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.

By Mohammed Tijjani

The Kaduna State Government on Tuesday said troops of the `Operation Thunder Strike’` have laid ambush and neutralised two bandits in Kagarko Local Government Area (LGA), of Kaduna State.

Mr Samuel Aruwan, the state’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs disclosed this in a statement.

Aruwan said the troops, following intelligence reports, carried out the operation on Monday night along the Sabon Iche-Kagarko Road, Kagarko.

He said the information was an operational feedback to the government, and the troops laid ambush along the route, following the credible information on the bandits’ movement around the area.

“While attempting to invade the road for an operation, the bandits entered the killing zone and the troops opened fire.

“The bandits returned fire as they beat a hasty retreat.

“After the firefight, the dead bodies of two bandits were retrieved by the troops, and the rest are suspected to have escaped with gunshot wounds.

“The troops suffered no casualties,” he added.

The Commissioner said local sources had confirmed that the bandits were indeed part of the notorious group terrorising the area.

He said following the incident, Gov. Nasir El-Rufai, had praised the troops’ gallantry and congratulated them for a successful operation.

He, however, said aggressive patrols will continue in the area.

Aruwan advised communities around the area to report individuals seeking medical attention for suspicious injuries.

“Such reports can be forwarded via the Kaduna State security operations room on the phone lines, 09034000060, 0817018999 and via email: Internal.Security@kdsg.gov.ng

“Citizens are to note that any locals found harbouring or providing medical aid to bandits with bullet wounds, will be charged as bandits,” Aruwan warned in the statement. (NAN)

By Ibironke Ariyo

The Centre for Ethical Rebirth Among Nigerian Youths (CERANY) has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa as Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Mr Chuks Akamadu, President, CERANY, said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

He described the appointment as timely, urging Marwa to strive to implement the reports of the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse (PACEDA).

This he said, would be in the interest of Nigeria whose youths were currently being hurt by the worsening scourge of drug abuse.

“With his background as a fine soldier, erudite scholar and an accomplished public administrator as well as the painstaking, rigorous and exhaustive job he did as Chairman, PACEDA, this appointment is a square peg in a square hole.

“As military administrator of Lagos State, he literally ran criminals out of town through his administration’s ingenious Operation Sweep initiative, which brought crime and criminality in the nation’s commercial capital to its knees.

“It is for these compelling reasons that a broad spectrum of stakeholders in the fight against drug abuse in Nigeria are super-excited about this brilliant choice of Buhari.

“And we are breathlessly waiting for the NDLEA, under his watch, to commence the urgent task of sweeping Nigeria clean of all narcotic substances and illicit trafficking,” he said.

Buhari approved the appointment of Marwa as the new NDLEA chairman on Jan.15, after the expiration of the tenure of the former chairman, retired Col. Muhammad Abdallah.

Marwa was Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse (PACEDA) between 2018 and December 2019 which developed a blueprint on how to end drug abuse in Nigeria.

CERANY is a voluntary civil society organisation which seeks to invent for Nigeria, a morally healthy nation, rich in the cultural-cum-attitudinal capital required to give the nation a sustainable purposeful direction. (NAN)