Be ready for more exercises, Buratai tells troops

 

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has charges troops to get ready for more training exercises that will be conducted by the Nigerian Army across the country this year.
The army chief gave the charge while addressing troops of the Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery at the Nigerian Army Training Centre, Kontagora Barracks, Niger state.
Buratai said the Nigerian Army is committed to improving welfare of personnel and professional training of officers and soldiers in order to perform duties optimally.
Resented by Chief of Training and Operations (Army), Maj. Gen. David Ahmadu, the army chief commended troops in the frontlines of NorTheast for decimating Boko Haram terrorists, and those participating in other internal security operations across the country.
He charged them to be ready to participate more in several exercises coming up this year.
Earlier, the army chief inaugurated the Headquarters of the Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery, at the Kontagora Barracks, which was completed this year, after its foundation was laid 21 years ago.
He said the officer accommodation would aim to create conducive environment required by personnel to perform their duty.
He said: “The role of the artillery to provide needed fire power during operations, and the corps has contributed greatly to the present security challenges in the country.
“The Nigerian Army, under my leadership, will continue to provide professional and logistics support to the corps to enable it perform its duties effectively and professionally.
“The corps should keep the flag flying and continue to be the corps of proud professionals that it is known to be.”
In his address, Commander Corps of Artillery, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Garba Hong, said the corps has not had it so good over the years until the coming of the present leadership of the Nigerian Army.
He said the completion of the project was in line with the commitment of the Chief of Army Staff to improving welfare of personnel in line with his vision “to have a professionally responsive Nigerian Army to discharge his constitutional role.”
Exercise Cat Race: Troops nab 6 robbers, recover weapons
Troops of Sector C, 707 Special Forces Brigade on exercise “Cat Race” deployed at Katsina Ala-Zaki Biam road, Benue State, have arrested six suspected armed robbers at Gbor village.
The troops also recovered weapons and motorcycles from the suspects, according to Maj. Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, spokesperson of 707 Special Forces Brigade.
He said the suspects and their weapons have been handed over to Nigeria Police for further investigation and prosecution.
Also troops deployed in Taraba state on the same exercise recovered a locally made pistol with one live cartridge in Gidan Kiya village, Ibbi Local Government Area of the state.
In Nasarawa state troops acting on a distress call also intervened in a violent clash between hunters and herdsmen in Obi Local Government Area of the state.
Col. Aliyu Yusuf disclosed this in a statement on behalf of Director Army Public Relations.
He said troops deployed at Ayilamo village in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State also arrested a herdsman with a locally made bullet proof vest and a cutlass at Chegba village.
Yusuf said the herdsman has been handed over to the police for further action.
He urged residents of the areas where Exercise “Cat Race” is taking place to continue to cooperate with the troops by providing useful information, and to report any suspected movement by individual or group to security agencies.
Clear more terrorists’ hide-outs in Sambisa troops charged
Troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE on Operation DEEP PUNCH II, have neutralized scores of Boko Haram terrorists in an ambush that lasted for less than 20 minutes near Sabil Huda, a location in Sambisa forest.
According to Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, spokesperson of Theater Command Operation Lafiya Dole, terrorists attempted to escape through one of the blocking positions of the troops, when they met their waterloo.
Operation DEEP PUNCH is aimed at clearance of the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists within Sambisa forest and Lake Chad basin general area, have continued to record successes.
The troops have been launching offensive operations on suspected hideouts of the terrorists that kept the insurgents on the run.
Nwachukwu said the troops recovered, during the operation which occurred Thursday, 1 G3 Rifle magazine, one Life jacket, 1 Light Machine Gun metal link, 4 rounds of anti-Aircraft ammunition, 4 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition and 3 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition.
“Unfortunately, two soldiers were injured in the process. They have since been evacuated by the Nigerian Air Force and are responding to treatment,” he said.
He said while the troops tried to embark on another offensive operations against the terrorists in their hideout ahead of Camp Zairo in Sambisa forest, they (troops) an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) that affected one of their Armoured Fighting Vehicle.
He said: “Undeterred, they continued with the offensive action in which they cleared suspected Boko Haram terrorists hideout around Parisu. During the clearance, they also neutralized 5 Boko Haram terrorists and wounded several others.
“The troops recovered a 122 millimetre gun mounted on a truck that also has an Anti-aircraft gun on it, 1 Rocket Propelled Grenade, 1 Grenade Revolver, 7 Mortar Bombs and other assorted weapons.
“While advancing, the troops also encountered and recovered 2 Toyota Hilux vehicles, 3 Power generating sets, 2 Motorcycles, additional Mortar bombs, Gas cylinders and the Boko Haram terrorists Metal fabrication factory replete with varying machines for welding and making IEDs.
Nwachukwu said troops of 151 Battalion together 7 Division Support Group also embarked on clearance offensive against Boko Haram terrorists hideouts around Frigi crossing point and Izza general area, where he said they discovered and destroyed nine terrorists hideouts.
He said: “Although the number of Boko Haram terrorists neutralized could not be ascertained, it is believed to be quite sizeable, while one of their leaders was captured.
“The troops rescued an old man and 3 elderly women in one of the hideouts.
“The troops also recovered 1 Motorcycle with 10 Bicycle tyres, a bicycle, 3 Boko Haram flags, 1 Solar panel, 5 drums of Guinea corn, 2 medium size mattresses, 2 Grinding machines, 3 bags of metal scraps, 2 Motorcycle tyres and 2 underground food Storages.
“They also recovered one AK-47 Rifle Magazine, 1 dummy Rifle, a round of 12.7mm ammunition, 12 empty cases of 7.62mm ammunition, 2 bicycles, large quantity of IED making materials and a tool box. The Air Task Force of Operation LAFIYA DOLE provided air cover for the Land troops throughout the conduct of the operations.”

Leave a Reply