By Deborah Coker

The Police Command in Edo on Wednesday said that it had arrested five kidnap suspects in Ahon community bushes on the Benin/Lagos Road.

CP Philip Ogbadu, Commissioner of Police in the state, made this known when he paid a courtesy visit to Mr George Edem, Commandant, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at the corps command headquarters, in Benin.

Ogbadu said that the arrest followed a bush combing after the command received a distress call from the area.

He stressed the need for collaboration and support among sister security agencies to make their job in the state easier.

He said that the duties of security agencies were inter woven hence the need for interaction in the course of carrying out their responsibilities.

“We are here to serve the people of Edo, so there is need for joint service for the good of the people.

“I have tried to make impact and a difference in the last 21 days after assuming office as the CP in the state.

“After the #EndSARS the morale of people became low but, we need to inject life into it,” he said.

The CP also harped on the need for security chiefs to talk to their personel to avoid friction and clashes while carrying out their duties.

“We are brothers, so let us not clash. We will encourage our personel as much as possible,” Ogbadu said.

Responding, Edem said that the NSCDC command in the state has the capacity to fight crimes.

He said that the corps would work with the police command to ensure a more secured Edo.

Edem said that the job of security agencies was a timeless job, and gave assurance that the corps would interface on a daily basis with the police command in resolving issues among personel and other security challenges. (NAN)

By Christian Ogbonna

Three police officers with the Ebonyi Police Command were killed on Wednesday in a road accident at the Isieke Junction on Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Garba Aliyu, who confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with some journalists, said that 10 other police officers sustained injuries.

“Yes, I am in the hospital now, we lost three officers while 10 others are under intensive care in the hospital,“ he said.

According to Garba, the accident happened while the officers were returning from a “peace-keeping-mission” after a communal crisis in Ezza-Effium, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that a leadership tussle among members of the National Union of Road Transport workers (NURTW) in the two communities degenerated into a communal crisis. (NAN)

By Ismaila Chafe

The Federal Executive Council has approved about N2billion for the procurement of surveillance equipment for some airports and inland waterways in the country.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of the Council meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

He said N1.2 billion of the amount was approved for the purchase of surveillance equipment for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja and the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

He said: “The Minister sought for council’s approval, which was granted for a contract for the design, supply and installation of a long-range thermal camera surveillance system at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja.

“The total sum of the contract is N1,278,594,250. And this is in order to upgrade and provide security and safety for the Nigerian Airports Authority especially to avoid incidents on the airside and runway.”

The Minister further revealed that the council also approved N783.5 million for the procurement of two hydrographic survey boats for National Inland Waterways Authority.

“The Minister of transportation sought and got council’s approval for the award of contract for the procurement of two hydrographic survey boats for National Inland Waterways Authority. In the sum of N753,521,275 inclusive of 7.5% VAT,” he said.

The Minister, who spoke on behalf of his Transportation counterpart, said the contract has a completion period of six months.

Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo , who also spoke on the outcome of the meeting, said the Council approved N35.4 billion for the building of power stations at Calabar and Kano offices of the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority.

He said: “My Ministry presented a memo for the award of contract for building power stations on behalf of Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority in processing zones in Calabar and Kano.

“The authority received proposals from various companies and after all the evaluations were done, they awarded the contract to one of the companies in the sum of N35,411,119,169.47.

“The terms are that the company will finance 75 per cent, which is in the sum of N26,558,339,337.10, while the Export Processing Zones Authority will pay 25 per cent, which translates to N8,852,779,792.37.

“For the 75 per cent of the contractor’s portion, Council approved a pay-back period of ten years.

“The plant will be completed after 11 months and it would be operated by the contractor for five years and during that five years, they will build local capacity so that after five years, the local capacity that had been built will take over the running of the plant.”

According to Adebayo, government’s intention of the upgrade of the two zones is to create zones with world-class standards.

“The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment is desirous of making Nigeria a manufacturing hub, especially now that we have signed on to the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.

“So, by putting 24-hour power in the two processing zones, it will make it more attractive to foreign investors to come and set up their manufacturing concerns here in Nigeria,” he said.

Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite, also told the correspondents that the council approved the concessioning of the Aluminium Smelting Company of Nigeria, Ikot-Abasi, in Akwa Ibom.

He said: “Essentially, we sought Council’s approval for the Aluminium Smelting Company of Nigeria, that is in Ikot-Abasi.

“The BPE has concessioned that company and the company sought to be categorised as a power producer and as a strategic company, which Council approved so that we can start the production of aluminium in Nigeria.” (NAN)

By Deborah Coker

Mr Godwin Ogagaoghene, the new Zonal Commanding Officer, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Zone 5 Office, Benin, has assumed duty.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mrs Nekpen Ehigie, the Acting Zonal Public Education Officer on Wednesday in Benin.

