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Tag: soldiers

  • JUST IN: Boko Haram kills Colonel, five soldiers in Borno

    An Army colonel, a captain and his four escorts, as well as driver, have been killed by rampaging Boko Haram insurgents between Mainok and Jakana along Damaturu/Maiduguri highway.
    Sources revealed the Colonel and his convoy ran into some fleeing insurgents after a heavy gunfire exchange with soldiers at Jakana in an attack that lasted for hours.
    A military source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, denied insinuations that it was an ambush.
    He said: “The Colonel with his escort was just unlucky to run into the insurgents on his way from Maiduguri to Damaturu without knowledge of the ongoing attack on the highway”.
    The source also confirmed that the Colonel is from 29 Task Force Brigade of Sector II of Operation Lafiya Dole.
    The source also informed the insurgents were dealt a heavy blow as one of their gun trucks was burnt and several of them killed.
    Another source informed that two civilians were killed in the Jakana attack from stray bullets.
    He revealed that the insurgents did not attack civilian population.
    Meanwhile travelers have continued to experience hardship along Maiduguri/Damaturu highway as soldiers mostly closed the use of the high way at any time they want.
    Spokesman of the Nigeria Army Sector II, Lt. Njoka Irabor said: “The information available to me is still sketchy. I honestly don’t have any details now but I will get back to you as soon as possible”.

  • Unknown gunmen kill 2 soldiers, kidnap expatriate at project site

    Unidentified gunmen have killed two soldiers and abducted an expatriate at the road construction site in Ukanafun council area of Akwa Ibom.
    The incident was said to have occurred on Wednesday afternoon as the expatriate engineer working with Al madal construction company was inspecting the construction of Ikot Ibritam, Inen Ekeffe and Odoro Ikot to Ukanafun road construction project awarded by Akwa Ibom.
    An eyewitness, Mr Friday Idiok told newsmen that the two soldiers were killed while escorting the expatriate on routine inspection of the road project along Idim Okpok mini bridge in Inen Ekeffe the boundary village between Oruk Anam and Ukanafun Local Government Area of the state.
    Idiok said the gunmen whisked the expatriate engineer away immediately the two soldiers were shot dead on the spot and residents ran away for fear of arrest by security operatives.
    “There was sporadic shootings here and before you knew what was happening, two soldiers were dead.
    “The gunmen also escaped with the soldiers’ guns and took the expatriate to their hideout. Everybody here is in panic, we do not know what the government will do in this matter.”
    Speaking on the incident, the clan head of Inen, Obong Johnson Obosi said the community was on the burial of one of their sons, late Mr Udoimo, when they heard gunshots and the residents ran away.
    “The next report was that two soldiers attached to an expatriate working on the road construction project that links my community with Ukanafun have been killed and the expatriate abducted,” he said.
    Obong Obosi who could not establish the nationality of the kidnapped expatriate said soldiers from Ibagwa barracks arrived in their Ambulance and carried the corpse of the dead soldiers to the morgue.
    Confirming the incident on Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer in Akwa Ibom, SP Odiko Macdon, said that the command was aware of the incident and was working with the sister security agencies in the state to arrest those involved in the dastardly act.
    “We have received information about the unfortunate dastardly incident at the road project in Ikot Ibritam, Inen Ekeffe leading to Ukanafun. We are working with our sister agencies to identify, arrest and prosecute those involved,” he said.
    Macdon appealed to residents of the community to remain calm and go about their normal duties promising that security operatives would apprehend the culprits and brought them to book.

  • Three feared dead in Adamawa as soldiers ‘open fire’ on protesters

    Three feared dead in Adamawa as soldiers ‘open fire’ on protesters

    At least three protesters were killed and four others injured when soldiers allegedly opened fire on demonstrators in the border community of Gurin, Fufore Local Government of Adamawa State.

    According to sources, over 2000 youths took to the streets on Thursday, to protest against military harassment and selective enforcement of the ban on the use of motorcycles.

    They explained that the villagers were angered by the fact that their impounded motorcycles are being used by the soldiers or their errand boys.

