Nigerian Army Commends Media Over Boko Haram Reportage

The Nigerian Army on Monday commended the Nigerian media for its objectivity in the coverage of the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.

The commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information, Col. John Agim, made the commendation while speaking in Maiduguri. Agim said that the media had played great role in disseminating accurate information to Nigerians on the successes recorded by the military on the operations against Boko Haram.

“I think that the Nigerian media has lived up to expectation in keeping Nigerians abreast on the military operations in the North-East. “When we arrived Maiduguri we were surprised that there is peace everywhere, contrary to the belief in many areas. “I think that the media has a lot of job to do in letting Nigerians and the whole world know that peace has returned here, because outside there many people do not know,” he said. Ajim added that genuine investors would return to the state when they became aware of the restoration of peace to the troubled zone.

The commander, who led members of the Senior Course on Strategic Communication of the school on tour of the state, said the visit was aimed at getting first-hand information on the military operations in the state.

 “The Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information is the one that drives the information sector of the Nigerian Army. “For the course to achieve its aim we need to be on ground in one of the areas the army is carrying out operations to get first-hand information,” he said.

The team also paid courtesy visits to Gov.Kashim Shettima and the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Garbai.

SOURCE: Vangaurdngr

Troops Arrest Wanted Boko Harm Food Seller In Yobe

A man suspected to be one of the food sellers to the dreaded extremist group Boko Haram and who has been on the Nigerian military wanted list number 105 has been arrested by a detachment of Army troops and local vigilantes in Azare community, Gujba local government area of Yobe state.

Muhammed Bulama described as a dangerous insurgent has been on the wanted list of the military for many months before his eventual arrest on Tuesday September 6, 2016. Arrested alongside Bulama were two other suspects named Ardo Abba Muhammed ( who claimed to be an elder brother to Bulama) and Muhammadu Kaigama.

The three suspects were arrested while riding on horseback and bicycle as they made their way to the market to sell some sheep for the extremist group.

According to the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, Bulama personally identified his photograph in the wanted list and confessed that he specialized in rearing animals for the terrorist group.

Usman said the three suspects also confessed they came to Azare community to sell the animals after the group ran out of cash in their camp and were also meant to procure some food items for the upcoming Sallah festivity.

Also on Tuesday, troops of the 4 Brigade Nigerian Army arrested a suspected national economy saboteur and alleged leader of the “Otugas Fire Force” militant group, Mr. Gabriel Ogbudje.

He was arrested with an accomplice named Elvis Dweller Ejus. The group had allegedly threatened to attack the Utorogu Gas Plant and is alleged to be responsible for the blowing of NPDC/Shoreline major delivery trunk line within Ogo-Oteri general area on the 26th of August 2016.

The suspected militant was arrested along Agbor-Abraka road, Edo State while he was trailed by the troops. He has been on the run since he was declared wanted because of his public declaration as the leader of the militant group “Otugas Fire Force”.

Ogbudje had made media headlines when he declared his operation code named “Crocodile Tears”, an metaphor to the Army’s ongoing military exercise nicknamed “Operation Crocodile Smile”.

Col Usman said both suspects have been handed over to Operation DELTA SAFE for further interrogation and subsequent handing over to the relevant security agency for prosecutions.

Also troops of 13 Brigade Nigerian Army in conjunction with Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Air Force and covert operatives of the Defence Intelligence Agency, arrested a suspected kingpin of the Niger Delta Avengers, Isaac Romeo that goes by the appellation of “G2” in their terrorists camp.

He was arrested along with two other persons; Mr. Lawson Samson and an elderly man, Mr. Iyang Ekpo in Calabar, Cross State while driving in a vehicle with  registration number, CRS 86 AO1 on Saturday, 3rd September 2016.

The Army spokesman said the arrest followed painstaking efforts and tracking   of the militant who was in the state to perpetrate further criminal activities of sabotaging critical infrastructures.

SOURCE: Thenationonlineng

Boko Haram: Wanted journalist arrives Nigeria, detained

Ahmed Salkida, one of the three people declared wanted by the Nigerian Army for allegedly aiding the release of a Boko Haram video showcasing the missing Chibok girls, arrived the country last night. He was reportedly taken into custody by the police, who, however, kept mute over the development.

The Nigerian Army also denied knowledge of the arrival and detention of Salkida, described as a close associate of the Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf. Salkida was reportedly arrested, yesterday, at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, as he stepped down from an Emirate flight marked EK 785. 

One of the female passengers, who sat next to the journalist, told journalists that she recognised Salkida, who was a bit nervous all through the flight. She said she recognized the journalist from photos posted on the Internet and engaged him in conversation throughout the seven-hour flight. She said Salkida told her that he expected to be arrested upon arrival because he was travelling with an Emergency Travel Certificate, ETC, and that the DSS was aware of his coming. He expressed fear that he would not be given a fair trial and accused the government of pronouncing him guilty without trial. Salkida further told the passenger that he did not know the whereabouts of Boko Haram leaders or Chibok girls. 

However, he admitted to receiving two video clips from Boko Haram before they were released to the public. He said Boko Haram had confidence in his objectivity as an investigative journalist, having previously interviewed Mohammed Yusuf, the founding leader of Boko Haram. Salkida had expressed surprise that the army declared him wanted since they knew how to reach him if they wanted him. 

The man was declared wanted alongside Aisha Wakil and Ahmed Bolori penultimate week by the Nigerian army, which accused them of engaging in acts of terrorism for being accessory to the release of the Chibok girls video. But the trio have expressed surprise over the action of the military, saying that they knew how to reach them without declaring them wanted as common criminals and exposing them to opium.

SOURCE: Vanguardngr

I Want To Go Back To Sambisa - Rescued Girl

A Twelve-year-old girl rescued by the military has said she wants to return to her husband in Sambisa Forest. The girl was one of the 65 civilians rescued from the forest earlier this week.

Theater commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Lucky Irahbor, handed over 65 civilians recently rescued to the Borno State government on Friday for further rehabilitation, but one teen demanded that she return to Sambisa Forest to be reunited with her husband.

Speaking to the Borno State government, Mr. Irahbor, who enumerated the recent success of Operation Lafiya Dole, said, “Today I would like to hand over our sisters and children rescued during our operations at Sambisa Forest. We shall continue until we wipe out the insurgents because they are losing more ground in Sambisa Forest to our troops.”

Governor Kashim Shettima praised the military for their efforts and promised that his administration would continue to support the military.

"We are experiencing peace now because of the tireless efforts of our military, especially the crackdown on Sambisa Forest. For the newly rescued, I congratulate you all. We are going to take care of you and reunite you with your families.”

But the rescued twelve-year-old wept and refused to eat or drink water for the past three days, as she demanded to be reunited with her husband in Sambisa Forest.

When journalists asked the teen why she refused to eat or drink, she simply answered, "All I want is to go back to him at Sambisa again," and wept.

SOURCE:saharareporters