By Sumaila Ogbaje.

The Defence Headquarters has expressed commitment to peaceful transition to new government on May 29, and assured that the military and intelligence community were ready to counter any threat to national security.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja at the bi-weekly news conference on the operations of the armed forces.

Danmadami urged the populace to discard the apprehension created by the enemies of Nigeria predicting security threats.

“Like the general elections has come and gone, winners have been announced, people are just being apprehensive to be insinuating situations that are not there.

“People have been predicting that this country will finish but nothing has happened.

“Members of the Armed Forces like I always tell you, will continue to give their best, and we are not resting on our oars to ensure that peace and security is sustained.

“I equally assure you that the intelligence community too are working round the clock just like the armed forces to ensure that there is peace and stability; I can assure you that there are a lot of follow up operations going on everyday.

“People who are at the verge of committing crime are being arrested; people who are moving ammunitions from one point to the other to go and commit havoc are being arrested everyday as it was reflected in the brief for today.

“So people should not be afraid that when they hand over there is going to be calamity all over the place.

“I can assure you that we are ready to address whatever calamity that wants to come up.

“We are ready for that, so people should just go about their normal duties and forget about these apprehension people are creating unnecessarily.

“There is no cause for alarm and everything is under control,” he said.

Danmadami also assured the public that the Sallah would be celebrated peacefully, adding that there might be one or two isolated cases, but that the military and other security agencies would be ready to tackle them. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Editedby Maharazu Ahmed

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Defence Headquarters says troops of the armed forces have in the last two weeks rescued 468 kidnapped victims and eliminated 54 terrorists in various operations across the Northeast, North-Central and Northwest.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, said this on Thursday in Abuja at the bi-weekly news conference on the operations of the armed forces.

Danmadami said the troops also apprehended no fewer than 122 terrorists, bandits, their collaborators and other criminals across the zones within the period.

He added that 30 of the rescued victims who were injured have been hospitalised while the remaining were reunited with their families.

In the North East, Danmadami said troops of Operation Hadin Kai conducted operational activities at identified Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists camps and enclaves at highgrounds, villages and forests within the zone.

He said the troops neutralised 24 terrorists, arrested 40 logistics suppliers including one female, four terrorists informant, and rescued 206 civilians.

According to him, a total of 501 Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists and their families comprising 60 male adults, 176 female adults and 266 children surrendered to troops at different locations within the theatre of operation.

“Troops also recovered 14 AK47 rifles, two AK49 rifles, one AK56 rifle, one GPMG, one RPG tube, one PK MG and two RPG bombs.

“Also recovered were 732 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 77 rounds of 7.62mm special, 19 rounds of 7.62mm by 29mm special and 16 rounds of 7.62mm ball metal links ammo.

“Also, 1,000 rounds of 7.62mm NATO  (belted), 243 round of 7.62mm x 54mm special ammo, 89 rounds of 5.56mm by 45mm special, 16 AK47 magazines, seven dane guns and the sum of N103,505 only, as well as other sundry items, were recovered.

“All recovered items, arrested Boko Haram/lSWAP terrorists, terrorists logistics suppliers, were been handed over to the relevant authority for further action.

“While the surrendered Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and members of their families were profiled for further action.

“The rescued civilians were given medical attention before been handed over to relevant authority for further action,” he said.

In North Central, the defence spokesman said the troops of Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stoke apprehended  44 suspected criminals and rescued 252 civilians during the period.

He said the troops also recovered cache of arms, 18 mobile phones, 38 railway sleepers amongst other sundry items.

In North West, Danmadami said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralised 30 terrorists, arrested 33 others and rescued 10 kidnapped civilians.

He said that the troops recovered 13 AK47 rifles, 16 AK47 magazines, 1,531 rounds of 7.62mm special, 886 rounds of 7.62mm NATO (belted) ammo, 139 rounds   of 7.62mm special (tracer) ammo, and 30 rounds of empty cases  of 7.62mm special.

“Other items recovered include 87 Detonators, 33 rolls of detonator cables, 11 safety fuses, 43 main explosive chargers, 25 motorcycles, 21 mobile phones, boafeng radios, 887 rustled cattle, seven trucks and the sum of N230,900.

“All recovered items, apprehended suspects and rescued civilians have been handed over to the appropriate authority for further action,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Benson Iziama/Maharazu Ahmed

=========

By Deborah Coker

The Edo Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has deployed 1,50O personnel to provide security in the state during the Eid-el-Fitri celebrations.

This is contained in a statement by the command spokesman, Mr Efosa Ogbebor, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, on Thursday.

The state Commandant, Mr Samuel Dan, said the personnel would man strategic public places including Eid grounds, malls, markets and recreational centres.

“Mobile and static patrol will be mounted and a stop-and-search operation will also be placed at various locations.

