News
Troops Neutralise 624 Terrorists, Apprehend 1,051 In May
The Defence Headquarters has said that troops have neutralised no fewer than 640 terrorists, apprehended 1,051 suspects and rescued 563 kidnapped hostages in the month of May.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the operations of the Nigerian military yesterday in Abuja.
He said that some senior terrorist commanders and fighters have degraded the potency of the terrorists, as a result of intense pressure from the troops across theatres of operations.
Buba further said that the troops apprehended some suspects including their logistic suppliers and informants.
He added that the troops also recovered 707 assorted weapons, 16,487 assorted ammunitions comprising 411 AK47 rifles, 234 locally fabricated guns and 43 pump action guns, amongst others.
In the North East, Buba said the Operation Hadin Kai, had recorded huge operational successes by neutralising some key terrorists which included one Malam Mohammed, a leader of IED cell in Sambisa Forest.
He, however, revealed that the troops had rescued 386 hostages, who had been in captivity for over 10 years, adding the victims had been handed them over to the Borno State Government.
“During the month, troops neutralised 306 terrorist, arrested 199 suspects and rescued additional 219 kidnapped hostages.
“Troops also recorded 1,099 surrendered BH/ISWAP terrorists’ combatants and their families as they recovered 200 AK47 rifles and 53 fabricated rifles among others,” he said.
In the North Central, Buba said the troops of Operation Safe Haven conducted several offensive operations leading to the killing of 39 terrorist violent extremists, while 140 suspects were apprehended with 77 kidnap hostages rescued.
“The troops also recovered nine AK47 rifles among others,’’ he said.
According to him, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, have conducted several operations against terrorists and violent extremist strongholds and arrested violent extremists, their collaborators and several gunrunners.
Buba also said the troops had neutralised 41 terrorist, arrested 184 suspects and rescued 48 kidnapped hostages as well as recovered 18 AK47 rifles, 27 assorted arms, with 2,237 rounds of 7.62mm special.
In the North West, Buba disclosed that the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji, the troops operations had instigated rival clash among the terrorist groups, which led to the elimination of a notorious terrorist commander, Usman Modi Modi.
“The troops killed the terrorist commander hitherto terrorised communities around Danmusa, Kankara and Safana LGAs of Katsina State.
“In Overall, the troops neutralised 262 terrorist, arrested 204 suspects and rescued 243 kidnap hostages, “Buba said.
He further explained that the air component of Operation HADARIN DAJI has recorded significant air strikes to acquire terrorist camps in Faskari, Bayan Ruwa Maradun and Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara.
“Some of the terrorist leaders targeted Jammo Smally and Kachalla Halilu, additionally terrorist enclaves at Tungar Daji in Zamfara State and Rugu Forest in Safana (LGA) were also engaged,” he said.
The Director said Under Operation Whirl Punch, the troops neutralised 56 terrorist, arrested 150 suspects and rescued 80 kidnap hostages as well as recovery of 23 AK47 rifles.
According to him, the air component have destroyed terrorists training camp in Kuduru, Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State and enclaves at Kabago, Alawa Forest, Katarma and Kwaki general areas in Shiroro and Chikun Local Government Areas of Niger and Kaduna States.
Others successful operations recorded by the Army troops include, Operations Delta Safe in the South-South, where troops denied the stealing of 4.12 million litres of crude oil, 793,796 litres of AGO and 4,480 litres of PMS.
“The troops also recovered 73 assorted weapons, destroyed 129 wooden boats, 686 assorted ammunitions and 223 illegal refining sites as well as neutralised five violent extremists and arrested 81 suspected oil thieves.
“The air component destroyed several illegal refining sites in different locations in Rivers,’’ Buba said.
While South East UDO KA Operation had frustrated the activities of the terrorist group and restore peace to troubled areas across the zone.
“The troops have in the month of May, neutralised 69 terrorist, arrested 115 suspects and rescued 32 kidnap hostages, and recovered eight AK47 rifles and 13 pump action guns.
“Overall, troops operations have denied the terrorist the ability to carry out major offensive and has significantly diminished their offensive capability,” he said.
Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.