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Troops find hard drugs in Boko Haram camps

The Army said yesterday its troops usually find condoms, hard drugs and sex-enhancing drugs in camps captured from Boko Haram insurgents.

Army spokesman Col. Sani Usman, said the findings underlined the military’s belief that most Boko Haram militants were not grounded in Islam and were not driven by Islamic ideology.

He said many of the insurgents so far arrested could not even recite the Quoran, Islam’s Holy book.

He said those arrested by Army’s 3rd Division troops yesterday were found to be the suppliers of hard drugs and other stimulants to terrorists.

They were nabbed between Depchi and Geidam, Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe State

He said: “The arrested persons were also engaged in the supply of fuel in addition to hard drugs such as Cannabis (Indian Hemp), Chlorofone substance (AKA Madaran suck and die) and Tramol, amongst others.

“You will recall that sometimes ago we reported that ironically most of the Boko Haram terrorists captured by Nigerian military cannot read the Holy Qur’an, some of them cannot even recite the first chapter- Suratuh Al-Fatiha and yet they claimed they wanted to establish an ‘Islamic State’.

“When the Nigerian military captured their bases and training camps, they never found Qur’an or other Islamic books, what were mostly found were ammunition, local charms, condoms and all sort of drugs including sex enhancing ones in their enclaves.

“The arrest of these drug suppliers has reinforced that fact, more so as they have been making very useful statements.”

September 9, 2015
Troops recapture Gamboru Ngala from Boko Haram

The Army yesterday confirmed the recapture of Gamboru Ngala, Borno State, by troops of the Army 7 Division.

A statement by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said troops had begun clearing and mopping up patrol, following the recapture of the town previously held by the insurgents.

“The Nigerian Army has retaken the economic and strategic town of Gamboru Ngala, Borno State, from the Boko Haram terrorists group.

“The triumphant troops are now busy with clearing and mopping up patrols,” the statement said.

“Col. Usman said details of the feat would soon be made public as troops involved in the operations were in high spirits,” the statement said.

NAN recalls that troops of Army 7 Division strike group on August 23 advanced to recapture the town, having liberated Dikwa from the insurgents.

September 2, 2015
Troops destroy Boko Haram’s bomb making factory

The authorities of the Nigerian Army last night said troops had destroyed an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) factory at Miyati and Nyaleri villages, along Maiduguri-Bulabulin-Danboa road, in Damboa Local Government Area, Borno State.

A statement by the Acting Spokesman of the Army, Col. Sani Usman, said three suspected Boko Haram terrorists were arrested in the operation, including an “Ameer”, described as a high contact and foot soldier of the insurgents.

According to Usman, apart from the IEDs, other items recovered by troops included a Peugeot pick-up van, foodstuffs, 10-KVA Lister generator, gas cylinders, borehole pumping machine, three bags of maize, one bag of millet and 13 empty AGO jerry cans, amongst others.

Usman added that the haul was made following a joint operation of the Army and men of the Nigerian Air Force, who provided air cover and tracking.

“It was part of the determined effort by the military to rout out terrorists in the general area and open more roads hitherto held by the terrorists for public usage.

“It is also part of the renewed effort and vigour on the part of our troops to meet up with the set dateline that has turned the tide and momentum of the battle against the Boko Haram terrorists in our country.

“I am glad to say that the troops are on high morale and very excited with their accomplishment thus far.

“In a related development, troops have made substantial progress in an advance to reclaim and destroy terrorists held areas within Gamboru Ngala general area,” the statement added.

August 29, 2015
8,700 troops to battle Boko Haram

Member-countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) are to deploy 8,700 troops to stem the activities of Boko Haram insurgents.

The Director of Defence Information, Col. Rabe Abubakar, said in statement in Abuja yesterday that the decision arose from a meeting of Chiefs of Defence Staff in Ndjamena, Chad, recently to finalise arrangements for the deployment.

He said resolutions from the meeting reinforced President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to his security chiefs to end the insurgency in three months.

The statement said the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, led other defence chiefs to the meeting aimed at eliminating insurgency in the region.

“Olonisakin visited Chad Republic where he joined other regional military chiefs to deliberate on an agreement to accelerate the deployment of the 8,700 strong force.

“The Chiefs of Defence Staff from the LCBC member-countries met in N’Djamena, the capital of Chad Republic and finalised details of deployment of the joint force.

“Gen. Olonisakin has been working round the clock towards actualising the presidential directive to end Boko Haram terrorism within three months.”

It said the meeting discussed modalities for the deployment of joint force in two command posts in Nigeria and Cameroon.

“Officers seconded to the MNJTF in N’Djamena were ordered to report to their post, as operation at the Force Headquarters has begun.

“Present at the meeting were the Chiefs of Defence Staff from the LCBC member- countries, MNJTF Commander and other senior military delegates,” the statement said.

LCBC member-countries are Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Benin Republic.

August 26, 2015
Army clears terrorists’ camp in Borno

The 7 Brigade of the Nigerian Army on Saturday cleared Gudumbali town in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State of terrorists.
Agency reports quoting the acting Director,Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said the effort was part of the continued offensive against the Boko Haram terrorists.
Some terrorists were killed and their weapons and equipment destroyed during the operation according to Usman.
Usman recalled that the Air Force inflicted severe damage on the terrorists’ camps within the general area last Monday.

August 22, 2015
Troops kill eight, arrest Boko Haram’s fuel supplier

TROOPS gained upperhand yesterday in their counter-insurgency campaign in Borno and Yobe states when they killed eight suspected Boko Haram insurgents and arrested the sect’s fuel and food items coordinator.

