Soldiers kill 2 bandits, recover dangerous weapons in Kaduna

NEWS

Soldiers kill 2 bandits, recover dangerous weapons in Kaduna

 

The Nigerian Army said troops deployed to fight bandits and other criminal activities in Kaduna State have killed two bandits in their hideout and recovered arms and ammunition in a raid.

A statement released on Thursday, by Army Acting Director Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa, indicated that, the raid on the bandits’ den was conducted while acting on intelligence report in Chikun local government area of Kaduna State.

“Following credible intelligence from a Good Samaritan, a patrol team of 1 Division Nigerian Army (NA), at about 0430 hours (am) on Wednesday the 8th of May 2019, raided a bandits’ den at Gonan Bature East of Rijana and Kasarami farm house in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

“The abandoned Kasarami farm house was reportedly forcefully occupied by criminals and had been used as a shelter and a place where victims of kidnapping were kept”, the statement noted.

According Colonel Musa, during the raid operation, contact was made with the hoodlums with fierce exchange of fire that led to the extermination of two bandits and made some recovery.

Items recovered, he added included: 2 AK 47 rifles, 2 AK 47 magazines, 51 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition as well as 2 techno cell phones.

“The Nigerian Army is committed and determined to protecting lives and property of all Nigerians, use this medium to thank the good Samaritan for providing the information that resulted in the successful raid operation”, the spokesman assured.

Colonel Musa also stressed that Nigerian Army will continue to sensitize and request members of the public to support it and other security agencies in their efforts to checkmate terrorism, banditry and other assorted crimes in Nigeria, by providing credible information about the hideouts and movements of suspicious persons in their respective communities.

PLEASE SHARE THIS POST!

Tension in Delta as Yakubu Gowon slumps during final military salute to Maj. Gen. Ejoor

NEWS

Tension in Delta as Yakubu Gowon slumps during final military salute to Maj. Gen. Ejoor

Tension heightened on Friday as Gen. Yakubu Gowon, a former Nigerian Head of State slumped during the oration at the graveside of the late Maj. Gen. David Akpodiete Ejoor in Ovwor-Olomu Community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

Military personnel, however, made fruitless efforts to bar visual coverage of the ugly incident.

The former Head of State was promptly rushed by some top echelons of the military into the special tent for emergency resuscitation just as Governor Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa and Chief James Onanefe Ibori, former Governor of the Delta State dashed into the tent to ensure he recovers.

A military, as well as the Delta State ambulances, were immediately moved to the front of the tent in case the former Head of State’s health deteriorates further. 

After a moment of suspense, Chief James Onanefe Ibori and Governor Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa were seen coming from the special tent, an indication that the former Army General has recovered.

PLEASE SHARE THIS POST!

Herdsmen Killings: Military Reacts To Danjuma's Call On Nigerians To Defend Themselves

​BREAKING NEWS

Herdsmen Killings: Military Reacts To Danjuma's Call On Nigerians To Defend Themselves 

‎The Ministry of Defence has said that it had received reports from Nigerians on the misconduct of soldiers as regards the farmers and herdsmen's clashes.

It said it has also put such soldiers through “disciplinary procedures.”

Former Defence chief, General TY Danjuma had on Saturday at the maiden convocation ceremony of Taraba state University in Jalingo, Taraba state capital, urged Nigerians to defend themselves against the incessant killing by Fulani herdsmen.

He also accused the Nigerian army of inappropriate conducts in handling the clashes between farmers and herdsmen.

The ministry told Punch that it has, however, not received any of such reports from Taraba State, adding that people were free to bring their complaints on the activities of the troops.

Spokesperson for the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, Col. Tukur Gusau, spoke with Punch on Monday.

He said the government could not work with “general comments or allegations, if no specific report was made to the military authorities.”

Gusau said, “We have the Human Rights violation desk in all the formations of the Nigerian Army and a similar channel in the other arms of the military.

“Nigerians can also come directly to the Ministry of Defence.

“They can go to the Nigerian Army headquarters. Our doors are always open.

“If a soldier on duty has done something you feel is inappropriate, you have a duty to report that soldier. The office of the defence minister is open to everyone.

“The era where civilians are afraid of military actions is gone. Yes, we have been having such reports about the misconduct of soldiers in the theatre of operation.

“Nigerians have been coming to report incidents and we have been taking care of them. There have been disciplinary procedures.

“Soldiers have been put through disciplinary procedures.

“We have not received anything yet from Taraba State. We need to work on specific things.

“To my knowledge, we didn’t receive anything in respect of our operations in Taraba State.”

Please Share This Post

Ike Ekweremadu Reacts To His Trending Comment "Call For Military Take Over"

BREAKING NEWS

Ike Ekweremadu Reacts To His Trending Comment "Call For Military Take Over"

 

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has reacted to the statement credited to him insinuating possibility of a military take over in the country.

Ekweremadu, speaking over the weekend at the Diepreye Alaimeyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Onopa, during a dinner hosted by Governor Henry Seriake Dickson for members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, said his comments on the floor of the Senate were misconstrued.

He stressed that he would never make derogatory statements against the Nigerian military, urging that statements made by lawmakers in the course of their duty should be situated within the proper context before any form of reaction.

Ekweremadu maintained that his remarks on the floor of the Senate chambers were to caution politicians to avoid the mistakes of the past, which inevitably led to the abrupt end of the First Republic.

He said “Before I close, let me just tell you one unfortunate incident that happened last week.

“We had one of our colleagues from Kogi who was hosting a constituency briefing and empowerment.

“He alleged that the government sponsored thugs to come and chase away people and destroy the programme and equipment he bought for his people.

“We condemned such acts, especially where, in a particular case, the property of a parliamentarian was destroyed.

“We condemned a case whereby parliamentarians were stopped from holding meetings and where a parliamentarian was stopped from coming to a state where he was governor for eight years.

“We warned that it was this kind of reckless abuse of power and impunity that scuttled our democracy earlier, especially in the First Republic and I cautioned that politicians should not take things for granted.

“Of course, some people took it out of context and said I was calling for a military coup.

“I never called for a military coup. I never said the military was planning any coup.

“If you read some parts of the military statement, they admitted that my statement and contributions were only cautionary and that we were sincere, but, they went as far as saying the international community should ignore me.”

Meanwhile, reactions have continued trailed the deputy President’s statement.

The Nigerian army said the statement by Ekweremadu was derogatoryto the Army and by extension to the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

Please Share This Post

BREAKING NEWS After 108 Years, Canadian Warships Arrive Nigeria

BREAKING NEWS

After 108 Years, Canadian Warships Arrive Nigeria

 

Canadian warships have arrived Nigeria for the first time in the 108 years existence of the Royal Canadian Navy.

Two of the Canadian Royal Navy warships: HMCS Summerside and HMCS kingston, visited Nigeria weekend, with a view to establishing a relationship that will enhance the Nigerian Navy’s efficiency in the Gulf of Guinea.

The warships, HMCS Kingston and HMCS Summerside, which are first class coastal defence vessels of the Royal Canadian Navy, have served in the Canadian Forces since 1996 and 1999 respectively.

They have 75 crew members led by the Commander, Royal Canadian Navy , Vice Adm. Ron Llyod.

Speaking during a visit to the Flag Officer, Commanding Western Naval Command, FOC, Rear Admiral Sylvanus Abbah, Llyod stated that the visit would provide an opportunity for the two navies to synergize.

He further stated that during the one -week stay in Nigeria, the warships would participate in Obagame Express, a maritime exercise conducted by the United States of America Forces, that is designed to enhance cooperation among participating nations, in order to improve maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea.

Llod said, “This visit is aimed at fostering the existing bilateral relationships and to boost capacity of military personnel in Nigeria.

“We are looking into supporting our excellency (High Commissioner) with respect to Canadian relationship in Nigeria and we are proud to have two Canadian ships: HMCS Summer Side and HMCS Kingston that will operate in the exercise.”

Also speaking, the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Christopher Thornley reinstated his country’s commitment to work with the Nigerian Navy as part of the bilateral relationship.

He said, “Our bilateral relationship is going on and this is a step in the right direction to see military cooperation as part of multilateral exercise Operation Obagame.”

Responding, an elated FOC, Rear Admiral Sylvanus Abbah, who described the visit as a privilege since it was the first time, said “Canadian Royal Navy came into existence since 1910 and has participated in the first , second world wars and other wars, including United Nations Peace Keeping wars.”

“You have the experience and with your strategic location at the Atlantic to the Pacific and northward into the Arctic ocean, we hope to tap from your wealth of experience.

“Since we have many of our training institutions, together, we will fashion out what to do in terms of exchanging our military to train in both countries”, Abbah stated.

Please Share This Post