DEFENCE
There is no Massacre in Benue – DHQ
The Defence Headquarters has dismissed the report of alleged massacre by the military in Konshisha area of Benue, following the killing of 11 troops by bandits in the area.
The Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Friday in Abuja, described the report as spurious and misleading.
Nwachukwu explained that there had been incessant cases of communal clashes in recent times among the people of Konshisha and Oju on boundary demarcation.
He said that as part of efforts to resolve the crisis, the Benue government held meetings with stakeholders in local governments with a view to providing solution to the problem.
According to him, appreciable progress has been made and a final date fixed for all stakeholders to meet in the disputed areas to demarcate the boundary.
“Trouble started on the eve of the final meeting during Easter holiday with reports that fresh fighting has broken out in the area.
“All along, 72 Special Forces Battalion has troops deployed on the Oju side of the boundary and troops of the battalion were on their way to replenish their colleagues on April 5, when they were attacked by bandits attend Bonta in Konshisha.
“The troops who were under command of a captain were seized at a checkpoint mounted by the so called Bonta Boys and taken into Konshisha forest where they were all brutally murdered.
“Not satisfied with killing the soldiers, the bandits proceeded to burn all the eleven soldiers and their officer beyond recognition while their weapons and ammunition were carted away,” he said.
The defence spokesperson disclosed that military reinforcements that were dispatched to Bonta the following morning also came under attack from close to 500 armed youths who had fully occupied Bonta at the time.
He said that the number of youths involved in the attacks suggested that the bandits could not be from Bonta alone, but were joined by bandits from other parts of Konshisha.
He said that the troops repelled the attack after more than four hours of intense fighting during which military helicopter provided close air support to ground troops.
According to him, 10 bandits are killed during the fight with the rifle of one of the Killed in action soldiers recovered from the bandits who fell casualty during the exchange of fire.
He said that there were no other civilian casualties in any part of Konshisha till date, apart from the initial 10 bandits eliminated by the troops.
Nwachukwu however, challenged anybody from Konshisha to present to the public the bodies of innocent persons, male, female or children allegedly killed by troops in the area.
According to him, there was never a massacre as being touted by some mischief makers.
Nwachukwu also stated that bandits that escaped from Bonta withdrew into neighbouring villages where they kept on attacking troops as they continued with the search operation through Bonta into other parts of Konshisha.
According to him, knowing the implications of killing troops in cold blood, most of the villagers have fled their homes which are occupied by armed bandits who are firing at troops from the settlements as they advanced into Konshisha.
He said that troops repelled the attacks and destroyed the houses and other buildings which the criminals used as hideouts for the attacks.
“The use of abandoned settlements by armed bandits to attack troops is popular with insurgents.
“The aim is to draw military fire into the dwellings and then turn round to blame soldiers for the destruction.
“This is common guerilla tactics armed bandit designed to whip up public sentiment against security forces and this is what played out in Konshisha.
“This accounts for some of the burnt houses being reported in the press,” he said.
Nwachukwu further noted that some of the phones of the dead soldiers were also tracked to some of the settlements, saying that bandits should be blamed for the destruction since they used these settlements as hideout for attacks.
He said it would be wrong to blame soldiers who were in Konshisha on legitimate duties when some of them were killed.
He added that some of the buildings being paraded were actually burnt during earlier communal clashes between Konshisha and Oju.
The spokesperson said that the soldiers deployed to Konshisha displayed commendable restraints by adhering to the rules of engagement in the face of unprovoked attacks.
He said that military would ensure that the local leaders of Konshisha must bring the main actors responsible for the mayhem to security forces to face justice in addition to the return of all carted away weapons and all other weapons in their possession.
“The military will not tolerate the jungle justice attitude and dastardly acts leading to the gruesome murder of patriotic soldiers on legitimate duty to keep the peace.
“We look forward to working with the Benue government in its promise to support security forces in fishing out those fomenting trouble in Konshisha.
“Once again, there is no massacre in Konshisha and the stories making the rounds are fabricated by bandits and their sponsors to smear the military after killing troops,” he said.(NAN)
The troops of 6 Brigade, Sector 3 of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have destroyed several bandits camps and recovered ammunition in Taraba.This is contained in a statement on Sunday in Jalingo signed by Capt. Olubodunde Oni, Acting Assistant Director Army Public Relations.It said the successes were recorded in a series of clearance operations under Commander of the Brigade, Brig.
