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Nigerian army dismiss OPI as rumor

Army spokesman, Acting Director Nigerian Army Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa

The Nigerian Army has discarded plans to commence a nationwide exercise code-named Operation Positive Identification, which will require Nigerians to show proof of their citizenship to soldiers.
Army spokesman, Acting Director Nigerian Army Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa in a statement described the report as mischievous.

He explained that it emanated from a fictitious group, Bricks company, which has nothing to do with the Army.
The statement reads: “Following the widespread apprehension on the purported Nigerian Army (NA) operation positive identification from 1 November to 23 December 2019, as mischievously peddled on the social media by a hitherto unknown and fictitious organization the so called Bricks company, which alleges that the NA will conduct the operation and went ahead to state how the operation will be conducted by the Army.
“Specifically, Bricks alleges that – “residents shall witness large numbers of uniformed Nigerian Army personnel parading the roads in an exercise known as OPI”.

“The NA wishes to inform members of the public that it has nothing to do with the so called Bricks company and its illusionary OPI, it is not an Army operation and the NA does not create any operation with such name or abbreviation in all its operations across the nation in a manner maliciously presented by the so called Bricks company.
“Similarly, NA has never issued press release through private companies or third parties because it has a full fledged Directorate that coordinates its public relations and Information aspects which has a robust cordial working relationship with the press.
“Recall that in order to complement the ongoing operation in the North East, NA has an ongoing operation positive identification which is intelligence driven, deliberate, targeted operation and not an independent operation but is integral and complementary to Operation LAFIYA DOLE in the North East. The aim of the operation is to arrest all those terrorists fleeing or escaping the war zone/Theatre of operation to a safe haven or peaceful areas in Nigeria.

“Members of the public are hereby enjoined to discountenanced the hitherto faceless and mischievous Bricks company and its alleged NA OPI.
“The NA wishes to use this opportunity to enjoin all Nigerians to cooperate with the NA and indeed all other security agencies by giving credible information that will assist in the identification and eventual arrest of the fleeing criminals/terrorists in any part of our beloved country.”

Feds warn UFO enthusiasts against storming Area 51: The military 'stands ready'

They've got a plan to raid Area 51 and "see them aliens." But what will happen if they actually do it?

Over one million people have signed up to a joke Facebook event, calling on users to meet at Area 51, the US Air Force base in Nevada that's long been a source of alien conspiracy theories, in September.

"If we Naruto run, we can move faster than their bullets," the page says, referencing the Japanese manga-inspired running style with arms outstretched backwards and heads forward. "Let's see them aliens."

A pinned post on the page attempts to cover its bases, reading "Hello US government, this is a joke, and I do not actually intend to go ahead with this plan. I just thought it would be funny and get me some thumbsy uppies on the internet." But as the event has gained traction -- inspiring dozens of memes and jokes -- the profile of the situation has risen, so much so that the US Air Force has been made aware of the potential impending raid.

And they're not as lighthearted about the situation as folks on the internet are.

"[Area 51] is an open training range for the U.S. Air Force, and we would discourage anyone from trying to come into the area where we train American armed forces," a spokeswoman told The Washington Post. "The U.S. Air Force always stands ready to protect America and its assets."

CNN has reached out to the Air Force and is waiting to hear back.

Area 51 has been a source of alien conspiracy theories for decades

Area 51 was officially acknowledged as an Air Force base in 2013, but has spurred conspiracy theories as an unidentified flying object and alien holding site for decades. In short, it's thought that Area 51 holds all the government secrets about aliens -- though the CIA has published documents confirming its use as a test base.

But it has since been confirmed that the US government has spent $22 million researching UFOs. Just last month a group of US senators were briefed on UFO encounters the US Navy has had, too. 

 

source: CNN

I learnt about my husband’s death on WhatsApp – Wife of NAF pilot married for three weeks

Diepreye, the wife of the Nigerian Air Force pilot, Flight Lieutenant Perowei Jacob, who died in the January 2, 2019 Mi-35M helicopter crash, has said she learnt of his death on a WhatsApp status update,
The couple had their wedding on December 8, 2018, while the husband and four others died on January 2, 2019 during one of the numerous flights of the NAF Component of Operation LAFIYA DOLE in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Speaking with the PUNCH, Diepreye said: “My husband left for the trip five days after we got married and since he left, I’ve been alone. We spoke before he took off on the trip. When I tried his number at night, it was not going through and I switched off my phone afterwards. The following morning, I tried reaching him again, but it still was not going through.
“I went on WhatsApp and I saw the picture of my husband and his co-pilot with the caption: ‘Rest in Peace’ on the status update of one of his colleagues, who didn’t know that I had his WhatsApp number. When I saw it, I was so shocked that I threw my phone away in disbelieve. I picked it up again and went through it. Just as I was about running out of the house, the commander arrived to confirm my fear.”
Others who died alongside Jacob on January 2, 2019 at about 7:45pm were Flight Lieutenant Kaltho Kilyofas (co-pilot), Sergeant Auwal Ibrahim (flight technician), Lance Corporal Adamu Nura (gunner) and Aircraft Man Meshack Ishmael (gunner).

They were buried on Tuesday  at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja.

Be ready for Battle hardship. President of China tell troops.

Xi’s speech was made at a meeting of top officials from the Central Military Commission (CMC), which he heads, and broadcast later on national television.


“All military units must correctly understand major national security and development trends, and strengthen their sense of unexpected hardship, crisis and battle,” he said.

At the meeting, Xi also signed off on the first military command of 2019, which will kick-start a year of enhanced military training and exercises.

China’s armed forces must “prepare for a comprehensive military struggle from a new starting point”, he said. “Preparation for war and combat must be deepened to ensure an efficient response in times of emergency.”

Xi has consistently pushed the PLA to boost its combat readiness since taking over as president and head of the CMC in late 2012, and that looks set to intensify through 2019.

Earlier in the week, PLA Daily, the official newspaper of China’s military, said in an editorial that “there was no time for slacking in war preparation”.
Beijing ‘will keep military pressure on Taiwan’ after Xi Jinping’s call for unification Similarly, the CMC issued a series of guidelines to boost morale, saying military personnel would be promoted on the basis of merit, and promising greater leniency and understanding for mistakes made in training.






Shanghai-based military expert Ni Lexiong said the recent “high-profile gestures” were probably intended as a warning to those who sought to obstruct the mainland’s plans for the reunification of Taiwan.

“[They] show how seriously Xi is taking China’s military training and its preparations for war, while also flexing its strength,” he said.



While Xi spoke of his desire for a “peaceful reunification” with Taiwan, few experts expect Beijing to ease the military pressure on the island, which it regards as a breakaway province.

According to a report by state broadcaster CCTV, the military command signed by Xi prioritises enhanced training, with the focus on combat readiness, drills, troop inspections and resistance exercises.

It applies to all units of the PLA, including troops, academies and armed police, and is designed to “ensure new challenges are met and battles are won”, according to a copy of the guidelines seen during the television report.

Yue Gang, a retired PLA colonel, said that as well as the rising tensions between Beijing and Taipei, Xi’s rallying call to the military was a response to the growing uncertainty over the geopolitical struggle between China and the United States.



“China is increasing its military training so that it has the best solutions for the worst outcomes, either related to the US or across the [Taiwan] strait,” he said.
As China tests military muscle, PLA warns Taiwan efforts to resist reunification with force are dead end

“Over the coming year, the US might use Taiwan and the South China Sea as bargaining chips to get what it wants from China with regards to the trade war,” he said.

“And there is always the possibility of increased independence calls from Taiwan.”

190 policemen abscond from counter-insurgency training

The Force Headquarters has ordered the arrest and prosecution of 190 riot policemen who absconded from the ongoing training at the Special Forces School , Buni- Yadi , Yobe State .
The fleeing policemen were part of the 2 ,000 Police Mobile Officers mobilised for the training preparatory to their deployment for combat against Boko Haram insurgents in the North - East.
They were deployed by the Inspector - General of Police, Ibrahim Idris , about three weeks ago for purely military duties under the ‘Operation Lafiya Dole .’
The Police authorities had argued that the deployment of the men was consistent with Section 4 of the Police Act and Regulations , which allows them to perform such military duties both within and outside Nigeria as may be required of them.

The 190 missing cops were believed to have bailed out of the SFS because they did not want to participate in the counter-insurgency operations .
Findings indicate that the policemen were drawn from MOPOLs 2 , Keffi ; 3 Enugu; 5 Benin ; 8 Jos; 11 Calabar ; and 16 Abeokuta.

Others were from MOPOLs 17 Akure ; 18 Owerri ; 19 Port Harcourt ; 20/ 22 Ikeja ; 23 Keffi Str. ; 26 Uyo ; 28 Umuahia; 30 Yenagoa ; 31 Asaba; 32 Abakaliki ; 35 Dutse ; 39 Ogbomoso ; 43 Lion Building ; 50 Kubwa ; 51 Oghara; 54 Onitsha and 56 Ogoni.
A Police wireless message with reference DTO :241610 /12/ 2018 sighted by our correspondent on Wednesday , and signed by the Commissioner of Police in charge of MOPOL , directed that the errant operatives should be arrested and produced under escort .
Checks showed that over 120 of the absconding officers were Sergeants, while the rest included some Inspectors and a few Corporals.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Acting DCP, Jimoh Moshood , could not be reached for comment on the development as he did not respond to calls and text message.
The spokesman had disclosed that the Nigeria Police Force had on ground 47 PMF units in Borno , 26 units in Yobe and 18 units in Adamawa , in addition to the regular PMF Squadrons in the three states .

:IMMEDIATE past Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, aides killed in Abuja

ABUJA – IMMEDIATE past Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh was shot dead Tuesday in Abuja. Badeh, who served under ex-President Good luck Jonathan, was killed 


Tuesday evening by unknown gunmen,while reportedly returning from his farm. Alex Badeh Two of his aides were reportedly kidnapped after he was shot. The Nigerian Air Force have confirmed the death of the former Defence chief in a statement by its spokesman,Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola.

 The statement, tagged:”Death of former CDS Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh,read thus:”It is with a heavy heart that I regretfully announce the unfortunate demise of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh, who died today, 18 Dec 18, from gunshot wounds sustained when his vehicle was attacked while returning from his farm along Abuja-Keffi Road.‬ 

“On behalf officers, airmen and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, commiserates with the family of the late former Chief of Defence Staff over this irreparable loss. We pray that the Almighty God grants his soul eternal rest. Details later. 

