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Tag: Special Forces

  • Air Force deploys Special Forces to Nasarawa

    Air Force deploys Special Forces to Nasarawa

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Sunday deployed its Special Forces Operatives to Nasarawa to boost internal security in the State and the North-Central zone of the country.

    The troops were deployed to tackle the emerging security challenges, such as banditry, cattle rustlings and farmers and herders clash in the zone.

    The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who addressed the troops in Lafia, urged them to be professional in their conduct.

    “I urged you to be professional and uphold the core NAF values of integrity, service before self and excellence in all you do,” he said.

    Abubakar, who was represented by AVM Charles Ohwo, the Air Officer Commanding Special Operations Command, told the Special Forces that they were deployed to complement and add value to the already existing security apparatus on ground.

    “You must cooperate with Operation Whirl Stroke. Your deployment not only for Lafia, but for the North -Central,” he said.

    The air chief appreciated the Nasarawa government for the provision of the facility provided for the establishment of the 22 Quick Response Wing in Lafia.

    Abubakar urged the government of Nasarawa to put in place a Refueling facilities to enable helicopters easy access for refueling as they advance for operations.

    Speaking to newsmen, Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for the quick response to the security challenges of the state.

    According to the governor, the response came just three days after he called for help from the Federal Government.

    Sule gave the assurance that the state would support the troops to ensure that all forms of crimes were eliminated from the State.

  • COVID-19 lockdown robberies: IGP deploys Special Forces to Lagos, Ogun

    COVID-19 lockdown robberies: IGP deploys Special Forces to Lagos, Ogun

    The Inspector General of Police (IG) Mohammed Adamu has deployed detachments of special forces to quell unrest in Lagos and Ogun communities occasioned by robberies and cult related violence.

    The Special Forces comprising Police Mobile Force (PMF) Units, Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and the Special Tactical Squad (STS) are to work with police operatives of both Lagos and Ogun State commands to restore sanity in the affected areas.

    According to Police spokesman Frank Mba, a Deputy Commissioner, the operation would be coordinated by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in charge of southwest Peter Ogunyanwo.

    Mba said the IG ordered immediate deployment of additional intelligence and operational assets to the affected areas to strengthen security and bolster public confidence.

    He also disclosed that the police have arrested 191 suspects and recovered 15 locally made guns, 52 live cartridges, 42 cutlasses and axes and large quantity of weeds suspected to be Marijuana from the hoodlums at Agbado, Ifo, Otta and Agege axis.

    He said: “The intervention team is being coordinated by DIG Peter Babatunde Ogunyonwo, a seasoned crime fighter, who doubles as the DIG in charge of the Department of Research and Planning of the Force and the coordinating DIG for South-West Geopolitical Zone.

    “He is to immediately oversee the deployments of these additional assets to enhance public safety, public confidence and general security in the two states.

    “Meanwhile, the IG has ordered Commissioners of Police across the country to immediately rejig the security architecture in their various commands to effectively tackle all emerging crimes associated with the COVID-19 lock-down.

    “They are also to intensify patrols around residential areas, markets, shopping malls and all critical national infrastructures in their jurisdictions.

    “The Assistant Inspectors General of Police in the 12 Zonal Commands have also been directed by the IG to bring their supervisory role to bear by ensuring that the commands under their zones are safe and secure for the citizenry to live and thrive.

    “A total of 191 suspects have been arrested in Lagos and Ogun States in connection with the incidents. The following exhibits: 15 locally-made guns, 52 live cartridges, 42 cutlasses and axes and large quantity of weeds suspected to be Marijuana have been recovered from the hoodlums by the Police Teams in the Agbado, Ifo, Otta and Agege axis.

    “DIG, Peter Ogunyanwo can be reached through this GSM No: 08033893226. The Control Room Numbers for Lagos Command are 08127155132, 08065154338 and 07055462708 while that of Ogun Command are 08081770416 and 08081770419.

    “The IG assures the citizens that the police will not sit idly-by and allow activities of a few criminals to disrupt the peace and security of the country. He commends Nigerians for their steadfastness, patience, perseverance and vigilance at this critical time.”

    The Nation reports that the robberies allegedly continued Monday afternoon unabated as the hoodlums smashed vehicles conveying good stuff and carted away yams, fruits and other items in Agege.

  • Recruitment: Army engages Rivers youth on Special Forces training

    The Nigerian Army has started engaging Rivers youth planning to enlist in the army to boost its internal security operations in the country, an official said.

    Brig.-Gen. Emmanuel Akpan, Director, Directorate of Army Recruitment, Resettlement and Reserve (DARRR), said this to newsmen on Saturday in Port Harcourt shortly after meeting with various youth leaders in Rivers.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the sensitisation forum was part of a nationwide campaign to inform Nigerians on the new recruitment and training policy by the army.

    According to Akpan, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has made it mandatory for the inclusion of Special Forces training for all recruits.

    “So, we are in Rivers state as part of a nationwide tour at the instance of the COAS Strategic Directive 2020 that would take us to every state in the federation.

    “The tour is aimed to appraise the youth on the current approach of the Nigerian Army to the training of its personnel to serving as well as recruitment into the system.

    “The essence of the special forces training is to ensure that all army personnel can adapt and function efficiently in any operating environment.

    The director said the army had also met with the youth in South Eastern states of Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states to inform them of the new strategy.

    “So, we have just commenced the exercise for the South-South zone starting from Akwa Ibom and now in River state. It has been tremendous so far.

    “We solicit the support of government in the area of information dissemination, support for state recruitment office as well as seek support of successful indigenes in future recruitment process,” he appealed.

    A cross section of youth leaders in their numbers representing their various communities in the 23 Local Government Areas (LGA) of the state lauded the army for the sensitisation exercise.

    Ikechukwu Nwodu, Youth President of Ubimiri community in Emohua LGA, said the meeting was timely as it addressed the negative perception some youth in the community had about army recruitment.

    “We are happy that the army decided to come to the grassroots to engage us on its recruitment. This has not happened before,” he added.

    On his part, the National Council Coordinator in Ulakwo, Etche LGA, Promise Onyekam, said that lack of information was partly responsible for low enlistment of his people into the army.

    “So, from what we have learnt so far, we will communicate same to people at our various communities and local government areas,” he noted.

  • Insurgency: UK trains over 2,000 NAF Special Forces

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said the British Military Assistant Training Team has assisted the Service in the training of Regiment personnel as well as over 2,000 Special Forces to enhance Force Protection capabilities of the Nigerian Air Force.

    The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, made this know during the NAF Day 2019 Lecture on Saturday in Abuja.

    The Lecture is one of the activities lined up by the NAF to celebrate its 55th anniversary.

    The air chief noted that the Service has grown in size, spread and equipment holding in a bid to fulfill its statutory obligations of protecting and defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria from the air.

    ” In the area of force protection, the British Military Assistant Training Team has assisted the Nigerian Air Force in the training of Regiment personnel as well as over 2,000 Special Forces to enhance Force Protection capabilities of the Nigerian Air Force,” he said

    Abubakar noted that the service was also doing so much in further developing and improving her capacity for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions.

    “This era also had the Nigerian Air Force expanding its reach through establishment of units in many of the troubled areas such as Zurmi Local Government of Zamfara , Nguroje in Taraba , Agatu in Benue among others.

    ‘’Albeit, these efforts may not yield expected results if proper integration with sister Services; which form the Land and Sea components of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, is not achieved.

    The air chief said that the choice theme is apt, relevant and timely ‘’ in view of contemporary challenges the nation is facing.’’

    ‘’ Our gathering at an intellectual forum like this will go a long way in eliciting cogent resolutions that will pave way for a seamless integration of our operations.

    He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his continued show of uncommon commitment to meeting the needs of the Nigerian Air Force.

    In his remarks, the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, represented by Mr Peter Ashibe, the Director Air Force, in the ministry of Defence, said the NAF had transformed over the years.

    Dan-Ali said “Appraising NAF activities in retrospect while keeping current realities in mind, it gives me great joy to note the speedy rate at which the NAF has metamorphosed into an efficient arm of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.’’

    ‘’ Its fortunes have steadily improved operationally and administratively to the extent that the Nigerian Air Force of today is progressively building capacity and capabilities to effectively respond to internal security challenges, while efficiently projecting air power in defence of Nigeria’s territorial integrity,’’ he said.

    The minister thanked Abubakar for the great strides and numerous successes recorded so far by the NAF.

    ‘’ The tremendous successes the Service has achieved under your watch, most especially in the enhancement of the welfare of personnel, conduct of air operations, manpower development and overall service delivery are really remarkable,’’ he said.

  • JUST IN: Special Forces save Uni Maid from suicide bombers

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says its Special Forces, in conjunction with some Nigerian Army troops, successfully foiled a suicide bombing attack by Boko Haram Terrorists at the University of Maiduguri, Borno on Sunday night.

    AVM Olatokunbo Adesanya, NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, confirmed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

    “The BHT suicide bombers tried to gain access into the University but were quickly detected by the NAF Special Forces.

    “Meanwhile, the vest on one of the suicide bombers detonated before they could gain access into the hostel, leading to a commotion.

    “However, there was no reported fatality except for the suicide bomber, whose counterparts immediately fled, when the NAF Special Forces and the NA troops opened fire on them.

    “The NAF Agusta Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) then went in pursuit of the fleeing BHTs, following which an additional suicide bomber was identified and neutralized,” he said.

    Adesanya said the NAF Agusta LUH was still searching for the other fleeing terrorists at the time of filing this report.

    “Members of the populace, especially around the University premises are, therefore, requested to be very vigilant,” the NAF spokesman said.