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  • Troops for waterways as Fed Govt, states join forces

    Troops for waterways as Fed Govt, states join forces

    The Federal Government and Niger Delta states yesterday agreed to join forces to stop the bombings of oil and power installations in the region.

    This was part of the decisions reached at a closed door meeting of Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, Service Chiefs and states from the Niger Delta region.

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting in the Presidential Villa, Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and his Edo State counterpart Adams Oshiomhole, said that the collaboration will also include intelligence sharing.

    Stressing that the meeting was “very fruitful”, Okowa said that a lot of other decisions that will mitigate the crisis in the states particularly, Bayelsa and Delta, were also agreed upon.

    One of the decisions, he said, is deployment troops on waterways around troubled communities.

    He said: “We governors of the oil producing states, security chiefs and ministers who are concerned met with the Vice President and I believe we had a very fruitful meeting.

    “One thing we identified is the synergy between the Federal Government and the States, which is very important and this meeting has raised a lot of issues and we believe that the collaboration will help us to tackle the issues in the Niger Delta.

    “Of course we were briefed by the service chiefs and the governors also have their own perspectives along with the minister of state petroleum. We have taken a lot of decisions which will help us mitigate what is going on currently in the states particularly Bayelsa and Delta.” He said

    The governor added: “We believe we are going to find solution to it. One of such is that there is a need for us to share intelligence, which is very important and for us to be proactive, working together with the various stakeholders in the states to achieve a better result going forward. “

     

     

    “We have also agreed that there is a need to distill military operations directly in communities, but the military needs to actually remain on our waterways to ensure that we adequately man the waterways itself while we engage the communities and that engagement process is starting any moment from now.” He stated

    When asked to give a date the amnesty programme will be revisited as a way out of the crisis, the Governor said that the programme was never stopped.

    He said: “I think the process is still ongoing, we have a Special Adviser in charge of amnesty and it is doing very well. I am aware that he did come in to talk with some of the communities and along with the advocacy team that was put up in Delta State.  He did brief us today and I believe it is going to be maintained.”

    On when the implementation of the meeting’s outcomes will start, he said: “Right from today, there is a meeting right after this and we are going to be collaborating even as we return to our  various states.”

    On his part, Oshiomhole said: “You have been briefed by my brother from Delta and what ever he told you that is the truth of it. We agreed that we all have to work together to refocus on development issues, economic issues, military issues and community issues. Whatever he has told you there, that is what we have agreed to do.

    While stating that the amnesty programme has been on, he noted that a time lag could have resulted from the little transition of having a new leadership.

    Stressing that there have been stories about non payment concerning the programme, he said that the problems are being addressed while funds are being provided.

    He said: “I believe the government recognizes that the amnesty programme has to be sustained but also we can improve on it because we have trained people.

    “People have been sent for training and they have come back and they should be able to apply those skills. If they don’t apply the skills they become skilled but then unemployed, then the problem persists.

    “We need multiple tool to deal with the issues. Fortunately for the people to be able to apply the skills that they acquired in the course of the amnesty training, they need an environment that is investment friendly  because unless for example if you have skills in underwater welding, you need the oil companies to be doing business to recruit people like that to carry out those kinds of special skill.

    “If you have skill in all sorts of things without economic activity, you cannot deploy your skills. One thing leads to the other. In the first instance the man has no skill, the first challenge is to give him skill.

    That is being done and when he has finished and acquired that skill the final challenge is to get him a place to work to earn money and to develop a lifestyle that is sustainable to add and contribute to the development of his community and the rest of our people they need to see the quality of life improving.

    “What Okowa said was the correct representation of what transpired at the meeting.

    Nigeria is not at war and we cannot be at war with ourselves.

    “If we have conflicts, we will talk through those conflicts. There are laws that have to be enforced. I think that in all of these the whole  idea is to find peace that is functional, that creates environment for very decent Nigerians to live their lives.” He added

    Other state governors at the meeting included Bayelsa, Rivers, Ondo and Abia.

    Also at the meeting were the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru.

     

  • Troops clear Boko Haram terrorists out of Chukungudu

    Troops clear Boko Haram terrorists out of Chukungudu

    •Kill “Ameer”

    Soldiers battling Boko Haram in Borno State have attacked the insurgents’ bases at Muskari, Gilam, Hausasi and Chukungudu, killing 19 suspected members of the sect.

    The dead include a man described as the sect’s leader of Ameer in the area, Abubakar Gana.

    The troops also destroyed an Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) making factory belonging to the sect.

    Four primed IEDs were found and successfully detonated.

    Besides, the troops  recovered two  anti-aircraft guns, one  AK-47 rifle, a pistol, one  rocket propelled gun (RPG), one AK-47 magazine, 267 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) metal links ammunition and 23 rounds of 12.7mm belt ammunition.

    Other recovered items include a Canter truck, one Gun truck, one Land Rover vehicle and a Toyota Hilux vehicle.

    Two soldiers suffered gunshot wounds but were promptly given medical attention and are out of danger.

  • Troops rescue Boko Haram victims in Borno

    Troops deployed in operation lafiya dole  and their neighbouring counterparts under the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF)have been busy clearing the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in their respective jurisdictions, it was learnt yesterday. They have rescued some abducted persons, arrested suspected Boko Haram terrorists, recovered weapons and equipment.

     The troops of 81 Battalion and 251 Task Force Battalion,  25 Task Force Brigade, on May 30, received 79 persons,  who claimed to have been kept captives by Boko Haram terrorists at Ngwalimiri village, but escaped from captivity. They comprised of 12 men; 24 women; 31 children and 12 infants. All of them have been undergoing preliminary investigation and screening to determine their status before onward movement to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp for rehabilitation.

    In furtherance of the efforts to keep Bitta-Damboa road open and secure to commuters, troops of 28 Task Force Brigade have cleared Bulajani, Mulgwo and Muotu villages of remnants of Boko Haram elements.

    During an encounter at Moutu specifically, a soldier sustained injury on the forehead, while five Boko Haram terrorists were killed by troops, a few other insurgents alleged to have escaped with gun shot wounds. The troops recovered three locally made guns.

  • Troops arrest ‘Niger Delta Avengers men’

    Troops arrest ‘Niger Delta Avengers men’

    Ten suspected members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) – the group of militants smashing oil facilities in the Niger Delta – have been arrested in Delta State.

    Besides, a military patrol team prevented some gunmen believed to be its members from attacking pipelines in Bayelsa State.

    The Army yesterday paraded the 10 suspects in Benin, the Edo State capital, yesterday.

    The suspects were arrested at about 1:40am on Saturday in Oporaza community, Warri South-West Local Government Area, following a cordon-and-search operation conducted in the community.

    The 4 Brigade Commander, Brig. –Gen. Farouk Yahaya, who paraded the suspects, explained that there had been several cases of sabotage by suspected militants and vandals in Delta State since January 1,  and warning and threats “to shut down all operations” in the sector.

    He listed the arms and ammunition recovered from the suspects as: 28 detonator cords (also known Detonator 33), one pistol, two empty pistol magazines, 196 rounds of 7.62 special ammunition, one round of nine-millimetre ammunition, a live cartridge and five daggers.

    Also recovered were 15 handheld radio sets, 18 phones, 203 SIM cards belonging to three major network providers, five swimsuits, two headlamps, a laptop, two ipads and a camera.

    There were also seven wraps of substances suspected to be hemp, five speedboat throttle cables, six pairs of hand gloves, N23,000 cash and a cheque book.

    Gen. Yahaya said that although investigation would reveal the true identity of the suspects, recent explosions carried out by the Niger Delta Avengers suggested that the suspects may not be unconnected to the group.

    He added: “Within the period under review, you can see that the Niger Delta Avengers have claimed virtually all acts of criminal activities against oil and gas and they continue threatening a shutdown of the whole sector. So, most likely, they (suspects) will be the people; who else would they be?”

    On the speculation that the militants may have used charms to evade arrest, Gen. Yahaya said: “Whatever a person wants to use, he can use it. But I know that God is always on the side of the truth.

    “We are not worried by voodoo. It did not stop the suspects from being arrested and others that have been arrested before now.

    “Operations that led to these arrests and recoveries were conducted professionally, guided by our mandate, operation orders, code of conduct and rules of engagement. Our operations are strictly targeted against perpetrators of all criminal acts in our area of responsibility and not innocent citizens,” he added.

    The brigade commander, who noted that the suspects would be handed over to prosecuting security agencies at the end of the preliminary investigation, however, urged the public to provide the Army with information the militants.

    The Army said its troops yesterday averted attacks on oil pipelines located at Gulobokri and Eweleso communities in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

    The acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, confirmed this in a statement.

    Col. Usman said the attack was averted by the troops on patrol of areas around Brass.

    According to him, the patrol team had an encounter with some militants in two speed boats with intent to blow up the Nigerian Agip Oil Company pipeline at Gulobokri.

    “In the early hours of today, May 29, troops of 343 Artillery Regiment of 2 Brigade, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, carried out patrol within the general area of Gulobokri and Eweleso.

