Southern Kaduna: Nigerian Army denies killing 17 herdsmen

Posted on March 29, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Nigerian Army has refuted social media reports on the alleged killing of 17 herdsmen by soldiers in southern Kaduna.

Kingsley Umoh, deputy director, army public relations of 1 division, dismissed the report as unfounded and irresponsible.

In a statement, he said that the mandate of the army in the area was to restore peace and ensure mutual coexistence among the people, and warned those spreading the false reports to desist.

He said that personnel deployed to the area have developed robust relationship with traditional rulers, community leaders, the Miyetti Allah and other stakeholders.

“We appeal to citizens, community leaders and other stakeholders to always speak and act in the interest of peace,” he said.

“It serves no useful purposes to continue to fabricate stories about the already delicate security situation in southern Kaduna.”

Umoh said that the army remained committed to the return of peace to the entire area.

According to him, soldiers deployed to the area have been conducting cordon and search operations and have tracked down suspects believed to be involved in some recent security breaches in the area.

“In total, two miscreants were killed and two are in custody in Southern Kaduna within the period of March 19 to March 22 , 2017.”

The spokesperson said troops have also maintained day and night patrols along Gidan Waya-Jagindi-Asso road and environs.

Source: The Cable

Nigerian army detains six soldiers for allegedly brutalising woman

Posted on March 16, 2017 by Staff Reporter

A fresh case of soldiers’ brutality against a female Nigerian citizen is being investigated, the Nigerian army has said.

Six soldiers, the army said, are currently in detention over the incident.

This is the third time such incident would be occurring within a month.

The victim whose name was given as Ruth Orji was said to have been beaten on Sunday by soldiers from 174 Battalion, Ikorodu, Lagos State, for daring to challenge a soldier who reportedly slapped her brother.

Graphic photos of the brutalised woman were shared on the social media, prompting Nigerians to call for immediate action against the culprits.

The army said on Thursday that the incident was “highly regrettable”. It thanked the press for “bringing such incidences to (the) fore”.

“A Board of Inquiry has been constituted by the Commander 9 Brigade, Brigadier General Elias Attu to investigate the circumstances that led to the incident, determine the level of the soldiers involvement, submit its findings and recommend appropriate disciplinary measures,” the army said in a statement issued by a spokesperson, O. M Daudu, a lieutenant colonel.

Ms. Orji has been taken to the hospital for treatment, the army said.

The army in February had demoted and imprisoned two soldiers for assaulting a physically challenged man in Onitsha, Anambra State. Another soldier was jailed, also in February, for 28 days for molesting a civilian in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

AI Report: Nigerian Army sets up committee to investigate rights violations

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army on Wednesday set up a seven-member “Special Board of Inquiry’’ to probe alleged cases of human rights abuse level against its personnel in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the board, inaugurated by the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, a lieutenant general, would be headed by Ahmed Jibrin, a retired major general.

Other members are Dadan Garba and Abdulqadir Gumi (both retired brigadiers general); O.L. Olayinka, a brigadier general; L.B. Mohammed and U.M. Wambai (both colonels); while C.M. Akaliro, a lieutenant colonel, would serve as secretary.

Mr. Buratai said that in spite of the success recorded by troops in the ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the North East, some individuals and organisations had expressed concerns.

He explained that the individuals and organisations alleged cases of misconduct and human rights abuses by personnel of the army, “especially in the early days of the counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations.”

The army boss said “notably, the Amnesty International reports, Indigenous
People of Biafra (IPOB), other groups and individuals have made allegations of human rights violation of arrested Boko Haram terrorists against some of our senior officers and commanders.’’

He said based on those allegations, some officers were already suffering discrimination in some quarters.

“The allegations range from extra-judicial executions, arbitrary arrests, detention, torture and enforced disappearance of suspected Boko Haram terrorists.

“These allegations are not good for civil-military relations and are capable of demoralising Nigerian army personnel in the performance of their constitutional roles.”

According to him, it is expedient to thoroughly and impartially investigate the allegations in order to find out the facts of the matter to enable relevant authorities to take appropriate actions.

He said the board was, therefore, set up to investigate the matter and establish the true situation of the whole allegations.

The chief of army staff said that the board was set up in line with the provision of Section 172(1) of the Armed Forces Act CAP A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Mr. Buratai, however, called on the board not to probe or revisit cases of abuse that had been investigated by state governments or the National Human Rights Commission.

He also urged members of the board to justify the confidence reposed in them as they were selected based on competence and merit to serve.

“I implore you to leave no stone unturned to come up with a report that will elucidate the facts to all and assist the Nigerian army in taking appropriate actions,” he said.

Mr. Jibrin, the head of the board, assured that members would do an objective job.

He said “we will travel to all the necessary places; we will also invite and interview all stakeholders to ensure that we get to the root of the matter.

“The allegations are many and the places to go are also many, people to talk with also are many but we will do everything possible to ensure that we finish our task as quickly as possible.

“We will be objective in all that we would do to ensure that we produce a credible report that would make the army headquarters proud because the allegations are not against retired officers but serving officers who were doing very important job for the country.

“So, it is very important our report is objective.”

Source: NAN

We have zero tolerance for Human Rights abuse – Army Chief

Posted on March 6, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army says it will continue to maintain zero tolerance for Human Rights abuses in the ongoing anti-terror war in the North East. Maj.- Gen. Lucky Irabor, the Theatre Commander of Operation, Lafiya Dole, gave the assurance Monday while receiving a delegation from the UN Security Council in Maiduguri.

Irabor said that troops deployed to the theatre were made to undergo special training on code of conduct before their deployment.

“The theatre has zero tolerance for any form of Human Rights abuse.

“To that extent, we have instituted measures to ensure that our troops operate within the provision of International Human Rights laws,’’ he said.

He added that the International Human Rights laws were well entrenched in Nigerian Army’s code of conduct and rules of engagement.

“Prior to induction of any unit into the theatre, troops go through training where the issues of code of conduct are taught to ensure that they keep to the rules of engagement,’’ he said. He also said that there were dos and don’ts that soldiers were made to abide by in operations.

“For anyone who defaults, we have a standing court martial in Maiduguri to try cases of misdemeanour. “Some soldiers have been court martialed, awaiting sanction and ratification by appropriate authority,’’ Irabor said.

He said that the military was also working with the International Committee of the Red Cross to ensure the protection of Human Rights in its detention centre.

“We are collaborating with the ICRC on our detention centre and they have free access to our detention facility.

“We have been collaborating with them and they have been supportive,’’ the military commander said. Earlier, Amb. Matthew Rycroft, leader of the UN delegation, commended the military for its gallantry in fighting the Boko Haram.

“We recognise the threat Boko Haram had created in your country and its neighbours.

“We commend the Armed Forces of Nigeria engaged in this operation and the Multi-National Joint Task Force,’’ Rycroft said. The ambassador also commended the Nigerian Army for the success it recorded in the fight against Boko Haram insurgence.

“We know that the fight has not been won; we encourage you to continue your efforts.

“We are also firm in our determination to assist in alleviating the humanitarian crisis in the region,’’ Rycroft said.

Nigerian Army claims efforts ongoing to rescue missing soldier

Posted on February 28, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army says efforts are ongoing to rescue a soldier who got missing in action during an ambush in Lagos.

Olaolu Daudu, the spokesman, 81 Division, Nigerian Army, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Lagos.

“The search operation for the missing officer is ongoing,” Mr. Daudu, a lieutenant colonel, said.
A soldier on February 21 got missing in action when troops came under heavy fire during a routine patrol of Lagos creeks.

The troops who were on routine patrol of the creeks around Abule-Ado, Festac Town area in Lagos, came under heavy gunfire in an ambush.
“Troops remain resilient and focused in search of their colleague,” he said.

He urged members of the public to provide the Army with useful information on the missing officer and assured residents of their continued safety.

IPOB: Amnesty International fabricated report of extrajudicial killings – Army

Posted on February 22, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian military has accused human rights organisation, Amnesty International (AI), of fabricating its latest report about extrajudicial killings and torture of 240 people in the country’s north-east and 177 pro-Biafran agitators.

In a statement signed by acting director defence information, Rabe Abubakar, a brigadier general, the military described the report as a continuation of AI’s “series of spurious fabrications aimed at tarnishing the good image of the Nigerian military.”

Amnesty International has been relentless in its exposure of human rights abuses allegedly perpetrated by Nigerian soldiers in the country’s war against Boko Haram and the military’s ruthlessness in quelling protests in other parts of Nigeria.

The organisation’s latest reports stated that 240 people including infants died in a dreaded military detention centre in Borno in 2016 while 177 pro-Biafran agitators were extra-judicially killed same year.

“At the military detention facility at Giwa barracks, Maiduguri, cells were overcrowded. Diseases, dehydration and starvation was rife. At least, 240 detainees died during the year. Bodies were secretly buried in Maiduguri’s cemetery by the Borno State Environmental Protection Agency staff. Among the dead were, at least, 29 children and babies, aged between newborn and five years.”

On the killings of pro-Biafra agitators, the report alleged that, “Since January, in response to the continued agitation by pro-Biafra campaigners, security forces arbitrarily arrested and killed, at least, 100 members and supporters of the group, Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. Some of those arrested were subjected to enforced disappearance.

“On February 9, soldiers and police officers shot at about 200 IPOB members, who had gathered for a prayer meeting at the National High School in Aba, Abia State. Video footage showed soldiers shooting at peaceful and unarmed IPOB members; at least, 17 people were killed and scores injured.”

However, the military, like it has repeatedly done in the past, denied the claims contained in the report saying “they were contrived lies orchestrated to blackmail and ridicule the Nigerian Armed Forces.”

Mr. Abubakar said AI is in the habit of encouraging “activities of non-state actors who take up arms against the state, killing, maiming and destroying public property.”

“In as much as the Nigerian military acknowledges and respects the views and constructive criticism of individuals, groups or even international organisations including Amnesty International, it will not fall for nor accept the deliberate falsehood that have no bearing with the fact or reality on ground.

“The truth is that the Nigerian military has always been open in its operations and do not hide its activities from the probing eye of the public. Amnesty International chose to bandy fabricated reports and concocted stories instead of seeking clarifications from the relevant authorities.”

“It smacks of mischief for the AI to insist on publishing unverified and unsubstantiated report as it is only them that knows why it embark on such dishonourable venture over a period of time,” he said.

“The Nigerian military rejects this AI reports in its entirety and appeals to all well meaning Nigerians to disregard the report and discountenance its contents as they were meant to paint Nigeria in bad light. We reassure our citizens of our commitment to terminate these myriads of security challenges facing our country, mindless of unfounded reports and cheap blackmail by AI,” he added.

No soldier was kidnapped in Lagos – Army

Posted on February 22, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army says a soldier widely reported to have been kidnapped in Lagos only got missing in action (MIA) during an ambush.

Lt.-Col. Olaolu Daudu, the spokesman of the 81 Division, made the clarification in a statement in Lagos.

Daudu said: “The officer got missing in action when troops came under heavy ambush during routine patrol of Lagos creeks.

“I will like to state that no officer was kidnapped.

“However, while on routine patrol of the creeks around Abule-Ado, Festac Town area in Lagos, troops came under heavy gunfire in an ambush.

“They were able to fight their way out of the ambush during which the said officer got missing-in-action.

“Efforts are ongoing in search of the missing personnel.

“Troops remain resilient and focused in search of their MIA colleague.’’

He urged members of the public to provide the army with useful information on the missing officer and assured residents of their continued safety.

Bonny Cantonment: Where Some Of Buratai’s Mad Men Reside – By Elias Ozikpu

Posted on February 21, 2017 by Staff Reporter

After several years of military harassment and dictatorship in Nigeria, a period which is often painted as Nigeria’s darkest moment, it is blindsiding to learn that the men in camouflage still believe that ‘bloody civilians’ (whatever that means) should continue to fall at their feet in worship. Whilst growing up back home in those dreadful days, I witnessed the horrifying public degradation of young ladies by military men who sometimes stripped these ladies naked for the offence of wearing trousers they purchased with their hard-earned money!

Even at that young age, I recall vividly that they were wild street jubilation in my hometown upon our return to democracy in 1999 as the people thought that the terrible days of brutality would naturally die with the ruthless and excessively corrupt military administrations. But that has not been the case. The men in camouflage have continued to harass and assault people on Nigerian roads, most times with stupendous impunity.

As recently as February of 2017, two military officers meted out the most horrendous treatment to a crippled citizen in Onitsha for wearing a camouflage. So spine-chilling was the attack that even onlookers could not intervene for fear that they might be killed by the bloodthirsty men in camouflage.

In early 2013, military men from Bonny Cantonment (popularly known as Bonny Camp) humiliated another citizen on a scorching afternoon in Victoria Island for urinating into a gutter. Not only was he brutally beaten to the point of bleeding, he suffered the ignominy of getting buried into the virulent gutter and was asked to swim from end to end, in what was an eyesore. As if the above was not enough, the victim was further pushed to climb a nearby tree with his head facing downward.

Both incidents as narrated above violently violate the fundamental human rights of the victims.

Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides as follows:

“No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

Corroborating the above provision, Article 5 of the African Charter for Human and People’s Rights echoes thus:

“Every individual shall have the right to the respect of the dignity inherent in a human being and to the recognition of his legal status. All forms of exploitation and degradation of man, particularly slavery, slave trade, torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment and treatment shall be prohibited.”

Maddened by the injustice meted out to the young man for merely urinating into a gutter, I wrote to the Commanding Officer (CO) of Bonny Camp at the time, protesting against the cruel treatment and asking him to properly educate his men, most of whom lack the basic understanding for joining the Force.

On the morning of Sunday, 19th February 2017, less than two weeks after dehumanising the disabled citizen in Onitsha, this writer had a direct confrontation with the Bonny Camp soldiers, which almost resulted into assault. The incident occurred under the bridge directly facing their barracks’ gate. The military man, walking so unconcernedly on the road, was alerted by the sound of our vehicle’s horn to remind him that he was on a public road. Rather than leaving the road to pave way for vehicles, the Lance Corporal, so full of himself, got infuriated and said that he would deal with us “for blowing horn on top of his head”. So serious was he that he made several efforts to smash the window glasses of the vehicle.

I alighted from the vehicle to address the Lance Corporal and tried to make him understand that there was not a scintilla of justification in the way he had behaved. But no sooner had I alighted than I got surrounded by several of Buratai’s armed men, as if the erred Lance Corporal had sounded a whistle for their intervention. And without asking what happened, Buratai’s men faced me with ferocious aggression, asking where I got the guts to challenge an officer on uniform. One even said, brandishing his rifle with vicious looks:

“I can kill you here now and nothing will happen.”

And just when they were on the verge of launching an assault on me, some military women on mufti from the same barracks, along with some concerned citizens who witnessed the incident, intervened and strongly resisted the attack, and subsequently blamed the Lance Corporal for his unruly conduct. This writer learnt that later after the incident, infuriated Bonny Camp soldiers subjected one of the women to severe threats, to the extent of denying her access into her house for stating in clear terms that the Lance Corporal was wrong in the way he had behaved.

There is the urgent need for the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, to call his bloodthirsty men to order and have them properly educated. Cruelty against citizens by men in camouflage has become pervasive in Nigeria. The uniform and gun given to some of these men, most of whom are illiterate, make them feel as though they were demigods.

In January of 2016, The Punch newspaper published an editorial under the title: Military Brutality Should End Now. Part of the editorial reads:

“Incidence of assaults by military personnel against civilians is rising again, leaving a stain on Nigeria’s march to a truly free society. From Lagos to Abuja, the federal capital, to the east and north, reports are frequent of military personnel brutalising the citizens they were recruited, trained, equipped and paid to protect. Leaders and civil society at every level should take a resolute stand today to end impunity by undisciplined soldiers… The lawlessness of some officers and soldiers is so pathetic. Last week, one soldier with the name tag, Emmanuel B.J, brutally beat up a commercial bus driver at Ojodu-Berger, Lagos, ostensibly for “disrespecting” him. In August last year, a newspaper photograph graphically captured a group of soldiers battering a man in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, leaving him half-dead in the mud. Such “perks” have apparently attracted sadists into the officer corps. A video clip trending online shows a group of NA cadets, including a female, torturing a young man in Abuja, while in December, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State rescued a truck pusher from the brutal assault of two NAF cadets who had already loaded their battered victim onto their car boot…”

It is worthy to note that Boko Haram have been destroying innocent lives and properties in the North East of Nigeria since 2009 or thereabouts, to the extent of declaring a caliphate on Nigerian soil, yet the Nigerian Army has been unable to unleash similar brutality on these demons. In fact, the Army fled from Boko Haram’s attack to neighbouring Cameroon a few years ago and shamelessly called the escape a “tactical manoeuvre”. Below is the extract of a report published by Premium Times in August of 2014:

“The Nigerian military has admitted that hundreds of government troops have fled heavy fighting with Boko Haram, but said their apparent escape to neighbouring Cameroon was a ‘tactical manoeuvre’”.

The question therefore is, does the Nigerian Army now run away from enemies of our country but enjoy/prefer brutalising innocent citizens they ought to protect? Well, my answer is quite simple. As an African child, I have learnt from my people that one is not said to be a warrior when he abandons the battlefield in terror and resorts to chop off the heads of children and women in a bid to show off the depth of his strength. Only cowards do so.

Elias Ozikpu is a literary author and an activist. He was almost attacked by armed soldiers at Bonny Camp, Victoria Island, Lagos, before eyewitnesses stepped in and resisted the attack.

Sambisa, The Forest of Learning – By Buki Ponle

Posted on January 24, 2017 by Staff Reporter

By now, it is crystal clear to the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG), or any other groups and individuals with similar perception, that government is not toying with the safety, lives and property of Nigerians. This is clearly evident in the latest search conducted for the missing Chibok school girls in the notorious forest called Sambisa.

Few days ago, the Federal Government, represented by the Minister of Information and Culture and that of Defence, arranged to join the Nigerian troops in the forest, in furtherance of efforts at finding the girls. They invited the advocacy group BBOG to come along.

On the eve of the trip, the Co-convener of the BringBackOurgirls (BBOG), Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, in an e-mail to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, indicated the interest of her members to join the search. The group, for reasons only known to it, however gave impractical conditions to join in the search of
the girls, according to reports.

However, government acceded to their demands, including the last-minute insistence by Ezekwesili that the Information Minister abandon the aircraft for government delegation and fly instead with BBOG members in another aircraft.

”Only Oby Ezekwesili could rightly decipher what she had in mind to have insisted that the minister should take such a last minute decision,” notes an Abuja-based lawyer, Mr Ebenezer Okoli.

”Prior to this trip, the group had staged a week-long rally in commemoration of the 1000th anniversary of the kidnap of Chibok girls, accusing government, among others, of reneging on the rescue of the remaining 195 girls, after it had secured the release of 21 of them.

”One need not be reminded of the human degradation, especially womanhood, in the senseless war being waged against Nigeria by the Boko Haram terrorists, even in spite of heightened efforts by the Buhari administration to decimate them” he says.

The Sambisa forest, 60,000 sq. km., or 18 times the size of Lagos State, situated in the north eastern part of Nigeria, was once the pride of Borno indigenes because of its serenity, rich floral and fauna, but has turned evil with the habitation and vandalism of Boko Haram insurgents in the past eight years.

They have, however, substantially been smoked out by our gallant soldiers many of who have paid the supreme price for the love of the country, and at painful loss to their families and the nation.

Although the activity of the insurgents has been degraded, one’s blood turns chilly each time the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafia Dole, Major General Lucky Irabor, reels out the number of casualty of officers and men who have laid down their lives in the struggle to liberate the country from insurgency.

These were also men born of women, with families and other dependants, but who are seldom talked about outside the military.

BBOG assumed global fame when it rose as a resonate voice of concern over the violence perpetrated against women and children, but more especially against the abducted girls. It became an advocacy movement right from April 2014 when the school girls were kidnapped.

A journalist, Simon Lambert, observes: ”with its recent activities, the utterances and demeanor of BBOG members, one is at pains to situate the group properly, with its apparent ‘for profit’ non-governmental organisation attitude.

”Even if some of its members are full time workers for the group, they should understand the workings of government and should defer to government position which has demonstrated enough transparency in efforts at rescuing the remaining Chibok girls. Government is not faceless, and those in charge of governance have blood running in their veins, have the female as wives, children and relations.”

A political scientist, Dr. Omobolaji Akerele, comments: ”Government does not divulge everything simultaneously, and a government which has shown sincerity of purpose, such as this, should at least be given the
benefit of the doubt.”

She continues: ”BBOG should not be perceived as caring for Chibok girls alone to sustain its international recognition. It should show concern for all the victims, including the IDPs, the fallen heroes and their families, as well as those who have been vegetated by BokoHaram’s bestial attacks.
”The use of cheap blackmail, appearing in holier-than-thou attitude, resort to unnecessary rallies and grandstanding are not the hallmark of a responsible advocacy movement, as interpretations are being given to the genuineness of such actions,” Akerele adds.

Some of the members have even been assuming presidential posturing and would not want to appear in related public meetings unless President Buhari is physically present.

Nonetheless, the trip has altered the perception of BBOG group which had apparently lost confidence in government efforts at battling corruption and rescuing the remaining trapped Chibok girls in that
dreaded forest.

Not until a gruesome day and night rounds of search sorties in Sambisa did Ezekwesili become convinced that government is doing its best, as witnessed in the professionalism and sophistication of the Nigerian Air Force, in executing the war against terror.

For instance, the Air Force now possesses many search planes as against just one, and the the deployment of many fighter jets as against just two before this administration. It is noteworthy that the Air Force has also flown 6,000 hours and spent N2 billion on fuel in searching for the girls.

Following the tour, BBOG testifies in its report, that ”the air component of the counter-insurgency is being prosecuted by a highly professional, capable, motivated and committed team of the Nigerian Air Force.”

Ezekwesili also saw the need for government to descend more heavily on looters of the national wealth, and those who have dis-empowered the military, for the terrorists to have initially gained an upper hand.