George HW Bush, former US president, dies aged 94

Patriarch of Bush dynasty and 41st US president remembered for steady hand during Soviet collapse

George HW Bush, who as the 41st president shepherded the US through a turbulent period in global relations that included the breakup of the Soviet Union and the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, has died. He was 94.
A statement from his office said: “George Herbert Walker Bush, world war two naval aviator, Texas oil pioneer, and 41st president of the United States of America, died on 30 November 2018.
“He was 94 and is survived by his five children and their spouses, 17 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and two siblings. He was preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, Barbara; his second child Pauline Robinson ‘Robin’ Bush; and his brothers Prescott and William or ‘Bucky’ Bush. Funeral arrangements will be announced as soon as is practical.”

George HW Bush -

Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush, who presided over the end of the Cold War and routed Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi army died on Friday night at the age of 94, a family spokesman said.
Bush, the 41st president of the United States, lived longer than any of his predecessors. His death at 10:10 p.m. Central time was announced in a statement issued by longtime spokesman Jim McGrath.

Bush lost a chance for a second term after breaking a no-new-taxes pledge. But his son who bears his name came, in as the 43rd President after the era of Bill Clinton.

The death was also announced by his family Friday night on Twitter.
“George Herbert Walker Bush, World War II naval aviator, Texas oil pioneer, and 41st President of the United States of America, died on November 30, 2018. He was 94 and is survived by his five children and their spouses, 17 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and two siblings,” the former president’s office said in a statement.
“He was preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, Barbara; his second child Pauline “Robin” Bush; and his brothers Prescott and William or “Bucky” Bush.”
His son George W. Bush, who served as the country’s 43rd president, released a statement of his own from the family.
“Jeb, Neil, Marvin, Doro, and I are saddened to announce that after 94 remarkable years, our dear Dad has died,” George W. Bush said. “George H. W. Bush was a man of the highest character and the best dad a son or daughter could ask for. The entire Bush family is deeply grateful for 41’s life and love, for the compassion of those who have cared and prayed for Dad, and for the condolences of our friends and fellow citizens.”

Bush was admitted to Houston Methodist Hospital with a blood infection on April 22 — two days after the funeral for his wife of 73 years, former first lady Barbara Bush.
He is survived by his five children, including former President George W. Bush and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
Bush was with his wife when she died at the age of 92 on April 17.
“He, of course, is broken-hearted to lose his beloved Barbara, his wife of 73 years. He held her hand all day and was at her side when [she] left this good earth,” a statement from his office said after her death. “But it will not surprise all of you who know and love him, that he also is being stoic and strong, and is being lifted up by his large and supportive family.”`

(NAN)

we at AllforMilitary say a big thank you a solid salute to this man.
In case if you don't know.
he is a military man too.
#salute!!!!!!!!!
#RIP!!!!!!!

Nigerian Defence Academy matriculates 471 cadets

The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has matriculated 471 Cadets into various degree programmes with a call that they live a life of integrity and hard work.

The NDA matriculation held on Thursday at the Academy Auditorium, Afaka, Kaduna.

Brig. Gen. George Pedro (rtd) while congratulating the cadets, told them that they have made a great decision to join the NDA.

Special guest of honour. Brig. Gen. Pedro encouraged them to be undeterred by the challenges they may face in the course of pursuing their chosen career and to bear in mind that “becoming an officer is not just a means to an end but an end in itself”.

In his inaugural lecture, the Commandant Nigeria Defence Academy, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade tasked the matriculating cadets to be focused and determined as they begin their sojourn in the Academy.

Oyebade said: “Looking at the peculiarity of the Academy as a military university which combines both military and academics training, the task ahead is tough”.

He encouraged them to strive harder on their journey with perseverance and determination, as only those who have the mentioned qualities would rise to the peak of their career.

Comparing the military profession to other professions, the commandant explained that the military profession was peculiar and more demanding as it is the only profession that requires an individual to lay down his life for the peace and unity of his country.

To parents and guardians of the cadets, the commandant urged them to aid the new cadets with prayers and encouragement to enable them cope with the rigors and challenges associated with the training.

He assured them of the well-being of their children while undergoing training, saying the Academy is equipped with world-class facilities and serene environment to cater for its cadets’ needs.

The matriculated cadets are members of 70 Regular Course assembled at the NDA three months ago.

Congratulations to these future leaders of the armed forces.

Boko Haram kills Nigerian Army commander, dozens of soldiers in fresh attack

Rampaging Boko Haram insurgents overran a Nigerian Army battalion in Borno State on Sunday, killing the unit’s commander and dozens of soldiers, military sources have told PREMIUM TIMES.

File photo of Nigerian Army in Sambisa Forest   as posted on premium times.

A large cache of arms, ammunition and military equipment were carted away by Boko Haram fighters during the attack on 157 Task Force Battalion in Metele, Abadam Local Government Area, at about 6:00 p.m., a setback for government forces trying to push terrorists further out of Nigeria’s northeastern flank.

There were fears for the fate of the troops from the base, which was raided only a month ago, as military sources said the Nigerian Army was making frantic efforts to contain the traumatic effect of the attack on the larger counterinsurgency operation.

Bodies of fallen troops were still being recovered and evacuated from the scene as of Tuesday morning, PREMIUM TIMES learnt. But dozens of soldiers from the battalion have already been confirmed killed, amongst them their commander. Military sources were unable to tell the number of Boko Haram casualties.

Military sources said the fallen commander was a lieutenant colonel, who had overseen the unit for a long time. He once allegedly refused to mobilise troops for an operation, citing unavailability of serviceable hardware, but faced threats of being court-martialed, sources said.

PREMIUM TIMES has decided to withhold the identity of the officer as it was not immediately clear his family had been informed of his death.

It was not immediately learnt how many soldiers were manning the base during the attack, which was linked to Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA).

