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  • Army talks tough in new update on killing of soldiers in Delta

    Army talks tough in new update on killing of soldiers in Delta

    The Nigerian Army has said troops of Operation Delta Safe will not rest nor leave the creeks until those involved in the gruesome murder of officers and soldiers at Okuama community in Ughelli South local government area of Delta State are arrested.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army/Land Component Commander, Joint Task Force, South South, Operation DELTA SAFE, Major General Jamal Abdussalam said this on Thursday.

    Major General Abdussalam said this when the Managing Director (MD)/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief (Dr) Samuel Ogbuku paid him a condolence visit at the Division’s Headquarters in Port Harcourt Barracks.

    Abdussalam maintained that troops conducting operations over the gruesome murder of officers and soldiers at Okuama community would be firm, strong, decisive and professional in the cause of the operations in the general area.

    While appreciating the MD and his team for the visit, the GOC disclosed that “the mission handed to troops by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja is basically to recover the weapons carted away by the perpetrators of this heinous crime and ensure that all those involved are arrested”.

    He further added that troops will continue to be in the creeks until these objectives are achieved.

    The GOC further reiterated that no amount of propaganda, arm-twisting, blackmailing, intimidation, and false narratives would distract troops from staying on course to achieve their objectives.

    He, however, assured that the operations would be conducted in the most professional manner in line with the global best practice of adherence to rules of engagement and respect for the fundamental human rights of the citizenry.

    He called on people of the Niger Delta Region to go about their normal activities. Abdussalam appealed to people and communities to assist troops regarding the location of the fleeing criminals and the weapons carted away.

    The Armed Forces of Nigeria, he averred is the symbol of our sovereignty, stressing that the Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu captured it succinctly when he said an attack on our Armed Forces is an attack on our nation.

    “Therefore, if we allow criminals to continue to attack our security forces, there will be anarchy,” the GOC said.

    Major General Abdussalam stressed that the troops will not rest until all those involved are tracked down to account for their deeds while reassuring that the operation is being conducted in such a way that, going forward, nobody would contemplate attacking men in uniform.

    He also stressed that false narratives being churned out, and propaganda peddled over this mindless criminality would not deter troops from fishing out the criminals.

    The GOC appreciated the MD and his team for identifying with the NA at this moment of grief. He added that there would not be development without peace and security.

    “Thus, the two institutions would continue to work together for the common good of society,” he while calling on well-meaning members of the society to avail the Nigeria Army credible intelligence on where to get the criminals and ensure they answer for their crimes.

    Earlier, the NDDC MD, Chief Samuel Ogbuku, while commiserating with the GOC, said that without peace in the Niger Delta region, there would not be development.

    Chief Ogbuku averred that the Niger Delta region has been peaceful for some time, owing to the sacrifices of officers and men of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

    However, he said the sad event that occurred in Okuama has called for concern.

    This he said informed the reason he led his management team on the condolence visit to the Division, adding that they stand in solidarity with the Nigeria Army over this gruesome murder of officers and soldiers.

    Ogbuku said this unfortunate incident didn’t define the people of the Niger Delta region, adding that for years now, the people of the region have embraced peace and dialogue.

    He further said that no one in the region is in support of this mindless act of criminality.

    The Niger Delta region he said has been relatively calm and remains the bedrock of the national economy. He called on all critical stakeholders to calm and support the Nigeria Army to fish out the perpetrators of this act.

    This, he said, is the only way justice would be served, particularly to those who paid the supreme price. He assured that they would continue to pray and support the families they left behind.

    He expressed optimism that the Nigeria Army will conduct its operations in the most professional manner by ensuring that innocent people don’t take the brunt of the crime committed by criminals.

  • Army finally opens up on 2022 Kuje prison break

    Army finally opens up on 2022 Kuje prison break

    The Nigerian Army has blamed the July 5, 2022 Kuje prison break on the absence of Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at the facility.