    ‘’This was around Brass area in Bayelsa State.

    “The troops encountered some armed militants who opened fire on the patrol team.

    “The troops responded with overwhelming superior firepower and as a result, the suspected criminals sped off from the area with many of them sustaining gunshot wounds.

    “Unfortunately, a personnel of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) attached to the team sustained gunshot wound and has since been evacuated and he is in a stable condition,’’ Col. Usman said.

    He also said that another patrol team of the same unit of 82 Division, averted another attack on an oil facility at Perigbene House Boat in Bayelsa.

    He said the troops on patrol to the area encountered militants in three speed boats, also on a mission to attack another critical infrastructure in the area.

    Col. Usman said the troops killed most of the militants while others escaped with gunshot injuries.

    He said the casualty figure on militants could not be ascertained as it was raining heavily, adding that the raging storm could not allow troops to go on in pursuit of the escaping criminals.

    Col. Usman added that a mop-up operation had been organised for those militants who escaped with gunshot wounds, adding that they might be receiving treatment in the neighbouring communities.

    He said troops would continue to intensify patrols in the area to further halt planned attacks on key public infrastructure in the area.

    The Federal Government and ex-militants have resolved to end the ongoing pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta.ý

    Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger-Delta Matters and Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, broke the end of a meeting he had with some ex-militants in Benin.

    Boro told reporters that the pipeline vandalism in the Niger-Delta was reducing the economic fortune of the country and inflicting pains on Nigerians.

    He urged the agitators to dialogue with the authorities over their grievances and shun destruction of oil installations.

    He said plans were in the pipeline to provide the ex-militants with welfare and a housing scheme in addition to the existing programme and projects.

  • Troops take over sites of vandalised pipelines

    Troops take over sites of vandalised pipelines

    Troops of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), have taken over the sites of vandalised pipelines in the creeks of Bayelsa State after a battle with militants.

    The state Commandant, NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agu, said yesterday that the crack team from its command warded off the ambush laid by the militants to stop security operatives from getting there.

    He said after hot exchange of gunshots with the militants, the troops cleared the areas to give room for immediate clamping of the damaged pipelines.

    Armed militants had laid ambush after the Sunday’s bombing of pipelines belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and another oil firm, Aiteo in Nembe and Southern Ijaw local government areas of the state.

    But Agu, who spoke yesterday, said following the superior firearms of troops, the militants fled the scene by navigating the creeks.

    He said the operatives were following some leads to apprehend them.

    “We have secured the crime scene to give room for immediate clamping of the ruptured sections on the pipelines. For the fleeing militants, we will surely get them”, he said.

    But the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Worldwide yesterday, raised the alarm over military occupation of Oporoza, the Headquarters of Gbaramatu Clan in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

    IYC in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Mr. Eric Omare, said the town was still under military siege two days after the military invaded the community.

    Omare said: “As at the time of issuing this statement, no person is allowed to move in and out of Oporoza Community. Yesterday (Sunday) evening, a 40-horse-power speed boat which came to rescue residents in serious medical condition was seriously attacked by the military and the state of the persons that were inside the boat is still unknown.

    “The people of Oporoza are now in a state of famine and even those that were brutalized cannot get access to medical care. If urgent steps are not taken, there may be massive death arising from the famine and brutalization.

    “The IYC strongly condemn this display of brutalization of innocent residents of Oporoza Community.

    “The IYC, call on Nigerians and the international community to urgently prevail on President Buhari to order the military to vacate Oporoza for the residents to have access to medical care and foods in order to avoid a humanitarian crisis”.

    Also, the World Assembly of Youth (WAY) said it was mediating in the renewed attack on oil facilities in Niger Delta region and clashes between farmers and herdsmen in various parts of the country.

    The Vice-President, WAY, Mr. Preye Ketebu-Brown, said in Yenagoa that the world youth body would tour crises-ravaged spots in Nigeria as part of its mediation plan for conflict resolution.

  • Troops take over sites of vandalised pipelines

    Troops of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), have taken over the sites of vandalised pipelines in the creeks of Bayelsa State after intensed battle with armed militants.

    The state Commandant, NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agu, said on Sunday that the crack team from its command warded off the ambush laid by the militants to stop security operatives from getting there.

    He said after hot exchange of gunshots with the militants, the troops cleared the areas to give room for immediate clamping of the damaged pipelines.

    Armed militants had laid ambush after the Sunday’s bombing of pipelines belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and another oil firm, Aiteo in Nembe and Southern Ijaw local government areas of the state.

    But Agu, who spoke on Sunday said following the superior firearms of troops, the militants fled the scene by navigating the creeks.

    He said the operatives were following some leads to apprehend them.

    “We have secured the crime scene to give room for immediate clamping of the ruptured sections on the pipelines. For the fleeing militants, we will surely get them,” he said.

  • Troops comb Bayelsa creeks for fleeing Agip pipeline bombers

    Troops comb Bayelsa creeks for fleeing Agip pipeline bombers

    Troops of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence corps (NSCDC), yesterday, stormed the creeks of Bayelsa State in search of the fleeing suspected bombers of a pipeline belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Ikienghenbiri community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

    Sources from the community said armed NSCDC operatives arrived at the area on speedboats and gunboats and moved to adjoining creeks to locate the whereabouts of suspects identified as Suoyou, Iyelawei and Fynboy.

    The suspects were said to have fled the community following the Sunday’s attack on Agip’s Tebidaba-Brass pipeline that passed through the area.

    The suspects allegedly destroyed the trunkline with dynamites causing massive fire and thick smoke that unsettled the community.

    One of the suspects was arrested by troops of NSCDC with support from the surveillance contractor and the community folks.

    Speaking on the incident in a statement, yesterday, the Bayelsa State command of the NSCDC said its operatives were particularly mandated to find a suspected leader of the gang identified as Suoyou.

    The statement by the command’s spokesman Mr. Dauzuo Izonfate, admitted that the arrested suspect was in their custody and would soon be arraigned and “diligently prosecuted”.

    Izonfate said the ongoing operations in the creeks, particularly in Southern Ijaw, would surely lead the operatives to the hideout of the suspects adding that their identities and pictorial images had been known.

    He said: “We want to state that the suspect we arrested in connection with the attack on Agip pipeline at Ikienghenbiri in Southern Ijaw is in our custody. NSCDC, in its resolve to protect and secure the critical national assets in the state as mandated by our Commandant-General will arraign and diligently prosecute the suspect.

    “We are on the trail of other suspects who are on the run and we will surely nab them. We thank the Ikienghenbiri community for their efforts in helping us tackle the menace of vandalism in the state.

    “We are also appealing to other communities to toe a similar path in this collective war against pipeline vandalism, economic sabotage and environmental pollution”.

    Izonfate warned aggrieved youths in the state to explore other peaceful means of expressing their demands instead of resorting in damaging critical national assets and polluting the environment.

    “We are fully committed, motivated and ever ready to protect our national assets and government property in the state”, he said.

  • Troops capture wanted Boko Haram terrorist inside Sambisa

    Troops capture wanted Boko Haram terrorist inside Sambisa

    •Soldiers attacked in sect’s fortress
    •Arrest IDP with N1.9 million
    •Cameroun nabs five

    The army yesterday announced the arrest of a wanted Boko Haram leader, Sulaiman Umaru deep inside the terror sect’s fortress –Sambisa forest.

    Some soldiers came under attack from insurgents inside the forest while refitting.

    The acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, said Umaru was arrested at about 1.35pm on Friday by troops from the 143 Battalion.

    Umaru is one of the 100 Boko Haram terrorists whose photographs are displayed in a poster launched a few months back.

    The suspect has been moved to 28 Task Force Brigade Headquarters investigation, the army said.

    Usman said troops of 21 Brigade and Armed Forces Special Forces (AFSF) on Operation Crackdown inside Sambisa forest while on harbour for refitting came under Boko Haram militants attack at about 1.45am yesterday.

    The troops however repelled the attack and followed up with mopping up operations of the general area before advancing.

    Usman said: “Unfortunately five soldiers were wounded in action (WIA), as a result of mortar fired into the harbour area by the Boko Haram terrorists. The wounded soldiers have been evacuated to the rear for treatment.”

    The army also said  that N1.9 million was found on an Internally Displaced Person (IDP), Abacha Bulama  in Borno State, when troops from 22 Task Force Brigade Garrison, in conjunction with 112 Task Force Battalion, intercepted and screened 31 IDPs, including women and children coming from Sunabaya, Gumule, Garno and Mane-Gana villages.

    The army said Bulama’s claim of being a businessman couldn’t remove the suspicion on why he carried about such a huge amount of money.

    He is being detained for further investigation, while other IDPs have been handed over to Dikwa IDP Camp Manager for screening and further humanitarian assistance, the army said.

    Meanwhile, the army said the troops from 22 Task Force Brigade Garrison ran into an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at Antul, a village south east of Dikwa.

    Seven soldiers were said to have been injured in the incident, while four fighters from the Civilian JTF who accompanied the troops also sustained injuries.

    The injured soldiers and their civilian counterparts have been evacuated to 7 Division Hospital and Medical Services, Maiduguri, the army said.

    Simultaneously, Cameroon said the multinational joint forces fighting Boko Haram captured five leaders of Boko Haram including Boukar Kaou, traditional ruler of Kumche in Nigeria. Dozens of the terrorists were killed and 60 women and children freed.

    Cameroon’s communication minister and government spokesperson Issa Tchiroma said 1,000 troops of the multinational joint task force fighting Boko Haram organized systematic raids between May 10 and 12 on Boko Haram bases in Madawaya forest in Nigeria, some seven kilometers from Cameroon’s northern border, killing 58 Boko Haram fighters.

    Tchiroma said 15 Nigerian women, three Cameroonian women and 28 children who had been held captive in the Boko Haram stronghold were freed and taken to Cameroon.

    Huge quantities of war weapons were either destroyed or seized.

    The traditional leader of Kumshe and emir of the terrorist group, were arrested along side dozens of their supporters.

    He said that after a recent successful operation in Goshe and Kumche in Nigeria many Boko Haram fighters escaped to the Madawaya forest and created camps for their fighters, where they also trained suicide bombers especially young women and girls.

    Cameroon believes the militants have resorted to suicide bombings because their fire-power has been drastically reduced following ceaseless attacks on their stronghold since December 2015 by an eight thousand-strong multinational joint task force with troops from Cameroon, Nigeria, Chad, Benin and Niger.

     

  • Troops kill Boko Haram insurgents

    Troops kill Boko Haram insurgents

    The Army yesterday said that troops of 120 Task Force Battalion, 27 Task Force Brigade, in conjunction with vigilance  group members on patrol, intercepted five Boko Haram terrorists at Gotumba area of Borno State.

    They were allegedly trying to move logistic items to suspected Boko Haram hideouts at Aluwa, using five donkeys.

    According to the report, the terrorists, on sighting the patrol team, ran and abandoned the items. The troops pursued and killed three of them, while two escaped with gunshot injuries.

    The military statement listed items recovered from them as: three packets of Tramol, two packets of Lamumol, seven packets of Really Extra, two packets of Viagra, and 14 of washing soaps. Other items include four  rolls of Klin detergent, two  packets of razor blade, 14 packets of Maggi cubes, half-bag of table salt, five bicycle tyres and tubes, two quick patch for tubes, one roll of matches and 10 pairs of rubber shoes. The troops also recovered large quantity of potash, onions, locust beans, some quantity of rice, mats and tarpaulin.

    The statement added: “In a related development, based on information, troops of 7 Division Garrison today in conjunction with Civilian JTF, arrested Alhaji Bulama Budu at Old Maiduguri general area.

    “Preliminary investigation shows that Alhaji Budu, who hailed from Aiwa village, Mafa Local Government Area, was one of the Boko Haram terrorists detained at Giwa Barracks before he escaped when his colleagues, Boko Haram terrorists, attacked the facility and released the insurgents in March 2014.

    “His arrest would further lend credence to Army investigation on the incident about the number of people killed by the terrorists and those that escaped that day. He is  being interrogated by the Joint Intelligent Committee.”

  • Troops begin ‘Operation Crackdown’ in Sambisa

    Troops begin ‘Operation Crackdown’ in Sambisa

    Military chiefs yesterday met in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, to reappraise the ongoing anti-insurgency war in Sambisa Forest —believed to be the last stronghold of the Boko Haram insurgents.

    Yesterday’s meeting was presided over by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Gabriel  Abayomi Olanisakin. It was attended by Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai and Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sadiq Baba Abubakar.

    There were also senior military chiefs at the Theatre Command Headquarters of Operation Lafia Dole at the Maimalari Cantonment.

    Gen. Olanisakin told reporters that the meeting was to reappraise the ongoing military operation at the Sambisa forest and environs with the aim of clearing the remnants of Boko Haram insurgents from Nigeria’s territory.

    “ I am here with the Service  Chiefs actually to reappraise the operation that is ongoing in Sambisa.

    “ We have an operation now that started a couple of days ago and we have come to appraise the level of that operation.

    “ The military onslaught tagged ‘Operation Crackdown’ is to clear the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists out of Sambisa and Nigeria’s borders.

    “ The operation has been on course for five days. The little issues that are being encountered by troops at the operation are being addressed to achieve the operational plan.

    ” I want Nigerians to know that we are determined to clear Boko Haram from our land,” the CDS said .