Connect with us

Military

REUTERS REPORT, NIGERIAN MILITARY DESERVES COMMENDATION NOT CONDEMNATION- COMMANDANT, NDA

Published

on

REUTERS REPORT, NIGERIAN MILITARY DESERVES COMMENDATION NOT CONDEMNATION- COMMANDANT, NDA

By: Michael Mike

Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) who was also the former General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division Maiduguri, Major General Ibrahim Manu Yusuf has said that the Reuters report of allegations of gross human rights infractions by the Military in Counter Insurgency Operations in the North East is completely false, malicious and ill-intended, adding that the Nigerian Military deserves commendation and not condemnation or distraction.

Testifying before the Hon. Justice Abdu Aboki led Special Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations in Counter Insurgency Operations in the North East (SIIP-NE), the former GOC said those allegations contained in the news report are weighty, arguing that the military operates in a community where it interacts with different categories of stakeholders including personnel of United Nation Agencies who could have noticed and reported any human rights violations from the onset.

Continuing, the Commandant of the NDA said the people in the communities will also not keep quiet and watch such atrocities happen without hinting the appropriate authorities. “We have had to answer questions simply because we closed down markets following intelligence information we got on planned attacks by insurgents, if this can happen do you think such alleged crimes reported by Reuters will go unnoticed without any questioning before now?” he asked.

The former leader of the Joint Multinational Task Force further stated that the Military is a regimented institution that pays particular attention to every detail in relating with people “when you throw away the rule of law, you have lost it, you cannot win the hearts and minds of the people you are protecting, they will also not trust you, and it will be difficult for you to operate in their territory”.

Expressing disappointment in the Reuters report, the army officer said it is unimaginable for anyone to think that the military can kill rescued children for any reason. He pointed out that the military has celebrated the naming ceremony of children fathered by Boko Haram “we have on our own provided rams and bought clothes for the celebration of naming ceremonies of children of Boko Haram born in our custody, and some of these children were named after us as a way of expressing excitement over our goodwill. If we want to exterminate them, we would have done so by killing the pregnant women even before they gave birth, we won’t have go through the headache of conducting the said abortions”.

Describing the allegations as painful and irrational, the Commandant said no military formation keeps women and children when they are rescued; they are immediately handed over to the camps, if you keep them they become a threat and distraction to you.

On his part, the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary Borno State Ministry of Justice Barr. Garba Musa Chibok, who earlier appeared before the 7-man panel, said it is very unreasonable for anyone to fabricate stories that are baseless. He challenged Justice Abdu Aboki (rtd) led panel to invite Reuters for questioning, saying Borno State as at 2013 (the period referred to in the Reuters report) was in turmoil, people were busy running for their lives and seeking hiding places from the insurgents while the military was bothered about neutralizing the terrorists. “Tell me, in this situation who has time to think of anything like abortion?”

On the issue of the massacre of children, the Solicitor General also debunked the allegation saying “I am from Chibok and I am seriously affected by this problem, all the children rescued from the frontline are alive, I know them some of them are my relations, you can call them to come here and talk to you. None of them was killed; some of the girls released at that time came with one baby or more. Where did Reuters see those ones that they claim have been killed? Please invite them, let them come here and tell us” he appealed.

Fatimah Agwai Mohammed
Deputy Director Public Affairs.

REUTERS REPORT, NIGERIAN MILITARY DESERVES COMMENDATION NOT CONDEMNATION- COMMANDANT, NDA

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Military

Sudanese War Could Spiral Across Africa, Envoy Warns Nigeria, Others

Published

on

Sudanese War Could Spiral Across Africa, Envoy Warns Nigeria, Others

By: Michael Mike

The Sudanese authorities have called on Nigeria and other African countries to support the ongoing efforts at ending the war in Sudan, warning that the war is a siege and could spiral across Africa if actions are not taken to halt it.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the Sudanese Charge d’ Affairs in Nigeria, Ambassador Ahmed Omer Taboul said no one should be deceived that the war is between two generals or among Sudanese ethic groups, but rather it is a proxy war for the resources of Sudan.

He appealed that there must be conscientious efforts by the international community to stop the onging Rapid Support Forces (RSF) genocide against the people, adding that the international community must pressure United Arab Emirates to end the war.

The envoy alleged that UAE are the major sponsor of the RSF, insisting that it is scramble for Sudan’s gold and rich mineral deposits.

Taboul, who was speaking ahead of the United Nations Security Council meeting on Sudan, said the war is about scavenging for resources by identified external forces.

He stressed that the war in Sudan is nothing but a proxy war, “It is a proxy war. This militia is fighting on behalf of others. On behalf of some Arab countries like UAE. On behalf of Israel. On behalf of some other Western countries.”

He said: “The main pressure the international committee can do is to stop the support and the feed of the United Arab Emirates. If they stop them, the war will stop in no time,” warning that it might affect the peace and security of the entire continent.

He stressed that “it will not stop only in very close neighbouring countries. This will go deep to the western part of Africa, through the Sahel and Sahara states.”

The envoy therefore urged Nigeria and other friendly countries to stand up for them.

He said the international community must endeavour to push for the implementations of resolutions of the UN Security Council.

“So what we need actually is full support from our brothers to be with us, to be very close to us. And to support the people of Sudan. They need a lot of things, we need a lot of things in Sudan.

