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Tag: Military

  • Terrorism: Nigeria to send Military to Brazil for training

    The Federal Government has called for the support of Brazilian Government in the fight against Boko Haram terrorism and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

    Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, made the call in Rio de Janeiro, when he visited his Brazilian counterpart, Mr Fernando Silva.

    In a statement in Abuja on Friday, Media Assistant to the minister, Col. Tukur Gusau, quoted him as saying that terrorism was a global phenomenon that needed to be addressed by all nations.

    Dan-Ali also requested the assistance of the Brazilian Defence Ministry to Nigeria’s effort at establishing a military industrial complex in the country.

    He added that “very soon, Nigeria will be sending its military officers to Brazil for training”.

    In his response, E-Silva pledged the support of his country to Nigeria for the combat of insurgency and terrorism.

  • UK reacts over military involvement in Rivers governorship poll

    UK reacts over military involvement in Rivers governorship poll

    …As INEC suspends electoral process

    The British High Commission in Nigeria on Sunday reacted over the report of military interference in the governorship and house of assembly elections in Rivers State.

    The commission was reacting to reports from its election observers about the tension at the collation centre in Port Harcourt.

    It said the military interference in the polls is putting stress on the staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission and has made it difficult for them to carry out their duties.

    According to its tweet, it said, “Extremely concerned by reports, including from @UKinnigeria observers, of military interference in the election process in Rivers State. Monitoring the situation closely @inec staff must be allowed to do their jobs in safety, without intimidation.”

    There has been a heavy presence of the military in River State, which has been rocked with election violence since the presidential polls.

    Prior to the governorship and state of assembly election, there have been concerns about the security of voters in the state.

    Despite the fears, many trooped out to vote in their sixth governorship and state election.

    The insecurity led INEC to suspend the electoral process.

    The commission made the announcement in a press statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, and published on its official twitter handle.

    “Based on reports from our officials in the field, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has determined that there has been widespread disruption of elections conducted on the 9th day of March, 2019 in Rivers State.

    “These initial reports suggest that violence occurred in a substantial number of polling units and collation centers, staff have been taken hostage and materials including result sheets have either been seized or destroyed by unauthorized persons.

    “In addition, safety of our staff appears to be in jeopardy all over the state and the commission is concerned about the credibility of the process,” INEC had said.

     

  • We don’t need your presence on election days, Atiku tells Military

    We don’t need your presence on election days, Atiku tells Military

    The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has warned the military not to interfere in the general elections.

    Atiku, who spoke at his campaign rally at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar on Friday, said “the military do not have any constitutional role to play in the elections”.

    He said, “Only the police do. I hereby caution the Federal Government and the military high command that they should only play their constitutional roles during the elections,” adding that he would go to any length to protect the constitution.

    The former vice-president added, “I will work closely with Governor Ben Ayade to actualise the deep seaport and the superhighway. The deep seaport will create thousands of jobs. We will invest more in education. We will invest in the industries he is establishing by bringing in investors so that the state could be transformed.”

    He said he was grateful to the people of Cross River State because “the first job I got was given to me by somebody from the state”.

    The National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, said, “The good news is that Atiku has won. All international and local polls conducted have given victory to Atiku.”

    He added, “You heard about the body bag statement made by them, they have lost the election in Katsina. “We will collect Katsina. Our votes will count, they are scared, they are in confusion and running from pillar to post. Our state institutions cannot be destroyed because of one man.

    “The police, army and other security agencies should not take sides in this election if not it will be terrible for Nigeria.”

    Ayade said Atiku would industrialise the state if elected.

  • Police arrest six suspected robbers in military uniforms

    Police arrest six suspected robbers in military uniforms

    The police command in Osun has arrested six suspected highway robbers all dressed in military camouflage uniforms operating along Ife-Ilesa Expressway in the state.

    Mr Fimihan Adeoye, the State Commissioner of Police paraded the suspects at the command headquarters in Osogbo on Wednesday.

    He said the suspects were arrested at the scene of the robbery operation by his men with the aid of local vigilantes on Monday night.

    Adeoye said two other suspected highway robbers who planted spikes on the roads to puncture vehicle tyres in order to rob motorists and passengers were equally arrested.

    He said before their arrest, the two-man robbery gang had used carved wooden guns, covered with black cello tapes to rob their victims.

    He said police investigations established that the suspects were all from Lagos, but came to operate in Osun and always returned to base.

    The police commissioner also announced the arrest of one Yekini Kareem, 62, who had been on police wanted list in the last two years.

    He said Kareem, also known as Abija, lured a rice seller from Saki in Oyo to Osogbo, in May 2017 and engaged some criminals to dispossess him of his goods and money, before killing him.

    He also said the command had so far arrested five persons in connection with the case between the period of the incident and December 2018.

    He said the prime suspect recently arrested at his hideout in Lagos on Monday and other arrested criminal suspects would be charged to court soon.

    NAN

  • 2019: PDP rejects ‘Operation Python Dance,’ says Buhari wants to use military to rig

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday vehemently opposed the proposed commencement of a nationwide military exercise, Egwu Eke III otherwise called Python Dance in January.

    Recall that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai on Friday said the military exercise which would commence from January 1, 2019 and last till February 28 was in preparation against security challenges anticipated before, during and after the 2019 general election.

    But the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan in a statement alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari was plotting to use the planned nationwide ‘Operation Python Dance’ to legitimise his administration’s alleged ploy of using the military to intimidate voters and rig the 2019 presidential election.

    He stated that Buhari planned to use the military having realised that he cannot win in a free and fair poll.

    According to him, the plot is in line with the alleged desperation of the Buhari Presidency to foist a siege mentality on the nation ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Ologbondiyan, who is also the Director, Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Organization said, “Our investigation shows that part of the plot is to use the military operation as a subterfuge to unleash heavy security presence to intimidate, harass and instil fear in voters in PDP strongholds across the country and pave the way for the allocation of fictitious votes to President Buhari and the APC.

    “Further investigation revealed that agents of the Buhari Presidency are working in cohort with some compromised top officials of the Prof. Mahmood Yakubu-led Independent National Electoral Commission to use soldiers to provide cover for diversion of electoral materials, as well as aid APC agents in their plan to unleash violence and disrupt the electoral process in areas where the PDP is winning.

    “In spanning the military operation to February 28, 2019, the Buhari Presidency betrayed its anticipation of public rejection or violence, which can only come when a result that does not reflect the actual wish of the people is announced.”

    Ologbondiyan stated that everybody in Nigeria and world over, including the Presidency, knew the direction the 2019 presidential election tide is flowing.

    He added that Nigerians are eager for a new president, having lost confidence in Buhari, due to his alleged failures in governance.

    He said, “The PDP PCO, therefore, rejects this deliberate attempt by the Buhari Presidency to set our military on a collision course with Nigerians, bearing in mind the collateral damage that usually occurs whenever the civilian population clashes with military.

    “Our nation is a democratic state and we are not in a state of emergency that requires the militarization of our electoral process.

    “Our military, which is cherished by Nigerians, should, therefore, foreclose any attempt by the Buhari Presidency to use it to set our country on fire.”

    According to him, all that Nigerians desire at this point is to go to the polls and peacefully elect a new President to reposition the nation and not another round of electoral crisis.

  • Boko Haram: Military suspends UNICEF activities in North-East indefinitely

    The Nigerian Army has said it is suspending the operations of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund in the North-East theatre until further notice.

    The Theatre Command, Operation Lafiya Dole, which coordinates the Boko Haram anti-insurgency war in the North-East, stated this in a release by its spokesperson, Col Onyema Nwachukwu, alleging that UNICEF had shifted from “its duty of catering to the wellbeing of children and the vulnerable through humanitarian activities and now engages in training selected persons for clandestine activities.”

    The Operation Lafiya Dole Command claimed on Friday that UNICEF was “sabotaging the counter-terrorism efforts” of troops through “spurious and unconfirmed allegations bordering on alleged violations of human rights by the military.”

    Nwachukwu said, “It is baffling to note that some of these organisations have been playing the terrorists’ script with the aim to continue demoralising the troops who are doing so much to protect the lives of victims of Boko Haram terrorism and safeguard them from wanton destruction of property and means of livelihood.

    “Consequently, the Theatre Command is suspending the operations of UNICEF in the North-East theatre until further notice.

    “This has become inevitable since the organisation has abdicated its primary duty of catering for the wellbeing of children and the vulnerable through humanitarian activities and now engages in training selected persons for clandestine activities to continue sabotaging the counter-terrorism efforts.

    “The Theatre Command will not tolerate this kind of sabotage from any individual, group of persons or organisation.

    “We call on all Non-Governmental Organisations and members of humanitarian agencies to keep to their legitimate norms in the discharge of their acclaimed humanitarian duties.”

    The UNICEF had yet to officially react to the military’s release.

  • Tension as Boko Haram notifies military of fresh attack

    Boko Haram insurgents have threatened another attack on the military base at Jiddari-Polo, Maiduguri.

    The terrorists on Monday attacked farmers in the area, hacking four to death while one was left with severe injuries.

    One of the survivors of the Monday attack, Mala Umara, told AFP that the terrorists came in large numbers.

    “They came in large numbers and killed four and left the other man seriously injured,” the 75-year-old farmer said.

