The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Sambisa

  • Sambisa, RUGA and tourism

    The first and only time I visited Calabar, the Cross River State capital was over eight years ago to attend a conference organized by the Centre for Management Development, CMD. During the three-day programme, I soaked myself in the freshness of a city that prides itself as an old seat of the British colonists in Nigeria.

    Calabar is where in the early part of the 19th  Century, an Irish humanist, Mary Slessor put an end to an abhorrent cultural practice of murder of girl-twins because of the prevailing myth that such multiple births portend bad omen for the largely heathen society. In my morning and evening survey of Calabar during the conference, I found the city possessing an alluring beauty, with well laid out streets. Calabar is exemplified environmental purity during my visit.

    In this city, I saw the definition of dignity of labour in the passion of street sweepers. From as early as five o clock the morning, they were on the roads, with brooms in both hands and with mechanical precision and sweat streaming their faces, their two hands sweep in dizzying speed to give the city of Mary Slessor a glittering look as the sun rises daily. Its cab drivers were genial as I engaged them in discussion. As the conference wound up, I had time on hand to take a tour of Tinapa Resort.

    Tinapa is a futuristic theme park with benumbing and vast shopping facilities. The resort is the making of Donald Duke whose dream was to turn his home state into an Eldorado of sort, an African tourist destination that would rival Genting Highlands in Malaysia. A visit to Malaysia is incomplete without a sight of Genting. Tinapa should be the Marvel of Cross River, a diamond in the sun that splashes light on the garden city as it welcomes millions of visitors to lavish life savings as Calabar tourists.

    But has Donald Duke’s dream to make Calabar a daring tourist destination materialized? This can be confirmed or refuted by what has become of Tinapa since he left office after eight years in the saddle. Since, my last and only visit of Calabar, Tinapa has hardly made any cheering news as a tourist destination to put the city or Nigeria on the world tourism map in the mould of Disneyland. Yet for a state like Cross River, if it were in South East Asia which I’m a bit familiar with, Tinapa would have been a high revenue earner as it pulls millions of tourists into the embrace of the garden city.

    Not just Cross River; every state in Nigeria has the potential to earn megabucks from tourism, far more than what some whole countries in Asia, the Pacific and the Caribbean islands earn from visitors. If in New Delhi, one could pay to visit the home of the Ghandis, I ask why can’t our tourism ministry make millions from Tafawa Balewa tourist site in Bauchi? Indonesia’s Taman Mini Indonesia Indah Independence Park receives streams of tourist daily in Jakarta, a site promoted by the wife of one the country’s president just as the iconic Petronas Twin Towers and the adjoining KLCC Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur is a daily crowd puller. The entirety of Singapore at the Southern tip West Malaysia is a tourist delight.  When Nigerians travel to Dubai or Doha, they tell tales of even just the airports as tourists’ delights.

    When we travel to Saudi Arabia or Israel, we talk of those countries beyond the spiritual import of the hajj, umrah or the pilgrimage they hold for Muslims and Christians. We talk about beauty and order in the countries. We talk about efficiency of their infrastructure. When we travel to India, we envy the health services on offer. When we attend conferences in Europe, we are fascinated by the quality of service of the hospitality industry there. The sporting infrastructure in some countries is the main attraction that yields for them billions in dollars. Some islands in the pacific region are just good enough for their silence and, perfect for rehabilitation or recuperation. Brunei Travelling by road to Abuja occasionally, I always luxuriate in the sights, scenes and sceneries of the lush foliage of green vegetation as it unfolds in the near twelve our drive, rolling hills and hillocks, towering mountains, heavy boulders and intimidating rock formations that define the Nigerian landscape in that segment of the country from Osun through Ondo, a strip of Edo and the swathe of Kogi before entering the sprawling Federal Capital Territory to be surprised by its wide boulevards. It is a sheer beauty, indeed alluring, mentally rejuvenating and spiritually soothing or calming, like the feeling one gets in the rain forest of the Borneo Island, shared between Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam.  On such long trips I am most mentally fertile, manufacturing many of my masterpieces on motion.

