The suspended chairman of the anti-graft agency, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, has been released.
Mr Magu was released on Wednesday evening.
He was arrested last week Monday and has been detained by the police since then. He has been appearing before a presidential panel investigating allegations of corruption and insubordination levelled against him by Abubakar Malami, Nigeria’s justice minister.
Details later…
Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buhari has joined millions of Nigerians to mourn the late female combat pilot, Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile.
In a statement on her Facebook page Mrs Buhari said:
”It’s with a heavy heart that I received the news of the demise of Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, the first female Nigerian Airforce Combat Helicopter Pilot.
”I condole with the family of Flying Officer Arotile, the Nigerian Airforce and the country over this irreparable loss. The deceased was an intelligent young woman, a huge potential, a representative of both Nigerian women and youth, and what they could achieve.”
The late combatant died from head injuries after and ex-coursemate’s reversing vehicle knocked her down at the NAF Base in Kaduna.
In continuation of the operational mandate to stamp banditry and untoward activities out of North-West zone of the country, troops of Operation SAHEL SANITY on 14 July 2020 killed six armed bandits.
Coordinator, Defence Media Operations Major General John Enenche in a statement said ”Acting on credible Human Intelligence, troops of Operation SAHEL SANITY backed by helicopter gunships of the Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI stormed the bandits’ enclave at Komani Hills within Rukudawa general area of Zamfara State and made contact with the criminals elements.
”The gallant troops overwhelmed the bandits with superior fire power killing six of them while others fled with grave gun shots wounds. One GPMG, one AK 47 rifle, one magazine and 34 motorcycles were recovered.” He said.
Relatedly, troops of Operation SAHEL SANITY on 13 July 2020 responded to a distress call on an attempt by armed bandits to rustle cows at Kasele village in Batsari LGA of Katsina State. As they swiftly mobilized to the scene, the bandits fled in disarray thereby abandoning the animals.
”Afterwards, the gallant troops have maintained presence in the village and normalcy restored.” He added.
President Donald Trump has downplayed police violence against Black people in the United States, saying “more white people” are killed by police officers.
During a CBS News interview that aired on Tuesday, the Republican president was asked why Black people were still dying at the hands of law enforcement.
According to a Washington Post analysis updated on Monday, nearly half of the people killed by police are white, while 23 percent are Black. But Black Americans, who account for only 13 percent of the population, are shot at a disproportionate rate compared with white Americans, who make up 60 percent of the population, according to the analysis.
The May 25 killing of 46-year-old George Floyd, a Black American man, while in police custody in Minneapolis sparked protests across the US under the banner of the Black Lives Matter movement and led to an increased focus on police violence against Black people.
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Robinson said Trump’s answer “not only ignores the fact that per capita Black and Brown people are disproportionately killed by police, it provides the foundation for the dangerous and unconstitutional police practices that result in the deaths of Black people with regularity”.
“Trump’s racism is so absolute that he continues to refuse to give even a tacit acknowledgment to the epidemic of police violence against Black people in America,” he said, accusing him of “using the violence and suffering perpetrated against Black communities as a white-supremacist dog whistle ahead of the coming election”.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump defended police departments, saying they “do an incredible job”, adding: “You can have a rogue, terrible cop, on occasion like you do in any industry, any business, in any profession.”
Already accused of not taking a clear stance against systematic racism and police brutality, Trump has escalated his rhetoric against the Black Lives Matter movement in recent weeks, focusing his comments on violence that breaks out occasionally on the fringes of peaceful demonstrations.
The recent nationwide protests have added prominence to a long-running debate about the flying of the Confederate flag in parts of the country and whether statues honouring Confederate leaders during the US Civil War should be removed from public view.
Asked by CBS if the flag should be “taken down,” Trump responded: “I know people that like the Confederate flag, and they’re not thinking about slavery.”
He added: “Very simple. Like it, don’t like it, it’s freedom of speech.”
