Photos: TY Danjuma visits President Jonathan

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN  WITH THE CHAIRMAN VICTIMS SUPPORT FUND, GEN THEOPHILUS DANJUMA AFTER A MEETING AT THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA ABUJA ON  WEDNESDAY (11/3/15)

Courtesy: State House Photo

Remarks by President Jonathan at the NDA Passing out Parade, 61 Regular Course, Short Service Course 42 (Army)

Remarks by
His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR
On the
Occasion of the Passing Out Parade of Officer Cadets of the 61 Regular Course and Short Service Course 42 (Army) at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna
Saturday 13th September, 2014
PROTOCOLS
1.              We are here to celebrate excellence, professionalism and the coming of age of a great national institution. This is the passing-out parade of the 61st Regular Course and Short Service Course 42 (Army) Officer Cadets of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). The occasion coincides also with the Golden Jubilee Anniversary of this pioneer military university in Africa and on behalf of all Nigerians, I say congratulations to our NDA!
2.              On this important golden anniversary, it is befitting to specially acknowledge the esteemed presence of former Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General (Dr) Yakubu Gowon GCFR, an elder statesman, father of a united Nigeria and steadfast partner in peace and development. You are welcome sir!
3.              This is a unique occasion and I also want to specially congratulate the Academy, the Commandant, and staff and all of you gentlemen officers for your service to our nation. Our aspiration as a people and as a government has remained to build a well-trained, efficient and very effective armed forces that meets our national security objectives. The products and achievements of this academy are in line with this goal.

Brigadier-General Adekunle "Black Scorpion" is dead, President Jonathan commiserates with family

ADEKUNLE WILL ALWAYS BE REMEBERED AS ONE OF THE MOST CELEBRATED MILITARY COMMANDERS OF HIS GENERATION – PRESIDENT JONATHAN

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan extends sincere commiserating to the family of  late Brigadier-General Benjamin Adekunle who passed away earlier today.

The President joins them and other Nigerians in mourning the very courageous soldier who achieved national fame during the Nigerian civil war for his gallant leadership of the 3rd Marine Commandoes in the successful effort to defend the unity and territorial integrity of the country.

President Jonathan believes that General Adekunle's civil war heroics, which made him easily one of the most celebrated military commanders of his generation, have ensured that he will always be honoured and remembered as a valiant soldier who served his fatherland exceptionally well at a very trying time in its history.

As the Black Scorpion's soul returns to the Almighty Creator, President Jonathan enjoins his family, friends, former military colleagues and all who mourn his passing to also give thanks to God for blessing the nation with fearless soldiers and patriots of his calibre who stand ready to lay down their lives for the peace, unity and progress of their country.

President Jonathan prays that God Almighty will  comfort the grieving family and associates of General Adekunle and grant his departed soul eternal rest.

REUBEN ABATI
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
September 13, 2014.

50 TERRORISTS DIE AS TROOPS AVERT RAID ON COMMUNITIES

DHQ/ABJ/901/32/DDI                                                                                                   9 June 2014

 PRESS RELEASE: 50 TERRORISTS DIE AS TROOPS AVERT RAID ON COMMUNITIES

Troops conducting anti-terrorists campaign in North-Eastern Nigeria have successfully averted attempted massive raid on villages in Borno and Adamawa States during the weekend.  The terrorists who were on their way to attack selected communities were ambushed by troops along  Bilta, Borno state on receiving intelligence report of the terrorists’ intention.

The attack was launched on the terrorists as they filed out of the forest to embark on their mission at about 10pm on Saturday.  Over 50 terrorists died in the fierce encounter that ensued, while 30 rifles, 36 Hand Grenades, 7 Machine guns and 11 Rocket Propelled grenade tubes were captured by the troops.  Also recovered from the terrorists were over 3,500 rounds of ammunition, 6 smoke grenade canisters and locally fabricated guns as well as 4 vehicles used by the terrorists in the foiled attack.

The four soldiers who were wounded in the operation are currently receiving medical treatment in the military medical facility.

CHRIS OLUKOLADE
Major General
Director Defence Information

Nyanya bombing: DSS arrests five, declares two wanted

Ahmad Abubakar (aka Abu Ibrahim/Maiturare),
Mohammed Ishaq,Yau Saidu (aka Kotar Rama),
Anas Isah and Adamu Yusuf

THE Department of State Service has arrested five  persons  in connection with the April 14, 2014 bomb blast at the El-Rufai Motor Park, Nyanya  in Abuja.

 The   suspects  are  Ahmad Abubakar (aka Abu Ibrahim/Maiturare), Mohammed Ishaq,   Yau Saidu (aka Kotar Rama), Anas Isah and Adamu Yusuf.

The  DSS Deputy Director, Public Relations, Marilyn Ogar,  who paraded the suspects in Abuja  on Monday,  said the masterminds of the blast, Rufai Tsiga (aka Dr. Tsiga), and a military deserter, Aminu  Ogwuche, had been declared wanted.

Army arrests Boko Haram Terrorist in Taraba

The Defence Headquarters on Wednesday said that a group of terrorists, operating under the guise of herdsmen at a camp in the outskirts of Wukari in Taraba, had been arrested.
It said other members of the group were killed during an encounter with the military at a check point at Gindin Dorowa, a suburb of Wukari.
The military disclosed this in a statement issued by Major-General Chris Olukolade, the Director of Defence Information, in Abuja.
Olukolade said that one of the arrested armed men confessed to being a combatant for the terrorist group in Borno and was recently brought to Wukari area in furtherance of their mission.

Military commanders aiding B’Haram, soldier alleges

A soldier has claimed that he witnessed incidents that suggested some military   commanders work  with Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East.

The soldier told the Voice of America Hausa Service  how his military unit in Borno State was ambushed by Boko Haram members.

He  said the commander of a nearby military unit in Bama recently sought assistance from his unit in carrying out a raid.

The soldier, who did not give his  name, said when the two military units joined up, they were given different uniforms. The Bama unit commander, according to him, gave his own troops green uniforms while his   unit received tan “desert camouflage” uniforms.

When the troops reached the battle area, the soldier said the commander of the better-equipped Bama unit suddenly withdrew his forces, leaving the remaining troops to fend for themselves against Boko Haram fighters.

Helicopters drop arms for insurgents —Borno, Yobe elders

Political and opinion elders in Borno and Yobe states have alleged that helicopters drop arms and ammunition, food and medicine to areas known to be strongholds of the members of the violent Islamic sect,  Boko Haram, in the North-East. They said the authorities in the states could not claim ignorance of the development and that it was a bad omen if a convoy of about 20 to 30 Toyota Hilux vehicles could move freely without being detected despite the curfew in place.

Army captures Boko Haram armoury, kills 10

Special Forces captured a massive armoury with arms and ammunition in one of the camps of Boko Haram insurgents near Lake Chad.
This was contained in an electronic mail sent to journalists on Saturday by the Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen Chris Olukolade.
Olukolade said the Special Forces captured the large cache of arms and ammunition from a dump in one of the camps of the insurgents on Friday night.
He said the arms and ammunition were still being evacuated from the site where several of the insurgents were said to have died during the raid.

Boko Haram plots to Invade Lagos in Military Vehicles

AN alleged plot by the terrorist group, Boko Haram, to invade Lagos in vehicles painted with military colours has been uncovered by security operatives.

  The Guardian learnt at the weekend from military authorities that   the group planned to attack Lagos with weapons in vehicles used by senior military officers painted with the colours of the Army, Navy or Air Force.
  This intelligence has made military authorities to order soldiers and naval ratings to thoroughly search vehicles painted with military colours, including those belonging to generals.