DEFENCE
Army Relocates Yaba Base to Epe
By Mirian Gom, Abuja
The Nigerian Army (NA) said it has relocated some of its units and formations located at Yaba, to Epe to pave way for the expansion of railway project in Lagos State.
The units relocated are the 81 Division Base Ordinance Depot, printing press and tailoring factory.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja yesterday by the Army spokesperson, Col.
Sagir Musa, quoted the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Tukur Yusufu Buratai, as saying during the ground breaking for the construction that the relocation would lead to enhanced military presence and additional security in the area.“We have to come back because of the Federal Government’s new drive to modernise the transport sector by establishing new standard dual gauge railway system for our country.
“I want to use this opportunity to appreciate the cooperation of the Minister of Transportation, in facilitating the prompt approval and release of fund that has made this laudable project a reality.
“The minister was very supportive of the Nigerian army throughout the negotiation for the movement of this unit out of Yaba for the speedy completion of negotiations and of course the funding,” the statement read in part.
According to Sagir, the COAS commended the paramount ruler of Epe, Oba Kamorudeen Animashaun and other traditional rulers for their continuous support for the Nigerian Army in its operations and the relocation of the unit base to the area.
The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, who was represented by Deputy Director, Rail Transport Services, Mr Barry Odii, said that ministry deemed it fit to synergise with the NA for to relocate the units.
“The ground breaking ceremony for the construction of new office and a residential accommodation as well as other facilities for 81 Division Ordinance Corps will mark a significant milestone in the history of transportation sector and the country at large.
“It is an exhibition of an excellent intercourse between the Nigerian Army and the Federal ministry of transportation,” he said.
The Chairman, Epe Local Government Area, Mr Doyin Adesanya, said that the people of Epe were happy with the coming of the military to the area.
Adesanya, who represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, pledged the readiness of the community to give the needed support to the Army.
The Corps Commandant, Nigerian Army Engineers, Maj Gen John Malu, disclosed that the Army had acquired over 440 hectres of land in Epe for “the new barrack will house such Army units as 81 Division Base Depot, Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration among others”.
Malu said that Army authorities had ceded some part of the developed land to Lagos state government to house the Epe campus of the state university.
DEFENCE
Troops Rescue Three Kidnap Victims in Kebbi
Troops of Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued three kidnapped victims following an operation in Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi.
The Media Coordinator of the operation, Osoba Olaniyi, confirmed this in a statement on Sunday in Birnin Kebbi.
Olaniyi stated that the rescue took place on Oct.
24 adding that two victims were rescued at Makuku Village, while one was rescued at Dankolo village.“The rescued victims include A’isha Aminu, 46, Sumayya Aminu, 27, and Nana Abbas, 15,” the media coordinator said.
He disclosed that the victims were subsequently handed over to the District Head of Dirindaji, Alhaji Usman Muhammad, through the Chairman of Sakaba Local Government Area.
Olaniyi noted that the operation was concluded successfully without any incident, stressing that the troops remained committed to the protection of lives and property.
DEFENCE
Troops Neutralise Six Terrorists, Arrest 11 Suspected Collaborators in Borno
Troops of the Nigerian Army have neutralised six terrorists, arrested 11 suspected collaborators and received the surrender of a Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) member in Borno.
This was contained in an operational report on Sunday in Abuja.
The report said the operations, conducted by troops of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), targeted terrorist fighters and suspected support networks in Kaga and Gwoza Local Government Areas.
It said troops of 29 Task Force Brigade Garrison, supported by Hybrid Force personnel, ambushed suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP)/JAS terrorists along the Targejeri axis of Kaga at about 12:37 a.
m. on Oct. 25.According to the report, six terrorists were neutralised during the encounter, while troops recovered an AK-47 rifle, three magazines and 169 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
“Other recovered items included two Android phones, three button phones and charms.
“In a related development, troops arrested six additional suspected terrorist collaborators during a follow-up raid in Benisheikh, Kaga, at about 6:20 a.m. on Oct. 24.
“The arrests brought the number of suspects apprehended in connection with the investigation to 11, including five earlier arrests.
“Items listed as recovered during the raid included an AK-47 rifle, three empty magazines, 169 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, three terrorist uniforms, a turban, a head mask, two Android phones, three button phones and charms,” it said.
The report said the suspects were undergoing investigation to establish their alleged involvement in terrorist activities and identify possible links to other members of the network.
It added that troops of 192 Battalion (Main), supported by Hybrid Force personnel at Hambagda Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Gwoza, received a JAS member who surrendered at about 9:20 p.m. on Saturday.
According to the report, preliminary investigation indicated that the individual had escaped from a terrorist enclave in the Mandara Mountains area of Gwoza and decided to abandon terrorism.
“The individual surrendered with an AK-47 rifle and a magazine containing 28 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition,” it added.
The report said the defector was in custody undergoing further investigation and processing in line with established procedures.
It said the operations underscore OPHK’s continued efforts to disrupt terrorist activities, dismantle support networks and encourage defections through sustained, intelligence-led operations.
The military urged members of the public to provide credible and timely information to security agencies to support efforts to restore peace and enable displaced communities to return safely. (NAN)
DEFENCE
UK, Nigeria to Deepen Defence, Security Cooperation
The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening defence and security cooperation with Nigeria, with emphasis on military training, technology transfer and institutional capacity building.
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pete Vowles, reiterated the commitment during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen.
Olufemi Oluyede, at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.This was contained in a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, on Tuesday in Abuja.
Vowles reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to sustaining existing security initiatives and exploring new areas of collaboration to address evolving regional and global security challenges.
He described defence and security cooperation as critical pillars of the longstanding bilateral relationship between both countries.
The high commissioner also stressed the need for a mutually beneficial partnership that would promote regional stability and strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to tackle contemporary security threats.
In his response, Oluyede highlighted the longstanding historical ties between Nigeria and the UK, noting that both countries had sustained productive defence relations over several decades.
He said the two countries had continued to collaborate in addressing shared security concerns.
The CDS emphasised the need to sustain and expand existing areas of cooperation, particularly in professional military education, technology transfer and institutional capacity building.
According to him, ongoing defence agreements and training programmes have contributed to improving the professional competence and operational capabilities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Oluyede emphasised that continued collaboration with strategic international partners remained vital to strengthening the military’s capacity to respond effectively to emerging threats.
He added that such partnerships would also promote greater self-reliance, institutional resilience and operational efficiency within the Armed Forces.
Both parties expressed optimism about the future of the UK-Nigeria defence and security partnership, reaffirming their commitment to consolidating existing achievements and exploring further areas of cooperation for mutual benefit.


