News
Irabor Insists Reuters reports against military spurious
Irabor Insists Reuters reports against military spurious
By: Michael Mike
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor has declared as spurious, the
human rights violations allegations levelled against the Nigerian military by news agency, Reuters,
Reuters in a series of reports had alleged the military in it’s counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast over the decade of human rights violations including forcefully abortion of over 10,000 pregnancies of women believed to be linked with the Boko Haram terrorist group and several killings of children who. were fathered by alleged terrorists.
Irabor, who appeared in Abuja on Friday before the National Human Rights Commission investigative panel on rights violation in counter-insurgency operations by the military in the North-East, said the allegation was “not only shocking but also spurious.”
The CDS, who held various posts in the theatre of war in the North-East, including Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole and Commander, Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), told the panel that having been involved, there was no time he saw any abortion being carried out on women and girls to prevent regeneration of Boko Haram insurgents.
He said: “I have been involved in the operation. I never saw any of sort (abortions). It was a surprise to me for someone to orchestrate such report (Reuters’ report).
“I am glad that this panel was constituted to investigate the allegations. It was a rude shock that such allegations could be attributed to the armed forces of Nigeria.”
He described the Reuters’ allegation as unfounded, insisting that the report that over 10,000 abortions were enforced by the military in the North-East through a deliberate policy as a strange allusion, declaring that if such policy was in place, it was not the responsibility of the armed forces to execute such.
He said: “These are strange allusion. The Armed Force of Nigeria engages in internal security to defend the people and the country and fight criminal elements.
“On what ground so we want to stop regeneration of Boko Haram criminals? If this so-called principle is in place, it is not the responsibility of the armed forces to be involved.”
He assured that he would give the soldiers Reuters claimed it interviewed in it report immunity with a view to enabling them to come before the panel to testify.
Irabor told the panel that throughout the period he spent in the theatre of war, he never heard of any group of women called wives of Boko Haram to the extent that their freedom was restricted.
He however said what he witnessed were “those rescued who have had one association or the other with Boko Haram”, adding that these people, both male and female were Nigerian citizens who found themselves under criminals’ oppression.
The CDS said among those rescued in the theatre of war were over 100 Chibok girls, some of whom were with children and asserted that should the military have had in place a policy of cleansing women of Boko Haram, they were the perfect set to be use to do so, asking, “who else could have been cleanse than the Chibok girls we rescued with their children?”
He informed the panel that there were always teams from the International Red Cross, Borno State government and both local and international non-governmental organisations and as such the military could not have carried out any “systemic, secret and illegal” abortions as claimed by Reuters.
He added that if it was a programme of the military as alleged, it could not have been in isolation as the hierarchy of the military would have been in the know, asserting that such policy never exists within the armed forces.
Irabor while describing the massacre of children claimed in the report as gory, said that children could not have been massacred by members of the armed forces, adding that military code of conduct prohibits members of the forces from engaging in such.
He said engaging in such act could even lead to death sentence on the perpetrators.
The CDS however appealed that this kind of report should not be given credence to as officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces had made sacrifices and whoever wanted to disparage their image would only be discouraging the gallant men and women.
Irabor Insists Reuters reports against military spurious
Again, NAF Jets Decimate Terrorist Enclave in Bukar Meram in Lake Chad
By: Zagazola Makama
As part of ongoing efforts to sustain pressure on terrorist elements and deny them freedom of action, the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) has conducted another successful air interdiction mission at a terrorist enclave in Bukar Meram, located in the southern axis of the Lake Chad region.
Zagazola Makama was reliably informed by sources that the mission, which was executed in the early hourz of Monday, June 9, at about 0545 hours, was carried out under the auspices of Operation KALACHEN WUTA II.
The sources said that the operation formed part of a broader strategy aimed at disrupting terrorist activities before, during, and after the Eid-el-Kabir Sallah period.
He said that intelligence-led surveillance revealed that the terrorists were regrouping at the Bukar Meram location with intent to launch coordinated attacks on Marte and Monguno general areas.
Prompted by this credible intelligence, the Air Component swiftly mobilised to engage the enclave. Airstrikes were conducted with precision, leading to the neutralisation of several terrorists.
The strikes also resulted in the destruction of critical terrorist logistics, including supply vehicles, makeshift shelters, and weapons storage points.
The decimation of the enclave not only inflicted significant losses on the terrorists but also disrupted their operational planning and movement.
The sources added that Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) conducted after the mission confirmed that the planned attacks on Marte and Monguno were effectively thwarted.
Further intelligence gathering is ongoing to assess enemy reactions and possible movement patterns following the successful interdiction. Ground troops have also been placed on heightened alert to exploit the gains of the airstrike and maintain pressure on fleeing remnants.
Again, NAF Jets Decimate Terrorist Enclave in Bukar Meram in Lake Chad
French tourist found dead in Gboko hotel
By: Zagazola Makama
A 67-year-old French national, Mr. Pietier Gilles, has been found dead at a hotel in Gboko town in Benue state.
Zagazola Makama report that the deceased, believed to be a French tourist, was found dead on Saturday at Hotel Jovina, Gbokon, where he had lodged on June 6.
According to a police sources, on Sunday, the hotel manager, Mr. Emmanuel Terhide Laha, reported the incident to the “A” Division Police Station at about 5:45 p.m. on June 8.
Laha informed the police that the tourist fell ill on June 7 but declined to be taken to a hospital. Concerned about his deteriorating condition, the hotel management brought in a medical practitioner to examine him. He was, however, discovered to have died.
“On receipt of the information, the Divisional Police Officer led a patrol team to the hotel where photographs of the scene were taken. The body was evacuated to the General Hospital in Gboko for preservation and autopsy,” the police said.
Gilles reportedly arrived in Nigeria from Niger Republic on May 19, 2025, traveling on a sports bicycle as part of what is believed to be a long-distance tour.
Police sources said investigation will be conducted, and all relevant diplomatic channels are being engaged to handle the situation appropriately.
French tourist found dead in Gboko hotel
Army Troops neutralise Malam Jidda, ISWAP ameer in Borno and recover arms
By:Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Armed Forces have intensified their ongoing counterterrorism offensives across the North East, neutralising a top terrorist commander and recovering assorted weapons in multiple operations.
Zagazola Makama was reliably informed that the troops, in a special operation conducted at Ngazalgana village, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe, made contact with terrorists and neutralised Malam Jidda, identified as the Ameer (leader) of Ngorgore and Malumti villages.
The sources said the troops recovered weapons from the slain commander, including AK-47 rifles, magazines and a motorcycle used by the terrorists for mobility.
“In another operation on the Timbuktu Triangle axis, a snap ambush team deployed by troops engaged Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) elements in a swift and decisive encounter.
“Some of the terrorists were neutralised, while troops recovered additional AK-47 rifles and various categories of ordnance,” one of the sources said.
Similarly, in Abadam axis of northern Borno, troops conducting exploitation following a recent encounter in Mallamfatori continued to recover more bodies of terrorists and an assortment of abandoned weapons.
“The terrorists fled in disarray, leaving behind weapons of different calibres after the ferocious counterattack by the gallant troops,” the source added.
The ongoing operations are part of coordinated efforts by the Nigerian military to degrade terrorist enclaves and restore stability to affected communities across the North East.
Army Troops neutralise Malam Jidda, ISWAP ameer in Borno and recover arms
Again, NAF Jets Decimate Terrorist Enclave in Bukar Meram in Lake Chad
French tourist found dead in Gboko hotel
Army Troops neutralise Malam Jidda, ISWAP ameer in Borno and recover arms
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