Author: Sumaila Ogbaje

Revive economy to curb insecurity, experts advise FG

Insecurity

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Abuja, June 4, 2024 (NAN) Some security experts have called on the Federal Government to put measures in place to stimulate economic growth in order to curb the security challenges confronting the nation.

The experts in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Tuesday, said there was a connection between economic hardship and insecurity.

Dr Sani Abubakar, a Scholar of Military Studies, said the nation’s security landscape had been in a state of “negative peace,” siting a report by the Institute of Economics and Peace.

Abubakar, who is the Publisher of Our Nigeria News Magazine, said there was too much frustration, and anger, in the country because of economic deprivation and hardship.

According to him, criminals have transformed from petty thieves to kidnappers and bandits.

He said lack of development at the grassroots was fueling insecurity.  “Our local government areas are a shadow of themselves while the state governors and their stooges siphon all the resources of the local government.

“Thus, there are opportunities for the youth across the local government areas,” he said.

To the credit of the President Bola Tinubu administration, Dr. Abdullahi Jabi, Secretary-General, International Institute of Professional Security (IIPS), said the last one year had been historic in the fight against insecurity across the country.

Jabi said the government recorded a reduction in the activities of terrorists and bandits, despite some soft target attacks in some parts of the country.

He commended the efforts of the government in tackling kidnapping, terrorism, farmers-herders clashes and other security challenges in the last one year.

In ensuring total victory against insecurity, Jabi called for concerted efforts toward total rehabilitation of people affected by insecurity who were forced to live in IDPs camps.

According to him, the federal government should do more on social security, particularly in the Northern states, by making basic education compulsory.

“Also, skill acquisition should be made compulsory for teenagers.

“Social security should be introduced and the citizens relieved of economic hardship caused by fuel subsidy removal.

“Secondly, government must do everything within its ambit to ensure that 33 per cent to 35 per cent inflation in the procurement of goods and services should be reduced as much as possible by setting up tax force on agriculture and commodity sales.

“This is because people can no longer feed now and that is creating more criminals, terrorists, armed robbers and gangsters among youths.

“Until punitive measures are put in place, things will continue to escalate and then the government may likely lose control,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

OYS/SA

Edited by Salif Atojoko

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Airstrikes

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Abuja, June 4, 2024 (NAN) The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), says the Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch and Hadarin Daji have eliminated terrorists’ enclaves killing scores in Kaduna and Katsina States.

This is contained in a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, AVM Edward Gabkwet, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Gabkwet said the air strikes by the Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch on terrorists’ enclave in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State between May 30 and May 31, yielded the requisite outcome.

He said the strikes were executed at the stronghold of the infamous terrorist, Buharinyadi, situated at Bula Forest area in Giwa LGA of the state.

The strikes, he said, prompted by painstaking Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (IRS) operations conducted in the targeted vicinity where several clusters of thatched roofed huts within compounds were observed amid thick vegetation.

Gabkwet said the surveillance also confirmed a substantial presence of armed terrorists loitering around the huts and over 13 motorcycles seen tucked under a large umbrella tree.

He added that a targeted exploitation of multiple sources revealed that the terrorists at the location were responsible for most of the attacks and kidnappings in several communities within Birnin Gwari, Igabi and Giwa LGAs.

“Accordingly, the Air Component dispatched its available air assets to strike the location.

“Overhead the location, scores of the terrorists were sighted and subsequently struck, bringing effective and maximum damage on the targets and their equipment.

“Following a tip that some of the surviving terrorists had relocated 500 meters west of the interdicted location, a follow up strike was immediately conducted, with a post-strike Battle Damage Assessment revealing the neutralisation of several terrorists and their hideouts engulfed in flames,” he said.

The NAF spokesman said that similar air strikes were also carried out by the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji on June 2, at Zango Hill in Kankara LGA of Katsina State.

He said that intelligence revealed that the location which had a cluster of huts and zinc roofed structures with multiple human and livestock movements, was being used by a terrorists’ kingpin, Alhaji Iliya and his cohorts.

