The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Army

  • Army inaugurates court martial, tries 20 soldiers

    Army inaugurates court martial, tries 20 soldiers

    The Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division of the Nigerian Army,  Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu, on Wednesday inaugurated a General Court Martial (GCM) in Maiduguri, Borno State.
    The GCM would try four officers and 16 soldiers accused of different offences under the Operation Lafiya Dole. The offences were allegedly committed within the theatre of operation of operation Lafiya Dole.
    Brig. Gen Ezugwu said the GCM was set up following a directive from the Army Headquarters. (AHQ).
    The Acting GOC said the GCM was convened to try four officers and 16 other ranks of the Nigerian Army who have committed various offences.
    “As you are all aware, discipline is the bedrock of the military profession and to have a disciplined body of officers and men, there must be justice because it is when there is justice that discipline can be achieved.
    “Justice implies that infractions of the law must be promptly reported, investigated and the accused persons prosecuted within a reasonable time through the laid down rules, regulations and procedures,” Ezegwu said.
    He warned that both prosecution nd accused person and their counsels must shun all forms of antics such as request for frivolous adjournments which could lead to unnecessary delays in the trial processes.
    He called on the President and members of the GCM to dispense their duty in accordance with the appropriate extant laws and ensure that  decision on all the cases  is not in  beclouded with bias, external pressure or by extraneous factors.
    While assuring the accused of fair hearing and adherence to their fundamental human rights, he pleaded with the members of the GCM to ensure that the judgement passed on the accused persons will stand the test of appellate court, public opinion and above all, that of the Almighty CreatOr
  • Photos: Ground force storm Ikorodu, Arepo creeks

    Photos: Ground force storm Ikorodu, Arepo creeks

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  • Troops arrest Boko Haram militants in Borno

    Troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE have arrested one of the wanted Boko Haram terrorists, Mohammed Mohammed Zauro at Sabon Gari, Damboa local government area of Borno State.

    He was arrested at about 8:30am on Tuesday.

    The Army Spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, said preliminary investigation showed that the suspected terror kingpin was arrested while fleeing from Sambisa forest to Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.

    Usman said the troops recovered a Gionee mobile telephone handset, a fake SAIE/JIBWIS identification card and the sum of N7, 900.00 from the terrorist.

    The army spokesman told journalists that troops also intercepted another suspected Boko Haram member, Lawal Aboi, along Damboa-Bale Road.

    He said Aboi voluntarily surrendered to the military because he was tired of fighting “for no just cause.”

    Usman  said both suspects are being interrogated by military authorities.

  • Army destroy bandits’ camps in Zamfara

    Army destroy bandits’ camps in Zamfara

    Troops of the Nigerian Army have destroyed camps belonging to cattle rustlers and bandits’ in Zamfara.

    This is contained in a statement issued by Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman, the Acting Director, Army Public Relations on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Kukasheka said that Troops of 1 Division of Nigerian Army involved in anti-cattle rustling and anti-banditry operations on Aug. 1, carried out clearance operations on suspected bandits’ hideouts in some forests in Zamfara State.

    He said the troops carried out raids at Batara and Ajah forests in Birnin Magaji and Gusau Local Government Areas of the state.

    “Although the armed bandits fled the camps, the troops destroyed the camps, recovered 3 motorcycles and 2 cell phones,’’ It said.

    He said the troops further raided Rimawa forest in Gusau Local Government Area where they arrested 2 wanted armed bandits – Aliyu Abubakar and Umar Ibrahim.

    Kukasheka also said that in Bini village forest, Maru Local Government, the troops had arrested a notorious and wanted armed bandits collaborator, Umar Dan Bilbili.

  • Troops dislodge terrorists, cattle rustlers in two states

    Troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE accompanied by members of civilian Joint Task Force on Monday night thwarted attempts by Boko Haram terrorists to attack Yauri Community in Maiduguri, Borno State.

    The Army Spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, said the attack took place at about 8:00pm on Monday.

    In the encounter, the troops killed five insurgents and recovered two AK-47 rifles, one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), one 60mm Mortar Tube, one Fabrique Nationale (FN) rifle, two Dane Guns, two AK-47 rifle magazines, two FN rifle magazines, 131 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition, 31 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunitions, a 60mm Bomb and N31, 275.00 from the terrorists.

    Usman added that the troops of 1 Division, Nigerian Army, carried out anti-cattle rustling operations in Zamfara same day and destroyed suspected armed bandits’ hideouts in some forests in the state.

    He said the troops carried out the raids at Batara and Ajah forests in Birnin Magaji and Gusau local government areas of Zamfara.

    The army spokesman said, “Although the armed bandits fled the camps, the troops destroyed the camps, recovered three motorcycles and two mobile telephone handsets. They further raided Rimawa forest in Gusau local government area where they arrested two wanted armed bandits – Aliyu Abubakar and Umar Ibrahim.  In Bini village forest, Maru local government area, the troops also arrested a notorious and wanted armed bandits’ collaborator – Umar Dan Bilbili.”

     

  • Troops recover cache of arms, ammunitions in Borno

    The Nigerian Army on Sunday said it had recovered cache of arms and ammunitions in Gamboru, Borno State.

    The Acting Director, Army Public Relations Officer, Col. Sani Usman, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.

    The statement said the troops conducted raids at Gamboru town early on Sunday morning following a tip off.

    “The troops recovered three AK-56 rifles and two AK-L rifles with registration numbers; AK-L-AGB 1172, AK-L PU2879, AK-56-2556688, AK-56-22622832 and AK-56-22622315, respectively,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the army spokesman as saying in the statement.

    “They also recovered 235 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition and seven AK-56 rifle magazines.

    “The Nigerian Army wishes to commend those good citizens that alerted the military for the timely and useful information that led to this recovery.

    “This is the type of cooperation and support we always require from citizens of this country to enable us clear the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists.

    “We wish to reiterate the need for all to be more vigilant, security conscious and report any suspicious movements or persons to the nearest security agency.”

    The statement added that troops on Operation LAFIYA DOLE on Saturday night carried out successful ambush against Boko Haram terrorists at a crossing point off Damboa road.

    “The ambush party decisively dealt with the terrorists riding on bicycles at a crossing point off Damboa-Kubwa Road towards Multe village axis.

    “The team killed one terrorist, while others escaped with gunshot wounds.

    “The troops recovered one AK-47 rifle with registration number 565907530 and14 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, a wooden Dane Gun shaped to the resemblance of an AK-47rifle, one fabricated double-barrelled pistol and four bicycles,’’ the statement said.

  • Military will restore full peace to North East – Buratai

    Military will restore full peace to North East – Buratai

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has assured that the military will restore full peace to the North East in line with the desire of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Buratai gave the assurance while addressing troops undergoing training at the Nigerian Army Special Forces Training School at Buni Yadi, Yobe.

    He charged the troops to sustain the momentum of ongoing counter insurgency operations to flush out the insurgents.

    According to him, “Operation Lafia Dole’ has entered a critical stage. You must sustain the momentum; there is no going back

    “There is no time to waste. We want full restoration of peace in the North East. That is what the president wants’’, the chief of army staff said.

    Buratai later told newsmen that he was in Buni Yadi to see how the troops undergoing the Special Forces training were faring.

    He explained that the exercise was to make the personnel resilient and be able to withstand challenges they might face in the course of the ongoing operations.

    Buratai also explained that the school was relocated from Niger state to Buni Yadi in view of the strategic location of the town in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgents.

    “We know the importance of this place – Buni Yadi. This is the route they (insurgents) passed through to other parts of the North East and even Plateau in the North Central.

    “It is better for us to have dominated and taken over the place’’, he said, and assured the troops of their welfare and logistics need, including required equipment to prosecute the war.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Buni Yadi is the headquarter of the 27 Task Force Brigade of the Nigeria Army.

    It will be recalled that Buratai had charged the military to remain focused until the insurgents were crushed, when he spoke at the end of a three-day “Combat Support Arms Training Week 2016’’ in Maiduguri, on Wednesday.

  • Buratai to soldiers: Remain focused until insurgency is crushed

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Wednesday charged every Combat Unit in the Nigerian Army to remain focused “until insurgency in the Northeast is crushed.”

    Buratai gave the charge during the closing ceremony of a three-day “Combat Support Arms Training Week 2016,” held at Maimalari Barracks, Maiduguri, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    The COAS noted that the insurgency in the Northeast had thrown up several challenges, but expressed satisfaction that the efforts were yielding positive results.

    “We should not rest on oars until the counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations are brought to a conclusive end and peace restored to the region and entire country,” he said.

     

  • Committee on Shiites, Army clash begins work

    Committee on Shiites, Army clash begins work

    A committee to draft the White Paper on the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by Kaduna State government to probe the  clashes between members of the Shi’ites Movement and the Nigerian Army has commenced work.

    The nine-man panel chaired by Adamu Mohammed Mansur,  the Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Education,  is expected to submit a draft paper on the incident within the two weeks.

    It would be recalled that, the commission of inquiry which probed the December 12-14 incidents in Zaria, had on 15 July submitted its report to Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai.

    Receiving the report, Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai said that the Kaduna State Government will study the report and make the issue a White Paper promptly to convey its decisions on the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry.

    A statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan said, other members of the White Paper Drafting Committee are: Hauwa U. Umar Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Bari’atu Yusuf Mohammed Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport, Ibrahim Sambo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Local Government and Ja’afaru Ibrahim Sani Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs and Special Services.

    They also include: Aisha Kumbo Mohammed Permanent Secretary, Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Ambisa Adze Jonah, Permanent Secretary, Civil Service Commission, Barrister M.I Aliyu, Ministry of Justice and Alexander K. Sule, Office of the Secretary to the State Government.

    The terms of reference guiding the committee is to study the recommendations of the Report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the clash between a Detachment of the Nigerian Army and Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria and produce a white paper on the report.

    It is also expected to make any other recommendation(s) that will assist government in addressing issues raised in the report.

    The committee is expected to conclude the task and submit a report to the government within two weeks from its first day of sitting.

  • Army rescues Emir’s wife, daughter from Boko Haram den

    The Nigerian Army on Monday rescued the wife and daughter of Shehu of Bama from the Boko Haram enclave in Borno.

    The Emir’s wife and two of her children were abducted by Boko Haram fighters two years ago.

    While the queen and her daughter have regained their freedom, the second child, the son was killed by the insurgents few months after the abduction.

    Details of the rescue operations were still sketchy at the time of filing this report, but the queen and her daughter have been taken to the Emir’s residence in Maiduguri, by the General Officer Commanding,  7 Division of Nigeria Army, Brig. Gen. Victor Ezugwu.

    They were reportedly rescued during a clearance operation by soldiers.

    An eyewitness told our correspondent that the palace was packed with emotions and mixed feeling when the Emir’s wife was brought into the palace.

    The Emir, IBN Kyari El kanemi, according to the eyewitness, wept uncontrollably when he sighted his wife.

    “We are happy to see our queen and her daughter back. But we learnt that Boko Haram fighters killed her son who was kidnapped along with his mum,” a family source told our correspondent.