The Nation Newspaper

Tag: soldiers

  • Ikpeazu slams soldiers for harassing Abia residents

    Ikpeazu slams soldiers for harassing Abia residents

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has frowned at what he called “illegal and extremely provocative” actions of the Army against residents of Aba and other parts of the state.

    Ikpeazu expressed dismay about “the unwholesome activities” of some soldiers, who he accused of subjecting the civil populace to corporal punishment and alleged extortion.

    The governor noted that the actions of the soldiers were more prevalent on Bende-Umuahia Road, Ohafia township and within Aba and its environs.

    A statement yesterday quoted the governor as saying the actions of the soldiers were not only illegal and extremely provocative, but that they were also capable of causing civil unrest.

    It said they could also distort the peaceful atmosphere “we have worked very hard to put in place in the state”.

    Ikpeazu, who said his administration had always indicated its preparedness to cooperate with security agencies in carrying out their lawful operations within the state, added that it would not condone a situation where the presence of the Army would become a platform to assault the basic rights of the people and subject them to inhuman and degrading treatments.

    The governor directed the Commander of the 14 Brigade at Ohafia and other heads of Army formations in the state to monitor the activities of their men and stop untoward practices.

    He said: “The Government of Abia State shall no longer condone this unwarranted assault on the people of the state. Our people, as law-abiding citizens, are fully entitled to their basic freedoms and fundamental rights to life, personal liberty and dignity of the human person.

    “These rights are guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the same law from which the Army derives its authority. These rights can only be tampered with in accordance with laid-down legal procedures and not according to the whims and caprices of individual Army officers.”

  • Soldiers threaten to beat up VIO boss

    Two soldiers, believed to have been attached to Operation Crocodile Smile, last weekend stormed the Agbara office of Ogun State Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) and threatened to allegedly beat up the Divisional Commander, Olugbenga Oluwatoyin.

    An eyewitness said the soldiers, who disregarded protocol, barged in on the VIO boss in her office and would have succeeded in beating her up, but for the intervention of her subordinates.

    The Nation learnt the soldiers had gone to the VIO office to assist a driver, who had been apprehended by VIO operatives for driving without a driver’s licence and with expired vehicle particulars on Agbara Road, in front of OPIC Estate.

    His vehicle, a Volkswagen Wagon, registered as BDG 655 CE, with army colour, was impounded by the operatives.

    It was gathered that one of the soldiers lamented that but for the gender of the VIO boss, he would have beaten her up.

    His words: “Wallahi, I would have slapped and beaten you up had it been you are a man.”

    The soldiers’ behaviour reportedly caused pandemonium at the VIO office. They fled when they noticed that the VIO boss called “someone from above.”

    Contacted on the phone, Oluwatoyin said she was surprised that uniformed people could behave like that.

    She said she had reported to the army authority.

    The VIO boss said: “I did not have time to attend to them because two people were in my office. They threw caution to the wind, bulldozed their way into my office and started shouting that they would have beaten me up if I had been a man.

    “Their superior officer is angry that some of his boys could behave like that. He said we should watch out and let him know if they return.

    “They cleverly removed their name tags. One of them put on the Operation Crocodile Smile badge around his arm. We have released the driver and other people. But we’ve impounded the vehicle because its particulars expired since 2014.”

     

  • Soldiers allegedly beat 22-yr-old driver to coma over N50 bribe

    Pandemonium broke out in Igbeti area of Oyo State, after some soldiers allegedly beat a driver to a coma for his refusal to give them N50 as bribe.

    The soldiers were said to have mounted a road block and extorted money from motorists especially commercial drivers and motorcyclists popularly called okada riders.

    The development led to an outrage as irate youths staged a protest blocking the major roads in the community to register their displeasure against the action of the soldiers.

    The protest caused traffic gridlock while commuters were stranded for several hours.

    The victim, Azees Aleru, was returning from a mechanic workshop in his Golf car, with a registration number, Kwara SHA 509 XA, on October 3, 2017, when he encountered the soldiers and refused to give them N50 bribe for easy passage.

    He was said to have explained to the soldiers at the security checkpoint that he had gone to fix his car at a mechanic workshop and that he had no passenger in the vehicle.

    His refusal to give them the money infuriated the soldiers who use their gun butts to hit him Aleru and subjected him to brutality during which he slumped and went into a coma.

    Aleru was rushed to a nearby private hospital by his colleagues, where he is currently in a critical condition.

    A source close to the family disclosed to The Nation that the result of medical tests have shown that Aleru suffered injuries on his head as a result of the beatings received from the soldiers.

