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Tag: NDA

  • How bandits’ invasion of NDA premises embarrassed me – CDS Irabor

    How bandits’ invasion of NDA premises embarrassed me – CDS Irabor

    Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, has said that he was embarrassed that the army did not foresee the attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy.

    “Nigerian Defence Academy is not a place where we could think that we should fortify to such a level that liberty that is required to be able to emplace the level of leadership learning and skills will be lost,” he said during a programme – RadioNow’s Urgent Conversations, monitored on Channels Television on Friday.

    “But that, of course, is a lesson we have factored, and it does not in any way dampen the preparedness of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to what it should. And it does not in any way speak to our weakness and our inability to defend the nation”.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the academy was attacked by bandits in August, resulting in the abduction of one officer and the death of two others.

    The bandits, who came in a vehicle, were said to have passed through the security gate into the academy, disguised in military uniforms, after which they proceeded to the officers’ quarters.

    On arrival, they began shooting sporadically and in the process, killed two officers (a Major and a Squadron Leader), and later on, took another Major away through the nearby bush inside the academy.

    The sound of the gunfire, however, alerted the troops of the NDA Quick Response Team, who arrived at the scene, but were unable to rescue the kidnapped officer as the bandits were already gone with the victim

  • Troops rescue abducted NDA officer

    Troops rescue abducted NDA officer

    Troops of the Nigerian Army, Airforce and other security agencies have rescued Maj. Christopher Datong, the officer abducted at the permanent site of Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna, on Aug. 24.

    The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Col Ezindu Idimah, said in a statement issued in Kaduna that the officer was rescued in the late hours of Friday, Sept.17.

    He said the Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs had earlier issued a directive after the abduction of the officer, that he be rescued and his abductors, fished out.

    The spokesperson said sequel to the directive, the 1 Division, in conjunction with the Air Task Force, Department of State Services and other security agencies, swung into action by conducting operations in the Afaka general area of Kaduna, to locate and rescue the officer.

    He explained that the operations were conducted based on several leads received from various sources regarding the abductors, and likely locations the officer was held.

    Idimah stated that the operations were sustained since the abduction of the officer, resulting in the destruction of several identified bandits’ camps in the Afaka- Birnin Gwari general area, and the neutralization of scores of bandits, particularly in the late hours of Sept 17.

    He said upon arrival at a camp suspected to be the location where Datong was being held, the troops exchanged fire with the bandits and in the process, the abducted officer was rescued.

    However, he said the officer sustained a minor injury, but had been treated in a medical facility and handed over to NDA for further action.

    “The Division wishes to commend the efforts of the NAF, DSS , Nigerian Police and patriotic Nigerians for their invaluable support, which contributed to the success of this operation.

    “Our operations will continue until we capture or neutralize the assailants that killed two officers in the NDA on 24 August 2021,” Idimah said.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Defence Academy, Maj. Bashir Jajira, also confirmed the rescue of the officer.

    Recalled that on Aug 24 NDA confirmed an attack at the academy, where two officers where killed and one other, abducted.

  • NDA attack: Reps meet with Academy commandant behind closed doors

    NDA attack: Reps meet with Academy commandant behind closed doors

    House of Representatives Committee on Defence on Tuesday met behind closed doors with the Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Major-General Ibrahim Yusuf.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the House committee meeting with Major-General Yusuf was prompted by the recent attack by suspected bandits on the NDA.

    During the attack on August 24, two officers were killed and one abducted.

    Major-General Yusuf briefed the House committee behind closed doors after insisting documents to be presented to the committee members were classified.

    Yusuf had before the meeting went into close door, said he would brief the committee on the ongoing effort of the military to rescue the abducted officer.

    He disclosed that the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt Gen. Lucky Irabor had visited the scene of the attack the day it happened, adding that many other serving and retired military officers also visited.

    The Committee Chairman, Babajimi Benson (APC-Lagos), therefore, asked journalists present to leave, but said the committee would find out about efforts being made to rescue the abducted officer.

  • Victims of NDA attack won’t die in vain – Buhari

    Victims of NDA attack won’t die in vain – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said the attack launched on the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) on Tuesday, will not dampen the morale of the Armed Forces.

    On the contrary, he said, it will buoy their determination to make a decisive end of criminality in the country,

    In his reaction to the killing of some military officers, Buhari said the attack coincided with a time that the military had put insurgents, bandits, kidnappers, and other types of criminals on the retreat.

    The latest heinous action, he said, would accelerate the total uprooting of evil in the polity.

    He said members of the Armed Forces are solidly resolved to accomplish the goal in the shortest possible time.

    Commiserating with the families who lost their loved ones, and praying God to comfort them, President Buhari vowed that the deceased would not die in vain.

    He said the degenerate act would have consequences that will eventually clean the country of vermin, and emancipate the polity from deliberate, targeted and contrived atrocious acts.

    The President thanked all Nigerians who value and appreciate the efforts of our military.

    He urged those playing hateful politics with the dastardly act to desist.

    Rather than recriminations, this is the time for all patriots and people of goodwill to support and encourage those who are in the vanguard of the battle against wickedness in the land.

  • Northern elders call for sack of NSA over NDA attack

    Northern elders call for sack of NSA over NDA attack

    Northern Elders have called for the review of security architecture and the immediate sack of the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (Rtd) over the attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).

     

    The group attributed Tuesday’s morning attack by bandits, which left two military officers dead and one other kidnapped to failure of Nigeria’s intelligence network.

    TheNewsGuru recalls that Nigerian Army had earlier confirmed the killing of two of its officers and kidnapping of a senior officer at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Afaka, Kaduna State.

    Witnesses said the bandits came in a large number in the early hours of Tuesday, adding that apart from the officers killed and kidnapped, some others sustained gunshot injuries and are receiving treatment at the NDA hospital.

    The organisation, in a statement following the attack, also sought an in-depth review of the entire security architecture as according to them, the entire security chiefs must bear the blame.

    The group under the aegis of Coalition of Northern Elders for Peace and Development (CNEPD), in the statement by its national coordinator, Engr. Zana Goni, while blaming President Muhammadu Buhari for leaving Monguno behind at the time he replaced service chiefs, expressed unflinching support to the President and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Maintaining that their position was based on patriotism to the country, the elders insisted that it was time for the President to do away with Monguno following the worsening insecurity in the country.

    The deteriorating security situation, according to the Coalition, is a sign that Monguno, who manages the nation’s security was not on top of his game.

    The statement berated stakeholders in the region over what the group described as “their long silence in the face of unbearable criminal acts by armed herdsmen and insecurity across the country ‘thereby giving a bad image of the region.”

    “We find it once more expedient to comment on the worsening security situation in the country, especially the latest attack on a military formation,the Nigerian Defence Academy, which is the institution where future military leaders are trained.

    “We woke up to the sad news of the attack on the NDA, leaving two officers killed and another abducted by bandits with heavy hearts. If it was not the confirmation of this unbelievable action by the Academy’s spokesperson, Bashir Jajira, we would have still been in doubt.

    “The fact that a fortified military institution could be so easily invaded by armed militias without resistance has left us with the conclusion that no part of this country and no citizen,no matter his or status is safe again.

    “Without mincing words, we wish to attribute this ugly development to intelligence failure and gaps in the capacity of our armed forces. We wish to strongly say here that the attack is a slap on the Nigeria intelligence community and the armed forces.

    “The retention of the National Security Adviser, General Babagana Monguno at the time the president listened to the voice of reason and replaced service chiefs, may be contributing to the continuous deteriorating security situation in the country.

    “Given the situation, we wish to humbly and respectively appeal to our dear President, Muhammadu Buhari, to as a matter of urgent national importance, replace the NSA, whose tenure since his assumption of office,has been characterised by heightened Boko Haram activities, banditry,kidnap for ransom and other heinous crimes without end in sight.

    We reinstate unequivocally that Monguno has failed to provide useful advice to address the scourging insecurity in the country and therefore,does not deserve continuous stay in office.

    “As Northern elders,we have found it very important to call on President Buhari to remove the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (retd), whose office and responsibilities are critical to the achievement of comprehensive security all over the country but hasn’t used the high esteem of his office in any productive ways since his appointment as NSA.

    ‘The reason for this call is not farfetched. We believe that Major-Gen Monguno was part of the gross failure associated with the tenure of the former security chiefs and his continued presence in office will make the success Buhari intended to achieve with the changes very difficult, if not completely impossible.

    ‘It is important that the NSA be replaced and the security architecture of the nation reviewed so that the process of injecting fresh blood can be completed.

    ‘We believe that the service chiefs need a clean slate to succeed as to avoid being tied to the springs of the past fatal failures. This call is both patriotic and totally apolitical as expected from a responsible group of elders in our dear region

    ‘It would be to the highest interests of Nigeria for the president to heed this call and act on it immediately,” the group stated.

  • Attack on NDA is ‘madness’ – CDS Irabor

    Attack on NDA is ‘madness’ – CDS Irabor

    The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, has condemned the attack on the permanent site of the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna State.

    Addressing reporters on Tuesday in Yola, he described the attack carried out by bandits as madness that must be stopped as soon as possible.

    “The incident in Kaduna, of course, has been undertaken by bandits, but it is more of an armed robber coming to your house,” said General Irabor who was in Adamawa State to meet with retired senior military officers in the north-east region.

    “The infiltration did not come by virtue of the normal banditry action, but these are things we are already looking at and in due course, you will get the details.

    “Any form of insecurity is a cause for worry for anyone and that is why for us, we are more determined that this madness must be brought to an end very speedily.”

    Speaking about the insurgency in the North East, the CDS thanked the residents for genuinely supporting the ongoing intensive clearance operations by troops towards the restoration of permanent peace in the zone.

    He said the solutions to the security challenges in the North East lie in the region, with hopes that the situation will get better in the days ahead.

    General Irabor equally allayed the fears of Nigerians on the ongoing mass surrendering of Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) ex-fighters to the military.

    He asked residents and Nigerians to trust the relevant agencies that have been tasked with the responsibilities of planning the rehabilitation of repented insurgents.

    According to the defence chief, the military will deal with the matter for the good of the region as there will be no loose ends.

    He urged the military veterans to take full advantage of the security parley in evaluating the various military operations, saying their patriotic and constructive assessment of the general security situation would add value to the ongoing clearance operations.

    “What remains very clear is the desire and will of the AFN to speedily turn around the fortune of the North East to a state where everyone will be happy again,” the CDS said.

  • Attack on NDA: Death toll rises to three; Major Datong kidnapped by bandits found dead [Photos of slain officers]

    Attack on NDA: Death toll rises to three; Major Datong kidnapped by bandits found dead [Photos of slain officers]

    The military officer Major Christopher Datong abducted yesterday at Nigerian Defence Academy, Afaka in Kaduna has been murdered.

    This development brings the number of officers killed by the bandits in the ugly incident to three.

    Recall TheNewsGuru (TNG) had earlier reported how the murdering bandits shot Lieutenant Commander Wulah and Flight Lieutenant Okoronkwo while Major Datong is still missing.

    Flight Lieutenant Okoronkwo
    Flight Lieutenant Okoronkwo
    Flight Lieutenant Okoronkeo
    Flight Lieutenant Okoronkwo

    For Major Datung, his body was reportedly found on Tuesday evening, hours after he was captured by bandits.

    Datong and his wife

    One of the photographs circulating in the social media showed the officer with his pregnant wife.

     

    The abductors reportedly demanded N200 million to set him free.

    Datong who was from Pankshin in Plateau state, was born 4 January, 1978.

     

     

    The security breach of the Nigerian Defence Academy has been highly condemned by concerned Nigerians and perceived as pointer to the failure of the country’s security architecture.

    NDA’s Public Relations Officer, Major Bashir Muhd Jajira, who reported the attack earlier said two soldiers were killed..

    A statement sent by Jajira said:

    “The security architecture of the Nigerian Defence Academy was compromised early this morning by unknown gunmen who gained access into the residential area within the Academy in Afaka. During the unfortunate incident, we lost two personnel and one was abducted.

    “The Academy in collaboration with the 1Division Nigerian Army and Air Training Command as well as other security agencies in Kaduna state has since commenced pursuit of the unknown gunmen within the general area with a view to tracking them and rescue the abducted personnel.

    “The NDA community and Cadets are safe in the Academy. We assure the general public that these unknown gunmen would soon be apprehended and the abducted personnel rescued.”

    Speaker of Kaduna State House of Assembly, Alhaji Yusuf Zailani, has described the invasion as an assault on the country’s territorial integrity

    Zailani, who stated this in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ibrahim Danfulani, in Kaduna, on Tuesday, said that the incident must be treated with all seriousness and thoroughly investigated.

    The speaker described NDA as the premier training citadel for members of Nigeria’s armed forces and pride to the country and Africa.

    He said the attack on such an institution was unacceptable and must be investigated by the military hierarchy.

    “It is disheartening and unfortunate for such an attack to have taken place, catching those in charge of its internal security off-guard,” Zailani said.

    While commending security personnel for making efforts to decimate bandits and insurgents nationwide, he said that they should not let the NDA incident demoralise them.

    “I sincerely commiserate with the families of those who lost their lives.

    “I am, however, pleased that the NDA authorities have given assurance that the assailants are being trailed and that they will be apprehended,” the speaker added.

  • Four years after: MDAs yet to remit N1.2trn-Fiscal Responsibility Comm Boss

    Four years after: MDAs yet to remit N1.2trn-Fiscal Responsibility Comm Boss

    …says comm identified 46 offences but Act has no provision for punitive measures

    By Emman Ovuakporie

    Executive Chairman of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission, FRC, Victor Muruako on Wednesday said Ministries Departments Agencies, MDAs, have failed to remit N1.2trillion for the past four years to the Federal Government.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports many MDAs still persist in defaulting and practically keeping money away from the Federal Government’s reach for funding its budgets.
    Speaking at an ongoing press briefing in the National Assembly, the FRC boss stated that:
    “Our records indicate that over N1.2trn is still in the hands of defaulting MDAs.
    “These figures are confirmed from our analysis from annual audited financial reports submitted to our commission by the concerned agencies.

    “Much more is yet out there in the hands of the MDAs that either have failed to dutifully audit their accounts or that have done so but choose not to forward copies of their financial reports to the commission as required by law.

    He also lamented that”in the Act establishing the commission, 46 offences were identified but no punitive measures attached.

  • Maj.-Gen Yaro takes over as 30th commandant of NDA

    Maj.-Gen Yaro takes over as 30th commandant of NDA

    Maj.-Gen Sagir Yaro, has officially assumed duty as the 30th Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) on Wednesday in Kaduna State.

    The Academy Public Relations Officer, Major Bashir Jagira made this known in a statement issued on Thursday in Kaduna.

    Jagira said Yaro took over from Maj.-Gen Jamil Sarham, who is now to proceed on a Senior Research Fellow course at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, Plateau State.

    According to the statement, Yaro, is a seasoned senior military officer of the Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers, and member of the 36th Regular Course of the NDA, he has held several appointments cutting across Command, Staff and Instructional.

    He said before his recent appointment, he was the General Managing Director, Nigerian Army Welfare Limited by Guarantee (NAWLG).

    While addressing Principal Staff Officers, Deans and Heads of Departments during the handing over ceremony, the outgoing Commandant, described the new Commandant as a regimental and thoroughbred Super Officer, who is endowed with vast exposure and experience, which he expects will be brought to bear in running the affairs of the Academy.

    Sarham also assured the staff that, the new commandant would continue with the extensive infrastructural development ongoing at the Academy, as well as sustain the improvements that have been achieved in the quality of training of cadets under his tenure as Commandant.

    He wished Yaro good health, God’s guidance and wisdom in the discharge of his duties as Commandant.

    He also calling for support from military and civilian staff of the academy for the new Commandant.

    Sarham further highlighted some of his achievements as Commandant to include the development of various instratructural projects across the academy.

    Marked improvements in the grooming and training of top quality cadets that are professionally responsive to the present challenges and equipped to meet both current and future needs of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

    In his response, the new commandant, thanked God almighty and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, for finding him worthy of the enviable appointment as Commandant of NDA.

    He applauded his predecessor on the various developmental projects ongoing in the academy and for the various innovative ideas he adopted during his tenure as Commandant of the NDA.

    He, however, pledged to continue in the general improvement in the affairs of the academy, towards achieving the mission and vision of the NDA and that of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

    Yaro urged staff of the academy to embrace team spirit in order to succeed in the important task of producing well trained officer cadets for the nation.

    The highlights of the event was the signing of the handing and taking over notes.

    The decoration of the Incoming commandant with the NDA’s insignia and hoisting of the NDA Flag which marks the symbol of new authority in the academy was also observed.

  • NDA 73 regular course entry forms not on sale – Official

    NDA 73 regular course entry forms not on sale – Official

    The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has called on the public to disregard claims that forms for entry into 73 Regular Course are on sale.

    The Public Relations Officer, NDA, Major Abubakar Abdullahi, made the call in a statement in Kaduna on Monday.

    According to Abdullahi, any information circulating on social media purporting sale of the forms is false and has no link with the NDA.

    “The general public is advised to shun any individual or group offering NDA forms for sale, as doing any business with such fraudulent individuals or groups will be at the bearer’s risk,” he said.

    Abdullahi stated that all activities relating to admissions into the NDA would be duly publicised on the official website of the institution: www.nda.edu.ng, and in some national dailies.

    “Interested applicants are thus advised to periodically check our website for information relating to all NDA admissions as well as other matters of interest,” he said.