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Tag: Sagir Musa

  • Troops kill six bandits, arrest informants in Zamfara

    The Nigerian Army on Monday said troops deployed to the northwest on operation Habin Kunama III have neutralized six bandits and arrested 18 informants including a district head while on clearance operations.

    Its Acting Director of Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa said in a statement that weapons were also recovered from the bandits.

    Col. Musa said: “Troops on Operation HABIN KUNAMA III, based on credible intelligence about bandits’ movements in Kirsa and Sunke in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State, have on the 20th of April 2019 continued with the clearance operation into the hinterland to clear the brigands.

    “Consequently, the troops made contact and engaged the bandits in a fierce shoot out at the bushes of Kirsa and Sunke villages which resulted in the extermination of six (6) criminals, the recovery of two AK 47 Riffles and two motorcycles.

    “Similarly, at the general areas of Doka and Mutu villages in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State, troops on clearance operation also had a serious encounter on the 20th of April 2019 with a group of well- armed bandits which lasted for about two hours.

    Read Also: One soldier killed, seven bandits neutralised in Zamfara

    “The brigands were armed with sophisticated automatic weapons, were overpowered by troops, forcing survivors among them to abandon their camps and logistics which were destroyed by the troops.

    “Additionally, 18 suspected informants and errand men to the bandits including the village Heads of Doka and Mutu villages were arrested.

    “The Force Commander (FC) Major General Hakeem Oladapo Otiki reiterated the resolve of troops to tackle the menace of armed banditry and other forms of criminality in Zamfara and the contiguous states of Kebbi, Katsina and Sokoto.

    “He enjoined members of the public to continue cooperating with the troops and other security agencies by providing information that will assist in dealing with bandits/banditry activities in the States.”

  • Army approves appointment and new postings in various Commands

    The Nigerian Army has announced the approval of new posting and appointment of senior officers to man various commands and strategic positions within its leadership hierarchy.

    According to a statement signed by the Army spokesman, Colonel Sagir Musa, the posting and appointment affect senior officers of the ranks of Major General,  and Brigadier General mostly.

    Colonel Musa said: “The Nigerian Army has today Saturday the 16th of March 2019, released the postings and appointments of some of its senior officers.

    “Those affected by this, include, Major General HO Otiki who has been posted to 8 Division as General Officer Commanding, Major General SO Olabanji the erstwhile General Officer Commanding 8 Division has been posted to Infantry Corps Centre and appointed as Commander Infantry Corps, Brigadier General HI Bature from 34 Brigade to Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command as Director Examinations,  while Brigadier General TO Olowomeye from Headquarters 33 Brigade to Army Headquarters Department of Civil-Military Affairs as Director Civil Military Affairs .

    Read Also: Shake-up in Nigerian Army, redeploys senior officers

    “Similarly, Brigadier General BA Mohammed from 23 Brigade to Martin Luther Agwai International Peace Keeping Centre and appointed Deputy Commandant, Brigadier General UM Bello from Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command to 63 Brigade and appointed Commander, Brigadier General MT Durowaiye from Directorate of Army Transformation and Innovation to 33 Brigade and appointed Commander.

    “Others affected by this development are – Brigadier General SB Kumapayi from Army Headquarters Department of Civil-Military Affairs to Headquarters 14 Brigade as Commander, Brigadier General NM Jega from Headquarters 2 Brigade to 9 Brigade and appointed Commander, Brigadier General KO Aligbe from 16 Brigade to  Defence Headquarters as Acting Director Liaison National Assembly, Brigadier General AK Ibrahim from 14 Brigade to Army Headquarters Department of Administration (Army) and appointed Deputy Director Veteran Affairs Department Retired Officers’ Cell and Brigadier General GTO Ajetunmobi from Headquarters Command Army Records to 31 Brigade as Commander.

    “Accordingly, Brigadier General OG Onubogu from Army Headquarters Department of Army Policy and  Plans to Headquarters 16 Brigade and appointed Commander, Brigadier General OM Bello from Nigerian Army Resource Center to Headquarters 6 Division and appointed Chief of Staff, while Brigadier General ZL Abubakar from National Defence College to 32 Brigade and appointed Commander and Brigadier General AA Orukotan from Nigerian Army Resource Center to Headquarters Command Army Records and appointed Chief of Staff among others.”

     

  • Polls: Army inaugurates panel to investigate allegations against personnel

    The Nigerian Army on Friday said a Committee has been inaugurated by the Chief of Army Staff,  Lt Gen Tukur Buratai to investigate allegations of misconduct against its personnel during the general elections.

    The committee, it added, is headed by Major Gen T A Gagariga and had  up-to 31st of March to submit its report.

    According to Army spokesman, Colonel Sagir Musa, the committee is also mandated to probe allegations of assassination attempt on the governor of Rivers State, Nyelsom Wike.