Ehigie said that the movement of Ogagaoghene to the zone followed the recent redeployment of senior officers of the corps.

The new zonal commanding office replaces Mr Emmanuel Abe, who was redeployed to Osogbo.

She said that Ogagaoghene had served the corps in various capacities, including as Sector Commander, Edo, Ondo, Enugu and Bauchi states

“Until his redeployment, Ogagaoghene was the Zonal Commanding Officer, RS11 Osogbo,’’ she said. (NAN)

Plans
By Monday Ijeh
The Department of State Services (DSS) has again warned against plans by some persons and groups to exploit some fault lines to cause ethno-religious violence in some parts of the country.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Service, Dr Peter Afunanya, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Service had on Jan. 11 issued an alert of plans by some elements working with external forces to incite religious violence across the country.

The alert stipulated that the targeted States were Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Rivers, Oyo, Lagos and those in the South East.

It said the plans was to cause inter-religious conflicts and use their foot soldiers to attack some worship centres, religious leaders, personalities as well as key and vulnerable points.

Afunanya said the latest developments on the alert indicated desperate efforts by these groups to subvert public order.

He said that persons have continued to resort to inciting, unguarded and divisive statements, acts and to pit citizens against one another in order to apparently inflame the embers of tribal and religious discords.

“For the umpteenth time, the Service strongly warns these elements to desist forthwith from their (planned) nefarious acts or face the full wraths of the law.

“The DSS will, in collaboration with other security and law enforcement agencies, take necessary steps to ensure the safety of lives and property of the citizenry,” he said.

By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Nigerian Army has called on members of the public to ignore a report by a coalition that it conducted secret trails and executed six soldiers of Igbo extraction.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a group which identified itself as a coalition of rights activists and scholars, on Tuesday made the allegation in a press statement.

The Nigerian Army made the call on its social media handle, tagged the allegation as false, fake news and malicious.

A senior military source, who pleaded for anonymity, dismissed the allegation, saying it was impossible for the Nigerian army to conduct secret trial of any soldier.

The officer said the army usually set up a general court-martial publicly to try erring soldiers or officers, adding that such court-martial must have a President and other members.

“There is no iota of truth whatsoever that six soldiers were tried secretly and executed by the Nigerian army on Jan. 25 as alleged.

“The promoters of that allegation are the enemies of Nigerian who are trying so hard to instigate tribal or ethnic crisis in the country,” he said.

Also, a Coalition of Youth Groups in Nigeria has dismissed the allegation of secret trial and execution of six soldiers of Igbo extraction against Nigerian Army by a certain coalition on Tuesday.

The youth, which was superintended by the Emerging Leaders Forum of Nigeria (ELFON), stated this in a communique issued at the end of the meeting of leaders of the youth coalition on Tuesday in Abuja.

The youth groups comprised of the Youth Assembly of Nigeria (YAN), Niger Delta Youth Council, Igbozurumee Youth Council, Arewa Youth Council, O’odua Youth Vanguard, Nigerian Students Parliament (NSP), and 34 other youth organisations.

The youth called on the Nigerian Army to consider legal action against the purveyor of the fake news to serve as deterrent to other hired mischievous propagandists who are all out for the highest bidders.

“Generally, from our independent investigation, there is no iota of truth. We challenge him to produce evidence as we believe the names he mentioned are fake.

“We will no longer tolerate any unpatriotic behaviour borne out of mere quest for cheap and stupid popularity. We are poised to ensure that Nigeria remains one United indivisible country against all human machinations,” the group said.

By Ikechukwu Iweajunwa

The Commissioner of Police in Imo, Mr Nasiru Mohammed has expressed readiness to partner the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the state to combat road traffic abuses and security challenges.

Mohammed said this during a visit to FRSC Sector Commander, Mr Roland Onamusi , in continuation of the new CP’s familiarisation tour to sister agencies.

He said the sector commander would link police into FRSC National Vehicle Identification Scheme (NVIS) database to enable police conduct investigation against violators.

Mohammed assured the sector commander that police would assist in ensuring that road traffic crashes were drastically reduced in Imo.

The Police Commissioner said that his leadership would not allow any form of criminality in the state, adding that the era of criminals operating freely in the state was over.

He commended the two agencies for the existing cordial relationship between them and called for a sustained synergy.

The FRSC Sector Commander, Roland Onamusi, said FRSC had braced its operational activities in Imo to ensure that road traffic changes were checkmated.

He said the corps had introduced NVIS aimed at ensuring that vehicles on the highway were numbered.

“The job of FRSC in Imo is to ensure that the road is safe for the motoring public and to reduce Road Traffic Crashes.