All told, more stakeholders must be prepared for Sambisa lessons, now a forest for learning, discipline, soberness and patriotism. In particular, those lawyers who placed money above national interest and would hold brief for the worst rogue as long as blood-money talks, should be the next in line for the Sambisa trip.

Ditto for the judge who compromises, because each perverted judgement of national interest could also mar the operation of the war against terror. With such visits, justice will be served expeditiously and without fear or favour.

*Ponle is a public affairs analyst

Nigerian Army parades alleged killers of colonel

Posted on January 18, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Ibadan, on Wednesday paraded six suspects who allegedly killed Anthony Okeyim, former Commandant, Command Secondary School, Apata, Ibadan.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the lifeless body of Mr. Okeyim, a colonel, was found at the premises of the school on December 12, 2016.

The command had earlier informed the public that the late Mr. Okeyim died as a result of rise in intracranial pressure from intracranial haemorrhage caused by fracture of the skull.

Presenting the suspects to journalists, Timothy Antigha, spokesperson of the Division, said that investigation conducted showed that the suspects played varying roles in the killing of the officer.

Mr. Antigha, a colonel, said that the alleged killer of the senior officer stole his Samsung X4 phone and this helped in arresting the suspects.

He said that the suspects went to the Command Secondary School, Apata, with their Toyota Camry Car to kill the officer in his house.

Mr. Antigha said that one of the suspects was a student of the school who was expelled earlier by the school authorities for alleged theft.

He said that the student gave the other suspects the logistics leading to the death of the senior officer.

Mr. Antigha said that the Army was able to arrest the suspects with active collaboration of the Oyo State Police Command and State Security Services, SSS.

“On behalf of the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Maj.-Gen. Chukwunedum Abraham, I thank the Nigeria Police and Department of State Services (DSS), Oyo State Command, for their support.

“Without the support, very little progress would have been made in unearthing the circumstances surrounding the death of the late senior officer,” he said.

Also speaking, Abdullahi Ibrahim , Commander 2 Division Provost Group, advised parents to monitor their children over the type of friends they related with.

Mr. Ibrahim, a colonel, assured the public that despite the sad incident the Command Secondary School, Apata, Ibadan, was a secure environment.

Troops Rescue More Hostages In Intensified Clearance Operations

Posted on January 15, 2017 by Staff Reporter

As part of clearance operations of remnants and fleeing Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria’s northeast, troops have continuously been carrying out raids, patrols and cordon operations.

Troops of 112 Task Force Battalion, 22 Brigade, Nigerian Army on Operation LAFIYA DOLE, conducted joint operations with vigilantes and civilian JTF in suspected Boko Haram terrorists’ hideouts in their area of responsibility.

A statement by the Army spokesman, Brigadier General Sani Usman, revealed that within the last two days, the troops carried out quite a number of patrols and clearance operations in various villages and towns in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State.

Troops Rescued 37 Persons

“On Thursday January 12, 2017, with the assistance of some local vigilantes and civilian JTF, the troops carried out fighting patrols and clearance operations in Awada and Sinbaya villages. During the operations, the troops met stiff resistance towards Sinbaya from suspected Boko Haram terrorists in which they neutralised eight terrorists.

rescue4 — Army troops during clearance operations

“They also carried out similar clearance operation at Anaduwa village where they removed Boko Haram terrorists’ flags and recovered four Isuzu vehicles and three motorcycles. The troops also rescued 37 persons held captives; comprising 23 women and 14 children.

“Yesterday (Friday), they also carried out a joint patrol to Talwari village which served as harbour area for Boko Haram terrorists as well as Agulari, Kirinari, Gubdori and Yale villages.

“Although the terrorists have abandoned the locations, the troops observed suspected Boko Haram terrorists activities such as abandoned flags in the area. They also arrested the terrorists’ food store keeper and recovered two Isuzu vehicles, grinding machines and vehicles workshop.”

rescue2 — Abandoned Boko Haram terrorists’ flag

Troops Rescued Another 21 Hostages

Brigadier General Usman further disclosed that the troops rescued another 21 hostages while some arms were recovered during clearance operations in some villages.

“In addition, they (troops) recovered five Pump Action Guns, two Pumping machines, eight vehicle tyres and one battery. The troops proceeded to Dagumba, Boboshe, Kajeri, Boskoro and Saleri and cleared the areas.

“The troops discovered and destroyed suspected Boko Haram terrorists’ night market at Boboshe and neutralised five terrorists. They also rescued 21 persons held by the Boko Haram terrorists that comprise of 12 women and nine children. The patrol also recovered one Toyota truck at Kajeri and arrested one Boko Haram terrorist in Boskoro village.”

The Army spokesman noted that a soldier who sustained an injury during the clearance operations was in stable condition where he was receiving medical attention.

He maintained that the operations to rid Nigeria of the remaining Boko Haram terrorists was ongoing, urging members of the public to inform security agencies about suspicious persons in their environs.

Nigerian Army releases 1,250 cleared Boko Haram suspects

Posted on January 11, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The Nigeria Army on Monday said it has released 1,250 Boko Haram suspects who have been cleared of no links with insurgency.

Brig.-Gen. Victor Ezugwu, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division of the army, disclosed this when the Head of Sub Delegation of ICRC, Mr Beat Mosimann, visit him at the Maimalari cantonment in Maiduguri.

Ezugwu said that the cleared suspects were released in about seven batches after been cleared of having no link with Boko Haram.

“We are keeping this on the regular release because the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Burutai, want us to ensure that it is only people who has contact and connection with Boko Haram that have insurgency issues to sort that should be detained so that those who do not have contact should be released.

“By the end of this January and February another batch of detainees would be cleared.

“The ICRC wants us to collaborate in the area of welfare for our detainees and we have assured them that we are going to continue doing our best interns of welfare in accordance with the international practice.

“Our approach in handling detained suspects is multi agency so what we do is that we collaborate with NGOs so that once there is gap in what we are doing they will tell us.

“In terms of feeding, we are providing solid Nigerian foods for the detainees; good food supplement that would enhance their wellbeing.

“Access to exercise and the best out of accommodation. We are hoping that things will get better in 2017.’’

Mosimann had earlier said that ICRC has mapped out several programmes in 2017 to assist IDPs who would soon be returning back to their respective librated communities.

“We have discussed with the army on issues of protection of especially that of the detainees which was part of our mandate to see how we can improve on that.

“It is part of our mandate, which was stipulated in Geneva convention, to assist wounded persons not just soldiers but anybody who is wounded in a conflict situation.

“Our job is purely humanitarian. The humanitarian situation had quite improved. We thank the army for supporting the people in librating their communities and ICRC will support this people to go back,” said Musimann.

Shake-up in Nigerian Army as top generals redeployed.

Posted on January 11, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army has either appointed or redeployed no fewer than 14 officers to different military units across the country.

The exercise, approved by the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, on January 9, 2017, affected six major generals, five brigadier generals, two captains and one major, documents exclusively obtained by this newspaper showed.

It came a month after Mr. Buratai promoted 227 Army personnel, including a son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Adeboye, who was made a colonel.

The first in the list of redeployed officials is M.H. Garba, a Major General, who was moved from Army Headquarters’ Department of Military Secretary to the Army Corps of Artillery.

Mr. Garba, whose redeployment takes effect from January 16, 2016, also received the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award, the memo showed.

Next on the list is K.I. Abdulkarim, also a Major General, who was transferred from Nigerian Army 6 Division Headquarters to the Defence Headquarters with effect from January 12, 2017.

Major Generals O.U. Obono was moved from Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery Headquarters to the Defence Headquarters from January 12, 2017; and E.O. Udoh, from Defence Headquarters to the Nigerian Army 6 Division Headquarters from January 12, 2017.

Major General I.O. Rabio was moved from Nigerian Army School of Signals to Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary from January 16, 2017.

Finally, Major General E.G. Whyte has been redeployed from Defence Headquarters to Nigerian Army School of Signals as the new commandant beginning January 12, 2017.

For the rank of brigadier general, the following officials were affected in the latest posting exercise.

I.A. Adegboye was transferred from Defence Headquarters to 82 Division Garrison as commandant with effect from January 12, 2017.

The appointment of S.O. Olabanji as the commandant of Nigerian Army Amphibious Training School will take effect from January 12, 2017. He was transferred from Nigerian Army 3 Brigade Headquarters.

O.T. Akinjobi was moved from 82 Division Garrison to 3 Brigade Headquarters as the new commandant with effect from January 12, 2017.

A. E. Attu was redeployed from the National Defence College to 9 Brigade as the new commandant with effect from January 12, 2017.

S. Mohammed has been transferred from 9 Brigade to Defence Headquarters as the Deputy Director of Land System from January 12, 2017.

From January 12, 2017, Captain A.M. Dankabo will remain in the Chief of Army Staff’s office as L.O.; while Captain I.N. Garba will move from the Chief of Army Staff’s office to the Nigerian Defence Academy as an instructor, also from January 12, 2017.

Effective January 7, 2017, Major H.I. Mbe was appointed as the ADC to the Chief of Army Staff.

If I knew Shekau’s whereabouts, I’d grab him by the balls – Army Commander

Posted on January 5, 2017 by Staff Reporter

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Lucky Irabor, theatre commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, says if he knew Abubakar Shekau’s whereabouts, he would find him and “grab his balls”.

Irabor said this at a press conference in Maiduguri, capital of Borno state, while responding to a question on the whereabouts of the sect’s leader.

“If I know where Shekau is now, I will grab his balls,” he said.

Irabor’s latest comment is totally different from what he said three months ago.

In September, the commander boasted that the military had killed the individual originally identified as Shekau, as well as his impostor.

He described as “a façade” videos of Shekau released by Boko Haram.

“I can confirm to you that the original Shekau was killed, the second Shekau was killed, and the man presenting himself as Shekau, I can also confirm to you that few days ago, he was wounded. We are yet to confirm whether he is dead or not,” he had said.

“They released videos to prove that they are still active, but that’s just a facade.”

However, Irabor also told journalists on Wednesday that three female suicide bombers were intercepted following an intelligence report that they were going towards Limankara in Gwoza council in Borno.

He added that Nigerian troops and their Cameroonian counterparts had been making remarkable progress and recoveries in Ngwoshe axis and Gwoza hills.

“Just this morning, we intercepted the bombers but the three of them resisted and tried to ram into our troops. And of course, we had no choice but to open fire on them,” he said.

“Our troops and those of the Camaroon Republic have been recording tremendous successes in flushing out remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists in that axis.

“And of course during the operation, we discovered stockpile of arms and ammunition. We also intercepted 30 cows at Cashew plantation here in Maiduguri capital.

“We also arrested one of the most wanted Boko Haram terrorists, Number 164 on our list.”

Nigerian Army deploys 800 soldiers to Darfur on peacekeeping mission.

Posted on January 4, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff, says Nigeria will deploy 800 soldiers to the United Nations Mission (UNAMID) in Dafur, Sudan.

Buratai made the disclosure in Jaji, Kaduna state, during the graduation of 755 soldiers and 45 officers that participated in the pre-deployment training.

The army chief, who was represented by Adeniyi Oyebade, the general officer commanding (GOC), 1 Division, said Nigeria would continue to deploy quality peacekeepers as part of its contribution to global peace and security.

He tasked the personnel to discharge their duties in consonance with the UNAMID mandate at all times.

Buratai said the rule of engagement in the UNAMID gives them the opportunity to exhibit utmost professionalism in the discharge of their responsibility.

“I caution you to avoid any ugly incident that could tarnish the professional image of the Nigerian Army in particular and Nigeria in general,” he said.

He noted that Nigeria and the United Nations have high respect for human rights and protection of civilians in armed conflicts.

“Maintain zero tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse; the Nigerian Army and indeed the Nigerian government will also not tolerate the contravention of these policies,” Buratai said

Earlier, Adamu Dauda, commandant of the centre, said the mandate of the institution was to provide quality training for troops earmarked for peace support operation.

Dauda told the personnel to be good ambassadors of the Nigerian Army and the country in general.

Nigeria Army begins road construction to Sambisa Forest.

Posted on December 22, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Nigeria Army has started the construction of road network to Sambisa to ease troops operations in mopping up Boko Haram insurgents in the forest.

Lucky Irabor, the Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole, stated this during a press conference at the Maimalari cantonment in Maiduguri.

“We have embarked on roads construction within the Sambisa forest to open up the area and also ease our operations in within the theatre.

“Construction of the roads will ease fighting troops in their effort to mop up the Boko Haram insurgency from their hideout,” the major general said.

He called on individuals and corporate organisations to support the military, as everything could not be left to government.

Such support was essential in reviving the economic development of the north-east, he said.

“I also urge the general public to continue to support the military in the north-east through the provision of useful information and not to follow the ways of some media outfit that were bent to bring down the military.”

CLARIFICATION: Nigerian Army Clears the Air on Video Clip Alleging Maltreatment of Soldiers

Posted on December 21, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The attention of Nigerian Army has been drawn to a video clip circulating on Social Media of soldiers alleging lack of food and water.

We wish to state that the video clip was shot more than six months ago by some mischievous and disgruntled elements when 29 Task Force Brigade captured Alagarno Forest and environs in Borno State.

It is disheartening that some mischievous elements have decided to circulate it now, creating the false impression that it is a recent occurrence. We wish to state further that the matter was conclusively investigated at the time, several months ago.

The Board of Inquiry actually showed that, as at the time of the incident, the unit’s water tanker still contained water, but a soldier mischievously concealed it.

That soldier was charged and punished accordingly. In addition to the unit’s water tanker, a borehole was subsequently drilled at the location and it is still serving both the military and adjoining communities. We wish to restate with utmost concern the continued commitment of the Nigerian Army to the total welfare of all its personnel. You are please requested to disseminate this information to public through your medium.

Thank you for your kind cooperation.

Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman

Acting Director

Army Public Relations

Nigerian Army To Set Up Cattle Ranches Nationwide

Posted on December 21, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, has said that the Nigerian Army would be raising up cattle ranches in almost all the divisions and brigades.

Mr. Buratai, who was represented by the Chief of Army Logistics, Patrick Akem, said this on Tuesday at the Commissioning of Mogadishu Cantonment New Mammy Market (former Abacha Barracks), Abuja.

The Army Chief said in keeping up with modern cattle rearing tradition, he sent officers to Argentina to look at how cattle were reared.

“Argentina has a population of 41 million people, but it feeds about 400 million people around the world with its beef.

“To take it to the next level, we want to adopt a system where the cattle are not just free ranging coming from Sokoto to Port Harcourt, thereby making their meat tough to eat, the products will soon be coming from our own farms and ranches,” he said.

He said he created the Barrack Investment Initiative as a platform that affords Army family members the opportunity of raising up fishing ponds, vegetable gardens, fruits, livestock, chicken and their eggs.

According to him, the intention of the Nigerian Army was not just to secure the country, but to contribute in growing the economy of the nation.

He added: “We want to tell our wives that they can live beyond the salaries of their husbands, so we are trying to empower the women in the barracks to be able to form co-operatives, so as to access loans and to a large extent be able to fend for themselves and their families, even without the salaries of their husbands.”

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/218555-nigerian-army-set-cattle-ranches-nationwide.html

Nigerian Army announces rescue of 605 women, children from Sambisa Forest

Posted on December 14, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Nigeria Army on Wednesday said it had rescued additional 605 women and children during its operation in Sambisa forest.

The Theatre Commander, Leo Irabor, stated this during a press conference at the headquarters of the 7 Division of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri.

Mr. Irabor, a Major General, said that troops have continued to record remarkable progress in the fight against counter terrorism operation in Sambisa forest.

He added that “69 male adults, 180 females, 227 male children and 129 female children, were rescued during the operation between December 7 and December14.

“The victims are in our custody for further investigation and interrogation.

“On the operation, our troops are determined to wipe out the terrorists from their hideout. I can tell you that the counter terrorism operation is already yielding positive results.”

Troops may leave N’East in 2017, says Buratai

Posted on December 13, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Monday said troops fighting the Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East would be returned to the barracks in 2017, when the fight would have been over.

Although twin blasts, suspected to have been coordinated by the Boko Haram fighters, killed 56 persons and injured 77 in a market in Madagali, Adamawa State on Friday, the army chief said the military was sure of success over the insurgents.

Also, on Sunday, another suicide attack on Monday Market, Maiduguri, Borno State, claimed three lives and injured 17 persons, but Buratai, who visited troops in the Damboa Local Government Area of the state, said the army would continue aggressive actions against the insurgents.

The army chief, who visited the 81 battalion on Monday, added that success over the Boko Haram remnants in the area would also facilitate the return of the Internally Displaced Persons to their homes.

He said, “Going by my first message in December, we must work to get out of this place. We must work to get out of this operation very quickly. We must defeat the Boko Haram. I was in one of the barracks and I have assured the families of our troops that many of you will go back in 2017.

“This battalion has done well. It fought along with the Cameroonian troops in this battle which means it is better placed to deal with these criminals. We must continue with the aggressive actions, patrol and ambush.

“We must move into all the hideouts of these criminals and fish them out. Other troops in the Sambisa Forest are dealing with them as well.”

Buratai said the army would do more to enhance the welfare of troops, adding that there would be a rotation of soldiers every six months of deployment.

The COAS also visited Alpha Company of 25 Brigade in Damboa to assess the new headquarters of the brigade.

Meanwhile, a member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Adamu Kamale, on Monday debunked claims by the Federal Government that all communities hitherto occupied by Boko Haram insurgents had been completely liberated.

Kamale, who represents Michika/Madagali Federal Constituency of Adamawa State, said contrary to the claims of the authorities, particularly the Nigerian military, not much had changed in the territories.

He spoke exclusively with The PUNCH in response to last week Friday’s twin bomb explosions in a popular market in Madagali, which resulted in the death of at least 56 people.

Kamale explained that many villages in his constituency share common boundaries with the dreaded Sambisa Forest, the main base of the Boko Haram insurgents.

He stated that insurgents infiltrated the communities, occupied the villages for as long as it pleased them, kidnapping and killing defenceless villagers in the process.

The lawmaker added, “Madagali still has challenges. I am the representative of this area and I know what I am saying. Many of our territories are still under the control of the insurgents.

“They kidnap and slaughter our people at will. Before last week’s attacks in Madagali market, three people were kidnapped and killed a day earlier in the same place.

“Some of these incidents are actually unreported and because they are not documented, the impression is created that all is well.

“The claims by the authorities that only pockets of insurgents are still operating are not true. The insurgents are still very much in control of many of our villages close to the Sambisa Forest. They still occupy these territories.”

Kamale told The PUNCH that though the insurgents would try to retreat whenever they sensed the presence of the military, he insisted that they always returned to “terrorise the villages and occupy them as soon as the soldiers move to other locations.”

The lawmaker said the solution was for the government to provide “adequate security for these communities in Madagali” by ensuring that the military had a permanent operational base there.

“We need the Federal Government to come to the aid of these defenceless villagers,” he appealed.

Kamale added that he felt embittered each time the government asked displaced villagers to return home on the excuse that their communities had been fully liberated.

“Let the people have adequate security; the psychological loss to our people is devastating.

“Their problem is beyond sharing food items to them or merely asking them to return to homes that are not secured,” he said.

Army hits back at Wike, says governor’s allegations on election irregularities false.

Posted on December 12, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, has said that the allegations made by Governor Nyesom Wike and other politicians, accusing the military of involvement in the Saturday legislative re-run elections in the state are aimed at tarnishing the image of the army.

Maj.-Gen. Kasimu Abdulkarim, the General Officer Commanding of the 6 division reacted to the allegations in a statement made available the Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

Abdulkarim flatly denied accusations that soldiers were involved in mass killing and arrest at Tai and Gokhana Local Government Areas of Rivers.

“These people allegedly accused soldiers of ballot box snatching, illegal escorts of some politicians, arrest and detention of voters during the general conduct of the elections.

“The weighty nature of these allegations could cause members of the public to view soldiers negatively, hence the need to adequately inform the general public on the true perspective.

“The public thus need to consider them as mere farce to garner public sympathy,” the GOC said.

According to Abdulkarim, the 6 Division, Nigerian Army remained apolitical in the conduct of the election. Its soldiers provided perimeter defence to ward off hoodlums and miscreants.

He said that the troops were in no way involved in any form of ballot box snatching, neither were they involved in the escort of politicians as alleged.

“They acted swiftly in response to security breaches in order to enforce the law, provide aid to the police and other security agencies especially in areas like Abonema, Etche, Gokhana, Ikwere, Eleme, Tai, Khana and Omoku amongst others.

“Susceptibility of mentioned areas warranted providing security for the electoral officials, voters, international and local observers, in conjunction with other security agencies by soldiers for a peaceful election to thrive in the environment,” he said.

The GOC said those areas were violated by armed men, who engaged security personnel in shootout.

“In Gokhana, armed hoodlums engaged the soldiers providing outer perimeter defence for the electorates.

“In Abonema there were three explosions that created bedlam.

“Subsequently, 11 NYSC members were abducted along with electoral materials.

“However, 10 of them were rescued two hours later by the soldiers while one was rescued about eight hours later.

“At Emouh five NYSC members were abducted with election materials in a Siena bus.

“The corps members were rescued while the suspect was handed over to the police.

“Several shootings were recorded in some communities such as Bodo, the hometown of the Secretary to the State Government, and Mogho in Gokhana Local Government Area, including snatching of ballot boxes.

“The most brutal incidence occurred at Ujju Community near Omoku in Onelga where police patrol team was ambushed. In the ambush, 10 policemen scampered into the bush.

“These attacks are reasonable evidence of violations of breach of law and order which portray the area as a flash point.

“In spite this barbarism, soldiers acted with civility and professionalism in guaranteeing peaceful election,” he said.

Abdulkarim said that the army as a respected institution with constitutional responsibility to safeguard lives and property, could not watch miscreants and hoodlums abduct, maim and kill innocent citizens, especially “in senseless attacks.”

He described the accusations of soldiers partisanship as “sham and phoney”.

