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JTF Deploys Fighter Jets As Boko Haram Regroups

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L-R: Minister Of State for Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, Director-General, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (Ntdc), Sally Mbafeno and a Board Member of Ntdc, Mariam Onuoha, during the visit of officials of the Corporation to the Minister in Abuja, recently.

L-R: Minister Of State for Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, Director-General, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (Ntdc), Sally Mbafeno and a Board Member of Ntdc, Mariam Onuoha, during the visit of officials of the Corporation to the Minister in Abuja, recently.

The military, for the second day in a row, on Saturday engaged the fighter jets of the Nigeria Air Force in its continued battle to dislodge members of the Boko Haram sect.
Sources said that the remnants of the insurgents, flushed out of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, after a failed attempt to free their arrested members from Giwa Barracks, had started regrouping when information reached the Joint Task Force.
It was learnt that they were regrouping around the country’s borders towards Bama in Borno State.
Our source learnt that the air raid was to soften the ground for the ground troops to move in to complete the mop up operation it started after the routing of the Boko Haram sect in the battle in Maiduguri on Friday.
The Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, confirmed the development.
Details of the operation were made available by the Defence Headquarters later on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the military said on Saturday, with photo evidence, that it has captured a massive armoury with arms and ammunition dump at a Boko Haram camp.
A statement by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, said the operation, during which money was also recovered, was carried out on Friday night.
Olukolade said: “The large quantities of weapons recovered in the raid are still being evacuated from the scene of the night raid where several terrorists died.”
The Defence Headquarters spokesman said the tentacles of the operation has also been extended to Boko Haram camps located on the outskirts of Duguri, Polkime, Malafatori and other locations around the fringes of Lake Chad in conjunction with the troops of the Multi-National Joint Task Force.
He added: “Substantial money in different currencies and denominations were also recovered from the camps.
“A total of seven terrorists were captured in the operation during which altogether a soldier died while five were wounded.”
Giving an update on the failed attempt by the insurgents to free their colleagues from Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri, Borno State on Friday, Olukolade said the troops conducting cordon and search for remnants of the daring terrorists had an encounter with some of the surviving terrorists in the general area of Kayamla and Alu Dam on the outskirts of Maiduguri on Saturday morning.
He said during the encounter, more of the terrorists were killed and arrested.
According to him, the encounters are ongoing.
He added: “Those captured in the encounter are providing useful information towards the discovery of other hide outs of the daring terrorists.
“It has been revealed that the terrorists are now desperate to either free or kill the ones being detained, with a view to avenging or preventing further revelations about their operations and hideouts as this has been frustrating their plans lately.
“More bodies of fleeing terrorists have been discovered along the routes of their escape.
“Troops morale and fighting spirit have been further boosted by the outcome of the operations so far.
“Meanwhile, cordon and search as well as patrols and pursuit by air and land is continuing in the entire mission area of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States.”

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NPF Warn Applicants Ahead Of Constable Recruitment Exam

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The Katsina State Police Command has cautioned applicants for the upcoming police constable recruitment examination to adhere strictly to laid-down procedures and avoid falling victim to fraudsters.
The Commissioner of Police, Ali Umar-Fage, issued the warning in a statement released on Sunday by the command’s spokesperson, Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu.
He disclosed that the nationwide examination is scheduled to take place from April 28 to April 30 in Katsina State and that the exercise will be conducted at Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic along Dutsin-Ma Road.
According to the commissioner, only candidates who successfully passed the recently concluded physical and credential screening will be eligible to sit for the examination.
Applicants have been directed to log on to the official recruitment portal from April 24 to print their coloured examination invitation slips, which contain details of their specific date, time, and venue.
Mr Umar-Fage stated that candidates must present a valid National Identification Number (NIN) slip issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), bearing a clear photograph, alongside their printed coloured invitation slip and a writing pen at the examination centre.
He added that the approved dress code for the exercise is a white T-shirt, white shorts, and white canvas shoes.
Reiterating that the recruitment process is entirely free of charge, the police chief warned applicants to be wary of individuals or groups seeking to extort money under the guise of facilitating recruitment.

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Monarch Pledges Strong Action Against Gender-Based Violence

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The Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council has pledged to take decisive action to curb the rising cases of gender-based violence (GBV) across the state, in partnership with ActionAid and other relevant organisations.
The commitment was made during an event organised by ActionAid in collaboration with the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation in Port Harcourt. The programme, titled “Convening of Traditional Rulers for GBV Prevention,” carried the theme, “From Custodians to Champions: Redefining Culture for GBV Prevention and Community Protection.”
Speaking on behalf of the council, the Okilomuibe of Engenni Kingdom, HRM King Moore MacLean Ubuo, said traditional rulers are determined to move beyond mere responses to incidents of violence by adopting proactive strategies.
“We will establish and empower community-led structures, including traditional cabinets and women leaders, to identify early warning signs of violence and intervene before harm occurs,” he said.
King Ubuo added that traditional institutions are committed to enforcing the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law within their domains, stressing that the longstanding culture of silence surrounding abuse would no longer be tolerated.
“We will ensure that our subjects understand their rights and that the law is respected as the ultimate standard for justice,” he added.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Government emphasised that tackling GBV requires more than policies and enforcement, noting that a transformation in societal attitudes is essential.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mrs. Lauretta Dimkpa, who was represented by the Director of Child Welfare, Mrs. Fumilayo Adebayo, highlighted the critical role of traditional rulers in shaping societal values.
“As traditional rulers, your voices command respect, your decisions influence behaviour, and your institutions are trusted platforms for conflict resolution and social guidance,” she said.
She urged them to promote cultural norms that uphold dignity, respect, and equality, while also encouraging victims to report abuse without fear of stigma.
In his remarks, the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Mamedu, described the gathering as timely, noting that GBV remains a widespread violation of human rights and a major obstacle to sustainable development.
Represented by Dr. Adedeji Ademefun, he cited data showing that 31 per cent of Nigerian women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence, with many cases going unreported due to fear, stigma, and cultural silence.
“National surveys indicate that nearly three in ten women have experienced physical or sexual violence, underscoring the scale and urgency of this crisis,” he said.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the Rivers State Multi-Stakeholders Action Committee, Barrister Evelyn Asimie Membere, described GBV as one of the most persistent human rights violations, cutting across age, class, and geography.
According to her, traditional rulers are uniquely positioned to influence behaviour and drive meaningful change at the grassroots level.
“In many of our communities, your voice carries more weight than any policy or legislation,” she said.

The event brought together key stakeholders committed to strengthening community-based approaches to preventing GBV and protecting vulnerable groups across Rivers State.

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Tinubu Support Group Canvasses Second Term For President Ahead Of 2027

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A socio-political group, the Tinubu Youths Vanguard Organisation (TYVO), Rivers State chapter, has called on Nigerians to support the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, citing the need to consolidate ongoing economic and infrastructural reforms.
The State Coordinator of the group, Hon. Emmanuel Fubara, made the appeal over the weekend in Port Harcourt on the sidelines of a meeting of the Southern Traditional Rulers Council.
He said granting the Tinubu administration a second term would enable it to fully implement its transformation agenda, particularly under the Renewed Hope initiative.
“It is important that the Tinubu administration is given another opportunity to complete its economic and developmental programmes for the benefit of the country,” he stated.
Fubara disclosed that the group is preparing for its formal inauguration in the State, along with the unveiling of its local government, ward and unit structures, including student and market women wings.
According to him, the organization will be fully mobilised to promote the policies and achievements of the current administration, with a focus on issue-based campaigns aimed at restoring public confidence in the nation’s economy.
He noted that the administration has made strides in revamping the economy and executing key infrastructure projects, including the ongoing coastal road development in parts of the country.
Fubara expressed confidence that the group’s campaign strategies would resonate with Nigerians, adding that opposition voices would be effectively countered through sustained grassroots engagement.
He also urged members of the group to intensify sensitisation efforts across communities, highlighting what he described as visible results of the administration’s reforms.
On security challenges facing the country, Fubara said the situation was inherited from previous administrations but maintained that the current government is taking decisive steps to address it.
He expressed optimism that ongoing efforts, including international collaborations, would significantly curb insecurity in the near future.
When asked whether the group would also campaign for Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the TYVO coordinator said the organisation would take a position at the appropriate time, noting that directives from the All Progressives Congress (APC) would guide its activities.

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