By Sumaila Ogbaje

Building Resilience Against Violent Extremism, Insurgency and Terrorism (BRAVEIT), a Non-governmental Organisation, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari over the successes of the military in the fight against insurgency.

The Director of Operations, BRAVEIT, Mr Lawrence Audu, gave the commendation while briefing newsmen on “Counter Terrorism and Maritime Safety Under Buhari: Encomium for the Nigerian Navy” on Tuesday in Abuja.

Audu said that Nigeria had made landmark achievements in various strata of the polity particularly in the area of security in spite of some daunting challenges, which he said he described as deliberately inflicted.

He said that almost 19 local government areas in the North East were under the control of the Boko Haram terrorists prior to 2015 when President Buhari came to power.

He said that the once dreaded terrorist group had been reduced to mere ragtag groups who only preyed on selected soft targets in the region.

According to him, it took the foresight of President Buhari to appoint one of Nigeria’s war tested and most decorated Generals in person of Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai as the then Chief of Army Staff to lead an onslaught against the criminals.

“Within five years the result is there for every unbiased eye to see.

“A more professional and organised army expanded units and commands in addition to morale boosting welfare for troops not to talk massive infrastructural development in all formations across the country.

“Buratai, we are proud to say, left an indelible footprint on the sands of time.

“In the Northeast Theatre of Operations, there has been a sustained push by our gallant troops, it has been one success story or another.

“Following the introduction of home-made solutions to tackling insurgency in addition to the acquisition of platforms and equipment to prosecute the war as well as training exercises for troops who are now fully acquainted with this nature of asymmetric warfare.

“Today, over 83,000 terrorists have surrendered to troops in various locations following sustained push by the military to root out remnants who still hibernate in some locations of the northeast,” he said.

Audu said the military had also improved the security situation in the North West, where bandits held sway for some times, displacing villages, killing innocent civilians and kidnapping for ransom.

He said the achievements were made possible by the existing synergy among security agencies with the massive support being given by President Buhari.

The group also commended the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Awwal Gambo, for his dynamic and pragmatic leadership that had changed the landscape of operations for the better.

According to him, a recent visit to Baga road fish market in Maiduguri witnessed a heightened activity as business has resumed fully with traders from all across the country converging for the purpose of trading.

”This has been made-possible by the presence of the of the Navy’s elite Special Operations Forces (SOFs) and the Nigerian Navy’s elite Special Boat Service – which is unmatched among SOFS in Africa, at the Lake Chad basin who have completely rooted out terrorists operating in the region.

“Baga in Borno is now safe now and people are fishing. This is the Same with the issue of pirates along Nigeria’s coastal waters where the Nigerian Navy has continued to frustrate the efforts of economic saboteurs.

“We now see pirates both local and international being arraigned in courts, ” he said.

According to him, the Nigerian Navy whose primary responsibility is to protect the nation’s maritime environment of about 84,000 square nautical miles, including the entire Gulf of Guinea (GoG), about 574,800 square nautical miles spanning 2,874nm from Senegal to Angola, has no doubt become a formidable force among navies in Africa and across the world.

“The Nigerian Navy has evolved over time, making it better placed to handle maritime crisis management, while ensuring the Nigerian Navy’s successes was complemented by the deployment of state- of-the-art technology such as the Navy’s Falcon Eye surveillance system, which was inaugurated in July 2021.

“This has made it possible for the Nigerian Navy to be prepared to effectively combat all forms of maritime crime within its area of jurisdiction,” he added.

Audu said that the Falcon Eye – Surveillance system had prevented the theft of over three billion barrels of Nigeria’s crude oil in the last four years.

He said that bringing an end to maritime-related crimes had also helped to improve the lives and livelihoods of those communities most affected by these illegal activities.

The Chairman of the group, Prof. Khalifa Dikwa, urged the government to be courageous in exposing and punishing the supporters and sponsors of terrorism with a view to finally defeating insurgency.

Dikwa said that lack of patriotism on the part of some powerful individuals in the country in connivance with some foreigners were responsible for the high level of insecurity in the country.

On his part, Mr Abba Aji, former Commander, Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Borno, said that terrorism was planted in Borno to destabilise the state because of the enormous mineral resources that the state was blessed with.

Aji accused some foreign nations for being behind the activities of Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the North East based on his experience in the battle field.

According to him, Nigeria has won the war because Borno is now has peace and economic activities have resumed in many places including Lake Chad.

He expressed concern that more than 40,000 children were orphaned as a result of insurgency in Borno alone, adding that addressing the challenge was paramount because it was another time bomb if not checked. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Queen Jodie Frank, founder JACCO’S Charity Foundation

By Femi Ogunshola

An NGO, JACCO’s Charity International, has tasked politicians across the country to play by the rule to ensure a violent-free and fair general elections.

Queen Jodie Frank, the founder of the NGO, made the call at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday.

Frank is Miss Africa United Nations 2022 and also the Peace Ambassador with Universal Peace Federation.

She said that as the election was drawing near, it had become imperative for political parties, their candidates and supporters to ensure that peace reigned before, during and after the elections.

“In politics there must be winners and losers; however, whatever the outcome of the elections, we want all political parties, their candidates and supporters to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship,” she said.

This, according to her, is to ensure peace and that no blood of any Nigerian was worth the political ambition of a candidate or party.

She urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to provide a level playing ground for all political parties and their candidates.

She said that security agencies should obey the rules of engagement and do everything possible to ensure violence free elections.

“While the campaigns are still on, it is important to call on political parties and their candidates to restrict themselves to issue-based campaign,” she said.

According to her, candidates should be able to tell Nigerians how they hope to address the myraids of challenges bedeviling the country rather than engage in mudslinging and name calling.

She further said it was time the government prosecuted those making statements capable of igniting violence before, during and after the election.

She called on Nigerians, not just the youth, to participate in the general elections and ensure that it was credible and without violence.(NAN) www.nannews.ng

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Edited by Chinyere Bassey/Idris Abdulrahman

Mr Jibrin Tatabe

By Femi Ogunshola

Mr Jibrin Tatabe has expressed delight over his reinstatement as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Borno Central Senatorial District by the Federal High Court sitting in Maiduguri.

This is contained in a statement made available by Mr Aminu Yakudima, his Personal Assistant in Abuja on Monday.

The court had on Jan. 9 declared Tatabe as the authentic PDP candidate for Borno Central Senatorial District by Federal High Court in Maiduguri, in the Feb. 25 general election.

He said the ruling, which was given by Justice Jude K. Dagat, brought an end to a long-standing dispute within the PDP over the candidacy for the senatorial ticket.

He said Tatabe had suffered a great deal of injustice over his nomination in the PDP, while expressing his delight at the court’s ruling.

He said: “I am honoured and humbled by the court’s decision. This is a victory not just for me, but for the good people of Borno Central who have been yearning for a credible representative.”

According to him, he truly care about the well-being of his constituents “and this they will definitely found in me. I assure them that if elected, I will work tirelessly to bring about the much needed change”.

He promised to bring development to their doorsteps in the whole district, adding that the PDP had also welcomed the court’s judgment and ready to comply forthwith.

He therefore called on all party members and supporters to rally behind the candidate and its Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as committed party men and good leaders. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

ODF/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says its office in Enugu South Local Government Area (LGA) of Enugu State has been attacked by gunmen, with just 39 days to the 2023 general elections.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Monday, said that the office was attacked on Sunday.

INEC had earlier reported five arsons on its offices in Enugu between 2019 and 2022.

These include arson and vandalism by gunmen on its Udenu LGA office on May 13, 2021, state headquarters office on May 21, 2021 and Ugbeeeze South LGA office on May 23, 2021.

Okoye said that the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Enugu State, Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, reported that the office was attacked by gunmen at around 9.12 p.m. on Sunday.

“The security gatehouse was razed. Fortunately, the attackers could not gain access to the main building as a result of the rapid response from the Police and Army personnel from 82 Division.

“The state Commissioner of Police and the REC were personally at the scene immediately they received information about the attack.

“Of the two Policemen deployed to protect the facility, one of them lost his life, while the other sustained injuries and is receiving treatment,” he said.

Okoye prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased policeman and the speedy recovery of the injured.

He said that while the destroyed gatehouse would be rebuilt, INEC was proceeding with its preparations for the 2023 general elections in Enugu State and the entire country as scheduled.

Okoye said that the attack was being investigated by the security agencies.

He added that a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in Enugu State co-chaired by the REC and the Commissioner of Police had been convened to discuss the latest incident.

He said that the meeting was also to design additional strategies of fortifying the offices and protecting the personnel and materials. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

OBE/IAA

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola