The Theatre Commander, North East Operation Hadin Kai, Maj.-Gen. Christopher Musa, said over 79,000 insurgents comprising combatants and non combatants have so far surrendered.

Musa made this known in Maiduguri while briefing newsmen on recent successes of the command.

The commander said that the sustained onslaught on the insurgents under the kinetic and non kinetic approaches had led to the mass surrender.

According to him, this led to need to have additional camps in Maiduguri to host the repentant that were being sorted out to identify the combatants and not combatants.

He lauded the support from the public, which he described as unsung heroes and urged them to sustain the tempo for a speedy end to the conflict.

We are really happy with the way the members of the public were cooperating with us; they see the sincerity in what we are doing.

We are committed to the human rights charter and the rules of engagement in our operations, Musa said.

Also speaking on recent success, the General Officer Commanding ( GOC), 7 Division, Maiduguri, Maj.- Gen. Waidi Shuaibu, said that within the period under review, three more Chibok girls were also rescued.

Shuaibu said the girls rescued comprised Falmata Lawan, Asabe Ali and Jinkal Yama, who are on serial number three, 12 and 20, respectively on the list of abducted Chibok girls.

The girls were rescued separately in Bama axis on Aug. 30, Sept. 1 and Sept. 2 respectively. (NAN)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

By Thompson Yamput

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Saturday said a 26-year-old drug dealer had been handed over to it for investigation and prosecution by the state police command.

Mr Abdulkadir Abdullahi-Fakai, Kogi NDLEA Commander, made the disclosure while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja.

The NDLEA today, Saturday, Sept. 10, acknowledged the transfer of Friday Momoh, a suspected drug dealer to us by the Nigeria Police on Friday, Sept. 9.

Momoh was reportedly arrested just by the gate of the Kogi State Polytechnic by the security men of the institution, he said.

Abdullahi-Fakai disclosed that the suspect was nabbed with multiple drugs including Cannabis Sativa aka indian Hemp, adding, investigation has since commenced.

The commander thanked the police in Kogi especially the CP, Edward Egbuka, for the sustained synergy, cooperation and understanding existing between the force and his agency.

NAN reports that operatives of Kogi Polytechnic Security Unit on Thursday intercepted Momoh, who was in possession of suspected hard drugs while trying to enter the main campus of the polytechnic in Lokoja.

Found in his possession were 66 wraps of weed suspected to be Indian Hemp, 4 containers of the weed, assorted charms, scissors, N52,000 cash and other hard drugs called ICE.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

By Suleiman Shehu

The Police Command in Oyo State says the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is handling the investigation of the decomposing body of a landlord found in his bedroom at Awotan, Apete area of Ibadan.

It is recalled that skeleton of the landlord later identified as Aderemi Abiola was discovered in his bedroom by some residents of Awotan community after long period of searching for him.

The decayed body was found glued to his beddings lying upward.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered from the residents of the community that the deceased was last seen four years ago.

It also gathered that the late Abiola used to come to Ibadan occasionally from Abuja and did not relate with the neighbours.

Commenting, the Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, SP Adewale Osifeso, said that the state Commissioner of Police, Adebowale William, had deployed a team of crime and forensic detectives to the residence of the deceased.

Osifeso said that the CP had also directed the immediate transfer of the case to the commands apex investigation body, the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), to ascertain the cause of the death.

He said that the scene of the incident had since been cordoned off in the interest of public health and safety to enable the detectives carry out comprehensive investigation.

Osifeso said that the command became aware of the incident when representatives from the Landlord Association of Idi-Orogbo, Adeosun, Life Forte Area, Awotan, Apete in Ibadan reported the case to the command.

He said that preliminary findings from residents and the driver licence found in his wallet revealed identity of the deceased as Aderemi Abiola.

The police spokesperson said that the investigation revealed that the deceased was last seen around 2018, four years ago, which was corroborated by his family members.

According to Osifeso, the CP called on well-meaning members of the public for assistance regarding the provision of useful information about the incident.

He said the case would be actively monitored, assuring the public that detailed updates would be provided.

Recall that people of Awotan community became aware of the incident while clearing the bushy compound of the deceased, after seeking permission from the police to break into the compound.

