The Nigerian Army has commended Sagir Koli, a Captain, who exposed a video recording exposing plans by his commanding officer and top officials of the Goodluck Jonathan administration to rig the June 21, 2014 election in Ekiti State.
The army praised Mr. Koli’s “non-partisanship and professional conduct during the election period.”
Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai has commended his men for crushing terrorism in the North East.
Lt-Gen Buratai who spoke weekend while laying the foundation stone for the new Brigade headquaters complex at the 2 Brigade, Port Harcourt, Rivers State said, the army will remain vigilant to contend any new strategy that may be adopted by the terrorists.
In a bid to fulfill its promise of helping Nigeria fight the Boko Haram insurgency, the United States will today, donate 24 mine-resistant and armor-protected vehicles to the Nigerian Army.
The vehicles, which are valued at $11m, would be handed over to the military authorities at the Nigerian Army 9th Brigade Parade Ground, Ikeja Army Cantonment in Lagos.
A statement by the Army spokesperson, Sani Usman, said the Shi’ite members barricaded the road with bonfires, heavy stones and tyres. They refused to disperse and allegedly started firing and pelting the convoy of Chief of Army Staff, Buratai with dangerous objects.
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The Nigerian Army has debunked rumours that the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, was arrested by soldiers at his residence and his wife killed.
The assertion was made by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade, in company of the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police and other senior Army officers on Monday.
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has warned the Nigerian military authorities against plunging the country into another Boko Haram-like insurgency with the repeated attacks on members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria.
In a statement Sunday, the NSCIA said in a statement by its Secretary General, Is-haq Oloyede, that it was shocked and saddened by the fresh outbreak of deadly violence in Zaria.
The Nigerian Army in a statement giving an update on the confrontation said, “Saturday’s incident involving clashes between detachments of the Nigerian Army, accompanying the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General TY Buratai and followers of Sheikh Ibrahim El Zak-Zaky, suspected to be members of the Shiite Sect in Zaria, leading to loss of lives as a result of the Shiite group members’ blocking roads and not allowing other passers-by to go about their lawful businesses and activities, was most unfortunate.
“The Nigerian Constitution guarantees the rights of any group of persons and Sheikh El Zak Zaky’s followers to hold a peaceful march or procession unhindered, but it also guarantees other people’s rights of way on public highways.
No fewer than 20 members of the Shi’ite sect were killed, yesterday, as the military cracked down on the sect for blocking the highways during their public procession in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Heavy fighting broke out late Saturday night into the early hours of Sunday, between men of the Nigerian Army and members of the Islamic movement of Nigeria also known as Shi’ite, following the surrounding of the house of leader of the movement, Sheik Ibrahim Zakzaky, by troops.
The second-in-command of the movement, spokesperson, head of the medical team of the sect and several others were killed during the siege.
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The leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, a group propagating the spread of Shi’te Islam in Nigeria, Ibrahim El- Zakzaky, has been arrested by Nigerian troops, following a siege on his Zaria residence.
A second-in-command of the movement, Muhammadu Turi, and the head of the medical team of the sect, Mustapha Saidu, and several others were killed during the siege.
Nigeria Gists 