    Major Peter Ogbuinya, the Assistant Director, Commercial Law, the Directorate of Nigerian Army Legal Services, stated this at the investigative hearing by the House of Representatives Joint Committees on Reformatory Institutions, Justice, Police Affairs, Interior, and Human Rights in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Ogbuinya said after the jail break, the army observed that the prison was located in a densely populated area.

    “We observed the facility has low fence and has no CCTV cameras installed in the place before the incident,” he said.

    Ogbuinya said the army only play complimentary role in providing security in Correctional Centres.

    ‘’The day the incident occurred, we had a rotation of troops and I would not want to comment on the question regarding the possibility of having an insider.

    “Prior to that incident, the Nigerian army wrote series of letters to the Comptroller General of the Correctional Service concerning our observations and things that would enhance security around the facility.

    “We are still working to know if there are any soldiers who failed to do what they were meant to do within the military hierarchy,” he said.

    Mrs Ayoola Daniel, a representative of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, said the ministry was in support of decongesting correctional centres in the country.

    She said that the correctional service had been moved from the exclusive to concurrent list, adding that state governments were expected to take up the responsibility of decongesting the centres.

    Also speaking, Mr Philip Ayuba, the Assistant Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) urged the committee to look into the possibility of engaging members of National Youth Service Corps to provide legal services to prisoners.

    “We still have so many young men in prison; we are requesting that NYSC lawyers be sent to prison to look at some of the minor cases so that we can decongest the prison,’’ he said.

  • No innocent citizen will suffer for killing of soldiers in Delta – Gov. Oborevwori

    No innocent citizen will suffer for killing of soldiers in Delta – Gov. Oborevwori

    Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta has said the State government and military authorities have agreed that no innocent citizen will suffer from the outcome of the March 14 killing of soldiers.

    Oborevwori said this on Tuesday while speaking with State House Correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said that the unfortunate killings of military personnel had further exacerbated the feud between the two warring communities.

    “Since last year, we have been enjoying peace in Delta State and we commend all security agencies.

    “Mr President assured me that he is in support of the peace and we both condemned the killing of the officers and the soldiers who were on peace mission.

    “What is happening now is something that we didn’t bargain for. But we want to assure everybody that there would be no more attacks on the villages if there is any that has happened in the past.”

    The governor gave the assurance that those culpable would be brought to book, adding that innocent citizens are assured of safety.

    He said that a meeting between the state government and traditional leaders would be held next week to find a quick resolution to the issue on ground.

    Fifteen military personnel were killed during a communal clash in Delta State last Thursday.

    The personnel met their death during a rescue mission in a clash between Okuama and Okoloba communities in the state.

    On the burning down of some villages in the affected communities, Oborevwori said many opinions circulating about the incidence were not true.

    “The issue of whether a place has been burnt down or people have been killed, it has happened but what is the way forward? The ways forward are two ways.

    “The people that have been killed, the officers and soldiers, we must see how we can find succour for their families and give them befitting burial, also the community.

    “Anything that has happened in the community in the past will not happen again. We assure that the people who are culpable will be brought to book.

  • REVEALED: How Okoloba, Okuama signed peace accord before brutal killing of CO, 2 Majors, Captain, 12 soldiers

    REVEALED: How Okoloba, Okuama signed peace accord before brutal killing of CO, 2 Majors, Captain, 12 soldiers

    Details have emerged on how leaders of Okoloba community and Okuama community, both in Delta State, signed a peace accord before the dastardly killing of soldiers in the State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Okoloba is located in Bomadi local government area while Okuama is located in Ughelli South local government area, both of Delta State.

    It was gathered that leaders from both communities had signed the peace accord five weeks before some youths ambushed and killed 16 officers and men of the 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army.

    While it is yet to be confirmed those who carried out the dastardly act, those killed, the Commanding Officer (CO), two Majors, one Captain and 12 soldiers, were said to be on a peace mission to Okuama when they were ambushed and killed.

    The peace accord, it was gathered, was brokered by the Special Adviser to Delta Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor.

    The peace accord followed the crisis which recently erupted between both riverine communities over boundary issues.

