ARMY CHIEF VISITS TUDUN BIRI, COMMISERATES, TENDERS APOLOGY, PLEDGES SUCCOUR TO DRONE STRIKE VICTIMS, COMMUNITY
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja has paid a condolence visit to Tudun Biri community in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The Army Chief arrived the community in the early hours of Tuesday 5 December 2023, accompanied by Principal Staff Officers from the Army Headquarters and the General Officer Commanding 1 Division, where he met with the Dangaladima Zazau, the District Head of Rigasa, Architect Aminu Idris, other leaders and members of the community.
The COAS in an emotion laden speech expressed regrets on the unfortunate mishap, describing it as a very disheartening occurrence.
Speaking further, Gen Lagbaja noted that in the recent past, the general area of Tudun Biri and adjoining villages were infested with armed bandits, who terrorised the communities, until troops of the Nigerian Army started conducting operations to sanitize the area and make it habitable. He pointed out, that the troops were carrying out aeriel patrols when they observed a group of people and wrongly analyzed and misinterpreted their pattern of activities to be similar to that of the bandits, before the drone strike.
The COAS stated that he was in Tudun Biri to personally witness the site of the mishap and to convey sincere regrets and unreserved apologies on behalf of the Nigerian Army to the District Head and people of the community, as well as the Government and entire people of Kaduna State. He disclosed that he has ordered a thorough inquiry into the incident to ascertain and identify areas of deficiency that led to the inadvertent disaster, adding that the findings and overarching outcome of the investigation will guide the NA in meticulously and professionally seeking and applying lasting solutions to identified lapses and deficiencies in both the human and Artificial Intelligence variables that will forestall future recurrence.
The District Head of Rigasa, Architect Aminu Idris in his remarks said despite the enormity of the incident, the Nigerian Army showed integrity in accepting responsibility for the drone strike and urged its leadership to intervene in bringing succour to hospitalized victims and the community for their losses. He maintained that the community is a mixed community of both Muslims and Christians and that the victims are of both faith, contrary to earlier insinuation that the community is solely Muslim.
General Lagbaja also commiserated with the Chairman Jamaa' atu Nasru Islam, Kaduna State Prof Shafiu Abdullahi and other clerics. The Chief of Army Staff equally visited affected victims at the Barua Dikko Teaching Hospital Anguwan Rimi, Kaduna, where he expressed concern for the speedy recuperation of the hospitalized persons and made an immediate donation of several provisions for their upkeep.
ONYEMA NWACHUKWU Brigadier General Director Army Public Relations 5 December 2023
There is no need to further engage him. Your facts are crystal clear for anyone to see. @ Odunayaw has said it all!!
Faithful007: Yeah. That is to show you how impossible it will be for you to disprove what you're laughing at. I honestly don't want you to detract from the discourse cos I'm pissed and now I want to attack your person and expose your sheer emptiness. If you need more scientific evidence I will bring more.
Someone who doesn't even know the difference between the Syrian army, Iranian proxies and Hezbollah. Someone who doesn't know that majority of Lebanese don't even like Hezbollah, wants to argue with me. You laughed at my statement, show me what's funny about it then?
Don't be a coward. Make sure you show me what I've asked you. I don't like cowards who will laugh and then run away.
I'm impressed with India and they way they have handled themselves. We (Nigeria) have a lot of similarities with India positive similarities but unlike India we have failed to make use of ours.
kikuyu1: An important vid on the declining petro dollar and potential petro ruble. It encapsulates much of the idea of what a world future financial architecture will look like.
[urlhttps://youtu.be/hBl8sGUvzXY[/url]
The ruble has already almost reversed ALL its losses since the invasion.
You are very spot on on this Brother. The West (Europe) may be the biggest loosers in the long run. I cant believe how they allow America influence their decisions. It is like they no longer think for themselves.
kikuyu1: An important vid on the declining petro dollar and potential petro ruble. It encapsulates much of the idea of what a world future financial architecture will look like.
[urlhttps://youtu.be/hBl8sGUvzXY[/url]
The ruble has already almost reversed ALL its losses since the invasion.
Lool....Farooq...or is it Farouk...I am not hiding my identity...Even when we were still in Beeg's blog i never hid my identity. I am a confirmed Igbo Man from the SE of Nigeria. I have nothing to fear or hide. I speak my mind irrespective of who's ox is gored.
Ghanian, I could be sworn you are not Nigerian... There was a time when we had fun of Ghana's exo skeletons, if I remembered correctly, u were the most pained person then
Thanks for being civil. The "hate" between Nigeria and SA is holding back the partnership which these two countries need to forge to bring Africa to limelight. If you turn the African map to the side it looks like a gun with Nigeria being the trigger and SA the muzzle. These two countries need to work together in every area from Telecoms to Banking to Military. We should have all types of pact...economic, industrial etc. Now back to the matter at hand...rather than "waste" money buying from the Ruskies or the Yankees(and their younger siblings) we should assist Denel to open another production unit in Nigeria...have a TOT which will help speed up our growing aviation industry. This would be a win win for both Countries and foster closer ties. The helo is a capable one and can be further improved upon...Nigeria is fighting a war and this helo can be used and based on combat information new additions can be made which would definetely help further design of this helo......It is an African thing and we should be proud of it. My 20 cents......If i was President that is the route i would take.
I'm NIgerian .....and i would prefer the Rooivalks to any Western attack chopper....If i was President i'll go into an agreement with the builders and ensure that it becomes the official attack helo for Nigeria
Hi Bro, i dont think AFSF are tier 2.....I'll put them up with the SBS(prolly 1.5 if there's anything like that)
lionel4power: Silent and Deadly: increasing activities of Nigeria’s Special Forces
Nigeria’s elite combat units are coming out of the shadows and taking the fight to the country’s enemies. In the past few months, there has been a noticeable rise in their combat activities across the country.
Special operations are usually clad in secrecy, for operational security (Opsec) reasons, and most battlefield activities do not find their way into the public domain.
It is that cloak of mystery, which makes them effective, and no country discloses information about its Special Forces, Nigeria inclusive.
Nigerian Navy SBS (NNSBS) during a training exercise. Nigeria continues to struggle with insecurity, claiming the lives of tens of thousands and displacing millions due to armed banditry, kidnapping, Boko Haram, and the Islamic State.
The West African country operates a multi-tiered special operations forces; with the Navy’s Special Boat Service (NNSBS) in Tier 1, the Army’s 72 Special Forces Battalion, and Air Force’ QRF “Panthers” in Tier 2 respectively, and by comparison, the Armed Forces Special Forces (AFSF) are the Tier 3 operators.
Yes half useful because its not useless, but it cannot defeat current threats to secure Nigeria, we remain at war for ever, unless we do big procurement of vehicles best-fit for purpose. Nigerian Army 12.7mm HMG announced by NAHQ as our official main weapon VS Bandit & ISWAP 12.7mm HMG exactly same main weapon, is a fooolish game that will never end.
RCWS long existed since half century when Bradley IFV prototype came 50 years ago, NA refuses to do right.
To shun away 25mm RCWS vehicle six-seater, betrays all of us citizens who entrust official power to Abuja privileged few Naija VIPs.
By drinking engine oil and talking about their sisters nudity....na question ooh...But are you alright?
WesternOligarch: This is actually how cultists are initiated Sha......Kemi may be mad but her sources are usually right.... problem is that Nigerians hate the truth.
The people in the NW don't want peace abi na people in NE?
Everybody want peace in their surroundings but some criminal elements will always exist in every society. That's the same reason every society have police force or some form of security.
Under normal conditions, the police handles issues of banditry, kidnapping, even Groups like IPOB. They happen in a lot of countries and you won't see military around. We don't really need the army in most of these engagements but our story different. The Nigerian army is gradually becoming a police force.
