The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Army

  • Amnesty to FG: Probe killing of IPOB supporters

    Amnesty to FG: Probe killing of IPOB supporters

    Amnesty International (AI) on Friday asked the Federal government to probe the army for allegedly gunning down unarmed people ahead of last month’s planned pro-Biafran commemoration events in Onitsha, Anambra State.

    The rights group said in a report that evidence it gathered from eyewitnesses, morgues and hospitals confirmed that between 29-30 May, soldiers opened fire on members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), supporters and bystanders at three locations in the town.

    It said the exact number of deaths was unknown, partly due to the fact that the army took away corpses and the injured.

    The army, in a swift reaction, dismissed the allegation as nothing more than an unverified claim.

    The deputy director of Army Public Relations, Col. H.A.Gambo, said Amnesty was simply out to discredit the force.

    The rights watchdog, in its report, said: “Some of the dead and injured IPOB supporters seen by an Amnesty researcher were shot in the back, an indication that they were fleeing the scene when they were shot.”

    It quoted its Nigeria’s Country Director, M. K. Ibrahim as saying: “Opening fire on peaceful IPOB supporters and bystanders who clearly posed no threat to anyone is an outrageous use of unnecessary and excessive force and resulted in multiple deaths and injuries. In one incident one person was shot dead after the authorities burst in on them while they slept.

    “These shootings, some of which may amount to extra judicial executions, must be urgently and independently investigated and anyone suspected of criminal responsibility must be brought to justice.”

    The leadership of IPOB claimed more than 50 of their members were killed.

    The army had said in a statement that they acted in self-defence and that five IPOB members were killed.

     

  • Troops kill 19 insurgents in Borno

    The Nigerian Army said on Saturday that it had killed 19 suspected Boko Haram insurgents, including one of their commanders during a “clearance operations” in Chukungudu village and surrounding communities in Borno.

    The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement in Maiduguri that the operation followed the receipt of credible information on the presence of the camps and facilities of the insurgents in the village.

    He said a carefully planned and deliberate attack, comprising troops of 22 Brigade Garrison, 153 Task Force Battalion of 7 Division, 8 Task Force Division, Nigeria Air Force Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) and some Civilian JTF, was carried out.

    “While advancing to the location, the troops encountered Boko Haram terrorists ambush positions at Muskari, Gilam and Hausasi, before descending on their main objective at Chukungudu.

    “During the encounter at the camp, the troops killed 19 Boko Haram terrorists, including their notorious leader in the area called Ameer Abubakar Gana,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted Usman as saying in the statement.

    He said the troops also uncovered and destroyed Improvised Explosive Devises (IEDs) making factory during the operation.

  • Troops rescue 247 Boko Haram captives, capture 77 terrorists

    The Nigerian Army said on Wednesday said troops prosecuting the war against Boko Haram in the North East have rescued 247 people taken hostage by terrorists in the region.

    The troops also arrested 77 Boko Haram fighters during raids on the terrorists’ hideouts in Borno State.

    The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement on Wednesday that captives were rescued by the troops of the 81 Battalion, the 251 Task Force Battalion, and 25 Task Force Brigade on May 30.

    He said, “Nigerian troops deployed in Operation Lafiya Dole and their neighbouring counterparts under the Multinational Joint Task Force have been very busy clearing the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in their respective areas of responsibilities.

    “In the process, they were able to rescue quite a number of abducted persons, arrested suspected Boko Haram terrorists and recovered weapons and equipment. “

  • Confusions trail ‘newly rescued Chibok girl’

    Confusions have continued to trail the reported rescue of second Chibok girl by the military on Thursday.

    The first controversy has to do with the identity of the girl.

    The name Serah Luka with no 157 as given by the Army Spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, was different from the one found on the comprehensive Chibok girls’ list.

    On the list, one Ruth Lawan was listed as no 157.

    The second controversy came from account of events at the school and the rescued girl’s class at the time of the incident.

    Available records showed that only JSS 3 and SS 3 students were in the school writing their various examinations when Boko Haram militants stormed the school and took them away.

    But the military in a statement said Serah Luka was a JSS 1 student who had been in school for just two months before her abduction.

    Less than 24 hours after Amina Ali was rescued, flown to Abuja and handed over to President Muhammadu Buhari, the military claimed that a second girl from the list of the abducted girls has been rescued by troops.

    The Army spokesman in a statement issued on Thursday night said one Miss Serah Lukan, daughter of a pastor was among the 97 women rescued during an operation by troops of 231 Battalion, 331 Artillery Regiment (AR), Detachment of Armed Forces Special Forces (AFSF) 2, Explosive Ordinance (EOD) Team and Vigilante Group of Buratai.

    The statement also informed that 35 Boko Haram members were killed during the operation.

    The statement reads; “At about 11: 00am today, Thursday, 19th May 2016, troops of 231 Battalion, 331 Artillery Regiment (AR), Detachment of Armed Forces Special Forces (AFSF) 2, Explosive Ordinance (EOD) Team and Civilian Vigilante group of Buratai, conducted clearance operations at Shettima Aboh, Hong and Biladdili general area in Damboa local government area of Borno State.

    “During the operations, the troops killed 35 Boko Haram terrorists and recovered several arms and ammunitions and other items.

    “In addition, they rescued 97 women and children held captives by the Boko Haram terrorists. We are glad to state that among those rescued is a girl believed to be one of the  Chibok Government Secondary School girls that were abducted on 14th April 2014 by the Boko Haram terrorists.

    “Her name is Miss Serah Luka, who is number 157 on the list of the abducted school girls. She is believed to be the daughter of Pastor Luka.”

     

  • Army arrests Niger Delta militants

    The Nigerian army said on Monday it had arrested members of a militant group which has claimed responsibility for a wave of attacks on pipelines in the restive Delta region.

    The detainees were thought to be part of the Niger Delta Avengers, a movement blamed for assaults on oil infrastructure that had cut Nigeria’s output to 1.65 million barrels a day from 2.2 million at the start of the year, Reuters reported.

    The Avengers, who said they are fighting for a greater share of oil profits, an end to pollution and independence for the swampy southern region, last week warned oil firms to leave before the end of the month.

    “This is to confirm the arrest of some suspected members of Niger Delta Avengers, in connection with attacks on Chevron oil facilities,” Reuters quoted  army spokesman, Rabe Abubakar, as saying on Monday. He did not say how many were detained or when they were arrested.

    Nigeria has moved in army reinforcements to hunt the militants, but British Foreign Minister, Philip Hammond, said on Saturday President Muhammadu Buhari needed to the deal with the root causes of the conflict because a military confrontation could end in “disaster.”

  • Army arrests 17 suspected cultists, others in Rivers

    Army arrests 17 suspected cultists, others in Rivers

    The Nigerian Army said on Tuesday that it arrested 17 suspected cultists and armed robbers alleged to have carried out several killings and theft in Rivers.

    Capt. Eli Lazarus, the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, presented the suspects, arms and ammunition to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

    He said that several arms and live ammunition were seized during raids aimed at stopping the current wave of killings and armed robbery in the state.

    “Following heightened criminal activities, the 2 Brigade conducted several raid operations on criminals and cultists’ hideouts in the state.

    “These operations led to the recovery of several weapons including 16 AK 47 rifles, five General Purpose Machine guns and two Fabrique National rifles.

    “Others are six Pump Action rifles, three G-3 rifles, 11 Short Dane guns, six locally made pistols, two Beretta pistols, two Revolver pistols and nine pieces of dynamite,” he said.

    Lazarus said that live ammunition seized from the suspects were three G-3 magazines, 11 Fabrique National magazines, 15 AK 47 rifle magazines and 508 rounds of 7.62mm  (NATO) ammunition.

    He listed other ammunition to include 313 rounds of 7.62mm (special) ammunition, 14 rounds of 0.9mm ammunition and three cartridges.

    The army spokesman said that troops also recovered from the suspects, military boots, belts, three lanyards and one fragmental jacket.

    “The operations were conducted at Ahoada East, Ogbogoro community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area; Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni and Isiokpo in Ikwerre LGA,” he said.

    Lazarus said the operation would continue until other cultists, kidnappers, armed robbers were either arrested or chased out from the state.

    He called on members of the public to provide security agencies with timely information that would lead to arrest of criminals in the state and in its environs.

  • We didn’t invade Oporoza community  – Army

    We didn’t invade Oporoza community  – Army

    Relevant armed forces authorities in the Niger Delta have debunked reports of a military operation into Oporoza, the headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West council area of Delta state in the early hours of Monday.

    Some national dailies and online news outlets had Tuesday  reported a military invasion of Oporoza, in search of members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), a self-styled insurgent group, which had claimed responsibility for all recent destructions of oil and gas facilities in the creeks.

    However, authorities at the 3 Battalion, Effunrun Barracks, Effunrun, Delta state, said the report of an invasion of Oporoza community was not true as there was no such operation as suggested by the report.

    When the Nation spoke to the Commanding Officer of the cantonment, Major Monday Anzaku, Tuesday, he said he was not aware of any military invasion or special operation in Oporoza as suggested by the news reports.

    “Believe be there no such thing as we have just read in the newspapers. This is my area we are talking about, how would there have been a military operation of the nature described by the newspapers without my knowledge? Even if such would be initiated from my headquarters, I would be instructed on what to do. The report is not true,” Anzaku said.

    Also, reliable sources from the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, when reached to confirm if the command was involved in an operation at Oporoza on Monday, said there was no operation to the area, which involved them.

    Although unable to reach the Commander of the NNS Delta, Commodore Raimi Mohammed, a very reliable source, when asked for confirmation simply relied ” negative”.

    Meanwhile, a source from the community had told the Nation on Monday afternoon that there was no problem in the community. According to him “I have called and asked my people and they said there was nothing unusual, just the normal security patrols that come and go, nothing unusual”.

    It would be recalled that several strategic oil and gas facilities, belonging mostly to Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), have been destroyed by the insurgent group.

    President Muhammadu Buhari has also recently ordered the Nigerian armed forces to go after those behind the destructive activities, which has dipped Nigeria’s crude oil export by about 510,000 barrels of oil per day.

     

  • Six soldiers on trial for murder, stealing in Ibadan

    The 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Ibadan, on Wednesday commenced the trial of four officers and two others for various offences in a military court.

    The suspects are being tried for offences ranging from murder, manslaughter, stealing, sexual relationship with spouses of military personnel and disgraceful conduct to negligence in the performance of military duties.

    The six suspected offenders are serving in various units of the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment, Odogbo, Ibadan.

    The accused military personnel included a major, a captain, a lieutenant, a second lieutenant, a corporal and a private.

    The trial of the accused persons commenced immediately after the General Officer Commanding (GOC) for the division, Major Gen. Laz Ilo, inaugurated the General Court Martial. The six-member special court is presided over by Brig Gen Ibikunle Raji.

    Also in the panel are – Col. Jimoh Audu, Lt. Col. Kenneth Emefiele, Lt. Col .Aliyu Emekoma, Major James Mimiola and the judge advocate, Major Diepiriye Biambo.

    While inaugurating the court, the GOC, in his remarks, said: “The military formation is one that is anchored and driven by core values, most importantly discipline. In administration of discipline in the Nigerian Army, we ensure that justice is never miscarried.

    “The accused persons are given ample opportunity and all required to defend themselves.”

    Ilo stated that the inauguration of general court martial was in line with the vision of Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, to have a professionally responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional roles to the nation, adding that “to accomplish the vision, there is need for discipline and absolute discipline.”

  • Troops kill cattle rustlers in Zamfara

    Soldiers from 1 Division, Nigerian Army, have killed two notorious cattle rustlers suspected to have killed seven persons in Bungundu local government area of Zamfara State.

    The Army Director of Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said the action was to intensify clearance operations against cattle rustlers and armed bandits in Kaduna and Zamfara States.

    Usman said the troops also arrested five armed bandits earlier declared wanted by army authorities and recovered arms and ammunitions from them.

    “The troops also conducted a clearance operation in Kuduru, Birnin Gwari local government area of Kaduna State where they arrested five cattle rustlers, recovered arms and ammunitions and then destroyed the armed bandits’ camps,” he stated.

  • Troops capture nine Boko Haram fighters in Borno

    … Kill three

    Troops fighting Boko Haram militants in Borno State on Sunday captured nine members of the sect hiding in fox holes in the state.

    The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement on Monday that the troops of the 22 Brigade Garrison, captured the insurgents during a clearance operation at terrorists’ hideouts of Cinga, Mallum Maja, Bosuma and Murye villages.

    Usman, who said three insurgents were killed by the troops, claimed the sect members were terrorizing innocent villagers with dangerous weapons before the operation.

    He said troops recovered from the insurgents, nine dane guns, three machetes, one bow with arrows, six motorcycles used by the Boko Haram terrorists to ferry slaughtered cow meats to terrorists’ hideouts, one tricycle, four Tiger generators and one solar panel.

    He said, “In compliance with the military high command’s directive which is to ensure that all villages and towns are cleared of remnants of Boko Haram terrorists, troops of 22 Brigade Garrison in Operation Lafiya Dole, on Sunday, May 1, 2016 cleared four villages of Boko Haram terrorists hiding in the area.

    “The terrorists hibernating in Cinga, Mallum Maja, Bosuma and Murye villages, were armed with dangerous weapons and have been terrorizing the communities. During the operations, three Boko Haram terrorists were killed, while nine of them who tried hiding in foxholes and dug outs were identified and captured alive.”