Nigeria arrested 55 members of a Biafran separatist movement during protests in the oil-rich south-east, police said. Secessionist sentiment simmered in the region since the Biafra separatist rebellion tipped the country into a civil war that killed an estimated 1 million people.

In Enugu, a major city in the south-east, 41 members of a Biafra group were arrested, police spokesman Ebere Amaraizu said. “They were not violent per se but they conducted themselves in a manner that could breach the peace,” he said. “They are still in custody and undergoing interrogation.”

In Bayelsa state, part of the Niger Delta, 14 Biafra movement members who had been trying join a protest were arrested, said a police source. Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra campaign group, was released on bail on Friday after being detained for nearly two years. He has been charged with criminal conspiracy and belonging to an illegal society. Amnesty International last year accused Nigerian security forces of killing at least 150 Biafra separatists at peaceful rallies, which the military and police deny.

Defenseweb

Two people have been killed and six others have been injured in an attack on a village in Nigeria’s volatile northeast. A police spokesman said on Tuesday that three female attackers had targeted villagers late on Monday in Mandarari Ward, located some 36 kilometers (22 miles) from Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state.

Borno is the heartland of an eight-year-long insurgency by Boko Haram, a Takfiri terrorist group responsible for the death of more than 20,000 civilians and security forces in Nigeria and neighboring countries. More than two million people have also been displaced in Nigeria as a result of the ruthless campaign of killing, abduction and extortion by Boko Haram.

A massive operation by the Nigerian military, which intensified two years ago, has forced militants out of the areas they used to control in the country’s north. However, Boko Haram still continues to use locals gripped by poverty to launch attacks.

The Nigerian army says an increase in Boko Haram’s attacks came following the rainy season last year, adding that weather conditions have facilitated the activity and movement of militants in the woods and bushes. The army says the ease of activity would end in a few weeks’ time as the rainy season starts again.

Boko Haram is an ally of Daesh, a Takfiri terror group based mainly in Iraq and Syria. The group claims, as its name goes, that it wants to put an end to the Western-style education in Nigeria. The group has yet to claim the attack in Borno on Monday.

Source: Presstv

The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) has taken delivery of the first of 20 new Diamond trainer aircraft ordered from Austrian aircraft manufacturer Diamond Aircraft in 2013 to replace an obsolete fleet. The deal, estimated at $20 million in 2013, was secured through local company Interjet Nigerian Limited, the official West African business representative for Diamond Aircraft.

The first DA-42NG was handed over to Nigerian Minister of State for Aviation Senator Hadi Serika by Interjet Nigeria Limited manager Seun Peters on 24 April. Serika said the government decided to replace the ageing 29 trainer aircraft operated by the NCAT Zaria campus because the majority were obsolete, while the airworthy few were too expensive to maintain.

NACT Rector Abdulsalam Mohammed said the new trainer aircraft would reduce operating costs. “Today, we are taking delivery of the first DA-42 twin-engine aircraft. NCAT is acquiring a total of 20 of these aircraft, specifically five twin-engine DA-42 and 15 single-engine DA-40 trainers. The new aircraft will significantly improve our cost efficiency.

“Besides, they are also equipped with a glass cockpit and Garmin 1000 system, which will make it easier for our graduate pilots to transition to various types of new-generation commercial aircraft,” Mohammed said. The DA 42 is powered by two Austro Engine AE300 diesel engines, which produce 168 hp each to propel the aircraft to a maximum cruise speed of 328 km/h.  Delivery has been delayed by more than a year due to bureaucratic delays in releasing the funds. According to the procurement contract signed between Interjet and the Nigerian government in 2013, five aircraft were supposed to be delivered every five months.

Due to the Nigerian government’s failure to pay, Diamond Aircraft has been forced to sell at least seven aircraft that were initially manufactured for the Nigerian contract to other buyers to offset maintenance and storage costs. NCAT operates 29 trainer aircraft including ageing Socata Trinidad TB-20GT and Beech Baron 58s which were purchased as second hand equipment more than 15 years ago. Meanwhile, Peters said Diamond Aircraft and Interjet Nigeria have agreed to set up the first DA-series Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) centre in Abuja.

“In partnership with Diamond Aircraft of Austria, we are working towards building a state-of-the-art maintenance facility in Abuja to service Nigeria and aircraft operators in other West African countries.” The MRO will service the growing number of West African operators of Diamond aircraft. These include the air forces of Ghana, Niger and Nigeria, which together operate between 7 and 12 DA-42 MPP (Multi-Purpose Platform)’Guardian’ maritime surveillance aircraft.

Culled from Defenseweb

Dozens of Nigerian schoolgirls who were abducted by the Boko Haram Takfiri terror group from the northeastern town of Chibok in 2014 have been released. “I can confirm they have been released,” said a government minister on condition of anonymity on Saturday, adding that an official statement would be released shortly.

“The girls were released through negotiations with the government,” said another official. Several sources put the number of released girls at around 80 while others claim some 60 were freed by the terrorists. “The girls are now lodged in the military barracks and will be flown to (the Borno state capital) Maiduguri tomorrow (Sunday),” a military source was quoted as saying.

More than 20 girls were freed last October in a deal negotiated by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Since then, several others have managed to escape or been rescued, but 195 were thought to be still in the hands of the terrorists.

The militants abducted 276 girls from their secondary school in the northeastern town in April 2014. Fifty-seven of the girls managed to escape, but nearly 220 others are still missing and international efforts to spot and rescue them have so far failed.

In August, Boko Haram released a video purportedly showing some of the girls and demanding the release of comrades in exchange for the freedom of the abductees. A masked member of the group speaking in the footage claimed some of the girls were still alive, and that the others had been killed in airstrikes carried out by the Nigerian air force on the Boko Haram hideout.

The Nigerian army has said that its air force carried a raid near the Sambisa forest that wounded the crazy Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau and killed one of his deputies. The Nigerian military also stated that the northeastern Nigeria air raid was staged last Friday in Balla, a village some 40 km from Damboa.

Military sources in the Federal capital Abuja further suggested that the wounded Shekau would be treated near the border with Cameroon, towards Kolofata. One of his deputies killed during the raids was identified as Abba Mustapha, alias Malam Abba and another of his lieutenants, Abubakar Gashua, alias Abu Aisha reportedly had a narrow escape.

Abubakar Shekau was announced died several times by the Nigerian army and many believe this recent announcement is to divert attention from President Buhari deteriorating health situation.  The Nigerian Islamic sect is now divided, weakened and has suffered heavy setbacks but still carries out murderous attacks in northeastern Nigeria and Cameroon. Its eight years insurgency has claimed the lives of more than 20,000 and 2.6 million displaced.

By Sama Ernest

The Nigerian navy has arrested 10 suspects after intercepting a vessel carrying stolen crude oil off the coast of the Niger Delta, a senior military official said on Wednesday. The suspects – a Nigerian, two Pakistanis, three Ghanaians, one Indonesian, one Beninois and two Ukrainians – had siphoned about two thousand metric tonnes of crude oil from a loading facility belonging to Shell Petroleum, the official said.

“The suspects were caught in the early hours of Tuesday while siphoning crude oil into the vessel from Afremo A platform, a loading jacket belonging to the Shell Petroleum and Development Company in Forcados River,” Navy Commodore Ibrahim Dewu, commander of the NNS Delta, said in a statement.

Nigeria is the world’s eighth biggest exporter of crude oil, but a sizeable proportion of its output is stolen by thieves who either drill into pipelines or hijack barges loaded with oil, theft that is known locally as “bunkering”.

Bunkering and attacks on oil pipelines in the Niger Delta can cut Nigeria’s output, which also affects world oil prices. Militant attacks on production facilities last year slashed output by as much as a third. Output has started to recover, and the government aims to pump an average of 2.2 million barrels per day this year.

Reuters

The Nigerian Air Force has formally inducted into service the two new Mi-35M attack helicopters, out of 12 ordered from Russian Helicopters in September 2015.  The two aircraft were introduced into service during the Nigerian Air Force’s (NAF’s) 53rd anniversary celebrations on 22 April in Makurdi. The ceremony was attended by Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, and Minister of Defence, Mansur Mohammad Dan-Ali, who represented President and Commander -in-Chief Muhammadu Buhari.

The induction of the helicopters will enhance NAF’s operational effectiveness and capability in the fight against insurgency and other forms of criminalities in the country, the NAF said in a statement. The modern Mi-35M attack helicopter has night capabilities in comparison to the earlier version and also has higher performance, more endurance and it is fitted with glass cockpit to enhance situational awareness during operations.

Dan-Ali said successes recorded so far against Boko Haram were made possible through training and acquisition of platforms and equipment for the Armed Forces and other security agencies. “Training and the recent acquisition of brand new platforms and other supporting equipment for our armed forces including other security agencies were also intensified. This was in practical fulfilment of my promise to re-professionalise and adequately equip our military so they could effectively discharge their constitutional responsibilities. The successes recorded so far have restored our pride and honour in the comity of nations. I urge you to consolidate on the gains of air power towards sustaining the peace and stability we have attained so far,” he said.

Abubakar said the Mi-35Ms will “significantly boost the effectiveness and combat capability of the Nigerian Air Force, especially in the counter insurgency operations in the northeast. The president has also approved the acquisition of additional platforms which will soon be delivered to the Nigerian Air Force. Within the last 20 months or so the president’s support has helped to reposition the Nigerian Air Force into a professional and disciplined air force capable of timely employment of air power, in response to our national security challenges.”

