Nigerian Army says its troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has continued to exert superiority against remnants of Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province elements, thereby neutralising a number of them in recent encounter.

The Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

Iliyasu said that the troops came in contact with elements of Boko Haram terrorists on Tuesday at Sabon Gari, a known Boko Haram criminals crossing point into Sambisa Forest.

He explained that the troops responded and neutralised three of the Boko Haram criminals logistics couriers while others escaped into the forest.

According to him, 81 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, food items and 7 bicycles belonging to the criminals were recovered in the aftermath of the encounter.

Iliyasu also disclosed that troops of 29 Task Force Brigade of Operation LAFIYA DOLE deployed at Borgozo in Kaga Local Government Area overwhelmed some terrorists killing three of them with several others escaped with gunshot wounds.

He added that one AK47 Rifle, seven AK47 Rifle magazines, 86 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, 300 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, three camel bags and one black Boko Haram flag were recovered by the troops.

Iliyasu said one officer and two soldiers that were wounded in action are in stable condition and responding to treatment in a military medical facility.

In a similar encounter, troops of 21 Special Armoured Brigade at Banki Junction in Bama neutralised one Boko Haram criminal and captured 2 AK 47 Rifles and 60 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition on Nov. 21.

Relatedly, on Nov. 22, troops of 25 Task Force Brigade deployed at Damboa swiftly responded to a distress call by some residents of Grijan Village along Damboa Chibok road.

The Boko Haram criminals who were sighted massing up to attack the Village were pursued by troops.

During the pursuit, two Boko Haram criminals were neutralized and four AK 47 Rifle magazines, 32 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, one bandolier, one military jungle hat and one locally made bomb were captured from the insurgents.

Similarly, troops of 26 Task Force Brigade deployed at Pulka sprung a successful ambush at a known Boko Haram criminals crossing point along Banki Junction Pulka road.

During the ambush, three Boko Haram criminals believed to be logistics suppliers were neutralised while conveying various food items to the desperate insurgents in Sambisa Forest, he said.

Iliyasu further disclosed that troops of 152 Battalion deployed at Firgi in Bama, arrested a suspected Boko Haram member at a check point.

He said that the suspect was apprehended in possession of one empty case of Anti-Aircraft Gun ammunition (used for making suicide vest), one tap head and some electronic devices for making explosive devices.

The spokesman added that troops of 25 Task Force Brigade also arrested a high profile Boko Haram criminal informant and logistics supplier at Shuwari Village on Nov. 22.

According to him, preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect recently supplied cows to Boko Haram insurgents.

Also, on Nov. 23, troops of 27 Task Force Brigade while on a Stop and Search Operation at Balbaya Village in Bayo, arrested four Boko Haram criminals fuel suppliers conveying 90 jerry cans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to Tetteba, a border town in Yobe.

Preliminary investigation also revealed that the suspects regularly supply fuel to Boko Haram criminals hibernating around Gorgore Camp, he said.

Source: NAN

By Rabiu Sani
The Nigerian Army on Wednesday released 983 suspects cleared of links with Boko Haram insurgents.

Maj.-Gen. Olusegun Adeniyi, the Theater Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD), made the disclosure in Maiduguri at the formal handing over of the suspects to the Borno State Government.

Adeniyi disclosed that the suspects comprised of 978 males and five females.

He said that the affected persons were detained at a military facility over suspected links with the insurgents.

Adeniyi explained that the suspects were cleared by the Joint Investigative Panel set up by the authorities.

The commander added that the detainees were cleared of any links with insurgents and certified fit for reintegration with their families and society.

The release of the detainees mark a milestone in the Operation Lafiya Dole to defeat insurgency and restore peace to the region.

The Federal Government implemented the Operation Safe Corridor to encourage insurgents to surrender for rehabilitation and integration into the society.

I call on the insurgents to surrender to enable them benefit from opportunities of the programme. Their aim for a caliphate will not be actualize, I call on the insurgents to surrender.

Let Shekau and Albarnawi to die alone, they are defeated and you should not die with them, Adeniyi said.

While commending the Borno Government over its support to the military, Adeniyi advocated for skill training programme to enable the released suspects to learn trades and engage in productive activities.

Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno commended the gesture, adding that the event is significant in paving the way to end insurgency.

It also signalled the beginning of peace in the state.

Zulum called on the people to accept the released detainees, stressing that they were proved to be free and innocent sequel to investigations conducted by the investigative committee.

He called on the military to adopt proactive measures to release innocent persons in its facilities in accordance with the laws.

Zulum said that the affected persons would be transfer to the Borno State Rehabilitation Center, Bulumkutu, before reintegration with their families and society.

The governor added that the state government would provide skill training and empowerment support to enable them to engage in productive activities.

