Tag: Armed forces - Page 2 - African News Today

NGF Mourns as Nigerian Army Buries COAF, Others

22May

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Armed Forces, News, Nigeria

NGF Mourns as Nigerian Army Buries COAF, Others

Following the death of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, the Nigeria Governors Forum has expressed shock and dismay over their sudden passing in a plane crash on Friday. This was contained in a statement issued by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi titled, ‘Demise of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru,’ in Abuja, on Saturday. Fayemi in the statement said the NGF received news of the death of the senior and junior military officers as well as members of the crew of the ill-fated aircraft with shock. He said, “The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) received with deep shock and utter disbelief the death of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, in a plane crash at the Kaunda International Airpor...

Nigerian Army Debunks killing Igbo, Christian Soldiers

3May

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Armed Forces, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security

Nigerian Army Debunks killing Igbo, Christian Soldiers

The Nigerian Army has reacted to the allegation of deploying soldiers based on ethnic and religious lines to get killed on duty, describing peddlers of such narrative as callous and cowardly enemies of Nigeria’s peace and unity. This was contained in a statement issued in reaction to a publication titled, "Secret Fulani plan unveiled – The Compromised army chief", which alleges that the military is now using its deployment to kill Igbo and Christian personnel. It alleged that "two Igbo officers, Lt Col Okeke and Lt Col Ajah alongside 44 others, predominantly Southern and Middle Belt Christian officers, lost their lives in a conspiracy hatched by Fulani senior officers." Reacting to the news, Brig-Gen Mohammed Yerima, the Army's Director of Army Public Relations, in a statement iss...

Nigerian Air Force Reacts to Boko Haram’s Claim of Shooting Down Alpha Jet

3Apr

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Armed Forces, Boko Haram, Nigeria, Security, Terrorism

Nigerian Air Force Reacts to Boko Haram’s Claim of Shooting Down Alpha Jet

The Nigerian Air Force has debunked claims by Boko Haram terrorists that it shot down the missing NAF 476 Alpha Jet, which remains uncounted for after it went off the radar in Borno State. Reacting to Boko Haram’ claim, the NAF on Saturday stated that the jet had an accident for several reasons, which the military was investigating and was not shot down as shown in the video. It said the video was doctored by the Boko Haram sect. The NAF Alpha Jet – a major asset in the onslaught against the insurgents in the North-East went missing on Wednesday evening with the whereabouts of the two pilots on board not known as of Saturday morning. On Friday, the Abubakar Shekau-led faction of Boko Haram, Jama'atu Ahlussunnah Lidda'awati Wal Jihad, released a video of it shooting down the mis...

Identities of Two Pilots in Missing NAF Fighter Jet Revealed

2Apr

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Armed Forces, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Transportation

Identities of Two Pilots in Missing NAF Fighter Jet Revealed

The identities of the two pilots in the Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet which went missing in the North-East on Thursday has been given as Flight Lieutenant John Abolarinwa and Flight Lieutenant Ebiakpo Chapele. The NAF in an update issued on Friday by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet said the location of the two pilots remains unknown. Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, the Chief of the Air Staff, on Thursday arrived in Maiduguri, Borno State to coordinate the ongoing search and rescue mission for the missing Alpha Jet which was lost during the Boko Haram combat mission in the North-East. Gabkwet said, “The air chief arrived in Maiduguri on Thursday morning, where he was briefed on ongoing search and rescue efforts in connection with the missing...

Missing Fighter Jet May Have Crashed, Two Pilots Unaccounted for – Air Force

2Apr

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Armed Forces, News, Nigeria, Safety, Science, Transportation

Missing Fighter Jet May Have Crashed, Two Pilots Unaccounted for – Air Force

The Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet which went off the radar during a Boko Haram operation in the North-East on Wednesday may have crashed. Intelligence report gathered by the Nigerian Air Force on Friday said the jet might have crashed although the whereabouts of the jet or the two pilots on board remain unknown. According to SaharaReporters, military sources said the jet crashed in the Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State, although the NAF has not confirmed any location. Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, the Chief of Air Staff, arrived in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Thursday to coordinate the ongoing search and rescue mission for the Alpha Jet which got lost during the Boko Haram combat mission in the North-East. Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, NAF Director of Public Relations and Informat...

BREAKING: Buhari Bows to Pressure, Sacks Service Chiefs, Appoints New Hands

26Jan

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Armed Forces, Breaking News, News, Nigeria, Security

BREAKING: Buhari Bows to Pressure, Sacks Service Chiefs, Appoints New Hands

President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked the service chiefs in the country, African News Today has gathered. Buhari appointed new officers to head the country’s security architecture and combat the security challenges in the country. This was disclosed by the Special Adviser On Media and Publicity To the President, Femi Adesina, in a tweet on Tuesday. Adesina wrote, “PMB appoints new Service Chiefs. Maj Gen LEO Irabor, CDS (Chief of Defence Staff), Maj Gen I Attahiru, Army, Rear Adm AZ Gambo, Navy, AVM IO Amao, Air Force. “He congratulates outgoing Service Chiefs on efforts to bring enduring peace to the country.” The development follows several agitations from different quarters for the change of service chiefs for fresh ideas on effective fight against varying security challenges confr...

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...

Ousted President of Mali Flown Abroad for Medical Attention

6Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Armed Forces, Mali, News

Ousted President of Mali Flown Abroad for Medical Attention

Former Malian president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, recently deposed by mutinying soldiers was flown to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for medical attention in the late hours of Saturday, a top diplomat said. Keita, 75, was hospitalised in Mali after his release from detention by the military junta who held him for 10 days. The former president departed Mali for medical treatment along with his wife, Aminata Maiga Keita, an aide, two doctors and four security personnel, said the diplomat who sought anonymity Sahara Reporters reports. He was flown to UAE following a request from Malian authorities and Keita, so he could access medical care at a military hospital in Abu Dhabi. Keita had returned to his residence earlier I the week after hospitalisation at a private hospital under tig...

Mali Coup: Jonathan Led ECOWAS Delegation Meet Coup Leaders as Talks Continue

23Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Armed Forces, Mali, News

Mali Coup: Jonathan Led ECOWAS Delegation Meet Coup Leaders as Talks Continue

A meeting of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) delegation led by former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan with Mali's coup leaders ended barely after 20 minutes. The coup in Mali is celebrated by many Malian citizens though the international community has condemned the ouster of Ibrahim Boubacar Keita at a time when the country faces Islamist insurgency and months of mass protests. An ECOWAS delegation arrived in the capital, Bamako, for deliberations aimed at returning the country to civilian rule. Head of the delegation, Jonathan sounded optimistic of persuading the coup leaders ahead of a series of meetings with the mutineers and other groups. Jonathan in a chat with reporters said, “I believe at the end of the day we will come up with something that i...

20Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Armed Forces, Mali, News

ECOWAS Set to Convene Over Mali Coup

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is set to convene a videoconference meeting on Thursday to discuss the crisis in Mali which led to President Ibrahim Keita’s removal. The regional body has been vocal against the change of government in Mali by Mutinying soldiers. In a statement in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja it said, “The Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will hold an extraordinary summit on the socio-political situation in Mali on Thursday.” ECOWAS had been involved at finding a solution to the unrest in the member state prior to Tuesday’s coup. Colonel Assimi Goita, Malian army officer on Wednesday announced himself as the coup leader. Mali’s membership of the African Union (AU) was suspe...