Doesn't look too badly off. The starboard list is ONLY a couple of degrees but STILL....
As of now there are US, Japanese,Philipino, Indonesian and even Indian naval forces checking the Chinese in the SCS. A reliable commentator swears the latter lost an air battle with Taiwan a couple of months ago. All these platforms in a crowded space plus political tensions means ISHYT can go South anytime anyhow- what better way to make a point than to damage a sub with a UUV and proclaim;"who me?" How many of you think this is coincidence? Raise your hands !
After going through the Algerian pics and after getting over the shock effects i want to ask if we can just give them the titile Aare Onakakanfo gbogbo Africa!!! I'm still in shock though....We need to investigate if they are truly Africans
And this looks like full force to you....I only blame the stupid incompetent SE Governors who are nothing more than charlatans. It seems we are cursed with bad leadership in the SE...We need a Wike or Amaechi style Governor in each of the SE states to curb this nonsense...UGM my arse
DubaiLandLord2: Unknown Gunmen Storm Onitsha In Full Force As People Hail Them.
DubaiLandLord: The Defence Headquarters on Sunday stated that a military chopper did not shoot boat passengers but “illegal oil bunkerers’” carrying refined oil products in the Bonny Island of Rivers State last Thursday.
Some Rivers boat operators last Thursday alleged that a military chopper opened fire on them while travelling from Port Harcourt to Bonny Island, injuring them in the process. They had claimed that the combat helicopter attacked their local wooden boat loaded with foodstuffs.
However, in a statement published on DHQ Facebook page, the Director, Defence Information, Benjamin Sawyerr, said that the injured persons were oil thieves.
The statement titled, ‘Re: Military Chopper Fires At Cargo Boat On Bonny River’, partly reads, “The Air Component of the Joint Task Force Operation Delta State received reports from ground troops who were on clearance operations but encountered resistance at the point of encounter.
“On receiving the report, a combat helicopter was dispatched to provide close air support mission along the Cawthorne Channel.
“The helicopter encountered an illegal oil bunkerers’ boat popularly called ‘Cotonou Boat’. The boat, which was being escorted by two speedboats, was suspected to be carrying illegally refined oil products in large drums along the Channel in the direction of OPDS patrol boats.
“On sighting the boat, warning shots were fired to dissuade the crew from hostile action. The crew fired back at the helicopter and the boat was engaged accordingly.
“The two speedboats detached from the convoy at high speed, leaving the ‘Cotonou Boat,’ which was neutralised.
“The helicopter later went after the two speedboats but was unable to track it. The suspects are still at large and a manhunt has been sent out to apprehend them.”
However, while the DHQ failed to post photos showing the “neutralised Cotonou Boat” or “illegally refined oil products in large drums” to substantiate its claim, photos sent by our Rivers State Correspondent, Dennis Naku, who visited the scene of the incident on Thursday and spoke with the victims, show that the passenger boats had food items, with blood splattered all over them.
When contacted via telephone on Monday morning, Sawyerr confirmed the DHQ statement to our correspondent, adding that the “Cotonou Boat” was sunk and there were no photos of the incident.
Of recent, the Nigerian Military has been accused of bombing innocent Nigerians, including soldiers, due to alleged miscalculations.
In April 2021, over 20 soldiers on ground were allegedly slain in Mainok, Borno State, when a Nigerian Air Force fighter jet responding to attacks on a military camp by Boko Haram insurgents bombed the military camp based on a wrong coordinate.
NAF spokesman, Edward Gabkwet, had said that the incident was under investigation.
See photos of the attacked Rivers passenger boats as forwarded by our correspondent who visited the scene:
Food items being conveyed in a wooden passenger boat, allegedly shot at by NAF chopper at Bonny island in Rivers State. Note the goods with blood stains. Photos: Dennis Naku
Foreign Affairs / Re: African Militaries/ Security Services Strictly Photos Only And Videos Thread by kenpaul0: 5:32pm On May 30
