Nation
New GOC Charges Troops On Hardwork, Sacrifice
The newly posted General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, Maj.-Gen. Umar Musa, has taken over the Command with a call on troops to redouble their efforts for more hard work and sacrifice.
Taking over from the out-gone GOC of the Division, Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, on Friday in Enugu, Musa assured that he would continue with the success strides of his predecessor.
He further promised to build on the success trajectory already established by Maj.-Gen. Lagbaja, who is now the GOC of 1 Division, Kaduna.
“I appreciate the out-gone GOC, Maj.- Gen. Lagbaja, for the innovations and successes he recorded while serving as the GOC.
“We will restrategise and beef up security and increase the tempo so that we can surpass what Lagbaja had achieved here.
“I will work with the commanders and seek their cooperation to see that all security threats are surmounted in the Division’s Area of Responsibility (AOR)”, he started.
Musa used the occasion to thank the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.- Gen. Faruk Yahaya, for the confidence reposed on him to be redeployed as the GOC of 82 Division after serving as the GOC of 81 Division, Lagos.
While thanking the troops for their sacrifice and dedication, the GOC said: “but, I must say that we have more work to do to stabilise the security of the Division’s AOR and deal with criminal elements”.
Earlier, Lagbaja commended the principal officers, Commanders, senior officers, officers and soldiers of the Division for their unflinching support during his 17 months sojourn as the GOC of the Division.
He said the troops of the Division had been exemplary and professional in dealing with issues of unknown gunmen, criminal elements and secessionist groups within the Division’s AOR.
“ must laud your gallantry and commitment to ensure that the South-East and other parts of the Division’s AOR remained secured”, he stated.
He, however, charged them to extend the same cooperation and hard work to the new GOC for him to succeed as well.
Maj-Gen Lagbaja went further to thank friends of the Division and the media for their goodwill and support to the Division while he served as GOC.
Highlights of the event include decoration of the new GOC with the Division’s signal, handing over of the Division’s flag to the new GOC and a group photograph.
By: Canice Amadi, Enugu
The Chief Judge of Katsina State, Justice Musa Danladi, has granted bail to 91 inmates.
He also completely discharged four others during the first-quarter jail delivery exercise for 2025 at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Katsina.
Speaking at the event yesterday, Justice Danladi explained that the Sub-Committee on Decongestion of Correctional Centres carefully assessed the cases before recommending the inmates for release.
Factors considered included age, length of time spent in custody, and medical conditions.
He further announced that going forward, the personal details and photographs of released inmates would be officially recorded to ensure proper documentation and accountability.
Addressing the freed individuals, he urged them to stay on the right side of the law, emphasising that another chance at clemency might not be available if they reoffend.
The Katsina State Controller of Corrections, CC Umar Baba, praised the initiative, stating that such interventions ease congestion, improve prison conditions, and support rehabilitation efforts.
He also called on judges and magistrates to consider alternative sentencing options to prevent unnecessary detentions and allow correctional facilities to focus on reforming and reintegrating offenders into society.
The Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has struck out murder charges against Ooni of Ife’s ex-wife, Queen Naomi Silekunola; the owner of Agidigbo FM, Oriyomi Hamzat; and principal of Islamic High School, Abdullahi Fasasi.
The Tide’s source recalls that the trio have been facing murder charges following the December 2024 children’s event stampede that led to the death of 35 children.
Justice B. K. Olawoyin delivering judgment yesterday, ruled that holding the defendants liable could discourage the public from engaging in humanitarian activities.
The court dismissed the four count charge, which included acceleration of death, conspiracy, negligent acts causing harm and failure to provide adequate medical facilities and security.
The Nigerian Military high command has stated that it is unaware of any community in the Northwest negotiating or entering peace agreements with bandits and terrorists for protection.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, dismissed reports suggesting such peace deals.
He questioned why any community would resort to negotiations, given the sustained military offensives against terrorist groups.
“The military is carrying out its operations in line with established protocols for internal security. If any community claims to be seeking peace with bandits, the military does not support that,” Kangye asserted.
He further emphasised that joint military operations, in collaboration with hybrid forces and other security agencies, have remained relentless in tackling terrorism and organised crime.
Throughout the past week, troops conducted a series of combat patrols, raids, ambushes, clearance operations, and search-and-rescue missions, resulting in significant successes.
According to Kangye, several terrorists were neutralised, their collaborators were captured, and kidnapped victims were successfully rescued.