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UNISFA: UN appoints Nigeria’s Major General Sawyerr as force commander

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UNISFA: UN appoints Nigeria’s Major General Sawyerr as force commander

UNISFA: UN appoints Nigeria’s Major General Sawyerr as force commander

The United Nation (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres has on Tuesday announced the appointment of Major General Benjamin Sawyerr of Nigeria as the Force Commander for the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).

Abyei is an area of 10,546 km2 on the border between South Sudan and the Sudan that had been accorded “special administrative status” by the 2004 Protocol on the Resolution of the Abyei Conflict (Abyei Protocol) in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the Second Sudanese Civil War.

Sawyerr succeeds Maj. Gen. Kefyalew Amde Tessema of Ethiopia to whom the secretary-general is grateful for his dedication, invaluable service and effective leadership during his appointment with UNISFA. the UN correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported.

READ ALSO: Everton Appoints Lampard As New Manager To Replace Benitez

Maj. Gen. Sawyerr has a military career spanning more than 34 years with the Nigerian Army, including as the Director of Defence Information of Nigeria’s Defence Forces since 2021.

Previously, he served as Commandant of the Nigerian Army Armour School in Bauchi State, North-East Nigeria (2020-2021).

He held the position of Brigade Commander twice in North-East Nigeria and was Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Battalion with the United Nations Mission in Liberia (2009-2010).

He also served as the Director of Plans at the Nigerian Army Headquarters (2019-2020) and Deputy Director of Doctrine and Combat Development (2017-2018).

Sawyerr holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria in Nigeria and a Masters in Defence and Strategic Studies from the University of Madras in India.

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Troops kill scores of terrorists, destroy enclaves in Borno operations

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Troops kill scores of terrorists, destroy enclaves in Borno operations

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have sustained offensive operations against terrorist groups in Borno State, neutralising several insurgents and destroying key enclaves in coordinated ground and air assaults.

Security sources said the operations, conducted under Operation Desert Sanity V, targeted terrorist hideouts across the Bulabulin Forest and Timbuktu axes, with strong support from the Air Component Command.

According to the sources, troops of Sector 2, in conjunction with a stabilisation force brigade and elements of the Civilian Joint Task Force, cleared multiple enclaves in Mar, Subdu, Yaro Lawanti and Yaro Shuwari areas, which are contiguous to the Bulabulin Forest and the Kamadogu Yobe stretch.

The sources disclosed that troops made contact with terrorists around Malam Shiri Village, where they executed a coordinated flanking manoeuvre and engaged the insurgents in a fierce battle.

“A total of 11 terrorists were neutralised during the encounter, while others fled with injuries. Troops destroyed life-support structures within the enclaves and recovered significant quantities of arms and logistics,” the sources said.

Recovered items include nine AK-47 rifles, three PKT machine guns, five motorcycles, assorted ammunition, and materials used for the fabrication of improvised explosive devices.

In a related engagement along the Timbuktu axis on the Wajiroko–Sabon Gari corridor, troops, supported by air strikes, engaged another group of terrorists and maintained tactical superiority throughout the encounter.

Items recovered from the scene include AK-47 rifles, rocket-propelled grenade tubes, bandoliers, communication equipment, and a large cache of ammunition.

Further operational reports indicated that troops advancing through the Bulabulin axis also engaged terrorists around Bultuwa in Yunusari Local Government Area, where six insurgents were killed and additional weapons, including AK-47 rifles, a PKT machine gun, motorcycles, ammunition, and IED-making materials, were recovered. No casualties were recorded among troops, although some vehicles sustained tyre damage during the operation.

Meanwhile, troops deployed around the Azir Bridge area came under attack late at night by terrorists using armed drones. Reinforcements moving to the location encountered an improvised explosive device, which struck a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle without causing further losses.

Air assets were subsequently deployed, with multiple precision strikes conducted on terrorist positions, forcing the attackers to retreat.

The sources confirmed that two terrorist bodies and a rifle were recovered after the engagement, while one soldier was killed in action.They added that the Air Component Command played a decisive role in the operations by providing continuous intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as precision strikes on identified targets, which significantly degraded the terrorists’ capabilities.

Troops are currently conducting follow-up exploitation operations along the Forfor, Multe and Wajiroko axes to track fleeing insurgents and prevent regrouping.

The sources said the sustained operations demonstrate increasing operational effectiveness and continued dominance by security forces across the theatre.

Troops kill scores of terrorists, destroy enclaves in Borno operations

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Troops raid IPOB enclave in Enugu, destroy camp, recover explosives

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Troops raid IPOB enclave in Enugu, destroy camp, recover explosives

By: Zagazola Makama

Joint troops under Operation UDO KA have conducted an offensive operation on a suspected IPOB enclave in Ajali Forest, Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Security sources said the operation was carried out at about 4:30 a.m. on April 27 by troops of 82 Division Garrison in conjunction with 103 Battalion (Reinforced) and 197 Special Forces Battalion, acting on credible intelligence.

The sources disclosed that the troops made contact with the armed elements during the operation and engaged them in a firefight, forcing the suspects to flee into the forest.

According to the sources, troops subsequently exploited the area and destroyed all active structures within the camp, including a shrine.

Items recovered from the location include three rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, three cartridges, seven victim-operated improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and one locally made hand grenade.

The sources added that no further contact was made during the exploitation phase, while troops have maintained presence in the area to prevent reoccupation by the fleeing suspects.

Troops raid IPOB enclave in Enugu, destroy camp, recover explosives

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Troops foil kidnap attempt, rescue victim in Kaduna

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Troops foil kidnap attempt, rescue victim in Kaduna

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) have foiled a kidnap attempt and rescued a civilian in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Security sources told Zagazola that the incident occurred in the early hours of April 26 at about 3:00 a.m., when troops on night patrol at Sanga responded to reports of sporadic gunshots along Ungwan Mohammadu village road.

The sources said the troops swiftly moved to the scene and made contact with suspected kidnappers, engaging them in a firefight that forced the criminals to flee.

According to the sources, one civilian who sustained gunshot wounds during the incident was rescued by the troops.

The victim was immediately evacuated to Confidence Hospital in Fadan Karshi for medical attention and is currently receiving treatment.

The sources added that troops have intensified patrols and are conducting follow-up operations to track down the fleeing suspects and prevent further attacks in the area.

Troops foil kidnap attempt, rescue victim in Kaduna

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