126 Soldiers Sue Nigerian Army For Wrongful Dismissal

126 sacked Nigerian soldiers have the National Industrial Court in Abuja challenging their dismissal by the Nigerian Army, Tribune has reported.

Some members of the Nigeria Army

The soldiers, in a suit No. NICN/ABJ/92/2015, through their lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, said the soldiers were denied “inviolable opportunity to be heard and make representation in defence and to state their respective cases.”
The soldiers were among the 255 soldiers sacked on January 13 and 14, 2015, by the Nigerian Army, over an alleged “disobedience to standing order and failure to perform military duties.”

They comprise of four warrant officers ( Akanny Welcome, Davou Nta, Ibrahim Usman and Adediran Ogunmuyiwa) and others in the ranks of sergeants, corporal, lance corporal, and private were part of the joint force, code-named “OP Zaman Lafia,” who were directed to combat the outlawed Boko Haram sect in the North-East region of Nigeria.
The army had claimed the plaintiffs refused to obey their commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel A. A Egbejule, during a counter-attack by Boko Haram in Bazza.

It further said the act of the plaintiffs led to the recapture of the territory by the terrorists and subsequently were  dismissed orally at their station by Lieutenant-Colonel M.J Gambo on January 13, 2015 and by the Garrison Commander, General B.O Akinroluoyo, the following day.

Recently, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed new service chiefs after sacking the military service chiefs he inherited from the Goodluck Jonathan administration on Monday, July 13.

I Am Leaving To You A Stronger Army - Minimah To New COAS

    Former Chief of Army, Staff. Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah
has said that the service under his regime was forced to
make unusual measures to rescue the Army from
collapse.
Minimah was talking about arrangement of various general
military court martials to try officers and soldiers for
offences ranging from mutiny, cowardice and indiscipline
among Army officers involved in the ongoing counter
insurgency operation in the North East.
He revealed that his leadership had to adopt strategies
against cowardice and indiscipline in the army.
He noted that he left behind an Army, who he believes could
protect the country against any enemy.

He announced that the army under watch has reclaimed
many territories from the insurgents and had essentially
crippled them. He stressed that the insurgents were faced
with certain defeat.
He said, “As I hand over today, I am happy to inform you
that the Boko Haram terrorists’ insurgency is at a certain
defeat. During my tenure, we were able to reclaim all
territories earlier lost to the terrorists, sufficiently degrade
their potency and reduced them to a band of criminals and
petty thieves.
“Success did not come cheap. It came with the sweat and
blood of all of us. In the face of unusual events, we had to
take unusual actions.Some may adjudge us as being too
strict especially in dealing with cases of cowardice and
indiscipline in the field.
“But, we had to do what we must to arrest the drift towards
chaos that the Army was heading. I am happy that the result
in the field today justifies our actions.

“Today I am leaving behind an Army that can hold its own
against any adversary without batting an eyelid. An Army
that has vowed never again to concede any inch of Nigeria
to terrorists. It is a legacy I am leaving behind and I implore
you to sustain it.”
Minimah statement was made during the handing over the
leadership of the service to his successor, Maj. Gen. Tukur
Buratai, on Thursday.
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Boko Haram: Police Ban Sallah Celebration

This would not be a good news to those who were
preparing to celebrate the end of Ramadan fast
tomorrow Friday July 17 in Kaduna state as the state
Police Command has placed ban on all forms of social
activities at parks, events and recreation centres.
This ban is coming on the heel of a security alert by the state
security outfit, code-named ‘Operation Yaki’ that the state
might come under attacked on Sallah day by terror group,
known as ‘Surasuka’ or ‘Masushara’, The Punch reports.
Col Yakubu Yusuf(retd.), the coordinator of the outfit, said
security operatives had been placed on a high alert, but
cautioned residents to be vigilant during the period.

He warned residents against accommodating or harbouring
strange fellows as the Boko Haram terror group had
changed their tactics of attacks.
This revelation was made by the state commissioner of
police, Umar Shehu, while speaking to newsmen in Kaduna
saying places where fun seekers normally gathered for
relaxation in the state like Gamji Gate Amusement Park,
Galaxy Park and others would be closed down during the
celebration.
Shehu said: “Praying in Eid Ground is a sign of ending the
Ramadan and after the prayer, it is expected that everybody
returns back to his house.
“We have banned all social gathering and all operators of
such centers have been instructed to lock up the venue
because of the present security situation in the country and
anybody who violates the order, will be arrested.

“The state command also wishes to inform the residents that
operation order/strategies to checkmate activities of
criminal have been put in place.
“The command has deployed both conventional and mobile
policemen as well as undercover operatives to man and
monitor vulnerable points with a view to ensuring tight
security across the state.
“The command urges parents/guardians to be vigilant,
monitor and warn their children/wards and not allow them
to be used by mischief makers.
“More so, use of okada/street begging and hawking are still
in force, all in the bid to ensure that Kaduna residents have
a crime and violence free Eid-El Fitr celebration .”
The Emir of Zazzau, who is also the Chairman of Kaduna
State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Shehu Idris, has
also cancelled the traditional Durbar that’s usually held after
the Sallah prayers..