Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: terrorists

  • U.S. Africa Command Strike Kills Three al-Shabaab in Somalia

    U.S. Africa Command Strike Kills Three al-Shabaab in Somalia

    In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command (AfriCom) conducted two airstrikes in Somalia on Jan. 1, 2021.

    According to a statement by AfriCom, both strikes targeted al-Shabaab compounds in the vicinity of Qunyo Barrow, Somalia. Current assessments indicate the strikes killed three and wounded one al-Shabaab members and destroyed six and damaged one al-Shabaab compound buildings.

    The command’s initial assessment is that no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this operation. We take significant measures to comply with the principles of the Law of Armed Conflict during the course of our operations while we continue to disrupt and apply pressure to the al-Shabaab terrorist network.

    “This action clearly demonstrates our continuing commitment to Somalia and our regional partners,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Joel Tyler, director of operations for U.S. Africa Command. “We retain the means and the will to strike the al-Shabaab terrorist network when necessary to protect the region and ultimately, our own nation.”

    U.S. Africa Command and its international partners recognize the importance of stability in Somalia. Violent extremist organizations like al-Shabaab present long-term threats to U.S. and regional security interests.

    “Al-Shabaab remains a threat to Somalia’s future and U.S. interests, and we will continue to disrupt their efforts to terrorize innocents,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Dagvin Anderson, Joint Task Force-Quartz commander. “Our strikes help keep these terrorists off balance to help our partners then address deeper problems such as governance and development.”

    U.S. Africa Command remains committed to working with East African countries to help provide political, economic, and physical stability in the region and to work with international and African partners to achieve long-term security goals in Somalia for the Federal Government of Somalia and its Member States.

    See video of the mission strike posted at: https://go.usa.gov/xA9ZV

  • Nigeria Air Task Force Takes Out Boko Haram Terrorists in Borno

    Nigeria Air Task Force Takes Out Boko Haram Terrorists in Borno

    Nigeria Defence Air Task Force of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has taken out more Boko Haram Terrorists’ (BHTs’) hideouts and eliminated several of their fighters at 2 locations – Kote Kura and Bulama Isamari – both in Borno State.

    In a statement on Sunday, Coordinator of Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, the air strikes were executed Saturday, January 2 2021.

    The Air Task Force was said to have employed appropriate force packages of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships based on credible intelligence reports indicating that the BHTs had recently established camps at the 2 settlements, where they store their logistics items as well as plan and launch attacks.

    “Overhead Kote Kura, a settlement in Bama area, the NAF attack aircraft engaged scores of terrorists observed in the target area, leading to the neutralization of several of them as well as the destruction of structures and logistics stores, some of which were seen engulfed in flames”, Maj. Gen. Enenche said.

    In another operation, at Bulama Isamari, within the Timbuktu Traingle, the NAF aircraft took turns in engaging the target, scoring accurate hits which equally resulted in the neutralisation of several terrorists.

  • Thirteen Boko Haram Terrorists and Family Members Surrender to Nigerian Troops

    Thirteen Boko Haram Terrorists and Family Members Surrender to Nigerian Troops

    Suspected Boko Haram terrorists numbering 13, alongside their family members including 6 women and 17 children from Kodila village on Saturday, September 26, surrendered to troops of 151 Task Force Battalion at Banki Junction in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.

    Boko Haram terrorist and family members
    The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    The DHQ media chief said the terrorists took the decision following a sustained aerial bombardment and aggressive intensive clearance operation of the troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE on their village.

    “They survived the aerial bombardment but were starving with nothing to fall back on. They have no choice than to surrender,” the source stated.

    The suspected terrorists and their family members are now receiving medical attention at the 21 Special Armoured Brigade Medical Centre.

    The suspects are also currently undergoing thorough profiling and investigation in line with global best practice in handling such cases

  • Video: Nigerian Air Task Force hits terrorist targets, neutralises several ISWAP fighters

    Video: Nigerian Air Task Force hits terrorist targets, neutralises several ISWAP fighters

    Nigeria’s Air Task Force (ATF) of the Operation LAFIYA DOLE has successfully neutralized some Islamic State of west Africa Province (ISWAP) commanders and knocked out logistics facilities at Bukar Meram on the fringes of the Lake Chad in Borno State.

    The development was made known on Wednesday by Coordinator of Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, Major General John Enenche, in a statement sighted by Echotitbits.

    Enenche stated that the air strike which is part of continued efforts conducted under subsidiary Operation HAIL STORM also neutralized several terrorists at Dole, a settlement in the Southern part of Borno State.

    READ ALSO:

    Bandits abduct foreign national, Nigerian in Niger State- Police confirms

    “The air interdiction missions were executed on 17 August 2020 on the heels of credible intelligence reports indicating a resurgence of terrorists’ activities in the 2 settlements.

    “Bukar Meram, a major ISWAP logistics hub linking other Island settlements of the Lake Chad, which also houses several of their fighters and some of their key leaders, was attacked by an enhanced force package of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships which hit designated targets in the area leading to the destruction of the logistics facilities and neutralization of several of the terrorists and their leaders” Major General Enenche stated.

    He added that prior to carrying out the attack at Dole, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions were conducted, which showed a buildup of activities in the area.

    READ ALSO:

    Mali Coup: Mutinying Soldiers Arrest President, Prime Minister as Country’s Crisis Deepens

    The DHq media coordinator said the buildup was discovered to be a result of the relocation of some terrorists from nearby settlements of Kokiwa and Yale.

    “Overhead the area the ISR aircraft spotted no fewer than 20 terrorists in the area, which were taken out by the NAF attack aircraft, Enenche added.

    Video by DHq.

    Tobiloba Kolawole

  • Nigerian Military destroys ISWAP terrorist camp, eliminates several fighters in Borno

    Nigerian Military destroys ISWAP terrorist camp, eliminates several fighters in Borno

    The Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHq) says its Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole (ATF-OLD) has knocked out another terrorist camp belonging to the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).

    The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche announced in a statement on Friday in Abuja, confirmed that the raid by men of the ATF-OLD did not only destroy the camp at Tongule in the Lake Chad area of Northern Borno, it also eliminated scores of their fighters.

    File photo: Operation LAFIYA DOLE, has knocked out another Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists’ camp. Photo; TWITTER/NIGERIAARMY

    According to Maj. Gen. Enenche the air raid was in continuation of the air offensive against terrorist elements in the North East.

    READ ALSO:

    Akeredolu inaugurates Amotekun in Ondo, tasks FG on more police funding

    He stated that the airstrikes,which were conducted on Aug. 12, followed credible intelligence reports indicating terrorists’ activities in the village.

    The defence spokesman explained that after confirmation of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, the Air Task Force dispatched Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets to attack the location.

    He said further that the mission showed the presence of a sizable number of the ISWAP elements at designated locations.

    The NAF jets took turns in engaging the location, scoring devastating hits on the designated targets and leading to the destruction of the structures as well as the neutralisation of several ISWAP fighters, Enenche narrated.

    READ ALSO: 

    https://echotitbits.com/young-women-change-leaders-charge-youths-leaders-on-governance-inclusion/

    He added that: “The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, commends the Air Task Force for their dedication and professionalism.

    “He urged them to intensify the air offensive against the terrorists and all other criminal elements in the country,’’ he said.

  • 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.

    READ ALSO: God is not ready to take him – Ajimobi’s daughter debunks death rumour

    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.