Thursday, May 16, 2013

Nigeria: 2,000 Soldiers, Fighter Jets Deployed to Borno

Maiduguri — About 2,000 security operatives and military hardware, including fighter jets have been deployed to Maiduguri ahead of yesterday's declaration of State of Emergency.
In neighboring Yobe State, it is not clear how many soldiers were deployed but residents said shortly after the declaration of state of emergency, stop and search operations have been intensified in the state capital while movement have been restricted in other places.

Residents said the deployment of the federal troops, including the army, navy, air force and operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) began at the weekend.

"We started sensing danger on Saturday when we saw military trucks conveying soldiers to the Joint Task Force (JTF) headquarters along Pompomari area," Usman Jika, a resident of Maiduguri said.

"By Sunday morning, so many roadblocks have sprung up in the state capital and there was noticeable cordon and search of houses by new faces (soldiers)," he said.

A resident of Kumshe, one of the red spots in Maiduguri said his neighbour was beaten to pulp on Sunday when soldiers besieged the areas and forced all the people out of their houses.

"All the soldiers that came to the neighborhood appeared new in the town, some of them said it is now time for 'fire for fire" he said.

Another resident said he saw military aircrafts landing at the Maiduguri International Airport and the air strip at the Air Force base in the state capital.

"A lot of fighting equipment have been deployed to Maiduguri," Hajja Maimuna, a resident of Gomari, whose house is close to the Air Force base said.

"We are really terrified because the military operatives coming to Maiduguri in the last two days far outnumbered those that came during the previous emergency rule," she said.

"Even though the state governor has not been removed, which is good, the truth is that Maiduguri is now a garrison town, full of angry soldiers who are ready to kill at the slightest provocation. The deployment will definitely hamper social and economic life of the people," she said.

from allAfrica/Daily Trust
By Hamza Idris, 15 May 2013

Enhanced by Zemanta

May 16., 2013. - ISAF Joint Command Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force killed a senior Taliban leader, Shah Gul, during an operation in Chimtal district, Balkh province, yesterday.

Gul had operational control over a group of fighters responsible for numerous attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He was involved in kidnapping operations, procuring and distributing weapons and military equipment to insurgents in the local area, and collecting illegal taxes in order to fund insurgent activities.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a senior Taliban leader during an operation in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, today. The senior leader plans, coordinates and executes attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in Nahr-e Saraj district. He also facilitates the movement of weapons in the local area and serves as an intelligence operative responsible for relaying operational information to insurgent leadership.

East

An Afghan and coalition security force wounded one insurgent during an operation in search of a senior Taliban leader in Waygal district, Nuristan province, yesterday. The senior leader is the top military official for the Taliban in Waygal district. He is responsible for facilitating the movement of al-Qaida terrorists in Waygal district, erecting and enforcing illegal checkpoints, kidnapping Afghan officials and leading attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested four insurgents during an operation in search of a Haqqani leader in Zurmat district, Paktiya province, today. The leader participates in kidnapping operations in multiple districts throughout Paktiya province. He is also engaged in weapons trafficking for local terrorist cells and conducts investigations into insurgent activity at the behest of senior insurgent leadership. During the operation, a group of insurgents opened fire on the security force. The security force returned fire, killing one insurgent. The security force also seized two AK-47s, three fragmentation grenades, eight magazines and ammunition as a result of the operation.

The 2nd Special Operations Kandak and coalition forces killed a Taliban leader and detained six insurgents during a clearance operation in Deh Yak district, Ghazni province, yesterday. The Taliban leader was responsible for 20 insurgent fighters and had been facilitating improvised explosive device and indirect fire attacks in the Deh Yak district. All detainees were transferred to Afghan law enforcement officials.

Enhanced by Zemanta

May 16., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan National Security and coalition forces killed 24 insurgents, detained nine suspected insurgents, and found and safely cleared six improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours May 15.

Ghazni province

Afghan National Security and coalition forces found and safely cleared one IED during operations in the Andar district.

Afghan National Security and coalition forces killed seven insurgents and detained eight suspected insurgents during operations in the Deh Yak district. The suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Kunar province

Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared one IED during operations in the Sar Kani district.

Laghman province

Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared one IED during operations in the Mehtar lam district.

Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared one IED during operations in the Qarghaee district.

Nangarhar province

Afghan National Security and coalition forces killed 13 insurgents and detained one suspected insurgent during operations in the Hesarak district.

Paktika province

Afghan National Security and coalition forces killed four insurgents during operations in the Bermal district.

Paktya province

Afghan National Security and coalition forces found and safely cleared two IEDs during operations in the Zardan district.

Enhanced by Zemanta

Search this blog