peacekeeping mission in that country.

    Men of Nigerian Battalion (NIBBAT) 46, including 45 officers and 755 soldiers have undergone four weeks extensive and comprehensive pre-deployment training in line with UN recommendation and vision of Chief of Army Staff, Lt—Gen. Tukur Buratai, to enable them cope with situation in Darfur.

    The officers and troops are expected to take off in two weeks time.

    Buratai, who believed that the officers and troops have been well trained and refreshed on their crisis management skill , urged them to be agile and responsive to any challenge that may arise during the operation.

    Represented at the Tuesday graduation ceremony of Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Centre (NAPKC), Jaji, by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Mechanized Division, Major-Gen. Adeniyi Oyebade, the COAS said the training further confirmed the commitment of Nigerian Army to deploy quality peacekeepers as part of Nigeria’s laudable contributions to global peace and security.

  • Shekau’s video mere propaganda – Army

    Shekau’s video mere propaganda – Army

    The Nigerian Army has described a video purportedly released by the Boko Haram showing its leader as “mere terrorists’ propaganda.”

    A statement issued by the Army Spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, in Abuja on Thursday said the attention of the Nigerian Army had been drawn to the video clip released by the group from an undisclosed location, showing its purported leader, Shekau, making spurious claims.

    “While effort is ongoing to subject the video to further forensic analysis, the Nigerian Army wishes to reiterate that it has captured and occupied the last known stronghold of the terrorists’ group in the Sambisa forest,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the army spokesman as saying in the statement.

    “We would like to reassure the public that this video is nothing but mere terrorists propaganda aimed at creating fear in the mind of people and to remain relevant.

    “Therefore, there is no cause for alarm, more so as concerted effort in clearing the vestiges of Boko Haram terrorists wherever they might be hiding, is ongoing.

    “Our gallant troops deployed in various parts of the North-East have continued to intensify search for all persons associated with Boko Haram sect with a view to bringing them to justice.”

    He urged the public to go about their normal lawful business, remain vigilant and be security conscious; adding that any suspicious person or group of persons should be reported to the security agencies.

  • Open letter to Buratai, Nigerian Army

    Open letter to Buratai, Nigerian Army

    SIR: It is with unimaginable tears of joy that I express my hearty congratulations on your victory against the deadly Boko Haram sect. The entire country has been thrown to a hysterical moment with the news of this victory. Big congratulations to you and our gallant soldiers who achieved this great feat. Words really can’t thank you all for your sacrifice and will to protect our fatherland at all cost. The timing of this triumph is perfect as we edge closer to a new year of renewed optimism.

    For some years now, we have endured horrendous carnage in the hands of those terrorists. People, especially in the North-east, particularly Borno State, have been rendered homeless, businesses and properties shut down and vandalized, kept apart from their loved ones and psychologically living in anticipation of the worst. It is pathetic how we lived in fear, run at a fast acceleration with the strike of a flat tyre, filled with trepidation in market squares, viewing centres and social cum religious gatherings as our safety was under constant threat.

    Perhaps it was a long wait. It is now fully deserved. The patient dog eats the fattest bone. Before now, many of us have ruled out the possibility of winning the war. And for those that remained hopeful for long, it faded gradually till the odds became apparently not in our favour. It looked as though Boko Haram have come to stay ad infinitum. But as reports emanate about the final assault by operation Lafiya Dole to invade the stronghold of their fortress: Sambisa forest, we grinned, prayed and had renewed hopes. And as such, we salute your efforts, for masterminding the final push that disgorged the sect to their demise. You and your men alone knew what ensued at the battleground that purged them to the embrace of your bullets and for that, we remain in your awe. This is a victory we have craved for, dreamt of and lived for!

    While we continue to celebrate your triumph, it is imperative for us not to rest on our laurels and do the needful. The security conundrum has always been lack of preventive measures cum consistency. More often than not, we are not proactive; we wait to arrest the situation after the worst has been done. We are caught off guard in most cases because we fail to instill consistency in detecting, preventing and sustaining effective security measures. Now, this has to change. It must change. Boko Haram may have been defeated, but we must not slumber for a return to dark days. We must not give room for any terror group to ensconce themselves in our territory again.

    The reward of your sacrifices is with God. May He reward you in plenitude. I also congratulate and appreciate the man whose strong will, alacrity and resolve to eradicate Boko Haram remains second to none since taking the mantle of leadership: President Muhammadu Buhari. Thank you. Wishing you all a prosperous new year ahead!

     

    • Jamila Usman,

    IBB University, Lapai, Niger State.