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Tag: army

  • 2023 elections: Army, police to provide adequate security – GOC

    2023 elections: Army, police to provide adequate security – GOC

    The Nigerian Army has restated commitment to collaborate with the police and other security agencies to ensure peaceful conduct of the 2023 general elections.

    The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Waidi Shuaib stated this when he paid a courtesy visit to the Commisioner of Police in Borno, Abdu Umar, on Tuesday in Maiduguri.

    He said that closer collaboration between the military, police and other security agencies would facilitate maximum security  in the pre, during and post election periods in the country.

    The GOC said the visit would avail him opportunity to rob minds about the preparedness of the police to address security challenges during the elections.

    “The police is the lead agency but due to the peculiar nature of North-East, it requires that the military in the sit of authority are the once who provided the lead in various operations.

    “Elections violence can either occur prior to the conduct of the elections, during  or post elections, and both agencies will be involved in addressing these issues.

    “As the campaign already started, the joint security normally conduct operations to make sure that the metropolis is safe.

    “We will like to ensure and reinforce all our forces including the hybrid forces marge together so that we have a very secured environment in Maiduguri metropolis.

    “So many intelligence report have been coming up. It’s only when we work together that will ensure that things are spinned down,” he said.

    Respinding, Abdu said the police would continued to collaborate with the military to protect lives and property in the state.

    He said the Command had intensified patrols in collaboration with hybrid forces to combat crimes in Maiduguri metropolis.

    The Commissioner reitrated readiness of the police to provide security to facilitate conduct of free, fair, credandpezceful election.

  • Orukpe: Army report, autopsy delay burial of Police inspector – Wife

    Orukpe: Army report, autopsy delay burial of Police inspector – Wife

    Mrs. Favour Orukpe, the widow of Insp. Monday Orukpe, allegedly killed by some soldiers in Lagos, says her husband has not been buried due to delay in the Nigerian Army’s investigation report.

    Orukpe said that the non-availability of an autopsy report carried out by the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Ikeja, had also contributed to the delay.

    She said that the corpse was taken to LASUTH about a month ago and the hospital promised that within two weeks, the result would be out.

    Chief Medical Director of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, said he had carried out the autopsy.

    “I have investigated. The Autopsy has been carried out and the report will be given to the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) on Friday,” he said

    NAN reports that on Aug. 3, some soldiers from Ojo Military Cantonment allegedly clashed with some policemen controlling traffic in the area.

    Orukpe’s widow reiterated her demand for justice from the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and the Inspector-General of Police (I-GP).

    She said that her husband died on duty while serving the nation, adding that the COAS and the I-GP should not allow his service to the nation to go to waste.

    “I want justice. I want them to take care of my four children, because I can’t do it alone.

    “I am sending this message to the COAS and I-GP because my husband died on duty assigned to him wearing his uniform,” she said.

    The late Orukpe was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on May 1, 2002 and he rose to the rank of a Senior Inspector before his death.

    The widow said that though the family was willing to do the burial, it had no money to carry it out.

    She added that the family had also agreed with the police on where to bury her husband.

    The Lagos police spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, however, said that the police were always responsible for the burial of their personnel.

    He explained that paper work of the deceased by his family might have delayed such fund from being released.

    Hundeyin said that the earlier the deceased family started processing the papers from the division to the command pension unit before moving to Force Headquarters Abuja for final approval, the better.

    In his reaction, the Acting Deputy Director in charge of Public Relations at 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj. Olaniyi Osoba, said the joint committee of the Army and the police investigating the case was ongoing.

    Osoba said that the investigating team had gone far and was probing all issues surrounding the incident, administratively.

    He said the report would be out when the committee concluded its findings.

    NAN

  • REVEALED! EndSars allegations were genuine but I defended National Interest due to my military oath – Gen Enenche

    REVEALED! EndSars allegations were genuine but I defended National Interest due to my military oath – Gen Enenche

     

    …declares unflinching support for Obi

    Apparently peeved following calls for his removal from Labour Party presidential campaign council, General John Enenche has sought to clarify his action in denying LekkiMassacre during his time as Director of Defence Information.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports Enenche, a retired Major-General, in a statement said his actions as former military spokesman was guided by “overriding interest of Nigerians at heart based on the oath of allegiance I swore on commission into military service.”

    TNG recalls the inclusion of Mr Enenche in the list of a 1,234-member strong campaign council for the Peter Obi-Yusuf Datti presidential campaign for the 2023 elections had generated condemnation from supporters who feel offended by Enenche’s intervention in the aftermath of the Lekki Tollgate incident.

    “Following my appointment on the campaign council of Labour Party, there were reactions on the social media about my pronouncement concerning a video shot at the scene of the ENDARS incident at Lekki toll gate on 20 October 2020,” Mr Enenche said.

    “Every one that commented in any way was right based on the information at their disposal and individual analysis.

    ” Personally and professionally, I worked with the overriding interest of Nigerians at heart based on the oath of allegiance I swore on commission into military service which is sacrosanct. I sincerely shared in the pains of that breaking news through the social media as it were,” he added.

    Also, Obi has hinted that the concerns of his supporters would be addressed and all “omissions and erroneous entries” will be corrected by the party.

    Yet, Enenche says he remained unflinching in his support for Mr Obi and Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, his running mate, who he has known for 17 and five years respectively.

    “I made bold to openly and objectively support the candidature of HE Mr Peter Obi and Dr Yusuf Ahmed-Datti without fear or contraction. All based on my knowledge of the duo for about 17 years and 5 years respectively, that they can provide quality leadership for the Nation that will guarantee effective followership,” he said.

  • Army arrest Soldier collaborating with terrorists

    Army arrest Soldier collaborating with terrorists

    The Nigerian Army has arrested another soldier said to be involved in collaborating with terrorists in the country.

    The soldier whose name has been given as Iorliam Emmanuel, reportedly in his 30s and hails from Benue state was getting hold off on Tuesday.

    Emmanuel is a member of the 156 Task Force Battalion (Operation Hadin Kai) in Mainok town.

    Mainok, 60km from the capital Maiduguri, is the headquarters of Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State.

    Emmanuel was caught with ammunition, concealed in a bag and clothing tied around his waist.

    A trending video shows colleagues exposing the bullets the suspect stuffed inside and underneath his uniform.

    He is expected to face court martial for sneaking military supplies to terror gangs.

    Recall that recently the Nigerian Army also caught a soldier assisting Boko Haram/Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP).

    The Army said Lance Corporal Jibrin, an instructor, committed suicide while being escorted to the barracks.

    Intelligence had exposed Jibrin’s involvement in the killings at some relaxation spots in Yobe State in April.

    The attacks in Geidam and Gashua towns occurred within five days and claimed the lives of about 10 people.

     

  • Pilot killed as army helicopter crashes

    Pilot killed as army helicopter crashes

    An Indian army Cheetah helicopter has crashed in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, leaving one pilot killed and another one injured, media reported on Wednesday.

    The helicopter with two pilots on board crashed near the village of Tawanga at about 04:30 GMT, the Indian news agency ANI reported, citing army officials, adding that the pilots were evacuated to a military hospital.

    One of the pilots who suffered severe injuries died during treatment, the report read.

    The cause of the crash is unknown and the details are being investigated, the news agency reported.

    Cheetahs are manufactured by the Indian company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited under a French license based on the Aerospatiale SA 315B Lama model.

  • Burkina Faso soldiers seize power, oust military leader, Paul Henri Damiba

    Burkina Faso soldiers seize power, oust military leader, Paul Henri Damiba

    Burkina Faso’s army captain, Ibrahim Traore, announced Friday night that the army had seized power and ousted military leader Paul Henri Damiba, who himself had taken power in a coup only eight months ago.

    Traore said in a statement that a group of officers who helped Damiba seize power in January had decided that the leader was no longer able to secure the country, which has been battling a mounting Islamic insurgency.

    The statement signed by Traore was read on state television late Friday by another military officer.

    “Faced with the deteriorating situation, we tried several times to get Damiba to refocus the transition on the security question,” Traore’s statement said.

    When Damiba came to power in January, after ousting President Roch Kabore, he had promised to make the country more secure. However, violence in the country has continued, and political tensions have grown in recent months.

    Damiba had just returned from addressing the UN General Assembly in New York.

    The country’s new military leaders said they were dissolving the national assembly.

