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Ops Tura Takaibango: Troops Eliminate More BHT/ISWAP Terrorists; Destroy their meeting point in Yobe State.

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Ops Tura Takaibango: Troops Eliminate More BHT/ISWAP Terrorists; Destroy their meeting point in Yobe State.
Troops of Operation Tura Takaibango a subsidiary Operation of Operation Lafiya Dole in the North East have eliminated several Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in their meeting point at Baiomari town in Yobe State.
The Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima who made this known on Wednesday, said, “On 16 February 2021 at about 5pm, the gallant troops of 159 Battalion and 233 Battalion acting on credible information on the movement of Boko Haram criminals to Baiomari, conducted a joint aggressive patrol in conjunction with Civilian Joint Task Force swiftly moved in and made contact with the terrorists.
“The troops engaged the terrorists with fierce volume of fire and neutralized 2 of them in the process while some escaped with gunshots wounds.
“Items captured includes; 1 AK 47 Rifle and 1 AK 47 Rifle Top Cover. The gallant troops are in pursuit of the enemies and have continued to dominate the general area.
“The continuous successes recorded by the gallant troops of Operation Tura Takaibango against the Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province main hideouts where they plot and carry out their evil acts against civilian targets is an indication of their capitulation and the end of all criminal elements within the North East Region.
“The troops of Operation Tura Takaibango are highly commended once again for their dedication and dexterity in flushing out remnants of the terrorists from their hideouts. They are also encouraged to continue on the path of the successess so far recorded.
“The entire populace of the North East region are once again assured of the Nigerian Army’s renewed vigour and zeal to crush the remnants of Boko Haram/Islamic State’s West Africa Province criminals from their enclaves in this zone.”

Wikki Tourists FC involved in road accident, bus burnt

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Wikki Tourists FC involved in road accident, bus burnt
Nigerian Professional Football League side Wikki Tourists FC were involved in an accident Thursday morning.
The team bus was burnt to ashes along Hawan Kibo road near Jos in Plateau state.
The Bauchi-based outfit were on their way to Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, to honour the NPFL match day 11 against Dakkada FC.
Luckily, no life was lost in the inferno.

Bandits are undefeatable, grant them amnesty – Zamfara PDP lawmakers tell governors

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Bandits are undefeatable, grant them amnesty – Zamfara PDP lawmakers tell governors

Lawmakers from Zamfara State in the in the upper and lower legislative Chambers in the National Assembly on Wednesday called on governors of North West Nigeria to grant amnesty to repentant bandits and other criminal elements, if there must be lasting peace.

The Zamfara lawmakers caucus who are of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said negotiation and dialogue with bandits cannot be out of place in the obvious failed bid to defeat them through forceful approach.

They said Zamfara State governor, Hon. Bello Matawalle used the approach and it worked, hence, they said, “carrot and dagger’ approach remain the best option, which was being recommended to other States in order to achieve peace in the troubled zone.

Leader of Zamfara National Assembly caucus, Senator Ya’u Shahabi who led other lawmakers at a world press conference in Abuja explained that there was relative peace in Zamfara State now because the State governor toed the part of peace when he invited bandits to a negotiation table that eventually led to the laid down of arms by the bandits.

The lawmakers said, insecurity in Zamfara State was not the creation of the present administration, noting that it had lingered for eleven years until it grew into a full blown banditry, kidnapping and rape of citizens, lamenting that the previous administration didn’t defeat them because it never contemplated amnesty option.

They argued that amnesty was the way to go because it afford the State government to put in place infrastructure and address those things that forced them into criminality.

Shahabi said: “The insecurity in the State had assumed a dangerously galloping dimension prior to the assumption of office of Rt. Hon. Bello Matawalle as governor.

“This was in clear recognition that something new needed to be deployed, wisdom came into bear and governor opted for the carrot and dagger approach in dealing with this brand of crime that was fast growing at a geometric progression.

“The carrot approach was to dialogue with repentant bandits with a view to reintegrate them into the society, while the dagger approach was to ensure that the unrepentant bandits face the full wrath of law.

Reacting to concerns that some of these bandits and.ceiminal elements are foreigners, the caucus leader explained that foreigners among them might not be granted amnesty, which said, depended on the situation at hand.

They believed that peace in Zamfara would be sustained through the provision of modern cattle rearing facilities which the governor has put in place for the repentant cattle rustlers and other criminal elements.

In addressing the challenge, lawmakers said, governor Matawalle looked at it from a transhuman angle, and rolled out measures which they claimed worked well.

“The governor taught it wise to roll out other measures that would address the real causes of cattle rustling which metamorphosed into full banditry.

“To this end, the Governor quickly propose to establishment of one Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) in each of three Senatorial districts of the State with modern facilities that would usher in a 21st century method of cattle rearing and product development.”

‘In COVID I bought my third jet’ – Apostle Johnson Suleman boasts

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‘In COVID I bought my third jet’ – Apostle Johnson Suleman boasts
A popular man of God, Apostle Johnson Suleman has boasted that he bought a third private jet during the crippling coronavirus lockdown.
According to him, he enjoyed his life amid the chaos of COVID-19 pandemic.
The cleric revealed that he didn’t want “COVID” to end because he was enjoying his life and he also stated that he bought another Jet to add to his previous two,
In his words:
”In COVID I bought a Jet, I have three, I bought a third one (in COVID)
 
I was praying for COVID not to end because i was resting.
 
While people were complaining, my wife came to me and said ”Can life be this sweet?”

 

Future Assured, North East Region Coordinator, Congratulates Hajiya Aisha Buhari At 50

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Future Assured, North East Region Coordinator, Congratulates Hajiya Aisha Buhari At 50

North East Coordinator, Future Assured, the pet project of Nigeria’s first lady, Hajiya Dr Aisha Buhari has sent a message of congratulations on her 50th Birthday.

The Coordinator who doubles as Borno Commissioner Women Affairs, Social Development, Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo said her contributions to the advancement of women, children and the vulnerable in the society is immeasurable.

She commended the Nigerian First Lady for her exceptional attention to the North East as well as the entire Nation in the area of Health, Education and social services along with people with special needs.

Her golden age, according Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo laced with her records of charitable and empowerment instincts, will be enough opportunity for God to grant her more years of service to the people.

She wished the wife of the President, Dr Aisha Buhari many more years on earth, so as to encourage and attract more social services to the downtrodden in the society.

Breaking: Obinwanne Okeke sentenced to 10 years in jail in US

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Breaking: Obinwanne Okeke sentenced to 10 years in jail in US

A court in Norfolk, Virginia, United States on Tuesday jailed Nigerian scammer Obinwanne Okeke 10 years for computer-based fraud scheme that caused approximately $11 million in known losses to his victims.

The sentencing was pronounced by Chief U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith, said the Department of Justice, Eastern District of Virginia.

“Through subterfuge and impersonation, Obinwanne Okeke engaged in a multi-year global business email and computer hacking scheme that caused a staggering $11 million in losses to his victims,” said Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the district.

“Today’s sentence further demonstrates EDVA’s and FBI’s worldwide reach in vigorously pursuing justice on behalf of American victims and others and holding international cybercriminals accountable, no matter where they commit their crimes.”

According to court documents, Obinwanne Okeke, 33, operated a group of companies known as the Invictus Group based in Nigeria and elsewhere.

From approximately 2015 to 2019, Okeke and others engaged in a conspiracy to conduct various computer-based frauds.

The conspirators obtained and compiled the credentials of hundreds of victims, including victims in the Eastern District of Virginia.

As part of the scheme, Okeke and other conspirators engaged in an email compromise scheme targeting Unatrac Holding Limited, the export sales office for Caterpillar heavy industrial and farm equipment.

In April 2018, a Unatrac executive fell prey to a phishing email that allowed conspirators to capture login credentials.

The conspirators sent fraudulent wire transfer requests and attached fake invoices. Okeke participated in the effort to victimize Unatrac through fraudulent wire transfers totaling nearly $11 million, which was transferred overseas.

Additionally, Okeke engaged in other forms of cyberfraud, including sending phishing emails to capture email credentials, creating fraudulent web pages, and causing other losses to numerous victims.

“The FBI will not allow cyber criminals free reign in the digital world to prey on U.S. companies,” said Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office. “This sentencing demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to working with our partners at the Department of Justice and our foreign counterparts to locate cyber criminals across the globe and bring them to the United States to be held accountable.”

Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith.

Breaking: Armed Bandits Storm GSS Kagara, Abduct Students In Night Raid

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Breaking: Armed Bandits Storm GSS Kagara, Abduct Students In Night Raid

A large number of students, whose exact figure, is yet unknown, have been abducted by armed bandits at Government Science College (GSC) kagara, in Niger State.

It was also reported that one student was killed, teachers and their family members abducted alongside the students.

The bandits in military uniforms, reportedly stormed the school premises which a close 1000 students on Tuesday night, overpowered the security guard, before whisking away the students.

Photos released by the ‘bandits’

However, some students escaped after the raid. A headcount is being conducted at the school in the wee hours of Wednesday to ascertain the actual number of missing students.

It was also gathered that security agencies were able to detect the coordinate and nature of the area, and have started tracing the bandits’ movement while NAF aircraft have been seen hovering in the air to track the location of the students.

