Foreign Terrorists Arrested In Nigeria

one of the Chadian suspects

Troops of the Nigerian Army in conjunction with the Department of State Services (DSS) on Sunday in Gombe State (North-eastern Nigeria), arrested three suspected Chadian Boko Haram terrorists that belonged to Albaranawi faction.

They include; Bilal Muhammed Umar, Bashir Muhammed and Muhammed Maigari Abubakar. They were arrested at Arawa and Mallam Inna Areas of Gombe metropolis.

The suspects were reported to be members of Albarnawi faction of the Boko Haram that operates in Chad and mostly northern part of Borno State but came to Gombe State for another heinous assignment.

A statement by the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman, noted that during the operation, one of them, Bilal Muhammed Umar attempted to escape and was shot on the leg.

“He was however apprehended and is receiving medical treatment. The terrorists were also arrested with Improvised Explosive Device (IED), materials that they could have coupled and attack parts of the State.

“The suspects are in custody undergoing preliminary investigation,” the statement noted.

Nigeria Army Offers Clothing, Cash To Molested Physically Challenge Person

The Nigerian Army has offered clothing and undisclosed amount of money as succor to Chijioke Orakwu, a physically challenged person, assaulted by two military police officers in Onitsha for allegedly wearing army camouflage.

Orakwu was manhandled by two soldiers on Feb. 7, at New Market Road, Ontisha, in south Eastern Nigeria.

Spokesperson of 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Col. Sagir Musa, presented the item and cash on Friday.

According to Musa, the Army would not condone acts of indiscipline or gross misconduct by any member, noting that, the action of the soldiers did not reflect the attitude of today’s soldiers under the leadership of Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.

He said, “Already, those who perpetrated the act have been arrested and tried, and because of the seriousness of the offence, they have been referred to higher authorities for further action.

“We want to assure Nigerians, particularly the international community that the Nigerian Army has core values and respect for the rights of people.”

He however urged the public to view the case as an isolated one, assuring that future assault similar to the Onitsha incident would be treated with serious action, adding that, the army volunteered to take Orakwu to hospital but that he refused orthodox medication.

Musa added that the doctors, who examined him physically, confirmed him to be physically fit. He noted that the items given to Orakwu were not to compensate him but to show that the Nigerian Army cares and respect rights of individuals.

“All we did was not an issue of compensation but to show Nigerians and the international public that the Nigerian Army is disciplined, responsive and responsible, and that we care,” he said.

The Army, he said, had warned against the abuse of military uniforms, saying it remain its policy which the army holds in high esteem.

Army Caution Nigerians On Fraudsters, Says Application Form Into Army Is Free

The attention of the Nigerian Army (NA) has been drawn to activities of fraudsters demanding money from applicants of the 76 Regular Recruits Intake for trades/non trades men and women.

Army spokesperson, Usman Kukasheka, in a statement noted that the fraudsters posing as army officers with the names, Lieutenant Femi and Lieutenant GbengaDanjuma respectively, operate with the GSM number 08165007425.

According to the statement, “The NA wishes to state that the processing of application forms into the Army is free of charge. Applicants are advised to log on to http://www.narecruitment.org to process their application forms or if in doubts, call the following phone numbers: 08038575725 or 08061541440. ​While effort is ongoing to track and apprehend the fraudulent syndicates, the general public should note that the NA does not charge applicants money or gratification for whatever reasons.

“The public is therefore encouraged to report any person or group parading himself or herself as an agent of the NA for the ongoing recruitment exercise. ​

“The general public is also advised to be wary of dubious offers of recruitment especially through the internet and report such offers or person to the nearest Nigerian Army unit or formation and Police Stations”, the statement pointed out.

Nigeria Army Not Planning to Attack Any Country

Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai

The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to a publication by Premium Times online news medium titled “EXCLUSIVE: Nigeria raises troops for Gambia, ready to remove Yahya Jammeh”. This is not true.

Consequently, Nigerian Army wishes to disassociate itself from such false information that exists only in the figment of the imagination of the medium. There was no time or place Nigerian Army disclosed such information to the medium. If there is any, we challenge them to name the officer or soldier that gave them such information and when.

For the avoidance of doubt, Nigerian Army is not planning to attack any country. It should be noted that such reckless and unprofessional conduct is not expected of any reputable and responsible news medium as it is inimical to national security.

The publication apart from being false in its entirety, it is unethical and capable of endangering the lives of Nigerians in diaspora.

The medium is please requested to always clarify such matters affecting national security and diplomatic issues that may endanger the safety and security of Nigerians abroad to avoid such misleading and embarrassing publication.

Thank you for your kind cooperation.

Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman

Director Army Public Relations

Nigeria Army Releases 1,250 Boko Haram Suspects

The Nigeria Army has released 1,250 Boko Haram suspects who had been cleared of having no links with insurgency and the group.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division of the army, Brig Gen Victor Ezug­wu, made this known when the Head of Sub Delegation of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Beat Mosi­mann, visited him on Monday at the Maimalari cantonment in Maiduguri, North-eastern Nigeria.

According to Ezugwu, the cleared suspects were released on the order of the Chief or Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai in about sev­en batches, noting that, more detainees would be freed in January, Vanguard reports.

He said, “We are keeping this on the regular release be­cause the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Tukur Bu­rutai, wants us to ensure that it is only people who have contact and connection with Boko Haram that have insur­gency issues to sort that should be detained so that those who do not have contact should be released.

“By the end of this January and February another batch of detain­ees would be cleared.

“The ICRC wants us to collaborate in the area of welfare for our de­tainees and we have as­sured them that we are going to continue doing our best in terms of wel­fare in accordance with international practice.

Earlier, Mosimann said that ICRC has mapped out several programmes in 2017 to assist IDPs that would be returning back to their respective communities.

Nigeria: HEKAN President Hails President Buhari, Military For Reclaiming Sambisa Forest

President Buhari

Kaduna (Nigeria) – President of the Haddiyar Ekklesiya Kristi a Nigeria (HEKAN) also known as United Church of Christ in Nigeria, Reverend Amos Kiri, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari and troops of the Nigerian Army for defeating Boko Haram and reclaiming Sambisa Forest, saying their courage, determination and sacrifice made this achievement possible.

Rev. Kiri made the commendation during a unity combine New Year worship at the HEKAN Headquarters in Kaduna to pray for God’s guidance, protection, peaceful co-existence and the unity of the country in 2017 and beyond.

He said the success so far is a demonstration of good leadership, and Nigerians owe sincere gratitude to the President for fulfilling his promise of restoring security and defending the territorial integrity of the nation.

While urging Nigerians to support the president on the fight against corruption, he called on leaders at all level to be faithful in the course of discharging their constitutional responsibilities, adding that, the federal government should explore all avenues for the sustenance of peace and restoration of law and order all over the country.

Nigeria Army To Establish Cattle Ranches Nationwide

Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur  Buratai has said that the Nigerian Army would be raising up cattle ranches in such a manner that in almost all the divisions, and all the brigades, cattle will be reared.

Buratai made this known on Tuesday at the Commissioning of Mogadishu Cantonment New Mammy Market (former Abacha Barracks), Abuja.

PR Nigeria reported that, the Army Chief who was represented by the Chief of Army Logistics, Major General Patrick Akem, also disclosed that, in keeping up with modern cattle rearing tradition, he sent officers of the Army to Argentina to look at how cattle were reared.

According to him, “Argentina has a population of 41 million people, but it feeds about 400 million people around the world with its beef. To take it to the next level, we want to adopt a system where the cattle are not just free ranging coming from Sokoto to Port-Harcourt, thereby making their meat tough to eat, the products will soon be coming from our own farms and ranches.”

He noted that he has created the Barrack Investment Initiative as platform that affords Army family members the opportunity of raising up fishing ponds, vegetable gardens, fruits, livestock, chicken and their eggs.

According to him, the intention of the Nigerian Army was not just to secure the country, but to contribute in growing the economy of the nation, adding that: “We want to tell our wives that they can live beyond the salaries of their husbands, so we are trying to empower the women in the barracks to be able to form co-operatives, so as to access loans and to a large extent be able to fend for themselves and their families, even without the salaries of their husbands.

In his remarks,  the Commander Army Headquarters Garrison, Major General John Malu said that the formidable shopping edifice had over 2000 shops, 27 warehouses and a printing press owned by the Nigerian Navy. He added that the services of a reputable private security firm was contracted to handle the security of the market.

Nigerian Military Rescues 43 Persons, 500 Cows From Boko Haram

The Nigerian military has rescued 43 abducted persons and recovered 500 cows from fleeing Boko Haram terrorists in Mafa Local Government Area of Bornu state, North-east Nigeria.

Army spokesperson Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman made this known in a statement, explaining that, the military operation was carried out on Sunday morning after eight suspected Boko Haram terrorists abducted some persons rearing cattle and livestock at gunpoint at Dalakalari general area of the Local Government Area.

According to Usman, Some well meaning people informed the military who swung into action and pursued the terrorists whom after sensing danger, ran away and abandoned the livestock just before Panamri village.

He said, “The troops were able to rescue 43 persons and 500 cows taken by the terrorists. The victims and the recovered cows have been handed over to the local authorities.”

Army/Shiite Clash: Buhari Promises ‘Appropriate Response’ After Months Of Silence

Abuja (Nigeria) – President Muhammadu Buhari has assured international and local human rights groups of “appropriate response” to a report of the judicial inquiry into the clashes between soldiers and Shiites last December.

A statement by a presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, said Mr. Buhari was studying the report before announcing appropriate response in due course.

“The president’s commitment to human rights remains unchanged because it is a cardinal component of the democratic order,” the statement said.

The commission of inquiry, set up by the Kaduna State government, released its report in July. The panel investigated the killing of hundreds of Shi’a Muslims by Nigerian soldiers.

The report indicted the General Officer Commanding the Nigerian Army’s 1st Division, Adeniyi Oyebade. He was accused of ordering the attack on civilians.

The killings drew worldwide condemnations, and several investigative reports said hundreds of Shiites were killed by government troops and secretly buried in a mass grave in Zaria, Kaduna State.

The Shi’a Islamic movement, led by Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, said it lost more than a thousand members in the attack that took place between December 12 and 14 at its headquarters in Zaria.

A representative of the Kaduna State government revealed that 347 bodies were handed over by the army for a secret mass burial.

But despite the evidence, the army claimed it killed only seven Shiites who blocked a public road and attempted to assassinate its chief, Tukur Buratai, a lieutenant general.

It said troops only used force after it became clear that Mr. Buratai’s life was in danger.

The leader of the Shi’a group, Mr. El-Zakzaky, who was arrested by soldiers during the operation, has remained in custody seven months after.

The attacks were neither condemned by the army hierarchy nor by President Muhammadu Buhari.

After his initial silence, Mr. Buhari suggested during a televised interview on December 30 that the victims invited the wrath of the military upon themselves by “hitting the chest of generals”.

But in what appeared a turnaround, Mr. Buhari said on Tuesday that his government will issue the needed response.

The statement issued by Mr. Shehu said the president “had told the nation during the Presidential Media Chat that he was awaiting the outcome of the report of inquiry into the incident before making appropriate response”.

The statement said the “present administration believes in due process and the rule of law; therefore any response to the report would follow this principle”.

“The Federal Government will continue to act in the larger interest of the public to prevent such violent incidents,” it said.

Avengers Gives Yorubas, Hausas Dateline To Leave Region, As Army Threatens To Use Force If…

Militant group

Delta (Nigeria) – A militant group, Adaka Boro Avengers, have asked non citizens of the South-east and South-south region to leave the region within three weeks.

They also called on their people residing in other part of the country to return back home as a date for the declaration of the Niger Delta Republic has been set.

A statement by the group, signed by General Ed­mos Ayayeibo, noted that the group has concluded ar­rangements to make the Niger Delta Republic a reality even as it ordered its people to return home and told northerners and westerners to leave the Ni­ger Delta and eastern states immediately.

It also issued a quit no­tice to the military and all agencies belonging to the Federal Government to evacuate the Niger Del­ta states and the eastern parts without delay. Fail­ure to obey the order, it said, would lead to a total destruction of military per­sonnel and agencies.

The statement read, “We, the Adaka Boro Avengers and all the free­dom fighters in the Niger Delta region have met and come to a conclusion that we are declaring the Niger Delta Republic three weeks from today.

“So we are by this notice calling on the Nigerian government to move out all military personnel and all government agencies out of the Niger Delta. Fail­ure will lead to destruction of military barracks and personnel.

“We are, also, by this no­tice calling on our fathers, mothers, brothers and sis­ters living in the northern parts of Nigeria to return home immediately.

“We are also warning northerners and western­ers to leave the Niger Delta region immediately within three weeks from now, for their own good.

“If they refuse to heed to our warning, we will use so many as example in the Niger Delta region on the due date.

“We are telling the Ni­gerian government that enough is enough and we are taking our indepen­dence by force. We have our foreign backers, so we are not afraid of the Nige­rian government but ready for total war.

“The inhuman treatment given to us by Nigerian government is enough. We can no longer withstand the suffering of our Niger Delta people. They should not take us for fools.”

Niger Delta Avenger (NDA) claimed respon­sibility for blowing up of many oil and gas operations of major oil companies in the Niger Delta region. According to them, its goal of destroying of oil and gas infrastructure was to actualize the sovereign state of Niger Delta.

According to the group’s spokesman Col. Mudoch Agbinibo, the NDA had spread across the Niger Delta to launch its currency, passport, rul­ing council, territory and flag.

“By October 2016, we will display our currency, flag, passport our ruling council and our territory to the world,” NDA said.

Meanwhile, TVC News report that, Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, after inaugurating some projects at the 2 Brigade of the Army on Monday in Enugu warned that, the Army will use force if the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and other militant groups reject dialogue with the Federal Government.

The Army chief said, “Government is still committed to dialogue (with Niger Delta militants). Whereby this cannot go on, then there could be resort to other means. The non-kinetic means has always been the source first, before government can recourse to the kinetic means (dropping bombs and using bullets, using lethal force/full military action/war or killing people).

“So, there is the need for the Niger Delta Avengers to see reason and dialogue with government.