“And we need the support of our brothers like Nigeria. We need the support of them in the international organisations, in the EU, in the United Nations. tomorrow or the day after tomorrow there will be a meeting for the Security Council on Sudan issues.

“We need the support there. Because I’m quite sure they are going, they are trying to adopt something against Sudan. They are trying to mandate themselves and others to come to Sudan”.

He said previous resolutions were never implemented by the RSF and that is why the war is still going on.

He said: “I have told you this just about the resolution adopted by the Security Council last year. Asking the militia to lift the siege on al-Fashir. But nobody imposed this, nobody pushed the militia to do so. Then after two years the militia invaded the city and killed within two days 3,000 women and children.”

He emphasised that the people of Sudan are not waiting for others to fight their battles but only needed their understanding and support.

He said: “Actually what we do, really, and this is very clear to everybody. We are fighting our own war. We don’t need anybody to fight with us. We don’t need any troops, we don’t need anything from anybody. We are able to do this ourselves. Our National Defence Army with the people of the Sudanese.

“Because now, if you see the news, the government of Sudan are mobilising the people. And now they are fighting with the National Defence Army. thousands of young Sudanese people are fighting and defending themselves, their families, their places, their entities, their everything. We are able to do this with ourselves.

“And we don’t want to involve any sisters or brothers or foreigners in our own war. What we need from our brother, for example, Nigeria is to know well what is going on in Sudan. And to accept our narrative. Because we are telling the truth. We are saying the truth, what is going on in Sudan. We told this to our brother in Nigeria, frankly.”

He also gave reason for the expulsion of two United Nations officials from Sudan. He said

the UN officials were given false report about happenings in Sudan.

“And yesterday (Wednesday) we expelled two of the United Nations officials from Sudan. Because unfortunately, they were reporting about the situation in Sudan. I mean, they were giving very, very false report and it was not real at all.

“So we expelled them out and we said, still, we have a good relation with the United Nations agencies. They are able to work, but these two people, we don’t like them in our country. They have to go bring any other instead of them.”

Sudanese War Could Spiral Across Africa, Envoy Warns Nigeria, Others

Continue Reading

Military

Troops neutralise four ISWAP logistics suppliers in multiple ambushes in Borno

Published

on

Troops neutralise four ISWAP logistics suppliers in multiple ambushes in Borno

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised four Boko Haram/ISWAP logistics suppliers in a series of coordinated ambush operations conducted across multiple locations in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.

Sources revealed on Monday, that the ambushes were part of Operation Desert Sanity IV/Diligent Search.

The sources said that the troops carried out three separate ambushes on October 25, 2025, at different terrorist crossing points around Kukauku, Delta Company Kawuri, and Alou Dam, all within Konduga axis.

“At about 11:35 a.m., troops of 222 Battalion conducted an ambush at Kuka Uku crossing point in Delta Company Kawuri, where one terrorist logistics supplier was neutralised,” the report stated.

It added that another ambush team positioned ahead of Charlie Company in Konduga LGA successfully neutralised one more terrorist logistics supplier.

“In a separate operation, an ambush team lying in wait at a crossing point in Alpha Company, Alou Dam, neutralised two additional terrorist logistics suppliers,” the sources said.

The operations were conducted without any casualties on the part of the troops, while the four neutralised suspects were confirmed to be affiliated with Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

The sources added that the general security situation in the area remained calm but unpredictable, with troops maintaining high morale and combat readiness.

The sources further noted that the coordinated ambushes were part of ongoing clearance and interdiction operations aimed at cutting off terrorists’ supply routes and denying them freedom of movement within the North-East theatre.

Troops neutralise four ISWAP logistics suppliers in multiple ambushes in Borno

Continue Reading

Military

Troops kill notorious bandit Abu A. K, several others in Tsafe operation

Published

on

Troops kill notorious bandit Abu A. K, several others in Tsafe operation

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of the Nigerian Army’s Operation FANSAN YANMA in a joint operation with other security forces, have eliminated a notorious bandit identified as Abu A. K and several of his gang members in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the deceased bandit, who was linked to the infamous warlord Ado Aleiro, was intercepted after sneaking into Tsafe town to attend the weekly Friday cattle market, his first visit to the town in about five years.

According to the sources, Abu A. K had been among the most wanted bandits terrorising the Tsafe axis and surrounding forests, notorious for killings, kidnappings, and cattle rustling. He was reportedly trailed and captured after arriving in the town through one of his female contacts, identified as Halima, who resides in the Gabbacin Tsafe area.

“Following credible intelligence, troops moved swiftly and apprehended him. He was later neutralised during an exchange of fire as he attempted to escape custody,” the source said.

In a related development, troops on joint patrol operations on Monday morning successfully ambushed and neutralised several other bandits in Tsafe forests, recovering a Boxer-type rifle and other arms.

The operation, which took place around 9 a.m., was described by security officials as a major success in the ongoing offensive against bandit groups operating in the area. The troops also launched another offensive deep into the North of Tsafe forests, killing an undisclosed number of bandits.

According to sources, the remains of Abu A. K were taken to Magazu, one of the forward operating bases under Tsafe LGA, where further identification was carried out.

Security officials also confirmed that the slain bandit was responsible for the killing of three construction workers attached to Setraco Construction Company two weeks ago at a site where the firm was excavating sand in Tsafe area.

Troops kill notorious bandit Abu A. K, several others in Tsafe operation

Continue Reading

Trending

Verified by MonsterInsights