Zulum further commended the military and other security agencies over their sacrifices and contributions in the counter insurgency campaign and peace building process in the state.

Also speaking, Ahmed Jidda, one of the released detainees, thanked God for regaining his freedom.

Jidda, who hailed from Adamawa, said he was detained for about three years at the military facility.

He noted that the military authority had adopted proactive measures to take care of their need and improvement of the well being of the inmates.

We are fed, sheltered and clothed. Nobody abused or maltreated us at the center, he said.

Jidda commended the committee which established their innocence, adding that he was happy to be reunited with his family.

Source: NAN

By Emmanuel Afonne

An NGO, Gender Mobile Initiative (GMI), in partnership with Ford Foundation will organise a national dialogue on sexual harassment aimed at curbing gender-based violence in the country.

Omowumi Ogunrotimi, Executive Director, Gender Mobile Initiative, said on Wednesday in Abuja that the dialogue scheduled to hold on Dec. 6 in Abuja, was to complement governments efforts at ending sexual crime.

Ogunrotimi said that the national dialogue was also to provide a policy direction that would holistically address emerging dimensions to the issues of sexual harassment.

The national dialogue on sexual harassment is significantly premised on our partnership with the Ford Foundation in a bid to develop a model policy on sexual harassment in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

As part of our ongoing effort supported by the Ford Foundation, we are designing a road map to implement a model from a policy standpoint while also building a sustainable campus infrastructure.

The infrastructure integrates technology adoption (Mobile Application for confidential reporting) and activities that will raise awareness and drive attitudinal and behavioural changes to ultimately improve individual and institutional response.

While we acknowledge the fact that sexual harassment is not just in our tertiary institutions alone, the focus of the dialogue is directed towards the tertiary institutions as a breeding ground for character and learning in the society, Ogunrotimi said in a statement.

She also said that the national dialogue would draw relevant stakeholders from the academia, development space and regulatory agencies with key stakes in addressing issues relating to sexual harassment in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

The programme is envisioned as a deliberative assembly where participants conversations and resolutions from the working sessions will provide a guide for our model policy draft, she added. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Friday Idachaba

President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa has constituted Governorship and House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal to handle petitions from Nov. 16, Kogi governorship poll.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by secretary of the tribunal, Mr Umar Abubakar and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lokoja.

According to Abubakar, the mandate of the tribunal is to hear and determine petitions that may arise from Kogi governorship election held on Saturday Nov. 16, 2019.

He said the tribunal will also handle petitions arising from the forthcoming supplementary and re-run election in Kogi West Senate seat and Ajaokuta Federal Constituency scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 30.

Abubakar added that the secretariat of the tribunal was located at FCT High Court, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja and called on those wishing to file election petitions to approach the secretariat. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Nigerian representatives at the ECOWAS Parliament have berated Members of Parliament from its West African neighbours over unfriendly criticisms over the decision of Nigeria to close its borders.

Reacting to questions and comments from the MPs who criticized the border closure, Hon. Idris Wase who leads the Nigerian delegation said that the critics of the closure were unfair to Nigerian.

Members of Parliament from other countries had criticized Nigeria for the border closure, accusing it of violating ECOWAS Protocol, adding that Nigeria should not stop playing its big brother role.

However, according to Wase who is the First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, he stressed that many of the countries that are complaining had been violation of ECOWAS protocol for many years.

We have a protocol, the protocol is very clear: No country in the ECOWAS sub-region is allowed to export into another country what it does not produce.

This means that by our own actions we want to be self-sufficient, we do not want to be dumping grounds, we want to encourage production.

This is not acceptable to Nigeria and I believe that as good citizens and as MPs, we should encourage our citizens to be productive.

The population we have should not just be a number in size, it should be number that can be helpful to the nation of Africa and to the world.

Wase who is also the Deputy Speaker of the Nigerian Federal House of Representatives informed the Parliament that the border closure was mainly for security reasons not economic.

He said that the fight against insecurity had been hampered by the porous borders and the complicity of neighbouring countries from where arms were being shipped into Nigeria.

He expressed displeasure at particular comments by some MPs who criticized Nigeria over delay in payment of its community levy.

On contribution to ECOWAS, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that

Nigeria has paid its dues, we have been there for our neighbours, but sadly by the comments of some of our colleagues here these countries are not being fair to us.

From the close of these borders, Nigeria has started seeing some changes in its security. These borders have not just been used for the purpose of importing goods.

From the day we closed our borders, Nigeria have now started seeing peace. I want to confirm to the World that even the so called insurgency has now stopped.

This is because the same border is where the arms are coming through, they will package rice but inside it they would put arms and bring into Nigeria.

