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Tag: troops

  • Troops clear Mubi of Boko Haram insurgents

    Troops clear Mubi of Boko Haram insurgents

    The Nigerian troops yesterday  completed the operation to clear Mubi, Adamawa State of Boko Haram insurgents.

    The insurgents had mischievously renamed the commercial town ‘Madina’ and operated from  the town and the environs.

    But a  mop-up operation was nevertheless ongoing to apprehend and deal with those who might be lurking around neighbouring communities

    According to a military source, members of the terrorist group were “dislodged after coordinated air and land operations in the area.”

    The source said: “More special troops are being deployed in other areas in the North-East axis in similar coordinated air and land operations to rid the communities of terrorists’ activities.

    “In their attempts to escape the intensity of military offensives, desperate terrorists have resorted to attacking soft-target in neighbouring communities.”

    The officer acknowledged improved understanding of the communities on the military operation but sought for more support from the civilian population in identifying and exposing members of terrorist group.

  • Troops, police quit Ekiti courts

    Troops, police quit Ekiti courts

    Courts reopened yesterday in Ekiti, after about two weeks of forced closure.

    “The security cordon thrown around the High Court in Ado-Ekiti in the last few days was relaxed in the afternoon,” the Chief Registrar, Mr Obafemi Fasanmi, said.

    But workers stayed off work. The premises of the courts remained deserted.

    Although the gates were opened when reporters visited the place about 1 pm, only a few security workers employed by the authorities of the courts were seen discussing among themselves while official security presence had thinned considerably. Movements into and out of the premises of the courts were also unrestricted.

    Some policemen were sitting or standing beside their patrol vans in about four locations around the premises.

    The man who identified himself as head of the internal security, however, declined to offer his name, noting that it was only the Chief Registrar (CR) who could give more information regarding developments at the courts.

    His words: “The CR is the right person to give you updates. Tomorrow you can hear something from him. It is inappropriate to interact with you regarding the situation. I would be going outside my bounds. If you come tomorrow you will hear very well from him.”

    He added that some members of the Judiciary Staff Union (JUSUN) gathered earlier in the day at the gates of the courts to prevent anyone from resuming work but were dispersed by the Commissoner of Police (CP), Mr. Taiwo Lakanu.

    His words: “We were told they came but they insisted no work should be done as they were on strike.

    Explaining the presence of the policemen, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Victor Babafemi said the security operatives would continue to be around the courts to maintain law and order and not to harass anyone.

    His words: “Please note that the courts have re-opened as you do know. However, the police presence at the courts is to provide security and not to prevent people from going in and out of the court.

    Don’t forget the state civil servants, including judiciary workers are on strike.”

    The courts were ordered closed on September 25,  following an invasion by hoodlums who harassed judges, lawyers, workers and litigants.

  • Boko Haram: Troops kill 50, lose two soldiers to reclaim Borno town Damboa

    Boko Haram: Troops kill 50, lose two soldiers to reclaim Borno town Damboa

    Troops moved swiftly at the weekend to regain Borno State town Dambowa from Boko Haram insurgents.

    In the process, troops killed 50 insurgents and lost two soldiers.

    The troops survived five ambushes to reclaim the town which had been held by the insurgents for about one month.

    The Special Forces and more troops have been deployed in Gwoza where more than 150 people had been killed by the insurgents, it was gathered.

    National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki has said that the government had blocked all the source of fund for Boko Baram, thereby making it difficult for the sect to get funding for its nefarious activities.

    The Defence Headquarters has also said neither soldiers nor their wives could reject deployment to Gwoza and the Sambisa Forest.

    The protest in Maiduguri on Saturday by wives of some soldiers was being regarded as “indiscipline.”

    According to a top military source, who gave insights into how Damboa was reclaimed, said: “The troops survived five deadly ambushes by the insurgents to recapture Damboa, Delwa, Mustafari, Manga, Wanga and secure all routes leading to these places.

    “We have completed the mop up operation in Damboa and environs. So far, the troops succeeded in killing 50 insurgents and lost two of their colleagues.

    “Many arms and ammunition were also recovered from the insurgents including vehicles and  anti – aircraft RPG.

    “We are doing our best to restore normal life and business activities to these areas. The target is to clear the areas completely of insurgents and ward off further threats.”

    On Gwoza where over 150 had been killed, the highly-placed source added: “Special Forces have been sent to the  Emirate, including surrounding hill tops.

