The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Soldier

  • Injured soldier plans to fight Boko Haram after treatment

    Injured soldier plans to fight Boko Haram after treatment

    Private Samuel Ernest, who is recuperating from an injury at the 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital, Maiduguri, says he go back to the frontline to continue the fight against Boko Haram terrorists.

    “After my treatment, if I am fit enough, I will go back to the bush — frontline, in order to continue the operation against the Boko Haram terrorists.

    “I am feeling better now, I can now use crochets and put my feet down,’’ Ernest told newsmen at a get-together organised for wounded soldiers to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir.

    He said he was proud of Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai and the army high command that identified with the injured during the occasion.

    “I feel happy celebrating the Sallah, the chief of army staff came to the hospital to see how we are faring and how we are being taken care of,’’ Ernest, who sustained injury six months ago said.

    Similarly, Private Titus Okon, who is also recuperating from injury on one of his laps after he was shot by the Boko Haram terrorists on May 21, expressed gratitude to God that he was getting better.

    “I am strong enough, I am very grateful to the chief of army staff who is here to celebrate with us,’’ he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the soldiers later took to the dancing floor to celebrate the occasion.

    This was after the representative of the chief of army staff, Maj.-Gen. David Ahmadu, Chief of Training and Operations, assured them that the army was committed to their welfare.

    At Mafa, Staff Sgt. Saleh Jerico of the 112 Task Force Battalion, expressed gratitude to God that there were fewer threats to troops now than in previous years.

    “Compared to two or three years ago, nobody could come here. We give glory to God for his intervention.

    “Peace is being restored to Borno and entire North East. Our earnest prayer is that God should sustain the peace.

    “It is great for us — the troops — to witness the 2017 Sallah celebration,’’ Jerico said after he took part in a lunch organised by the chief of army staff for troops.

    Also, Lance Cpl. Adamu Ali of the same battalion noted that Eid-el-Kabir celebration in Mafa in 2017 was better than 2016 in terms of security and peace.

    “In 2016, here in Mafa, we were being ambushed by the terrorists, but there is nothing as such this year, we thank God for that.

    “I wish my family happy Sallah. As they celebrate at home, we are also celebrating here in the frontline in Mafa.

    “It is not my will to stay away from them, it is the nature of the job,’’ Ali said and expressed readiness to continue with the ongoing clearance operation.(NAN)

  • Dismissed soldier held for ‘robbery’

    Dismissed soldier held for ‘robbery’

    A dismissed soldier, Ndubisi Ogana, 31, has been arrested by the police for alleged robbery.

    He was apprehended when he attempted to snatch a motorcycle.

    It was gathered that he had been arrested twice and charged to court, but was released.

    According to a source, Ogana has been stealing motorcycles, tricycles other properties for over four years.

    He usually wore military camouflage for his operations.

    The source said: “He was arrested last Tuesday while trying to steal a motorcycle. He usually robs road users of their valuables and also steals motorcycles and tricycles.

    “It was a team led by Godwin Onyebuchi that arrested him. He claimed he was dismissed from the military because he was caught smoking weed. They have charged the suspect to court.”

    It was gathered that the policemen also arrested some suspected members of the Awawa cult group, who have since been charged to court for robbery and murder.

  • Abia: Police arrest fake Soldier, rescues kidnap victim

    Abia: Police arrest fake Soldier, rescues kidnap victim

    The Abia state police command has arrested one suspected fake soldier who gave his name as Okezie Chukwuebuka and his girlfriend Ugonma Arisa Kalu from Ozuabam for allegedly using military uniform to steal from people.

    Speaking in Umuahia while parading the fake soldier, his accomplices and other criminals, the Commissioner of Police (CP) Leye Oyebade said that one Stephen Nwokoma reported that his phone worth N28, 000 was robbed along Uzuakoli road Umuahia.

    Oyebade said that the victim said that three men and a lady with one of them dressed in a military uniform were the ones that robbed him of his valuables which led to the arrest of one Nwadi Paul by a team of mobile police men.

    The Abia CP said that the arrest of Nwadi led to the arrest of the fake soldier with his girlfriend in a hotel room in Umuahia and the items recovered from him include, two pairs of army camouflage uniform, UBA cheque leaves belonging to Uwajumogu Ikechukwu.

    He said that other items recovered from them are fidelity bank cheque leaves belonging to Eni Virginia Enyinnaya, one Peace Corps identity card for Nwadi, one UBA ATM belonging John Oluchi, one Skye bank cheque leaflet belonging to Eni Virginia Enyinnaya among others.

    Oyebade said that the suspects are members of robbery gang which has been terrorizing the state capital and its residents and dispossessing them of their valuables.

    Responding to questions from newsmen, Chukwuebuka said that he was dismissed from the army after running away from the battle field for lack of weapons and after being court marshaled, he was dismissed.

    Chukwuebuka said that he had a quarrel with one of his friend and that he collected his phone from him, “He (my friend) then went to the police to report which led to his arrest and his girlfriend”.

    The Abia CP said that with the arrest of the notorious kidnapper, Evans by the IGP’s team that the era of kidnapping being profitable is gradually coming to an end as he has been talking and very soon his accomplices in any part of the country will be apprehended.

    He said that the new strategies the command has set in place and the free giving of information has led to the rescue of a kidnapped victim, Fredrick Osuya of Rainbow feeds limited.

    Oyebade said that the victim was kidnapped while driving home in his black Toyota Corolla car along Ogbor hill area of Aba, “The men of Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) swung into action and rescued the victim at Umuokeonyi village in Obingwa council area of the state”.

    The CP said, “The hoodlums on sighting the police team escaped into the bush and abandoned their hostage, we have to commend the general public for giving us prompt information which led to the rescue of the kidnapped victim”.

    He said, “Items recovered from them include one cut to size locally made double barrel gun, one locally made revolver gun and five live cartridges while we are still looking for the victim’s car”.

    In his speech the victim, Osuya said that he was kidnapped while coming back to his house after buying some drugs, “As I was driving home a white Toyota Hilux van double crossed me and nine people came out and said that they are kidnappers and assassins, today is your day”.

    Osuya said, “They forced me out from my car and took me into their van while my car was in front and they drove for a while and later stopped, where they removed my dress and tied my hands and took me into the bush”.

    “They took my ATM card and asked me to give them the pin code or they will kill me, around early hours of the following morning I heard gun shots and later some men came and said they are SARS people, that was how I was rescued”,

    In his reaction to the rescuing of the kidnapped victim, Oyebade said, “We were able to rescue him because information was given to us and we moved in immediately, so I want to appeal to people to always give us information to enable us work better and faster”.

    The CP also paraded other suspected criminals including armed robbers, burglars, cultists and recovered stolen vehicles some of which were stolen outside the state and brought in to be sold in the state.

  • Soldier, policeman, others paraded for tanker hijacking, robbery

    Soldier, policeman, others paraded for tanker hijacking, robbery

    The Oyo State Police Command on Wednesday paraded a serving soldier and a police inspector for allegedly hijacking   fuel-laden trucks on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 38 other  suspects were also paraded for offences ranging  from armed robbery, kidnapping and  stealing to  cultism.

    Addressing  newsmen at the police headquarters in  Eleyele, Ibadan, Mr Abiodun Odude, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police,  said  the suspected hijackers often wore camouflage and police uniforms to carry out their operations.

    “The alleged hijackers of fuel-laden trucks usually wore military camouflage and police uniform in their operations.

    “They were nabbed by the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad of Oyo State during one of their operations on April 15 at about 8.am after they waylaid a fuel-laden DAF tanker with registration number  APC 937 XB on a bad portion at Shasha, near Ojoo, on Ibadan-Oyo Road.

    “The suspected policeman would be recommended for dismissal from the Nigeria Police for professional misconduct,’’ he said.

    Odude said both the soldier and the policeman confessed that they actually participated in the crime.

    In another incident,  a suspect  allegedly conspired with others to abduct his  own father.

    Odude said that the kidnapping of the suspect’s  father took place at Igboora in Ibarapa Central Local Government Area on May 17 at about 6pm.

    “ The suspect said he got a share of less than N1 million in the ransom collected although he confessed that his father never offended him,’’ he said.

    He said that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigation was completed.

    Similarly, six suspects said to be  involved in the kidnapping of  popular Ibadan-based oil magnate and Chief Executive Officer of Bovas Oil and Gas Limited were also paraded.

    Items recovered from the suspects included  firearms,  nine  vehicles, one motorcycle,  N1.2 million,  musical instruments, knife and phones.

     

  • Police parade inspector, soldier for robbery

    Police parade inspector, soldier for robbery

    A police inspector and a soldier attached to 2 Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army , Herbert Mbachu (55 ), and Corporal Sikiru Balogun ( 46 ), and seven others have been arrested by the Oyo state Police Command  for various armed robbery operations in Ibadan and other major towns in the state.

    Other suspects who were said to be specialized in hijacking fuel laden trucks on highways were the leader of the gang ,Johnson Precious (45), Lawal Olalekan (26), Sodiq Onifade (26), Timothy Ayodele (53), Oluwadare Segun (30), Gabriel Olanrewaju (39), and Gbadegesin Olawale (45).

    The police inspector was said to have deserted for about a year, having served the police force for 34 years .

    Addressing newsmen at the Eleyele Police Headquarters, Ibadan  Wednesday, the state Commissioner of Police , Mr Abiodun Odude listed as exhibits items recovered from the suspects to include the sum of N1.2million cash, two Honda Accord cars with registration numbers AKD 74 BH , and LSD 680 ES , and one Nokia C-200 cell phone.

    The state police boss noted that until their arrest , the suspects had operated in Ojoo, Iwo Road, Lagos-Ibadan expressway and other parts of the state, snatching trucks conveying petroleum product to various destinations across the country.

    Odude said ”From 2016 till date , no fewer than six of such trucks had been hijacked by this notorious gang whose members include a dismissed police inspector and a soldier both whom often operated using the military camouflage and police uniform.

    ” In one of their latest operations , the suspects on April 4, 2017 at about 0800 hours waylaid a fuel laden DAF tanker with registration number APC 937 XB at a bad portion of the road in Salsa , Ojoo area of the state and snatched the vehicle with thirty-three thousand litres of petroleum from the driver whom they abducted to an unknown destination but was dropped off afterwards.

    “Discreet investigation carried out by the Special Anti-robbery Squad led to the arrest of one of the suspects, Sodiq Onifade , from whom the victim’s handset was recovered. His arrest and subsequent confession led to the arrest of other members of gang at their various criminal hideouts.”

    In totality, the Commissioner said about 34 suspected armed robbers were arrested in the past two weeks in the state.

    Paraded also by the Commissioner of police was the leader of a six man gang of kidnappers , Mohammed Abdullahi (29) who confessed to be responsible for the abduction of an Ibadan-based popular oil magnate , the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Bovas Oil and Gas Limited sometimes in 2016 .

    Among the suspects involve in the kidnap of the Ibadan based oil magnate Abubakar Mohammed (35) , Umoru Abubakar (32) ,  Ogun Aremu ( 35) , Mutairu Mohammed (30) , and Tambaya Tukura (29).

    The Commissioner of Police explained to newsmen that the kidnap kingpin was arrested by the Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad in his criminal hideout in Ilesa  Baruba , Kwara state .

    ” The kingpin , upon his arrest confessed to have led series of robbery and kidnap operations on several occasions within the state. One of the victims of the gang was an Ibadan based popular oil magnate , the MD/CEO of Bovas Oil and Gas Ltd. who was kidnapped in 2016 and an undisclosed ransom collected from her family before being released from captivity.

    “The gang also kidnapped and eventually killed another victim , Alhaji Saliu Sale along Ago-Are , Saki after collecting a staggering ransom of six million naira from victim’s relations , ” he said.

    Also, paraded was a 20 year-old Ibrahim Aliyu Babatunde who allegedly masterminded the kidnap of his own father.

  • Female suicide bomber made love advances on soldier before killing self

    Female suicide bomber made love advances on soldier before killing self

    A female suicide bomber had cleverly approached a soldier and made love advances on the soldier before detonating her explosive ridden body, a security source has said.

    According to the source, the female suicide bomber approached a military check point at Konduga pretending to like the soldier, asking for the soldier’s mobile number all in an attempt to get closer to the soldier to explode.

