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Tag: soldiers

  • Troops killed 25 herdsmen in Benue

    Troops killed 25 herdsmen in Benue

    The Defence Headquarters, Abuja, on Monday said 35 armed herdsmen were shot dead in Gwer, Logo and Guma Local Government Areas of Benue State during an encounter with troops on Saturday.

    The military said the armed herdsmen were killed by the air force’s Mi-35 attack helicopter in the clash.

    The herdsmen were said to have also shot dead a soldier while two others were injured.

    The Director of Information, Brig Gen John Agim, who confirmed the clashes, said the military was on Operation Whirl Stroke in Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba and Zamfara states, when the troops encountered the herdsmen in Benue.

    Agim said a soldier was still missing after the Benue incident.

    He said, “In the clearance operation across the Gwer West, Logo and the Guma LGAs of Benue, troops made contact with heavily armed herdsmen around the lower Benue area and a militia camp at Chetarer village. The troops engaged the militia and followed the pursuit with Mi-35 helicopter of the air component.

    “This led to a large number of them being neutralised. In all, 35 herdsmen were neutralised and a large number of them escaped with gunshot injuries. However, a soldier was killed in action, two sustained slight injuries. They have been treated and discharged. Also, one soldier is still missing in action.

    “Troops of the Operation Whirl Stroke operating in Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba and Zamfara states conducted four clearance operations during the weekend. At Umaisha and Toto villages of Nasarawa, troops ambushed the militia and killed one. A suspected herdsman, Adamu Abdullahi, in Rukubi in the Doma LGA of Nasarawa State was arrested.”

    The defence spokesman said Abdullahi and other suspects would be handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.

    “Still in Nasarawa State, we arrested one Musa Habu, 32, who is linked with some militiamen. He has been handed over to the Department of State Services for further necessary action,” Agim added.

  • Herdsmen kill soldiers, kidnap two in Benue

    Herdsmen kill soldiers, kidnap two in Benue

    No fewer than five soldiers have been reportedly killed and two others kidnapped after suspected herdsmen clashed with some personnel in Logo LGA of Benue State, yesterday.

    The attackers also burnt down Army patrol vehicles during the clash.

    It was gathered that the herdsmen had wanted to attack a village in Logo but where foiled by the Army men.

    A youth leader who spoke to newsmen under condition of anonimity said that the attackers also burnt one of the patrol vehicle of the soldiers leaving some of them with serious injuries while others were taken captive by the attackers.

    According to the source, “That community is a Tiv/Jukun settlement and it is a border community where you can hardly draw a border line between Benue and Taraba states. “From what we have gathered so far, two of the soldiers were killed some where taken alive and one of their patrol vehicles was also burnt.

    “Though we had that some of the soldiers were still unaccounted for which means that the casualty figure might be higher when the true picture of the attack becomes clearer.” When contacted, the Chairman of Logo local government area, Mr. Richard Nyajo confirmed the attack. Nyajo said, “the incident happened this morning (Sunday) at about 7 to 8am.

    “It happened in Logo local government area. I gave them a base at Gov in Mbagegh Council ward of Logo local government. So in the course of carrying out their peace keeping operation, they went into the bush and I don’t know whether the herdsmen heard about them, they came behind and entangled them and opened fire on them.

    “They burnt one of their patrol vehicles, injured some of them, took some alive and killed one person but the second person was seriously injured and might not make it alive because he was in bad shape.

    “Though one was said to be missing but by tomorrow we will get a clearer picture of the situation including the actual number of deaths because when an attack scatter a group of people like it happened and some are missing you cannot just conclude on the casualty figure.

    “But surely some were killed and some were abducted. Though many among those that were missing escaped alive. But by tomorrow we will get a clearer picture of the situation.” All efforts to confirm the incident from the operational base of the Operation Whirl Stroke failed as the personnel who picked the call in one of their dedicated numbers refused to confirm the attack.

  • BREAKING: Soldiers invade Police station, arrest DPO over murder of colleague

    There was pandemonium along Ada George Road in Port Harcourt on Thursday morning as soldiers sacked the Rumukpakani Police Station, allegedly over the killing of their colleague by a policeman.

    The murdered soldier, who was in mufti, was said to have been shot near the Police station by one of the policemen on duty.

    It was gathered that the development forced a group of angry soldiers to storm the Police station and arrested the Divisional Police Officer and the murder suspect.

     

    Details later…

  • Several dead as soldiers, bandits clash in Zamfara

    There was pandemonium in a village in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State as soldiers and bandits reportedly clash in gun battle.

    The incidence reportedly lead to the death of two soldiers.

    The chairman of Anka Local Government Area, Mustapha Gado, who confirmed the death of the two soldiers said many bandits were also killed during the operation.

    “Two soldiers have been killed, we have seen the bodies and l gathered that it was a captain and a lower ranking officer.

    “I am also aware that with the recent deployment of security personnel especially the military, many of the insurgents have been killed,” he said.

    Wednesday’s shootout occurs about a week after over 50 people were killed by bandits in Bawar daji district of the local government.

    Governor Abdul’Aziz Yari Abubakar on Friday led a delegation on a condolence visit to the Emir of Anka following the attacks.

    The governor directed the military to shoot on sight anybody found with arms in the bush.

     

  • Nigerian military give befitting burial to 11 soldiers killed by bandits in Kaduna

    …as Gov El-Rufai donates N5.5m to grieving families

    The Nigerian Army on Thursday buried the 11 soldiers killed by bandits at Kampanin Doka Village in Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    The soldiers were said to be a special force executing the Nigerian Army’s Exercise Aya Akpatuma (Rat race).

    With full military honour, the remains of the soldiers, who were killed on March 20, were buried at the Commonwealth Cemetery in Kaduna.

    The slain soldiers are Private Olabode Hammed, Private Bamidele Adekunke Emmanuel, Private Owhochukwu Christian Chigoziri, Private Adamu Muhammed, Private Lamara Ahmed, Private Mubarack Suleiman.

    Others included Private Bashir Dani, Private Usman Abubakar Halo, Private Nafiyi Iliyasu, Private Sefiyanu Ahmed and Private Alhassan Ibrahim.

    Speaking at the burial ceremony, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai, said the death of the soldiers would not deter the Army from protecting the territorial integrity of Nigeria.

    He said the bandits that carried out the dastardly act won’t be spared as the Nigerian Army would do all within its powers to arrest and bring them to book.

    Buratai told the families of the deceased to accept the death of the gallant officers as an act of God, saying, “From God we came, and to God we will return.”

    The General Officer Commanding 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen. Mohammed Mohammed, stood in for the Chief of Army Staff.

    The Chief of Army Staff said, “On the morning of 20th March 2018, some able bodied men who came into this job barely a year ago to serve the country told their relations I have joined the Army. Now they have paid the supreme sacrifice defending their country.

    “Could they have paid with their lives to aid those who killed them? All of us will join them, it’s only a matter of time. To have been trained for six months and additional training, to be cut short is really painful.

    “We assure those who killed them that we will not relent our efforts. Their blood was not shed in vain. Their memories remain with us.

    “We assure Nigerians that we would continue to do our duties, regardless of this. We assure that every part of this country, every part under 1 Division would be secured,” he said.

    He assured their families of the Army’s continuous support.

    “If any other member of the family wants to join the Army, do not discourage them. We condole with you on the loss of your people, but we assure you that their death is not in vain.”

    They were honoured with 21 gun salutes.

    Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai during the burial, announced N500,000 each as support to the slain soldiers’ families.

    El-Rufai made the announcement through the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Lawal Balarabe, who represented him at the event.

    The cheque of N5.5m was presented to the General Officer Commanding 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Maj-Gen. Mohammed Mohammed.

    According to the governor, the soldiers fought gallantly to protect our lives and property but paid the supreme price.

    He noted that the state government would not relent in supporting security agencies in ensuring that their killers were brought to book.

  • Nigerian Army to give befitting burial to 11 soldiers killed by bandits on Thursday

    The Nigerian Army has concluded plans for the burial of eleven of its soldiers killed by suspected bandits at Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State last week.

    The army said a beffiting burial will be given to the slain soldiers at Commonwealth Cemetery Kaduna on Thursday.

    This was contained in a short statement signed by Muhammed Dole, Deputy Director Army Public Relations, made available to journalists in Kaduna.

    The statement reads: “One Division Nigerian Army will conduct a befitting burial ceremony for its personnel who paid the supreme sacrifice during exercise AYEM AKPOTUMA.

    “The burial will take place on 29 March, 2018 at Commonwealth Cemetery Kaduna.”

    Recall that the 11 soldiers were killed at Kanfanin Doka, along Funtua road about 45 kilometres from Birnin Gwari town last week.

    The bandits were said to be on a revenge mission over the killing of their kingpin, Buharin Daji. They also injured nine vigilantees who were on their way to support the soldiers.

     

  • Bandits attack Nigerian military base, reportedly kill 11 soldiers

    Some armed bandits on Tuesday nights attacked a Nigerian military detachment at Kamfanin Doka, along Funtua road in Birnin Gwari Local government Area of Kaduna State.

    According to a report by Premium Times, eleven soldiers were reportedly killed in the attack.

    A former chairman of the local government who pleaded not to be identified because he has no authority to speak on it confirmed the incident.

    He said three other soldiers and nine members of a vigilante group sustained gunshot injuries.

    “The bandits attacked the military based at Kamfanin Doka along Funtua road. 11 soldiers lost their lives while three sustained injuries,” he said.

    “The bandits also ambushed our vigilantes at Maganga, about 44 kilometres from Birnin Gwari this morning (Wednesday) when they were rushing there to assist the soldiers. About nine sustained gun shot injuries. They were rushed to General Hospital Birnin Gwari for treatment,” he said.

    He explained that the attackers rode to the scene on motorbikes at 10.05 p.m. ‎on Tuesday night to engage the soldiers in gun fights.

    A religious scholar in the area also confirmed the attack. He said many people were reported killed.

    “The incident occurred at Maganga area in the night and the bandits killed soldiers there and others sustained injuries,” he said in a telephone interview.

    When contacted, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, One Mechanised Division, Muhammed Dole, a colonel, said: “We are already in the bush trying to ascertain the situation. We will issue a statement, please be patient.”

    Kaduna State governor’s spokesperson, Samuel Aruwan, also said the government will release a statement on the development as soon as possible.

     

    Details soon…

  • Boko Haram: Five soldiers dead, 30 missing in Yobe attack

    There was pandemonium on Saturday evening in Yobe State as fleeing members of the deadly Boko Haram sect struck at Kanama, headquarters of Yunusari Local Government killing about five soldiers.

    Thirty soldiers are also allegedly missing in the dastardly attack launched on Nigeria troops at the remote northern town in Yobe State.

    The Army have confirmed the attack but however denied to have incurred any casualty in the attack.

    Credible security and medical sources however confided in newsmen that about five soldiers were found dead and evacuated to Maiduguri via Damaturu.

    The source also disclosed that 30 soldiers are still missing in the aftermath of the attack.

    Some Kanama residents who also confirmed the death of soldiers said they sighted a military ambulance evacuating victims but they were chased away by soldiers in an attempt to get closer to the scene.

    Some commercials drivers along Geidam/Gashua/Damaturu road also confirmed sighting some military ambulances with military escorts coming from the Kanama axis on Sunday morning apparently conveying dead or wounded soldiers.

    An eyewitness, Modu Lawan informed newsmen that the insurgents stormed the village with seven Hilux vans dressed in full military attire.

    “We thought they were soldiers because everything about them was like soldiers, their dressing, their vehicles everything. They passed through the town but did not touch anybody. They went straight to the military based and we started hearing serious gunshots,” Lawan said.

    Hon Ali Yerima, the Chairman Yunusari Local Government said he could not confirm any casualty in the attack but was however confident that the insurgents did not attack any civilian in the town.

    “The information I got is that the insurgents were loaded in seven hilux trucks. They passed through the town to attack the military base. My sources informed me that no civilian was attack, only the military base was attacked but I also gathered that the soldiers fought very well to repel their adversaries,” Ali Yerima said.

    The chairman also informed that the movement of the insurgents through the town caused panic and fear among residents who ran in different directions for safety of their lives.

    An impeccable security source informed that the insurgents are fleeing from the heat in Borno State.

    “There has been a serious heat on the insurgents from Borno axis. You notice there was a fighter jet hovering over Borno and Yobe. There is tremendous coordinated ground and air attacks on the insurgents lately so they don’t jeopardize the yultide celebrations,” the source said.

    Col. Kayode Ogunsanya, the spokesman for 3 Division Nigeria Army in a short text message confirming the attack said: “Yes there was an attack on own troops 2 days ago by the Boko Haram terrorists in Kanama. The attack was repelled and our soldiers are in hot pursuit of the insurgents. Happy New year my broda”.

  • Soldiers clash with police officers in Ekiti over alleged bribe

    A clash broke out between soldiers and police officers in Ekiti State on Thursday after a policeman reportedly challenged for allegedly extorting money from motorist and causing traffic in the process.

    The soldiers stabbed a policeman, Corporal Abdulkadir Yakub, with a jack-knife.

    The Punch reportds that Yakub, a Traffic Police Officer, was attacked after he challenged the soldiers for extorting money from motorists and causing gridlock.

    It was learnt that Yakub sustained deep cuts in his head and buttocks and also lost much blood.

    The young soldiers, who were 17 in number, were said to have just returned from the Governor’s Office, where they had gone to visit Governor Ayodele Fayose. But it was learnt that the governor was not around to receive them.

    The soldiers took to the streets and stopped vehicles at the Fajuyi Roundabout to extort money from motorists and motorcyclists.

    A police officer, Corporal Monday Agom, who was on duty with the victim when the incident occurred at about 2pm, said Yakub was attacked by the soldiers after he pleaded with them not to cause gridlock during their alleged extortion.

    Agom said, “One of the soldiers stopped a man in mufti, who happened to be a policeman, right in his car and demanded his car key, while Yakub was trying to pass him to allow for the next person in line, so as to free traffic, which was already building up.

    “Yakub then explained to him (the attacker) that the man he stopped was a police officer and that he should allow him to go as stopping him there would cause traffic.

    “This statement infuriated the soldier, who immediately slapped Yakub, before bringing out a jack-knife, with which he started stabbing him.

    “Then, I joined other people to rescue Yakub from the soldier, who had started shouting, ‘I will kill you, idiot,’ even as his colleagues (soldiers) had started punching Yakub, who was already soaked in blood.”

    The mobile policemen, whose station was close to the scene, were said to have mobilised to the scene and attacked the soldier in return.

    It was learnt that one of the soldiers also sustained head injuries in the fracas.

    The Officer in Charge of Army Operations in Ekiti, Captain Joshua Zoaka, who went to the scene, was not spared in the attack.

    His team was said to have been attacked with tear gas by the policemen.

    Another eyewitness confirmed that Yakub had been on duty, controlling traffic, before the soldiers came around 2pm and started stopping motorists and passersby.

  • Panic in Ekiti as soldiers, police clash over alleged extortion

    There was pandemonium in Ekiti State on Thursday as a group of soldiers from the state who had just completed their recruitment training attacked policemen.

    In the attack, the soldiers stabbed a policeman, Cpl. Abdulkadir Yakub, with a jack-knife.

    An eyewitness said Yakubu, a Traffic Police Officer, was attacked after he challenged the soldiers for extorting money from motorists and causing a traffic gridlock.

    It was learnt that Yakub sustained deep cuts in the head and buttocks.

    The young soldiers, who were 17 in number, were said to be returning from the Governor’s Office after a courtesy visit to Governor Ayodele Fayose.

    The soldiers took to the streets and stopped vehicles at Fajuyi Roundabout to extort money from motorists and motorcyclists.

    Cpl Monday Agom, who was on duty with the victim when the incident occurred at about 2.00pm, said Yakub was attacked by the soldiers after he pleaded with them not to cause a traffic gridlock during the alleged extortion.

    Agom said, “One of the soldiers stopped a man in mufti who happened to be a policeman right in his car and demanded the car key, while Yakub was trying to pass him to allow for the next person in line, so as to free traffic which was already building up.

    “Yakub then explained to him (the attacker) that the man he stopped is a police officer and that he should allow him to go as stopping him there would cause hold-up.

    “This statement infuriated the soldier who immediately slapped Yakub, before bringing out a jack-knife with which he started cutting him at several parts of the body.

    “I then joined other people to rescue Yakub from the soldier, who has started shouting ‘I will kill you, idiot; I will kill you, idiot” even as his colleagues (soldiers) had started punching Yakub who was already soaked in blood.”

    The Mobile Policemen whose station was close to the scene were said to have mobilised to the scene and attacked the soldier in return.

    It was learnt that one of the soldiers also sustained head injuries in the fracas.

    The Officer in Charge of Army Operations in Ekiti, Cpt. Joshua Zoaka, who raced to the scene was not spared in the attack.

    His team were said to have been attacked with tear-gas by the policemen.

    Another eye witness confirmed Yakub had been on duty controlling traffic before the soldiers came some few minutes after 2.00pm and started stopping everybody.

    The witness said, “I saw them when they were jogging to Governor’s Office, singing, and when they were returning.

    “They came back and rather than go their own way, they stopped at this junction (Fajuyi Roundabout) and started stopping everybody, including okada riders and vehicles.

    “At a point one of them started arguing with a traffic warden and soon brought out a sharp knife to cut the warden. At that point, I ran to another place to hide myself, but I could see some people trying to hold the soldier’s hands.”

    Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti, Mr. Alberto Adeyemi, a Superintendent of Police, said the incident has been reported to the Brigade Commander of the 322 Field Artillery Regiment in Akure, Ondo State.

    Adeyemi said, “The soldiers, numbering 17, who were Ekiti State indigenes, just came back from a recruitment exercise in Zaria, Kaduna state and were in Governor’s Office for possible assistance from the governor.

    “They chose to make some money by stopping motorists at the Fajuyi roundabout, during which arguments arose with traffic wardens on duty, one of which they stabbed with a jack-knife.”

    “However the situation is under control as the Brigade Commander, Akure Division, was contacted and has come to pick up the recruits to face possible departmental questioning and sanctions.”