September 11, 2024

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Defence/Security

Counterterrorism:  Nigerian Army to strengthen ties with Turkey

 

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Army and its Turkish counterpart have pledged to strengthen bilateral relations through the Defence Industrial Corporations of both countries as part of efforts to tackle terrorism.

The commitment was disclosed on Thursday when the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Hidayet Bayraktar paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, at the Army Headquarters, Abuja.

This is contained in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Thursday in Abuja.

The Turkish Ambassador, Bayraktar said that both Nigeria and Turkey were confronted with challenges of insecurity, especially international terrorism, adding that the two countries had a lot to share.

He said that the collaboration of both countries would undoubtedly curtail the activities of terrorists in their respective countries.

He said Turkey was set to partner with Nigeria in the areas of defence technology and economy, to tackle terrorism and insurgency.

On his part, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Lagbaja, appreciated the existing cordial relations between Nigerian Army and the Turkish Defence Industries and other establishments, especially in acquisition of defence equipment and evacuation of personnel on medical treatment in Turkiye.

Lagbaja said that the Nigerian army had recently received some combat enablers to enhance its ongoing operations.

He expressed optimism that the relationship between the two countries would reinforce the capabilities of their armies through sharing of intelligence and operational experience. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

Defence/Security

Turkey promises to partner NAF, transfer defence technology

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Hidayet Bayraktar, has expressed the readiness of Turkey to deepen the existing defence collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) through transfer of defence technology.

Bayraktar said this when he paid a courtesy visit to the Headquarters NAF, on Wednesday in Abuja.

This is contained in a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, in Abuja.

The Ambassador said that Turkey had, over the years, collaborated with the NAF and would not relent in ensuring that the partnership was taken to a much higher level.

He also assured that his country would not only sell defence products to the NAF but would be happy to assist the NAF develop its capacity to manufacture and maintain some of the products.

Bayraktar promised to ensure the delivery of TK-1 helicopters to the NAF as scheduled as well as ensuring their sustenance through an effective maintenance strategy with the NAF.

Responding, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, thanked the Ambassador for his assurances and noted that the NAF would leverage on the opportunities presented to improve its Research and Development (R&D) drive.

Abubakar added that the offer of technology transfer aptly aligned with one of the key enablers of his Command Philosophy, which prioritised R&D leveraging cutting-edge technology as well as lessons learnt.

He said that the support of the Turkish Government was key to sustaining the ongoing country insurgency operations in Nigeria and implored the ambassador to use his office to help fast-track the delivery of the six TK-1 helicopters to Nigeria.

The CAS emphasised the painstaking resolve of the NAF to capitalise on the prospects presented by key partners to develop and enhance NAF’s capability to effectively secure the territorial integrity of Nigeria.

Highlight of the visit include the symbolic laying of wreath by the Ambassador at the NAF Memorial Arcade in honour NAF personnel who paid the ultimate price in the defence of Nigeria. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Sports

Super Falcons arrive in Turkey, trains ahead of Antalya Cup – Twitter

By Ijeoma Okigbo

Nigeria’s Super Falcons have arrived in Turkey ahead of their participation in the fifth edition of the Turkish Women’s Cup in Antalya, the team’s s twitter handle @ngsuper_Falcons, disclosed on Monday.

“The Nigerian contingent of the Super Falcons have arrived Antalya. The team has settled down at the Emir hotels with team Captain Asisat Oshoala leading the pack.”

The team has also resumed indoor training with new American coach, Randy Waldrum, shortly upon arrival.

The nine-time African champions  have been grouped alongside Uzbekistan and Equatorial Guinea, in the same pool

The tournament, which began on Monday, is expected to end on Wednesday, Feb. 24. (NAN)

Foreign

Turkey to begin teachers’ vaccinations against COVID-19 next week

Turkey will begin COVID-19 vaccination for teachers next week, Turkish Education Minister Ziya Selcuk said on Monday.

Selcuk made this known at the opening ceremony of a school in the southern province of Igdir, as the second semester started with in-person classes in village primary schools across the country.

He said “the first dose of vaccination for teachers will begin in the last week of February.”

He added that the Ministry of Education had submitted lists of teachers to the health ministry, and their names are now being registered in the vaccination appointment system.

So far, more than 4.1 million Turks have been vaccinated since the start of the mass vaccination programme on Jan. 14 with China’s Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines, according to data from Turkey’s Health Ministry. (Xinhua/NAN)

Foreign

PKK militants execute 13 kidnapped Turks, Turkish army says

The Turkish military on Sunday said that it had discovered the bodies of 13 of its citizens.

The 13 bodies were found in an operation against the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Iraq, where it is headquartered in the remote Qandil mountain range.

According to the army, the 13 Turks, whose bodies were discovered in a cave, had been kidnapped in an incident that was not made public due to its sensitive nature.

“I wish we had been able to bring our citizens out of there safely,” Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said.

Twelve of the 13 people were found to have been killed by gunshots on the head, while the 13th had a gunshot wound on the shoulder, he added.

Two members of the PKK, who were apprehended by Turkish forces, said that the 13 had been executed shortly before the start of a Turkish military operation in the region.

The PKK has not released a statement about the incident.

The PKK is designated a terrorist organisation in Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

Tens of thousands have died in the decades-old conflict between the PKK and Turkey.

After a peace process collapsed in 2015, ending a two-year ceasefire, the government said it would not return to talks with the group.

Since then, Turkey has regularly targeted the PKK in the predominantly Kurdish south-east and attacked the group’s positions in northern Iraq. (dpa/NAN)

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