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Tag: Abuja

  • Alamieyeseigha’s N2.8b hotel rots away in Abuja

    Alamieyeseigha’s N2.8b hotel rots away in Abuja

    Almost seven years after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) handed over the N2.8billion Chelsea Hotel to the government of Bayelsa State, the hitherto money-spinning edifice is rotting away in Abuja.

    The hotel was seized from the state’s first civilian governor, the late Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

    A Federal High Court, Lagos in 2007 ordered the forfeiture of the hotel by Alamieyeseigha after the ex-governor was sentenced for corruption.

    Besides the hotel, the EFCC sold other Alamieyeseigha assets in Nigeria and realised N3, 128, 230, 294.83billion; $441,000; E7, 000 and £2,000.

    The money was remitted to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in accordance with the law, for onward delivery to the state government as ordered by the court.

    Former EFCC Chairman Mrs. Farida Waziri on September 7, 2009 handed over the hotel to ex-Governor Timipreye Sylva in Abuja. The thinking was that it would be a source of revenue for the state.

    Seven years after the asset was returned to the state government, the hotel has become a haven for miscreants, men of the underworld, rodents and reptiles.

    Shady activities are being perpetrated at the abandoned hotel, which poses danger to some shopping malls and banks in the Central Business District of Abuja.

    Some of the miscreants have stripped the hotel of vital materials, which has no security.

    An EFCC source, who spoke in confidence, said: “As at the time we handed over the hotel, in 2009, the asset was worth N2.8billion. We returned the hotel to Bayelsa State with another asset at No. 2 Marscibit Street, Off Aminu Kano Crescent Wuse II Abuja which was valued at N210million.

    “We took a step further by instructing Diya Fatimilehin and Co., former managers of the hotel to provide the state with detailed inventory of assets of the hotel.”

    “It is unfortunate that nothing has been done in the last seven years. The land where the hotel is sited attracts either up to N800million to N1billion in Abuja. Yet the asset is allowed to lie fallow

    “To the source, the fate of the once throwing hotel is a typical case of how the anti-graft war is being “frustrated and rendered meaningless”

    “A former Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu worked day and night to bring Alamieyeseigha to justice but the efforts have come to naught,” he said.

    Asked if the EFCC can query the state government on why the hotel has been abandoned, the source said: “Well, there is not much we can do because we have done our best.

    “The state’s funds were looted and used to buy the hotel; we traced the loot and recovered the assets. It is left to the state to live up to its pledge to make judicious use of the asset or sell it.

    “We have been expecting a status report from Bayelsa State on how it has spent the recovered funds and the utilisation of the returned assets.”

    Upon the receipt of the hotel in 2009, Sylva said: “The Bayelsa State Government will not be able to manage the assets by itself. The fund that the state government will receive will also go to building what is called the Transparency Plaza, in the middle of the Yenagoa Central Business District, so that this plaza will be a monument that will be a constant reminder of today.

    ”As soon as the fund is accessed, we will like to ask you to come to Bayelsa State to lay the foundation of this plaza.

    “We will welcome your close monitoring of the expenditure of this fund, after all without the instrumentality of EFCC, we would not have accessed this fund, so it is only good that you know exactly what we are doing. We are running an open government; our budget is on the website, anybody can access it. We are fully committed to transparency and to partner fully with EFCC.”

    As at press time, rodents, reptiles, rodents, miscreants, drug addicts have taken over the hotel.

    It was gathered that many posh cars and Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) massed up in darkness at the hotel at night for what a source described as “nocturnal deals”.

    A concerned bank executive said: “The activities of some miscreants at the old hotel premises constitute security threats to commercial entities in CBD, including choice malls and banks nearby.

    “Security agencies and the police should have more than a passing interest in some activities at the old hotel.”

  • Buhari to Zuckerberg: We’re not used to seeing people like you

    Buhari to Zuckerberg: We’re not used to seeing people like you

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday commended the Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of social networking website, Facebook, Mark Elliot Zuckerberg for sharing his wealth of knowledge with Nigerian youths, and inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs.

