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Tag: army

  • Nigerian Army denies ‘mass killing of Igbo youths’ allegation

    The Nigerian Army has refuted the ‘mass killing of Igbo youths’ allegation by the Campaign for Democracy (CD), an online publication recently.

    Col. Sagir Musa, the Deputy Director Army Public Relations of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, in a statement in Awka on Sunday, described it as “an “unjustified, invidious and over flogged accusation’’.

    He said the CD claimed that “no fewer than 2000 Igbo youths had been killed by the Nigerian Army under the guise of Rules of Engagement’’.

    He said that other publication allegations including “Military Killed 150 Pro-Biafra Protesters’’ had also been severally thoroughly refuted in many media platforms by the Nigerian Army.

    “It is the same position that this rejoinder has soundly adopted.

    “For emphasis and clarity, the Nigerian Army as an accountable, morally and professionally sound organisation had variously through its Human Rights Desk at the Army Headquarters, painstakingly investigated allegations of rights violations.

    “The results indicated specifically that this claim is false, malicious and should therefore be ignored for the sake of Nigeria.

    “Instructively, the Nigerian Army under its constitutional authorization to aid Civil Authority and Military Aid to Civil Power must continue to act in the best interest of the nation (in collaboration with other security agencies).

    “This included, de-escalating violence and checkmating security threats across the nation.

    “This task must be done, in spite of the sordid propaganda and possible politicization of the issue by ill meaning Nigerians,’’ Musa said.

    According to him, the relevant authorities in the South East are at liberty to set up an inquiry into the accusation to get to the roots and end of the obnoxious and unfounded claim.

    “Looking at the recurrent posture of this allegation, the 82 Division Nigerian Army wishes to state that relevant authorities in the South East are at liberty to set up an inquiry into this accusation.

    “This is with the view to getting to the roots and end of this obnoxious and unfounded claim,’’ he said.

  • Buhari orders army, police to end Southern-Kaduna killings

    President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Nigerian Army and the Police Force to bring an end to the recurring acts of violence and destruction in the Southern part of Kaduna State.

    The directive given last week saw the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Abubakar Idris visiting the region on Saturday and Sunday to assess the situation at first hand.

    Similarly, a squadron of mobile policemen has now been stationed in the area in addition to the conventional policemen deployed there.

    Also, the Nigerian army is also in the process of setting up two battalions in Southern Kaduna while the military has continued to carry out air surveillance across flash points of the area.

    A statement by the presidential spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu on Thursday stated that the “President Buhari has equally directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to carry out a joint assessment of the situation with the sister agency in Kaduna, SEMA, to determine the level of response required for urgent aid to the victims of the violence.”

    According to Shehu,”These measures should soon ensure the return of normalcy to the region, while the Kaduna State government continues its peace building efforts.”

    President Buhari also commended the efforts of the State government and the security agencies in the steps taken so far to curtail the violence. He also sent condolences to the people of the trouble zone who have lost loved ones in the recent violence.

  • Army kills 5 suspected cultists in Rivers

    Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army on Wednesday shot dead five suspected cultists during gun battle in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers.

    General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Port Harcourt, Maj.-Gen. Kasimu Abdulkarim, who confirmed the killings, said the battle was part of “Operation Cleanup” of cultists and militants terrorising residents.

    According to him, troops have so far recovered five AK 47 assault rifles from cultists in the area since January 1.

    “Army 6 Division has recorded appreciable successes in its bid to rid the local government of cultists and brigands,” Abdulkarim added.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), gathered from community sources that the incident started when troops stormed the area after receiving distress call over the cultists.

    Eyewitness account said the suspected cultists invaded Omoku town on Tuesday night and shot dead two unidentified young men before making attempt to escape.

    “After killing the men, they shot sporadically before soldiers closed in on them”, an eyewitness said.

    NAN recalls the division recently launched a major operation in the area shortly after a DSP Mohammed Alkali and his orderly were beheaded by cultists during the Dec. 10 legislative elections in the state.

  • Shekau not killed, Army presented fake Boko Haram flag to Buhari – PDP Youths

     

    The youth wing of the opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Youth Frontier, has alleged that the Nigerian Army presented a “fake Boko Haram flag” to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Recall that the Army recently presented a flag and Quran belonging to Abubakar Shekau, leader of the Boko Haram sect to President Buhari at the Presidential villa in Abuja signaling the capture of the forest and death of the dreaded leader of the terrorist group.

    The flag alongside a Qur’an belonging to Shekau was recovered by the Army during the capture of “Camp Zero,” a major stronghold of Boko Haram commanders, located in Sambisa Forest.

    However, the PDP youth, in a statement on its twitter handle, @PDPNYF said the presentation of the insurgent flag to Buhari was a disgrace to the “sovereignty” of Nigeria.

    The tweet reads: “By presenting a FAKE Boko Haram flag as a sign of victory against the Sect. This is so unfortunate and a disgrace to our sovereignty.”

    The group noted that the “Flag and Quoran are not Shekau head. Could Obama bring back Osama Bin Ladin’s Qoran and Flag without killing him?”