The troops also recovered 15 cows, 174 goats and a donkey from rustlers.

But two members of a vigilante group were wounded by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) fragments.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman, who made the disclosure, said in a statement: “The Nigerian troops yesterday made startling discovery while combing and clearing terrorists in and around Dikwa, Borno State.

“During the painstaking operation, the troops discovered pile of street lamps poles cut into pieces by Boko Haram terrorists which they use in making Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs).

“In another development, during a cordon and search operation in Jakana village, the troops of 7 Division Garrison recovered 15 cows, 174 goats and a donkey from rustlers.

“The animals have since been handed over to their identified legitimate owners. The rustlers were apprehended and are currently undergoing investigation.

“Similarly, troops have at Jehu near Jakana, arrested Mai Mustapha; a fuel supplier to Boko Haram terrorists, and Madu, who coordinates buying of food items from neighbouring villages for the terrorists.

“Additionally, early this morning troops blocked elements that attacked Dumbuluwa village in Fika Local Government Area of Yobe State and had encounter with the terrorists.

“The gallant soldiers killed eight terrorists. Unfortunately, two vigilantes were wounded by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) fragments.”

August 7, 2015
Troops clear Gwoza-Yamteke road of explosives, landmines

The 7th Division of the Nigerian Army yesterday disclosed that its troops have cleared the Gwoza-Yamteke Highway of explosives and landmines.

It restated the determination of the Army to clear all roads in the Northeast of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted by Boko Haram terrorists.

In a statement, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Tukur Gusau, said: “The Nigerian Army during clearance and linking up operations successfully recovered five IEDs planted on the road linking Gwoza-Yamteke road. The explosives have since been defused and destroyed by the team of Nigerian Army engineers.

“Similarly, the troops conducting clearance operations in Dikwa area following routing out of terrorists in the area couple of days ago discovered a hideout in which weapons and equipment suspected to be used by the Boko Haram terrorists for construction of IEDs were hidden.

“These includes: five Drilling Machines, 1 Filing Machine, 2 Cutting Machine, 1 Disc Filing Machine, 52 Compact Discs, 9 Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG), 7 Charges, 1 105mm Pack Howitzer, 1 BMG Tripod stand and 1 Cutting and Drilling Machine.

”It is instructive that the troops are more than ever ready to ensure that the Boko Haram terrorists are flushed out and peace is restored by all means.”

August 6, 2015
Troops clears Gwoza road of Boko Haram IEDs
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Nigerian Army Troops of 7 Division on Wednesday began to clear Gwoza-Yamteke road of Boko Haram Improvised explosives devices (IED).
- Some of the Pickup vehicles arrested from insurgents during military operations
- Few of the Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) commonly used by Boko Haram insurgents
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August 5, 2015
Benin to join anti-Boko Haram war with 800 troops

DEMONSTRATING his commitment to the anti-terror war, President Thomas Boni Yayi said at the weekend that the Republic of Benin will contribute 800 troops to the Miultinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).

The new pledge of 550 is higher than the 250 troops the Nigerian neighbour promised earlier in the year by the its President.

The MNJTF is a regional force comprising of troops from countries in the Lake Chad Basin including Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon. Its mandate is to combat the Nigeria-based extremist Boko Haram sect.

President Yayi made the announcement on Saturday during a one-day visit by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Republic of Benin.

Deployment of the regional force has been delayed for lack of funds.

At a meeting in Cameroon in February, Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger agreed to deploy around 8,700 troops, with Benin pledging 250.

The six-year-old uprising has killed thousands of people and dislodged millions from their homes. It assumed a regional dimension this year with regular attacks in Niger, Cameroon and Chad.

President Buhari also visited Cameroon on Wednesday in a bid to bolster support for the regional force. The President’s trip to Cameroon completed his consultations with leaders of the Lake Chad Basin nations.

August 3, 2015
Troops kill terrorists on Dikwa-Maiduguri road

The Army yesterday said troops killed many terrorists on Dikwa-Maiduguri Road.

But the casualty figure remained unknown. The Nation saw a photographs of some Boko Haram fighters lying dead. The operation were kept under wraps.

A statement by Army spokesperson Col. Sani Usman Kukasheka said recent military operations against Boko Haram insurgents had been very successful, with the terrorists are on the run.

The statement reads: “In compliance with the directive of Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, the Nigerian troops have increased the tempo of their offensive as they killed many terrorists during a recent combat operation along Dikwa-Maiduguri Road, in Borno State.

“Through a combined operation, involving the ground troops and Air Force, the military mercilessly dealt devastating blows on the terrorists who could not escape during the encounter.

“Some of the items recovered from the terrorists included vehicles heavily laden with Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs), motorcycles, trucks mounted with anti-aircraft guns, anti-aircraft gun, general purpose machine, gunbox of anti-aircraft gun ammunition and rifles.”

The Army said that in one of the recent operations, the military attacked terrorists’ logistics base, where an IED was planted with connected wires traced to a kingpin’s residence.

It added: “Due to recent concerted efforts, roads and towns hitherto being held by Boko Haram terrorists and laced with mines, such as Biu-Buni Yadi-Damaturu and Biu-Sabon Gari-Damboa roads, were liberated and cleared of mines and made safe for public usage.

While renaming the counter-insurgency operation as “Operation Zaman Lafiya Dole”, the COAS urged the troops not to wait for Boko Haram to attack but to take the battle to the insurgents.

July 27, 2015