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Tag: soldiers

  • Rivers tribunal: soldiers, policemen lied, say witnesses

    Rivers tribunal: soldiers, policemen lied, say witnesses

    Eight witnesses for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday told the Rivers Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja that the security men who testified for the All Progressives Congress (APC)  lied on oath before the tribunal.

    The witnesses also told the tribunal during their cross examination by counsel to the APC, Mr Akinlolu Olujimi that the security men were ignorant of the electoral processes at the polling unit.

    Fifty-eight witnesses, among who were soldiers, policemen and officials of the Department of State Services were called by the APC to prove the allegations that the April 11 governorship election was marred by violence.

    Some of the witnesses testified that there was no election. Others claimed that the election was disrupted by shooting and ballot snatching.

    The witnesses insisted that the elections were peaceful, credible and that all legal procedures for the election were followed before the declaration of Governor Nyesom Wike as the winner.

    the witnesses who were presiding officers in five local government areas, namely Degema, Gokana, Ogba /Egbema/Ndoni, Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro, added that card readers and manual accreditation were used during the election.

    Mr Derekunor Richmond, the presiding officer at Ward 4 Unit 10, described the soldiers who testified earlier as liars who were not at the polling unit.

    He said the governorship election was peaceful, credible and conducted in line with the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.

    The witness also pointed out that he met other presiding officers, who participated in the collation at the ward collation centre where results were compiled.

    Another presiding officer, Nwachukwu Chimezie, who conducted election at Unit 9, Ward 14 of Degema, noted that the election was peaceful and credible in his jurisdiction.

    According to Chimezie, the soldiers and mobile policemen who testified before the tribunal lied on oath.

    He said Degema Local Government Area was peaceful on election day, adding that he slept in the town on April 10 and there was no shooting or thuggery.

    He added that all electoral procedures were followed before the results were declared in the presence of party agents.

    Another INEC witness, Apoodari Dilo, the presiding officer for Unit 4 Ward 4 in Gokana, berated the soldiers, saying there was no violence during the election.

    He stated that he slept at Gokana on the night preceding the election and that it was peaceful, with no shooting or violence.

    Onyije Ifeanyi, the presiding officer in Ogba / Egbema / Ndoni confirmed that the election was peaceful, credible and conducted in line with the Electoral Act.

    He wondered why the soldiers and mobile policemen invited by the APC would lie under oath when they never participated in the election.

    According to Ifeanyi, if there were killings in the local government area he monitored, as the soldiers alleged, he would not have stayed there to complete the election process and collation of results in the presence of party agents.

    The Presiding Officer for Unit 12 Ward 1 of Opobo / Nkoro local government where the Rivers State APC governorship candidate, Mr Dakuku Peterside hails from, Mohammed Yusuf, said contrary to claims by the soldiers and mobile policemen, nobody disrupted the voting.

    Maxwell Loveday , the presiding officer of Unit 6 Ward 9 of Andoni Local Government Area, said there was no  violence as the election was peaceful.

    The presiding officer for Unit 8, Ward 1 of Degema Local Government Area, Tuboni McBala said that all electoral procedures were observed before he went to the ward collation centre where he met other presiding officers.

    He noted that the soldiers and mobile policemen merely lied at the tribunal as they were not part of the process.

    Ogunkoya Adewale, who served as presiding officer at unit 5 Ward 4 in Degema  Local Government Area said he had a successful voting and collation, adding that there were no soldiers at the polling unit.

    He said he travelled to Bakana, a riverine community, a day before the election and slept there without any violence before and during the election.

    The witness maintained that elections held and the legal procedures were used to get to the declaration of results.

    He said card readers and manual accreditation were used for the governorship election in line with the training they received.

    Adewale pointed out that they were never instructed to postpone the election on account of malfunctioning card readers.

  • Boko Haram: Army promotes 5,000 soldiers

    The Army has approved the promotion of 5,000 soldiers fighting insurgents in the Northeast and others involved in other operations, as part of steps to boost their morale.

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, made the announcement yesterday in Abuja at the opening of the 2015 Chief of Army Staff third quarter conference held at the Army Headquarters conference hall.