    He gave the commendation while receiving the internet entrepreneur in the State House, Abuja.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said that the various meetings held with Nigerian youths since his arrival were most timely as the country was already exploring opportunities to spur development through entrepreneurship.

    He said: “Nigeria has always been identified as a country with great potentials for growth, especially with our youthful population, but now we are moving beyond the potentials to reality.

    “I am impressed by your simplicity in sharing your knowledge and wealth with those with less income,’’ the President said.

    Buhari noted that the simplicity and magnanimity of the entrepreneur, who is among the world’s richest men, had also challenged the culture of lavish wealth display and impulsive spending that had become peculiar to Nigerians.

    He added: “In our culture, we are not used to seeing successful people appear like you. We are not used to seeing successful people jogging and sweating on the streets.

    “We are more used to seeing successful people in air-conditioned places. We are happy you are well-off and simple enough to always share,” he said.

    In his remarks, Zuckerberg said he was impressed by the interest, energy and entrepreneurial spirit displayed by young Nigerians in all the ICT camps that he had visited.

    “I was highly impressed by the talent of the youths in the Co-creation Hub in Yaba. I was blown away by their talent and the level of energy that I saw,’’ he said.

    Zuckerberg said he was in the country to promote the penetration of “fast and cheap” internet connectivity, Express-wifi, that would help people create online businesses and reduce poverty.

    After the meeting with the President, Zuckerberg and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo went to the old Banquet Hall of the State House for the Aso Villa Demo Day where the three finalists, Tracology, Recycle point, and Mass shuttle were announced to the public.

    The three winners emerged from a total of 4,000 that competed on innovative and technology ideas relevant to solving Nigerian problems.

    Out of the 4,000 that competed across the country, 30 of them had earlier emerged from Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja competition.

    As a reward to the three final winners, Airtel announced N3m each for the top 3, Sahara Energy announced N500,000 each for the top 3, while Dell also announced undisclosed amount for the winners.

    Speaking at the event, Zukerberg said: “Thank you all for having me here today. It’s so inspiring to see what you have built here. This trip has really blown me away by the talents of young entrepreneurs and developers in this country, and making a difference and making a change.

    “It reminds me of when I wanted to start Facebook. I wasn’t starting a company at the time but wanted to build something to see if it will work. And that is what I see people here do, pushing through challenges, building things that you want to see in the world, if it will help the company great, if it will help the country great.

    “You are not just going to shape Nigeria and the whole of Africa but the whole world. So what I will say to the winners today and all the people that participated that I’m blown away by what you are doing, I believe in you and I look forward to seeing what you do and congratulations,” he added.

    Osinbajo said: “It’s really exciting to have Mark Zugerberg with us. I think one of the great things you have demonstrated is that it is possible to live your dream, it is possible to make your dreams not just come true but so fabulously that it will not only influence your environment but you will influence the whole world.

    “One of the things you have done is really to create connectivity across the world so that people are really able to interact across tribe, race, countries and feel as part of one family and one faith.

    “So I think that it’s one of great things that you have done. And your coming to Nigeria has been especially energizing not just for the young people but for everyone else. As you can seek I’m on Facebook and the president is also on Facebook so we are one of the 17 million.

    The Vice President also commended all the 30 winners and the three finalists for their great achievement.

    He said: “This is the first Aso Villa Demo Day but the next year will be bigger and better. I don’t know if we will be able to get Mark to show up for that but somehow of the other, we are going to keep him in the loop and let him know what we are up to and how and how progress we are making.” He said

    He said that Nigeria is going to be built and is being built on the energy, the innovation and the creativity of the young people.

    He added: “Today, Technology has created a level playing field; technology has made it possible for you seated somewhere, in your office or living room to create wealth, to create connectivity, to create all manner of things across the world.

    “So this is not like when I was 25 years. It’s a completely new day and I think that there is so much hope, so much your generation is going to do and I am certainly looking forward to being a part of that.

    “By the time I am 80 I hope that I will be in a position to have an app that will enable me follow what you guys are doing, seated somewhere in my village, enjoying life.

    “I’m sure you are going to have a great future and I certainly look forward to working with as part of the government of Nigeria to ensure that all that your talents and abilities are put in the best possible use and we I’ll support you all the way.

    “We are also looking forward to cooperating with Facebook, I’m sure that in the next couple of months we will be working out the ways we can cooperate especially with connectivity and some of the great ideas that Mark has to improving connectivity in Africa,” he stated.

  • 25.3 million Nigerians out of school – FG

    25.3 million Nigerians out of school – FG

    The Federal Government on Monday said about 25.3 million Nigerian children and youths are out of school across the country.

    To reduce this figure, the government said it plans to enrol about 2. 9 million pupils annually in four years to reduce the figure of out-of-school children in Nigeria.

    Nigeria currently has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world with 11. 4 million out – of – school children out of the 20 million worldwide.

    Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, said 60 per cent of the 11.4 million out-of-school children in Nigeria are girls.

    Adamu, who said this at the presentation of “Education for change: a Ministerial Strategic Plan (2016-2019) to stakeholders in Abuja, said only 3.1 million or 17 per cent nomadic children of school-age had access to basic education despite decades of intervention.

    He therefore said government would urgently raise the national Net Enrolment Rate (NER) to ensure that are enrolled in basic education schools in the next four years.

    The Minister said: “About 25.3 million students at all levels of education are out- of- school in the country.

    “Nigeria has the highest number of out of school children in the world with 11. 4 million out- of-school children of the 20 million worldwide. These include the girl-child, Almajiri-child, children of nomadic pastoralists and migrant fishermen and more recently the children displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency.

    “60% of the 11.4 million out-of-school children in Nigeria are girls. Only a fraction (17%) of the 3.1 million nomadic children of school-age has access to basic education despite decades of intervention. Similarly, only a small proportion of the FME’s 20120 estimate of 9.5 million Almajiri children have access to any form of basic education.

    “An increasing number of displaced children (1 million) are being forced out of school in the insurgency-stricken states. These figures suggest that the educational process has given these groups of marginalized children very little access to education.

    “For the 11.4 million out-of-school children the most urgent concern is raising the national Net Enrolment Rate (NER) to ensure that all of them are enrolled in basic education schools in the next four years. To achieve this target, the government planes to enrol, 2, 875,000 pupils annually for the next four years.

    “The FME will come up with more effective strategies for engaging with states in addressing the problem of escalating numbers of out-of-school children including where necessary, the use of targeted funding that deliberately addresses the factors of exclusion.”

    Adamu said the government would renovate the schools destroyed by Boko Haram and construct additional 71, 875 classrooms annually for the next four years to accommodate the pupils.

    The minister also said the government would provide additional 71, 875 qualified teachers through the deployment of the 14 per cent of the new teachers to be recruited by the federal government annually to cater for the anticipated increase in pupils’ enrolment.

    “The government will renovate the schools destroyed by Boko Haram and construct additional 71, 875 classrooms annually for the next four years to accommodate the anticipated increase in enrollment of out-of-school children.

    “Provide additional 71, 875 qualified teachers through the deployment of the 14% of the new teachers to be recruited by the federal government annually to cater for the anticipated increase in pupils’ enrolment.

    “Raise the current enrolment of girls in the basic education schools by 1.5 million girls annually for the next four years if the 6 million girls currently out of school are to be provided with access to basic education as required by the UBE law.

    “Deploy 37, 500 qualified female teachers, (or 7.5% of the 500,000 new teachers to be recruited by the federal government annually), to serve as role models for female pupils/students; and determine the amount of resources in terms of the learning materials and other facilities, as specified in UBEC’s school norms and standards, required for training the Education For All (EFA) goals,” he added.

    Earlier, Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwukah, said the education sector needed strengthening for Nigeria to meet goal four of the SDG.

    According to Anwukah, the efficient and effective implementation of the Strategic Plan when finalized by all levels of governments and stakeholders would offer Nigerians the means to optimize opportunities, create solutions and find new paths to a better future.

    He said: “For Nigeria to meet the targets of the SDG 4, the education sector needs strengthening, our dilapidated schools must be provided with befitting infrastructure to become learner-friendly for all learners, including girls, the vulnerable and those with special needs.

    “We must recruit and re-train existing teachers for quality delivery. Every child, girl or boy must not only enroll in school but must complete the full cycle of basic education and must be seen to learn. Our tertiary institutions must be citadels of learning that foster innovation to meet the needs of the workforce, strengthen research capacities and advance knowledge by increasing higher education opportunities for young people.

    “It is important also to say that education for change must meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet the needs of their own times.”

     

     

  • I’m not aware NFF engaged foreign coach- Dalung

    I’m not aware NFF engaged foreign coach- Dalung

    *Faults NFF’s treatment to Siasia

    *Dalung: Nigeria still need Siasia

    The Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, on Tuesday declared that he was not officially aware of the appointment of a new foreign coach for the Super Eagles by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    ‎‎Despite Dalung’s preference for a local coach, the NFF had few weeks back selected a German, Gernot Rohr, to manage the Super Eagles.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after briefing President Muhammadu Buhari on the nation’s outing at the ‎just concluded Olympics in Rio, Brazil, Dalung said that he wished the new coach the best of luck even though NFF has not informed him of Rohr’s appointment.

    According to him, he begged the President to host the Nigerian contingent to the Olympics Games in Rio, Brazil, despite winning only one bronze medal in football and coming 78th on the medals table.

    He said that Coach ‎Samson Siasia that handled the football team that won the bronze medal at the Olympics, has not resigned as been speculated in the media even though his contract with the NFF had lapsed.

    The Minister also faulted the treatment by NFF to Siasia, which withdrew his official car in Abuja while struggling to secure a medal for the country in Rio.

    Nigeria, he said, still needed Siasia for football development, as he pushed for his engagement on personal capacity if the NFF would not re-engage him.

    He said that it would be sad to have someone like Siasia leave Nigeria to go and represent another country out of frustration, just like many athletes did at the Rio Olympics.

    Dalung also exonerated  Siasia and his team over the $390, 000 donation by a Japanese surgeon.

    After meeting the donor in Rio, the Minister said that he was convinced there were no strings attached to the donation like match-fixing.

    He however attributed the abysmal outing of the Nigerian Olympic contingent to late release of funds and inability to develop home-grown talents, noting that many athletes in the continent that performed relatively better were home-trained.

    He pointed out that it was time to revisit the basic architecture of sports in the country, stressing that “we need to go back to grassroots” and groom talents for future competitions.

    Replying his critics, he said, that he was not the problem of Nigerian sports as abysmal performance predates his appointment.

    According to him, the National Sports Commission (NSC) was necessary but was unfortunately scrapped by a government committee that recommended merger of ministries.‎

  • NAS helps Abuja IDPs

    The National Association of Seadogs has started distributing  medical and relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in New Kuchingoro and Waru IDP camps in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The initiative, according to Vice President of the Association, Uzor Ziko, aligns with the NAS key objective of positively impacting the communities we operate and is aimed at ameliorating the pains and suffering of families affected by insecurity and violence in the North East.

    He said, “We have identified and are concerned about these communities of displaced people who find their limited resources quickly depleted and are unable to cater for their basic needs, hence the need for the intervention.

    She further asserted that the association have a borehole project they are working on that will go round different part of the IDP Camps across the nation.

    “This is the fourth IDP camp we are visiting and our intervention initiative will continue to focus on working together with the government, other humanitarian stakeholders and donors to deliver basic assistance and support to displaced people and IDP populations.”

    Also, Director of Media, John Oke explained that the government can’t do everything alone as its needs the assistance from other stakeholder’s ýin impacting in the community.

    He further explained that Seadogs is like an old sailor and they are acting like an old sailor.

    The Medical consultant of NAS, Dr Oteri Joseph, said “this is something we do every quarter of the year in different communities. We have gone to Oyo, Bayelsa State among others.

    One of the recipient of the relief materials Aisha Garba lauded the association’s good gesture saying, “God will bless the National Association of Seadogs (NAS) . The number of lives they touched today is unbelievable, not to talk of other camps, which are 10 times bigger than the camps here,” she said.

    Another of the recipients Musa Bako, also lauded the NAS’s philanthropic gesture and appealed to other prominent Nigerians to emulate the good deeds.

    Dangote Foundation recently provided succour to the victims of Nepal’s disastrous earthquake by donating $1 million to the government and people of that country. The amount was in line with its mandate to provide relief in times of disaster, with a message that the Chairman of the Foundation, Aliko Dangote, and the people of Nigeria shared in that country’s moment of grief.

    The Dangote Foundation has been touching lives both within and outside the shores of Nigeria since its establishment in 1993, providing opportunities for social and economic transformation through investments and interventions that improve and promote health, education and broaden economic empowerment opportunities.

    Aliko Dangote endowed the Foundation with $1.35 billion in March 2014 to ensure that the Foundation had secure and steady funding to carry out its mission and significantly scales up its work both within and outside the shores of the country.

  • Humanitarian crisis: FG to partner Rock Star artist

    Humanitarian crisis: FG to partner Rock Star artist

    *Famous Irish artist commends Buhari’s social investment programmes, transparency

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday said that the Federal Government will welcome a global partnership that would ensure a concerted and focused international response to the humanitarian crisis arising from the insurgency in the North-Eastern region of the country.

    He made the remark while receiving members of the ONE campaign led by the international Rock Star artist Bono, and Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and former UK Development Secretary Douglas Alexander, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    They were at the State House to discuss the possibilities of a global partnership to address the crisis through international advocacy.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande,  Osinbajo noted that it was important that they came to offer some partnership.

    He said: “This is great and we are pleased…Partnership is certainly the way to go.”

    According to him, no matter how prepared a country could be, handling the kind of crisis in the North-East with two million displaced people including children, as a single country “would be irresponsible.”

    He however said that a global partnership to address the situation should be coordinated and more focused on what is required to be done, for instance, in addressing the issue of malnourished children and not attempting to do too much things at once.

    Speaking earlier the Irish born artist Bono said he has visited some of the IDPs and said “we want to be useful to you,”

    He stressed that what he saw in the region was “deeply disturbing.”

    Bono also commended the social investment programmes of the Buhari administration saying “we have heard of the incredible plans, the social investment funds,”

    He said that the level of transparency already seen in the administration is very exciting and transforming.

    The ONE campaign is an advocacy organization with more than seven million people around the world taking action to end extreme poverty and preventable diseases especially in Africa.

    It has on its board people like Mo Ibrahim, Bill Gates, Michael Bloomberg among others. It was founded in 2004.

  • Buratai bags Kwame Nkrumah Leadership award

    Buratai bags Kwame Nkrumah Leadership award

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai has won the prestigious Kwameh Nkrumah Leadership Award.

    The award which was presented by the All African Students Union (AASU) was in recognition of his exemplary leadership and commitment to duty and the fight against insurgency in the North East.

    Country representative of the AASU, Ambassador Akinyele Olasumbo who led a delegation of the Union’s executive said the award was to enable them join other well-meaning Nigerians in

    Appreciating the leadership style, patriotism and commitment of the COAS which has brought about peace and security in Nigeria.

    The AASU which had representatives from Nigeria, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire and Ghana further explained that the award would also spur other African leaders to ensure peace and stability of the African continent.

    Accepting the award, General Buratai said he was deeply humbled to be associated with the name and virtues of the highly revered African leader, the late Dr. Kwameh Nkrumah as manifested in the Award  and dedicated it to all the Officers and Soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their selflessness and commitment to duty.

    Burutai said the Nigerian Army troops are doing well in the North East, and acknowledged the support of President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerians as well as international organizations in the fight against the insurgency, adding that terrorism is global problem that must be tackled to enable development thrive in the continent.

    The COAS also urged all African youths to focus on their studies, adding that it is the basis for the overall socio-economic development of the African continent. He urged them to always respect elders, constituted authorities and contribute positively in order to change Africa for the better.

