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PressBriefing

OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE TROOPS ON PATROL ENCOUNTER IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE/TERRORISTS AMBUSH EIGHT KILOMETRES AHEAD OF BUNI-GARI, YOBE STATE

The Troops of Combat Team 1, Operation KANTANA JIMLAN on long range admin patrol along Buni Yadi - Buni Gari axis encountered multiple Improvised Explosive Devices and Boko Haram Terrorists' ambush, eight kilometres ahead of Buni-Gari in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State on the 18 of May 2020.

Two soldiers paid the supreme price and three other soldiers sustained injuries as aresult of the IED explosion. Additionally, a recovery truck, one troops carrying vehicle and a water tanker that ran into the IED were destroyed by fire.Three terrorists were
neutralized while unconfirmed number escaped with various degrees of injury.

However, due to mental snap/distress occasioned by fog of war, two of the soldiers who escaped the IED and terrorists' ambush recorded the incident with uncomplimentary remarks, about the Nigerian Army and her leadership, which was released on the social media.

Although this kind of outburst is expected in war, the soldiers involved have been identified and would undergo observation and counselling.

The Armed Forces of Nigeria will remain unwavering in its quest to end the terrorism and will do everything possible to ensure there is no repeat of this kind of traumatic incident/outburst.

The Military High Command commends troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE for their unwavering determination, hard work and resilience.

Its been a very long time.

veteranExboy:
House, I met my current girlfriend in 2016 when she was in 100 level. I asked her to date me but got turned down. After several attempts to woo her, I gave up and decided to delete her contact because I hate being friend zoned.

Her reason was she had a boyfriend who was in another state schooling. Within 2016 and 2018 she called me twice and was not happy that I didn't have her number (I kept on asking who was speaking the two times she called) but I never stopped telling her I'm not going to be her friend because that's not what I want from her. I want a relationship.

Fast forward to may 2019, we met coincidentally and I got her contact again. I asked for a date, she agreed. We met at the joint, but she came along with a friend (after asking me 5 minutes before we met, I agreed). After the lunch (not a date anymore), we spoke at night and she agreed to date me after I asked again. She was single by this time.

Some of my male friends think I'm crazy because it took her all that time before she agreed to date me but I feel she was right not to double date and she said she didn't have any feelings for me then.

Please House, am I crazy because I still had interest in her after 3 years?

You are not crazy. Kindly ignore your friends assumption but the mistake I will say you made is being distant from her.
Early 2016, I met my fiance but she was in s relationship. I tried my best to convince her but she vehemently refused because she was in a relationship. I continued the friendship tho I get emotionally disturbed but I had to respect her decision to stand firm. We became friends and all but after some time, I had to reduce the communication between us and the way work move me up and down.

By 2017, she was single and I stared shooting my shots in every possible way but she still refused saying she has to heal. I respected for months and she wouldn't give a yes still for over 1 year while still being single o. Nevertheless, I never backed down. I studied this lady during these period and I got to understand her personality very well.

Late 2018, she gave a yes. We've been together since then and everything has been great. Without me talking, she knows what I'm about to say. She understands me and it's the same over here. We have issues at times but it ends up with are you not going to apologize first kind of joke We barely keep grudges.

So bros, if you're sure the lady loves you, kindly enjoy your relationship.

On my own part, she broke up with her ex for cheating. You know your woman, do not let others opinion which you'll get here make you change towards her. Most of the people here will not give you the best advice you need.

Samakus:


Through more light. What salary scale are you on, did you receive increment as a result of the new minimum wage? Did you receive arrears of minimum wage?

Yes, there was an increment. I am in the military.

Samakus:
Following the directive by FG that workers in the federal civil service will receive the new minimum wage this December, has any Federal staff received it or the arrears from the consequential adjustment as opined by FG?

I reliably learnt that Federal Civil Servants have started receiving December salary from yesterday, December 23rd. Has FG kept to its words or na audio?

Can we get inputs from Federal workers?

Yes!

ColonelEmeka:


I repeat the NIA suffered zero casualty. The Airforce did most of the fighting while the ground troops did mop up.

Mop up was not an intense battle. We lost nobody

The ATF came in but ground troops did a great job too. Do you think it is easy to hold down an area? Ground troops also responded with MRLS.

It is a win win for the Nigerian military in general.

I hope you all know as a military personnel, you have to be careful of these Intel guys. Small thing, you are facing problem on official level using the excuse of "national security".

The DSS, NIA are all under the control of the ONSA. An organization headed by military personnels.

In terms of training, operatives of the department of state security services are well trained. Sad to say these, these guys stood their ground during the "early" heat of terrorism here in the north east.

They have strike teams who are as tactical as some military SF units.

They may not be able to endure a long lasting war like the military but they remain rugged in what they are designed for.

The DSS is not an ORG to joke with.

sunnyprof:




It is rather major General Victor Ezegwu of the Nigerian Army Command Engineering Corp that supervised its production. I know him personally!!

Thank you for the clarification sir. I hope the thread creator can make adjustment.

bubu2019:
ogbomosho man and hatred.
you will not sleep well tonight

You do not need to be stupid. I am an officer who has seen the said MRAP and I know what I am saying.

Success1020:
Prof. Emmanuel Ezugwu, Provost of the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, Institute of Technology. He is responsible for conceptualization, design and supervision of military hardware at the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, Institute of Technology. He has led several indigenous Nigerian military hardwares such as drones

http://www.afit.edu.ng/provost.php
https://www.nairaland.com/1171920/young-officers-design-build-drone

This is wrong sir. The Nigerian Army Command Engineering Depot in partnership with Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) developed that.

I also doubt Prof Ezegwu is still a provost at AFIT. The last time I met with him at AFIT, he was retiring and clearing his desk.

Feels good to be alive

joshingjosh:
This serious... Please who have seen this stuff..can someone explain the combating capability of a deer?? Or the essential role of a deer

They're called mascot.

mezarddinny:
drive any of those cars and see how you will be respected by security personnels, they will even explain to you the reason why they are searching other cars and salute you when you are about leaving( that is if they even engage you before letting you drive pass).


but op, I don't think that bmw 760li will not get you stopped considering it is not very popular in nigeria and it is not luxurious from the outside, they might stop thinking you are one of the rich guys, not a powerful guy

No sir, the military will ask you to identify yourself and let you pass rather than giving you a free entry / exit.

It also has to do with who ordered the check point and its basis.

So these bastards came in this morning with spotters in our gear and vehicles. The unit stationed at the area flagged them down and they refused to stop and kept waking like a friendly force . The unit got ready for the worse thinking it was an "actual" friendly force being chased by those idiots Tilk they opened fire once they got close.

Fortunately, the good guys blew off them gasket which made their vehicles spoil and a radio call to nearby units. We were stationed where we are for a purpose. The person in charge needed a go-ahead order for us to move in as we're were about 17km away.

Little did they know that was an advance party they came in large number and go-ahead was given for us to move in. The naval boys seems to be more excited while some where scared of an impending ambush as we moved in.

Luckily for us, some mopol guys working with the army around our route were on standby and we used their help to navigate through a safe route.

In short 26 bastards KIA. Zero military casualty

SLBMS:


At least they can be used for strategic missions. These fighters you hate can perform the same mission of the Super Tucano and still carry out air interdiction and air to air and air to ground. The super Tucano is not a fighter aircraft. It's a frigal aircraft that can ONLY be used for COIN operations. The smart munitions does not compensate for its low service ceiling and slow speed. It will not survive .....It's smart munitions are not suited against not static or high value target., even if it manages to release ordnance it cannot leave the threat area on time. You are all about GBU bombs. Are you really gonna waste GBU munitions on Boko Haram trucks or what? Can the Super Tucano provide close air support for troops? Can it loiter about the target area? Can it take multiple hits from even small arms fire and continue? Can the pilot eject in the case of an emergency like or crash or when hit ? We spent half a billion on 12 planes that can't evade enemy fire by flying above 50,000 ft., does not have enough armour protection for low altitude staffing and bombing runs and can't flee a threat environment on time. Absolutely the worse ever acquisition by the NAF.

Why do you think the Russians have SU-25 deployed in Syria?

alphaNomega:
Wouldn't it be better to apprehend them?

These images are visible to the world and it shows how less we regard human lives in this country. Maybe because we think we are more than 200 million so we can afford to kill ourselves with reckless abandon.

Little wonder nothing is done when Nigerians are humiliated outside the country. It's not as if you are appreciated back home

on sighting the police , engaged them in a cross fire and that in return three of the robbers were shot dead.

The convoy of the vice president of Nigeria has been blocked severally. So what are you saying?

bidexiii:




Na wa for you , his due for retirement

Even Oga Adeosun is due for retirement soon.

bidexiii:
Major General Lamidi Adeosun has been appointed the new Chief of Army Staff.
Maj. Gen. Adeosun who until his latest appointment was the chief of Training and Operations replaces outgoing Army Chief Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai.

