Justice Ayokunle Faji of a Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday, issued a bench warrant for the arrest and production in court of CEO of Innosson Nigeria Ltd, Innocent Chukwuma and two others, over fraud allegations.
Clearance Operations: Troops raid terrorists’ camps, rescue over 100 farm slaves in Borno
Troops of 112 Task Force Battalion and 22 Brigade in collaboration with members of Civilian Joint Task Force and Vigilante group have rescued 95 captives including women and children used as labourers in Borno state.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai has directed troops to upscale their patriotism and continue to dominate the battle space with aggressive decisive clearance operations from all flanks to ensure the looming defeat of terrorists of whatever shades in North East Zone.
The ongoing clearance operations tagged “Halaka Dodo” within Sector 1 Operation LAFIYA DOLE, conducted a robust clearance operation to Kobe and Boboshe villages respectively.
The troops discovered newly established camps at Dubula village with some bicycles and motorcycle tracks. The camp was destroyed and one of the terrorists was neutralised while trying to escape.
The following items were recovered: Two terrorists’ flags, two copies of Quran, One Generator Set and two bicycles. Additionally, 13 women and 26 children were rescued during the operation.
Consequently, 24 out of the children rescued were administered with polio vaccines by Nigerian Army Regimental Medical Officers in line with the Chief of Army Staff directive on the collaboration between the Nigerian Army and National Primary Health Care Development Agency to reach out to areas not captured in the polio vaccination exercise.
Similarly, the Acting Commanding Officer of 202 Battalion in conjunction with Civilian Joint Task Force, Vigilante and Hunters group conducted a robust offensive clearance operation to Tafana 1 and Tafana 2 villages.
The troops came in contact with some terrorists who fled their camps on sighting the approach of the ferocious troops in Mines Resistance Anti Patrol vehicles.
Troops also neutralised the fleeing terrorists. During the operation, 2 men, 29 women and 25 children were also rescued.
Other items recovered includes two boxes filled with Quran, two terrorists’ flags, five bicycles, five SIM cards of different networks and assorted clothing materials.
In all the operations and victims so far rescued, it was observed that with the coming of the rainy season, farmers are preparing for the farming season, while the terrorists are also using women and children as farm slaves (labourers) in their farmlands to meet up with daily feeding challenges due to food drought in the forest sustained by the nobly ferocious operations of Nigerian Army troops.
The Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Sector 1 Operation Lafiya Dole, Brigadier General Abdulmalik Bulama Biu has on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff commended the entire indefatigable troops of the Division for the latest exploits and exemplary tempo of the operation and conveyed to them the assurances of Chief of Army Staff’s unrelenting support.
Troops intercept notorious kidnap kingpin, 20 bandits in Katsina
In furtherance of military onslaught against armed banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling and other criminalities in Katsina state, troops of 17 Brigade on Operation HARBIN KUNAMA III, have intercepted a notorious bandit/kidnapping kingpin, Mallam Bawa Gomna and 20 others during operations around Batsari, Jibia and Safana Local Government Areas of Katsina State.
A statement by the Acting Army Spokesman, Col Sagir Musa revealed that the suspects are responsible for terrorizing villagers in Batsari, Jibia and Safana Local Government Areas of the State.
“The criminal elements were apprehended based on credible intelligence from the locals, and have confessed taking part in several banditry activities, cattle rustling and other sundry crimes. They, as usual, will be handed over to the respective law enforcement agency for further action.
“The 17 Brigade Nigerian Army, commends and appreciates all those that provided the information that led to the arrest of the criminals and urged members of the public to continue to support security agencies with credible information in order to combat the insecurity.
“Those arrested and items recovered are:
1. Bawa Gomna of Garin Waiziri in Safana LGA.
2. Mallam Bello Sabiu of Fafara village of Jibia LGA.
3. Ibrahim Umar of Fafara village, Jibia LGA (Serials 1- 3 are logistics suppliers of the bandits).
4. Mallam Ibrahim Labo of Shamushelle village in Birnin Magaji LGA, Zamfara State.
5. Musa Lawal of Maitonga village in Safana LGA.
6. Mallam Adamu Mohammed Mairuwa village, Faskari LGA
7. Ibrahim Babangida Mairuwa, Faskari LGA
8. Sani Adamu Mairuwa village Faskari LGA
9. Yusuf Abubakar – Mairuwa village, Faskari LGA
10. Adamu Saidu – Mairuwa village, Faskari LGA of Katsina State to mention a few”.
According to the statement, troops also recovered motorcycles, food stuffs, handsets and cans of petroleum motor sprit (PMS) from the bandits.
