Why i sanction soldiers who ran away from fighting Boko Haram - Minimah

ABUJA — Immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Kenneth Minimah (rtd) has declared that his actions of sanctioning hundreds of soldiers who reverted to deserting the force, running away from battle and playing the roles of fifth columnists in the wake of the operations to dislodge Boko Haram terrorists from Nigeria territories during ‘Operation Zaman Lafiya’, helped to inspire and rekindle the fighting spirit in the Nigerian military.

Kenneth Minimah, Nigeria’s Chief of Army StafNigerian soldiers

He said: “I am happy to state that the story is different today and the situation much better than I met it. Today, the country is more secured and stable. The ability of Boko Haram terrorists to confront our security forces in open combat is virtually non-existent. Its leadership is in hiding, afraid for their lives and no longer intimidating the public with their propaganda videos.”

Recalling that the situation of the Nigerian Army when he assumed office on January 16, 2014, was one that called for concern, Minimah, who spoke at the pulling out ceremony in his honour said: “As I settled down to work, I was confronted with the decay in the service due to long periods of neglect the army had suffered.

“As you would recall, my appointment came at a time our army and indeed the nation was going through one of its worst crises in our history. The level of violence and insecurity unleashed on innocent citizens by Boko Haram terrorists had reached unprecedented heights. There was spate of bombings across the country. Attacks on soft targets such as civilians, and vulnerable communities were on the increase.

“The armed forces and security agencies appeared helpless to address the situation and sadly, the nation began to lose confidence in its army and military. The situation was no less grim in the North Central and North Western zones where armed bandits, cattle rustlers and ethnic militias held sway. The nation seemed to be heading towards the much publicized disintegration many had predicted would occur in 2015.

“An assessment of the situation revealed that the Nigerian Army needed to harness its capabilities and optimize its capacity to deal with the challenges that bedevilled the nation. I, therefore, prioritized efforts towards enhancing our overall operational readiness through the three pillars of improved training, modernization of equipment and enhancement of troop’s welfare. Above all, I inspired and rekindled fighting spirit in troops backed by military sanctions.

“Sensing imminent defeat, Boko Haram has resorted to targeting innocent and vulnerable civilians. I am convinced that this also would soon be a thing of the past as the days of terrorism and insurgency are numbered. In the same vein, I can confidently say that the security threats in the North Central and North Western zones have been sufficiently addressed.”

Threat of terrorism rapidly expanding

Warning that the threat of terrorism is rapidly expanding across the globe and demands the collective action of all nations, Gen. Minimah said: “Boko Haram may have its greatest impact in Nigeria but its ability to hurt other nation’s interests no matter the distance, is real. In the last decade, we have seen the extent to which people who habour evil against their fellow humans can go to inflict pain and death on innocent people.

“This is the time for all to rise in unison to not only condemn but take actions against the activities of the Boko Haram terrorists and other criminal elements in order to foster peace and security in our society. Perhaps, if we all stood against the terrorists at the onset through public condemnation of their activities and active collaboration with the military to confront them rather than use it as a tool to advance sectional, tribal, religious and political interests, we would not have been where we found ourselves today. We must, therefore, all unite and support our government and security forces to tackle the current security challenges.”

Thanks media

While thanking the media for its support in the fight against insurgency, Minimah said: “Though our relationship was not always smooth, due to what we perceived to be media insensitivity to our operations and national security, I am glad to note the change in attitude especially when the tide of war changed in favour of our forces in the field.

“While inviting the Nigerian media to be an all-weather ally of our armed forces, I would implore them to always exercise caution and restraint when reporting on national security issues. The call is for the media not to promote the activities of terrorists over those of the security forces or join some foreign adversarial media to castigate or malign our troops who sacrifice their lives to bring peace, stability, security and development to our nation, as no foreign national can love Nigeria more than Nigerians.”

On his advice for the nation, Minimah said: “A nation is as strong as its armed forces and the strength of the armed forces is in the quality of the individual soldier and his fighting spirit. Fighting spirit imbues him with confidence to stand up to the adversary rather than flee like we witnessed in the recent past; while adequate attention to his welfare demonstrates his nation’s commitment to his well-being and motivates him to sacrifice everything including his life; discipline and sanctions confines him within the military laws.

“For long, our nation has toyed with the health and vitality of its military. This is the time for our country to reinvigorate the armed forces by investing in the armed forces.

“Government must provide the necessary resources and right political environment to recruit, train, equip, kit and remunerate our servicemen. We all have a role to play to make our armed forces great again.

“Sometime, all it takes is a simple thank you and encouraging words to the men and women who watch over our freedom and liberty. Never; Never Again’ should we allow ourselves to walk this path. Never Again.”

 

Why i sanction soldiers who ran away from fighting Boko Haram - Minimah

Those behind Boko Haram - Ex-Chie of Army Staff, Minimah reveals

Immediate past Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah had a parting shot for the elite yesterday. He accused them of using the dreaded Boko Haram sect to advance political, religious and sectional interests.

Kenneth Minimah, former Nigeria’s Chief of Army StafNigerian soldiers

The former military chief also regretted that the authorities toyed with the health and vitality of the military through inadequate funding.

Lt. Gen. Minimah made the scathing remarks in his valedictory address at the Pulling-Out held in commemoration of his retirement from service.

Accoung to him, the counter-insurgency campaign would have recorded more successes if the elite had supported government’s efforts.

He said: “The insurgency snowballed into a graver dimension because these people exploited the security challenge to further sectional, religious and political interests.”

The former COAS appealed to the citizenry to support the Federal Government and the security agencies in the ongoing fight against insurgency.

The ex-Army chief urged Nigerians to take practical steps against the terrorists and other criminal elements in order to ensure lasting peace and security in the country.

He went on: “In the last decade, we have seen the extent to which people who harbour evil against their fellow co-patriots can go to inflict pain and death on innocent people.

“This is the time for us to rise in unison not only to condemn but to take actions against the activities of the Boko Haram terrorists and other criminal elements in order to foster peace and security in our society.

“Perhaps, if we had all stood against the terrorists at the outset through condemnation of their activities and active collaboration with the military to confront them, rather than use it as a tool to advance section, tribal, religious and political interests, we would not have been where we find ourselves today.

“We must therefore all unite and support our government and security forces to tackle the current security challenges.”

Lt. Gen Minimah regretted that the country toyed with the health and vitality of the military through inadequate funding, calling for proper funding of the military.

He appealed to the government to create the right environment for recruitment, training, equipping and kitting of military personnel in the country.

According to him, a nation can only be as strong as its military, stressing that the strength of the Armed Forces is in the fighting spirit of officers and men.

He stated that adequate welfare for troops could motivate them into making the required sacrifice in defence of their country.

The former COAS said he took over the Army at a time the security situation in the Northeast was making the citizenry to lose faith in the military.

Claiming to have left the Army better than he met it, Lt. Gen Minimah regretted what he described as decay occasioned by long period of neglect.

Those behind Boko Haram - Ex-Chie of Army Staff, Minimah reveals

Amnesty International accuses Badeh, Minimah, Ihejirika, others “potentially” guilty of war crimes

Global human rights organisation, Amnesty International (AI) has called for the immediate investigation of top past and present military commanders for possible war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Nigeria military in its fight against Islamist extremist insurgents, Boko Haram.

Alex Badeh Ibrahim Seid Mahamat

A report released Wednesday titled: Stars on their shoulders. Blood on their hands: War crimes committed by the Nigerian military, AI alleged that over 7,000 men and boys suspected to be member of the Boko Haram have died in military detention since March 2011, and more than 1,200 others have been unlawfully killed since February 2012.

Amnesty International claimed that the report provides compelling evidence gathered from interviews with over 400 victims, senior military officials, and leaked military reports and correspondences to warrant investigations into “individual and command responsibilities of soldiers, and mid-level and senior-level military commanders up to the Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Army Staff who should be investigated for the alleged war crime and crime against humanity”.

The report further listed nine former and present top military commanders that should be investigated. They include: Major General John A.H. Ewansiha, Major General Obida T Ethnan, Major General Ahmadu Mohammed, Brigadier General Austin O. Edokpayi, and Brigadier General Rufus O. Bamigboye for potential individual or command responsibility for the war crimes of murder, torture and enforced disappearance.

Other top military commanders named by AI are: General Azubuike Ihejirika, Chief of Army Staff, Sept 2010 – Jan 2014, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, Chief of Defence Staff, Oct 2012 – Jan 2014, Air Chief Marshal Badeh, Chief of Defence Staff, Jan 2014 – date, General Ken Minimah, Chief of Army Staff, Jan 2014 -date, whom AI said should be investigated for “potential command responsibility for crimes of murder, torture and enforced disappearance committed by their subordinates.” The organisation further added that the above persons should be held responsible if they knew of the commission these crimes and did not take appropriate steps to prevent them or ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

AI therefore called on the Nigerian government to undertake prompt, independent and effective investigations of the allegations.

“This sickening evidence exposes how thousands of young men and boys have been arbitrarily arrested and deliberately killed or left to die in detention in the most horrific conditions. It provides strong grounds for investigations into the possible criminal responsibility of members of the military, including those at the highest levels,” said Salil Shetty, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.

“Whilst an urgent and impartial investigation of these war crimes is vital, this report is not just about the criminal responsibility of individuals. It is also about the responsibility of Nigeria’s leadership to act decisively to end the pervasive culture of impunity within the armed forces,” he added.

Gruesome and Horrific treatment of Detainees

The report revealed gruesome and horrific treatment of suspects, some as young as nine years old. Ii said the military used summary executions, mass murder, starvation, suffocation and torture against the victims.

According to the report, the over 20,000 young men arrested by the military in the northeast since the war with Boko Haram were kept in “extremely overcrowded, unventilated cells without sanitary facilities and with little food or water. Many are subjected to torture and thousands have died from ill-treatment and as a result of dire detention conditions.”

One former detainee quoted in the report told AI that: “All I know was that once you get detained by the soldiers and taken to Giwa [military barracks], your life is finished.”

A top military source allegedly told AI that 683 detainees died in military custody between October 2012 and and February 2013. Further evidence also obtained by the organisation shows in 2013 4,700 bodies were brought to a mortuary from a detention facility in Giwa Baracks, Maiduguri and in June alone more than 1,400 corpses were delivered in to the mortuary.

“The soldiers said: “Welcome to your die house. Welcome to your place of death,” a detainee who spent four months in Giwa Baracks told AI. He said only 11 of the 122 men he was arrested with survived.

Sometimes up to 300 inmates were kept in a tiny cell and communicable diseases such as cholera were rife at the centres.

The detainees are mostly denied of food and water that they sometime rely on drinking others urine for survival, the report claimed.

“Hundreds have been killed in detention either (by soldiers) shooting them or by suffocation,” a military officer told AI

AI said it confirmed that on a single day, 19 June 2013, 47 detainees died there as a result of suffocation.

Most of the victims died from chemical inhalation from the fumigation meant to stop the spread of diseases.

The organisation also revealed that most of the killing were in form of reprisal actions after Boko Haram attacks.

In some cases the military will round up all the young men in a community and kill them under the guise of carrying out mop up operations.

Top commanders knew

Amnesty International alleges that top military commander including the Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Staff, were regularly informed of operations conducted in north-east Nigeria likely to be were aware of the atrocities allegedly committed.

“Evidence shows that senior military leaders knew, or should have known, about the nature and scale of the crimes being committed. Internal military documents show that they were updated on the high rates of deaths among detainees through daily field reports, letters and assessment reports sent by field commanders to Defence Headquarters (DHQ) and Army Headquarters,” the report stated.

“Amnesty International has seen numerous requests and reminders sent from commanders in the field to DHQ warning of the rise in the number of deaths in custody, the dangers of fumigation and requesting a transfer of detainees. In addition, reports by teams sent by DHQ to assess military facilities and “authenticate data”, highlight death rates and warn that overcrowding was causing serious health problems and could lead to “an epidemic,” it added.”

“Despite being informed of the death rates and conditions of detention, Nigerian military officials consistently failed to take meaningful action. Those in charge of detention facilities, as well as their commanders at army and defence headquarters, must be investigated,” said Salil Shetty.

Amnesty International accuses Badeh, Minimah, Ihejirika, others “potentially” guilty of war crimes

We Will Find Chibok Girls When We Capture Sambisa Forest - Army Boss

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Kenneth Minimah, speaks with a team of journalists on the 2015 elections, war against terror, Chibok girls as well as the trial of soldiers for alleged mutiny in the course of the insurgency war. CHRIS AGBAMBU presents excerpts:

How do you feel about General Abdulsalami Abubakar’s peace committee on 2015 elections, his visit to the military headquarters and his commendation of the army?

We are filled with humility that the committee has been watching and observing what we have been doing. I think it was a pleasant commendation. It was a surprise to us that they wanted to come and thank us and commend us for what we have done.

As the CDS said, most of us here today are products of democracy. My colleagues and I have always believed that the Nigerian military is better off under a democratic government because our needs are addressed more than under a military government. In that wise, we believe strongly that the military will be able to sustain the performance of its constitutional roles in the democratic process.

We were humbled that we were commended by a committee of this level. I think it is also a reflection of the feelings of the citizens. A good percentage of the elite in the country believed that we did our best in the first election, so, they urged us to do better in the second election.

You know, there were different stories about what the Nigerian military, and particularly the Nigerian army, is up to. People went to court; that the military should not be used to do this and that, but at the end of the day, a winner emerged and the army was not in any way blacklisted for any acts of impropriety.

Troops had to be deployed to ensure that there was security and there was no violence. A good atmosphere was provided for the citizens to come out and vote, without fearing for their lives, without fear of intimidation. I am sure everybody came out and voted.

Would you say soldiers performed well in the elections or were there hitches?

If you are asking me to score myself, I would score myself 100 per cent because, given our level of political development, we cannot expect to see elections held here as they are done in advanced nations. We are still bogged down by prejudices, like interparty issues. The issues of violence, ballot box snatching and confusions around polling units have to do with our level of political development. But the more our democracy and electioneering develop, the more the people will learn that thuggery cannot change results.

We have a responsibility to ensure peace. We have a responsibility to ensure that there is no violence. We have a responsibility to ensure that the country is stable. And from our own perspective, we achieved what we set out for. We deployed personnel in the possible flashpoints, where violence starts, where people converge to hatch ideas other than positivity. Drawing lessons from the post-election violence of 2011, we deployed personnel in all those areas and hooligans, vandals and thugs did not have freedom of action. Of course, there will be people who, for whatever reasons, will never accept defeat; they will never agree they lost, they will keep crying foul, but majority of law abiding citizens believe that the deployment of soldiers calmed everywhere and enabled the people to come out and vote.

How was the North-East secured for election in six weeks?

I am sure that before the postponement, the atmosphere in the North-East was charged with violent activities of Boko Haram. They had a handful of local governments across three states. They had threatened to disrupt the elections. There were those who feared that the Nigerian military did not have the capacity to do much within the time frame to reduce the menace and invincibility of the terrorists. Anyone could have as well believed that it was not going to be possible. But today, the reality on ground has vindicated the armed forces of Nigeria, because so much has been done that as of today, we are already moving into Sambisa forest and, hopefully, very soon, military action will be rested in the North-East.

At the last Council of State meeting, most of the speakers disagreed and wondered what could be done if, in the last five years, they couldn’t do anything. ‘Is it by miracle or what that they would achieve this?’ Of course, I convinced them that it was very much achievable, more so that our neighbours, who had been lukewarm, all of a sudden, decided to join the battle. They realised that if Nigeria eventually defeats this terrorism, it will empty into their territories if they do not join the war.

Chad had to join the war for economic reasons; to reopen the routes. Much of their goods and services were coming from Cameroon and Nigeria, so, they had no choice but to join the war. Niger Republic also joined the war because they knew their country was like a destination for Boko Haram fighters and their arms and ammunition. And sometimes, the place was used for the indoctrination and recruitment of individuals. They decided to join the war because, to me, they saw that we were going to chase these elements and they would run into their countries. Prior to this time, these countries were sanctuaries to Boko Haram terrorists.

Cameroon did not show much enthusiasm until the (Boko Haram) fighters moved in en masse into Cameroon and started causing destruction, killing, kidnapping and so forth. They realised they also had to fight Boko Haram terrorists. I tried to explain to that body (Council of State) that with our contiguous neighbours showing greater enthusiasm to participate in the war, the end was near, because all we need now is to push them and they cannot run into any of those countries. Once they all block their borders, we are good to go, and of course, it was reluctantly agreed. And today, we are witnesses to what has become of it. So, it is a feat that was never thought of but we have achieved it.

How would you react to allegations that Nigerian troops are reluctant to take over territories captured by foreign troops?

It is common knowledge that the Nigerian Army has been demanding equipment from the government. It is common knowledge, too, that part of the problems of the war against insurgency has been lack of requisite modern equipment for the armed forces. It is common knowledge, too, that the equipment the Nigerian army had were old and obsolete and that we were doing local repairs to maintain them. It is common knowledge, too, that the Nigerian troops were running from battle. It is also common knowledge that the government was doing everything to buy equipment for the army.

At one point, these equipment came and with my personal effort of ensuring that officers and soldiers were court-martialled, dismissed for running in the face of adversary. For abandoning the equipment we have and running away, the psyche of the Nigerian soldier changed, the equipment that arrived changed the battle dynamics, platform. Everything reversed, the terrorists started running, and we changed the battle.

Are you saying that you have no regrets convening the court martial?

Jesus Christ! One million times, I will redo it. The courts are still on.

In spite of the public outcry?

Is it the public that is fighting the battle? It is not the public. Public has its say, but war has to be fought and in fighting a war, there must be sanctions for people who breach the process.

Now, how would you reconcile the fact the soldiers were running when there were lack of new equipment and the fact that the equipment are now there and they are not running anymore; that they now know they can face the enemies with what they have?

Okay, what you do not know, too, is that the battle had been turned before the equipments arrived. The average officer has realised now that if he ran, he would be court-martialled. The soldier knows that if he ran away, he would be dismissed. So, everybody was prepared to stand and fight. For the fact that they stood and fought, the Boko Haram fighters were surprised. Their leaders ran and said, ‘these people are not Nigerians, because before, when they came and fired, eventually, everybody ran away. Now, people are staying to fight back.’ In sustained fights for hours, they said, ‘no, we don’t understand these people.’ Then, they ran away. That was how it started.

We held Konduga I, Konduga II, Konduga III. When the other Mr Shekau, I don’t know the number he is, was killed, it was the old equipment and it’s the soldiers themselves that said, ‘no way, we are not running anywhere.’ They remained there, and that was when the ice broke. The equipment arrived six weeks ago.

It is the soldier that fights, not equipment. If I had set up the court martial as soon as I came, we wouldn’t have lost all those territories, because at one point, they would have realised that they had to stand and fight. How can it become fashionable that soldiers are running? Soldiers were even telling civilians in Mubi, ‘Boko Haram dey come! Boko Haram dey come!’ They were running and now, you want me to listen to a person who says why didn’t we do it since? Why did I set up the court martial?

How effective is the offensive against insurgency now?

I will tell you that militarily, they (Boko Haram) are defeated, but armed robbery, or people going about stealing, burning markets and looting and going back into the forests will continue for a while. Other programmes of the government will take care of those. Bomb explosions also happen in civilised worlds where there are no terrorists.

With the success so far, are there any leads as regards the rescue of the Chibok schoolgirls?

Yes, by the time we capture Sambisa forest completely, we will be able to find out where the Chibok girls are. As of now, nobody appears to know where exactly they are. But when we capture Sambisa forest, we will be able to know where they are and the government will take it from there.

Can you do a projection into where the war against Boko Haram will be in the next six months?

You know, the Nigerian is one creature with a large accommodation of mind. His memory shifts and he forgets everything that had happened. In the next six months, I am sure that Nigerians would have forgotten that Boko Haram once reigned and terrorised a region. I believe so.

We Will Find Chibok Girls When We Capture Sambisa Forest - Army Boss

Minimah plots rigging election for Jonathan – el-Rufai

All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, has alleged that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah, has sworn to use soldiers and the equipment of the army to manipulate the Saturday’s presidential elections in the favour of President Goodluck Jonathan.

El-Rufai, who shared a statement on his official Facebook and Twitter pages in the early hours of Thursday, said he was “deeply worried by reports that the leaders of the security sector have jettisoned every appearance of impartiality for Saturday’s presidential election.”

In the nine-paragraph statement entitled, “Open letter to all Nigerians: It’s time to stand up for Nigeria,” the former Minister of the FCT said some army generals and security chiefs had vowed to protect Jonathan from defeat.

The allegations came barely two days after Former President Olusegun Obasanjo warned against a rumoured plot by the current administration of President Goodluck Jonathan to hand over to the military.

The former Minister of the FCT said the army was acting like the armed wing of the Peoples Democratic Party.

He warned that rigging the presidential election would wreck the economy and lead to anarchy and instability.

He said, “Chatter in informed circles has it that General Kenneth Minimah has sworn to use the soldiers and equipment of the army to promote President Jonathan’s cause. That is both improper and illegal.

