Onyema Nwachukwu Archives - Phenomenal

Kano tussle: Army replies critics of its presence in the state

Phenomenal — Mon, 27 May 2024 10:48:55 +0000

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The Nigerian Army has replied those accusing it of bias in the emirship tussle in Kano State.

Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi and Aminu Ado Bayero are laying claim to be the emir, after Governor Abba Yusuf reinstated the first, following the repealing of the law that brought in Bayero.

But Bayero is staying put on the basis of a court order that restrained the governor from reinstating Sanusi.

Soldiers, alongside policemen and other security operatives, had immediately moved into Kano, making it clear that they are on the side of the court order.

Some civil society members, lawyers and some other stakeholders have criticised the army, accusing them of partiality.

But in a statement on Sunday night, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, said the army is not involved in the emirate tussle.

“Contrary to insinuations by the Kano state chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association as published on 26 May 2024, troops of the Nigerian Army have not been involved in the Kano state emirate tussle and are not involved in enforcing any court order. They have only taken proactive steps to checkmate any possible breakdown or breach of the security that may be occasioned by the Kano Emirship tussle.

“The issue of paramount concern to the Nigerian Army and other security agencies is the prevention of breakdown of law and order in the state, which could be taken advantage of by adversarial non-state actors. The military would imminently intervene when it becomes apparent that the intensity of the security situation becomes overwhelming for the police.

“All the Army is doing at this stage is to monitor the situation as it unfolds and be on standby in the event of any escalation that could threaten the security of the state and the region in general.”

Attack on soldiers: Army speaks on closure of Banex Plaza

Phenomenal — Tue, 21 May 2024 19:15:31 +0000

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The Nigerian Army says the closure of the popular Banex Plaza in Wuse Abuja was in response to the unfortunate brutal attack on some Nigerian Army personnel by some hoodlums at the plaza.

There was an unrest at the plaza on May 18 when some army personnel were attacked by yet to be identified hoodlums, following a disagreement over phone.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Tuesday, said the closure followed a meeting convened with the management of Banex Plaza to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of the heinous act.

Nwachukwu said it was agreed that activities in the plaza be temporarily shut to ensure that the hoodlums who had been using the Banex neighborhood as a sanctuary to pose security threat to the Federal Capital Territory were apprehended.

He said that a swift intervention by soldiers and policemen on internal security duties salvaged the situation and rescued the attacked personnel from being lynched by the hoodlums.

According to Nwachukwu, it is important to note that the soldiers attacked were unarmed, did not engage in any form of aggression, and posed no threat to anyone.

“The cruel treatment meted out to them was entirely unwarranted and unjustifiable.

“There Is need for an extensive investigation to be conducted at the scene to determine both the immediate and underlying causes of this mayhem.

“This investigation ultimately aims at ensuring the security of the Federal Capital Territory and to prevent such unwarranted attacks on our personnel and other security operatives, as has been observed in other areas, such as the unfortunate attack in Okuama,” he said.

Nwachukwu said the Nigerian army would also ensure that it diligently investigates the circumstances surrounding the presence of the personnel at the plaza and the attack that ensued.

He said that such acts of violence against personnel were not only condemnable, but could degenerate to a breakdown of law and order, orchestrating threats to national security.

He enjoined members of the public to exercise caution and restraint in dealing with military personnel and other security operatives, especially when they are in uniform.

According to him, there are established channels through which grievances or misconduct by personnel could be reported to the appropriate authorities.

“It is imperative that these channels are utilised to maintain order and respect for those who serve and protect our nation,” he added.

No ethnic consideration in trial of soldiers – Nigerian Army

Phenomenal — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 21:01:46 +0000

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The Nigerian Army has dismissed allegation of ethnic bias in the trial of soldiers recently arraigned before a Court Martial in 82 Division, Enugu.

This is contained in a statement in Abuja on Saturday, by Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, Director, Army Public Relations.

Nwachukwu said that the Nigerian army was a composite national institution and not an ethnic militia.

He was reacting to a media report that there was a deliberate effort to convict soldiers of Southern extraction, while those from Northern Nigeria were allowed to go free.

He said the report alleged that some allegedly aggrieved soldiers who were arraigned before the court martial expressed the concern.

He noted that the misleading report was being circulated to cause disharmony within the army and by extension the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

According to him, the report is entirely bereft of any strand of truth and ultimately aimed at disparaging the current leadership of the army in particular and the armed forces in general, using the instrumentality of ethnic and religious bigotry.

Nwachukwu explained that the composition of the said court martial was not based on regional representation but was diverse, with personnel drawn from various regions of the country.

He revealed that the President of the Court was of Northern extraction, while the Judge Advocate was from the South.

He added that 60 per cent of the court martial members were of Southern extraction.

According to him, this demonstrates a fair and balanced representation, even though religion and ethnicity are not major focal criteria in the decision making process of the army.

“The decision of a court martial is collective and based on evidence presented during the trial.

“The said court martial tried the personnel, irrespective of their ethnic and religious affiliations and the outcome was determined strictly based on the evidence presented.

“In espousing the position of the Nigerian Army in the cases mentioned in the report, taking that of Pte. Usman Shonva for instance, wherein evidence revealed that there were other soldiers at the scene of the incident, who also fired their weapons.

“Hence, the court, based on this finding among others, reached the conclusion that the shot that killed the dead soldier could have been fired by any of the soldiers at the scene, thus, leading to his discharge and acquittal.

“It must be emphasised that the Nigerian Army does not task its personnel (including for court martial membership) on a regional basis in order to achieve national spread”.

“The Nigerian Army is a composite national institution and not an ethnic militia. It will therefore not bite the odious bait being dangled to induce splintering along sectional, ethnic and religious fissures.

The Army spokesman said the court martial proceedings were conducted in a fair and unbiased manner.

He urged the publisher of the report to refrain from peddling misinformation capable of engendering disaffection and disharmony among army personnel, other services and security personnel.

“We urge the public to note the true picture and discountenance the false report published by the online media platform.

“Continued spread of the misinformation will only serve the ulterior motive of the author, which is to cause disharmony in the Nigerian army.

“The army is committed to upholding justice, equity and discipline within its ranks, and will continue to ensure that all personnel are treated fairly and in accordance with the law,” he added.

Army speaks as explosion rocks Army Cantonment 22 years after major disaster

Phenomenal — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 22:43:18 +0000

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In a way that brings to memory a 2002 disaster, an explosion, on Monday, rocked the Ikeja Military Cantonment in Lagos State.

The explosion was said to have occurred on a farmland in the cantonment.

According to The PUNCH, as of the time of filing the report, details of the explosion were still sketchy, and there was no report of casualty.

On January 27, 2002, a bomb explosion that killed several people and rendered many people homeless occurred in the cantonment.

In October 2023, the service recovered 642 unexploded bombs from the cantonment.

While confirming the Monday explosion, the Nigerian Army described it as a minor incident and urged residents to remain calm.

The Army, in statement by its Director of Public Relations, Maj Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, said its Engineers Explosive Ordnance Disposal team had cordoned off the area of the farmland where the explosion occurred to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the explosion.

The statement read, “This is to notify the general public that today, Monday, April 1, 2024, a minor explosion occurred within the Nigerian Army Cantonment in Ikeja, Lagos The incident occurred on a farmland near the Mammy Market within the cantonment.

“The explosion is suspected to have been triggered by the burning of refuse and other inflammable debris by a farmer who cultivated the farmland.

“Fortunately, no casualty was recorded in the incident. However, given that the cantonment was recently cleared and certified free of unexploded ordnances, we understand that there could be concerns among the general public as a result of the historical antecedent of explosion within the cantonment.

“The NA therefore wishes to assure the public that the situation is under control as the NA Engineers Explosive Ordnance Disposal team has cordoned off the area of the farmland to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the explosion. We urge residents in the general area not to panic and assure them of their safety.”

Lagbaja in Maiduguri, hails troops on operational successes

Phenomenal — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 11:34:14 +0000

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The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja has hailed troops of Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai in the North East Theatre of Operations, for the operational successes so far achieved.

Lagbaja gave the commendation on his arrival in Maiduguri, on Friday on an operational tour to assess the security situation and reinvigorate ongoing Counter terrorism counter insurgency operations being conducted by the troops.

This is contained in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Friday.

Nwachukwu said the COAS was briefed by the Theatre Commander, Maj.-Gen. Golden Chibuisi on the current security situation of the North East, ongoing operational activities to clear terrorists from their enclaves in the Lake Chad region and the Mandara mountains as well as the challenges of the outfit.

The COAS observed that new trends had been noticed in the activities of the terrorists, adding that they were now reverting to abduction for ransom, pillaging for logistics and attacking civilians with Improvised Explosive Devices ( IED).

He assured that combat enablers would be provided to support ongoing operations to further ensure more pronounced stability in the region.

“We will continue to bring you updates as the COAS continues his operational tour of the North East Theatre of Operations,” he said.

Army promotes 122 to Major General, Brigadier General

Phenomenal — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 09:36:40 +0000

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The Army Council has approved the promotion of 122 senior officers to the ranks of Major General and Brigadier General in recognition of their meritorious service to the nation.

The promotion, comprising of 52 brigadier generals to the rank of major general and 70 colonels to the rank of brigadier general respectively, was approved at the council’s sitting on Thursday.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Onyema Nwachukwu, made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

According to Nwachukwu, among those promoted to the rank of Major General are Brig.-Gen. AA Ayanuga of the Department of Army Transformation and Innovation, and Brig.-Gen. EH Akpan of Theatre Command Operation HADIN KAI.