    Colonel Musa said in a statement that the probe is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the shooting to death of Lt Kurmi and other soldiers during the elections.

    Colonel Musa said :”As a way of ensuring that NA troops deployed for election security duties during the 2019 General Elections conducted themselves within laid down Rules of Engagement and the Code of Conduct, the NA has set up  a 9-member investigative committee, headed by Maj Gen TA Gagariga with Brig Gen JM Ali, Brig Gen GO Adeshina,

    Brig Gen MA Obari,  Col AT Bitiyong, Col A Tanko and Col WA Bakare as members and Lt Col PAJ Ebuk as Secretary to investigate all allegations of misconduct against the NA during the just concluded general elections.

    “The committee is to submit its report not later than 31st of March, 2019.

    “The committee, which has already commenced action, was inaugurated by the Chief of  Administration (Army), Major General KAY Isiyaku on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS ) Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai and admonished to carry out their duties objectively, fairly and transparently in line with its Terms of Reference.

    “The committee’s Terms of Reference centered on thoroughly investigating the activities, actions and/or inactions of NA Personnel in all the States that alleged one infraction/wrong doing or the other.

    “The Committee is also to collate and thoroughly analyze all reports to determine the veracity of the allegations including the alleged assassination attempt on Rivers State Governor and the circumstances that led to the shooting to death of Lt Kurmi as well as that leading to serious injuries to an officer and some soldiers in the State.

    Read Also: Army hands over suspected electoral offenders to police

    “The Committee is further mandated to visit all States where issues have been raised about the conduct of NA during and after the elections and also interact with Civil Society Organizations, sister security agencies and State Governors with claims against the Army.

    “It would be recalled that the  COAS, Lt Gen TY Buratai has on many fora, consistently (both in words and actions), soundly indicated that, under his watch, NA personnel must remain apolitical, respect human rights and abide by the rule of law in all its official engagements within or outside Nigeria and in or out of conflict situation.

    “NA troops were deployed for the elections under Operation SAFE CONDUCT that was set up to provide support to the NP and other security agencies to ensure hitch free and successful elections in the country.

    “The Chairman of the committee, Major General TA Gagariga has assured the COAS and all Nigerians of the committee’s commitment, resolve and determination to objectively and professionally address the major issues as contained in the Committee’s Terms of Reference.”

  • 2019: We operated within legal boundary – Army

    The Nigerian Army on Saturday said its activities in the just-concluded Presidential and National Assembly polls were within the ambit of the law and rules of engagement.

    Reacting to allegations of partisanship, coercion and shooting of voters in some areas across the country during the elections, it said that soldiers deployed on election duty were professional and proactive in their conduct.

    According to Spokesman of the army, Col. Sagir Musa, “we acted within the requirements of the law, rules of engagement and code of conduct”.

    During the elections, there were widespread allegations of partisanship, brutality of soldiers on some electorate and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, and partisanship in the process.

    Electoral officers in some states, including Rivers, Lagos and Delta, accused the military of interfering in the elections.

    The soldiers were fingered in shootings that resulted in deaths of many people, and other unwholesome acts allegedly recorded in some states during the polls.

    But, Musa told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the army made its position clear before, during and after the elections.

    He pointed out that monitors of the elections had commended the army for its role while the exercise lasted.

    “Our position stands on the verdict given by local and foreign election monitors that commended the Nigerian Army for being professional, proactive, responsive and unbiased,” the spokesman said.

    NAN

     

  • Explosion: We fired to scare Boko Haram – Army

    The Army explained that the multiple sound of controlled-gun fire on Saturday morning heard in the outskirts of Maiduguri, was for “security calculations”.

    The Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa said in a statement that the gun fire was not targeted at the public.

    Musa denied reports  that Boko Haram attacked Maiduguri or neighbouring  communities.

    “As of now Borno, especially Maiduguri township is calm and peaceful. People have already started voting in many locations across the state,” he said.

    He urged the people to turn out en mass to vote for the candidates of their choice.

    Musa also said there was a futile attack on a security outpost in Geidam general area in Yobe.

    He said that no casualty was recorded.

    The situation is calm and peaceful. People have largely turned out to cast their vote without any hindrance.”

    NAN

  • Army to personnel: Stay away from politics

    The Nigerian Army has again issued a strong warning against the involvement of its personnel in any form of political activities.

    Sounding the warning in a statement issued in Abuja by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa, the army maintained that it has made it clear to its personnel and officers to stay away from political campaigns or escort of VIPs for political missions.

    Colonel Musa said it had become imperative to make the army’s position known considering the fact that members of the public might be misled to believe the unsubstantiated allegation of the involvement of a military officer in the Rivers state saga.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Nigerian Army (NA) has been drawn to an allegation of involvement of one of its officers in politics in Rivers State which was found to be untrue.

