Military has made enormous gains over ISWAP, experts attest

The operations of the Nigerian Military in the ongoing battle with Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group in North-East Nigeria have received commendations recently from a wide array of security experts that stated that indeed there had been tremendous gains made so far.

This medium undertook an investigative report and sorts the views of a cross-section of security experts drawn from Nigeria and other countries. Their opinions were in uniformity with the fact that the ISWAP terrorist groups have been decimated and left in disarray and the Nigerian Military has made enormous gains.

According to a highly placed security sources who pleaded anonymity, he stated that from available Intel, what is now left of ISWAP are a bunch of disgruntled fighters facing hunger and logistics challenges so much so that some of its members now enter communities to steal food and other essentials to keep their lives running.

“What is left of ISWAP now is not a fighting force but that of a group of young men struggling for survival from the harsh realities of lack of food essentially. They have been highly factionalized, and the bulk of the attacks you notice in recent times are carried out in their mission to look for food in some of these villages.” He further stated that the Nigerian Military is closing in on them and ensuring that all is done to put their nefarious activities to an end.

This position was buttressed by Professor Gilbert Kansas of the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism Herzliya, Israel. He stated that the Nigerian authorities had demonstrated a rare feat in counter-terrorism operations with the way and manner it has been able to handle the threats posed by the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group.

“In Nigeria, the Nigerian Military did a pretty good job of breaking the ranks of the ISWAP group within a record time. This is cognizant of their affiliations with other terrorist networks around the world. From available information at our disposal, the ISWAP group has not been able to get that critical support it requires from the network to sustain their activities.”

“This is a rare feat that agrees with the Game theory in Counter-Terrorism operations that underlines the interface between factions within a terrorist organization, and the interplay between diverse agents, as well as capturing the strategic interplay between terrorists and targeted governments. The Nigerian Military has indeed done well.”

Dr. Howard Grant of the Department of War Studies, Kings College London, shared the same sentiment with Professor Gilbert Kansas of the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism. He averred that the strategic objectivity of the ISWAP was to establish domains in Nigeria and four West African countries at the end of 2019.

“If we understand the dynamics of international terrorism, we must indeed admit that the feat recorded in Nigeria is outstanding with the manner the Nigerian Military has been able to break the ranks of ISWAP and within a record time. Some other countries facing such challenges have not been this lucky. I believe that the Nigerian experience should serve as a reference point in effective counter-terrorism operations.”

Mr. Afolabi Jelili, a security research analyst with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, stated that the gains made by the Nigerian Military in the fight against terrorism in North-East Nigeria since 2015 have been outstanding.

“A cursory look at the available indices indicates that there have been substantial gains in the fight against Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group. Their ranks have been broken, and they have resulted in aiming at soft targets in women and children, going on rampages in villages and causing destructions to paint a picture of a strong fighting force, but in truth, they are in disarray.”

He added that a 2018 research analysis predicted a tough year for the Boko Haram/ISWAP group, and this much was the case with the way and manner the Nigerian troops responded to the threats posed by the groups.

“There was a projection by the ISWAP affiliate of ISIS to gain control of Nigeria and some other countries in Africa, and Nigeria was designated as the start point. If it had succeeded in Nigeria, it would signal the beginning of an inglorious reign of terror. This is not the case today due to the efforts of the Nigerian Military in confronting the terrorists and ensuring that their nefarious activities are nipped in the bud.”

In a similar vein, Terhemba Kwaga, an associate professor of cognitive psychology of the department of Psychology, Benue State University, Makurdi heaped praises on the Nigerian Military for the way and manner it has been able to sustain the morale of its troops. He argued that the importance of cognitive stability and flexibility in warfare, such as the Boko Haram/ISWAP war cannot be overemphasized.

“The troops have displayed the right mental balance in the prosecution of the war, and this has led to the tangible gains recorded so far. This is on the heels that guns and tanks are not the only weapons of war, the right cognitive balance is one, and this much the Nigerian Military has utilized to their advantage and largely responsible for the gains made so far. This is remarkable as well as commendable.”

In a similar development, it has been recorded that there is currently crisis in the camp of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP). This development is coming at a time when ISWAP lost about 25 of its commanders in a series of raids carried out by the Nigerian Military in the last two months. Credible sources stated that many others have fled into the neighboring countries of Chad, Niger, and Cameroon as a result of heavy bombardment from security forces.

MILITARY POWER ALONE CAN’T DEFEAT BOKO Haram – BURATAI

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Tukur Buratai, has declared that the war against Boko Haram could not be won by military might alone. This he said is due to series of indoctrination that have been carried out in the north for more than two decades. Buratai said that only 25 per cent of the war falls within the ambit of the military. The rest, according to him, is for the civil populace to handle. He made these declarations yesterday in Lagos during the 2020 Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Security Meets Business Dialogue. Buratai stated that: “We are fighting the mind. So, can the military fight the mind of the people? That is not the job of the military.