“Minimah is certainly not alone in abandoning the sanctity of his oath. A slew of generals and security chiefs have clearly narrowed their duty to protecting Jonathan from defeat. Military commanders and police officers are sounding not merely like PDP partisans. They are acting like operatives of the armed wing of the PDP.

“They have paid little attention to the likely consequences of their actions. Interfering with the election, both in terms of process and the integrity of the result, is a sure recipe for disaster. That is a step that will certainly set the country on fire, and not just in ways we can all foresee.”

El-Rufai said Minimah was trying to be grateful to President Jonathan for appointing him as the Chief of Army Staff “ahead of 14 of his seniors.”

According to the APC candidate, the constitutional power bestowed on President Jonathan to nominate or appoint senior officials does not oblige the appointee to behave like a lapdog or be incapable of functioning with integrity, professional dignity and respect for the law.

He said the conduct and utterances of the PDP leadership does not inspire confidence that they are committed to a credible election.

El-Rufai called on all military and security officers to stand up for the rule of law and the peace and unity of Nigeria by resisting all illegal orders to tamper with the election results.

The statement read, “President Goodluck Jonathan’s PDP government has no respect for the professionalism, dignity and integrity of the people in our military and security services. To anchor rigging plans on using the personnel and material assets of these services amounts to using the institutions that should protect and secure the country as wreckers.

“The lack of accountability for the Ekiti rigging fiasco, the absence of the redemptive possibility of remorse and the unwillingness to fully investigate and prosecute the key actors fill us with dread. When such baleful conduct goes unpunished, it can only mean that it is the default modus operandi of the perpetrators. And that is not the sort of behaviour that can produce a free, fair and credible election.

“This country has suffered enough. The people of this country stood up for the constitution to make Jonathan acting president against the machinations of the Yar’Adua cabal. Jonathan went ahead to fritter the good will, and he set a new marker for incompetence and for not giving a damn. The Constitution should not be subverted to illegally prolong the stay of a poor performer who only made it that far because the Constitution was upheld.

“Nigerians have realised that Jonathan simply does not care. He is not bothered about the welfare and security of Nigerians. All he is obsessed about is avoiding defeat. And he does not care if the country is sacrificed for him. Enough is enough.”

Minimah plots rigging election for Jonathan – el-Rufai

Boko Haram: Election may not hold in recaptured towns, villages - Minimah

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, on Tuesday hinted that elections may not hold in North-East communities recently liberated from Boko Haram insurgents.

Kenneth Minimah, Nigeria’s Chief of Army StafNigerian soldiers

Minimah told journalists after a Security Council meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja that government structures needed to be restored in the town and villages before issues about elections could be discussed.

The presidential election is billed for March 28 while governorship and National Assembly polls will take place on April 11.

The COAS however said that the Independent National Electoral Commission needed to re-assess the situation in the communities before a final stand could be taken on elections.

The Chairman of INEC,   Attahiru Jega, had briefed the meeting attended by all heads of security agencies and relevant ministers of the state of the electoral body’s   preparedness for the   general elections while the security chiefs gave updates on the anti-terrorism war.

Minimah said, “I am not competent to speak on that (elections) matter. INEC is still there, INEC has to re-access the situation and evaluate because the areas have been liberated, but I can also tell you that not all structures of governance have been reinstated.

“They will need to be reinstated so that citizens can go back to their areas and it is then I think they can execute their rights as voters.”

When probed further, the Army chief said he did not know how soon the structures could be reinstated.

When further asked whether the operation could be completed before March 28, he replied , “It is our wish and we pray God gives that to us, but war is war. War sometimes is not fought on some platforms of permutation.”

The COAS disclosed that after reviewing the North-East operations particularly in the last three weeks, the council renewed its confidence in the Nigerian Armed Forces and commended the troops.

He said, “You know Yobe and Adamawa states have been liberated completely and we look forward to the reinstatement of structures of government and governance.

“I am also sure you know that in Borno State, out of the 27 local governments, we have three local governments remaining: Abadam, Kalabaldi and Gwoza and we are optimistic that with time, we will liberate those LGAs.”

Despite the success recorded however, Minimah said there was no news yet on the over 200 schoolgirls abducted in Chibok, Borno State, almost a year ago.

He said, “There is no news on the Chibok girls for now. In all the liberated areas , we have also made enquiries but the truth is when the terrorists are running away, they also run with their families.

“Those we have   come in contact with have not made any comments suggesting that Chibok girls were there and taken away.

