All posts by Modupe Oremule

Arrests
By Modupe Oremule
Lagos, April 14, 2020 (NAN) The Operatives of 81 Division, Nigerian Army, on Tuesday arrested and paraded seven persons suspected to have impersonated military officers and perpetrated criminal activities during the lockdown in Lagos.

The suspects, who were arrested in various parts of Lagos, were paraded by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division, Maj.-Gen. Olubunmi Irefin, at the Division’s Headquarters.

Irefin said that the suspects were arrested when the Division embarked on “Operation Checkmate”, to check the activities of erring personnel, imposters and enforce discipline during the lockdown.

“For the past two weeks, precisely in support of the lockdown order by the Federal Government of Nigeria, 81 Division embarked on Operation Checkmate at various locations within Lagos State.

“Operation Checkmate is a routine activity in 81 Division Area of Responsibility (AOR) to checkmate erring personnel, impostors and enforce discipline,” he said.

The GOC said that some of the suspects caught with military accoutrements, used their vehicles and motorcycles for commercial purposes, defying the state government’s lockdown order.

“During one of the operations carried out at Victoria Island, Obalende and Ojo environs, some criminals were arrested impersonating as military personnel.

“Some of them were conveying passengers on motorcycles and vehicles during the lockdown, using military uniform. These are pure civilians using military uniform to commit crime.

“Some were using the military accoutrements for illegal duties, painting the military in bad image. We will continue this operation until we restore normalcy to the society,” Irefin said.

He warned that the army would henceforth arrest anyone who uses military stickers or any military accoutrement to perpetrate any illegal act,” he said.

“The operation is also not necessarily for miscreants but for our personnel too, who are misbehaving and carrying passengers. Nobody is permitted to use military stickers on their cars at any point in time.

“We the military don’t use the stickers again, so anyone using military sticker, accoutrements, will be arrested and where necessary handed over to the police,” he said.

The GOC enjoined the public to be wary of such impostors.

“Consequently, members of the Nigerian public are enjoined to be aware of such imposters who hide in military outfit to commit crimes.

“We also wish to inform the general public that most of those who posed in military outfits and carrying passengers on motorcycles are not soldiers or members of the Armed Forces.

“The public are hereby advised to report any suspected person in military outlook,” he said.

Irefin gave the names of the suspects as: Moses Johnson, Anamati Imeh, Ogbunamado Azubuike, Ayuba Poshiga, Charles David, Abdulrasaki Isah and Raymond Okpobrisi.

One of the suspects, Johnson, who spoke on how he was arrested, confessed he bought the military uniform for N20,000.

Johnson said that he was arrested around Idumota area of Lagos Island while conveying a passenger with his motorcycle. (NAN)
MJO/VIV/AJA
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Editing by Vivian Ihechu/Adeleye Ajayi

Insurgency

By Modupe Oremule

Lagos, April 8, 2020 (NAN) The Nigerian Army (NA) says that it is optimistic that the procurement of  new tanks and artillery armaments will  further strengthen its  fight against insurgency.

Lt.-Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, the Nigerian Army’s (NA) Chief of Policy and Plans (CPPLANS), said this at the Apapa Ports where he received  the equipment.

He said that the government was doing its best to re-equip the NA to ensure that  it adequately  tackled insecurity and insurgency in the country.

“We are here to witness the reception of the armament that the Federal Government of Nigeria through its Ministry of Defence has procured for the Nigerian Army.

“The process of acquiring this has been on for some time, but thank God they are now coming in as at today from what you can see.

“You can see how serious the Government of Nigeria is in making sure that not only is the Army re-equipped as necessary but to ensure that the  insecurity problem we are having all over the country is  tackled not only with trained personnel but also  with  the required equipment,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that  the NA received not less than 17 tanks and artillery.

He said that a more robust cooperation to fight  insecurity, Boko Haram and bandits should be expected with the acquisition of the tanks and  the artillery.

He said, ”This is  the first batch, as more are expected.

“They are new ones, the latest technology in tank and artillery armament is what you are seeing.”

He said that before now, the NA had taken delivery of some containers  from the sea containing   spare parts and accessories for the tanks and  the artillery.

“Those ones are already on their way to their various destinations,” he said, adding that more were expected to be shipped into the country very soon.

“As we can see for ourselves, this is just a tip of the iceberg and many others are still coming.

“But it is important that we all see that both the military and the government are really very serious to tackle the security problems across the nation.

“They were acquired from China and they are in  different categories: the heavy tanks, the light tanks, two types of artillery heavy guns.”

He said that those that would operate the acquired armaments had also undergone training in China.

“The trainers from China will also come to train more people,’’ he said. (NAN)

MJO/VIV/PAD

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Editing by Vivian Ihechu/Peter Dada

COVID-19: Western Naval Command adopts proactive measures on Nigerian waters

Domain

By Modupe Oremule
Lagos, March 30, 2020 (NAN) The Western Naval Command (WNC) says it is adopting three proactive measures aimed ensuring that the Nigerian waters remained safe in concerted efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus pandemic.

