Nigerian Army desert and special warfare troops, dressed up in desert camouflage uniforms, strike a group pose with Mali’s President Traore during a visit to their positions at the strategically important town of Nara, west-central Mali, close to a very sensitive stretch of border with the neighbouring republic of Mauritania.

PHOTO CREDIT: aBAMAKO

The 70,000-strong Mbera Refugee Camp for Malian refugees is believed to hold a large number of ‘displaced’ Malian insurgents and terrorists. The Nigerian detachment stationed at Nara, near the Mauritanian border, are therefore an interposition force to prevent a possible and hitherto attempted rebel advance on Bamako, the Malian capital using Nara as staging post.

The remote border-facing region between Mbera and Nema in southeeastern Mauritania is believed to be teeming with guerrillas who have been uprooted by the military offensive against rebel groups in Mali.

Nigerian and Malian troops are jointly deployed to the nodal town whose strategic value in the security of the national capital Bamako and the overall stability of Mali cannot be over-emphasized.

Nigerian troops are also deployed in the towns of Rere and Banamba.

Nigerian troops in a Landcruiser gun-truck

Troops and M2 HMG-armed Landcruiser gun-trucks of the Nigerian Army at Banamba

Nigerian MISMA soldiers

Browning M2 12.7mm HMG-armed Landcruiser gun-trucks of the Nigerian Army in Mali

aBAMAKO
15 April, 2013
(Translated from French)

The acting President visited the Malian and Nigerian forces that secure the area exposed to attacks by armed bandits.Located on the border with Mauritania and sharing the vast area of the Sahel, Nara Cercle(district) is also at the forefront in the war against terrorism with the support of the international community.

Here, the curfew starts from 1800hours and lasts until the early morning for obvious security reasons. It is to the capital of the Circle (district), the city of Nara, that the acting President of the Republic Traore went last weekend. On this trip, he was accompanied by several military officials including Chief of Staff of the Army, Colonel Ibrahim Faded.

Saturday morning in the city of Nara, located 374km from the capital, the acting President of the Republic took a small break before visiting troops deployed in the area in the the fight against terrorism.

The first stop on the tour was the military camp named Colonel Mohamed Ould Issa. In this military garrison under the command of Commander Mamadou S. Koné, its men are on alert to prevent any infiltration in the area by MNLA rebels or Islamist groups. At Nara, the military commander has responsibility for an effective equivalent of a reinforced battalion.

The detachment at Nara was launched into action during the excavation of the Wagadu Forest, “said the commander
Koné, referring to the operation by the Malian army and its allies who had organized a large patrol search of the Wagadu Forest from 14th to 18th March.Commander Kone said that during the search, 10 suspects were arrested and handed over to the police for the purpose of investigations. They were then transferred to Bamako to be put at the disposal of the justice system.

After reviewing the troops, Malian President Dioncounda Traore said he was proud of the tremendous work our armed forces are performing in the context of the fight against terrorism in this part of the country that can be used by armed bandits as a gateway. “This is
no coincidence that the world has
mobilized around Mali in its fight. This is related to our history. For all your encouragement, we can only say thank you! ” said the acting President.

After this address to the troops,Traore posed for photographs with the military in a good atmosphere. One of the highlights of the visit to Colonel Mohamed Ould Issa Camp was the delivery by the visitor, of a symbolic envelope containing 2 million CFA francs to the soldiers, a financial contribution that will improve their lives.

Not far from the camp at Nara is based a company of Nigerian MISMA forces (International Mission Support in Mali)in the camp of the National Guard. This company is under the Nigerian contingent whose headquarters is Banamba.

Addressing the Nigerian troops, the acting President indicated that there are “not enough words to thank people who came to fight for Mali and are
willing to die for us. ” He told the
Nigerian military that they are at home in Nara.”I’m counting on you. Personally, I would be at your side ” he reassured, noting in passing that he is a native of Nara. Again, the President Traore offered two million CFA francs, while stating that it is “just a symbolic gesture.”

Also during his stay, he visited the great Keita family and Grand Imam.

NNS Andoni P100, a 31 metre patrol ship crafted with pride in the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Shaldag Fast Patrol Craft of the Nigerian Navy

NNS Onitsha P247

A Nigerian Army desert warfare crew and Landcruiser gun-truck armed with a Browning M2 12.7mm calibre heavy machine gun in Mali

NEWS24
2013-06-17
Abuja

Nigeria has announced plans to deploy more than 900 soldiers to maintain peace in crisis-torn Mali. The 906 soldiers, who replace a team that was deployed in January, graduated at the Nigerian Army Peace Keeping Centre (NAPKC) in Jaji, near Kaduna this past weekend.

Addressing the soldiers, the General
Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division
Nigerian Army, Major General Ahmed
Jibrin, warned the troops to avoid
trafficking of illicit drugs,as they embark on the trip and respect the cultural and religious sensitivity of the people of Mali.