     

  • Army recovers weapons, uniforms of slain policemen

    Army recovers weapons, uniforms of slain policemen

    Nigerian Army says it has recovered one AK47 assault rifle and uniforms belonging to DSP Mohammed Alkali and his police orderly allegedly beheaded by cultists.

    The policemen were killed by suspected cultist at Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers during the Dec. 10 re-run legislative elections.

    Maj.-Gen. Kasimu Abdulkarim, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Port Harcourt, disclosed this to newsmen in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

    Abdulkarim said that troops from the Division recovered the items during a raid on four militant camps and cultist’s hideouts in Ujju community near Omoku.

    According to him, troops also recovered assorted types of arms and ammunitions stashed away by bandits in the area.

    “Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area has over time witnessed criminal acts ranging from attacks on critical national infrastructure and brutal murder which affected economic activities of oil companies and citizens.

    “The barbaric nature and manner of criminalities led the 6 Division to conduct a raid on December 31 on four suspected criminal camps located across the River, in Ujju community.

    “In the raid, 6 Division troops in conjunction with Operation Delta Safe Special Boats Service and air component, engaged the suspected criminals in exchange of gunfire.

    “Troops later arrested some suspects and recovered several weapons, ammunitions and uniforms, including uniforms and rifle belonging DSP Mohammed Alkali and his orderly, Sgt. Urukwu Nwachukwu.

    “Our forces also recovered one AK47 rifle, two G3 rifles, five Double Barrel guns, two pistols, 31 empty AK47 magazines, 242 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition.

    “Others are, 322 rounds of other ammunition calibres, bulletproof jackets, seven other police uniforms, 31 handsets, Automated Teller Machine Cards (ATM) and a First Aid box,” he said.

    Abdulkarim said the clean-up operation was in continuation of efforts by the Division to recover weapons from cultists and militants who refused to embrace Amnesty offered by Rivers’ government.

    He said that in spite of the just concluded amnesty programme offered by government, armed groups had continued to terrorise residents in Omoku town.

    The GOC said that 15 persons including a soldier, four Civil Defence Corps personnel; two policemen and eight civilians were brutally murdered while several others kidnapped in the area in December alone.

    “This trend of violence cannot be left unchecked as the Division will sustain “operation cleanup” to enable oil companies and the people to go about their businesses in peaceful environment,” he said.

    Abdulkarim urged the public to provide security agencies with vital information that would lead to the arrest of cultists and militants and assured that their identities would be kept in confidence.

  • Shekau video mere terrorists propaganda – Army

    The Nigerian Army has described the video purportedly released by the Boko Haram showing its leader as “mere terrorists propaganda.

    A statement by Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman in Abuja on Thursday said the attention of the Nigerian Army had been drawn to the video clip released by the group from an undisclosed location, showing its purported leader, making spurious claims.

    “While effort is on going to subject the video for further forensic analysis, the Nigerian Army wishes to reiterate that it has captured and occupied the last known stronghold of the terrorists group in the Sambisa forest.

    “We would like to reassure the public that this video is nothing but mere terrorists propaganda aimed at creating fear in the mind of people and to remain relevant.

    “Therefore, there is no cause for alarm, more so as concerted effort in clearing the vestiges of Boko Haram terrorists wherever they might be hiding, is ongoing.

    “Our gallant troops deployed in various parts of the North-East have continued to intensify search for all persons associated with Boko Haram terrorist group with a view to bringing them to justice”, Usman said.

    He urged the public to go about their normal lawful business, remain vigilant and be security conscious, adding that any suspicious person or group of persons should be reported to the security agencies.

  • Army recovers Shekau’s personal Qur’an, flag in Sambisa Forest

    …Says no Chibok girl was found

    Major General Lucky Irabor, Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, on Wednesday, disclosed that, that Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau left his personal belongings, including a Quran and a flag when the army took over Camp Zero in the Sambisa Forest. Irabor also disclosed that no Chibok girl was found in custody of the arrested Boko Haram insurgents during the operations.

    The Theatre Commander, who was speaking during his weekly briefing in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital said, the picture of fleeing Boko Haram men also showed that, they were using some women as human Shield.

    Irabor said that during the last one week, they recovered arms and ammunitions, saying the war was not over yet.


    According to him, during the operation, the commander lost four soldiers, while it also arrested 1,240 Boko Haram terrorists, adding that, reports from the neighboring Niger Republic also said 30 Boko Haram fighters surrendered. Among them are 24 males and 6 females.

    Speaking further on the capturing of the Camp Zero, General Irabor said, although Boko Haram leader was neither killed nor captured, there are evidence that, he had been there, and left behind his flag and Holy Book while fleeing when camp zero came under attack by the Nigerian military.

    The General also denied that, there was a Frenchman arrested during the operation at the Sambisa Forest. According to him, the picture being circulated in the media is not of the Nigerian military and it was not from them.

    He added that, despite the fact that, some foreigners were said to be among some of the militants arrested, the command is yet to have a comprehensive picture of the involvement of foreigners.