Others are Brig.-Gen. NM Jega of the Defence Headquarters, Brig.-Gen. JO Ugwuoke of the Department of Army Logistics, Brig.-Gen. PAO Okoye of the Department of Army Operations.

They also include Brig.-Gen. EF Oyinlola of the Department of Special Services and Programmes; Brig.-Gen. AA Adekeye of 21 Special Armoured Brigade, Brig.-Gen. AE Edet of Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and Brig.-Gen. AB Mohammed of Army Headquarters Operations Monitoring Team.

Also promoted is the Commander Guards Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Muhammed Usman as well as Brig.-Gen. IM Abdullahi of Headquarters 35 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. AO Agboola of the Department of Army Training and Brig.-Gen. EE Emekah of Nigerian Defence Academy.

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They also include Brig.-Gen., HE Nzan of Department of Army Standards and Evaluation, Brig.-Gen. LA Lebo of Department of Army Training, UT Otaru of Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport and AU Obiwulu of 1 Base Workshop, amongst others.

Nwachukwu said that some of the colonels elevated to the rank of Brigadier General are, Col. AO Ajagbe, Col. JO Ogbobe, Col. MG Hammawa, Col. SS Bello and Col. SOG Aremu.

They also include Col. NG Mohammed, Col. OI Odigie, Col. CA Osuagwu, Col. MO Eteng and Col. ED Idima amongst others.

“The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya congratulates all the promoted officers and their families.

“He has also charged them to remain focused, selfless and loyal in their service to the nation to justify the confidence and trust reposed in them by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Mohammadu Buhari, the Nigerian Army and indeed all Nigerians,” he said.

Army promotes 117 to Major, Generals

Phenomenal — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 15:51:10 +0000

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The Army Council has approved promotion of 117 senior officers to Major and Brigadier Generals.

The promotion, comprising of 41 brigadier generals to the ranks of major generals and 76 colonels to the ranks of brigadier generals respectively, was approved at the council’s sitting on Tuesday.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to Nwachukwu, among those promoted to the rank of Maj. Gen are, Brig.-Gen. CU Onwunle, Director, Directorate of Army Data Processing Lagos; Brig.-Gen. M Danmadami, Research Fellow/Subject Expert, Indian Sub-Continental at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre Abuja.

“Others are Brig.-Gen. OJ Akpor, Director Military Training, Nigerian Defence Academy; Brig.-Gen. UT Musa of the Department of Administration Army Headquarters Abuja and Brig.-Gen. Abdulwahab Eyitayo, Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division/ JTF NE Operation Hadin Kai Maiduguri.

“Also promoted are Brig.-Gen. V Ebhaleme of Defence Space Administration Abuja; Brig.-Gen. LT Omoniyi of Department of Civil Military Affairs Abuja and Brig.-Gen. NU Muktar, Acting Director of Procurement, Office of the Chief of Army Staff amongst others.”

Nwachukwu further disclosed that Col. O Adegbe of the Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command Minna, Col. AA Babalola of Headquarters 3 Division, Col. NN Orok of Defence Headquarters and Col. MO Ibrahim of Army War College Nigeria, were promoted to the rank of Brig.-Gen.

Others promoted according to him are, Col. BO Omopariola, Commander 25 Task Force Brigade; Col. UV Unachukwu of Army War College Nigeria; Col. OAO Ojo of Headquarters Nigerian Army Signals Lagos and Col HI Dasuki of the Forward Operating Base, Ngamdu, Borno, amongst others.

“The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, congratulates all the promoted officers and their families, and urges them to redouble effort to justify the confidence reposed in them by the Nigerian army,” he said.

Troops kill three gunmen in Enugu

Phenomenal — Sat, 09 Oct 2021 14:50:31 +0000

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The Director, Army Public Relations, Onyema Nwachukwu, has confirmed the killing of three gunmen in Enugu.

He said on Saturday that troops of Sector 5 operating under Exercise ‘Golden Dawn’ in Enugu, neutralised the gunmen who attacked a police checkpoint along Okija-Onitsha expressway on Thursday.

Nwachukwu said the gallant troops engaged and overwhelmed the gunmen with superior firepower, forcing them to flee the scene.

He said the troops however pursued and engaged the gunmen in a gun duel, killing three and forcing others to flee.

According to him, the gunmen who were in two vehicles, a Hilux and Hummer bus, eventually succumbed to the troops’ effective firepower, while others fled with gunshot wounds.

“Troops also recovered one vehicle and two motorcycles, while conducting further exploitation of the general area for the fleeing terrorists.

“Unfortunately, a soldier paid the supreme price, in the line of duty, for his country.

“The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, commends the troops for the feat and urges them to sustain the momentum against all criminal elements operating in the region.

“The COAS also sympathises with the family of the fallen hero and prays for the repose of his soul.,” he said.