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No Rehabilitated Ex-Boko Haram Fighter Recruited Into Military-CDS

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The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Lucky Irabor, says none of the over 1,000 rehabilitated ex-Boko Haram fighters have been recruited into the Nigerian military.
Irabor said at the Stakeholders’ Meeting of Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC) yesterday in Abuja, that Nigeria would never recruit any ex-fighter into its military.
The CDS, represented by the Chief of Defence Training and Operations, Maj.-Gen. Adeyemi Yekini, assured Nigerians that none of such ex-fighters would also be recruited into any of the sister security services in the country.
According to him, the concerns over alleged recruitment of rehabilitated ex-fighters into the military and paramilitary agencies were unfounded, as stringent safeguards had been put in place to prevent such.
The CDS disclosed that the Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) programme of OPSC had so far graduated and reintegrated over 1,000 clients, including 16 foreign nationals.
He added that a total of 559 new clients were currently going through the DRR programme in Gombe State.
Irabor explained that OPSC had improved the programme’s principles, practices and procedures over the years, making the initiative a model that had been replicated in all the Lake Chad Basin countries.
According to him, it has also elicited the interest of both local and international bodies including the academia.
“The DRR Programme consists of psychological, humanitarian treatments that reassure and provide alternatives to low-profile combatants through psycho-social, psycho-spiritual therapies, recreations, vocational training, and introductory western education.
“The programme is countering Boko Haram and Islamic States of West African Province (ISWAP) ideologies and reducing their recruitment drive while depleting the critical mass of their fighting force.
“OPSC is not a purely military operation, as some have suggested, it is a peace building effort and its essential duties are carried out by relevant MDAS with the necessary expertise.
“The military and other security and law enforcement agencies are involved to the extent of creating an enabling environment and leadership for the DRR programme to function efficiently,” he said.
Irabor said the approaches, practices, procedures, strategies, and tactics of the military in its counter-insurgency operation had continued to evolve, to effectively tackle the amorphous nature of the threat.
According to him, the initial response was a single service operation that was limited to only the formations and units based in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe States.
“However, as time passed, several task forces were formed, eventually leading to the formation of a Theatre Command with several components including a Naval Task Force and an Aviation Task Force to weaken the insurgents.
“In furtherance of this objective, we are committed to forging stronger synergy between the Services and other security agencies.
“All of these efforts have re-energised the fight against the insurgents, and the AFN has continuously made progress towards ending the war in favour of Nigerian government,” the CDS said.
The Coordinator of OPSC, Brig.-Gen. Joseph Maina, said the operation began in September 2015 to encourage willing and repentant Boko Haram members to surrender and go through a well-structured DRR programme.
He said that OPSC was a multi-agency, multi-national humanitarian scheme backed by Nigeria’s Constitution, as well as International Humanitarian and Human Right Laws.
According to him, OPSC has admitted over 1,070 clients comprising 1,064 Nigerians and 16 foreign nationals from Cameroon, Chad and Niger since 2016.
“All the foreign clients were transferred to their respective national authorities for reintegration.
“Presently, there are 559 clients undergoing the programme in the camp, out of which two clients are Chadian citizens.
“It is also important to mention that one client was repatriated to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital for expert psychiatric management during the initial documentation stages of the programme,” he said.
Maina disclosed that OPSC and its partners had been conducting follow-up activities to assess the performance of the clients in the communities, adding that reports from these exercises had so far been encouraging.
The coordinator said the stakeholders’ meeting was convened to work out modalities for the smooth transfer of the 559 clients presently in the camp to their national and states authorities for re-integration after graduation in January 2022.
He said it was expected that the stakeholders would be fully abreast with activities of OPSC and DRR programme in particular, among other issues.

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NSCDC Arrests Ghanaian Over Burglary In Ondo

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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ondo State Command, has arrested a 21-year-old Ghanaian, Sunday Kunle Adu, over alleged burglary and phone theft.
This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by NSCDC Public Relations Officer (PRO) in the state, DSC Daniel Aidamenbor, and made available to newsmen in Akure.
Aidamenbor described Adu as an incorrigible burglar who had been terrorising Osi Community in Akure North Local Government Area of the state,  but was arrested by the Counter Terrorism Unit of the command after a manhunt.
He said on June 2, a case of theft was reported at the command by the victim whose house was burgled on May 26, and where two phones and sum of money were allegedly stolen.
“An online and offline tracking was activated and conducted through the ‘SIM’ card on one of the stolen phones which led to the arrest of a soft target that led to the apprehending of one Sunday Kunle Adu, male, 21-years -old.
“Adu, a Ghanaian with a Nigerian mother from Ikogosi Ekiti, lives at Abo Asakin in the Araromi axis of Airport community in Akure North.
“Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to selling one of the phone to a traveler who was going to Abuja for N30,000 at Shasha market.
“Items allegedly stolen by the suspect were Infinix Hot 8 valued at N95,000, Tecno Pop 3 worth N75,000 and N70,000 cash belonging to the complainant.
“The suspect who already made confessional statement will be charged to court after the completion of investigation,” Aidamenbor said.

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Fast-Track Hazard Allowance Implementation, NMA Fast-Track Hazard Allowance Implementation, NMA Urges Kogi

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The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kogi State Chapter, has appealed to the  State  Government to ensure speedy implementation of the new Hazard Allowance for its doctors.
The association made the call in a Communique at the end of its second quarter of State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting held on June 2,  at its State Secretariat in  Lokoja.
The communique was jointly signed by the Kogi NMA Chairman and Secretary; Dr Baoku Olusola and Dr Emmanuel B.J Kelvin respectively, yesterday, in Lokoja.
The communique also urged Kogi State Government to domesticate and implement the medical Residency training Act in the state.
According to the communique, after long deliberations and the observations made, the SEC resolved to do as follows:
“Appeal to  Governor Yahaya Bello to instruct the relevant departments and agencies in the state to speed up the bureaucracy in the path to achieving the implementation of the new hazard allowance for doctors in the employ of the state.
“Urge the Kogi State Government to domesticate and implement the medical residency training act in the state”, it stated.
The association congratulated Bello   on the award of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration.
The NMA also commended the governor for his giant strides in the infrastructural investments in the state’s health sector.
The association, however, said there was need to close  the  human resources gaps in  various health institutions at all levels, including state-owned health institutions, alongside significant movement of doctors out of the state’s employ.
It observed  the wide margin between the salaries and allowances of doctors under the employ of the state and those in the Federal health institution which served contributed to the efflux of doctors from the state employment.
Also implicated as contributing factor was the threat to the residency training in the Kogi State Specialist hospital (KSSH).
The association observed that the major culprit to the threat of residency training in the Kogi state Specialist hospital is delayed  domestication/ implementation of the Medical Residency training Act  as it was being done/implemented in FCT and other states.
The NMA, therefore, urged the state government to set up a high-powered panel to review and resolve these serious issues amongst others, affecting the medical profession and practice in the state.

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Uber, Bolt Drivers, Hopeful Of Negotiations

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The Amalgamated  Union of App-Based Transport Workers of Nigeria  (AUATWON), has said it was hopeful there would be opportunity for negotiations at the end of its  five-day nationwide warning strike, which began on Wednesday.
The union’s Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee,  Mr Jossy Olawale, made this known in an interview with The Tide’s source in Lagos.
The source reports that the union embarked on a five-day warning strike following failure of the ride-hailing companies in Nigeria, including Uber, Bolt, Indriver and Lagride, to accede to its demands.
The demands include a call on the app-based companies to increase fare trips by 200 per cent, and reduce their commission by 50 per cent.
Olawale said, “We are hoping for an opportunity for negotiations,  but if not, we are also hoping that the Federal Government will intervene.
“However, if nothing is done after the warning strike, we will review what has happened so far and take a position”.
Earlier, the union’s President, Mr Adedamola Adeniran,  had in a statement, expressed dismay over an alleged meagre fare increase by the ride-hailing  transport companies.
“This increase stands between 25 per cent and 30 per cent by different companies, far away from the union’s demand for 200 per cent increase  and 50 per cent reduction in commission respectively, contrary to AUATWON’s demand for 10 per cent flat or 50 per cent off the current commission.
“Uber, Bolt and Lagride still maintain homogeneous commission of 20 per cent to 25 per cent and this is completely unacceptable and unprofitable for us”, he said.
He said that the union had written several letters to the companies for a round table discussion, where both parties could look at various area of concern and dialogue.
Adeniran said the companies, however,  remained adamant, trying to avoid responsibility.
“We can no longer work under these conditions and intimidation; so, all app-based workers across Nigeria should be ready to fight this menace till victory,” he said.

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