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It was unthinkable to alleged Nigerian soldiers aborted 10,000 pregnancies- Former Theatre Commander

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It was unthinkable to alleged Nigerian soldiers aborted 10,000 pregnancies- Former Theatre Commander

By: Michael Mike

The former theatre Commander of Operation Lafia Dole in the North East, Major General Olusegun Adeniyi has refuted Reuters’ reports of abortion of 10,000 pregnancies, infanticide and other forms of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) against the Nigeria military, saying that it is thoughtless as a bunch of lies.

The witness who stated this in his oral testimony before the 7-Member panel Chaired by Justice Abdu Aboki (rtd) wondered why it is only Reuters as a media organisation that was privy to the said grave human rights violations and atrocious crimes allegedly committed by the Nigeria Armed Forces in the counter insurgency operations in the North East.

Adeniyi, who is presently the Director Directorate of Counter Terrorism at the Army Research Centre, said how possible is it that of all the various News Agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations, International Partners etc, it is only Reuters that publish this kind of report.

Responding to the first part of the three-tier report which focused on systematic, illegal and secret abortion programme in the North East by the military since 2013, the senior military officer said, “In Africa we don’t do such things, you will not say that because soldiers are keeping custody of these returning women you now give them injection so that the babies in their womb will be aborted.”

On the issue of Boko Haram children allegedly killing terminating pregnancies and “deleting children” believed to have been fathered by Boko Haram insurgents on the premise that they will grow into another generation of Boko Haram and carry arms against the State, Adeniyi rhetorically asked, “What is the meaning of Boko Haram babies?”

Testifying further, he disclosed that solders are not angry that they are fighting Boko Haram insurgency because they are doing their work otherwise let some of these girls whose pregnancies were reportedly terminated by soldiers come out clear and say so, that will help the panel and indeed everyone to know the truth.

According to the erstwhile Brigade Commander 37 artillery Brigade Maiduguri, Borno state it is sad that somebody clutching a cup of tea in his cozy and air-conditioned room will decide to write this kind of report that has no bearing with the situation on ground.

“The allegation that Nigerian military terminated women pregnancies is not true. Things don’t just happen in the Army. Before anything happens, resources are committed, directives are given and those asked to carry out some actions report back. Secondly if such things happen soldiers will talk among themselves or at least gossip about them. These women I hope they are alive let them come out and say this is what happened to me”, he stated..

He added that: “The military is open in what it does except in rare circumstances like operations and timing of operations, however, even the things that military is keeping open people will say it is secret. If the military buys ammunitions it is on the pages of newspapers even in the USA it is so. You will not coordinate any operation in the Army without the knowledge of the higher echelon. So the issue of troops acting outside the rules is not permitted in the Army otherwise they will be court martialled.”

Speaking further, he stated that such magnitude of infractions alleged against the military if they actually happened, they would have been in the government records and archives and people must know because there is nothing so secretive in the Nigerian Army.

“Since 1999 the military has been strictly subordinated by the democratic process therefore it will not be possible for anyone to do anything and nobody will know and administering 10,000 injections to this number of women to terminate pregnancies must be recorded somewhere.”

Besides, he recalled that even in the past most of the allegations against the Nigeria Armed Forces normally come up when the State is overpowering the insurgents, adding that it is treasonable for any soldier to commit such offences as claimed by Reuters.

He noted that: “An average Nigerian soldier is above 18 years and I did not see any Medical Officer risking his medical certificate by aborting pregnancies. These women are kidnapped after shooting and killing their family members by Boko Haram and thereafter keep them under forced protective custody even though it is wrong, so why will soldier now kill the children of such women or terminate their pregnancies.”

He said that the soldiers already know that marriage existing between the insurgents and the affected women is forced and illegal and as such would not want to subject them to further trauma by killing their children or terminating their pregnancies.

“Nobody is thinking that these women are in love with their so called Boko Haram husband and the soldiers know very well that this man is keeping these women with the use of gun thereby risking their lives because these women were not married legally”, he stated.

He, however, conceded that where there are a large number of people there will be bad eggs stressing there is no policy in the military that will permit killing of innocent civilians. “While I am not vouching for anyone there are processes that will make it impossible for you to commit such crimes”, he maintained.

The former Theatre Commander said that if the soldiers are interested in killing anyone from the camp of insurgents who are now in custody they would have started with the Boko Haram members in Army custody instead of women and children who were not bearing arms.

He said that many of the Boko Haram members who sustained injuries before they were captured are still receiving medical treatment from military hospitals and no soldier has harmed them because it is against the law to kill any combatant upon capture since he did not die in the frontline.

In furtherance of his oral evidence, he told the panel that Nigerian soldiers are not revengeful and are not wild or wired with wrong ideologies to act in such a manner that will undermine the rights of women and children in the course of military operations.

It was unthinkable to alleged Nigerian soldiers aborted 10,000 pregnancies- Former Theatre Commander

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Troops arrest suspected intruder at Army school in Plateau

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Troops arrest suspected intruder at Army school in Plateau

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) under Sector 2 have arrested a suspected intruder at the Army Command Secondary School in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau state.

Security sources said the suspect was apprehended at about 12:30 p.m. on April 20 after he was found attempting to gain entry into the school premises by jumping over the fence.

The sources said the individual was immediately taken into custody by troops on duty at the location.

The apprehended suspect has since been handed over to the Nigeria Police for further investigation and necessary action.

Security authorities reiterated the importance of vigilance around critical infrastructure, adding that measures were in place to prevent any breach of security within the area.

Troops arrest suspected intruder at Army school in Plateau

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Troops neutralise 3 terrorists, recover rifles and motorcycles in Babbangida fighting patrol

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Troops neutralise 3 terrorists, recover rifles and motorcycles in Babbangida fighting patrol

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of 233 Battalion, operating in the Babbangida general area of Yobe state, in conjunction with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), have neutralised three terrorists during a fighting patrol operation in Nanewa village.

Military sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation was conducted at about 5:30 p.m. on April 19 when troops on patrol in the area made contact with an ambush laid by suspected terrorists lying in wait along the route.

The patrol team, however, successfully fought through the ambush and engaged the assailants in a gun duel, resulting in the neutralisation of three terrorists.

Following the encounter, troops recovered three AK-47 rifles and five motorcycles abandoned by the fleeing attackers.

The operation was completed without casualties to friendly forces, while the patrol team later returned safely to base at about 7:15 p.m.

Security sources described the general situation in the area as calm but unpredictable, noting that troops’ morale and operational efficiency remain high.

They added that sustained patrols and clearance operations were ongoing to deny terrorist elements freedom of movement within the theatre.

Troops neutralise 3 terrorists, recover rifles and motorcycles in Babbangida fighting patrol

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Angry youths, women attack soldiers, burn military checkpoint in Plateau over killing of villager

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Angry youths, women attack soldiers, burn military checkpoint in Plateau over killing of villager

By: Zagazola Makama

Tension rose in Kassa community of Kassa District, in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, as angry youths and women on Sunday attacked soldiers and set ablaze a military checkpoint following the burial of a resident reportedly killed by Fulani armed attackers.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 11:40 p.m. on April 20 when a crowd stormed a checkpoint at Rapung Kassa and destroyed the facility, including makeshift structures and equipment used by troops deployed in the area.

The attack reportedly happened during the burial ceremony of one Gyang Nuhu Choji, who was said to have been killed on April 16 by unidentified armed men suspected to be Fulani bandits operating within the general area.

Witnesses said the protesters, made up of youths and women, accused security operatives of failing to prevent repeated attacks in the community, alleging that the presence of troops had not translated into adequate protection for residents.

The angry mob reportedly blocked access roads during the protest, temporarily disrupting movement in and out of the area before later reopening the route to motorists after intervention by local stakeholders and assurances from security representatives.

A community source said calm was eventually restored after engagements between community leaders and security authorities, during which assurances were given that the situation would be reviewed to prevent further escalation.

Security sources confirmed that no casualties were recorded during the incident, adding that monitoring and patrols had been intensified in the area to prevent further breakdown of law and order.

Zagazola report that the Plateau State security environment has remained volatile in recent months, with recurring incidents of violence prompting continued deployment of security forces and community-level engagements aimed at restoring lasting peace.

Security assessments have indicated a pattern of violence involving Fulani bandits and armed elements of the Berom where both groups had sustained their campaign of terror.

The recent pattern of attacks was traced to April 13 at about 0700 hrs, when troops under Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), conducted a search-and-rescue operation in Ariri and Kwasha villages of Bassa LGA following reports of a missing herder. During the operation, troops discovered the corpse of the herder and recovered 32 cattle alive, while three others were found dead. The remains and livestock were handed over to community leaders.

On the same day, troops also responded to intelligence on an illegal settlers’ camp in Ungwan Doki, Riyom LGA, where four suspected illegal migrants were arrested.

On April 12, at about 1440 hrs, troops restored calm after a clash between farmers and herders in Rakum village, Barkin Ladi LGA. Five locals, two herders, and a police officer sustained injuries after being attacked by Berom militia, while one suspect was arrested.

Earlier at about 1222 hrs in Rasa village, troops foiled another attack on a herder by suspected armed Berom elements and evacuated the injured victim to hospital. At about 2100 hrs, troops responded to sporadic gunfire along Hukke–Rewienko road in Bassa LGA, repelling attackers and rescuing an injured civilian.

In a related development, at about 1800 hrs, troops foiled an attempted cattle rustling incident in Kpashio village, recovering 92 cattle reportedly abandoned by fleeing suspects. The owner of the livestock was either killed and buried in a shallow grave or escaped the assault.

Within the same period, armed Berom militia engaged troops of Operation Enduring Peace in a heavy gun battle in Barkin Ladi. The troops gunned down five of the attackers. Later that same day, the corpses were hastily buried by the community to avoid scrutiny due to the identity of the attackers.

On April 18, 2026, troops intercepted and apprehended nine suspected Berom militia involved in targeted killing. Those arrested were identified as Mr. Gyang Dantoro, Mr. Samson Davou, Mr. Choji Yakubu, Mr. Vincent Adamu, Mr. Pam Dalyop, Mr. Femi Badung, Mr. Jacob Musa and Mr. Choji Chaga, all residents of Danwal and reportedly of Berom extraction.

Items recovered from them include three motorcycles, one pistol, one submachine gun, one locally made revolver rifle, 20 rounds of pistol ammunition, and one locally fabricated rifle, among other items.

On April 19, nine cattle were confirmed dead while three others are in critical condition following a suspected poisoning by Berom youths in Rakum village, Kassa District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Angry youths, women attack soldiers, burn military checkpoint in Plateau over killing of villager

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