“The personnel will work in synergy with other law enforcement agencies in providing security,” he said.

The commandant urged all component commanders, heads of tactical units, area commanders and divisional officers to ensure smooth, crime free and secure celebrations.

He appealed to members of the public to give maximum cooperation to the NSCDC personnel during the festive period and beyond.

Dan warned parents to monitor and regulate the movements of their wards, while assuring residents of the state of 24-hour surveillance during the period. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Editedby Maharazu Ahmed

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Women for Sustainability (WfS), a Niger-Delta environmental health advocacy group, has attributed the almost disappearance of the ‘soot’ to ongoing military operations to rid the region of economic criminals.

Soot is a deep black powdery or flaky substance consisting largely of amorphous carbon, produced by the incomplete burning of organic matter.

The Convener of the Group, Ms Ibieye Batubo, in a statement on Wednesday, expressed optimism that ‘soot’ would soon be a thing of the past.

Batubo said that soot had appeared in the region following the activities of crude oil and products theft.

She said the people of the region, especially those residing in Port-Harcourt city, were happy that the military was gradually finding solution to the air pollution that had negatively affected the health of the people.

Batubo added that their investigations revealed that, even though it had not been completely eradicated, the situation was far better than what it was before now.

She commended the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, for his commitment towards finding solution to the economic sabotage.

Batubo also urged the troops to sustain their efforts to stop the criminals from stealing the commonwealth of the people and spread diseases in the region.

“While we commend the Defence Headquarters for playing a major role in the reduction of soot in the region, we say it is still not uhuru.

“We want to have an environment devoid of pollution that breeds diseases.

“We, therefore, appeal to the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. LEO Irabor, and his troops not to give in to the antics of the crude oil thieves, some of who are not ready to give up on crime.

“For the very first time, we have a CDS that has visited the region on several occasions because of the economic sabotage,” she added.

The group also appealed to residents of the region to cooperate with troops in solving the noticeable problems. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

=============

Edited by Yinusa Ishola/Isaac Aregbesola

By Isaac Aregbesola

The Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owosanoye, has tasked traditional rulers, Civil Society Organisations (CSO) and other stakeholders on supporting government in fighting corruption.

Owosanoye gave the charge on Tuesday in Abuja, at a training for CSOs, Faith Based Organisations (FBOs), Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and the Organised Private Sector (OPS) on strategies for the implementation of National Ethics and Integrity Policy (NEIP).

The training was organised by Anti-Corruption Academic (ACAN), the research and training arm of ICPC with the support of MacArthur Foundation.

The ICPC boss said that the design and implementation of NEIP identified and recognised, society leaders, religious leaders CSOs, FBOs, OPS and Civil Society Organisations as critical stakeholders.

He said that aim of the policy was to promote the core values such as human dignity, voice and participation, patriotism, personal responsibility, integrity, national unity, professionalism, and human dignity.

While urging them to own, drive the NEIP and to promote its success, Owasanoye said that everybody had a role to play in fighting corruption in the country.

He said that the fight against corruption should not be left in the hand of the government alone adding that“it takes collective responsibility to stamp out corruption in the society.”

He said the general perception that corrupt practices were solely perpetrated by the government officials was a fallacy, as there was no corrupt act that could be successfully carried out without the support of non-government officials.

Owasanoye said that most of the channels used by the corrupt government officials were made easy by the private sector and others. He said For example, contract sums are often inflated with the connivance of contractors.

“Without tackling corruption decisively, our development growth will be painstakingly slow or not growing at all.

“ICPC alone cannot make it happen, it has to do with everyone, it is a collective responsibility, the CSOs, FBOs OPS, the media and other stakeholders are gatekeeper against corruption,” he said.

He urged them not to wait for rewards, but to always report any suspected corrupt practices to the ICPC or relevant organisations to promote ‘voice and participation’.

The Provost of  ACAN, Prof. Tunde Babawale, earlier in his address of welcome said the academy conducted the two-day training programme to help stakeholders implement NEIP with a view to stimulating desirable behavioural change.

“The NEIP was adopted by the Federal Executive Council in 2020. It expresses core values and normative prescriptions for all nationals and residents of Nigeria.

“The trainees at this two-day programme are from a broad cross-section of the private sector,

“This engagement with private sector organisations underscores the ICPC’s mandate which allows engendering integrity as a component of anticorruption efforts in both public and private sectors.

“This training project has the long term goal of helping stakeholders to translate the values prescribed by the NEIP Into anti-corruption behavior,” he said.

The Wambei of Keffi, Hon. Ibrahim AbdulUsman, who represented the Emir of Keffi at the event commended the organisers  for involving the traditional institution for input because of its peculiarity and closeness to the people.

