Metro

Benue Killings: Troops Eliminate 40 Insurgents/Herders

Published

2 years ago

March 8, 2024

Following the refusal of herders, cultists and insurgents to heed its warning and put a stop to the wanton killings of indigenes of Benue state over issues of farmlands, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke have charged through ambushes laid by armed herders and violent extremists in four Local government areas of Benue State, killing a total of 40 armed herders, violent extremists and insurgents after heavy gunfights.

The four local government involved are Apo Local government area, Katsinal Ala Local government area, Ukum Local government area and Ado local government area all in Benue state.

During the encounters, troops on while on patrol were ambushed by suspected violent extremists/armed herders in Apa LGA of Benue State an following a fire fight, troops neutralized 13 insurgents and recovered 10 AK47 rifles, 117 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 4 magazines and 4 mobile phones

In a separate operation, troops raided suspected violent extremists hideout and made contact in Katsina-Ala and Ado LGAs of Benue State resulting a fire fight, with troops neutralizing 12 insurgents and arresting 5 suspected cultists. During the operation, troops recovered 10 locally fabricated guns, 2 Dane guns, one fabricated pistol, 110 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 234 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 112 rounds of 9mm ammo, 3 motorcycles and 4 mobile phones.

Similarly, troops while on fighting patrol made contact with violent extremists/insurgents in Ukum LGA of Benue State resulting in a fire fight, with troops liquidating 15 insurgents and recovering 10 AK47 rifles, 2 double barrel guns, Dane guns, one locally made pistol, 78 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 32 rounds of 9mm ammo and substance suspected to be cannabis.

Director of Defence Media Operations, Major Gen Edward Buba made this known while giving details operations aimed at tackling insecurity in the country adding that troops of operation Whirl Stroke also arrested one suspected violent extremist/impostor in Karu LGA of Nasarawa State and recovered military accoutrements and fake military ID cards among others from him.

“Troops with hybrid forces also raided suspected violent extremists/terrorists hideouts in Katsina-Ala LGA of Benue State, made no contact, but recovered 22 rounds of 5.64mm ammo and one vehicle”.

Speaking further on operations in the last one week, Gen Buba said that, troops neutralized 210 terrorists, bandits and kidnappers and arrested 208 of them, including 66 perpetrators of oil theft as well as rescued 46 kidnapped hostages.

“In the Niger Delta, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of two billion, two hundred and eventy five million, four hundred and fifty one thousand and six hundred naira (N2, 275,451,600.00).

“Troops discovered and destroyed 81 illegal refining sites, 100 cooking ovens, 120 storage tanks, 63 dugout pits, 46 boats. 11 pumping machines, 23 vehicles, 2 tricycles, 6 mobile phones, one generator, 3 outboard engines.

“Troops recovered 1,932,245 liters of stolen crude oil, 432,150 litres of illegally refined AGO and 3,500 liters of DPK.

“During the several engagements, troops recovered 243 assorted weapons and 5,453 assorted ammunition comprising 2 GPMGs, 3 G3 rifles, 115 AK47 rifles, 42 locally fabricated guns, 16 pump action guns, 12 locally fabricated pistols, 34 Dane guns, 2 pistols, 3 fabricated revolver gun, 3 automatic single barrel guns, 2 double barrel guns, 2 locally made short guns, 4 hand grenades, 2,699 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,558 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 339 rounds of 9mm ammo, 22 rounds of 5.64mm ammo, 121 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 468 live cartridges, 34 magazines, 5 HH boafeng radios, 18 vehicle, 26 motorcycles and 34 mobile phones amongst other items.
VANGUARD

Metro

Nigerian Army Suspends Statutory, Voluntary Retirement For Specific Officers

Published

1 day ago

December 7, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Army has announced the indefinite suspension of all statutory and voluntary retirements for specific categories of officers.

According to an internal memo dated 3 December 2025, signed by Major General E. I. Okoro on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, this is in response to the nationwide security emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu.

Okoro explained that the measure is intended to preserve manpower, expertise, and operational readiness while the Armed Forces rapidly expand to tackle the escalating insecurity across Nigeria.

Citing the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers (HTACOS) 2024, the document pointed out that officers normally retire upon reaching the prescribed age for their rank, completing 35 years of service, or after repeated failures in promotion or conversion processes.

However, Paragraph 3.10(e) permits service extensions when it is in the interest of the military.

“Military service of a commissioned officer entails a period of unbroken service in the AFN from the date of enlistment or commissioning to the date of retirement. The period of service is determined by conditions enshrined in the HTACOS Officers 2024. These include attainment of age ceilings on various ranks, 35 years maximum length of service, and other criteria provided in Paragraphs 11.02(d) and 17.15, among extant regulations,” the memo partly read.

“Notwithstanding these provisions, Chapter 3.10(e) of HTACOS Officers 2024 allows for extension of service to officers in the interest of the service.

“The President and Commander-in-Chief declared a nationwide security emergency on November 26, mandating the expansion of the AFN and other security agencies. In line with this, and to rapidly expand manpower, it has become expedient to temporarily suspend all statutory and voluntary retirements from the Nigerian Army with immediate effect.”

According to the memo, the suspension affects Army officers in the following categories: Those who have failed promotion examinations three times, those passed over for promotion three times, those who have reached the age ceiling for their current rank, those who have failed conversion boards three times and those who have completed 35 years of service.

It explained that affected officers who wish to remain in service may apply for an extension beyond their original retirement dates.

However, the memo clarified that: “Officers in these categories who are not interested in extension of service are to continue with the normal retirement procedure. Officers desirous of extension should note that upon extension, they are not eligible for career progression, including promotion, career courses, NA sponsorship, self-sponsored courses, secondment, or extra-regimental appointments.”

Metro

NDLEA Seizes 7.6m Tramadol Pills, 76,273kg Cannabis In Nationwide Raids

Published

1 day ago

December 7, 2025

Editor

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has announced the seizure of more than 7.6 million tramadol pills and 76,273 kilograms of cannabis strains in coordinated operations across several states, with multiple suspects arrested.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the seizures were made during intelligence-led raids between 1 and 6 December.

In Delta State, operatives recovered 3,874,000 tramadol pills and 252.2 litres of codeine syrup from a warehouse at Oko market, Asaba. In Imo State, 1.2 million tramadol tablets were intercepted from a vehicle driven by 35-year-old Kelechi Nwakocha along the Onitsha-Owerri road.

In Adamawa, officers stopped a Toyota Hiace bus travelling from Jos to Mubi with 1,577,112 capsules of tramadol and exol-5 tablets concealed in jumbo bags mixed with footwear. Two suspects, Kabiru Buba, 25, and Hamza Abubakar, 32, were arrested. Another suspect, Mudansir Rabiu, 27, was apprehended in Kano with 197,000 exol-5 pills.

In Ekiti, NDLEA destroyed 14,654 kilograms of skunk in Omuo forest and 54,300 kilograms in warehouses at Asin-Ekiti, Ikole Local Government Area. Two suspects were arrested in connection with the operations. In Ondo, 5,442 kilograms of skunk were seized in Igoba forest, Akure North, with five suspects taken into custody.

Further arrests were made in Niger State, where 500 kilograms of skunk were recovered from a van along Mokwa-Jebba road, and in Abuja, where 22 kilograms of synthetic cannabis known as Colorado were intercepted at Abaji expressway. A follow-up operation at Jabi park led to the arrest of a female receiver, Ali Blessing, 33. Another suspect, Aliyu Usman, 39, was arrested with 24 kilograms of skunk and 573,500 exol-5 pills along Kwali-Gwagwalada expressway.

In Lagos, 113 kilograms of Canadian Loud were recovered from Ezenwa Udoka at Ladipo market, while Izuchukwu Usulor was arrested with 351 kilograms of skunk in Onipanu. Susan Okoro was also arrested with 104.1 kilograms at Trade Fair complex, Ojo. In Edo, 447.5 kilograms of skunk were seized from two vehicles in Agho forest, Akoko Edo, and 315.8 kilograms were recovered from a warehouse in Isiefve community, Ohuwunde Local Government Area.

The Agency confirmed that sensitisation activities under its War Against Drug Abuse initiative continued during the week in schools, worship centres and communities across Kano, Benue and Rivers States.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers involved.

“Their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country, especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts, are well appreciated,” he said.
The Agency stated that investigations are ongoing and suspects will be prosecuted accordingly.