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Army, DICON and Unilorin sign MoU on the manufacture of composites for armour plating, military hardware

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Army, DICON and Unilorin sign MoU on the manufacture of composites for armour plating, military hardware

The signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Nigerian Army, Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and University of Ilorin on the development of composite material for Armour Plating and other military hardwares took place at the Army headquarters, Abuja today being the 1st day of July 2020.

This remarkable event is aimed at reducing the over-dependence of the importation of foreign equipment, production of indigenous metal materials, reduction of foreign exchange rates to boost the Nigeria’s economy, amongst several other benefits.

Signing the MoU by the trio parties, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai extolled the importance of the collaborative event ,saying it will yield unprecedented gains not just to the parties but Nigeria as a country and other foreign countries.

Gen. Butatai said, the signing of MoU will improve in human capacity development amongst member parties, enhance mutual benefits and its products will be marketable not just in Nigeria but also to other foreign countries.

According to him, the collaboration of the trio parties was premise on the Executive Order 005 of 2018, signed by the Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C), for the development of local content in science, engineering and technology (SET).

According to Gen. Buratai, the executive order was aimed at promoting indigenous technology that could assist in the production of both civil and military hardware.

“It is in this vein, that the Nigerian Army seeks to collaborate with indigenous professionals in planning, designing and execution of projects to enhance national security”.

COAS who was represented by Lt. Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, Chief of Policy and Plans,(COPP) therefore thanked the Nigerian Army System and Research Development Centre (NASDC), DICON and all the relevant stakeholders for achieving the feat in science, technology, and research development.

He however urged the both parties to ensure that a a holistic implementation is achieved

Earlier in his speech, the Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Prof. Suleiman Abdulkareem boasted, the signing of the MoU avails them with the opportunity to be committed to ensuring the necessity of doing great things that were not been done elsewhere in the world.

According to him, he was glad with the cooperation between the University and the Nigerian Army as it will prepare the minds of those in sciences, including physical Sciences and Engineering to be ready to focus their opinion of what could be done to improve the status of military men in the area of cooperation and sharing potent ideas for a common goal.

He therefore noted that Nigeria has enormous resources that if properly harnessed will add value to the industry and thanked the Nigerian Army for making the signing of the MoU a reality.

Also speaking, the Director General of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, Maj. Gen. Victor Ezugwu said, the industry has manufactured different varieties of Ezugwu Mine Resistance Vehicles MRAPS and other military hardware.

According to him, composite materials which are used for the production of ballistic vests, Armour plating amongst other is imported in China with high cost noting that if the local metals are harnessed, it will bring about a reduction in the nation’s dependency on foreign military equipment, thereby saving hard-earned foreign exchange in the country, hence the necessity of the cooperation of the three institutions.

“It will also boost the development of indigenous capacity in research and development, especially towards attaining self-sufficiency in the production of both civil and military hardware, together with other sampling products,” he stated.

Banditry in Nigeria: Buratai in Gusau, Solicits for People’s Support to Combat Insecurity

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Banditry in Nigeria: Buratai in Gusau, Solicits for People’s Support to Combat Insecurity

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai has solicited the support of traditional leaders in Zamfara State to combat activities of Armed Bandits and other forms of criminalities in the North West geo political zone.

Gen Buratai made the call when he paid a courtesy call to Sarkin Katsinan Gusau, the Emir of Gusau Alh Dr Ibrahim Bello in his Palace in Gusau the Zamfara State Capital on Thursday, 1 July 2020.

While Applauding the Emir of Gusau for the warm reception, Buratai stated that he is in zamfara on operational tour of formations and units of 8 Division Nigerian Army to assess the level of their combat readiness in the reinvigorated efforts to combat banditry and associated insecurity in the zone.

He thus used the opportunity to pay a visit to the emir as a mark of respect and in furtherance of Nigerian Army’s excellent civil military relations. While at the palace, Gen Buratai informed the emir that the Nigerian Army is celebrating her 157 years of existence (Nigerian Army Day Celebration 2020) and the commencement of Exercise SAHEL SANITY which is currently simultaneously ongoing in kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto and Zamfara States with an appreciable level of success.

He also solicited for the support of the traditional rulers in sensitizing their people to cooperate with the security agencies by providing the necessary information to help in containing the lingering security challenges in the region and the country at large.

In his remarks, the Emir thanks the COAS for the visit and promised to give all the necessary support to the Nigerian Army and other agencies where necessary in order for peace to reign in the zone.

At the occasion, prayer was offered for the success of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government and for the peace and security of Nigeria.

Buhari Not Dasuki, What Yushau Shuaib Must Know Now

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By Richard Murphy

The name Yushau Shuaib rings a bell. He writes well, but most times for the wrong reasons. In most instances, he arrogates the monopoly of knowledge to himself, which is a huge minus as no human being can claim to be all-knowing.

I must admit that I have followed his writings religiously especially with regards to the tenure of the Service Chiefs in the country. Yes, he has the right to his opinion. However, he must realize that he is not an authority in security issues. I believe his first stint at it was during the Goodluck Jonathan era where he served as a media consultant in the Office of the National Security Adviser.

I dare say that since Sambo Dasuki was relieved of his appointment as National Security Adviser, and the subsequent revelations that followed suit, Yushau Shuaib has not known peace for undeniable reasons. The attendant attack on the Muhammadu Buhari administration has been scathing and in most instances utterly disrespectful.

This is the premise on which I am penning this article. I used to be an admirer of his writings. But not anymore because a situation where an individual ascribes to himself sainthood that should be revered in an anomaly. I won’t say it is a function of lack of patronage since President Muhammadu Buhari came on board, but that can’t be ruled out entirely because we all need patronages to keep life going.

In seeking for that patronage, we must however not lose sight of the bigger picture which is and remains the national interest. This much Yushau Shuaib must come to terms with and come back to reality. Like I mentioned earlier, I used to be a fan of his, but the moment I noticed his tilt, I withdrew entirely, and after that, I always read him with a pinch of salt.

Two issues I want to address here; this is a new era where it is not business as usual, and Muhammadu Buhari is not Sambo Dasuki that was very generous to him with public funds. I am sure he can’t deny this fact because he indeed was the Chief Media Consultant to the Forum of Spokespersons of Security and Response Agencies (FOSSRA), a conduit with which he was paid hefty sums of monies under the Goodluck Jonathan era.

For those wondering what FOSSRRA meant, I would say it was more like an avenue for the boys to make good money. This is on the heels that the former National Security Adviser engaged Yushau Shuaib to serve as a media consultant to the military, security, intelligence and response organizations under a unified platform, and had as his core mandate the responsibility of positioning the agencies for desired public perception and changing the negative narratives regarding the war against terror.

FOSRRA was under the auspices of Office of National Security Adviser, and the Office of the National Security Adviser footed its bills. And what was his responsibility as the Chief Media Consultant? Issuing press releases of government security agencies to media houses. What a job description. In effect, that is good business for any media consultant if you must agree with me.

Having this background in mind, one would understand where Yushau Shuaib is coming from and why he thinks his views in security issues is yes and amen. In the light of this circumstances, it can be said that his scathing attacks on President Muhammadu Buhari is simply because the butter on his bread is no longer forthcoming and as such he is going for the jugular of the present administration.

In all of these Yushau Shuaib must come to terms that President Muhammadu Buhari is not one that would pay writers or media consultants to turn the truth on its head. If not for anything, the president rode on its principled stance on integrity to power. This fact can be verified. President Muhammadu Buhari that we all know wouldn’t patronize people to say what is not, nor his appointees would open the treasury under dubious nomenclatures for political patronage.

I can easily tell that his writings on the Service Chiefs are at the behest of his principal. Even at that, it must be noted that the President and Commander-in-Chief has the prerogative on the tenure of the Service Chiefs in the country. I don’t think there should be a basis for comparison between what we experienced under Goodluck Jonathan and now.

If Yushau Shuaib would be honest enough to admit that the level of commitment by the present crop of Service Chiefs is indeed noteworthy and a deviation from times past. As a security expert that he claims to be, he should know that in this era, there is no room for mediocrity. And this much has seen to the numerous gains recorded in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria.

The federal capital territory is no longer under siege, and the threats posed by the Boko Haram group have mainly been confined to the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin region. If this is not a plus, I wonder what Yushau Shuaib wants us to believe.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not discouraging him from writing, but he should do well not to insult our sensibilities. I believe he can write with passion. But he should not be propelled by pecuniary interest because that was what took us to where we were when his boss and paymaster was the National Security Adviser.

The issue of Service Chiefs is clearly outside his purview. He should concentrate on areas he has a considerable advantage at the risk of sounding like a broken trumpet. I also believe that his PR outfit Image Merchants Promotions Limited can come back to life if they get their acts right and engage in genuine enterprise and not the resort to blackmail and half-truths thereby misleading members of the unsuspecting general public.

I believe Yushau Shuaib would take this opinion of mine in good faith because I am aware he fears the views of others. Yet, he wants his views to be canonized because he is the almighty expert that all Nigerians should revere.

Yushau Shuaib in his capacity as the revered expert on security affairs should also do well to tell Nigerians if there haven’t been concerted efforts to curb the security challenges in the country. This is the next assignment for him, and I would strongly advise that he does his research thoroughly to convince us on why President Muhammadu Buhari has kept his Service Chiefs.

I wait to hear from him, just like the generality of Nigerians. He should walk the talk and be guided by the principle of objectivity.

Murphy is a security expert and wrote this piece from Calabar.

 Insecurity: Nigeria needs the experience of her Service Chiefs to defeat remnants of Boko Haram, bandits -Diaspora Group

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 Insecurity: Nigeria needs the experience of her Service Chiefs to defeat remnants of Boko Haram, bandits -Diaspora Group

 

The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group (NDMG), UK Chapter, says the country needs the experience of its Service Chiefs now more than ever especially with recent successes recorded against terrorists and bandits.

In a statement signed by its President, Mark Kola, on Tuesday in London, the group said those calling for their dismissal are sponsored to promote an escalation of the crimes being committed against Nigerians by terrorists.

According to the Nigerians in the diaspora, there is an agenda to use the demand for the Service Chiefs’ sack as an excuse to cause further security breaches and those behind this act are doing so on behalf of the opposition and certain foreign interests.

After reviewing the security concerns in the country, the Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group concluded that the experience of the military heads is necessary to defeat complicated and foreign-sponsored conspiracies.

NDMG urged President Muhammadu Buhari to resist those attempting to coerce him into error as “countries do not run their defence and security on the basis of political correctness”.

The group, however, advised  Nigerians being used by foreign interests to look beyond the pittance they are being paid to run their current errand.

Read the full statement below:

The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group has keenly followed the misplaced call for President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Service Chiefs of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

We would have ordinarily avoided joining issues with those making these calls as we are at this point focused on providing palliatives and educational materials to enlighten our kith and kin at home about the COVID-19 Pandemic, which is life-threatening on many levels. However, it became imperative that we wade into the debate following our discovery that all is not what it seems.

The innocuous-seeming calls for the service chiefs to be sacked turned out to be tied to foreign-sponsored conspiracies that are supporting the escalation of the crimes being committed against Nigerians by terrorists. By removing the military leaders, who have expansive experience in managing the crisis, the facilitators of these conspiracies hope to use any resulting transition to wreak havoc on the country since this would be a moment of vulnerability.

Leveraging our contacts in the diaspora, we have uncovered a plot to use the demand for the sack of the service chiefs as an excuse to cause further security breaches. These plots are being managed from outside the shores of Nigeria and those behind them are exploiting video calling platforms to hold their meetings with operatives in Nigeria while funds are allegedly being electronically wired to the bank accounts of the arrowheads of the movement to force Mr President to ease the service chiefs out of office.

We are acutely concerned that the unfolding scenario excessively tallies with the projections and forecasts made by some groups in the run-up to the 2019 General Elections that there were opposition elements that are desperate to take over power by all means and that a coerced change of service chiefs would be the first step in an extensive plan that will unleash crisis of unmanageable proportion on the country.

We are further alarmed that those behind the calls for the service chiefs to be fired have been uncomfortably silent about the foreign connections of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists, the banditry imported from Nigeria’s northern neighbours and other mutating crimes that were hitherto unknown to Nigerians. This gives credence to the summation that the people calling for the sack are doing so on behalf of the opposition and certain foreign interests.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group has taken time to review the nature of security concerns in the country and we have come to the conclusion that Nigeria needs the experience of her Service Chiefs to defeat these complicated and foreign-sponsored conspiracies against its sovereignty.

We consequently urge President Buhari to be the Commander-in-Chief as enshrined in the constitution, which demands that he resists those attempting to coerce him into error. Countries the world over do not run their defence and security on the basis of political correctness; countries are secured on the strength of pragmatism.

Meanwhile, our charge to the Nigerians being used by these foreign interests to pressure the country into error is that they should look beyond the pittance they are being paid to run their current errand. In the event that they are sorely pressed for feeding money, they are welcome to contact the United Kingdom Chapter Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group for palliatives to ensure that they desist from selling their fatherland for a mess of pottage.

Hushpuppi: Group wants FBI, Interpol to question Atiku, Deji Adeyanju over links to alleged fraudster

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Hushpuppi: Group wants FBI, Interpol to question Atiku, Deji Adeyanju over links to alleged fraudster

 

The National Coalition of Democrats (NCD) has called on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and International Police to investigate ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over possible links to arrested suspected fraudster, Raymond Igbalode, popularly known as Hushpuppi.

Renowned for his flamboyant lifestyle, Hushpuppi and 12 others were nabbed in Dubai by Interpol on June 10 over multiple cyber crimes and money laundering to the tune of

150 million dirhams (N168 billion).

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) subsequently declared the Instagram celebrity wanted over links to several cyber frauds.

In a statement signed by its Spokesman, Garuba Nuhu, on Wednesday, the National Coalition of Democrats reasoned that there could be more to this act, especially with Hushpuppi’s known relationship with some PDP members, as seen in pictures and videos on social media.

According to the group, Hushpuppi might have actually worked discreetly with the opposition party in laundering of funds for the prosecution of the 2019 general elections.

NCD said its logic is born out of the fact that PDP’s top shots, led by its presidental candidate held several meetings in Dubai ahead of the polls and the likes of Atiku, Dino Melaye, Timi Frank and Deji Adeyanju are possibly his close associates.

The group, therefore, called on the FBI and Interpol to investigate Atiku and other PDP members who may have been first-line beneficiaries of the fraud committed by Hushpuppi.

It added that Hushpuppi could have likely “assisted these individuals to launder funds through his network because the level of fraternity between Hushpuppi and these individuals points to that direction”

Read full statement below:

The National Coalition of Democrats wishes to lend its voice to the recent arrest of Raymond Igbalode, popularly known as Hushpuppi for allegedly hacking into the United States (US) unemployed database and impersonating citizens qualified for unemployment funds of over $100 million meant for Native Americans in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic.

This is indeed a sad tale for Nigeria in the sense that the arrest effected by the Dubai Police has indeed painted Nigerians as fraudsters before the international community.

The National Coalition of Democrats has in times past alerted Nigerians to the activities of some Nigerians with no identifiable means of livelihood, yet displaying a life of affluence in the social media space.

The case of Hushpuppi further lends credence to this concern raised earlier as most of our youths have elected to tow the dishonourable path all in the quest to make money at all cost. More worrisome in this latest development is the fact that the said Hushpuppi has been severally identified with some members of the opposition party in Nigeria.

This is also on the heels that a top member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is known for travelling to the United Arab Emirates where he held several meetings in the buildup to the 2019 general elections.

It is also common knowledge that the PDP leadership turned Dubai into their strategic meeting place from where they plotted for the execution of the general elections.

The National Coalition of Democrats wishes to state in unequivocal terms that Hushpuppi indeed shared some affinity with some top members of the PDP as evident in the posting of pictures and videos of their several meetings in the social media space.

It, therefore, reckons that there is every possibility that the said Hushpuppi might have been working discreetly with the PDP stalwarts in the laundering of funds for the prosecution of the 2019 general elections.

The National Coalition of Democrats wonders why the opposition PDP would elect to see Dubai as a haven for holding strategic meetings while wining and dining with the said Hush Puppy.

The likes of Atiku Abubakar, Dino Melaye, Timi Frank and Deji Adeyanju have in numerous times posed for photographs with the said Hushpuppi . It is common sense to articulate that there must have been in a strategic business partnership with him in the area of repatriation of illicit funds for the prosecution of the general elections using his syndicate network.

The National Coalition of Democrats wonders why questions were not asked as regards his source of wealth if indeed they were genuine in their aspirations. This is not minding the fact that Hushpuppi indeed has led millions of youths into believing that hard work is not a guarantee for success.

The National Coalition of Democrats believes that these top goons of the PDP are first-line beneficiaries of the fraud committed by the said Hushpuppi. There is every need for further investigations by the International Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This is imperative in the bid to trace the root of the heist committed by Hushpuppi as well as identifying his partners in crime in Nigeria.

The National Coalition of Democrats wishes to inform members of the general public that from all indices, there seems to be a strategic linkage between Hushpuppi and some stalwarts of the opposition PDP. It will be in the interest of the generality of Nigerians if this case is further investigated.

We are convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that indeed Hushpuppi might have assisted these individuals to launder funds through his network because the level of fraternity between Hushpuppi and these individuals points to that direction.

The National Coalition of Democrats as a result of this call on the Interpol and the FBI to leave no stone unturned in unravelling the collaborators of Hushpuppi in Nigeria.

We are convinced that this is indeed necessary to put issues in proper perspectives and to serve as a deterrent to our teeming youthful population.

Inter-Society: Ignore IPOB affiliate’s call for Service Chiefs sack, group tells Nigerians

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The Network for Justice and Truth (NJT) has urged Nigerians to disregard the International Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law (Intersociety) and its call for the sack of the Service Chiefs.

According to NJT, Intersociety is an arm of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and like the proscribed group, it has a long history of violence, killings and unrest with an inexplicable animosity for President Muhammadu Buhari.

Intersociety had accused the military’s top shots of manipulating the Armed Forces service rules and Nigerian constitution to extend their tenure of office indefinitely.

However, in a statement signed by its President, Dr Ifeanyi Anayo Dike, on Friday, NJT described the group as “ignorant”, only carrying out the wishes of its paymasters.

It added that such insinuation in all ramification is lacking in merit, objectivity and above all against national interest.

NJT, therefore, called on the unsuspecting general public to ignore the statement from Intersociety as there is no iota of truth in the various allegations against the Service Chiefs.

While warning Intersociety and their sponsors to desist from their nefarious activities, the Network for Justice and Truth urged other security stakeholders to extend their unalloyed support to President Buhari and the Service Chiefs.

Read full statement below:

The Network for Justice and Truth wishes to draw the attention of the general public to the threats posed by the International Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law (Intersociety) to peace and development in Nigeria.

Intersociety, as an organization over the years, have been known to turn the truth on its head through its activities, especially with regards to issues of national interest such as sustainable peace and development.

It is a known fact that their hatred for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has been hinged on the tough stance on the activities of terrorist and militant groups in the country.

The Network for Justice and Truth is consequently not surprised by its highly misleading statement accusing the Service Chiefs of manipulating the armed forces service rules and Nigerian constitution to extend their tenure of office indefinitely.

The statement by Intersociety is at best uncharitable and an exhibition of crass ignorance on the operations of the security sector in Nigeria. This is aside from the fact that the group, by all intent and purposes, are carrying out the wishes of their paymasters that are against the interest of Nigeria.

It is appalling as well as despicable for intersociety to attempt to insult the sensibilities of Nigerians with its diatribe on the Service Chiefs that have exhibited a high level of professionalism and dedication to preserving the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Nigeria.

The Network for Justice and Truth wishes to advise members of the unsuspecting general public to disregard the statement from Intersociety in its ramification for lacking in merit, objectivity and above all in the national interest.

We wish to state that Intersociety is playing the card of a greater plot by some disgruntled politicians that have in numerous times attempted to take over the affairs of the country through the back door having failed woefully at the general elections.

It is therefore not surprising that Intersociety has been recruited into the plot because of its cash and carry policy and as well as its avowed sympathy for separatist and militant organizations in Nigeria.

It is, therefore, a statement of the fact that their gross with the Service Chiefs is their refusal to allow the disintegration of the country into fragments for the benefit of their sponsors despite the massive amount of monies deployed for the purpose destabilizing the country by the  sponsors of acts of criminality across the country.

These dissident elements have continued to demonstrate their hatred for the Muhammadu Buhari administration and other well-meaning stakeholders who have to keep sleepless night to prevent the country from collapsing into the abyss.

It must be stated that Intersociety is indeed an affiliation of militant groups in the country. They have been known to be providing covert support to these groups and with the tough stance of the service chiefs in ensuring that their nefarious activities are curtailed to the barest minimum is giving organizations like Intersociety sleepless nights.

Consequently, their agenda is to trigger violence across the country using phantom and unnecessary allegations against the Service Chiefs in the country as in this case which the generality of Nigerians must be aware of.

We wish to use this medium to inform the members of the unsuspecting general public to disregard the statement from Intersociety as there is no iota of truth in the various allegations against the Service Chiefs.

The Network for Justice and Truth and the generality of other well-meaning stakeholders in the critical security sector in Nigeria extends their unalloyed support to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari through its numerous efforts towards curtailing the politically instigated acts of terrorism and criminalities in the country.

The likes of Intersociety and their sponsors must desist from their nefarious ways in the interest of peace and tranquillity in the country. They must also leave the Service Chiefs to concentrate on that task at hand as this is not the time for distractions.

It is advised that this is indeed the time for all and sundry to continue to extend their support to the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in this critical point of our existence.

We will reject plot by opposition Govs to truncate our democracy, trigger anarchy across Nigeria- APC Youths

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We will reject plot by opposition Govs to truncate our democracy, trigger anarchy across Nigeria- APC Youths

The APC Youth Solidarity Network (APCYSN) has vowed to resist any attempt by some governors in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (APC) to truncate the nation’s hard-earned democracy due to their selfish taste for power.

According to the group, there is an ongoing plot to trigger a mutiny in the ranks of the military to give advantage to Boko Haram terrorists, thereby rubbishing the efforts of the Service Chiefs.

In a statement signed by Coordinator, Comrade Danesi Momoh, on Friday, APCYSN revealed that while the Federal Government was battling and winning the fight against COVID-19, these disgruntled politicians planted seeds of tribal discord in the military.

Mr Momoh said his group had intercepted hate messages sent to poison the minds of young officers from the South, so as to encourage them not to obey others from their superiors.

The mastermind of this plan is Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers with the backing of his Sokoto counterpart, Aminu Tambuwal, APCYSN disclosed.

The group, however, strongly warned: “these unpatriotic elements to stay away from this cause of action because it is not in the interest of the country”.

It added that such open invitation to overthrow the current government is a serious issue which should not be toyed with.

While commending President Muhammadu Buhari for his handling of insecurity, COVID-19 and APC crisis, the group passed a vote of confidence on the Service Chiefs and others involved in securing the lives of Nigerians.

Introduction:

Recent happenings on the political turf coupled with other challenges the country is facing have left no one in doubt that we are in a trying period of our nationhood.