    “The female suicide bomber came and was laughing and playing that he likes one of the soldiers, she requested for the GSM no of the soldiers trying to get closer when the IEDs on her body exploded,” the source informed.

    Unconfirmed sources said two soldiers were killed in the incident which occurred at Mashimari military check point near IDP Camp in Konduga local government area of Borno State.

    But the Borno State Police Command said only the suicide bomber died in the attack with two soldiers wounded.

    The police spokesman in the state DSP Victor Isuku in a brief statement reads; “Information just received from the DPO Konduga Division, has it that on 17/5/17 at about 1930 hrs, a female suicide bomber, detonated IED strapped to her body at Mashimari by Military checkpoint behind IDP camp at Konduga, killing herself only.

    “While two Soldiers were reported injured as a result of the explosion. Scene was visited by team of EOD personnel, rendered safe and normalcy restored,” Dsp Isuku said.

     

  • Olanrewaju dismisses Bamaiyi as ‘ambitious soldier’

    Olanrewaju dismisses Bamaiyi as ‘ambitious soldier’

    Former Minister of Communications Major-General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (retd.) yesterday  said the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-General Ishaya Bamaiyi, misplaced facts in his book,  “Vindication of a General”.

    Chiding the former Army chief for “peddling falsehood”, he said the book failed to give a proper account of the 1995 and 1997 attempted coups.

    Olanrewaju, who is also a former General Officer Commanding (GOC) the army’s 3 Division, Jos, said in a statement in Lagos that Bamaiyi’s book twisted the facts of history.

    The former Minister, who was tried and sentenced to death by the military tribunal for his alleged involvement in the coup, maintained that he was framed up.

    He said: “The point to note is that students of history must know what transpired in the 1995 and 1997 coup saga for posterity sake as against the misplacement of facts contained in the excerpts reported from the Bamaiyi’s new book.

    “Ironically, the new book can open the eyes of all Nigerians to see the footprint of an ambitious soldier that Bamaiyi epitomises as detailed in every account of the power play, which appears unfavourable to him, but favourable to both General Abdulsalami Abubakar as Abacha’s successor and General Olusegun Obasanjo as 1999 civilian president. He lost out in the power play.”

    Olanrewaju added: “There are two main issues I want to correct. The first was the arrest of Gwadabe.  In his book, Bamaiyi stated that General Olanrewaju briefed the meeting called by the then Chief of Army Staff, General Alwali Kazir (retd.), which was factually incorrect. What is correct is that the only person who briefed the meeting was the DMI (Directorate of Military Intelligence), General Sarki Mukthar, whose duty it was to brief the meeting about security situation in the country.

    “Following this, I was instructed by the meeting to facilitate the arrest of Gwadabe, whose brigade in Yola was under my command, while other commanders were similarly instructed to effect the arrests of others under their own commands.  The instruction to arrest Colonel Bello Fadile was also given in the meeting. Fortunately, General Kazir and General Mukthar are alive today to testify to the truth of this matter.

    “The second issue to be cleared is the 1997 Diya’s coup.”

    In his book, Bamaiyi claimed that “other meetings took place at a guest house with Gen. Diya, Gen. Olanrewaju, CO 7 Gds Bn, Gen. Diya’s security officer, Major Fadipe and me.  Of course, General Abacha was always briefed after the meetings.”

    But, Olanrewaju denied any participation at the meeting, adding: “The said CO 7 Gds Bn and Major Fadipe, if called upon, will testify to the truth.I met Ishaya on two occasions; he met me in my house and I met him in his house, both times in Abuja.

    “For avoidance of doubt and for students of history, the first time I heard about the Diya’s coup was when Bamaiyi told me and Aziza confirmed it.This is how my name was dragged into the coup and it has affected my distinguished career in the Army.”

  • Soldier flogs Lagbus driver with cane for ‘rough’ driving

    Soldier flogs Lagbus driver with cane for ‘rough’ driving

    In full public glare, a soldier yesterday flogged a Lagbus driver for alleged rough driving on the Marina in Lagos.

    The soldier accused the driver of endangering the lives of passengers in a commercial bus populary called Danfo in which he was riding.

    He ordered the Danfo driver to chase the Lagbus bus vehicle and block it on top of the bridge on the Marina. The soldier snatched a cane from some motor unionists in the area, and jumped into the Lagbus vehicle.

    He whipped the Lagbus driver, Idowu Kolawole, on the head repeatedly with the cane and dug his boots into the driver’s side.

    Shocked passengers inside the BRT bus which was heading for Oshodi from Marina appealed to the soldier to stop beating the driver.

    “Oga sorry, it is enough,” some of them said.

    “Are the people in that Danfo bus not human beings?” the soldier retorted before storming off.

    The passengers, however, said the Danfo driver was at fault.

    They said the Danfo driver, who had stopped illegally to pick passengers, moved abruptly forcing the BRT bus coming behind him to swerve sharply to avoid hitting the bus and other vehicles.

    A female passenger said: “It was the Danfo driver that was at fault.  If the BRT driver had not swerved, he would have hit the bus and some of the passengers would have been injured.  He did what he could to avert trouble yet he was punished.”

    Kolawole, welts on the back and side of his neck, said: “The man just used his power on me.  If he had been inside the Lagbus vehicle and witnessed what the Danfo driver did, he would have jumped down to beat the driver.

    “The driver did not watch the road before he moved so I was forced to swerve to avoid hitting the car on the fast lane on my left.  Because of him, the soldier beat me and even used his boot to kick my side. Unfortunately, I did not see his (the soldier’s) name well enough to identify him,” he said.

    Passengers sympathised with Kolawole and consoled him as they disembarked from the bus at Oshodi.

  • Explosion Kills three in Niger

    Three people have been confirmed dead and four others injured in a bomb explosion in Kontagora, Niger state.

    The explosion occurred in Gari market, a few kilometers from Kontagora town on Saturday when a man in military uniform detonated the bomb and died in the process.

    The Police Public Relations officer, DSP Bala Elkana who confirmed the explosion said it was as a result of wrong handling of explosives device by a newly recruited soldier identified as private Tanko Damina who just came back from Maiduguri.

    According to Elkana, Tanko Damina was in the habit of showing explosives to the villagers to prove that he was involved in the Maiduguri operation against the Boko Haram terrorists.

    “Tanko Damina used to carry the explosives on his body around the village to show off to the villagers. The explosion was as a result of wrong handling of the explosives. We thank God that it was not a market day, the casualty would have been very high”.

    Elkana assured that there is no need for panic because the incident was not caused by a suicide bomber, adding that “it was an accident like I told you”.

    The police spokesman said the force and the army have despatched anti-bomb experts to the home of the deceased to check if there were other IEDs in the residence.

  • Soldier sentenced to 7 years imprisonment for manslaughter

    The General Court Marshal (GCM) of 7 Division sitting in Maiduguri, Borno State has sentenced a  soldier to seven years imprisonment for manslaughter after  shooting and killing one Mr. Umar Alkali within the popular Monday Market in Maiduguri metropolis on 23 December 2015.

     The unnamed soldier  was found guilty of manslaughter punishable under Section (105) of the Armed Forces Act CAP A20 of the Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004. The soldier’s plea that he acted in self defence, claiming that the deceased assaulted and tried to wrestle his rifle from him before he shot and killed him to save his life and that of his colleagues was set aside on the ground of use of disproportionate force.

    While dismissing the initial charge of murder leveled against the soldier the GCM upheld the charge of manslaughter. The President of the Court, Brigadier General Olusegun Adeniyi while delivering the verdict gave a detailed account of all the proceedings and relevant laws that guided the court at arriving at its decision.

    Another soldier (name withheld) was also found guilty of one count charge of desertion punishable under section 60 of the Act. He was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment.

    It will be recalled that the Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu in August 2016 inaugurated a General Court Marshal with the mandate of dealing with matters that may arise from activities of troops within the Division’s area of responsibility and to ensure that troops work within the framework of their rules of engagement.

    While reading the rulings of the court, the President of GCM, Brigadier General Adeniyi admonished officers and soldiers to always maintain high level of discipline, respect for human rights and strict adherence to rules of engagement and other laws guiding their conducts. He maintained that  Nigerian military is known for discipline.

    With Gratitude