On November 17, a joint land and air operation targeted a bandit camp along Abuja – Kaduna Highway.

John Enenche, Defence Spokesperson, said the military neutralized several armed bandits in a joint offensive operation to clear identified bandits’ camp around Kuku area of Kagarko Local Government Area along the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway axis of Kaduna State.

” The operation was executed yesterday, 17 November 2020, on the heels of credible Human Intelligence reports indicating that a cluster of huts and other structures at the location served as a hideout for a notorious bandits’ leader, named “Major”, along with his fighters,” said Enenche, a Major General.

He added that the first wave of the Air air strikes involved six Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft undertaking five missions in a total of 13 sorties.

While the second wave of attacks was executed by NAF helicopter gunships which, while continuing to engage the terrorists’ location, also provided close air support to the land component as they advanced from Kagarko via Kuku into the terrorists’ enclave.

“This paved way for the ground troops to overrun and destroy the camp without effective resistance from the bandits. A NAF Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft remained airborne providing situational awareness for the troops throughout the operation,” he said.

My own is that shey no one died in the operation? Somehow, all the bandits managed to escape or what? I don't understand why they aren't talking about casualties.

Nigeria might not be of much interest to Biden in the first quarter of 2021, but I assure you that once the media decides to flog the issue by creating bad press he will stop delivery of the remaining planes.

A single headline from CNN along lines of US is arming the same administration that killed its own citizens will spark renewed interests and mount pressure on the administration.

All the human rights abuses claim during Obama's administration were only rumors amplified by Amnesty International and there was not much credibility at the time. Now there are evidences everywhere.

The fact that it has happened before should even be enough to make everyone understand that it might happen again (Biden was Obama's vp).

And the opinion Nigeria is of no strategic importance to the US is not entirely correct especially in the West African subregion. It's all about influence and projection of power, it's how they remain at the top.

Whyem15:
You all should chill, if Buhari is humble enough to lick US/UK's ass, we will even get several weapons donated to us. Or is not the same US/UK funding, arming, providing training and support for Saudi's genocide of Yemenis? Even after evidence of the brutal killings of Jamal kashogi. These people don't care about the lives of their own citizens talk less of citizens of "shithole countries".
And it is also very possible that we will lose everything.
Just don't speculate or anticipate anything.
Whatever will happen will happen

The American senate actually voted to stop arms sale to Saudi Arabia last year. It was Trump that vetoed the decision

Joint Military exercise : NILE EAGLE - 1, between Sudan & Egypt.

ugo4u:

We hope the Dems don't fixate on an arms embargo on Nigeria but history always repeat itself. All those weapons you mentioned we are getting from alternative source will be useless in no distant time if the US follow true with a sanction because we will need spares, routine maintenance etc to keep them flying and Pakistan is US ally just 1 phone call from the white House to Imran Khan and everything we had with them will collapse same for European countries with the exception of eastern Europe and China but trust me the US will go to any length to see that they block any weapons deal btw Nigerian and any of US adversary. The Chinese are not reliable partners (IMO) their loyalty is to the highest bidder, those guys can cut deal with even the devil.

The US and Pakistan have to put it mildly have less than ideal relationship with each other.
No phone call will come from Khan from Washington.
The JF-17s are sanctions proof.
This was as a result of the US nixing the F16 deal to Pakistan , Hindsight is 20-20 they say, consider how that worked out.
Pakistan is now working on Block 3 .
A once dependable ally has turned completely to Russia and China for Tech and Weaponry.
Charges the US billions every year to fly logistics and move machinery through the Khyber pass.
When 15 of its Soldiers were accidentally killed by the US it shut the Khyber pass down for almost one year, they them made President Obama issue a humiliating public apology *Billions more.
What some short-sighted Nigerians don’t realize is sanctions work both ways.
It forces the Country to be less dependent.
Nigeria is on its Third Ship
It’s 3Rd MRAP
It will gets its IFV
It bought 35 Tanks ( New) from China
It recently gave scholarships to Kids who built a Plane from scratch.
Nigeria is also the US no 1. Security partner in West Africa.
The drones Nigeria bought are made in China they are sanction proof.
Helicopters same.
So what is the big fuss about 12 Planes that IMHO won’t be responsible ( big picture) in destroying Bh.
They will help but they are not the be all and end all.
Right now America got much bigger problems than Nigeria.

ugo4u:

This is so because Saudi has leverage
and they are not a poor country. We don't bring anything to the table in international politics wrt trade, economics etc infact Africa is of no serious economic importance to the US hence their lackadaisical and I don't care attitude towards us as reflected in their foreign policy, they're only showing concern of recent due to the growing influence of China in the continent. In other words their foreign policy in Africa isn't in trade, industry, development etc rather it is in checkmating the Chinese.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt and most other countries that the US mass sales military hardware to are almost always major geological points of interest via being in the Middle East or being geologically close to China, Russia, or Iran. [b] Nigeria is in none of those positions not even close. The sad reality is [b] as long as the resource supply line continues to drain sub-Saharan Africa for cheap and uninterrupted no official really cares about the region. The only reason they are sorta kinda interested in the region now is because China is threatening there resource supply lines.

SerikinGamo:


The American senate actually voted to stop arms sale to Saudi Arabia last year. It was Trump that vetoed the decision

And Obama went to Saudi , kissed the ring and looked the other way on Yemen.

The democrats supported the emergence of this government. Could that factor work in the government favour?

ArabicBerber:


Saudi Arabia, Egypt and most other countries that the US mass sales military hardware to are almost always major geological points of interest via being in the Middle East or being geologically close to China, Russia, or Iran. [b] Nigeria is in none of those positions not even close. The sad reality is [b] as long as the resource supply line continues to drain sub-Saharan Africa for cheap and uninterrupted no official really cares about the region. The only reason they are sorta kinda interested in the region now is because China is threatening there resource supply lines.

well, this does not paint a full picture, Nigeria Is a critical counter-terrorism partner, in the sahel as well as in sub-Saharan African, I think the biden administration would realise(from the american perspective) that if you withdraw support for Nigeria, the lake chad area would be a safe haven for terrorist, you loose trust and goodwill, and you draw Nigeria ever closer to China economically, and Russia militarily, I'm sure his advisers would look at this holistically

LTGEN:
The way people talk about the TUSCANO DEAL you will think :
(A) That as soon as BIDEN comes to the white HOUSE his main focus will be Nigeria , and if wishes be told he will immediately cancel the deal okay.
(B) You would also think that 90% of the weapons purchased by Nigeria were from the US.
(C) You would be hard pressed to believe that Nigeria would of acquired MORE DRONES , MORE deadlier equipment from both CHINA , RUSSIA AND PAKISTAN by the time Tuscano deal is completed.
(D) You wouldn't know that a Multi fighter Plane called the JF-17 will be in Nigeria Shortly
(E) You would think by the shrill coming out that the NA doesn't have SAT INTEL, C3 INTEL , HUMINT INTEL that everything boils down to the A29 ( IT DOESNT)
(F) THE A29 is a must buy for the NAF ( It isn't , like everything in life there is an alternative), I twill end the bh insurgency ( it will not, deadly iron will with even more deadlier intentions to accept collateral damage will.)
This is what Biden is facing in his first 6 months in office:
1.A Pandemic that has killed 250K Americans
2. A faulty transition that has left America vulnerable
3. A deliberately weakened NATO - BY RUSSIA ( MISSION ACCOMPLISHED) that he has to put together FIRST by stopping TROOP WITHDRAWLS from Germany , Afghanistan and Iraq.
4. Politically He has to tread very cautiously till their is a clear majority in the Senate, he is not going to say or do anything to rock that boat. he has enough domestic issues on his hands.
5. BIDEN unlike a lot of left wing democrats that have infiltrated this blog will be deliberate and pragmatic and in most likelihood to the disappointment of many( here ) will not have time for African issues for a year.
6. As you read this NAF AND NA officers are in China learning how to kill form 20,000ft.

LOL. This is why I say that many of you here are idealistic, only good at compiling all manner of things from the internet. They way you talk, one would think that North Korea and Iran would have the best hardwares from the east. Hope you know that arms sales are sanctioned by the UNSC?
Please what satellites are owned by the military? And do you even know what C3 is? Don't tell me it's secret because secret in Nigeria means that it does not exist.

See, no one including China sells serious equipment to an incompetent government that has little to do with national interest. Dictatorship is different from incompetence. When the government is incompetent, they act irrationally with thinking about how the actions will help matters, dictatorial government make long term strategic plans with visions on how they'll strengthen their country but in Nigeria, there are no visions. Your office holders are just there to make money, acquire properties for they and their relatives, travel around with long convoys, live a good life and maybe do one or two things where they'll inscribe their names boldly on. What was displayed at lekki was incompetence not dictatorship. Until your government changes, the best the military will be will be like Myammar or some similar country in the east.

Faithful007:
LOL. This is why I say that many of you here are idealistic, only good at compiling all manner of things from the internet. They way you talk, one would think that North Korea and Iran would have the best hardwares from the east. Hope you know that arms sales are sanctioned by the UNSC?
east.

Before I demolish this post of yours, just a simple question.

What have you contributed to the growth of Nigeria?

bidexiii:
#NA S.O.F specialist

More

Does anyone know what 2 helicopters NA Aviation purchased?

"According to him, the Nigerian Army has acquired two helicopters toward the actualisation of its Aviation wing."

http://www.thetidenewsonline.com/2020/11/18/activate-aviation-unit-now-nass-tells-army/

And please where are the self acclaimed intellectuals that defended the actions of the army at the toll gate?

CNN has collated all evidences into a nice short 5min clip for you guys. You all should bury your head in shame

SerikinGamo:
And please where are the self acclaimed intellectuals that defended the actions of the army at the toll gate?

CNN has collated all evidences into a nice short 5min clip for you guys. You all should bury your head in shame

What did they show that we haven't seen before? The body wrapped in a flag or blanks being fired?

There is nothing there, just sensationalism.

iboboyswag:


What did they show that we haven't seen before? The body wrapped in a flag or blanks being fired?

There is nothing there, just sensationalism.

Well, you can't shame the shameless

iboboyswag:


What did they show that we haven't seen before? The body wrapped in a flag or blanks being fired?

There is nothing there, just sensationalism.

Nothing new there unfortunately. Same old clips collated and edited. Same videos with soldiers firing in the air. No bodies. If soldiers were to fire into the crowd, there would be no debate with bodies everywhere and multiple injuries.

CNN moved from 36 dead in October to 1 in November. Nearly 1 month on and no bodies nor mums, dads, uncles, aunties, cousins, relatives have come forward to declare anyone missing.

When Lagos State Governor visited hospitals after the lekki incident, he reported 1 death from Lekki, which was from blunt force trauma.

How long can the dead be hidden?

Produce the evidence, that is all I am asking.

I am not going to believe a report because it is CNN (done by a Nigerian by the way) when it has all been seen before.

You can call me all the names you want, it won't change anything.

iboboyswag:


What did they show that we haven't seen before? The body wrapped in a flag or blanks being fired?

There is nothing there, just sensationalism.

This is also what i saw.

Faithful007:
LOL. This is why I say that many of you here are idealistic, only good at compiling all manner of things from the internet. They way you talk, one would think that North Korea and Iran would have the best hardwares from the east. Hope you know that arms sales are sanctioned by the UNSC?
Please what satellites are owned by the military? And do you even know what C3 is? Don't tell me it's secret because secret in Nigeria means that it does not exist.

See, no one including China sells serious equipment to an incompetent government that has little to do with national interest. Dictatorship is different from incompetence. When the government is incompetent, they act irrationally with thinking about how the actions will help matters, dictatorial government make long term strategic plans with visions on how they'll strengthen their country but in Nigeria, there are no visions. Your office holders are just there to make money, acquire properties for they and their relatives, travel around with long convoys, live a good life and maybe do one or two things where they'll inscribe their names boldly on. What was displayed at lekki was incompetence not dictatorship. Until your government changes, the best the military will be will be like Myammar or some similar country in the east.

Ode it is CH3
At least get that correct if you are going to display your ignorance .
The Chinese Govt sold this year to the NGN Govt
VT Tanks
Heavy Duty Precision Guided Arty Systems
CH3, Ch4 and Wing Looong UCAV Drones .
Ode 2 China is part of the P5
They will use their veto against any sanctions.
Sometimes resist the urge to write.
The Nigerian Military doesn’t have a dedicated Military Satellite System.No one said they did .
They have the King and the AT-42 that provide more than enough.
Just to throw this in Russia is also a member of the P5
They will also veto any sanctions.
Now go and play with your toys

Guys wassup with Nigerian Army pilots that graduated from flight school some years back, since NAs Aviation unit isn't yet functional one wonders what they're up to or have they being "loaned" to the NAF? because honestly I don't see the army redeploying them to non flying duties after spending hundreds of millions in their training.

ugo4u:
Guys wassup with Nigerian Army pilots that graduated from flight school some years back, since NAs Aviation unit isn't yet functional one wonders what they're up to or have they being "loaned" to the NAF? because honestly I don't see the army redeploying them to non flying duties after spending hundreds of millions in their training.

they'r working with NAF until everything is set up in place for the army aviation,Their base is set in ikeja and also accommodation for the wing they're also planning on setting another bas in borno

Truth be told Dem don too tey o

bidexiii:
#NN FINEST
#SBSC

More

rka1:


Nothing new there unfortunately. Same old clips collated and edited. Same videos with soldiers firing in the air. No bodies. If soldiers were to fire into the crowd, there would be no debate with bodies everywhere and multiple injuries.

CNN moved from 36 dead in October to 1 in November. Nearly 1 month on and no bodies nor mums, dads, uncles, aunties, cousins, relatives have come forward to declare anyone missing.

When Lagos State Governor visited hospitals after the lekki incident, he reported 1 death from Lekki, which was from blunt force trauma.

How long can the dead be hidden?

Produce the evidence, that is all I am asking.

I am not going to believe a report because it is CNN (done by a Nigerian by the way) when it has all been seen before.

You can call me all the names you want, it won't change anything.

I'm very sure you didn't watch the clip cos at least two soldiers fired directly into the crowd, but like I said earlier, you can't shame the shameless.

I encourage everyone who's yet to see the clip to watch it, it's just 5mins long and make your own deductions


https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/18/africa/lagos-nigeria-lekki-toll-gate-feature-intl/index.html

SerikinGamo:


I'm very sure you didn't watch the clip cos at least two soldiers fired directly into the crowd, but like I said earlier, you can't shame the shameless.

I encourage everyone who's yet to see the clip to watch it, it's just 5mins long and make your own deductions


https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/18/africa/lagos-nigeria-lekki-toll-gate-feature-intl/index.html

but why's BBC own different

SerikinGamo:



Well, you can't shame the shameless

Sentiments can only get you this far...

It will be a waste of time, money and effort spent on my education if I can't analyze issues without emotions... One of the hallmarks of adulthood is to question situations so as to gain a proper understanding and perspective.


Over and over the same questions have been asked yet no answers have been provided even with the Almighty CNN choking mouth in the matter. We are not the ones with the problem...

The burden of proof remains with the accuser

iboboyswag:


Sentiments can only get you this far...

It will be a waste of time, money and effort spent on my education if I can't analyze issues without emotions... One of the hallmarks of adulthood is to question situations so as to gain a proper understanding and perspective.


Over and over the same questions have been asked yet no answers have been provided even with the Almighty CNN choking mouth in the matter. We are not the ones with the problem...

The burden of proof remains with the accused.

Did you watch the video?

kabe1:


This is also what i saw.

So much ruckus for so little trouble.

Xbee007:

Did you watch the video?

My first comment on the post clearly answers this question.

iboboyswag:


My first comment on the post clearly answers this question.

Perhaps it isn't the same video as the one I watched.

rka1:


Nothing new there unfortunately. Same old clips collated and edited. Same videos with soldiers firing in the air. No bodies. If soldiers were to fire into the crowd, there would be no debate with bodies everywhere and multiple injuries.

CNN moved from 36 dead in October to 1 in November. Nearly 1 month on and no bodies nor mums, dads, uncles, aunties, cousins, relatives have come forward to declare anyone missing.

When Lagos State Governor visited hospitals after the lekki incident, he reported 1 death from Lekki, which was from blunt force trauma.

How long can the dead be hidden?

Produce the evidence, that is all I am asking.

I am not going to believe a report because it is CNN (done by a Nigerian by the way) when it has all been seen before.

You can call me all the names you want, it won't change anything.

There would be blood stains everywhere.

Or did the soldiers go their with mops, I don't understand?

I will never support violence by security agencies on civilians but it doesn't just add up.

To put some things in perspective so as not to be misconstrued, not that I mind anyways, we are all in search of the truth.

I for one want to know what truly transpired at the Toll gate. Even as I have never bought the common chants of a massacre, I am convinced that shots were fired that injured people but not convinced that they came from the guns the soldiers in all the videos carried.

Even the one CNN claimed was a direct shot into the crowd by one of the soldiers on site was a blank and from that distance would do no harm.

On the day of the incident, shell casings of pistol rounds were part of what was displayed by the protesters as what was fired at them.

From CNN's timestamp, the boy wrapped in flag was shot at 1:30am. This time is inconsistent with the time the soldiers were reported to be at the toll gate.

Further, plenty of statements from protesters from the same video evidence alluded to the fact that much of whatever shooting happened after midnight was not done by the military.

Several witness statements put the military at the venue for just about 2hrs max.

So the questions are;

1. Who continued the shootings?

2. Who shot with live rounds as all video evidence showing the military shooting to disperse showed only blanks being fired?

3. Several witnesses reported shots being fired from both ends of the toll, but video evidence shows the military only approached from one end... So who or what group were firing from the other end?

4. Witnesses say the military shot at them fatally yet many had the courage to carry the bodies and drop same at the feet of the men, yet they let them leave with an intact memory of what has just transpired?

These and more questions demand answers and if this was a ploy to cause a destabilization, it does not only cast an aspersion on the campaign for security and free civil right in Nigeria but goes a long way to prove the gullibility of most Nigerians and the truth that we still stand on very fragile foundations on all that concerns our nationhood; something we are called by duty to protect.

In the words of Fareed Zakari on the American Election "...our democracy nation state is fragile and must be protected."

Xbee007:

Perhaps it isn't the same video as the one I watched.

We look but see differently...