It was the labourers employed to clear the compound who noticed that window of one of rooms was opened and decided to peep into it, only to discover a totally decomposed body of the deceased. (NAN)

Edited by Olagoke Olatoye

Source: NAN News

By Angela Atabo

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says days of wanton manipulation of election results are over in Nigeria, as it has blocked all avenues for such.

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman, INEC said this at a Stakeholder Roundtable on Election Result Management and the Launch of the Election Results Analysis Dashboard (ERAD) Report on Electronic Transmission of Resultsorganised by Yiaga Africa in Abuja on Friday.

He said that INEC recorded a breakthrough with the new Electoral Act, 2022, which empowered it to adopt electronic means for both accreditation and results management and this made it a legal requirement for INEC to transmit results electronically.

According to him, the most critical technological tools introduced by the commission in recent times are the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal adding that while the former was a device, the latter was a web portal.

He said the BVAS was used for two principal purposes; to identify and accredit voters using two biometric modes: fingerprint and facial recognition, as well as capturing and uploading the image of the Polling Unit result form (Form EC8A), to the IReV portal.

Indeed, using the law, administrative measures and technology, the commission has drastically tackled major problems in result management in Nigerian elections.

Among the top ten of such problems are falsification of scores at Polling Units, falsification of number of accredited voters, collation of false results, mutilation of results and computational errors.

Others are swapping of result sheets, forging result sheets, snatching and destruction of result sheets, obtaining declaration and return involuntarily, making declaration and return while result collation is still in progress and poor recordkeeping.

It is clear that armed with an improved electoral act, administrative procedures and requisite technology, the Commission has increased the transparency and confidence of the public in its election result management processes, he said.

Yakubu added: I can confidently say that the days of wanton manipulation of elections results are over; yet, the commission is not resting on its oars.

He said that starting with the Nasarawa Central State Constituency by-election election, the IReV has been deployed in 105 election, involving 16,694,461 registered voters for five governorship, six Senatorial Districts, seven Federal Constituency, 18 State Constituency, six FCT Chairmanship and 62 FCT Councillorship elections.

He said that a total of 32,985 results were successfully uploaded, giving an upload success rate of 99.13 per cent.

What this successful transmission of results demonstrates is that the concern about the capacity of the Commission to transmit results from all over the country may well be unfounded.

He said that a total of 128,994 accounts have been opened by IReV users since it was launched two years ago August 2020.

He said another technical concern for INEC was the repeated attempts to break through its cyber security system for the portal but it has always failed.

Executive Director ,Yiaga Africa ,Samson Itodo ,while presenting the ERAD Findings on Electronic Transmission of Election Results in the 2022 Ekiti and Osun Governorship Election, said there were four key roles for ERAD.

According to Itodo, the Election Results Analysis Dashboard (ERAD) promotes transparency of election results management and support INEC by providing the public with access to election results from the polling unit in relative real-time.

He added that it provided an independent audit and integrity test of INECs election results management system by tracking results from the polling units based on commissions own published results among others.

He said that Yiaga Africa while monitoring elections observed some things and recommended some pathways for improving the transparency of election result management .

INEC should invest in the training of polling unit officials, with a special focus on result transmission, ballot paper accounting as well as the capturing of polling unit results using the BVAS. It will address the capacity deficits resulting to upload of incorrect or incomplete forms and blurry images.

In addition to the transmission of polling unit level results, INEC should electronically transmit and publish the number of accredited voters on the IReV. This is in accordance with the Section 64(4) (5)(6) of the Electoral Act 2022.

INEC should deepen the transparency of the collation process, the Form EC8B, Ward collation result sheet should be uploaded on the IReV portal at the close of collation at the ward level. It will facilitate monitoring and tracking of the results collation process.

INEC should increase the Amazon Web Services (AWS) resources for storing the form EC8A or polling unit results in the AWS server. Increasing the bandwidth, RAM size and storage capacity of the server to improve the processing power of the IReV portal and ensure public access to results uploaded on the portal, he said.

Itodo urged the commission to discontinue new registrations or user account creation on the IReV portal 12 hours to election day, saying this will reduce the stress level on the IREV server on election day.

He said the commission should review the features of the BVAS to improve picture quality and consider converting election results from PDF to jpeg and create options for varying quality for downloads similar to YouTube downloading options for easy downloads.

He added that INEC should introduce a form like the Form E40G for reporting cancellation of results at the polling unit, to avoid upload of documents not relevant to the IReV or handwritten letters.(NAN)(nannews.ng)

Edited by Benson Iziama/ Ali Baba-Inuwa

Source: NAN News

Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed mixed feelings on the Federal Governments proposed nationwide ban on the use of motorcycles.

The Federal Governments move is part of its strategy to curb terrorism and other heinous crimes where motorcycles are largely used by perpetrators.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in the FCT, some residents commended the directive while others advised the Federal Government to rescind the decision.

Mr Sunday Uche, a commercial motorcyclist operating in FCT told NAN that the proposed ban would bring more hardship to him and his family if actualised.

I will not be able to provide for my family if the Federal Government bans the operation of motorcycles because it is my only source of livelihood.

The proposed ban on commercial motorcycles nationwide will not only send thousands of youths into the labour market but will also affect motorcycle parts dealers negatively, he said.

Mr Victor Dawara, another motorcyclist operating in Gwagwalada area said that the ban would affect average Nigerians who could not afford a car.

Mrs Esther Udoma, a housewife and Gwagwalada resident, said the nationwide ban of motorcycles would increase the rate of crime and insecurity in the country.

It will be very difficult for those of us who reside in the remote areas, because of the bad road network.

The Federal Government should not ban commercial motorcycles because it saves time and is also cheaper than other means of transportation, she said.

Usman Mohammed, a mechanic in FCT said the ban would increase poverty and people would not afford three square meals for their families.

Mr Sani Lawal a Jabi resident, described the proposed ban as a punishment against many, for the sins of a few people.

According to him, I dont have a car and from my house to where I will get a vehicle to my office, is a far distance, I urge the Federal Government to have an alternative, he said.

Ado Saleh, a commercial motorcycle operator said the ban would affect many commuters source of livelihood, adding that, motorcycle was a major mobility for a lot of Nigerians.

Ibrahim Abubakar, a motorcycle rider said that the proposed ban would lead to increase in crime rate as many of the motorcycle riders would join the bandits and also do all manner of illegal businesses in order tomake a living.

Abubakar said that most of the motorcycle riders were men with many wives and children that they need to cater for and have no other business to do.

Bala Muhammad, another resident, however, described the directive as a step in the right direction.

According to him, many lives have been lost to the activities of some criminals, who use motorcycles and tricycles to perpetrate evil.

NAN further reports that the proposed ban has continued to generate comments including from the national assembly while the Federal Government is yet to make a final decision on the matter. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Solomon Asowata

Source: NAN News

By Philomina Attah

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on Friday in Abuja reiterated the National Assemblys commitment to curb corruption and insecurity in the country through the enactment of enabling laws.

Lawan made the pledge at the National Policy Dialogue on Corruption and insecurity in Nigeria, organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

He said that the National Assembly in its efforts towards unmasking the perpetrators of insecurity in Nigeria, had realised the need to enact an anti-corruption laws that would stop illicit financial flows which could be channeled into funding insecurity in Nigeria.

The Senate President explained that the 8th Assembly had to this end passed the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) Bill.

Lawan added that this was one of the major anti-corruption laws that saved the country from being expelled from the global body of the Egmont Group.

He said that the 9th Assembly similarly, in collaboration with security and law enforcement agencies, passed three bills aimed at combating money laundering, terrorism financing and the proceeds of crime.

Lawan said the laws, which were in tandem with President Buharis commitment to fight corruption and curb insurgency further strengthened the agencies capacity to tackle terrorists activities against the state.

The Senate President noted that the challenges of Nigerias security infrastructure were the concern of everyone and not just those in government alone.

Indeed, this policy dialogue is showing us that summarily dealing with the ugliness of insecurity in Nigeria requires more than the deployment of military might. We must look at social and economic vices like corruption, which enables and even propagates insecurity.

As lawmakers, we look forward to the eventual policy brief that will be shared hereafter to guide the nations policy direction in ending insecurity in Nigeria.

I encourage all of us to fully participate and contribute to this all important policy dialogue, as it presents a rare opportunity for a multisectoral view of the challenges of insecurity in Nigeria, he said.

Speaking, ICPC Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, said that corruption was a major contributory factor to the continuous existence and propagation of insecurity in the country.

According to him, ICPCs research and investigation findings on the subject matter shows that public sector corruption, directly and indirectly, enables insecurity, and can sometimes complement it.

He said that cases of job racketeering abound in the security sector and were under investigation by the Commission.

There are also ongoing investigations into military contracts spending.

Recently, ICPC arrested a military contractor that received over a period of less than 10 years cumulative sum of about N6 billion from the Nigerian Army in suspicious circumstances.

Some former military and security personnel are being investigated by ICPC and our sister agencies for embezzlement of funds allocated to security, he said.

He said there was a case of a former head of one of the arms of the military during his tenure deposited the sum of N4 billion from military budget into the accounts of two companies where he is a beneficial owner and sole signatory.

The proceeds were used to purchase properties in Abuja in the names of cronies and proxies.

Some of the properties paid for by his service were also fraudulently converted to his use.

ICPCs prosecution of this high ranking officer to recover all the implicated assets was strangely frustrated by a recently retired High Court judge who decided to order for forfeiture of some of the assets to the Federal Government and the rest left to the suspect, he said.

The ICPC boss added that the commission had filed notice of appeal, adding that this strange development aggravated an already bad situation and escalated insecurity and impunity.

The National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, in his remark, said the war against corruption was a war in progress with the Anti-graft agencies in the country recording remarkable successes.

He advocated for greater focus on addressing the causes of corruption, and urged the ICPC to remain steadfast in the fight against corruption.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, who also attributed insecurity to corruption, assured of the support of the armed forces in tackling the menace.

The policy dialogues and concomitant policy briefs are designed to be part of the Commissions key performance indicators in the implementation of the Federal Governments National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NAS), 2017 2021.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the dialogues are meant to deliberate on issues bordering on systemic challenges which require institutional improvement with practicable solutions.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

===========
Edited by Mark Longyen/Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Public Administration and Social Development Consult a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has called for collective efforts of stakeholders in enhancing social justice in the country.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Consult, which is committed to promoting social justice, Mrs Margaret Ibeku, made the call at a news conference in Abuja.

Ibeku identified lack of awareness and slow dispensation of justice as some of the major factors affecting Nigeria social justice system.

One of the first challenges of social justice in Nigeria is awareness.

Most Nigerians dont even know organisations to go to for redress if there is any infringement on their rights or they are lagging in the opportunities that ought to be available to them.

Slow justice system has made it seemed to be that offenders who infringed on the rights of the common man did not have consequences for their actions, Ibeku said.

She said that in the light of the above, the organisation would partner with the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) to organise a maiden Social Justice Conference and Award event on Oct. 27 in Abuja.

Ibeku, who is the Chairperson of the National Steering Committee of the Social Justice Conference and Awards, said that the maiden event is aimed at promoting awareness on citizens rights, identifying vacuum and bridging the gap to promote Nigerian social justice system,

This conference will bring together academia, technocrats, civil society, public servants, interest group, students, cultural interest and religious groups, researchers and private organizations to interact and x-ray topical issues that borders on Social Justice and Good Governance.

Ibeku said that the conference also cover issue of oil and gas, Internally displaced persons, housing sector and so many other sectors of the economy.

She said while the former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof Chidi Odinkalu, would be presenting a keynote address at the conference, other stakeholders including politicians would be invited for discussion on the 2023 general elections.

She said the body would thereafter present its white paper on recommendations to government and other stakeholders to promote social justice in Nigeria.

Ibeku said highlights of the occasion would include presentation of awards to Ministries, Agencies and Departments of government private organisations and individuals who had put in so much into delivering social justice in Nigeria.

She urged Nigerians to visit its websiteto nominate recipients for various categories of awards to be given on that day.

We are aware that some individuals, organizations, with or without support have been trying their best in the area of social justice, human rights, fairness and equity.

These bodies will be recognised and it is going to be a very transparent process.

We are calling on all Nigerians to be a part of recognising these individuals and celebrating them in the way to encourage them to do better.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen has urged mothers of school age children to invest their time in ensuring good moral upbringing of their children.

Tallen gave the advice at the 13th Anniversary of Betneely Charity Foundation, Childrens Club Inauguration and Awards to NGOs working in communities, held on Friday in Abuja.

The minister said that the greatest investment any parent could give to his or her child was good moral upbringing.

Children are our last hope. They are the future of this nation and thats why I keep calling on mothers, particularly young mothers of school age children to give more attention to their children.

The Bible tells us bring up your child so that when they grows up they will not depart from it.

We must invest in bringing up of our children well. We must invest in paying more attention to their friends, the company they keep, so that we can have better leaders and better well groomed children that will stand in the gap for us.

We need well behaved children to take care of us in our old age. To take care of the needs of the family and the society at large.

And without us paying the necessary attention to this children all our efforts and investment will be in vain, she said.

The minister commended the President, Betneely Charity Foundation, Mrs Betty Olutunde, for the great work she had done and her service to humanity.

Not just service to humanity but given more focus to children who are the future hope of our nation.

I therefore want to specially congratulate my sister Betty for the charity work you are doing.

Touching lives, given hope to the hopeless and investing more in this children in order to groom them well to bring them to be better leaders of tomorrow.

Tallen, therefore, called on all well-meaning Nigerians both men and women of goodwill to follow the good step of Betty and give hope to the hopeless, put smiles on the downtrodden, and to make the society a better place.

Earlier, the President of the foundation, Olutunde, said taking care of children was everybodys business, saying we must show love to children in our neighborhood and worship centres.

I am a member of the National Council of Child Rights Advocates. I go round advocating that everyone should enroll their children in schools.

We have this school programmewe call Community In-house Programme, where we talk to the District Heads to do homes school. Once a child is educated it reduces poverty in the society.

Joy brings peace, poverty brings war. So, we will rather go for peace, she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highpoint of the event was the cutting of the foundations 13th Anniversary cake and inauguration of the Childrens Club by the Minister of Women Affairs, Tallen. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Grace Yussuf

Source: NAN News

By Victor Nwachukwu

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) says 50 unemployed Imo youths are to undergo a one-week intensive training in goat production value chain.

The Director-General of NDE, Mallam Abubakar Nuhu-Fikpo said this on Thursday in Owerri, while declaring the training open.

Nuhu-Fikpo said that the programme was organised by the agencys Department of Rural Employment Promotion (REP).

He said the choice of goat production was informed by the consideration for the great potentials associated with goat business.

The NDE boss, represented by the Imo Coordinator of the agency, Mrs Chisara Egwim-Chima, listed the potentials to include production of meat, milk, hide, skin andmanure.

Others are the generation of income to improve the livelihood of rural dwellers, job creation, reduction in rural-urban migration and enhanced the peoples protein intake.

He said that the trainees would be trained in modern goat production technology, using the revolving model of empowerment.

He said that the Federal Government was interested in poverty reduction through job creation, socio-economic and environmental benefits, using the Small Stock (Goat) Production training scheme.

I want you, dear trainees to note that the NDE has other job creation programmes that youths can take advantage of and become gainfully employed, Nuhu-Fikpo said.

Also, the Director of the REP Department, Mr Edem Duke, advised the beneficiaries to use the training to improve their livelihood.

Duke, represented by a senior official of the department, Mrs Chikaodi Okereke, also said that the beneficiaries would be exposed to the best breed of goats and their available markets.

He further said that thebeneficiaries would receive start-up grants atthe end of the training.

He urged them to make judicious use of the empowerment grant.

One of the beneficiaries from Oru East Council Area, Mr Evaristus Ekene, thanked the agency for the rare opportunity.

Ekene, who spoke on behalf of the other trainees, promised that they would justify the confidence reposed in them. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sam Oditah

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Abuja, Sept. 9, 2022 (NAN) The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya is set to interact with principal staff officers, commanding officers and field commanders at the COAS Third Quarter Conference 2022.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Friday, said the conference was scheduled to hold from Sept. 13 to Sept. 16 in Abuja.

Nwachukwu said the conference would provide a platform for the Nigerian Army to appraise its performance in the third quarter and consolidate on its gains.

He said the interaction was part of an effort to provide strategic guidance towards enhancing army operations and administration.

Additionally, the conference will retrospectively and holistically evaluate all ongoing operational engagements of the Nigerian Army with a view to effectively projecting into the future.

Expectedly, the COAS, who is the conference convener, will declare it open on Sept. 13 followed by a review of synopsis of major decisions taken at the Second Quarter Conference.

It will also feature briefs and updates on ongoing army operations and training activities, amongst others.

The COAS wishes to use this opportunity to reiterate the resolve and commitment of the Nigerian Army to continue to discharge its duties professionally and proficiently, within its constitutional mandate, he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deborah Coker/Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News