Nigerian Army

Again, Nigerian military engages ISWAP terrorists in Borno, kill 4

By Muhammad Sabiu

Nigerian soldiers combating the insurgents terrorising the northeastern part of Nigeria have again succeeded in eliminating some members of the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) in Ngwom community under Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State on Tuesday.

A source whose identity has not been revealed disclosed that the military acted swiftly by mobilising troops of 195 Battalion Operation Hadin Kai in Jere to engage the insurgents.

The source was quoted as saying, “We have counted four corpses of the invaders and still pursuing others using the track of blood in the bush.

“After our clearance operation on their escape routes, detailed updates can be provided.”

This is not the first time Nigerian soldiers engaged insurgents, who usually in recent times suffer a heavy casualty.

Nigerian military repel ISWAP’s attack, eliminate 5 insurgents

By Muhammad Sabiu

Reports coming from northeastern Nigeria have indicated that Nigerian soldiers have successfully repelled an attack on their convoy by combatants of the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) along Maiduguri-Damaturu road.

The soldiers were said to have acted based on an intelligence report they received after the “terrorists’ communication was intercepted.”

The terrorists also attempted to abduct travellers who were plying the Maiduguri-Damaturu road.

A source in the know of the incident, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed to journalists that “the armed terrorists had stormed Tamsukawu community in Kaga local government with the intention to attack a military convoy on a special mission/movement.”

He added: “Unfortunately for them, a signal was received on the movements of terrorists from various directions for the attack.

“The troops’ movement was well fortified with adequate security and air cover from the air task force.

“The movement was very successful even though with some confrontation which we tackled.

“Meanwhile, the troops were also mobilised to deal with another remnant of ISWAP fighters who attempted to attack and abduct travellers at Tamsukawu community.”

Confirming the number of casualties on the side of the insurgents, the source said, “The troops and the terrorists engaged in a heavy gun battle before they were subdued, killing five of them after the arrival of the Air Task Force and Rapid Response Squad Team from a Super Camp at Ngamdu.”

This is not the first time the Nigerian military has engaged terrorists in a gun duel, which has made a number of the insurgents meet their Waterloo.

Security forces kill several bandits in Kaduna

By Hussaina Sufyan Ahmad

It has been reported that security forces have killed several bandits and destroyed their camps during clearance operations at Igabi and Chikun Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.

The State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, on Friday, said the clearance operations were planned to conducted in Faka, Katuka, Barebari and Maguzawa general areas, spanning Chikun and Igabi LGAs.

According to him, an unconfirmed number of bandits were however later neutralised by a Nigerian Air Force attack helicopter after they were sighted on the high ground across the Maguzawa River.

Southeast: Nigerian soldiers repel attack, kill Biafran combatant

Muhammad Sabiu

Nigerian troops stationed in the southeast have on Thursday, October, 28, successfully eliminated a Biafran National Guard combatant in an encounter in Amaekpu, Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State.

The troops also recovered some vehicles and weapons which belonged to the combatants.

In a Facebook statement signed on Friday by the spokesperson of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier Onyema Nwachukwu, he stated that although the Biafran combatants were heavily armed, they were successfully overrun and had no option but to flee.

Read Brigadier Onyema’s full statement:

TROOPS NEUTRALISE BNG GUNMAN …Recover Arm, Vehicles

Troops conducting Exercise GOLDEN DAWN have neutralised one of the Biafran National Guard gunmen who attacked troops’ location at Amaekpu, Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State on Thursday 28 October 2021.

The assailants, who were heavily armed and conveyed in several vehicles opened fire on the troops’ location, but were met with stiff resistance by the troops. In the encounter, the troops neutralized one gunman, while others abandoned their vehicles and retreated in disarray with gunshot wounds. The troops also recovered a pump action gun, among others.

While the criminals withdrew, having been overwhelmed, they were promptly intercepted at Eda by troops of Forward Operating Base Ohaozara in Ebonyi State. The troops recovered additional three vehicles and apprehended one of the gunmen.

ONYEMA NWACHUKWU Brigadier General Director Army Public Relations 28 October 2021

Nigerian gov’t confirms death of Albarnawi’s successor

By Muhammad Sabiu

The National Security Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, General Babagana Mungono, has confirmed Thursday that Malam Bako, the top Boko Haram commander, who recently took over the leadership of the deadly Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) from the late Abu Mus’ab Albarnawi, has been killed.

General Mungono, who spoke to journalists at the State House, stated that the military had launched an attack on the insurgents “two days ago”, which led to the elimination of the commander.

Mungono was quoted as saying, “Two days ago, the man who succeeded him, one Malam Bako, one of the prominent leaders of the Shura Council of the Islamic State of West African Province, was also taken out.

“They are also contending with leadership crisis. You know these things are also accompanied with inherent issues of trust, conflicts, mutual suspicion and other things.

He added that the efforts of the military are really making an impact in the fight against terrorists.

“So, the operations being conducted by the armed forces in the Northern parts of the country put a lot of pressure on the Islamic State of West African Province, Boko Haram and also the tangential group known as Islamic State in the Greatest Sahara,” he said.

No Maulud procession in Plateau this year—Troops

By Muhammad Sabiu

 

The troops saddled with the responsibility of maintaining peace and order due to the fragile peace in Plateau State have declared that there would be no Maulud procession across the state this year.

The Troops, also codenamed as Operation Safe Heaven, have in a statement signed by their spokesperson, Major Ishaku Takwa, said they had been directed “to ensure that no group organises any form of procession during the period of the Maulud.”

According to the statement, “Operation Safe Haven has noted the arrangement by some Muslim Youths on the Plateau to hold a procession to commemorate the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW (PBUH) on Tuesday, 19 October 2021.

“Information received also indicated that the procession is organised without the knowledge of Jamaatul Nasir Islam (JNI), security agencies and the Plateau state government.

Nevertheless, the troops indicated that “While felicitating with the entire Muslim ummah on the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW (PBUH) and recognising the right to such processions under different circumstances, it is, however, expedient to state that the fragile peace on the Plateau does not present a conducive atmosphere for any form of procession at the moment.

“Further to this, Operation Safe Haven, therefore, wishes to draw the attention of the youths and members of the public on the ban of any kind of protest and procession in force in the state.

“The Military task force encourages Muslim faithfuls to observe the Maulud without any form of procession.

“The Commander, Operation Safe Haven, Major General Ibrahim Ali has directed troops to ensure that no group organises any form of procession during the period of the Maulud.”

Recall that there were in recent months a series of ethno-religious violent attacks and reprisals that led to the death of many and many others sustained injuries.

In gun duel, Nigerian soldiers neutralise 3 gunmen

By Muhammad Sabiu

Nigerian soldiers working under the platform of Sector 5 of Exercise GOLDEN DAWN in Enugu have successfully neutralised three unknown gunmen who raided a police checkpoint on October 7.

This was announced today by Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, via the Nigeria Army’s official Facebook page.

The soldiers engaged the gunmen in a shootout which forced the latter to flee the duel scene, and the soldiers recovered one vehicle and two motorcycles.

However, Mr Onyema regrettably stated that one soldier lost his life.

The southeastern region has been seeing a series of tensions and rampant attacks on government facilities by suspected IPOB members, which could not be unconnected with their secession agenda.

Army condemns dehumanisation of NYSC member in viral video

By Hussaina Ahmed Sufyan

The video that went viral on the internet during the early hours of Thursday left the Nigerian Army in disarray and Nigerians in shock. The video showed a female Nigerian Youth Service Corp Member (NYSC) identified as Ezeiruaku Ifeyinws Fidelia being molested by an officer named Lt. Chika Viola Anele.

 

An unidentified onlooker recorded the dehumanising act and shared it online. In it, we see the officer pouring on the Corps member an unknown substance.

It is said that there was an argument between the duo which led to the officer punishing the Corps member. The incident happened in 13 Brigade Calabar, Cross River State.

 

The Nigerian Army, however, released a statement condemning the act.

 

In a statement, the Director of Public Relations under the Nigerian Army, Cross River State, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu condemned the act and tagged it “unprofessional”. While being apologetic, he also stated that Lt. Anele had been sanctioned.

 

“The Nigerian Army, therefore, condemns in strong terms this act of gross misconduct. Undoubtedly, the officer’s actions have caused the NA embarrassment and is highly regrettable. This unfortunate act of indiscipline does not in any way represent the Nigerian Army and will not be confined in its entirety.”

 

“The NA wishes to tender an apology to the victim, her family members, friends, National Youth Service Corps and to Nigerians in general for the unwholesome treatment melted out to the corps member”.

Army to investigate murder of taxi driver by own personnel in Jos

By Muhammad Sabiu

The alleged murder of a taxi driver by some men of the Special Task Force, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) for allegedly flouting the 10:00 pm curfew imposed on some parts of Plateau State is going to be investigated.

This was disclosed on Saturday by the spokesperson of the operation, Maj. Ishaku Takwa, in Jos.

Recall that the taxi driver, identified as Abdullahi Karafa, was alleged to have been beaten to death by soldiers around the Farin Gada axis in Plateau State.

During a condolence visit paid to the family of the deceased, the Commander of the Task Force, Ibrahim Ali, gave assurance that any soldier culpable of the murder would be punished.

The statement reads, “OPSH received with shock a report that its personnel deployed at Farin Gada beat and murdered a commercial taxi driver, Mr Abdullahi Karafa.

“Immediately we received the report, our commander visited the deceased family and condoned them over the unfortunate incident.

“The commander has since constituted a board of enquiry to unravel those behind the heinous act.”

Since after the murder of some 30 Muslim travellers in the Rukuba community of Plateau State, there has been tension which is as a result of attacks and reprisals, and that forced the Plateau State Government to impose a night curfew on some parts of the state.