The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Burutai, on Monday, assured soldiers wounded while fighting Boko Haram insurgents that their sacrifices would not be in vain.
Burutai gave the assurance during a visit to the soldiers on admission at the 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital (DMSH) in Maiduguri. The visit was in celebration of Eid-El-Kabir.
The COAS, represented by the Commander, Nigerian Army Medical Corps, Maj.- Gen. Ikechukwu Okeke, described the soldiers as heroes of peace.
He said that the army would provide all medical support for their quick recovery. Col. Samuel Adama, the doctor in charge of the hospital, praised the COAS for demonstrating love and affection to the wounded soldiers.
“The Eid-el-Kabir celebration is a period of compassion and resilience toward achieving lasting peace in the region and the nation.
“We commend the COAS and other commanders for support to the hospital.
Brig.-Gen. Bulama Biu, The Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, also described the wounded soldiers as heroes and ambassadors of peace, adding that their sacrifices could not be quantified.
NAN reports that dignitaries at the occasion included commanders and principal officers of the division, family members and well-wishers of the wounded soldiers.
Some troops of the Nigerian Army, who went missing in action, following the Boko Haram terrorists’ attacks on a military base in Jilli, Yobe State, and Bama, Borno State, have yet to be found, according to reliable military sources on Saturday.
Our correspondent learnt that the army bases in both locations were making frantic efforts to locate the displaced soldiers as well as recover at least three military gun trucks which were still missing.
“I can confirm to you that not all the ‘missing-in-action soldiers’ have been found. We are still looking for several of them. Some gun trucks are also yet to be recovered.
“We have just been promised logistics’ support by the army chief. This means the supply of more war equipment and food items, which were the major things carted away by the insurgents,”
a source said in an interview with COLOSSUS GISTS.
The number of soldiers still missing as of Saturday was uncertain as the army authorities had kept mum on the development.
The army base in Jilli was reportedly attacked last week by the Boko Haram insurgents when at least 20 soldiers were said to have died and about 20 others injured.
This was preceded by a Boko Haram ambush of a military convoy in Bama, Borno State, where hundreds of soldiers were displaced in the ensuing gunfire and some members of the Civilian Joint Task Force said to have been killed.
Some soldiers reportedly died also with conflicting figures from multiple sources.
One of the sources, close to Bama, had said, “About 10 corpses of soldiers ambushed in Borno have been recovered. The army is still looking for the rest of them. The terrorists are said to be from the Al-Barnawi faction.”
The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig Gen. Texas Chukwu, had said on Wednesday that the attack on Jilli was “very unfortunate” while denying that any soldier was killed in the incident.
Chukwu also stated that the terrorist attack on Bama to “cart away operational vehicles” was repelled by troops, adding that only an officer and a soldier sustained injuries.
Our correspondent, however, learnt that the loss in both army locations was so huge that it forced the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, and other top commanders from the army headquarters, Abuja, to visit the North-East and assess the situation on the ground.
The army chief thereafter promised the 21 Brigade in Bama “adequate logistics support” to aid their operations.”
Our correspondent learnt on Saturday that there was still tension in Jilli and Bama over soldiers who had yet to be found, either dead or alive.
Multiple sources confirmed to our correspondent that the gun trucks and other ammunition, carted away by the insurgents, had also yet to be recovered.
“We are trying to boost the troops’ morale to prepare for other assaults. It is clear that the terrorists are trying to remain relevant. They are in search of arms and ammunition and that is why they target our bases. We will not allow them,” a source added.
A journalist said to be well-informed about the sect’s activities, Ahmad Salkida, had taken to Twitter on Wednesday to describe the death toll in the attack on Jilli as “staggering.”
Ahmad said,
“There should be a national mourning. We had never this type of incident before in the Lake Chad crisis that the military been caught on the wrong footing as it’s evident in the latest attack on Jilli.
“There is a grave sense of despair among officers and men. The toll is staggering,” say multiple sources.