In another interview with the conservative Townhall Media network, Trump defended a white couple captured in a widely shared video as they stood brandishing guns in front of their home in the city of St Louis during a protest against racial injustice.
Trump claimed Mark and Patricia McCloskey “were going to be beat up badly, if they were lucky” and said their house would have been “totally ransacked and probably burned down” had they not done that.
“And now I understand somebody local, they want to prosecute these people. It’s a disgrace,” he said.
The massive registration of youths for the Batch C stream of the N-Power programme has been attributed to the transparent process the honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has introduced in the implementation of programmes and policies in the ministry.
This was stated in an interview by Dr Gbolahan Agbaje, a renowned policy and development expert.
He stated that the initiation of the Batch C stream of the N-Power Scheme by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development under the leadership of Hajiya Saddiya Farooq is indeed an indication that the government is sensitive to the plight of the youths in the country.
“I can’t but laud the honourable minister for the way and manner she has carried on with the implementation of the various interventionist programmes under her ministry. The example of the massive registration by youths for the Batch C Stream of the N-Power is quite overwhelming.”
“Even though the Federal Government plans to enrol 400,000 applicants in the Batch C scheme, over 4.48 million youths have applied for the programme. This is an indication that the honourable minister is indeed thinking outside the box in ensuring that the policy of the federal government on the youths in the country is fully implemented.”
Dr Agbaje also noted that the honourable minister has transparently handled the affairs of the ministry, and this line of action has instilled confidence in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The level of transparency exhibited by the honourable minister has been outstanding and a lesson in governance in the country. I believe that if other public office holders imbibe such level of transparency in their conduct, Nigeria would indeed make substantial progress.”
“The distribution of humanitarian palliatives during the COVID19 pandemic across the country is another exemplary display of transparency and accountability by the minister. We must admit that she indeed understands what it means to head such a sensitive agency.”
He further asserted that the choice of Sadiya Umar Farouq as the head of such a sensitive agency is strategic and buttresses the level of commitment of President Muhammdu Buhari towards uplifting the plight of the youths as well as the vulnerable groups in the country.
“I have no reservation whatsoever with the decision by President Muhammadu Buhari in the choice of the minister because she has displayed a great sense of enthusiasm and commitment to the Nigerian cause. I must add that she can be regarded as a lesson in governance.”
“Taking the examples of the conditional cash transfer initiatives, the distribution of food items and other interventions all speaks volume of her level of integrity. I would advise her to continue in this fashion to ensure that the impact of the various government interventions reaches the intended beneficiaries.”
“Her work ethic is infectious and that infectious attitude is what I believe she has transmitted to staffers in her ministry and the various agencies under her supervision hence the effective coordination in the implementation of various humanitarian policies of the government.”
It would be recalled that accolades have continued to pour in for the efforts of the honourable minister of Humanitarian Affairs in the implementation of the various government policies that affected the lives of ordinary citizens. In recent times she has received awards on excellence and good governance by multiple organizations in recognition of her excellent works.
The owner of motorcycle-hailing company ‘GoKada’ and co-founder of ride-sharing venture Pathao, Fahim Saleh has been found dead in his New York apartment.
According to New York Times, the dismembered body of the tech entrepreneur was found inside his swanky Manhattan condo on Tuesday afternoon.
An NYPD official said investigators believe the victim is a tech entrepreneur Fahim Saleh, 33, who bought the condo for $2.25 million last year.
NYPD spokesman Sgt. Carlos Nieves said all of the body parts were found at the scene but declined to give specifics on where.
By Capt. Jauro Musa Liya (Rtd)
Asymmetric warfare requires tact, innovation, creativity and resilience. It requires profound forsight, dynamic, purposeful and courageous leadership which the Nigerian Army (NA) and indeed the nation are lucky to find in Gen Buratai especially at this critical period of our existence as a nation.
It is obvious, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) is aware of this and has therefore initiated, organized and deployed several new innovations in tackling contemporary security threats including terrorism and banditry activities in Nigeria.
The introduction of Super Camp as a war strategy by the COAS is proving to be very effective and rewarding despite the initial apprehension or criticisms from some individuals and groups who have little or no knowledge of the Military’s war tactics and strategies.
This point was corroborated by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin while on operational visit to Nigerian Army (NA) Super Camp 4 Faskari in katsina State on the 13 of July 2020 to assess the level of preparedness and performance in respect of Exercise Sahel Sanity in Faskari Katsina State. From Super Camp 4 Faskari the operation is planned in such a manner that the troops can project force to cover contiguous states of kaduna, kebbi, Niger, Sokoto and Zamfara to flush out bandits hibernating in the areas.
The CDS used the opportunity to commend the COAS for his initiative, organization and resilience in combating insurgency and banditry activities and to the entire officers and men of the NA for their gallantry. All this couldn’t have been achieved without the profound support of the President and Commander in Chief of The Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari.
While at the super camp 4 Faskari, the CDS expressed satisfaction with the initiative, dedication and successes achieved so far and pledge the total support of the Defence Headquarters to the NA in its bid to flush out criminals and marauders in the North West.
According to the CDS, “all necessary support and assistance required to enable the NA achieve the objectives of the exercise will be provided by the Defence Headquarters.
The Super Camp war strategy introduced by the army leadership which ensures flexibility and concentration of forces and resources should be reinforced/complemented by blocking forces in the contigious states of Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto and Zamfara. This is to deny the criminals ease of action and movement. This also requires the collaboration and cooperation of sister security agencies to effectively implement.
The results of this initiative is evident in most communities in North west as farmers have resumed their farming activities and people who have fled their homes have already started returning to their normal lives. The NA must work hard to sustain these efforts and laudable achievements until banditry becomes a thing of the past.
It is however, very unfortunate that while operations are taking place concurently in the North East and North West with appreciable level of successes, some so called social commentators and analysts have subjected the uncommon performances of the army under Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai to mere ill feelings, bad belly, sheer sentiments or pedestrian debates.
Some self acclaimed security experts based their judgements on the number of bombs thrown, or bullets fired or the numbers of casualties without proper situation awareness of the battlefield. While for others, it is how they are personally affected or their business concern is affected that determine the army’s response to insecurity. Some have even arrogated themselves the discretion to ascribe or determine the tenures of service chiefs. All these have either created tension, emboldened the criminals, exacerbated insecurity or clogged the wheels of progress towards securing Nigeria, and it is the opinion of this writer that there is need for a rethink on the part of these kind of selfless, oftentimes mischievous individuals and groups.
Observers should closely study records and history of the NA and will find out rightly that as a war time COAS, Gen Buratai actually leads from the front in all the theatres of operation where he coordinates both office and field activities. There is indeed no doubt that he is the most workholic, stressful, committed, selfless and resourceful COAS ever produced by the NA. As a war time COAS, he still emerged as the most accomplished leader of modern day NA. His accomplishments in the operational arenas, human capacity development, equipment disposition – war armaments, logistics, military kits, welfare and infrastructural development are unparallel in the history of the NA. Hence, despite all distractions or ill motivated criticisms, history will judge Gen TY Buratai positively. He has so far already written his name in gold in the history of our country and in the annals of NA history.
The tenure of the current army chief will surely go down in history as one who has fundamentally transformed the NA with positive impacts on security, national cohesion, unity and development.
One of the Nigerian Air Force celebrated female fighter pilots, Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile is dead.
According to Director of Public Relations and Information Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, Flying Officer Arotile died from head injuries sustained in a road traffic accident at NAF Base in Kaduna.
Until her death, Flying Officer Arotile, who was commissioned into the NAF in September 2017 as a member of Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course 64, was the first ever female combat helicopter pilot in the Service.
During her short but impactful stay in the Service, late Arotile, who hails from Iffe in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, contributed significantly to the efforts to rid the North Central States of armed bandits and other criminal elements by flying several combat missions under Operation GAMA AIKI in Minna, Niger State.
In a show of solidarity for the developmental projects with impacts on security, socio-economic activities and development of Zamfara state, the Chief of Army Lt Gen TY Buratai accompanied the Governor Hon, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle on inspection of ongoing RUGA settlement project on Tuesday the 13th of July 2020 in Maradun LGA of Zamfara States.
After a guided tour of the vast expanse of land, Gen Buratai expressed satisfaction with level of ongoing works and provision of facilities in the RUGA settlement.
He applauded the Governor for seizing the initiative to address the root cause of the perennial Herders – Farmers clashes with attendant deaths and destruction of valuable properties running into huge amount of money.
General Buratai urged other States’ executives to key into this laudable project which have multiplier effects on both security and the economy. He observed that on completion, – the RUGA project will provide ample opportunities for youth employment, agricultural activities and industrialization in zamfara state. All these activities will impact positively on the welfare and well being of the people of Zamfara state in particular and Nigeria in general, he added.
At the Emir of Maradun’s palace, General Buratai reiterated the resolve and determination of the Nigerian Army to tackle banditry and other criminal activities with the establishment of Special Army Super Camps in Batsari and Faskari, the security threats and other vices will soon be addressed” he said.
The Super camps are designed to plan and project raids and offensive operations against identified bandits’ hideouts and routes. He therefore solicited the support and cooperation of the general public in the area of providing information that will guide and determine the conduct and success of the operations.
Earlier, Emir of Maradun, Alhaji Garba Muhammad Tambari expressed appreciation for the visit and promised to mobilise his subjects to support the military operations in his domain.
In recognition and appreciation of the COAS’ commitment, selfless services and uncmmon dedication to duty in the struggles to restoring peace and security, the Emir conferred on General Buratai the traditional title of JARMAN MARADUN.
The Governor, in his remarks, called on the unrepentant bandits to surrender their arms and key into ongoing zamfara state peace negotiations.
He further promised to provide resources in support of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies to discharge their duties successfully.
A report by the Independent Monitors Project (IMP) has rubbished insinuations that 365 soldiers retired due to low morale in the fight against Boko Haram/ ISWAP terorists.
IMP said after a week-long extensive investigation and assessment of the North-East, it discovered that contrary to speculations, the troops are in high spirits, dedicated and committed to winning the war.
In the report signed by Special Rapporteur, Udo Toby, IMP revealed that a bulk of the soldiers voluntarily disengaged on health grounds while others reached the 35- year statutory age for retirement and had nothing to do with Boko Haram war.
Among others, the group said it uncovered a campaign to distract the troops following renewed onslaught against the terrorists led by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai.
It added that some desperate individuals and groups even offered as much as $50,000 and a further promise of a monthly payment of $1,000 for one year to soldiers to abscond from duty.
While commending the troops for remaining patriotic, steadfast and resilient, the Independent Monitors Project, however, urged the military to always engage the media with information as regards the activities of agents of the Boko Haram group.
The Independent Monitors Project
A special report by the Independent Monitors Project on the alleged demoralization of Nigerian Troops in operation in North-East Nigeria.
Introduction:
The Independent Monitors Project an investigative Platform of online news portals undertook a strategic assessment of the operations of the Nigerian troops in the theatre of operations in North-East Nigeria to put issues in proper perspectives with regards to the effectiveness or otherwise of the operations of the Nigerian Military in North-East Nigeria.
The Independent Monitors Project consequently deployed an array of investigative reporters from member online news portals to undertake a critical study in North-East Nigeria with a mandate to highlight the actual state of things in light of the news making the rounds that frontline troops are demoralized.
Methodology:
The Investigative reporters relied on primary sources of information that involved on the spot visits, interaction with troops in the frontline, as well as commanders. Information was also gathered from community and religious leaders in the various communities in North-East Nigeria. Emphasis was also placed on documentary pieces of evidence on the operation of the troops at the frontline in core areas of operations around the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin Region.
