Okodili Ndidi and Nicholas Kalu, Abuja

 

TROOPS swiftly regained a military base from combined forces of Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram at the weekend.

The terrorists’ wielding machine-guns mounted on trucks, seized Marte – a town 93 kilometres from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital – and the military base there on Friday night.

Borno State is the epicenter of the Boko Haram insurgency.

Ground troops, backed by aerial support, ambushed the reinforcement team of the terrorists before dislodging them.

The Army said troops “tactically withdrew” to defend against the attack from outside Marte.

The ISIL posted a statement on its Amaq news channel on Telegram claiming responsibility for the attack.

It said seven people were killed, and one captured, and that its fighters had seized weapons, ammunition and six four-wheel-drive vehicles and that it burnt down the army barracks. There was no confirmation of these claims.

ISWAP, which split from Boko Haram in 2016, maintains camps on islands in Lake Chad – which borders Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad meet – and the area is known to be the group’s bastion.

However, the Defence Headquarters said it eliminated scores of terrorists and destroyed their gun trucks.

In a statement, Coordinator Defence Media Operations Major General John Enenche, said the Armed Forces would “not relent until normalcy is restored not only in the Northeast but also in every other troubled part of our beloved country”.

He added: “After successfully repelling a Boko Haram/ Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists’ attack on Marte, with the destruction of seven gun trucks by the combined ground and air operations, the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole has obliterated additional six gun trucks and eliminated scores of terrorists who were attempting to reinforce their colleagues in the attack.

“This occurred on the night of 15 January through to the early hours of 16 January 2021 as the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopter gunships engaged the convoy of ISWAP gun trucks as they approached Marte axis for reinforcement.

Read Also: Army kills 28 Boko Haram terrorists in Yobe

“The helicopters delivered accurate hits in their multiple waves of attack, obliterating no fewer than six additional gun trucks, which were seen engulfed in flames across the battlespace.

“Several other terrorists were mopped-up in follow-on attacks as the helicopter gunships continued to strafe the fleeing ISWAP elements.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria, operating in concert with other security agencies and stakeholders, will sustain the offensive against the enemies of our great nation.”

Chief of Army Staff Gen Tukur Buratai praised his forces for recapturing the military base.

Troops and hundreds of residents were reportedly forced to flee following the attack claimed by the ISIL (ISIS) group.

Also yesterday, the police said four of its men were killed and one still missing following an ambush on a convoy of officers attached to Police Mobile Force – 9 PMF Squadron, Kano by bandits.

The incident occurred on Friday along the Birnin Gwari-Funtua Highway.

Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, a Commissioner of Police, said in a statement that the policemen were on their way back to their base in Kano after the completion of a special duty.

He said the policemen repelled the attack and inflicted heavy casualties on the bandits after an exchange of gunfire.

According to him, contrary to unconfirmed reports in some sections of the media stating that 18 officers were kidnapped, only 16 officers were attacked in the ambush.

The police spokesman said the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, commended the officers for displaying uncommon gallantry and repelling the attack.

The statement reads: “Contrary to unconfirmed reports in some sections of the media stating that 18 officers were kidnapped, only 16 were attacked in the ambush.

“The officers successfully repelled the attack accordingly and neutralised the bandits in their tens while many of the bandits scampered into the bush with gunshot injuries.

“Regrettably, four of the officers paid the supreme price during the exchange of gunfire between the Police and the bandits while an officer is still missing.

“However, the remaining 11 officers led by their Unit Commander successfully recovered the bodies and firearms of their fallen colleagues while concerted efforts are being intensified to rescue the officer still missing.

“The IGP, while commiserating with the families of the officers who have yet again paid the supreme price in the service of our nation, assures that their death shall not be in vain.

“The IGP assures the citizens that the Force is not deterred and will not relent in its commitment to delivering on its mandate and ensuring that all activities of bandits and other unscrupulous elements in the area and other parts of the country are brought to check.”

 

 Kofoworola Belo-Osagie, Nwanosike Onu, Awka, Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja, Kolade Adeyemi, Jos, AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna, Rasaq Ibrahim, Ado-Ekiti

 

ALL is now set for schools to resume for educational activities today for first and second term academic calendar across the country.

The Federal Government, through the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 Control, announced in December that schools should not reopen for the second term,  following the second wave of Coronavirus.

But, states last week forced the Federal Government to agree to reopening the schools despite lack of the neccesary protocols in place like hand washing platforms, sanitisers and social distancing in most schools.

As the schools resume today, our correspondents sent in reports on plans for the reopening in some states.

Edo, Kaduna, Imo and Anambra states have, however, deferred resumption to later dates.

The Lagos State Ministry of Education also yesterday issued a statement on the plan to monitor resumption and compliance with COVID-19 protocols. The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) also warned the management of private and public schools to strictly adhere to established safety protocols in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Lagos

Director of Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr. Kayode Abayomi, yesterday announced plan by the Commissioner of Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, to visit schools in Agege, Igando, Surulere and Ikeja.

“In a bid to monitor schools’ resumption and the COVID-19 protocol guidelines compliance, the Commissioner for Education will be visiting some schools around Agege Axis as early as 7.30am tomorrow. Places like Surulere, Ikeja, Agege and Igando will be covered,” he said in a statement.

Barring any closure as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the second term of the 2020/2021 academic session in the state will last for 61 days for both public and private schools.

According to the revised calendar for the 2020/2021 academic session released by the Office of the Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), the second term is meant to run from today to April 30. The mid-term break has been scheduled for March 4 and 5. There will also be two public holidays – Good Friday on April 2 and Easter Monday on April 5.

Resumption for the third term has been scheduled for May 4, while the term is to terminate August 6.

Schools have been directed to strictly follow the timetable.

Also yesterday, the Lagos State University (LASU) said students of the institution will resume today to begin their examinations.

The university has directed that students should only come to the campus when they have papers to take.

A circular from the University’s Directorate of Quality Assurance stated the protocols the students are expected to follow.

    FCTA

In a statement issued by the FCTA Education Secretariat’s spokesman, Kabiru Musa, schools in the FCT were directed to resume with total compliance with COVID-19 protocols, school resumption guidelines and checklist earlier released for FCT schools.

Musa explained that the Ag. Secretary and Director, Administration and Finance, Mal. Leramoh Abdulrazaq said: “The Education management has always placed the safety of the staff and students as a priority as they return to their various schools for the new academic term after the festive break and has gone ahead to ensure necessary modalities are worked out for safe resumption amidst the second wave of Covid-19.”

The Acting secretary added that school authorities have been directed to leave no stone unturned to ensure that staff and students complied to all laid down rules and regulations while making use of all items already provided and close every gap for the beginning of full academic activities in the schools.

    Plateau

Plateau State Commissioner of Information Dan Manjang said schools will resume today without any delays as directed by the Federal Government.

“The state government will do all we can to ensure the safety of our students in both public and private schools,” he said.

Manjang, who spoke to our correspondent, reaffirmed the earlier directives that students in the state should resume today, urging parents, guardians and the public that the resumption date stands.

He also called on parents to comply with the directives so that their wards would resume in time for the beginning of the academic calendar, which had been released by the ministry.

    Ekiti

Ekiti State Government yesterday ordered the resumption of the academic session in both public and private schools today.

The curfew earlier imposed on the state from 8pm to 6am was also relaxed to now begin at 10pm and end 6am. The ban on the gathering of more than 20 persons was also lifted to allow half capacity of venue for events indoors.

Information Commissioner Akin Omole, in a statement in Ado-Ekiti yesterday evening, stated that clearance must be obtained from the COVID-19 Taskforce for funerals, weddings, birthdays and other large social gatherings.

He explained that the decision to reopen schools was taken to avoid the negative impacts on child health, education and development.

 Edo

The Edo State Government said the suspension of schools’ resumption is applicable to educational institutions in the state.

The government noted that the directive would be reviewed on February 1, when the outcome of efforts to check the COVID-19 in the state would be evaluated.

Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, who stated these in a statement, said the state government is taking drastic measures to limit the spread of the virus and protect lives and livelihoods.

He said the government is collaborating with communities and organisations on enlightenment and enforcements of new measures to ensure the compulsory wearing of facemasks in public, use of handwashing stations, restrictions on religious and social gathering and new guidelines for operations of markets, hospitality and transport sectors.

    Kaduna

In Kaduna State, the state government said schools should remain closed, excluding Kaduna Polytechnic and the National Open University, which requested for opening for students to write exams only.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of education, Mrs. Phoebe Sukai Yayi, stated yesterday that the state was yet to declare the exact date schools will open.

According to her, “We know that the Federal Government stated that schools can resume on Monday January 18, 2021, following the closure of schools last year due to the second wave of the COVID-19 increased cases.

“In Kaduna State, we have our own peculiar situation. Before now, we had the news through the social media that Kaduna State government had declared January 18, 2021 to be the resumption date, which we disclaimed.

“We want to make it categorical clear that Kaduna State government is yet to fix a date for schools’ resumption.”

  Anambra

Anambra State government said the resumption date for schools will be February 1 and not today as announced by the Federal Government.

Commissioner for Basic Education Prof. Kate Omenugha, in a circular to the schools, declared that only teachers and administrators would resume today.

She said every school, including the public, private and Mission, are to comply with the directive.

Omenugha maintained that before the students return to schools on that date, they must make sure that the COVID-19 protocols were in place.

 Imo

Imo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy Declan Emelumba said the state government is still studying the situation and its plausibility to know whether or not to adhere to the Federal Government’s sanctioned resumption date, owing to coronavirus resurgence.

Commissioner for Education Prof. Bernard Ikegwuoha emphasised that schools in Imo State are bound to adhere to government’s regulations on the virus.

He noted that “any private school, including Mission schools, that go contrary to government’s directives, will be closed down because the concern of government is the effect of COVID-19 on Imo children, which do not differentiate between pupils or students of public schools and that of private schools”.

The state’s National Association of Private Proprietors of Schools (NAPPS) has established COVID-19 taskforce to complement the state government in a bid to check the spread of the virus in schools.