    They also announced that Burkina Faso’s borders had been closed and that a curfew would be in effect from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

    Before Friday evening’s announcement, troops in Burkina Faso had blocked streets in the capital, Ouagadougou, and state TV had stopped broadcasting.
    At around 4:30 a.m. Friday, gunfire and a loud explosion were reported in Ouagadougou, in the vicinity of Camp Baba Sy, where Damiba is based. Witnesses said gunfire could also be heard coming from Kosyam, where the presidential palace is located.

    A reporter for VOA who went to the capital’s city center Friday found a military blockade on Boulevard Charles de Gaulle. Many military members were wearing face masks and were reluctant to talk, while local police said they had no idea what was happening.

    Just after 12 p.m. local time, the president’s office released a statement on Facebook, part of which said, “In view of the confused situation created as a result of a movement of mood by some elements of the national armed forces this Friday … negotiations are underway to bring back calm and serenity.”

    The U.S. Embassy warned Americans to limit their movements and stay informed of local media reports.

    The events Friday came after rising frustration with the government’s inability to deal with insecurity caused by militant groups linked to al-Qaida and Islamic State.

    On Monday, a convoy carrying food and basic supplies to the northern town of Djibo, which has been under siege by militants for years, was ambushed. Eleven soldiers were killed, and more than 50 civilians were said to be missing.

    The incident raised serious concerns about the government, with many citizens expressing their fears and doubts on social media.

    Paul Melly, an analyst for Chatham House, a London-based think tank, said, “Burkinabe feel afraid about the continuing spread of jihadist violence.”

  • Army warns personnel against illegal arms deal

    Army warns personnel against illegal arms deal

    Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Ali, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division, Nigerian Army Rukuba, near Jos, has warned its personnel against involvement in illegal arms deals.
    Ali gave the warning at the opening of Arms and Ammunition Storeman Refresher Course 1/22 at Base Ordinance Depot of the cantonment.
    This was contained in a statement by Maj. Ishaku Takwa,  the Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations of the division in Jos.
    The GOC maintained that any personnel caught in the act would not be spared.
    ”Let me warn that the Nigerian Army will deal heavily with any personnel that is involved in any illegal arms and ammunition deal,” Ali warned.
    He stated that the scourge of insecurity in the country must be tackled through training and retraining of personnel to enable them effectively secure the lives and property of law-abiding citizens.
    He stated that the refresher course was organised in line with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) vision of having ”a professional Nigerian army ready to accomplish assigned duties within a joint environment in the defence of Nigeria”.
    The GOC, who emphasised the need for troops to seek knowledge for a better living, said the course would enable armourers and potential armourers to be versatile in the area of arms and ammunition management within the Nigerian Army in general and their units in particular.
    He urged the participants to justify the confidence reposed in them by their formations or units by giving their best and maximum attention during the training.
    Earlier, Brig.-Gen. S.A. Alamu, the Commander, Ordnance Services of the division, said the exercise was aimed at training the participants on both theoretical and practical roles and responsibilities of an armourer.
    Newsmen reports that 30 participants drawn from various units and formations within the division were inaugurated and the course would last till Oct. 4.
  • Just In: Nigerian soldiers in gun battle with Boko Haram fighters

    Just In: Nigerian soldiers in gun battle with Boko Haram fighters

     

    The Nigerian Army are currently in a gunfight with Boko Haram insurgents on Borno highway.

    Reports monitored by TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) indicates that the Nigerian troops are currently exchanging fire with the insurgents along the Damboa to Maiduguri Road in the North East of Borno State.

    A Counter-insurgency expert and analyst who confirmed this said that the suspected members of the Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād, Boko Haram terrorist group ambushed troops of Operation Hadin Kai escorting commercial vehicles at Yaleri Village, along the Damboa Road.

    He said that the troops are currently battling with the insurgents, while many of the passengers scampered for safety.

    The report added that the jihadists rained heavy gunfire on the Military convoy moving in armoured and soft-skin vehicles, escorting the commercial vehicles, but the troops are currently responding to them.

    However, no casualty has been confirmed as at the time of filing this report.

  • UNCOVERED: How soldiers located terrorists’ hostages tied with ropes in Kaduna forest(Photos)

    UNCOVERED: How soldiers located terrorists’ hostages tied with ropes in Kaduna forest(Photos)

     

    No fewer than 10 hostages and a soldier tied with ropes have been discovered during operations in the Chikun and Igabi local government areas of Kaduna State.

    The abductees were found by Nigerian troops involved in ongoing operations to clear bandits out of the area.