    He said the approval of the promotion of the soldiers was one of the many measures introduced by the Army under his command to boost troops’ morale and reposition its operations.

    He added that it was also in line with the vision of the Army command to reward gallant troops in any way deemed fit to boost their combat readiness and willingness to serve their fatherland.

    He said troops serving in the Northeast and in other operations in the country would regularly receive rewards from the Army high command for their selfless service to the nation.

    “Since we came on board, we have introduced several measures aimed at encouraging our troops to give their best in the service of their nation.

    “The approval of the accelerated promotion of 5,000 soldiers was to redeem the promise made by my predecessor to the troops fighting insurgents in the North-East.

    “It is my belief that this promotion, coupled with other incentives, will encourage our troops to fight for our country,” he said.

    Buratai said the Army, under his watch, within the short period, had recorded major successes in the areas of fighting insurgency, improving its human rights credentials as well as improving the welfare of troops.

    He said his vision of entrenching professionalism and bequeathing a combat ready Army to the nation was on course as commanders and troops had been fully briefed to key into the vision.

    He warned commanders and senior officers to guard against acts that could undermine efforts of the present administration to rebuild the image of the Army.

    “You will all agree with me that the renewed breath of change flows directly from the President in his directive to our operations and other directive on his vision for the Army.

    “I therefore demand that you all react with corresponding appropriateness with regards to the directive because majority of our requirements within the limited period has been provided for,” he said.

    The COAS charged the officers and all personnel of the Nigeria Army to constantly maintain the required level of physical fitness.

    He gave all Army officers and soldiers a Dec. 15, 2015 deadline to shape up or face the medical board for the appropriate disciplinary actions.

    He also warned against leasing or selling of Nigeria Army lands across the country to private individuals or organisations and directed lands already sold be recovered with immediate effect.

     

  • Soldiers must obey constitution’

    Men and officers of the Nigerian Army, 15 Field Engineering Regiment, Topo, Badagry, Lagos, have been urged to focus on their constitutional duties.

    Major Gen. Edmond Obi said soldiers must be non-partisan and must be committed to defending the country against any form of aggression.

    He said any soldier who deviated from their duties will be disciplined.

    Obi spoke during a familiarisation visit to Topo Barracks.

    He warned the soldiers against overzealousness, warning that acts of indiscipline will not be tolerated.

    Speaking with newsmen, Obi’s visit was to interact with officers under his command, encourage them and to carry out first hand assessment of their challenges to advice the military authorities.

    According to him, the security situation in the country requires total commitment of every soldier for the war against insurgence to be won because the government is committed to their welfare.

  • Rep petitions NHRC over soldiers’ invasion of Benue community

     

    For about an hour yesterday, a member of the House of Representatives representing Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency of Benue State, Dickson Tarkighir, narrated how some soldiers allegedly invaded a community in his constituency at night and destroyed it.

    Tarkighir was at the Abuja headquarters of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) with some leaders from the affected community – the North Bank 2 – in Makurdi Local Government Area, to present a petition to the commission and seek its intervention.

    The lawmaker wrote and read a petition to those present before presenting it to the NHRC’s Executive Secretary, Prof Bem Angwe.

    He said the night raid was the fallout of a disagreement between some indigenes and a soldier, identified as Private Innocent Okoro.

    Tarkighir said: “On the night of August 14, some soldiers from the NASME Barracks in North Bank 2 of Makurdi Local Government Area embarked on what they called a reprisal attack on the community. This so-called reprisal attack was triggered by an altercation earlier in the day between a soldier, PTE Innocent Okoro, and three other young men over a lady.

    “The reprisal attack carried with it the hallmark of a lawless society as soldiers showed their disregard for civil authority in the pursuit of ‘justice’ and descended on a community in the night, beating up the residents and commuters as they also set ablaze over 200 cars, shattering the glasses to over 100 houses and about 150 other cars they did not have the time to set ablaze.

