Skip to main content

Army chief confirms killing of Niger Delta militants

army patrolThe Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has confirmed the killing of suspected militants and recovery of a large cache of arms by troops involved in “Exercise Crocodile Smile” in Rivers.

Buratai confirmed the incident while addressing troops at the commencement of the exercise in Sapele, Delta on Saturday.

He said that some suspects were arrested following raid on the militants’ camp on Friday evening by troops of the Army’s 133 Special Forces Battalion.

Buratai said that the suspected militants had attempted to interfere with the training conducted for formations and units in the Niger Delta.

He said: “as you move into the creeks to conduct the exercise, I urge you to be professional in your conduct and clear any obstacle interfering with your job.

“Your colleagues in Rivers in the same exercise are doing well; yesterday evening they cleared a camp of the militants and recovered a large cache of arms.

“Some arrests were made while a number of the attackers who had attempted to interfere with the exercise were killed.

“You have to take a cue from them and be responsive as you move into the surrounding creeks.”

The Army Chief urged the troops to respect the rights of members of the communities while discharging their duties, urging them not to spare any criminal found in the creeks.

He reminded them that the training was an exercise cum operation geared at recovering the nation’s economic base and restoring normalcy in the region.

He assured the troops of government’s commitment to improve their lots during the operation as well as the general welfare of soldiers and officers.

He cautioned them on the need to minimize collateral damage during the exercise, noting that the lives of citizens as well as critical national assets located in the area were important.

Speaking earlier during a courtesy call on the Olu of Warri, Godfrey Ikenwoli, Buratai assured residents of Warri and its environs that no law abiding citizen would be harmed in the course of the exercise.

He said that the troops had been directed to conduct the exercise strictly on established rules designed to protect the rights of citizens.

Buratai pledged the Army’s continuous partnership with the civil populace to ensure a safer society.

In a related development, the Army’s spokesman, Col. Sani Usman in a statement, put the number of militants killed in the operation at five while 23 suspects were arrested.

Usman listed the items recovered from the camps to include two AK-47 rifles, 11 Pump Action Guns, and a locally made revolver pistol.

Others are 292 cartridges of live ammunition, 199 rounds of AK-47 rifle ammunition, four electricity generating sets and a Camp Gas Cooker.

Buratai accompanied by corps commanders and other senior officers was conducted around the area where the exercise was conducted in the creeks.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Pope not involved in Colombian peace deal- Vatican

Pope Francis Pope Francis has turned down a request to play a role in the peace deal between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group. The Vatican in a statement issued on Wednesday in in Vatican City said that an invitation was sent to his Holiness in early August to appoint a representative to participate in the committee that selected the judges for the talks. The statement said that though Pope Francis supported the peace process, he, however, reiterated that he would not get involved in Colombian peace deal. It said that Pope was praying for the enlightenment of the hearts and minds of those who were called to promote the common good of the Colombian nation. A deal was announced last week, putting an end to five decades of internal conflict between government forces and the FARC rebels. The agreement, which needed to be ratified through a referendum in Oct. 2, would entail setting up a special court to grant amnesties or pu...

Houthis Claim Attack on Central Israel in Response to Gaza ‘Massacres’

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has taken a concerning regional turn as the Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for an attack on central Israel. The group announced this as part of their escalating response to what they describe as "massacres" in Gaza amid the Israeli military’s operations in the strip. Details of the Attack The Houthis, a Shiite militant group with ties to Iran, declared that they launched missile and drone strikes targeting Israel. While the exact impact of these attacks remains unclear, reports suggest that Israel’s defense systems intercepted several threats over its airspace. This marks a significant escalation as the Houthis widen their involvement in the conflict beyond their typical operations within Yemen and neighboring Saudi Arabia. The Houthis’ Justification In their statement, the Houthis framed the attack as retaliation for Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which they characterized as indiscriminate bombings resultin...

Fall of Assad is a Blow to Russia's Prestige

The potential fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a long-standing ally of Russia, would mark a turning point in Moscow’s global influence, particularly in the Middle East. Steve Rosenberg’s analysis underscores the profound implications for Russia, which has invested heavily—both militarily and politically—in ensuring Assad’s survival over the past decade. This article delves into why Assad’s downfall would strike at the core of Russian prestige and what it could mean for the broader geopolitical landscape. Russia's Strategic Commitment to Syria Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Russia has been a staunch supporter of Assad's regime. In 2015, Moscow launched a military intervention that proved decisive in stabilizing Assad’s hold on power. This intervention solidified Russia's role as a key power broker in the Middle East and demonstrated its willingness to project military power far beyond its borders. Syria is not just an ally for Russia; it is a...