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Tag: Military

  • Military air raids hit terrorists’ camps, kill scores in Borno

    Military air raids hit terrorists’ camps, kill scores in Borno

    The Defence Headquarters says the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole has hit terrorists’ camps in Sambisa forest and Yale area of Borno, killing scores in separates air strikes on Monday.

    The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Enenche said the air interdiction missions destroyed some dwellings of Boko Haram terrorists’ leaders in the Sambisa Forest area and at a settlement about 1.7 Km East of Yale, both in Borno.

    He said the air raids were undertaken after credible intelligence and series of aerial surveillance missions.

    He said that this indicated that some terrorists that carried out recent attacks against innocent civilians were harboured in makeshift structures in the areas.

    According to him, the military dispatched Nigerian Air Force fighter jets and helicopter gunships to attack the two locations.

    “The attack aircraft, while taking turns to engage the targets, delivered lethal bomb and rocket strikes, resulting in the destruction of some of the structures and the killing of several terrorists,” he said.

  • Killings: Military blames civilians for unending insecurity in North East

    Killings: Military blames civilians for unending insecurity in North East

    The Nigerian military has blamed civilians for the unending insecurity in the North Eastern part of the country.

    Military spokesman, Major-General John Enenche on Monday said civilians hoarding information are making its security operations in the region less effective.

    The military said while residents do not give them information on activities of insurgents, some of them work as informants to bandits and terrorists.

    In an interview, Enenche said the local residents are reducing the military’s effectiveness to combat the insecurity because they do not provide relevant information.

    “That (information) has been our worry,” said. “It’s a concern to us. You need a guide, you need information. Will they tell us? That’s a question that we have to ask. Yes, sometimes. And most times, no.

    “And that was one of the issues we have been ensuring to overcome, with civil-military cooperation activities, reaching out to them, even sending people by proxy to talk to them,” Enenche said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

    About 43 rice farmers were killed in a deadly assault in Borno on Saturday by suspected Boko Haram terrorists at Koshebe village in the Jere Local Government Area of Borno.

    The farmers were buried on Sunday amid wailing and tears by residents of the community.

    The farmers were killed at about 11 a.m. as they harvested rice on their farms.

    The incident is the latest in the unrelenting killing of farmers in the North-East by Boko Haram insurgents, who have been campaigning for a strict Islamic code since 2009.

    While the killings and other security challenges continue in the region, the military said their operations have been successful except for the cooperation of locals.

    “Our patrols will pass through a route, in a village. By the time you are going, some people are looking at you. When you are coming back, the next thing is that you meet an IED planted on the road. And people saw them, they won’t tell you. So that’s the area I think we are all working together as stakeholders,” Enenche said.

    “And it is not possible to force information out of people. It’s not possible, just like they say you force a horse to the river, but not to drink water.”

    He said the military is trying to do is to build confidence in the people that they can subsequently confide in the security operatives to curb insurgency activities.

    Borno State governor and other governors in the northern region have condemned the killing and called for improved security architecture in the north.

  • Lekki shootings: South West ministers want role of military probed

    Lekki shootings: South West ministers want role of military probed

    Ministers from the south-west who were directed to go home and sort out the #EndSARS agitation, have presented their report to the Federal Executive Council (FEC), recommending a thorough investigation into the Lekki Toll Plaza shooting incident particularly the role of the military.

    “We also urged that the federal government should undertake a thorough investigation into what happened in the Lekki Toll Plaza, particularly the role of the military and ensure that the outcome is made public with a view to achieving closure on the matter,” the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, who briefed State House correspondents in Abuja after the meeting on Wednesday, said.

    Apart from Fashola, the ministers who briefed the council at its Wednesday’s meeting are Otunba Niyi Adebayo representing Ekiti, Rauf Aregbesola representing Osun, Sunday Dare representing Oyo, Olamilekan Adegbite representing Ogun, Olorunimbe Memora Lagos and Tayo Aladura representing Ondo, was in regards to how we executed the directive on the October 21st to ministers, for us to visit our state’s governors in our states.

    Fashola disclosed that the ministers also recommended that the federal government should assist businesses affected by arson and looting in Lagos and other parts of the country through the Central Bank and the National Economic Council (NEC).

    He said: “The highlight of the brief was to make recommendations to the federal government to support Lagos State to restore damaged facilities especially those related to the maintenance of law and order and the administration of justice such as police, court buildings and forensic laboratory.

    “To also consider supporting the Lagos High Court Judges either with the provision of some office accommodation as a temporary relocation when that request is made. Of course, it was hinted during the visit.

    “To also urged the federal government to consider short to medium term support to small and medium businesses who were affected by the looting and arson which took place in Lagos and other parts of the country, to see if something can be done through the Central Bank Intervention Mechanism under the COVID-19 funding or any other related funding mechanism.

    “And to also ensure that whatever is approved should also involve the National Economic Council, the platform on which state governors meet, so that other states across the country who were also affected, businesses were damaged can benefit in addition to Lagos residence who may so be supported.”

    The ministers also recommended that the federal government re-mobilise critical organs and agencies such as National Orientation Agency and formal educational institutions focus on ethical re-orientation, inculcation of family values into the school curriculum.

    They recommended a focus on etiquette, local reasoning, critical thinking, solution-seeking, empathy, self-respect, civic duty and human rights.

    Similarly, they recommended that the Federal Government should actively seek and support the process of justice for all by ensuring that any of those apprehended and identified to be involved in the perpetration of this carnage be speedily brought to justice and fairly tried.

    Fashola added: “We also urged the Federal Government to implement the maintenance of facility management policy approved by FEC in 2019 for Federal Ministries, Department and Agencies and to encourage states to do the same.

    “We do this because we see this as a usual vehicle to help absorb and create immediate employment of skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled Labour, in order to address huge unemployment and poverty-related part of the problem.

    “This is important because people have skills but we need to provide the economic environment in which those skills can become income-earning and self-rewarding.

    “We urged the government to also restore confidence in the police and their morale among the officers of men and women and to improve their welfare while tracking the ongoing reforms being undertaken in the police force.

    “We also urged the Federal Government to consider through the federal ministry of health issues of substance abuse amongst the populace and propose solutions because this potentially affects mental health.

    “We made this recommendation mindful of the global opium and substance abuse crisis and the impact on our country as well. We think this is a matter that requires some attention and focus.”

    The works minister said in the course of their intervention, they met with governors, saying: “After meeting with the governors, the position of the governors was that Lagos being the epicentre, a commercial and strategic city-state in the south-west and the country is where we should all go. That was what informed our visit to Lagos.

    “So, I just briefed council about the reports that were presented to us by the Lagos state government when we visited.

    “The summary is that about 15 police stations were lost, commercial undertakings especially the ones in Lekki and many other parts in Surulere were damaged, some schools were also damaged, private properties were also damaged and public buildings like the City Hall, the Lagos High Court, Lagos Forensic Laboratory and DNA Center, the Nigeria Ports Authority were also damaged. The palace of the Oba of Lagos and many others.

    “So, we presented the documentary evidence presented to us by the Government of Lagos State which was shown to the Council.

    “Then we visited a few palaces – the Lagos High Court led by the governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, we visited NPA, Forensic Lab and the Lekki Toll Plaza as well and as you all know, we found some items which we handed over to the state government at the site. These were the highlights of the report that we presented.

    “The minister of youth and sports also visited the Lagos Island Hospital to empathize with seven persons who were reported to have sustained various degree of injuries in the ward and emergency unit. He also visited media houses to commiserate with them in the destruction of property.”

    President Muhammadu Buhari had dispatched ministers to their various states to interface with youth in the wake of the #EndSARS protests that led to the death of peaceful protesters at the Lekki Toll Plaza.

    The shooting incident at the plaza was followed by nationwide looting and arson.

  • Military arrests foreign Boko Haram/ISWAP arms, logistics supplier

    Military arrests foreign Boko Haram/ISWAP arms, logistics supplier

    The Defence Headquarters says the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole has arrested a foreign arms and logistics supplier for the Boko Haram /Islamic States of West Africa States Province (ISWAP) terrorists.

    The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this while giving updates on military operations across the country on Thursday in Abuja.

    Eneche said the suspect who is a Nigerien national, was arrested by troops at a location close to an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp in Diffa Region of Niger Republic on Oct. 3.

    He said the arrest followed a credible intelligence on terrorists’ convergence at Chinguwa Village in Niger Republic close to Gashigar in Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno.

    Enenche said that while the Military High Command has commended the troops for their gallantry, it also encouraged the people to continue to avail the troops with information that would assist them in their operation.

    According to him, the gallant troops have continued to dominate the general areas with clearance patrols, aggressive fighting and confidence-building patrols.

    “Troops are further encouraged to remain determined and sustain the tempo in curtailing the activities of terrorists, armed bandits and other criminals.

    “The High Command of the Armed Forces also reassures the general public of its unwavering commitment to securing the country for all human activities to strive.

    “Members of the general public are requested to continue providing timely information on the activities of criminals in their various localities to the nearest military and other security agencies location for prompt action,” he said.

  • Military airstrike hits bandits’ camp, kill scores in Zamfara

    Military airstrike hits bandits’ camp, kill scores in Zamfara

    The Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji has destroyed another armed bandits’ camp in the Doumborou Forest area of Zamfara, killing scores of the bandits, the Defence Headquarters says.

    The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

    Enenche said that the airstrike, which was executed on Sunday, was part of the new subsidiary Operation, tagged ‘WUTAN DAJI’ 2.

    He said that the bandits eliminated in the air raid were said to belong to the gang led by the so-called ‘Dangote’.

    According to him, the target was designated for attack after Intelligence indicated that ‘Dangote’ and some of his members, along with their logistics items and rustled livestock, had established a new camp at the southern edge of the Forest.

    “The Air Component therefore dispatched an enhanced force package of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships to attack the location.

    “The attack aircraft engaged the target area scoring accurate hits and taking out several of the bandits, while some of their structures were seen engulfed in flames.

    “Intelligence sources later revealed that several of ‘Dangote’s followers were neutralized in the airstrike.

  • Mali’s military junta agrees on 18-month transition government

    Mali’s military junta agrees on 18-month transition government

    Mali’s Military junta has agreed to an 18-month transition government to pave way for a new election in the country.

    The military government which toppled the elected government of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta had earlier asked for three years before handing over power.

    But the Economic Community of West African State, ECOWAS, disagreed, issuing an ultimatum to the military junta to announce a transition government.

    Moussa Camara, military spokesman said on Saturday that it had agreed to an 18-month transition government to be headed by either a civilian or military personnel until election would take place.

    READ ALSO Mali makes contact with Jihadists
    ECOWAS leaders who met in Niamey, Niger last Monday had given the military junta in Mali until Sept. 15 to name a transitional president and a prime minister.

    The 15-nation bloc said the president and prime minister, who would lead the transitional government, should be civilians.

    The meeting maintained the sanctions it imposed on Mali in the aftermath of the coup.

    The military had overthrown the elected government of Keita on August 18. Colonel Assimi Goita headed the Mali’s military junta.

  • Buhari to Military: Nigeria demands absolute loyalty from you

    Buhari to Military: Nigeria demands absolute loyalty from you

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday reminded the military of their sacred duty to protect Nigerians irrespective of ethnic or religious backgrounds.
    Buhari spoke at the Passing Out Parade of 114 medics of the Nigerian Air Force Short Service Course 29, in Kaduna.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report that the 114 cadets included medical doctors, pharmacists, nurses, vetinariy doctors, dentists and radiologists, among others, who underwent six months training at the Military Training Centre (MTC) Kaduna.
    “Let me remind you that we are in a democratic government where you are subjected to both military and civil laws.
    “Hence, you must subordinate yourself to civil authority and protect our growing democracy.
    “You should be vigilant, guard your utterances, and conduct at all times.
    “You must also not allow yourself to be used by some elements in the society to compromise national security or act in ways capable of denting the image of the Armed Forces.
    “Your duty is to protect all Nigerians irrespective of their ethnic background or religious inclination.
    “Your loyalty must therefore never be in doubt at any point in time as an officer,” the Commander-in-Chief stressed.
    President Muhammadu Buhari who was the reviewing officer at the passing out parade, charged the officers to be ready to consolidate the recent and rapid expansion of medical facilities put in place by the current leadership of the NAF.
    “You have every reason to feel proud and fulfilled for what you have achieved. It is important to remind you that this is the beginning of yet another challenging but rewarding career as young officers in the Nigerian Air Force.”
    He added: “I expect that you will do your best to further enhance NAF’s efforts towards boosting qualitative healthcare for personnel, their dependants and among residents of NAF host communities including sustaining medical outreaches for civilians and victims of insurgency and banditry.
    “I am confident that you will be able to cope with the demanding tasks ahead, given the quality of training that you have received.
    “This pragmatic approach to promote civil military relations will go a long way in winning the hearts and minds of the communities, thus assisting in timely containment of insurgency, banditry and other security challenges.
    “I understand that all the cadets graduating today are well-trained medical consultants, nurses and support staff diligently selected for the six months basic military training, which is culminating into you being commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force.
    “The military profession requires absolute discipline, loyalty and hard work among other virtues.”
    The President, who was represented by Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olunisakin, stressed that as medical professionals, their services would be required to save lives as the military battle insurgency and other security challenges.
    “Such noble service demands exceptional courage, commitment and patriotism and Nigeria will continue to demand such qualities from you.”
    Buhari assured Nigerians that the government was doing so much to confront the security challenges bedevilling the country by taking necessary measures to safeguard lives and properties and to drastically cut off all forms of criminalities.
    “I gladly inform you and indeed all Nigerians that the Nigerian Air Force is consistently supporting these government efforts.”
    He therefore, urged them to positively deploy the training that has been inculcated in them to defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity and interest.
    The President commended the Chief of the Air Staff for his robust capacity initiatives responsible for a disciplined, highly professional and timely deployable air force.
    Buhari also congratulated the graduating cadets for withstanding the rigours of the training.
    “I celebrate with you and your families, friends and loved ones on this day,” the president said.
    NAN report that awards were given to cadets who distinguished themselves during course.
    After the passing out parade, the cadets were formally commissioned to their various ranks by the reviewing officer.
  • Presidency speaks on report of absorbing repentant Boko Haram into Nigerian military

    Presidency speaks on report of absorbing repentant Boko Haram into Nigerian military

    The presidency on Wednesday refuted the claim that some repentant Boko Haram fighters have been allowed to join the Nigerian military.

    The rumour has circulated on social media with many Nigerians questioning the government’s deradicalisation programme.

    The rumour worsened recently after the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, said his convoy was attacked by soldiers and not Boko Haram members. Many Nigerians on social media suggested that the attack was carried out by the repentant Boko Haram members who had allegedly joined the army.

    In a statement, on Wednesday, presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said such rumour was not true.

    “It is important for the public to know that nobody has ever been absorbed into the military from the de-radicalized Boko Haram and there is no such plan for their absorption,” he said.

    Mr Shehu defended the government’s deradicalisation programme for former Boko Haram fighters who have laid down their arms. He said the programme is backed by the United Nations, the European Union and the International Organisation of Migration.

    The deradicalisation programme ” does not have a place for hard boiled, ideologically hardened terrorists,” Mr Shehu said, adding that “it only admits, after careful scrutiny, repentant fighters that were captured and forced to bear arms in the first instance…”

    Read Mr Shehu’s full statement below.

    Now that groups with hitherto proven bona fides, some religious leaders and a few in the legislature have joined the supply chain of fake news, it important that we step in to clear the false reports that the administration is absorbing repentant Boko Haram terrorists into the military.

    It is important for the public to know that nobody has ever been absorbed into the military from the de-radicalized Boko Haram and there is no such plan for their absorption. None of the 601 former Boko Haram members who voluntarily laid down their arms, and have recently graduated from the Federal Government’s de-radicalization and rehabilitation programme, is going into the military. This is the fourth such graduation of repentant Boko Haram fighters and not one of such graduates has been absorbed into the military.

    The public needs to be reassured that the de-radicalization, rehabilitation and reintegration of violent extremists of the Buhari administration code named “Operation Safe Corridor,” follows an established example from countries with similar experiences, and is supported academically and materially by the European Union and the United Nations.

    The lead agency for the implementation of the programme in Gombe is the International Organization for Migration, a leading inter-government organization which is represented in Nigeria.

    It is also important to note that this programme does not have a place for hard-boiled, ideologically hardened terrorists. It only admits, after careful scrutiny, repentant fighters that were captured and forced to bear arms in the first instance, and there are many who have been drafted by force.

    At the point of their graduation, a determination is made that the former combatants have repented and are better citizens, imbued with genuine nationalism. They must no longer represent a danger to society or to themselves.

    Where they are certified as such, communities have the duty of accepting them. Unless they want them to take up arms and resume terrorism from which they have repented, community leaders must work with the relevant agencies to end their rejection.

    The Buhari administration is a responsible one and is conscious of its duty to the state and society, and to the victims of terror as well as to those who inflicted these pains and losses on our people.

  • Bandits ambush Nigerian soldiers in Katsina, kill 16

    Bandits ambush Nigerian soldiers in Katsina, kill 16

    An ambush by suspected bandits in Katsina State on Saturday left at least 16 soldiers and officers dead and 28 others wounded.

    Troops of the Special Army Super Camp 4 were said to be advancing on foot in Shimfida in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State at about 6:13 p.m. Saturday when the armed militants opened fire on them from a hilltop, military sources said.

    The officers killed in the attack included a major, a captain and a lieutenant, military sources told newsmen. Two bandits were also injured in the exchanges, officials briefed on the matter said.

    When contacted, army spokesperson, Sagir Musa, said he could neither confirm nor comment on the attack as he was hearing it for the first time.

    Katsina, the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari in northwestern Nigeria, has seen a spate of attacks by armed militants.

    In Katsina State, over 2,000 people have been killed, 500 communities destroyed and over 33,000 people displaced, a 2020 report by the West Africa Network for Peace building said.

    President Buhari, after scores of residents of a Katsina community blocked a highway to protest incessant attacks by armed bandits in May, promised a major military onslaught to rid the state of bandits and kidnappers.

    “A major proactive operation by Special Forces, which details are being kept secret, is now in progress to replace the reactive strikes against insurgent camps,” presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said in a statement then.

    “To give a full effect to the exercise, a planning team is already in the state selecting targets and making preparations for the execution of the “unprecedented” operation.”

  • Recent killings remain our failure to complement military actions with diplomacy,says group

    Recent killings remain our failure to complement military actions with diplomacy,says group

    The Northern Elders and Leaders Forum (NELF) says the failure by its elites to complement the effort of the military with diplomacy is responsible for the recent killings experienced in the region.

    The Northern elders made this known in a statement signed by Third Republic Senate President, Senator Ameh Ebute, on Friday, on President Muhammadu Buhari’s effort on national security, cohesion and stability.

    According to the elderstatesmen, there’s been significant turnaround in the Boko Haram/ISWAP crisis since President Buhari took over the helm of affairs.

    The president, NELF said, has expressly followed the founding vision of Sir Ahmadu Bello on a secured and united Northern Nigeria.

    However, the group added that critical stakeholders including traditional institutions, religious leaders, patriots, civil society organizations and the youths have failed on their part.

    While shouldering the blame for not supporting the military enough, the group charged other stakeholders to put away sentiments and rancour occasioned by politics and personal interest.

    According to NELF, this is a ” wake- up call to all interests in the region to put humanity and the collective interest of our region first”.

    The group, however, expressed its total support for President Buhari while distancing itself from ” some dubious elements that have no sense of history or love for the North to malign President Muhammadu Buhari on the issues of insecurity.”