By Bukola Adetoye

Over 500 pupils at Ifedapo Community Comprehensive High School, Abalabi, Ogun, have been sensitised to the dangers of human trafficking.

Mrs Bosede Jimoh, Ogun Commander of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), stressed that educating children early is crucial to preventing them from falling victim to traffickers.

She explained that young people are often targeted, making awareness programmes essential in schools across the country.

The pupils were taught on how trafficking causes deep physical, emotional, and psychological trauma to victims.

“Victims suffer long-term harm, especially when not quickly rehabilitated,” Jimoh said.

The sensitisation campaign is part of a broader initiative under the new Schools Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP).

The project is funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and run by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development, alongside NAPTIP.

Jimoh said the pupils learned about trafficking for sexual exploitation, both within and beyond Nigeria’s borders.

They were also educated on related crimes such as child labour, smuggling of migrants, and illegal adoption schemes.

“These cases are common in Ogun and regularly handled by the command,” she added.

She noted the students’ excitement showed how much they valued the training experience.

Since launching in August 2023, Ogun NAPTIP has secured two convictions, with some cases still in court.

Also, 30 pupils were inducted as members of the Anti-Trafficking and Violence Prevention Vanguard Club.

Jimoh reaffirmed NAPTIP’s commitment to shielding Ogun residents from trafficking through sustained awareness campaigns. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Navy Rescue Team from Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER, has saved 99 persons from drowning in the waters of Rivers.

The Director of Naval Information, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, said the incident occurred when a barge, ADAM (Damen Buba) was involved in a head-on collision with a market boat en route Akuku Toru Local Government Area in Rivers resulting in significant structural damage to the market boat.

He said the Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER personnel, deployed to Naval Security Station 035, in collaboration with four other Navy Gunboats, launched a coordinated and effective search and rescue operation, saving all 99 passengers onboard.

According to him, most of the passengers’ goods were also salvaged successfully.

“The timely intervention and prompt response of Nigerian Navy personnel ensured that no lives were lost and most of the valuable properties were preserved.

“The Nigerian Navy hereby restates that under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, the service will continue to ensure the security and safety of all legitimate sea farers within Nigeria’s maritime domain,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Yakubu Uba

By Olaide Ayinde

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.- Gen. Olufemi Oluyede says the priorities of the Nigerian Army are to enhance the capacity of troops so as to neutralise extant threats to national security.

He stated this in Bauchi at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Combat Arms Training Week, co-hosted by the Nigerian Army Infantry and Armoured Corps.

Oluyede said the Nigerian Army would also continue to improve strategic communications, bridge gaps in the force’s assessment, sustain innovative leadership and harness the support of the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Air Force and other security agencies.

“As we project into the future with optimism, our key priorities will be to enhance the capacity of our troops.

“This would be done by infusing the necessary capabilities into our training schedules to better prepare troops to adapt to fluid situations and place us in a more favourable position to neutralise extant threats to our national security.

“However, this can only be achieved by ensuring that troops are provided with timely logistics and adequate welfare.

“We’ll not relegate the importance of the support from stakeholders in the various geopolitical zones, or the importance of ministries, departments and agencies at the Federal and State levels of government,” he said.

The COAS reiterated that the Nigerian Army would continue to effectively mitigate the security challenges that tried to threaten the resolve or the peace and unity of Nigeria.

He affirmed that the force would continue to adopt new methods in line with international best practices to enhance and sustain its capabilities as its projects into the future while discharging its constitutional roles.

Oluyede explained that the training week was more than just a theoretical or doctrinal exercise but a forum to enhance the operational effectiveness of troops across all theatres, especially those in the North East and North West Zones.

“The lessons learned in the field and inter-corps collaborations which this training week provides will directly translate into more coordinated, and impactful outcomes in the field,” he said.

Also speaking, the Commander, Armoured Corps, Maj.-Gen. Obinna Ajunwa, said that the theme of the training is Strengthening Combat Arms Cooperation in a Joint Environment: ‘A Prerequisite for Success in Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency Operations’.

According to him, the week-long event served as a forum for discussing pertinent issues affecting combat arms operations and other issues affecting the Nigerian Army at large.

On his part, Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, said the current security challenges facing the country ranging from terrorism, banditry, insurgency to communal unrest, needed a blend of kinetic and non-kinetic approaches as well as multi-dimensional strategies.

Represented by his deputy, Mohammed acknowledged that the Nigerian Army, in response to tackling the security challenges, had deployed troops across nearly every state of the federation in aid of civil authorities.

Highlight of the event was the inauguration of the 211 DB Barracks, Comprehensive Service Centre as well as the inspection of refurbished tank transporters and tree planting exercise. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Benson Iziama

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Russian Government has expressed willingness to share with Nigeria the new strategies it has developed to support the country’s fight against terrorism.

Nigeria’s Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, made this known in Abuja.

He said Lt.-Gen. Andrei Averianov, Russian envoy, made the pledge when he paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa in Abuja.

Gusau said that Averianov said Russia was engaged in special operations in 39 countries, during which it developed new methods, and was willing to share them with Nigeria to support the fight against terrorism.

He said it had been 80 years since Russia fought Nazism, adding that the security landscape had however, evolved, with asymmetric threats such as Al-Qaeda and Boko Haram now emerging.

Gusau said the head of the Russian delegation expressed Russia’s delight for being part of the fight to create a more secure environment for future generations in Nigeria.

He pledged Russia’s support to Nigeria in its fight against terrorism, while recognising Nigeria’s significance as a major stakeholder and power in the region.

According to him, Russia has been observing and learning from Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts over the years, Gusau attributed the envoy as saying.

“As brothers in arms, we are ready to assist, particularly with the provision of the full range of weapons required by the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to prosecute its war on terror,” he said.

Gusau said that responding, the CDS welcomed the delegation on behalf of President Bola Tinubu and the members of the Nigerian military.

Musa said that both Russia and Nigeria were undergoing challenging times, resulting in the loss of personnel and necessitating the conduct of special operations.

According to him, Musa thanked the delegation for the support from the Russian Federation.

Musa, he said, noted that Russia and Nigeria had long enjoyed strong ties, emphasising the need for continued partnerships in the areas of training and operations.

The CDS further emphasised the importance of exchanging instructors and students between the two countries for trainings.

“For the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force, there is the need to expand training in Special Operations and provision of requisite equipment, special boats, fast attack craft and amphibious training.

“Others include the need for assistance in the maintenance of Russian platforms and the provision of air surveillance, respectively,” he said.

Gusau further quoted the defence chief as stressing that Nigeria had several Russian-made platforms that were currently unserviceable.

He requested support through the provision of spare parts and the deployment of Russian experts for in-country maintenance or arrangements for backloading such equipment to Russia for repairs.

Musa appealed for enhanced intelligence sharing from Russia to Nigeria, noting that the Russians had gained valuable experience and capacity from their extended operations, particularly in the Sahel region.

He said that Musa also thanked the delegation for their gesture for personally delivering equipment and providing a team of experts to assist in their testing.

The CDS added that the Russian Federation had fulfilled its commitment to Nigeria as promised,” Gusau said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Editted by Abdulfatai Beki/Mark Longyen