Psychological operation is government- driven. Facility to reach the minds of the people is within the precinct of the governments. Does military have control over religious leaders that preach hate? There is lot of mundane issues that culminated to this problem. And unfortunately, we do not look at these little things that really matter. You see religious leaders addressing congregation violently on social media to instigate violence against other people.” He urged Nigerians to own the military and other security agencies and support them with information to enable them win the fight against Boko Haram. He also debunked the insinuation that there was no synergy between the security agencies in the fight against mounting insecurity facing the country. “It is easy to sit in our rooms and make conjectures even though we are not on the ground. In 2013 the international community issued a warning that foreigners should not go beyond Lagos. But starting in October 2015 they started coming. Can this be achieved without synergy?” he asked. Buratai also regretted that the country failed to develop the “Ogbunigwe” that was invented by Biafra during the Nigerian civil war and lamented that Nigeria’s allies were denying the country strategic military supplies needed to combat insurgency. He said: “We all know how the armed forces have been deprived of what it is supposed to have in terms of equipment. There was civil war in this country between 1967 and 1970. Did all our allies support Nigeria as a country? Those Nigeria relied upon for the supply of equipment disappointed her. We are experiencing the same thing with Boko Haram. Some of the arms the government has paid for since 2017 and 2018 have not been supplied. As I speak, no pin has arrived Nigeria. Will Boko Haram sleep and wait till our arm arrives? These are the issues.”

He said that during the civil war, the ingenuity of the Biafrans produced the “Ogbunigwe” but Nigeria paid no attention in developing it. He therefore, called for a detailed research and development to enable Nigeria to produce some of these equipment domestically. “Honestly, this is the crux of the mater. As Nigerians we must develop our own solutions. In doing this we need help and assistance,” he said. The Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, who was represented by Air Vice Marshall Ado Inuwa, regretted that Nigeria’s security challenges which would have been treated when it was a small ailment has now become cancerous. Olanisakin noted that “Nigeria is at war whether we like it or not,” and called for all hands to be on deck rather than the current attitude where Nigerians viewed the country’s security challenges as personal problem of the security agencies. “The Boko Haram issue has lingered for too long. We cannot see a group that is a rag-tag militia holding up a nation for almost 10 years now if it is not having adequate supplies and logistics. It is not possible. Something is really wrong somewhere,” he said. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Office of SGF, Dr. Amina Shamaki, said that the country needed to strengthen its moral fabrics in order to win the war against insecurity. “If we all account for every member of our families and uphold the tenets of moral, religious, cultural, societal and traditional values, there will be no terrorists, bandits, robbers, arms smugglers, child traffickers, cattle rustlers, militants, etc. And, the work that our government, military and security agencies are doing, will become positively, evident,” he said.

The Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. Zubairu Muazu, noted that community policing is the way to go in finding lasting solution to the insecurity challenges facing the country. Similarly, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas, who was represented by the Flag Officer Commanding the Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral O B Daji, said the navy is fishing out foreigners that carry out 90 per cent of crimes in Tarkwa Bay Beach in Lagos to protect maritime business. In her opening remark, the President of LCCI, Mrs Toki Mabogunje, said that “insecurity erodes business and investors’ confidence, resulting in disruption of domestic supply chains and weakening of capital formation required to drive significant economic growth as Nigeria finds it more challenging for us as a country to attract new investment and grow the economy.”

Boko Haram: Diasporas kick over non-diplomatic collaboration with Chad

The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe (ANPE) has warned against any meditated non-diplomatic regional alliance with the Republic of Chad capable of thwarting progress in the fight against terrorism.

ANPE made this disclosure at the end of its plenary on Tuesday after critically examining the country’s efforts in the war against terrorism and insurgency.

In a communique signed by President, Dr. Agwu Onyeke and representatives drawn from 13 other countries, the Nigerian professionals were particularly critical of Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State over a pact with Chadian soldiers.

While recommending an efficient regional collaboration to defeat Boko Haram terrorists, ANPE added that it isn’t the role of Zulum or any other state governor to champion such negotiations.

The group, therefore, called on the international community to strongly condemn Zulum’s actions to jeopardise his country’s sovereignty and suggested a thorough probe by Nigerian authorities.

ANPE, however, urged the Federal Government to engage its neighbours on fresh terms, especially as it is unaware of Zulum’s terms of negotiation with the Central African nation.

Read full communique below:

INTRODUCTION

The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe (ANPE) met to review Nigeria’s efforts in combating terrorism and insurgency in the country at a session that was well attended by members from across the countries of Europe.

The issues raised centered on the multinational efforts at combating the menace of terrorism.

OBSERVATIONS

The meeting of ANPE members, following extensive deliberations, noted as follow:

There is an urgent need for non-compromising regional efforts in confronting the menace of Boko Haram/ISWAP in the Lake Chad Basin. Existing efforts will have to be reset such that fresh commitments are secured from Chad, Niger and Cameroon to not act against the interest of Nigeria even when rebel politicians approach them to sabotage Nigeria’s interest.

The scramble for crude oil and other mineral resources in the Lake Chad Basin remains a driving force for the Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgency, which should be a source of concerns to Nigeria’s neighbours since any instability that persists in Nigeria will ultimately wipe out these neighbouring countries. These countries have not been helping themselves as they continue to collaborate with rogue politicians from Nigeria that have criminal intention of redrawing the map of the West African sub-region.

Proliferation of arms across Nigeria’s arising from borders that have been made porous through sabotage and poor cooperation from neighboring countries. Because these countries are not doing enough to stem illegal arms flow, weapons provided by ISIS in the Middle East simply cross the Mediterranean and the Libyan desert to subsequently cross these countries for terrorists to use against Nigeria. Military hardware and state of the art surveillance drones are also in possession of the terrorists because certain countries allow their territories to be used for airdrops.

Covert and overt terrorists’ financing by the French government, colonial power over Nigeria’s neighbours, towards promoting its interest ahead of Nigeria’s stability. The financial muscle provided to terrorists by such third party nations has been the major source of sustenance for their destructive activities.

Time is running out for Nigeria to take firm actions against the terrorists and nations that support them to thrive. Such actions should be taken with focus on the well-being of Nigerians that must be prioritize over supranational treaties.

The urgency to deal with Nigeria’s terrorism problem has become more pressing with the discovery that governors, like Borno state’s Professor Babagana Zulum, are interfacing with sovereign nations in a manner that portray their states as sovereignties that can enter into bilateral relations.

RECOMMENDATIONS

In response to the issues raised and following from deliberations, the ANPE recommended as follows:

States and Governors in Nigeria should desist from entering alliances that are capable of jeopardizing the ongoing war by the Federal government of Nigeria. Such engagement are prone to creating conflicting loyalties in the part of the countries that are being courted by these governors.

Nigerians, Nigeria and international partners should strongly condemn in its totality the attempts by the Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Zulum to recruit Chadian Forces to fight on Nigerian soil. There should be an investigation into what other aliens the governor has recruited to act as proxies on Nigeria’s soil.

The Federal Government of Nigeria should engage the country’s neighbours on fresh terms. The support that Nigeria extend to these nation should be suspended until such a time that they can show that they have stopped sabotaging the country’s interests, including cessation of interaction with rogue politicians from Nigeria.

The Federal Government of Nigeria should build international support to evolve a framework that will designate any country operating against its interest in the Lake Chad Basin as a terrorist nation that should be sanctioned.

Countries that provide arms to terrorists as part of their own geo-strategic interest should be prevailed upon to be considerate of Nigeria’s long term stability.

CONCLUSION

ANPE appreciates the enormous sacrifices being made by the Nigerian government in the war against insurgency and will continue to support every effort towards ensuring that Nigeria wins the war and the civilian population is protected from threats to humanity.

FG SHORTLISTS BIDDERS FOR AVIATION LEASING COMPANY AND MRO FACILITY

The processes for the establishment of both the Aviation Leasing Company and the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility by the Federal Government gathered momentum today with the Bidders Conferences for the two major components of the Aviation sector roadmap of the Buhari administration.

In attendance were officials of the Ministry of Aviation, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Federal Ministry of Finance, Aviation Labour Unions, Transaction Advisers and prospective investors.

A statement by the Director Public Affairs, Ministry of Aviation, James Odaudu disclosed that at the end of the Conferences, one company, a consortium of A. J. Walters/Glovesly/Egypt Air was shortlisted out of three for the Aviation Leasing Company.
For the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, two (2) companies namely; A.J. Walters/Glovesly/Egypt Air and Ethiopian Airlines were shortlisted out of seven (7) that expressed interest.

Declaring the Conferences open, the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics and Chairman of the Project Delivery Team, Alhaji Muhammad Shehu said the event marked another phase of the government’s determination to ensure the realization of the projects.

He also assured of a transparent process leading to the actualization of the projects which are being executed through public private Partnerships. He said the cross-stakeholder representation at the conference underlined the government’s commitment to transparency.

Ex-Boko Haram fighters: Group debunks recruitment allegation against military

The Coalition for Human Rights Monitoring Groups in Nigeria (CHRMGN) has denounced speculation that the Nigerian military recruited repentant Boko Haram terrorists into its fold.

The human rights group made the disclosure in a special report after it said it embarked on a thorough investigation of the military’s recruitment process since 2015.

In the report signed by Helen Adeshina and Bitrus Hosea Damut, CHRMGN said 250 repentant Boko Haram fighters enrolled for the de-radicalization programme and were reabsorbed into their communities and not the military.

It further disclosed that 30 of the repentant Boko Haram fighters are fully engaged in religious activities aimed at discouraging the youths from going into crime and terrorist activities.

According to the group, the military’s recruitment process is transparent and devoid of interference from any quarters and as such there isn’t any room for ex-Boko Haram members.

The Coalition of Human Rights Monitoring Groups, however, urged the military to begin the process of informing the general public of its recruitment process.

Read full report below:

Introduction:

There have been concerns that Boko Haram terrorists, who surrendered to troops and undergone de-radicalization programmes organized by the Nigerian Military, were allegedly being absorbed into the Military. Some media reports have also alleged that the Military was recycling insurgency by the alleged recruitment.

The Nigerian Military had stated that the de-radicalization, rehabilitation, and reintegration programme is a federal government programme conducted under the auspices of Operation Safe Corridor as a non- kinetic operation.

It further stated that the de-radicalization model is therefore not new in the global community, as such a model exists in Algeria, Colombia, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, where persons involved in violent extremism have been de-radicalized and rehabilitated and that the process is, therefore, an internationally accepted practice.

These allegations were indeed weighty and it necessitated a comprehensive scrutiny in the light of the prevailing circumstances.

The Coalition of Human Rights Monitoring Groups consequently commissioned an investigative report to look into the allegations to put issues in proper perspective for the members of the unsuspecting general public in light of national interest.

Research Methodology:

This research work relied on primary and secondary sources of data collection that involves oral interviews, distribution of structured and unstructured interviews, review of operational manuals and records, and the scrutiny of military records.

The Issues:

A cross-section of Nigerians have accused the Nigerian Military of carrying out a recruitment drive that favours a particular part of the country and regarding ex-Boko Haram militants into the Nigerian Military.

The Nigerian Military have debunked such allegations stating that its recruitment process is devoid of emphasis on ethnic or religious affiliations and that there has never been a time where ex-Boko Haram militants were given the opportunity of becoming soldiers into the Nigerian Military.

Findings:

The Coalition for Human Rights Monitoring Groups in Nigeria undertook research that involved the scrutiny of the recruitments into the Nigerian Military from 2015 to date and came up with the following findings:

In the course of the investigative reports, the commissioned team took an inventory of the number of ex-Boko Haram members that submitted to the de-radicalization programme and realized that about 250 repentant Boko Haram fighters that enrolled for the de-radicalization programme have been reabsorbed into their communities and not the Nigerian Military as been speculated in certain quarters.

A total number of 220 repentant Boko Haram members were identified in the various communities that span through North-East Nigeria, and it can be stated that they are indeed engaged in productive ventures such as farming, fishing, tailoring, shoemaking, and vigilante services in their various communities.

The team of researchers identified that about 30 of the repentant Boko Haram fighters are fully engaged in religious activities aimed at discouraging the youths from going into crime and terrorist activities.

The team of researchers also scrutinized the various recruitments that have been carried out by the Nigerian Military and found out that from available records, there has been an emphasis on Federal Character system that entails the even spread of recruits into the Nigerian Military from 2015 to date.

This fact was buttressed by the fact that some of the requirements for enlistment into the Nigerian are that such candidate must not be an ex-convict, must be of sound mind, and must not have been engaged in acts the undermines National Security in Nigeria, in addition, to have attained some level of educational qualification.

It was also discovered that the enlistment process into the Nigerian Military is subject to several layers of security screenings by security agencies, including the profiling of nuclear and extended family members of the applicants by different independent committees as a way of ensuring that people with questionable characters and history are screened out.

The recruitment into the Nigerian Military is based on merit, and certificates tendered are subjected to verification by the West African Examinations Council and other certificate awarding institutions.

The recruitment process into the Nigerian Military is advertised, and applicants are required to register and are issued with identification numbers that they would use throughout the recruitment process in a bid to stem any fraudulent practice.

Conclusion:

The Coalition of Human Rights Monitoring Groups, having extensively scrutinized the recruitments into the Nigerian Military from 2015 to date, concludes that the process has been transparent and devoid of interference from any quarters.

It was also realized the no ex-Boko Haram members had been recruited into the Nigerian Military as no records are backing the allegations.

The Nigerian Army and other arms of the armed forces have carried out its recruitment in the most transparent manner in line with both Federal Character Principles and due diligence to meet with the best international standard.

Recommendations:

The Coalition for Human Rights Monitoring Groups in Nigeria as a result of the investigative research work makes the following recommendations:

That the leadership of the Nigerian Military must begin the process of informing the general public of its recruitment process.

That the leadership of the Nigerian Military should begin a sensitization programme in the media to educate members of the general public of its recruitment process in a bid to discourage rumors peddling by mischievous individuals and organizations.

Counter-Insurgency: Group warns against engaging Chadian troops

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights (CALSER) has warned Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State and other state governors against engaging Chadian soldiers to help fight insurgency as it would be counterproductive.

