TheNewsGuru

Tag: Soldier

  • Police rescue soldier, 15 others abducted by insurgents

    Police rescue soldier, 15 others abducted by insurgents

    A team of policemen patrolling Maiduguri-Damaturu road, on Monday prevented the abduction of a soldier and 15 travellers by insurgents.

    The soldier, a Lance Corporal, is attached 4 Battalion, Marte.

    Borno Police Command spokesman, ASP Sani Kamilu said the incident occurred around Yanakiri and Kondori villages when insurgents in about 20 gun trucks ambushed the motorists.

    “They were intercepted and being abducted to the bush by suspected members of Boko Haram terrorists.

    “The crack team of the police in collaboration with the Police Rapid Response Squad on getting the information, pursued the suspected terrorists into the bush.

    “After an exchange of fire, the victims were rescued due to the superior fire power and techniques by the police operatives,” Kamilu said.

    He however said three of the travellers were still missing.

  • Kogi jailbreak: Soldier, policeman killed, two prison officials missing – FG

    Kogi jailbreak: Soldier, policeman killed, two prison officials missing – FG

    Two security operatives were killed when gunmen invaded the Kabba Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kogi State, authorities have said.

    Similarly, two officers of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), have not been accounted for, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, Sola Fasure, disclosed in a statement on Monday.

    The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who affirmed that he had been briefed by the Controller General of the NCoS, Haliru Nababa, described the incident as unfortunate.

    Giving more details regarding the event, Aregbesola explained that security officers – comprising 15 soldiers, 10 police officers, and 10 armed guards of the NCoS – on duty “fought gallantly” to repel the attack.

    “Regrettably, two officers of the correctional service are yet to be accounted for while one soldier and a policeman lost their lives during the attack,” he said.

    The Kabba Custodial facility had 294 inmates as of the time of the attack, many of whom escaped after the gunmen used explosives to destroy three sides of the perimeter fence.

    However, 28 inmates refused to escape and some of those that fled have voluntarily returned to the facility as of Monday morning.

    According to the minister, the controller-general of NCoS is currently monitoring the situation and a ‘crisis response centre’ has been activated.

    He added that a special task force has been mobilised to recapture the fleeing inmates while an inter-agency security task force was on the trail of the gunmen who attacked the facility.

    Aregbesola urged gave an assurance that the situation was under control., saying security forces would find the attackers and bring them to justice.

    “We shall leave no stone unturned to bring them back to custody,” he stated. “We are also putting INTERPOL on notice with their details, in case any of them attempts fleeing outside our shores.”

    He urged the people, especially the communities around the custodial facility, to be vigilant and report any strange and suspicious persons or activities to the nearest law enforcement agency.

    To the fleeing inmates, the minister warned that “escaping from lawful custody is a serious criminal offence. Law enforcement agencies and citizens are lawfully empowered to use all necessary means to arrest and bring you to justice.

    “You should, therefore, know what you are up against. You will, however, be eligible for mitigation if you wilfully surrender yourselves at the nearest law enforcement office.”

    Aregbesola stressed that the NCoS would not be cowed by elements seeking to compromise the security of the nation and promised to provide more updates at the end of the preliminary assessment.

  • Army arrests soldier for killing UNICAL student in Calabar

    Army arrests soldier for killing UNICAL student in Calabar

    The Nigerian Army has announced the arrest of a soldier who purportedly killed a final year Student of the University of Calabar.

    Brig Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, in a statement, said the Army had instituted an investigation into the allegations.

    TheNewsGuru gathered that Mr Gray Agbesu was killed on Friday by a serving soldier deployed on duty at the Calabar Correctional Service facility.

     

    Nwachukwu said the soldier who was arrested while trying to evade arrest, is in the custody of the Military Police and would face judicial processes after the investigation.

    He further said that the Commander 13 Brigade had also visited the scene of the incident and addressed the youth, assuring them of justice.

    ”The Brigade Commander has also paid a visit to the family of the deceased, where he reiterated the Army’s resolve to ensure that the family gets justice over the killing of their son.

    “The Commander has equally visited the Cross River State General Hospital, where the remains of the deceased was deposited,” he said.

     

    Nwachukwu assured the family and the community that the soldier will be duly investigated and made to face judicial processes as deemed appropriate by the law.

     

  • BREAKING: Gunmen kill army officer, leave soldier wounded in Jigawa

    BREAKING: Gunmen kill army officer, leave soldier wounded in Jigawa

    The Police in Jigawa said suspected armed robbers have shot dead an army officer, Maj. M.S. Isma’il and wounded a soldier, Pte. Harisu Aliyu.

    Police spokesman in the state, ASP Lawan Shiisu, who confirmed the incident to newsmen on Tuesday in Dutse, said that the shooting occurred on the Kano-Maiduguri Expressway on July 4.

    According to Shiisu, the robbers attacked the officer and soldier, while they were travelling from Maiduguri to Kaduna.

    “On July 4, at about 2100hrs, the police at Fanisau Division received information that the Maiduguri to Kano expressway was blocked by armed robbers at Dindibis Village, Dutse Local Government Area.

    “Police patrol team moved to the scene which is about 40m after Dindibis village, but before the team got there, the robbers had escaped into the bush.

    “Pte. Aliyu was wounded on his neck and shoulder while Maj. Isma’il was shot dead.

    “Both were moving from Maiduguri to Kaduna in a vehicle with registration number BWR105BX. Efforts are on to arrest the fleeing suspects,’’ Shiisu said.

  • ABSU clears air on video of alleged beating of soldier

    ABSU clears air on video of alleged beating of soldier

    The Abia State University, Uturu, has dissociated itself from a video that went viral showing a soldier being beaten by a mob.

    The ABSU’s Public Relations Officer, Chijioke Nwogu, in a press release, said the attention of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Onyemachi Ogbulu, and management of the varsity was drawn to the “online video allegedly showing some hoodlums attacking an army officer in a yet-to-be-ascertained specific location in Uturu.”

    “The university wishes to dissociate itself from such an ugly incident, as the students are presently on break, and warns mischief-makers in the habit of spreading false information trying to link the university to the alleged incident to desist forthwith.

    “The university appreciates the support and assistance of all security agencies, including the military, in the fight against all forms of criminality and their efforts in providing security within the university community.

    “We advise the students returning from break and the entire university community to go about their legitimate businesses without fear of molestation”, the release added

     

  • No soldier killed in Abia – Army

    No soldier killed in Abia – Army

    The director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Yerima, said the troops carried out routine operations in the State in line with rules of engagement.

    He stated this while reacting to a report alleging clash between soldiers and members of Eastern Security Network (ESN).

    “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to a story making rounds in the social media that troops are on vengeance mission in some communities in Abia State following the death of six soldiers in a clash with ESN/IPOB terrorists.

    “The story further alleged that as a result, residents of Elu, Amangwu and Amaekpu in Ohafia LGA have embarked on mass exodus out of fear.

    “The NA wishes to debunk the allegation as baseless fabrication aimed at not only tarnishing the good image of the NA but to create distrust between the public and security agents in the state.

    “The true position is that troops carried out routine clearance operations in line with the rules of engagement and respect for fundamental human rights of the citizens aimed restoring socio-economic activities which were hitherto disrupted by criminal activities of IPOB/ESN elements who attack security agents and government infrastructures.

    “Troops of the Nigerian Army working in conjunction with personnel of Nigeria Police and other security agencies leveraging on timely and accurate intelligence provided by patriotic citizens, are working tirelessly to restore normalcy to troubled areas and to rid the state a of criminal elements.

    “Consequently, we wish to reassure the good people of Abia State of the safety of their lives and property and also urge them to continue to report suspicious movements and activities of strange individuals or groups in their vicinity to the nearest security agency for prompt action.”

  • Soldier goes berserk at Seme border, shoots Customs officer dead, commits suicide

    Soldier goes berserk at Seme border, shoots Customs officer dead, commits suicide

    A soldier attached to 243 Recce Battalion Ibereko, Badagry, LCP Mahmud Sulaiman, turned the gun on himself after he shot dead a customs officer at Seme border on Wednesday.
    According to reports, the incident occurred when the team leader was trying to retrieve the gun from Sulaiman following his strange behavior.
    “In the process of retrieving the cocked weapon from him, which he resisted, he accidentally fired a shot and the stray bullet hit one Inspector of Custom, C.N Walter.
    “The customs officer, who was attached to Seme Border Area Command, was rushed to Badagry General Hospital for treatment.
    “But unfortunately, the customs officer died at about 6:40 a.m. on Thursday in the hospital.
    “Subsequently, Sulaiman also shot himself and died on the spot,” the source said.
    The incident occurred at about 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday at Oloko checkpoint, Gbaji on Badagry-Seme expressway.
    It was learnt that Sulaiman, who was recently redeployed to the Ibereko Battalion from the Theater of Operation in the North-East, had been behaving abnormally since assumption of duty in Badagry.
    “He always cock his AK 47 rifle fully loaded with ammunition, an action that made his Team Leader to report the matter to the Commanding Officer of 243 Recce Battalion, Col. Nicholas Rume, where he was serving.
    “The commanding officer immediately ordered for the retrieval of the weapon from him,” he said.
    Contacted, the Customs Public Relations Officer in Seme border, Mr Abdulahi Hussiain, confirmed the incident, saying that the situation is under control.
    “It is true, it was an accident but the situation is under control now.
    “It is unfortunate the soldier committed suicide,” he said.
  • Soldier shoots truck driver for refusing to pay N200 bribe in Rivers

