Boko Haram: Buratai commends engineers for reduction in IED explosion

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has commended the Nigerian Army Engineers for their contributions to the reduction of bomb explosions in the North East.

Buratai made the commendation at the inauguration of a 41 room and parlour apartments named “General Buratai Sappers Lodge” in Bonny Cantonment in Lagos on Wednesday.

Buratai, represented by Major General Chris Jemitola, the Commander, Corps of Signal, said field reports indicated that NAE had helped to reduce the incidence of IEDs planted by Boko Haram terrorists going off in the North East theatre of operation.

He also said it was unfortunate that the recent explosions led to the death of civilians, officers and soldiers alike.

The COAS observed that in the last few months, relative peace had been recorded in the region, noting that the recent explosions were fewer and far between.

Buratai said: “It is unfortunate that they happened and we are addressing them; nonetheless, army engineers have contributed in various aspects.

“They have helped the Nigerian Army to live, move and fight; they are also helping the civilian populace in various dimensions.”

The inauguration took place simultaneously with the handing and taking over by the Commander, Corps of Engineers.

The outgoing commander, Major General Chris Obi, said he was motivated to embark on the construction of the apartment because of the daunting challenges of accommodation for officers of the corps.

Obi noted that the security challenges in the country had resulted in the increasing demand for NAE personnel particularly in the area of IED management.

Obi said: “Officers of the NAE have done extremely well in tackling the insurgents.

“There is, therefore, need to train our personnel on the use and handling of modern IED and Explosive Ordinance Devices equipment.

“Luckily, the COAS recently procured some of such equipment such as the BOZENA 5, the AMTRAC 400 series and some handheld IED detecting gadgets.”

Obi, who took over as NAE corps commander on August 21, 2015, noted with enthusiasm that the apartment would motivate officers of the corps.

The signing of the handing and taking over notes was the climax of the event at the cantonment which was witnessed by officers of the corps.

The incoming commander, Major General Olusegun Adeleke, said he would key into the successes of his predecessor to move the corps to the next level.

Before his appointment as commander, NAE, Adeleke was the Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation, Army Headquarters, Abuja.

Troops defuse IED in Bayelsa, arrest four suspects.

The joint taskforce code-named “Operation Delta Safe” has discovered a suspected criminal hideout around Biogbolo Secondary School in Yenagoa metropolis, Bayelsa state.

The taskforce revealed that this was while its men were on foot patrol. The area was cordoned and subsequently searched.

Upon searching, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) placed on a riser with the intention of blasting it was discovered. The IED was diffused as troops provided security.

The joint taskforce, in a statement, informed residents of Bayelsa State that the relative peace now enjoyed in the State is due to the unrelenting approach of its officers in the fight against criminality in the Niger Delta.

The statement which was signed by the coordinator joint media campaign centre, Lieutenant Colonel Olaolu Daudu, says the troops of the joint taskforce ‘Operation Delta Safe’ have successfully dislodged a suspected unrepentant militants/sea robbers camp extension at Isunkiri in Bayelsa State.

Items recovered during the raid include; two laptops, Philippino currency note and coins, one plasma TV, one DVD player, two saw blades, four Motorola hand held radios, two R2 GMDS radios, four mobile phones, five Radio chargers, five Motorola Radio batteries and one foreign ATM card.

Others items are; two sim cards, one civil helmet, pair of firefighting uniform, one GMI radio, documents/identity cards belonging to one Mr Roberto Bacariza Jr (Philippino), civil clothes, four pairs of Swire pacific offshore overall uniform, two boxes of drugs, two foreign passports, one ladder, one blue colour speed boat mounted with 115 Horse power with inscription VIP on it and one 75 Horse power engine, light blue coloured fibre.

Also the troops on anti-illegal bunkering operations discovered and destroyed a bunkering camp in Obi creek Epelepele Community of Brass Local Government Area in the State.

The joint taskforce revealed that a tip off led to the arrest of Mr Kelly Ikurusi, Mr Dokubo Erempagamo, Mr Orifie Borto and Mr George Friday AKA Yellow 1.

Yellow 1 is believed to be among the militants who attacked and killed the officers who were ambushed on August 8, 2016 at Nembe.

The four suspects are currently undergoing preliminary investigations.

Police discovers suspected IED near Abuja shopping mall.

Report reaching us has it that the Nigerian Police anti-bomb squad, just found a parcel suspected to be an Improvised Explosives Device, IED, under the Jabi bridge, near the Shoprite shopping mall, Abuja.

 

Access road to the bridge has now been blocked, while police operatives are redirecting commuters.

The Force Public Relations Officer, FPRO, Don Awunah, could not confirm the report when contacted because he was not on seat.

 

“I’m currently not available. I traveled for a burial, but I will get back to you after I establish contact with the FCT Command,” Awuna said.

 

Details later…

Boko-Haram’s IED Kills Soldier, 4 Others

The Nigerian Army, yes­terday, said an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), planted by members of the Boko-Haram terrorist group killed one soldier and four others at Biu, in Borno State.

The incident happened yesterday at about 8.15am, near a military check point, after a tricycle, popularly known as “Keke NAPEP” stepped on the IED, said to have been planted by the side of Biu/Damboa road.

Four persons, among them a woman and her baby and two other males were said to have died on the spot, while three others includ­ing the deceased soldier sus­tained serious injuries and were rushed to the Biu Gen­eral Hospital.

However, the soldier died on the road before they got to the hospital.

A statement issued by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Sani Usman, said the scene of the explosion has been cordoned off while personnel from the Explosive Ordinance Device (EOD), from Forward Operation Base (FOB) in Bura­tai, have since been mobilised to carry out further search of the area.

Usman, while commiserating with the families of the dead and those who sustained inju­ries, however, maintained that the explosion would not deter the military from carrying out its offensive to wipe out the Boko Haram terrorists wherev­er they might be hiding.

The army spokesman, who ap­pealed for more support and co­operation from members of the public to help the military suc­ceed in routing the remnants of the criminal elements ,

He Said: “Preliminary inves­tigations shows that the IED was buried long time ago unde­tected. It exploded when the tri­cycle erroneously stepped on it.

“This unfortunate develop­ment has brought to the fore, the need for more security con­sciousness and vigilance among all.”

Credit: Sun