Rear Adm. Oladele Daji, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday that the measures were adopted following the Presidential order to contain the spread of the virus in Nigeria

“The Presidential Order has been amplified and communicated to all naval commands by Naval Headquarters through the Chief of the Naval Staff Operational Directive for the Containment of the Spread of COVID-19,”he said.

According to him, the measures are Maritime Domain Awareness, deployment of warships within its Area of Responsibility and collaboration with relevant agencies in the maritime domain.

“These measures are: Monitoring of all ships transiting or calling at Nigerian ports through effective use of the Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) facilities in the Command.

“These facilities will indicate the history trail of all the vessels, including the port of origin, the previous ports they berthed, the type of cargoes on board, their agents in Nigeria etc.

“When these information gathered are analysed, it will tell us whether or not the ship is from high risk countries and we will be able to advise the appropriate port authorities.

“Including the Port Health Department within the WNC’s AOR on how to handle the ship and its cargoes,” he said.

He added that WNC was fully enforcing federal government’s directive for a ship to have been at sea for at least 14 days before being allowed entry into the ports.

He said that to prevent the influx of foreigners during the period, warships and smaller boats in the backwaters were being deployed.

“The second layer of measures being taken to prevent influx of foreigners is the deployment of warships at sea within the WNC’s AOR and smaller boats in the backwaters (creeks and deep waterways).

“The naval assists are tasked to interrogate all vessels to ascertain their mission and if suspicious, they are boarded by own personnel to carry out physical inspection.

“Personnel required to board such ships are fully kitted with personnel protective wears, the third measure is the collaboration with all relevant agencies operating in the maritime environment.

“In order to ensure synergy of efforts in the implementation of government policies regarding containment of the spread of COVID-19,”he said.

Reacting to the precautionary measures put in place to ensure the safety of personnel, he said that there has been sustained campaign and sensitisation, while safety had always been a way of life to naval officers.

“The issue of safety in the Navy is part of the naval way of life and a major part of naval training, essentially because of the confined nature of the ship itself.

“These training include, keeping safe in situations of Nuclear, Biological Chemical attacks or accidents as well as in cases of fire onboard the ship.

“In the present case of COVID-19, the WNC has been conducting sustained campaign and sensitisation of personnel and their families to imbibe basic hygiene practices and make it a way of life.

“This includes the correct procedures for hand washing with water and soap, use of hand sanitizers and disinfectants for surfaces suspected to be contaminated,” he said.

The FOC said that required logistics were provided at strategic places in ships, units and establishments within the Command in line with the Nigerian Navy Safety slogan: “SAFETY FIRST, SAFETY ALWAYS.

“Accordingly, the Naval headquarters also provides Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) to all personnel deemed to be at risk in the course of performing their duties, including medical personnel.

“And personnel required to board and search vessels either at sea or alongside the quay,” he said.

Reacting to whether the Command would reduce the number of personnel for duty during the period, the FOC said that the full capacity of the Navy was needed in case of emergency.

“In line with the CNS Operational Directive on Containment of the Spread of COVID-19, the WNC has developed a Contingency Plan of Action.

“Taking into consideration and in anticipation of additional measures that may be rolled out either by the Federal Government or the various State Governments within the WNC’s AOR.

“Accordingly, the Command is prepared to assist the Civil Authorities to implement any such measures.

“As may be instituted through activation of the capabilities of Nigerian Navy Disaster Relief Units within the Command and Internal Security Platoons,”Daji said.

He said that the Contingency Plan of Action developed by the WNC would be automatically activated to ensure that there was no spread, incase of suspicious case of COVID-19 in any ship, unit or establishment.

“Like I said before, Safety is a way of life in the navy because of the peculiar nature of the platforms in which we operate as well as the nature of the operational environment.

“All these make the slogan “SAFETY FIRST, SAFETY ALWAYS “ relevant at this time more than ever before,”he said. (NAN)
MJO/KOLE/WOJ
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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Wale Ojetimi

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Hospital

By Modupe Oremule

Lagos, March 15, 2020 (NAN) A total of 55 victims of Sunday’s explosion at Abule Ado area of Lagos were treated at Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Ojo, Western Naval Command (WNC) Spokesman, Thomas Otuji, has said.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Navy Fire Service Unit trucks from NNS WEY, Naval Ordnance Depot, Naval Air Base, were also deployed to assist in fighting the fire.

He said that the explosion that occurred at Abule Ado about 9:30 a. m. also caused substantial damage to the ceilings in the hospital.

“Fifty-five persons were attended to, made up of 36 school children and 19 adults.

“One of the adults had about 35 per cent mixed degree burns with inhalation injuries and pulmonary edema.

“He has been admitted into the Intensive Care Unit and connected to a ventilator, seven other adults and two children are on admission in the wards.

“Two adults had traumatic brain injury and were referred to LUTH for neurosurgical intervention. The remaining 43 have been treated and discharged.

“Three people were brought in dead comprising of two females and a male,” the Navy Spokesman said.(NAN)

MJO/BOLA/WOJ
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Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Wale Ojetimi

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