Group besiege US, UK Embassies, denands visa ban for Nigerian politicians

A group of civil society organisations has stormed the United
States, United Kingdom embassies to demand more visa restrictions
for Nigerian politicians and family members who are using their
positions and wealth to derail the country’s democracy.

The group in a petition submitted to these embassies alleged
that the unnamed politicians were already working in connivance
with criminal elements to rig the forthcoming gubernatorial
elections in Bayelsa and Kogi states. Mr. Deji Adeyanju and other
leaders of Center For Liberty accused the ruling All Progressives
Congress (APC) of grand conspiracy to hijack the media, other arms
of governments, even some civil society organisations for the
purpose of manipulating the country’s democratic processes. They
urged the countries and their allies to impose more visa
restrictions on all politicians working to undermine democracy and
subvert the wishes of the masses.

“We are aware that the government of the United States has
profoundly demonstrated its resolve to place visa restriction on
some politicians and individuals responsible for undermining
Nigerian electoral and democratic process, especially during the
heavily rigged 2019 general elections, by making it a reality.

“The action of the US government in this regard is highly
commendable and we make bold to say that the people of Nigeria are
indeed highly elated and grateful, since the regime of President
Muhammadu Buhari has deliberately refused to implement electoral
reforms and rein in violators of electoral rules and
guidelines.

“Consequently, we wish to draw the attention of the US, UK,
European Union and other development partners to the build-up of
the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa,
scheduled for November 16, 2019, which is gradually assuming a
worrying dimension. The plot to undermine the two elections are
very real and there have been reported incidents of violence and
killings.”

COUNTER ATTACKS: Again, 5 Terrorists Killed in Fatori, 2
Soldiers Wounded

NIGERIAN ARMY TROOPS RECORD A SECOND SUCCESSIVE VICTORY AGAINST
BOKO HARAM CRIMINAL ELEMENTS IN MALAM FATORI WITHIN 24 HOURS

In what could be adjudged as another futile revenge mission,
some uncoordinated and cowardly remnants of the Boko Haram/ISWAP
criminal elements staged yet another unsuccessful attack on the
location of the troops of 64 and 98 Task Force Battalions and
elements of the Armed Forces Special Forces Battalion at Malam
Fatori in Abadam LGA of Borno State. It could be recalled that on
13th November 2019, some marauding Boko Haram criminal elements
attempted to infiltrate the troops’ location by launching an
unsuccessful attack with Person Borne Improvised Explosive Devices
(PBIEDs), Gun Trucks, Rocket Propelled Guns and other small arms
but were decisively annihilated, having been made to suffer very
high casualties in both men and equipment.

Within less than 24 hours of their devastating defeat however,
the outgunned criminal insurgents launched another desperate attack
on the highly spirited troops of Mallam Fatori in the wee hours of
today, 15 November 2019.

In their swift and highly coordinated response, the gallant and
relentless troops at the location once again brought their
resilience, bold action and superior fire power/lethality to bear
on the criminal insurgents as they handed them another crushing
defeat. At the end of this particular encounter, one Boko Haram Gun
Truck was completely burnt along with 3 of the criminal insurgents
that were trapped in it.

Apparently, the vehicle was gutted by fire as a result of the
high volume of fire delivered by the troops. Furthermore, 2 of the
Boko Haram criminal elements were equally neutralised during the
ensuing gun battle between the troops and the criminal insurgents.
Some of the equipment captured from the criminal insurgents during
this futile mission include one Anti-Aircraft Gun, one
Anti-Aircraft Gun barrel, 8 AK 47 Riffles, one Rocket Propelled Gun
tube, 3 AK 47 magazines, one bandolier, 2 rounds of Anti-Aircraft
Gun ammunition and one Rocket Propelled Grenade bomb. Subsequently,
the Air Task Force, Operation LAFIYA DOLE went on the trail of the
routed remnants of the insurgents to ensure their total
obliteration. Regrettably, 2 gallant soldiers sustained gunshot
wounds during this encounter. Both of them have already been
stabilized and are already responding positively to treatment at a
military hospital.

The Theatre Commander, Operation LAFIYA DOLE Maj Gen Olusegun
Adeniyi on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Yusufu
Buratai once again conveys his message of encouragement to the
troops for a job well done. He further enjoins them to continue to
mount pressure on the insurgents until they are forced to total
submission.

AMINU ILIYASU
Colonel
Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator
15 November 2019