By Ismaila Chafe
President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the abduction of some staff and students of Government Science College, Kagara, Niger State and directed the Armed Forces and Police to ensure immediate and safe return of all the captives.

A statement by the President’s spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Wednesday, said the president had also dispatched to Minna, Niger, a team of security chiefs to coordinate the rescue operation.

According to Shehu, the team is also expected to meet with state officials, community leaders, as well as parents and staff of the College.

The presidential aide quoted the president as assuring the support of his administration to the Armed Forces in their brave struggle against terrorism and banditry.

Buhari urged them ”to do all that can be done to bring an end to this saga, and avoid such cowardly attacks on schools in the future.

“Our prayers are with families of the victims of this attack,” said the president as he condemned as cowardly the attack on innocent school children.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that armed men at about 3 a.m, invaded Government Science Secondary School in Kagara, headquarters of Rafi Local Government Area of Niger, abducting an unknown number of staff members and students

“At about 3 a.m. last night, bandits attacked Government Science College in Kagara, killing one and abducting an unknown number of students.

“Some staff members, their spouses, children were also abducted by the bandits,” a source told newsmen on Wednesday in Kagara.

By Ibironke Ariyo
Journalists International Forum for Migration (JIFORM) has directed its members to comply with the COVID-19 protocols during its summit in Accra, Ghana, where more than 300 journalists will participate in both virtual and physical presentation.

The president of the forum, Mr Ajibola Abayomi, said this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, advising participants to register for the summit at africanmigrationsummit.org

He observed that there was need to maintain safety measures against COVID-19 pandemic, saying that time had come for government and the stakeholders in Africa to work with the media to further collaborate on migration matters.

He observed further that media collaboration would better the lots of Africa and evolve the necessary platform to stem the tide of slavery and inhuman treatment of Africans in other continents.

He noted that the summit — African Migration Summit — will be in partnership with the NEKOTECH Centre of Excellence, Ghana entitled: “Labour Migration: Shifting the paradigm to benefit Africa”.

Prominent African leaders; Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, Prof. Patrick Lumumba, Dr Princess Ocansey and others will speak at the summit.

Others include the Diaspora Committee, House of Representatives in Nigeria, Dr Tunji Asaolu, Nigerian Representative at the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council and International Organisation For Migration (IOM) Gambia, Ghana and Nigeria, among others.

The summit will hold at Accra International Conference Centre, Ghana, between Feb. 25 and Feb. 26.

By Monday Ijeh

The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said it had repelled a four-man armed robbery gang after dispossessing victims of their possessions in Gwarimpa area of Abuja.

ASP Mariam Yusuf, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the FCT, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday.

Yusuf said the incident happened at the early hours of Tuesday at 7th Avenue, Gwarimpa Estate, Abuja.

She explained that two members of the gang were killed after attempting to escape with the stolen items, while the others fled.

According to her, all the stolen items, including computer gadgets, mobile phones and a huge sum of money were recovered by police operatives.

Similarly, she disclosed that a gang of armed robbers also, on Tuesday, attacked a resident of Apo-Dutse, along Apo axis, stealing his belongings.

Yusuf said the robbers shot the resident dead, leaving his security guard, who is currently being treated for gunshot injury.

While commiserating with the families and friends of the deceased, she disclosed that the police had launched a manhunt to arrest and prosecute all fleeing suspects.

The PPRO reiterated the unflinching commitment of the command to ensure the protection of lives and property within the FCT.

She called on residents to report distress or suspicious movements within their vicinity to the command’s emergency phone numbers on 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653 and 08028940883.

Yusuf also said that the conduct of police officers could be reported to the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) on 09022222352. (NAN)

By Sandra Umeh

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has charged a 20-year-old man, Buhari Lawal, with  peddling 1.45kg of Cannabis Sativa (hemp).

Unemployed Lawal is charged before a Federal High Court in Lagos State.

The one-count charge of drug trafficking is marked  FHC/L/28c/2021.

The prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, alleged that Lawal committed the offence on Jan. 16.

Aernan submitted that Lawal  was arrested at Alaba Suru in Lagos State, while dealing on hemp.

The charge has been assigned to Justice Ayokunle Faji but  no date has been fixed for Lawal’s arraignment.

According to NDLEA, hemp, like heroin and cocaine,  are  restricted.

Drug trafficking contravenes the provisions of Sections 11(c) of the NDLEA Act of  2004, which provides for life imprisonment for the offence. (NAN)

By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Minister of Defence, retired Maj.-Gen Bashir Magashi, has inaugurated a 21-man committee to facilitate the reforms of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN).

The Special Assistant to the Minister on Media and Publicity, Mr Mohammad Abdulkadri, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

Magashi explained that the committee would facilitate the necessary defence sector reforms with a view to addressing the perceived administrative and operational gaps in the nation’s military.

He said the military must be refined in compliance with the current globally acceptable 21st century standards.

The minister also urged the committee to see its assignment as a patriotic call to national service and the need for its members to play their roles in defence of the country’s territorial integrity against the infractions of the insurgents, bandits and kidnappers.

According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari is optimistic that the recommendations of the committee at the end of the assignment will drive his campaign promise to return the military to its rightful place of global reckoning.

The Permanent Secretary, Mr Musa Istifanus, said the members of the committee were carefully selected and balanced to meet national representation and aspirations capable of delivering on their mandates.

The Chairman of the committee, retired Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Umar, assured that members of the committee would bring their experiences and expertise to bear in carrying out the assignment.

Umar said team work, dedication and commitment would be their watchwords within the ambit of national realities.

The committee has, retired Air Commodore Darlington Abdullahi as Secretary while some former service chiefs as well as some top serving and retired officers are members.

By Hussaina Yakubu

Governors of Nigeria’s North-West Zone on Monday pledged to explore all available means to ensure the security of lives and property.

Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State made the commitment in Kaduna at a town hall meeting organised by the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).

Masari, who spoke on behalf of the governors, noted that the security situation in the region has deteriorated, pointing out that the governors must work to ensure peace and stability.

“It is our responsibility to ensure everyone is safe,” he said, adding that communities should be adequately involved in ensuring security.

“Everybody must be on the same page. We must go back to our communities, build community relationships and restore what was lost.

“Ten years ago, the situation was not as bad as it is today, now communal life has broken down,’’ he said.

Masari, however, urged all governors in the country to take responsibility of protecting everyone, “irrespective of where they come from, ethnicity or religion”.

In his remarks, Plateau Governor, Simon Lalong, who is also the Chairman of Northern Governors Forum, urged Nigerians to learn to live in peace, irrespective of religious and ethnic differences.

“Today, on behalf of northern governors, I welcome the new service chiefs while commending those who did their best and also prayed to see the end of the insecurity in Nigeria,” he said.

On his part, Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru El-Rufai, noted that the high level delegation at the meeting underscored the importance with which the Federal Government attached to finding solutions to security challenges in the country.

He expressed the hope that the meeting will come up with a road map to end the security challenges in the country, which has affected the economy and livelihood of the people.

El-Rufai expressed concern over recent clashes in the South-West, which have raised tension and agitations.

“All of us the governors are going round, talking with stakeholders to calm people down,” he said.

He noted that security should be the number one priority of government and a collective responsibility of all.

The meeting was attended by all the governors in the zone, traditional rulers, security experts and other key stakeholders. (NAN)

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Nigerian Army Headquarters says the troops of Operation Tura Takaibango on Tuesday eliminated two most wanted Boko Haram terrorists leaders, Abul-Bas and Ibn Habib in an encounter at Pulka axis of Borno.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

Yerima said the renewed offensive operations by troops under the theatre command, Operation Lafiya Dole, had continued to inflict heavy casualty on the Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the North East.

He said the troops of 121 and 151 Battalions had on Tuesday, laid ambush at the terrorists’ crossing point between Vuria and Guja settlements along road Banki Junction – Pulka axis.

He said that three terrorists, including the two wanted commanders were neutralised during the ambush.

According to him, the troops also recovered three GPMG, seven AK47 rifles, a belt of ammunition containing 446 rounds of 7.62mm, one Boxer motorcycle and one ITEL 2160 mobile phone among others.

“Abul-Bas and Ibn Habib were among the top BHTs commanders of the Shekau faction operating in Sambisa forest and environs.

“The two terrorist commanders have been on the intelligence watch-list for some time.

“Abul-Bas was a top commander second to Abu Fatima, while Ibn Habib was the BHT Commander in charge of Njimia and Parisu camps in the Sambisa Forest,” he said.

The spokesperson said the elimination of Abul-Bas and Ibn Habib by the gallant troops had inflicted a big blow on the operations of the terrorists and further boosted the morale of the troops of Operation Tura Takaibango.

“The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, has commended the troops for this feat and other successes being recorded in the Theatre.

“He further charged them to intensify the aggressive clearance operation in order to clear the Sambisa Forest and environs of all remnant terrorists and their collaborators,” he said. (NAN)

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

Ms Chimamanda Obiekwe, the Protocol Officer of Musharak Esteem Fumigation, says no fewer than 109 Police Primary and Secondary Schools will be decontaminated to make the environment safe against COVID-19.

Obiekwe made this known in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during the decontamination and fumigation exercise at the POWA International Primary and Secondary Schools at Garki, Area 11, in Abuja.

“Basically, the essence of this exercise is to control pests and prevent the spread of COVID-19, Lassa fever and other illnesses that we do get from animals.

`’So the Police decided that all their schools will be fumigated, so that their Pupils, students and staff  would be safe; so we just embarked on the project and started from Abuja.

“Apparently, our first project is to fumigate POWA International Schools, so within the space of some days, they will start to see dead pests around,’’ Obiekwe said.

Similarly, Mr Ado Abdullahi, the Public Health Officer of Musharak, said the exercise is to ensure the eradication of all the micro-organisms that are present in the school, for the benefit of the pupils and teachers.

“We want to ensure a safe environment for learning and teaching service; so we are doing this at the instance of the Nigeria Police force.

“We just started the exercise today and we will cover the 36 states of the federation for police primary and secondary schools,’’ Abdullahi said.

The Assistant Programme Manager of Musharak, Mr Benjamin Oboh, said the exercise is expected to cover 92 Police Primary and 17 Police Secondary Schools across the nation. This will be done quarterly.

Meanwhile, the Head Teacher/Chief Executive Officer of POWA International Children School, Primary Section, Mr Bello Alowonle, said the exercise was in compliance to the FCT Ordinance ACT.

According to him, the school normally fumigate its classes and environment every three months.

“Before we resumed, we disinfected and fumigated, but today’s fumigation is special, because, the Musharak come to do it for us. We are very happy and appreciate.

“Please note that fumigation in an environment like this is very essential, especially at this crucial period that the Coronavirus and many other diseases are very much around.

“Through this fumigation, all reptiles, scorpion, viruses and others will be kept away from our environment and we will have a safe and healthy environment.’’

Mrs Obiageli Azubuike, the English Language teacher with Primary four in the school, corroborated Alowonle’s view saying the exercise is an indication that stakeholders have the welfare of the school at heart. (NAN)