    “We will dislodge the insurgents from the town within the next one week. “The reality is that the insurgents had been taking advantage of the terrain in Gwoza to abduct, maim and kill innocent ones. The battle of Gwoza is expected to cover a lot of air strikes.”

    There were indications yesterday that the Defence Headquarters has said that soldiers or their wives cannot reject posting to either Gwoza or Sambisa Forest.

    Another military source said: “The soldiers or their wives cannot turn down deployment to Gwoza or Sambisa Forest or anywhere there is a security challenge.

    “We are going to engage in massive deployment of troops to these places and other flashpoints in the country. Contrary to insinuations, our troops are well-kitted because we know that curtailing insurgency requires being sufficiently armed.

    “What the wives of some of the soldiers did in Maiduguri at the weekend was strange to military ethics and orientation. Right from the time of enlistment, it is made clear that no soldier can reject posting.

    “The so-called protest amounted to indiscipline in the Armed Forces., we will not condone such.

    “Maybe some of the wives of these soldiers need more orientation and enlightenment. We will not hesitate to guide them accordingly.

    The source added: “There is no Army General that has not paid his or her dues by serving in frontline zones or managing security challenges. All our Generals are tested.”

    The National Security Adviser(NSA) said the nation’s educational system will be overhauled in the light of the security challenges facing the country.

    He said the recent abduction of Chibok girls had compelled the government  to place the protection of schools high on national security agenda.

    Dasuki made the submissions in a paper at the Nigeria Security Summit at Harvard University, Cambridge, in the United States.

    He said: “When we started to deal with the Boko Haram threat, our laws were not so clear on a number of fundamentals. Through the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act 2013, significant progress has been made.

    “It has allowed us to not only define terrorism, but block avenues of financing for their activities while putting in place structures to deal with our current threats. This has included the establishment of a Counter terrorism Centre and, working with key stakeholders, we have developed a National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST).

    Dasuki said the nation’s educational system will be overhauled to serve our current security and economic interests.

    He said: “Further to this, the threat that we face has drawn our attention to the need to overhaul our educational system. We are struggling with an educational system that does not currently serve our security, political and economic interests and as we revisit our national security policy, education has remained a top priority.

    While we grapple with education reform to ensure the right kind of education is available for all, the recent abduction of girls from their school in Chibok has compelled us to place the protection of schools high on our national security agenda.

    “Working with traditional institutions, community based organizations and the police, local governments must be proactive in building community resilience and good governance.

    “It is time we leverage on our democratic processes to increase access to decision making for a majority of our citizens. Inclusive, non-discriminatory and participatory governance is more likely to detect discontent before it erupts.

    “The goal of politics must be to lift our people out of poverty and provide them with the enabling environment to compete favorably.

    “This may not eliminate the possibility of misguided individuals or groups rising up against the nation, but will address some of the underlying factors leading to recruitment into groups prone to violent extremism.

    “We must also address environmental pressure from climate change that results in increased competition for limited natural resources, leading to increased herdsmen, farmer conflicts, inter-ethnic and communal clashes.

    “The youth bulge is both a challenge and an opportunity which the federal government has recognized and initiated programs to increase job opportunities.

    “Insurgents seek to force fundamental changes on society, operating with impunity; they violate all decent human values in an effort to draw a commensurate response from authorities.

    Terrorists win when states respond to their attacks in ways that are incompatible with their values.

    The NSA assured that Nigeria will abide by international practices in curtailing the prevalent insurgency.

    He said the Armed Forces had been undergoing a series of training on human rights.

  • Obanikoro defends troops deployment for Osun poll

    Obanikoro defends troops deployment for Osun poll

    Minister of State of Defence Senator Musliu Obanikoro spoke yesterday on Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.

    The minister addressed reporters in Osogbo, the state capital.

    He said President Goodluck Jonathan wanted one-man, one-vote.

    Besides, he alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was mobilising people from Lagos to ahead of the poll.

    But APC denied the allegation.

    Obanikoro said: “The people of Osun State should resist this invasion and we will support them to ensure that they did not succeed in achieving this.

    “There was no multiple voting, no ballot snatching in Ekiti. The military helped the process,” he said.

    On the constitutionality of military presence, he said Osun is bigger than Ekiti.

    “That is why the presence will be more. It is my responsibility to secure the people, not to give advantage to the PDP, but to the people of Osun,” Obanikoro said.

    But APC denied the PDP’s allegation.

    The party said the PDP and Obanikoro were only looking for how to use the security agents to unleash terror on Osun residents, particularly APC supporters.

    The party’s spokesman, Mr. Kunle Oyatimi said: “The security forces appear to have intensified their harassment of Osun people by interfering in the movement of people in our cities and towns and arresting targeted individuals, including Yemi Oke, a leader of APC in Obokun Local Governmenet Area .

    “Early Monday morning, they created panic through rigorous searches in Osogbo and Ilesa, causing traffic to crawl for hours before relenting as the afternoon approached. Convoys of strange-looking people, believed to be militants from Bayelsa and other Niger Delta states, have been moving in and out of Ilesa. They were escorted by branded vehicles of the Omisore Campaign Organisation.

    “Speculation is rife that the security services may be rehearsing a lock-down of Osogbo and other cities on Tuesday (today) in what we have been informed is a desperate bid to whittle down the number of supporters expected at the final mega rally of the APC.”

     

     

    Stay away from Osun, acting  IGP warns ‘trouble makers’

    By Augustine Ehikioya

    The Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba, has warned those he said may intend to cause trouble in Osun State to stay away from Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

    Abba addressed State House correspondents yesterday after a meeting with Vice-President Namadi Sambo at the Presidential Villa in Abuja

    He said only people who have official functions to perform in the state would be allowed to move freely within Osun during the election.

    To ensure peace in the state, the police chief said he had changed the operational guidelines of his predecessor, Mohammed Abubakar, who retired last week.

    Abba said the new operational guideline would ensure that his men get to Osun State on time to prepare for the election.

  • Troops uncover Boko Haram’s underground armoury

    Troops uncover Boko Haram’s underground armoury

    •Recover 80 machine guns, RPGs from Balmo Forest

    •Over 20 suspects undergo interrogation

    The Defence Headquarters is still counting the gains of the recent capture of Balmo Forest in Bauchi State from Boko Haram.

    The military authorities said yesterday that  troops uncovered an underground armoury owned by the Islamic sect in the forest which  stretches from Bauchi to Jigawa and to the fringes of Sambisa Forest in Borno State.

    Recovered from the armoury  were more than 80 General Purpose Machine Guns and  tubes of Rocket Propelled Grenades(RPGs).

    Besides,over 20 insurgents arrested from the forest  are  undergoing interrogation,according to Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade.

    The claims could not be independently verified last night.

    However,Gen.Olukolade,in the statement,said: “The mopping up operation in Balmo forest is yielding more discoveries of arms stockpiled in underground cells in the forest.

    “Troops who have been excavating various sites in the forest in search of hidden weapons, have so far recovered over 10 rifles along with parts and accessories as well as more than 80 General Purpose Machine Guns, tubes of Rocket Propelled Grenades and Launchers, cables, wires and thousands of rounds of assorted ammunition.

    “Also recovered in the search are uniforms of security agencies including protective clothing.

    “Meanwhile, suspects captured in the forest have been taken into custody and they are volunteering information linking the activities in the forest with other terrorist activities in the country.

    “The mopping up operation continues”

    Although,the  statement  was silent on the number of captured insurgents, a  top military source said: “They are over 20 insurgents in custody from the forest providing clues on the operation of the sect.

    “We decided not to publish their photographs for strategic reasons. We do not want the sect to know who among  their members in Balmo Forest  are  still alive or not.

    “But some of those captured were in charge of armoury for Boko Haram. They are helping ongoing investigation.”

    Responding to a question, the military source added: “The recovered arms and ammunition and the arrested insurgents have been moved to a military facility where security agencies are also collaborating to source vital information from them.”

  • Troops recover body, arrest 23 members of armed gang

    Troops recover body, arrest 23 members of armed gang

    Soldiers yesterday recovered the corpse of the slain Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Idris Timta.

    They also saved the Emirs of Uba and Askira from being killed by Boko Haram members who attacked them on their way to Biu.

    The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said troops responded on time to the terror attack.

    The Director of Defence Information, Major -General Chris Olukolade said that troops deployed in Garkida responded to the attack.

    “Troops are currently on aggressive patrols along the entire route with a view to apprehending the perpetrators and keeping the area safe,” he said.

    The DHQ also said the Special Task Force operating in the North-Central part of the country has arrested 23 members of armed gangs terrorizing the region.

    “The suspects including a hard drugs supplier were apprehended during raids on camps and criminal hideouts located in Bukuru, Jos South and Barkin Ladi areas.

    He said:”All the suspects are currently undergoing preliminary interrogation before they will be handed over to appropriate prosecuting agency.”

  • Troops kill 17 in gun duel with bandits

    Troops kill 17 in gun duel with bandits

    As part of the ongoing operations in Northcentral and Northwest against insurgency, troops have killed 17 bandits during an encounter in Kwandaga in Kaduna State.

    Also, the Defence Headquarters last night confirmed the recovery of caches of arms in Plateau, Benue and Kaduna states.

    According to a source, who spoke in confidence, the 17 bandits were killed during a ‘deadly’ encounter with troops in Kwandaga.

    The source said: “The war against insurgents in Kaduna axis is  yielding results. Troops were able to kill 17 bandits during fierce encounter in Kwandaga.

    “The troops are also combing other parts of the state to smoke out these armed gangs.”

    A statement by the Director, Defence Information/Coordinator, Major-General, Chris Olukolade, was however silent on the casualty figures.

    The statement said: “In Kaduna State, troops had encounter with armed gangs and bandits at Kwandaga during which some casualties were recorded and lots of arms and ammunition recovered.

    “The operation to rid the Northcentral and Northwest parts of the Federation of armed gangs is tagged: Operation Restore Peace and is still in progress in various locations.”

    The DHQ also gave the details of the arms and ammunition recovered in Plateau, Benue and Kaduna states.

    The statement added: “Troops operating in the Northcentral and Northwestern parts of the Federation have recovered caches of arms and ammunition in those areas.

    “During a cordon and search operation at Anyibe in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, troops seized a cache of arms run by a young member of an armed gang.

    “Two Rifles, three locally fabricated pistols and 61 rounds of special ammunition were recovered during the operation.  The arrested gang member is currently being interrogated.

    “Also in Plateau State, the cordon and search operation in two chiefdoms of the state has yielded the recovery of five guns, three locally fabricated pistols and two revolvers from the hideouts of armed gangs at Hukke and Reweinko.

    “Other items recovered during the operation include some IED making materials, 45 live cartridges, various calibres of ammunition, bows and arrows and other items such as cutlasses, axes and diggers.”

  • Troops capture Mandara Mountain

    Troops capture Mandara Mountain

    The Islamist sect, Boko Haram, has lost one of its major enclaves –the famous Mandara Mountain – in Borno State  to soldiers as the   assault on the insurgents  intensifies across the Northeast.

    An unspecified number of  insurgents  were  killed in sustained raids in and around the mountain while about 60 were arrested.

    The troops are  still  combing  the mountain to fish out Boko Haram leaders and fighters believed to be hiding there.

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, both of whom have temporarily relocated to Borno State,  are personally leading   land and air assaults against the sect  in Borno .

    In the midst of the gains, the Defence Headquarters  confirmed yesterday its  arrest of a suspected terrorist who claims to be a Cameroonian and an arms courier for Boko Haram.

    The arrest of the suspect has led to the discovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition hidden in the premises of a burnt church.

    Some of the recovered arms were anti-aircraft guns, rocket propelled guns, General Purpose and other brands of machine guns

    A top military source,shedding light on the capture of Mandara Mountain said :”As I talk to you, our troops have captured Mandara Mountain and they are combing the caves in the place to smoke out the terrorists.

    “During the encounters, many insurgents were killed and an appreciable number of them arrested.

    “Since Tuesday, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu have  been directly in charge of the operation. While the Air Chief is guiding the air operation, the chief of army staff is leading the land campaign.

    “So, you can see that these service chiefs are providing leadership for the troops in order to ensure that we win the war against the insurgents.”

    Asked about a letter purportedly  written by Boko Haram to the military threatening to attack Maimalari Barracks, the source said: “The military authorities have not been informed of that but it won’t be strange if they do so because that is their pattern.

    “They are certainly frustrated because as the operation is continuing their fighters are dying and many members of the Boko Haram have been arrested.

    “So far, more than 60 insurgents have been arrested in the last five days. We are still on the trail of more  of them.”

    The Defence Headquarters yesterday confirmed the arrest of a Cameroonian who is said to be central to the operation and management of Boko Haram armoury.

    Spokesman  for   DHQ, Gen. Chris Olukolade, said: “The arrest of a terrorist who claims to be a Cameroonian and an arms courier for the group has led to the discovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition hidden in the premises of a burnt church.

    “The weapons, which have now been recovered by troops include anti-aircraft guns, rocket propelled guns as well as the General Purpose and other brands of machine guns , were found buried in the premises of one of the churches earlier burnt by terrorists in Kalabalge Local Government Area of Borno state.

    “Also recovered from the location were thousands of ammunition and links.

    “The middle aged man who led troops on the cordon and search operation towards the recovery was one of the terrorists captured in recent raids”.

    Olukolade said that the  weapons were stockpiled to be used in a pending attack on some communities around Nigeria- Cameroon border.

    The weapons have all been evacuated while Guard locations and patrols are being maintained in the general area and the surrounding localities.

    The military claims could not be independently verified.

    On the operation in Borno State, the DHQ said: “ troops have continued with various operations assigned to the formations involved in the counter terrorist campaign.

    “The caves of a particular mountain captured overnight are  undergoing a thorough search for terrorists who are believed to have fled there in the wake of the ongoing offensive on various terrorist enclaves. Arms are also the object of the cordon and search.

    “The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Kenneth Minima has been checking on deployment and troops disposition in various locations of the theatre of the counter terrorist campaign in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

    “The army chief who is in company of his Air Force counterpart, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, also visited troops who were wounded in the course of the operation so far, in the Military Hospital in Maiduguri.

    “The Chiefs were assured by the commander of the Hospital, Brig-Gen Okeke that most of the wounded soldiers were in stable condition and that some who have recovered very well, expressed their desire to rejoin their units and colleagues in the operation.

    “The army chief however directed that the hospital should not hesitate to let him know the requirement for any case requiring referral or further treatment anywhere.

    “The service chiefs are also undertaking a comprehensive air surveillance of the entire mission area in addition to the direct inspection of some key locations where operations are being conducted.”

  • Service Chiefs praise troops in Borno

    Service Chiefs praise troops in Borno

    Chief of Army Staff Leut-Gen Kenneth Minnimah and his Airforce counterpart AVM Adesola Amosu have expressed satisfaction with the performance of the joint combined troops combing the Northeast for Boko Haram insurgents.

    They bemoaned the fact that the battle against insurgents have gone on for long. The service chief assured Nigerians that it will soon become history.

    The Army Chief spoke to reporters after the joint tour of formations in Borno State. He said he was in Borno to cheer the soldiers up and boost their morale.

    At the Military Hospital in Maiduguri, Gen Minnimah recommended 77 injured soldiers for ‘medals of bravery’ for their rare act of defending their fatherland.

    The service chiefs were conducted round the 7 Division’s medical hospital by Brig-Gen Okeke Ikechukwu. The service chiefs later proceeded to Yola.

  • EU to deploy troops to Central Africa mission

    The European Union (EU) on Wednesday drew up plans to send 800 to 1,000 soldiers to Central African Republic to join 6,000 African and 2,000 French troops by the end of April.

    Gen. Philippe Ponties, Head of EU military operation in the CAR (EUFOR), said in Paris that this became imperative because there was a link between the problems facing the CAR force and the political crisis in Ukraine.

    “Given the humanitarian and security situation in CAR, it is urgent that we deploy to support the African Union and French mission and to ease the humanitarian task,’’ he said.

    This was coming after France accused the EU of shirking its responsibility for international security after a plan to send up to 1,000 troops to Central African Republic this week seemed set to collapse.

    Ponties said so far two brigades of about 300 soldiers as well as Special Forces and police units had been committed to the EUFOR mission.

    He stressed that the mission still lacked around 100 men and key logistical support before it could be deployed.

    “The launch still needs logistical support of about 100 soldiers, ranging from medical to transport needs,’’ he said.

    Ponties said France, Georgia, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Portugal and Spain had agreed to contribute to the mission.

    “This will be a transition mission that will last six months which would be a bridge between the current situation and a multinational force that should be strengthened by year end,’’ he added.

    Ponties said the goal of the EU force would be to provide security in the capital, Bangui, and at Bangui airport where about 70,000 people who fled the violence were living in dire conditions.

    He said the EU had so far held four conferences at which member states as well as some countries outside the 28-nation bloc offered troops and equipment for the operation.

    Ponties said failure to send the force to Africa would be an embarrassment for the EU which has been trying to burnish its credentials as a security organisation, and a setback for France which has sought more European support for its efforts in CAR.