•Says nine soldiers facing court martial
The Nigerian Army said yesterday that troops were deployed in Nasarawa State to avoid chaos and mass killings in the bloody altercation between Ombatse cultists and the Alago ethnic fighters.
This is even as nine soldiers are facing a court martial in Jos, Plateau State, for various offences ranging from cowardice and leaking operational secrets to insurgents.
The Nigerian Army, however, dismissed reports that 18 soldiers had been sentenced to death by the General Court Martial, saying the affected soldiers were only nine and a sentence was yet to be passed.
At a parley with the media, Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, said the Federal Government and the Nasarawa State Government were already exploiting other ways of ensuring a restoration of normalcy.
He said: "Due to the heightened security situation in Nasarawa State, the Federal Government has ordered the deployment of Nigerian Army troops in aid of the civil authority in order to prevent further escalation of the violence and its spread to other parts of the state.
"It is gratifying to note that the deployment of Nigerian Army troops to the violence- prone areas has helped in curbing the spread of violence by the Ombatse and other ethnic militia groups in Nasarawa State."
Attahiru disclosed that the troops deployed were less than a battalion.
He said: "The deployment in Nasarawa State is swift. It is with immediate effect. It is a battalion minus that is being deployed in Nasarawa State."
A battalion is usually an independent Army unit of between 300 to 1,200 soldiers with about two to seven companies.
Attahiru added: "On the general court martial, there are nine soldiers in all and the process is still ongoing because it is like a normal court process.
"In its bid to instil discipline and professionalism among its troops, based on Army Headquarters' directives, the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 3 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Ebiobowei Awala, has set up a General Court Martial, GCM, to try erring officers and soldiers in its area of responsibility.
"Consequently, the GCM was inaugurated on 22 April 2013 at Rhino Officers Mess, Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Jos, to try nine soldiers for various offences ranging from murder, manslaughter, using threatening, abusive, insulting or provocative words or behaviour likely to cause a disturbance and fighting, quarrelling and disorderly behaviour just to mention but a few."
The Army spokesman urged the media, particular the online platforms, to clarify all reports from the appropriate authorities before going to press.
He said: "Anything to the contrary would be tantamount to giving oxygen to terrorism and creating undue fear among Nigerians."
Attahiru added that since the operational take-off of the 7 Division last month, it had continued to carry out "high tempo counter-terrorist operations" in its area of responsibility.
He said: "As part of this effort, troops of the formation have conducted operation to pre-empt, dislocate and disrupt the insurgents' activities in the North-East. In the process, insurgents' camps located at Kitumari, Alkaderi, Kurunmati, Abati, Gajiram and Iza within the Sambisa Forest have been destroyed.
"Other areas where insurgents' camps were attacked include Bulabulin and Ngaram within Maiduguri metropolis as well as Gulimba area of Gwoza."
The Army spokesman added that the new Division continued to dominate the area through aggressive mobile patrols of highways and major urban centres as part of confidence building measures to facilitate a quick return to normalcy.
Attahiru restated the earlier position of the Army that troops of the 81 Battalion under the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army had on September 12 carried out a deliberate attack on the insurgents located at Kafiya Forest in Ngazai Local Government Area of Borno Atate.
According to him, the camp was well fortified and insurgents were actually in the process of launching an offensive.
He said: "Based on this report, our troops launched a deliberate attack. Over 150 insurgents were killed and the formation lost an officer and 15 soldiers.
"On 17 September, aftermath of insurgents' defeat at Kafiya Forest, some fleeing insurgents carried out an attack on Benisheikh town in Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State. In the process, a lot of civilians were killed by the insurgents.
"Our troops located at the Forward Operating Base on the outskirts of the town moved in to repel the onslaught and cleared Benishiekh town of insurgents. Several insurgents were killed and equipment destroyed. Our troops continue to carry out patrol and dominate the area."
National Mirror
This would do that state a lot of good.
I'm sure they'll appreciate it if it's done as soon as possible.
Very nice one.