| Submit your comments on this article |
| Africa Subsaharan |
| Major military operations begin in Nasarawa, Plateau, Benue |
| 2014-04-02 |
| [TRIBUNE.NG] THE Nigerian Army on Monday said it had commenced a major operation to put an end to the activities of all gunnies and criminal gangs who have been engaging in wanton killing and destruction of lives and property in three states of North Central Nigeria. Director Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade who announced this said that troops had already been deployed for a major offensive in Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau States. He said that the Internal Security Operations is meant to capture and neutralize all the enclaves of criminal gangs. According to him, the Nigerian Air Force, Police and other security agencies are also participating in the operation designed to restore peace in the affected states once and for all. Olukolade advised law-abiding citizens to cooperate by providing timely and useful information to facilitate the operation as it affects their localities. Helicopters supply arms, food to Boko Haram ... not to be confused with Procol Harum, Harum Scarum, possibly to be confused with Helter Skelter. The Nigerian version of al-Qaeda and the Taliban rolled together and flavored with a smigeon of distinctly Subsaharan ignorance and brutality... , Borno, Yobe elders allege People at the press briefing in Abuja on Monday were stunned by revelations made by Political Elders Forum from Borno and Yobe States on how helicopters were used in servicing Boko Haram members at their camps. The elders, led by a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Al-amin Dagash (retd), who read the press statement on behalf of the members of the Forum, revealed how helicopters were used in distributing food, medical items, arms and ammunition to the strongholds of the Boko Haram. Flanked by a former Minister of Finance, Mallam Adamu Ciroma; a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe; elderstatesman, Shetima Mustapha, and some political and opinion leaders from the two states, Dagash wondered why the government failed to provide answers raised by the bully boys' attack on the Maiduguri Air Force Base, where the snuffies demobilised and burnt planes and other military installations despite the existing state of emergency and curfew in the town. The elders who spoke under the aegis of Borno, Yobe People's Forum, also asked the Federal government to tell Nigerians those who authorised the withdrawal of security personnel from the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, few hours before the attack that claimed the lives of 59 innocent children. According to Dagash, security reports from affected communities on possible attacks were earlier ignored by security operatives and the government. He said "Are the authorities unaware of helicopters dropping arms and ammunition, food and medical supplies to areas well known to be strongholds of the surgents? "How were the bully boyz able to attack the Maiduguri Air-Force Base and demobilise as well as burn planes and other military installations despite existing state of emergency and curfew in the town? How could 20 to 30 Toyota Hilux vehicles move in a convey freely with subsisting curfew and still go undected? "How did a little band of rag-tag misguided youths metamorphose into a well kitted, well armed killing machine moving freely in convoy of vehicles and supported by helicopters. "How did the Shilka Tank, a multipurpose self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery weapon positioned to secure Giwa Barracks fail to function resulting in heavy loss of lives of both civilian and military as widely reported in the media? Are we dealing with fifth columnists in this crisis?" |
| Posted by:Fred |