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Tag: Army

  • Insecurity: Major Shake-up as Army Appoints New GOCs, Reshuffles Senior Officers

    Insecurity: Major Shake-up as Army Appoints New GOCs, Reshuffles Senior Officers

    The Nigerian Army has announced the appointment of new General Officers Commanding (GOCs) and reshuffled other senior officers in a major shake-up.

    A statement issued by the Army Spokesman, Brig Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, said the changes, approved by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, were designed to reposition the Nigerian Army for greater efficiency and effectiveness.

    “In an effort to reposition the Nigerian Army (NA) for operational efficiency and proficiency, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya has approved the posting and appointment of some senior officers of the Nigerian Army to command, instructional and staff appointments across NA formations and units.

    “Those affected in the redeployment released on Thursday 28 July 2022, include some Principal Staff Officers of the Army Headquarters, General Officers Commanding, Corps Commanders, Commandants of training institutions, Brigade Commanders, Commanding Officers, amongst others”, it said.

    Some of the senior officers appointed as General Officers Commanding (GOCs) are Major General UT Musa from Headquarters 81 Division to Headquarters 82 Division and appointed GOC, Major General TA Lagbaja from Headquarters 82 Division to Headquarters 1 Division and appointed GOC, Major General OC Ajunwa from Nigeria Defence Section Brasilia to HQ 81 Division and appointed GOC , while Major General AS Chinade was redeployed from Depot Nigerian Army to Headquarters 2 Division and appointed GOC.

    The newly appointed Army Headquarters Principal Staff Officers include, Maj Gen OW Ali, from Headquarters Command Army Records to Army Headquarters Department of Army Administration and appointed Chief of Administration (Army) Maj Gen S Muhammed, from Defence Headquarters to Department of Army Standards and Evaluation and appointed Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation (Army), Major General JA Ataguba from Army Headquarters Department of Army Standards and Evaluation to Defence Headquarters and appointed, Director Peace Keeping Operations, Major General AA Adesope from Headquarters Nigerian Army Finance Corps to Defence Headquarters and appointed Chief of Defence Accounts and Budget, Major General US Mohammed from Army Headquarters Department of Administration to Nigerian Army Resource Centre and appointed Senior Research Fellow.

    Other senior officers affected in the redeployment are Major General PB Fakrogha, from Defence Headquarters Garrison to Defence Space Agency and appointed Director Policy Plans and Research, Major General MO Enendu, from Nigerian Army College of Logistics to Defence Headquarters and appointed Director Psychological Warfare, Major General AE Attu from Defence Headquarters Department of Defence Training and Operations to Defence Headquarters Garrison and appointed Commander, Major General BE Onyeuko from Defence Headquarters Directorate of Defence Media Operations to Defence Headquarters Department of Logistics and appointed Director Procurement

    The newly appointed Corps Commanders are: Major General AM Alabi, from Nigerian Army Ordnance School to Headquarters Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps and appointed Corps Commander Ordnance, Major General A Mohammed, from Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches Limited and to Headquarters Nigerian Army Electrical Mechanical Engineers and appointed Corps Commander Electrical Mechanical Engineers, Major General E Akerejola from Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport to Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Transport and appointed Commander Corps of Supply and Transport, Major General AA Fayemiwo from Nigerian Army Welfare Holdings Limited by Guarantee to Headquarters Finance Corps and appointed Chief of Accounts and Budget (Army).

    Senior officers newly appointed as Commandants of Nigerian Army Training Institutions are Major General PI Eze, from Defence Headquarters Department of Procurement to Nigerian Army Ordinance School and appointed Commandant, Major General AA Adeyinka from Army Headquarters Department of Army Logistics to Nigerian Army College of Logistics and appointed Commandant, Major General PP Malla from Army Headquarters Department of Army Administration to Depot Nigerian Army and appointed Commandant as well as Brigadier General UT Otaru from Defence Headquarters to Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport and appointed Acting Commandant.

    The newly appointed Brigade Commanders are, Brigadier General DH Ndahi, from Nigerian Army Resource Centre to Headquarters 4 Brigade and appointed Commander, Brig Gen FS Etim from Amphibious Training School to Headquarters 6 Brigade and appointed Commander, Brigadier General EA Orakwe from Headquarters 6 Division to Headquarters 19 Brigade and appointed Commander, Brigadier General JO Are from Army Headquarters Department of Army Standards and Evaluation to Headquarters 3 Brigade and appointed Commander, amongst others.

    The statement said the Chief of Army Staff directed all the newly appointed senior officers to redouble their effort and commitment to duty in tackling the security challenges bedeviling the nation, as they assume their new appointments.

  • Adamawa: CP Condemned Armed Confrontation between Army and Police

    Adamawa: CP Condemned Armed Confrontation between Army and Police

    By Musa Isa Ahmed

    Adamawa State commissioner of police Sikiru Akande has condemned the recent conflict between Police officers and military along Numan road, that resulted in exchange of fire and unfortunate murder of military officer on the line of duty, noting that it is unfortunate for them to engage in such a show of shame knowing that their core constitutional mandate is the defence of life and property.

    A statement by the spokesman of the command, DSP Sulaiman Nguroje said, the CP has ordered the immediate arrest of culprits and comprehensive investigation into the matter with a view to ensuring peace and justice.

    The CP warned that attacks on all security officers on the line of duty would no longer be tolerated under whatever guise, as the command holds the lives of all security personnel sacrosanct, and such unwarranted conflict would be strictly treated in accordance with extant laws.

    However, equally reiterated the commitment of the command to the protection of lives and property while stressing that it is vital to work with other sister security agents in protecting the fundamental rights of security operatives, in order to enable them advance their sacred mandate of serving and protecting the citizens better.

    The police boss called for calm as the top management of the both security agents are doing everything legally possible to address the situation

  • Army blames poor telecom network, bad roads, for bandits killings in Zamfara, Niger

    Army blames poor telecom network, bad roads, for bandits killings in Zamfara, Niger

    The Nigerian Army has blames poor telecommunications network, bad roads and vast landmass for attacks and killings by bandits in parts of Zamfara and Niger States in recent times.

    The Director of Defence Information, Major General Jimmy Akpor, who made this known on Friday while briefing journalists on the progress of the fight against terrorism in Abuja, blamed the attacks on “poor road networks, communication infrastructure and the vastness of the affected communities.”

    The Army spokesman, however, gave the assurance that the “military had taken the obvious facts into perspective, and had deployed troops to address the situation.”

    “The military has appropriately deployed troops to deal with the situation on the ground but you must understand these areas are vast.

    “If you put the whole of the South-East inside Niger State, it would swallow it. When they tell you they moved from a place and went to cause havoc at another, if you don’t know how large this expanse of land is, you would think it is something you can easily block and neutralise them.

    “Also, the roads in these areas are very poor, and the communication infrastructure is also poor. Before we get information on the havoc wreaked by these terrorists, it takes two to three days.
    “The road infrastructure to respond is terrible. We have taken everything into perspective and we are working very hard to ensure that no Nigerian suffers undue threat to life and properties.

    “A lot is happening in these states. That is why the heat is on them and they are running from their comfort zone. It means they would not have food and resources wherever they are running to.
    “Therefore, they would pounce on villages along the way.

    It is unfortunate; we are carrying out a pursuit on them. Very soon, even the forests would not be a safe haven for them,“ Akpor said.

    In the past few weeks, bandits fleeing from military onslaught have continued to cause havoc in several communities.
    Early in January, the bandits laid siege to about 10 communities in Zamfara where they unleashed a reign of terror over three days, killing more than 200 innocent people.

    Niger State was also not spared as over 300 people were killed and about 200 abducted in 50 attacks within a space of three weeks, as confirmed by Governor Abubakar Bello.

  • No Soldier Killed During Fight Over Gold In Katsina, Says Army

    No Soldier Killed During Fight Over Gold In Katsina, Says Army

    The Nigeria Army on Sunday said none of its soldiers was killed during any gun battle stemming from a disagreement over gold nuggets in Magama Village in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.

    In a statement, army spokesman, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, urged members of the public to disregard reports suggesting that two soldiers and seven miners were killed during a gun duel arising from rifts over gold.

    General Onyema described the publications as “baseless, unfounded, untrue and a mere figment of the writer’s imagination, aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the Nigerian Army”.

    He stressed that no Nigerian soldier was killed nor involved in any skirmish with illegal miners in Magama village on January 5 as was reported.

    Reports had claimed that the incident occurred when the soldiers turned down an initially agreed offer of N500,000 per pit from the miners, but afterward, turned around to demand more money on discovering the large quantum of gold nuggets found by the illegal miners in one of the pits.

