Category: Armed Forces - Page 6 - African News Today

#EndSARS Protests: Any Act of Hooliganism to be Dealt with – Buhari

7Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Armed Forces, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Violence

#EndSARS Protests: Any Act of Hooliganism to be Dealt with – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said his administration will decisively deal with any act of hooliganism hiding behind peaceful protests. Buhari stated this on Monday while remotely declaring open the Chief of Army Staff’s Annual Conference 2020 themed, ‘Human Capacity Development in Sustaining Professionalism and Responsiveness of the Nigerian Army in the Discharge of its Constitutional Roles.’. The president said that although his administration recognised the rights of citizens to embark on peaceful protests, such must be done responsibly. Buhari who spoke at a time when reports of renewed #EndSARS protests regretted the violence that followed the last protests. He said, “Let me also mention the EndSARS protest which was recently hijacked by hoodlums which resulted in the loss of l...

Lekki Shooting: Soldiers Took Live Bullets to Scene for Self-defence – General Taiwo

22Nov

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Armed Forces, Crime, Human Rights, Judiciary, Justice, Lagos News, News, Nigeria, Security

Lekki Shooting: Soldiers Took Live Bullets to Scene for Self-defence – General Taiwo

Brigadier General Ahmed Taiwo, Commander of 81 Military Intelligence Brigade, Victoria Island, Lagos, which was the Army unit deployed to the Lekki Tollgate area on the night of October 20, has admitted that the officers went to the scene with Live and blank bullet. He said that the Phase four of military internal security operation which the Army deployed involved soldiers taking live ammunition to the scene for self defence. He noted that some officers that operated at the tollgate on the night of the shooting were indeed armed with live bullets. Taiwo, however stressed that only soldiers with blank bullets shot into the air. He disclosed this on Saturday during the hearing of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry, investigating the alleged killing of peaceful #EndSARS de...

Exclusive: How Anambra State Won Covid-19 War

16Nov

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Armed Forces, Covid-19, News, Nigeria, Science

Exclusive: How Anambra State Won Covid-19 War

The Anambra State Government has said that proactive plans and effective management of limited resources were key factors that enabled the state win the COVID-19 war. The Special Adviser to Governor Willie Obiano on Creative Security, Retired Air Vice Marshal Ben Chiobi, disclosed this while welcoming students in the Nigeria Study Tour Group 8, Senior Course 43 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna State, to Anambra State on behalf of the state government. The students, made up of senior officers from the Nigeria Navy, Air Force, Army, an officer from the Counterterrorism Unit of the Nigeria Police Force as well a man from the Department of State Security, DSS, is in the state as part of a mandatory research course to help the students create an academic balance...

Nigeria Air Force Opens Training Centre in Makurdi

11Nov

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Armed Forces, Nigeria, Safety, Security

Nigeria Air Force Opens Training Centre in Makurdi

Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar has disclosed that the remodeled School of Air Intelligence in Makurdi, Benue State, will strengthen the fight against insurgency. At the opening of the NAF School of Air Intelligence at NAF Base in Makurdi, Abubakar reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to reposition the Air Force into a highly professional and disciplined force through capacity building. The CAS, who also inspected aircrafts at the hanger of the Tactical Air Command (TAC) said the Air Force NAF has begun the repairs of nine grounded F7-NI fighter aircrafts as part of its efforts to continue to protect the country’s territorial integrity. Abubakar explained that the idea was to first ensure that NAF has the required platform serviceable and, secondly,...

EndSARS: Anambra Police Commissioner Visits Vandalised Police Formations, Urges Officers to Remain Steadfast

7Nov

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Armed Forces, News, Nigeria, Security

EndSARS: Anambra Police Commissioner Visits Vandalised Police Formations, Urges Officers to Remain Steadfast

The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr John Abang has visited the different police offices destroyed by hooligans during the violent era of the #EndSARS protests that rocked the country. CP Abang who went on the visits with high ranking members of the police force in Anambra State, urged the affected police officers not to play into the hands of the hoodlums by losing hope and to also know that their services to their host communities and the nation at large remain invaluable. The Police Commissioner stated that while ñary operational base would be immediately set up in affected Area Commands, as directed by the Inspector General of Police, stating that work must continue despite the recorded tragedies. He said that the force would remain committed to its security responsibi...