The group has long targeted military bases, and has intensified its assaults in recent months on military formations across the volatile northeast.

A day before on November 17, Boko Haram terrorists attacked the base of Sector 2 troops in Mainok, Kaga Local Government Area, killing at least one soldier and leaving several others wounded. Military sources believed the Shekau faction of the group was responsible for the attack, which saw insurgents cart away a large quantity of arms and ammunition.

Both the Nigerian Army and the Defence Headquarters did not return PREMIUM TIMES’ requests seeking comments on the attacks Tuesday morning. A spokesperson for the Nigerian Air Force also did not return messages seeking comments.

It was only on October 8 that Boko Haram militants raided the same base of 157 Battalion in Metele, killing at least 18 soldiers and wounding eight others, PREMIUM TIMES reported.

At least 157 soldiers were feared missing during the attack, and their whereabouts had not been conclusively resolved by military brass over a month later, sources said.

Military authorities announced the attack, but heavily downplayed its magnitude.

President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian military leaders have claimed they are winning the war on terror, but analysts say recent attacks are bolstering rather than dampen fears of the insurgency.

“When you consider the frequency of these attacks since July, it is difficult to say that our military has the upper hand,” said security analyst Chris Ngwodo.

Mr Ngwodo said a possible failure on the part of the military leaders to appropriately fortify bases might be responsible for the audacious scope of the attacks.

“These bases are not sufficiently fortified to withstand insurgents’ attacks,” the analyst said. “That they are doing this regularly and getting away with it shows there is no adequate security in place even at the bases.”

“Every resource must be made available to fortify where soldiers are manning, even though many of them are forward operating bases,” Mr Ngwodo added. “Intelligence capabilities must be also be strengthened to anticipate things like this because the huge movement it takes for terrorists to carry out such attacks should have been detected.”

Hundreds of Nigerian troops have been killed and even more missing since Boko Haram resumed its latest campaign in July, fueling concerns amongst military leaders, and prompting an emergency reshuffling of commanders.

Worried about the rising cases of missing soldiers in Boko Haram attack, the chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, issued a warning to troops on the battlefront against fleeing from insurgents in August, threatening errant personnel with a tough prosecution.

The Defence Headquarters announced last week it had taken new delivery of military equipment, boasting of a tough time ahead for insurgents.

The military has said it recorded tremendous gains in its counterinsurgency operations over the past three years, especially after managing to confine the insurgents to the fringes of Nigerian territories.

This was against the previous years when the deadly Boko Haram terrorists held vast Nigerian lands across its North-east stronghold, occasionally spilling into North-west and North-central geopolitical zones.

Please take note that the Nigerian Military have not release a press statement on this, this news was sourced from Premium times Nigeria.

Pls pray for our heroes.

Trouble smells as the Nigeria Military ban its personnel from posting in uniform on social media

A newly-introduced social media code of ethics for members of the Nigerian military has recorded some of its earliest sanctions.

This newspaper obtained details of at least 149 personnel who were penalised for violating a section of the guidelines within the first three months after they came into force.
The affected service members, majority of whom are non-commissioned officers, were accused of uploading pictures of themselves in military fatigues on social media, an act considered offensive under the guidelines issued in June 2018.
A breakdown of the sanctions shows 33 naval officers were found wearing their uniforms in fresh social media uploads, 40 soldiers were caught in the same act while 76 members of the Nigerian Air Force were affected.
The errant naval personnel comprised 15 commissioned officers and 18 ratings. Ten of the 40 Nigerian Army personnel are commissioned officers, with captain as the most-senior rank, while the remaining 30 are soldiers. The Air Force saw 17 of its officers and 59 non-commissioned officers identified as violating the social media guidelines.

The 10-page guidelines, published by the Defence Headquarters, imposed by Chief of Defence Staff, Gabriel Olonisakin, on June 11 sought to curb undignified use of social media by members of the armed forces, especially acts that could render them susceptible to enemies’ trap or jeopardise ongoing military operations.

“Personnel should not post their pictures or those of their colleagues in military uniforms, or pictures containing military structures, platforms and other military related items,” said one of the slew of cautions in the guidelines.
The guidelines also included a ‘Dos and Don’ts’ section, which encouraged officers to always ‘like’ postings by all institutions of the armed forces but must not use social media languages such as “LWKMD, LMAO, LOL, OMG, BRB in professional posts.”
Military personnel were also required to warn their family members against controversial conducts on social media.
“Personnel will be held liable for any security issues arising from postings in respect of them by civilian friends or relations. They are therefore, to educate their friends and relations as necessary regarding military security and what should not be posted on social media,” the guidelines said.
Officers court-martialled
Although the guidelines did not contain potential punishments for specific offences, there was a provision that said all officers would be punished as prescribed by the Armed Forces Act or the Cyber Crime Act.
The 149 officers were those caught between June 11 and September 18 by the Defence Headquarters.
It was not immediately clear how many of the 149 personnel have been disciplined for breaking the no-uniform-on-social media rule, but military spokesperson, John Agim, said he was aware arrests had been made.
“Some persons have been arrested for violating the guidelines and are currently being court-martialled,” Mr Agim, a brigadier-general said. “But only their lawyers could say the kinds of punishment involved.”