He said that the division would continue to remain apolitical in the discharge of its roles.

Nigerian troops, Boko Haram in fierce battle in Borno, many killed, several injured

Posted on December 6, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A yet unknown number of Boko Haram fighters were reported killed on Sunday after Nigerian troops returned fire in response to an attack on its location by armed terrorists in the Kangarwa area of Borno State.

People familiar with the matter told PREMIUM TIMES the terrorists attacked troops of the 119 Task Force Battalion at about 4 P.M. on Sunday, shooting sporadically.

Nigerian soldiers responded promptly, killing an unknown number of Boko Haram fighters, and wounding several others.

One of our sources said at least 13 bodies of terrorists were counted after calm was restored. He said several other members of the sect escaped with “serious gunshot wounds”.

“We are sure most of those who fled with wounds will die eventually,” the source said.

One soldier however died during the battle while three others were wounded.

Military insiders said the attack was so intense that the army had to call for air support.

“The Nigerian Air Force responded promptly by dispatching two aircraft in support of ground forces,” one source said.

As the air force rained bullets from the air, the insurgents fled in different directions abandoning some weapons, insiders said.

Two Hilux vans belonging to the sect were destroyed while several weapons, including artillery guns, Ak-47 rifles machine guns and pump action guns were recovered.

The attack came five days after troops of 25 Task Force Brigade advancing to clear Boko Haram terrorists around the Sambisa Forest ran into two Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) at Matube.

An official said one IED was successfully detonated while the other exploded and killed a soldier.

The remains of the soldier was evacuated to the headquarters of the brigade in Damboa, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

Army to dismantle some road blocks in south-east during Yuletide

Posted on December 6, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The ‘Operation Python Dance’ of the Nigerian army says some of its road blocks in the south-east will be dismantled to facilitate free flow of traffic during the Yuletide.

Musa Sagir, deputy director, public relations of 82 Division Nigerian Army, Enugu, disclosed this while on patrol with journalists at the River Niger bridge head, Onitsha and Awka, on Sunday.

Sagir said that it had become imperative to remove totally or shorten some of the checkpoints, particularly within the bridge head, Onitsha, as the Yuletide drew closer.

He called on other security agencies operating within the bridge head to support the army to ensure free flow of traffic in the area. He said that the operation was not to witch-hunt any group or individuals but it was purely for military training and crime prevention.

“Our men stay on the side of road watching in case of any criminality and obstruction on the road,” Sagir said.

“You have seen that we are not looking for any group or individual to arrest since our operation started on November 27 and will end on December 27 in the five eastern states”.

“The Nigerian Army has to ensure safety, peace and security, and to ensure that Nigeria’s security challenges are reduced to the barest minimum.”

“No holidays for all the military personnel in the South-East throughout the period of the exercise.”

Should killings of IPOB members be over looked? – Emmanuel Onwubiko

Posted on November 30, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army is once more in the eye of the storm caused by some indiscretions and unprofessional conducts of some of her operatives and officers with regards to internal military operations.

Under the current dispensation the Nigerian Army has had several face offs with International humanitarian groups over alleged widespread killings of civilians.

The latest challenge to the public and corporate image of the Nigerian Army is the alleged mass killings of over 150 unarmed protesters thought to be members or sympathizers of the Europe registered group known as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

IPOB has for two years now waged global wide peaceful advocacy campaigns for self-determination of the people of South-East of Nigeria.

The members of the Indigenous People of Biafra are absolutely unarmed and are some of the most peaceful and peaceable advocates of self-determination Worldwide.

The British founded global human rights body known as Amnesty International has recently issued damaging but extensively verifiable reports of the killing spree conducted by the Nigerian Army in the South East of Nigeria in the last one year leading to the slaughter through extra-legal means of unarmed civilians belonging or exercising their sympathy for the messages of self-determination being spread peacefully by IPOB.

This report has understandably generated considerable volumes of reactions with the Army hurriedly denying any involvement but in another breath said it was only defending her operatives from violence. Which violence? One may ask.

The killings of civilians by the Army go against everything that constitutional democracy stands for because extra-legal execution of civilians is absolutely antithetical to civility and democracy.

For the better part of the last two decades, Nigeria embraced civilian democracy and an essential ingredient of this system of government is the constitutionally guaranteed right to peaceful protests the citizens are entitled to.

Importantly, the attempt to sweep under the carpets these senseless killings captured in audiovisuals and which are watched globally, offends everything that make us rational and thinking beings.

The killings if tolerated would amount to overturning all the efforts we have genuinely made to build a Nigerian nation whereby the Rule of Law would become our national ethos.

Professor Isawa. J. Elaigwu who contributed a piece in the University of Jos Alumni association lecture series even alluded to the basic fact that impunity and cover up by government officials and all other relevant authorities would deny Nigeria the benefit of becoming a civilized polity in line with global best practices.

His Words: “While laws, structures and processes are useful in the operation of federalism as a mechanism of managing conflicts in the process of nation-building, the human dimension poses the greatest challenges to the polity. It does not matter what laws and structures are in place, human beings must run the system. Human operators must imbibe the values of justice, equity and accommodation of opponents…”

I must say it straight away that the attempts by the Army’s directorate of Public relations and the Nigerian political establishment in Abuja headed by President Muhammadu Buhari to sweep under the carpets these serious allegations of mass killings of members of IPOB by the Nigeria Army can only succeed in graphically presenting our society as primitive, brutish, violent and blood tasty.

Even in a state of nature the crude and primitive resorts to self-help measures and open use of lethal weapons as used by the Nigerian Army against IPOB members made up of unarmed men, boys, women, girls and their babies amounted to grave crime against humanity.

The only option open to the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai and the President, retired Major General Muhammadu Buhari, is to dispassionately take legal notice of this large scale evidence of mass killings as presented by Amnesty International, arrest and prosecute the offenders or else the International Criminal Court could be asked to step in.

It is a sacred fact that the Nigerian Army is not set up as a bunch of some armed brutes on specific assignment of occupation, domination and elimination of dissenting voices.

The constitution created the Nigerian Army to comply and to operate in line with the rules of engagement which totally prohibits the deployment of maximum force to kill off political or ideological opponents of the government.

Not even under late Colonel Saddam Husseini or the Ugandan warlord Idi Amin Dada will such malfeasance be expected to be swept under the carpets and the perpetrators celebrated as heroes rather than villains and war criminals.

Looking through the relevant sections of the Constitution particularly Section 217(1), the Nigerian Army just like the other segments of the Armed Forces was created to protect the people and not to kill the people at the slightest provocation.

The Constitutional duty (217(2) (c)) of ‘suppressing insurrection’ as contained in the Constitution did not lift the ban placed on the abolition of extra-legal killing which is the intendment of Section 33(1) thus: “Every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which has been found guilty in Nigeria.”

Besides, Chapter Four of the Constitution allows Nigerians to assemble freely and associate with other persons just as the fundamental freedom of expression is constitutionally guaranteed to all citizens including supporters of the Indigenous People of Biafra.

The recorded evidence whereby armed Nigerian Soldiers were seen running helter skelter, and opening fire on unarmed members of IPOB must be forensically investigated. The Nigerian Army must not view these reports as direct indictment of Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai but the individuals responsible ought to be identified, prosecuted and punished in accordance with the Constitutional norms.

There’s therefore a constitutional imperative on the Chief of Army Staff to ensure that those of his boys that violated the law are sanctioned.

In fact the statements credited to both the Army and the Presidency has made it necessary that only an Independent body such as the International Criminal Court (ICC) or the United Nations Security Council can be trusted to deliver justice to all the parties involved.

In the report, Amnesty International Stated thus: “By far the largest number of pro-Biafra activists were killed on Biafra Remembrance Day on 30 May 2016 when an estimated 1,000 IPOB members and supporters gathered for a rally in Onitsha, Anambra State. The night before the rally, the security forces raided homes and a church where IPOB members were sleeping.”

“On Remembrance Day itself, the security forces shot people in several locations. Amnesty International has not been able to verify the exact number of extrajudicial executions, but estimates that at least 60 people were killed and 70 injured in these two days. The real number is likely to be higher.”

“Ngozi (not her real name), a 28-year-old mother of one, told Amnesty International that her husband left in the morning to go to work but called her shortly afterwards to say that the military had shot him in his abdomen. He said he was in a military vehicle with six others, four of whom were already dead. She told Amnesty International: “he started whispering and said they just stopped [the vehicle]. He was scared they would kill the remaining three of them that were alive… He paused and told me they were coming closer. I heard gunshots and I did not hear a word from him after that.”

“The next day Ngozi searched for her husband and finally found his body in a nearby mortuary. The mortuary attendants told her that the military had brought him and six others. She saw three gunshot wounds: one in his abdomen and two in his chest, which confirmed her fear that the military had executed him.”

“Amnesty International has also reviewed videos of a peaceful gathering of IPOB members and supporters at Aba National High School on 9 February 2016. The Nigerian military surrounded the group and then fired live ammunition at them without any prior warning.”

“According to eyewitnesses and local human rights activists, many of the protesters at Aba were rounded up and taken away by the military. On 13 February 13 corpses, including those of men known to have been taken by the military, were discovered in a pit near the Aba highway.”

How on Earth should a civilisation deliberately overlook this planned genocide as documented by this global organisation? Only in a Banana Republic will such large scale mass killings be consigned to the dustbin of history.

– Emmanuel Onwubiko is the head of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria and blogs @ www.emmanuelonwubiko.com

Nigerian Army to establish command boarding school in Birnin Kebbi – Army Chief

Posted on November 28, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Chief of Army staff (COAS), Tukur Buratai, on Monday said the Nigerian Army was planning to establish a command secondary school with boarding facilities in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi.

Mr. Buratai, a Lt. Gen., who was on a working visit to the state, also told Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, in Birnin Kebbi that the Nigerian Army Engineering Corps (NAEC) would construct the bridge linking Shema and Bakoshi in Zuru Local Government Area.

He said the proposed Army command secondary school in the state would be the second to be established nationwide.

The COAS said the project was to ensure that the Nigerian Army sustain the cordial relationship with the Army friendly state governments and promote the educational development of youths in the area.

He assured the state government that the Nigerian Army would execute the projects professionally.

Mr. Buratai also commended the state government for reposing confidence in the Nigerian Army in its efforts at securing the territorial integrity of the nation.

He also lauded the state government for allowing the army to construct developmental projects there and ensuring a healthy relationship between the military and the civilian population.

The COAS commiserated with the state government over the death of an indigene, C.U. Umar, a Lt. Col., who was killed by the Boko Haram terrorists in an ambush while on duty in the North-East.

In his remarks, Gov. Atiku Bagudu commended the Chief of Army Staff for restoring peace to the country as well as improving the professional conduct of the Nigerian Army in the task of protecting the territorial integrity of the country.

He said the state would sustain the cordial relationship with the military, especially, in the areas of combating cattle rustling and kidnapping.

Mr. Bagudu used the occasion to call on security agencies to work together in curtailing the spate of attacks and incursions into the country’s territory by neighbouring countries.

“I acknowledge the friendly posture between the state and the Nigerian Army and assure the top echelon of the Army that the relationship will be sustained” he said.

Nigerian Army confirms death of another lieutenant colonel in Boko Haram ambush.

Posted on November 24, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army on Wednesday confirmed the death of B.U. Umar, a lieutenant colonel, in a Boko Haram ambush.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how Mr. Umar and soldiers of his 114 TF battalion were ambushed by Boko Haram after an initial bomb explosion.

While Mr. Umar died immediately in the attack that occurred at about 9:30 a.m. on November 15, another officer, a lieutenant, died later from the attack while eight others were injured.

On Wednesday, the commander of the Nigerian Army in the north-east, Lucky Irabor, confirmed the incident.

“On 15 Nov 16 at about 0930hrs own troops while on patrol to MUBI encountered an IED explosion along Bitta – Pirang road and thereafter were ambushed by BHT”, Mr. Irabor, a major general, said, according to the text of a press conference he delivered on Wednesday.

“Troops successfully cleared the ambush after a fight and unfortunately the Commanding Officer, Lt Col BU Umar lost his life on the spot. Subsequently, Lt Muktar also died in the hospital where 8 others soldiers who are wounded in action were receiving treatment. The wounded soldiers have been responding to treatment”.

Mr. Irabor also said a total of 5,235 people have been rescued from Boko Haram captivity in the past two months.

“In all the operations, a total of 5,235 people were rescued from the BHT”, Mr. Irabor said while detailing the achievements of Nigeria’s troops in the last two months.

He also read through a catalogue of military activities, most of which have been reported by the media.

The press conference, which was beamed by the government-owned Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, lasted about an hour.

The major general described the recent upsurge of suicide bombers as very unfortunate. He, however, said the impacts of the blasts have been minimal as only the bombers got killed in most cases.

“The impact of recent bombings in Maiduguri, though sad and unfortunate, was minimal due to the alertness of troops and other security agencies”, he said.

“Apart from the one wherein 2 CJTF personnel were killed and some others wounded, only the terrorists died, while one was captured alive. The captured suicide bomber is assisting in the investigation into cases of suicide bombings. The incidents are only indicative of a weakened and defeated BHT. Their ignoble adventure is destined to fail totally.”

Mr. Irabor said soldiers have intercepted several arms and ammunition from the insurgents. One of such interceptions was made on November 13, he said.

“At about 2130hrs, own troops at FOB Potiskum arrested a trailer truck with registration number Yobe (XA 960 NGU) along Potiskum – Azare road enroute Kano based on information from DSS”, he said.

“The truck was arrested with 22 sharpened new cutlasses, a knife, 7 catapults, 5 military belts, 41 iron rollers, 9 sharpened iron rods, 6 hollow irons, a first aid box, 2 tents and various black and red flags of IMN sect. The driver and 2 other persons were arrested with the truck. The suspects and items have been handed over to the Nigeria Police for further action.

EXCLUSIVE: Nigerian Army officially declares 46 soldiers missing.

Posted on November 23, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army has officially declared one officer and 45 soldiers missing in a major Boko Haram attacks five weeks ago, PREMIUM TIMES can report.

Consequently, the Army authorities have formally informed the families of the 46 personnel of the fate of their loved ones and requested that their next of kin forward bank details for onward remittance of accrued payments, military sources told PREMIUM TIMES.

The sources said the declaration and notification were contained in a November 20 notice sent by M. Jimoh, the new commander of the Nigerian Army 145 Task Force Battalion in Damasak, Borno State.

Mr. Jimoh, a lieutenant colonel, sent the signal to the 145 Battalion rear base in Ohafia, Abia State, and copied the Army 7 Division Headquarters in Maiduguri and 82 Division Garrison in Enugu.

Also copied were 5 Battalion in Kano; 20 Battalion in Serti, Taraba State; 103 Battalion in Enugu and 119 Battalion in Malam Fatori, Borno State.

Also in receipt of the signal were 143 Infantry Battalion for special forces in Borno State; 144 Battalion in Asa, Abia State; and 146 Battalion in Calabar.

Each of the battalions copied in the signal had soldiers that were part of the 83 missing, PREMIUM TIMES understands.

Mr. Jimoh recently replaced K. Yusuf, a lieutenant colonel who PREMIUM TIMES exclusively identified as the commander of the 145 Task Force Battalion who was among the missing soldiers.

The admission by the army that 46 personnel are missing came exactly five weeks after the soldiers were dislodged from their base in Gashigar, Borno State, by Boko Haram operatives.

The aftermath of the attack was exclusively reported by PREMIUM TIMES, which included how several soldiers drowned in River Yobe and how at least 83 troops went missing with Mr. Yusuf.

The troops were on deployment in Gashigar, which sits on the northernmost edge of Borno State, as part of the ‘Operation Gama Aiki’ aimed at displacing insurgents hibernating around the Nigerian border with Niger and Chad.

The operation was launched in June 2016.

They were manning the Forward Operation Base there when Boko Haram operatives pushed towards them with superior firepower in the evening of October 16, senior military sources familiar with the encounter told PREMIUM TIMES at the time.

After initial resistance, the troops soon abandoned their base and scampered for safety. At dawn on October 17, the leadership of the Nigerian Army was informed that Boko Haram attacked the troops when they jumped into River Yobe, where the sect opened fire and left unknown number of them fatally wounded.

Twenty-two of the fleeing soldiers were rescued by the Nigerien troops and transported to a hospital in Diffa, southern Niger, for treatment, the Army also learnt at the time.

Yet, for several days, the spokesman for the Army, Sani Usman, maintained that the report was false.

But on the same day that he spoke, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole in the northeast, Lucky Irabor, a major-general, claimed only 39 soldiers went missing.

The Army also opened a secret inquiry into the attack after some brigade commanders raised questions about the conduct of the soldiers.

For instance, the commanders said it was difficult to explain how utility trucks were used to dispossess soldiers of their armoured vehicles especially when the soldiers said they were alerted in their various positions.

Senior military officials also found it curious that some of the soldiers were rescued by their Nigerien counterparts with their bullets still largely unspent.

“If they actually came under attack while they were fully at alert, then they should have exhausted their ammunition before taking to their heels,” the source said. “At least that much should be clear.”

The Nigerian Army condemns media attack on Buratai.

Posted on November 9, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Army says it’s attention has been drawn to a “fictitious interview” with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai by a cloned online newspaper.

It said the interview under the headline, “Buratai blames Col. Ali’s death on President Buhari, hails Goodluck”, is “false and a figment of their imagination resulting from their jaundiced and unjustified hatred of the person of the COAS and the Nigerian Army.”

Col. Sani Usman, in a statement, said “The publication is also a calculated mischief by some unknown individuals designed to achieve some ulterior motives.

“The content of that mischievous publication exists only in their imagination. There has never been anytime or occasion where the Chief of Army Staff stated that.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Chief of Army Staff could never have said something like that. He remains absolutely loyal to the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“He remains resolute in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in our country and no amount of distraction or unwarranted attacks would change that.

“While we are making efforts to unravel those behind this publication and decipher their motive and objectives we urge the public to disregard the publication in its entirety.”

Col. Abu-Ali, other fallen officers’ sacrifice won’t be in vain – Buhari

Posted on November 7, 2016 by Staff Reporter

President Muhammadu Buhari Sunday night eulogized Colonel Abu Ali and other fallen military officers and men who met their deaths while fighting against terrorists and insurgency in Nigeria, saying their sacrifices would never go in vain.

The president also stated that their memories would be eternally etched in the hearts and minds of Nigerians for whose sake they laid down their lives.

Buhari remarks came on the heels of Col Ali’s death who he described as “one of Nigeria’s finest and bravest soldiers in recent history.”

In a condolence statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, President Buhari said that “he was rudely shocked by the news of the officer’s death along with other gallant soldiers during an encounter with the Boko Haram bandits in Borno State.”

According to the President, “a courageous commander does not only give orders, but also joins his men to fight the battle, no matter the risks or the obvious danger.”

The president stated that Ali “was an extraordinary officer who inspired respect and adoration among those he commanded”, adding that “one of the greatest attributes of a war hero is the ability to help your troops overcome fear in the face of danger.”

He also stated that Ali and his other fallen colleagues had brought glory to the army and the country for laying down their lives for the sake of others.

Making a passionate condolence to the families of the victims and the Nigerian Army, the President also noted that their heroic sacrifices were “so immeasurable that no words can do justice to their patriotism and remarkable courage.”

President Buhari, who personally called late Colonel Ali’s father, Brigadier-Gen. Abu Ali (Rtd) to console the family, reassured them that the death of their son and others in battle would never go in vain.

“He was a gallant soldier, never to be forgotten. He has brought a good name to the family,” he said.

The president also called on members of the armed forces not to let the tragic incident to dampen their morale and spirit, adding that “under no circumstances should the Boko Haram terrorists be allowed to destroy the will of our troops.”

According to him, “evil should not be given any chance to defeat good and humanity”, and that “members of our armed forces should remain formidably united in the war against terrorism.”

Meanwhile, the President has appointed a high powered delegation to be led by the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari to represent him at the funeral of Colonel Abu Ali and others today(Monday).

The members of the committee also included the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello and the Minister of State Solid Minerals Development, Baba Buhari.

Shekau’s New Video A Propaganda- Nigerian Army

Posted on September 26, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The military yesterday said the factional leader of the terrorist group Boko Haram Abubakar Shekau is “unstable and irrational saying he must release the abducted Chibok girls unconditionally.

The Army was responding to the latest video released by Shekau, describing it as propaganda and sign of desperation.

Boko Haram on Sunday released another video in which Shekau appeared for 38 minutes, speaking in Arabic, Fulfulde, Hausa and a line in English. Shekau appeared before a black background with two armed members of the group by his side and about 15 big copies of the Holy Quran in front of him.

He spoke mostly in Arabic and denied being killed or wounded in any Nigerian Air Force raid. He also sent messages to President Muhammadu Buhari, Chief of Army Staff Lt.-General Tukur Buratai, and President Idris Deby of Chad.

“The unbelievers of Nigeria I am going to be addressing you and Buhari and Idris Deby. The whole world should listen. I am alive. when my days are over you people will not see me again.

“You should make all the preparations you want to make, you and your Ban kii Moon. I am trying to make the whole world to know that we are not gentle people or sociologists; it is because of God that we evade you when you throw out your bombs,” Shekau said.

He said democracy is evil and for unbelievers on “his brothers and sisters” to return to the right way. “ Do you think democracy is religion, you Hausa of Nigeria? If not for God where will we be? My brothers and sister, return to the Quran. You Buhari, go and beg people for money claiming you will collect the young girls back when it is all a lie,” he said.

Army dismisses latest Boko Haram video

Boko Haram: Shekau Wounded In Military Airstrike

Posted on August 23, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army on Tuesday announced the death of three key commanders of the extremist Boko Haram sect.

The army said the terrorists were killed on Friday in a major air strike on their location in the dreaded Sambisa Forest.

The spokesperson for the Army, Sani Usman, said the leader of the terrorist group, Abubakar Shekau, was also inflicted with with “fatal injury” during the operation.

Mr. Sani, a colonel, said the bombardment was carried out on Friday while Mr. Shekau, who the Nigerian military had pronounced dead several times in the past years, was leading his group in performing the Friday prayers at a secret location called Tayye in the heart of the vast forest.

The military has repeatedly claimed credit for killing Mr. Shekau. But the sect denounced the claims each time saying its leader remained alive. At times, Mr. Shekau would appear in a video to prove he had not been killed.

The military however insisted that the original Abubakar Shekau had long been killed, and that the so-called Abubakar Shekau said to be alive was a made-up character.

Giving further details of Friday bombardment, Mr. Sani gave the names of those killed in the raid as Abubakar Mubi, Malam Nuhu and Malam Hamman.

Our correspondent in Maiduguri said the air raid was not immediately reported because journalists have no access to the location.

Military insiders also said the air force had no idea how successful the bombardments were until late Monday when the Army became aware of those killed and injured in battle.

Colonel Usman’s statement reads in full:

“In what one could describe as the most unprecedented and spectacular air raid, we have just confirmed that as a result of the interdiction efforts of the Nigerian Air Force, some key leaders of the

Boko Haram terrorists have been killed while others were fatally wounded.

“The air interdiction took place last week Friday 19th August 2016, while the terrorists were performing Friday rituals at Taye village,

“Those Boko Haram terrorists commanders confirmed dead include Abubakar Mubi, Malam Nuhu and Malam Hamman, amongst others. While their leader, so called “Abubakar Shekau”, is believed to be fatally wounded on his shoulders. Several other terrorists were also wounded”.

$15bn Arms Deals: Panel Traces Funds To Five Children Of Ex-Army Chief

Posted on August 13, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Presidential Committee on Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement (CADEP) has traced about N2billion, meant for the purchase of vehicles for the Nigerian Army, to the accounts of five children of a former Chief of Army Staff.

The accounts were said to have been frozen as at the time of filing this report.

Also, the panel discovered that about 42 units of Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) rejected by Iraq were resold to Nigeria to fight Boko Haram insurgents.

It said the poor equipment accounted for the loss of lives and soldiers in the North-East.

The panel’s findings are contained in a brief which was obtained by The Nation.

The outcome of the panel’s investigation suggested that the children of the ex-Chief of Army Staff allegedly used two companies for the deal.

The panel said: “The committee reviewed the procurement carried out by Chok Ventures Ltd and Integrated Equipment Services Ltd, two companies that shared the same registered office, had one name as common controlling shareholder and sole or mandatory signatory to the various banks accounts of the companies.”

The committee further established that between March 2011 and December 2013, the two companies exclusively procured various types of Toyota and Mitsubishi vehicles worth over N2, 000,000,000.00 for the Nigerian Army without any competitive bidding.

Most of the contracts awarded to the companies were also split, awarded on the same date or within a short space of time at costs and mobilization higher than the prescribed thresholds.

For instance, on February 13 and 15, the two companies were awarded contracts worth N260, 000.000.00 and N315, 000,000.00 respectively for supplies of various vehicles. The Nigerian Army could not justify the exclusive selection of these vendors against other renowned distributors of same brands of vehicles procured.

More seriously, the committee found no credible evidence of delivery of the vehicles by the two companies as there were no receipt vouchers, but only unauthenticated delivery notes, invoices and waybills that were purportedly used for the deliveries.

Nevertheless, the vendors were fully paid based on job completion certificate authenticated by the then Chief of Logistics, Maj Gen D.D. Kitchener (rtd). The payments were also made without deduction of Withholding Tax (WHT). Furthermore, analyses of the various bank accounts of the two companies showed transfers to individuals , some of who are believed to be children of the army chief.

“Thus, the committee recommends further investigation to determine delivery of the vehicles and relationship of funds beneficiaries with the former COAS and the two companies. Furthermore, the panel said that Lt Gen O. A. Ihejirika (rtd), Maj Gen D. D. Kitchener (rtd), Col A. M. Inuwa and Mr Chinedu Onyekwere should be held accountable for the issues arising out of the contracts.”

The panel observed that the award of contracts in the Nigerian Army was fraught with irregularities.

It said a company was registered on November 17, 2014 and awarded $125,179,299.10 on the same day.

It said: “The Nigerian Army, between April and August 2014, entered into four contract agreements with Societe D’Equipmenteux Internationale (SEI Nig Ltd) for procurement of Cobra Armoured Personnel Carriers, Shilka Self-Propelled Artillery Guns, Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) as well as various ammunition and spares funded by the ONSA.”

The contracts for the Cobra APCs and Shilka Guns were not executed as they were not funded. However, the costs for procurement of the AFVs; ammunition and spares were $398,550,000.00 and $484,765,000.00 respectively totalling $883,315,000.00.

In November 2014, the ONSA awarded contract to Conella Services Limited for procurement of 72 various arms and ammunition that included MRAP vehicles, Mi-17 helicopter at the cost of $125,179,299.10.

The committee observed that the company was registered in Nigeria on 17 November, 2014 and awarded the contract on the same date, while the EUC for the procurement was issued a day later on 18 November, 2014. Furthermore, the ONSA paid $36,996,530.00 and N2,209,582,296.00 to the vendor between November 2014 and 15 April, 2015.

However, the Nigerian Army denied receipt of any procurement from Conella Services Ltd.

Similarly, the committee tried in vain to reach officials of the company to confirm execution of the contract. There is, therefore, the need for further investigation of Conella Services Ltd.

The committee observed that SEI and its two associated companies, APC Axial Ltd and HK-Sawki Nig Ltd, were incorporated in May 2014 with two Nigerien brothers, Hima Aboubakar and Ousmane Hima Massy as the only directors.

Between May 2014 and March 2015, the ONSA mandated CBN to release various sums totaling $386,954,000.00 to SEI and the two associated companies for ‘procurement of technical equipment’, without tying the money to particular items of procurement.

Thus, the allotment of the funds was left at the discretion of the vendor without input or consultation with ONSA or the Nigerian Army.

“Furthermore, some of the funds transferred preceded the formalization of SEI contracts with the Nigerian Army. There was also no evidence of any contract to justify the payments made by ONSA to the SEI associate companies. Consequently, it had been difficult for the ONSA, the Nigerian Army and SEI to reconcile the accounts vis-a-vis the equipment delivered.”

The panel also uncovered that 42 units of Armoured Personnel Carrier(APC) which were rejected by Iraq were later sold to Nigeria to fight Boko Haram insurgents.

It claimed that some of the APCs were either expired or unsuitable leading to loss of lives.

It added: “The committee observed that one of the new equipment SEI procured for the Nigerian Army from Ukraine was BTR-4E APC.”

However, according to the Ukraine’s state enterprise, Lviv Armour Repair Plant, the designers of the equipment, “some of the products sold to Nigeria in 2014 were actually among 42 units designed for Iraq which subsequently rejected them due to poor performance rating”.

The Nigerian Army did not also undertake the mandatory pre-shipment inspections provided for in the contract agreements. Instead, the NA deployed an infantry officer, who lacked the technical knowledge to assess the capabilities and shortcomings of the equipment, to oversee the shipment of the items for the Nigerian Army from Ukraine.

Additionally, the two-week training availed the technicians and operators was inadequate for them to comprehend the technical workings of the newly introduced equipment.

The committee’s interactions with the field operators revealed that although the platforms and ammunition procured by SEI were deployed for the NE operations, some of them were aged or expired, lacked spares and prone to breakdown without immediate recovery equipment.

“Therefore, failure to carry out pre-shipment inspection and inadequate training resulted in procurement of some unreliable equipment that reduced the capacity of the Nigerian Army in the North East operations and resulted in the loss of lives and equipment.”

On some payments to SEI on T-72 Tanks, the panel said the company made about $93,000,000.00 profit without paying the mandatory 5 per cent Withholding Tax(WHT).

It said: “SEI submitted a document to the committee reconciling the items it delivered to the Nigerian Army vis-a-vis the payments made to it by ONSA.”

According to SEI, the total value of the contracts it executed amounted to $909,065,824.00 and not the $883,315,000.00 reflected in the two contract agreements it signed with Nigerian Army.

Furthermore, SEI claimed that it delivered goods worth $697,718,168.00 whereas only $198,289,672.00 was paid to it by ONSA.

Credit: TheNation

Peace Must Be Restored In Nigeria At All Cost – Burutai

Posted on August 10, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has vowed that the Nigerian Army would at all cost ensure restoration and maintenance of peace and harmony in the country.

This is even as he noted that the Nigerian military has degraded to its knee the Boko Haram activities in the north east as incessant bombings of worshipping centres, market places, motor parks and other places have gradually subsided in all section of the country.

The Army boss gave the pledge when he paid a courtesy visit to the Gbong Gwom Jos, His Royal Majesty, Da Jacob Gyang Buba at his palace in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Originally, Buratai was on a familiarization tour to military outfits and formations under the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army in Jos.

While commiserating with the His Royal Highness over the death of the paramount ruler, Saf Ron Kulere of Bokkos Local Government, HRH La’azarus Agai, he also assured the people of Plateau State of security of lives and properties.

Also commending, the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba appealed to the military and other security agencies to continue searching high and law the killers of the paramount ruler La’azarus Agai and brought them to book, appreciating the Nigeria for its sacrifices towards restoring peace and other only in Plateau State but all over Nigeria.

Nigerian Army Court Martials 20 Soldier

Posted on August 10, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army on Wednesday constituted a General Court Martial to try 20 soldiers of different ranks for offences ranging from murder to sales of firearms in counter insurgency warfare in the Northeast.

The acting General Officer Commanding, the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. Victor Ezugwu, who inaugurated the GMC said the offences were committed within the Theatre of Operation Lafiya Dole.

Ezugwu said that some of the accused were involved in criminal activities which include murder, crimes against civilians, and illegal sales of firearms.

He said, “The court martial is to achieve timely and quick dispensation of Justice within the framework provided in relevant statute books.

“Therefore, it is important that both the Prosecution and the Accused Persons or their counsels are mindful of this fact and strive to shun all forms of antics such as request for frivolous adjournments which could lead to delays in the trial processes.

“It is often said in the legal parlance that, justice delayed is justice denied.”

He asked the president and members of the GCM to dispense the assignment in accordance with the appropriate extant laws and ensure that their decisions on all the cases before them was not clouded by bias.

The GOC said over a hundred soldiers have been tried and punished at the Brigade level over acts of indiscipline and unprofessionalism.

The president of the court, Brig. Gen. Adeniyi said the accused would be given fair hearing.

http://punchng.com/nigerian-army-courtmartials-20-soldiers/

We’ll Reduce Boko Haram To Nothing Despite Leadership Change – DHQ

Posted on August 4, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said that the military was not in the least bit perturbed about the latest change of leadership in Boko Haram.

Wednesday, the BBC reported that Islamic State had named a new leader, Abu Musab al-Barnawi, for Boko Haram. Al-Barnawi, who was once the spokesman for the insurgent group, has replaced Abubakar Shekau. According to BBC, al-Barnawi was featured in the latest issue of an ISIS magazine. The magazine made no reference to Shekau. But DHQ spokesman, Brig-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, said wednesday that the military was not interested in what happens in what he described as “nearly dead” Boko Haram terrorists, including a change of leadership or alliance with ISIS.

Abubakar said that the military was singularly focused on the complete destruction of the terror group, irrespective of leadership and administrative changes. He said: “The leadership change in Boko Haram, as purportedly stated, does not in any way bother us, as the group is nearly dead in Nigeria and other countries within the Lake Chad Basin. “So whether there is a change in leadership or not, we are sure of total annihilation of the group. “Our focus is to clear them from their hideouts which we have been doing through the ongoing Operation Crackdown and Operation Gama Aiki with the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).

“It’s (leadership change) not anything to us and we will continue to reduce them to nothing.”

Abubakar said the military has been capturing members of the terror sect on “a daily basis, so the change is not anything to us”. He said the military was certain that Boko Haram was “in disarray and collapsing”. “So they are trying to behave like a dying person who will hold on to any thing in his desperation to stay alive. People should not take them seriously, as they no longer pose a threat. We dismiss this change of leadership as child’s play,” he added.

Shekau was last seen in a Boko Haram propaganda video in March 2015, one of many footages released in his years of leading a brutal campaign against Nigeria. In one of the videos, Shekau pledged allegiance to ISIS, which was originally based in Syria and Iraq. ISIS has several offshoots now in other countries, including Libya. Al-Barnawi, who has been named as Boko Haram’s new leader, is something of a mystery. When he appeared in a Boko Haram video in January 2015 as the group’s spokesman, he wore a turban and his face was blurred out and it was filmed as a sit-down studio interview.

Unlike former leader, Shekau, his delivery in the Hausa language was considered and softly spoken.
Shekau was often filmed in the open, surrounded by fighters, loudly proclaiming his threats, victories and giving rambling ideological lectures. However, al-Barnawi pulled no punches, warning that towns which resisted Boko Haram in its mission to create an Islamic state would be flattened.

He also spoke of being against democracy and foreign education. In his most recent magazine interview, he again objected to the name Boko Haram, by which local people call the group, as it means “Western education is forbidden” in Hausa. He maintained ISIS was still strong in the region and promised to continue fighting West African governments.

But as the identity of the head of Boko Haram was revealed, the Nigerian Army said yesterday that its troops with the assistance of civilian vigilantes, on routine checks, identified and arrested a high profile member of the sect. Army spokesman, Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman, said in statement: “On Tuesday, 2nd August 2016, at about 8.30 a.m., troops of Operation Lafiya Dole with the assistance of vigilantes, on routine checks, identified and arrested a high profile suspected Boko Haram terrorist, Mohammed Mohammed Zauro, at Sabon Gari, Damboa Local Government Area, Borno State.

Preliminary investigation shows that the suspected terrorist kingpin was arrested as he was trying to flee to Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, from Sambisa forest. “The troops recovered a Gionee brand of mobile phone handset and a fake SAIE/JIBWIS identification card to perfect his escape and the sum of N7,900.” Usman said the troops also intercepted another suspected Boko Haram terrorist, Lawal Aboi, along Damboa-Bale Road.

“According to him, he was on his way to voluntarily surrender to the troops in Damboa because he was tired of fighting for no just cause. Both suspects are being further interrogated,” the army spokesman said.

Nigerian Army Replies Amnesty International On Pro-Biafra Killings

Posted on June 10, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army has rejected a report by Amnesty International on Friday accusing Nigerian troops of killing at least 17 unarmed pro-Biafra supporters in south eastern states.

Amnesty International said it conducted extensive research on the attacks and could confirm 17 killings, but said the number could be as high as 50.

In a statement following the report, H.A. Gambo, a colonel and deputy director, Army Public Relations, accused Amnesty International of not verifying its claims and seeking to discredit the Nigerian Army.

“The attention of 82 Division Nigerian Army has been drawn to insinuations of misdeed being leveled by Amnesty International against security forces during the MASSOB/IPOB violent protests in Onitsha and environs on 31 May 2016. Accordingly, it is deemed imperative for the wrong and misleading impressions with which the public is being fed to be corrected once and for all,” the statement said.

“The synopsis of occurrence on that fateful day is that elements of MASSOB/IPOB engaged in violent protests which were featured with outright disregard for law and order. In the scenario of anarchy that ensued, the pro-Biafran protesters who had chosen the day to mark the 50th Anniversary of Biafra perpetrated a number of unimaginable atrocities to unhinge the reign of peace, security and stability in several parts of Anambra State.

“A number of persons from the settler communities that hailed from other parts of the country were selected for attack, killed and burnt. 2 personnel of the Nigeria Police were killed, several soldiers were wounded, a Nigeria Police vehicle was completely burnt down while another of the Nigerian Army was vandalized.

“The strategic Niger Bridge at Onitsha was at the verge of being captured particularly with the coordinated reinforcement of the violent protesters from the Asaba end of the Bridge. In addition, wanton destruction of lives and properties were brazenly carried out by the protesters who employed firearms, crude weapons as well as other volatile cocktails such as acid and dynamites. In consequence, law, order and security were grossly threatened across the State and beyond.

“The Nigerian Army in synergy with other security agencies under its constitutional mandates for Military Aid to Civil Authority (MACA) and Military Aid to Civil Power (MACP) acted responsively in order to de-escalate the deteriorating security scenario in-situ. Instructively, the military and other security agencies exercised maximum restraints against the odds of provocative and inexplicable violence that were employed against them by the pro-Biafran protesters.

“The military and of course the other security agencies acted professionally within the extant Rules of Engagement to successful de-escalate the budding anarchy in-situ. It is rather inconceivable for any individual or group to have decided to inundate the general public with an anecdote of unverified narratives in order to discredit the Nigerian Army in the course of carrying out its constitutional duties despite the inexplicable premeditated and unprovoked attacks in the hands of the violent pro-Biafran mob.”

Credit: PremiumTimes

Why Protesting MASSOB, IPOB Members Were Killed- Nigerian Army

Posted on May 31, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army said its troops, alongside other security agencies, acted in self-defence as well as in defence of lives and property of peace-loving Nigerians when it shot dead at least five members of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Monday.

The pro-Biafra activists were killed as they marched to commemorate the 49th anniversary of the declaration of the defunct Biafra Republic by late warlord, Odumegwu Ojukwu.

According to the army, in a statement made available in Enugu by the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, eight other members of the separatist organisations were wounded while nine were arrested for due legal actions.

The statement said, “The attention of the general public is hereby drawn to the unwarranted attack that was launched by combined members of the Movement for Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) against the peace loving populace as well as security agencies at about 0415 hours on 30 May 2016.

“This attack was purported to have been orchestrated in order to mar the first anniversary of the present democratic government as part of the activities earmarked to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Biafra.

“Due to the wide spread panic, tension and apprehension that generated from the activities of the MASSOB and IPOB members, security agencies which comprised of detachment of Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police, Department of State Service, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency were compelled to intervene in consonance with constitutional provisions of aid to civil authority where and when such occasion demands. The over arching imperative to ensure a reign of peace, security and stability in this circumstance was most starring.

“However, the MASSOB/IPOB members who had earlier assembled at a school location on Ataa Road near Saint Edmunds’ Catholic Parish Maryland Nkpor-Agu in Anambra State resorted to fierce attack against the intervening security agencies that were carrying out their legitimate mandate.

“The nature of this attack involved brazen employment of various types of fire arms and all sorts of crude weapons, volatile cocktail such as acid and dynamites.

“Instructively, troops of 82 Division Nigerian Army as the lead agency of the security agencies had to invoke the extant Rules of Engagement (ROE) to resort to self defence, protection of the strategic Niger Bridge, prevent re-enforcement of the pro-Biafra members apparently surging ahead from the far side of the strategic Niger Bridge at Onitsha. All these efforts were in order to de-escalate the palpable tension as well as ward off the apparent threats to lives and property in the general area.

“In the aftermath of the fire fight that ensued, many of own troops sustained varying degrees of injury. These injured troops are currently receiving treatment at own medical centre. Similarly, 5 members of MASSOB/IPOB were killed, 8 wounded while 9 were arrested for due legal actions.

The statement said the unfortunate incident notwithstanding, “the 82 Division Nigerian Army wishes to assure all of its professional commitment to the protection of lives and property of the good people of Anambra State and indeed across its entire Area of Responsibility in tandem with the recent directive of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through the Chief of Defence Staff to the Chief of Army Staff to avert occurrences of such unwarranted and uncivilized attacks against the good and law abiding people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Credit: PremiumTimes

How Second Chibok Schoolgirl Was Rescued- Nigerian Army

Posted on May 20, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Hours after Amina Ali, one of the Chibok girls rescued on Wednesday from the insurgents, met with President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the Nigerian Army announced the rescue of another of the girls on Thursday evening.

Army spokesperson, Usman Sani, a colonel, who confirmed the rescue, gave the name of the rescued girl as Serah Luka, said to be number 157 on the list of abducted school girls.

Mr. Usman later narrated how the abducted girl was rescued.

He said in a statement, “At about 11.00am today, Thursday, 19th May 2016, troops of 231 Battalion, 331 Artillery Regiment (AR), Detachment of Armed Forces Special Forces (AFSF) 2, Explosive Ordinance (EOD) Team and Civilian Vigilante group of Buratai, conducted clearance operations at Shettima Aboh, Hong and Biladdili general area in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.

“During the operations, the troops killed 35 Boko Haram terrorists and recovered several arms and ammunitions and other items. In addition, they rescued 97 women and children held captives by the Boko Haram terrorists.

“We are glad to state that among those rescued is a girl believed to be one of the Chibok Government Secondary School girls that were abducted on 14th April 2014 by the Boko Haram terrorists.

“Her name is Miss Serah Luka, who is number 157 on the list of the abducted school girls. She is believed to be the daughter of Pastor Luka. During debriefing, the girl revealed that she was a JSS1 student of the school at the time they were abducted.

She further added that she hails from Madagali, Adamawa State. She averred that she reported at the school barely two months and one week before her unfortunate abduction along with other girls over two years ago.

“She added that there other three girls who fled from Shettima Aboh when the troops invaded the area earlier today which led to their rescue. She is presently receiving medical attention at the medical facility of Abogo Largema Cantonment, Biu, Borno State.”

Credit: PremiumTimes

Nigerian Army Dissociates Self From Planned Celebration Of Boko Haram ‘Success’

Posted on April 21, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Nigeria Army says it has nothing to do with a proposed solidarity rally being organised by some civil groups to celebrate the “successes” being achieved over Boko Haram in the ongoing counterinsurgency operations in North East Nigeria.

The Army said though the initiative could be borne out of sheer patriotism, the show of solidarity could be dangerous as it is capable of distracting the soldiers and the Army authority.

It thereby advised the group to be cautious with the plan.

The spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Sani Usman, said in a statement that the public should rather remain more vigilant at this crucial stage of the battle.

His statement reads:

“The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to a number of groups and individuals celebrating the routing out and decimation of Boko Haram terrorists on our soil. So much as we thank them for that, it is imperative to state that we do not begrudge such persons (and) their desire to identify and associate themselves with this success.

“However, the Nigerian Army wishes to disassociate itself from such celebrations and solidarity rallies.

“We also would like to advice that they should tread with caution as this could be distractive to us. The public are please informed that the terrorists are surreptitiously fanning out of their last enclaves in Sambisa to cause havoc or seek refuge elsewhere.

“Therefore, there is need for all to be more vigilant and security conscious to enable us clear the remnants of these terrorists wherever they might flee.

“We would like to reassure the public that we will remain professional and focused in clearing the remnants of these criminals on the Nigerian soil.”

Credit: Thisday

Nigerian Army, Govt Offices Owe N60 Billion In Electricity Bills

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors says ministries, departments, agencies and the Nigerian Army are owing the Distribution Companies (DISCOs) N60 billion from 2015 to February.

Sunday Oduntan, the Executive Director of the group, said this on Tuesday at a news conference.

He said the army owed Benin DISCO N2.3 billion; Eko, N1.9 billion; Ikeja, N1.6 billion; Jos, N2 billion; Kaduna, N6.6 billion; Kano, N301 million; Port Harcourt, N1.3 billion and Yola, N435 million.

Mr. Oduntan said out of the N60 billion owed to the companies, army’s total debt stood at N15 billion.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the situation, particularly with the army.

He pleaded with President Muhammad Buhari to assist the distribution companies to ensure that the army paid its energy bills.

According to him, power sector requires $40 billion to ensure adequate, reliable and stable power supply in the country.

He added that the companies had improved on their facilities by installing smart prepaid meters, taken customers’ enumeration and installing new technologies for adequate electricity.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Nigerian Army Destroys Boko Haram’s ‘Spiritual Power Base’, Rescues 63 Hostages

Posted on March 4, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Nigerian Army on Friday said the troops of 81 Battalion and 251 Task Force Battalion of 25 Task Force Brigade, 7 Division have destroyed the spiritual power base of Boko Haram located inside Alagarno forest in Borno State.

The Army also announced in a statement the rescue of 63 persons who were in the captivity of the sect during separate operations at Lawin Meleri, Matiri Bulaka and Aljeri villages. Five members of Boko Haram were killed, the Army said.

Credit: Thisday

76 Hungry Boko Haram Terrorists Surrender To Nigerian Army

Posted on March 3, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Seventy-six Boko Haram members, including women and children, surrendered to the military in Gwoza, Borno State.

According to a senior military officer and a member of the Civilian JTF, all of them have been detained at military headquarters in Maiduguri, the state capital. The detainees claimed many more fighters were willing to surrender.

In September, the army announced that 335 insurgents surrendered in Banki and Biu, towns in Borno.
Sani Usman, army spokesman, said those who refused to give up were killed. The military has succeeded in driving insurgents from the towns and villages where they operated in the past, even though the issue of suicide bombing remains a challenge.

Credit: Thisday

Nigerian Army Busts Boko Haram Fuel, Ammunition Supply Chain

Posted on February 10, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army said it ambushed Boko Haram insurgents and killed a number of them while transporting fuel and various calibre of ammunition to their hideout.

A statement by the spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Sani Usman, said the troops, while on operation at a cattle market on Wednesday morning, intercepted the insurgents and seized the supplies.

“In continuation of their clearance operations of remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in the North East, troops of 212 Tank Battalion, 29 Task Force Brigade, early this morning laid an ambush on some Boko Haram elements at a major cattle market in Gwai Mainari around Mainok general area.

“The ambush party supported by a Quick Response Group (QRG), captured a Hilux vehicle containing 8 jerry cans of petroleum, oil and lubricants, large quantity of 7.62mm ammunitions, 127mm ammunitions and 4 AK-47 rifles, as well as 5 hand grenades.

“Some of the terrorists were killed while others escaped with gunshot wounds.

“It is important to note that more operational strategies are being employed to further flush out the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists wherever they might be hiding in the North East,” the statement said.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Nigerian Army To Court-Martial Officers, Soldiers Over Recent Borno Attacks

Posted on February 8, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army has set up a court-martial to try cases of misconduct, indiscipline, among other misconducts that led to recent deadly attacks on Dalori and other Borno communities.

A statement by the spokesperson of the Nigerian Army, Sani Usman, said the Nigerian Army had already begun investigations into the matter, noting that those found wanting “will be dealt with”.

“The recent unfortunate attacks by Boko Haram terrorists on communities close to Maiduguri, despite our successes calls for concern.

“To this end the Nigerian Army has already commenced investigation into the attacks. All those found wanting will be dealt with in accordance with the Armed Forces Act.

“A standing Special Court Martial in the North East has already been established by the Nigerian Army. All cases of indiscipline and related acts of misconduct including human rights abuse in the operations will be tried by the this Special Court Martial.”

The statement added, “In recent days there were speculations in the media, especially the online media, to the effect that Operation LAFIYA DOLE has been taken over by the Defence Headquarters and that soldiers are not happy about it. This is not quite unfortunate and figment of imaginations of the respective media which was aimed at distracting the military, create rancour and disaffection among the components fighting Boko Haram terrorists…”

Credit: PremiumTimes

UK To Deploy Military Personnel To Train Nigerian Army

Posted on January 14, 2016 by Staff Reporter

More than 35 personnel from the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment are set to be deployed to Nigeria by the British Government, to deliver infantry training to Nigerian military.

This is part of the British government’s assistance in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgents in the disturbed northern region.

The UK military training team will join over 100 personnel deployed to Nigeria in 2015 to train local forces, with several batches expected in the course of the year to get the number up to 300, as promised in December 2015 by the UK Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon, in Nigeria.

Areas of concentration for the incoming battalion are specialized assistance in countering improvised explosive devices, medical training and advice and advanced training of the Nigerian Air Force in airfield defence and counter insurgency.

Up to 1,000 Nigerian military personnel are said to have benefited from training provided by the advance team in 2015 in preparation for counter-insurgency operations in north east Nigeria.

Credit: ChannelsTv

Nigerian Army Reveals How 14 Female Suicide Bombers Were Unleashed On Maiduguri

Posted on December 29, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Fourteen female suicide bombers descended on Borno State on Sunday, killing 25 people and injuring at least, 85, the Nigerian Army has said.

Yushau Abubakar, a Major-General, said during a press briefing in Mai?duguri, Monday, said the suicide bombers blowing themselves into bits as they attempted to invade the city.

“The 14 female suicide bombers, who were between the ages of 12 and 18, attempted to entered Maiduguri with the intent to cause mayhem, confusion, and panic,” said Mr. Abubakar, the Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, who represented the GOC, 7 Division, Major-General Lamidi Adeosun.

The attack, one among a recent wave of violent assaults by the Boko Haram terrorists, came days after the Nigerian government claimed it had met its December deadline of defeating the insurgents.

Mr. Abubakar said the girls, who planned to carry out coordinated suicide missions through Asmari, Damboa checkpoint, Ali Dawari, Molai Kura, Baderi, and Jumari villages, were intercepted by soldiers on patrol.

Three of the terrorists, according to the army officer, detonated their Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) while seven others were shot dead by soldiers.

One of the bombers was arrested while three others escaped.

“I believe this development has averted what would have been a major disaster if they had gained entrance into Maiduguri,” Mr. Abubakar said.

“One of the girls went into a nearby house and requested for water to perform ablution but instead prepared herself and came to a nearby mosque, killing herself and one other person while 13 others sustained injuries.”

Credit: PremiumTimes

Nigerian Army, Boko Haram In Fatal Gun Battle, Suicide Bombers Strike

Posted on December 27, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Gunmen believed to be members of the Boko Haram were on Sunday evening involved in a shoot-out with soldiers in Aladuwari village – about 2 km away from Maiduguri.

The attackers arrived the area at about 6 p.m. local time. Also at about 8 p.m., two suicide bombers, believed to be females, detonated explosives near FOMWAN school in Jiddari area of Maiduguri. The casualty figure from the explosions is yet to be ascertained.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Nigerian Army Nabs 7 Boko Haram Bomb Specialists

Posted on December 27, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army said on Sunday that it arrested 7 Boko Haram bomb specialists.

In a statement sent on behalf of the Army by PRNigeria, the army spokesperson, Sani Usman, said the suspects were arrested in Kaduna “after painstaking surveillance and proactive intelligence operations over period of time.”

Read the Army’s full statement below:
Another catastrophe was averted in Kaduna State and other contiguous areas when troops of the Nigerian Army arrested 7 suspected Boko Haram terrorists bomb and Improvised Explosive making Devices (IEDs) specialists.
The terrorists were arrested in Kaduna after painstaking surveillance and proactive intelligence operations over period of time.
From all indications, the suspects were in Kaduna to conduct suicide bombings, kill and maimed innocent citizens in the state and other surrounding areas during the festive period. Recall that recently in Maiduguri some of them were arrested while trying to detonate IEDs carried in food containers in public places.
The arrest of these suspects would no doubt assist in the fight against terrorism in the country, more so as the military have technically defeated the Boko Haram terrorists in the field, the terrorists have resorted to attacking soft targets through suicide bombings, IEDs and harassing attacks on isolated communities.
Therefore, the public are please requested to continue to be more vigilant and security conscious by reporting suspicious persons and movements to the security agencies.
This request has become necessary because the terrorists have resorted to mingling with the public across the country after sensing the futility of their encounter with troops in the north east. Therefore, they adopt other methods of perpetuating violence in the society.”

Credit: PremiumTimes

Nigerian Army Kills Fleeing Boko Haram Terrorists

Posted on December 8, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Nigerian Troops have intercepted and killed many Boko Haram insurgents while trying to escape the onslaught on the Sambisa forest.

The spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Sani Usman, said in a statement on Tuesday that the insurgents were “decisively dealt with” while trying to escape through Pulka.

He said many of the terrorists were killed during the encounter, while one of them was captured alive.

Mr. Usman said the soldiers also recovered a General Purpose Machine Gun, several rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition, 47 rifle magazines, 36 hand grenades “and quite a number of Shilka gun empty shells”.

He said troops had, on Tuesday, also recovered a Toyota Hilux vehicle , two boxes of 7.62mm ammunitions and some Improvised Explosives making Devices cords during an encounter in Buni Yadi general area.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Nigerian Army Confirms Missing Soldiers Report, Says Report Is Faulty

Posted on November 19, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Premium Times reported that at least 105 soldiers including their commanding officer were feared missing after the attack on Wednesday.

The spokesperson for the Nigeria Army, Sani Usman, is said to have called a PremiumTimes reporter to confirm the incident.

“I want to confirm the incidence at Gudunbali but the details you provided were not correct, and Baga has never been attacked,” Mr. Usman said on telephone.

“The unit attacked is within the area of responsibility of the MNJTF and troops are now organizing to counter the attack,” he said.

He said the Theatre Command of the 7 Division would provide the details of the attack during a press conference arranged later today in Maiduguri.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Nigerian Army Uncovers, Destroys Boko Haram’s Rocket, IED Factory In Bama

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army on Monday said it has uncovered a factory in Bama, Borno state, where the extremist Boko Haram sect manufactures rockets and Improvised Explosives Devices.

The spokesperson for the Army, Sani Usman, who make the disclosure in a statement, also said “troops of the Seventh Division Garrison of the Nigerian Army engaged in Operation Lafiya Dole on Sunday made remarkable progress by arresting a Boko Haram terrorist kingpin, John Trankil, at Kasuwar Shanu in Maiduguri metropolis”.

Mr. Usman, a colonel, also said by arresting Mr. Trankil, the troops averted what would have been multiple bombings in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

The statement said, “Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect said that nine of them were sneaked into the Maiduguri armed with AK 47 assault rifle each and a Hilux vehicle laden with 20 Improvised Explosive Devices meant to be detonated at some selected targets in the city.

“The Theatre Commander operation LAFIYA DOLE, Major General Yusha’u Mahmood Abubakar, commended the efforts of the troops and renewed calls for troops and the public to be more vigilant and security conscious particularly at all check points, markets, worship centres, motor parks and schools.

“In a related development, troops of 21 Brigade Nigerian Army, while on offensive operations on Boko Haram terrorists location, with the support from the Nigerian Airforce discovered and destroyed the terrorists’ Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and Rocket making factory along Bama-Gonin Kurmi within the outskirts of Bama town, Borno State.

“The items recovered includes gas cylinders, welding machine, pipes and poles. Others include locally made rocket shells, large quantity of assorted chemicals, unprimed IEDs and various technical and laboratory equipment suspected to be stolen from schools’ laboratories around Bama before they were dislodged from the area.”

Credit: PremiumTimes

Buhari Honours Officers And Injured Soldiers For Gallantry

Posted on November 13, 2015 by Staff Reporter

President Muhammadu Buhari has honoured seven officers of the Nigerian army and Nigerian Air Force for exhibiting gallantry in the fight against the Boko Haram sect.
The officers were honoured with medals at the Yola International Airport on Friday, November 13.

Buhari called on the officers to sustain their gallantry and take the job of liberating Nigeria from insurgency with bravery and determination. He stressed that the federal government would honour bravery at all times.

Among those who received medals from the president were two army officers, an air force officer and three soldiers who were injured while fighting against the militants.

The injured soldiers, who were brought to the airport on wheelchairs, were praised for their heroic contributions to the ongoing effort by the Nigerian army to end the Boko Haram insurgency. Buhari wished them quick recovery and assured that adequate medical attention would be given to them.

“These very deserved medals are in recognition of your sacrifices. I hope it will inspire you to give more to the nation and I urge you to maintain your determination to bring peace to our fatherland.

“With what I have seen today, I believe that the Boko Haram are very close to defeat and I urge you to quickly clear the remnants of these criminals from wherever they may still be hiding.

“I also urge you to remain vigilant, alert and focused to prevent Boko Haram from sneaking into our communities to attack soft targets,’’ the president said.

Those decorated with the Purple Heart medal are Lance Corporal Kenneth Kulugh, Private Anthony Sunday and Private Danga Umar.

Accompanied by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, the president also presented Operation Lafiya Dole medals to other four soldiers.

Earlier today, the president visited Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in Yola, the Adamawa state capital.

While addressing IDP’s, Buhari restated his government’s commitment to crush the Boko Haram insurgency.

“My government is doing everything possible to rebuild your homes, schools hospitals and roads to enable you go back to your homes. Boko Haram will soon be a thing of the past,” he said.

Credit : Premium Times

Nigerian Army Announces Panel Members To Investigate Military Conduct During Ekitigate Scandal

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian army announced the membership of a five-man panel charged with investigating misconduct by some of its officers during the Ekiti and Osun State elections in 2014.
The President of the Investigative Panel, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade, told the media and public that the panel had two weeks to submit a report of their findings and recommendations to the Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai.

The members of the panel include: Major General Adeniyi Oyebade as the President, Colonel Danladi Salihu as the secretary, Brigadier Generals Emmanuel Kabuk, Sunday Araoye, and Baba Ibrahim.

The Ekitigate scandal first broke in February 2015 through the release of audio recordings and transcripts of Brigadier General Aliyu Momoh accepting bribes from former Minister of Defense Musiliu Obanikoro, former Minister of Police Affairs Jelili Adesiyan, Senator Iyiola Omisore, and Governor Ayo Fayose.

The whistleblower, Captain Sagir Koli, provided evidence to SaharaReporters detailing the plot to rig the Ekiti State gubernatorial election for Governor Fayose and the attempt to do the same for Osun State.

In an abuse of his authority, Brigadier General Momoh retaliated against Mr. Koli for leaking the details of this plot. Brigadier General Momoh incarcerated Mr. Koli’s younger brother, a civilian, Adamu Koli without charge and chained him to a bed at the Adekunle Fanjuyi Cantonment. The illegal incarceration and torture of Adamu Koli was intended to lure Captain Koli out of hiding.

An attempt to reach Brigadier General Momoh on his cellphone, number 803 703 3694, for comment, failed after he hung up when he learned it was the media.

Brigadier General Momoh was not the only military officer implicated in the Ekiti and Osun State election scandals. There were evidences which indicated that soldiers under Brigadier General Momoh’s command participated in election fraud. The evidence also implicated several officers in the facilitation of a three-week vacation for the top military officer in Osun State, so that Mr. Momoh could replicate the Ekiti election fraud there.

Major General Oyebade told the public today, “as most of you are aware, the last general elections conducted in March 2015 elicited criticism in some quarters, especially from the general public, particularly on conduct of Nigerian Army personnel during both the gubernatorial and presidential elections respectively.” he added, “these allegations were centered on the gubernatorial elections conducted in some States such as Ekiti, Osun, Rivers, and Akwa-Ibom, to mention a few.”

Credit : Sahara Reporters

Nigerian Army Reacts To Boko Haram Bomb Factory Video

Posted on November 5, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Defence Headquarters reacted to the release of a bomb factory video by Boko Haram, saying it is nothing but another empty threat which will not defer their defeat.

The military appealed to the Nigerian public to collectively condemn their unholy and barbaric conduct and refuse to be subject to fear.

Here is the reaction of the Nigerian Army as posted on their Facebook wall:

https://www.facebook.com/DefenceInfoNG/posts/876766962430760

Faces Of Wanted Terrorists As Published By Nigerian Army

Posted on October 29, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army has published the photograph of 100 suspected insurgents declared wanted by the ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, made a public show of the suspected terrorists in Maiduguri on Wednesday at the closing ceremony of a three-day engagement, organized for Army Public Relations Officers from across Nigeria.

Credit: ChannelsTV

Nigerian Army Declares 100 Boko Haram Terrorists Wanted

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, on Wednesday in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, launched the circulation of large posters carrying photographs of wanted Boko Haram terrorists including the supposed leader of the insurgents, Abubakar Shekau.

The large posters, with inscription written in various languages of Nigeria, also had phone numbers which the public could easily call or text to indicate which of the characters in the numbered photographs they know or have information of.

The photo posters was launched as part of the counter terrorism material packaged by the Directorate of Army Public Relations.

The army chief launched the posters shortly after delivering a paper titled ‘Contemporary Warfare, War Reporting and Dilemma of Military Leadership’ at the three day 2015 DAPR Study Period that ended today.

The Acting Director Army Public Relations, Sani Usman, had said that most of the faces on the poster are those of kingpins of Boko Haram still at large.

He said “members of the public that have any credible information on any of the wanted terrorists should call any of the phone numbers printed on the posters. Mr. Usman said the information given would be treated discreetly and professionally.

Number to call are :- 08181555888, 08160030300, 07053333123

Credit: PremiumTimes

Britain Trains 150 Nigerian Army Personnel

Posted on October 27, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The British Military Advisory and Training Team (BMATT) has organized a five-day capacity training seminar for 150 Warrant Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers of the Nigerian Army.

The seminar is part of the collaborations between Nigeria and Britain in tackling the Boko Haram insurgency in the north-east and other similar security challenges across the oil-rich nation.

The commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Major General Sani Muazu, made the disclosure on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, at the seminar held at the Armed Forces and Staff College, Jaji in Kaduna State on Tuesday.

The Army Chief said the BMATT had been assisting Nigeria in the capacity building of its military forces in the areas of tactics for over 35 years.

He explained that the seminar would focus on the operation development of the officers, with the aim of making the Nigerian Army a professional force.

Credit: ChannelsTV

Nigerian Army Sets Up Panel To Probe General Over 2014 Ekiti, Osun Guber Polls

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army on Tuesday set up “a high powered” Board of Inquiry to investigate alleged malpractices and involvement of its personnel in the 2014 Ekiti and Osun States governorship elections.

In February, SaharaReporters posted audio recordings and transcript of meetings of some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, with some army officers on how to use the military to rig the gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun States in 2014.

“The audio recordings and affidavit were provided by Sagir Koli, a Captain in the 32nd Artillery Brigade stationed in Ekiti State, who has since fled the country for fear of retaliation.

“Capt. Koli recorded the conversation on 20th June 2014 when he was asked to accompany his Commanding Officer, Brigadier General Aliyu Momoh, to the meeting. The venue was Spotless Hotel in Ado-Ekiti,” said the website.

Since the exposé, there had been calls by the then opposition APC and civil society organisation for the federal government to investigate the matter and prosecute the actors.

But the spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Sani Usman, said on Tuesday that the board would investigate the alleged unprofessional and unethical conduct of some Nigerian Army personnel during the two elections.

Read More: premiumtimesng

Nigerian army court-martial sentences Brigadier-General Ransome-Kuti to six months in jail

Posted on October 17, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Brigadier General Enitan Ransome-Kuti, the son of the late human rights activist, Beko Ransome Kuti, has been sentenced to six months in prison for offenses committed during the war against Boko Haram.

He will be dismissed from the Army if the sentence pronounced on him by a military court in Abuja on Thursday is confirmed by the Nigerian Army.

Brigadier General Kuti has been at the center of controversy relating to his conduct as an officer. He was accused of failing to perform his military duties during the fight against Boko Haram which may have resulted in the militants’ capture of Baga, the center of a multinational force.

Included in the charges against him is that Brigadier General Kuti failed to account for the weapons and ammunitions under his supervision, rendering the army useless in the fight against Boko Haram.

The officer denied all the charges. During a long trial, his lawyer, Femi Falana, presented evidence to the court that the Nigerian army had simply failed to provide necessary equipment for the Brigadier General to perform his lawful duties.

Falana also presented several statements from officers and soldiers who repeatedly stated that the army was ill-equipped to fight Boko Haram, an assertion that was later affirmed by a former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, shortly after he was fired from that position earlier this year.

Source : Sahara Reporters

Army General Dismissed, Jailed For Losing Equipment To Boko Haram

Posted on October 16, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian military on Thursday convicted a Brigadier General, Enitan Ransome-Kuti, blamed for the loss of Baga in Borno State to Boko Haram insurgents in January.

Mr. Ransome-Kuti, son of Beko Ransome-Kuti, a foremost Nigerian pro-democracy activist who died on February 10, 2006, was arraigned before a military court, sitting in Mogadishu Barracks, Abuja, in May.

He was accused of cowardly behaviour, loss of weapons to Boko Haram, and negligent performance of military duty under section 62b of the Armed Forces Act.

In its judgment Thursday, the court dismissed the charge bordering on cowardly behaviour, following a no-case submission by the defendant.

The court said the officer was right in withdrawing his troops in the face of superior firepower from Boko Haram terrorists.

He was however sentenced to six-month imprisonment for loss of equipment to the extremist sect.

He was also found guilty for negligently performing his duties and was therefore dismissed from service.

Read More: premiumtimesng

Nigerian Army Gives Details Into How Kogi Attack, Maiduguri Bomb Blasts Happened

Posted on October 14, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army has confirmed that a bomb explosion killed seven people in Maiduguri Tuesday evening.

The army said three blasts detonated by suicide bombers occurred at three minutes intervals at Ajilari, Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Borno State.

Eleven people were injured and three suicide bombers were among the dead, the army said.

The army also gave details of the attack at a Mosque, Okene, where soldiers clashed with militants on Tuesday.

“Our troops on cordon and search operations at the general area of Enike Mosque, Okene town, Kogi State were attacked by some suspected terrorists at about 5.30am Tuesday. The troops responded and 2(two) of the attackers were killed. In addition, a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) bomb and empty cases of expended ammunition were recovered,” it said.

One soldier also died in the attack and another was wounded.

Army spokesperson, Sani Usman, said the situation had been brought under control.

He said troops of 5 Brigade also ambushed suspected Boko Haram terrorists that attacked a military location and Geidam town last week.

Read More: premiumtimesng

Troops Nab Boko Haram Kingpin, Others; Liberate Women & Children (PHOTOS)

Posted on September 23, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Nigeria Army, Wednesday, said troops advancing toward the Banki axis of Borno state have arrested 43 suspected Boko Haram terrorists, including its kingpin in the area, Bulama Modu.

The Army said this in a statement issued by its acting spokesman, Sani Usman, that the troops also rescued 241 women and children in the operation.

“Please recall that yesterday advancing troops along Banki axis were making tremendous progress in which they cleared 2 Boko Haram terrorists camps at Jangurori and Bulatori villages.

“In addition to that, the troops have also arrested 43 suspected Boko Haram terrorists including one of the Boko Haram kingpins in the area, Bulama Modu, who is an ‘Amir’ of Bulakuri.

“To further confirm what was said earlier about the terrorists abandoning their commanders and burying weapons, one Mohammed Modu led troops to where he buried his AK-47 rifle at Jangurori village.

“Apart from arms and ammunition, bows and arrows recovered from Bulama Modu, the kingpin, a horse to enhance his deadly pursuits was also recovered.’’

Mr. Usman said troops operating around Wudla village also arrested one suspected Boko Haram terrorist, Aji Gambo.

He said the arrested kingpin revealed that the Boko Haram terrorists that attacked Kirawa and Kolofata in northern Cameroon were from Dara Jamel village in Nigeria.

Credit: premiumtimesng

Apologize To Nigerian Army, Gowon Tells Amnesty International

Posted on September 22, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, has demanded an apology from Amnesty International to the Nigerian military over accusations of inhuman treatment in its fight against the Boko Haram sect.

The elder statesman admitted that there might exist instances where military operations have raised human right concerns but said that the military never engages in ‘slitting of throat’ of any person whether civilian or terrorist as peddled by the international human rights group.

General Gowon was speaking at the National Defence College Course 24 inauguration lecture.

Read More: channelstv

Nigerian army reopens primary school in Gwoza, restates commitment to western education

Posted on September 19, 2015 by Staff Reporter

To restate it’s commitment to Western education and to assist returnees and other Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) with the education of their children, the Nigerian military has reopened a coeducational Primary School in Gwoza, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

The military in conjunction with other security agencies and other security stakeholders have placed adequate security measures to ensure the pupils and teachers safety and security.

Already classes have commenced with an impressive turn out.

Similarly, the troops have also dislodged Boko Hararm terrorists from Dissa and Balazala villages located in the same Gwoza Local Government Area on Thursday during which they rescued 23 men, 33 women and 34 children from the terrorists.

In a related development, troops advancing from Bama have also intercepted quite a number of Boko Haram terrorists fleeing from Dara Jamel near Banki the battle zone disguised as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The intercepted persons are being screened by troops of 21 Brigade for more information and confirmation of their true identity.

-PM News

Boko Haram Camps, Cells Wiped Out- Nigerian Army

Posted on September 10, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian military on Wednesday said it has destroyed all known Boko Haram terrorists’ camps and cells in the North East.

The Defence spokesperson, Rabe Abubakar, said this at his maiden news conference, adding that the camps were destroyed by troops operating in the region.

Mr. Abubakar said the terrorists have been “so militarily defeated and weakened” that they can never hold any part of the territory in that part of the country.

He said, “These terrorists have been subdued. Even if they are adopting other means and as they are re-strategising, we are also doing same.”

The defence spokesperson said the military had been coordinating air and ground assault to make sure that terrorists’ hideouts are completely decimated.

Read More: premiumtimesng

B’Haram drug suppliers caught with cannabis, others

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The troops of the Nigerian Army have intercepted some suspected members of the Boko Haram sect believed to be suppliers of hard drugs and other stimulants to the deadly sect.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement on Tuesday that the suspects were arrested at Depchi and Geidam in Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe State.

He said that the arrested terrorists were also involved in the supply of fuel aside from the hard drugs in their possession.

Usman listed the drugs to include cannabis, chlorophone substance known as Madaran suck and die, trampoline and others .

“Following Army Headquarters directive to troops in the North-East for a painstaking search of motorists and cargoes, troops of the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army have intercepted and arrested some kingpins and foot soldiers of suppliers of Boko Haram terrorists with hard drugs and other stimulants between Depchi and Geidam, Geidam Local Government Area in northern part of Yobe State today,” the statement read in part.

He recalled that most of the Boko Haram members captured by the troops could not read the Holy Quran.

Usman added that some of them could not even recite the first chapter of the Quran in spite of their claim that they had a desire to establish an Islamic state.

He said that troops carrying out raids on the hideouts of the insurgents had not found the Quran or other Islamic books with the insurgents.

The Acting Army spokesman said that the troops had only found “ammunition, local charms, condoms and all sort of drugs including sex enhancing ones in their enclave.”

Usman, who said that those arrested had made statements, promised that the Army would continue to work towards ensuring the security of the country.

“The Nigerian Army would continue to do its best in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in our country in order to make Nigeria safe and secure.

“This however, requires continuous support and cooperation of the public. We always welcome and appreciate information that could lead to the arrest and pre-empting the Boko Haram terrorists and other criminal elements in the society,” he added.

-Punch

Boko Haram did not kill 150 in Yobe – DHQ

Posted on August 20, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Nigeria Defence Headquarters has denied media reports which claim that over 150 people from Kukuwa-Gari village were shot dead by Boko Haram gunmen in Yobe State while many others fleeing from the gunmen drowned in Yobe River in the mid-afternoon yesterday.

Colonel Rabe Abubakar, Acting Director, Defence Information described the story as untrue and utterly scurrilous and misleading in a statement issued on Wednesday.

The Defence spokesperson however explained that the truth of the matter is the military got an intelligence report concerning a planned attack by Boko

Haram on Kukuwa-Gari village in Yobe State.

He added that following the tip-off, troops and civilian JTF laid ambush between Kukuwatashi and Kukuwa-Gari villages.

“The insurgents ran into them and a gun-battle ensued in which four Boko Haram members and one civilian JTF lost their lives,” he further explained.

Col. Rabe said at the end of the encounter, two AK 47 rifles and two motorcycles used by the Boko Haram terrorists were recovered.

“The Armed Forces therefore implore the media to always seek clarification of stories before going to press as most of these unsubstantiated reports tend to embolden or encourage the terrorists to believe they are invincible, thus instilling perpetual fear in the minds of the citizens, especially, those in the contested areas of the North East.

“The military is doing all within its power to protect lives and property of Nigerians in any part of the country and thus, solicits cooperation and understanding of the media to be partners in progress in this noble task,” Rabe concluded.

Source : PM News

Nigerian Army Responds To Shekau’s Audio

Posted on August 18, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army has said that it is focused on wiping out Boko Haram within three months to meet the deadline set by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The military spokesperson, Sani Kukasheka Usman, while responding to the recent audio released by Abubakar Shekau, said it does not matter at this phase whether Shekau is dead or alive, adding that the army is committed to ending the insurgency.

The leader of the extremist group has apparently re-emerged in a new recording, declaring that he is alive and still in charge of the sect that has destroyed a portion of the Northeast, prompting an international military response.

Read More: leadership

Nigerian Army Vows To Punish Soldiers Caught On Camera Maltreating Civilian

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army has vowed to punish its personnel who were caught on camera Saturday mistreating civilians they said are suspected armed robbers.

A photograph of the incident was published in the Monday edition of Abuja-based Daily Trust newspaper.

The shocking photograph was made public at a time the Nigerian military is battling to extricate itself from allegations of gross human rights abuses.

The spokesperson for the Army, Sani Usman, a colonel, said the action of the soldiers caught maltreating civilians on Saturday has done incalculable damage to the image of the service, and is at variance with military ethics and professionalism.

Mr. Usman said the perpetrators had been identified and would be punished accordingly.

The Army spokesperson however criticised Daily Trust over what it called “poor and worrisome editorial judgement by giving this misdemeanour prominence in their paper”.

“Alerting appropriate Nigerian Army authorities would have been a better option that will be met with prompt response,” Mr. Sani said.

Read More: premiumtimesng

Nigerian Army Uncovers Road Bombs Near Gwoza

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Nigerian army uncovered Wednesday five bombs planted by Boko Haram militants along a road in besieged Borno state. The troops cleared the explosives from the road which led from the northeastern town of Gwoza, the terror group’s former headquarters.

“The explosives have since been defused and destroyed by the team of Nigerian army engineers,” Nigerian army spokesman Col. Tukur Ismail Gusau told reporters in Abuja. The Nigerian military also discovered a suspected Boko Haram hideout in Dikwa, less than two weeks after recapturing the town from the Islamist militants in Borno state.

The hidden den was packed with weapons and equipment which were suspected to be used by the Nigeria-based terrorists to construct explosives. The troops recovered rocket propelled grenades, compact discs and machines used for drilling, filling and cutting.

Read More: ibtimes

Nigerian Army Arrests Soldier Responsible For Sporadic Shooting In Damaturu

Posted on July 29, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army said the sporadic shooting heard around Damaturu metropolis on Tuesday was due to an action of one of its soldiers. The explanation came in a statement issued by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col Sani Usman.

“The Nigerian Army wishes to inform the public and clarify that the sporadic firing heard in Damaturu this evening was a gross act of indiscipline on the part of a soldier who has already been arrested,” Usman said.

He, therefore, appealed to public, especially those residing in Damaturu, to remain calm and go about their normal business.

Credit: NAN

Dozens Of Women, Children Freed From Boko Haram By Nigerian Army

Posted on July 29, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Nigeria’s army said Tuesday it had liberated 30 hostages held by Boko Haram, including 21 children and seven women, amid ongoing offensives against the extremists in the country’s northeast.

“As a result of ongoing operations under the aegis of Operation Lafiya Dole to clear Dikwa and its environs from Boko Haram… (the) Nigerian Army yesterday rescued 30 persons from the hands of the terrorists,” army spokesman Sani Usman said in a statement.

“They include 21 children and a six-day-old infant, seven women including three nursing mothers, and two elderly male adults,” he said.

Dikwa is located around 90 kilometres (56 miles) east of Borno state capital Maiduguri.

Earlier Tuesday, 11 Boko Haram militants were killed in clashes with the military in a village in southern Borno state, a local resident and a member of the militia fighting alongside the army said.

Read More: AFP

Why Nigerian Army Can’t Defeat Boko Haram, UK High Commissioner Explains

Posted on July 8, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The outgoing British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Andrew Pocock, has said the problem of Boko Haram insurgency in North-east Nigeria is not something that can be resolved with the use of the army, the police or the security agencies only.

Speaking at a farewell interactive session with members of Kaduna chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists Correspondent Chapel in Kaduna on Monday, Mr. Pocock said: “We don’t look at the problem in the Northeast as purely a security problem. It is not something that can be resolved with the use of the army of the police or the security agencies only. It is not going to be solvable.

“There has to be three different things; the first is a properly articulated security efforts. The second is that, there has to be a different kind of politics in the Northeast, where state and Federal Government work together instead of against each other and where there is a much more common and agreed agenda about what needs to be done to correct many years of mis-governance and of poor policy in the North-east.

“The third dimension has to be a developmental and economic uplift agenda. Too many, particularly young people are not only without employment in the North-east but because of the insurgency are without any economic prospect whatsoever. No one can live without hope and indeed if the economic and the developmental aspect of these are not addressed, the opportunities for radicalisation are much greater. So, those three things have to work in tandem, the security instrument, politics and development/economic approach.”

Read More: premiumtimesng

Nigerian Army Accuses Amnesty International of Shunning Investigation

Posted on June 20, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army says international human rights group, Amnesty International (AI), has failed to honour its invitation to join its investigative panel on the alleged human rights abuse in the North East.

Reacting to a report by the international human rights group on June 3, the Chief of Administration of the Nigerian Army, Major-General Adamu Abubakar, explained that the essence of inviting Amnesty International officials to join its investigative panel was to guarantee fairness and justice while proving that the military has nothing to hide.

Even though the military had reacted in various press statements, it has found time to detail its activities following the release of the report.

Major-General Adamu Abubakar denied claims that the military did not cooperate with the rights group in the process of its investigation.

The military, according to him, has zero tolerance for human rights abuses and other war crimes, promising to investigate thoroughly the investigation by the human rights group.

Read More: channelstv

350 Boko Haram Suspects To Face Trial- Nigerian Army

Posted on June 19, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army has said that 350 suspected Boko Haram terrorists have been recommended for trial at a Federal Court for terrorist activities in the North Eastern part of Nigeria.

Speaking at a press briefing Friday, the Nigerian Army Chief of Administration, Adamu Abubakar, said the 350 suspects are a fraction of 504 persons in detention.

He said two Joint Investigation Teams, set up by the defence headquarters to investigate, screen and categorize suspected insurgents in detention established prima facie cases against 350 out 504 suspects in detention.

The file cases on the suspects, Mr. Abubakar, a major general, said were forwarded to the office of the attorney general and the ministry of justice.

Speaking on the recent allegations against the military in a report by human rights organisation, Amnesty International, Mr. Abubakar said the report is unnecessary as no new facts have been unearthed by the group to warrant a repeat of its allegations.

He said, “For the avoidance of doubts, the Amnesty International allegations of human rights abuse and extra judicial killing of civilians are a rehash of the same allegations made in 2011”.

Read More: premiumtimesng

Group Petitions Police Affairs Minister, Police IG Over Policemen Detained By Nigerian Army

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Following a PREMIUM TIMES exclusive report about the detention of 10 counter terrorism police officers since April 21, a rights group, Committee for Democracy and Rights of the People, has petitioned the Minister of Police Affairs and Inspector general of Police, requesting their intervention for the release of the detained police officers.

One of the detainees had earlier told PREMIUM TIMES that he and his colleagues were detained on the instruction of a Colonel Kalejaye, head of the army forward operation base, because they refused his directive to “impersonate” soldiers by wearing their uniforms for training in Kaduna State.

One of the detainees, on Wednesday, told PREMIUM TIMES that following reports on their plight, the military had started to give them food.

In its petition, signed by its national coordinator, Waheed Saka, the group demanded “immediate and unconditional release of the detainee officers; security synergy among military and paramilitary agency for effective security; and inquiry into the controversial deployment.”

The group also expressed hope that “this unnecessary institutional superiority among security agencies will be properly addressed and necessary reform for implementation will be done for the good of our national security”.

The CDRP said it is concerned about right to life of Nigerian citizen.

“We considered the detainee first as a citizen before they enlisted as policemen in the service of their fatherland,” the group said. “We subsequently condemned the detention as unlawful, unwarranted and totally unacceptable as carried by the online media and various media outlet on 26th April 2015.

“However, the request for your intervention is necessary as all our effort to free the detainees is not fruitful and our independent investigation revealed that the detained officers are still in army cell somewhere in Gwagwalada under a condition that we considered inhuman and filty.

“More so, it is definitely easy to secure the popular minority elite, but if our nation security will operate according to international best practice, we must strive to protect, defend and patriotically respect the rights of our rank and file officers who sworn to defend the green, white and green flag of our country against any internal uprising.”

Read More: premiumtimesng

Chibok Girls Rescued? Nigerian Military Rescues 200 Girls From Sambisa Forest

Posted on April 28, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Nigerian troops have rescued 200 girls from Sambisa forest, the notorious hideout of the insurgent group, Boko Haram, the defence headquarters said Tuesday.

The girls were found Tuesday afternoon alongside 93 women who were also rescued, the military said. The military however said it could not confirm whether the girls were students abducted more than a year ago from a secondary school in Chibok, Borno State.

The girls were being “screened and profiled”, the military said. “Troops this afternoon rescued 200 girls & 93 women from Sambisa Forest. We cannot confirm if the #ChibokGirls are in this group,” the military said in a series of tweets.

“Troops captured and destroyed 3 terrorists camps including the notorious Tokumbere camp in the Sambisa Forest Operation.

“The freed persons are now being screened and profiled,” while promising to provide more detail on the operation later.”

Nigerian Army Detains Policemen Without Food For Refusing To Wear Military Uniforms

Posted on April 24, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Ten counter-terrorism police officers attached to the Nigeria army peacekeeping forward operation base in Abuja are currently unlawfully detained at a military barrack in Gwagwalada, Abuja.

The personnel were locked up since Tuesday without food and medical care for refusing to wear military fatigues for an operation they feared could be illegal.

According to the detainees, they were detained on the instruction of a Colonel Kalejaye, head of the army forward operation base, because they refused his directive to “impersonate” soldiers by wearing their uniforms for a training in Kaduna State.

Read More: premiumtimesng

War Against Boko Haram Captured, Watch How Nigerian Army Invaded Bama

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Credit: VICENews/ YouTube

Nigerian Army Takes Mopping Operation To Sambisa

Posted on April 17, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Nigerian troops are now within the precinct of Boko Haram hideout in the Sambisa forest.

The federal government made this disclosure on Wednesday. Coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mike Omeri, disclosed in a terse email that, “Presently, the military is moving into the Sambisa forest after taking Alagarno, Gwoza, Bama, Malam Fatori, Abadam, among others”.

“Our intelligence indicates that the present military operation is focused in the area where the girls are believed to be held.”

The outgoing administration has assured that it would free the over 200 schoolgirls kidnapped over a year ago by Boko Haram insurgents in Chibok community of Borno State.

Read More: dailypost

Boko Haram: Nigerian Army Acquits 57 Soldiers, Sentences 15

Posted on April 15, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Reports reveal that a special court martial of the Nigerian Army has discharged and acquitted 57 soldiers who were accused of losing their weapons as well as embarking on absence without official leave, AWOL, in the course of the war against Boko Haram insurgents.

The court martial, which sat at the Army Headquarters, AHQ, Garrison in Abuja, however convicted 15 other accused soldiers sentencing each of them to one year imprisonment.

Credit: dailypost

Nigerian Troops Uncover Dead Bodies In Bama Well

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Scores of dead bodies have been found in a well in Bama, a community in Borno State that was recently wrestled away by Nigerian troops, from Boko Haram terrorists.

PRNigeria, a media organization that disseminates statement for security agents in Nigeria, said the large number of bodies found in the well are apparently some of the hostages of the terrorists or those who resisted them.

“Aside those whose bodies were thrown inside wells, others were also said to have been executed on the River Bama Bridge as the terrorists fled the town,” PRNigeria reports.

The media organization said some civilians who have been cooperating with Nigerian troops narrated scary tales of the group’s brutality.

They said the terrorists ruled in the vicinity executing their version of religious jurisprudence ruthlessly.
An intelligence officer is reported to have confirmed that a cordon and search operation in the town is continuing with interrogation by troops.

Also, the military’s medical and emergency teams have been attending to survivors and evacuating some of the internally displaced person following a screening process.

It also said the spokesperson for the Defence Headquarters, Chris Olukolade, a major general declined comment on the specific atrocities committed by the group. He said specific details will only be given after the ongoing thorough search of the town and its environments is concluded.

Bama, the second largest Local Government Area in Borno, fell to Boko Haram on September 11, 2014.
Some residents, mostly women and children who tried to flee the area at the time were reported to have died of thirst and hunger as insurgents tightened their grip on the town.

The community was liberated from the group on Monday by troops of the Nigerian military.

Source – Premium times

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

Posted on March 17, 2015 by Staff Reporter

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”.

Never Again Will Boko Haram Occupy Nigerian Territory – CDS Badeh

Posted on March 13, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, has said that “never again” would the military allow any territory of Nigeria to be occupied by terrorists.

Mr. Badeh said this when a civil society group, Nigeria in Safe Hands Group, carried a solidarity rally to the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, on Thursday in Support of the Armed Forces.

The CDS was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans at the Defence Headquarters, AVM Umar Omeiza.

“The troops are saying: never again; never again; never again.

“We are not going to allow terrorists to occupy any part of the country. Boko Haram is a common enemy for all of us.

“We want to tell you that we are very glad to have you here; we are very happy that some people are appreciating the Nigerian military efforts in the fight against terrorists.

“And it is not the march that matters but that somebody is supporting and appreciating you, will make you to match forward.

“Like you have rightly observed, we started slow because of the reasons you proffered and then you can see the achievements that we are gaining because of the changes in the status quo”, Omeiza told the group

He added that “…we don’t have any nation to call ours except this one and if the military fails all of you have failed”.

Mr. Badeh also said that the war against the enemy, “Boko Haram”, was not only for the military, adding that the military was only representing Nigerians.

He urged Nigerians to continue to support the military in the fight against the terrorists.

Earlier, the National Coordinator of the group, Godwin Malaiga, said they were happy that territories occupied by “Boko Haram” had been recaptured by our military.

Mr. Malaiga said they were at the Defence Headquarters to thank the Nigerian military for the success they had been recording in the fight against the insurgents.

“We believe that before the general elections all the territories will be recaptured fully.

“We believe in the military, we will continue to thank them.

“We also want to use this opportunity to thank President Goodluck Jonathan for his efforts so far in the fight against the terrorists”, he said.

Mr. Malaiga urged the National Assembly to always ensure that the budget of the military was passed on time to avoid delay in operations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Over 500 youths participated in the rally.

36 Towns Recaptured From Boko Haram, Says FG

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Nigeria said on Wednesday that 36 towns had been retaken from Boko Haram since the start of a four-nation military offensive, voicing hope that the operation could lead to the group’s “total defeat”.

National security spokesman Mike Omeri said four towns had fallen since last Friday, including three in Borno state and Buni Yadi, in neighbouring Yobe state, where the insurgents slaughtered more than 40 students in February last year before seizing it in August.

Crucial “cooperations and alliances” have led to victories over the Islamist rebels, he said, thanking neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger for cutting off “the supply lines of the terrorists”.

“It is hoped that the unfolding regional cooperation will hasten the total defeat and extermination of Boko Haram in Nigeria and the sub-region,” he added.

Speaking at the Atlantic Council think-tank in Washington, the head of Nigeria’s National Intelligence Agency, Ayodele Oke, said the militants still controlled four local government areas.

He said he was optimistic that in a matter of weeks Boko Haram would no longer be in control of any territory, even if the government admits that bombings and gun attacks are likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

Credit: AFP

Shekau’s Days Are Numbered Despite Allegiance To ISIS – Nigerian Army

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian Army has assured Nigerians that Boko Haram’s purported allegiance to ISIS is a sign of fear and should not put fear in the hearts of Nigerians..

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, in an interview on the Hausa service of the BBC said

“With or without allegiance to ISIS, the days of Shekau has already been numbered, because all the insurgents’ training camps and hideouts in the affected North-East have been destroyed, while the terrorists have been routed from their camps and hideouts; and those who have escaped our “condone and search operations” in the Sambisa Forest and the Lake Chad Basin Areas, are on the run, abandoning their operational vehicles, arms and ammunitions,”He said that the Boko Haram’s allegiance to ISIS was meant to cause more “fears and terror” among Nigerian citizens, because the modus operandi of insurgents, are also similar to the Islamic fundamentalists in some Middle East countries.”“Shekau’s public allegiance to IS clearly indicates that he may surrender or be killed in the ongoing joint military operations of Nigeria and three neighbouring countries of Chad, Cameroon and Niger,”

BBOG Group Calls For Adequate Security In Recaptured Villages

Posted on March 2, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The #BringBackOurGirls movement has called on the federal government and the security agencies to ensure the continued of peace in the recovered territories by putting in place adequate security measures to tackle the Boko Haram insurgents in case they want to attack again.

In a statement read by the group’s spokesperson, Olatunji Olanrewaju at the 2nd media briefing of the six weeks countdown on the fight against insurgency yesterday, the movement declared total support for the military in the resurgent fight against Boko Haram.

However, the movement noted that it would be an effort in futility if at the end of the fight against Boko Haram, there is no security in place to protect the recovered territories.

While commending President Goodluck Jonathan and the service chiefs for visiting the recovered territories, the statement by the group further noted expressed regret that after the request by the group last week, the military was yet to take media men on a tour of the recovered territories so as to properly access the situation of things and dispel any doubt by a disbelieving public.

Also, while raising the alarm on the dynamism of the insurgents in recent week, the statement cautioned the movement against eschewing any form of triumph at this time as such mindset would distract the gallant Nigerian soldiers from total victory against the sect.

The movement also called on the government to ensure that in the remaining days to the expiration of the six-week countdown, the issues of the remaining 219 Chibok girls should be put in the front burner, as the BBOG and their family members are seriously looking forward to their return.

The movement had cautioned the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to be wary of going back to their communities until there are verifiable evidence that their communities were safe for them to return to, with adequate security to protect them against further attacks.

LEADERSHIP recalls that the group had started a six-week countdown on February 14, to end terrorism and the possible rescue of the 219 Chibok schoolgirls abducted in April 2014 after the insurgents attacked them at Government Secondary School,

PDP, APC Reps Fight Over Use of Army for Elections

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Lawmakers from APC and PDP on Wednesday turned the House of Representatives’ chamber into turmoil as they argued over the legality or otherwise of deployment of troops for elections.

The issue polarised the members along party lines. While the APC members were against the deployment, PDP lawmakers were favourably disposed to their deployment during the general elections.

When the matter came up for discussion on Wednesday, a rowdy scene was created and proceedings stalled for two hours. Deputy Speaker of the House, Emeka Ihedioha, who presided over the sitting had a hectic time controlling lawmakers.

He was forced to adjourn the proceedings to prevent the disagreement snowballing into a fight. The House had on Thursday suspended debate on the issue.

Read More: Vanguard

PHOTOS: Nigerian Army Flaunts Spoils From Boko Haram Mopping Operation

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Reports say that over 300 terrorists were killed while a few were also captured during a mopping operation of some of the communities where Boko Haram operated.

Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, revealed that five different types of armoured fighting vehicles, an anti-aircraft gun, about 50 cases of packed bombs and 8 different types of Machine Guns, 5 Rocket Propelled Grenade, 49 boxes of various types and calibres of ammunition as well as 300 motorcycles were destroyed in the fighting. Also, a total of 6 Hilux vehicles including those mounted with anti-aircraft guns were also destroyed. See photos below:

LEAKED: Interrogated Boko Haram Member Implicates FG (Audio)

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Staff Reporter

A leaked audio released by newspunch.org reveals a recent Nigerian army interrogation of an arrested Boko Haram suspect in the northeast. Listen to the interrogation below. Also read interpretation of the confession on: newspunch.org

#PhotoNews: Nigerian Army Flaunts Spoils From Boko Haram

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Staff Reporter

A tweep posted this photo and asked how they (Boko Haram) acquired such weapons? We are also wondering…

Sambisa Forest Under Aerial Bombardment by Nigerian Military

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian military has invades the Boko Haram insurgents’ base in Sambisa Forest, reports from the Hausa service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) say.

The director of defence information, Maj-Gen Chris Olukolade, told the agency that the military had been raiding the forest and other hideouts of the sect since Tuesday night.

According to the BBC, the army used war drones to level some of the Boko Haram camps in the northeast but it was not clear about the casualties on both sides. The army said that they are still committed to securing the civilian population at whatever cost. “We are still committed in ensuring that we degrade their ability to continue their activities and eventually eliminate them,” Olukolade said.

“The mission is on. There are no allowing terrorists anywhere. As many times as they come, it will only give us the opportunity to decimate them.” Sources close to the area have confirmed that aerial bombardment had commenced yesterday.

Credit: ekekeee.com

Nigeria Army Relocates Female Soldiers From Maiduguri In Anticipation Of Boko Haram Attack

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Sources reveal that Nigerian military authorities are moving female soldiers based in various army formations in Maiduguri and other parts of Borno State to Abuja as the army anticipates a massive attack on Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, by terrorists belonging to Islamist group, Boko Haram.

The sources said there was heightened apprehension about an impending attack, hence the decision to reassign female soldiers to Nigeria’s capital.

The military action also stemmed from the death of five female soldiers and the abduction of another four by Boko Haram militants when they attacked a military base in Baga a few weeks ago.

Read More: saharareporters.com

Two Army Generals Quit After Army Chief Tells Them “Army Is For PDP”

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Reports say that two high ranking Nigerian army Generals have submitted their resignation following an argument with the Chief of the army, Kenneth Minimah.

According to our sources, the Generals had told the Chief of the Army that whoever won the 2015 presidential elections must be handed the office; however the Nigerian Chief of army had told them that this will not be so as the army was working for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Following this, the two army generals were said to have tendered their immediate resignation from the army.

Read more: newsrescue.com

Newly Deployed Drones Boost Army’s Morale

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian military has reportedly deployed another set of sophisticated arms to fight Boko Haram in the North-East. The acquisition of special drones is aimed at launching the massive new offensive against the insurgents.

An anonymous source disclosed that after the weekend raids in Borno State, the arrival of the new equipment had encouraged the soldiers and boosted their spirits.

“These drones will complement ongoing air and land strikes against some bases of the sect. The simultaneous attacks on Monguno, Konduga and Maiduguri by Boko Haram insurgents were pre-emptive steps against the military by the sect. With effective equipment, the insurgents were aware that the game is up and in annoyance, they decided to attack military installations and troops,” the source said.

Credit: naij.com

Nigerian Army Claims Rare Victory Against Boko Haram

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The militant group Boko Haram attacked a major Nigerian city early Sunday in what appeared to be its most ambitious attempt to gain territory. But Nigeria’s military drove back the insurgents with an air and ground attack, killing about 200 fighters, according to military officials. It was a rare victory in the country’s fight against the militant insurgency.

Boko Haram attacked Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria’s Borno state, on several fronts Sunday morning, triggering heavy fighting as the army scrambled to defend the city. Fighting raged through the night, according to local media. The attackers also took over the town of Monguno to the north, gaining control of a military base and ammunition store, and attacked several villages farther south, in Adamawa state.

Nigerian defense headquarters Sunday announced a 24-hour curfew in Maiduguri. “FLASH: Troops are repelling a simultaneous attack on #Monguno and #Maiduguri by terrorists. Coordinated Air and Land OPs being conducted #Now,” the Defense Headquarters tweeted.

Read More: latimes.com

Boko Haram: Army Set for Final Onslaught

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian military has finalized plans to conduct a “once and for all comprehensive operations” towards the elimination of Boko Haram terrorists in parts of the North East to the boarders of neighbouring countries. International media and satellite images suggest that areas presently under Boko Haram occupation could already be as large as Belgium.

Competent sources disclosed to PRNigeria in Abuja that political authorities which now feels so disturbed by the activities of the terrorists especially after viewing the latest video release from the terror group, which claimed that it already has enough weapons to take on Nigeria and its neighbours, have endorsed the military plan and expressed full support for it. Sources disclosed that, “Nigerian military is reviewing its strategy in the combat against terrorists to accommodate joint and combined operations with neighbouring military organisations…

Read More: dailypost.ng

See Buhari’s Academic Records Released by Nigerian Army

Posted on January 21, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Premium Times obtained copies of the records showing that the military duly noted that Mr. Buhari obtained the requisite WASC qualifications. Click on documents and find records below:

Credit: Premium Times

44 Soldiers Held in Underground Cell in Jos

Posted on January 20, 2015 by Staff Reporter

At least 44 soldiers of the Nigerian army are currently being held and languishing in an underground cell in Jos, according to PREMIUM TIMES.

An army source told this newspaper that the soldiers were part of those stationed in Mubi, Adamawa State, when the town was over run and captured by Boko Haram insurgents last October. According to reports, soldiers in the town failed to engage the attacking terrorists and fled their barracks leaving the town defenceless.

Our source told us that the 44 soldiers that include five staff Sergeants, two Sergeants, five Corporals, 18 Lance Corporals, and 14 Privates, were dislodged by the terrorists on October 28, 2014. They were then arrested and detained for 10 days before being moved to an underground detention cell in Jos where they have since been.

Their charges are not known yet and the army is yet to arraign them for any offence.
The affected soldiers are Staff Sergeants – Ali Bako, Daramola Segun, Zakariya jibrin, Abdulrazaq Ahmed, and Abdulhamid Musa; Sergeants – Damiel Sunday, Ajayi Danladi; Corporals – Elijah Bisuakefe, Bulus Andrew, Adamu Ladan, Ponmark jatau, and Kurmi Rumu; Lance Corporal – Chilaka Pius, Kuyoro Joseph, Lawal Asheik, Friday Jacob, Oyinah Ifubaraboye, Abubakar Haruna, Abbas Iliyasu, Clement Ebong, Odesanya Olatunji, Gilbert Paul, Abdullahi Kamal, Olayinka Aremu, Tumba Ignatius, Yakubu Kyari, Danjuma Kadiri, Emmanuel James, Musa Isah, and Isah Mohammed; Privates – Tijani Adamu, Ibrahim Aliyu, Suleiman Bali, Musa Abu, Peter Saiynan, Williams Ojeje, Mohammed Yakubu, Adebayo Damilola, Joseph Sampson, Adagunodo Oluwafemi, Amos bala, Familola Johnson, Jesse Nunaya, and Ekpong Orem.

The detention of the soldiers seems to be in line with moves by the military to curtail what it described as a wave of indiscipline and cowardice among soldiers as it attempts to rev up its campaign against Boko Haram insurgents who have captured large swath of towns and village in their attempt to form an Islamic caliphate.

Credit: Premuim Times

Much Ado About American Weapons In a Nigerian War By Ehi Akpata

Posted on December 23, 2014 by Staff Reporter

Nigeria can best be described as movie theatre where there is never a shortage of drama. From terrorist attacks to massive corruption scandals to political scandals, the drama never ends. It is almost becoming difficult to keep track of embarrassing events these days such that before one reacts to the latest scandal it becomes dwarfed by an even more scandalous event. The crux of this article is the recent verbal exchange between the Nigerian government on the one hand and the US government on the other hand over the supply of military hardware.

Recently, the Nigerian government blamed the US government for its challenges in getting the necessary firepower needed to prosecute its war with the Boko Haram sect. The US government on their part has blamed Nigeria’s poor human right record as the reason for not selling weapons to Nigeria. The Nigerian government has hung tenaciously to this excuse and has continued to use it to justify its robust incompetence. Trust the Presidents spokesmen and supporters to castigate the US, suddenly a scapegoat had been found to take some pressure off the president. However, some more dispassionate minds have paused to ask some pertinent questions: is the US the only manufacturer of military hardware in the world? Has the US been our major supplier of military equipment in the past? Can the equipment sought by the Nigerian government be obtained from sources other than the US? Let us turn our attention to the weapons and equipment ever supplied to our army since 1960 to help us see who our major arms suppliers have been. Our major suppliers of military equipment are Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Belgium in descending order. These equipment ranges from missiles, armoured vehicles, rifles, artillery, air defense weapons and small arms. The US has only supplied Nigeria with weapons on about three occasions putting them in the same category with nations like Sweden and Germany. Interestingly, the weapons that were supplied to Nigeria by the US are no more in service. One would expect the Nigerian government to focus its attention on countries like Russia, the United Kingdom, Italy and France for military equipment or is it only American weapons that can kill Boko Haram members? China happens to be one of our major trading partners and a producer of military hardware. This is another very important option for us if we choose to explore it.

Another leg of this topic has to do with attack helicopters or helicopter gunships and it will be discussed separately from mainstream military equipment. An attack helicopter is a specially designed and fitted helicopter that has the ability to attack targets on the ground and is able to carry heavy machine guns and missiles. Due to its special features it can be used for special missions like escorting army convoys and carrying out attack missions. Sometime In June 2014, we were greeted with the news that Nigeria had ordered 40 Cobra attack helicopters to aid its lingering war with the Boko Haram sect. Unfortunately, this deal has now gone up in smoke as a result of the current US position on Nigeria. I have always advocated for the provision of attack helicopters for our army and have been thoroughly amazed that we do not have a reasonable fleet of our own by now. African countries like Egypt have possessed Apache helicopters for years and you will still hear some folks call our army the best in Africa, what ignorance.

In my view, it is not the end of the world if the Americans refuse to sell cobra helicopters to us. Nigeria is not the first nation to be denied weapons or attack helicopters for that matter by the US. China suffered the same challenge in the past and it is important to see how they responded to the situation. Following the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, the US placed an arms embargo on China. This made it impossible for China to obtain attack helicopters it urgently needed from the US. Even Russia refused to sell attack helicopters to China. Instead of crying and complaining like the Nigerian government has chosen to do, the Chinese sought other alternatives and this included developing their own attack helicopters and today China is a proud producer of attack helicopters. Necessity is the mother of inventions but it seems like in Nigeria Necessity is the mother of complaints and excuses.

So what immediate alternatives are available to the Nigerian government? There are other nations who manufacture attack helicopters and would be more inclined to sell to us. I earlier identified China as a maker of attack helicopters. China and Nigeria are major trading partners and I see no reason why we cannot look towards the East if America fails us. The Chinese produce the Z-10 attack helicopter which has been adjudged to be reasonably competent. The Italians have supplied us weapons in the past and they produce the Augusta A129 attack helicopters. The Germans are another of our previous arms suppliers who produce attack helicopters, they produce the Eurocopter Tiger and I see no reason why we cannot try any of these options. I have deliberately left out the Russian built versions because the current sanctions on Russia might affect any deals with them.

Leaders are chosen to solve problems and make tough decisions. Nigeria has been desperately in need of leaders to do the needful in trying times such as this. We certainly do not need leaders who instead of fixing a problem search for who to blame for it. If our army is in need of weapons of any description there are several options to explore. If Chad can get plane loads of weapons from France then Nigeria has no excuse, and if a private citizen like Tompolo can acquire gunships then I don’t know what to even say anymore.

@mcspella

VIEWS EXPRESSED ARE SOLELY AUTHOR’S.

80 Insurgents, 2 Soldiers Killed in Borno Gun Battle

Posted on December 23, 2014 by Staff Reporter

No fewer than 80 Boko Haram insurgents and two soldiers lost their lives when suspected members of dreaded Boko Haram sect laid ambush along the troubled Maiduguri-Damboa road which was closed down for motorists since July this year.

The clash, according to reliable sources, occurred weekend when some military personnel attached to 7 Division, Nigerian Army were on their way to Damboa, the headquarters of Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.

This came barely 48 hours after the troops succeeded in killing 75 insurgents in a failed attempt to attack engineers and electricians who were repairing transmission lines vandalised by terrorists, in the remote village of Komala along the 185 kilometre Maiduguri-Damboa-Biu road since July this year and the latest killing of over 110 terrorists who attacked Damboa at the weekend.

Credit:

54 More Soldiers Sentenced To Death By Firing Squad For Mutiny

Posted on December 18, 2014 by Staff Reporter

54 soldiers including two Corporals, nine Lance Corporals and 49 Private soldiers attached to the 7 Division Nigerian Army in Maiduguri Borno state have been sentenced to death by firing squad for mutiny by a court marshal that sat in Abuja today Wednesday December 17th. The soldiers were convicted on a a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy to commit mutiny.

According to the charge sheet, the soldiers conspired to commit mutiny against their superior at the 7 Division on August 4 at the Mulai Primary School camp, opposite AIT Maiduguri, Borno state.

Captain J.E. Nwosu, an army Captain who is the prosecutor in the case, told the marshal panel that the accused soldiers had on August 4, in Maiduguri, refused to join the 111 Special Forces Battalion troops, commanded by Timothy Opurum, a Lieutenant Colonel for an operation which was meant to recapture Delwa, Bulabulin and Damboa in Borno State from members of Boko Haram.

Captain J.E Nwosu in his submission said the offence is punishable under Section 52(1) (a) of the Armed Forces Act Cap A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The commander of the 111 Special Forces, Lt.-Col. Opurum, while testifying before the panel as a witness, said in the recapture operation, only 4 officers and 29 soldiers participated in that particular operation with other soldiers hesitant to participate.

This brings to 66 the number of soldiers sentenced to death for mutiny. Their sentencing however is to be ratified by senior military authorities

Credit: naijaloaded

Exposed: Boko Haram’s Plot Busted in Forest

Posted on December 13, 2014 by Staff Reporter

A credible security source reveals that seven villages in Adamawa, and other villages in four other states, namely, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, and Borno, all in the North East; have been mapped out by boko haram for their brutal terrorist activities.

According to the source, the hit list was was recovered by Special Forces during an operation at the Balmo Forest. The source said: “There are 25 towns and communities mentioned in the Balmo Forest hit list of the sect recovered by the troops.

“There is the general feeling that the names in the list should not be released because it could cause panic, anxiety and fear.

“You know that people would begin to flee the areas once they hear anything. I can tell you that not even one person would be left in the places if you mention the names; and that is unnecessary now.

“What the authorities have done is to ensure that the security presence in the areas is strengthened and the people get the protection they deserve.”

Credit: naij.com

Exclusive Report into Nigerian Military’s New Offensive Against Boko Haram- Premium Times (See Photos)

Posted on December 3, 2014 by Staff Reporter

PREMIUM TIMES journalist travels to key towns in Adamawa and Borno, recently overran by Boko Haram and reports that an apparently better equipped Nigerian military has revved up its battle against the extremist Boko Haram sect, displacing the insurgents from key Adamawa and Borno towns.

The above photo is an illustration of many deserted areas that have been seized but taken over by the Nigerian military.

As town after town fell to Boko Haram, which busied itself shooting, bombing and raiding communities, and slitting the throats of defenceless residents, Nigerian troops came under severe local and international ridicule for failing to neutralise often predictable attacks by the militants.

The above photo compares Nigerian Army’s APC (12.7mm) bullet with Boko Haram’s rocket size one (35 mm) (right). T72, now in use by the army, has 120mm ballistic.

“The military appears to be better equipped and motivated, and appears to have upped its war games,” reporter Aliyu Tilde, usually critical of the military’s response to Boko Haram, said.

PREMIUM TIMES is the first news organization to access the heavily-guarded areas of Adamawa and Borno States, currently under military operations.

“Gaskiya (truth be said) Nigerian military is doing a very very fine job here. They have cleared Gombi, Hong, Mararraba, Mubi and the entire route of Boko Haram,” Mr. Tilde said.

“They are now at Uba slugging it out. Vehicles aren’t allowed beyond Gombi. People trek to Hong. The road is quiet. Clearing of hazardous materials like IEDs going on along Mararraba-Mubi Road before the road is open to users.

“Gombi-Garkida road is also cleared. It is safe. Saw many vehicles plying the road. Clearing of Garkida-Biu road may start soon,” he said.

“The military is now better equipped and more confident. Its newly acquired T72 tank is devastating. Boko Haram bombed it using suicide bombers with a pickup packed with explosives but to no avail. Only scratches. And the beast moved on.

“If the military is able to keep the tempo, many more places will be liberated,” Mr. Tilde said.

On Tuesday, the reporter continued his journey, talking to residents of liberated towns, soldiers, and vigilantes.

In a dispatch on Tuesday night, he wrote, “Gombi is quiet, half-empty, on curfew today, in the full control of Nigerian armed, police, custom, immigration forces. A camp of vigilantes can also been seen just before the junction to Mubi.

“I trekked from Muchalla to Gombi, seen burnt cars, motorcycles and buses of Boko Haram when their advance was checked by the military 10 days ago.

“Their last advance was stopped at Muchalla. So many bullet shells, small and big, on the road plus signs of shelling of trees, houses, etc. Night curfew started just now at 6pm.

“Many residents have returned although the road from Girei to this point has been nearly empty.

“Lassa and Dile exhibited the best use of self-defence doctrine. Unlike other towns that fled on hearing the sound of Boko Haram gunfire, the youths stood their ground and slugged it out with the Boko Haram chaps. Within 30 minutes they cleared them although few were able to escape.

“Boko Haram is becoming demystified gradually, it seems.

“There seems to be some change in the composition of the soldiers here. Most of them are 30 and above, truly professionals. The incident of begging for tips from motorists has also reduced drastically.

“We just hope they have made adequate safety arrangements for keeping the liberated towns safe.”

Credit: Premium Times

Meet the Vigilantes: Their Experiences with Boko Haram

Posted on December 3, 2014 by Staff Reporter

For years he has worked as a cemetery inspector in the north-eastern Nigerian city of Yola and also hunted wild animals, but now he has volunteered to join the battle against militant group Boko Haram. It has waged a five-year insurgency to create an Islamic state, establishing bases along Nigeria’s border with Cameroon and Chad.

Mr Dawaki tells me just last week he fought alongside the Nigerian military close to the town of Mubi. “I killed more than 10 of them and we could see some were Chadian. We could tell by the tribal marks on their faces,” he says. He says his own weapons include a small knife that he used to slit the throat of one jihadist and a bow and arrow, as well as buffalo horns dipped in cobra poison. “A knife cannot penetrate us. If bombs drop they cannot kill us,” Mr Dawaki says, pointing to a leather amulet on his arm and another around his neck containing verses from the Koran.

“When we are on the battlefront we are focused on the job – we are patriotic, we want to save people from Boko Haram attacks and avenge what they are doing to our people,” Tijjani Mohammed, a retired civil servant who just returned from fighting told me. “We lost three of our men and seven were injured,” he says, adding that despite the losses, the mission against the insurgents had been a success.

“I just gathered my children and started running out of town,” says Zainabu Yusuf, whose husband was shot dead by the jihadists on the road in front of their home. “While I was running I saw soldiers running too, asking the way out of the town to Maiha. They were removing their uniforms and hiding them in plastic bags.”

When the insurgents moved on to attack areas south of Mubi, panic spread and with people starting to flee the Adamawa state capital, Yola, the authorities had to act fast. “These vigilante groups were already there but were dormant, so we organised them, bought them vehicles and empowered them,” Bala James Nggilari, the governor of Adamawa state, told the BBC.

“The vigilantes and hunters are local people, local boys who know the terrain. When you bring a soldier from Bayelsa [in southern Nigeria], for example, who is coming here for the first time he doesn’t know the terrain.

“The people we are fighting are also part of the local community. There is nothing on their forehead that says ‘insurgent’ but these local hunters are familiar with them, they know them, they have the native intelligence which the regular army may not have,” says Mr Nggilari.

He says the plan is to mobilise 4,000 vigilantes. Co-operation with local vigilantes has reaped rewards as the military has now retaken several towns in the north of Adamawa state, including Mubi, and calm has returned to Yola.

Some of the men I met training in Yola were holding 2m long (6ft) rusty hunting rifles, others had machetes. They say they were promised about 4,000 naira ($22; £14) a day and that during a recent operation some of them were given assault rifles by soldiers. Not all of them are being sent to the north of the state to assist the soldiers, with many getting ready in case they are needed to help defend Yola.

Samson Dawa says he fled the militants carrying only his radio and bible. Some will view their deployment as a damning indictment of the Nigerian military, which has frequently failed to protect the population of north-east Nigeria.

The violence is still on a horrific scale but to the vulnerable and displaced, the alliance between soldiers and vigilantes brings hope. Samson Dawa recently witnessed jihadists speeding through his village, Mbalala, on their way to capturing Chibok some 15km (9 miles) away.

“There were dozens of motorbikes and each one had two or three people on – all carrying guns,” he says. “The men on the open-backed 4×4 vehicles were shouting and had heavier guns which they were raising up.”

The 57-year-old farmer grabbed his radio and bible and ran for his life. Two days later, from a safer village he saw a long convoy of vehicles ferrying soldiers and vigilantes, with amulets tied around their arms. They were heading towards Chibok, the town from which 219 schoolgirls were abducted in April.

“When we saw the soldiers we knew they were serious and we had hope in them,” says Mr Dawa. “Judging by the kind of weapons they had I think their strength has been improved.”

Within hours, Chibok was retaken. Many jihadists were reported to have been killed on the streets of the town. “The vigilantes alone cannot do this job so if anybody tells you they have more hope in the hunters than the soldiers I don’t believe them,” says Mr Dawa.

“You know it’s a war. Maybe I will be back or maybe I will not be back,” says Mr Dawaki as he prepares to return to the fight. “But even my children would be proud to say their father died fighting Boko Haram.

Credit: BBC

Vigilante Efforts in Fights Againt Boko Haram in Chibok

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Staff Reporter

Leading elder Pogu Bitrus told AFP that Chibok was recaptured in a joint operation with local vigilantes known as the Civilian Joint Task Force, who back up the military in several parts of the northeast where Boko Haram is active.

He said the vigilantes fought inside Chibok while army soldiers “stayed outside the town to mop up the insurgents trying to escape”.

Boko Haram fighters had captured the town on Thursday after a battle lasting several hours that local officials said left many victims among both the insurgents and the local militias.

Several residents said the army had fled the assault, leaving the vigilantes to fight on their own against Boko Haram.

There was no immediate information about any casualties from Saturday’s battle for the town, which witnesses say is virtually empty of residents.

Credit: AFP

Nigerian Army Recapures Chibok

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian army said Sunday it had recaptured the northeastern town of Chibok, where Islamic militants abducted more than 200 schoolgirls in April, provoking a wave of global outrage.

Control of Chibok is crucial to the reputation of the government of President Goodluck Jonathan and the military, which have both come under fire at home and abroad for their failure to rescue the girls.

The army recaptured the town from Boko Haram militants late Saturday, spokesman General Olajide Olaleye told AFP in a text message.

“Mopping up ops ongoing. (The) town is now secured,” he said.

The operation came just days after Jonathan on Tuesday announced his bid for re-election, vowing to defeat Boko Haram whose brutal five-year insurgency has plagued his first term in office.

Credit: AFP

Boko Haram invades Hong & Gombi in Adamawa

Posted on November 14, 2014 by Staff Reporter

Scores of Boko Haram fighters on Thursday invaded two towns in northeast Nigeria’s Adamawa state after hunters and civilian vigilantes reportedly ousted them from a key town, residents told AFP.

The Islamists raided Hong and Gombi, some 100 kilometres (62.5 miles) from the state capital, Yola, after they were pushed out of the commercial hub of Mubi, which they seized two weeks ago.

Boko Haram is thought to have captured more than two dozen towns in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states in recent months, as part of its quest to establish a hardline caliphate in the region.

But despite apparently losing control of Mubi, which the Islamists renamed Madinatul Islam or “City of Islam” in Arabic the invasion of Hong and Gombi saw them move closer to Yola.

Thousands of residents have been taking refuge in the city from the violence.

The vigilantes had reportedly reclaimed the town of Maiha on Wednesday after a fierce battle in which scores of the ins?urgents were said to have been killed, although there was no official confirmation.

In Gombi, resident Haruna Awwalu said Boko Haram were patrolling the streets, firing heavy weaponry, while another local, Rabi Tanimu, said people were cowering indoors and many had fled into the bush.

“They have burnt down the police station, the local government secretariat and the market? after overpowering the police, ” Awwalu said.

In Hong, 20 kilometres away, the police station was also razed and the militants raised their black flag outside the home of a retired military general.

Chibado Bobi, chief of staff in Adamawa state governor’s office in Mubi confirmed that civilian vigilantes and hunters had recaptured the town.

“It is true Mubi has fallen back into the hands of Nigerian soldiers with the help of local vigilantes and hunters,” he said.

“It is however too early for residents who fled to move back to Mubi because the security and vigilantes need to mop up all remnants of the group that may be lurking in nearby areas.”

One resident, who asked not to be named, said about 200 vigilantes and hunters armed with den (home-made) guns, spears, clubs, bows and arrows, and machetes were involved in the recapture.

“I saw the Boko Haram fighters fleeing in droves in their vehicles when the hunters and vigilantes entered the town”, he added.

“Their emir? (leader) was captured by the hunters and made to sit outside the military barracks that he and his men turned into their base.

“He had his hands tied from the back and we swarmed to have a look but we were later dispersed by the hunters.”

Credit: AFP

Execution, Beheading, Amputation Claims in Boko Haram Fight

Posted on November 7, 2014 by Staff Reporter

Nigerian troops have been accused of killing 16 Boko Haram suspects, raising fresh concerns about the conduct of the military and the civilians supporting the battle against the militant group.

Earlier, vigilantes claimed to have beheaded dozens of Islamist fighters in the country’s far northeast.

Boko Haram, meanwhile, is reported to have begun enforcing strict Islamic law by amputating the hands of thieves and razing churches in a captured town it renamed as part of its self-styled caliphate.

On Wednesday, 21 civilians were killed after Boko Haram fighters clashed with troops in the restive northeast of Nigeria, a local lawmaker said.

The incidents have undermined repeated government claims of a ceasefire and peace talks.

In Potiskum, 16 men who were arrested after morning prayers on Wednesday were found dead in a morgue with bullet wounds just hours later, community leaders and hospital staff told AFP.

Locals in the Dogo Tebo area of the city believed the men were picked up and killed because all of them were from the Kanuri ethnic group that forms the bulk of Boko Haram’s membership.

“All the bodies have gunshot wounds on them,” said a nurse at the Potiskum General Hospital, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

The bodies had been brought in by soldiers and were formally identified by community leaders, he told AFP.

On Monday, at least 15 people were killed and some 50 others were injured in a suicide bombing targeting a major Shia Muslim festival in Potiskum, which is Yobe state’s commercial capital.

A number of others were killed when troops deployed to the scene opened fire, the head of the Shia community, Mustapha Lawan Nasidi, said at the time.

The latest deaths were described by another community leader as “cold-blooded murder” while residents expressed concern about the fate of a Muslim cleric and three others who were also detained.

Neither the military in Yobe or the capital, Abuja, responded to AFP when asked for comment and there was no word either on claims from Biu in neighbouring Borno state about the beheadings.

A member of the civilian vigilante group, Umar Hassan, said they and troops ambushed Boko Haram fighters last Friday as they prepared a raid on Sabon Gari village in the south of the state.

“We killed 41 of them and decapitated them and brought the heads to Biu, which we displayed to people to demystify Boko Haram,” he said.

Two Biu residents said the vigilantes put the heads on wooden spikes and drove around the town, telling people the Islamists did not have magical powers.

“It was like hunters displaying their game after a hunting expedition,” said, one, Silas Buba.

The incidents will add to concerns of human rights groups about the response of the military and the vigilantes, both of whom have been accused of atrocities in the past.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) said they were aware of the reports and were investigating the authenticity of the claims.

“This is the latest in a string of abuses in which pro-government vigilante groups have been implicated,” said HRW’s Nigeria researcher Mausi Segun.

Boko Haram took over the town of Mubi in Adamawa state last week and residents who fled the town in recent days said they had now renamed it Maidanatul Islam, or “City of Islam” in Arabic.

In Mubi, Boko Haram chopped off the hands of 10 men accused of theft last Friday and burnt down churches, said Ahmad Maishanu, who fled Mubi on Wednesday.

In a video released on October 2, Boko Haram showed the stoning to death of a man accused of adultery, a man having his right hand cut off for theft and a young man and woman given 100 lashes each for sex outside marriage.

The group, which wants to create a hardline Islamic state in Nigeria’s northeast, is now thought to control at least two dozen towns in the region.

The Nigerian government and military made a surprise announcement on October 17 that it had secured a ceasefire deal with the militants and peace talks were being held.

But there has been no let-up in the violence since then and last Friday the group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, dismissed claims of an end to hostilities as “a lie”.

Credit: Yahoo News/ AFP/ Aminu Abubakar

Nigerian Army Warns Next Shekau

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Staff Reporter

Following the surrender of 268 Boko Haram terrorists to Nigerian troops, the Nigerian Army has warned that any other person or leader who emerges using the name ‘Shekau’ will receive the same treatment.

Reports say an evidence provides that the Boko Haram commander, Mohammed Bashir, has been impersonating the late sect leader, Abubakar Shekau, who had been killed on September 17.

The warning was made just as 135 members of the terrorist group have surrendered to troops in Biu, Mairiga-Buni Yadi as well as Mubi-Michika towns.

Briefing the media on current developments in the Counter Terrorism Campaign on Wednesday, Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade said, “Since the name Shekau has become a brand name for the terrorists leader, the Nigerian military remains resolute to serve justice to anyone who assumes that designation or title as well as all terrorists that seek to violate the freedom and territory of Nigeria”.

Disclosing that many of the insurgents have been surrendering to the Nigerian troops, Olukolade said, “A total of 135 terrorists on Tuesday evening surrendered with equipment, to troops around Biu local government area. A group of 88 submitted themselves at Mairiga-BuniYadi while another group of 45 terrorists were taken in, around Mubi-Michika”.

He said they are all being interrogated and processed in conformity with the dictates of standard best practices”.
Explaining how the operation was going on, General Olukolade said, “Nigerian troops have been conducting coordinated air and land operations in furtherance of efforts at containing the terrorists in the North East part of the country”.

He adds that, “Somehow, it became apparent that the terrorists in continuation of their campaign of terror were determined to take over communities around Maiduguri which is their prime target. There was therefore the need to ensure that communities such as Konduga were protected… It is noteworthy that the terrorists made not less than four attempts between 12 and 17 September 2014 to violate the security and enter Konduga to perpetrate their atrocities. Air and land forces were subsequently deployed to handle the situation… The convoy of combat vehicles typical of terrorists’ mission that involves their top commanders were fiercely engaged by the land and air forces. Several of the terrorists including some of their commanders lost their lives in the encounters which lasted an average of about 5 hours each. The troops captured some of the terrorists and their equipment”.

He further stated that, “On restoring normalcy after the encounter, inhabitants of the community who were victims of terrorists activities corroborated information on the identity of Bashir Mohammed alias Abubakar Shekau; alias Abacha Abdullahi Geidam; alias Damasack; etc. Indeed, the recent devastation on the leadership of the insurgents is attributable to the renewed commitment to the mission of eradicating terrorism in our country”.

Encouraging the Nigerian troops he said, “The Defence Headquarters applauds the gallantry of the Nigerian troops who have remained undaunted and professional in prosecuting this campaign against terror. The keen interest exhibited by our neighbours and allies is commendable and we appreciate them… All allies in the war against terrorism are hereby assured of the Nigerian military’s resolve to maintain momentum in the efforts to decimate and defeat terrorists. The invaluable efforts toward achieving sustainable peace and victory against the terrorists are highly appreciated… It is nevertheless necessary to alert all citizens that there is still the need for even more vigilance and cooperation with the security forces. Everybody is required to remain alert to ensure that we are not taken unawares by terrorist elements who might want to carry-out isolated attacks in any part of our country”.

Breaking: Kondunga Attacked by Boko Haram

Posted on September 12, 2014 by Staff Reporter

Reports reaching us says Konduga, a village in Borno State came under attack by boko haram this Friday morning.

Sources provide that, the insurgents stormed the area, setting homes and properties ablaze, but were confronted by the Nigerian Army.

The situation report of that area by sources who spoke to Omojuwa.com this morning reveal that the insurgents had since withdrawn back to Kawuri after confrontation with the military.

Hunters Kill 75 Boko Haram Fighters

Posted on September 11, 2014 by Staff Reporter

Sources reveal that 75 Boko Haram fighters have been hunted down by local hunters while fleeing Michika and Madagali Local Government Areas of Adamawa State.

Residents say that the Islamic militants ran out of ammunition and were running out of the Local Government Areas they have besieged for about a week now, but ran into the ambush of the Nigerian Military and some local hunters. Residents also showed excitement as regards the improvement of the issue that has been favourable to them and the well being of their environment.

Nigerian Army Intensifies Attack on Boko Haram

Posted on September 11, 2014 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian army has launched a massive attack against Boko Haram to recapture the northeastern town of Michika that fell to militants over the weekend.

A resident of Chibok, located 20 kilometers from Michika said on Wednesday that, they have been hearing thunderous explosions from bombs dropped by military jets on Michika.

He adds that, “the sounds of explosions are more intense at night when flashes of exploding bombs can be seen from Chibok.”

Another witness from Jiginlambu village, eight kilometers from Michika, said that “Nigerian troops are getting an upper hand on Boko Haram.”

Unsung Hero: The Diary of A Nigerian Soldier – Femi Falodun

Posted on September 8, 2014 by Staff Reporter

My name is John Martins and I was born to be a soldier.

It was all I had wanted to do from the first James Bond movie I saw on TV as an 8 year-old.

I love guns too. I love the uniform, the boots, the gear… I love the honour and respect that comes with being a soldier. I love that people fear us. I love the mystique. I love the life!

I was born on January 20, 1986 in Lagos. But my parents are from Adamawa.

Many people think I am Yoruba, because I speak the language fluently. I was raised in Yaba, Lagos.

I left the University of Lagos in my 200 level, studying Mechanical Engineering just so I could follow my childhood dream of becoming a professional soldier.

I joined the Nigerian Defence Academy where I studied Computer Science.

My friends call me “Jigga” or “The Eagle”.

Jigga because I never let a social night go to waste. I party hard!

I am The Eagle… because I am the best shot in my battalion. My eagle eyes have earned me several awards and accolades, and I am a 3-time champion of the Commander’s Shooting Contest.

I won’t dwell too much on my past and childhood and all that now. The story of my life will unveil itself in these short notes I will be writing weekly (hopefully). These notes will be a sort of diary about my current life, my life in the Nigerian army. I will try and send these short notes to my blogger friends weekly, even though I doubt if I can be consistent. The network out here is a ‘female dog’.

This story of mine is also the story of many others like me out here. From those of us currently serving in the heart of Borno to those abroad serving in foreign missions.

This story is not fiction. So, be prepared for some harsh truths and scary drama… and some boredom too. The life of a soldier could be boring at times. 90% of the time, a soldier is just waiting… Waiting on some action. That could be boring…and scary.

Also, sometimes I may ramble. Do pardon me. Loneliness and long cold nights can make one act funny. You hold so many thoughts to yourself with no one to share, and you finally get a platform to share and you can’t help but talk and talk and can’t stop talking.

Therapy. That is what these notes are for me.

So, bear with me.

I will try not to bore you.

I count myself lucky to be having a platform to share and express myself. To share my story and put a face/personality to the uniform that many of my countrymen see on TV.

Many Nigerians have hated this uniform for so long, and I can’t blame them. The army has made many errors, and it is hard to earn forgiveness. Many opinion-shapers in Nigeria today still blame the military for the country’s woes. However, the present-day politicians (many of whom are ex-military) are giving the military regimes a run for their money in terms of ineptitude, and failure to develop the nation.

Well, I am not going to defend the army, neither am I going to blame the generals either.

This is not a political blog and I am not partisan.

I am here to put a face to the ‘unknown soldier’ dying everyday for the peace of this country.

We are not mere uniforms. We are sons, daughters, brothers, fathers, husbands, lovers and nephews of somebody out there. Maybe even you.

We are real and not mere statistics.

I am not my gun. I am not my ‘khaki’. I am John Martins, Captain in the Nigerian Army, and I am proud of who I am.

This is not an entertainment blog, although I must warn you that my stories may look fictional every now and then. You wouldn’t believe what goes on in the battles that a 21st century soldier has to fight these days.

I am here to share that story.

Hopefully, I will have your attention.

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Today, we managed to take back Bama town from the Boko Haram insurgents. They have become very powerful now, much more than they were when they attacked Chibok and took those girls away. Ansure, a terror group operating with AQIM is now heavily involved. This their new-found mission of “Caliphate” expansion is driven by these bloodthirsty monsters who came from the regions around Mali.

I once trained members of Malian army special forces in anti-insurgent strategies, so I know these groups well. They are well equipped, well trained, and crazy enough to face a bullet for their sick beliefs.

Please pray for us.

I have to go now. So much to say, but I have to go and lead my men out for the nightly patrol we conduct around the edges of Sambisa.

This is an adaptation of real stories of Nigerian soldiers *

Femi Falodu blogs at http://mythoughonlots.blogspot.co.uk and this story was initially published here

Boko Haram Seizes Bama?

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Staff Reporter

The key North- Eastern town of Bama has been reported to be seized by Boko Haram.

Reports say that a fierce battle transpired between the Nigerian Army and Boko Haram on Sunday and Monday, after which the Islamic militants claim ownership of Bama. Residents say that thousands of civilians have deserted their homes, including soldiers, even though the Nigerian Military is yet to release an official comment on this report.

Raising concerns are focused on the fact that Bama is about 70 km away from Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, implying that it could be the next target for the terrorists, if their claim is true.

The Nigerian military had initially chased Boko Haram away from that area, but the group returned with reinforcements to seize the town, a residents said. Residents added that the militants traveled in armoured trucks and first took control of the military barracks.

Although there are no clear record of casualties, reports also say that both sides experienced serious casualties.

More so, an overnight curfew has been imposed in Maiduguri to prevent “infiltration” by militants.