The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, said on Friday that West African Chiefs of Defence have agreed to activate the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) standby force.
Musa told journalists the decision was taken at the end of the 42nd Ordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff held between Wednesday and Friday in Abuja.
The CDS, who is the Chairman of the committee, commended the defence chiefs for their commitment, dedication and contribution throughout the meeting.
He said the defence chiefs came up with notable ideas, discussions and creative solutions that would define the West African security landscape.
The West African leaders in August last year moved to activate the standby force in a bid to force the military junta that toppled President Mohammed Bazoum to restore constitutional order in the landlocked nation.
Musa said: “So, key discussion during this conference covered the proposed ECOWAS security support in Sierra Leone and the activation of the ECOWAS standby force.
“Furthermore, we deliberated on issues pertaining to the operationalisation of our logistic deployment in Sierra Leone and other ECOWAS peace support operations amongst others.
“More importantly are the pledges made by member states commitment and resources towards activation of the ECOWAS standby force and security support mission and Sierra Leone among others.”
The CDS expressed confidence that incredible ideas and noble solutions proffered at the meeting would enhance the defence chiefs’ individual and collective capacity to confront and support contemporary and futuristic security challenges.
He expressed regret that Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger were absent from the meeting, saying efforts were on to return them to the regional bloc.
“They are brothers and we look forward to when they will come back safely into the ecosystem because as nations, no one nation can withstand the current challenges that we have.
“We need to work as a team because we are stronger together.
“It is also imperative that we continue to encourage collaboration among other countries by reducing differences, sharing resources and leveraging each other’s strengths to maximise our impact and achieve shared objects,” he added.
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ECOWAS defence chiefs to activate standby force
Bandits attack on Benue community sign of desperation – Police
The Benue Police Command has said the deadly attack on Ayati community of Ukum Local Government Area of the state is a panic measure by bandits to resist the ongoing security operations in the area.
The police said that on August 8, 2024, at about 4:30 pm while normal daily activities were going on in Ayati village, Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, a large number of armed bandits invaded the village and started shooting sporadically at members of the community.
This was contained in a statement on Friday by the spokesperson of the Benue Police Command, SP Catherine Anene.
She said police officers in the community responded immediately and were able to repel the bandits.
Anene said 15 people had already sustained gunshot injuries from the attack and were confirmed dead on arrival at the hospital.
“The unfortunate incident also claimed the lives of two police officers who were among the team that responded to the distress call.
” Corpses have been deposited at General Hospital Ukum and investigation is ongoing,” she said.
Anene said the Commissioner of Police, Hassan Yabanet, visited Ayati for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.
According to her, while commiserating with the families of the deceased, he assured them of his commitment to fight criminals in the area.
“The CP also commended officers for their response and encouraged them not to give up on the operation as more teams have been sent to the area for wider coverage and better engagement of bandits,” Anene said.
Bandits attack on Benue community sign of desperation – Police
NSCDC arrests four suspected human traffickers, rescues nine in Oyo
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Oyo State Command, has arrested four suspected human traffickers and rescued nine persons used as prostitutes in the state.
The command also said it had recovered smuggled fifty-five 30-litre kegs of petrol around Gwagwasu Moore Road, Kishi, in the northern part of the state.
NSCDC Commandant in the state, Augustine Padonu, said these while parading the suspects at the command’s headquarters on Friday in Ibadan.
Padonu said that the command’s Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit arrested the suspects and rescued the victims on Tuesday at a hotel in the Apata area of Ibadan for alleged trafficking for prostitution.
He said that the rescued victims were seven female adults and two female minors.
The commandant said that three of the suspects specialised in bringing underage girls from villages for prostitution.
He said that the fourth suspect was a male manager of the hotel who collaborated with the three female suspects to use trafficked underage girls as sex workers in the hotel.
“The Oyo State Command of the NSCDC has made a significant breakthrough in its fight against human trafficking and smuggling of petroleum products.
“This demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals, especially children, from exploitation and abuse as well as safeguarding the nation’s economy from illegal activities,” he said.
Speaking on the recovered smuggled petrol, Padonu said that the command’s monitoring team received credible intelligence regarding smuggling of petrol on July 30 in Kishi town and acted swiftly.
He said that the command, during the operation, discovered 55 30-litre petrol hidden in the forest.
Padonu said that the discovery highlighted the ongoing challenges posed by the smuggling of petroleum products through the border, thus undermining the economy and posing risks to public safety.
He said that the suspects who were involved in petrol smuggling fled upon sighting NSCDC operatives and were still at large.
“We are intensifying our efforts to locate and apprehend the suspects.
“We urge the public to assist by reporting any information regarding the smuggling of petroleum products to NSCDC.
“NSCDC remains committed to protecting vulnerable individuals, especially children, from exploitation and abuse.
“We are resolute in our fight against smuggling of petroleum products across the border and will continue to take decisive actions to protect our commonwealth,” Padonu said.
Speaking with newsmen, one of the underaged human trafficking victims said she was pregnant and used to make N10,000 daily, out of which she would be given only N2,000 by one of the suspects who brought her from the village.
(NAN)
Federation explains why Nigerian cyclist used a borrowed bike at Olympics
The Nigeria Cycling Federation (NCF) has clarified that Ese Ukpeseraye, the country’s sole cyclist at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympic Games, was not initially registered to compete in the track events.
Reports went viral after Ukpeseraye posted on her X account that she participated in the keirin event using a bicycle borrowed from the German team.
In response to these reports on Thursday, CFN President Giadomenico Massari explained that the federation had to borrow a bicycle from its partners because they did not bring one to this year’s Olympics.
Massari clarified that Ukpeseraye originally qualified only for the Road Race and traveled to Paris with the necessary equipment for that event.
However, Nigeria was later invited to replace Egypt in the keirin and individual sprint events after an Egyptian track athlete was disqualified.
Read Also: D’Tigress bow out of Olympics after valiant effort against USA
He noted that track events require specialized equipment, approved specifically for the Olympics, which typically takes months to be delivered.
Thanks to their equipment sponsor, the NCF managed to secure the bike for the competition.
Massari further explained that the German team, in partnership with their supporters and sponsors, facilitated the arrangement to ensure Ukpeseraye could compete.
“Our track bikes, which have been used in world championships, are not approved for Olympic use. We only received all the necessary approvals from the UCI (cycling world body) and the IOC yesterday.”
He confirmed that Ukpeseraye was able to train and compete in the keirin event and will participate in the individual sprint Friday.
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Nigeria records 7 new Lassa fever cases in three states
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed seven additional Lassa fever cases in three states in the country.
The NCDC said on its website on Friday that the cases were recorded between July 22 and July 28 in Bauchi, Edo, and Kogi States.
According to the agency, four cases were reported in Bauchi, two in Edo, and one in Kogi during the period.
It added that 163 deaths have been reported in Nigeria this year with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 17.0 percent.
This was however lower than the 17.3 percent recorded during the same period in 2023.
The report read: “66 percent of confirmed cases in 2024 were from Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi while 34 percent were reported from 25 states.
“In total for 2024, 28 states recorded at least one confirmed case of Lassa fever across 125 local government areas.”
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West African defence chiefs push for Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger’s return to ECOWAS
West African defence chiefs on Friday demanded the return of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, made the call when he led other ECOWAS defence chiefs on a visit to the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) on Friday in Abuja.
Musa said the return of the three countries to the regional bloc was necessary to address the insecurity across the sub-region.
He said that efforts were ongoing to ensure that the three countries to ECOWAS.
The three countries currently under the control of military juntas left the regional bloc last year in protest of West African leaders’ handling of the military coup in Niger Republic.
Musa said: “For us, we feel without security, there can’t be progress and the threats we are facing, especially on insurgency, are high.
“We think it is very important that we need to partner together to achieve success. No country can do it alone, and that’s why it’s important.
“We know we have three countries that have decided to step aside.
“We are making all efforts to ensure that they come back to the fold because we know even they, on their own, cannot withstand this.
“We know the relevance that if they fall, it will also drag us down and that is why it is important for us as West Africans to continue to work together.”
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Gunmen attack policemen in Nnewi, kill one
Gunmen operating in Nnewi, Anambra State, on Friday, attacked a police van, killing one of the policemen at a junction.
Sources said the incident happened at about 9 am, and that the attackers when repelled by the policemen threw an improvised explosive device at the police team.
Police command in the state confirmed this in a press release by the state police command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga.
Ikenga said the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam has ordered a manhunt operations on the gunmen.
He confirmed that the men were attacked at a checkpoint at Omata junction, in Uruagu community, along the Nnewi Oba road.
He said: “The manhunt operation led by Assistant Commissioner in charge of Nnewi Area Command is already working with the locals in the area to unmask and apprehend the attackers.”
Gunmen attack policemen in Nnewi, kill one
Oil Probe: Abbas appoints new reps committee
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has established a seven-member panel to participate in the joint committee tasked with investigating alleged economic sabotage in the petroleum and gas sector.
This development comes after the recent dissolution of the ad-hoc committee previously assembled by the House to probe alleged misconduct in the petroleum and gas industry.
According to a statement by the House Spokesperson, Akin Rotimi Jr. the appointed members include the House Leader, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, who will act as the co-chairman of the committee.
Other members of the committee include Iduma Ighariwey, Gboyega N. Isiaka, Sada Soli, Fatima Talba, Tunji Raheem and Patrick Umoh, PhD.
The statement reads, “The urgency and importance of this matter have necessitated close collaboration between the Senate and the House of Representatives.
“This new structure aims to ensure synergy, a holistic approach to addressing the issues, and ease of administrative coordination, resulting in a harmonized and efficient investigation.
“The Committee is expected to commence its duties immediately, with a clear mandate to ensure accountability and transparency in the sector”.
Oil Probe: Abbas appoints new reps committee
PDP appoints Oyinlola to head 25-member reconciliation committee
The Peoples Democratic Party has appointed former Osun State governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, as the chairman of the 25-member National Reconciliation Committee.
Former Gombe State governor, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, has been appointed as the secretary of the committee.
The PDP has been grappling with internal discord since last year’s general elections, where they were defeated by the ruling All Progressives Congress.
In a statement issued on Friday by National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP announced that the inauguration of the newly formed reconciliation committee will take place at a later date.
Ologunagba explained that the National Working Committee took this action after receiving approval from the National Executive Committee for the PDP NEC’s constitution.
The statement also noted that Chief Anicho Okoro has been appointed as the committee’s Administrative Secretary.
Other members of the committee include Chibudom Nwuche, Alhaji Bello Tafidan Gusau, Senator Ben Ndi Obi, Senator Tunde Ogbeha, Senator Shuaibu Isa Lau, Dr. Esther Uduehi, Senator Zainab Kure, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, Alhaja Mutia Olayinka Ladoja, Dr. Abimbola Ogunkelu, and Ude Oko-Chukwu.
Also included are Dr. Boyelayefa Debekem, Chief Emmanuel Ogidi, Dr. Eddy Olafeso, Chief Dan Ulasi, Abdulsamad Dasuki, Segun Showunmi, Amina B.B. Faruk, Alhaji Hamza Akuyan Koshe, Mike Ikoku, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, and Bisi Fakayode.
The statement read in part, “The committee will be inaugurated on a date to be communicated in due course.
“The NWC charges all leaders, critical stakeholders, and teeming members of the PDP to remain focused and committed to the vision, principles, and aspirations of our great party in the overall interest of the growth, development, and stability of the PDP and the nation.”
ECOWAS defence chiefs move to return Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger
The Chiefs of Defence Staff in West Africa on Friday, called for the return of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso to the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa, made the call when he led other ECOWAS defence chiefs on a Friday visit to the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, NCTC, in Abuja.
Musa, the Chairman of the ECOWAS Committee of Defence Chiefs, said the return of the three countries to the regional bloc was necessary to defeat the insecurity ravaging the region, especially insurgency.
He said that efforts were ongoing on their part to ensure that the three countries were back, adding that all hands must be on deck to curtail insecurity in West Africa.
“For us, we feel without security, there can’t be progress and the threats we are facing, especially on insurgency, are high.
“We think it is very important that we need to partner together to achieve success. No country can do it alone, and that’s why it’s important.
“We know we have three countries that have decided to step aside.
“We are making all efforts to ensure that they come back to the fold because we know even they, on their own, cannot withstand this.
“We know the relevance that if they fall, it will also drag us down and that is why it is important for us as West Africans to continue to work together,’’ he said.
The CDS appreciated the National Coordinator of NCTC, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, for doing a wonderful job in the nation’s counter-terrorism efforts.
ECOWAS defence chiefs move to return Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger
