The Nigerian Armed Forces II

[Rdokoye]

John Togo in 2010 (file photo).

Vanguard (Lagos)
Nigeria: How JTF Exhumed the Body of John Togo
Emma Amaize
4 June 2011

On Wednesday, May 25, while a large cache of arms and ammunition, including 1,798 rifles, one 1981 assorted guns and 70 rocket propelled grenades, recovered from militants in Delta, Bayelsa and Ondo states were being destroyed at the Headquarters of the 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu, men of the Joint Task Force, JTF, on the Niger-Delta embarked on an off the cuff and dangerous operation.

Saturday Vanguard learnt that the top secret mission to a riverine community in Delta state was led by a senior army officer from Sector 1 Command of the JTF in Warri, and by the time they ended, the soldiers were with the dead body of one of the most wanted militant leader by the task force, "General" John Togo, leader of the Niger-Delta Liberation Force, NDLF, which they exhumed from the furtive grave he was interred.

It was a job well executed by the task force because before now, the whereabouts of John Togo had become an embarrassment to the task force following media reports that he was dead, which the JTF dismissed as tissues of lies.


General' John Togo

As at Friday, the remains of Togo, which were deposited in the mortuary of the Central Hospital, were being guarded by soldiers, who had cordoned off the place for fear that his men would take the corpse away from the morgue.

It was not only the JTF that dismissed the news of the death of John Togo earlier. The spokesman of the disbanded militant group, "Captain" Mark Anthony, on May 16, stated, "Gen John Togo is hale and hearty. He has left for an undisclosed fishing hamlet in a different Niger_Delta coastal state waiting for Mr. President's statement".

But one of the dependable sources in the creeks called on May 16 to confide in Saturday Vanguard that John Togo was dead but JTF spokesman, Lt. Col T.A. Antigha dismissed the story when he was contacted, same day, on Togo's death.

He said it was a yawn by Togo and his managers to deceive the public and divert the attention of the task force from the manhunt for the militant leader.

After cross_checking the delicate information with our contacts, one of who confirmed that Togo was dead and buried, Vanguard, May 18, published a story, captioned, "John Togo feared dead" The report stated, "Militant leader, "General" John Togo of the Niger_Delta Liberation Force, NDLF, is feared dead in a battle with the Joint Task Force, JTF, on the Niger_Delta".

"He was suspected to have been shot and wounded seriously on the leg by soldiers, last week, unknown to the authorities of task force, who have not relaxed the manhunt for him. A reliable source said John Togo was rushed to a riverine community in Bomadi local government area of Delta state for treatment by a traditional medicine man, but he gave up the ghost two days later".

"Our source who is an indigene of the community said, "John Togo is dead and buried. He was shot on both legs and rushed to the community, his men did not believe he would die but he died. People in the community know but nobody wants to say it because of the consequences. As I speak to you, soldiers are in my community looking for information on John Togo", he said.

However, many persons and organizations disbelieved the Vanguard story just as calls kept coming to editors on the authenticity of the story. On May 22, Sunday Vanguard came out with a report captioned, "How JTF bombed John Togo go death". The story read in part, "Ex_militant leader, leader and commander of the Niger_Delta Liberation Force, NDLF, "General" John Togo died a painful and miserable death following injury he sustained in an aerial bombardment by the Joint Task Force, JTF, on the Niger_Delta".

Besides the security agencies, some professional colleagues doubted the veracity of our story but Vanguard remained undaunted and followed up with a report, "John Togo allegedly buried in the forest". The paper reported,

"Leader of the Niger_Delta Liberation Force, "General" John Togo, suspected to have died of gunshot wounds he sustained in an encounter with the Joint Task Force, JTF, on the Niger_Delta, was reportedly buried in the forest by his boys at the outskirt of a riverine community in Bomadi local government area of Delta State'.

"Our source who maintained that the militant leader was dead contrary to the claim of the NDLF spokesman, "Captain" Mark Anthony that he was alive and hearty, said, "Only the boys who took him to the secret place for burial can identify the place he was buried. He said most of John Togo's boys who also sustained gunshot wounds ran to Efanna, Ezebiri and Ogodobiri communities for treatment but they usually melted into the thin air once they heard that the JTF had come to any of the communities."

