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Tag: Military

  • Military pledges loyalty to President Buhari, warns politicians seeking power outside ballot box

    Military pledges loyalty to President Buhari, warns politicians seeking power outside ballot box

    The Defence Headquarters has dissociated self from any anti-democratic utterances and positions as well as pledged loyalty to the President Muhammadu Buhari and the 1999 Constitution as Amended.

    The Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, stated this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

    Nwachukwu said the attention of the military high command had been drawn to a statement suggesting that current political leadership should hand over power to the military for the purpose of restructuring.

    He said that the statement was purported to have been made by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Robert Clark.

    “The Nigerian Military wish to dissociate itself from such anti-democratic utterance and position.

    “Let it be stated categorically that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain fully committed to the present Administration and all associated democratic institutions.
    “We shall continue to remain apolitical, subordinate to the Civil Authority, firmly loyal to the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari and the 1999 Constitution as Amended.

    “We shall continue to discharge our constitutional responsibilities professionally, especially in protecting the country’s democracy, defence of the territorial integrity of the country as well as protection of lives and properties of citizens,” he said.

    The defence spokesperson further warned that the military high command would not tolerate misguided politicians who nursed the inordinate ambition to rule the country outside the ballot box.

    He said that the Defence Headquarters would advise those politicians to banish such thoughts, adding that the military under the current leadership remained resolute in the defence of the nation’s democracy and its growth.

    “We also wish to remind all military personnel that it is treasonable to even contemplate this illegality.

    “The full wrath of the law will be brought to bear on any personnel found to collude with people having such agenda.

    “The current security challenges are not insurmountable as the military, in partnership with other security agencies are working assiduously to ameliorate the challenge.

    “Nigeria will know peace again,” be said.

  • Military, politicians made LG administration worse – Obasanjo

    Military, politicians made LG administration worse – Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said the rot now experienced in the local government administration in Nigeria started with the military regime and further worsen by politicians.

    The ex-President stated this on Tuesday when he played host to the new President of the National Union of Local Government Employees, Comrade Akeem Ambali, at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Penthouse residence in Ogun State.

    Ambali, the new NULGE National President had visited the former President to seek his intervention and contribution on the planned delisting of local government from the 1999 constitution by the National Assembly.

    Ambali told Obasanjo that the bill is an attempt to kill local government administration in the country.

    He said union leaders have been mandated to visit members of the lower chambers in their constituencies as part of advocacy and engagement to ensure they stand with the people.

    Responding to the matter, Obasanjo said Local government administration in Nigeria needs prayer to survive.

    He said: “I am of the view that the situation needs prayers. A situation whereby a local government cannot even afford a grader to make local roads motorable, a situation where they cannot build a hospital or provide for the educational needs of their people is not what we want the local government to be when we are creating the 1976 Reform

    “Well, the rot actually started by the military, who wanted to have such local councils in their respective areas. This increased the number to 774 from about 300.”

    “But, the politicians further make it worse with corruption. These were not what we envisioned when we created local government reform in 1976. Local governments are expected to provide overall quality of life for the people who reside in their communities, but is that what we have now?” Obasanjo queried.

    The ex-president, however, urged the local government workers in the country to be prayerful for things to get better.

  • Nigerian Military School opens admission for 2021/2022 session

    Nigerian Military School opens admission for 2021/2022 session

    Application for admission into the Nigerian Military School, Zaria has opened for the 2021/2022 academic session.

    The online application into the Nigerian Military School commenced on the 19th of March and closes on 29th of May 2021.

    Entrance examination is scheduled to take place on Saturday 5th June 2021 at all the designated examination centers nationwide.