Also speaking at the graduation
ceremony, the head of African-led
International Support Mission in Mali
(AFISMA) Monitoring Team, Major
General Chinedu Ugwu, hailed Nigeria’s performance in Mali as excellent. “The Nigerian Army has been performing very well and the host country, Mali is happy to have the Nigerian contingent. In fact, in the areas where the Nigerian troops are deployed, like Rere and Niara, the people are always happy with them, to
the extent that they donate food
items to them.

“They said they want Nigeria to be with them and that is why we have the Force Commander there. They are all happy and our performance is excellent, ” he said.

A Nigerian Army Panhard VBL M11 scout car seen here stationed under a tree during a military patrol in Hausari village, near Maiduguri June 5, 2013.

Troops on patrol at a camp in Hausari from which militants where dislodged during the ongoing military offensive

PHOTO CREDIT: REUTERS/Joe Brock

Steyr 4K-7FA G127 tracked APCs of the Nigerian Army

SUNDAY TRUST
16 June, 2013

Twenty-one military officers from 14 African countries and 137 from Nigeria have commenced practical training on the application of land, maritime and air assets to confront war situations. The training which is the climax of the Senior Course for student officers of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) is a one-week combined and joint exercise of the Army, Navy and Airforce officers.

Speaking at the occasion which kickstarted the training codenamed Exercise Sea Lion at Jaji, near Kaduna, AFCSC Commandant, AVM Eko Effiom Osim said the exercise was designed to provide the students the opportunity to plan, conduct and decide on the employment of land, maritime and air assets in a combined and joint setting.

According to him, “The exercise is also designed to give the students more practice in operational writing, oral briefings and consolidate their knowledge in the techniques of war gaming.” AVM Osim noted that this year’s exercise, which is the ninth since AFCSC adopted the teaching of manoeuvrist approach to warfare and its related concept is special as it has 21 foreign student officers from 14 African countries and the Republic of Korea.

According to him, “This will no doubt set stage for the eases operational planning and execution in future combined/multi national exercises at the sub-regional and regional levels.”

Earlier in his welcome address, Director of Joint Studies, AFCSC, Brigadier General Ademoh Salihu said the students who have been on course at the college since about 10 months ago are expected to appreciate the capabilities and peculiarities of sister services. The students who are in the rank of Army Major and equivalent in the Airforce and Navy kickstarted the training with practical demonstration on use of aircraft, boats and armoured vehicles to convey troops and weapons to battlefields and evacuate injured ones.

Colonel(rtd)Sambo Dasuki, National Security Adviser

KANO, Nigeria
June 16 (Xinhua)

A Ukrainian cargo plane suspected to be
carrying military hardware has been
detained in northwest Nigeria’s Kano
State, security and aviation sources told
Xinhua on Sunday. The sources, who declined to be mentioned,said the cargo plane landed at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport of the northwestern state on Saturday night and was immediately grounded by the military authorities who could not confirm the actual destination
or owners of the cargo.

An aviation official disclosed that the
plane is currently parked on the airport
tarmac, where investigation will be
thoroughly carried out by Nigerian
security operatives. The aviation source said a search was conducted on the cargo plane on Saturday night and the tarmac where it is being parked has been cordoned off by security operatives.

The Nigerian aviation authorities are yet to officially address the media.

Chief of the Nigerian Navy, Vice Admiral D.J. Ezeoba(left) presenting a gift to Chief of the South African Navy, Vice Admiral J. Mudimu

L-R: Commodore S.M.D. Usman alongside
Chief of the Nigerian Navy, Vice Admiral D.J. Ezeoba during his official address

SOUTH AFRICAN NAVY (press release)
Article and photos by LS Nkululeko Zulu

Following the Bilateral Defence Protocol signed between South Africa and Nigeria during the state visit of Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, to South Africa in May this year, the Chief of the Nigerian Navy, V Adm Joseph Ezeoba conducted a visit to South Africa to further cement bilateral cooperation between the two giants of the continent.

The visit took place from 03-07 June 2013 and entailed tours to different locations around the country.On Monday, 03 June 2013, Chief of the Nigerian Navy made a courtesy call to Chief of the South African Navy (C Navy), V Adm Johannes Mudimu at the Navy Headquarters, Pretoria. V Adm Ezeoba was welcomed by a Guard of Honour and escorted to the office of C Navy. V Adm Ezeoba and his team were given a Strategic Orientation of the South African Navy by Director Maritime Plans, R Adm (JG) S. Pillay.

After the orientation the two Chiefs had an opportunity to address issues up for discussion and C Navy said “Nigeria and South Africa must lead the way for other African countries to follow because the super powers of this world will always undermine the African continent’s efforts if they do not properly police their own territorial waters.”

His counterpart V Adm Ezeoba said “If we are able to enforce a legal framework on the continent’s maritime governance, it would allow for mutual cooperation by way of training and joint exercises that will allow African countries to interact freely at sea and build structures that will help the continent promote economic development.”

The courtesy visit was concluded when gifts were exchanged and refreshments served.