It was on May 26, exactly eight days after Vanguard broke the story of Togo's death that the task force finally found the grave where he was buried in the forest as we reported and the corpse was exhumed and deposited in the morgue of Central Hospital, Warri.

Two days after, there was no official word yet from the task force on whose remains it was, but a military source confided in Saturday Vanguard that it was that of John Togo quite alright. He, however, said a DNA test might be carried out to find out the biological characteristics, as the task force could not declare the John Togo chapter closed in its records if his death was not properly established.

Saturday Vanguard reported on May 26 the big news of exhuming of the decomposing corpse of John Togo by men of the Joint Task Force, JTF at the fringe of a riverine community in Delta state, where the remains were buried as well as the death of the ammunition storekeeper of the group, who was also injured in the same aerial bombardment by the task force on May 12.

Togo was allegedly interred in a camouflage military uniform and his corpse was taken away in an ambulance after it was exhumed between 2:00-2:20pm, last Wednesday.

[GAR3TH]

Alpha Jet NAF

[GAR3TH]

MB-339A Jets

[Rdokoye]

NAVY SIGNS SHIP BUILDING AND REPAIR JOINT VENTURE CONTRACT

Wednesday, June 08, 2011

The Nigerian Navy Tuesday took a step further in its determination to construct and build ships in the country as it signed an agreement with a European company, TP Marine Global Services, for the construction of a ship building facility in Lagos.

The facility will be located at the Nigerian Naval Dockyard, Wilmont Point, Lagos, will see the foreign firm move to site in a few weeks. It is expected to complete the project in 4-6 years time.

The ceremony was presided over by the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, who was represented by the Chief of Plans and Policy (COPPS), Navy Headquarters, Rear Admiral James Oladimeji.

Chief Executive Officer of the Netherlands-based company, Mr. Amit Sade, said at the ceremony that his company’s resolve to build the facility was a demonstration of its faith in the Nigerian economy.

“Our resolve stems from our faith in Nigeria’s economy where we have operated this past ten years. The project will be a wonderful opportunity to exchange knowledge and also create jobs for Nigerians,” Amit said.

Admiral Ibrahim noted that the facility will enable the Nigerian Navy build its own vessels that will be of economic benefit to the nation.

According to him, “this ceremony is a landmark achievement for the Navy as it will make us self-sufficient in the construction and maintenance of our fleet. Also, other countries will use the facility thereby bringing in the needed foreign exchange to run the economy.”

The Naval Chief said that Nigerians would be most enthusiastic about the project which Admiral Oladimeji said will be of more benefit to future generations of Nigerians.

[Rdokoye]

IMOKE ADVOCATES ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR NAVY

Wednesday, June 08, 2011

Governor of Cross River State, Mr Liyel Imoke Tuesday called on the Federal Government to make available additional resources to the Nigerian Navy to enable it procure additional boats to secure the nation’s territorial waters.

Gov Imoke said while receiving the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Usman O. Jibrin in Calabar that there has been a rise in the rate of piracy and militancy within the water boundary between Nigerian and Cameroon as a result of the ceding of Bakassi.

He therefore recommended a joint military patrol to ensure the safety of lives and property as well as the image of the country.

Gov Imoke described Calabar, which is the Headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command and equally harvours the headquarters of NNS Victory, as an integral part of the Navy.

He explained that Cross Riverians have benefited tremendously from the navy with the location of both its hospital and its numerous schools within the State.


The Governor noted that the State has enjoyed relative peace and serenity within the Niger Delta because of the presence of the Nigerian Navy as it has made effort to combat crime while commending the navy for showing high sense of commitment within the State and sustaining the cordial relationship and cooperation between the navy and civilians.

He lauded the Navy for sinking a borehole in Akpabuyo Local Government Area as part of activities marking its 55th anniversary celebration, adding that its assistance to the state should be cherish for a long time.

Rear Admiral Jibrin, eho assumed duties as the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command since November 2010 thanked the State Government for its support to the Command headquarters as well as NNS Victory Calabar especially in the donation of a boat to the Navy to ensure effective patrol of the nation’s territorial waters.