Congratulations

Is it a replacement? He is to retire soon.

Tobiloba2407:


you guys will just see different camouflage and tavor and start shouting sbs, that isnt sbs!!!

Baba, carry your naval wahala and go. I'm with the airforce so I don't even understand but immediately I saw the video without watching it, I recognized that full kit with the navy especially the cap. AFSF boys will rather have AFSF written on their cap.

The logo are quite similar due to the flying bat / bird . However, a close up picture is needed to be sure.

Being navy is not an issue however Tavor is a standard issue for SBS while that same camo has been used many times by SBS in this hot zone.

Too many fingers pointing this at SBS.

bidexiii:



Even if my assumptions where wrong that's not how to open your mouth and react? It as nothing to do with my dues alright.
These quys are SBSC if you av been in Abuja before. These is not the first time have seeing them. Look closely the logo is not AFSF, some of the guys in AFSF camouflage are SBSC guys that trained in North East Europe. Luckily enough @henry posted pictures on his thread that justified my assumptions.

I hope the guy can now calm down.

Tobiloba2407:


that's AFSF logo not sbs or jmstf

AFSF sword comes from down. SBS from the top. The video is not clear enough to deduce.

200% SBS boys kit exactly like that so not just AFSF. These are guys we have had engagement together.

If you can upload a clear snapshot of the seal from the video then we can conclude.

Tobiloba2407:


those are not sbs, those are armed forces special forces, maybe a navy component or mixed forces

Made my comment with the picture displayed without watching the video. The network here is poor.

The badge on the face cap looks SBS still. The wings.


Soldiers are armed with Tavor so there's possibility of being navy boys. SBS operate as a stand alone unit. Navy boys with AFSF make use of Beryl.

Soldiers using Tavor in Lagos or Abuja (wherever that is) shows that's their standard issue.

Again, with that kit, there's possibility of them being attached to a senior naval officer or top brass at dhq who worship there.

A clearer picture is needed to conclude if it is AFSF or the navy SBS.

Tobiloba2407:


those are not sbs, those are armed forces special forces, maybe a navy component or mixed forces

Look at the face cap.

Odunayaw:
We have chronically sick leaders!

Two equally sickening things;
1) The rush to use the Military for everything
2) Using SBS (unconfirmed) for such insanity!

Na who do us this tin na

Possibility of a senior naval officer being a member while his security try to get involved

BabaOwen:
Opens up on challenges and how to defeat insurgency
•They attack in thousands against us in hundreds
•Sometimes they launch Rocket Propelled Grenades, RPG
•We’ll do better if well equipped and motivated
•Buratais comments demoralising

By Emma Nnadozie, Crime Editor



I t came like a thunderbolt. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen.Tukur Buratai, penultimate Wednesday, said that poor commitment of troops on the front line of the insurgency war is responsible for the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks. Prominent groups, political parties and individuals expressed shock over the statement by Buratai. Then, a voice came from the “wilderness” through a dawn telephone call (number hidden) from one of the soldiers on the front line.

The voice was unmistakably hoarse and angry not only on what the Chief of Army staff said but also against the press for being “docile “over the issue of insurgency in the Northern part of the country. It pleaded for strict anonymity but stated in clear terms that his rendition through the phone is a truthful representation of what is obtainable in the battle front, presently. His outburst is as explosive as it is instructive. He intermittently challenged the press to find way to the battle fronts and find out the true situation of things. He said that Buratai did not encourage them by making such a statement he termed ‘demoralising. Excerpts:

“To start with, if Buratai said we don’t have sufficient commitment in the battle field, Number one, find out how many regular soldiers we have in the battle field to back the troops and give them the needed morale support in the battle front. Let me tell you categorically about the officers we have here in the battle front; short service commissioned officers. You can never see regular combatant officers here. They hide themselves in various places like in Abuja, Lagos, PortHarcourt, where they are making money. In case you don’t know, some regular combatant soldiers are those who spend just within five years and get promoted fast.

It would have been nice if the chief of Army staff came to camp zero here, the heart of Sambisa, before he went to the media. He needs to visit here to see our problems.

Here in camp zero, we have limited Mine Resistant Ambush Protection, MRAP, and gun truck used for maximum capacity to retain fire from the enemies. If Boko Haram is coming with eleven to twenty gun trucks and we have only few here, how can we confront such situation? We agree that in the time of warfare, skill and professionalism matter, but also, the number matters.

With professionalism you can only confront minimal situation. The troops here are ill -equipped and highly demoralized. Even the statement by Buratai is another demoralizing statement. The statement has gotten to the troops in battle grounds, and do you know how we are feeling here now? We feel that despite our struggle, Buratai went ahead and made such a statement, and we are not being appreciated. At the end of the day, the society will treat and look at us with lukewarm and docile attitudes.

In terms of our equipment, let me give you a layman analogy. If you are holding a water cane, no matter how long it is, and you are fighting a man with a cutlass, you may flog him severally, but immediately he gives you one cut, that is the end for you. We are nowhere near Boko Haram.

There is also confusion. On a good day, we could be advancing after receiving intelligence. We will get a call, maybe from one General in Abuja who will say, gentlemen, pin down, pause. That is when you are set to give a massive devastation to the enemies. In the next hour, we will get a call again to advance, before we get there, we would realize that all the enemies have gone. The General may mean well based on intelligence made available to him. But it could also be pure sabotage. That is what I call conspiracy of silence. That’s confusion.

Another instance is that, you can see the army about launching an attack, and they will tell you, gentlemen, withdraw. For what? And when we withdraw, the same road we came through, the enemies would have laid ambush for you. At the end, we would become the victims. Also, when we get Intelligence report through our drone, they will report that in an axis like Metele, we have sighted enemies with about 20 gun trucks, and that we should get ready. Tell me, what stops the Air Force that saw the enemies from shooting them immediately? Then at the end of the month, we are being given N20 or N30, 000, to do what?

Another disheartening part is that, when a soldier dies, after two months, they stop paying the soldier’s salary, and leave his family suffering, without any care for them. If you could recall, a video went viral recently of a soldier that needed a kidney transplant. He needed just about N6 million, but the government could not assist him and that was a man that laid down his life for his country.”

How much are you in the battle front paid?

We receive our normal salary and then, they give us N45, 000. But, all is not given in cash. They give N10, 000 cash; pay N20, 000 into your bank account. Then, the authorities collect the remaining N15, 000, saying it is for our feeding.

What type of food do you people eat?

Normal food, Gari, Rice, Beans, and whatever they bring.

So, we are just here because we don’t have any other country to call our own. We have laid down our lives for Nigeria. There is no greater love than a man to lay down his life for his country and colleague, which is what we are doing here.

Describe how you are equipped to fight enemies?

The simple word is that we are ill-equipped. What we normally have with us is just our AK47 rifles and nothing more apart from our uniforms. Some soldiers don’t have ballistic helmet, some, no fighting jacket, except you make personal efforts. We buy some equipment by ourselves. For instance, if a soldier leading a troop is changed, the new leader has to beg the former to buy his equipment from him after negotiation. If you don’t provide for yourself, you are on your own. Sometimes, we have to go to soldiers in the barracks, give them little money and collect their equipment.

What happens at the battlefield when you go to war?

What we are fighting here is defensive, not offensive. In an ideal situation, we are supposed to be fighting offensive battle. Defensive means that, you are on your own position, and they bring the fight to you. This happens because we don’t have logistics, not the type of vehicles you would expect. When the troops are going, movement could sometimes be compromised. So, when they bring the fight to us, by the time we start engaging them, it becomes difficult. They come in thousands against us in hundreds. We will shoot until we get tired, that your barrel gets so hot that if you don’t pause for a moment and urinate on it to cool off, it could explode and become another weapon of destruction to you.

And as we are firing, after sometime, we run short of ammunition, while they keep coming from right, back and centre, shouting ‘Alahu Ak bar’ and shooting at us. Sometimes, they don’t even come close, they stay afar and launch Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG), one grenade can bring down a 3- storey building, and they come with over a thousand of them. In such situation, how do we face them? There’s a place in Maiduguri well fortified and defended. It will be nice for other locations to be like that.

What makes it difficult for the Air force to intervene?

What we heard is that, when money is released a larger chunk, say about 90%, goes to the army when Airforce could be expecting may be 70%. So, when we call them, they say they don’t have aviation fuel or equipment, and you can’t blame them. But please not that these are challenges we sometimes face. It’s not all the time. There are times we are good and on the offensive and credit must go to where it’s due. But we can be better than we are now.

Is it true people are deserting the army?

That is not a new thing. It only takes the grace of God to withstand all what is going on here. That’s why we have formed a slogan that, a living standing soldier is better than a dead general. It forms the basis for desertion, because if you are alive, you should be able to do something for yourself tomorrow.

What, in your candid opinion, will government do to stop the menace of Boko Haram?

If the government of the day will listen and do the needful:

The morale of the soldiers must be boosted. Provide adequate remuneration for them, how can you be paying what they are earning now and you expect them to be highly motivated. Government should approve money for this war and is approved should be well managed.
Properly equip the soldiers. Look at the way the US army equips their soldiers, it gives them confidence to fight. The money is there to buy these things. Ours is like giving one Toyota Camry to go and fight enemies with Armoured Tankers. We can be better equipped to fight this war. Result will be better.
Where are the hotspots?

For now, the battle is hottest at Gajira, Kareto, Avadan, Damask closer to the Chad. There is this group called Islamic State of West Africa Provinc, ISRAP, that usually join them. When they come, they come fearlessly not minding bullets, shouting Alau Akbar. They come in mass. Whenever the air force comes, we feel relieved. That is only when we have less casualties.

When will this Boko Haram problem end?

Some people are benefiting from it. It will end if the military is well equipped and motivated. If what is affecting our operations are looked into and addressed, things like equipment etc. When you see a tank written 272, the implication is that that tank was made in 1972 which has been phased out. You see the one written 215, and it was made in 1915, during the First World War. Despite all these, we remain here, if we were cowards we won’t be here.

Do senior officers celebrate salah and Christmas with you as claimed?

They do that in areas that are not prone to attacks, relatively calm.

Has there been any protest by you people?

It is an offence punishable under the army act section 63. That is why we are suppressed. Last time they rotated some soldiers and when they protested, they charged them for insubordination. A former highly placed officer who sent troops to a particular route where they were ambushed in 2014 was challenged. Some of those that challenged him were later punished and many of them are still in prison till date

Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/06/boko-haram-army-officer-replies-buratai-from-battle-front/

No no no. Some of these thing makes no sense. Feels like an interview with a deserting officer who knows little about our operational procedures then trying to paint the military back.

Infact, this is a poorly researched interview or whatever it is. You mean you request for air support and the next information is there's no aviation fuel?

This is the most foolish write up I have ever seen in my 2019.

doziex:
Furthermore,for those in the south that are under the illusion that they are safe, when the Frankenstein creatures of the north reach maturity and overpower our military, the rest of the country unprepared for combat will fold in rapid succession.
Maiduguri, Kano,kaduna (with all it's military facilities . real smart, locating your entire military industrial complex in one state).

Then Abuja that lives in a cocoon, will fall because the soldiers will no longer stand and fight. However, the populus and the political class would not be able to escape. Not by road at least, cause the herdsmen have already cut all routes out and are essentially besieging all Nigerian cities, towns and villages.

Delusional Nigerians that believe in only prayers will be sitting ducks. For slaughtering. Benue, southern kaduna and zamfara are just the preamble to this tragedy that is already upon us.

The igbos have a saying that goes, " Anaghi agwa ochi nti na agha esu " translation, you don't tell the stubborn when war has come.

They ain't gonna listen anyway.

Valleys:
So it's about the pay right? What happened to Passion? Or is it that you don't have anything you have passion for.
Anyways...

Fynline:
Ara is seeing combat already

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxNFOA4nYWV/?igshid=zbwp3ls602bb

This video is why we loose several hardware to those animals.

bidexiii:



Lomg time, good to hear from you mate

Been following this page closely. Just busy schedule nowadays.

The tempo has been the same. You don't even know if your effort are showing off again. Kill and kill but it looks like more are being released so it's now an issue of preventing them from advancing. "it is well"

Fynline:
Ara is seeing combat already

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxNFOA4nYWV/?igshid=zbwp3ls602bb

Putting such large fire power in one spot is why a base get over runned.

I have never had a MRAP or IFV on my unit and I can guarantee you that my boys and I will swoop on a unit that large with my armored hilux. Add GLs and RPG.

I can hear someone asking them not to shoot anyhow. Suppressive fire is needed yes but do it with wisdom. Packing several IFV / MRAP meters away from each other is just like a sitting duck.

DaV8King:


I meant fathers as in pioneers.

NAF Panthers will likely give them a run for their money a la Tier 1

I am privileged to know a Panther and he is one of the toughest men I have ever met, so I go from there.

The SBS guys are beast. Panthers will not get close yet.