During the NAF day celebration Abubakar also presented a ceremonial colour to the newly established Special Operations Command (SOC) and celebrated the awarding of pilot wings to six NAF pilots. Two of the pilots were trained at King Hussain Air College in Jordan and four at the International Helicopter Flying School in Enugu.

The previous day the NAF test fired locally made 30 mm rockets developed by its Research and Development team. They were fired from a vehicle during the Weapons Meet at Kwenev Air Range. F-7Ni fighters fired rockets and cannon during the demonstration as well. Other aircraft that took part included A109 helicopters, L-39ZA and Alpha Jet trainers.

In his speech on 22 April Abubakar highlighted the active participation of the NAF in various peacekeeping operations especially the recent Operation Restore Democarcy in Gambia which saw NAF as the only air force undertake a combat deployment to Gambia.

Other activities during the closing ceremony were aerial and static displays of various NAF platforms and hardware as well as a colourful ceremonial parade. L-39ZAs fitted with rocket pods and cannon were displayed, as well as the indigenous Gulma unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

The Nigerian Air Force is expecting to take delivery of the remaining 12 Mi-35Ms by the end of 2018. The first two arrived in Nigeria in December 2016. The Mi-35M is powered by two Klimov VK-2500 turbo-shaft engines. It has an updated navigation and avionics suite which features multi-function coloured displays and target sighting systems, including a thermal imager and laser rangefinder. Apart from the attack role, the Mi-35M can be used for landing or transporting up to 8 fully-equipped soldiers.

Source: Defenseweb

Nigerians on Friday marked three years since the mass abduction of nearly 300 schoolgirls by Boko Haram extremists amid anger that government efforts to negotiate their freedom appear to have stalled. Activists were expected to rally in the capital, Abuja, and commercial hub Lagos to urge President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to do more to free the nearly 200 schoolgirls who remain captive.

Nigeria in October announced the release of 21 of the Chibok schoolgirls after negotiations with the extremist group, and it said another group of 83 girls would be released “very soon.” No one has been freed since then. The government this week said negotiations have “gone quite far” but face challenges. It refused to give details, citing security reasons. The failure of Nigeria’s former government to free the girls sparked a global Bring Back Our Girls movement and was a factor in Buhari’s 2015 election win over former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The schoolgirls from Chibok village are among thousands of people abducted by the Nigeria-based Boko Haram as it continues to threaten parts of the northeast and has spread into neighboring countries. The Chibok abduction is not even the largest. Nigerian officials refuse to acknowledge the abduction of more than 500 children from the northeastern town of Damasak in November 2014, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said last month. Nigerian officials have not responded to requests by The Associated Press for information.

Buhari late last year announced that Boko Haram had been “crushed,” but it continues to carry out deadly suicide bombings, often strapping them to young women. Children have been used to carry out 27 attacks in the first three months of this year, already nearing last year’s total of 30, the UN children’s agency said this week.

On Wednesday, Nigerian security officials said they had thwarted plans by Daesh-linked Boko Haram members to attack the embassies of the United States and Britain, along with “other Western interests” in the capital. One faction of Boko Haram is allied with Daesh.

Nigeria’s military in the past year has rescued thousands of Boko Haram captives while liberating towns and villages from the group’s control, but many have been detained as possible Boko Haram suspects. Boko Haram’s seven-year uprising has killed more than 20,000 people and driven 2.6 million from their homes, with millions facing starvation because of the disruption in markets and agriculture.

Source Presstv

A bloody clash between the army and police in Nigeria’s restive northeastern Yobe State on Wednesday left one soldier and three police dead, a security source told AFP. The police confirmed the fracas in the state capital of Damaturu, but did not say if there were casualties. “The Nigeria police force is abreast of the unfortunate incident that occurred in the early hours of today 12th April, 2017 in Damaturu between the personnel of the force and that of the Nigerian army,” police spokesman Jimoh Moshood said in a statement.

He said an investigation had been launched to determine “the causes of the incident and deal with the situation appropriately to prevent such occurrence in the future.” The army authorities were not immediately available for comment. A security officer, who did not want to be named, told AFP trouble began on Tuesday when an army officer in a mufti (civilian dress) ran into a convoy of the head of the police mobile unit in Damaturu.

“The army officer was beaten up by the police for his action. This morning, soldiers stormed the police station and took away the head of the mobile unit to their military base,” he said. He said the soldiers’ action angered some police officers who invaded the army base to free their boss. “There was a shootout in which a soldier and a policeman were killed on the spot while two policemen who were injured later died of their wounds,” he said. Yobe and two other states — Borno and Adamawa — in the northeast are the worst-hit in the eight-year Boko Haram militancy in Nigeria.

Source Presstv