CALSER’s counsel trails Gov. Zulum’s visit to N’Djamena, capital of the Central African nation in January, where he met with Multinational Joint Task Force to discuss security-related issues in Borno.

Reports followed that the governor had finalised plans to employ the services of Chadian troops and CALSER believes the move would be counterproductive.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, President, Princess Ajibola, revealed that Chad, like other Francophone neighbours, haven’t demonstrated genuineness of purpose in the war against insurgency.

According to the group, Chad has now become a safe haven for fleeing Boko Haram insurgents when they come under heavy bombardment from the Nigerian troops.

CALSER, therefore, advised Zulum and others pondering following his lead to desist from undertaking actions and commitments that are capable of breaching National Security in Nigeria.

Read full statement below:

The leadership of the Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights welcomes you all to this press conference conveyed in furtherance of the objective of ensuring that the peace, progress, and unity of Nigeria is preserved for this generation and indeed the future generations of our great country.

We are unrelenting in this pursuit of national interest that has seen the Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights advancing causes that would protect and preserve our nascent democracy over the years through our vibrant advocacies that have in time past yielded the desired result in the overall interest of the country.

Consequently, the Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights wishes to use this medium to call on the governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Zulum, to ensure that his actions and inactions as governor of the state are geared towards the restoration of peace in Borno State and its environs.

This became necessary in the light of some of the actions embarked upon by the governor in his quest to bring about peace in Borno State. While this is indeed commendable, it must be stated in unequivocal terms that such actions must be in the best interest of the country and, in conjunction with the security agencies, as anything short of this would be unacceptable and rejected in its entirety.

It must be stated that the war against the Boko Haram terrorism has been indeed onerous, and the consequences of such cannot be overemphasized in the lives of the people of North-East Nigeria. As such, this call for great reflection in our conduct as national interest should and must always supersede personal interest.

It is indeed common knowledge that the governor of Borno State has been hobnobbing with some neighboring countries under the guise of finding a lasting solution to the Boko Haram menace in Borno state and its environs.

However, it must be known that Francophone countries indeed surround Nigeria, and France and her allies in Cameroon, Chad, and Nigeria have not demonstrated a genuineness of purpose as far as the war against insurgency is concerned.

This is on the heels that it is also a known fact that the Boko Haram/ISWAP groups have found these countries as safe havens when they come under heavy bombardment from the Nigerian troops. From there, they regroup and launch offensives against Nigeria.

This is also cognizant of the fact that there is a French military base stationed in Ndjamena, the capital of Chad. Yet, the activities of Boko Haram thrive with the unhindered supplies of arms and ammunition and other logistics aiding their nefarious activities.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights have, in times past, brought this despicable act to the public knowledge with undisputed facts and therefore sees no moral justification in the actions of the governor of Borno State in hobnobbing with those that are not interested in the unity of Nigeria.

We consequently wish to state that the governor of Borno State must be guided in this regard and desist from undertaking actions and commitments that are capable of breaching National Security in Nigeria.

He must realize that, indeed, Nigeria faces a threat to its sovereignty from unlikely places. As such, he must do all within his mandate to be a partner of progress and not a clog in the wheel of progress.

We must indeed enlighten him that whereas France continues to hold seminars and workshops on how to tackle terrorism, the terrorists continue to use French weapons to kill innocent Nigerian citizens. These despicable actions must not be allowed to thrive if we are indeed desirous of bringing to an end the Boko Haram menace in North-East Nigeria.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights wishes to use this medium to advise other state governors to desist from acts that would undermine National Security. They must, as a matter of urgency, begin to retrace their steps, the interest of peace and tranquility.

They must indeed know that posterity would not be kind to them should they allow themselves to be used by agents of the destabilization of Nigeria in their inglorious objective of entrenching violence and bloodletting in Nigeria.

Their actions and inactions must be geared towards the interest of Nigeria and not otherwise in the prevailing circumstance that requires all hands to be on deck towards making Nigeria the country of our dreams.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights would not hesitate to name and shame these governors if that would bring about patriotism and the peace and unity of Nigeria.

It is our considered opinion that those elected to govern do so with absolute sincerity and the fear of God.

The leadership of the Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights thanks you all for finding time to attend this press conference despite your busy schedules and wishes to state that the peace and unity of Nigeria must be our cardinal objective.

Thank you all and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Leave COAS out of NSA/Chief of Staff face-off, former CP cautions Premium Times

Following a much-celebrated report, online newspaper, Premium Times, has been warned against dragging Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, into the middle of an alleged feud between National Security Adviser (NSA) Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd) and the Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari.

Former Commissioner Public Complaints Commission, CP Abubakar Tsav (rtd), gave this warning in an open letter to Premium Times Editor on Sunday.

After initially claiming that Monguno accused Abba Kyari of undue interference on matters bordering on national security, the online portal went further to allege that the COAS took sides with the latter.