    Condemning the action of the soldiers, one of Aleru’s colleagues said: ‘’ The soldiers should be reprimanded by the authorities and appropriately punished for the brutality inflicted on our colleague (Aleru).

    ‘’They have been forcibly extorting money from innocent motorists at the illegal checkpoint and constituted themselves into a parallel government instead of protecting the people for which they were commissioned.’’

    Police spokesman, Adekunle Ajisebutu, denied the report in a text message forwarded to our correspondent, saying: ‘’I have no such report. However, I will find out and get back to you.’’

  • Soldiers recover arms in Imo

    •Suspected cultists, oil thief arrested

    Soldiers of 82 Division participating in Operation Python Dance in the Southeast, have reportedly recovered three locally-made single barrel guns and one AK 47 rifle loaded with 15 rounds of 7.62MM special ammunition.

    The recovery was made during a raid carried out by troops of Sector 2, Sub-sector 4 of 342 Artillery Regiment.

    A statement by the spokesman, Col. Musa Sagir, said the raid took place at Obile community in Ohaji Egbema Local Government of Imo State where a suspected notorious cultist and crude oil thief was arrested.

    The statement, which said four suspected cultists at Umukpo and Omoglogo villages in Ohuba community of Ohaji Egbema Local Government were arrested after a criminals’ den was raided, added that troops of Sector 2 (34 Brigade, Owerri), averted a bloody intra-cultists’ clash and nabbed Mr. Onyewokechi Chiwuanya aka Randy, at Abacheke locality of Egbema community, for alleged cultism and burglary of an electronics store.

    Mrs. Uchechi Agu and Esoro Chibuzor aka Oyibo were arrested for alleged cult-related activities.

    Sagir said the suspects had been handed over to the police.

    Troops of Sector 3 (82 Division) have arrested an alleged drug peddler, Mr. David Ubi.

    He was said to have been arrested with 100kg of Indian hemp and drugs suspected to be tramadol.

    Ubi hails from Yakurr Local Government of Cross River State and has been handed over to the police.

     

  • Army denies death of 30 soldiers by ISIS

    The Army has debunked reports by an online medium that 30 soldiers were killed in an ambush by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

    A statement by the Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, on behalf of the Theatre Command of operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, dismissed the publication as mere propaganda by the drowning Boko Haram insurgents.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole has been drawn to a story were Chris Tomson claimed ISIS was responsible for the ambush against the Army’s convoy, killing 30 soldiers.

    “It is pertinent to state that contrary to the report, there was no such attack or ambush on any convoy of troops of operation Lafiya Dole by ISIS, or any other adversary within or outside the theatre of operation.

    “The report is false and an attempt by Boko Haram terrorists to remain relevant and portray seeming potency. The graphic images used to support the article has been closely studied and found to lack nexus to any recent operational engagements of operation Lafiya Dole.

    “The photographs are not a reflection of recent operational encounters of Lafiya Dole. The concocted story is, therefore, unsubstantiated and lacks credibility. Troops did not, at any time, have an encounter with ISIS terrorists, neither have they suffered from such fictitious attack as claimed.

    “The public is enjoined to discountenance this mischievous publication as it lacks the least iota of truth.”

     

  • Soldiers nab two armed robbery suspects, three others at large

    SOLDIERS attached to Sector 1 of the ongoing Operation Python Dance II in Abia State in collaboration with members of a local vigilante have reportedly arrested two suspected armed robbers. The suspects whose names were yet to be identified until the time of filing the report were said to have been arrested at Aro Ngwa Military Checkpoint axis of the Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway. According to a release issued by the Deputy Director Army Public Relations Officer, 82 Division, Enugu, Musa Sagir, the suspects were allegedly responsible for robbing motorists and commuters on Aba-Umuahia axis of the Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway.

    Items such as one locally made pistol, four live cartridges, one Jack knife, two cell phones and wraps of Indian hemp, were allegedly recovered from the suspects. Sagir stated that the suspects would be handed over to the police after preliminary investigation. In a telephone conversation, the Abia State Command spokesman of Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Geoffrey Ogbonna told The Nation that Police personnel on patrol along the sighted the hoodlums while they were operating and engaged them in a shootout which made them to abandon their victims and fled into a nearby bush. According to Ogbonna, it was after the hoodlums fled into the bush that they were apprehended by the vigilante members who eventually handed them over to the police, adding that the soldiers were yet to hand over the suspects to the police.

