Troops Apprehend Terrorist Leader Linked to Killing of Sokoto Monarch

*Army gets 73 new Generals, elevates 35 to Major General 

Linus Aleke in Abuja 

The Nigerian military yesterday said it has  apprehended a terror leader linked to the murder of a monarch in Sokoto.
It also promoted 73 Colonels to the next rank of Brigadier General and 35 Brigadier Generals elevated to the rank of Major General. 
The military revealed that the arrested terrorist was a staunch ally of a wanted high profile terrorist Bello Turji. 
A statement by Director Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, said the arrested terrorist leader, Bako Wurgi, eventually succumbed to gun shot injuries sustained during the fire fight. 
Wurgi, he said, provided valuable intelligence to support troops’ operations before he died.
According to him, “Troops are on high alert and have increased readiness to protect the country from further terrorist aggression, particularly during the yuletide. 
“Accordingly, robust operations targeted at terrorist leadership are being conducted across the various theatres of operations.
“Significantly, high profile terrorists identified as Hamisu Sale (aka Master) and Abubakar Muhammad were arrested during separate operations conducted in NC theatre of operation.
“The duo are cooperating and providing valuable intelligence on the terror network.
“Similarly, troops in the NW theatre of operation, arrested another high profile and  notorious terrorist identified as Bako Wurgi.” 
Meanwhile, during the week under review, troops killed 212 terrorists and arrested 272 others. 
Troops also arrested 45 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 152 kidnapped hostages.
In another development, a statement by Director Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the Army Council on 19 Thursday, December 2024, approved the promotion of senior officers to the next ranks of Major General and Brigadier General, respectively. 
According to him, “A total of 35 Brigadier Generals have been promoted to the rank of Major General, while 73 Colonels have also been elevated to the rank of Brigadier General accordingly.
“Those promoted to the rank of Major General include, Brig. Gen. A Garba Acting Provost Marshal Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. UM Alkali Deputy Chief of Administration, Directorate of Veteran Affairs (Army), Brig. Gen. AGL Haruna,  Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division and Commander Sector 1 North East Operation HADIN KAI, Brig. Gen. IA Ajose Acting General Officer Commanding 8 Division and Commander Sector 2 North West Operation FANSAN YAMA, Brig. General NB Ebulue Headquarters Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, Brig. Gen. LG Lepdung Commander Operation WHIRL STROKE, Brig. Gen. OA Awolo Director Military Training Nigerian Defence Academy, Brig. Gen. UG Ogeleka Commander Nigerian Army Space Command, Brig. Gen. OA Fadairo Commander 12 Brigade, Brig. Gen. OD Williams Commander 22 Brigade, Brig. Gen. JR Lar Commander 32 Brigade, Brig Gen AG Mahmuda Commandant Warrant Officer Academy, Brig Gen VD Beryo Commander Nigerian Army Special Forces School, Brig Gen AOD Okoro Director Army Headquarters Department of Special Services and Programmes,  Brig. Gen.  SO Adejimi Director Movement Army Headquarters Department of Army Logistics, Brig. Gen. TT Sidick Director of Finance Nigerian Defence Academy, Brig. Gen. MCE Ejike Commander Sector 2 Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI, Brig. Gen. MF Babayo Commander Sector 3 North East Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI, Brig. Gen. H Yanet Commander 51 Signal Brigade and Brig. Gen. MK Gara Army Headquarters Department of Training.

“Also promoted to the rank of Major General are Brig. Gen. BP Koughna Deputy Chief of Military Affairs, Army Headquarters Department of Civil Military Affairs,Brig. Gen. I Otu Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, Brig. Gen. AO Adegbite Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport, Brig. Gen. IE Ekpeyong Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers, Brig. Gen. AA Idris Army Headquarters Department of Army Standards and Evaluation, Brig. Gen. SA Gumel Nigerian Army Resource Centre Strategic Management and Policy Studies,  Brig. Gen. MT Jinadu Commander 82 Division Ordnance Services, Brig. Gen. SA Jimoh Deputy Director Tender Board Department of Procurement, and Brig. Gen. UT Opuene Deputy Director Policy and Plans Defence Intelligence Agency, among others.

“Officers promoted from the rank of Colonel to Brigadier General are Col. SM Iliya Commander 43 Engineers Brigade, Col. O Igwe Commander 78 Supply and Transport, Col. NE Udofia Headquarters Nigerian Army Electrical Mechanical Engineers, Col. UR Okoroji Commander 404 Engineers Brigade, Col. GS Oyinwola Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary, Col. S Ahmadu Defence Intelligence Agency, Col. CI Nwonyi Commander 81 Division Provost Group, Col. AS Aliyu Commander 1 Division Military Intelligence, Col. T Garba Commander 77 Supply and Transport Brigade, Col. K Imam Commander Army Headquarters Garrison Ordinance Services, Col. NS Onuchukwu Chief Medical Director 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Col. A Musa Commander 108 Division Equipment Support, Col. DM Baba Office of the National Security Adviser, Col. OA Obochi Defence Headquarters, Col. PAJ Ebuk Commander 1 Division Supply and Transport, Col. IP Omoke Office of the COAS Directorate of Procurement and Col. P Elayo Headquarers Department of Space Administration. 

“Others elevated to the rank of Brigadier General are Col. NI Abdullahi Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Col. JC Mbanefo Army War College Nigeria, Col. IO Amah Department of Operations Defence Headquarters, Col. M Jimoh Defence Headquarters Garrison, Col. TA Ayoola Army Headquarters Department of Army Operations, Col. SA Jimoh Office of the Chief of Army Staff Department of Procurement, Col. OC Ameni 103 Division Equipment Support, Col. OU Okwuosa 2 Division Medical Hospital and Services, Col. AO Odubiyi Armed Forces Command and Staff College, and Col. NE Udofia Headquarters Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, among others”. 

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, while congratulating the newly promoted senior officers and their families, also charged them to redouble their efforts to justify their elevation and the confidence reposed in them. 

He further tasked the newly promoted officers to lead their subordinates by example and evolve “out of the box” ideas and innovations to speedily tackle contemporary security challenges bedeviling the nation. 

He added that they must remain committed to their oath of allegiance to defend the nation at all times and maintain unalloyed loyalty to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.