Tsav said this is only a well-crafted mischief with highly inciting contents, provocative to the sensibilities of Nigerians, and bears elements of compromising national security.

According to the ex-CP, “issues of redeployment and postings of Army personnel are routine administrative procedures exclusively at the discretion of the Army leadership guided by the service needs of personnel in specific areas”.

Unlike claimed, Tsav added that the Army Chief does not take directives from the office of NSA but the President.

Even though the COAS may not be aware of this “artificial war of attrition”, Tsav cautioned Premium Times and other mischief makers to allow him fully concentrate on his giant strides in the counter-insurgency campaign.

Read full letter below:

The Editor
Premium Times,

53 Mambolo Street,

Zone 2, Wuse,
Abuja.

Sir,

“Please, do not drag the Chief of Army Staff into your campaign of attrition:”

An open letter.
I send you affectionate greetings together with members of your editorial team. May God continue to bless and guide all of you on the path of truth and accuracy as watchdogs and the true conscience of society.

May you kindly refer to your online publication dated February 21, 2020; which had the screaming caption: “Exclusive: Abba Kyari-Monguno War: Army Chief Buratai Moves Against NSA.

In the said publication, your medium perniciously dragged the office, duties and personality of the COAS and leader of counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria, Lt.Gen. TY Buratai into the imaginary feud, between the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd) and the Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari, which is widely celebrated on social media platforms.

I was fascinated by its mendacity and carefully crafted mischief. Its contents are also highly inciting, provocative to the sensibilities of Nigerians, and bears elements of compromising national security.

I elect upon myself to dispel or denounce explicitly the baseless, disjointed, malicious and provocative gerrymandering as reflected by the medium targeted at the top echelon of Nigeria’s security leadership solely based on conjecture. But it is more significant to draw your attention to its resistant link to the COAS in a presumed altercation, which he is not aware and has no nexus to it whatsoever.

In the desperation to smoothen the campaigns of this agenda, the publication delved into puerile arguments and recanted itself at several points. Let me clear your doubts that the issues of redeployment and postings of Army personnel are routine administrative procedures exclusively at the discretion of the Army leadership guided by the service needs of personnel in specific areas.

And your report cannot admit that “all the agencies attached to the NSA “have the powers to make changes to their respective personnel serving there,” and simultaneously, scrub extraneous reasons to deny the Nigerian Army such lawful institutional powers. This is after it is also submitted to the cumbersome process of selecting and posting Army personnel to the office of the NSA as deemed fit by the Army leadership.

For the sake of records, the Army Chief does not take directives from the office of NSA, as the report carelessly insinuated. The COAS strictly takes directives from the President and Commander -in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces who wields the final authority on all national security Heads.

I have absolute trust in Lt. Gen TY Buratai as a professional soldier, loyal and patriotic leader to his country. And by his antecedents known to me over the years, the Gen. Buratai I know; and Nigerians can vouch for his integrity and sterling leadership qualities, he is very busy in the trenches, coordinating troops in the war against insurgency, angling and itching for results.

Let the campaigners of the fabricated and incipient animosity in the ranks of top government appointees spare him of the orchestrated campaigns of widening the imaginary lines of attrition between the NSA and CoS to the President.

The COAS is neither involved in this artificial war of attrition nor has any knowledge of it. The COAS is more concerned and devotes attention to deliver excellent results on the duties assigned to him and his office by Mr. President. He will not compromise his official responsibilities for any personal interest and should not be distracted now.

Nigerians who are celebrating the imaginary animosity and perhaps, fervently praying for a crack in Mr. President’s national security leadership, should redirect their idle selves elsewhere, but certainly not in the direction of Lt. Gen. Buratai. He is a soldier with impeccable credentials and a leader per excellence.
Thank you.

NAMA COMMISSIONS CATEGORY 3 INSTRUMENT LANDING SYSTEM AT ABUJA, LAGOS AIRPORTS

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has commissioned its newly installed Category 3 Instrument Landing System (ILS) at Runway 18 Right, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos as well as Runway 22 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

In the same vein, a flight commissioning of the newly installed DVOR (Doppler Very High Frequency Omni-Directional Radio Range) in Lagos has successfully been carried out, just as routine flight calibration has also been carried out on Runway 18 Left in Lagos.

The Managing Director of NAMA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, who disclosed this in a statement signed by Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Aviation, James Odaudu said that a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) has been disseminated accordingly while calibration of navigational aids in other locations across the country is in progress to ensure all navigational aids in Nigeria that are due for calibration are covered.

According to Akinkuotu, “in spite of initial hitches, it is gratifying to note that Runway 18R in Lagos has been certified for CAT 3 just as Runway 22 in Abuja with the newly acquired calibration aircraft by the Aviation Ministry. Both facilities are now fully operational.”

While pledging a timely calibration of navigational facilities going forward, Akinkuotu said the availability of flight calibration aircraft will ensure that NAMA is able to carry out calibration as and when due.

Service Chiefs : Experts urge PMB to ignore agitations for change

The tenure of the Service Chiefs in the country has received the backing of some security experts in the country who advised that letting the Service Chiefs go now would be counterproductive in the ongoing war against terrorism in the country.

In an exclusive chat, Colonel JIP Ubah (rtd), a former military administrator of Kebbi state stated that the Service Chiefs in the country had been engaged in the war against terrorism and other violent militant group and any attempt to change them now would ultimately affect the gains made so far. Colonel Ubah stated that in line with global practices, war commanders are not changed in the middle of warfare as it would be counterproductive and might lead to a setback.

“The Boko Haram war in Nigeria is a very dynamic one that requires the deployment of strategy and well-thought-through tactics. This is what the current service chiefs have done in the past years that have seen to the gains recorded so far. I believe that the tempo they have built must be sustained towards to final onslaught against the insurgents.”

“If there is indeed a change in the leadership structure now, it would afford the insurgents the time to regroup and carry out offensive because the new leadership would require time to settle down and in unconventional warfare; a minute is more than enough to wreak havoc and turn the tide.”

In a similar vein, a top security official who pleaded anonymity stated that Nigerians must understand firstly that the security challenges facing the country are such that requires an astronomical level of vigilance and that those calling for the sack of Service Chiefs are doing it out of ignorance.

“Those not conversant with military operations should desist from heating the polity by openly calling for the sack of Service Chiefs. It is wrong for anyone to want to dabble into military operations under whatever guise. I would say such calls are borne out of ignorance because they don’t belong to the security sector. If only they can have a peep into what goes on within the security architecture in the country, they would come to appreciate the efforts of the present leadership of the Armed Forces.”

A retired security chief from the eastern part of the country also corroborated this line of thought by heaping praises on the ongoing efforts to rid the country of terrorist activities. He stated that the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to retain the Service Chiefs in the country is the rational thing to do given the enormity of the task at hand and being one who has fought wars in times past and understands the dynamics involved.

“For some of us that have passed through the system, we must admit that the present bunch has been very impressive in the discharge of their duties. We have been watching the situation in North-East Nigeria and other parts of the country closely and conclude that there is no basis for President Muhammadu Buhari to effect a change in the leadership structure of the Armed Forces.”

“Don’t forget that he is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and he oversees the security operations in the country. I think Nigerians should avoid politicizing the situation by calling for the sack of the Service Chiefs. That is the prerogative of Mr. President, and I think his grasps of issues are top-notch, and I would advise that he doesn’t tinker with the present arrangement.”

Professor Dubem Askari of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, believed that the call for the sack of Service Chiefs was the handiwork of those not kind to the history of Nigeria. He stated that those conversant with the history of armed struggle in Nigeria would realize that the effort of the Nigerian Military in maintaining internal security in the country is indeed outstanding.

“Years of misrule, massive corruption, and squandering of development opportunities by successive governments have not only pauperized large segments of the population, but they have also left frayed nerves, forcing frustrated Nigerians to bare fangs against erstwhile peaceful neighbors at the individual and communal levels.”

“ So it is not a function of sacking the Service Chiefs, it is rather a function of understanding enormity of the task at hand and appreciating the efforts of the Nigerian Military that have been drafted into internal security operations alongside their constitutionally recognized role of preserving the territorial integrity of Nigeria.”

In a similar development, some security experts in the country have advised President Muhammadu Buhari to ignore the grumblings over his stance on retaining the Service Chiefs in the country, stating that it is one of the strategies deployed by sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria to cause a distraction.

A former director of the Department of State Security Service who didn’t want his name in print stated that, the call for the sack of Service Chiefs are aimed at distracting the troops in the battlefront so that the Boko Haram/ISWAP gang can launch a counteroffensive.

“We must understand that there is also the role of human psychology in warfare, and this is what the Boko Haram/ISWAP leadership is attempting to engage in through the propaganda for the call for the sack of Service Chiefs. This is a highly distractive exercise, and I am glad that President Muhammadu Buhari has elected to ignore and instead focus on the task at hand. The decision of President Muhammadu Buhari is the best so far as psychological warfare is concerned.”

He also added that the hierarchy of the Nigerian Military must control the narrative and engage the minds of the officers and soldiers in battle because they are indeed the target of the propaganda.

“The officers and soldiers at the war front are psychologically vulnerable, and the Nigerian Military must devise means to control the narrative, so they don’t lose concentration. This could be achieved through writing personal letters to the officers and soldiers in the war front or routine visits. This is very important because some of the officers and soldiers can engage in undermining acts that would further lend credence to the call for the sack of Service Chiefs. It is just how human psychology is configured.”

Professor Istifanus Gomwalk of the Department of General and Applied Psychology of the University of Jos was of the opinion that the Boko Haram group is skilled in the art of engaging in psychological warfare and they have been backing this up with guerrilla tactics since the Military has decimated them and hindered their operations.

