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Tag: Hassan Abubakar

  • Sahel States’ withdrawal from ECOWAS placed increased burden on Nigerian military, says CAS

    Sahel States’ withdrawal from ECOWAS placed increased burden on Nigerian military, says CAS

    Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshall Hassan Abubakar has declared that the recent withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali from ECOWAS has placed more burdens on the Nigerian military.

    Abubakar said this at the opening of the First Quarter Meeting with Branch Chiefs, Air Officers Commanding and Commanders yesterday in Abuja.

    He said the withdrawal of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) from the existing security frameworks had disrupted the security frameworks in the region.

    According to him, this development has direct implications for the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which plays a crucial role in countering Boko Haram and ISWAP across Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.

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    “With AES member states opting out and Chad considering withdrawal, the MNJTF’s capacity to conduct joint operations is now significantly affected.

    “As a result, the burden on the Armed Forces of Nigeria to support the MNJTF will increase, demanding a more robust, agile and adaptive response from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

    “Strengthening operational readiness, enhancing inter-agency coordination, and leveraging advanced air power will be critical in mitigating these evolving threats as we progress through 2025,” he said.

    The CAS said that the Sahel region had continued to be a hotspot for terrorism and insurgency, with Al-Qaeda-affiliated extremist groups exploiting weak governance structures to expand their influence.

    He added that the porous borders in the Lake Chad Basin, had also allowed the extremist elements to sustain their activities, posing a persistent threat to regional stability.

    Abubakar said the Gulf of Guinea also remained vulnerable to maritime crimes, including piracy and illegal oil bunkering, necessitating sustained aerial surveillance and stronger regional cooperation to bolster maritime security.

    According to him, addressing these challenges requires a unified approach, emphasising coordinated air operations, intelligence sharing, and strategic partnerships.

    He said the meeting would provide a valuable opportunity for them to review the security landscape of Nigeria in 2024, critically assess their operational successes and challenges, and project actionable strategies for the NAF operations in 2025.

    “As the senior leadership of the Nigerian Air Force, we shoulder the vital responsibility of ensuring the effective deployment of air power in support of national security objectives.

    “I deeply appreciate your dedication and support so far, and I urge each of us to engage in today’s discussions with the utmost commitment, foresight, and resolve,” he added.

  • Court remands two businessmen in prison for extortion

    A Sokoto Chief Magistrates’ Court on Monday remanded two  businessmen, Hassan Abubakar and Samaila Malami, for extorting N85,00 from one  Abubakar Mikailu .

    The defendants who reside on Ahmed Bello Way, Sokoto, are facing a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and extortion.

    Earlier, the Prosecutor, Abubakar Tambuwal, told the court that the complainant, Abubakar Mikailu, reported the case at the Nigeria and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) office, Sokoto South Division on May 12.

    Tambuwal said the accused and one other now at large criminally conspired and attacked Mikailu of the same address with cutlasses and intentionally extorted N85, 000 from him.

    He said when the defendants were arrested the two cutlass were found in their possession.

    The prosecutor said the case contravened Sections 97 and 292 of the penal code.

    The duo however pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

    The Chief Magistrate, Abubakar Adamu, ordered the defendants to be remanded in prison and adjourned the case until June 24 for further hearing.

    NAN

  • Hardwork gave us victory – Ranchers coach

    Hardwork gave us victory – Ranchers coach

    Coach Hassan Abubakar of Ranchers Bees FC of Kaduna on Monday attributed his team’s 3-2 victory over city rivals Kaduna United at the state final of 2014 Federation Cup to hard work.

    Abubakar told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna that the club not only targeted the 2014 Federation Cup but was also determined to gain promotion to the premiership.

    “I am happy we played and won the state Federation Cup final because my team is determined to win the competition and to face other clubs at the national level.

    “It has been a good season for us and we hope to end it that way.

    “Last season, we lost promotion on the last day, by the grace of God we will hold on till the end of this season to gain promotion to the premiership.

    “The team is full of talented players, a reflection of what Kaduna State is made up of; we just need our fans to continue to pray for us.

    “This year’s Federation Cup is keenly contested and of a high standard, if you look at the standard of play of some of the teams there is a great improvement.

    “We motivated our players to play good football and win matches so as to represent the state at the national level,’’ Abubakar said.