  • Army confirm arrest of fleeing Boko Haram member in Lagos

     

    …Urges Nigerians to be vigilante

    Following the present onslaught against members of the Boko Haram sect by the military in the Sambisa forest, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, has said a suspected fleeing Boko Haram member was arrested last Thursday in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State by soldiers.

    The army chief said this on Monday during his visit to the troops of 145 Battalion in Damasak, Borno State, to mark the reopening of the Maiduguri-Gubio-Damasak Road.

    Buratai had on Sunday joined the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, to reopen the Maiduguri-Monguno-Baga and Maiduguri-Gubio-Damasak roads which had been closed since 2013 due to Boko Haram activities.

    Buratai stressed that the troops would not rest on their oars until other fleeing terrorists from the North-East geopolitical zone were apprehended.

    Addressing the troops, Buratai said: “I urge you not to relent until all the terrorists, who had fought Nigeria since 2009, are arrested. We must maintain the momentum of the operation. We must pursue the terrorists wherever they are. We must never allow them to regroup.

    “For instance, a Boko Haram member was arrested in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State on Thursday. Despite the takeover of the terrorists’ Camp Zero in the Sambisa Forest, we have no time to waste. The seven-year fight against the Boko Haram terrorists was quite sober, and a number of officers lost their lives in the war. I pray for the repose of their souls. We vow to fight the remnants’ of the terrorists.”

    To further boost the morale of the troops, President Muhammadu Buhari sent in congratulatory messages assuring the troops of the Federal Government’s support.

    In a statement issued on Monday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Mohammed, appealed to Nigerians to continue to support the troops as they clear the remnants of the fleeing terrorists.

    The minister also called for increased vigilance among Nigerians, noting that the Boko Haram escapees were seeking to integrate themselves into the society.

    “We urge Nigerians to keep our gallant and victorious troops in their prayers, and to also imbibe the mantra of ‘if you see something, say something’ as a way of ensuring that no escaped terrorist is able to wreak havoc in their communities. It is also important to know that now that they have been dispossessed of their fortress, the Boko Haram escapees will intensify their cowardly attacks on vulnerable targets if only to maintain an illusion of terror. But there should be no panic because the worst is over,’’ Mohammed said.

     

  • Nigerians in diaspora laud troops over Boko Haram defeat

    Nigerians In Diaspora Monitoring Group(NDMG), has joined their voice to many other praising the happy the Nigerian Army has it cleared out ‘Camp Zero’, which until that action was Boko Haram terror group’s last hideout in the dreaded Sambisa Forest.

    In a statement signed by UK Co-ordinator, NDMG, Mr. Adekaa Onyilo. the group said the troop’s efforts successfully bring an end to the nefarious activities of the terrorists which were planned, incubated or hatched from that location.

    The statement furthers, “Months after Boko Haram was designated as technically defeated, this new development tactically implies that the group has now been duly crushed.

    “We laud the Nigerian Army for achieving this feat in tandem with the assurances given earlier. And we acknowledge the fact that we were not surprised as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai had declared December as a month of decision.

    “He had given the marching order for troops to finish off the terrorist group this month.

    This pronouncement by the COAS has spurred the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole to embark on Operation Rescue Finale and recording this landmark success that has seen the last of the terrorists holed up in that forest fleeing their camps in different directions.

    “The liberation of Sambisa Forest have ushered unto the scene a situation where numerous terrorists are now willingly giving up their arms and choosing to embrace the path of peace.

    “It is remarkable that troops successfully cleared out Sambisa Forest in spite of the concerted and coordinated onslaught by Boko Haram sponsors that consistently placed obstacles before the army as an institution and its leadership as individuals.

    “NDMG totally aligns with President Muhammadu Buhari and echo his directive to the Army. We ask that the fleeing terrorists must be tracked, chased down their holes like the common criminals that they are, apprehended and made to answer for their atrocities.

    “Beyond the fleeing fighters, attention must also be given to the intellectual, financial and propaganda wings of the terror group so that the possibility of resurgence is completely ruled out.

    “Even as we are not unaware of the economic situation in the country, we extend our hand our fellowship to the present administration under the leadership of President Muhammad Buhari, in the same manner as urge the federal government to speed up the rebuilding and reconstruction efforts in the areas affected by Boko Haram’s acts of terror so that members of re-established communities can contribute to preventing remnants of the fighters from regrouping using some sort of community policing and intelligence sharing.

    “To Nigerians, we appeal that sectarian, religious, political, ethnic and regional differences should be shelved or eschewed and citizens once again demonstrate the much needed unity of purpose as their unrelenting contribution to scrape out the last of this dwarfed evil from our fatherland.”

  • Army reacts to viral video of soldiers begging Buhari for food, water

    *Video was shot 6 months ago by disgruntled elements, says army

    The Nigerian Army has reacted to a viral video of soldiers begging President Muhammadu Buhari for water and food.

    The video, which was obtained by TheNewsGuru.com showed several soldiers at Alargarno in Borno State, some of them already fainted and receiving medical care.

    However, following the release of the video to the public, the Nigerian Army said the problem was caused by a mischievous soldier, who had since been punished.

    In a statement late on Tuesday by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman, the army said, “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 of 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.”