    This frustration has been building, but yesterday the soldiers tried to seize a particular young man’s motorcycle which he resisted.

    However, reports indicate that three persons were shot dead by the soldiers, while six others sustained wounds as a result of the clash.

    Meanwhile, the brigade commander, 23 Armoured Brigade Yola, said he is yet to be briefed on the number of casualties.

    Only recently, the Adamawa State Police Command announced the ban on motorcycles as a measure to checkmate activities of kidnappers and other criminals in the state.

  • One dead, four injured as Abuja indigenes, soldiers clash

    One dead, four injured as Abuja indigenes, soldiers clash

    One person has been confirmed dead and four others injured in a fresh clash between some indigenes of Abuja and soldiers over land at Tungan-Maje, an outskirt town in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Malam Tanko Sani, one of the community leaders who confirmed the incident in an interview with journalists on Wednesday at the scene, said trouble ensued when soldiers forcefully moved into the land and started work without the consent of the indigenes.

    He said one of the indigenes, a student, Hamza Usman, was killed at the spot by the soldiers for protesting against the action.

    The community head said four other persons were injured and are receiving treatment in a hospital within the area.

    He regretted the soldiers had never engaged the community members for a discussion since the disagreement between them started about three years ago.

    Female and male indigenes of the town blocked the ever busy Zuba – Gwagwalada road to press home their demand.

    The situation became worst as motorists plying the route were held in gridlock for over five hours before the intervention of some stakeholders.

    Reacting to the sad development in his palace, the Agora of Zuba, HRH Mohammed Bello, demanded that the indigenes should be compensated, urging them to be calm.

    Attempts to speak with the military personnel on ground failed as at the time of filling this report.

    There was also no official statement from officials of the FCTA.

    All efforts to speak with the FCT police command on the incident were futile as at when filling this report.

  • [Video] Soldiers invade Rivers Commissioner’s home on eve of governorship election

    [Video] Soldiers invade Rivers Commissioner’s home on eve of governorship election

    There was panic at the residence of Dr. Tamunosisi Gogo Jaja, Education Commissioner, Rivers State, on Friday as soldiers invaded his home on the eve of the governorship election in the state.

    According to reports reaching TheNewsGuru, the military men who were said to be acting on the instruction of the federal government ransacked the commissioner’s house and reportedly whisked him and his family members to Bori military camp, Rivers State.

    A source close to the commissioner alleged that the invasion is part of the plot by the All Progressives Congress to intimidate the electorate and some of the chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army says it has begun a forensic investigation of a CCTV footage showing soldiers invading the home of the Rivers State Commissioner of Education, Dr Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja.


     

    The army said in a statement by its Acting Director, Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, that the military would remain neutral before, during and after the polls.

    The statement read in part, “The Nigerian Army has observed some CCTV footages in circulation on social media and other online platforms, allegedly showing soldiers of the NA and other security agents invading the residence of the Rivers State Commissioner of Education, Dr. Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja.

    “The NA has started conducting a comprehensive forensic investigation of the footages to authenticate the validity or otherwise of the claims to guide its further actions.

    Watch video:

  • Soldiers allegedly kill three during Buhari’s victory celebration in Adamawa

    Three people in Adamawa State have allegedly lost their lives during the celebration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term victory at the presidential polls conducted last Saturday.

    The incident which involved some jubilant youths happened on Wednesday in the Numan Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

    The youth, who woke up to news of the re-election of Buhari for another term, poured out into the streets of major towns in the state.

    However, it is the celebration in the Numan town that went bloody.

    According to a report by The Punch, this followed an altercation between jubilant Buhari supporters with armed military men stationed near Numan Bridge.

    It was gathered that the jubilant youths initially on a peaceful victory procession later became uncontrollable and disorderly as some of them attacked the military personnel who tried to tame their celebration.

    The soldiers had allegedly fired warning shots into the air to warn the crowd which started advancing towards them while hurling stones.

    The soldiers were said to have fired shots again, which allegedly hit some persons. Three persons were reportedly hit, while their corpses were later deposited by the soldiers in the mortuary of Numan General Hospital.

    In another part of the state around Jippu Jam roundabout in Yola, some young people who joined in celebrating Buhari’s victory at the polls also reportedly put up a mock ‘coffin’ of Atiku, suggesting his defeat at the polls.

    The police in Yola said they were aware of the clash between the soldiers and youths in the Numan area.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer, Othman Abubakar, added that the command had, however, yet to get any report.

    He said, “There are many reports; but policemen on the ground told us that there were persons that were injured; I cannot confirm any death.”

     

  • Updated: Soldiers invade Daily Trust office, arrest two staff [Photos]

    Updated: Soldiers invade Daily Trust office, arrest two staff [Photos]

    The Maiduguri regional office of a Nigerian newspaper Daily Trust was invaded by some armed military men on Sunday.

    The troops arrested the regional editor, Uthman Abubakar and a reporter, Ibrahim Sawab and shut the gate of the office.

    The arrest may not be unconnected to the lead story of Daily Trust on Sunday about the military operation in the North East.

    The paper had reported that the military plans to reclaim Baga and other communities taken over by Boko Haram some weeks ago.

    The military authorities had earlier claimed that no territory was being occupied by the insurgents.

    Before the raid on the newspaper’s office in Abuja, military operatives were said to have also stormed the paper’s regional office in Maiduguri, Borno state, arresting the regional editor, Uthman Abubakar and a reporter, Ibrahim Sawab.

    Daily Trust reported that the soldiers shut the gate of the Maiduguri regional office after arresting the two editorial staff on sight at the time of the raid.

    A witness also noted that the soldiers requested to see Daily Trust’s Political Editor, Hamza Idris, whose byline appeared on the story.

  • Boko Haram attacks military base, kills 13 soldiers, police officer

    The Army have confirmed the killing of thirteen soldiers and a police officer in Yobe State in a Boko Haram attack.

    According to the military, the insurgents lunched two successive attacks on a military formation and an ambush on the Maiduguri/Damaturu high way at about 6.30 pm.

    The statement which was signed by spokesman 7 Div. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu said several insurgents were killed during the attack, just as the others were repelled.

    According to reports, the police officer killed was the orderly to Gov. Gaidam’s ADC who was on a convoy with the governor eldest son on their way back from Maiduguri.

    The governor’s son convoy ran into the insurgents thinking they were military personnels as the were said to have been dressed in military uniform.

    The statement reads; “Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole Monday 24 December, 2018 repelled a Boko Haram terrorists’ attack on a Forward Operational Base at Kukareta in Damaturu Local Government Area of Yobe state.

    “The terrorists who attacked the location at about 6. 30 pm met with prompt and fierce response of the vigilant troops who engaged and overpowered them, killing several of the terrorists.

    “Unfortunately however, a soldier was wounded in the encounter.

    “In another encounter, troops of 1 Division on escort duty along Damaturu – Maiduguri road yesterday fought through an ambush staged by Boko Haram terrorists.

    “The gallant troops engaged the terrorists in a fire fight, courageously wading through the ambush.

    “Sadly, thirteen military and a police personnel including a Police officer, paid the supreme price while extricating themselves from the ambush.

    “A clearance Operation to pursue and eliminate the Boko Haram terrorists ambush party is still ongoing.

    “The bodies of the gallant soldiers and the policeman and the wounded have been evacuated. The wounded soldier is currently receiving treatment”

  • Boko Haram: Soldiers shiver, ‘beg’ authorities against posting to troubled North-East

    Investigations have revealed that Nigerian soldiers have in their large numbers commenced desperate appeals to posting units within the military to halt further posting to the Boko Haram ravaged North-East.

    Investigations revealed further that some have abandoned duty post and taken other jobs while some have voluntarily resigned.

    Multiple military sources confirmed that as part of the fallout of the Boko Haram attacks on military formations in Metele, Kangarwa, Malumfatori and Arge areas of Borno State as well as the Buni Gari area of Yobe State in November, more soldiers were now lobbying to avoid postings to the volatile North-East region.

    Also, It was learnt that a significant number of the soldiers presently stationed in the North-East were lobbying for redeployment.

    A Brigadier-General who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media told The Punch that a significant number of personnel were influencing their posting against the North-East while some were deserting the military.

    He said, “In the military doctrine, we have what is called cowardice. Soldiers can exhibit cowardice when they hear negative reports. Let me tell you why we have been experiencing attacks in those Lake Chad areas. Those army deployments were intentionally made around Lake Chad to block the Boko Haram’s channels of supply. The Boko Haram understands why the military are blocking their channels and they therefore ensure they keep attacking those bases to open up their own channels of supply.

    “There is a way some people have been glorifying the attacks and this makes the soldiers who are there to be afraid. These are very young military officers with families and they can be afraid. Most times when I as a general say I am on my way to the North-East, I get messages from friends and families to be careful. But I am going under escort. Now, imagine soldiers who are just deployed to actually go and fight. This is why some reports are not helpful because they are escalating these attacks, glorifying the terrorists and putting fear in our soldiers. Some of these soldiers read all these online reports and they are afraid. They are now avoiding going to the North-East like a disease.

    “I just came back home and learnt that one of my cousins whom I brought into the army was redeployed. He was supposed to go to the North-East. He ran away. He is in the village in the South-South riding motorcycle, because he does not want to die.

    “Now, if we have such incidences all over, what will become of our security architecture? Our worries are that while the terrorists are doing theirs, so many media reports reaching soldiers in the North-East are disturbing and pulling down their morale.”

    A colonel serving in Abuja also spoke on the latest development, saying personnel were now increasingly influencing their postings to avoid the North-East.

    He said, “Soldiers are trained to die in the course of defending the country’s territorial integrity, but not when you die because there are no adequate equipment. The terrorists know how to strike because they have informants who leak the strengths and weaknesses of the army to them.

    “Since there is no specific time frame for soldiers serving in the North-East, some of them are disgruntled and they are lobbying not to be posted there. The increasing attacks in the North-East are dampening the morale of troops and this is why the military authorities usually send the service chiefs to visit and talk to them.”

    Further findings confirmed that a number of the soldiers serving in troubled areas of Bornu State were considering the option of deserting due to the renewed attacks by the Boko Haram insurgents.

     

  • 12 Nigerian soldiers killed in fighting with Boko Haram terrorists

    At least 12 Nigerian soldiers were killed and dozens of others are missing after fighting with Boko Haram terrorists in the northeastern state of Borno, three military sources said on Sunday, one of the largest known losses of life by the army in the last month.

    The army said it repelled the attack in which it said one soldier was killed and another injured.

    The fighting followed an attack on Friday by insurgents in Gudumbali local government area – a part of Borno where Boko Haram breakaway group Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA) is influential. The sources said the poor communication network in the remote area delayed details of the attack being relayed.

    Reuters quoted sources as saying that the attack was carried out on a military base and a nearby community in the Gudumbali local government area, comes as President Muhammadu Buhari’s security record has become a campaign issue two months ahead of an election in which he is seeking a second term.

    The three military sources, all of whom are soldiers and did not want to be named, said at least 12 troops were killed and dozens were missing after the fighting.

    The army, in an emailed statement, said the insurgents opened fire on troops while aid materials were being distributed in Gudumbali.

    “The troops, however, fought gallantly and outmanoeuvred the attackers inflicting heavy casualties on them. Unfortunately, a soldier paid the supreme price during the encounter, while another was wounded in action,” said the army in the statement.

    The biggest loss of military life in the last few months occurred in late November when around 100 soldiers were killed by ISWA militants who attacked an army base in Metele, Borno state.

    One of the sources said 28 militants were killed.

    Nigeria’s northeast is home to two Islamist insurgencies: Boko Haram and ISWA which broke away in 2016 and is now considered by security experts to be the stronger of the two.

    The Nigerian government in June ordered thousands of people who fled the conflict with Boko Haram to return to Gudumbali, one of the most dangerous areas of northeast Nigeria. Officials cut off food and other aid to those who refused.