    “This sordid act lasted up till the early hours August 15. Left in its aftermath were charred remains of burnt cars, hundreds of injured residents in hospitals, shattered windscreens of cars, punctured tyres of vehicles, broken windows and doors to residential apartments and a community in tears,     wondering what wrong they had done.”

    The lawmaker said his decision to petition the NHRC was informed by the alleged impunity by the soldiers, which he said showed “very clearly, a demonstration of utter disdain by a few misguided soldiers towards the capacity of our democratic institutions to tackle challenges for which essence they exist”.

    He added: “This is a worrying tendency that needs to be nipped in the bud before it overwhelms democracy.”

    Tarkighir urged the commission to “cause a full investigation into the remote and immediate causes to the violation of human rights, as it were, by the soldiers and to ensure the prosecution of all culprits as well as compensation for the victims of the dastardly act”.

    Angwe hailed the petitioners for expressing their grievances rather than taking the law into their hands.

    He said: “I wish to state, on behalf of NHRC, that we will investigate this petition. There is no policy on the part of the Federal Government of Nigeria to condone the violation of the rights of any Nigerian by any agency of the government. There is no policy put in place by the hierarchy of the Nigerian military for the violation of the rights of any Nigerian.

    “With the commitment expressed today by the military to subject itself to the nation’s Constitution and to all civil authorities, the NHRC will request the full cooperation of the hierarchy of the military to ensure that the perpetrators off this alleged violations are not only identified but are also punished.”

    Angwe said his commission would ensure appropriate compensation, after ascertaining the veracity of the allegation and the extent of damage.

     

  • Soldiers accuse commanders of ill-treatment

    Soldiers accuse commanders of ill-treatment

    Soldiers undergoing training in Jaji, Kaduna State have condemned “harsh” what they called their treatment by their commanders.

    The soldiers include the 225 dismissed officers who have been in detention in 3 Division Jos and the 54 sentenced to death by a curt martial during the Jonathan’s administration for alleged mutiny.

    They were pardoned by President Muhammadu Buhari, who directed their re-admission into the Nigerian Army.

    The pardoned soldiers have been training in Jaji, Kaduna State,  for onward deployment to Borno State to sustain the fight against Boko Haram.

    Decrying the inhuman treatment by their commanders, one of the soldiers, who craved for anonymity, said: “We are in trouble here. They are training us to return us to Maiduguri to go and fight Boko Haram but they have not addressed our problems.

    “We had no salary since February when we were dismissed and arrested. We were happy that President Buhari ordered that we should be reinstated but what about our salaries?  We are just serving punishment in the camp.”

    Another officer alleged: “We learnt that these generals have been given all funds for our upkeep but they (generals) have pocketed the money and left us on our own and we don’t have the means to take care of ourselves.

    “For instance, we are 2000 soldiers at the camp in Jaji but they will bring 200 loafs of bread for breakfast.

    “In the afternoon they will bring food in food flasks that will not go round us. Soldiers are fighting over food in the camp.”

    He added: “If they continue to treat us like this, how can we have the energy to fight Boko Haram? They are moving us to Kotangora after the two- week training.

    “They have not told us if we have enough arms to fight Boko Haram, which was what led to the mutiny offence last year.

    “So, to me, they are trying to sabotage the efforts of President Buhari to fight Boko Haram. They are not helping this country.

    “They want us to go and die for nothing like several of colleagues who were killed by Boko Haram.”

  • Boko Haram: Review of dismissed soldiers’ cases begins

    The Nigerian Army will on Monday commence the review of the cases of about 4,000 officers and men recently dismissed from operation “Zaman Lafia” in North Eastern region of the country.

    The exercise which was earlier slated for 311 Artillery Regiment Kontagora in Niger State will now hold at the Nigerian Army Peace Keeping Centre (NAPKC), Jaji.

    The cases of officers and men who are currently in detention in Jos, Plateau state and those already convicted for various offences under “Operation Zaman Lafiya” will be reviewed.

    A signal dated 13th August, 2015 and signed by one Lt. Colonel P. Y Haruna from the headquarters of the 31 Artillery Brigrade to all its formations across the country directed all affected to appear before a panel at the NAPKC Jaji.