  • Soldiers raid kidnappers’ den in Abia

    Soldiers raid kidnappers’ den in Abia

    •Three suspects arrested

    Soldiers of Sector I in Operation Python Dance II in Abia State have raided a kidnappers’ den at Ohanze in Obingwa Local Government Area and arrested three suspected members of the gang – Okezie Nwaobilor, Arinze Ugiri and Michael Sunday.

    They rescued the victim, Monday Benson, during the raid.

    A statement by the 82 Division headquarters of Nigerian Army Public Relations Officer, Col. Musa Sagir, said the suspects had been handed over to the police, after questioning, for further investigation and possible prosecution.

    The statement said troops of Sector IV raided a criminals’ hideout at Obinze community and arrested 17 suspected criminals.

    The soldiers reportedly recovered three locally-made pistols, five Dane guns and 15 rounds of various calibres of ammunition.

    Other items recovered are: charms and seven wraps of substance suspected to be Indian hemp.

    The statement said the troops of Sector IV, in conjunction with the police, also raided a criminals’ den in Ukukwa North Local Government Area of Anambra State and arrested seven suspected criminals.

    They were said to have recovered four locally-made pistols, 420 live cartridges, about 50 kilogrammes of cannabis and some charms.

    The suspects and the items were reportedly handed over to the police for further investigation.

    The statement added that troops of Sector II, following an intelligence report, conducted two raids operatios on suspected cultists’ shrines at Awara and Assa communities of Ohaji-Egbema Local Government of Imo State arrested 10 suspected cult members.

    The suspects, the statement said, had been transferred to the police after preliminary investigations.

    The statement added: “Despite the initial opposition to Exercise Egwu Eke II by the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) members and their sympathisers and unpatriotic elements, the general area of the Southeast, especially Aba in Abia State, is now fully stabilised. The usual violent activities of the outlawed Biafra “National Guards” (manning check points and extorting money from traders and motorists) have now been checkmated.

    “Similarly, the outlawed Biafra terrorists’ group’s presence is no longer visible and people go about their normal businesses without fear, let or hindrance.

    “The 82 Division of the Nigerian Army wishes to reassure the public that it is poised to maintaining the peace and security in the Southeast. The public is requested to cooperate with security agencies by remaining law-abiding and passing credible information to the nearest security check point or call 193 and the various sector commanders’ telephone numbers that were earlier made public.

    “The Nigerian Army encourages the residents of the states to be vigilant of suspicious activities and has provided contact details for the public, should they possess any vital information regarding the exercise.”

     

  • Panel refuses to hear complaints by 72 convicted soldiers

    The presidential panel constituted to review compliance of the armed forces with human rights obligations and rules of engagement in the fight against insurgents has declined jurisdiction over the complaints by about 72 soldiers earlier convicted by military court martials.

    In a unanimous ruling over the weekend, the seven-man panel held that it lacked the requisite jurisdiction to review the trial of the soldiers, their conviction and the sentences passed by the court martials.

    The panel, led by Justice Biobele Georgewill (of the Court of Appeal), said since the soldiers, who include Brig.-Gen. E. A. Ransom-Kuti (N/8301) who was demoted to Colonel by the Army Council, have appealed the court marshals’ decisions at the Court of Appeal, and have also applied to the President for pardon or clemency, they should explore both options.

    The Justice Georgewill-led panel had, during its proceedings on September 11, directed lawyers to the soldiers (Femi Falana, SAN) and the Nigerian Army (Biola Oyebanji) to address it whether or not it possesses the jurisdiction to hear the five memoranda submitted by the soldiers.

    In its lead ruling delivered on September 13, the panel said it was an investigative panel constituted by the Federal Government with specific mandate, as contained in the terms of reference.

    It said it lacked the powers to “re-hear, re-consider, decide, overturn or quash trials, convictions and sentences of any or all the petitioners by the respective court marshals that tried, convicted and sentenced them.”

  • Governor imposes curfew in Abia after soldiers/IPOB clash

    Governor imposes curfew in Abia after soldiers/IPOB clash

    A THREE-DAY curfew has been imposed on Umuahia and Aba as the government of Abia State battles to stem a major security problem.

    There has been a clash between soldiers and members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) in the state, prompting Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to take the action.

    The stay-at-home will run betwem 6pm and 6am for the period, the governor said in a statement he personally signed yesterday.

    Abia has been under security focus because of the activities of the separatist group and its leader Nnamdi Kanu.

    Last week the Army deployed troops for “Operation Python Dance 2”. During a “show of force” on Sunday, Kanu alleged that troops shot and injured his men near his Umuahia home.

    But the military said its men only shot into the air to scare away a mob that threw stones at its convoy.

    There was tension in different parts of Aba, as soldiers reportedly clashed with members of IPOB.It could not be confirmed if anybody died in the fracas.

    Some members of IPOB who left Aba for Umuahia in solidarity with Kanu were alleged to have been stopped by soldiers at Isiala Ngwa junction on the Enugu/Port Harcourt Expressway.

    The IPOB members who escaped after being stopped by the soldiers were said to have met another set of soldiers at Osisioma Junction, a few kilometers away. A face-off reportedly ensued.

    The soldiers were said to have shot sporadically into the air while the IPOB members moved towards Ariaria International Market. There was confusion. People ran helter skelter.

    The chaos at Osisioma stretched beyond Ariaria market to the Flyover Junction, a distance of over eight kilometres. Some vehicles were destroyed. Many people were injured.

    There was pandemonium within the city centre as soldiers cordoned off roads leading to the Aba Central Mosque to prevent hoodlums from vandalising the facility.

    They shot into the air to ward off intruders, and people ran for their lives. Traders hurriedly closed their business.

    Ikpeazu said: “Government notes and has observed the frenzy of activities of members of IPOB within Afara – Umuahia, the ancestral home of the leader of IPOB for some months now.

    “Government is equally aware of the recent proclamation by the Nigerian Army of Operation Python Dance II within the Southeast geopolitical region of Nigeria.

    “The operation as declared by the Army is intended to check kidnapping, banditry, assassination, secessionist activities within the region, amongst other forms of criminal activities.

    “The recent confrontation between the Nigerian Army and members of IPOB on Sunday, 10th September, 2017, could presumably be attributed to the commencement of the said Operation Python Dance II.

    “The Abia State government unequivocally states that Abia is a component State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and subscribes to the supremacy of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and all other extant laws.

    “While the government of Abia State recognises the right of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies, to perform their statutory duty of protection of lives and property of Nigerian citizens, such duties must be carried out within acclaimed Nigerian and international standards of engagement with the civil populace, with due respect to the human rights of citizens and sanctity of human lives.

    “The Abia State government is committed to the protection of the lives and properties of its citizens and others residing and doing business within the geographical entity called Abia State.

    “Abians and others living within Abia are advised to remain law abiding and carry on their lawful business without fear, as efforts by government will be made to reduce friction between the civil populace and military personnel in the State.

    “Abia residents are advised to observe a curfew from 6pm to 6amfrom today 12/09/2017 to 14/09/2017.

    “Persons residing within the State are strongly advised to remain law abiding, while going about their lawful business without fear of molestation, and, not engage in any form of confrontation with military personnel or other security agents.

    “The government recognises the constitutional Right to Freedom of Movement for all Nigerians, but objects to the influx of people into Abia State for purposes of unsettling the enduring peace in the State.

    “Abia State will co–operate with security agencies to maintain the rule of law and order in the State.”

    The Southeast Governors’ Forum set up a seven-man committee to probe the Sunday clash between the Army and IPOB members in Umuahia.

    Mr Michael Udah, the forum’s Director of Media and Communications, in a statement, said the committee was expected to submit its report during the forum’s meeting on Friday.

    Udah did not mention the leader of the committee, but said that it was set-up to proffer lasting solutions to such problems and forestall future occurrences.

    Udah said the governors were consulting with stakeholders in the zone, including the military, to ensure clarity of positions.

  • Confusion over IPOB/soldiers in Rivers

    Confusion over IPOB/soldiers in Rivers

    Two persons are feared dead, and several others injured following a clash yesterday between soldiers and members of the Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    Although there are different versions to the story,  a source close to the area said trouble started when news broke at Oyigbo express junction that  soldiers allegedly ambushed and killed eight IPOB members at 44 Battalion Asa, Abaia State.

    The IPOB members were said to be on the way to Nnamdi Kanu’s home in Umuahia to receive IPOB Deputy Leader Uche Mefor, who reportedly arrived Umuahia from London.

    The source said when they heard the rumour of the killing of their members in Abia, they mobilized and began to protest.

    Unconfirmed report had it that some IPOB members seized three rifles from policemen and burnt a police van at the junction (Oyigbo), forcing businesses and shop owners to lock up as motorists and commuters ran for dear lives.

    Spokesman of 6 Brigade Col. Aminu Iliyasu denied that soldiers were deployed in Obigbo to stop IPOB members from going  to Umuahia, noting that they could only shoot if they were attacked.

    Col. Iliyasu said:”I am in Bayelsa now, but people have been calling, telling me that there is a situation in the Obigbo area. But I don’t know exactly where this is happening. One thing is certain, no soldier was deployed in Obigbo and asked to stop IPOB members from travelling to Umuahia.”