    Chief Uzor said during the signing of the peace accord that the administration of Governor Oborevwori will not tolerate leaders who are brewing crises in their domains.

    While signing the peace accord, Chief Uzor charged leaders of the communities to avoid making comments capable of hitting up the polity, stressing that leaders who are brewing crises in their domains would be made to face the consequences of their actions.

    The Governor’s SA observed that both communities had been living together in harmony and urged them to continue to keep the peaceful relationship they have enjoyed over time.

    Uzor also encouraged the people to maintain laid down principles guiding them in the past, emphasising that dialogue remained the proper way of resolving the issue.

    On the issue of the boundary dispute, Uzor urged the communities to maintain the consensus earlier established by the traditional ruler of Akugbene Mein Kingdom and avoid creating unnecessary tension in the area.

    He warned that any community leader going against set down rules and regulations will be prosecuted by security agents.

    On the alleged killing of some residents of Okuama community, the Special Adviser urged the people to remain calm, adding that security agencies will investigate the issue and bring anyone found wanting to book.

    During signing of the peace accord, Uzor had urged the indigenes of both communities to support security personnels with vital information needed to effectively resolve the issue to fast track development in the area.

    “On the issue of the matter, the police have taken a very strategic step which is the function of police. You know the matter is now in two ways: the criminal aspect and the peace resolution aspect.

    “The criminal aspect is being handled by the police, guarding everywhere. We should live within the limit of the law. We should not be doing things that will be escalating problems in the community,” Uzor said.

    Present during signing of the peace accord were the members representing

    Bomadi constituency in the State House of Assembly, Boyo Preyor and his counterpart in Ughelli South, Festus Utuama.

    Others present during signing of the peace accord were the Chairmen of both local government areas, representatives of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and representatives from both communities.

    Five weeks after the peace pact was signed, it would be reported that a Commanding Officer (CO), two Majors, one Captain and 12 soldiers, were ambushed and killed.

    The identity of those killed have been revealed to include, Lt. Col. AH Ali (Commanding Officer, 181 Amphibious Battalion); Major SD Shafa; Major DE Obi; Capt. U Zakari, and Sgt. Yahaya Saidu.

    Others included Cpl Yahaya Danbaba; Cpl Kabir Bashir; LCpl Bulus Haruna; LCpl Sole Opeyemi; LCpl Bello Anas; LCpl Hamman Peter; LCpl Ibrahim Abdullahi; Pte Alhaji Isah; Pte Clement Francis; Pte Abubakar Ali; Pte Ibrahim Adamu, and Pte Adamu Ibrahim.

    Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has authorised the military high command to fish out those who  killed  military officers and men in Delta.

  • Okuama complicit, must face wrath of the law – Nigerian Army sends out strong warning

    Okuama complicit, must face wrath of the law – Nigerian Army sends out strong warning

    The Nigerian Army has sent a strong warning to the Okuama community in Delta State to “be ready to face the full wrath of the law”.

    The Nigerian Army accused the Okuama community of “resorting to media propaganda and shenanigans to divert attention from the gruesome killing of 16 officers and soldiers”.

    This is contained in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Monday in Abuja.

    Nwachukwu said that rather than engage in a positive effort to fish out perpetrators of the heinous crime, the community has resorted to propaganda against the Nigerian military.

    This, according to him, is a clear indication that the murder of the troops was a communally orchestrated attack against legitimate forces.

    He said that the falsehood being peddled by the criminals and their cohorts to whip up sentiments and sway public opinion clearly indicated that the community endorsed and  supported the outrageous criminal act.

    “It is only a ridiculous attempt at justifying their crime, rather than turn in themselves to security agencies.

    “There is no amount of propaganda that would arm-twist the narrative; they are complicit and must be ready to face the wrath of the law.

    “While law-abiding citizens are assured that there will be no reprisal on the part of the troops, we enjoin all to go about their normal activities, even as ongoing efforts are scaled up to positively identify and isolate the criminals to account for their atrocious deeds,” he said.

    Recall that troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion comprising one Lt. Colonel, two Majors, one Captain and 12 Soldiers were killed while on a mediation mission to the community.

