How Troops Foiled Attack On Yobe Governor’s Convoy –DHQ

The Defence Headquarters said troops of 29 Task Force Brigade foiled the attack by terrorists on the convoy of Yobe Governor along Maiduguri-Damaturu Road on Saturday. A statement by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, on Monday in Abuja, said the troops also recovered the two vehicles affected in the incident. He said one military truck driver, four police escorts and one DSS operative wounded in the attack were in stable condition. According to him, one of the injured police escorts died shortly on arrival at the Specialists Hospital Damaturu. “Reinforcement of troops from 29 Task Force Brigade led by the Brigade Commander are conducting fighting patrol in the area to locate the terrorists who carried out the dastardly act. “The two vehicles affected in the incident include one military MRAP and one civilian escort vehicle whose tyres were shot at during the incident, have been safely recovered to the military camp at Benisheikh. “Operations are ongoing to hunt and destroy the terrorists that perpetrated the attack,” he said. The governor’s convoy was ambushed by terrorists while returning to Damaturu from Maiduguri, about 6 kilometers from Benesheikh town on Saturday. The governor was not in the convoy when it was ambushed. The Secretary to the State Government and some other top government officials who were in the convoy were unhurt. 

No order for us to intervene in Niger coup –DHQ

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said the Armed Forces of Nigeria is yet to receive an order for any military intervention in the Republic of Niger following the coup that led to the ouster of democratic governance in the country. The Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, in a statement on Thursday, dismissed the online report that the Nigerian military was assembling its forces for military action in the Republic of Niger. According to him, the AFN is yet to receive any order from the appropriate authority to commence military action against the Military Junta in Niger. “It is no longer news that some members of the Republic of Niger Armed Forces seized power from a democratically elected government through unconstitutional means. “In reaction to this illegal takeover of government, the ECOWAS Heads of Government met and a series of options were reached on how to intervene in the crisis. “Military option was the last option to be taken in case every other option fails, to reverse the situation and return the Government of the Republic of Niger to constitutional order. “At the moment, the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff is currently holding an extraordinary meeting in Abuja to discuss the political situation in the Republic of Niger and submit their plans to the committee of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS for consideration. “In conclusion, the Armed Forces of Nigeria cannot proceed on any operation in any of the member states of ECOWAS without the mandate from the Authority of Heads of States and Government,” he said.