Army vehicles bogged down in Sambisa forest's rough terrain (Photos)

Scenes like this show some of the things our gallant troops go through to keep the rest of us safe.

Despite the harsh climatic conditions and bad terrain occasioned by the heavy rainfalls especially within Gombale area of Sambisa forest, the troops have continued to push ahead with the task.

Despite the fact of operational vehicles and equipment being bogged down by the bad terrain, the troops and the Civilian JTFs have continued with their clearance operations.

It's just a little bit of the sacrifices they're making for the rest of the country. See photos after the cut.

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How I flew N1.299b to Akure for Fayose, Obanikoro - Pilot

The pilot of the aircraft which allegedly flew N1.299b to Ekiti for Gov Ayodele Fayose and then Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro has told the EFCC how the transaction was executed.

Captain Ahmed Bashir Borodo said that the money was wrapped in military tarpaulin before it was loaded unto his Hawker Siddeley HS 125-800 operated by Gyro Air Limited.

The Nation reports that Borodo was quizzed over the weekend in connection with Obanikoro's slush funds which Fayose laundered through his friend, Abiodun Agbele.

“On the 17th June 2014, I was advised around 0700 hours by my Flight Operations Department that we would be operating a chartered flight to Akure from Lagos with estimated departure time of 0830 hours.

“The client was Musiliu Obanikoro, Minister of State for Defence at that time.

“I arrived at the airport at about 0730 hours to prepare for the flight along with my colleague, Captain Olubiyi Famuyiwa and cabin attendant Uyi Okoro. Minutes later, the minister’s aides came to the aircraft with some bullion vans. They started offloading the contents, which were big green tarpaulin bags. Military bags precisely.

“The ADC to the minister was dressed in Navy uniform.

“When we noticed that only about three people could carry the bags because of the weight, we told them that because of the weight, we could only take about eight to nine bags.

“The minister who had disembarked at that time from his vehicle pleaded with us but we said our aircraft was too small to carry all the bags. We loaded the bags. The minister, his ADC and a friend boarded the aircraft and we departed to Akure , Ondo State.

“ When we arrived at Akure Airport, some soldiers came and there was a bullion van as well to carry the baggage. We departed empty to Lagos on the 17/06/14. On the 18th of June 2014, we were sent from Abuja to Akure to pick Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro and take him to Abuja. He boarded without any luggage with his ADC and we proceeded to Abuja to drop him.”

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Dubai property firm to pursue legal options against EFCC

Following the sealing of its offices in Abuja by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for alleged money laundering activities, Dubai property firm, The First Group has said that it intends to take legal action against the anti graft agency to defend its reputation.

According to a statement obtained by Vanguard, the company known as TFG Real Estates Ltd said that its Nigerian arm has been in compliance with all of the country's anti money laundering regulations.

“The First Group’s Nigerian agent, TFG Real Estate Limited, fully abides by Nigeria’s anti-money laundering regulations. In line with this commitment, TFG Real Estate, Limited, regularly files the required reports with the section of the Special Control Unit on Money Laundering (SCUML) division of the EFCC in Abuja.

“Furthermore, The First Group’s Dubai operations, which are indirectly implicated in these baseless allegations, are governed by UAE Federal Law, and in particular, the country’s anti-money laundering laws, which rank among the world’s most robust.

“The First Group’s clients are also protected by the Dubai government’s rigorous and world-class real estate regulations, which are designed to protect the interests of local and international investors in this dynamic property market.

“The First Group is fully transparent in its operations and has a proven track-record of delivering world-class developments in the United Arab Emirates over many years. Its priority is protecting the interests of its clients and generating strong returns on their investments while complying with all legal statutes in the markets in which it operates.

“In respect to the current media speculation, The First Group will explore all legal options to defend its commercial reputation in Nigeria,” the statement said.

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Buratai family serving Nigerian military over 3 generations (Photo)

This photo of Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, his father and his son appeared on the social media over the weekend.

Pa Buratai was a veteran of the World War 2 while Tukur Buratai's son is a serving officer with the Nigerian Air Force.

See photo.

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Troops kill 11 bandits, recover 85 cows in Zamfara

The Nigerian Army announced on Sunday that troops on live field exercises while marking the Nigerian Army Day Celebrations, NADCEL killed 11 armed bandits and cattle rustlers while on patrol of forests in Zamfara State.

A statement issued by Army spokesman Col Sani Usman said that the operation code named "Exercise HARBIN KUNAMA", has intensified patrol of the various forests in the state.

"It is in line with this that troops of 223 Battalion while on patrol encountered armed bandits at Madaka village, Maru Local Government Area in which they killed 9 armed bandits and recovered 3 AK-47 rifles, 2 AK-47 rifles magazine, 3 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, 1 machete and 24 motorcycles.

"Similarly, local vigilantes at 'Yargada village, Gusau Local Government Area apprehended a fleeing suspected armed bandit and handed him over to troops deployed at Magami.
In a related development, troops have also raided a bandit camp at Gangamai village in Dansadau Local Government Area. During the raid there was an exchange of fire between the troops and the armed bandits. Unfortunately, the bandits escaped with gun shot wounds.
However, the troops recovered 2 Dane Guns bags containing marijuana (aka Indian hemp).

"Another team also carried out raid on cattle rustlers and armed bandits camp at Gidan Mai Jaja in Dansadau general area. Here, the rustlers and armed bandits fled on sighting the approaching troops abandoning 85 cows, 37 sheep and a donkey.

"Similarly, another patrol team also carried out a raid on a armed bandits and cattle rustlers camp at Gobirawan Kwacha where they killed 2 armed bandits and recovered a machete."

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General sues Army over compulsory retirement

Since his compulsory retirement on June 9, 2016, Major General Ijioma Nwokoro Ijioma has not been a happy man.

In his bid to remedy the situation, he has dragged the Nigerian Army, Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Army Staff to the National Industrial Court.

In the originating summons filed by his counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, Major General Ijioma is praying the Industrial Court to declare his compulsory retirement from the services of the Nigerian Army illegal, invalid, wrongful, unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.
He also prayed the court for an order setting aside the letter of compulsory retirement issued by the Army Council, purportedly retiring him from the services with effect from June 9, 2016, and an order directing the immediate reinstatement of his rank and payment of all entitlements and perquisites of office due him.

He also sought other reliefs including an "order restraining the Respondents from giving or continuing to give effect to the letter dated 9th June, 2016, purported to have compulsorily retired the Claimant from the service of the Nigerian Army.

“An order restraining the Respondents, whether by themselves, their agents, servants, privies and/or all officers from obstructing, disturbing, interfering, stopping or preventing the Applicant in any manner whatsoever, from performing the functions of his office as a serving Major General of the Nigerian Army in the last position and place of assignment, before the letter of compulsory retirement dated 9th June, 2016."

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Press release: Buhari condemns Turkey coup attempt

17 July 2016 | STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT BUHARI CONDEMNS COUP ATTEMPT IN TURKEY, CONGRATULATES ERDOGAN ON SURVIVING THE PUTSCH

President Muhammadu Buhari has joined President Obama and other world leaders in vehemently condemning the abortive coup attempt in Turkey by a group of rebel army officers and men, which resulted in the reported death of more than 100 people.
Reacting to the tragic events in Ankara, Istanbul and other centres, President Buhari says he is "deeply saddened by reports of a violent attempt to dismantle constitutional authority and disrupt the democratically elected government of Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey."
“The removal of a democratic government by force is no longer acceptable. Violence can never solve any problem but only complicates them and sets back the progress of democratic societies."
The President also notes that President Erdogan is one of Nigeria's close international partners and sincere supporters in its current war against terrorism, adding that all should resist the "destabilization of democratic countries through coups d’état in the 21st century."
According to the President, “democracy provides peaceful options of changing governments through the ballot box. The ballot box doesn't require violence to remove any government perceived to have lost its popularity and public support. Despite its limitations, democracy is still better and more durable than a violent change of government.”
The President praises the courage and immediate response of ordinary citizens who in face of guns and tanks defied the rebel soldiers and forced them to abandon their mad quest for power.
President Buhari calls on the President of Turkey to pursue reconciliation and offers Nigeria’s support to the government and people of Turkey in their hour of trial.

Mallam Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
July 17, 2016

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