Details later…

Insecurity: Nigeria Drifting To A Point Of No Return, Ex-Head Of State, Abdulsami Abubakar Warns

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Insecurity: Nigeria Drifting To A Point Of No Return, Ex-Head Of State, Abdulsami Abubakar Warns

Former Head of State and Chairman, National Peace Committee, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, has raised concern over the state if insecurity in the country disclosing that Nigerians are living in fear because of the constant news of wanton killings going on across the country.

Abubakar warned that if care was not taken, the embers of disunity and anarchy in some states, could lead the nation to a point of no return.

However commending President Muhammadu Buhari for his efforts to douse the tension in the land but challenged the new Service Chiefs to rise to the demands of the moment by designing the best strategies to curb insecurity.

Abukakar, at a news conference in Minna, Niger State noted that Nigerians needed to join hands in order to keep the nation as one.

He said “It is true that we are all in a state of fear and collective anxiety. However, the last thing we need is for the enemy to sense a lack of unity on our part or a break in our ranks.

“We, at the National Peace Committee, wish to add our voice to the voices of millions of Nigerians calling for calm in these difficult times.

“These times demand that we all join hands to end our solve challenges so as to keep our country united. We do not have the luxury of trading blames,” he stated.

The former Head of State also admonished state governors to sheathe their swords, tune down their rhetorics and take full responsibility for managing the divergent voices and frustrations within their states.

To traditional institutions, religious leaders and non-governmental organisations, he said: “mobilise and sensitise Nigerians on the need to live in peace.”

Much Ado About Tunde Sabiu’s Employment In NIA

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Much Ado About Tunde Sabiu’s Employment In NIA

By Philip Agbese

These are indeed interesting times in Nigeria. I am beginning to believe that it is now an occupation for some individuals and groups to imagine things and pass their imagination to the general public without thinking of the implication of their actions.
The latest in town that got me on the floor rolling is the news making the rounds that the personal assistant to the President, Tunde Sabiu has been appointed an assistant director in the elite National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
This is indeed interesting and I dare say anyone that must have cooked up this story is indeed a legend for coming up with such that is capable of making Nigerians believe that we are still in the year 2020.

I must confess that after reading the news, I asked myself some questions about the challenges of mental health in Nigeria. I am of the considered opinion that some people are undergoing mental health challenges even without their knowledge. I say this because for anyone to have thought it wise that the personal assistant to the president would be employed as an assistant director in one of the country’s most strategic security outfit is a blow below the belt and possibly a sign of hallucination.
Several questions ran through my mind so much so that I wondered how we got it wrong and why some persons would take delight in spreading mischief in the country recklessly. I am not convinced that such a thing would ever happen because, for starters, Tunde Sabiu is not conversant with the operations of the National Intelligence Agency.
I am also aware that the NIA as an agency is tasked with overseeing foreign intelligence and counterintelligence operations. I am also aware that Tunde Sabiu does not have the requisite qualification or expertise to be employed in such an organization and with the position of assistant director.

Let us assume the news is true, what department would he fit in? Is he going to be redeployed from the Office of the President to the National Intelligence Agency? This is just one piece of awful news since the beginning of 2021. If not for anything I have my suspicion that the target is not Tunde Sabiu, but rather President Muhammadu Buhari in the attempt to paint him as despotic leader and promoting nepotism.

This might not be far-fetched in the sense that in recent times there have been scathing attacks on the personality of President Muhammadu Buhari with some insinuating that he is the president for a select few and not the generality of Nigerians. What more can be unpleasant than this.

And now, the polity is awash with news that Tunde Sabiu has gained employment with the National Intelligence Agency out of the blues, and even without merit. I am still in awe of how such a thing would happen in a country such as Nigeria.
When such anomalies are allowed to thrive in Nigeria the consequences might be severe in the sense that lots of misleading information would thrive at the expense of the truth. This is what aroused my concern with the Tunde Sabiu employment news. And to think that a large segment of the population believed the mischief was worrisome.

I think this remains unfair for the young man that is devoted to his job. I am not sure he has any reason to want to be involved in such mischief and I equally do not believe that President Muhammadu Buhari would encourage such under his watch.
This much Tunde Sabiu knows and why he would not undertake to be involved in such an anomaly that would bring disrepute to the administration. At this point, it is expedient that issues are put in proper perspective to douse the tension already created by the obvious fake news.
I will say this again, Tunde Sabiu cannot be employed in the National Intelligence Agency under whatever circumstance because he has no such experience in security issues. Moreover, the NIA is involved in serious business at the international scene and as such there the entrenchment of professionalism.
I am also of the considered view that Tunde Sabiu is the latest victim of the slander campaign of key members of the present administration. President Muhammadu Buhari has had his fair share, and likewise others. But in all of them, that of Tunde Sabiu is the most hilarious because it roundly defeats common sense.
Nigerians must do well to differentiate between truth and falsehood especially in this era of fake news where anything goes, especially in the social media space. This once again reinforces why there should be some form of regulation of contents in the social media space because we must be cognizant of the fact that people react to issues differently.
Having said all, it would be wise for Tunde Sabiu to come out and clear the air at the risk of giving the impression that after all the news is true. I don’t think that would be too much for him to undertake given the fact that his reputation and by extension that of his boss are at stake. And for those spreading falsehood, they need to get some mental health evaluation before things get out of control because saying Tunde Sabiu has gained employment as an assistant director in the National Intelligence Agency is tantamount to saying that the capital of Nigeria is Accra. A word is indeed enough for the wise.

Agbese is a an author and public affairs commentator writing from Abuja.

Ex- CDS, Olonisakin pulls out of service, says military reformed

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Ex- CDS, Olonisakin pulls out of service, says military reformed

 

The immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, on Tuesday in Abuja, officially pulled out of the Nigerian Army in a parade at the Mogadishu Cantonment, Asokoro.

Retired Gen. Olonisakin, pulled out following his retirement and appointment of his successor, Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, by President Muhammadu Buhari on Jan. 26.

As part of the military tradition in honouring a retiring CDS, the event involved a march past by the officers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

It was attended by the Minister of Defence, retired Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi, members of the National Assembly, Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, current Chief of Defence Staff, Maj.-Gen. Irabor and other services chiefs.

Others in attendance were the traditional ruler of Ode-Ekiti, as well as representative of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye.

In his valedictory speech at the event, the erstwhile CDS, described his long and successful career in the AFN as uncommon grace and favour of Almighty God, as well as the magnanimity of President Muhammadu Buhari, who found him worthy to be appointed as the 16th Chief of Defence Staff of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Gen Olonisakin (rtd) further maintained the AFN under his command and with the support of the political leadership was able to reclaim territories that were hitherto under the control of Boko Haram Terrorists.

According to him, the AFN under the current political dispensation has been transformed by building capacity and gaining valuable experience in fighting asymmetric threats which transited from fighting conventional war on land, sea and air to capacity to containing cyber-security threats.
The former Defence Chief, further disclosed that the military/defence diplomacy which was the overall strategy of the Nigerian Government by applying a whole-of-government approach to addressing the insurgency/terrorism gave birth to the operationalization of various military alliances between Nigeria and her neighboring countries, especially in the Lake Chad Basin Commission.

This efforts, he said led to improved regional cooperation and the strengthening of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
He further pointed out that the establishment of close interaction and liaison with other strategic partners such as the P-3 Partners comprising the United Stated of America, United Kingdom and France and some Middle East countries as well as South Africa was in the overall interest of the AFN and in furtherance of Nigerian national security efforts.

The former CDS thanked his former counter-parts within the African continent for supporting the AFN in its counter-insurgency/counter-terrorism campaigns.
According to the former CDS, “we have therefore built a solid foundation on which the current and indeed future generations of Nigerian military commanders can build on in the performance of their constitutional roles of defending our dear nation from both external and domestic threats to our corporate existence.”
Gen Olonisakin (rtd) posited that the establishment of DHQ Special Forces Brigade and its deployment to the Gambia in 2017 for Operation Restore Democracy enabled the restoration of democracy in that country following the aftermath of an election crisis.

On the welfare of personnel of the AFN, the former CDS said his administration embarked on numerous office and residential accommodation, approval of an improved Terms and Conditions of Service and Manual of Financial Administration for the AFN.
He expressed appreciation to the Minister of Defence, members of the National Assembly, especially the Senate and House Committees on Defence for their support throughout his tenure in office.

He equally thanked the immediate Service Chiefs and the Chief of Defence Intelligence for their unwavering commitment to duty while in office.

The former CDS lauded the efforts, contributions and sacrifices of personnel of the AFN, veterans and civilian staff as well as troops in the various theatres of operation, urging the new military leadership to continue to provide the needed support to the families of military fallen heroes.

Gen Olonisakin who is a member of 25 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), thanked his course-mates for their inputs and service, describing them as his strategic team ‘A-Team’ which he said constituted members of the future Plans Committee.

Highlight of the ceremony included review of the parade by the immediate past CDS, march past in slow and quick time by 4 Guards comprising Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force and the pulling-out of the former CDS and his wife, Mrs Omobolanle Olonisakin.

Other dignitaries who graced the event were Heads of Security and law enforcement agencies, former CDS, Admiral Ola Saa’d Ibrahim (rtd), former CNS, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (rtd), The President of Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association, Mrs Victoria Irabor and the Olode of Ode Ekiti.

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