    The insurgents were believed to belong to the Abubakar Shekau group.

    Umara, added that while sparing him, the insurgents instructed him to tell the Nigerian Army to prepare for another attack.

    “They asked me to deliver a message to the soldiers that they should be prepared for an attack soon,” the septuagenarian told AFP.

    Another survivor, Abba Muhammad, said, “Five of them encircled me, but I instinctively bolted.”

    The attack was also confirmed by a local militia leader, Babakura Kolo.

     

  • Military discovers illegal security training camp in Taraba

    The 20 Model Battalion of the Nigeria Army located in Serti, Taraba State, said it has discovered an illegal security training camp in Serti locality.

    Commanding Officer of the battalion, Lt.-Col. Sani Adamu, stated this on Thursday in Serti.

    Sani told the News Agency of Nigeria that the Special Adviser on Security to Taraba Governor, Col. Agyo Wapan (retd), had been invited as part of investigation on the issue.

    He said that the discovery followed calls by concerned citizens who disclosed that no fewer than 300 youths were being trained in a public primary school in the area.

    He said that on the receipt of the calls, he promptly responded by visiting the site and found over 300 young men undergoing military training.

    The commander said that the training was being conducted by GS Security Services, a security outfit in the state.

    He confirmed that he had filed a report to his superior on the development and for further directive.

    The security outfit is allegedly hired by the Taraba Government to train selected youths as ‘Marshals.’

    Sani explained that his men had profiled the young men and dismantled the camp, while awaiting directive from Army Headquarters.

    Alarm on the illegal training camp was sequel to unusual influx of hundreds of young men from some local government areas into Serti, headquarters of Gashaka Local Government Area.

    A resident of the area, Abubakar Mohammed, told NAN that they raised the alarm because of the frequent clashes of youths who were commonly used by desperate politicians to hunt their enemies.

    “We suspect that the state government is training them, under whatever guise, to use them to disrupt the election process in 2019,” he said.

    Contacted, Chairman of Gashaka Local Government Area, Umar Mohammed, explained that the training was at the instance of the state government.

    He said that 10 youths were selected from each ward to be trained as marshals who would subsequently be deployed to provide security in their areas.

    Mohammed said that before the exercise, the military, police and the Directorate of State Service were invited to a security meeting where the issues of uniform and other kitting of the marshals were agreed on.

    He said that those being trained in Serti were recruited from Sardauna and Gashaka areas “with the full knowledge of stakeholders in each ward.”

     

  • Military recover 113 live ammunition, other dangerous weapons from politicians, others

    The Defence Headquarters, Abuja has confirmed recovering 113 live ammunition and other dangerous weaponry from some criminal and political elements across the country.
    It further noted that with the commencement its military exercise, Operation 777 other illegal arms and weapons across the country will be flushed out.
    The Director, Defence Information, Brigadier-General John Agim who stated this in an interview with newsmen said the military started the operation in the first week of October 2018 and it “would not end until all illegally acquired weapons had been recovered from criminal elements nationwide.”
     
    When asked about the alleged return of a leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, to Nigeria, Agim said the Operation 777 would take care of it.
     
    He said, “The security council met last week, but before then, Operation 777 was established, which shows that we are thinking ahead of whatever security situation we have in our hands. We have said that the intention of the operation is to get unauthorised arms from the people.
     
    “So, whoever is having those weapons – whether they are criminals or they are armed by politicians – we don’t want to know. Those arrested will face the full weight of the law.
     
    “The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, established the operation and it is geared towards enhancing a stable environment for socioeconomic activities and the safety of Nigerians. It is focused on identifying and destroying bandits and other persons bearing arms against the Nigerian state.
     
    “It is also to eliminate armed gangs, as well as conduct search operations to retrieve illegal arms and ammunition. We will actively engage and sensitise the locals to cooperate with the military. In the last two weeks, a large number of arms, ammunition and other dangerous weapons were recovered.

  • Military helicopter crashes, kills 18

    Military helicopter crashes, kills 18

    An Ethiopian military helicopter crashed on Thursday, killing all 18 people on board, the state-affiliated Fana Broadcast Corporate reported.

    The aircraft crashed on a flight between the eastern city of Dire Dawa and Bishoftu in the centre of the country, the agency said.

    Everyone on board – 15 soldiers and three civilians – were killed.

    The helicopter belonged to the Ethiopian Defense Ministry, according to the Fana TV channel

    There were no immediate details about the cause of the crash, or what type of helicopter was involved.
    Ethiopia fields a number of Mi-17 utility helicopters, also known as the Mi-8.

    In 2013, an Ethiopian military cargo plane crashed in Mogadishu, killing four crew members.

    Sputnik/NAN