The nation has been upbeat about politics and the security of its citizens lately.

But we are not alarmed because we know that these are temporary setbacks which are normal on the path to greater nationhood that can be overcome with the right counter-strategies.

We have observed that because of these hiccups, some are already sharpening their tools to cause division and strife in the country and we on our part feel it is high time we expose them before they go far with their nefarious acts.

Much as a vast majority of Nigerians are impressed with governments’ handling of the COVID 19 pandemic, the political skirmish in the APC and the threat to internal security which have been handled professionally, these naysayers want to use these avenues to instigate a major crisis in the country.

The Crux of the matter:

These unpatriotic elements are trying hard, even as the Federal  Government is doing it’s best, to make the situation worse for Nigerians by planting seeds of tribal discord within the military in order to instigate mutiny within the institution.

The plan according to what we gathered, is to poison the minds of young officers from the Southern parts of the country with hate messages, so as to encourage them not to obey others from their superiors who are not from the same region with them.

Our organisation has intercepted several messages they have sent to the young military officers from the southern part of the country calling on them to defy the orders of their superiors if they are not from the zone.

The mutiny is intended to shake the very foundation of the military and to frustrate the efforts of the service chiefs towards defeating terrorism and insurgency which they have sworn to achieve.

This attempt at anarchy, according to the details of the plan, is to further build up internal strife and chaos in the military so as to weaken the institution by giving the impression that the entire structure is unorganised and divided against itself.

If this is attained,  the next stage according to the heinous plan would be to nudge the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists to take advantage of the division to overrun a major town in the Northeast with wanton bloodletting so as to create panic and disaffection within the civil populace to paint the current set of service chiefs and the government in bad light.

This stage would then be followed by the release of copious videos and sponsored messages from certain groups and individuals to call for the removal of the service chiefs.

The icing on the cake would be to call on the military to intervene in the political affairs of the country through a coup de’tat.

We have it on good authority that these plots were orchestrated and sponsored by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State in collaboration with Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State to get at the All Progressives Congress, APC, led administration.

Already some opposition figures and civil society activists are being sponsored by those disgruntled elements since the military and the Police were unavailable to be used as election riggers to remove President Buhari from power and having lost woefully in the last elections.

The planners are desperate about carrying out their plans to coincide with the recent crisis in the APC so as to overwhelm the system and make the country ungovernable for President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the ultimate target of the scheme.

The PDP governors who are working in cahoots with some APC leaders who have not been favoured in the recent power tussle within the party, also want to heat the polity so as to create an atmosphere of chaos and political cataclysm for the overthrow of the current administration and have indicated that they are not averse to a military coup since it has become clear that they cannot make any headway in 2023.

This, we learnt, is because they have realised that with the dwindling prospects of the PDP and waning popularity of all its leaders including Wike and Tambuwal, there is no way they can achieve their plan of getting the presidency hence are prepared to truncate the hard-earned democracy not minding the cost to the nation.

They also fear that the APC governors have been more up and doing as far as political calculations for 2023 are concerned, and may finally bury the ambitions of the PDP bigwigs who have nowhere to run to when their political boats hit the rock in 2023.

But they have failed as we have uncovered their plans and have all the details in the palms of our hands.

Our Position:

We strongly advise these unpatriotic elements to stay away from this cause of action because it is not in the interest of the country.

The open invitation to an overthrow of the government is a serious issue which should not be toyed with and fanning the embers of ethnic discord is hardly what Nigeria can afford at this time.

Let us in our ambitions be guided by the greater good of the country

We commend President Muhammadu Buhari and the service chiefs on how they are fighting terrorism and banditry in Nigeria.

We commend the President on how he has handled the crisis within the APC which shows that he is the best thing to have happened to our democracy.

The group hereby passes a vote of confidence on the Security Chiefs, the IGP, the DG NIA and all others who are doing their best to make the country better.

Borno community applauds Nigerian Army, other security agencies in the war on insurgency

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Borno community applauds Nigerian Army, other security agencies in the war on insurgency

By Capt Jauro Musa Liya (Rtd)

“It doesn’t take a hero to order men into battle, it takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle” – Gen. H. Norman Schwazkpof

1. The Borno community Kaduna view with grave concern the uncharitable remarks and campaign of calumny orchestrated by traducers of nation building against the globally recognized several efforts and successes of the Nigerian Army under the able command of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai. Although the Chief of Army Staff is focused and cannot be distracted by those who seek to benefit from the actual distortion of facts and negative reportage of the security situation, we as a people from Borno, having witnessed the gradual return of peace in the state through the galantry of the men of Nigerian Army and other security agencies, it would be a conspiracy to remain silent.

2. For the records, there is no nation in history that has overcome its security challenges in one swoop. Securing a large and complex ethnic nationalities such as Nigeria requires the highest level of military tactics, professionalism, discipline, innovation, galantry and bravery, of which the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has a reputation for. Security is a process that requires the combine efforts of all security apparatus of the state, the Civil Society and the general public.

3. Prior to the coming of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai on July 13, 2015, no part of the country was spared from the deadly attacks of Boko Haram including bombing of a UN building in the FCT where over 20 people lost their lives. People worshipped in guarded and barricaded Churches and Mosques. Road Blocks and Check Points were mounted at all the nooks and cranies of this country. Boko Haram held sway in the North East and firmly had 22 Local Government Areas under its control.

4. With the coming of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, the much needed changes were introduced to the Nigerian Army. The COAS prioritised the welfare of the men of the Nigerian Army and ensured that all backlogs of allowances owed were cleared. Speedy and expeditious payment of salaries and allowances as at when due became the standard practice. Purchase of additional modern weapons, arms and ammunition, regular provision of Military kits, thorough recruitment and training of the Nigerian Army. Promotion of 86,199 soldiers involved in the Operation Lafiya Dole. These efforts began to yield positive results within six months that it didn’t escape the notice of the reputable Global Conflict Tracker (GCT) which stated that “after peak in Boko Haram related violence in 2014/2015, the number of casualties attributed to the group fell dramatically”

5. Early in 2016, Nigerian Army reclaimed the 22 Local Government Areas that were hitherto under the control of Boko Haram. In December 2016, Sambisa forest which used to be the stronghold of Boko Haram was taken over by the Nigerian Army, capturing 1,240 suspected associates and members of Boko Haram sects in the process. Now a befitting Nigerian Army Shooting Range where troops go for arms training, firing and testing of long range Artillery and Armoured guns named after Lt Col Abu Ali has since been constructed. Hence, the focus of having successfully decimated Boko Haram and their activities have been restricted to pockets of attacks on soft targets.

6. It is also to the credit of the Chief of Army Staff the reorganisation of the army structure to undertake the herculean tasks of modern guerillah warfare which the terrorists have resorted to. These feats earned him the “MILLENNIUM HERO” award by a coalition of over 80 Civil Society Organizations at the Army Headquarters, Abuja. On April 25, he received the Brazillian Military Order of Merit Award, the highest honor by the Brazillian Military. He was the recipient of The Nigerian (an online newspaper) “Man of The Year” award at the Westminster, England.

7. Through all these numerous recognitions and awards too many to mention here, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai is not resting on his oas and will not let complacency dull his vision and determination to rid Nigeria of the numerous security challenges such as kidnapping, banditry, communal clashes and farmers – herders clashes.

8. In line with these emerging security challenges, Gen Buratai has initiated an effective Civil – Military Relations and established the Human Rights Desk in all Army Formations and Units across the country. He launched the Operation Last Hold designed to further degrade the Boko Haram Targets and facilities and the relocation of IDPs back to their ancestral homes. Through this operation, over 5000 IDPs returned back to their respective communities.

10. The new strategy introduced by the COAS called Super Camp Concept is a noble one and has been described as one of the best war strategy ever introduced by the Nigerian Army because of the endemic advantages it offers over previous strategies. It is aimed at ensuring flexibility of the troops, concentration of forces and resources, mobility and surprise which are key principles of war. Above all, the Super Camp Concept affords the additional opportunity of force protection as troops are always on the move, on patrol and other lines of military offensive operations, thereby making it difficult for the enemy to accurately predict their location and possible/next line of action. Gen. Buratai also introduced the motor bike brigade to enable the Nigerian Army make deeper incursions into difficult terrain to access the dens of the terrorists.

11. With the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari that more needs to be done in the area of security by the service chiefs, the COAS has ordered all Commanders, General Officers Commanding, Field Commanders, all officers and men of the the Nigerian Army to intensify efforts in implementing the charge by the President. The COAS who is known for personally going into the battle field and leading troops at the war front, has called on all officers to lead the charge to flush out all criminal elements in the country. The Nigerian Army Day Celebration 2020 has been relocated to Katsina State where a major army exercise code named Ex Sahel Sanity which has since commenced and is yielding very good results. All these are geared towards ridding the region of the security threats such as kidnappings and banditry that are making life hard for the people.

12. Finally, in the light of the foregoing, the Borno Community wishes to express it profound support for the efforts so far by the COAS, and wish to call on all those whose only desire is to fan the embers of ethnicity, division and primordial sentiments to realize that such actions have grave consequences on our national cohesion and security and the much needed unity of purpose necessary to galvanize peace, security and development. The Nigerian Army under the leadership of Gen. Buratai needs the support of all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion, political leanings or region.