Lekki Shootings: Army Reverses Initial Decision, to Appear Before Lagos Panel Saturday

6Nov

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Armed Forces, Justice, Lagos News, News, Nigeria, Violence

Lekki Shootings: Army Reverses Initial Decision, to Appear Before Lagos Panel Saturday

The Nigerian Army is set to appear before the Lagos State Panel of Inquiry on Saturday to answer questions relating to the acclaimed shooting of #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Tollgate area on October 20. The development came after the Army last week declined invitation by the panel, noting that only the Lagos State government had the right to invite the army to appear before the panel. Reports suggest that the army had acknowledged the panel’s invitation and the panel had scheduled Saturday, November 7 for the army to appear at the hearing billed to take place at the Lagos Court of Arbitration, Lekki Punch reports. Nigerian youths had last month camped at the Lekki toll gate area demanding for an end to police brutality and extrajudicial killings allegedly perpetrated by member...

US Forces Rescue Kidnapped American in Nigeria

31Oct

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Africa, Armed Forces, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Terrorism, United States of America

US Forces Rescue Kidnapped American in Nigeria

US military forces has rescued an American citizen in Nigeria, the Pentagon stated on Saturday, days after he was kidnapped by gunmen in the south of neighbouring Niger and apparently taken across the border. The hostage, Philip Walton, was kidnapped on Monday night at Massalata, a village about 10 kilometres (six miles) from the border with Nigeria. Walton is safe and in the care of the US State Department, the Pentagon said in a statement released on Saturday. US forces did not suffer any casualties in the rescue operation, it added. “The United States is committed to the safe return of all US citizens taken captive,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a separate statement. “We delivered on that commitment late last night in Nigeria, where some of our bravest and most ski...

#EndSARS: Buratai, GOCs Meet over Protest

26Oct

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Armed Forces, Law Enforcement, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Violence

#EndSARS: Buratai, GOCs Meet over Protest

The top hierarchy of the Nigerian Army, including the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, General Officers Commanding (GOC) of the Divisions and Operation Commanders, are currently in a meeting where they are brainstorming on the recent threat to national security caused by the #EndSARS protests. The meeting is holding in the Army Conference Room at the Defence Headquarters and shortly before it went into closed session, Buratai condemned unnamed international organisations for threatening to issue travel bans to Military Officers over alleged violation of human rights. He disclosed that the conference will discuss current security challenges in the country.

Military Launches Operation Crocodile Smile to Combat Cyber Warfare as Protest Intensifies

17Oct

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Armed Forces, News, Nigeria, Security

Military Launches Operation Crocodile Smile to Combat Cyber Warfare as Protest Intensifies

The Nigerian army has announced plans to commence its yearly operation Crocodile Smile to identify, track and counter negative propaganda in the social media and across the cyberspace. This was contained in a statement by Musa Sagir, army spokesman, who disclosed that the exercise will commence all over the country on Tuesday. According to The Cable, Sagir said, “The Exercise is deliberately intended to be all encompassing to include cyber warfare exercises designed to identify, track and counter negative propaganda in the social media and across the cyberspace. “This is the first ever Cyberwarfare exercise to be conducted in the history of the African Armed Forces. Accordingly, the exercise will also include positive identification component aimed at identifying Boko Haram terror...

#EndSARS: Sweden Speaks Against Police Attacks on Protesters

10Oct

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Armed Forces, News, Nigeria, Violence

#EndSARS: Sweden Speaks Against Police Attacks on Protesters

Following reports of attack on peaceful protesters demanding for Police reform, embassy of Sweden in Nigeria has condemned the attacks. The reaction was contained in a tweet on Twitter on Saturday. The Swedish embassy said, “Sweden condemns all forms of violence and acknowledges the #humanright to peaceful protests. "It is worrying to hear about alleged cases of brutality from #SARS in Nigeria and reports of abuse need to be followed up by the Nigerian legal system. #DriveForDemocracy.” The call comes after reports of the Nigerian Police Force shooting at peaceful protesters in Ogbomosho, Oyo State, leading to the death of one Jimoh Isiaq on Saturday. Police also fired teargas at demonstrators in the country’s capital, Abuja. There has been a public outcry in Nigeria, dem...