Nigerian Army rescue 195 captives from Boko Haram

The Nigerian Army has rescued 195 persons held hostage by the Boko Haram sect.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in an electronic mail on Thursday that soldiers also recovered 300 cows, 200 sheep and 130 goats stolen by the insurgents.

Usman said that the troops of the 7 Division Garrison comprising the 112 Battalion and the Armed Forces Special Forces, who jointly attacked the camps of the insurgents on Wednesday, also recovered camouflages, rifle magazines and grenades from the insurgents.

He said that the troops cleared Boko Haram locations at Kwaptara, Mijigete, Garin Boka, Mosole, Ngubdori, Ma’asa, Dukje and Gulumba in Dikwa and Bama Local Government Areas of Borno State.

El-Rufai sees us as enemies -Shi’ite group says

Members of the Shiite group have released a statement accusing Kaduna state governor Nasir El Rufai as seeing them as enemies of the state. El Rufai had in a state broadcast last Thursday condemned the seeming lawlessness of the group in the state. Read the statement the Shiite group released after the cut...

Nigerian Army gives over-weight officers 3 months deadline: Shape up or be sacked

 Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has given a three-month ultimatum to over-weight Army personnel to shape up or be shown the way out of the forces.

 While fielding questions from newsmen after addressing the Chief of Army Staff’s third quarter conference which opened at the Army Headquarters, Abuja, yesterday, Buratai also renewed the military’s assurance to Nigerians that everything possible would be done to facilitate the rescue of the Chibok schoolgirls seized by Boko Haram terrorists in April 2014.

 The COAS said over-weight soldiers, including officers, have been given till the end of December to shed the excess baggage or start planning for another career, because after that period those who could not comply will not be allowed to continue with the Army.

Nigerian Troops arrest Boko Haram logistics and medical drug suppliers (PHOTOS)

  

Troops of 3 Division Nigerian Army have intercepted and arrested some kingpins of Boko Haram. The men were found with hard drugs and other stimulants. A statement by the spokesperson of the Nigerian army, Sani Usman, said the men were arrested at Geidam local government in Borno state. The statement in part reads;

Pipeline security: Soldiers to replace ex-militants

The men of the Nigerian military are to take over the security of the nation’s oil pipelines.

The Acting Director, Defence Information, Col. Rabe Abubakar, who said in a statement on Tuesday, added that the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Dr. Emmanuel Kachikwu, met with the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, on how to work out modalities to get the military to protect the strategic national assets.

He quoted the NNPC’s GMD as having said that he visited the CDS as a follow up to a proposal the corporation presented to President Muhammadu Buhari, to have the Army Corps of Engineering to maintain and secure the nation’s pipelines.

Abubakar also quoted the NNPC’s GMD as having said that the corporation was taking a holistic step

to ensure that the best hands were used to protect the pipelines.

Senior British Military officers visit to DHQ

Senior British military officers led by British Deputy Chief of Defence Staff on Military Strategy and Operations, Lieutenant General Gordon Messenger, yesterday August 6th paid a courtesy call on the Nigeria Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Gabriel Olonisakin at the Defence HQ, Abuja.

The British military hierarchy pledged Britain's continued support to the Nigerian military in the fight against Boko Haram. 

More photos from the meeting after the cut...

Army parades 2 cyber fraudsters impersonating military officers on social media

The Nigerian Army paraded two alleged fraudsters Osakpolor Agustín and Felixstowe Osarumwense Osaga, who they say specialized in impersonating military officers on social media to defraud members of the public. They were arrested following a tip off at Ekpoma in Edo state on Aug 5th.

The syndicate specialized in dispossessing members of the public of their money under the guise of facilitating their recruitment into the Nigerian army. They are currently in detention and will appear in court soon.

Nigerian Soldiers Fighting Boko Haram Collect N49k As Monthly Salary?

According to Kayode Ogundamisi, that is the reality of Nigerian soldiers fighting Boko Haram. Their daily feeding allowance is said to be N500. Sad! More tweets after the cut...

Army to review case of soldiers condemned to death for mutiny

The Nigerian Army has ordered a review of the courts-martial of more than 600 soldiers and officers condemned to death for mutiny and deserting the battle against Boko Haram in the North East.

AP reports that a statement released signed by army administrator, Maj. Gen. A. B. Abubakar yesterday August 2nd, states that all the accused and condemned soldiers will appear before a committee that will sit and review their cases in Kaduna state from Aug. 7 to Aug. 24.

The soldiers had at different times revolted against their commanders over lack of weapons to fight Boko Haram members. Seems like former Chief of Defense Staff Alex Badeh now agrees with them.

DSS Vs Dasuki: Court Process May Lead To ‘revelations’ On Boko Haram, APC, PDP

Prominent Northern Nigerians are pleading with embattled former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki (rtd) not to go to court in the face of the harassment he is facing from the Department of State Services, DSS.

The DSS had last Thursday afternoon, simultaneously raided Dasuki’s properties.

They are Nos. 13, John Khadya Street, Nos. 46, Nelson Mandela Street, both at Asokoro, Abuja, and Nos. 3 Sabon Birni Road, Gwiwa Area, Sokoto, Sokoto State.

Speaking to DAILY POST on Tuesday, a source said the treatment meted out to Dasuki has been a subject of discussion among many Northern elites who believe any court process will lead to 

disclosure of many other issues not fit for public consumption.

The set of Nigerians include serving and retired senior military officers, traditional rulers, politicians and even insiders in the new government.

Chief of Army staff shows soldiers the way to do push-ups

Major General Tukur Buratai pictured showing his troops how to do press ups...

President Buhari Appoints New Service Chiefs And NSA

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointments of new Service Chiefs and also a new National Security Adviser.

This is following the sacking of the former Service Chiefs on Monday, July 13, 2015.

The new appointments are as follows:

1. Major-General Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin – Chief of Defence Staff;

2. Major-General T.Y. Buratai – Chief of Army Staff

3. Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas – Chief of Naval Staff

4. Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar – Chief of Air Staff

5. Air Vice Marshal Monday Riku Morgan – Chief of Defence Intelligence

6. Major-General Babagana Monguno (rtd.) – National Security Adviser

The new Chief of Defence Staff, Maj.-Gen. Olonishakin (N/6901) hails from Ekiti State.

Until his appointment as Chief of Defence Staff, he was the Head of the Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command in Minna, Niger State.

The new Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Buratai hails from Borno State.

President Buhari sacks all Service Chiefs

President Buhari has sacked all Service Chiefs. Their sack was made known by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina while he spoke to state house correspondents this afternoon.

The fired service chiefs include the Chief of Defence staff, and the heads of Army, Navy and the Air Force. More details later.

Army frees 182 Boko Haram detainees, including babies

Nigeria’s military has freed 182 detainees held for months, including women carrying babies with toddlers clinging to their skirts, declaring they are no longer suspected of being part of the Boko Haram Islamic extremist insurgency.

Army chief Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minima says they “have been investigated and found to be free of all suspected incrimination.”

See more pictures after the cut...

15 Boko Haram Fighters Killed in Niger

Fifteen Boko Haram fighters were killed and 20 others arrested by Defence and Security Forces (FDS) during clashes that occurred in Diffa region of Niger near the Nigerian border, defence ministry announces.

A statement revealed on Thursday in Niamey that FDS launched ground and air operations in the area, in retaliation to the attack carried out on June 17, in Gueskerou commune by the Islamist sect, killing 38 civilians.

Mustapha Ledru, Spokesman for Niger’s Defence ministry, said that 15 terrorists had been killed, 20 others arrested, one armoured vehicle recovered and 20 motorcycles destroyed during the latest army operation.

Nigerian Army Reacts To Amnesty International's Indicting Report

Press statement from the Nigerian Army released on their website today...

The media has been inundated with reports of Amnesty International allegations of gross human rights abuse and extra judicial killing of civilians against the Nigerian military for the past few days. Amnesty International report was released on 3 June 2015. 

Therefore, the Nigerian Military as a responsible corporate organization is bound to respond to these allegations in order to put the records in proper perspective.

For the avoidance of doubts, the Amnesty International allegations of human rights abuse and extra judicial killing of civilians are a rehash of the same allegations made against the military since 2011.

Nigeria Military's Control Centre Has Been Relocated To Maiduguri

According to BBC, the Nigerian Army's spokesperson Colonel Sani Usman says the Nigerian military's command center has now been relocated to Borno state as directed by President Buhari in his inaugural speech.

"The team has already commenced work in earnest," Col Usman said in a statement released today.

The statement also added that all senior military officers will relocate to the north east., the bedrock of Boko Haram crisis