Tag Archives: minimah

Army Plans More Court-Martial To Fight Indiscipline

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The Chief of Army Staff, Kenneth Minimah, on Sunday said that the Nigerian Army would continue to set up court-martial to check indiscipline among troops within its ranks.

The Army boss, who made the statement while speaking during the an Interdenominational Church Service to mark the Nigerian Army Day Celebration 2015, NADECL, added that the Army is taking all proactive measures to restore sanity and battle confidence to troops.

“I must set up court-martial and if you are in my place and you did nothing you are not worth being a Chief of Army Staff. I did that, I have no regret.

“I am setting up more court-martial to try people who ran, showed cowardice, abandoned troops and equipment and ran away.

“Why are you in the Army? Why are you running away? Is that the army we want in Nigeria?” Mr. Minimah asked.

He reminded soldiers of the oath they swore to which said that if possible “the soldier should lay down his life for his fatherland” adding that this was the oath they all took.

Mr. Minimah appealed to Nigerians to be patient as more time is needed in the fight against terror. He gave an assurance that the fight would soon be over with the support of the citizenry.

He noted that the choice of Maiduguri for the celebration was for the Army to identify with the government and people of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states and the entire Northeastern region that the Army shares their pains.

It will be recalled that in 2014, the Nigerian Army’s 7 Division General Court Martial convicted 54 soldiers for conspiracy to commit mutiny and sentenced them to death by firing squad.

The facts of the case indicated that the soldiers, from the 111 Special Forces, were charged for disobeying a direct order from their Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Opurum, to take part in an operation to recapture Delwa, Bulabulin and Damboa in Borno State from Boko Haram terrorists on August 4.

Chief Of Army Staff Visits Nigerian Troops On The Frontline In Adamawa And Borno States

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The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant Keneth Tobiah Jacob Minimah, today June 11th paid a visit to Nigerian troops stationed in Borno and Adamawa states. During his visit, he encouraged the troops to be steadfast in their fight to stamp out insurgency in Nigeria. See More photos of his visit below…

Group Wants Badeh, Minimah To Step Aside Over Amnesty International Report

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A human rights advocacy group, Access to Justice, has called on the Chiefs of Army and Defence Staff to step aside to allow an impartial investigation into allegations of war crimes levelled against the Nigerian military in a new report by Amnesty International.

In a statement Sunday, the group called on Alex Badeh and Kenneth Minimah, the Chiefs of Defence and Army Staff respectively to immediately step down from office or proceed on compulsory leave to make way for investigations into the allegations contained in the AI report.

“All the serving military officers named in the AI report (must) proceed on compulsory leave from their current duties to safeguard against risks of interference with any investigations that would be conducted into the allegations,” Access to Justice said in the statement signed by Joseph Otteh and Jessica Imuekemhe, Executive Director and Programme Officer respectively.

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Minimah, Security Chiefs In Alliance To Save Jonathan From Defeat – El-Rufai Alleges

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Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Kaduna State, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, has alleged that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah, has vowed to use soldiers and the equipment of the army to manipulate Saturday’s presidential elections in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party candidate and President Goodluck Jonathan.

El-Rufai, who made the allegation in a statement he shared on his official Facebook and Twitter pages on Thursday, said he was “deeply worried by reports that the leaders of the security sector have jettisoned every appearance of impartiality for Saturday’s presidential election”.

In the nine-paragraph statement entitled, “Open letter to all Nigerians: It’s time to stand up for Nigeria”, the APC chieftain revealed that some army generals and security chiefs had vowed to protect Jonathan from defeat.

The allegations were made despite reassurances by security agencies that they remain neutral in the political affairs of the country.

But the former FCT Minister insisted that the army was acting like the armed wing of the ruling PDP.

Mr. El-Rufai warned that rigging the presidential election would wreck the economy and lead to anarchy and instability.

He said, “Chatter in informed circles has it that General Kenneth Minimah has sworn to use the soldiers and equipment of the army to promote President Jonathan’s cause. That is both improper and illegal.

“Minimah is certainly not alone in abandoning the sanctity of his oath. A slew of generals and security chiefs have clearly narrowed their duty to protecting Jonathan from defeat. Military commanders and police officers are sounding not merely like PDP partisans. They are acting like operatives of the armed wing of the PDP.

“They have paid little attention to the likely consequences of their actions. Interfering with the election, both in terms of process and the integrity of the result, is a sure recipe for disaster. That is a step that will certainly set the country on fire, and not just in ways we can all foresee”.

El-Rufai said Minimah was trying to be grateful to President Jonathan for appointing him as the Chief of Army Staff “ahead of 14 of his seniors”.

According to the APC candidate,  while the constitution empowers the president to nominate or appoint senior officials to positions, it does not mean that such an appointee should behave like a lapdog or be incapable of functioning with integrity, professional dignity and respect for the law.

He added that the conduct and utterances of the PDP leadership does not inspire confidence that they are committed to a credible election.

Nigeria’s Security Council Gives Condition For Elections To Hold In North East

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*No news on abducted Chibok girls-Minimah
People of the troubled zone of North-east will exercise their voting rights in the coming elections only when all the structures of government and governance there are reinstated.

This was the outcome of a meeting of the National Security Council presided over on Tuesday by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The meeting, which was held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, lasted several hours.
The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, briefed the council on the readiness of his commission for the elections.

Jega, who left the Presidential Villa before the meeting ended, simply told State House journalists
that the meeting went well.

The INEC boss said: “I believe it (the meeting) went well.”

Jega, however, declined comments on his commission’s plan to use card readers during the elections.

But the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Kenneth Tobiah Minimah, who addressed journalists after the meeting, said the people of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States could only vote when the structures of governance there are reinstated.

On the fate of the over 200 schoolgirls of Chibok, Minimah said there was no news for now.

According to him, “You know Yobe and Adamawa States have been liberated completely and we look forward to the reinstatement of structures of government and governance. I’m also sure you know that in Borno State, out of the 27 local government areas, we have three local governments remaining: Abadam, Kalabaldi and Gwoza. And we are optimistic that with time, we will liberate those local governments”.

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On whether the council discussed the forthcoming elections, Minimah said only the INEC was competent to talk about the elections, adding that the commission had to reassess and evaluate the situation in the three troubled states.

Minimah, who said the military had liberated areas captured by the Boko Haram sect, said: “I’m not competent to speak on that matter (elections). The INEC is still there. INEC has to reassess the situation and evaluate because the areas have been liberated, but I can also tell you that not all structures of governance have been reinstated and they will need to be reinstated so that citizens can go back to their areas, and it is then I think they can execute their rights as voters”.

Asked how soon those structures would be reinstated, the Chief of Army Staff said: “I don’t know”.

On the abducted Chibok girls, Minimah said: “No news for now. In all the liberated areas we have, we have also made enquiries, but the truth is when the terrorists are running away, they also run with their families, and those we have come in contact with have not made any comments suggesting that Chibok girls were there and taken away. But we are optimistic that as it becomes closer, the territory is becoming elusive to them. We will get further details on that”.

‘Never Again’ Will Nigerian Army Be Humiliated By Terrorists, Minimah Vows

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The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah, has vowed that never again, will the Nigerian Army be subjected to humiliation as had been done in the battle to contain insurgency in the Northeastern part of the country.

Minimah said the challenges faced by the Nigerian Army only highlighted the resilience and the quality of perseverance of the Nigerian people.

He made the vow while speaking at the Chief of Army Staff’s First Quarters Conference, which kicked off in Abuja on Monday.

The Army Chief commended Nigerians for their continuing support for the military in spite of the initial losses recorded by the Army against the insurgents.

Minimah explained that Nigerians, who showed their frustration when the military did not perform in accordance with expectations, were also quick to rally support for the troops and showed appreciation for their ongoing successes.

He said the Army was drawing inspiration from the ordinary Nigerians and invited them to join the Army’s new battle cry in the ongoing counter terrorism, counter insurgency operation, ‘Never Again’.

The COAS added, “I want to seize this opportunity to express the Nigerian Army’s profound appreciation to all Nigerians who have stood by us through thick and thin particularly in the last one year. The challenges that we continue to face have again brought to the fore, the strength, perseverance, long suffering and resilience of the Nigerian nation and her people.

“Despite some of the reverses we suffered in the course of our operations some of which almost brought the Nigerian Army to its knees, the good people of this country never wavered but consistently solidarized and identified with us.

“They are understandably frustrated when we fail to perform to expectation but are always quick to show their support and appreciation of our successes. I think this has been the tempo in the last four weeks. Nigerians have come out to identify with the Nigerian military, the Nigerian Army and the security agencies.

“I salute all Nigerians for identifying with us; it is from them that we continue to draw inspirations and I want to invite them to our battle cry, that never again shall we go through this process again; never again shall the Nigerian Army be humiliated the way we have been humiliated; never again”.

Army Chief Visits Baga, Vows ‘War Is Almost Ended’

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The head of the Nigerian Army has visited soldiers in the northeastern town of Baga, telling troops that the conflict against Boko Haram will soon be over.

Lieutenant General Kenneth Minimah flew by helicopter to the fishing hub on the shores of Lake Chad and spent about 30 minutes on the ground, an AFP correspondent accompanying him said.

“The war is almost ended. We will liberate Dikwa, Bama, Gwoza, Marte and other places in a few days’ time,” Minimah told troops on the brief visit.

Boko Haram fighters overran Baga on January 3 and are thought to have killed hundreds, if not more, in what is feared to be the group’s worst massacre in the six-year insurgency.

The military said on Saturday that the remote town in the far north of Borno state was retaken after two days of fighting, killing “a large number of terrorists”.

Defence chiefs have published dozens of photographs purporting to show vehicles, arms and ammunition used by the Islamists that were destroyed in the fighting.

The offensive is part of a fight-back by Nigeria and regional powers against Boko Haram to secure and stabilise the restive region to make voting possible at the general election on March 28.

The vote was initially scheduled for February 14 but delayed by six weeks because military top brass claimed that troops would be unavailable to provide security on polling day.

President Goodluck Jonathan and his ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been accused of playing for time to revive their election campaign in the face of a strong opposition challenge.

On Monday, Jonathan said that “the tide has now definitely turned against Boko Haram”, despite two bombings earlier that day that killed at least 27 in the north.

Minimah said the six-week deadline was “achievable”, adding: “We are still within the timeframe.

“But six weeks should not be taken that everything must be attained because this is war.”

He added: “Never again will Nigerians suffer this kind of large-scale destruction in the name of insurgency.”

We Will Overhaul Counter-insurgency Operations – Kenneth Minimah

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The annual Chief of Army Staff (COAS) began in Uyo yesterday with both President Goodluck Jonathan and the army chief, Lt General Kenneth Minimah vowing to put an end to the menace of terrorism raging in some states in the Northeast.

In his address, COAS disclosed the conference would produce a 20 years development plan for the army.

Said he: “A major discussion at this Conference will focus on the Nigerian Army Development plan in the next 20 years. Furthermore, topical presentations on Nigerian Army ORBAT, training in the Nigerian Defence Academy, and establishment of Nigerian Army Aviation will be made and deliberated upon during the Conference.”

On the terrorists attacks in the Northeast, Minimah said the conference would overhaul the ongoing war against the outlawed sect.

“The upsurge of terrorism and violent extremism in the North-East of our country has remained the most significant threat facing our dear country today. The Nigerian Army is fully aware of the enormity of this national challenge having fought a 30 month civil war to unite Nigeria and taken part in operations to protect the territorial integrity of other countries which faced similar threats.

Source – Leadership Newspaper