Headlines
See Full List of Officers, Soldiers Who Deserted the Army
The Nigerian Army has declared a total of 12 officers and 89 soldiers wanted for deserting the war front in Borno State.
The army authorities have also frozen the banks accounts of the affected personnel.
Military sources told PREMIUM TIMES the soldiers absconded from duty after insurgents attacked their camps in Marte and Dikwa Local Government Areas of Borno State, leaving scores of their colleagues dead.
This newspaper had exclusively reported how at least seven soldiers of the Nigerian Army were confirmed dead after Boko Haram terrorists attacked Marte.
The soldiers, attached to the 15 Task Force Battalion, were ambushed and dislodged after hours of intense fighting, sources told PREMIUM TIMES.
According to those familiar with the matter, the troops were overwhelmed and could not withstand the superior firepower of the terrorists.
The unit then tactically retreated and relocated to Dikwa, which was attacked again.
The Nigerian Army recently announced the recovery of Marte and other communities.
Order to apprehend deserters
Military insiders said the order to arrest and freeze bank accounts of the fleeing soldiers came from authorities of Operation Lafiya Dole in Borno.
Various formations of the army have been notified to immediately apprehend and deliver any of the soldiers found in their areas of responsibilities.
An internal memo to that effect has already been circulated to various formations, our sources said.
Full list of the officers and soldiers who deserted the army:
- GY Mohammed
- EP Nwangwu
- US Muhammad
- EG Utok
- A Ibrahim
- US Ibrahim
- ME Ochei
- EN Essien
- FC Maduako
- KO Adejare
- S Mammada
- YJ Ishaya
- Muazu Yusuf
- Musa Usman
- Idris Garba
- Chigbo John
- Aminu Mohammed
- Godfrey Samuel
- Christopher Silas
- Okoro Emeka
- Meze Hillary
- Zakka Peter
- Onyebuchi Kennedy
- Okunola Oluwasegun
- Suoyefe Abiola
- Mwankat Shalmak
- Ekekien Peter
- Daniel Emmanuel
- John Monday
- Yakubu Amos
- Aminu Saidu
- Pius Okoro
- Kenebra Shedrach
- Dominic Eworo
- Ojo Oluwasegun
- Nura Lawal
- Yakubu Suleiman
- Johnson Chorus
- Isah Shaibu
- Nasiru Hamisu
- Jibrin Sa’adu
- John Ukpenkune
- Umar Sani
- Mustapha Suleiman
- Isiaq Adam
- Muhammed Ahmed
- John Richard
- Kabiru Hashimu
- Awuna Monday
- Isah John
- Zamani Fidelis
- Abubakar Adam
- Philip Chia
- Ogundipe GBenga
- Samson Unite
- Francis Audu
- Abubakar Musa
- Ibrahim Adamu
- Sadiq Abubakar
- Lawal Abdullahi
- Ajala David
- Suleiman Jamilu
- Okoro Ama
- Sunday Sule
- Aimato Abdulsalam
- Abubakar Musa
- Suleiman Kabiru
- Onu Kingsley
- Buba Usman
- James John
- Hussaini Adamu
- Shamsudeen Ismail
- Saidu Sani
- Abdullahi Musa
- Abubakar Yahaya
- Edosa Aigboje
- Ibrahim Umar
- Chukwujekwu Okenwa
- Abdullahi Usman
- Ukali Emmanuel
- Joseph Benard
- Ewubare Gold
- Abimiku Sunday
- Ibrahim Mansur
- Joseph Ayuba
- Ayanyemi Tayo
- Remember Jeremiah
- Jimoh Adesina
- Ukwokori Precious
- Ayawei Ayibatemi
- Kalu Sunday
- Abdulkadir Ahmed
- Osakwe Festus N
- Badamashi Omokafe
- Levi Pwagureno
- Paul Pilate Saddam
- Bello Musa
- Moses Ayo
- Ademu Alih
- Ogobi Fredrick
- Benedict Uduebor
Premium Times
The Canadian High Commission in Nigeria has refused to make further comments on circumstances surrounding the denial of visas to some senior Nigerian military officials, including the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, citing privacy policies.
The Authorities however, acknowledged social media reports of the situation.
Musa and some military officials were denied visas to attend an event in Canada honouring war veterans, a situation the CDS revealed during an event in Abuja on Thursday.
Responding on Friday, via its social media handle, the Canadian High Commission stated, “The High Commission of Canada in Nigeria is aware of media reports related to planned travel by senior officials. However, for privacy reasons, we are unable to comment on the status of visa applications of specific individuals.”
The embattled National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has defied the directive of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) amid the ongoing contention for his position.
Anyanwu, on Thursday, resumed at the PDP National Secretariat and continued his duties from his office, despite the position of the party’s NWC.
In a video call with Lere Olayinka, the spokesman of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, Anyanwu said: “As you can see, I’m in my office. These are my people and we are working.”
Showing Olayinka around during the call, Anyanwu said: “You can see them jumping over the fence, that was how I stayed in my office to catch them through the CCTV.”
The video was posted by Olayinka on his Whatsapp status on Thursday.
The battle over the position of PDP National Secretary started when Anyanwu left to contest for the Imo State governorship election.
Following his departure, the South-East caucus of PDP endorsed the party’s National Youth Leader, Sunday Ude-Okoye, as his replacement.
Anyanwu lost the election and attempted to force his way back as the PDP’s National Secretary, a move which was vehemently opposed by Ude-Okoye.
On December 20, 2024, an Appeal Court ruled in favour of Ude-Okoye as the PDP’s National Secretary.
On January 28, a fight broke out between Anyanwu’s supporters and Ude-Okoye at the PDP National Secretariat during the party’s Board of Trustees, BoT, meeting.
The PDP Governors Forum had affirmed Ude-Okoye as the authentic National Secretary while the party’s NWC also took the same stand.
Similarly, the party’s National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade also backed Ude-Okoye for the position.
On Thursday, the NWC affirmed Ude-Okoye as the party’s National Secretary.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba.
The statement reads: “After due consideration of the Memo and the attachments, the NWC overwhelmingly recognizes, acknowledges and confirms Rt. Hon. S.K.E Udeh Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the PDP in full compliance with and obedience to the Judgement of the Court of Appeal, recognizing that there is no subsisting or superseding Judgment or Order from any Court of superior authority or hierarchy.”
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has slammed Canadian officials for denying the visa of top Nigerian military officers, including the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Christopher Musa.
Ribadu’s remark comes after the CDS, while speaking at the maiden annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies (AANISS), held at the Shehu Yar’adua Centre, Abuja, on Thursday, disclosed that he and his team were invited to Canada for an event honouring war veterans, but he and about half of the delegation were denied visas.
General Musa described the incident as “disappointing” but emphasised that it serves as a reminder for Nigeria to “stand strong as a nation” and not be taken for granted.
He said: “Every disappointment is a blessing. Yesterday, I was meant to be in Canada. There’s an event to honour our veterans, those who were injured during battles, and we were meant to be there. We were invited with our team. Half has gone and half has been denied. It’s very disappointing.”
Ribadu commended Gen. Musa for speaking out about the incident.
“Thank you for the courage to say Canada denied you visas. They can go to hell,” Ribadu said.
The NSA said that despite the disappointment, Nigeria is “peaceful and strong” and must work hard to overcome such challenges.
Ribadu praised Gen. Musa for providing “purposeful leadership” in the war against terrorism, banditry, and other security threats in the country.