“But we are optimistic that as they are losing the   areas captured by them,   we will get further details on that.”

The Army boss also denied media reports that   security agencies   were being assisted in the war against terrorism by mercenaries.

“There are no mercenaries employed by anyone. What we have are advisers and instructors and they are all over the world. Whenever you have new equipment, the equipment comes with contract and the contract includes maintenance and the technicians that come with them are those that we hire,” he said.

Jega had emerged from the council meeting at about 2.20pm after briefing the members on INEC’s   preparations for the elections.

He was accompanied to the meeting by two top officials of the commission.

When State House correspondents asked him about the meeting, the INEC boss simply said, “I believe it went well.”

He did not answer subsequent questions relating to the use of card reader during the elections and INEC’s level of   preparedness as he made his way out of the Presidential Villa.

The meeting which started a few minutes after 11am had in attendance, the Vice President Namadi Sambo; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,   Pius Anyim; the Chief of Staff to the President,   Jones Arogbofa; the   National Security Adviser,   Sambo Dasuki; the Attorney-General of the Federation, Muhammed Adoke (SAN); the Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan; the Minister of Interior,   Aba Moro; and   Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali.

Others  were the Chief of Defence Staff,   Alex Badeh; the Chief of Naval Staff, Usman Jibrin; the Chief of Air Staff,   Adesola Amosu; the Inspector-General of Police,   Suleiman Abba; as well as the heads of the Department of State Services, the National Intelligence Agency and the Chief of Defence Intelligence.

700,000 PVCs still being produced –Jega

The PUNCH gathered from one of the officials that attended the meeting that Jega reassured the council of INEC’s readiness for the elections.

He was also said to have told the council that 700,000 permanent voter cards were still being produced and that those who had yet to collect their PVCs still had till March 22 to do so.

According to the official, Jega explained that the commission had utilised the six-week period of extension to further perfect the electoral process in order to deliver credible elections to Nigerians.

A copy of Jega’s statement at the meeting tagged “Update on INEC’s preparedness for the 2015 general elections,” was also obtained exclusively by our correspondent.

In the document, the INEC boss insisted that the commission had forged ahead in its determination to conduct the elections on the rescheduled dates.

He said, “It can be seen that INEC has forged ahead with preparations to conduct the 2015 general elections as rescheduled for March 28 and April 11.

“We believe that the period of extension has offered us an opportunity to further perfect the electoral process for the delivery of free, fair, credible and peaceful elections.

“I am pleased that all the non-sensitive and sensitive materials for the elections, including ballot papers, have now been delivered to states ready for deployment.”

Jega however   raised security concerns over the polls.

He stressed the need for soldiers to be on standby in case of violence since policemen who would be at polling booths would not be armed.

The electoral umpire added, “Security on the day of election and the days following the elections remains a major area of concern.

“Among other things, we hope that the traditional ban on public officials moving around with their security details and orderlies will be stringently enforced.

“We also hope that the ban on unauthorised general movement will be enforced. The bounding over politicians and the rounding up of thugs and drug suppliers should be intensified.

“Perhaps most importantly, we appeal for special preparations for protecting election staff, including rapid evacuation when necessary. Corpers’ lodges should also be adequately protected.”

Jega also said that the commission had made full preparations to enable Internally Displaced Persons to vote during the elections.

This, he explained, would apply to IDPs from areas that are worst hit by the insurgency, specifically Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

The plan, according to him, is to create voting centres in safe areas.

He said where applicable, the voting centres would be located close to the IDP camps.

Jega added that the arrangement would require special provisions for security and the commission would be counting on the various agencies for assistance.

He described the turnout for the mock demonstration of card reader as satisfactory.

According to him, the demonstration was also largely satisfactory with close to 100 percent verification and 60 percent authentication.

Boko Haram: Election may not hold in recaptured towns, villages - Minimah

Army begins trial of 59 soldiers for mutiny

A General Military Court Martial set up by the authorities of the Nigerian Army have arraigned 59 soldiers on a two-count of criminal conspiracy to commit mutiny and murder in Abuja on Wednesday.

Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah

The accused soldiers comprise two corporals, nine lance corporals and 48 private soldiers belonging to the 111 Special Forces Battalion, Maiduguri, Borno State.