    The hostages were discovered at a location known as ‘Daban Lawal Kwalba’ in the Igabi council area after the troops overpowered heavily armed bandits guarding them, Samuel Aruwan, Kaduna Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday.

    Aruwan identified the rescued hostages as Surajo Aliyu, Ayuba Yakubu, Ibrahim Abdulrasheed, Aliyu Mohammed, Magaji Tasiu, Nasiru Ahmed, Mohammadu lbrahim, Ayuba Abdulsalam, Kelvin Musa and Paul Patrick.

    Aruwa said troops under Operation Forest Sanity in the two local governments subsequently freed the hostages.

    He added that the troops also neutralised an unspecified number of bandits while clearing out insurgents at the camps.

    Rifles, military uniforms and other items were recovered, the commissioner said.

    “The troops who came under further attack in the thick forest successfully evacuated the hostages to a military facility where they are receiving medical attention before being reunited with their families.

    “Troops of Operation Forest Sanity neutralized several bandits and dislodged camps during clearance operations conducted across some hard-to-reach locations spanning Chikun and Igabi LGAs.

    “As disclosed in operational feedback, the troops neutralized an unspecified number of bandits while clearing out insurgent and bandit camps at Apewohe in Chikun LGA.

    “The operation extended to Dakwala and Kunai hills in the same LGA, where more hideouts were cleared, though no contact was made with bandits.

    “Another camp was similarly dislodged at a location known as ‘Daban Lawal Kwalba’ in Igabi LGA, after the troops overpowered heavily armed bandits guarding hostages.

    “The troops after clearing out the bandits stormed the hideouts and rescued ten kidnapped persons who were chained and bound with ropes. The images attached depict the dire situation in which the hostages were found.

    “The troops untied the hostages, who were identified as follows: Surajo Aliyu, Ayuba Yakubu, Ibrahim Abdulrasheed, Aliyu Mohammed, Magaji Tasiu, Nasiru Ahmed, Mohammadu lbrahim, Ayuba Abdulsalami, Kelvin Musa and Paul Patrick.

    “The troops who came under further attack in the thick forest, successfully evacuated the hostages to a military facility where they are receiving medical attention before being reunited with their families.

    “Furthermore, a camp was cleared at Rafin Gwaska, Igabi LGA, where the following items were recovered, among other effects:

    – Three locally made rifles

    – One AK-47 magazine

    – One AK-47 top cover

    – Four Bafoeng radio chargers

    – Eleven mobile phones

    – Three music boxes

    – Two sets of military uniforms

    – One frag jacket

    – Spanners, knives and chains

    “The Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i noted the report with satisfaction, and thanked the troops for the rescue of the ten citizens. The Governor commended the troops for the relentless spirit displayed in the ongoing operations, and encouraged them to sustain these efforts to ultimate victory,” he said.

  • Dismissed soldiers were tried in accordance with extant law – Army Headquarters

    Dismissed soldiers were tried in accordance with extant law – Army Headquarters

    The Nigerian Army (NA) says the two soldiers it dismissed from service, were tried in the Headquarters 241 Recce Battalion, Nguru in connection with the murder of an Islamic cleric, Sheik Goni Gashua Aisami in Yobe.

    The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Sunday, identified the two soldiers, Lance Cpl. John Gabriel and Lance Cpl. Adamu Gideon.

    Nwachukwu said the soldiers were dismissed after facing trial at the Headquarters 241 Recce Battalion, Nguru on Saturday having been indicted in a report of a Board of Inquiry set up to investigate the unfortunate incident.

    He said that both soldiers were charged and summarily tried for failure to perform military duties and conduct prejudice to service discipline.

    The offences according to him, are punishable under Section 62 (a) of Armed Forces Act CAP A20 and Section 103(1) of Armed Forces Act CAP A20 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.

    Army spokesman said that the two soldiers were found guilty and awarded reduction of rank from Lance Corporal to Private and Dismissed Regiments.

    “The two dismissed soldiers will be officially handed over to the Nigeria Police, Yobe Command in Damaturu for civil prosecution in the court of law.

    “Recall that the NA pledged to institute a Board of Inquiry to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident and speedily bring the suspects to justice, if indicted.

    “Once more, the NA wishes to commiserate with the family of the victim and the good people of Yobe. May the soul of the deceased rest in perfect peace,” he said.