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Tag: soldiers

  • Bloody day in Zamfara as soldiers kill five bandits

    Bloody day in Zamfara as soldiers kill five bandits

    • Rescue six abducted Gusau varsity students
    • Fate of 29 other abductees unknown
    • Governor summons security heads over abduction

    Operatives of the Joint Task Force, Operation Hadarin-Daji, have rescued six female students of Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara, abducted in the early hours of yesterday.

    But their rescue was not without some bloodshed as five of their abductors were killed by soldiers in a shootout.

    A security source said yesterday that a joint security operation between the army and the police was underway to free 29 others who were still in captivity.

    The students were abducted from their off-campus residence in Sabo Gida village in Bungudu Local Government Area.

    Mugira Yusuf, spokesperson for the Zamfara State governor, said 24 students, 10 workers and a security guard were seized by armed men from the university in the early hours of yesterday.

    Force Information Officer, Operation Hadarin-Daji, Cpt. Ibrahim Yahaya, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) via the telephone in Gusau, the state capital, yesterday.

    Yahaya said that the troops pursued the abductors who took the students, mostly females, to the forest.

    He said the troops engaged the abductors in a gun duel, supported by the air component of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), and rescued six of the students.

    Yahaya further stated that the rescue effort was still ongoing.

    Read Also: Lawal appoints heads of Zamfara agencies

    “The troops also recovered one AK-47, a magazine, four motorcycles and one communication gadget from the terrorists,” the officer said.

    NAN reports that the institution’s students had, in June, protested the spate of abductions of their schoolmates residing in Sabon-Gida and Damba communities.

    NAN also reports that the two communities are opposite the main campus of the university, which is about 20km from Gusau, the state capital.

    Efforts to speak with the school authorities on the incident yielded no result as the institution’s spokesperson, Umar Usman, did not respond to several calls put through to him by a NAN correspondent.

    A student of the school, who asked to be anonymous for security reasons, told Channels Television that over 24 schoolmates, mostly ladies, were abducted during the attack.

    A resident of Sabon-Gida identified as Nazeer Sabon-Gida confirmed that the gunmen invaded the community around 3 am and started shooting indiscriminately.

    According to him, three students’ hostels were attacked and all the students in the hostels were taken away by the bandits.

    “They entered the town around 3 am and started shooting indiscriminately,” he said.

    “We have yet to confirm the number of students kidnapped because the bandits entered three hostels and kidnapped all the students there. It is difficult to ascertain their numbers now.”

    Another source told Channels Television that the bandits were engaged with troops of the Nigerian Army in a fierce gun battle but that did not stop the bandits from escaping with the kidnapped victims.

    “They were seriously engaged with the army troops but the way these bandits operate, they will divide themselves into two, one group will move with the kidnapped victims while the other will stay behind to protect the first group,” he said.

    “The first group had left with the students while the second group engaged the army in a gun duel.”

    Armed gangs have plagued the northwest in recent years, kidnapping for ransom, looting and destroying communities and murdering civilians.

    Security forces’ attempts to halt their rampage have met with little success.

    Kidnapping of students, once a notorious tactic by Islamist militants to intimidate the population, have become a money-spinning industry for armed gangs demanding ransom payments.

    Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal, yesterday summoned an emergency security meeting over the abduction of the hapless students.

    The spokesperson of the Governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, said in a statement yesterday that the emergency meeting aimed at ensuring the immediate release of all abducted persons and also finding a lasting solution to the lingering issue of insecurity that has become a source of concern to the administration.

    He added that the governor directed the Deputy Governor, Mani Mallam Mummuni, to provide all the necessary support to the security agencies to restore normalcy in all the affected areas.

    “During the meeting, the security chiefs assured the Deputy Governor of their commitment to restoring peace in the state. They equally unequivocally confirmed to the Deputy Governor that troops had successfully rescued six kidnap victims.

    “The Security Chiefs further assured that troops had neutralised scores of the kidnappers and are actively pursuing them to ensure the safe rescue of all victims.

     “Mani Mallam Mummuni urged the heads of the security agencies to improve troops’ presence in volatile areas for surveillance.

    “The Deputy Governor has reassured the people of Zamfara that security operatives are working tirelessly to address the current situation.”

  • JUST IN: Soldiers take over power in Gabon, cancel presidential poll

    JUST IN: Soldiers take over power in Gabon, cancel presidential poll

    The military  in the early hours of Wednesday announced take over of government in Gabon. 