    Abuja has a fair share of iconic buildings to be proud of in the country, including the breath-taking National Mosque and the opulent National Christian Ecumenical Centre that qualify as tourist attractions in many countries of the world. Traveling from Abuja to Kaduna sometimes last year, the Idu Train Station was my transit point from where I had a ride like in a flight to the Northern Nigerian political capital. What do these tell us about tourism in Nigeria? Simple. The country has vast tourism potentials which unfortunately have not been sufficiently tapped into. I think we first need to have a wider perspective of tourism.

    Tourism is not just about travelling to have fun or for holidaying. Tourism covers every aspect of life that necessitates one to leave his home for another. From pilgrimage to establishing business link, seeking university admission, health rehabilitation, conference participation, arts and specialized exhibitions, trade fairs, cultural shows, sports fiestas and cultural festivals come under the gamut of tourism.  Each state government must therefore seek opportunities in the comparative advantages of its territories, leveraging on them to develop into tourism assets or potentials for earning huge revenue. This requires investment in supporting infrastructure and providing the enabling environment to attract tourists of shades and intents to their states

    For instance, the Centre of Excellence and State of Aquatic Splendour is blessed with beautiful beaches waiting for further exploration. All the littoral states can form a front to develop water sports just as the states in the savanna belt can offer the land for dizzying safaris and motor races. Our rainforest region indeed are crying for conversion into wild life parks for exploration of our flora and fauna and interesting forest expeditions. Money can be made in showcasing our cuisines and our artistic dexterities in exhibition of our prodigies wasting away in many corners of the country or finding solace in crime as one million boys, badoo, internet fraud and traders in flesh.

    Now the Borno State government according to news has decided to hand over part of the dreaded Sambisa Forest to the federal government for the experimentation of Rural Grazing Area, RUGA. This is where the notorious Boko Haram once used as cover for their onslaught against the Nigerian state in their mad ambition to overrun the country and force on the nation their queer ideology that attacks rationality and knowledge, the very foundation of the faith they claim to profess.

    Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum announced the donation recently when the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Garbai El-Kanemi, visited him at Government House, Maiduguri during Sallah and hinted that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, agro rangers and hunters had been mobilised to secure the area and revealed: “We have identified six different locations we consider safe for the pilot scheme in the state. The Ruga scheme is as old as history; it is not a new thing. I don’t know why some people are politicising it.

    Extricating it from politics or escapism, a business tourist zone in Sambisa to be be developed into an ideal RUGA becomes a pull for the world to see a zone of death rise as a settlement that spells a NEW DAWN in employment and productivity; a place where business in dairy or milk products, meat processing and associated industries come alive with passion perfection.

     

    • Abdulwarees is of the Voice of Nigeria.

  • From Sambisa to Kamuku forest

    Survey has revealed that most of the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) smuggled from the Maghreb due to the Arab Spring uprising and the activities of Al-Qaeda find their way into the country through migrant, transhumance activities, such as animals, articles, vehicles trading into the country via Libya -Sudan -Mali-Chad-Niger and finally-Nigeria. Our findings revealed further that a lot of these SALW are procured in those countries and sent to Nigeria because of the big criminal market of armed robbery, cattle rustling, kidnapping, bunkering, Niger Delta militancy and herdsmen/farmers’ crises, amongst others.

    As a former national secretary of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association, my first experience 27 years ago of violent conflict between herdsmen and farmers was the communal clash between the Fulani and the Berom in Sho village of Barkin Ladi, Plateau State and the Tiv/Fulani communal ghastly conflict in Jangargari, then still part of Plateau State but now Nasarawa State. This was when I had my first baptism of fire and blood in the hands of Nigerians and how far they could degenerate into lawless and bloodshed over ethnic and religious sentiments!

    Any crisis that would last 27 years in any part of a country, such problem is bound to have a multiplier effect that may engulf the entire nation. The farmers/herdsmen crises have since assumed a national dimension, resulting into the mass movement of displaced and dislodged herdsmen from all over the country into Kamuku Forest amongst others. All Fulani clans in the country, from Borno to Cross River, from Zamfara to Saki in Oyo states are today found in Kamuku Forest either as outlaws or law-abiding citizens, forced to live with the outlaws, out of no choice of theirs.

    From rough estimates emanating from the leadership of the herdsmen, over five million heads of cattle and 3500 herdsmen were killed and over one million displaced within this period in question. Little wonder, therefore, that any forests, large expanse of bushes or land that lay fallow would inevitably be turned into herdsmen home. And as bona fide Nigerians they would exert their rights to such areas as their home. Other Nigerians, the so-called natives would spring from nowhere and scream blue murder that jihadists and aliens from another planet had invaded their God-given “native land”.

    And without the intervention of the government and security agents, the stage for bloodshed and an endless violent feud would have been set. Without the provision of an alternative grazing space for the herdsmen who feel it is their right to graze their animals in order for them to fend for themselves and their offspring, the herdsmen often seek for means and ways to defend themselves and their animals. This is where the problem of the procurement and possession of firearms comes in. The herdsmen, having witnessed the efficacy of these arms against them when their enemies struck, are more desirous of possessing them now than ever before.

    At the end of the day such arms are used either for self- defence or aggression, depending on what the sociology of the society is or what it transmutes into. In most cases such a society becomes a haven for all criminal activities and lawlessness. Kamuku Forest is a typical example of such an environment which has become the fortress of the oppressed, the displaced, the maimed, the dispossessed, the poor and the orphans of those murdered in cold blood, in their struggles to defend their tribe, faith and their means of livelihood nationwide.

    In October 2011, a former highly respected security chief called me and introduced me to Governor Abdul-aziz Yari of Zamfara State and pleaded with me to go to Gusau and see what I could do to put out the fire that was burning between the Fulani herdsmen and Hausa farmers in Dansadau LGA. Over 100 herdsmen had lost their lives and they were on a very deadly, unstoppable reprisal mission. The herdsmen had almost entirely left the LGA and even the state to other LGAs and states. I knew what danger lay ahead when these people pulled out of any area in this manner. It is not for nothing but the launching of a long drawn deadly reprisal attack.

    This is the most difficult period to handle any crisis involving the Fulani because at this point they would have taken their irrevocable decision already, having nothing more to lose. At this point, you would find out that they had cut off all their communication channels and are now incommunicado. By the time I arrived most of them had entered Katsina, Niger, Kaduna, Kebbi and Sokoto states amongst others. The reprisal attackers had taken camps in Kamuku Forest. They already had their supplies of arms, food and means of transport. Reversing their reprisal assault was almost impossible.

    Having received, in most cases, the blessings of their parents and leaders, having also incurred expenses for the assignment, going back was not an alternative on their agenda. However, I was lucky; there was this son of the herdsmen who worked as a journalist in the state who knew me well to trust me. This was the guy that facilitated my getting across to these herdsmen and their leaders. Within two days, I had attended three meetings with them and had listened, with real and sympathetic interest, to their stories, gory tales and memories of what happened to them.

    One thing they keep on harping on and emphasizing was the refusal of the government to acknowledge their losses in both human and animal lives in the violent crisis between them and the Hausa. And this was their biggest grievance that was making them unmanageable and inconsolable in their resolve to take revenge. They particularly painted the pictures of how government came to the rescue of the Hausa with relief materials and gave a lot of media coverage to their (Hausa) losses in the crisis without saying a word about them (herdsmen). They were so pained by this that I had to be careful not to allow them know I was there on behalf of  the government, especially as I had no defence for the government on this.

    I prepared an interim report immediately to the government and proffered steps and solutions I wanted it to take to curb the impending danger. Chief among which was the immediate provision of relief materials, financial assistance to defray reprisal attack expenditure, the immediate setting up of a reconciliation parley between the two warring groups where they should be given the opportunity to ventilate their bottled-up motions.

    The herdsmen seriously believed the government was not only partial but openly in support of the Hausa. They said while the Hausa were given what to eat by the government, they were left to starve to death.

    Some of the herdsmen said some of them had already resorted to all forms of criminal acts such as the stealing of the animals of both herdsmen and the Hausa. They said without government intervention, the Fulani, sooner or later, would become permanent thieves as most of them had already lost over 70% of their means of livelihood which is their cattle.

    From all indications, the prediction of the Fulani leaders has come to pass. I’m particularly disturbed and worried when I recall that all the suggestions I gave to the government of Zamfara State neither was accepted nor implemented up to the time I had to abandon the assignment in 2012.

    From hindsight, I feel had the government listened, may be there would not be Kamuku Forest with so much pains today. From one state in 2011 to five now, only God knows how many states it will be next time. A stitch in time saves nine, goes the adage. The problem of the herdsmen in Kamuku Forest will not be solved without a lot of deliberations, consultations, high wire, intelligent and fraternal intervention from other herdsmen within and without the forest, especially their trusted and confidant leaders. I strongly advise that these governors should do everything possible not to replicate seven Sambisa Forest in the Kamuku Forest. For now, this is very avoidable.

     

    • Alhaji Bayari, National Chairman, Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN) sent this memo to northern governors’ security meeting in Kaduna, on Saturday, June 27, 2015

  • Jumping the gun

    Ordinarily, it would have come across as a policy of genius. Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, announced that the Federal Government plans to upgrade the Sambisa Forest as a tourist site. The army chief gave apparently cogent explanations for this plan. Only apparently.

    It would, he posited, grant us much-needed revenues, serve as a spot of entertainment and a resource for scholars and researchers. Of course, anywhere war relics are gathered, people will be curious. War relics are a memorial of organised, if sometimes spontaneous, human savagery. They also are testament to technologies of extermination as well as platforms to pore over the stories of human daring and heroics in times of harrowing temptations.

    So, on a philosophical level, Sambisa as a tourist site is a seductive proposition. It covers a wide sweep of land that stretches from Borno State, and tentacles in such other states as Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi and Jigawa. That means it is under the care of local governments and state governments. It is enriched with fauna and flora, with alternations of balmy and wet weathers that enrich such trees as tallow, rubber, wild back duck, baobab, and quite a few others.

    We cannot also discount its umbrella and nourishing power for leopards, lions, elephants, hyenas as well as a choir of birds.

    But for the army chief to say we should make the place a tourist site in terms of its military appeals also acknowledges by its omission the failure of government over the years to retain the lush environment for fauna and flora, and what we have is a diminution of its powers to retain its wild and dynamic beauty of feline creatures, rodents and sturdy trees.

    What we have today is a shadow of its verdant past, its quality of a zoo model, its rich and enviable reserve of money. Why? Because the Boko Haram insurgency ran through its Edenic magnificence with hate and rapine, with a distortion of God and malevolence of human destruction.

    They turned Sambisa Forest from a forest of Eden to the devil’s dive, carting away girls for its hideouts, especially because of its intimidating mountain ranges, its vast expanse that could task the endurance and technological equipment of soldiers.

    That war is still on, and while the government can claim that it has degraded the insurgents by an effort of military will, the state of Borno and environs are not strong enough to shut their eyes for dreamy nights. Their fragility bears out in spasms of girl-child suicide bombs, in ambushes of military patrols and formations, in raids that cripple towns, and sometimes by sustained episodes of combats. That they happened in the past, especially before 2015 with damnable ferocity, has made the present seem tame. This has inspired some illusory enthusiasm, especially in official quarters where persons now tend to look beyond the depredations for new draughts of peace.

    It is that mighty illusion that drove the chief of army staff to such grandiose sense of Sambisa as a sort of arboreal paradise where relics of war could enhance our revenue and show the triumphal soldiery of our armed forces.

    This was premature glee and a celebration before the fact. The army chief was jumping the gun, though no pun is intended. The guns have not silenced the foe yet. Once that is accomplished, we can heal the wounds fully and reap in full the dividends of peace. Tourists only thrive where there is not only peace, but no hint of hostility.

    We should not forget that Sambisa had a near Elysian past where the splendour of trees and lawns bowered four-legged beasts beneath the cawing and squawking of winged creatures. This was the time when Sambisa was a games reserve.  The reserve that spanned a wide scythe of 2,258 square kilometres has shrunken over time. This was from the early 1970’s when Nigeria had just woken up from a fratricidal tragedy and was entering a berth of optimism. But Sambisa Games reserve attracted tourists and had the tracks for animals and roads for safaris. It shrank with government neglect and social and economic stress to a little over 500 square kilometres.

    The lions no longer roar or roam in their former numbers. Far fewer throats of sonorous birds plume nodding boughs. Rather we saw humans as beasts and hear the rumble of ominous vans and primal screams of abducted girls. Now Sambisa Forest has become a metaphor for failed forests across the country, especially in the northern part all the way to Bauchi State where hoodlums lurk, raid and vanquish fragile villages and kill men, women and children.

    It is not as if as a nation we have done well with our tourist potential in other parts of the country. The Yankari Games Reserves, the Obudu Cattle Ranch, the slave relics in Badagry, the Biafra monuments in Umuahia are in such a state of disrepair and despair that the army chief’s swagger is more of a gallows humour than policy.

     

  • How Sambisa fell under ‘Operation Deep Punch 2’ – Buratai

    The professionalism and determination of ‘Operation Deep Punch 2’ led to the fall of Sambisa Forest in the North East part of the country.

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai,  said this at the 2018 West Africa Social Activities (WASA) programme which ended late on  Saturday  in Apapa, Lagos.

    He was represented by  Maj.-Gen. Enobong Udoh, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division of the Nigerian Army.

    The COAS said that the operation and other exercises, which were part of the training activities for  the army in 2017, helped to curtail criminal activities in parts of  the country.

    According to him, WASA is one of the ways of keeping the traditions of the army.

    He explained that it was usually organised to mark the end of a training year and the beginning of another.

    “Various field training exercises such as ‘Shirin Harbi,’ ‘Harbin Kunama 2’ and ‘Crocodile Smile 2’  were successfully conducted in all parts of the country in 2017.

    “The climax of these exercises and operations was the ‘Operation Deep Punch 2’ in the North East, which led to the fall of the Sambisa Forest.

    “These exercises have notably gone a long way in curbing and reducing criminality and other crimes across the country,’’ he said.

    Similarly, the COAS said that exercise ‘Ayem Akpatuma’ , which is currently ongoing, was yielding significant results.

    Buratai advised the men and officers of the Nigerian Army to remain focused, dedicated and resilient in order to consolidate on  the achievements recorded so far.

    “As we commence another training cycle, I urge you all to remain committed to ensuring peace and stability across the country.

    “You must remain focused, dedicated and resilient in order to consolidate on the achievements so far recorded.’’

    The COAS noted that the 2017 training year saw the revival of army activities, hitherto, suspended.

    He, therefore, urged the officers and men of the army to remain proactive in the discharge of their duties.

    He expressed delight that the Nigerian Army Sports Festival had  been successfully revived after a seven-year break.

    He urged the army to remain proactive in the discharge of their duties and assured the officers and men that the government would continue to prioritise their welfare.

    “We will provide decent accommodation and other social amenities to our personnel.

    “We will also  ensure that our troops get adequate logistics in all operational areas in 2018,” Buratai said.

    Earlier, the Chief of Accounts and Budget (NAFC), Maj.-Gen. Jahadi Jakko said that the Nigerian Army had successfully been operating under the Treasury Single Account (TSA) .

    Jakko commended the soldiers for their discipline and dedication to duty during the year.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that WASA is an annual event aimed at promoting team spirits and confidence within and outside the barracks.

    It is also a forum for informal, social interaction and avenue for the barrack community to showcase the rich and diverse cultures of the country.

    The colourful event featured tug-of-war, dances by cultural groups and presentation of gifts and awards to distinguished soldiers and guests. (NAN)

  • Troops rescue 46, destroy Boko Haram camp in Sambisa

    Troops rescue 46, destroy Boko Haram camp in Sambisa

    Troops of Operation Deep Punch II rescued 46 captives and destroyed a highly fortified Boko Haram camp inside Sambisa forest as part of its ongoing clearance operation, it was learnt yesterday.

    The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Onyeama Nwachukwu, said this in a statement yesterday.

    Col. Nwachukwu said the troops penetrated into the forest and cleared all known insurgents’ enclaves, including a fortified ‘Sabil Huda’ camp.

    The troops neutralised several insurgents, destroyed various makeshift accommodation and recovered high calibre ammunition.

    The statement reads: “On Monday, February 12, the troops dislodged Boko Haram terrorists from one of their highly fortified hideouts in Sambisa forest, close to Sabil Huda, believed to be one of their prized hideouts.

    “During the offensive supported by the Air Force, the resilient troops neutralised some terrorists and captured major ornaments, including two Spartan Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), a truck and a laptop.

    “The gallant troops also destroyed eight gun trucks; several tents; rescued 19 women and 27 children from the enclave.”

    The Army has said the Boko Haram factional leader, Abubakar Shekau, is now on the run and disguised as a woman.

    The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, said intelligence reports gathered from those arrested shows that Shekau now alternates between blue and black coloured hijabs to avoid detection.

    Gen. Usman, in a statement yesterday said a successful clearance of the insurgent remnants through Operation Deep Punch II in Sambisa Forest has turned the heat on Shekau, forcing him to abandon his followers.

    He urged residents of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States to be on the lookout for Shekau while efforts are on to track him.

    The statement reads: “Efforts of troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, in the ongoing clearance of the Boko Haram terrorists through Operation Deep Punch II, has been yielding results.

    Read Also: Troops kill seven terrorists in Sambisa

    “Troops have successfully cleared Boko Haram camps in Sambisa forest, including Camp Zairo. They have also rescued civilians held hostage, recovered arms and ammunition.

    “Consequently, the terrorists are in disarray and scampering for safety while others are surrendering.

    “Credible information from arrested and surrendered insurgents indicated that the purported Boko Haram terrorists’ group factional leader, Abubakar Shekau, could not bear the heat anymore and so abandoned his followers. He is running for his dear life.

    “He is desperately trying to escape the theatre disguised as a woman dressed in Hijab. We reliably gathered that to avoid detection, Shekau alternates between blue and black hijabs. He was last seen in a black hijab.

    “We, therefore, call on remaining terrorists to know that they are following a coward moving about in hijab disguised as a woman. We also request other insurgents to come out from hiding and lay down their arms and be treated humanely.”

  • Air Force airlifts hostages from Sambisa

    Air Force airlifts hostages from Sambisa

    The Nigerian Air Force said yesterday that it has airlifted scores of Boko Haram hostages from the Sambisa Forest following the capture of the forest (Camp Zairo) by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole.

    The Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya said in a statement issued in Abuja that the rescued hostages including the aged, women and children were airlifted to the 105 Composite Group, Maiduguri by the NAF Agusta 109 helicopter.

    AVM Adesanya said the NAF medical team on standby has conducted preliminary checks on the hostages and provided them medical treatment prior to the process of integrating them with the society.

    According to him, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar has directed that those with serious medical conditions be placed on admission to ensure that they are well taken care of .

    AVM Adesanya said: “Following concerted efforts by air and ground elements against Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) in the Sambisa Forest, which led to the capture of Camp Zairo, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has airlifted rescued hostages who had been in the captivity of the BHTs.

    ” The rescued hostages, including the aged, women as well as children, were airlifted to the 105 Composite Group, Maiduguri by the NAF Agusta 109 helicopter. At the NAF Base in Maiduguri, the NAF Medical Team, which was on standby, conducted preliminary medical checks on the rescued hostages and also provided them with medical treatment prior to the process of integrating them into the larger society.

    ” Furthermore, the rescued hostages, who were all looking tired and malnourished after the period of captivity, were fed by the NAF.

    “The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has directed that those with serious medical cases be immediately placed on admission to ensure they were adequately cared for. This is in furtherance of the NAF’s resolute efforts at winning the ‘hearts and minds’ of the locals, as part of an overall campaign strategy.

    ” It would be recalled that the NAF, under its current leadership, has been rendering humanitarian services to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North East and other parts of the country as part of its corporate social responsibility.

    “So far, over 300, 000 IDPs have benefited from NAF’s medical outreach programmes, which spread across the entire country. The NAF would continue to airlift the rescued hostages and provide them with the needed initial succour”.

  • Air Force Bombs Boko Haram in Sambisa

    Air Force Bombs Boko Haram in Sambisa

    The Nigerian Air Force ( NAF ) said on Thursday that it has used Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) to destroy and kill a number of Boko Haram terrorists in the Sambisa general area.
    Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, the NAF’s Director of Public relations and Information made the disclosure in a statement.
    AVM Adesanya who attached a video footage of the operation to the statement, said the operation was done after a routine armed reconnaissance of the area.
    He said: ” A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), on 30 January 2018, successfully destroyed another Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) gun truck in the SAMBISA general area.
    “The NAF RPA sighted the gun truck around ALAFA while on a routine armed reconnaissance of the area, following the dislodgement of the insurgents from Camp ZAIRO.
    “The RPA picked up the trail of the gun truck until it arrived at ALAFA, where it was subsequently attacked.
    “The air strike by the NAF RPA resulted in the immediate destruction of the vehicles in the targeted location, killing all the BHTs inside it, as no survivors were seen scampering from the location after impact”.
  • Troops kill seven terrorists in Sambisa

    Troops kill seven terrorists in Sambisa

    The Nigerian Army has announced that remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists in the Sambisa general area have been neutralised following a decisive operations by ground troops against the terrorists.

    The Nigerian Army spokesperson, Brigadier-General Sani Usman, said seven of the terrorists were killed in the operation, while a number of them escaped with gunshot wounds.

    General Usman said in a statement issued in Abuja that two soldiers were wounded during encounter.

    He added that the wounded soldiers have been evacuated by the Air Force and receiving medical treatment in a military hospital.

    The statement reads: “Troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE involved in Operation DEEP PUNCH II have continued to deal decisively with remnants of Boko Haram terrorists hibernating in Sambisa forest and other parts of Northern Borno State with tremendous successes.

    “On Friday 26th January 2018 afternoon, the troops with effective support from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), had contact with the terrorists while advancing into Sambisa forest. During the encounter and further exploitation, the troops destroyed Boko Haram terrorists equipment, make-shift accommodation around Camp Zairo, Improvised Explosives Device (IEDs), Booby traps, other delaying obstacles and devices.

    “The troops also neutralized 7 Boko Haram terrorists and wounded several others. In addition,  the gallant troops recovered 1 Gun truck, 1 Anti-Aircraft Gun, 1 Machine Gun, a Pistol, large quantity of Anti-Aircraft Gun ammunition, a 120mm Mortar Base Plate and a Dane Gun.

    “Similarly, the troops destroyed 11 Boko Haram terrorists Gun trucks, 12 Hilux vehicles, 3 Canter trucks 2 Double Barrel Rifles, 30 Bicycles, Power generating sets, cylinders, printers, military kits and IED making workshop.

    “Unfortunately, 2 soldiers were wounded during the encounter. The wounded soldiers have since been evacuated by Nigerian Air Force and are responding to treatment.

    “Impressed with the unprecedented performance, the Commander Sector 1 Operation LAFIYA DOLE, who is also the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Major General IM Yusuf, has visited the troops harbour location.

    “He conveyed the Chief of Army Staff’s and Theatre Commander’s commendations to the troops for the wonderful job of annihilating the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists inside Sambisa forest and encouraged them to sustain the tempo of the offensive until they have eliminated all the Boko Haram terrorists wherever they might be hibernating.

    “The GOC who was flown by Nigerian Air Force, was accompanied by the Commander 26 Task Force Brigade, Brigadier-General IM Obot, and had meeting with the various field commanders.

    “The success recorded has buoyed up troops morale who expressed enthusiasm in sustaining onslaught against the terrorists.

    “The people of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states are requested to report any fleeing Boko Haram terrorist seen around their communities. They should also look out for the wounded terrorists and report to the nearest military or Nigeria Police Force location.”

  • Boko Haram: Army kills seven terrorists in Sambisa

    •Air Force rains bombs on sect’s fortress

    Seven terrorists of Boko Haram have been killed by soldiers in the latest military assault on the sect’s Sambisa Forest hideout.

    The Army said yesterday that remnants of the terrorists were neutralised in a ‘decisive operation.’

    The Air Force simultaneously rained bombs on the forest as the terrorists tried to interfere with land operations by the army.

    The Army spokesperson, Brigadier General Sani Usman, said a number of the terrorists escaped with gun- shot wounds.

    Two soldiers were wounded during the encounter and were subsequently evacuated by the Air Force to the hospital for treatment.

    He said: “Troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE involved in Operation DEEP PUNCH II have continued to deal decisively with remnants of Boko Haram terrorists hibernating in Sambisa forest and other parts of Northern Borno State with tremendous successes.

    “The troops with effective support from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), had contact with the terrorists while advancing into Sambisa forest.

    “During the encounter and further exploitation, the troops destroyed Boko Haram terrorists’ equipment, make-shift accommodation around Camp Zairo, Improvised Explosives Device (IEDs), Booby traps, other delaying obstacles and devices.

    “The gallant troops recovered 1 Gun truck, 1 Anti-Aircraft Gun, 1 Machine Gun, a Pistol, large quantity of Anti-Aircraft Gun ammunition, a 120mm Mortar Base Plate and a Dane Gun.

    “Similarly, the troops destroyed 11 Boko Haram terrorists Gun trucks, 12 Hilux vehicles, 3 Canter trucks 2 Double Barrel Rifles, 30 Bicycles, Power generating sets, cylinders, printers, military kits and IED making workshop.”

    An impressed  , Major General IM Yusuf , the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division who doubles as  Commander Sector 1 Operation LAFIYA DOLE,  has visited the troops harbour location to convey the Chief of Army Staff’s and Theatre Commander’s commendations to the troops for the wonderful job.

    The Air Force ,in a separate statement by its Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, said : “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter aircraft, on 25 January 2018, successfully neutralized several Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs), who were poised to interfere with ongoing operations in the Sambisa general area.

    “A NAF Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform had sighted several BHTs on vehicles and gun trucks, which were carefully concealed in a forested area.

    “Consequently, three NAF fighter aircraft were detailed to provide Close Air Support to own surface forces, which also engaged the insurgents.

    “The fighter aircraft launched a bomb attack on the insurgents’ defensive positions while another wave of bomb attacks was launched at the insurgents’ gun trucks and vehicles, causing one them to go up in flames.

    “Thereafter, one of the aircraft strafed a fleeing BHTs vehicle with rockets, destroying the gun truck in the process.

    “The NAF aircraft’s mission destroyed not only the vehicles but also the workshop previously used by the insurgents to repair and retrofit their vehicles and equipment.”

    The army and air force claims could not be independently confirmed.

     

  • Three soldiers die in Sambisa clearance

    Three soldiers died during a clearance of 13 Boko Haram hideouts in Sambisa Forest, Borno State, in one week, it was learnt yesterday.

    The Deputy Director, Public Relations 7 Division, Col. Kinsley Samuel, spoke in a statement at the weekend.

    Samuel said six soldiers were injured while dozens of insurgents were neutralised by troops.

    The statement reads: “Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, in conjunction with Air Force on Operation Deep Punch, in the last one week embarked on clearance operations to dislodge Boko Haram terrorists from their camps.

    “The troops successfully cleared Talala, Ajigin, Mangzum, Abagajiri, Kafa, Dusula, Buk, Malumti and Abula, among others.

    “On Friday, November 10, acting on tip offs that the terrorists were massing up at certain camps on the fringes of Sambisa forest, troops sssadvanced and cleared the insurgents at Shyadawe-Angwan-Fulani, Shyadawe-Angwan-Bula-Musa and Shyadawe.

    “Two gun trucks, three motorcycles, bicycles and a laptop and a vandalised and unserviceable tank were recovered from the camps.

    “The remains of the dead soldiers have been evacuated while those injured are receiving treatment at a military hospital.”