    Soldier shoots truck driver for refusing to pay N200 bribe in Rivers

    There was pandemonium on Saturday at the Airport Junction, Omuagwa Community, Ikwerre Local Government Area, Rivers State, following the shooting of a trailer driver by a yet-to-be-identified soldier.

    According to reports, the incident happened at an Army Checkpoint along Port Harcourt-Airport-Owerri Road, Omagwa, at about 9 pm on Friday.

    It was learnt that the soldier demanded N200, which tanker drivers usually paid at the checkpoint, but the driver refused to pay the money.

    The angry soldier was said to have shot the driver, an action that led to a heavy protest.

    Tanker drivers trooped out on Saturday to block the road including the busy the including Airport-Obiri Ikwerre Road, causing untold hardship to commuters.

    The soldiers accused of extorting motorists at the checkpoint were said to have fled the area.

    The Chairman of Ikwerre LGA, Samuel Nwanosike, who confirmed the development, said the victim had been rushed to a health facility for treatment.

    Nwanosike noted that the council authority intervened in the matter and reopened the road earlier blocked by the protesting tanker drivers.

    He said: “We had a development last night where security operatives had issues with tanker drivers in the state. The Association of Tanker drivers shut down the road to commuters.

    “To the glory of God the tanker driver that was attacked. We have taken him to the hospital and he is receiving treatment. The local government is taking care of that. We have spoken with the association, the road has been opened.

    “What we are saying is that the perpetrators of this act must be brought to book. The unknown military man must be fetched. We know that deployment was made in that checkpoint and they will produce this officer that carried out this act. Security is provided to ensure protection of lives and property and not to cause havoc.

    “We are saying that no security operatives should collect money from commercial drivers. Ikwerre local government is the only local government that does not have task- force collecting money from motorists. And we are saying that we will not accept the drivers collecting money again. We will set up taskforce to that effect.”

  • Court sentences fake soldier to 1 month imprisonment

    Court sentences fake soldier to 1 month imprisonment

    A Wuse Zone Six Chief Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, on Friday, sentenced a 22-year-old man, Ali Mohammed, to one month imprisonment for impersonating a military officer.

    The Magistrate, Mr Aminu Eri, however, gave the convict an option to pay a fine of N10,000.

    Eri said that the prosecution had proven his case beyond the reasonable doubt that the convict was guilty of the charges preferred against him.

    Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, ASP Peter Ejike said that convict committed the offence on Jan. 16 and Jan. 17 at the Wuse market, Abuja.

    Ejike said the convict met one of the complainant, Abubakar Sani, a POS agent on Jan. 17, introduced himself as a Military officer and deceitfully collected N7,000 from him.

    The prosecutor further said that the convict was dressed in a military camouflage.

    He also said that the convict met the second complainant, Yakubu Mohammed on Jan. 16, in his shop and collected his MP3 player valued at N5,500 and N500 cash.

    He said when the complainant confronted the convict and demanded for his money, he beat him up.

    The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 312,322,269 and 132 of the Penal Code Law

  • Gunmen kill police officer, soldier in Delta

    Gunmen kill police officer, soldier in Delta

    The Nigeria Police, Delta Command, has confirmed the alleged killing of a soldier and a policeman by gunmen at Oton community in Sapele.
    The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, gave the confirmation by telephone on Monday in Warri.
    “Two operatives were killed, we are investigating the incident and no one has been arrested in connection with the attack,” he said.
    A community source said that the incident happened at a military checkpoint at Oton on Sunday night
    The source added that the victims were killed by the armed bandits who came with a speed boat through the Oton River in Sapele and attacked the military checkpoint.
    “The operatives were repelling the hoodlums when gunshots from the bandits hit the security operatives,” the source said.