‘Pushed to the wall’
The Nigerian military has been on the defensive in recent years, as many officers, including those fighting Boko Haram in the terror-ravaged North-East, are taking to social media to ventilate on issues bordering on their welfare.
The military personnel, mostly soldiers, have been reported in the media as sending out anonymous pictures of the poor food they are being fed. Some have complained about how their salaries and allowances were being depleted by commanders, allegations that often received strong rebuttal from top military brass.
One of such instances came in February when some officers who said they were engaged in the Boko Haram war alleged gross maltreatment by military authorities. The officers called on the Nigerian public and President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently intervene in their situation or risk allowing the counter-terrorism efforts to deteriorate.

The Army swiftly responded to the anonymous complaints at the time with a call for disgruntled elements to abandon service. It also said those raising the concerns were sponsored by politicians, although no proof was provided to substantiate the claim.
Nigerian military personnel are also known to have regularly used social media to mourn the death of their fallen colleagues, even when the military had not formally notified their loved ones.
All these acts have “pushed the military to the wall”, Mr Agim said. “But it is not only in Nigeria, other countries are imposing measures to discourage their military officers from revealing too much information on social media.”
It was not immediately clear how many militaries across the world have imposed social media guidelines, but Western countries, including the United States, which Mr Agim said had such measures in place, do not appear to have prohibited uploading of pictures in military uniform on social media.

How about in the  a U.S. Military an  officer told correspondent of Premium times in an interview preferring not to be identified in print. “We can post pictures on social media in uniforms…except on AORs (areas of responsibility) that are considered combat and sensitive.”
“Military [officers] can post photos on social media provided nothing in the posts endangers troops, reveals locations, mission operations or troops movements,” the officer said.
India appears to have military guidelines which bear similarities with Nigeria’s, but this was imposed in 2016 after a senior military officer was enmeshed in a ‘honey trap’ scandal linked to the Pakistani intelligence agency.
The military in India forbids personnel from opening pornographic contents on social media, as well as setting pictures of themselves in uniform as their social media profile. But it did not place an outright ban on uploading pictures with uniform online.

‘No harm intended’
Mr Agim said the rules were not intended to harm the officers or over-police their social media activities, but Nigeria is facing serious security challenges which the military has been at the forefront of bringing to an end.
“It is a challenging face we are in in terms of security,” Mr Agim said. “We have the responsibility to take measures that will protect all members of the armed forces who would in turn protect the country as a whole.”
An Abuja-based lawyer, Ken Asogwa, said even though it might be difficult to hold a balanced position on the matter, the military does not seem to have done anything fundamentally wrong with its guidelines on social media conduct.
“The truth is that the military officers are human beings like everyone and the Constitution guarantees their fundamental rights,” Mr Asogwa told PREMIUM TIMES. “But since they have signed up to the codes of the military, they are statutorily bounded to comply by the social media guidelines.”
“If you think the military authorities are abridging your fundamental rights, you leave there and enjoy your rights elsewhere. But since you have signed up to the military code, it is not too much to expect you to comply with their rules, especially when such rules are drafted for security reasons,” he said.
Mr Asogwa said even private firms are increasingly issuing guidelines defining how their staff members should conduct themselves online, suggesting it would be unfair to single out the military because it is a public institution.

In a publication by Daily trust Adeniyi Oyebade, a lieutenant-general and general officer commanding (GOC) 1 Division Mechanized Army, Kaduna, gave the directive on Tuesday.
Oyebade said this when he represented Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff, at the graduation ceremony of Men of Nigerian Battalion (NIBBAT) 46, which held at the Nigerian Army Peace Keeping Centre (NAPKC), Jaji in Kaduna.
“It is prohibited to upload any picture with your uniforms while in operation,” he was quoted as saying.
“Specifically, I want to warn you on the use of social media. While you are on operation, you may want to take photo shot of some good moment but you should be very careful while doing that.
“Avoid any picture or video that has to do with your colleague or operation. You are barred not to upload such information. It is prohibited to upload any picture with your uniforms while in operation because it will become a pragmatic problems for the Nigerian Army.”

can personell cope with this new code since social media is now part of every one culture?.

*news excerpt from premim times and daily trust.

Airstrike kills 60 Islamist extremist fighters in Somalia, US military says

somali terrorist (AL-shabab)

A US airstrike has killed 60 Islamist extremist fighters in Somalia, in one of the deadliest ever such operations against the al-Shabaab organisation in the unstable eastern African country.

The US military said Friday’s airstrike occurred near the al-Shabaab-controlled community of Harardere in Mudug province in the central part of the country. According to its assessment no civilians were injured or killed.

It was the most lethal US airstrike since a November 2017 attack that killed about 100 al-Shabaab fighters. The statement gave no further details about what was targeted, and a US military spokesman said it was not a camp.

The US has carried out more than three dozen airstrikes, including drone strikes, this year against the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabaab, the deadliest Islamic extremist group in sub-Saharan Africa.

At least five have occurred in the last month.

The use of air power in Somalia has been steadily increasing since before Donald Trump became US president.

Trump relaxed guidelines intended to prevent civilian casualties and gave local military commanders greater authority in ordering attacks.

Last year there were 31 such attacks and 15 in 2016, according to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based research institute.

The US Africa command spokesman said the airstrike had no link to the anniversary of a massive bomb that killed nearly 600 people in Mogadishu.

The United States, which also has targeted a small number of fighters linked to the Islamic State group in northern Somalia, has increased its military presence in Somalia since early 2017 to about 500 personnel after Trump approved expanded military operations.

Al-Shabaab, which has been fighting to establish an Islamic state in Somalia for almost a decade, continues to hold parts of the country’s south and central regions after being chased out of Mogadishu several years ago.

The group, which is affiliated with al-Qaida, has proved tenacious and regularly carries out deadly attacks against high-profile targets such as hotels and checkpoints in the capital and other cities. It also remains a threat in parts of neighbouring Kenya.

Some observers have questioned the effectiveness of airstrikes by the US and Kenya and raised concerns about civilians being killed.

An investigation by the Guardian earlier this year found that more than 50 civilians were killed or injured in airstrikes in the last six months of 2017. At least two attacks involved US aircraft.

The US military maintains that airstrikes “reduce al-Shabaab’s ability to plot future attacks, disrupt its leadership networks and degrade its freedom of manoeuvre within the region”.

In a press release, the US Africa command said the strike on Friday had been carried out in coordination with the federal government of Somalia, but gave no further details.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Facebook removes more accounts spreading military propaganda in Myanmar

• Facebook on Monday said it removed 13 pages and 10 accounts that were used to spread military propaganda in Myanmar.
• The removals are the latest in an ongoing effort by Facebook to fight the spread of misinformation on its social network.

Facebook said it removed numerous pages and accounts linked to the Myanmar military that were being used to spread propaganda to approximately 1.35 million people, the company's latest effort to crack down on the spread of misinformation across its network.
"We want to make it more difficult for people to manipulate our platform in Myanmar and will continue to investigate and take action on this behavior," Facebook said in a blog post on Monday. The company said it removed 13 pages and 10 accounts that were "engaging in coordinated inauthentic behavior on Facebook in Myanmar."
Facebook has been plagued by abusive activity over the last couple of years, as groups exploit the social network to spread propaganda, abusive content and false information, often in an effort to influence elections or stir up hate between different cultural groups.
In Myanmar, Facebook was used as part of a campaign that targeted the country's Muslim Rohingya minority group, according to a report Monday by the New York Times, which cites unnamed "former military officials, researchers and civilian officials in the country." The campaign included the creation of Facebook accounts and entertainment, beauty and informational pages that were used to push incendiary comments and posts.
Facebook announced in August that it wanted to prevent organizations and individuals in Myanmar from using its services to commit or enable serious human rights abuses in the country. At the time, the company said it was removing 18 Facebook accounts, 52 pages and one Instagram account that reached nearly 12 million people.
Beyond Myanmar, the company has been busy removing pages and accounts that abuse its community guidelines and policies. Last week, for example, Facebook said it had taken down 559 pages and 251 accounts that were being used to spam users with clickbait posts.


Source: CNBC

Pakistan successfully conducts Training Launch of Ghauri Missile System

 
RAWALPINDI, Oct 8 (APP):Pakistan Monday successfully conducted Training Launch of Ghauri Missile System, Inter Services Public Relations media wing in a press release said.

The launch was conducted by army strategic forces command and was aimed at testing its (army
strategic forces command) operational and technical readiness.
Ghauri Ballistic Missile can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads up to a distance of 1300
km.
The launch was witnessed by Lieutenant General Mian Muhammad Hilal Hussain, Commander Army
Strategic Forces Command, Dr Nabeel Hayat Malik, Chairman of National Engineering and Scientific Commission, Tahir Ikram, Chairman of KRL, senior officers from the strategic forces, scientists and engineers of strategic organizations.
The commander army strategic forces command appreciated the standard of training and operational
preparedness of army strategic forces. The launch consolidates Pakistan’s nuclear capability, which is aimed at peace and stability through a credible deterrence regime.
President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan have conveyed their appreciation on successful launch of the missile system.
The chairman of joint chiefs of staff committee and the services chiefs have also congratulated the strategic forces, scientists and engineers on the accomplishment.

 source: app.com.pk

F-35 fighter jet crashes in South Carolina, U.S.A pilot ejects

- A U.S. military F-35B
fighter jet crashed near the Marine
Corps Air Station Beaufort in South
Carolina on Friday, for reasons that are
under investigation, local law officials
and the U.S. military said.

The pilot, the only person aboard the
craft, ejected safely and was being
checked for injuries, said a Pentagon
spokesman, adding that there were no
other injuries.
The jet crashed just before noon local
time. It was a Lockheed Martin F-35B, a
short take-off/vertical landing version
of the F-35, said a U.S. military
official, speaking on condition of
anonymity.
It was the first crash of an F-35 fighter
jet since they became operational in
2006, said another military official, also
speaking on the condition of anonymity.
Friday's incident also marked the first
time a pilot had ejected from an F-35B,
the official said.
Neither military nor local officials
immediately offered a cause for the
crash. Military officials said the crash
was under investigation.
Lockheed referred Reuters to the
military for comment on the incident.
The F-35B stealth fighter jet was used
by the United States in combat this
week for the first time, against the
Taliban in Afghanistan, after taking off
from an amphibious assault ship in the
Arabian Sea.
Israel in May was the first country to
use the F-35 stealth fighter in combat.
The crash came on the same day that the
Pentagon announced an $11.5 billion
contract for 141 F-35 fighter jets from
Lockheed, which lowers the price for the
most common version of the stealthy jet
by 5.4 percent.
The plane in the South Carolina crash was
one of 245 F-35 fighter jets in the U.S.
military, a Pentagon official said, and
one of a total of 320 F-35 jets being
flown around the world.

Could this be a coincidence with the same aircraft crash in Nigeria on this same date 28 .
remember we posted the 1992 military aircraft crash yesterday
The 26 September 1992and crash was caused by Multiple engine failure during take-off and then crashed  the Ejigbo canal, Lagos , Nigeria

Aircraft type Lockheed C-130H Hercules
The air craft consist of
Passengers 152
Crew 6
Fatalities 158 (all)
Injuries 0
Survivors 0 

UPDATE ON NIGERIA AIRFORCE CRASH

UPDATE ON AIR INCIDENT INVOLVING 2
NIGERIAN AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT
1. Two Nigerian Air Force (NAF) F-7Ni
aircraft taking part in the rehearsals for the
aerial display to mark Nigeria’s 58th
Independence Anniversary Celebrations were
involved in an air incident today, 28
September 2018. The air mishap necessitated
the 3 pilots to eject from their aircraft,
which subsequently crashed in the general
area of Katamkpe Hill. Regrettably, however,
one of them later died due to complications
from injuries sustained upon impact on the
ground. Thankfully, there were no civilian
casualties.
2. The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air
Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on behalf of
officers, airmen and airwomen of the NAF,
commiserates with the family of the deceased
officer. The CAS has also instituted an air
crash investigation to determine the remote
and immediate causes of the incident.

More updates still coming

CANADIAN MILITARY NOW ACCEPT PERSONEL TO WEAR BEARDS

Members of the Canadian military will be allowed to sport beards, as long as they are not shaggy hipster beards, National Defence announced on Wednesday.

A new general order from the country's top military commander spells out the times and circumstances when facial hair will be permitted.
The order includes specific grooming instructions.
Beards must be neatly trimmed and "shall not exceed two centimetres in bulk" and both the neck and cheekbones must be shaved.
The new policy eases restrictions that have been in place for years. Until now, beards were allowed only on a limited basis and solely at the discretion of the chief of the defence staff.


There has long been an exception for beards grown for religious purposes. The current defence minister, Harjit Sajjan, a Sikh, served as a lieutenant-colonel in the reserves with a full beard.
The change is being made, according to the military's top non-commissioned officer, to keep up the times and to make the Canadian Armed Forces an attractive place to work.
The policy "recognizes that greater control over personal appearance enhances organizational morale and our ability to attract a wider range of Canadians," Chief Warrant Officer Alain Guimond said in a statement.

Navy policy to stay

At the moment, the navy allows sailors to grow beards while ashore, but it insists they be shaved when a warship goes to sea.
That overall policy will remain, said Guimond.
In the early 2000s, the navy fought a pitched battle with sailors when it tried to crack down on the growing of beards, long considered a tradition for men standing watch on deck in cold, stormy seas.
At that time, a working group of senior officials studied how well safety equipment, such as respirators, fit over furry features. Sailors, in emergencies, are required to don the bulky gear in the event of fire or  chemical-warfare attack. Guimond said the same concerns are present today.



The debate over whether beards should be allowed in navy has raged for decades.
During the Second World War, the navy instituted an outright ban for safety because beards were considered a hazard to men who were forced to swim in oil-fouled waters after their ships were torpedoed.
The issue resurfaced in the 1950s as gas masks and breathing equipment became standard throughout most warships.
Unit commanders will still be able to order troops to be clean shaven for safety reasons, such as if personnel are operating in places where they might need gas masks.

SOURCE: CBC news

Armed Forces College honours 1992 military plane crash victims

The Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji, Kaduna State, said it would construct a befitting Cenotaph in honour of the 165 military officers who died in a military plane crash in 1992.

The 165 military officers were attending senior course 15 of the college when the Nigerian Air Force Plane C130 crashed while on tour of naval formation in Lagos on to September 26, 1992.

The Commandant of the college, Lawal Shittu-Alao, air vice marshal, said out of the 165 officers that died, 116 of them were at the College.


He disclosed that a road leading to the quarters of senior staff course participants had been officially named September 26 road in their memories
Mr Alao identified those who died to include Seven Directing Staff, 102 students of senior course 15 and seven supporting staff of the College.
“We hope subsequently every year to hold solemn ceremony to remember their sacrifices and also to their families to have little solace.”
According to him, their death was a huge loss to the college and a reminder of the sacrifices made as members of the Armed Forces.

“It with a great heavy heart but great honor to remember our fallen heroes,” he said, adding that the unfortunate incident brought to an end the promising careers of the young officers.
“The armed forces of Nigeria indeed lost a generation of middle level officers in the service of the nation,” he said.
Mr Alao added: “The entire members of the college community mourn the loss of these fine officers and men, their demise will ever remain in our hearts.”

Trouble As Gunmen opened fire on an iranian military parade

Gunmen have opened fire on an Iranian
military parade in the south-western city of
Ahvaz, killing several people, including
civilians, and injuring at least 20, state
media say.
The attackers shot from a park near the
parade and were wearing military uniforms,
reports say.
State media say Islamist militants are
thought to be behind the attack.
Iran is marking the anniversary of the
beginning of the 1980-88 war with Iraq with
several parades across the nation.
Fars news agency said the attack started at
09:00 local time (06:30 BST) and appeared
to involve four gunmen.
The attackers fired at civilians and
attempted to attack military officials on the
podium, Fars reports.
Two of the gunmen were killed by security
forces, while the other two were arrested,
the local deputy governor, Ali Hosein
Hoseinzadeh, said
Up to nine members of the military were
killed, and a child is among those wounded,
reports say.
Pictures from the scene show wounded
soldiers being taken to safety.
No group has said it carried out the attack,
which lasted for about 10 minutes.
State media and officials have blamed Sunni
militants or Arab nationalists.
Ahvaz was one of the cities that saw large
anti-government protests over falling living
standards late last year.
source :BBC

Nda new cadet dies just a day after resumption . A 70rc Tragedy

20-year-old UNILAG student dies during trainning at Nigerian Defence Academy

The family members of Damilare Taiwo, an Economics student at the University of Lagos, Akoka, have been thrown into mourning following his death a day after he resumed for training at the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna State.
The army authorities reportedly said the 20-year-old slumped and died during a training session last Tuesday.

But the family told newsmen that the circumstances surrounding Damilare’s death aroused suspicion, claiming that he was beaten to death.

A brilliant student with a CGPA said to be in the range of Second Class Upper Division, the native of Ile-Ife, Osun State had always wished to be an accomplished army officer.

He had applied for the Regular Combatant Course of the NDA in 2015 at 17, but did not make the list of the successful candidates. Undeterred by hard luck, promising Damilare reapplied for the programme a few months ago.

He was shortlisted on August 8, 2018, among the 10 selected candidates from Osun State for the 70 Regular Combatant Course, coincidentally at a time when he was rounding off his first degree project.

On Saturday, August 25, his father saw him off to Ikorodu Garage – some distance from their residence – beaming with joy that the first child of the family was about to embark on a journey to attain enviable ranks in the profession he had been nursing for years.

“He left Lagos for Kaduna that Saturday, a day after he concluded his project in school, and reported at the training camp on Monday, August 27,” the deceased’s father, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, told newsmen

Narrating Damilare’s journey through life, Oyedele said his death came to the family as a rude shock.

The father recalled, “He finished his secondary school education in 2014 and gained admission to UNILAG the same year to study Economics. He was just 20 years old. He just completed his project.

“When he wanted to leave for Kaduna that Saturday, I advised him to be a good ambassador of the family and prayed for him. He was an easy-going child. He had always wanted to be a soldier.

“In one of his pictures on Facebook, he edited the image of the late Gen. Murtala Muhammed in the N20 note and replaced it with his picture. That is to tell you the passion he had for the Force and how far he wanted to go.

“He had been showing interest in the army since 2011 when he was 13. It is so unfortunate that he could not accomplish his mission.

“The army sent some officers to us last Thursday to tell us about his death. They told us that he collapsed during a training session on Tuesday (August 28).”

Oyedele, a building material dealer, described his son’s death as devastating to the family, lamenting that they had invested so much hope in him. For years, the businessman would battle to get over the heartache of the irreparable loss.

A devout Christian, Damilare was fondly addressed as ‘Pastor Dammy,’ ‘one of the God’s Generals,’ ‘Woli agba,’ among other religious nomenclatures.

“There is no way I can forget him. He was my first child. He was very devoted in churches, both at the community and in his school. It is only God that can comfort me. He was a role model to his two siblings.

“He was a cool-headed person. If he was not reading, he was surfing the Internet, studying the Bible or helping his mother in her shop,” the father added in a hushed tone.

While Oyedele managed to control his emotion, his wife, was inconsolable, crying uncontrollably. She had passed out on hearing the sad news and did not regain consciousness until she was taken to a hospital.

The intensity of her wailing during an encounter with newsmen six days after the incident showed that the family had, indeed, lost an illustrious son.

She said mournfully, “Won ti kan mi leyin okan (They have broken my canine). I learnt my son was beaten to death whereas the army told us he fell and died.

“I don’t want my son to die in vain. The military said he would be buried in Kaduna, but I don’t want my son to be buried there. They should bring his corpse to Lagos.”

Damilare’s younger brother, Moses, explained that his death was painful, noting that he died with many beautiful plans he had for the family.

“There were a lot of promises. He personally promised to be giving me N10,000 out of his salary every month,” he said.

Moses, who also claimed his brother died under questionable circumstances, urged the military authorities to conduct a postmortem on his corpse.

He added, “The military officers that came told us that he slumped and died. But some of his colleagues called and told us that he was beaten to death during ‘welcome home’ tradition at the camp. They said he was complaining that he was tired, but they did not leave him. The witnesses were afraid to speak out so that they would not run into trouble. We are going to take it up; we want to know the cause of his death.”

Meanwhile, friends of the deceased have paid glowing tributes to him on Facebook. One of his friends by the alias, Gallant Captain Whale, described Damilare as “his mentor.”

Whale wrote, “We love you but God loves you more. I won’t forget moments we spent together, my mentor right from school days. Even at death, you are brave. I love you brother from another mother. Rest in peace.”

To Okpewho Abednego Fikioghene, Damilare was “a leader” from whom he had learnt while they were in secondary school.

He said, “RIP, Damilare. You were the Asst. Head Boy, 2014 set; I was the Asst. Head Boy 2015 set. It was a privilege to learn from a leader like you. Live on; your legacy still remains.”

“It really touched me. Everyone said good (things) about you when you left. God loves you most brother. Rest in peace,” another friend, Its Ba Smith, wrote.

The Course Adviser of the deceased at UNILAG, Dr. Ayodele Shittu, said he was Damilare’s confidant, adding that he was in his office to bid him farewell to Kaduna for the training.

Shittu said, “He was very humble and respectful. Academically, he was very sound and he would be finishing with a very good 2:1 (Second Class Upper Division). He had completed his project.

“The news of his death was very shocking. He came to my office while he was leaving. He hardly hid anything from me. I will miss him.”

Efforts by NE to get the reaction of the NDA to the incident and the allegation raised by the family proved abortive.