Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: security

  • Operation Sahel Sanity impacts North-West with tremendous successes – Defence Headquarters

    Operation Sahel Sanity impacts North-West with tremendous successes – Defence Headquarters

    The Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHq) says operation Sahel Sanity, which kicked off almost two months ago has led to the rescue of kidnapped victims, recovery of rustled cattles, arrest of suspected armed bandits, arrest of bandits informants and collaborators.

    This was disclosed in a statement Saturday night as it reviewed operations of the unit, which was flagged off on July 6, 2020 by the Chief of Army Staff, Major Gen. Turkur Buratai, as part of activities of the Nigerian Army Day Celebration 2020, during which the Nigerian Army Super Camp IV Faskari in Katsina State was established.

    According to the statement, Operation Sahel Sanity was established to support Operation Hadarin Daji in stemming the tides of the activities of armed bandits, cattle rustlers, kidnappers, incessant killings and other sundry crimes in the North-West zone of the country.

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    “These acts of criminalities orchestrated by the bandits had before now crippled the agricultural, social and economic activities of the people of this zone. The people of the North-West Zone felt immediate impact of the operation with the tremendous successes achieved within the short period of time.

    “The gallant troops of Operation SAHEL SANITY within the period under review has carried out series of clearance operations, ambushes and other aggressive and confidence building patrols within Sokoto, Katsina and Zamfara States.”

    Also included as part of the successes, DHq stated that the unit made recoveries of large cache of arms and ammunition as well as recovery of motorcycles and other bandits logistics within the period.

    The DHq noted further that: “So far, in all the operations conducted, 80 armed bandits have been neutralized, a total of 943 cows, 633 sheep/rams recovered; 33 suspected bandits arrested; 7 AK47 Riffles, 1 GPMG and16 Dane guns captured; 17 kidnapped victims rescued and 14 bandits informants and collaborators arrested.

    “Also several bandits camps including the notorious Dangote Triangle and their logistics bases were destroyed by troops of Operation SAHEL SANITY.

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    “There is no gainsaying therefore that within the first month of Operation SAHEL SANITY from 1-31 July 2020, troops have recorded several successes in line with the aim of the operation. The gallant troops continue to dominate volatile areas with confidence building patrols, ambushes and clearance operations to deny the bandits and other criminal elements freedom of action”.

    The DHq added that the successes achieved by Operation Sahel Sanity is further evident by the active resumption of farming, social and economic activities by the locals with reduced fear of threats in their localities.

  • Police Commissioner deploys more security to Southern Kaduna

    Police Commissioner deploys more security to Southern Kaduna

    The Kaduna State Police Command has ordered the immediate deployment of more Police personnel to Kajuru, Zango Kataf, Kaura and Kauru Local Government Areas of the State as part of efforts towards restoring law and order in the affected areas, as a result of the recent violence and other security challenges.

    The directive was revealed in a press release made available to journalists by the Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Muri in Kaduna.

    He directed that all Area Commanders and DPOs within the affected areas make adequate use of the deployed personnel to ensure the safety of lives and property as well as the full enforcement of the 24-hour curfew imposed by the Kaduna State Government.

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    “The Commissioner of Police wishes to commiserate with the good people of Kaduna State, particularly those who have lost their loved ones and property as a result of the crises. He further assures that the Command will do everything within its powers to ensure that peace is restored in the affected areas”.

    CP Muri enjoins law-abiding citizens of the State to cooperate with the Police, Military and other law enforcement agencies as they carry out the full enforcement of the curfew amongst other measures with a view to ensuring their safety.

    He however warns troublemakers in the State to desist forthwith from acts of violence and lawlessness, as the Command will not hesitate to deal decisively with any person or group of persons found in the act of disturbing the relative peace enjoyed by the good people of the State.

  • Gov. Zulum says attack on convoy a sabotage, Army launches investigation

    Gov. Zulum says attack on convoy a sabotage, Army launches investigation

    Borno state Governor Babagana Zulum has described Wednesday’s attack on his convey in Baga town, Kukawa local government area as an act of sabotage.

    The Governor made this known while briefing newsmen shortly after completing his four-day working visit to Monguno and Kukawa Local Government Areas.

    Professor Zulum was in northern Borno to officially reopen Monguno-Baga road and also assess the level of damage to Baga town devastated by Boko Haram insurgents. He disclosed that while on the assessment visit, sporadic gunshots ensued that caused pandemonium which forced him to abort his working visit to the area.

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    The Governor charged the military to rise up to the occasion in the fight against insurgency and ensure civil authority return to all liberated areas of the state.

    Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army says it has launched an investigation to unravel the circumstances that led to the attack.

    In a statement by Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa regretted the attack and assured the public the incident will be interrogated to prevent future occurrence.

  • Eid-el-Kabir: IGP orders intensified patrols nationwide, advises Nigerians on COVID-19 protocols

    Eid-el-Kabir: IGP orders intensified patrols nationwide, advises Nigerians on COVID-19 protocols

    As part of efforts to ensure a crime-free Eid-el Kabir celebration in the country, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has directed the commissioners of police in all the states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as well as their supervisory Assistant Inspectors General of Police in the 17 Zonal Commands to intensify “confidence building patrols in all nooks and crannies of the country particularly on major highways and around critical national infrastructure.”

    Adamu, while assuring Nigerians of adequate security, congratulated the Muslim faithful in the country as they join other Muslims across the world to celebrate this year’s Eid-el-Kabir festival.

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    Besides, IGP called for “voluntary compliance with the ban on all mass socio-religious gathering and other prevention orders directed at protecting the citizens and checking further spread of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.”

    Adamu, in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, enjoined the citizens to cooperate with the police, noting that the measures have become imperative due to the rampaging COVID-19 pandemic.

    Idowu Sowunmi

  • Security Breach: Buhari appoints new Chief Personal Security Officer  

    Security Breach: Buhari appoints new Chief Personal Security Officer  

    Idowu Sowunmi

    Following the investigation ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari into the ugly brawl at the State House involving his personal assistant and security personnel attached to the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, the President Monday approved the appointment of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Aliyu Abubakar Musa, as his new Chief Personal Security Officer (CPSO).

    It would be recalled that there was an incident at the Villa, which was triggered by the First Lady, who led a security operation to insist that one of the aides of the President, Sabiu ‘Tunde’ Yusuf, must self-isolate on arrival from Lagos State, where he had gone to see his wife who had just been delivered of a baby.

    The incident led to a shooting which caused a security breach at the Villa.

    This led to Buhari’s decision to order an investigation into the matter.

    The aftermath of the investigation led to the appointment of Musa.

    The new CPSO, from Nigerian Police Force Zone 5 in Benin City as his last station, hails from Niger State, said a statement by the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu

    Musa’s appointment followed the redeployment of his predecessor, Commissioner of Police (CP), Abdulkarim Dauda.

    Analysts speculated that some other security officers may be affected by the developing situation.

  • Nigerian Air Force strikes ‘scores’ of Boko Haram Terrorists, tear-down base

    Nigerian Air Force strikes ‘scores’ of Boko Haram Terrorists, tear-down base

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has destroyed scores of Boko Haram terrorists (BHTs ) in Tongule and Bukar Meram areas of Borno State.

    In a statement issued on Saturday by the Coordinator of Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, it was confirmed that the NAF airstrikes, which were carried out on June 25 after a series of surveillance missions indicated a resurgence of terrorists’ activities at the two settlements.

    Enenche noted that this latest military action is “another set of successful air interdiction missions executed by the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Lafiya Dole under the subsidiary Operation Long Reach.

    The defence spokesman explained that: “At Tongule, where recent credible intelligence indicated frequent convergence of BHTs, about 35 terrorists were spotted by the NAF surveillance aircraft in different parts of the settlement as it vectored the fighter jets to attack the target area.

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    “The munitions from the jets hit designated areas within the settlement, destroying some structures and taking out many of the terrorists.

