The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Onyema Nwachukwu

  • New Defence spokesman resumes duty

    The new Acting Director of Defence Information, Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu on Friday assumed office at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Abuja.

    In a brief handing over ceremony, the outgoing Acting Director of Defence Information, Brig Gen John Agim, said he felt fulfilled for attaining the peak of his career in the military as the ceremony marked his disengagement from the service.

    He lauded the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Abayomi Olonisakin and Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai for the opportunities they gave him, saying the task of managing the image and reputation of the Armed Forces is very important but quite challenging.

    He called on the media to support the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) in the fight against terrorism and other criminal acts across the country, saying the Boko Haram Terrorists have become the common enemy of the country.

    Nwachukwu enjoined the media to change the narratives of their reportage of events in the Northeast in a manner that the Boko Haram Terrorists would not enjoy publicity in the media anymore, asserting that publicity had become oxygen for terrorism.

    He said: “May I seize this opportunity to remind us as media and public relations professionals, that publicity has been severally identified as the oxygen of terrorism. It is the life of the terrorists and keeps them going.

    “Terrorism is a societal ill and an aberration. It is a threat to our collective peace, unity and national development and must not be allowed to thrive.

    Read Also: Civil Defence holds suspected cable vandals

    “It is therefore pertinent, to work hands in gloves to deny our common adversary the oxygen of publicity and crush the grandiose ego of terrorism.”

    Colonel Nwachukwu, who was the spokesman for Operation Lafiya Dole in the Northeast before his new appointment, further called on media practitioners across the country to remain resolute and professional in their reportage of events regarding the military for the peace and security of the country.

    Colonel Nwachukwu said: “There is no gainsaying, that contemporary security challenges have orchestrated a paradigm shift from the traditional interstate warfare between nation states to intra state conflicts, engendering a plethora of security challenges such as terrorism, insurgency, militancy, banditry and other sundry crimes.

    “These developments have been most times, overwhelming for the paramilitary agencies, thereby occasioning the invitation of the military to act in aid of civil authority to restore law and other and ensure peace and stability.

    “Therefore, in addition to the defence of Nigeria’s territorial integrity, the Armed Forces of Nigeria is engrossed in containing security challenges that are of internal disposition. I therefore urge you to use your respective reputable media to support and appreciate the AFN for its commitment and steadfastness in ensuring national security.”

     

  • Borno: Army kills 16 Boko Haram members, recover weapons

    Nigerian Army say it neutralised 16 Boko Haram and recovered a weapons cache during its clearance operation in Mairari village in Monguno Local Government Area of Borno.

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

    Nwachukwu said that the troops also recovered two gun trucks abandoned by the insurgents during the encounter.

    “The insurgents in three vehicles, including Gun trucks had infiltrated and attacked the community, when troops at the formation were alerted by locals .

    “The troops supported by the Air Task Force swiftly responded to the attack killing 16 insurgents and capturing two trucks loaded with guns abandoned by the insurgents, as they tried escaping , having been overwhelmed by the superior fire power from the troops.

    “The gallant troops also recovered 163 Rounds of Anti Aircraft Gun Ammunition during the fierce encounter,” he said.

    During the fire fight, he said, four civilians and a soldier unfortunately, sustained varying degrees of injury and have been promptly evacuated to a Military Hospital, where they currently receiving medical attention.

    “The FOB has been further reinforced with additional troops, while  fighting patrols are on the trail of the insurgents who fled the attack.

    He said that normalcy has been restored and the people of Mongonu Local Government Area are enjoined to remain vigilant and report any suspicious person(s) or activities as they go about their normal business.

  • Army Kill 16 Insurgents, Large Cache of Arms, Ammunition in Borno

    Sixteen  Boko Haram insurgents were on Saturday killed in an encounter with troops of Operation Lafiya Dole deployed in the Forward Operational Base (FOB) along Mairari in Monguno at about 6.50 pm on Friday 27 July 2018, in Mairari, a village located in Monguno Local Government Area of Borno state.

    According a statement signed by the Deputy Director Public Relations, theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole, Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, the insurgents who were in three vehicles, including Gun trucks had infiltrated had attacked the community, when troops at the FOB were alerted by locals.

    According to him,the troops supported by the Air Task Force swiftly responded to the attack killing 16 insurgents and capturing 2 Gun trucks abandoned by the insurgents, as they tried escaping .

    The Army also recovered 163 Rounds of Anti Aircraft Gun Ammunition during the fierce encounter.

    He however added that 4 civilians and a soldier, sustained varying degrees of injury during the fire fight, and have been promptly evacuated to a Military Hospital, where they currently receiving medical attention.

    Meanwhile the army while assuring the people of their readiness to further combat terror has also informed that the Base has been further reinforced with additional troops, adding that fighting patrols are on the trail of the insurgents who fled the attack.

