Tag: Nigerian Army Depot

Nigerian Army Recruits Over 5,000 Soldiers

Nigerian Army Recruits Over 5,000 SoldiersThe Nigerian Army has recruited over 5,000 soldiers into the force, in the bid to shore up its manpower and confront the current security challenges of the country.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai, has insisted that the security challenges would soon be a thing of the past.

According to him the military is working hard to finally defeat the Boko Haram terrorists in the north east and other criminal elements threatening the peace and security of the nation.

He gave the assurance during the passing out parade of the 75 regular recruits intake at the Nigerian Army depot, Zaria in Kaduna state.

Buratai represented by the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Major General Adamu Abubakar, said the Nigerian army would continue to increase its mental and physical capacity, in order to effectively fight insecurity in the country.

These young soldiers have undergone intense training at the depot and are graduating for onward deployment to the field.

Addressing the soldiers, the Army chief told them that the Boko Haram threat in the North-Eastern part of the country demands that the Armed Forces maintained a well-trained and disciplined force.

While congratulating the soldiers for the successful completion of their initial training at the institution, General Buratai reminded them that a lot is expected from them in terms of loyalty, discipline and selfless service.

Buratai also assured the new recruits of being exposed to further training in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operation.

Since its establishment in 1924, the Nigerian army depot, Zaria has remained pivotal in the production of soldiers for nation’s military.

“This function is relevant, considering the vast security challenges confronting our great nation.

“It is therefore expedient to observe how Depot NA has continued to evolve its training activities in line with my vision of producing competent and professionally responsive force for Nigerian Army.

“The over 5,000 of you graduating today are expected to improve on the manpower of the Nigerian army and its combat efficiency in view of the security challenges being faced across the country,” he stated.

This is coming shortly after the President, Muhammadu Buhari, assured Nigerians that the era of Boko Haram militancy has come to an end, with the soldiers, crushing the terrorists’ “last stronghold” in Sambisa forest.

Army Trains Troops On Counter Terrorism Operations

Nigeria-Army-Troops-counteri-terrorism-Boko-HaramThe Nigerian Army has conducted a special training on counter-terrorism operations for officers and recruits.

The training was held at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna State, ahead of their graduation from the Nigerian Army Depot, Zaria, and Command College, Jaji.

The exercise is part of efforts by the Nigerian military to expose the young soldiers to conventional ways of fighting terrorism in the northeast.

Addressing the Cadets at the end of the exercise, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai, said the training has become necessary due to the emerging security challenges, which requires effective training of troops in the art of counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.

He express satisfaction with the performance of the troops, adding that most of them would be deployed to the north east and other troubled parts of the country to fight the Boko Haram group and other related crimes.

Over 2, 000 recruits from the Nigerian Army Depot, Zaria took part in the exercise.

The training, which exposed them to combat bush exercise and other tactics, is the last lap of their training before their passing out from the depot within the year.

After watching their training session, General Buratai, said they are good to go.
He commended the management of the Armed Forces and Command College for the effective manner they handled the troops during the training period.

The Nigerian Army has been a major facilitator and force multiplier in the fight against terrorism in the country through effective training of its personnel, as well as personnel of sister security services.

Shiites-Army Clash: Kaduna State Govt Says Over 340 Bodies Buried

Army Shiites clashThe Kaduna State Government says no fewer than 347 dead bodies were given a mass burial after the violence clash between members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and the Nigerian Army which occurred in Zaria on December 12, 2015.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Balarabe Lawal, gave the testimony when he appeared before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the State government to investigate the cause of the incident.

Although members of the group have maintained that corpses of the victims were secretly buried at an unidentified cemetery by the Army, this is the first time the state government is giving an information about how the remains of the killed Shiites were disposed.

Members of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry investigating the December 2015 bloody clash held their session at the General Usman Katsina House, with submissions made by witnesses to the incident.

The commission has so far received submissions from the Nigerian Army, but Tuesday session featured some officials of the Kaduna State government led by the SSG.

While making his submission, Mr Lawal said that 191 corpses were taken from the Nigerian Army Depot, Zaria, and were later buried at Mando area in the outskirt of the state capital.

He further told the commission that another 156 corpses were also conveyed from the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, to the same Mando cemetery for mass burial.

The State government said the corpses were committed into a single grave at Mando and jointly supervised by the State government officials and about 40 men of the Nigerian Army.

The SSG informed the panel that 189 suspects were being prosecuted for alleged involvement in the Zaria clash while one of them died in custody.

On the alleged demolition of buildings and structures of the IMN leader, Sheik El-Zakzaky and other members, the SSG explained that the buildings were demolished because they did not meet up government’s approved building safety standards.

Counsels to the commission, JNI and Nigerian Army cross examined the SSG on the submission.

Another witness and Director-General, Kaduna State Interfaith Agency, Namadi Musa, who claimed he supervised the burial, said the corpses were buried on December 14 and 15 respectively, and that the mass burial was authorised through a warrant of burial obtained from a Chief Magistrates Court in the state capital,

Another witness, a representative of the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Professor Adamu Ahmed, who is the Deputy Chief Medical Director, narrated how armed soldiers invaded the hospital, prevented the workers from discharging their duties and also carted away corpses from the hospital’s mortuary.

The Justice Muhammed Lawal-Garba’s panel also received submissions from the Izala Islamic group and the Gyellesu Community in Zaria.

Shiites Funded By Iranian Government

The elder brother of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, Muhammad Sani Yaqoob, in his submission, commended the actions taken by the Nigerian Army in the December clash between soldiers and the Shiites in Zaria which he said was caused by the group who blocked the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff.

Speaking in Hausa language, he alleged that the movement got funding from the Iranian government, and had been harassing and intimidating residents of Zaria and Kaduna state over the years.

Although members of the Islamic movement in Nigeria and their lawyers have withdrawn further appearance before the panel, a statement issued by their spokesman after the proceedings, said the recent revelations made by Kaduna State government through the SSG had clearly vindicated them from any wrong doing.

The public hearing will continue for the next three weeks and members of the public are anxiously awaiting the outcome and recommendations that would be made by the commission.

Shiite Spokesman Shot During Raid Of Sheikh Zakzaky’s Residence

Shitte Clash: Spokesman Shot DeadA spokesman of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Ibrahim Usman, was on Sunday morning shot after soldiers invaded the residence of the group’s leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky in Guillesu area of Zaria.

An eyewitness told Channels Television’s correspondent that the soldiers allegedly stormed the area to arrest Sheik Zakzaky and in the process, opened fire on the members who gathered at his residence.

The incident happened after security was beefed up in Zaria, Kaduna State, following a bloody clash between members of the Shiite Islamic Movement in Zaria which left three people dead and several others wounded on Saturday.

Shortly after the clash on Saturday, Mr Usman issued a statement debunking the army’s claim that members of the sect attempted to assassinate the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai, while on his way to attend the Passing Out Parade at the 73 Regular Recruit Intake of the Nigerian Army Depot, also in Zaria.

The Army said that it considered this a deliberate attempt to assassinate the Chief of Army Staff and members of his entourage and was left with no option than to “defend him and the convoy at all cost as well as open up the barricaded road for law abiding citizens” as this was in line with the Nigerian Army Rules of Engagement and Code of Conduct.

Sheik Zakzaky is said to be on the run after he escaped arrest by soldiers who stormed his residence on Saturday evening.

The latest development is said to have created apprehension in the ancient city as most residents have remained indoors for fear of further violence.

On June 24, 2014, three sons of the leader of the Shiite sect, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky were killed following a bloody clash between his members and soldiers in the same city.

 

Fighting Insecurity: Nigerian Army Recruits 5,890 Soldiers

The military in Nigeria is insisting that it will continue to increase its mental and physical capacity, in order to effectively fight insecurity in the country.

In its bid to shore up its manpower, the Nigerian Army has injected 5,890 recruits into the force.

During their Passing Out Parade at the Nigerian Army Depot, Zaria, Kaduna State, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Azubuike Ihejirika, told the new soldiers that the Boko-Haram threat in the North-Eastern part of the country demands that the Armed Forces maintain a well-trained and disciplined force.

Lieutenant-General Azubuike Ihejirika said: “Nigerian Army’s mission to win all land battles, defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria, protect and advance her national interest as may be assigned in aid to civil authority, remains a task we must never fail to accomplish no matter the odds.

“Therefore, I urge you to remain selfless, disciplined, loyal and determined. As you are aware, the contemporary security challenges in our country demands that the army maintain a well-trained and disciplined force to provide appropriate response.

“Let me emphasise that our constitutional responsibilities demands that we defend the nation from external aggression, maintain its territorial integrity and secure the border from violation by land, sea and air.

“Remember that the military profession has no place for the weak and feeble minded. You must understand that the military service is all about sacrifice, honour, discipline, loyalty, perseverance and valour.

He further reminded the soildiers, “by the taking of oath of allegiance today, you are now subject to both civil and military laws. You must therefore avoid anything that has the propensity to tarnish your image, the army and the nation”,

Ihejirika also assured the new recruits of being exposed to further training in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operation.

5,890 is the highest number of soldiers to be trained at once, since the inception of the Nigerian ArmyDepot , Zaria in 1924.