    According to the signal, the review exercise will also look into the cases of officers and men “under detention, trail or convicted by GCM in respect of disciplinary cases emanating from erstwhile Operation Zaman Lafiya to NAPKC Jaji”.

    This development supersede the 4th of August signal by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Army headquarters, Colonel D. C Onyemulu directing all affected to proceed to Kontagora.

    Majority of the affected soldiers were dismissed following the fall of the home town of the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badeh to the outlawed Boko Haram group early this year.

    The attack led to mass summary dismissal of men and trial of some officers under the Operation Zaman Lafiya for neglegence without strict adherence to military guidelines for dismissal of officers and men.

    Affected officers and men had appealed against their summary dismissal, alleging that they were not tried but were only handed down with their dismissal while some are still in detention camp in Jos.

    Source from the military said that the affected officers and men were drawn from five Battalions of the Nigerian Army.

  • Soldiers kill Hippopotamus in Gombe

    Soldiers kill Hippopotamus in Gombe

    A hippopotamus that has terrorized residents around Dadin-Kowa dam and environs in Yamaltu-Deba local government of Gombe state for the past two years has been killed by men of the 301 Artillery Regiment, Gombe.
    Head of Forestry Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Council, Malam Ismail Umar who confirmed the killing of the animal added that the wild beast had constituted a major threat to the lives of fishermen and farmers as well as destroying their equipments and farm lands for the past two and the half years.
    “We discovered it since the last two and half years, but unfortunately it has become very notorious and hazardous to people, farmers and fishermen.
    “The people wrote to the local government council authorities complaining about the damages it was causing them, and we forwarded to the ministry, seeking the approval of the Governor.
    “We received the approval last week, and we decided to go hunting for it, which we took over a week before we finally got it Wednesday night.
    “We were lucky to trap it outside; we used military men to shoot it with the help of the local hunters.
    “We shot it yesterday night around 10:30 pm when it came out to eat grasses, and today we butchered it in to pieces.
    He said there were about 100 of them in the water, “but the one that was killed decided to cross to the lower side of the dam”.
    Mr Adamu Pukuma, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Environment and Forest Resources acknowledged that Hippopotamus is one among the animal that were going instinct and therefore under protection, but that the particular one that was killed had become notorious.
    “It killed people around the area as well as destroyed people’s farms and fishing equipment.
    “There were complaints and huge outcry from the people of the area that was why we sought for the Governor’s approval and killed it” he said.

  • Soldiers rescue kidnap victim in Abia

    Soldiers rescue kidnap victim in Abia

    Soldiers serving in 144, Asa under Ohafia 14 Brigade in Abia State have rescued a kidnap victim, Mrs. Rita Anaekwe. They killed a member of the gang and arrested two others.

    It was gathered that Mrs. Anaekwe, a business woman, was abducted in her house on Anaekwe Street, Umuleta village, Obinkwu in Ukwa West council, after the gang entered her compound through the backyard fence.

    Sources said the victim was home alone and the hoodlums killed the family dog to get full control of the house.

    It was gathered that the hoodlums collected Mrs. Anaekwe’s jewellery, cash and other valuables and took her to their hideout in the family’s Pathfinder SUV.

    The soldiers were said to have been alerted by a relation. On sighting the soldiers, the hoodlums engaged them in a shootout but were overpowered, leading to the death of one of them. Two others were arrested.

    The woman was said to be unhurt and police from the Aba Area Command recovered her vehicle.

    Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Kasim Umar Sidi confirmed the incident, saying they were investigating the matter.

    Sidi added that his men were after fleeing members of the gang.

  • Soldiers rescue female kidnap victim in Aba

    Soldiers rescue female kidnap victim in Aba

    Soldiers serving in 144, Asa under Ohafia 14 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Abia State have recorded another success in their quest to tackle rising crime and insecurity in the state.

    The soldiers it was gathered rescued a female victim identified as Mrs. Rita Anaekwe, killed a member of the gang and arrested two others.

    Nation gathered that Mrs. Anaekwe, a business woman was abducted in her house on Anaekwe Street, Umuleta village, Obinkwu in Ukwa West Local Government after the gang had access into the woman’s compound through the backyard’s fence that they broke.

    They were said to have killed the family’s dog that had confronted them before they have full control of the house even as it was gathered that the woman’s husband was not at home when the incident happened.

    The hoodlums it was gathered collected the woman’s jewelries, cash and other valuables and later abducted her to their hideout with the family’s Pathfinder SUV

    Soldiers at 144 battalion was said to have been alerted over the development by a family source immediately after the incident, causing them to swing into action on how to rescue the woman.

    It was gathered that the hoodlums on sighting the army personnel, engaged them in a shootout but was however overpowered by the soldiers, killing a member of the kidnapping gang and arrested two members of the kidnapping gang.

    The woman was said to have been rescued unhurt while police from the Aba Area Command having been alerted of the incident also recovered her vehicle which had since been given back to her.

    The Commanding officer of 144 battalion, Lt. Col. Kasim Umar Sidi confirmed the incident and added that they were investigating the matter.

     

    Sidi added that his men were after fleeing members of the gang whom he said would soon be tracked down and arrested.

  • Soldiers in jail

    Soldiers in jail

    • The 277 soldiers being detained in Jos army barracks should be prosecuted or released

    The detention of 277 soldiers at the Rukuba Barracks in Jos, Plateau State,  for about six months amounts to a gross violation of their constitutionally enshrined right to fair hearing and liberty. While the supreme law of the land provides for the arrest, detention, trial and sentence of offending citizens, there are clear procedures to follow. These have been grossly violated by the military authorities.

    A distinguishing feature of democracy is scrupulous adherence to the Rule of Law. No one or group of persons or institution, private or public, is allowed to circumvent the laws of the land, in a bid to avoid a slide into anarchy. When there are offenders, they are to be brought to justice through just means.

    The story of the soldiers being held by the authorities of the Nigerian Army for various undisclosed offences is an indication that there are still vestiges of the impunity that reigned during military rule. The men were said to have committed offences during the ongoing efforts to combat terrorist attacks in the North-East region of the country. We acknowledge the resolve of the armed forces to ensure that the insurgents do not seize control of Nigerian territories, and are checked in their murderous activities, but, even at that, we insist that the laid down rules of engagement are adhered to.

    This is not the first time that soldiers would be arrested over their conduct at the battle front in the war against terrorism. Some had been earlier tried and sentenced to death for disgraceful and dangerous acts that could compromise the security of state and lives of other fighting men. They were arrested and put to trial following reverses at the battlefield against successes being recorded by the Chadian and Cameroonian military against the Boko Haram terrorists. The subsequent death sentence was the only outcry that followed the procedure adopted. No one complained about the panel or the trial itself. But, in this case, all men of goodwill have a duty to caution the military authorities against adopting processes that run contrary to the constitution.

    Of course there are military laws meant to deter soldiers from sabotaging war efforts or dodging responsibilities. However, we are not aware of any law that empowers any military formation to detain officers and men for as long as 180 days without trial. Depriving them of the right to movement for so long amounts to torture that has been internationally forbidden through statutes. It is horrendous to realise that in the post-military Nigeria where draconian laws such as the Decrees 2 and 4 of 1984 have been abrogated, suspects could be kept behind the bars for so long without being told their offences.

    Every accused has a right to legal representation of his choice where he could afford one, and where not, he is to be availed one by the state. In the case of these men, they have been reportedly denied access to lawyers who would have helped in keeping them on course during interrogation and prepared their defence. They have also been kept away from their loved ones. Yet, all accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Thus, these men are innocent Nigerians at the moment and should not be treated like condemned criminals.

    At a time the searchlight of the international community is being beamed on the Nigerian armed forces, nothing amounting to deviation from military convention and protocols is acceptable.

    We call on the government to consider a thorough review of the administration of justice procedures with a view to guaranteeing the dignity of man and ensuring that citizens in all circumstances are availed facilities for the enforcement of their fundamental rights. The 277 soldiers languishing in the Jos military facility should be speedily brought to trial and duly convicted or freed.