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Tag: Nigerian Army

  • 2023 Elections: Nigeria Army releases hotlines to report breach, violence in North East

    2023 Elections: Nigeria Army releases hotlines to report breach, violence in North East

    The Theatre Command Operation Hadin Kai of the Nigerian Army has released hotlines to send reports or call during and after the general elections in the country.

    According to a statement shared via its official Twitter handle, it said the hotlines are specifically for the monitoring and reporting of security breaches during the elections in the North East.

    The Army also reiterated its stance to monitor the elections and see to reduce to the barest minimum, illegalities, suspicious acts and any act of violence that could emanate from  any individual, group or association in the region.

    The security agency said the general public are kindly enjoined to “call the numbers and report any suspicious act or moves that poses a threat to peaceful conduct of the 2023 General Elections in the North Eastern region of Nigeria.”

    Army Hotlines

    HQ JTF (NE) OPHK
    09041555348 07068527741

    SECTOR 1 OPHK & 7 DIVISION NA
    08033592680

    SECTOR 2 OPHK, DAMATURU
    09116135889 08065682446

    SECTOR 3 OPHK, MONGONU
    08030609719 (WhatsApp only)

  • Nigerian army releases hotlines to public ahead of election

    Nigerian army releases hotlines to public ahead of election

    The Nigerian Army (NA) has approved a list of Hotlines to report any suspicious act of violence by unscrupulous persons during the forthcoming general election.

    The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Nwachukwu said the hotlines were to afford members of the public, the opportunity to support the efforts of security agencies in ensuring peaceful elections across the country.

    He said the hotlines were also released to report the conduct of troops deployed to provide security during the election.

    This, according to him, is part of Nigerian army’s move to support the police, which is the lead security agency, to ensure  successful conduct of free, fair and peaceful elections.

    Recalled that the Nigerian army had earlier produced and circulated Codes of Conduct and Rules of Engagement for Operation Safe Conduct to its formations and Units.

    The manual is to provide guidance and ensure that troops operate within the provisions of the law.

    “Members of the general public are please enjoined to call the phone numbers below in their various states including the Federal Capital Territory Abuja to report any security breach during the elections:

    ABIA STATE 08031113129

    ADAMAWA STATE 08022750987

    AKWA-IBOM STATE 07034470916

    ANAMBRA STATE 07035891185

    BAUCHI STATE 08128063675

    BAYELSA STATE 08033241005

    BENUE STATE 08080754339

    BORNO STATE 09099616160, 08086987079

    CROSS RIVER STATE 08037084192

    DELTA STATE 07035070797

    EBONYI STATE  08158274048

    EDO STATE  09066325953

    EKITI STATE  08037851448

    ENUGU STATE 09032102212, 08023097458

    GOMBE STATE  07063908779, 08082557782

    IMO STATE  07034907427

    JIGAWA STATE  07017791414, 08100144363

    KADUNA STATE 07031544227, 08028580978, 08035242633

    KANO STATE  08038432656

    KATSINA STATE 08108854061, 09012998054

    KEBBI STATE  09130213661

    KOGI STATE  08033217964

    KWARA STATE  09060001270

    LAGOS STATE 08034025825, 08023190487, 09024409000 08033709434

    NASSARAWA STATE 09051009404

    NIGER STATE  07031346425

    OGUN STATE  09116589494

    ONDO STATE  08036130535

    OSUN STATE  09019683922

    OYO STATE  07047703000

    PLATEAU STATE  08037116395, 07031260622

    RIVERS STATE  08064274222

    SOKOTO STATE  07069084570, 07052693532, 08136913284

    TARABA STATE  08136728969, 08060902363

    YOBE STATE  08061397656

    ZAMFARA STATE  08140075541

    FCT  09114913164, 08186690471, 08079153860, 08034276240, 08164304255, 09159793968.

  • Abducted female officer not rescued yet – Nigerian Army

    Abducted female officer not rescued yet – Nigerian Army

    The Nigerian Army (NA) has disclosed Lieutenant P. P. Johnson, a female officer who was abducted while visiting her grandmother in Aku-Okigwe in Imo state is yet to be rescued.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations made the disclosure in a statement on Friday.