  • Agric policy journal launched in Abuja

    An agricultural policy research journal has been launched in Abuja. It was launched by Agricultural Policy Research Network (APRNet), with support from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

    The launch of Nigerian Agricultural Policy Research Journal (NAPReJ) coincided with this year’s APRNet National Stakeholder’s Forum with the theme: “Making Agricultural Research Work for End Users.”

    The forum brought together members of the agricultural research community.

    APRNet President Dr. Anthony Onoja said: “There could be no better time to do this than now when the Federal Government is shifting emphasis to growing an agrarian-led economy to diversify the economy and shift it from heavy dependence on crude oil.”

    Onoja also noted that although there were national mechanisms and frameworks for linking agricultural research and various end users, research communication and user uptake of research was short of its potential. He highlighted the need for a reassessment of the current system to “identify missing elements and gap-filling interventions” that would ensure that agricultural research make more impact on decision-making process and enterprises.

    This year’s APRNet Forum Chairman, Prof. Yusuf Abubakar, and the Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), pointed out that in Nigeria, the government and donor partners featured as the most dominant players and end users of agricultural research.

  • Buhari greets David-West at 80

    Buhari greets David-West at 80

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated eminent academic and former federal minister, Prof. Tamunoemi Sokari David-West as he turns 80 years on Friday August 26th, 2016.

    President Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, recalled his long term relationship with the elder statesman, when he served as Minister of Petroleum, 1984-1985.

    He commended Prof. David-West’s steadfastness and forthrightness on issues of good governance, democracy, human rights and the unity of Nigeria, especially when some seem to easily give up on the project of building one great nation.

    President Buhari assured the octogenarian that his place in Nigeria’s history is guaranteed for the statesmanship, fearlessness, intellectual depth, resourcefulness and versatility that he brought into public discourse.

    The President prayed that the almighty God will continue to grant the former minister good health and more fruitful years of service to his fatherland.

  • Police parade 41 ‘kidnappers’, others in Abuja

    Police parade 41 ‘kidnappers’, others in Abuja

    •Troops kill ‘kidnappers’ in Bauchi

    The police in Abuja yesterday paraded 41 suspects for kidnapping, car snatching, and other crimes.

    The suspects included Isah Aliu, Labaran Abubakar, Abdullahi Ishaq, Adamu Mohammed, Muazu Nasiru, Tella Adamu, Mohammed Adamu, Murtala Usman, Yusuf Waheed.

    Others were: Bashir Mohammed, Nelson Nyan, Peter Attah, Michael Bembi, Salisu Isah, Alh Isah Musa, Ibrahim Yusuf, Emeka Nnate, Mohammed Abubakar, Mohammed Abubakar, Hashiru Tukur.

    Items recovered from them included 13 motorcycles, six cars, nine wristwatches, knife, Ipad, two mobile phones, television set, DVD player, game station and armoured cables.

    Commissioner of Police in  FCT Muhammad Mustafa said the arrest and recovery followed proactive intelligence, hard work and discreet operations by the command.

    “Some suspects were paraded initially for kidnapping their victim from Maitama and taking her to an inn in Sokoto State, where she was held hostage before she was rescued by policemen.

    “The FCT Police Command has arrested other members of the syndicate, who were at large. Among those arrested is a notorious car snatcher and gang leader, who recruits the hoodlums and supplies them arms and ammunition.

    “The command has intensified efforts to recover the victim’s Toyota Rav4 and one other Toyota Venza, all parked at the gang’s hideout in Niger Republic,” said.

    Mustafa enjoined residents to be cautious when parking, even as he urged them to install tracking devices in their cars.

    Also, troops of 33 Brigade at the weekend killed three kidnappers in Bauchi State.

    According to the Acting Director of Public Relations Col. Sani Usman, this followed incessant cases of robbery and kidnapping in the areas.

    He said the troops carried out the fighting patrol at Dutsen Mairama and around Dogon Ruwa settlement within Lame/Burra forest of Toro and Ningi local governments.

    “During the encounter, three kidnappers were killed and their camps destroyed. The troops also recovered arms and ammunition, including empty shells,” he said.

    Usman said the troops would continue to carry out such clearance operations in known hideouts within Bauchi and other states to deny criminals freedom of action.