Again, Buhari Vows to Eliminate Insurgents, Bandits, Kidnappers
•Army to court-martial 158 officers, soldiers in North-east
•Bandits kill 22 persons in attack on Sokoto market
Deji Elumoye in Abuja, Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja, John Shiklam in Kaduna and Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto
President Muhammadu Buhari has again given an assurance that the federal government would do everything within the ambit of the law to eliminate all the criminals involved in the insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and politically motivated killings across the country. The Nigerian Army also yesterday inaugurated a Special Court-Martial and a General Court Martial to try 158 officers and soldiers for various offences committed in the ongoing war against insurgency.
This is coming as no fewer than 22 persons have been killed by suspected bandits who attacked a market at Ungwan Lalle in Sabon Birni Local Government Area in the Eastern Senatorial District of Sokoto State.
Speaking yesterday at the passing out parade for Cadets of 68 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna, the president announced that more equipment had been received from some friendly nations to improve security operations.
According to him, his administration remains focused on its priority of improving security, bolstering the economy, and fighting corruption.
His words: “As you are all aware, our beloved nation Nigeria is facing many security challenges at this period. We continue to face security threats and violent crimes such as insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and politically motivated killings which threaten our national integration.
“I assure you that this administration will continue to do everything within the ambit of the law to eliminate all forms of violent crimes that are creating fear and anxiety among the citizenry.
“It is pertinent to state in this regard that we have received new equipment in our fight against any form of insecurity from our friendly countries.
These assets will be deployed to accelerate the fight against insecurity in all parts of the country,” he explained.
President Buhari noted that security had assumed priority in governance and public policy in the international scheme of affairs.
According to him: “It is against this backdrop that we introduced a new Landing Ship Tank early this year to replace the first set of naval ship tanks, which were decommissioned by the Nigerian Navy.
“The introduction of the Landing Ship Tank is expected to bolster the Navy’s Sealift capability and promote our global maritime commerce, peace, and safety within the Gulf of Guinea and our maritime neighbourhood,” he added.
The President said the government was poised to eliminate the incentives for corruption by addressing some of the remote causes as part of a long-term strategy for a more effective and sustained war on the practice.
He said improvement of livelihoods of citizens had been going on in partnership with the relevant organised private sector.
According to him, some of the interventions by the government are: “A smart law enforcement; provision of improved access to education that prepares our youths for global competitiveness; provision of quality health services for improved life expectancy and decent and affordable housing, among others.
“It is the conviction of this administration that ineffective policies for social provisioning must be redressed in our efforts to tackle the fundamental causes of corruption in our society. This is how best to give vent to the much-cherished values of fairness, equity, and justice to the people of this nation.
“I must also emphasise here that, for us to achieve a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic country that will attract foreign investors we must be law-abiding, committed, and promoters of peaceful co-existence.
“This is a collective responsibility which will yield the Nigeria of our dreams,’’ the president noted.
Buhari commended the NDA Commandant, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Manu Yusuf, for the infrastructural upgrade in the military institution, and the colourful parade by the cadets of 68 regular courses.
“It gladdens my heart to see the level of infrastructural development in the Academy. It is a clear testament to the vision, dedication, and excellence in the best tradition of NDA.
“Nigerians acknowledge that the Academy has consistently justified its existence over the years by turning out well trained and disciplined officers for the Armed Forces of Nigeria as well as militaries of allied nations.
“The NDA has over the years trained and graduated military and paramilitary personnel as well as interested civilians seeking postgraduate education.
“It is therefore not surprising that the Academy has earned a reputation as an outstanding military Academy in Africa. Let me, therefore, extend my sincere felicitation to the Commandant, staff, and gentlemen cadets of the Academy on this memorable occasion,’’ he added.
The president, who was the Reviewing Officer, told Graduating Officer Cadets, that the world they were entering was very different from that which confronted many of their predecessors.
He said: “The contemporary security environment has been described as violent, uncertain, complex and ambiguous.
“You can therefore expect that the missions that you will be tasked to undertake will be similarly complex. Beyond these significant rationales, I am convinced that we have a real stake, and an abiding self-interest, in making sure our children and our grandchildren grow up in a world where school children are not kidnapped and where individuals are not slaughtered because of their tribe, faith or political beliefs.
“I believe that a world of greater freedom and tolerance is not only a moral imperative but also a fundamental requirement for our collective safety. I am however delighted with the training you have undergone as you have been well-prepared to meet the challenges you will face in the field.
“You have all been carefully nurtured by competent instructors and staff during your time in this Academy. In the course of your training, you have been subjected to gruelling regimes of exercises, simulations, and bespoke programmes that have prepared you for the tasks ahead. On your behalf, I offer heartfelt thanks to everyone here at NDA for the skills, competencies, and confidence they have embedded in all of you”.
President Buhari appreciated families and friends of Cadets for standing by the impressive young men and women who were passing out, urging continued love for them in the course of their career and beyond.
Army to Court-martial 158 Officers, Soldiers in North-east
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army yesterday inaugurated a Special Court-Martial and a General Court Martial to try 158 officers and soldiers for various offences committed in the ongoing war against insurgency.
About 158 accused persons – 28 officers and 130 soldiers will face the court-martial.
THISDAY gathered that the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Maj. Gen. Christopher Musa inaugurated the court-martial at Maimalari Cantonment Officers Mess Maiduguri, Borno State.
President of the General Court Marshal is Maj. Gen. Bainze Mohammed, while the Judge Advocate is Lt. Col. Rotimi Bakari.
The Special Court-Martial is headed by Brig. Gen. Dominic Udofa while the Judge Advocate is Squadron Leader Audu Satomi.
Inaugurating the court-martial, Maj. Gen Musa said the court-martial, regimental and judicial exercises were put in place to enforce discipline in the military.
According to him, the military panel may review, reduce or remove the rights and privileges of convicted service personnel.
He affirmed that it was unique to the military and a tributary of a criminal trial that flows into the sea of Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
“Therefore, the conduct of military trials under the Armed Forces Act is to deal with matters that pertain directly to the regimentation, discipline, efficiency, and morale of military personnel.
“To maintain the Armed Forces in a state of readiness, the military as an institution must be ready to enforce internal discipline effectively by the extant law”, he said.
The theatre commander noted that it was imperative to state that the military compact with the state has placed officers and soldiers on a very high pedestal of responsibility than other citizens because the military remained an organisation that is guided by two sets of laws in the command.
Musa added that the court-martial was not only viewed as a jury trial but also a court to speedily dispose cases and award punishment in the event of a conviction.
To this end, he said, emphasis shall be laid on the statute laws and the traditional military regimentation with due adherence to the fair hearing requirements as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
The Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, therefore, urged officers and soldiers to discharge their duties diligently without fear, favour, or affection.
He also urged the courts to discharge their duties while strictly guided by the need to do justice to the accused, justice to the victims of the alleged infractions, and justice to the state whose laws were alleged to have been broken.
He disclosed that there were three panels to be inaugurated, noting that beyond the two inaugurated yesterday at the Maimalari Cantonment Officers Mess, one will be inaugurated on Monday in Sector 2 Damaturu, Yobe State.
Bandits Kill 22 Persons in Attack on Sokoto Market
In another development, no fewer than 22 persons have been killed by suspected bandits that attacked a market at Ungwan Lalle in Sabon Birni Local Government Area in the Eastern Senatorial District of Sokoto State.
THISDAY gathered that several other persons were also injured in the attack, which occurred on Friday.
Those that sustained injuries are currently receiving treatment at the General Hospital in Sabon Birni while others with life-threatening injuries were referred to the state capital for proper medical care.
The Special Assistant to the Minister of Police Affairs, Mr. Idris Gobir, and a former Chairman of Sabon Birni LGA, Mr. Abdullahi Tsamaye confirmed the attack to journalists yesterday evening.
Tsamaye said the assailant came in large number into the market and started shooting sporadically aiming at anybody in sight.
He said in the process, the gunmen killed over 22 persons and burnt down vehicles, and destroyed several other properties.
Also confirming the attack the Special Assistant to the Minister for Police Affairs, Gobir, said about 22 people died in the attack.
According to him, the victims include traders from Sokoto town who were in the village for business transactions.
Gobir further said about 35 people are currently in various hospitals receiving treatment for the injuries sustained during the attack.
Meanwhile, efforts to get the reaction of the Sokoto State Police Command were not successful as the Command spokesman, ASP Abubakar Sanusi, could not be reached at the time of filling this report.
It has been recalled that Sabon Birni in the Eastern Senatorial district of the state is an epicentre of banditry.
Troops Kill Five Gunmen, Lose Soldier in Enugu
In a related development, troops of Sector 5 of Exercise Golden Dawn deployed in Enugu State have killed three gunmen who attacked a Nigerian Police checkpoint along Okija-Onitsha Expressway on October 7, 2021.
An Army statement said troops engaged and overwhelmed the gunmen with superior firepower, forcing them to flee the scene. Troops however gave them a hot pursuit and engaged the gunmen in a gun duel.
The three gunmen, who drove in two vehicles – a Hilux and Hummer bus, eventually succumbed to the troops’ effective firepower, while others fled with gunshot wounds.
Troops also recovered one vehicle and two motorcycles, while conducting further exploitation of the general area for the fleeing terrorists.
“Unfortunately, a soldier paid the supreme price, in the line of duty, for his country”, it said.
It said the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya has commended the troops for the feat and urged them to sustain the momentum against all criminal elements operating in the region.
The COAS also sympathised with the family of the fallen hero and prays for the repose of his soul.
Discipline Bedrock of Nigerian Army, Says COAS
Meanwhile, the COAS, Yahaya, has said that discipline remained the bedrock of the Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional roles.
The COAS made the assertion yesterday when he visited the Nigerian Army School of Military Police (NASMP), the Nigerian Army School of Legal Services (NASLS), and the 11 Field Engineer Regiment (11 FER,) co-located at Basawa Barracks, Zaria, Kaduna State.
The COAS also charged NA personnel to sustain synergy with their counterparts from the sister services and other security agencies during Joint Operations.
During his welcome address, the Commandant NASMP, Brigadier General Mathias Oyinmiebi Erebulu appreciated the COAS for finding time in his busy schedule to visit the school and for the recent approval for the renovation of some accommodation blocks in the barracks, following years of neglect and infrastructural decay.