This is to inform all candidates who applied for the NDA 70th Regular Course Admission that the centre selection/Exam Cards printing would close by Midnight 8th May, 2018.
Shortlisted applicants are requested to log on to the application portal, choose their Screening Test Centre and print the examination card.
Remember the NDA Screening Test would take place on 19 May 2018.
All eligible candidates are to bring along their Acknowledgement Form, Screening Test Admission Card, JAMB result slip and TWO (2) postcard sized (35 x 5 inches) photographs to the Screening Test Centre.
The photographs should show only from the chest upwards and should contain the candidate’s Name, JAMB Reg No, State, Screening Test Centre, Course of study and Signature at the back.
LIST OF SCREENING TEST CENTRES FOR NDA SCREENING TEST
Serial
|
State
|
Centre
|
(a)
|
(b)
|
(c)
|
1.
|
Adamawa
|
Govt Day Secondary School Opposite HQ 23 Armd Bde, Yola
|
2.
|
Borno
|
Command Secondary School, Maimalari
Cantonment, Maiduguri
|
3.
|
Edo
|
Army Day Secondary School NASST, Benin
|
4.
|
Enugu
|
Command Day Secondary School, Abakpa Barracks, Enugu
|
5.
|
FCT
|
Command Day Secondary School, Lungi
Barracks, Abuja
|
6.
|
Imo
|
Holy Ghost College, Owerri
|
7.
|
Kano
|
Army Day Secondary School Bukavu Barracks, Kano
|
8.
|
Kaduna
|
Nigerian Defence Academy, Permanent
Site, Afaka, Kaduna
|
(a)
|
(b)
|
(c)
|
9.
|
Kaduna
|
Nigerian Defence Academy, Old Site, Ribadu Campus, Kaduna
|
10.
|
Kwara
|
Nigerian Army School of Education (NASE)
Ilorin
|
11.
|
Lagos
|
Command Children’s School/ Command
Day Secondary School, Ikeja Cantonment, Lagos
|
12.
|
Lagos
|
Command Secondary School, Ojo, Lagos
|
13.
|
Oyo
|
Command Day Secondary School Odogbo, Ibadan
|
14.
|
Plateau
|
Command Secondary School Zaria Road
Jos
|
15.
|
Rivers
|
Command Secondary School Bori Camp, Port Harcourt
|
Total
| ||
Government troops have captured another killer herdsman in the Guma Local Government Area of Benue, the scene of recurring deadly attacks by herdsmen.
The name of the captured herdsman was given as Idi Gemu.
The capture of Mr Gemu, whose AK 47 has also been seized by troops, brings to four the number of killer herdsmen captured in the area in the past five days.
Many communities in the Tiv speaking areas, including Guma Local Government Area, have seen repeated attacks by herdsmen in recent times.
Hundreds of people, especially farmers, have been losing their lives to recurring herdsmen attacks in communities in North Central Nigeria in recent years.
There has been no letup in the killing of people in communities in Benue, raising fears that agriculture in Nigeria’s food basket may soon be threatened.
The Commander of 72 Special Forces Battalion, Suleiman Mohammed, a Lt. Col., told reporters on Wednesday in Makurdi that Mr Gemu was captured on May 1.
Mr Mohammed said the three other killer herdsmen were also captured in the Guma Local Government Area on April 26 and that their capture led to the capture of Mr Gemu.
He said that troops were doing “everything possible” to safeguard lives and property in Benue, advising residents of the state to provide useful information to security agencies.
But in an interview with journalists, Mr Gemu said that the Ak 47 rifle recovered from him did not belong to him, saying that the gun belonged to one of his friends, who fled when troops swooped on them.
Mr Gemu claimed that he was sleeping when the soldiers came and that his friend fled after he sighted the troops.
He said he decided to keep the gun for the friend but was arrested with the gun by the troops.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, has embarked on an operational visit to troops in some of the troubled spots in Benue.
(NAN)
Four members of Boko Haram have surrendered to Troops waging war against Boko Haram in Borno state.
According to The Cable, this was made known to newsmen by Onyema Nwachukwu, the Deputy Director Public Relations of the Theatre Command.
