News
Soldier Training Militants In Rivers Arrested …Army Uncovers Arms Cache
The Nigerian Army has arrested a rogue soldier, who specialised in training Niger Delta militants, during its arms and ammunition mop-up in Kula Community, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The Commanding Officer of 2 Brigade Garrison of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Lt.-Col. Timothy Opurum, made this known to newsmen in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Opurum said the soldier, a member of a 13-man -militant gang alleged to have been terrorising many communities in the state, deserted the army in 2002.
“Based on intelligence reports, we carried out a sting operation where we captured the 13man-militant gang including its notorious kingpin leader, simply known as Kenneth.
“We also arrested a soldier, who deserted the army in 2002 and specialised in training of militants in weapons handling and operational tactics.
“The soldier (names withheld), who is a Private, joined the army in 1998 and served in 331 Artillery Regiment, Kalapanzi Barracks in Kaduna before he was declared missing in 2002.
“The soldier, who is related to the kingpin of the militant group, is still in our custody and will be released to prosecuting agencies after formal dismissal from the army,” he said.
Opurum said that troops raided the community on account of incessant cases of militancy, kidnapping, piracy, cultism and killings which occurred regularly in the area.
The commanding officer said that intelligence revealed that the community was not only serving as hideout for criminals but hoodlums were also storing caches of arms and ammunition in the area.
He said the raid was “highly successful” as arms and ammunition were recovered by troops during the operation.
“However, some of the arms and ammunition had already been moved by the militants before our troops arrived at the community.
“Twelve suspects excluding the deserter-soldier, the arms and ammunition had been handed over to the state Directorate of Security Services (DSS) for further investigation and prosecution,” he said.
Opurum, who led the operation, however, denied allegation that troops opened fire on innocent fishermen and traders, and destroyed their wares during its operation in the community.
According to him, it is highly untrue that soldiers assaulted innocent civilians during the operation to mop up arms and criminality in Kula community.
“There was no case or cases of manhandling both on the part of civilians and on the suspects who were arrested over their involvement in gun running activities,” he said.
The ruler of Opu-Kula in Akuku-Toru, Hope Opusingi, alleged that soldiers battered his people and destroyed property worth millions of Naira during the raid on his community.
Opusingi claimed that soldiers invaded his community “under the guise of carrying out a presidential directive against oil theft and attacked harmless elders and innocent fishing settlements.”
The monarch said the action by the army was an abuse of power and a gross violation of the right of his people.
Niger Delta ex-agitator Endurance Amagbein has cautioned the leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, against politicising the plight of the Niger Delta people over issues surrounding renewal of pipeline surveillance contracts with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL.
In a statement on Saturday, Amagbein condemned IYC leaders who took a protest to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, demanding the sack of Bayo Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited.
The IYC had claimed that the protest was due to non-performance, financial mismanagement and other allegations, but Amagbein refuted the claims.
Amagbein accused the IYC of derailing from its core mandate and delving into partisan oil surveillance politics.
“Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil); Dr Samuel Ogbuku, MD/CEO of NDDC; and Chief Dennis Otuaru, the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, are all Ijaw people, but sadly, nobody remembers this to thank Mr President.”
“It is so said that oil politics in the Niger Delta has infiltrated into the affairs of the IYC, and its leaders have allowed surveillance contractors to direct policy statements of the youth body.”
The Tide source reports that Ojulari had said NNPCL is under attack over his leadership stance.
The National Orientation Agency, NOA, has begged Nigerians to be patient with President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying that his reforms and initiatives would in no distant time transform the nation’s economy, security and social landscape.
The Akwa Ibom State Director of NOA, Mkpoutom Mkpoutom, made the appeal in Uyo at the weekend during a sensitization programme organized by the Federal Information Center with focus on the milestones of Tinubu’s administration.
Mkpoutom, who was represented by Mrs Atim Otoyo, Deputy Director Planning, Research and Strategy, recalled that Tinubu on assumption of office on May 29, 2023, had embarked on ambitious reforms and initiatives that would better the lives of Nigerians.
He said the President’s focus is on revitalizing Nigeria’s economy by swiftly addressing the fuel subsidy crisis that had long plagued the nation’s finances.
According to him, by removing fuel subsidies, resources are now reallocated towards critical areas such as infrastructure and social welfare programs.
“This bold decision, although met with public discontent due to rising fuel prices, was a necessary step towards fiscal responsibility,” he said.
Mkpoutom also stated that security remains a paramount concern in Nigeria, stressing that Tinubu’s administration has prioritized the issue since the onset of his administration.
“His administration has focused on strengthening the military and security agencies to combat terrorism, banditry and separatist movements. This includes boosting funding for the Armed Forces and implementing community policing strategies to foster better relationships between law enforcement agencies and local communities.
“President Tinubu’s administration has championed various projects aimed at improving transportation networks, electricity supply, and public amenities as well as initiating programs to create technological hubs to promote digital literacy among young Nigerians,” the NOA official said.
The Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, Kayode Opeifa, has apologised to the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Federal Capital Territory Chapter, over his assault on its member and a staff of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, Ladi Bala.
Opeifa apologized at a press conference at the NUJ FCT secretariat in Abuja on Sunday.
The apology comes after NUJ FCT condemned the unwholesome treatment meted out to its members who were covering the recent Abuja-Kaduna train derailment incident.
The NUJ demanded a public apology from Opeifa over the incident.
In his apology on Sunday, Opeifa said he was carried away in the heat of the moment.
“I wish to offer my apology for the regrettable remarks I made, which were not only directed at a seasoned journalist but also reflected unfavourably on the NUJ FCT and the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ.
“Acting in the heat of the moment under pressure, and in my attempt to ensure safety, I made certain unkind statements. For this, I take full responsibility, and I am sorry.”
Chairman of NUJ FCT, Grace Ike, had called for calm among journalists over the incident.
Recall that six passengers were injured after the Abuja-Kaduna rail derailed in Jere on Tuesday.
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