    However, General Onyema while debunking the reports said the troops deployed in the North West were committed and engrossed in the fight against banditry and other criminalities bedevilling the region.

    He added that soldiers deployed to fight insurgents were never permitted to participate in any form of mining, whether legitimate or illegitimate.

    “This is certainly not what the troops require at this critical time,” he said. “We assure the general public of the unrelenting commitment of our troops to decisively tackling the banditry menace in the North West.”

  • BREAKING: Nigeria Army locates ISWAP rockets launching site

    BREAKING: Nigeria Army locates ISWAP rockets launching site

    The gallant men of the Nigeria Army has unearth the location where ISWAP used to target Air base in Maiduguri and launch several mortal attack on its Citizens

    The terrorists who have been repeatedly humiliated by their failed mortal attack, who recorded little casualty, compare to what they intended.

    The last mortal attack by the terrorists was when the President visits Maidiguri and the terrorists launched attack, which killed unspecified number of civilians

    According to source privy to our correspondent

    “Troops of 73 battalion headed by Lt Col. Yakubu and a CJTF Commander Joint Task Force, conducted clearance OP. Around Mulai, Katapilan, Jeriya, Kulakumu, Duwari, and Katapilan Bimi” The source said

    “They found location used by ISWAP to fired rockets targeting Maiduguri Air Base”. The source added

  • BREAKING: Nigeria Army arrests eight suspects over kidnap of Plateau monarch

    BREAKING: Nigeria Army arrests eight suspects over kidnap of Plateau monarch

    Nigeria Army Troops of Operation Safe Haven have arrested eight suspects in connection with the kidnap of a traditional ruler in Plateau State, Charles Mato Dakat.

    It has earlier been widely reported that Dakat, a Paramount ruler in Gindiri LGA, was abducted by gunmen who attacked his palace last Sunday around 1am.

    He was, however, rescued in the early hours of Friday.

    According to Punch, Confirming the arrest of the eight suspects in a statement on Friday shortly after the monarch regained his freedom, the Military Information Officer of Operation Safe Haven said, “While the Paramount ruler of Gindiri in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, Chief Charles Mato, has been with his abductors, the commander Operation SAFE HAVEN, Major General Ibrahim Ali, placed the troops deployed at Gyanbus on red alert and the hot trail of the perpetrators.

    “Consequently, Eight suspects were arrested in connection with the kidnap incidence and are being interrogated. Following this development, the paramount ruler, early this morning of Friday 31 December 2021, was released by his abductors.”

    The statement added that “Operations SAFE HAVEN is still very much on the ground to ensure all those involved in the kidnap of the traditional ruler are arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.”

  • Army Admits 4,800 More Soldiers To Combat Insecurity

    Army Admits 4,800 More Soldiers To Combat Insecurity

    The Army on Saturday admitted 4,800 new soldiers at a passing out parade ceremony held in Kaduna State.

    The new recruits are expected to contribute to the army’s ongoing operations in various parts of the country, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya, said.

    “They commenced their training in August and they have been trained as professional soldiers in line with our training directives, taking cognisance, of course, of the current environment,” the army chief said.

    “We hope they will deliver as they are deployed across all the theatres.”

    He said the army portal has been opened for a new set of recruits who are expected to commence training in January.

    “The drive as mandated by Mr. President is to increase our strength and have more feet on the ground in addition to all the things we are doing,” he said. “And he has provided all the resources for this.”

    He added that there is also provision for specialised training being given to those already in the service, to enhance their capabilities.

    Lieutenant-General Yahaya, while urging the newly inaugurated soldiers to apply the mental, physical and moral training acquired over the past few months as well as those they will be exposed to at their respective formations, warned them to uphold the Nigerian Army’s core values of Loyalty, Selfless Service, Courage, Discipline, Integrity, and Respect for Others.

    He also asked them to remain loyal to constituted authorities at all times and place the interest of the nation ahead of their personal convictions, even as he reminded them to be ready to go wherever ordered to defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria at any cost.

  • Army chief’s Confab and Intelligence Gathering

    Army chief’s Confab and Intelligence Gathering

    byEmmanuel Onwubiko 

    We in the head office Abuja of the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) had cogent reason to travel on Monday morning for a day long investigative findings to Enugu,

    South East of Nigeria following huge body of complaints by thousands of residents of the Igbo region against brutality of the Nigeria Police Force and other sections of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

    Predominantly, complainants say a lot of Igbo youths face arbitrary arrests and illegal detention accompanied by heightened physical, psychological and emotional torture over trumped up allegations of belonging to the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) which was proscribed by the federal government and the South East governments over three Years ago.

    The findings of our tour are issues for another day but suffice it to mention that as we’re busy interviewing some residents of South East of Nigeria over these unprecedented accusations of Police and military brutality against civilians,  one fact emerged showing the poor appreciation of intelligence driven security functions by the security agencies.

    Incidentally,  even President Muhammadu Buhari was then in far away Abuja lambasting the military for their inability to cultivate the use of intelligence to do their jobs.  

    The President himself a retired Major General Muhammadu Buhari,  had urged the Nigeria Army to do more in intelligence gathering and synergy with other security agencies in order to tame terrorism and other forms of insecurity bedevilling the country.

    According to him, the war against terrorism is intelligence-driven, saying that the army needed to gather information and process them into actionable intelligence for the conduct of their operations.

    Buhari said this at the Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference in Abuja on Monday.

    The president who was represented by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, however, urged the Nigerian Army to remain apolitical.

    He said, “The war against terrorism and insurgency is intelligence-driven. It requires the gathering of information and processing them into timely and actionable intelligence for the conduct of operations.

    “It also means synergy of efforts and collaboration amongst all the security agencies. I, therefore, charge you to do more, in your information gathering efforts and the level of synergy amongst intelligence outfits in order to comprehensively defeat all forms of insurgency and terrorism in our country within the shortest possible time.

    “While performing your constitutional roles, I urge you to remain apolitical and continue to operate within the framework of the principles of fundamental human rights and the laws of armed conflict.”

    He added that while some equipment procured are now being delivered, others would arrive within the shortest possible time.

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Farouk Yahaya, said the lack of the needed vehicles and weapons for the operations affected the morale of the troops.

    He said, “The dearth of requisite vehicles and weapon platforms to provide the needed support for operations has a negative impact on the morale of troops.

    “To this end, I directed the Command Engineering Depot and Nigerian Army Special Vehicle Plant in conjunction with the NAEME and other stakeholders to look inwards and see how best these challenges could be tackled.

    “Consequently, within available resources, a total of 10 AFVs, 37 B vehicles and 777 small arms and light weapons, as well as 7 x 155mm artillery guns, were repaired, refurbished and remodified.

    He, however, said the security situation in the North West and North Central which hitherto was tensed due to the increased activities of armed bandits among others is now relatively calm.

    These emerging issues aforementioned reminds us of the universal adage that good deeds trail a leader to even lonely corners of deserts in a natural response to the instincts of appreciation in mankind. This is because one of the Nigerian born Army Generals who utilised his stay in the top position of the Nigerian Army to institutionalise intellectualism and intelligence-driven implementation of the military’s constitutional duties is the recently retired Army Chief born from one of the minority Ethnicity in Borno, North East of Nigeria Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai.  

    Not all Nigerians are thankless people and in spite of the generalized degeneration in the land, good leaders are feted and honoured by foresighted and conscionable Nigerians.

    The name General Tukur Yusuf Buratai might not fade away anytime soon as it has continued to resonate with the exploits of the Nigerian Army in the prosecution of the war against insurgency in the country. This is because, while the former Chief of Army Staff held sway, it was indeed a golden era of combat and intellectualism in the annals of the Nigerian Army.

    It is no news that Gen. Buratai (rtd) battled covert and overt forces with the troops he led to anchor succor from insecurity to Nigerians. In the process, he withered the storm of official blackmails, name-dropping, smear campaigns, malicious persecutions and hate sermons on his person and the Nigerian Army from enemies of Nigeria, who plotted his failure on that national assignment. Yet he outsmarted them in their numbers collectively.

    But what is most stricking, which really sparked off the wisdom or reason justifying this reflection on Buratai’s legacy of intellectualism was that in spite of his arduous schedules fighting multifaceted insurgencies and terrorism, Gen. Buratai still found time to think and invest in the education of Nigerian Army, which could benefit other arms of the military and even civilians.

    While, many federal ministers of education who have spent several years on the seat and left, but could not boast of a government school built in their lifetime in Office abound, it is quite appalling that it is the experience even when they presided over government’s establishment of universities under their tenure.

    Observably, life has different experiences for different people. Clearly, there are very many former Vice Chancellors of both state and federal universities whom God Almighty has not granted the foresight to understand their communities are deserving of higher institutions, yet they have risen to the pinnacle of knowledge but have abandoned their localities in the abyss of darkness.

    However, in contrast, Gen. Buratai (Rtd) has proven to be one of the greatest accomplished soldiers, innovators, strategists and conquerors to ever emerge in Nigeria’s recent history of the Army. 

    In his desire to transform and enhance operational efficiency of soldiers in combating insurgency, the former Army Chief, while in office pushed the Nigerian Army to the next level by establishing the first Nigerian Army Aviation School (Corps).

    With this record breaking intellectual legacy, Gen. Buratai has conspicuously placed the Nigerian Army in Africa as one of the few armies with an independent air wing from the Air Force. 

    That’s the extent Gen. Buratai applied intellectualism in search of peace and security for Nigerians. These leadership attributes are uncommon in most leaders in our clime.  Beyond sentiments, it explains why he stands tall at all times and his name may not fade away anytime soon.

    And to further demonstrate his exceptional intellectualism and commitment to the continuous training of soldiers and exposure to the ever dynamic world of knowledge in warfare, Gen. Buratai (rtd.) comprehended and conceived the idea of Nigerian Army University, Biu (NAUB), which he aggressively pursued to fruition within a short time.

    Possibly, this intellectual leadership foresight of Gen. Buratai can only be appreciated if one dissects the scope of the Nigerian Army University Biu.  The specialized university, which was commissioned in October, 2018 and commenced its maiden academic session thereafter, was structured to favourably compete with some of the best Universities in the world in the next three decades.

    Remarkably, NAUB was conceptualized as a center of excellence and positioned to lead scientific and technological researches and breakthroughs in military studies and conventional courses.

    Its faculties and departments are a blend of specialized security courses as well as those offered by conventional institutions to carter for the civilian quota of its admissions.

    An insight into NAUB reveals an exhilarating solid foundation, kick-starting with seven faculties. These includes; a distinctive Faculty of Military Technology and a Faculty of Military Policy, Logistics and Strategy.

    Others include faculties run by conventional universities such as   Science, Technology, Social Sciences, Environmental Studies, Administrative and Management Studies, as well as Schools and Centres. NAUB is a complete academic hub for Nigerians desirous of knowledge.

    As already stated, NAUB admits both military and civilian students with a greater percentage in favour of civilians.  And its staff composition also reflects the same mix. More so, as posited by Gen. Buratai (Rtd.) himself, NAUB is hued to function on the principles of creativity, self-reliance and self-sufficiency.

    Pertinent to mention here that for Buratai as Chief of Army Staff, emphasis on training and capacity building were indeed strategic. This was in his recognition that in modern times, tanks and guns are not the only weapons of warfare. This remains exemplary now and in the years to come.

    So, for a leader good in the warfront and equally splendid in intellectual endowments, the naming of scholarly institutions in the name of Buratai is a loud proclamation of appreciation of his many discrete impacts on humanity and legacy of intellectualism

    Worthy to mention as in 2019, when Ebonyi State University named its newly established Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies after Buratai. Naming the newly established institute after Gen. Buratai in itself is not sensational, but what is more captivating is the reason adduced for such honour to the former Army boss.

    As revealed by the Vice Chancellor of EBSU; Prof. Chigozie Egbu, Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff (as he then was) deserved the honour for his selfless service to the nation and humanity. They have noticed his splendor in the promotion and maintenance of peace and security in Nigeria.

    By implication, the entire people of Ebonyi state scored Gen. Buratai and the Nigerian Army distinctively on securing Nigeria. The people also specially recognized the contributions and sacrifices of the Nigerian Army in ending the assailing myriad of security threats, which almost consumed the country before Gen. Buratai was burdened with the task of restoring security sanity in the country.

    Again, barely two weeks before the Ebonyi State University named its newly established Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies after Buratai, the Igbinedion University, Okada, had opened the floodgate by honoring the Nigerian Army. It also named its Centre for Contemporary Security Affairs after Gen. Buratai. Its strategic and encouraging, to say the least.

    The centre, which the institution described as the first of its kind in Sub-Sahara Africa, was established in line with the Institution’s commitment to teaching, research and community relations.

    The Vice-Chancellor of the university; Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, revealed that the centre would “present veritable possibilities as it focuses on security challenges that are contemporary in nature.

    “It will frequently bring together the academia and the military to compare notes, challenge the status quo in an intellectually-stimulating discourse on security and allied contemporary issues.”

    It cannot be gainsaid nor overemphasized that the academia is one place where enduring archives that will outlast can be guaranteed. As such, Buratai’s enduring legacy of intellectualism has raised the pedestal for the world to see the former Army Chief as a beacon, who echoes uncommon leadership of the Army and a new public lifestyle. He epitomizes enduring peace, which he devoted the last few years of his military career to entrench in his fatherland.

    TY Buratai, now Ambassador of Nigeria to the Republic of Benin in some quarters, has been described as that Chief of Army Staff who left enduring legacies that redefined the ethos in counterinsurgency operations and civil-military relations.

    These two pillars were somewhat the hallmarks of the TY Buratai era in the Nigerian Army. The records are readily available for perusal. Hate him or love him; he was the soldier and the commander at the same time. He was in the trenches with the troops, commissioned projects, and engaged the intellectual community. He was robust and broad in defense of democracy in Nigeria. He remains so physically fit that a mid ranking Air force officer confided in this writer how the then Army Chief Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai ran a race consistently from Madala to the Army institute in Aso-Villa and never stopped for a moment even when many other younger officers slowed down and stopped to catch their breath before proceeding. 

    Hence, we must agree that his appointment as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Benin shortly after retiring from active service was very strategic and a further proof of his legacy of intellectualism as much regional cooperation in addressing the security challenges in Nigeria is gathering momentum.

    Nigeria is indeed blessed to have such a personality. TY Buratai has undoubtedly raised the bar in leadership; and it behoves on policy makers to look beyond western security templates of Islamic terrorism and explore the possibility of adopting the findings of these institutions named after the lessons of courage, character and competence of Amb. Tukur Yusuf Buratai in finding lasting solutions to terrorism in Nigeria.

    Buratai’s era as the Chief of Army Staff was indeed an era of the enduring legacy of Intellectualism.

    *EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO is head of the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) and at one time a National Commissioner of the NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA.  

  • Army Neutralize Bandits Bordering North East (Sokoto)

    Army Neutralize Bandits Bordering North East (Sokoto)

    By Muhammad Goronyo, Sokoto

    It could be recalled that sometimes last week, armed bandits launched an attack on Goronyo weekly market killing over 60 innocent citizens who were there seeking for livelihood.

    Just yesterday, the Nigerian Army in performing their national duties also launched an attack neutralizing Gundumi Forest in Isa local government government killing undisclosed number of bandits.

    Unfortunately, the bandits team leader popularly called Turji escaped the scene.

  • Three Attackers Of Police Checkpoint Killed In Anambra – Army

    Three Attackers Of Police Checkpoint Killed In Anambra – Army

    Three of the gunmen who attacked a police checkpoint in Anambra State have been killed, Nigerian Army authorities have said.

    The Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, who confirmed this in a statement on Saturday revealed that a policeman died during the incident.

    He explained that the gunmen had attacked the police checkpoint along the Okija-Onitsha Expressway on Thursday before troops attached to Sector 5 of Exercise Golden Dawn arrived at the scene.

    “The gallant troops engaged and overwhelmed the gunmen with superior firepower, forcing them to flee the scene. Troops gave them a hot pursuit, and engaged the gunmen in a gun duel,” the statement said.

    “The three gunmen, who drove in two vehicles – Hilux and hummer bus – eventually succumbed to troops’ effective firepower, while others fled with gunshot wounds.

    “Unfortunately, a policeman paid the supreme price, in the line of duty, for his country.”

    According to him, the soldiers also recovered a vehicle and two motorcycles while conducting a further search of the general area for the fleeing armed men.

    In his reaction, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya, commended the troops for the feat and urged them to sustain the momentum against all criminal elements operating in the South-East.

    He also sympathised with the family of the slain policeman and prayed for the repose of his soul.

    The army spokesman issued the statement a day after Yahaya addressed instructors at Depot Nigerian Army,  Nigerian Military School (NMS), Directorate of Army Physical Training (DAPT), and Army School of Physical Training (ASPT), during which he asked troops across the country to be alert and vigilant while discharging their duties.

    The current security challenges, according to the army chief, call for all to be vigilant, and for troops to conduct themselves professionally while adhering to the rules of engagement and standard operating procedures.