He said “The terrorists who claimed they are from the Abubakar Shekau faction comprised 3 men, one woman and 3 children.
“Two of the men were Boko Haram Amirs (commanders) while the third man was a Boko Haram medic, who provided medical treatments to wounded insurgents in the field
“The only woman among them is a wife to one of the Amirs and held a position as one of the women leaders amongst the female terrorists, while the children, comprising two girls and a boy are offsprings of the surrendered terrorists.”
Nwachukwu also revealed that they have been transferred to the operation Lafiya Dole Headquarters in Borno state.
Troops repel Boko Haram attack in Gamboru
The Nigerian Army on Saturday said its troops successfully repelled an attack by Boko Haram insurgents at Gamboru-Ngala in Borno.
According to Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, the Director, Army Public Relations, one terrorist was killed while several others fled.
The army spokesman also called on the people to co-operate with troops, provide useful and timely information to security agencies.
The Nigerian Army has approved the promotion for 3,729 troops fighting the Boko Haram terrorist group in the North-east part of the country.
Brig. Gen. Texas Chukwu, Director Army Public Relations, stated this in a statement on Thursday, saying that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai has approved special promotion for the troops for their gallantry.
The troops are contingent of the Operation LAFIYA DOLE, who participated in Operation DEEP PUNCH II in the Sambisa Forest.
The statement read in brief, “This is in recognition of their valour and uncommon commitment to duty during the operation.”
The beneficiaries include 223 Staff Sergeants promoted to the rank of Warrant Officers, 511 Sergeants promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeants while 994 Corporals were promoted to the rank of Sergeants.
The rest are 1064 Lance Corporals promoted to the rank of Corporals, while 932 Private soldiers were appointed Lance Corporals.
Dolapo Osinbajo, wife of the Vice President, hosted the widows of the fallen officers of the Nigerian Army to celebrate the 2018 International Women’s Day.
She shared photos of the event on her Instagram, writing:
Celebrating the International Women’s day in Aguda House. A luncheon for widows of our fallen heroes from the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Police who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the safety of Nigeria and Nigerians.
#NotForgotten#WidowsOfHeroes#FallenHeroes#TheUltimateSacrificeO Lord, protect our armed forces and police in Jesus name. Amen.
Osinbajo was also at the National Centre for Women Development with First Lady Aisha Buhari, where women exhibited their wares.
See photos from both events below:
Photo Credit:
The Nigerian Army, at the weekend, commenced its online registration for the 77 Regular Recruit Intake for both Trades and Non Tradesmen and women into the service.
This is contained in a statement issued by Director Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman.
The registration will end on Friday, February 9, 2018.
He said the exercise which is aimed at selecting able bodied Nigerians will take place in all states across the nation.
The statement added: “Interested applicants must be Nigerians between the ages of 18 to 22 for non-tradesmen and women, while tradesmen and women must be between 22 to 26 years by March 1, 2018.
“Applicants are to visit the Nigerian Army official website http://recruitment.army.mil.ng to apply online.
“Application is free. For more details, applicants are to contact 08038575725 or 08037234828.”
See applicant eligibility below…
– Applicants shall be of Nigerian origin by birth and possess National Identity card.
– Applicants must possess a minimum of 4 credits in not more than 2 sittings in WASSCE/GCE/NECO/NABTEB. One of the credits must be in English language.
– In addition, Tradesmen & Women Applicants must also possess OND/Trade Test/City and Guild certificate.
– Non-Tradesmen & Women Applicants must be aged between 18 – 22 years by March 1, 2017.
– Tradesmen & Women Applicants must be aged between 18 – 26 years by March 1, 2017.
– Applicants must be medically, physically, and psychologically fit and must not be less than 1.68 meters tall for male and 1.62 meters tall for female.
– Applicants must print their completed online forms, attest it and submit it at the examination recruitment centres during the screening exercise period.
– Knowledge of additional Nigerian Languages other than mother tongue is an added advantage.
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