    “Similarly, at Bukar Meram, a BHT logistics hub on the fringes of the Lake Chad, the airstrikes, which were carefully timed and executed in multiple waves for maximum effects, resulted in the obliteration of designated portions of the terrorists’ facilities.

    “Several of their fighters were also killed in the process”, Coordinator, Defence Media Operations said.

    Meanwhile, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has commended the Air Task Force for their dedication and professionalism.

    This comes as the Defence Headquarters equally asked them to “intensify the air offensive against the terrorists and all other criminal elements threatening the peace and security of our beloved country.”

    Nigerian Air Force (NAF) airstrike pictures:

    A screen grab from the Air Force video shows the scene of the airstrikes on Boko Haram Logistics Base in Borno State. Credit: Defence Headquarters.
    A screen grab from the Air Force video shows the scene of the airstrikes on Boko Haram Logistics Base in Borno State. Credit: Defence Headquarters.
    A screen grab from the Air Force video shows the scene of the airstrikes on Boko Haram Logistics Base in Borno State. Credit: Defence Headquarters.
    A screen grab from the Air Force video shows the scene of the airstrikes on Boko Haram Logistics Base in Borno State. Credit: Defence Headquarters.
  • Nigerian Air Force foils Bandit attack

    Nigerian Air Force foils Bandit attack

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has foiled an attack by armed bandits along the Kwauya-Tsamiya village axis in Kaduna State.

    This is according to a statement issued on Monday by the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, Major General, John Enenche.

    According to the statement, the personnel of the 404 Force Protection Group (404 FPG) NAF Base Kaduna thwarted the planned attack in the early hours of Sunday.

    Major General Enenche explained that this followed “reports that some cattle rustlers/armed bandits had raided the Fulani settlements adjacent to the NAF Base and seized some heads of cattle from some herders at gun point.”

    The statement further noted that a Rapid Response Force (RRF) Team was dispatched to pursue and recover the rustled cattle.

    “The RRF Team, supported by NAF Special Forces deployed to Operation BADAMAMAKI, in conjunction with the local vigilantes, quickly located the bandits and engaged them in a firefight causing them to retreat in multiple directions abandoning 40 cattle in the process,” the statement added.

    “While there were no casualties to any civilian or NAF personnel in the encounter, some of the bandits managed to escape with gunshot wounds.”

    This is as the statement commended the officers for their gallantry and urged them “to sustain their efforts to curb the activities of bandits and all other criminal elements threatening the peace and security of our beloved country.”

    – Channels TV

     

  • Insecurity: No more excuses, President Buhari warns Service Chiefs

    Insecurity: No more excuses, President Buhari warns Service Chiefs

    President Muhammadu Buhari has warned heads of Nigeria’s security agencies of underperformance, which has obviously permitted a spate of attack and killings by insurgents and bandits especially in the Northern region of the country.

    The President’s warning was disclosed by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Retired Major General Babagana Monguno after Buhari met with Service Chiefs at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday.

    Monguno revealed that the President is not pleased with the way insecurity is being handled in many parts of the country and is not mincing words about it.

    President Buhari at the meeting was said to have warned the heads of the nation’s security agencies to quit giving excuses in the discharge of their duties to protect Nigerians as such would no longer be tolerated.

    L-R: Chief of Naval staff, Rear Admiral Ekwe Ibas; Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Abayomi Olonishakin; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar and Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu

    The NSA noted that while the service chiefs are trying their best to tackle the issue of insecurity in the country, President Buhari insisted that their best is not good enough and asked them to do more to secure the nation and its people.

    One outcome from the high-level security meeting was the order giving to the NSA boss to meet with state governors in the North-West and that of Niger State, in other to identify the problems and find solutions to them.

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    Buhari’s meeting with the service chiefs was instigated by increasing bandit attacks on communities in the region, including Katsina, the President’s home state.

    The attacks, which have left several people dead and many others injured in the affected states, with lots of properties destroyed by bandits had sparked criticism over the worsening insecurity in the country, especially the North West where the armed men have wreaked havoc in recent times.

    As part of efforts to address the situation, Monguno, in company with the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu and others had embarked on a fact-finding mission to Katsina and Sokoto States.

    Thursday’s meeting had in attendance the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; the Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai.

    Others included the police boss; the Chief of Defence Intelligence Agency, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Usman, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Yusuf Bichi; and the Director-General Nigeria Intelligence Agency Ahmed Abubakar.

  • Shooting in Aso Rock: Buhari orders Investigation in line with rule of law

    Shooting in Aso Rock: Buhari orders Investigation in line with rule of law

    Idowu Sowunmi

    President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered a full investigation into a security breach at the Presidential Villa in Abuja in which an Aide-de-Camp to First Lady, Usman Shuguba, fired gunshots last Thursday in a bid to apprehend Buhari’s cousin, Sabiu Yusuf, who was alleged to have refused to self-isolate after returning from Lagos State, where he had gone to see his wife who had just put to bed.

    Prominent Nigerians have expressed concerns over the development and tasked the President to take a decisive action.

    Reacting to the incident for the first time on Sunday, Buhari, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, ordered investigation into the matter and vowed that rule of law would be allowed to take its natural cause.

    “Armed guards and other security personnel assigned to the State House receive the necessary training of especially weapons handling and where they come short, their relevant agencies have their rules and regulations to immediately address them.

    “Having authorised the proper investigation to be carried out into this unfortunate incident by the police, the President has acted in compliance with the rule of law.

    “In this particular instance, the President says the law should be allowed to take its course,” the statement said.

    While acknowledging concerns expressed by several members of the public regarding the recent incident among the occupants of the State House which escalation led to the arrest of some staff by the police, the statement assured that “the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari, is not, and was not at anytime in any form of danger arising, either from deadly infections or the reported incident by security personnel which is currently under investigation.”

    The Presidency added that the incident happened outside the main residence of the President.

    Shehu described the incident as “a minor occurrence,” and condemned some individuals who used the incident to “justify attacks on the government and the person of President Muhammadu Buhari,” saying such attitude “beggars belief.”

    Meanwhile, the President has criticised members of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) for alleging that the insecurity in some northern states of the country was an indication that Buhari and governors have failed in their constitutional duty to protect the people.

    Reacting to this statement, Buhari said: “We are not surprised by this latest statement by Prof. Abdullahi, and our past position on what his group represents remains unchanged: a mere irritant and featherweight.”

    NEF, in a statement on Sunday and signed by its Convener, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, had berated the President and some northern governors for not foing enoigh to protect the northerners.

    But the President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, countered NEF’s position.

    “Hearing that title, you would think the body was a conglomeration of true elders. But the truth is that NEF is just Ango Abdullahi, and Ango Abdullahi is NEF. It is a quasi-organisation that boasts of no credible membership, and its leader is akin to a General without troops.

    “Before the 2019 presidential election, the one-man army called NEF had shown its antipathy against President Buhari, and its preference for another candidate. They all got beaten together.

    “NEF is merely waving a flag that is at half-mast. President Buhari steadily and steadfastly focuses on the task of retooling Nigeria, and discerning Nigerians know the true state of the nation. They don’t need a paper tiger to tell them anything,” the statement said.

  • Bandit Attacks: President Buhari to increase military operations in Katsina, others

    Bandit Attacks: President Buhari to increase military operations in Katsina, others

    President Muhammadu Buhari says he will deploy more military operations in Zamfara, Sokoto, Niger, Katsina and Kaduna States in order to check the activities of bandits.

    The President made this known on Thursday when the Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari who has been troubled with recent attacks by bandits in his state, visited the State House Abuja.

    According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu Saturday, President Buhari stressed that “bandits, who have committed crimes against innocent citizens in the state, and across the country, will not be spared”.

    Assuring the people and government of Katsina State of renewed efforts, the President stated that security operations in the troubled state and other parts of the country will be reviewed and improved to ensure the security of lives and property.

    The President, commiserating with Governor Masari over the loss of lives to incessant attacks warned “bandits to surrender their weapons, or face disgraceful and violent end’’.