Capt. J. M. Liya (Rtd)
President
Borno Community Kaduna

Ajimobi Always Used Face Masks, Hand Sanitisers, But Caught COVID-19 – Aide

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Ajimobi Always Used Face Masks, Hand Sanitisers, But Caught COVID-19 – Aide

Bolaji Tunji, the media adviser to the late Abiola Ajimobi, has revealed that the former Oyo State governor contracted Coronavirus (COVID-19) despite using face masks and hand sanitizers at all times.

Ajimobi, who until his death was the Deputy National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), died from COVID-19 complications on Thursday.

Tunji penned a tribute to his late principal, where he revealed that the deceased may have contracted the virus after attending a meeting of the APC in Abuja.

“He (Ajimobi) had received a call to come to Abuja. It was to discuss party matters. He was not sure of who would follow him. Because it was a private flight, he had limited options. He only went with his security aide.

“A special private flight had been arranged for him. He radiated good health and we still marvelled that he still looked so good for his 70 years,” said the aide.

Tunji said he never knew that his last moments with Ajimobi before the trip to Abuja would be the last because his principal was full of health.

“I still can’t wrap my head round what happened. He was so healthy, he was neat, he took all the necessary precautions even while he sat with us in our open office he was always with his face mask, we always observe social distancing.

“We were always quick to give him hands sanitizer anytime he touched something.

“We were conscious of his age and did all we could to ensure safety. We had three spots where you had to wash hands before entering the premises. One at each of the main entrance gates and another by the entrance to our office. We observed all due protocols. So what happened? How did it happen? None of us was sick. So where did this come from? I am still trying to find answers,” he said.

According to Tunji, Ajimobi never wanted any political office after serving two terms as Oyo governor and had to be convinced to accept his appointment as deputy national chairman of the APC.

“He only wanted to take a long, due rest after serving for 8 years without break.
But another position was thrust on him. He never solicited for us and he did not want. But they convinced him to accept. I know because in his usual forthrightness, he narrated how it happened. He took the positions because he felt it would benefit his people. ‘ I have done my bit. There is nothing I set out to achieve that i did not, i cannot be governor again, but i can not leave you people ‘, he would say.

“But what went wrong? I am at a loss.

“I was so sure he would get up the sick bed. I was so sure because there were unfinished businesses. There were so many tasks that he had planned ahead to better the lot of the people.

“So I was convinced he would come to complete those tasks, those plans. I never knew it would end this way,” he said.

Insecurity: Nigerian military adopts new strategies, assures quicker end to insurgency

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Insecurity: Nigerian military adopts new strategies, assures quicker end to insurgency

The Armed Forces of Nigeria says it is working in conjunction of other security agencies with new strategies across the country with a view to ending the Boko Haram insurgency and other security challenges in the country in no distant time.

Coordinator, Defence Media Operations (DMO),Maj. Gen. John Enenche gave the assurance while addressing newsmen on the routine update of activities of military operations across the country in Abuja on Thursday.

Enenche said, sequel to the comments made by President Muhammadu Buhari regarding military operation across the country, the Chief of Defence Staff ,Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin alongside with Service Chiefs, Inspector General of Police and other heads of security agencies held a meeting to brainstorm on possible ways to ending all security threats in the country.

“You are all aware of the Commander-in-Chiefs (C-in-C) comment regarding our operations across the country.

“Our update today would dwell on our bid to re-strategize operational activities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in conjunction with other security agencies.

“In furtherance of the efforts by the Armed Forces of Nigeria to change the tide of our various operations across the country, the Chief of Defence Staff General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin held a meeting with Service Chiefs, the Inspector General of Police, and Heads of other Security and Intelligence agencies on Monday 22 June 2020.

“The meeting was one of the series of meetings to re-strategize and enhance existing synergy among all security agencies to address the lingering security challenges bedeviling the nation.

“The meeting focused on developing and mapping out new strategies to address the untoward security situation particularly in the North West, North East and North Central parts of the country”. He explained.

He also added that, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai had earlier on 22 June, 2020, directed all the Principal Staff Officers (PSOs), General Officers Commanding (GOC) and Commanders to redouble their efforts as well change the tides of operation in ensuring the effective and speedy end of insecurity in the country.

He therefore reiterated that, the Armed Forces of Nigeria in concert with other security agencies wish to assure the populace of our determination to stamp out all forms of criminality across the country in accordance with the directives of the C-in-C. Troops deployed for various operations across the nation will remain committed and resolute in achieving the operational mandate which is to decisively curtail the activities of criminals in any part of the Nation.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari during his meeting with the Service Chiefs and the National Security Adviser last week bordering on the prevailence of insecurity challenges in the country, expressed his desire towards ending the insecurity challenges in the country.

The Military High Command has however thanked the general public for their unwavering cooperation and enjoined them to always assist the security agents with relevant information that could effectively help to ending all the security threats in the country.

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