“The government must understand that this push is from unlikely sources aimed at regrouping, and the government must not give in to this strategy. Echoing for the president to change his security team is one of such strategies, and it must be resisted if we are serious about winning the war against terrorism in Nigeria.”

It would be recalled that there have been calls for the sack of Service Chiefs in the country owing to the spate of insecurity in some certain parts of the country. Some concerned stakeholders in the country have questioned such calls as the handiwork of mischief makers who are not happy with the gains made so far in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria.

Freed Shiites: Group accuses Kaduna High Court Judge of bias

A group of lawyers, under the aegis of Lawyers United for Justice, Peace and Development (LUJPD) has disowned Justice Hajaratu Gwadah following her judgement which discharged and acquitted 91 members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria.

The legal practitioners said the Justice of the Kaduna State High Court isn’t one of them but a member of the radical Iran-backed sect and therefore rejected the ruling as “disgraceful” and “shocking”.

Speaking on behalf of the group at a press conference on Saturday, National Coordinator, Barrister Cletus Onwu wondered why a presiding Judge would hold that the prosecution did not prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

LUJPD, therefore, vowed to monitor proceedings in the appeal to be filed days ahead by the Kaduna State Government against the judgment.

The group enjoined Nigerians to join and push for sanction against Justice Gwadah.

Read full statement below:

Gentlemen of the press, many of you must have followed the recent Kaduna High Court judgement which discharged and acquitted 91 members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN). The Lawyers United for Justice, Peace and Development finds this judgement disgraceful, shocking and mockery of all that the judicial institution in Nigeria represents.

We are utterly disappointed that a highly-regarded colleague in Justice Hajaratu Gwadah at High Court 9, NDA Junction, Kawo in Kaduna State carelessly handled such a case bordering on Criminal Conspiracy, Unlawful Assembly, Culpable Homicide, Disturbance of Public Peace and Causing Grievous Hurt.

There are clear indications that Justice Gwadah is bias in her judgment and belongs to the terrorist organization, considering the manner she dispensed with the case at its preliminary stage. The Director of Public Prosecution who led the legal team for Kaduna State Government, Daris Bayero was able to call a total of 31 witnesses, including senior military officers who gave the court a vivid account of what happened to them on that fateful day.

In addition, the prosecution presented over 105 exhibits that were cleared and legally admitted by the court. We wonder why a sane Presiding Judge who swore by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to do justice to all manner of persons without fear or favour would hold that the prosecution did not prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. How can she hold that the prosecution did not present any legally admissible evidence before the court? What could be more considered as legally admissible evidence outside 31 witnesses and 105 exhibits?

The purported report of a “No Case Submission” in criminal proceedings is to test whether or not a prima facie case has been established for the accused persons to answer or defend. The procedure is preliminary in nature as far as our criminal law jurisprudence is concerned. It therefore does not give room for Justice Gwadah to make such pronouncement as “the prosecution did not prove its case beyond reasonable doubt”. The issue of whether or not the prosecution has proven its case beyond reasonable doubt is only due for consideration at the end of the whole trial when the accused persons would have completely closed their defence.

We vividly recall that fateful Saturday, 12th December, 2015, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Turkur Buratai together with his entourage was heading to pay homage to the Emir of Zazzau before proceeding to attend the passing out parade of 73 Regular Recruits at the Nigerian Army Depot, Zaria. Unfortunately, violent and heavily armed members of the IMN otherwise known as Shiites barricaded the Kaduna-Zaria Highway in an attempt to assassinate the Chief of Army Staff. The assassination plot was eventually foiled in a manner that was described by many eyewitnesses as divine. This led to the arrest, detention and subsequent prosecution of several members of the IMN alongside their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife.

The Lawyers United for Justice, Peace and Development will, therefore, monitor proceedings in the appeal to be filed days ahead by the Kaduna State Government against the judgment. As Ministers in the Temple of Justice, lawyers are meant to be vigilant and speak against whatever thing that is inimical to the security of Nigeria. LUJPD will mobilize ahead of time to monitor the case which is perceived to be erroneous on point of law when an appeal is lodged at the Court of Appeal.

We shall give necessary support to the Kaduna State Government as well as the Federal Government as they strive consistently to tame the terror group called Islamic Movement in Nigeria. We are convinced that if the 91 members of MNI are not innocent but were discharged based on personal interest, the Court of Appeal in its wisdom will do all that is within the ambit of our laws to upturn the judgment of Justice Gwadah.

Nigerians should join us to reject the said judgment and push for sanction against Justice Gwadah before the Kaduna State Judicial Commission for being bias. If she does not tow the path of transparency, justice and equity in handling all other IMN related cases pending in her court, then she has to be shown the way out of the Kaduna State Judiciary.