    Recall that Lieutenant P. P. Johnson was abducted by unknown gunmen on Monday 26 December 2022 shortly after completing her Cadet training and subsequent commissioning as a Lieutenant into the Nigerian Army.

    A video footage of her abduction emerged on social media where her abductors claimed the abduction was in line with their fight for Biafra against the Nigerian State.

    The statement reads: “It is instructive that the officer’s circumstance as a woman and a Nigerian citizen of South Eastern extraction did not dissuade her abductors from dehumanizing her in their mindless attempt to commit atrocities under the guise of fighting for Biafra.

    “This evidently is another pointer to the myriads of crimes being unleashed by IPOB/ ESN on Ndigbo, the very people they claim to be fighting for their emancipation.

    “It should therefore be crystal clear to those who are still in doubt of the true status of these groups, that IPOB/ESN are terrorists, masquerading as freedom fighters and do not deserve the support of anyone particularly the good people of South East Nigeria.

    “The NA wishes to state that the information making the rounds is unsubstantiated as the officer is yet to be released or rescued from her abductors.

    “Likewise, the video footage being circulated and associated with the rescue claim is an old video of the arrest of a suspect earlier effected by troops.

    “Much as we appreciate the concern and goodwill of the general public for her safe rescue, we also wish to note that the information on the rescue of the officer did not emanate from the NA.

    “The Nigerian Army will leave no stone unturned in its effort to rescue the officer and bring the perpetrators to book. We appeal to the general public to provide credible and reliable information that could lead to her safe rescue and arrest of the perpetrators”.

  • Nigerian Army rescues abducted female soldier in Enugu

    Nigerian Army rescues abducted female soldier in Enugu

    A kidnapped female soldier has been rescued by the combo of the Nigerian Army and the Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday.

    The female Lieutenant p.p Johnson was abducted by unknown gunmen few days ago.

    The Army officer had been moved to a forest bordering Enugu State and Ihube Okigwe Local Government Area in Imo State.

    The gang stripped the officer, from Abia State, and made a video of her on 26th of December, Boxing Day.

    The voice behind the recording said the location was along Enugu highway which links Port Harcourt, the Rivers capital.

    Recall that Johnson was kidnapped when she travelled to her hometown for Christmas Day celebration.

    The victim passed out on December 17 after completing the Direct Short Service Course.

    It was gathered that the Army leadership quickly mobilized its men to rescue her after the news of her disappearance surfaced.

    It is suspected that the recording, which circulated on the internet, might have assisted security agencies in tracking the abductors.

     

  • Oil theft: Nigerian Army recovers 445,000 litres of crude oil

    Oil theft: Nigerian Army recovers 445,000 litres of crude oil

    The Nigerian Defence Headquarters says it has recovered 445,000 litres of crude oil, 1.04 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil, 22,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and 2,000 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosine from oil thieves in the Niger-Delta region.

    Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, who disclosed this on Thursday while giving update on military operations said cumulatively, oil thieves were denied a total of N713.6 million in the last three weeks.

    Troops of Operation Delta Safe the troops of Operation Delta Safe also destroyed 57 illegal refining sites and apprehended 21 oil thieves in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states within the period under review.

    “The large quantity of illegal crude oil and other petroleum products recovered and destroyed and the number of arrested oil thieves and pipeline vandals, shows the unrelenting efforts by the troops of Operation Delta Safe in denying them freedom of action,” Danmadami said.

    The army also confiscated eight tankers, 63 vehicles, two speed boats, one thug boat, 14 motorcycles, one tricycle, three bicycles, 11 pumping machines and three outboard engines.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) recalls that in October, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited disclosed it had uncovered an illegal four-kilometre oil connection from Forcados Terminal into the sea that operated for nine years undetected.

    The company further said that the Afremo platform, operated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), was the suspected exit point of the stolen crude.

    Shell has launched an investigation to establish where the theft lines end and whether there have been any breaches of the unmanned platform’s security barriers or any unauthorised use of the equipment on it.

    Oil theft in the country has been ongoing for at least 22 years but the dimension and rate it assumed in recent times is said to be unprecedented.

  • Guards Brigade celebrates Buhari @ 80, presents gifts

    Guards Brigade celebrates Buhari @ 80, presents gifts

    As part of activities to celebrate President Muhammadu Buhari’s 80th Birthday, the Commander, Guards Brigade Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Usman has led his officers on a special visit to the president.