“We are calling for stronger partnership with the police and other sister agencies in Imo; the visit of the CP is very significant.

“This shows that he is ready to work, I welcome you to Imo,” he said.

Onamusi advised the CP to write official letter to FRSC headquarters and request for police to be linked to NVIS database. (NAN)

By Mohammed Tijjani

Kaduna State Government, on Monday, said airstrikes have successfully neutralised bandits in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Igabi and Chikun Local Government Areas.

Mr Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, announced the operations via a press statement issued in Kaduna.

He said that the Air Force conducted armed reconnaissance over Sabon Birnin, Rikau, Kaya, Kerawa, Galadimawa, Fatika, Kidandan, Saulawa, Dogon Dawa, Ngade Allah, Kuduru, Yadi, Damari, Takama, Sabuwa and Ungwar Yako.

Other areas affected are the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari Road, Birnin Gwari town, Chikun, Igabi and Giwa local government areas.

The commissioner said the successes were achieved based on the operational feedback to the Kaduna State Government, adding that Rikau was observed to be active with bandits.

“The locations were engaged accordingly with several bandits neutralised.

“Similarly, about three kilometres south-east of Saulawa, bandits were seen fleeing from the air raid with herds of cattle.

“They were engaged and neutralised.

“Ground troops at Dogon Dawa and Sabon Birni reported a calm situation.

“All other areas covered were likewise calm with no suspicious activity observed,’’ Aruwan stated.

He added that in a subsequent mission, armed reconnaissance was conducted over Kampanin Doka, Maganda, Farin Ruwa, Nachibi, Kwasakwasa, Sabon Kuyello, Sabon Layilasan and environs.

“At Maganda, two bandits were engaged and neutralised as they tried to escape when they noticed the fighter jet crew.’’

According to him, ground troops reported bandit activities at Gatarawa, close to Rumana.

He stated that when the crew did not establish clear contact, the location was strafed with probing shots into the dense vegetation.

On receiving the report, Gov. Nasir El-Rufai was said to have thanked the troops and crew for sustaining the pressure on identified bandit locations.

Vigorous ground and air patrols are set to continue in the general area. (NAN)

By Johnson Eyiangho

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), on Thursday denied media reports that terrorists had overrun a military base in Marte Local Government Area (LGA), of Borno between Jan. 15 and Jan. 16.

Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, Coordinator Defence Media Operations, made the clarification, while giving update on military operations in the last one week, aimed at addressing current insecurity challenges across the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the Boko Haram/Islamic West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, had attempted to attack troops’ location at the outskirts of Marte, but were repelled.

The troops eliminated a number of them and destroyed 13 gun trucks belonging to the terrorists.

Enenche explained: “The story going round as it were that the base (at Marte) was taken over is not true. The attackers came in through one of the check points at a filling station.

“When they came to that check point in order to attack, the troops there had to do what we call tactical withdrawal.

“That tactical withdrawal is to move away so that they (terrorists) can now go into the killing ground.

“At times, we have to pull out and draw them into the killing ground, that is what we did and it achieved result. When you do that (tactical withdrawal), you now call for air support.

“Several of them were killed; 13 gun trucks were destroyed at the end of the day.’’

The coordinator added that the capabilities of the insurgents in the North East were being degraded as they no longer had freedom of action within the theatre of operation.

Similarly, Enenche said that between Jan. 14 and Jan. 20, troops of Operation Delta Safe, tackling economic crimes in the South South Zone, demobilised six illegal refining sites and 11 wooden boats.

He said that they also demobilised 52 Gee Pee tanks, 102 metal tanks, 17 dugout pits and 45 ovens.

Enenche said that the troops arrested 24 suspects and recovered 14 pumping machines, two speed boats and 13 outboard.

“Additionally, a total of 9,856.1 barrels of stolen crude oil and 1,339,000 litres of illegally refined AGO (Automated Gas oil), as well as 500,000 litres of DPK (Dual Purpose Kerosene) were recovered.’’

He said that an illegal refining site at Egwa Creek in Warri South West Local Government of Area of Delta, was de-activated by the Nigerian Navy.

According to him, the illegally refining site had seven refining units (ovens), 16 metal storage tanks, 84,000 litres and 105,000 litres of products, suspected to be illegally refined AGO and stolen crude oil respectively.

During the period under review in the North West, Enenche said that troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralised 35 bandits and recovered 24 rustled cows and unspecified number of sheep.

He said that they also arrested two suspected bandits’ collaborators, Mustapha Sani and Murtala Sani.

In the North Central, Enenche said that troops arrested two suspects in Plateau and recovered one locally fabricated AK47 rife from them, one in Kaduna State and one suspected kidnapper in Nasarawa State.