A charge sheet signed by the Commander of the Army Headquarters Garrison, Brig. Gen. B.T. Ndiomu, the convening authority for the court, stated that the offences of mutiny and the conspiracy to commit mutiny were punishable under Section 52(1)(a) of the Armed Forces Act Cap A 20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The offence of mutiny carries the death penalty.

The Lead Counsel for the accused soldiers, Mr. Femi Falana, said that the arraignment of the 59 soldiers was the largest number of soldiers ever arraigned for mutiny in the history of the Nigerian Army.

All the 59 soldiers, who were arraigned, pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them by the Judge Advocate of the Court, Lt. Col. Ukpe Ukpe.

The 59 soldiers are being accused of refusing to join the 111 Special Forces Battalion troops at Mulai Primary School, Maiduguri, for an advance operation to recapture Delwa, and to prepare the ground for further operations to recapture Bulabulin and Damboa from Boko Haram insurgents on August 4, 2014.

Although, it was the initial plan of the Army authorities to put 60 soldiers on trial for mutiny, the lead prosecutor, Capt. Joseph Nwosu, told the court that one of the accused, Cpl. Anthony Nwosu, was too sick to play the requisite role of a defendant in court.

He said that the charges against Nwosu, who was the 11 accused person on the earlier list of 60 accused person, were dropped for now. The motion was allowed after an initial resistance by a defence lawyer, Maj. Oluwafemi Oyebanji, (retd.), who led the defence team, before the arrival of Falana.

On the first day of the trial, the prosecution called its first witness, Lt. Col. Timothy Opurum, the Commanding Officer of the 111 Special Forces Battalion, to testify before the court. He was subjected to a fierce grilling for over an hour by Falana and Oyebanji.

The Commanding Officer told the court that he was given an order by the Army authorities to lead his men to capture Delwa, to prepare passage for 251 Battalion and 254 Battalion to advance to Bulabulin and Damboa, but only 34 soldiers and four officers responded to the order out of the 98 soldiers and four officers found fit for the operation.

He said that he had to lead the 34 soldiers and four officers as against 98 soldiers and four officers for the Delwa battle as the Acting GOC Brig. Gen. M.Y Ibrahim and Maj. Gen. Ali from Army Headquarters were already calling for the mission to commence.

Opurum said that he led his men to Delwa and carried out the task without any casualty.

However, Opurum said in his testimony which he reaffirmed under cross-examination by Falana, that eight of the men of the Battalion deserted while 47 of the soldiers being tried returned voluntarily to defend the unit when it came under an ambush from the insurgents and 13 others arrested on the orders of the GOC.

The commander during the cross-examination said that the soldiers did not commit any further offence after they joined the unit in the fight to reclaim its position in Delwa.

The Commanding Officer admitted that the boys were parts of the Special Forces who had fought in several part of the North and had done so well.

He said during the intense cross-examination that the boys had earlier deserted when the unit came under an ambush in which three soldiers were killed, and two officers and 33 soldiers were injured.

When he was asked to tell the court what he did when he realised that it was the presumed opinion of the Army authorities in Maiduguri, that the boys had issues with mind pollution as stated in his written statement, he said he spoke to them like a father and a brother and brought many of them back to the battlefront.

“They are Special Forces who have fought in all parts of the North-East, they have done so much, they initially deserted but I brought them back, spoke to them like a father and a brother…,” he said.

Falana whose cross-examination of Opurum focussed on a written statement admitted in evidence sought to know if the situation of the accused soldiers was the same in other theatre of operations within and outside the country in the area of operations.

Falana, who emphasised that 47 of the soldiers turned out voluntarily to fight with the unit when it came under attack, while 13 were arrested on the orders of the GOC, also pointed out that the soldiers requested for arms which were not supplied.

The Defence counsel then filed an application to have a record of the arms and ammunition that was supplied to and taken back from the soldiers for the record purposes, which the President of the Court, Brig. Gen. Musa Yusuf, said had been noted.

When asked whether the boys asked for weapons to prosecute the battle, the commander said, “all units in the North-East ask for equipment but we had enough to carry out the task.”

The Nigerian Army had inaugurated the General Court Martial to try 97 officers and men of service for alleged offences in connection with counter-terrorism operation in the North-East on October 2, 2014.

Fifteen of the accused Army personnel are officers, while 72 belong to the rank and file.

It was gathered that the Army authorities would put the rest 37 on trial after concluding the mutiny cases.

Viewed 1 times
Army begins trial of 59 soldiers for mutiny