Gwabket said that air interdiction was conducted over the location to decimate the terrorists, destroy their weapons and mobility.

“After the strike, Battle Damage Assessment footages and feedback received revealed that the strikes were successful as several terrorists were eliminated and their structures engulfed in flames.

“The NAF, in collaboration with surface forces, will continue to sustain domination of the battlespace through extensive situational awareness, constant patrols, and targeted interdiction of terrorists’ safe havens within its various Areas of Responsibility.

“Still, a whole of society approach remains a key factor in the ongoing efforts to minimise the threats posed by criminal elements,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

OYS/RSA

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Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali

Army debunks alleged deployment of soldiers at FG, NLC meeting venue

Soldiers

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Abuja, June 3, 2024 (NAN) The Nigerian Army has debunked claims by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) that soldiers had surrounded the venue of the meeting between the Federal Government and organised labour on Monday night.

The army, in a post on its official X Handle on Monday, said the soldiers at the venue were military escorts attached to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam  Nuhu Ribadu.

It said the NSA, who was also attending the meeting, arrived at the venue with his retinue of statutorily approved military escorts.

According to the statement, once the meeting is over, the escorts will lead the NSA from the venue.

The army urged members of the public to disregard what it described as deliberate and misleading falsehood being peddled about the presence of the escorts at the meeting.

“The attention of Army Headquarters has been drawn to a false breaking news by NLC alleging that soldiers currently surround the venue of the ongoing meeting between NLC and the SGF.

“Kindly note that the NSA, Mallam  Nuhu Ribadu, who is also attending the meeting, arrived at the meeting venue with his retinue of statutorily approved military escorts.

“Once the meeting is over, the escorts will lead the NSA from the venue,” it said.

The NLC had earlier made a post on its X handle alleging that soldiers were surrounding the venue of the meeting between them and government at the premises of the SGF. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

OYS/SA

Edited by Salif Atojoko

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Army hands over 8 rescued students to Kogi Gov.

Rescue
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, June 3, 2024 (NAN) The Nigerian Army on Monday handed over eight students of Confluence University of Science and Technology Osara, Kogi State, who were rescued on Sunday, to Gov. Ahmed Ododo, at Army Headquarters Abuja.

The handing over was conducted by the Deputy Chief of Operations (Army), Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Emekah, on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.

Emekah said the troops of the Nigerian Army in synergy with operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies, successfully rescued the abducted students who were taken hostage by terrorists.

He said the rescue operation took place in a dense forest near Oro Ago Village in Kwara following an intense clearance mission.

He added that the operation was still ongoing to apprehended the perpetrators of the dastardly act and bring them to book.

In his remarks, Gov. Ahmed Ododo thanked God Almighty for making it possible for the rescue of the students, adding that it was a mixed feeling for him as two of the 31 abducted students were murdered.

Ododo said that 29 of the students were successfully rescued while appreciating the efforts of President Bola Tinubu and the military for the fight against insecurity in the country.

He also thanked the National Security Adviser (NSA) for making the country’s security apparatus more effective, efficient and technology driven.

“At this level, I have come to realise that the Nigerian army has all it takes to stamp out kidnapping, banditry and all forms of criminal activities from our land.

“Because the level of synergy, the level of understanding, collaboration and coordination carried out by them professionally is highly commendable and I sincerely appreciate you and your men.

“I want to promise that Kogi State will always be there to partner with you and we are ever ready to answer your call at any point in time and fighting crimes and criminality in our land.

“We have all it takes in terms of equipment and we will continue to collaborate and synergise with your agencies to make sure our land is free of all these criminalities,” he said.

Ododo assured the student that the government would continue to support them to ensure that they succeed in their aspiration and educational pursuits.

According to him, Kogi is a state that is well known to be well blessed with mineral deposits and that deposit must work for the state.

He said the criminals had now known that Kogi was not a safe heaven for them, assuring that no criminal that entered the state would be spared.

The governor commended the army for its efforts and display of professionalism in carrying out the rescue operation. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

OYS/SH

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edited by Sadiya Hamza