The Issues:
There have been speculations on the operations of the Nigerian troops in North-East Nigeria citing fatigue and low morale and lack of fighting spirits from the frontline troops owing to the disengagement of over 360 soldiers.
The news alleged that this action has dampened the morale of troops and consequently led to lethargy and responsible for the recent attacks by the Boko Haram terrorist group.
Findings:
The team of investigative reporters after an extensive two weeks investigative assessment in North-East Nigeria observed as a first-line that the situation on the ground was not a reflection of the news making the rounds in some news platforms.
Our team observed that what was on the ground was a professional fighting force exhibiting a very high level of dedication and commitment to winning the war against the Boko Haram terrorist group.
It also observed that there is a strong level of teamwork in the operations of the troops in the frontlines with a detailed command structure that has indeed yielded the much-desired result in confining the activities of the Boko Haram terrorist group to the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin region.
The information gathered from some top military commanders indicated that there is an ongoing campaign to distract the troops which are borne as a result of the renewed onslaught against the Boko Haram group led by the Chief of Army Staff and other top commanders in North-East Nigeria. This stance indeed restricted the operations of some groups that are sympathetic to the Boko Haram group.
It was also identified that the introduction of strict clearance procedures for the operations of NGOs and humanitarian workers in North-East Nigeria restricted access to the theatre of operations unlike in times past where some NGOs were granted unhindered access to the theatre of operations from which some unscrupulous ones consequently render logistic support to the Boko Haram group.
This new stance of the Military has strategically cut off medical and other logistic supplies to the Boko Haram group from the Nigerian territory as well as from the neighboring countries as a result of the renewed commitment of the Multinational Joint Task Force in operation.
The team of reporters observed that the troops enjoy an excellent relationship with the various community and religious leaders in areas of their operations. This alliance has indeed made the operations of the Boko Haram group difficult and hence the campaign of smear against the Nigerian Military sponsored by some agents of terrorist cells the Boko Haram group has affiliations with.
The team of reporters gathered from credible sources that there is an ongoing drive to influence officers and soldiers stationed in the frontline to abscond from their duty posts and the Nigerian Army in return for substantial monetary rewards. It was gathered that some soldiers were offered as much as $50,000 and a further promise of a monthly payment of $1,000 for one year should they elect to resign their commission from the Nigerian Army.
It was also discovered that the news of the disengagement of 360 soldiers was anchored on the earlier plan to influence the mass exodus of officers and soldiers from the Nigerian Army in the frontline. It was gathered that the news was meant to complement and amplify the mass decommissioning of officers and soldiers.
The team of reporters gathered that overtures were also made to soldiers in the frontline to join the ranks of the depleted Boko Haram group in return for hefty rewards. This move was countered by the relocation of the Chief of Army Staff to the Theatre of Operations after a restructuring of the Command and Operations which saw to the redeployment of officers and soldiers that might have been compromised or with tendencies to fall for the bait offered by agents of the Boko Haram group.
Conclusion:
The Independent Monitors Project after a careful analysis of the various issues in the operations of the Nigerian Military in North-East Nigeria, it concludes that there is no iota of truth in the news making the rounds on the demoralization of the troops in the frontlines.
What is indeed the case is a troop highly committed to preserving the territorial integrity of Nigeria. The troops are in high spirits and working as a team in its operations. The commanders in the Theatre of Operation have been leading in an exemplary manner that has put the troops in prime position to counter the pockets of threats posed by the remnants of the Boko Haram group.
The troops are motivated to fight and win the war against the Boko Haram Insurgency.
Recommendations:
The Independent Monitors Project as a result of the observations in the Theatre of Operations as a result of this makes the following recommendations:
It is imperative for the Nigerian Army to continually engage the media constituencies with information as regards the activities of agents of the Boko Haram group.
The military authorities must take control of the narrative at every point in time to ensure that the troops are not distracted by the antics of the Boko Haram group.