Gen. Kingsley Uwa, across multiple bandits hideouts in Taraba. “The operation code named OP GOLDEN PEACE commenced after extensive confidence building patrols, clearance missions, and stakeholder engagements, which proved effective in the northern part of the state.“The latest phase of the operation began on 28 November 2024 in Takum Local Government Area (LGA), focusing on known bandit and terrorist hideouts around Lijam High Ground.”The statement indicated that during the operations, several bandit camps were destroyed, and troops recovered 27 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one AK 47 Magazine, one handheld Baofeng radio and 2 motorcycles.“To further solidify the safety of residents, troops projected force into the Akume and Ananum areas of Donga LGA on 30 November 2024, reinforcing the Brigade’s commitment to securing lives and property throughout Taraba State.”The statement quoted the Commander of the 6 Brigade who commended the troops, urging them to remain vigilant.“Together, we will ensure peace and security across Taraba State and beyond.“This is our determined effort to ensure a safe and secure environment for the ongoing farm harvest season and the forthcoming yuletide and to ensure that the state does not become a safe haven for criminals,” the commander is quoted as saying.(NAN)
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, says cybersecurity is the bedrock of operational readiness and the key to mission success of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
Abubakar said this on Tuesday in Abuja, at the opening of NAF’s Cybersecurity Awareness Training.
He said the training was a vital initiative that would highlight the future of national security in the increasingly interconnected world, where artificial intelligence and advanced technologies play pivotal roles.
According to him, the integration of technology into warfare has ushered in a new era where digital bits and bytes are as formidable as physical bullets and bombs.
“The integrity of our nation’s defence systems, the security of our communications, and the sanctity of our data depend on the strength and resilience of our cybersecurity framework.
“For the NAF, which has distinguished itself as being more technological advanced than other services, cybersecurity is not just an IT concern; it is the bedrock of our operational readiness and the key to mission success.”
The CAS also said that the workshop would serve as a vital part of NAF’s efforts at ensuring that its personnel were equipped to meet the demands of securing the nation’s collective cyber environment.
He added that the recent global events had highlighted the severe consequences of cyberattacks, which could disrupt critical operations and undermine national security.
He disclosed that NAF’s platforms depended on secure digital communications, making them vulnerable to potential hijacking or operational disruptions.
According to him, these vulnerabilities emphasise the urgent need for a proactive and robust approach to cybersecurity within our ranks, which is precisely the focus of our gathering here today.
“Cybersecurity is a continuous journey that demands vigilance, ethical conduct, and a commitment to protecting our nation’s digital infrastructure.
“Let us continue to build a resilient cybersecurity posture that will enable us to stand ready against any threat, known or unknown that may arise in the digital age.”
In his remarks, the Chief of Communications and Information System, NAF, AVM Suleiman Usman, said the training was designed to equipped personnel with the necessary knowledge and tools to protect both physical borders and digital frontiers.
Usman explained that the training had dominated CAS’ strategic intent to develop and sustain optimal operational effectiveness in the NAF.
He said the cybersecurity training was an essential part of their collective mission to secure the integrity of NAF’s information networks.
“Cyber threats are more sophisticated than ever, hence the need for robust and resilient cybersecurity measures against evolving threats becomes ostensible.
“We are not just guarding the airspace but also protecting data, communications and systems that are integral to the success of every mission we undertake,” he said.
In his lecture titled, “Global Trends and Pillars of Cybersecurity for NAF”, Dr Asogbon Godwin, said that NAF must develop comprehensive cyber security policies and laws that addressed various types of cybercrimes.
He said that the cybercrimes include hacking, identity theft, phishing, and malware attacks.
Godwin urged the air force to invest in raising awareness about cybercrime risks and best practices for staying safe online and training investigators and prosecutors on digital forensics and other technical skills needed to investigate cybercrimes.
He also advised NAF to void ‘Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) police and also practice Zero Trust Principle.(NAN)
The Defence Headquarters says the Nigerian troops have in the last one week apprehended a notorious terrorist leader, Abubakar Ibrahim (AKA) Habu Dogo in Sokoto and seven IPOB/ESN commanders in South-East.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, in a statement on Saturday, said that Habu Dogo was apprehended at Rumji Village in Illela Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
According to him, Habu Dogo is a wanted terrorist on the watch list of security agencies both in Nigeria and in the Niger Republic because of the cross border nature of his terrorist activities.
He said the alleged IPOB/ ESN terror operatives apprehended include; Dr Nnamdi Chukwudoze and Chigozie Ezetoha (AKA Chapet) who were nabbed in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra.
“Others are , Mrs Ngozi Chukwuka and Mr Oyekachi Ohia who were arrested in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia,”he said.
He said others are, Mr Ifeanyi Eze , Mr Augustine Udemba and Mr Onyedikachi Udemba were arrested in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia while, Elijah Mmaduipeya Obumneke was arrested in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo.
“The ongoing counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations has continued to degrade the combat capacity of terrorists across the country,’’ he said. (NAN)
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