There’re So Many Divisions In The North – Sen. Abaribe – TheNigerialawyer

The Minority Leader of the Senate, Enyinnaya Abaribe has said
that there is so many divisions in the Northern part of the country
so much so that its inhabitants have different and divergent ideas
about what it is all about.

Mr Abaribe, who stated this while fielding questions from
Vanguard reporter, said “there is nothing called the North”.

Contrary to the prevailing political fear about the North for
being blessed with population and landmass, The Senator
representing Abia South added that there are so many divisions
going on in the region.

He said: “There is nothing called the North. This is part of the
problems we have. We also have a general fear (of the so-called
North). If you go there, there are so many divisions going on.

“What you ought to say is that whoever has the levers of power
today and he is sitting there in the Presidency has shown a
disinclination, not the North.

“There is no such thing. If you go and meet somebody from
Plateau, he has a different idea about what should happen. If you
meet somebody else in Benue, he has a different idea.

“If you meet somebody in Kwara, he has a different idea. If you
meet somebody in Niger, he has a different idea. If you go to
Kebbi, people have a different idea; they are just so
different.

“The point really is that there are two classes of people: Those
who are in power and those who are not. Those who are in power want
to sustain the advantage they think they have.

“They actually don’t have any advantage and the reason they
don’t have any advantage is that if you are the only educated man
in a sea of one million uneducated people, in what way does your
education help you?

“If you are the only rich person in a place and every other
person is not so wealthy and then they have to come and feed off
your hands, in what way does that help you? It is when you elevate
everybody that you are actually building up your society.

“So, I think what is going on really is that, people who find
themselves in position of advantage think that they have to
continue to sustain that advantage but everywhere in the world
where you have had progress, what you see is that people challenge
the status quo.

“If you don’t challenge the status quo, there can’t be any
progress. You must always ask yourself “why do you have to,” Mr
Abaribe added.

How Nigerian Troops Tackled Infiltrating

Terrorists in Michika- Adamawa- Media Cordinator
In yet another case of misadventure, on 2 January, 2020, some
criminal Boko Haram insurgents attempted once again to infiltrate
the serene town of Michika in Adamawa State in order to wreak havoc
on its innocent and law-abiding residents. However, the combined
troops of 217 Tank Battalion and elements of 144 Battalion swiftly
rose in defence of the town as they gallantly repelled the said
attack with devastating consequences on the marauding criminal
insurgents. The criminals went to the town in Gun Trucks and
motorcycles late afternoon and began sporadic shootings that caused
uproar in the peaceful community thus compelling law-abiding
residents to scamper for safety. Nevertheless, the courageous
troops immediately mobilized, blocked and engaged the criminals
with overwhelmingly superior firepower, forcing them to abandon
their heinous intentions and retreat in disarray, albeit with high
casualty in men and equipment. At the end of the encounter, 2 Boko
Haram criminal were neutralised while unconfirmed numbers of both
dead and wounded criminal elements were believed to have been
hauled away by the withdrawing insurgents as indicated by the
traces of their blood found along their withdrawal route.
Additionally, one Boko Haram Gun Truck mounted with Anti-Aircraft
Gun, 2 AK 47 Rifles, 4 AK 47 Rifle magazines, 2 motorcycles, one
machete, some quantities of provision, food items, drugs as well as
Improvised Explosives Devices detonating wires were captured by the
gallant troops.