    The Army has further enjoined members of the community to remain vigilant and report any suspicious person(s) or activities as they go about their normal business as calm has since been restored and the people of Mongonu Local Government Area

  • Army destroys Boko Haram training camp in Borno, kill one insurgent

    The Army in Borno State, North East Nigeria has said it destroyed a Boko Haram training camp at Beneshiek, Kaga Local Government of Borno State.

    A statement released by the Army Deputy Director of Public Relation Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu said the information was obtained through a tip off that the insurgents were undergoing training in Afa general area of Benesheik.

    Col. Nwanchukwu stated that a condon and search operation was carried out in the area where some elements of Boko Haram were encountered in a gun battle as they hurriedly try to escaped. He added that one of the insurgents was killed in the process as well as one hostages rescued from the insurgents.

    The statement reads; “Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole deployed at a Forward Operational Base in Benisheikh have uncovered a Boko Haram training camp where instructional training was provided to its foot soldiers. Troops uncovered the Camp located in a hide-out in Afa general area on Sunday morning at about 9.30 am, following a tip off that insurgents were being trained in the hideout.

    “Armed with the information, troops immediately mobilized to the area where they conducted a cordon and search operation. During the operation, troops encountered elements of Boko Haram insurgents who were withdrawing hastily from the camp. In the shootout that ensued, troops killed one of the insurgents and recovered one Dane gun. Troops also rescued one Mallam Abba, who was held hostage in the camp by the insurgents.

    “The entire training camp has been destroyed by the gallant troops”.

  • Troops destroy Boko Haram training camp in Borno

    The Nigerian Army on Monday said its troops had destroyed a Boko Haram insurgents’ training facility at Benisheikh, Borno. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Operation Lafiya Dole, made the disclosure in a statement issued in Maiduguri.

    Nwachukwu said that the troops also killed one insurgent and rescued one person held captive by the terrorists at Afa hideout in the area on Sunday.

    He said that the troops acting on intelligence discovered the camp used for providing instructional training of insurgents’ foot soldiers.

    “Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole deployed at a forward operational base in Benisheikh, have uncovered a Boko Haram training camp where instructional training was provided to its foot soldiers.

    Read Also: ‘Don’t send refugees back to Boko Haram violence’, UN urges Cameroon

    “The camp, located in a hideout in Afa general area, was discovered on Sunday at about 9: 30 a.m. following a tip-off that insurgents were being trained in the hideout.

    “During the operation, troops encountered elements of Boko Haram insurgents who were withdrawing hastily from the camp.

    “In the shootout, troops killed one insurgent, recovered one Dane gun and rescued one Malam Abba, who was held hostage in the camp by the insurgents,” Nwachukwu said.

    He added that the troops had destroyed the camp.

    NAN

  • Troops kill 4 Boko Haram insurgents, neutralise 4 suicide bombers

    Nigerian Army on Saturday said its troops killed four Boko Haram insurgents at Malumti village in the fringes of Sambisa Forest.

    Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Operation Lafiya Dole, made the disclosure in a statement in Maiduguri.

    Nwachukwu stated that the insurgents were killed by troops in an ambush while trying to escape ongoing clearance exercise under “Operation Deep Punch II” on March 30.

    He said the troops recovered a Toyota Land Cruiser, one AK 47 Rifle , 15 Rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, one magazine and 47 Jerry cans of petrol from the insurgents.

    He added that “the insurgents were routed out of the Sambisa Forest by troops under Operation Deep Punch II, rummaging  for food and logistics when they met their Waterloo.”

    Nwachukwu disclosed that gallant troops deployed at a checkpoint in  Muna Garage in the outskirts of Maiduguri also neutralised four suicide bombers on Friday.

    He explained that the bombers, comprising a male and three females were killed while attempting to infiltrate Maiduguri metropolis.

    He noted that “the insurgents, attempting to infiltrate Maiduguri metropolis through Muna Zawiya area at about 9.30 p.m., were spotted by vigilance troops who fired shots, hitting one of them, thereby triggering simultaneous explosions which killed all of them.

    “Regrettably, 18 persons were injured in the incident and have been evacuated for medical attention.”

    According to him, troops and members of  the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) were  conducting cordon and search operation in the area for any other suicide bomber lurking around.

    Nwachukwu urged the public to be vigilant and report suspicious persons and activities to security agencies.

  • Army refutes report on suspension of offensive to aid Shekau’s escape

    Army refutes report on suspension of offensive to aid Shekau’s escape

    The Nigerian Army on Friday said troops movement under Operation Deep Punch II was temporarily halted in line with military plan and strategy and in view of the exigencies of time.

    Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, made this known in a statement issued in Maiduguri.

    He dismissed media report that the temporary halt of troops movement was intended to aid the escape of the faction Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, from the Sambisa Forest.

    Nwachukwu said the ongoing clearance operation by troops under the operation Deep Punch II was being carried out according to official plans.

    The deputy director described the media report as “frivolous”as it is capable of demoralising the troops and hampering progress of the ongoing exercise.

    According to him, such misinformation does not reflect the strong character and courageous disposition of troops of Operation Lafiya Dole and it is untenable and misleading.

    The army spokesman urged the public to disregard such information and cooperate with the military to enable it to succeed in its clearance campaign against the remnants of the Boko Haram insurgents.

    The statement of the Nigerian Army reads:

    “The attention of Theatre Command, Operation Lafiya Dole has been drawn to unfortunate mainstream and social media report insinuating that troops advance at the ongoing Operation Deep Punch II was deliberately halted to allow the escape of the purported Boko Haram terrorist faction leader, Abubakar Shekau in Sambisa forest. This is not true.

    “Contrary to the mischievous allegations, no such order or directive was given by anybody to any of the units and formations in the operation.

    “It is crucial to point out that there are several factors in planning and conduct of military operations, whether kinetic or otherwise.

    Read Also: Army Names Brig-Gen. Chukwu As New Spokesperson

    “The ongoing Operation Deep Punch II, which is aimed at clearing Boko Haram insurgents from the Sambisa forest and the northern fringes of Lake Chad region, was planned to be executed in phases.

    “It is a phase operation, therefore, requires that at a predetermined point or stage, troops will be halted either preparatory for transiting to another phase or the other depending on the threat situation.

    “During the operation, troops’ movement could be put on halt when vehicles or other mobile equipment are bugged down due to the difficulty of the terrain and for recovery purposes.

    “In military operations avenues are deliberately provided for troops to harbour, where they rest and carry out refitting of weapons and other equipment before resuming the operations.

    “Additionally, booby traps and land mines could also compel advancing troops to halt to enable some specialized squad or scouts assess the situation before movement resume.

    “These and several other factors could precipitate the halting of troops during operations.

    “It is, therefore, very appalling and unimaginable that a fundamental operational procedure could be misinterpreted and be mischievously used as a psychological weapon to indirectly dampen the morale of our troops.”

    NAN

  • Army denies suicide bomb attack in IDPs camp, ambush on soldiers

    Army denies suicide bomb attack in IDPs camp, ambush on soldiers

    The Nigerian Army on Tuesday dismissed as ‘misleading’, reports of a suicide bomb attack at an Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs ) camp in Pulka community of Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno.

    The military also described as ‘fictitious’, the purported killing of six soldiers by Boko Haram insurgents in an ambush on Damboa Road.

    Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Operation Lafiya Dole, gave the clarifications in an interview in Maiduguri.

    Nwachukwu disclosed that two suicide bombers infiltrated Pulka town on Monday, one of the bombers was neutralised by the troops, while the other one detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs) in the town, killed two persons and two others sustained injuries.

    He said a military vehicle stepped on an IED device planted on Damboa Road on Sunday, noting that two soldiers lost their lives in the incident.

    “The incident in Pulka occurred inside the town and not at the IDPs camp. The gallant troops neutralised one of the attackers even before causing harm to any one, while the other suicide bomber detonated the explosive killing two persons and injuring two others.

    “There was no ambush by the insurgents on our troops. The soldiers were involved in an IED explosion accident when their vehicle stepped on the device planted on the road.

    Read also: Army kills Three insurgents in Borno

    “Two soldiers were involved in the incident; there was no ambush, no ammunition carted away or six soldiers killed, as being erroneously reported. It is a misrepresentation of facts,” he said.

    Nwachukwu said the military authorities had sympathised with the victims of the suicide bomb attack in Pulka, and reiterated its commitment to the protection of lives and property.

    The army spokesman also called on the people in the region to be vigilant and provide useful information to the military on suspicious activities in their respective communities.

    “Security and peace building is a collective responsibility; I call on community and religious leaders to mobilise their people and cooperate with the military in the fight against insurgency.

    “Boko Haram insurgents do not wear uniform to easily identify them. People must be vigilant to report suspicious persons and contribute to the restoration of peace in the region,” he said.

    NAN

  • How we rescued abducted Indians, by JTF

    The Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, yesterday explained that the rescue operation in which three kidnapped Indians were freed in Rivers State was staged by a team of JTF, Navy and Department of State Security (DSS).

    JTF said it destroyed 41 illegal refineries and arrested 17 suspected oil thieves during raids along the creeks in the Niger Delta.

    JTF’s Media Coordinator Col. Onyema Nwachukwu said in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, that the Indians, identified as Kanishk Johrar, Mohinder Saini, and Balwinder Singh, were abducted by nine kidnappers.

    He said the victims were onboard a fishing trawler at Malabo when they were attacked by the gang, adding that the hoodlums brought them into the shores of Nigerian waters and demanded a $1million ransom.

    “The combined squad swung into action after trailing the abductors to their hideout at Abissa, a small fishing port in Akuku’ Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, arresting five suspects,” he said.

    He also said troops of 3, 19 and 195 battalions of Sector 1 squads destroyed 12 illegal refineries at Agbede forest, Obi-Ayagha and Otegele communities in Etsako West, Ughelli South and Warri South West Local Government Areas of Delta State.

    During the clampdown, 28 Cotonu boats, 24 underground storage tanks containing about 70,000 litres of illegally distilled Automated Gas Oil (AGO), 547 steel drums, five surface tanks, 22 plastic tanks (with suspected illegally refined AGO), were seized.

    “Other items were five speed boats loaded with 150 drums of illegally refined AGO, 47 fabricated steel pots and 37 ovens for cooking illegally sourced crude oil.

    “Ten suspects are in the headquarters for further investigations”, he said.

    He said seven other suspects were arrested for pipeline vandalism and oil-related crimes, adding that four of them were nabbed for vandalising a Petroleum Product Marketing Company’s (PPMC’s) pipeline at Okuejeba.

    He said three were arrested along Chanomi Creek in Warri South West.

    The suspects, according to him, were in the custody of 3 and 19 battalions for preliminary investigation and would be handed over to the appropriate prosecuting agencies.

     

  • JTF arrests Amaechi’s opponents with arms,ammunition, hands them over to police

    JTF arrests Amaechi’s opponents with arms,ammunition, hands them over to police

    The Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, codenamed Operation Pulo (Oil) Shield, has arrested six persons with arms and ammunition in Rivers State, with sources indicating that the suspects are political opponents of Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

    The Spokesman of the JTF, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, last night, confirmed the arrest, but insisted that the suspects were picked for illegal possession of firearms and not for political reason.

    Nwachukwu said: “As at 3rd January six suspects with arms were arrested during a routine patrol at Ogu community in Ogu/Bolo LGA (of Rivers State). Items recovered were: 7 x AK-47, 164 rounds of ammunition and six locally made canon launchers.

    “Suspects were handed over to the Nigeria Police yesterday (Friday). They were arrested for illegal possession of firearms and not for any reason of political or social affiliation as being wrongly insinuated.”

    The Rivers Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ahmad Muhammad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), when contacted at 8:12 pm yesterday, said of the suspects’ handover to the police by the JTF: “I have not been briefed of such handover, for now.”

    A source in Port Harcourt stated that the suspects were associates of Senator George Sekibo, who represents Rivers East Senatorial District and the self-acclaimed Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly, Evans Bipi, the representative of Ogu/Bolo constituency, who are allies of the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Dame Patience.

    The source said: “On January 3rd, members of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) arrested six youths around Ekporo Road, on their way to Ogu in Ogu/Bolo LGA of Rivers State. They were in an off white Land Rover jeep, with registration number JJ 441 BZ. The youths were arrested based on their suspicious movement.

    “Those arrested gave their names as Sunday Elisha, Uche Jenikachi, Ibinabo Lawson, Okechukwu Okoro, Jerry Tonye and Daniel Ibito-Anga, who parades himself and his known in Ogu/Bolo as Security Adviser/Personal Assiatant to both Senator George Sekibo and Evans Bipi.

    “Both Senator Sekibo and Evans Bipi are from Ogu and are known and have confessed publicly to be extremely close associates of the Nigerian First Lady, Patience Jonathan, who hails from nearby Okrika and they all speak the same native Okrika dialect.

    “As a matter of fact, Evans Bipi was a domestic aide of Mrs. Jonathan before he was elected into the Rivers State House of Assembly in 2011. Senator Sekibo, who nurses a governorship ambition in 2015, is hoping to ride into Rivers State Government House on the back of Mrs. Jonathan.

     

    All of them are also known publicly to be fighting the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.”

    While also corroborating that arms and ammunition recovery from the suspects by the JTF, the sources said: “Found in the possession of the boys and recovered from them were 7 AK-47 assorted riffles, 146 rounds of 7.62 mm special life ammunition and 10 life magazines, among others.

    “After their arrest, they were taken by the JTF team to Bori Camp, the military base in Port Harcourt. The boys have been handed over to the police in Rivers State. The police in the state are headed by the Commissioner, Mbu Joseph Mbu, who is said to have been brought to head the State Police Command by Mrs. Jonathan. Mbu has been accused of taking directives from Mrs. Jonathan and her associates.

    “Only recently, the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, raised the alarm that arms, ammunition and weapons are being brought into the state (Rivers) by those opposed to his administration, ahead of the next general elections.”

    It will be recalled that Amaechi, President Jonathan, Dame Patience, and most leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers state had been at loggerheads over the scheming for 2015 and worsened with the NGF chairman’s defection to the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).