According to him, this will go a long way in solving some of the hindrances affecting the national uniity and development.

He noted that “any society without ethical conduct, which is one of our basic necessity of values and integrity, the fight against corruption will be lost.”

He, therefore. called for more public awareness on the  policy and the penalty on whoever is found guilty, adding that this could be achieved either through town hail, student and street enlightenment programmes.

“I want to use this medium to appeal to this academy to reach out to all relevant bodies and organisations for their positive contributions towards the implementation strategies.

“I therefore urge this organisation to concentrate on those values, that add to the success of our fight against corruption, indiscipline, maltreatment, sectional differences and disunity in national unity, growth and development,” he said(NAN) (www. nannews.ng)

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

By Ibironke Ariyo

No fewer than 3,298 inmates across the custodial centres in Nigeria are on death row, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), has revealed.

Its Public Relations Officer, Mr Abubakar Umar, who disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja, however said that the term ‘condemned criminal’ had been abrogated.

With the emergence of the NCoS Act 2019 which made the prisons correctional centres, the term ‘condemned criminal’ was abrogated as it is stigmatising, he explained.

He said that the service preferred to use a more friendly term of ‘Inmates on Death Row (IDR)’.

He pointed out that death sentences were not always carried out immediately they were imposed.

“There are often long periods of uncertainty for the convicted while their cases are being appealed at higher levels.

“Inmates awaiting execution live on what we call death row; some offenders have been executed more than 15 years after their convictions.

“They were basically awaiting the hangman’s noose in our custodial centres after being found guilty of capital offences.

“We have quite a number of them; as at today, we have a total of 3,298 inmates on death row. They constitute about 4.5 per cent of the total of number inmates in our various custodial centres nationwide,” he disclosed.

Umar said that some IDRs had been in custody for many years, adding that some had been there since they were arrested up to when they were tried and sentenced.

According to him, many of them committed capital offences like culpable homicide, armed robbery, terrorism, among others.

“The good thing is that we engage all of them in activities that will reform and modify their behaviours.

“The goal is to make them better citizens of the nation.

“We also make them undergo personal development programmes like anger management, civic education as well as entrepreneurship.

“Some of them, who do well and show some glimpse of hard work, industry and discipline, are recommended for clemency to the relevant authorities,” he said.

The spokesman said that many IDRs had been executed in the past before the proliferation of the activities of human rights groups and organisations.

“Currently, there is somewhat a kind of moratorium on execution of offenders.

“Before the moratorium on execution of IDRs became widespread, executions of IDRs were being carried out as and at when due.

“But with the rising activities of human rights groups, many governments shy away from signing the death warrants of these offenders.

“Though it is still in practice, it is not common as it used to be. The last execution of IDRs was carried out in 2016 in Edo.

“We encourage state governors, who shy away from signing the death warrants, to commute them into other sanctions.

“This will ensure that the toga of death is removed from them. It will also help us to properly manage them smoothly,” he said. (NAN)

By Olasunkanmi Onifade

The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Abuja Branch, on Tuesday donated food items and toiletries to female inmates in Suleja Correctional Services Centre.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the items includes provisions, sanitary pads, bags of rice, toilet rolls, detergents, izals and toothpastes, among others.

The visit was with a release order of a female inmate, whose fine was paid by the Abuja FIDA branch, with support from Mrs Sarah Dejo, as part of activities to celebrate her 50th birthday.

The Chairperson, FIDA Correctional Service Centre Committee, Dr Rosemary Chikwendu, said the visit was made out of love and to celebrate Dejo’s 50th birthday.

Chikwendu said one of such mandate was to protect, promote and preserve the rights of vulnerable women and children in the society.

“We have a list of those expected to pay for compensation and fine, we are going to reach out to those who can support in the payment of the fines.

“Reaching the Court, part of the compensation will be paid, but as inmates, you must be of good behaviour so that we can recommend you like the person that was recommended today,” she said.

Chikwendu advised the inmates to ensure they learn the various skills being taught in the Correctional Centre as it could be useful to them in life.

The Chairperson of FIDA, Abuja Branch, Chibuzo Nwosu, said their members who came to support them were from three branches which includes FIDA Gwagwalada, Niger and Abuja chapters.

She however advised governments and NGOs to continue to support by ensuring that the Correctional Service Centres were in proper conditions.

The Chairperson of FIDA Gwagwalada, Prof. Josephine Agbonika SAN, said good behaviour count as it helps in the release of the inmates from the Centre.

She however advised the inmates to abide by the rules of the centre, saying it is not the end of world.

Responding on behalf other female inmates, Nene Odinze, appreciated the women lawyers for the donation and appealed for their support by providing educational materials like textbooks and notebooks as some of them are enrolling in WAEC and JAMB.

NAN also reports that two female inmates regained their freedom during the visit. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Commandant, National Defence College (NDC),  Rear Adm. Murtala Bashir, has called for concerted effort towards dislodging violent non-state actors and addressing the security challenges in the country.

Bashir said this at the opening of the 12^th National Security Seminar of the Alumni Association of the National Defence College, on Tuesday in Abuja.

The theme of the seminar is “Application of Technology as Force Multiplier in Enhancing Peace and Security in Nigeria’’.

He said the emergence of violent non-state actors such as dissidents, terrorists and bandits who use technology to undermine peace and security of the country, underscored the need to explore opportunities presented by emerging technologies.

Bashir added that proper deployment of emerging technologies would greatly help to decimate the violent non-state actors.

“We need to be ahead of the violent non-state actors.

“No doubt, the magic technologies like artificial intelligence and others are the much needed game changers that will enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of our responses to the challenges facing us as a country.

“If we are to also avoid the experiences of the past, where Nigeria has to beg foreigners to prosecute legitimate internal security challenges against militancy, terrorism and insurgency.

“Then we need to reappraise our research and development efforts in technology acquisition and innovation.

“We need to also revamp our military industrial complex, and these efforts must be of national outlook and driven by research and development,” he said.

The commandant said the college was already involved in research to articulate strategic options for government to address national security concerns.

He said that the way to go was to embrace emerging technologies for enhanced national security and development.

Bashir assured that the college would work with the alumni association to proffer solutions to current and emerging national security and development challenges.

He, therefore, urged them to continue to provide the platform for intellectual discourse and sharing of thoughts on contemporary strategic defense, security, and development issues.

The President of the association, retired Air Commodore Darlington Abdullahi, said the seminar was organised bearing in mind the mounting security challenges globally and infiltration of Nigeria by criminal elements.

Abdullahi said the association felt the need to consolidate on the great successes achieved so far by applying some force multipliers, considering the spread of criminal activities across the nation.

He said that Nigeria should leverage technology to adequately enhance security operations.

“To checkmate use of its forest reserves and the fact that there is a limit to which it can continue to increase the physical strength of the security services.

“Thus, putting behind such terminologies as ungoverned spaces, unknown gunmen and of course, on all of such in our national life.

“We are very much aware of the research and development efforts of the armed forces and other security agencies as well as the institutions already put in place.’’

He said the pace of development as reflected by the Defense Industries Corporation of Nigeria and others should be increased. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng

Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Maharazu Ahmed

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Alumni Association of the National Defence College (AANDEC) on Monday in Abuja advocated for concerted efforts to secure the nation’s forests.

The association also advocated for the deployment of technology by the military and other security agencies in tackling insecurity across the country.

AANDEC made the calls at a news conference addressed by its president, retired Air Commodore Darlington Abdullahi, to herald its 12th national security seminar.

The seminar, with the theme: “Application of Technology as Force Multiplier in Enhancing Peace and Security in Nigeria’’ holds in Abuja on Tuesday and Wednesday.

AANDEC organises the seminar annually in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser and the National Defence College, to address, contemporary national security issues.

Abdullahi said the call for adoption of technology in fighting insecurity became necessary owing to the issue of uncovered spaces and number of forests being used by criminals as hideouts.

He said that AANDEC believed that it was time to consolidate on the successes already achieved by applying some force multipliers, considering the spread of criminal activities.

He added that there was the need to leverage on technology to adequately enhance security operations and put an end to terminologies such as “ungoverned spaces’’ and “unknown gunmen’’.

According to him, there is a limit to which the military can continually increase the physical strength of the security services.

Abdullahi noted that the association’s suggestions would, however, not replace good governance as a means of ensuring that Nigerians are adequately catered for and given a sense of belonging.

He commended the research and development efforts of the armed forces of Nigeria and those of other security agencies.

He suggested that the efforts could be increased through the consideration of private sector participation in the funding and management of the Nigeria Defence Industrial Complex.

He added that the efforts must be developed with a business model supported by state protection and aggressive regional marketing focused on local resources such as in technical education.

“The need to develop or review a Military Technology Development Strategy for the nation, especially the defence industrial base, deserves more attention now to aid self-sufficiency in defence equipment production.

“This can be achieved by developing clusters of interrelated value chains within category-based technological specificities such as the production of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles,’’ he said.

He noted that Brazil adopted the approach to prevent proliferation of research institutes.

He said also that AANDEC chose theme of the seminar to aid the development of a robust national defence industry, it’s funding and administration.

“This is considering all we have gone through in trying to manage or resolve conflicts and dealing with terrorists, insurgents, and cyber criminals, bandits and unknown gunmen,’’ Abdullahi explained. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deborah Coker/Alli Hakeem