Gunmen Attack: Nigerian Army Announces Death Of Provost Marshal
The authorities of the Nigerian Army has announced the death of the Provost Marshal, Major General Hassan Ahmed who died yesterday when the senior officer’s vehicle was attacked by gunmen while transiting along Lokoja – Abuja road.
According to a statement today signed by Onyema Nwachukwu, Brigadier General and Director Army Public Relations, “With a heavy heart, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, and Soldiers of the Nigerian Army regret to announce the passing on of Major Gen Hassan Ahmed, a former Provost Marshall of the Nigerian Army.
“The sad incident occurred when the senior officer’s vehicle was attacked by gunmen while transiting along Lokoja – Abuja road yesterday 15 July 2021.”
COAS in the statement said a delegation from the Army Headquarters led by the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army) Maj Gen Anthony Omozoje, has visited the widow and other members of the bereaved family.
The statement stated that members of the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA) led by the Deputy National President, Mrs Stella Omozoje have also visited the family to condole with them.
The remains of the deceased senior officer, the statement statated, will be accorded a befitting burial at the Lungi Barracks Cemetery on friday 16 July 2021 by 10.00am.
,,,Refutes Reports On Release Of Boko Haram Fighters In Borno False
The Nigerian Army (NA) has been notified of a media publication alleging that the NA has handed over 1009 Ex-Boko Haram fighters to Borno State government.
The report also alleged that the event was shrouded in secrecy. This report, is obviously one of those attempts to dampen troops’ morale and denigrate the NA, riding on the back of unsubstantiated report and misinformation.
While the NA would not want to join issues with the masterminds of this false narrative, it is important to set the records straight.
It is an indisputable fact that the ongoing Counter Terrorism Counter Insurgency Operations (CTCOIN) in the North East has led to the arrest of several terrorism/insurgency suspects. These suspects have been held in custody, while undergoing profiling and further investigations by experts from the Joint Investigation Centre (JIC) and those who are found culpable are usually handed over to prosecuting agencies accordingly, while those who are not implicated in terrorism and insurgency are cleared and released to the state government for rehabilitation before they are reintegrated into the society. These cleared suspects are therefore not ex Boko Haram fighters, as peddled in the said online report and as the masterminds would want to impress on the public. A total of 1009 cleared suspects, not ex fighters, were therefore released after this rigorous process on Wednesday 14 July 2021. It is also necessary to categorically state that the handing over of the cleared suspects was not shrouded in secrecy as it was witnessed by United Nations Humanitarian and government agencies, in tandem with global best practice.
The NA therefore urges the general public to discountenance this misinformation, as it is evidently a manipulation and distortion of the truth and reality of the event.
… Partners Italian Military On Manpower Development
The Italian Defence General Staff Policy and Planning Deputy Division Head, Major General Massimo Biagini has sought to promote a collaboration between the Italian military and the Nigerian Army particularly in the area of military courses and manpower development. This was made known today Thursday 15 July 2021 when he paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya at the Army Headquarters, Abuja .
The Italian Defence Chief disclosed that he was at the Army Headquarters to seek collaboration in the area of training and support towards tackling security challenges bedeviling the country. He maintained that the military of both countries had shared some commonalities, such as training of personnel in staff courses. He added that both military needed to take the relationship to a higher pedestal.
Responding, the COAS, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP) Army, Major General Anthony Omozoje, noted that several NA personnel have benefited immensely from the Italian military, in the area of training and man power development. He said the NA will continue to partner with military institutions and other stakeholders, in the unrelenting effort to totally defeat insurgency and other security challenges confronting the nation.
Highlights of the event were signing of visitors’ register, exchange of souvenirs and group photograph.
All the stories in this bulletin was signed by Onyema Nwachukwu, Brigadier General, Director Army Public Relations.