    On the 2013/2014 Nigeria National League, the coach said the team had good prospect of gaining promotion to the premiership at the end of the season. We have a good prospect of gaining promotion this season.

    “We are currently seventh on the table. The second to the fourth teams on the table are just a point ahead of us, while we are on the same point with the fifth and sixth placed teams. We are going to Ilorin to face Kwara United on Wednesday with a depleted team. Our top striker with 12 goals Ahmed Musa will not be playing because of card issue,” he lamented.

    “Two of our experienced midfielders are also out to injury and other minor knocks, but we believe we will come out of Kwara with at least a point. We are training hard to win our matches in order to make it among the top four and be promoted to play in the professional league next season. We will be happy if we are promoted this season to play in higher competitions at which we can also be picked to represent our country.’’

    The coach expressed satisfaction with the players’ performance and urged them to work hard and maintain top fitness to make the club proud in the league.

  • Abubakar happy to serve Dolphins

    Abubakar happy to serve Dolphins

    Dolphins chief coach, Hassan Abubakar says he is happy to have been given the chance to serve at Dolphins for one season.

    Abubakar, who is currently holidaying at his base in Kaduna, says the General Manager, Sports Commissioner, Technical Adviser and players made life easy for him in his one year at the club.

    “I wrote an appreciation letter to the government for the opportunity they gave me to serve them in the last season and I appreciate it.

    “It was interesting at Dolphins and I was given all cooperation from stakeholders including the technical crew and I am happy at the way I was supported at Dolphins. The fans were also great and they gave us a lot of encouragment especially during matches and the fans are not chaotic too,” Abubakar said.

    He added that it was a bit disappointing for him that he could not get a trophy or qualify to play on the continent with the team.

    “I believe that right now we have to prepare for next season. I cannot say I was disappointed. It was one of those things. We did our best but we must try harder.”

  • Omeruo out of AYC

    Omeruo out of AYC

    Flying Eagles officials have left out Kenneth Omeruo from a 30-man provisional squad for the 2013 African Youth Championship.

    The biennial championship, which kicks off in Algeria from March 16, will produce four African representatives for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey later this year, MTNFootball.com reports.

    Omeruo featured for the Flying Eagles in the AYC qualifier in October against South Africa, but he has since made the big jump to the full international side where he shone as the Super Eagles emerged African champions in South Africa last weekend.

    The John Obuh- led technical crew picked four overseas-based players in the provisional squad for the tournament,.

    The final 21-man list will be submitted to the Confederation of African Football not later than March 6.

    The foreign-based players are Mikel Agu (FC Porto), Saliu Sodiq (FC Metz, France), Bright Osagie (Red Bull Salzburg, Austria) and Edafe Egbedi (AGF Aarhus, Denmark).

    26 other players are drawn from the Nigeria domestic league.

    The squad will depart Abuja on Monday afternoon for two warm-up matches in Cairo against their Egyptian counterparts and later fly out to Tunisia for a three-week training camp ahead of the tournament.

    Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation has tasked the team to retain the trophy the country won in South Africa two years ago and qualify for the U20 World Cup in Turkey.

    NFF technical director, Emmanuel Ikpeme, addressed the players before their departure to Cairo.

    “We expect you to successfully defend your title and qualify for the World Cup,” Ikpeme urged the Flying Eagles.

    “You should fight to make a name for yourselves in Algeria and we will support you fully.”

     

    The squad:

     

    Goalkeepers: Emmanuel Daniel, Jonah Usman, Samuel Okani

    Defenders: Chizoba Amaefule, Shehu Abdullahi, Ikechukwu Okorie, Kingsley Madu, Hassan Abubakar, Ekoh Favour Oke, Aliyu Mohammed Goyi, Aigbe Oliha

    Midfielders: Chidi Osuchukwu, Abduljeleel Ajagun,Uche Agbo, Ibrahim Abubakar Aliyu, Nzube Anaezemba, Moses Orkuma, Ovbokha Agboyi, Oluwaseun Taro, Okechukwu Azubuike, Saliu Sodiq, Mikel Agu

    Strikers: Alhaji Gero, Umar Aminu, Christian Pyagbara, Harrison Egbune, Bright Ejike, Edafe Egbedi, Yahaya Adamu, Bright Osagie.