    The Assistant Director Army Public Relations, Guards Brigade, Capt. Godfrey Abakpa, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Usman said the visit was to specially congratulate the Commander-in- Chief as he clocked 80 and to further wish him many more years of celebration in good health.

    He used the opportunity to appreciate Buhari for providing the Brigade with the requisite platforms needed to secure the Federal Capital and the environs.

    The commander said the support had gone a long way towards ensuring the security of neighbouring states of Niger, Kogi, Kaduna and Nasarawa.

    Responding, the president thanked the commander and his team for their service, sacrifice as well as dedication.

    Buhari further reminded them of the tenets of the military service which he said requires self-sacrifice and commitment.

    He added that he was grateful to God almighty for keeping him so far since he became the president.

    Buhari said that the Armed Forces had lived up to expectations in addressing the several security challenges.

    He assured Nigerians of his unwavering commitment to the service of the father land to continue to serve the nation.

    Buhari used the event to congratulate the Commander Guards Brigade and other senior officers of the Nigerian Army, who benefited from the recent promotion for the rank of Brigadier to Major General.

    The highpoint of the visit was the presentation of gift items to the president by the Guards Brigade team.

    The event was witnessed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari and Permanent Secretary, State House, Tijani Idris.

    Also in attendance were the Commanding officers of the various Guards Battalion under the Brigade.

  • Army promotes 122 senior officers to Brigadier, Major Generals

    Army promotes 122 senior officers to Brigadier, Major Generals

    The Nigerian Army Council has approved the promotion of senior officers to the ranks of Major General and Brigadier General.

    A statement by Army spokesperson, Brig.- Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Friday, disclosed that a total of 122 senior officers of the ranks of Brigadier General and Colonels were elevated to the next higher rank.

    According to the statement, while a total of 52 Brigadier Generals were meritoriously promoted to the rank of Major General, 70 colonels were also elevated to the rank of Brigadier General.

    The statement read in part: “Amongst those promoted to the rank of Major General are Brigadier Generals AA Ayanuga of the Department of Army Transformation and Innovation, EH Akpan of Theatre Command Operation HADIN KAI, NM Jega of the Defence Headquarters, JO Ugwuoke of the Department of Army Logistics, PAO Okoye of the Department of Army Operations, EF Oyinlola of the Department of Special Services and Programmes, AA Adekeye of 21 Special Armoured Brigade, AE Edet of Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, AB Mohammed of Army Headquarters Operations Monitoring Team, and MT Usman of the Headquarters Guards Brigade.

    “Other beneficiaries include Brigadier Generals IM Abdullahi of Headquarters 35 Brigade, AO Agboola of the Department of Army Training, EE Emekah of Nigerian Defence Academy, HE Nzan of Department of Army Standards and Evaluation, LA Lebo of Department of Army Training, UT Otaru of Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport and AU Obiwulu of 1 Base Workshop, amongst others.

    “Some of the colonels elevated to the rank of Brigadier General are, Colonels AO Ajagbe, JO Ogbobe, MG Hammawa, SS Bello, SOG Aremu, NG Mohammed, OI Odigie, CA Osuagwu, MO Eteng and ED Idima amongst others.

    “The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya congratulates all the promoted officers and their families. He has also charged them to remain focused, selfless and loyal in their service to the nation to justify the confidence and trust reposed in them by the Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Mohammadu Buhari, the Nigerian Army and indeed all Nigerians.”

  • UN calls for investigation into allegations of forced abortions done by the Nigerian Army

    UN calls for investigation into allegations of forced abortions done by the Nigerian Army

    The United Nations has urged the Nigerian authorities to investigate reports of systemic and coerced abortions allegedly perpetrated by its army since 2013, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric has said.

    An investigation by the Reuters news agency published on Wednesday revealed that the abortions carried out on women and girls with pregnancies ranging from a few weeks to eight months were mostly carried out without the person’s consent, and often without their prior knowledge.

    “We call on the Nigerian authorities to fully investigate these allegations and make sure there’s accountability,” Dujarric told reporters on Friday.

    The Reuters report said some of the girls were as young as 12 years old and just one out of the 33 victims who said they underwent abortions while in the custody of the Nigerian Army, admitted during an interview that she voluntarily consented to the procedure.

    Five civilian healthcare workers, nine security personnel involved in the programme, and other government employees such as armed guards engaged in escorting pregnant women to abortion sites were also interviewed during the investigation.

    “Reuters reviewed copies of military documents and civilian hospital records describing or tallying thousands of abortion procedures,” the report claimed.

    However, the Nigerian military has denied the programme ever existed and said Reuters reporting was part of a foreign effort to undermine the country’s fight against the insurgents.

    Chief of Defence Staff Lucky Irabor, speaking at the 61st session of the weekly media briefing organized by the Presidential Communications Team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, described the allegations as spurious.

    “I was informed by the Director of Defence Information that he received a mail from Reuters requesting to have an interview with me and he gave me a letter written by one Alexandra Xavis making all manner of spurious allegations, many of which have now been published by the same Reuters.

    “I thought with the problems we are contending with, I should not waste my energy on such things besides, it falls within the realm of ‘my mind is made up’ and since that was the position of Reuters, I didn’t think it was necessary for me to call them up and engage in that.

    “We are not unaware that there are extra-territorial elements who do not want us to live in peace or move forward. I am also aware that the war economy has affected many people and now that we are making progress, they think that we need to return to the old order,” Irabor said.

    Similarly, the Major General who heads the military’s counterinsurgency campaign in the northeast Christopher Musa, in a November 24 interview with Reuters addressed the abortion programme.

    “Not in Nigeria, not in Nigeria. Everybody respects life. We respect families. We respect women and children. We respect every living soul,” Musa was quoted by Reuters as saying.

  • Insecurity: Troops repel bandits, recover arms in Kaduna

    Insecurity: Troops repel bandits, recover arms in Kaduna

    The Nigerian Army on Sunday confirmed that its men repelled one of the bandits in Kaduna state while others were neutralized, adding that many of them also escaped with bullet wounds.

    Commissioner for Home Affairs and internal security, Kaduna State, Samuel Aruwan confirmed this through a statement signed and released by him.

    He said the bandits tried to invade Kankomi, in Chikun Local Government area of the state, but the vigilant troops engaged them in fierce battle and subsequently neutralized one.

    He added that the troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, seven AK-47 magazines, seven rounds of ammunition and five locally-made grenades from the bandits.

    He added that as the troops were exploring the area, three corpses of locals were discovered.

    The statement further said that in another location, troops of Operation Forest Sanity during operations along the Gwagwada-Chikun-Sarkin Pawa axis, neutralized one bandit, and recovered AK-47 rifle, while two motorcycles were recovered from flew Terrorists’ around Kafaiyo, Dafako, Kopi and Gadani.

    He said Governor Nasir El-Rufai, while condoling with the family of those killed, praised the efforts of troops and urged them to keep up the good work

  • Terrorism: Army captures ISWAP commander, kill many fighters in Niger state

    Terrorism: Army captures ISWAP commander, kill many fighters in Niger state

    Many members of the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) have been killed by operatives of the Nigerian Army on Sunday in Niger state.

    They met their waterloo while trying to free their leaders detained at the Nigerian Army base in Niger state.

    A defense intelligence officer mentioned that the military had expected the terrorists who met an ambush.

    “Though the incident happened in the night, the troops had been anticipating such daring moves and had been on high alert.

    “They came into our trap. While at least seven bodies were counted, troops arrested one of the commanders who led the fighters”, the source said.

    It was gathered that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) 401 Air Combat Training Group (ACTG) supported troops from Wawa Cantonment in Borgu Local Government Area.

    In Borgu LGA is a NAF facility that houses Alpha jets and the A-29 Super Tucanos purchased from America.

    Wawa Cantonment, home to the 221 Light Tank Battalion, is located in New Bussa, near the border with the Benin Republic.

    The Army base accommodates hundreds of terrorism suspects undergoing trial.

    In 2017, the Federal Government announced that around 2,500 suspects were being held at the formation.

    In 2018, a special Federal High Court established to try terrorism-related cases sentenced 113 Boko Haram members to prison.

    The latest attempt to free those in government custody occurred months after the attack on the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kuje, Abuja.

    With a video, ISWAP claimed responsibility for the breach which allowed scores of convicted insurgents to escape.