No country would support that. If we do that to you I dont think you would accept it.

Even the human trafficking that is taking place, that is the common route. If Nigeria goes into disarray, I dont think West Africa can contain it, he said.

Throwing more light on the matter, Hon. Ibrahim Sadiq concurred that many neighbouring countries had been violating ECOWAS [protocol

He corroborated that since the closure of the borders that the level of dangerous incursion by Boko Haram has dropped drastically.

De described as unfair the situation where some countries take advantage of Nigeria and pepetrate actions that sabotage the economy of Nigeria.

Republic of Benin has 11 million population, but you cannot believe it, Benin Republic is the 5th largest importer of rice in the World. Where is that rice going to.

In other words, that rice is coming to Africas largest market which is Nigeria.

If the purpose of our coming together is to encourage local production to feed our local markets and compete favourably, then what is happening now is against that protocol.

This issue is clear, we do not need to be sentimental about it, he said.

He stressed that Nigeria was not the only country that has closed its border over security issues, saying that Rwanda and Kenya had closed their borders in the past over security.

He stressed that the borders had not been shut but were only closed to certain items, stressing that if neighbouring nations do not assist Nigeria then the drill will be intensified.

NAN reports that the issue of border closure has dominated deliberation at the Parliament from the opening Day with Parliament Speaker Moustapha Cisse Lo calling for the borders to be reopened.

Source: NAN

By Philomina Attah

The FCT Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Ayuba Gora says driving with the aid of Google map using mobile phones is a serious traffic offence.

Gora said this at the inauguration of the 2019 Ember Months Campaign by Lugbe Unit Command of the FRSC in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to him, the law forbids motorists from using mobile phones in any form while driving, as it can lead to accident.

He also informed motorists that the corps would soon begin massive enforcement of installation of speed limiting devices.

Gora advised motorists, especially commercial vehicle operators, who have yet to install the device to do so to avoid the wrath of the corps.

We will embark on massive checks of vehicles without this device soon and arrest those that disconnected the devices from their vehicles.

It is very important that all vehicles should have the device installed in their vehicles.

The required speed limit for commercial vehicles even on the highways should not exceed 90 km/hr for buses and taxis.

By doing this today, we are simply reminding motorists that they must drive with care and observe traffic rules and regulations in order to make the job very easy for all of us.

If you are arrested this period, you will not just pay fines but must be taken for emotional evaluation test in the hospital to ascertain your mental fitness before we let go, he said.

He urged the public to dial 122 or 112 in case they noticed unusual behaviour by road users and in the event of an accident.

Gora debunked speculations that the device damages car engine, saying it had nothing to do with engine, but only cut fuel supply during attempted speeding.

Once the vehicle reaches a predetermined top speed, the computer steps in and restricts the flow of air and fuel to the engine and even the Sparks that cause combustion.

Either way, the vehicle will be unable to exceed the top speed as determined by the cars manufacturer.

The problem we have with the operators of these vehicles is that, when a speed limiting device has been installed, they temper with it. In the process of tempering by disconnecting, it leads to problem, he added.

The Lugbe Unit Commander, Mr Martins Ohiani said it was necessary for all road users to obey traffic rules and regulations and avoid overloading their vehicles with goods.

Ember months usually represent the peak of human and vehicular movement which in turn attracts high rate of road crashes in the country.

There is need for us to avoid speeding and use of illegal motor parks for safety sake.

For long journey drivers, you need to observe 15 minutes rest after four hours of drive to avoid fatigue and ensure that passengers manifest is duly filled, he said.

He, however, appealed to members of the public to always respect road safety officials while performing their duties as cases of assault had been noticed and wont be tolerated henceforth.

Mr Abdulahi Diwa, Divisional Traffic officer, Nigerian Police Force, Lugbe Division called for synergy between the law enforcement agencies to achieve greater result collectively.

No organisation can achieve meaningful achievement. I pray with this, we will see the need to collaborate together by supporting each other where necessary to ensure that our roads are safe and our environment crimes free.

Mr Yakubu Abdullahi of the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, Lugbe Command appealed to FRSC to make such campaigns quarterly and not just during ember months going by the increase of road crashes in the country.

On his part, Dele Agboola, the Chairman, NURTW, Lugbe branch, pledged on behalf of members to be of good conduct, especially this period, adding that a lot of campaigns were ongoing to sensitise the drivers on the need to be careful while driving.

Source: NAN

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, stepped down proceedings in the continuation of trial of Abdulrasheed Maina, Chairman, defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTM), over his failing health.

Justice Abang, who made the remark, said the order was to allow Maina, who was in court take his medication.