Welfare: Army Commissions Cooperative Supermarket in Bauchi
The Nigeria Army Armoured Corps, Obienu Barracks has commissioned a Cooperative Society Super Market, a subsidiary of NA Armoured Corps Personnel Welfare Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society Limited in Bauchi.
According to a statement by the Director of Army Public Relations Colonel Sagir Musa, the project is in line with the Barracks Investment Initiative Programme initiated by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai, to uplift the welfare and overall living conditions of personnel of the Nigerian Army and their families.
The commissioning the project on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, the Commander Armoured Corps Major General JO Akomolafe appreciated the COAS for the initiative and various supports in the areas of troops accommodation and medical supplies to the Barracks community.
He also commended the collective efforts of officers and soldiers of the Corps as pillars for the successes so far recorded by the scheme.
According to him “the welfare of personnel of the NA is of paramount concern to the COAS and the various commanders under him, we will collectively achieve the desire of the COAS in this regard”.
In his remarks at the occasion, the Coordinator of the super market project, Colonel SI Ajibo (rtd) expressed delight to have witnessed the impactful occasion geared towards uplifting the welfare of troops and their families, and urged all personnel to patronise the shop to ensure its continuity and prosperity.
Insurgency: Troops kill 42 Boko Haram terrorists in Borno
Over 42 Boko Haram insurgents were on Friday neutralized by the troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force comprising Nigerians and Chadians with coordinated Air Interdiction.
The troops embarked on clearance operations at CROSS KAUWA-BAGA-DORON NAIRA villages on 21 June 2019, an operation aimed at disrupting BHT supplies and line of communications.
The troops during the operation, neutralized 42 terrorists while several others were wounded.
A statement from the Nigerian Army Directorate of Public Relations said one Chadian Soldier lost his life whilst 12 other Soldiers sustained injuries.
Church leaders want TB Joshua banned in Israel, reject his crusade
Say Joshua is a false prophet seeking to exploit Mount Precipice, preach Lies.
Churches, Islamic clerics and political groups in Nazareth, the largest city in the northern district of Israel, have joined forces against a two-day crusade being planned by Nigerian preacher, TB Joshua, at Mount Precipice.
The churches and Islamic leaders want Joshua banned from preaching in Israel and called for the cancellation of the planned crusade, Israeli’s popular newspaper, Haaretz, reports on Thursday.
According to the newspaper, church officials meeting in Nazareth several days ago urged residents to boycott the event and clerics to avoid any mention of it in their sermons.
“We beg you not to play in the hands of those organizing this type of festival which is an affront to the principles of Christianity, and our national identity, and deals a blow to the social fabric of a city like Nazareth,” the churches were quoted as saying.
Haaretz reports that the church officials quoted text from the New Testament about how believers must be cautious about false messiahs who try to convince people they’re performing miracles.
Most of the churches in Nazareth have reportedly signed their support for the statement – all but the Roman Catholic Church, which has avoided taking a clear stand.
Joshua, arguably one of the most popular TV figures in Africa and Latin America, is set to hold two events at a Christian site in the city.
Joshua is the founder of The Synagogue, Church of All Nations, a Christian organization that runs the Emmanuel TV television station from Lagos, which has a YouTube channel with 1.5 million subscribers. Arguably one of the most popular figures on television across Africa and Latin America, Joshua has 3.5 million followers on Facebook.
T.B. Joshua, a controversial pastor whose sermon has drawn criticisms, is famous for performing miracles in his Lagos church attended by thousands every week. His visit to Israel is supported by Nazareth Mayor Ali Sallam, but many in the city oppose it, some of them alleging that the pastor has ties to far-right Israelis.
He has visited Israel in the past and written of forging a covenant with God to start his ministry, as well as hinting a couple of years ago of considering relocation to Israel.
Thousands participate in his prayer sessions and exorcism rituals. Many video clips have been released on social media in recent days announcing the “rock-star” pastor’s visit.
In response to a query from Haaretz, Father Emil Shopany of the Catholic Church said there’s no reason not to host such a visit and that he, as opposed to others, will support the mayor’s position. He said Nazareth is an open city and that you cannot stop a religious man from abroad who decides to visit from holding prayers like thousands of pilgrims do.
But even members of Sallam’s coalition have criticized the visit. Haj Samir Sa’adi, a city councilor, has expressed his opposition to Joshua’s visit in a letter and has urged its cancellation.
“The planned visit by the person called T.B. Joshua to the city of the Annunciation is a challenge to the Christian faith in the city of Jesus’s boyhood and the Nazareth of ancient history, which does not need such a stain as this in which a false prophet exploits Mount Precipice to disseminate his lies,” he wrote.
Muslims from Nazareth and elsewhere have joined Sa’adi’s protests, among them the council of muftis, which has urged that the event be cancelled: “This is an event that would offend believers of all ethnic groups and religions and should be seen as a red line for faith in religious values. Therefore we call upon those who are behind the event to see to its immediate cancellation,” their statement said.
Among politicians, the event is also seen as volatile, and calls have been issued on social media to block the main roads to Mount Precipice. The Hadash and Youth for Change parties in the city council have demanded a meeting about the decision to invite the pastor to hold an event at a city installation against the wishes of the majority of residents.
“We have asked to take an in-depth look at this issue, at why a city like Nazareth would receive such a person who is denied entry to many countries on grounds of criminal suspicions and given his links to the extreme right in Israel,” they wrote. “What’s more, the man is known to have grown wealthy in a way that has raised many questions and therefore we view such a visit as an illegitimate step which contaminates the city and its historic heritage, and we absolutely reject the mayor’s claims that such an event would bring $1 million to the city and would see such a sum were it to actually materialize as an illegitimate contribution that would contaminate the city.”
The mayor has not responded to appeals by Haaretz for comment.
Police are meanwhile preparing for an expected crowd of 15,000 people at the event.
Joshua visited Israel two years ago, hosted by ZAKA founder Yehuda Meshi Zahav. Meshi Zahav has also visited Joshua in Nigeria. During his visit, Joshua met with Idan Greenbaum, the Jordan Valley regional council head.
Channel 12 reported at the time that Joshua had said he plans to move his operations to Israel and that he said that six out of 10 foreigners visiting Nigeria attend exorcism rites at Joshua’s church. Greenbaum said a number of ideas were raised in their meeting to contribute to tourism in the Jordan Valley and Sea of Galilee area, but these ideas have not yet been carried out. But Greenbaum said that Joshua’s visit had received wide media coverage in his country and attracted tourism to Israel and the Jordan Valley.
Haaretz reports that a statement released ahead of Joshua’s visit says this would be his first event in the Middle East, that it would have a positive impact on the local economy, and that he has visited Israel many times and met with leading officials including Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, Communications Minister Ayoub Kara and Chief Rabbi David Lau.
NDLEA SEIZES N1BN TRAMADOL TABLETS
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said its operative made seizure of about one billion pills/tablets of Tramadol of dosages between 120mg and 400mg since its sales were outlawed in 2018.
The agency’s Chairman and Chief Executive, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd.) spoke in Abuja during the ongoing commemoration of this year’s International Day against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country.
Abdallah described the usage of tramadol ills as a crisis that engulfed the nation leading to the seizure in 2018, which he said is another reason for concern in the country.
While reviewing the agency’s success in the last 10 years of operations, the chairman noted that the agency seized a total of 56, 745, 705, 555 kilograms of drugs and arrested 85, 058 persons for drug and drug-related offences.
He disclosed that the agency prosecuted and secured convictions in 16, 937 cases within this same period, adding that the drug demand reduction programme of the agency anchored on anti-drug sensitisation, treatment and rehabilitation had rescued many from the menace of drug abuse.
“Properties and assets of drug traffickers have been seized and forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria in accordance with the Enabling Act.” Abdallah added.
He, however, acknowledged the assistance of the UNDODC in facilitating a sub-regional conference in West Africa on the Tramadol crisis in August 2018 and for sponsoring officers and other stakeholders to India to discuss the issue of Tramadol smuggling into Nigeria.
He also commended the bold political decision of President Muhammadu Buhari, for setting up the Presidential Advisory Committee for Elimination of Drug Abuse, PACEDA, headed by General Buba Marwa (rtd.).
“I am aware the committee has worked tirelessly in the interest of the nation. As we await the submission of the report, and the implementation by Mr. President, let me also seize this opportunity to appreciate and thank Mr. President for approving the immediate recruitment in 2019 of 5,000 new personnel out of the 15,000 personnel earlier approved for the agency in 2016.
He said the theme: “Health for Justice, Justice for Health,” is to address three broad issues of drug-dependent persons, drug prevention, social inclusion and building knowledge for justice and health.
“The theme presupposes that effective responses to the challenges of drugs require inclusive and accountable institutions of criminal justice, health and social services to work hand-in-hand to provide integrated solutions, in line with the international drug control conventions, human rights obligations and sustainable development goals,” he further explained.
The NDLEA boss also called for more inter-agency synergy and mutual respect for mandates of the respective agencies as to do more in addressing the predisposing factors that make drugs trafficking and abuse attractive.
FG ORDERS RETURN OF HISTORY STUDY TO SCHOOLS
The Federal Government has directed all basic and secondary schools across the country to immediately implement the teaching of history as a standalone subject from the next academic calendar.
Mr Sonny Echono, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education made this known on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.
The Federal Government on June 18 promised the return history to school curriculum while ensuring that all primary school teachers are trained to deliver digital literacy.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has declared at the launch of Education for Justice Programme that government had kick-started implementation in 12 primary and secondary schools across the six geopolitical zones and instructional classes have also commenced.
According to Echono, the directive has already been given and it is automatic that all the schools should implement simultaneously.
“By the next academic calendar, history will be taught as a standalone subject.
“It is with immediate implementation. So, definitely for the next academic year everybody will fall in line because we already articulated the curriculum and the examination should be done along those lines,” he said.
$1bn security fund not with me – Babagana Monguno
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Babagana Monguno has said he does not know the whereabouts of the $1 billion approved by the National Economic Council (NEC) for tackling of the nation’s security challenges.
The money was approved in December 2017 following the upsurge in Boko Haram insurgency, herdsmen killings, kidnappings and banditry in parts of the federation.
Briefing reporters at the end of the second meeting of the NEC yesterday in Abuja, Monguno, whose purview it is to coordinate Nigeria’s security architecture, stated that the money was meant for the military alone, but could not categorically state whether it had been disbursed.
“The $1billion I believe that you are talking about was actually earmarked for the military, not for security agencies like the intelligence community and the paramilitary agencies,” he maintained.
Don’t use force against insurgents, Borno gov begs Buhari
The Borno Governor, Babagana Zulum, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to explore other options rather than the use of force against Boko Haram insurgents.
Zulum was reacting to Boko Haram fighters backed by the Islamic State West African Province earlier attack on least four Nigerian Army bases, raising concerns among the troops of the Operation Lafiya Dole in the North-East.
The army had lost a yet-to-be-ascertained number of soldiers when Boko Haram fighters attacked its bases in the Mobbar, Damasak, Monguno and Gajiram areas of Borno State.
Zulum, who met President Buhari on Wednesday, when asked if he was concerned that Boko Haram was no longer dealing with soft targets but attacking military bases, said: “You are aware that some incidents occurred two, three days ago where about 40 people were killed in Konduga. By and large, we are aware of steps the president is willing to take that will virtually bring that issue to a standstill.
“But most importantly, there is need for the Federal government to also open other opportunities of bringing down the crisis rather than the kinetic force. It is also important for those people who have been forced to join the insurgency; if they are integrated into the society, I think this will be good.
“There is an existing policy within the military called Operation Safe Corridor just to strengthen the system. By and large, we are optimistic that Borno State will bounce back again.”
Speaking on the purpose of the visit, the Borno Governor said: “I’m basically here to discuss with Mr. President on how possible the Federal government can strengthen the current security situation on ground as well as strengthen the means of livelihood of the entire people of Borno State.
“Basically, we want to address the root causes of the insurgency, especially the issue of access roads, access to farm lands and the issue of strengthening the Civilian JTF and the military to do their jobs better than before.
On the recent attacks in the state and what the government is doing to fight insecurity the governor said: “The issue of security is not one you discuss anyhow. But the government of the state is collaborating with the military and other security agencies to ensure that the citizens are well protected.
“On my part, I am also trying to strengthen the locals to be resilient enough especially by providing them with logistics like vehicles and others so that they can undertake some surveillance to support the military.
“By and large, our discussions with the military have gone well and we are doing everything possible to ensure that stability returns to Borno State.”