Seven Chinese kidnapped by terrorists in Kaduna State have been rescued by Special Forces (SF) under the 271 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Detachment.

NAF spokesman, Commodore Edward Gabkwet, in a statement, noted the rescued expatriates were kidnapped in June 2022 by terrorists while working on a mining site in Ajata-Aboki, Gurmana Ward of Shiroro Local Government of Niger State.

The statement reads: “In what could be described as a daring and clinical military operations, Special Forces (SF) under the 271 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Detachment, Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State, carried out a rescue operation in the early hours of 17 December 2022 leading to the rescue of 7 Chinese expatriates earlier kidnapped and held hostage by terrorists.

“The rescued Chinese victims are believed to have been kidnapped in June 2022 by terrorists while working on a mining site in Ajata-Aboki, Gurmana Ward of Shiroro Local Government, Niger State”.

It added: “The combat search and rescue operation, which consisted of 35 Special Forces was conducted in the cover of night at Kanfani Doka and Gwaska general Areas leading to the terrorists abandoning their enclaves, weapons and kidnapped Chinese victims while fleeing for their lives due to the superior fire power of the special forces. After the successful operations, the 7 Chinese victims were flown to the 271 NAF Detachment Medical Centre for evaluation were 2 of the victims were stabilized.

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“Subsequently, the 7 victims were flown to the NAF Base Medical Hospital, Kaduna for further medical investigations.

“The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao has since congratulated the Commander of the 271 NAF Detachment, Birnin Gwari and his men for their continued determination and commitment, even in the face of danger, as they make inroad into the final fringes of terrorists’ enclaves in Kaduna State and the Northwest in general.

“He said: ‘I am very proud of what our Special Forces in Birnin Gwari and elsewhere have continued to achieve and I remain confident that we will soon free all areas of terrorists and their activities.’ Air Marshal Amao also enjoined Nigerians to continue to support the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies by providing useful information that will lead to the assist of criminal elements and those supporting them”.

Commercial activities were temporarily paralysed in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Saturday when youths, women, elders walked on major streets to sensitise the people on the need to vote for the party’s Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Kassim Shettima.

The walk held under the auspices of Tinubu Independent Action Movement (TIAM) began simultaneously at the Fisawaye round about and the Ilesha garage and terminated at the Akure town hall where a rally was held.

Deputy Senate Whip Ajayi Boroffice, former Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Tayo Alasoadura and a former governorship aspirant of the APC, Chief Olusola Oke, were among the leaders that led the walk for Tinubu.

Speaking at rally, Boroffice urged the people to commence door to door campaign for Tinubu.

He explained that the road walk was to show that Ondo State remained a stronghold for Tinubu.

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According to him: ” We belive that there must be rally activities in the state. We want to be on the move. This is our turn to produce the president. We want to mobilise our people. We want to sensitise the people. Ondo is the cradle of progressives politics. We cannot come last this time. We want to win Ondo with a landslide victory. The people should trust us and trust Tinubu. They know what Tinubu did in Lagos. I know Tinubu will do it and he will do it.”

Oke.told the crowd that Tinubu would produce a clean Nigeria and a prosperous nation.

“Asiwaju is our own. We are sure he will turn things around as he did in Lagos. We believe he has the capacity and vision to lift this country. He has the energy. That is why some leaders came together to organise this rally to awaken our people. We want the APC at the centre. We will rally round Tinubu to secure victory for him. He understand the economy. He brought prosperity to Lagos State.”

Alasoadura said the target was to mobilise massively for Tinubu’s victory in 2023.

Alasoadura said the APC would win with a landslide victory in the state.

“We lost the presidential election in 2019 and that will not happen again.The APC will win well in Ondo State. We are confident Tinubu will win the election and as such we do not want to lack behind.”

To ensure a hitch free transit, the Federal Government has ordered that all road barriers and diversions along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway be removed.

With the development, the contractors handling the project are to leave site and suspend all ongoing construction works in the axis until January 2023.

The FG also urged motorists and other road users plying the route to exercise caution while trying to maximise speed on the newly opened road which is almost complete.

Carrying out the directive on Section two of the road, which spans Sagamu Interchange to Ojoo, Ibadan, Ogun Controller of Works, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mrs Forosola Oloyede said the partial opening of the road was to enable users have easier motorable experience this festive period.

Oloyede also supervised the removal of crash barriers and other diversion points for the free flow of traffic on the Soka area, Sanyo Ibadan.

According to Oloyede, who is also the engineer representative of the section two of the Lagos-Ibadan dual carriage way project, the removal of the barriers was done in accordance with the directive from the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Raji Fashola.

The Minister had ordered that all barriers on Federal Roads where construction works are ongoing should be removed for free flow of traffic for the yuletide.

She noted that the removal of the barriers on the section two, would enhance smooth traffic on the entire road stretch, urging motorist not to be tempted to drive above speed limit as a result of the road smoothness.

Oloyede further disclosed that five pedestrian bridges would be construction on the section two of the road, saying work on the pedestrian bridges would soon commence.

On the completion date, the Ogun Controller of Works said “Initially the project was scheduled to be completed by this December 2022 but we couldn’t keep to that date due to some hiccups beyond our control.

“But I can assure you that this project will be completed by March 31, 2023.

Mr Naor Narkis, the project manager, Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) handling the project, said the work has reached 85 per cent completion stage.

He assured Nigerians, especially motorists plying the road that his company would deliver the project by March, 2023.

Narkis hinted that RCC will by the Minister directive be on break to allow its workers go for Christmas and New Year holiday, “but we will resume work by January 2023, to complete the project.

Speaking on behalf of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Mr Adelaja Ogungbemi, enjoined motorists to obey traffic rules and regulations during the yuletide.

“Motorists and other road users should make efforts to drive safely on the road, such efforts should include consciousness.

“They should know that the road is not a place where you will not be serious because driving during this yuletide period require that you should know that there are dangers inherent on the road and have to be careful,” Ogungbemi said.

The FRSC officer urged motorists to always be patient while on the road, “they shouldn’t involve in speeding, overloading and make use of good tyres.”

He further said that FRSC has intensified its patrol on roads and that patrol vehicles of the commission wouldn’t be stationed not more that seven kilometers apart, to enable its officers respond timely in case of any crash.

A cross section of motorists commended the federal government and the construction company handling the project for removing what they described as ‘obstruction’.

They appreciated government for listening to road users’ complains about gridlock on the Ibadan tollgate – Sawmill Onipepeye bridge axis.

Mr Rotimi Adeniyi, a taxi driver plying Tollgate – Iwo Road route, said removal of the barriers would improve his business as he would be able to drive on smooth road without traffic, thereby make more money.

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Another motorist, John Olayemi, a commercial driver, plying Lagos-Ibadan route, said removal of barriers on section one and two of the road would make him and other commercial drivers on the road, spend less hours on the road.

Olayemi who expressed joy over the new development, implored the contractor handling the project to ensure that it delivers quality job to enable the road to last longer.

On her part, Mrs Eunice Ogunsola, a civil servant residing at Soka area of Ibadan, said the new development, henceforth, would make her to get to work, at the state secretariat, saying it hasn’t be ease for her in the last two months.

“We thank FG and RCC for removing the barriers, at least it will lessen our pains and that of other road users. Before, we spent hours in the gridlock caused by the obstruction,, but now things have improved” Ogunsola said.