     A group of senior Gabonese soldiers appeared on national television and said they had taken power, minutes after the state election body announced President Ali Bongo had won a third term.

    Appearing on television channel Gabon 24 in the early hours on Wednesday, the officers said they represented all security and defence forces in the Central African nation. 

    They said the election results were cancelled with all borders closed until further notice and state institutions dissolved.

    According to Reuters, loud sounds of gunfire  was heard in the capital Libreville on Wednesday morning. 

    There was no immediate comment from the government of the OPEC-member nation.

    Read Also: Commonwealth admits Gabon, Togo as new members

     There were no immediate reports on the whereabouts of Bongo, who was last seen in public when he cast his vote in the election on Saturday.

    “In the name of the Gabonese people … we have decided to defend the peace by putting an end to the current regime,” the officers said in a statement.

    As one officer read the joint statement, about a dozen others stood silently behind him in military fatigues and berets.

    As in previous general elections in Gabon, there were serious concerns about the process in Saturday’s vote.

    Main opposition candidate Albert Ondo Ossa complained that many polling stations lacked ballot papers bearing his name while the coalition he represents said the names of some of those who had withdrawn from the presidential race were still on the ballot sheet.

    The development came after the military take- over in Niger with ECOWAS, international organisations and western powers calling for return to civilian rule. 

  • Child soldiers

    We welcome UNICEF’s initiative to end the scourge

    It has been a multiple whammy for children in the north-east part of Nigeria, ever since the predatory Boko Haram struck in that territory. If they are not getting killed in the armed conflict, they may be conscripted to fight the war, even by non-state combatants. The tragedy of children who have been denied their normal childhood experiences has the most devastating impact. Regrettably, to help protect the neighbourhood, the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) had recruited children amongst their members.

    But that kind of abuse is about to end. Following the intervention of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the CJTF has agreed to stop recruitment of children into their fold and to release those already recruited. Penultimate Friday, about 894 children, including 106 girls recruited into the CJTF in Maiduguri, Borno State, were released. The UNICEF in a statement said: “Children of north-east Nigeria have borne the brunt of this conflict. They have been used by armed groups in combatant and non-combatant roles and witnessed death, killing and violence.”

    Confirming the release of the children, UNICEF said it was in fulfilment of an agreement it reached with the CJTF in 2017 to release children in their fold, and to also stop any such recruitment. We applaud the agreement and its implementation. The children, no doubt, deserve to have a better life experience, and every effort should be made to discourage their recruitment as child soldiers, whether by Boko Haram or those fighting the scourge. At least, with the CJTF releasing the children in their control, one aspect of the challenge is contained.

    On this page we have had cause to commend the CJTF, and that commendation is deserved considering the enormous support they have given the military joint task force to fight Boko Haram. Of course, being indigenes of the community, they know the terrain and the renegade members of the community more than the regular fighting forces, and such knowledge is useful in fighting a shifty rogue army like Boko Haram. So, getting the CJTF to conform to international practices with regards to the rights of children, even in war, is welcomed, so that the CJTF members are not indicted under international laws, after the war.

    No doubt, the plight of children in the north-east is horrible. Many of them have become orphaned by the war, and are just roaming the streets without any next-of-kin. Many more are not only out of school; they leave in refugee camps, with all the consequences associated with them. The female ones get raped or asked to give sex in exchange for food and other essentials. Added to these traumatic experiences is the possibility of being recruited as a child soldier. As noted by UNICEF, children’s “participation in the conflict has had serious implications for their physical and emotional well-being.”

    The north-east harbouring millions of internally displaced persons surely needs more aid from the international community. Of note, according to UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Humanitarian Response Plan for Nigeria stands at about N78.4bn (about $279m) out of which United Nations humanitarian chief, Mr Stephen O’Brien, has released about N3.7bn ($13m) from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), to support about 250,000 displaced persons in the region. The agency noted that the gesture is a life-saving measure for the people in the region who have suffered so much from the ravages of Boko Haram attacks.

    Admittedly, other institutions in Nigeria and across the world have thrown in huge sums, to ameliorate the challenges faced by the displaced persons. The federal and state governments, particularly Borno State, the epicentre of the insurgency, have also done a lot to help the situation, but, like in any unfolding tragedy, the resources poured in are also swallowed by the increasing need of the displaced. So, the permanent solution is to defeat Boko Haram, so the people can be resettled in their homes to fend for themselves.

    As noted by the UN agency, “the destruction of crops and looting of livestock have left many people unable to support their families.” Towards helping those able to farm to start again, the UN agency notes that “more than 50,000 people need seeds and tools for the upcoming planting season.” Mr O’Brien also said the “CERF funds will enable humanitarian partners to provide critical psycho-social support and protection services.” Furthermore, he said: “CERF funding will help them to rebuild their livelihoods.”

    The most vulnerable in the crisis in the north-east no doubt remains women and children. All necessary efforts to help them should be put in place. That should also include international pressure on Boko Haram to stop the atrocity of recruiting child soldiers. On their part, the CJTF must release every child helping as combatants and non-combatants in the unfortunate war brought by Boko Haram.

  • Soldiers rescue retired nurse, 75-year-old man

    Soldiers attached to Alfa Company 144 Battalion, Osisioma, Abia State, have reportedly rescued two people, who were kidnapped from their homes by gunmen.

    It was learnt that they also recovered a sport utility vehicle (SUV) belonging to one of the kidnapped victims, a 45-year-old Aba businessman.

    Sources at the army formation said the personnel were on the trail of a gang that kidnapped and collected ransom from the businessman, who was reportedly abducted near his home at Obingwa Local Government headquarters.

    Read also: Boko Haram kills seven soldiers in Chad, says Army

    A source at the army facility, who preferred anonymity, said one of the rescued victims, Chinasa Johnson, a retired nurse, was kidnapped in front of her house at Abayi in Osisioma Local Government.

    The source said when they received a distress call, they trailed the gang to their location at Aro Ngwa, off the Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway, where the gang, on sighting the soldiers, fled.

    The source, who said the female victim was taken to hospital, added that the kidnappers inflicted deep cut injury on her hand.

  • Woman knocked down by soldiers driving against traffic

    It was a sad day in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia as a hilux van belonging to the Nigerian Army allegedly knocked down a yet-to-be identified female pedestrian said to be apparently heading towards her home at Ogbor Hill part of the city.

    The incident our reporter gathered, took place at the popular Waterside Bridge along Aba/Ikot-Ekpene Expressway Friday evening.

    Sources at the popular Aba abattoir located within the area stated that the incident happened at about 6pm when the soldiers were driving against traffic as there was gridlock that usually greet the Aba-Ikot Ekpene axis of the expressway especially in the evening, though they alleged that the heavy gridlock was because of the presence of a police team at the end of the bridge, conducting stop and search operation.

    According to sources, the soldiers immediately rushed out of their van to carry the victim into their vehicle to unknown destination.

    The sources who could not ascertain whether the soldiers were responding to a distress call said that the woman’s chances of survival were slim because of the impact of the accident on her as she was said to be bleeding when she was taken off the scene by the soldiers.

    A source who claimed to have witnessed the accident said it could have been avoided if only the soldiers were not on a high speed even while they were driving against traffic.

    According to the source, the over-speeding patrol van rammed into the woman while she was trying to cross over to the other side of the road.

    “This accident could have been avoided if the army van didn’t drive against traffic. They were not only driving against traffic, they were also over- speeding,” the source said.

    Another eyewitness who simply gave his name as Lucky said, “Aba people were getting agitated and the situation almost escalated, but most of us reasonably moved away from the scene as they carried the body into their van.”

    Military personnel who pleaded anonymity debunked the insinuations that the woman was dead, but stated that she was rushed to a private medical facility where she was promptly attended to.

    Though the source could not ascertain whether the soldiers were responding to a distress call when probed on why the soldiers were driving against traffic as alleged, it disclosed that the woman, who is a sister-in-law to a top officer in a sister security agency, was moved to Port-Harcourt, Rivers State yesterday morning on the directives of her brother-in-law.

  • Man arraigned for posing as soldier

    A 20-year old man, Osayuki Ehiozuwa, has been arraigned before an Oredo Magistrate Court for posing to be an Army officer.

    Osayuki was said to have committed the offence on March 28, 2019 at Ofunmwengbe Street, Bénin City when he pretended to be an Army Officer by presenting a fake identity card.

    The offence is punishable under Section 109 of the Criminal Code cap 48 vol II Laws of the defunct Bendel State now applicable in Edo State.

    Read Also: Man docked for stealing motorcycle

    Osayuki pleaded not guilty to the one count charges preferred against him.

    Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. M. U Iluobe, granted the accused bail to the sum of N70,000 and a surety in like sum.

    Iluobe adjourned the case to April 16, 2016 for hearing.

  • PDP accuses APC chiefs of mobilising 125 soldiers to constituency

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised the alarm ahead of the rerun election on Saturday that All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts have moved into Otuokpoti in Ogbia Local Government Area with over 125 soldiers.

    The State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Moses Cleopas, accused them of making surreptitious moves to perfect vote buying and voter intimidation ahead of the election.

    Cleopas called on the authorities of the Army to monitor the activities of its men on deployment in large numbers purportedly to protect APC politicians in the state.

    He urged the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, to be conscious of the allegations of murder and rights violation against troops of the Army during the Presidential/National Assembly elections of March 9, 2019.

    Cleopas said that a leader of the PDP, Mr. Seidougha Taribi and a Government House Photographer, Reginald Dei, were killed by soldiers while waiting for results of the election in Oweikorogha, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area òf the state.

    He added that while it was a cheering development the Army authorities had taken a decision to probe the soldiers’ complicity in the brazen acts of violence during the elections in Bayelsa, it was important that the ugly trend was not repeated.

    Cleopas also called on the Indepedent National Electoral Commission to ensure that its guidelines for the conduct of elections in the country are not violated by unscrupulous politicians.

    He said: “The PDP in Bayelsa cannot forget in hurry the complicity of soldiers in the brazen acts of violence, murder, kidnap of electoral officers which marred the elections in Nembe Bassambiri, Brass and part of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

    “The murder of our ward leader  Mr. Seidougha Taribi and the Government House Photographer, Reginald Dei, in Oweikorogha by soldiers is still fresh in our memory.

    “We therefore condemn without equivocation the militarisation of the election in Bayelsa.

    “We are using this medium to call on the Chief òf Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, to ensure that the brazen act of rights violation and intimidation by soldiers is not repeated in the rerun elections.

    “Bayelsans are making preparations to elect their representatives and not representatives of the Army and should be allowed to exercise their civil responsibility.

    “The PDP in Bayelsa is also calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission to guide its guidelines from violations by unscrupulous politicians in collusion with security agents.”

  • Fake policemen, soldiers arrested in Imo

    Security operatives on election duty in Imo State have arrested five fake Policemen and two soldiers in Ideato South Council Area of the State.

    The State Commissioner of Police, Dasuki Galadanchi, who disclosed this to The Nation, also said some armed hoodlums who invaded a Polling Unit in Oke Uvuru Counci Area, were arrested with stolen ballot papers.

    According to Galadanchi, the police and other security agencies are ready to contain any attempt to undermine the electoral process by any person or group of persons.

  • Soldiers arrest 40 over cult killings

    •Police sergeant buried

    Over 40 suspected cultists have been arrested by soldiers at the Upper Sokponba area of Benin City, Edo State, following raids of blackspots.

    Several persons, including a police sergeant, Monday Ehigie, have been killed in the last three weeks in the area.

    The cult-related killings have affected commercial activities in the area, from Erediauwa junction to Idogbo, the headquarters of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government.

    Residents of neighbouring communities such as Avbiama, Umelu, Egba and Oka now rush home before 8pm for fear of being attacked by cultists.

    Commercial sex workers operating in a motel at the popular Three House Street have been complaining of low patronage since the latest killings began on Sunday.

    One of them, who gave her name as Cynthia, said security operatives raided the joint in search of suspected cultists.

    “You can see, we used to play music till midnight, but now we lock our doors from 7:30pm when we are supposed to start work.

    “Our customers have run away. They are afraid of arrest,” she added.

    Some of the suspected cultists were arrested following a stop-and-search operation by the soldiers.

    Guns, charms and other weapons were reportedly found on them.

    Police spokesman Chidi Nwabuzor said proper briefing would be made after investigation.

    Police sergeant Ehigie, who was killed by cultists on January 26, has been buried.

     

  • Soldiers arrest five IPOB members

    Soldiers attached to Goodluck Jonathan Army Barracks, 14Brigade Ohafia, Abia State, have reportedly arrested five members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Aba, the commercial centre of the state.

    A source told our reporter that the IPOB members were part of the pro-Biafra group that disrupted service at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Abayi, Ariaria in Osisioma Local Government on January 27.

    Read also: Lagos Assembly insists Ambode must appear before it over ‘infractions’

    Confirming the arrest, a source from 14Brigade disclosed that the pro-Biafra members were arrested by troops of Subsector Bravo in conjunction with the personnel of Nigeria Police, Abia State Command, who moved to the area and salvaged the situation.