    Nwachukwu said the troops, who were out there for peace and to secure the lives and property of people in the Niger Delta, were murdered in the most  gruesome, heartless and cruel manner and their remains debased.

    “Regrettably, the community complicit in this dastardly act has resorted to media propaganda and shenanigans, rather than engage in a positive effort to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crime.”

    Nwachukwu said the Chief of Army of Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Toareed Lagbaja, has commiserated with the families of the officers and soldiers who lost their lives.

    He said the COAS  had directed that the perpetrators of the gruesome acts must be  apprehended to face the full wrath of the law.

    “Troops are determined to get to these criminals; there is certainly no hiding place for them,” he added.

  • Army denies carrying out reprisal assault in Okuama where soldiers were killed

    Army denies carrying out reprisal assault in Okuama where soldiers were killed

    The Nigerian military has refuted claims of carrying out a retaliatory assault in response to the incident at Okuama, Delta State, where soldiers were reportedly killed.

    Recall that a Commanding Officer, two Majors, one Captain, 12 soldiers and a civilian, lost their lives on Thursday, March 14 in an ambush at Okuama community.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Okuama is an Urhobo community of Ewu Kingdom in the Ughelli South local government area of Delta State

    The incident occurred when the troops were responding to a crisis between Okuama and Okoloba communities.

    Following the incident, a video started trending on social media, in which a community located at the bank of a river was seen to be on fire.

    However, General Christopher Musa, the Defence chief has explicitly denied that any military personnel had initiated an attack on the community.

    “No reprisals by the army. We are searching for the murderers and their weapon cache,” Musa said.

    TNG reports the Defence Headquarters also described the video circulating on social media as fake news.

    What Northern Senators said about brutal killing of soldiers in Delta

    Meanwhile, the Northern Senators Forum (NSF), has condoled with the Nigerian Army, the Chief of Defence  Staff and the Chief of Army over the loss of personnel in the Delta killings.

    Chairman of the Forum, Sen. Abdulaziz Yar’adua made this known in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.

    In his condolence message, Yar’adua expressed the group’s deepest condolences.

    The lawmaker who is also Chairman, Senate Committee on Army said ” On behalf of northern senators we wish to extend our deepest condolences to the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Nigerian Army and officers and troops of Operation Delta Safe.

    “This is on the tragic loss of personnel who were killed during a peace mission to Okuama Community in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta.

    “The sacrifices made by our officers and soldiers on behalf of Nigeria shall not be in vain.

    “Our thoughts and prayers are with you, the families of the fallen heroes, and the entire armed forces as we honour the sacrifice and service of our brave personnel.”

    President Bola Tinubu has directed the military high command to trace those who killed military officers and men in Delta.

    Tinubu in a statement he personally signed on Sunday evening, said that any attack on members of Nigeria’s armed forces is a direct attack on the nation.

    Okuama crisis: Senator calls for thorough investigation

    The Senator representing Delta South Senatorial District, Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, has called for a thorough investigation into the alleged murder of 16 soldiers in Okuama Community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta.

    The lawmaker, in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Warri, condemned the act and described it as “a crisis taken too far”.

    While calling for calm, he noted that the military operatives were on a peace mission to rescue one Mr Anthony Aboh, who was allegedly kidnapped in Okuama Community.

    Thomas, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, commiserated with the military authority and families of the slain soldiers.

    He called for a holistic investigation to unearth the remote causes of the crisis and urged both the state and federal governments to urgently intervene to prevent it from escalating.

    “There is a need for the security agencies to go after the masterminds of the heinous crime.

    “There is also the need for the military to tactically deploy intelligence in tracking the masterminds to avoid the killing of innocent people in Okuama Community.

    “I commiserate with the military authority, families of the slain soldiers as well as others who may have lost their loved ones to the crisis.

    “I urge the people of Okuama Community to assist the military to fish out the killers of the gallant soldiers,” Thomas said.

    The Nigerian Army had in a statement issued on Saturday confirmed the death of 16 soldiers in the conflict between the military and youths of the community.

    According to the statement issued by the acting Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, a Commanding Officer, two Majors, one Captain, and 12 other soldiers were affected.

    They were said to be of the 181 Amphibious Battalion in Bomadi LGA of Delta.

  • UMPAG raises posers over horror killing of army personnel in Delta

    UMPAG raises posers over horror killing of army personnel in Delta

    The Urhobo Media Practitioners Advocacy Group (UMPAG) has raised posers over the horror killing of 16 army personnel in Okuama community in Ewu Kingdom in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

    UMPAG, a college of Urhobo media practitioners worldwide, said it received with rude shock the heinous and dastardly murder of 16 military personnel, including the commanding officer of 181 Amphibious Batallion, two Majors and a Captain by unknown gunmen around the bank of Okuama community.

    In a statement by its Secretary, UMPAG called on the Executive Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and the Nigerian military to thoroughly investigate the attack on the soldiers.

    “As a body of trained media workers, we condemn in strong terms the killing of the military personnel and some indigenes of Okuama community. From information available to us, there is a grand conspiracy to twist the facts of the bizarre incident to paint one party as savages and adjudge another as saints.

    “From our findings, the incident is coming on the heels of the renewed crisis over a land dispute between Okuama community in Ughelli South and Okoloba community in Bomadi Local Government Areas of the state.

    “The Urhobos of Okuama community in Ewu Kingdom have lived peacefully with their Okoloba neighbours for ages. Both communities have robust inter-marriages and can even speak both Urhobo and Ijaw languages fluently.

    “We have also been informed that leading from the killings of the personnel, Okuama community has been completely razed down by angry soldiers. The situation has sacked peace and law abiding citizens of Okuama community, especially when it has not been established that Okuama youths were responsible for this gruesome killing of the military men.

    “While we commiserate with the Nigerian military, the Federal Government and the Delta State Government on the unwarranted killing of these personnel, we join other Nigerians to demand for an independent investigation and arrest of the culprits,” UMPAG stated.

    The group also called on the Delta State Government and the Nigerian Army to urgently constitute a joint panel of enquiry to unravel the cause and what led to the killing of the soldiers on the said peace mission to Okuama and Okoloba communities.

    UMPAG demanded that the panel probe the following areas the mission of the soldiers to Okuama and Okoloba communities, and if the Executive Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and the Ovie (King) of Ewu Kingdom and her subjects informed of the military visit on a peace mission.

    According to UMPAG, the panel should also probe where the community source such sophisticated weapons to wage such war against the military men, why the police, DSS and other sister security agencies were not involved in the military peace mission to Okuama and why the military peace mission was only for the Okuama community.

    “From the reports, the bodies of the slain military personnel were recovered from the Forcados River. Who dumped the bodies in the River? Are we not sure that warlords from neighbouring areas were responsible for the attack on soldiers? Was Okuama and Okoloba at war for 16 soldiers to be gruesomely killed in less than 24hrs?

    “Who were the civilians that took the military to Okuama as quoted in the report by Sunday Bomadi Chancel who had earlier claimed over 22 soldiers were killed? Who were the Ijaw civilians who accompanied the soldiers to Okuama? How come they survived while the soldiers were killed? There are many mindboggling questions to be asked on the incident,” UMPAG stated.

    The group added: “From the forgoing, we call on the Executive Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and the Nigerian military to thoroughly investigate the attack on the soldiers and the people Okuama community.

    “As media professionals, we are mediators and peace advocates; we therefore call on our people in Okuama community and our Ijaw brothers in Okoloba community to maintain the existing peace, while the Government and the military get to the root of these tragedy.

    “We use this medium to call on the military to refrain from assaulting peace and law-abiding citizens of the area in face of the recent development. We also urge parties involved in the communal crisis to refrain from making unguarded statements so as not to fuel the crisis”.

  • Oborevwori reacts over horror killing of 16 army personnel in Delta

    Oborevwori reacts over horror killing of 16 army personnel in Delta

    Some youths ambushed and killed 16 officers and men of the 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army on peace mission to Okuoma community in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta on Thursday.

    Those killed were the commanding officer, two Majors, one Captain and 12 soldiers.

    Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, made this known on Saturday in Abuja.

    He stated that the troops were ambushed and killed while responding to a distress call arising from a clash between Okuama and Okoloba communities in Delta.

    Gusau stated that the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, had directed immediate investigation and arrest of those involved in the heinous crime.

    He added that the incident had been reported to the Delta State Government.

    “The military, however, remains focused and committed to its mandate of maintaining peace and security in the country.

    “So far, a few arrests have been made while steps have been taken to unravel the motive behind the attack,’’ he assured.

    Attack on Military Personnel: Oborevwori condemns killings, condoles military, families of victims

    Meanwhile, Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, Saturday, condemned, in very strong terms, the unprovoked killing of officers and soldiers attached to 63 Brigade at Okuama community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state.

    He condoled with the military and the families of Officers and Soldiers who died in the attack.

    Governor Oborevwori, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, said: “The Government of Delta State is gravely disturbed by the violence and unprovoked killing of the officers and soldiers, which he described as alien to the culture of Deltans.

    His words: “This incident is despicable and not in sync with the culture and tradition of Deltans. It runs contrary to the values and path of peace that the State Government is promoting as I have always emphasized in our MORE agenda to enhance peace and security.

    “On behalf of the Government and good people of Delta State, I wish to condole, in particular, the families of the killed gallant officers and soldiers, the Nigerian Army and the Armed Forces of Nigeria in general, over this sad occurrence.

    “The State Government shall take all measures necessary to fish out all those behind this dastardly act and ensure they are made to face the full wrath of the law.

    “Delta State is governed within the tenets of the rule of law and human decency. Acts such as this incident cannot and will not be tolerated.

    “Meanwhile, all citizens and residents of the state are enjoined to remain law- abiding and the State Government shall continue to take all measures to protect lives and property in Delta State.”

  • Troops destroy IPOB supreme headquarters in Imo

    Troops destroy IPOB supreme headquarters in Imo

    Troops of the Nigerian Army, in cooperation with sister security agencies, have raided and destroyed the supreme headquarters of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) at mother valley, Orsu council area of Imo.

    The Force Commander, Joint Task Force South-East, Operation Udo Ka, Maj.-Gen. Hassan Dada, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at Eke Ututu, Orsu Local Government Area (LGA) of Imo on Friday.

    Operation Udo Ka which started on Feb. 11, 2024, involved troops of the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force as well as personnel of the Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Services and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.

    The Commander said the troops cleared and liberated Ihiteukwa, Eke Ututu and Ihittenansa towns, all in Imo, as well as Orsumoghu and Lilu towns in Ihiala and Ekwusigo LGAs of Anambra.

    He said that the headquarters, which served as the last IPOB stronghold, is located in the Mother Valley and spans Orsu and Ihiala LGAs of Imo and Anambra respectively.

    “It is about 5,000 feet below sea level,” Dada disclosed.

    He added that the well concealed forest location afforded the terrorists good cover from air surveillance and served as their command and control centre and military council headquarters.

    He also said that during the raid, the last of which occurred on Thursday, March 7, the gallant troops encountered, detonated and recovered many Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and various types of obstacles which were cleared by the determined troops.

    He further said the troops also came in contact with the terrorists, subdued them with superior fire power and neutralized many of them while others with varying degrees of gunshot wounds fled into surrounding bushes.

    “In addition to many weapons, equipment, IEDs and stolen vehicles recovered over the last three weeks, items recovered in the Mother Valley include three G3 rifles, nine automatic pump action rifles, seven double barrel guns, two locally-made pistols, two rocket-propelled grenade bombs, two AK 47 magazine and one G3 magazine.

    “Others were 26 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 16 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, 72 Pump Action Cartridges, one chainsaw, one laptop, one CCTV DVR, 26 CCTV cameras, 17 baofeng radios with batteries and 10 without batteries and their chargers.

    “Also recovered were six handheld IEDs, 26 android phones, 25 ordinary phones, one inverter, one SIM card registration machine, four POS machines, three motorcycle batteries for igniting IEDs, two trumpets, two Biafra flags, 20 ESN certificates, two diaries containing details of ammunition and food supplies and two pairs of Biafra Liberation Army uniforms.

    “The joint troops also destroyed about 50 tents in the valley housing the Supreme Headquarters, IPOB/ESN command and control center, Buteuzor’s hideout and residence, offices, their logistics base, temples and shrines used for occultic practices among many other items,” he said.

    Dada commended Imo and Anambra people for their cooperation with security agencies while requesting them to report any strange faces in their communities to the Operation Udo Ka by dialing the emergency line 193 and pressing option 2 from their mobile phones.

    He enjoined the leaders of all liberated communities to return to their ancestral homes and deploy community efforts to ensure that all criminal elements who are not from the communities are not allowed to return to desecrate their homelands.

    He thanked Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, for their support, advice and guidance throughout the operation.

    He assured that the troops will continue to provide all security support to affected communities within the ambit of the law.

    However, in what can best be described as a display of civil-military relations, the Force Commander presented gift items, including bags of rice and cartons of noodles, to women of the Eke Ututu market.

  • After power cut by DisCos over N42bn debt, corpses in army barracks mortuaries rot away

    After power cut by DisCos over N42bn debt, corpses in army barracks mortuaries rot away

    Corpses in mortuaries within some barracks of the Nigerian Army are rotting away over N42billion debt after power was disconnected.

    Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, disclosed this when he visited Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, to seek intervention.

    Recall that the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) had given 83 MDAs in its franchise area a 10-day notice to pay the N47.1bn debt they owed the company or risk or risk disconnection.

    Aso Rock was listed among the debtors, but President Bola Tinubu waded in immediately after the notice was issued.

    The president had ordered that the debt be cleared.

    During his visit to the minister, Lagbaja regretted that some barracks and cantonments have been in darkness since January.

    “Debt owed is loaded on the meter, so no matter the amount of credit we put, the meters pick it automatically… Corpses in the Army mortuaries are decomposing and the owners of the corpses are protesting,” he said.

    He further stated that it was impossible for the Army to raise funds to pay the entire debt and solicited for liquidation as was done in 2005 by the then President.

    He assured the Minister of the army’s unflinching support towards developing intelligence strategies in curbing the menace of electricity infrastructure vandalism.

    Adelabu assured the Nigerian Army of his readiness to dialogue with DisCos to find a way out of the problem.

    According to the Special Adviser, Strategic Communication and Media Relations to the minister, Bolaji Tunji, Adelabu reiterated the importance of liquidity and funding in the sector, adding if the debts could not be written off, he would intervene in order to restructure the debt payment if there was assurance of regular payment by the Nigerian Army.

    He further revealed that debt owed by distribution and Generating Companies (GENCOs) is not the only challenge bedevilling the Power sector, adding that vandalization of power infrastructure which often lead to National grid collapse, theft, inefficiency in billing and collection process, poor metering gap, liquidity, shortage in gas supply, transmission stations being blown up with explosives in volatile areas are all part of the issues being experienced in the Power sector.

    “The fundamental issues in the power sector value chain could be traced back to the last 50 years and a government which is barely eight months cannot use a magic wand to proffer solution. There is a saying that you won’t know what is happening in Rome until you get to Rome,” he said.

    The Minister who acknowledged that Power outages is not peculiar to army barracks but a national issue said the DISCOs and GENCOs are profit-oriented organizations.

    “We can only plead with them to adopt a repayment plan on a monthly basis instead of embedding the whole debt in their meter,” he said.

    While encouraging the Army to continue assisting the Ministry in safeguarding power facilities across the nation, the Minister pledged to seek collaboration for the Army through any of the development partners for installation of Solar PVs and Battery Energy Storage System(BESS) as alternative power supply in Army barracks and cantonments.

    Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff disclosed that the main reason for the visit was to discuss the consequences of the power outage in army formations and the way forward.