The development began few minutes after the commencement of the proceeding.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) observed that when the matter was called, Maina, who was sitting with families and officers of the Nigerian Correctional Services, was assisted up by two of the officers, so as to be taken to the dock by his counsel, Francis Oronsaye,

However, the judge order that he should be left to sit where he was.

When the proceeding started, the attention of the judge was brought to Maina’s deteriorating health condition by Oronsaye.

“My Lord, my client is bleeding and I will seek your indulgence to allow him take his medication,” he said.

Justice Abang, therefore , granted the request and stepped down for 20 minutes. (NAN)

By Naomi Sharang

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the Senate, on Wednesday, rejected the Bayelsa and Kogi Governorship election results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The senators, led by the Minority Leader of the Senate, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, made the rejection at a news conference in Abuja.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that INEC had declared the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), David Lyon and Yahaya Bello winners of the gubernatorial elections.

We want to call the attention of Nigerians. We are very disturbed by the elections that were held last weekend in Bayelsa and Kogi.

We totally reject the pronouncements after the elections by INEC and we are worried about the trend of what happened during the election.

We know that the results that were announced were not a true reflection of what happened in the field.

We are much more concerned about the fact that it seems that all the gains made by the PDP in all the period of democracy starting in 1999 seem to have been eroded from the elections starting in Osun, Edo and culminating into last weekend.

We are further pained by the fact that the PDP woman leader, Salome Abuh, after declaration of result, hoodlums still chased her to her house and burnt her to dead in the clear view of security agents.

The caucus called on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Inspector-General of Police and other security agencies to immediately fish out the killers of Salome.

We hear that the police are launching an investigation but this is something we dont want to be put under the carpet because it involves life, Abaribe said.

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Senate, Sen. Godiya Akwashiki, in his reaction to the outcome of the Bayelsa and Kogi gubernatorial elections said: I dont think it will be right for the Senate to say anything about the election.

Nigeria is not a lawless country and we must obey it. The Electoral Act has spelt out everything that there should be primaries between aspirants in political parties so a candidate will emerge.

After the primaries, INEC will set aside a day for general election. Based on the Electoral Act, the elections have come and gone. If anyone has any grievances, the one knows what to do, he said.(NAN)

Source: NAN

By Tukur Muntari

A Kano High Court presided over by Justice Usman NaAbba on Thursday dissolved the four additional emirates and first class emirs created by the Kano State Government.

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje, had on May 8, assented to a controversial law establishing four additional emirates with first class emirs in Bichi, Rano, Karaye and Gaya.

But the law was challenged by the then member representing Gwarzo in the Kano State House of Assembly, Rabiu Saleh Gwarzo, at the state high court.

Delivering the judgement, Justice Naabba said the Kano State House of Assembly had violated the provision of Section 101 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, (as amended), which allows the assembly to make laws.

He, therefore, declared the law creating the new four emirates null and void, saying the petition for the creation of the emirates was faulty and did not follow due process.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the judgement, the counsel to the state government, who is the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ibrahim Mukhtar, said the state government would analyse the judgement and take the next line of action.

Similarly, Barrister Maliki Umar-Kuliya, Counsel to the Plaintiff, expressed satisfaction with the judgement.

According to him, The judgement was passed because the state government did not follow due process in enacting the law on May 6, May 7 and May 8, 2019.

Source: NAN

By George Odok

Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River on Thursday presented a budget of N1.1trillion for 2020 to the State House of Assembly.

The budget, tagged Budget of Olimpotic Meristemasis, has a capital expenditure of N911 billion representing 82.8 per cent and a recurrent expenditure of N188 billion, representing 17.2 per cent.

While explaining that meristemasis is the active cell that stimulates growth in a young plant, which in this case represented the state, he pointed out that, the budget will catalyse into existence a great opportunity for the state to put all hands and legs on the pedal.

He said the decision to set aside 82.8 per cent of the budget for capital expenditure, was indicative of government commitment that will continue to reduce recurrent expenditure and focus on capital expenditure.

On the sectoral breakdown, Ayade disclosed that the health sector has an allocation of N44 billion, education N38 billion, New City Development N35 billion while agriculture was allocated N22 billion and social housing N12 billion, among others.

The governor announced that his administration would sustain its current tax policy with adjustment.

All low income people like civil servants earning below N100,000 will be exempted from tax.

Small scale businesses like barbing saloon, hair dressing and others are hereby exempted from taxation, he said.

He also abolished daily levy of between N500 and N1000 by taxis in the state, noting that they will now pay N2000 only every month.

We must come to the understanding that indeed any state whose budget is driven by envelope size is limited in vision.

There are two ways in business and public sector management that you place your budget. It is either that your budget comes as an expression of your envelope size or as an expression of your ambition.

The prosperity agenda set for this state does not allow me the opportunity of an envelope budgeting, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN