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Tag: soldiers

  • Soldiers arrest five suspected cultists in Aba

    Soldiers from 144 Battalion (under 14 Brigade Command), located in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State has arrested five persons suspected to be cultists operating  in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State.

    The suspects identified as members of Arrow cult group who operated mainly around Ihieorji in Aba South Local government Area of the state, The Nation gathered were arrested by soldiers at Ngwa road Forward Operation Base (FOB).

    The names of the suspects were Michael Kalu, 21-year-old, Emmanuel Okede (aka Hausa), 20, Sunday Chinedu (alias Isioto), 19, Nyechi Johnson Jnr, 21, are indigenes of Bende, Aba South of the State and Godwin Patrick, 24 from Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State respectively.

    Items allegedly recovered from them include three locally made Pistols, five cases of live cartridges, two (female) purse containing twenty one thousand, nine hundred and thirty five naira only, two Tecno mobile phones, I Microsoft Phone, two Nokia phones and about five sachets of substances suspected to be Indian Hemp.

    Sources within the Battalion told our correspondent that the five suspects were arrested around Akwueze by Ihieorji off Ohanku in Aba South Local Government through a tip off.

    The sources who lamented the growing trend of cultism in Aba among youths especially in areas populated by students of higher institutions said that they; army and other security agencies will leave no stone unturned in tackling the menace.

    They urged parents to monitor the company their children and wards keep or mingle with, stressing that no amount of pressure from parents of any cultist would deter them (security agencies) from making sure that anyone caught as a member of any cult group would be dealt with according to the provisions of the constitution, even as they warned members of various cult groups or those intending to join them to have a rethink over their action as they would regret the consequence(s) of their actions.

     

  • Congo begins trial of soldiers accused of sexual abuse

    The Congolese Government said on Thursday that it had begun trial of 20 of its soldiers over alleged rape and other crimes committed while serving as UN peacekeepers in Central African Republic.

    Jeanine Mabunda, President Joseph Kabila’s Adviser on Sexual Violence, said in Kinshasa that the soldiers had been in jail since returning to Congo in December, 2015 and January, 2016, following investigations conducted in CAR by military investigators.

    She said that the soldiers were being tried by a military court in Kinshasa.

    An official said on condition of anonymity that the UN mission in CAR had been beset by accusations of sexual abuse since taking over control from an African Union mission in September, 2014.

    He noted that Congo’s 800 peacekeepers serving in the mission were repatriated last month, following a series of accusations of sexual abuse of women and children.

    The official said that Congolese authorities had vowed to investigate the allegations.
    He, however, pointed out that a government spokesman had dismissed many of the allegations as fabricated and accused the UN of singling out Congolese soldiers.

    Meanwhile, the problem has surfaced elsewhere as the UN said this week that it had received new sexual abuse allegations against peacekeepers from Morocco and Burundi, including one that involved a 14-year-old girl.

     

  • Unruly soldiers

    •He is not fit to be an officer who commanded his soldiers to flog protesting women

    Just when we thought the tenet of democracy was permeating all facets of our lives, men of the armed forces, and even the non-arms bearing one, have continued as if the rest of their compatriots live by their grace.

    The unruly and wayward behavior of our men in uniform, especially the military arms, have become such routine occurrences that no week seems to pass without them waving a black flag of infamy in the public space.

    Early in March, a unit of the Nigerian Army stationed in Ovre-Eku community, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, had assaulted a group of women protesting over a disputed land. As the report goes, the women had been flogged and kicked around in order to disperse them.

    Responding to reporters, Lt. E.D. Oworobo, who is the Commandant of the 4th Brigade Command who had issued the noxious order, put up an even more unpalatable defence for his action. He is reported to have claimed that he ordered his men to use minimal force to disarm the women because they had tried to disarm the soldiers. He also suggested that the women bore charms, which according to him, is a criminal offence.

    If you thought an officer ordering soldiers to flog protesting women was barbaric, just last Monday, another officer, an army major, mobilized soldiers to beat up a woman and damage her car.

    This time, it happened on Forestry Lane, Benin City, Edo State capital. It was at the city centre and the peak period of traffic.

    According to the report, the woman, Mrs. Joy Agboghide was purportedly obstructing traffic and would not move as commanded so that the army officer could have his way. But the woman insisted that she had made way for several other vehicles to pass and that it was her turn to go.

    But the officer would not hear of it. As far as he was concerned, a ‘bloody civilian’ and a woman at that, was countermanding his order.

    The officer was reported to have rushed into the nearby office of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) and mobilized soldiers who were apparently on guard there. He ordered them to clear her off the road and they set about rough-handling her. They also allegedly damaged her car. She ended up in the hospital.

    Both incidents, in Delta and Edo states,will buttress the call for better training and improved professionalism in the military. The armed forces must relentlessly be taught the cardinal lesson of subordinating themselves to civilian rule and democratic ethos.

    It is condemnable enough when soldiers get unruly, but when an officer explicitly commands soldiers to manhandle and pulverize women, right under the gaze of the public, it surely borders on barbarity.

    This behavior is unacceptable in the armed forces formation of any civilized nation. We therefore aver that the two officers involved in these matters must face serious sanctions. The military hierarchy must make a strong and public statement of these cases; and it must be done quickly too.

    The lesson must continuously and explicitly be taught that you are not above the law just because you bear arms and wear uniforms. Though we want to believe that these are aberrant officers and exceptions to the norm in the Nigerian Army, flogging protesting women and battering an unarmed woman over a minor traffic issue cannot be excused.

    The show of shame by officers and men are becoming one too many.

    We expect the army to redeem itself, and quickly too.

  • Rivers rerun: Court restrains Military from deploying soldiers

    Rivers rerun: Court restrains Military from deploying soldiers

    A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on Wednesday restrained the Chief of Defence Staff, the Brigade Commander of Amphibious Brigade and the Chief of Army Staff, from deploying military  operatives  for the re-run elections.

    In a ruling delivered  by Justice George Omereji in a suit filed by the PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah and the PDP, the Court ordered: “That an order of interim order be made and is hereby made restraining , Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Brigade Commander, 2nd Amphibious Brigade, whether by themselves, their agents, servants, officers and operatives or privies from interfering with the applicants right to freely participate in the  government of Nigeria either directly or through free chosen representatives, threatens to arrest, harass, intimidate, torture , incancerate the applicants and their  members  during  the rerun elections for the State and National Assembly  on  19th March,  2016”.

    The Court based its judgment on the judgment by the Appeal Court in the case between the APC versus and others in 2015 detailing the non involvement of the Army and the Armed Forces in elections.

    Justice Omereji ordered that the PDP has the responsibility to serve the judgment on the Military for them to comply.

    “That Leave be and is hereby granted the applicants to issue and serve the originating motion of the jurisdiction of this Honorable court for service on the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff and the Brigade Commander of Second Amphibious Brigade and INEC at the Federal Capital Territory, FCT,” Justice Omereji said.

     

  • Soldiers confiscate newspapers in Aba

    Soldiers confiscate newspapers in Aba

    Newspaper vendors in Aba, Abia State, are counting their losses following the confiscation of their wares by soldiers yesterday.

    The Nation gathered that the confiscated papers were both unsold and new editions of New Republic, Vesym, Freedom Journal and Authority.

    Sources said the soldiers, believed to have come from 144 Battalion, which is under Ohafia 14 Brigade, stormed St. Michael’s Road at about 7am, in two Hilux vans and seized the papers bearing Biafra reports.

    After attempts at arresting distributors and publishers failed, the soldiers packed the unsold and current editions of the papers and left.

    A vendor said: “At about some minutes past seven, soldiers in two Hilux vans arrived with one of the vendors that they picked along Mosque, asking him to point at the person who gave him the paper. But the vendor could not, because the person who gave him the paper had gone.

    “They asked to know the publishers or suppliers but got no response. Then they confiscated New Republic, Vesym, Freedom Journal and some copies of The Authority, which carried Biafra stories. “We are yet to be told the reason for the confiscation, but the truth is that we have lost money as many readers were disappointed.”

    A publisher, who pleaded for anonymity, condemned the action of the soldiers. He said they were overstepping their bounds and vowed that “attempts by the military to gag the press will fail. We are publishing reports about Biafra like other national dailies do. Let them close down all the media houses because they are carrying Biafra stories, after all, we are not the only ones publishing stories on Biafra.”

    Media Officer of the 144 Brigade, Major Sydney Mbanefo could not be reached for comments but a source at 144 Battalion confirmed the seizure, saying it was due to the hate and inciting reports allegedly being published by the papers.

    The source added that they were on the trail of the publishers and suppliers with the aim of nipping circulation of such inciting materials. He warned vendors to desist from selling such publication.

    A Non-Governmental Organisation and Civil Rights group, Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development, in a statement yesterday condemned the action. It described it as anti-democracy.

    The statement by Comrades Nelson Nwafor and Emmanuel Acha said soldiers have no right to confiscate newspapers, no matter what is published, except on the orders of a competent court. It called on the Chief of Army Staff to call the soldiers to order before they take laws into their hands.

    “Nigeria is not a banana republic and therefore, the principles of democracy, as practiced elsewhere, should be respected.”

  • Fuel scarcity: Unknown soldiers beat up station manager

    Fuel scarcity: Unknown soldiers beat up station manager

    The Station Manager of Forte Oil former African Petrol (AP) in Damaturu, Yobe State capital was on Saturday night beaten up by unidentified soldiers for refusing to sell fuel to them in jerry cans.
    The Manager, Auwulu Hassan who is now on admission with injuries at Gen. Sani Abatcha Specialist Hospital in Damaturu told journalists who visited him at the hospital that he was beaten in front of the Divisional Police Officer of ‘A’ Division where he ran to when the soldiers descended on him in front of his filling station.
    “I was about leaving the station when some soldiers approached me that they are coming from Brutai and going to Maiduguri so I should get them fuel. I told them we have close but I can get them 30ltrs that will take them to Maiduguri, but they said no, they want the fuel in jerry cans. Then I told them I can’t give them in jerry cans and urged them to accept the 30 liters that would help them to get to Maiduguri.
    “While we were arguing over this, one of them called one among them to go and bring the jerry cans. Within that time, I found a way of escaping from their sight because I noticed they were not ready to listen to me.
    “I went and did my evening prayers, came back and sat opposite the filling station then I saw five soldiers coming towards me. Before I could say anything, they started beating me up and everybody there were surprised. One of the people wanted to call with his phone and they collected the phone and started beating him.
    “It was at that point that I ran to ‘A’ Division Police Station. They followed me to the Police Station and in front of the DPO they were still beating me,” Auwulu narrated.
    The Independent Marketers in the state through their Chairman Alhaji Audu Girgiri have vowed not to open their fuel stations or receive any supply if the soldiers are not apprehended.
    Alhaji Girigiri who spoke with reporters at the Amenity ward of General Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital where he went to sympathize with his member, described the action of the soldiers as “primitive and uncivilized”.
    “We cannot condone this kind of treatment on our members. If the military authority does not take action to punish those soldiers within the next 48 hours, all fuel stations in Damaturu and the entire Yobe will be close,” Alhaji Girigiri warned.
    The Chairman also expressed reservation over the performance of the petroleum taskforce in the state describing it as a failure.
    “I think the Petrol TaskForce in the state is a failure because it has created more problems to the common people than solution. It is this task force that is causing scarcity and hardship for people in Damaturu presently unlike before when fuel us to be available,” he explained.
    The spokesman of 3 Div (Tactical Headquaters) Damaturu Col. Ogunsanya in a text message said that he was not aware of the matter.
    The beaten station manager later Sunday evening said some high ranking military officers have visited him at the hospital to apologize on behalf of the soldiers and promised to fish them out for appropriate punishment.

  • Extortion: Nigerian Army dismisses five Soldiers

    Extortion: Nigerian Army dismisses five Soldiers

    The Commander of the Guard Brigade, Brigadier General M.S. Yusuf has disclosed that five soldiers attached to the 176 Brigade Command of the Nigerian Army have been dismissed from service.

    The soldiers according to the Brigade Commander were dismissed for extorting money from people. “I want to inform you that five soldiers attached to the 176 Brigade Command in Gwagwalada Abuja, were dismissed recently for collecting money from members of the public.

    “This has become necessary because we want the best from our soldiers, and this can only be achieved if we have good understanding with other citizens of Nigerians, as it would help in bridging the gap between us and the civilians.”

    Brigadier Yusuf said the entitlements of all the soldiers on guard in the various formations in the country, are always paid upfront before they are deployed and based on this. We would not tolerate anyone of them collecting any gratification whatsoever from people. We do everything possible to make them conducive at their place of primary assignments,” he said.

    He however challenged the National Orientation Agency to also work out modalities of educating the civilian publics on their relationship with the military.

    He appealed for the support of the media in bridging the gap between the military and civilian.

    Brigadier General Yusuf spoke in Abuja on Tuesday during an interactive meeting with journalists in his office.

  • Soldiers invade church in Delta

    The crisis in the Assemblies of God Church took a dangerous twist on Sunday morning as troops took over an Effurun, Delta State branch of the church.

    Worshippers told our reporter that Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) stormed the Glory House Parish of the church on Oti Street, off Aka Avenue, Effurun, and ordered worshippers to close.

    “We were preparing for service when they (soldiers) came. They were menacing and prevented us from continuing the service. We had no option but to close,” a source said.

    Commanding Officer, 13 Battalion Lt Colonel Patrick Igwe said he was not aware of the incident.

    Sunday’s incident came on the heels of a similar invasion of the church by thugs.

    A senior pastor of the church, Rev Fred Iyorhiobhe, confirmed the report.

    He said it was a continuation of the act of terrorism with the aid of military and police by a factional leader of the church.

    He said: “Last week, some youths came with two pastors to attack the church. They destroyed the signboard.

    “We went to A Division Police Station to get protection. Today, we called the commander, who told us that he was not aware and did not give any such order.”

    However, it was gathered that for the wisdom of some policemen who were called in, there would have been a bloody confrontation.

    Rev Iyorhiobhe, who is backing the Bishop Emeka faction, appealed to security operatives to protect law-abiding worshippers and to avoid taking sides in the conflict.

    He lamented the action of the opposing pastors, stressing: “I wonder why they are doing this when the matter is in court.”

  • Security agencies stop IPOB protest in Aba

    Security agencies comprising of Soldiers and Police were said to have prevented members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, from embarking on street protest Tuesday in Aba.

    The Nation learnt that the IPOB members were held up at the National High school along Port Harcourt road.

    Details later….

  • My ordeal in the hands of soldiers – Nation man

    My ordeal in the hands of soldiers – Nation man

    The clash between two pro-Biafra protesting groups; Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for the Actualization for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), may have come and gone, but the impact still leaves many so much to ponder on.

    One of the residents of Aba and Sales Representative of The Nation in the city, Gbola Alade narrating the ordeal he suffered in the hands of soldiers said he was yet to get his phone which some soldiers collected from him.

    He also said that the soldiers who ordered him to enter their patrol van also broke his official Identity card.

    According to him, “I was coming back from the bank to the office after making some payment.

    “It was when I got to Mosque near our office unknown to me that soldiers had already laid siege in the area. But since I know that I was not part of the protesters and that I was very close to my office I didn’t bother. I was equally hanging my ID card on my neck.

    “The soldiers ordered me to come and I went to answer them. They inquired to know who I am and I told them that I am a staff of Nation and that my office is very close.

    “Before I could finish talking, one of the soldiers in a patrol van marked 47A or so broke my ID card and equally collected my phone and accused me of trying to snap them with my phone.

    “They ordered me into their truck with one other person who was later discovered to be a corps member. They drove to a distance and asked us to go down.

    “This morning (Tuesday), I have made attempt to go to nearby army formation but none admitted it was their personnel that broke my ID and collected my phone. My phone is still not reachable and I am still going to visit other formations to see if I can get my phone back because of the contacts I have in the phone. According to them, the soldiers that came were from different formations outside Aba.

    “I want to use this medium to appeal to the soldiers to please return my phone because as it stands now, it is affecting my job. I don’t know why they should break my ID and seize my mobile phone at the same time,” he stated.