    “The Nigerian Army would have ordinarily ignored such baseless insinuations but for the unsuspecting members of the public who may be misled to believe the unsubstantiated allegations of political involvement of a military officer.

    “The Army has made it sufficiently and consistently clear that none of its personnel will be involved in political campaigns, escort of VIPs for political missions and above all, aiding or supporting any political party as has been circulated in official circulars and statements.

    “Although a detailed press statement has been released, the need to further make the position of the Nigerian Army clearer is therefore imperative.

    “Our Rules of Engagement and Code of Conduct have not assigned any political role to the Army in this regard. The Army’s involvement starts and ends with the provision of a peaceful and secure environment for the conduct of 2019 General Elections.

    “The Nigerian Army strongly believes that the Citizens, like responsible media, have complementary constitutional roles to play, especially towards ensuring national security, information management, peace, and safety of Nigerians.

    “The Army will continue to achieve and sustain constructive engagement, obedience to the rule of law and obedience to constituted authority at all time in the spirit of civil-military relations.

    “The Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai has consistently called on soldiers to uphold the tenets of military professionalism and be guided by the rules of Engagement and the constitution of Nigeria toward sustaining a responsive army in the discharge of its constitutional roles.

    “Therefore, any insinuation or assertion against this open declaration is not only mischievous but politically motivated with the intent to tarnish the reputation of the Army which has been built on discipline and obedient to civil authorities under the leadership of the Chief of Army Staff.

    “Members of the public are therefore urged to always ignore information attributed to the Nigerian Army that are contrary to its core values of professionalism, respect for others and open declaration on the rules of engagement”.

  • Troops neutralise three Boko Haram terrorists

    The Nigerian Army on Saturday said three Boko Haram terrorists and four civilians were killed as troops engaged the insurgents who launched attacks to scuttle the general elections in Jere local government area of Borno state.

    Its Acting Director of Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa, said in a statement that the troops of 251 Task Force Battalion in conjunction with Civilian JTF repelled the attacks from the terrorists and conducted mop up operations in the area.

    Colonel Musa said: “In the early hours of today, there was an attack by unconfirmed number of Boko Haram terrorists using Person Borne Improvised Explosive Device (PBIED) at Jidimari community in Jidari Polo area of Jere Local Government Area of Borno State. This is in their highly desperate, orchestrated and collaborative resolve with their cohorts and sponsors to scuttle the 2019 General Elections.

    “Consequently, troops of 251 Task Force Battalion in conjunction with Civilian JTF immediately repelled the attack, mopped up and cleared the general area.

    “The encounter led to the elimination of 3 boko haram terrorists and recovery of 2 AK 47 rifles. Unfortunately, 4 innocent civilians lost their lives as a result of terrorists gun fire in addition to lethal explosion arising from PBIED mainly targeted at a mosque at a prime time of early morning prayers.

    “The carrier of the PBIED and a CJTF who strived to prevent the suicide bomber from accessing the mosque also lost their lives due to the IED explosion.

    “At the moment, troops have dominated the area, cordon and search as well as exploitation are concurrently ongoing.

    “Situation in the area is now calm. Normal routine activities are gradually going on. The army wishes to reiterate its resolve to ending the remnant of Boko Haram criminals thereby bringing an effective and an enduring end to terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria”.

  • Ignore IPOB’s social media propaganda, Army urges public

    The Nigerian Army has condemned circulation of pictures and videos of gory images on social media, saying it is misinformation and propaganda by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, stated this in a statement in Enugu on Thursday.

    Musa said that the illegal group was using the images for falsehood and hate speech to portray the Army and other security agencies in bad light.

    He said that the stunts were specially targeted at the South-East and intended to truncate the successes of Exercise Egwu Eke III also known as Python Dance 3.

    According to him, the posting and circulation of the disgusting videos and pictures is a wicked plot and deliberate campaign targeted at smearing the reputation of the military and other security agencies.

    The army spokesman said that the intention of the peddlers of those images was to insinuate that the bodies were victims of security clampdown in parts of the country, especially in the South-East.

    He said, “the Nigerian Army has observed with dismay that various social media platforms, of recent, have been inundated with gory images and horrific videos.

    “The videos are of few recycled corpses dumped at roadsides and refuse sites in Obingwa-Asa-Aba axis of Abia and other targeted areas in the South-East.

    “Members of the proscribed IPOB have been alleged to be behind the violence-inciting posts, apparently to create panic and tension among the public in their ill-motive towards free, fair and credible general elections.

    Read Also; 2019 Polls: Buratai inaugurates Army Situation Room

    “Some of the images and videos analyzed by the intelligence services show that most of the corpses were suspected to be victims of road accidents, jungle justice or ritual killers.

    “None of the images or videos could be attributed to any military operation as there were no footages to indicate so.