He solicited for more support in this direction.

Jibrin disclosed that the boats will enhance the combat to check the excesses of pirates and militants within the buffer zone between Nigeria and Cameroon especially now that the incidence of such activities in that area is alarming and thanked the governor for appealing to the Presidency to ensure that a joint patrol between the navy and police within the area is enforced to check piracy and militancy.

The FOC also disclosed that the Navy enjoys tremendous support from the State mostly in the monthly allocation of petroleum products to facilitate its operations which has enhanced its activities with the nation’s territorial waters.

He said as part of the Naval activity to mark its 55th anniversary celebration, they sank a borehole in Akpabuyo Local Government Area which the benefiting community expressed satisfaction.

[GAR3TH]

All rights reserved by British High Commission, Abuja

image hosted on flickr

[BEEG EAGLE]

NIGERIAN NAVY OFFICERS TRAIN WITH CREW OF HMS OCEAN





:thumbs: HOL' IT





COMBATTANTE III MISSILE FAST ATTACK CRAFT: THE CONSTRUCTION OF NNS SIRI (1980)





LATEST ACQUISITION OF THE NIGERIAN NAVY: NNS THUNDER F90 (ex-USCGC CHASE)

[BEEG EAGLE]

NIGERIAN ARMY HIGH COMMAND




JTF COMBINED FORCES OPERATION: AMPHIBIOUS FORCES WITH NAVY SEAMAN+MOPOL(red stripes) IN SUNCRAFT SCORPION MK.II ATTACK BOATS

[BEEG EAGLE]

TP MARINE REFITTING SIX LARGE PATROL BOATS FOR THE NIGERIAN NAVY

http://www.tpmarine.nl/moving-to-new-premises.aspx


" TP Marine has moved to a larger new shipyard in Wieringerwerf, in the North of the Netherlands. The former shipyard in IJmuiden had become to small as the companies activities and ambitions have grown. This larger production site has many benefits. First of all, it enables TP Marine to build vessels up to 25 metres in length.

Secondly, TP Marine is now able to to build even more vessels at the same time. The new shipyard provides direct access to the waterside (Lake IJssel) and is located close to the North Sea.

The new shipyard has already showed its benefits: TP Marine has taken on an assignment for the refit of 6 large patrol boats of the Nigerian Navy. "

[BEEG EAGLE]

Originally Posted by BEEG EAGLE

Enjoy with me, generals.

E-Catalogue of the SUNCRAFT GROUP, manufacturers of the Nigerian Navy's SEA EAGLE OFFSHORE PATROL CRAFT and the MANTA MK.II ASD FAST PATROL INTERCEPTORS

http://www.suncraftgroup.com/products.html

:thumbs: :thumbs: RIVERLINE WARFARE COMBATANTS GALORE!!!



Now, you have heard about SUNCRAFT but not their close collaborator, STRATEGIC MARINE. Apparently, Suncraft International normally outsource some of their contracts to STRATEGIC MARINE of Australia and NAUTICA NOVA of Malaysia.

In its PREAMBLE, the said STRATEGIC MARINE listed Australia,Malaysia,Singapore and NIGERIA as their clients. That is not the news.

In their VESSEL REGISTER, they listed vessels constructed for Australia, Malaysia, Singapore but not for coded Nigeria. Instead, the fourth customer suddenly became SUNCRAFT INTERNATIONAL, which we know very well. What really caught my attention was the stupefying number and array of river gunboats and landing craft which they were purportedly building for SUNCRAFT INTERNATIONAL and their perfect suitability for riverline combat. More curiously, in the BROCHURE, the photo shown of the STINGRAY SPB 17 is precisely the same MANTA MK.II ASD which we know.

Well, "no be today wey yansh dey for back". Browse through the following and come back to Operational HQ for debriefing. GEE WHIZ...they are PREPARED FOR THE CHALLENGE !!



STRATEGIC MARINE:

PREAMBLE
http://www.strategicmarine.com/produ...amilitary.aspx


VESSEL REGISTER

http://www.strategicmarine.com/produ...amilitary.aspx

STINGRAY 20 SPD
20 metre Landing Craft

CUSTOMER
-Suncraft International

Specifications
Length 20 metres
Beam 5.6 metres
Draft 0.8 metres
Maximum Speed
20+ knots
Number of Engines 2
Power (MCR) 890 HP
Total Constructed=4


II.
STINGRAY 17 SPD
17 metre Patrol Vessel -

CUSTOMER
Suncraft International

Specifications
Length 17 metres
Beam 3.6 metres
Draft 0.95 metres
Max Speed 45+ knots
Number of Engines 2
Power(MCR) 2400 HP
Total Constructed=4

III.

STINGRAY 16 SPD
16 metre Patrol Vessel -

CUSTOMER
Suncraft International

Specifications
Length 16.0 metres
Beam 4.1 metres
Draft 0.7 metres
Max Speed 30+ knots
Number of Engines 2
Power (MCR) 1200 HP
Total Constructed=15


IV.
STINGRAY 12 SPD
12 metre Patrol Boat -

CUSTOMER
Suncraft International

Specifications
Length 12.0 metres
Beam 3.6 metres
Draft 0.6 metres
Max Speed 30+ knots
Number of Engines 2
Power (MCR) 700 HP
Total Constructed=40


V.

STINGRAY 10 OBM
10 metre Landing Craft

CUSTOMER
- Suncraft International

Specifications
Length 10.00 metres
Beam 3.05 metres
Draft 0.35 metres
Max Speed 35+ knots
Number of Engines 2
Power (MCR) 600 HP
Total Constructed=100 (WARHEAD!! Amphibious forces/marines?)


BROCHURE: STINGRAY 17SPD=MANTA MK.II ASD??
http://www.strategicmarine.com/media...a%20vessel.pdf

Breathless! We have not visited SINGAPORE TECHNOLOGIES MARINE and NAUTICA NOVA websites(the 3rd and 4th planks on the Eastern supply chain) and I am looking here at nearly 175 GUNBOATS and LANDING CRAFT? We already know about the delivery during General Dambazau's time as COAS of 50 units of Suncraft Scorpion Mk. II gun-armed fast launches.

Well, the RBS(Defender) haul from the USA was 35 and the Dutch catamarans were supposedly 20 in number while the NC 27 Night Cat Interceptors of the SBS and JEDI boats also poured in from the West.

If we take into account the locally-built,Israeli-built(AKSG gave 11 units to the JTF) and Chinese platforms given as operational support by governments of conflict-affected states AND ASSUMING (like it is almost certainly the case), that this stupefying haul of platforms came to the amphibious and special forces of both the NA and NN, how many gunboats and landing craft do we now own? 300? 350? 400? Wow, way to go.

Well done, DHQ! Well done, FGN. Now, the surplus LEOPARD 2A4s, the Russian SAMs, the corvettes, our OPVs and 'em SU-27/30 jets.

[BEEG EAGLE]

River gunboat armed with AGLs fore and aft which was presented to the Eastern Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy by the Cross River State government in support of operations in and around the restive Bakassi Peninsula on the Nigeria-Cameroon border.....last week.





Heavily-armed river gunboat manned by Nigerian Army amphibious forces escort shipping in the restive Niger Delta



SEAL-CLASS LONG-RANGE RECOVERY AND SUPPORT CRAFT


(Seagull in front, Seal behind)




Ex-RAF 37-metre Seal-class replenishment vessels(Seal and Seagull)post-refurbishment, shortly before departure for Nigeria's Niger Delta to resume service as security vessels

[BEEG EAGLE]

AFRICA PARTNERSHIP STATION - 2011: TOUR OF SENEGAL


A group of service members from the U.S. Marines, Senegalese Marines and Nigerian Navy search for targets during a live-fire shoot on the river here. Approximately 45 U.S. Marines and sailors, along with about 100 Senegalese commandos and Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service troops are participating in Africa Partnership Station 2011, a U.S. Africa Command maritime security assistance program that is designed to strengthen participating nations’ maritime security capacity through multilateral collaboration and cross-border cooperation. Marine Corps Forces, Africa is supporting APS 11 with a security assistance force based out of Camp Lejeune, N.C.



Lt Moses K. Omopariola (left), chief instructor, Special Boat Service, Nigerian Navy, observes two U.S. Marines who are participating in a live-fire shoot on the river here while a Senegalese Marine and Nigerian sailor observe the targets.



Lt. Moses K. Omopariola of the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service gives feedback to the Marines of Africa Partnership Station 2011 and their Senegal Commando counterparts after a river combat scenario from a rubber raiding craft, recently. In the classes prior and during practical application, Marines and Senegalese troops were taught river movement, embankment landings, beach assaults and raid withdrawals, among other ‘riverine’ warfare tactics



Two U.S. Marines fire at targets on the river bank here during a live-fire shoot while a Nigerian sailor coaches.



Staff Sgt. Shaun Grant provides rear security for Senegalese troops and U.S. Marines as they egress from a river shore to rubber raiding crafts during a training exercise in Soukouta, Senegal. The Marines and Senegalese Commandos of Africa Partnership Station 2011 were taught ‘riverine’ warfare tactics by members of the Nigerian Special Boat Service, who have also partnered with APS-11 for the military-to-military exchange.

[BEEG EAGLE]

APS EXERCISE OBANGAME IN THE GULF OF GUINEA: NIGERIAN NAVY SPECIAL BOAT SERVICE COMMANDOS TEACH THE US AND CAMEROON NAVIES A FEW TRICKS

Robert G. Bradley Completes APS Exercise Obangame Express 2011
By Petty Officer 1st Class Darryl Wood
U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa,
U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs
http://www.africom.mil/printStory.asp?art=6346



DOUALA, Cameroon, Mar 28, 2011 — USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49) concluded exercise Obangame Express off the coast of Cameroon as part of Africa Partnership Station (APS) West, March 23, 2011.

Robert G. Bradleym, along with ships from Belgium, Cameroon, France, Gabon, Nigeria, and Spain, participated in the exercise which focused on maritime domain awareness with the specific challenges faced by the interoperability of a multinational force to improve its proficiency at sea.

"The professionalism of the Cameroonian Rapid Intervention Battalion and Nigerian boarding teams were impressive," said Commander Darryl Brown, commanding officer of USS Robert G. Bradley. "Obangame Express gave the Cameroonian and Nigerian naval forces a chance to work together. Both sides agreed that this was the first of hopefully many opportunities and they look forward to next year's exercise."

This exercise is designed to support the strengthening of efforts against countering illicit activities in the regions maritime zone.

The pre-sail conference and post-exercise debrief was held at the Cameroon Navy Base in Douala, Cameroon, allowing the navies to express mission successes and also offer suggestions for improvements. This multinational cooperation ensures continued success for interoperability and proficiency of the regional maritime stake holders in the Gulf of Guinea.

"This exercise proved to be a great interaction between multiple naval partners," said Lieutenant junior grade James Carles. "Both the Cameroonian and Nigerian boarding team were very engaged in the event. The Nigerians' procedures throughout the compliant boarding evolution were so effective that our team picked up a couple of tactics that we will add to our boarding operations :thumbs: .

However, the Cameroonian special ops team does not usually get the opportunity to conduct a compliant boarding, so this provided a chance to conduct this type of boarding, which will help them expand their maritime capabilities."

Robert G. Bradley, an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, is homeported out of Mayport, Florida, and is on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. Naval Forces Africa area of responsibility.

APS is an international security cooperation initiative, facilitated by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, aimed at strengthening global maritime partnerships through training and collaborative activities in order to improve maritime safety and security in Africa.

[BEEG EAGLE]

COASTAL PATROL CRAFT: WHICH WAY FORWARD???

Let's talk coastal patrol and fast interceptor craft for the NN.

Well, picture a patrol combatant the size of a Shaldag Mk.II, which is 25 metres in length. There is a Spanish-built CPC known as the RODMAN 101 which at 30m is larger and is just as fast being able to hit 35 knots/hr. The good thing is that they available at the rate of approximately US$100m FOR FIFTEEN UNITS. It therefore means that for an outlay of US$150M (which is well within the possibilities attainable with the annual budget of the NN), we can entirely plug the holes in our national requirement for CPCs.

That comes with the added advantage that with countries such as the USSR and Israel having successfully mounted SSMs on the 25m-long Osa missile boats and 25m-long Shaldag interceptors respectively (even on smaller 20-metre Israeli hydrofoils), the said RODMAN attack craft could, whenever the need arises, form the backbone of a flotilla of ultra-fast missile boats which can deploy swarm-and-ambush tactics to inflict maximum damage on enemy vessels. Iran have shown us the way already by using the Chinese-built HEGU class coastal patrol craft, a 27m vessel armed with both Silkworm and C101 missiles to devastating effect.

Some of the solutions to the challenges which abound in our maritime domain are well within our budgetary outlay. We only need to try. When you add 22 units of RODMAN 101s to the mix of about 15 units of new MANTA and SHALDAG already available, that would mean a coastal patrol flotilla of 37 ultra-fast interceptors to patrol the zone of transition between the Niger Delta and the greenwater environment of the Gulf of Guinea.

All the OPVs, logistics ships, missile craft, corvettes and frigates can then focus SQUARELY on manning our EEZ from 20 nautical miles out to its 350nm limit while the powerful and growing brownwater fleet of the NA and NN amphibious,regular and special forces can exclusively focus on manning the Niger Delta.


RODMAN 101
http://www.naval-technology.com/cont...man-polyships/

How do you copy, guys?

[Artemis]

btw. everyone knows you just copy and paste your s*** from cybereagles to our forum.

[Naijaborn]

: Hahahah
But seriously, is there any crime in that??

[BEEG EAGLE]

Originally Posted by Artemis

btw. everyone knows you just copy and paste your s*** from cybereagles to our forum.

LOL..that is because I had been a Cybereagle all of FIVE YEARS before I signed up here and more importantly, that thread "FOTORAMA: THE NIGERIAN ARMED FORCES" which I opened and provide direction for had been up and running EVER BEFORE I signed up here.

Above all, we do not factually appear too enthusiastic or interested in brainstorming here on SC. On CE,I have real enthusiasts, serving brasshats and Somalia/ECOMOG vets on board and we really get to discuss ALL THE TIME. Can therefore be scarcely faulted. We hope all of that can change on this useful site where I wanna imagine that all who view this thread are at the very least, lovers of all matters military. We go everywhere the flag of Nigeria's military needs to be hoisted and it is working. Our offering has been duplicated on Nairaland, on Indian, Iranian and Moroccan military forums to our knowledge. We are currently waging a way against wrong but long-held notions of the NN on MILITARY PHOTOS and the nay sayers have gone quiet. (SEE PHOTOS AND NEWS OF THE SMALL NAVIES OF THE WORLD on MILITARY PHOTOS). Just doing our pariotic duty and methinks Nigeria is the better for it.

Checklist - we just teed up two issues pertaining to river combatants and perspectives on CPCs. What we got in response was a hush. That would never happen on CE where we are sure we have an audience. Even if the response is delayed, it would come regardless and passionately so...with technical depth to boot.



MOVING ON:

NNS HADEJIA, A COASTAL PATROL CRAFT, UNDERGOING MAINTENANCE WORK AT THE NIGERIAN NAVAL SHIPYARD, PORT HARCOURT



WEBSITE - NIGERIAN NAVAL SHIPYARD: http://www.nigeriannavalshipyardph.com/nnsy/




NNS HADEJIA'S SISTER SHIP, NNS MAKURDI, WAS REFURBISHED BY THIS CIVIL SHIPYARD

http://www.aandcengineering.com/11.html


ABOUT THE MAKURDI-CLASS

http://www.harpoondatabases.com/ency...Entry1646.aspx

[Carver02]

You do good work, BEEG. Thanks.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by BEEG EAGLE

..Just doing our pariotic duty and methinks Nigeria is the better for it.

Checklist - we just teed up two issues pertaining to river combatants and perspectives on CPCs. What we got in response was a hush. That would never happen on CE where we are sure we have an audience. Even if the response is delayed, it would come regardless and passionately so...with technical depth to boot. ...

i feel sorry for you!

[GAR3TH]