    METHOD OF APPLICATION

    1. Interested candidates are to visit the NMS portal https://www.nms1954.sch.ng and click the APPLY tab.

    2. Click the BLUE TAB to open the Application page and read the instructions carefully, then click the START button

    3. Follow steps 1-4 of the application process to fill in all the required data and click the “GENERATE FORM” button to generate candidate’s formand open the PAYMENT ADVICE page

    4. At the payment advice page, payment can be made through:

    a. Online using bunk issued ATM Card. Click the “PAY ONLINE” button on payment advice page and you shall be redirected to the Interswitch platform to complete the payment

    b. Bank Branch Click “PAY AT BANK” button and wait a few seconds for your details to be forwarded to the bank in advance,
    Then print the payment advice and take it to any of the bunks listed to make payment After making payment, return to the portal to complete the Online Application

    5. Candidates can submit their forms on the portal only when payment is confirmed and a valid Passport size photograph is uploaded

    6. After the final submission, Candidates are advised to print clear copies of their Application Form, Payment Advice Slip and Examination Photo Card from the portal. Candidates MUST present their Examination Photo Card at the Examination Centre on the day of Entrance Examination

    7. For more information, please visit the general instructions page at https:/www.nmis1954.sch.ng/admission-portal and also the Frequently Asked Question (FAQS) PAGE AT https://www.nms1954 sch ng fags/

    For further inquiries, please call: 09055522283 & 09055522284 E-mail: hqnms1954@gmail.com

     

  • Military deny killing woman during protest in Southern Kaduna

    Military deny killing woman during protest in Southern Kaduna

    The Special Task Force, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), maintaining peace in Plateau and parts of Kaduna and Bauchi states, has denied killing a woman at Gon Gora, Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    Maj. Ibrahim Shittu, Media Officer of the task force, made the denial in a statement on Thursday in Jos.

    According Shittu, the allegation making rounds that its personnel killed a certain woman during a protest, was malicious and false.

    He said that the deceased was hit by a stray bullet during another violent protest staged by a group of women in the community.

    He explained that personnel of the task force are well trained and have been deployed to the area to maintain peace, and have been operating within the rules of engagement, code of conduct and respect for fundamental human rights.

    “To set the record straight, on March 5, following a reported case of the destruction of a farmland belonging to one Mr Ibrahim Amako by a group of herders numbering five, the Secretary to the District Head of Gon Gora, Mr Ayuba Bungon, intervened in the case where he facilitated the payment of the N300,000 compensation to appease the victim.

    “On March 6, at about 6:55 p.m. while on routine patrol, our troops were informed that the Secretary and five herders were kidnapped by unknown persons suspected to be youths of Gora Village at Ungwan Masat along Gora – Zonkwa road while returning home.

    “Troops in conjunction with other security agencies swiftly mobilised to the scene and successfully rescued the secretary unhurt, while two out of the five victims later escaped from their abductors. Efforts are ongoing to rescue other missing persons

    “Troops while searching the general area recovered one locally fabricated assault rifle, four rounds of 7.62mm special and a bag containing rings and charms,”he said.

    Giving further details of what transpired, Shittu said women of community staged a protest on March 22 and another on March 23, and expressed their displeasure with the spate of killings in the area.

    “In the same vein, March 22, a group of women staged a peaceful protest at troops location in Gora village. The protesters expressed their displeasure over the constant killing of their people by suspected militias which led to people deserting the village over fear of a possible reprisal attack.

    “The protesters were addressed by Col. David Nwakonobi, the Commander of our Sector 6, to sheath their swords and embrace peace. They later dispersed peacefully.

    “On March 23, at about 5: 45p.m., troops received a distress call of a violent protests by women and youths of Gon Gora, Bafai Gora and Sagwaza villages. The violent protest was believed to be sponsored by some aggrieved elites of Zagon Kataf.

    “Troops swiftly mobilised to the scene in order to restore normalcy to the area. Troops on arrival at the scene of the incident were however encountered by some youths in the midst of the female protesters firing and pelting dangerous object at the troops.

    “In the pandemonium, one of the female protesters in close contact with troops was hit by a stray bullet from the youths, while an elderly man sustained a gunshot injury on his right hand,”he explained.

    Shittu further explained that some youths later barricaded the exit and entry routes of the community and demanded for the withdrawal of troops from the area

    He said troops later apprehended eight suspects involved in the violent protest and recovered one locally fabricated assault rifle and three cartridges from the suspects.

    “The arrested suspects are currently in our custody undergoing preliminary investigation.

    “The injured person is currently receiving treatment at Saint Louis Hospital Zonkwa, while the corpse of the deceased has been deposited at the morgue of General Hospital Zonkwa.

    “Normalcy has since returned to the general area while troops are maintaining vigilance to forestall any further breakdown of law and order,”Shittu said..

    The media officer warned mischief makers to desist from fomenting troubles and violence in the Southern Kaduna and across its joint operational areas, adding that anyone caught would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

    He, however, solicited for public support to the task force to enable it achieve it’s mandate of promoting peace and tranquility in the society.

  • Nigerian Army issues stern warning to Sunday Igboho for raising ‘false’ alarm

    Nigerian Army issues stern warning to Sunday Igboho for raising ‘false’ alarm

    The Nigeria Defence Headquarters has issued a strong warning to Sunday Igboho and other individuals bent on disparaging its reputation to gain political mileage.

    The Defence Headquarters gave the warning in a statement released on Saturday night while reacting to the report titled “SUNDAY IGBOHO APPREHENDS ALLEGED SOLDIERS, ACCUSES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPYING ON HIM.”

    The Defence Headquarters noted that the “spy” alarm raised by Igboho was false, adding that it will never stoop so low to such extent to “spy” on the self-acclaimed “Yoruba activist.”

    The military, however, warned that such false alarm from Igboho and others will not be condoned in the future.

    Read the full statement from the Defence Headquarters below:

    The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to a trending video clip on the Social Media, and some other media reports with the above headline, alleging that some Nigerian Military personnel were on a spying mission to the residence of one Sunday Adeyemo otherwise known as “Sunday Igboho” before they were apprehended.

    In the viral video which was released on Friday 19 March 2021, the alleged “soldiers” were seen being accused of having been sent by the Government to do a ‘survey’ of Sunday Igboho’s Soka residence in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The self-acclaimed ‘Yoruba activist’ also alleged that the action of the so-called “soldiers” was orchestrated by the Federal Government as a result of comments he made alleging that Yorubas are no longer a part of Nigeria.

    While the Defence Headquarters has no interest in dragging or joining issues with Sunday Adeyemo or his associates, it is pertinent to clear the air and address these allegations squarely.

    For the records, it should be noted that the Armed Forces of Nigeria, are highly professional in the discharge of their duties, with well-defined roles, responsibilities and duties in its mandate of securing the territorial integrity of the Nigerian Nation. As such, the Military cannot stoop so low to such extent to “spy” on one individual, as wildly and loosely alleged.

    Secondly, the Armed Forces of Nigeria is a highly disciplined and professional organization with extant laws and regulations which guide the actions of its personnel in the conduct of their duties. As such, it is practically impossible for military personnel on official duty to conduct themselves in such a manner as alleged by Adeyemo and his cohorts.

    For the avoidance of doubt, preliminary investigation has so far revealed that one of the alleged “soldiers” is a serial impersonator. Meanwhile, credible eyewitnesses and sources have also revealed that some associates of Igboho went in pursuit of some individuals when the motorbike conveying the impersonator and one Nigerian Air Force personnel ran into them. The duo were immediately apprehended and taken to the said “IGBOHO House” at Soka before Ibadan toll gate where they were branded as spies. Furthermore, investigations are currently underway by Nigerian Airforce and the Nigerian Army to unravel the actual circumstances which played out on the day.

    The Defence Headquarters hereby warns individuals and groups to desist from disparaging the enviable reputation of the Nigerian Military by dragging it into its petty issues to gain political mileage. Such actions will not be condoned in the future.

    BE ONYEUKO
    Brigadier General
    Acting Director
    Defence Media Operations
    Defence Headquarters
    20 March 2021.

  • Insecurity: Explain how weapons for military, police end up with bandits, Reps query COAS, CBN Governor

    Insecurity: Explain how weapons for military, police end up with bandits, Reps query COAS, CBN Governor

    Members of the House of Representatives have asked the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major-General Ibrahim Attahiru, to explain how weapons purchased for the military and police end up in the hands of bandits and miscreants.

    The House ad-hoc committee on the need to review the purchase, use and control of arms, ammunition and related hardware by military, paramilitary and other law enforcement agencies in Nigeria sat yesterday.

    Invited to face the committee on the issue were Attahiru and the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.

    Attahiru sent a representative, Major General C. Ofuche, but this was rejected by members of the committee led by Prince Olaide Akinremi from Oyo State.

    Members of the committee said the issue was a serious and sensitive one and needed the COAS to address them in person.

    Rep Ibrahim Al-Mustapha Aliyu from Sokoto State said Attahiru had to appear in person to explain how weapons bought for the military and police ended up in the hands of bandits.

    “You can bear witness to the fact that Nigeria is embroiled in serious security issues and year in year out appropriations were made and huge sums expended on procurement of arms and ammunition and yet in the whole of the whole of the arrests made you find these arms and ammunition with some of these bandits and miscreants.

    “Some of them can be traced back to the very military or police. It is a serious issue and the National Assembly is well positioned to dig deep into the root of this issue and find solutions.

    “As moved by my colleague there is need for a motion to allow the COAS come and make his submissions personally to this committee.

    “In line with the position of the previous speakers, I want to reiterate that this is a very serious and sensitive security matter.

    ‘At least let us see the man. Being that this is the first meeting with the Nigerian Army, the accounting officer of the Army should have appeared to give us his account, his position as far as the communications made to him.

    “For the chairman and secretariat there is no communication before that the COAS is having another schedule that may not allow him to be physically present here. That is a contravention to section 88, section 89 subsection 1, and of course section one of the Armed Forces Act 1994. So we are not witch-hunting but telling you what the law says,” he said.

    Other representatives, including Kabiru Idris (Kano), Bede Eke (Imo), and Ifeanyi Chudy Momah (Anambra), who spoke insisted that the COAS must appear before them physically.

    They noted that there was no official communication to the committee on why he could not make it.

    Major General Ofuche apologised on behalf of the COAS, saying: “He should have been here today and all indication to that was already in motion, but for several trips.

    “If you watched the TV yesterday, he was at Ibadan and Enugu all for the same security needs. The country is embroiled in a lot of crisis so they are moving around and he thought he could make it down here this morning for this meeting and so the notice was quite short for me to come and represent him because he would have loved to do it personally, and that is why there is no written note,” he said.

  • Order Military to rescue Pastor abducted by Boko Haram, CAN tells Buhari

    Order Military to rescue Pastor abducted by Boko Haram, CAN tells Buhari

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately order the military to rescue Pastor Bulud Yakuru from the Boko Haram terrorists before it is too late.

    Pastor Yakuru of EYN Church of the Brethren was reportedly abducted on December 24, 2020, when the terrorists attacked Pemi Village in Borno State and killed no fewer than seven people.

    The Pastor who has been in the custody of the Abubakar Shekau-led faction of Boko Haram since last year was on Wednesday reportedly given a one-week ultimatum for their demands to be met by the government or Pastor Yakuru will be killed.

    In a statement issued on Saturday, CAN President, Samson Ayokunle, said although the association is not aware of the demand, it, however, appealed to the Federal Government to secure the cleric’s release.

    “Our appeal is to the President, the military and the Borno State government to ensure that Pastor Yakuru is not murdered like the district chairman of the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria (EYN) and CAN Chairman of Michika Local Government in Adamawa State, Rev Lawan Andimi,” the statement partly read.

    “The leadership of CAN believes that the freedom of Pastor Yakuru is a litmus test for the new Service Chiefs and the whole world is watching whether they will live up to the expectations of or not.

    “If the then American President, Donald Trump could put his acts together from far away America and ordered his military to rescue one kidnapped American in Nigeria, then our President has no excuse or whatsoever not to act decisively and rescue Pastor Yakuru.

    “Why should the government leave the citizens of this country at the mercy of insurgents, bandits and kidnappers? What then is the essence of having a government in place?”

    CAN recalled that the recent abductions of schoolchildren, describing the most kidnap of over 300 schoolgirls in Zamfara State as shocking.

  • #EndSARS: Lagos Judicial Panel says petitions against Military will hold despite continuous absence

    #EndSARS: Lagos Judicial Panel says petitions against Military will hold despite continuous absence

    The Lagos State Judicial Panel on Restitution for victims of SARS and other related matters on Saturday said petitions against the Nigerian Army will go on despite their absence yet again.

    Counsel to some victims of #EndSARS protests, Yinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN) told the panel that he has an application to bring some witnesses to testify before the panel.

    The witnesses will counter the testimony of the army personnel, Brigadier-General Ahmed Ibrahim Taiwo, the Commander of 81 Military Intelligence Brigade in Victoria Island, Lagos who had earlier testified before the panel before the military stopped attending the proceedings.

    The panel has adjourned till March 20 to hear the testimony of the witnesses.

    The panel then moved on to listen to the testimony of a petitioner, Lucky Philemon who said he was shot at the Lekki toll gate protest on the night of October 20, 2020.

    His cross-examination by counsel to the state government was stalled when the panel realised that the medical records of the petitioner were not in evidence before the panel.

    The panel then adjourned all cases involving all Lekki toll gate victims who got treatments at various hospitals to a date to be communicated to their counsel. The panel did this so it could access the medical records from Reddington and other hospitals.

    Chairman of the panel, Justice Doris Okuwobi said the hospitals will be contacted and their medical records subpoenaed. After this, all cases connected to the hospitals were adjourned.

  • Imo Governor, Hope Uzodinma confirms inviting Military to flush out ESN, IPOB members in Orlu

    Imo Governor, Hope Uzodinma confirms inviting Military to flush out ESN, IPOB members in Orlu

    Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State on Friday confirmed inviting military to flush out members of Eastern Security Network (ESN) linked with Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that there was panic in Orlu and Orsu Local Government Areas of Imo State on Thursday as the Nigerian military began operations in search of the camps.

    TNG recalls that a similar incident had played out some three weeks ago with some residents shot dead.

    Speaking on the most recent military operations, the governor stated that he invited soldiers in Orlu to restore calm in the area after members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), killed several policemen and innocent citizens in the area.

    Uzodimma, who gave the explanation through the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Cyprain Akaolisa, at a press briefing in Owerri, said the narrative that innocent people were being killed by the military was intended to shift attention from the despicable activities of IPOB in Orlu.

    According to the governor, the government discovered that there were deliberate attempts by IPOB to attack Orlu people and the government in the guise that they were looking for Fulani herdsmen.

    These attacks, he said, started during the #Endsars protests last year.

    Uzodimma said, “The attacks on police stations and killing of policemen during #Endsars were carried out by IPOB and not protesting youths for the sole purpose of hijacking and stealing weapons.

    “They are now using those arms to destroy Orlu.

    “They killed 10 policemen, a prominent Orlu soon, Ignatius Obiezu and one Emmanuel Okeke (Soludo) collected their Hilux vehicles

    “The IPOB also shot and killed four Moslems doing their business in Orlu.

    “IPOB said they were looking for herdsmen, but these victims they killed before the crisis, were they herdsmen?

    “We heard Nnamdi Kanu celebrating the activities of his men in Orlu that they are doing well by killing innocent citizens. There’s no Fulani herdsmen in Orlu.

    “So, we asked ourselves, what is the colouration that IPOB is trying to give this onslaught in Orlu?

    “That’s why our government decided to invite military to flush out IPOB and their so called ESN.

    “We discovered that there was a camp which IPOB established at Umutanze, Orlu and we sent police to dislodge them. But, it happened that they attacked the policemen and killed two of them. It was after they killed those policemen that government had to bring in the military.

    “It was not easy for the military to push them out of that place. But the military succeeded. That was why they came on a reprisal attack and killed the innocent ones.

    “They also relocated to Udah in Orsu LGA, a camp at a boundary between Imo and Anambra States. The place is a very depressed groove that no one can easily enter.

    “For the past two weeks, surveillance was monitoring that place and there were more than 200 people being trained in that camp. The military had to deploy their arsenal to diminish the IPOB people there.”

    The governor expressed surprise that people could call for withdrawal of soldiers from Orlu.

    “We can’t do that. We can’t fold our arms for these boys to continue to kill people everyday”