    “While the Nigerian Army will ensure that the peddlers of such fake news and hate speech that could create insecurity in the country are nabbed for prosecutions, the public is urged to ignore such wicked and sickening propaganda.’’

    Musa called on health and emergency agencies at the state and local government levels to be proactive in ensuring adequate evacuation of corpses of victims of road accidents, ritual killings and jungle justice in communities.

    “It is also of security concern that the dumping of abandoned corpses of loved ones in unorthodox mortuaries is becoming rampant.

  • Army appoints new spokesman

    …Redeploy senior officers

     

    The Nigerian Army on Monday announced the appointment of a new Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa, in a major shakeup that affected other senior officers.

    A statement signed by Colonel Aliyu Yusuf on behalf of Army Public Relations noted that the redeployment of the new officers was released by the leadership of the Army on Sunday.

    The statement reads: “the Nigerian Army has Monday Sunday 10 February 2019, released the postings and appointments of some of its senior officers.

    “Those affected by this include, Brigadier General NJ Okah who has been posted from Nigerian Army Institute of Technology and Environmental Studies (NAITES) to Army Headquarters Department of Army Logistics and appointed Acting Director of Engineering Services, Brigadier General MA Masanawa from Army Headquarters, Department of Army Policy and Plans to ACADA and appointed Commander, while Brigadier General HT Wesley posted from Headquarters Nigerian Army Ordinance Corps to Army Headquarters Department of Army Logistics has been appointed Director Clothing and Store, erstwhile Brigadier General HG Tafida of the Nigerian Army Central Workshop Rigachukwu posted to Army Headquarters Department of Army Logistics and appointed Director Engineering and Maintenance

    “Brigadier General BA Ilori has been posted to Army Headquarters Department if Army Policy and Plans and appointed Deputy Director Equipment Procurement.

    Read Also: Nigerian Army deserves better welfare, says Atiku

    “Brigadier General AA Adereti, posted to National Defence College and appointed Directing Staff while Colonel O Nwachukwu from Headquarters Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole has been posted to Defence Headquarters and appointed Acting Director Defence Information.

    “Similarly, Colonel S Musa has been posted to Directorate of Army Public Relations and appointed Acting Director Army Public Relations Nigerian Army while Colonel AA Yusuf has been appointed Deputy Director Public Relations 82 Division Nigerian Army.

    “Colonel AD Isa is posted to Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole and appointed Deputy Director Army Public Relations while the new Acting Corps Commander Nigerian Army Medical Corps is Colonel S Adama.

    “Others affected by the new development include, Colonel OG Olaniyi who was posted from Nigerian Army School of Music to Nigerian Army Band Corps and appointed Acting Director Army Band, Colonel EI Okoro and Colonel I P Bindul are posted to Army War College Nigeria as Directing Staff amongst others.“

  • Houses destroyed, farms razed as youths clash over land tussle

    Houses have been destroyed while farmlands were razed by angry youths in a communal clash following ownership of farmland between Nzam and Anam communities in Anambra West LGA of Anambra State.

    Youths of Anam community were said to have stormed the community through a bush path and allegedly set ablaze thatched houses and yam seedlings of the farm camp of the farmers.

    The Nation gathered that Youths of Nzam community, in a reprisal attack, set ablaze houses and properties in the farm camp of Umuemu community.

    A resident of the area who did not want to be named said although no life was recorded in the incident, some persons sustained injuries from gunshots fired sporadically during the fracas.

    Confirming the incident, said no casualty was recorded but disclosed that two suspects have been arrested in connection with the clash.

    He said the clash may not be unconnected with a protracted land dispute between both communities.

    Mohammed, however, said the situation was brought under control through combined Security forces who were on ground to restore lasting peace in the affected communities.

    He said, “At about 3pm, there was a report that youths of Umuemu Anam community in Anambra West LGA using a bush path went to the farm camp of neighbouring Nzam community also in the same Local Government and allegedly set ablaze their thatched houses and yam seedlings.

    “Consequently, in a swift reaction, youths of Nzam community also mobilised using speed boats and went to the farm camp of Umuemu community, set ablaze houses and properties.”

    He said value of property destroyed was still unknown.

    According to Mohammed, “Joint Patrol teams of the Police, the Army and other Sister agencies were immediately deployed to the area to restore order and arrest perpetrators of the unfortunate incidents.

    The police spokesperson said the state Commissioner of Police, Garba Baba Umar had ordered for a full-scale investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

    Read Also: 24 women in Adamawa to contest for gov, NASS seats

    “The public is enjoined to go about their lawful businesses and report any suspicious persons or movements to the nearest Police Station.

    Deputy Director, Public Relations 82 Division, Col. Sagir Musa who also confirmed the incident in a statement, said troops of Sector 5 in 302 Artillery General Support Regiment AOR, assisted in preventing the clash from escalating.