PRESIDENCY REFUTES STORY ON REPLACEMENT OF OLONISAKIN, IBAS AS SERVICE CHIEFS

It is necessary to respond to a fictive story published in today's edition of New Telegraph Newspaper, to the effect that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the replacement of Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, as Service Chiefs.

The newspaper, rather than rush to print an unsubstantiated story, would have done better to confirm the information at its disposal, from many available military and government information channels. It then would have avoided the self-inflicted wound of publishing a one-legged story that is not completely true, and damaging its brand in the process.

War Against Insurgency: UK Pledges Greater Support To Nigerian Armed Forces

The United Kingdom has restated her commitment to assist Nigeria in her quest to totally eradicate the threat posed by the Boko Haram Terrorists in the North East of Nigeria as well as partnering with relevant agencies to rehabilitate the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) who were victims of terrorists attack.

This was jointly stated by the Director General for the British Foreign and Commonwealth Defence Intelligence, Ms Sarah Macintosh and Rear Admiral Simon Ancona, the British Assistant Chief of Defence Staff in Defence Engagement when they led a 5 man delegation to the Defence Headquarters Abuja.

Troops to wipe out Boko Haram remnants soon – Olonisakin says military determined to rescue Chibok Girls

General Abayomi Olonisakin, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) said on Monday that the military will wipe out the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists from Nigeria in a short while.

Olonisakin stated this while speaking with newsmen during a visit to Maiduguri, Borno. He said that his visit was aimed at getting first class information on the anti-terrorism war.

“I want Nigerians to know that we are determined to wipe out the terrorists from our land. And from the Sambisa axis, we are really committed to ensure that we clear them as soon as possible,” he said.

“I am here for a routine visit with the Service Chiefs. I have come to appraise the level of performance in the operation and see how we can actually address some issues on the operation.

“The operation is actually to wipe out, to clear Sambisa, that is ‘Operation clamp down’ is to clear Sambisa of the terrorists,” he said.

NO SAFE HAVEN FOR TERRORISTS - DHQ

The Nigerian Army has reacted to the purported online vedio clips acrredited to the boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau asking for forgiveness. The defense Headquarters has vowed not to relent in its fight and total offensive agains the insurgents in the North East.

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin commends all officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces for their sacrifices, determination and courage to degrade the terrorists and task them to complete the good job they have started soonest in line with our rules of engagement.

See the DHQ statement below:

Kidnapped Schoolgirls: U S to Deploy Troops to Nigeria – Abati

President Goodluck Jonathan, Tuesday, welcomed and accepted a definite offer of help from the United States of America in the ongoing effort to locate and rescue the girls abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, three weeks ago.


This was disclosed in a press statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, on Tuesday evening.


Mr. Abati said the “offer from President Barack Obama which was conveyed to President Jonathan by the United States Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry in a telephone conversation which began at 15.30 Hours today, includes the deployment of U.S. security personnel and assets to work with their Nigerian counterparts in the search and rescue operation”.

Security Meeting: Why Boko Haram May Not Release the Abducted Over 100 Students of Borno Girls' School

The National Security Council on Thursday gave strict marching order to the Nigerian Army to rescue the Boko Haram abducted girls from Government Girls' School in Borno state.

However, as military plans to rescue them intensifies, all indications shown that the dreaded Islamist sect is strangely desperate to use the over 100 students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State it abducted last week as human shield. The military operation is being co-ordinated by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, who has been shuttling between Abuja and Maiduguri in the last one week.

Solution to End Bokoo Haram? Defense Minister Calls for More Collaborations in the Army

The Nigerian Minister of Defence,  General Aliyu Gusau (rtd), has called for greater collaboration among the armed forces in the fight against Islamist Boko Haram insurgents in the country, speaking on Monday in Abuja at a dinner and award night to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, and also to honour the Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, on his elevation.

Gusau, who commended the Nigerian Air Force for its support and participation in “operations” within and outside Nigeria,, said the Nigerian Air Force, in the last 50 years, had proved itself to be a competent force to rely on and reckon with in the continent.

Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen Aliyu Gusau says he is satisfy with current fight against insurgency

Nigerian Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen Aliyu Gusau (rtd) has said the current military operation in the north east in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency is going on well and government is ready to provide whatever it takes for the Armed Forces to bring this fight to an end. Defense  minister stated this yesterday during his maiden visit to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

Revealed: IBB, David Mark Stop Gusau From Resigning

Immediately after an online news portal, Saharareporter broke the news on the resignation of the minister of defence, Lt.-Gen Aliyu Gusau, the Presidency and the Ministry of Defence denied the report stating that Gusau still remains the minister in charge of defence.

But the denial notwithstanding, The Punch in a report said it gathered that minister was on his way out of the cabinet of President Goodluck Jonathan but for the pressure mounted on him at the instance of President Jonathan.