In a related development, on same day, troops of 144 Battalion
responded to a distress call on an impending Boko Haram criminals’
attack on Kopa Village in Madagali LGA of Adamawa State. Enroute to
the Village, the troops encountered a Boko Haram criminals’ ambush
established to prevent troops counter action against their
assailment on the town. In a rare demonstration of bold action, the
troops effectively cleared the ambush as well as the subsequent
meeting engagement which they had with the criminals’ main body at
Kopa Village. During the twin encounter, 4 Boko Haram elements were
neutralized. In addition, one Boko Haram Gun Truck, 2 motorcycles,
one Anti-Aircraft Gun and 2 AK 47 Rifles were captured by the
troops. Other items captured include 5 AK 47 Rifle magazines, 2
Rocket Propelled Grenade bombs, 2 bandoliers containing 311 rounds
of 7.62mm Special ammunition, 250 rounds of Anti-Aircraft Gun
ammunition, one incendiary bomb, one 36 Hand Grenade, drugs and
some First Aid Kits.
Regrettably, one officer and one soldier were wounded in action as
a result of both encounters. The wounded personnel have been
evacuated to a military medical facility and are in stable
condition. It is gratifying to note that peace and tranquility has
since returned to the Community.

Additionally, on 4 January 2020, some defiant Boko Haram
criminals who attempted to attack the Headquarters of 29 Task Force
Brigade location at Jakana in Konduga LGA of Borno State were
outgunned and handed a devastating defeat. The criminal insurgents
approached the troops’ location in 6 Gun Trucks and a number of
foot soldiers. However, the unwavering troops engaged the criminal
insurgents in a fierce fire fight forcing them to scamper for their
lives in utter confusion. At the end of the encounter, 6 Boko Haram
criminals were neutralized. Additionally, one General Purpose
Machine Gun, 3 AK 47 Rifles, 535 rounds of 7.62mm x 51 NATO
(Belted) ammunition and one Rocket Propelled Gun bomb were captured
from the insurgents.
Regrettably, one soldier paid the supreme price while 2 others were
wounded in action during the encounter. The Wounded personnel were
evacuated to a military medical facility and are responding
positively to treatment. It is heartwarming to note that, one of
the recently inducted locally produced Mine – Resistant Ambush –
Protected (MRAP) Vehicles, the indigenous Proforce MRAP, which was
employed during this encounter proved to be a reliable war fighting
machine, as it provided the required mobility, protection, fire
power and maneuverability for the fighting troops. The lethal war
machine has thus been certified to be a highly successful effort at
local defence equipment manufacture.

In a related development, on 3 January 2020, the combined troops
of 5 and 29 Brigades and the Chief of Army Staff’s Special
Intervention Battalion 2 conducted massive Raid/Cordon and Search
Operations simultaneously at some identified Boko Haram criminals’
hideouts between Jakana and Mainok in Konduga and Kaga LGAs of
Borno State respectively. Troops vigorously combed Matiri,
Sheworam, Charikwenti, Burmari and Goni Bukarti astride Maiduguri –
Damaturu Road. During the said operations, 6 Boko Haram suspects
were arrested while an astonishing number of 461 Boko Haram
captives comprising 100 men, 154 women and 207 children were
rescued from the clutches of the criminal insurgents who have kept
them hostages in their ancestral community. The rescued children
within the Polio Vaccination age were instantly administered with
the vaccine in line with the Buratai Intervention Task Force
Initiative by the Nigerian Army Medical Team. All rescued victims
have been promptly evacuated and handed over to Borno State
Internally Displaced Persons officials.

In a separate incident, on 2nd January 2020, troops of 159 Task
Force Battalion deployed at a Check Point along the Main Supply
Route Damasak-Kareto in Mobbar LGA of Borno State rescued 4 minors
aged between 10 – 14 years old. Preliminary investigation revealed
that the victims were abducted from Damasak in 2015 by the Boko
Haram criminal elements. The rescued minors narrated their ordeal
in the hands of the Boko Haram criminals and how they escaped from
a camp in Tumbun Gini during a recent onslaught by troops. It is
heartwarming to state that the parents of the rescued minors were
contacted and they have all identified their wards amid tears of
joy.

The Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai
commends the troops’ resilience and doggedness against Boko Haram
and Islamic State West Africa Province hereby urges them to keep
the pressure on the adversaries that are waging war against our
collective peace, security and existence until they are completely
wiped out of our national frontiers.

You are kindly requested to disseminate above information to the
general public for awareness. Thank you for your usual
cooperation.

AMINU ILIYASU
Colonel
Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator