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Tag: insurgency

  • Insurgency: Troops neutralise 7 terrorists, destroy 11 gun trucks

    Insurgency: Troops neutralise 7 terrorists, destroy 11 gun trucks

    The Army has neutralised seven remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists in the Sambisa forest and Northern Borno on Friday in an operation supported by the Air Force.

    According to a statement by Brig.-Gen Sani Usman, the Director of Army Public Relations late Friday, troops also destroyed 11 gun trucks and 12 Hilux vehicles during the operation.

    Usman said that other terrorists’ equipment destroyed were make-shift accommodation around Camp Zairo, Improvised Explosives Device (IEDs), booby traps and other delaying obstacles and devices.

    “In addition, the gallant troops recovered one gun truck, one anti-aircraft gun, one machine gun, a pistol, large quantity of anti-aircraft gun ammunition, a 120mm mortar base Plate and a dane gun,” he said.

    Usman added that three canter trucks, two double barrel rifles, 30 bicycles, power generating sets, cylinders, printers, military kits and IED making workshop were also destroyed by troops.

    “Unfortunately, two soldiers were wounded during the encounter.`

    “The wounded soldiers have since been evacuated by Nigerian Air Force and are responding to treatment,” according to the army spokesman.

    He said the GOC 7 Division and Commander, 26 Task Force Brigade, Maj.-Gen. I. M. Yusuf, and Maj.-Gen. I. M. Obot, have visited the troops and commended them on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, for a job well done.

    Usman urged the people of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states to report any fleeing Boko Haram terrorist seen around their communities.

    He also urged them to look out for the wounded terrorists and report to the nearest military or Police location. (NAN)

  • ‘Govt must avoid abuses in tackling insecurity, insurgency’

    ‘Govt must avoid abuses in tackling insecurity, insurgency’

    Kunle Rasheed Adegoke is the Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President’s Task Force on the Northeast. In this interview with Legal Editor JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU, he speaks on the judiciary, the committee’s activities, legal practice and his political ambition.

    The Judiciary has been described as the last hope of the common man. Do you agree?

    It is a correct saying that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man. However, it is indisputable that in certain respects, the judiciary in Nigeria has been found wanting, more so with respect to allegations of corruption in the hallowed chambers. It is unfortunate the recent arrest and detention of some judges of the apex and the lower courts do not speak well of our judicial officers.

    How does this affect the perception of the judiciary?

    That is not to say that our judiciary is not peopled by men of integrity. We know of judges who are incorruptible and have lived their lives ensuring that the stream of justice is not polluted. These are men who have made our judicial system is working satisfactorily.

    So, what is the way out?

    All we need to do is to ensure that the bad eggs in the judiciary are reported to the National Judicial Council (NJC) and no stone should be left unturned in ensuring justice is manifestly done in all cases. Nothing pains an upright man than to be painted with the same brush of guilt in a corrupt environment. Thus, allegation of corruption or other vices should be thoroughly investigated and the NJC should live up to its expectation by ensuring quick determination of accusations against judges  to sustain the confidence of the public in this indispensable arm of government.

    Law has been described as a catalyst for development. How do you think we can apply this to our own situation?

    Law is truly a catalyst for economic development. For almost all transactions, there are legal regimes and regulations by law. Every piece of legislation or judicial pronouncement must be for the advancement of the society. For instance, our legal system is conscious of this and that is why the Land Use Act has vested land in the governor of the state to be held in trust for the people. The essence is to make land available to those who need it but do not have it from the grasp of landholding families who have lands but could not use it. Unfortunately, most states in Nigeria have not utilised this revolutionary piece of legislation, no matter its imperfections, to ensure maximal production of food and develop their internally generated revenue (IGR).

    There have been calls for Ministries of Justice to take over the prosecution of politically exposed persons, while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) concentrates on financial crimes. Do you agree?

    I believe that the state Ministries of Justice ought to adequately take care of, not only high profile cases, but cases of persons who loot state treasuries. That would reduce the burden on the EFCC, which is a national institution and whose structures crack easily under the heavy burden of corruption perpetrated in both private and public sectors. EFCC is not able to cope with so many of such cases or effectively prosecute them and that is why it loses many of them or even look the other way when they are reported to it. In some cases, some unscrupulous elements in EFCC have seen such cases as money-making opportunities for themselves, too, and this has led to allegations of corruption against the body itself. For a national body like the EFCC to cover the 36 states of the federation in both private and public sectors is stretching the body too thin.

    How prepared are the states’ Ministries of Justice for this Herculean task?

    In most states, simple cases in our courts last for so many years due to the failure of the government Ministries of Justice to prosecute with seriousness. I have been involved in many cases in which states’ Ministries of Justice were involved. You discover that the lawyers in those ministries hardly respond to processes served on them on time. They do not file defences to cases for so many years with many judges indulging them with frivolous adjournments and pampering gloves. Simple advice by Directors of Public Prosecution in criminal matters takes years to prepare and issue and the resultant effect is perpetual detention of persons awaiting trial. One is scared to say that the states’ Ministries of Justice are not ready for this additional responsibility which is sine qua non to development, if we must progress as a nation.

    What should be the role of states in the fight against corruption?

    Furthermore, the fight against corruption is a national and international one for which each state of the Federation ought to have its own institution, such as the EFCC monitoring the finances of the state and ensuring accountability and probity. The Constitution has placed the fight against corruption on a high pedestal in which both the Federal and the state governments can legislate on it. But how prepared are our governors and the states’ Houses of Assembly to ensure that corruption is minimised in our public sector?

    You presented the report of the NBA Task Force on the Northeast at the last National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State as the Secretary. What’s in the report?

    The summary of the report is that the NBA Task Force on the Northeast was established by the NBA President, A.  B.  Mahmoud (SAN), in October 2016 and saddled with ensuring the protection of the interest of the NBA members affected by the insurgency and counter-insurgency of the Boko Haram members and the military in the Northeastern. To provide pro bono legal services to individuals and communities in the region who are victims of the conflict to aid the rehabilitation, resettlement and reconciliation. To provide expert services to federal and state governments in the region and the National Assembly on devising appropriate legal framework and other legal services for the reconstruction of the region

    What have you done to actualise this mandate?

    We have visited some of the states in the region and discovered the monumental loss of lives and property there has reduced it to a pitiable sight. Scores of lawyers lost their lives in the conflict while many are detained; a large number of our members were also unlawfully detained. We have made recommendations to the NBA on how to assist the victims financially and help to rebuild the legal practice businesses of our members affected.

    Is that all you recommended?

    We have also signed memoranda of understanding with some local and international bodies on how to redress the violation of human rights by the military and other para-military bodies in the region. To this end, we are providing pro bono legal services and also focusing on the rights and rehabilitation of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). We have good working relationship with the army and the police on how the government can ensure transitional justice with respect to victims in the region.

    What is the latest development in the Northeast on human rights abuses and how do we address them?

    Right now, steps are being taken to ensure that persons in detention under the allegation of being Boko Haram members receive justice quickly because many are in detention without trial. The latest resurgence of Boko Haram activities in the region has not really helped matters. We commend the members of the security agencies in Nigeria, especially the army, for being responsive and protecting lives and properties. At the same time, excesses in conducting the fight should be checked to ensure that the fight is conducted in line with civilised rules of engagement.

    It is speculated that you want to contest the governorship of Osun State. What is your reaction to this?

    No. It is beyond speculation. I am already out and showcasing my intention to the good people of Osun. Since March, 2017, I have been on a state-wide consultation with the people from one local government area to another and the reception has been fantastic. I have my billboards in several parts of the state announcing an ‘Assured Future’, which is my campaign slogan. My political movement, Tiwa N TiwaL’Osun, has members and cells across the various wards of the state. I am a leading aspirant as far as the contest for the All Progressives Congress’s ticket is concerned.

     What is your vision for Osun State?

    My vision is to develop the state into an enviable position both nationally and internationally. The most important problem confronting the state is economic in which the state is unable to meet its salary obligation to the workers and the populace grumble under the heavy weight of economic recession. The national downturn in the economy has affected Osun badly and we must build a strong economy for the state to be  capable of financing itself outside the federal allocations, which are no longer coming. We must be able to develop an IGR of not less than N10billion a month, if we are really serious as a people desirous of attaining economic progress. To attain this, we are looking at the low-hanging fruits of agriculture, tourism and industrialiation.

    How do you intend to achieve this?

    First, we want to, in the first 200 days in office, turn all arable lands to farms rather than forests that dominate our roadsides from Ikire to Ile-Ife to Ilesha, Owena, Igbajo, OkeIla, Ejigbo, and all over the state. In civilised societies, they tame their environment and do not leave land unutilised for any purpose as we do. Here we have arable lands but fail to effectively cultivate them. We want to, in alliance with the private sector, ensure farm settlements in each federal constituency of the state. With abundant production of food through mechanised farming and tapping into the Federal Government’s Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme and other international opportunities, we intend to engage in food preservation and processing as there is more money in processing than in supplies of raw materials.

    Is that all?

    We are looking at tapping into the expansive Lagos economy in which not less than N3 billion food is consumed daily utilising the poverty datum line of N200 per day for an average Lagosian. This, we believe, is possible, if we cultivate the spirit to succeed steeped in strong political will required of a responsive and responsible government. We intend to ensure that the huge reserve of liquidities locked up in tourism is accessed by us by ensuring development of existing tourist centres and creating new attractions that will encourage both local and foreign tourists to patronize our tourist sites. God only creates trees but does not give furniture. We shall turn the tourist sites, which we have more than any other State in Nigeria, from their natural state into attractive magnets that draw and glue tourists’ attention.

    What happens after this?

    Once we succeed economically within the first two years to effectively grow the economy capable of creating wealth, we are sure that we shall be able to transform the educational standard in the State to the best in Nigeria, if not in West Africa. We shall be able to address the perpetual civil servants’ welfare deficit, transform the health sector into excellent attraction to tourism and ensure unprecedented infrastructural development for the State.

     How have you contributed to the development of Osun State?

    Yes, I have contributed in my own little way to the development of Osun. To ensure electoral justice and make democracy attainable, I have been in the trenches with the people of the state. All through the litigation days of Aregbesola v. Oyinlola, I was one of the prominent lawyers that led the battle for more than three and a half years in which I represented Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Rt. Hon. Lasun Yusuf (the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives), Rt. Hon. Najeem Salam (the Speaker of the House of Assembly of Osun), Rt. Hon Akintunde Adegboye (Deputy Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly) and a host of numerous others. Aside from this, I have played my own little role by way of philanthropy to my people. God has used me to educationally bless some families as I have been responsible for sponsorship of many young ones. Among them are hundreds of lawyers, graduates from several disciplines of value, empowerment of many businessmen and women, assisting in guaranteeing life to those who were sick and at the point of death by paying their hospital bills. All these I have done to assist the state to reduce the devil’s workshop of idle hands without expectation of expression of gratitude from the beneficiaries but divine blessings from my creator.

    How would you rate the performance of the APC-led Federal Government rule of law?

    I often find it difficult to rate governments as that is an exercise that could be difficult to do as the yardsticks could be numerous. But with respect to the rule of law, I would say that the last conducted governorship election in Anambra is a testimony that it is possible to have an election in which a ruling party at the national level would not take it as a matter of do-or-die venture. That is an election in which the police and other security forces were not used as an agent of rigging, unlike what we used to have in the past. It is a prevalence of the rule of law. Furthermore, the Federal Government has tried in some areas with respect to rule of law as this is a great measure of how civilised we are. The battle against Boko Haram is an effort towards ensuring rule of law. It is commendable to see that the high and mighty have been touched in the campaign against corruption although there is still more to be done.

    In which areas?

    People expect this government to be more revolutionary based on the past record of President Muhammadu Buhari and I think the President is equally looking in that direction. It is important to tackle the intractable problems of herdsmen with strong resolve which I believe the President is considering. Too many lives have been lost to herdsmen invasion and to fail to curb this menace will not paint this government as one conscious of its role as the guardian of the rule of law.

  • Insurgency, herdsmen attacks: Church urges FG to equip security agencies

    To finally win the war against insurgency in the Northeast and the rampant herdsmen attacks, the Hausa speaking section of United Church of Christ in Nation (UCCN), popularly known HEKAN has called on federal government to equip security agencies with necessary arms and ammunition.

    Addressing a press conference, President of the church, Rev. Amos G. Kiri, said Nigerians can only sleep with two eyes closed when government provides security personnel at the war front with required logistics.

    The reverend said, “situations where Nigerians sleep with one eye open due to fear of been attacked, kidnapped or been killed has reached its peak.”

    He added that, “government can do more in this direction by reassuring Nigerians that they can move about freely without being attacked, kidnapped or being killed through equipping the security agencies with appropriate equipment and facilities required to fight social ills.

    “It is the responsibility of government to protect lives and properties of its citizens,” he added.

    The church also condemned the spate of attack on innocent people by herdsmen, calling on government to fish out those found wanting.

    “Job opportunities should be created for our teeming youths to keep them away from idleness which usually leads to chaotic social ills associated with youthfulness,” he stressed.

     

  • Air Force intensifies fight against insurgency, others

    Air Force intensifies fight against insurgency, others

    The Nigerian Air Force  has intensified efforts in the fight against insurgency and other crimes in the country.

    The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, AVM Olatokunbo Adesanya, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

    Adesanya said NAF and other services had since 2015 intensified efforts to decimate the insurgents.

    He said the terrorists no longer held any of the country’s territories “not even hoisting their flags in these areas’’, adding that they were now attacking soft targets.

    He said what the service was doing basically, especially in the fight against the insurgents, was Intelligence Surveillance Recognisance  (ISR) mission.

    He said the aim of ISR was to gather intelligence which NAF’s fighter jets would later share with surface forces in the battle field and launch attacks on the insurgents’ hideouts and their logistics.

    The director added that the service had devoted a lot of resources, especially in the area of intelligence gathering, which led to the recovery of some of the Chibok girls and other hostages held by the insurgents.

    “With intelligence gathering, we are able to bomb their logistics and supply lines. And these usually cripple their plans to regroup and restraegise to attack soft targets.

    “We have been doing these on regular basis and it has gone a long way in disorganising the terrorists,” he said.

    Adesanya also said apart from the aerial support in the fight against the insurgents, NAF had  contributed immensely to the ground troops.

    “We have also contributed immensely in the area of evacuating victims of the insurgency to a safer place for better treatment.

    “As well as supplying logistics to the troops, especially food, to feed the personnel located in remote areas in the North-East,” he said.

    He said the service had also ensured that there was peace through out the country by deploying its personnel to all the six geo-political zones.

    “In the Southsouth, we are on steady air patrol and this has enabled the service to destroy several oil bages containing stolen crude oil.

    “We are ever on the lookout for pipeline vandals and other miscreants who pose threats to the nation’s critical assets.

    “In the Southwest, we have been able to contain oil bunkering and other criminal activities, especially in the Arepo Area of Ogun, and other threats from other zones of the country.

    “In the South-East, we have also deployed our personnel to ensure peace in the area, especially during the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) disturbance,” he said.

    The director said the service would continue to ensure the security of the country, including protection of lives and property.

  • $1billion insurgency fund

    $1billion insurgency fund

    The politics of Boko Haram insurgency was again brought to the fore by the $1 billion approved by governors from the Excess Crude Account to fight the seemingly degraded war. At the centre of the altercation have been the PDP and APC with the former accusing the government of secret plans to deploy the funds to unwholesome means.

    It alleged the funds are for the funding of the 2019 elections since President Buhari claimed his government had technically defeated Boko Haram. Some other groups have also criticized the approval on the grounds of the purpose for which the funds are to be deployed.  There are also issues with whether the governors have the powers to give the approval without recourse to their state houses of assembly.

    Regime apologists have entered defence. They accuse the PDP of bad faith. Bolaji Abdullahi, APC’s publicity scribe captured the central thrust of the government’s position. For him, the PDP is scared because it diverted funds meant for weapons’ purchase for the war on insurgency ahead of the 2015 general election. Given that experience and revelations on how humongous sums of money were allegedly diverted, Abdullahi is not surprised PDP would be quick to smell a rat in the instant case.

    But he cited the integrity of the president and his aversion to corruption as a safeguard against the manner of malfeasance that allegedly took place when the PDP held sway. He would want us to believe that any money meant for the fight against insurgency would be dutifully deployed to the objective for which it was appropriated. It is left for us to believe this rationalization.

    Even if we accept Buhari is unlikely to divert the funds to some other purposes, the same cannot be said of his key functionaries. The diversion of funds meant for internally displaced peoples IDPs to frivolous and questionable contracts as was evident in the sacking of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal puts a lie to such optimism. Neither do recurring cases of diversion of relief materials for the displaced in the north-east give cause for optimism.

    For Abdullahi, it was wrong for the PDP to base its criticism on the claim that Boko Haram had been technically defeated because winning the peace is more vital than winning the war. By this, he contends, winning the war does not preclude the government from voting substantial funds for the security of that region. Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima argued along similar lines when he drew analogy with countries that have low security threats but vote handsomely for national defence.

    By interpolation, Shettima contends that voting huge amounts of money to fight insurgency does not in any way, vitiate the claim that the war has been won. But there is difference here. The difference is between national defence budgets and intervention funds. The 2018 appropriation bill made generous provisions for defence just as the examples Shettima cited.

    We are not concerned with national defence budgets here. The money in question we were told, is to fight Boko Haram, except now Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has added a new dimension to the matter. We shall return to this shortly. And if technically, we defeated the scourge two years back, setting aside such huge amount for the same purpose without due process is bound to raise suspicion.

    Those who query the approval on this ground are on strong rational foundation. Even then, the fact of our past experience where such funds were allegedly diverted to ends other than that for which they were meant, as the APC pointed out, is serious justification for suspicion. So it is not enough to malign those who raise doubts on the propriety of the fund especially given the information we had been fed with regarding the state of the war. If blames must be apportioned for this controversy, it should be placed at the doorsteps of those who claimed the war had since been won.

    It is not enough to bandy the credibility of the president as sufficient guarantee that whatever funds appropriated would be dutifully deployed. If anything, the case of Lawal and similar instances of corruption allegation even with the touted war against corruption, do not imbue confidence that we have parted ways with our decadent past.

    During the regime of Jonathan, he sought and obtained Senate approval to borrow $1 billion to prosecute the same war. The facility was for the supply of military hardware to be paid across seven years. It has also been said $2 billion were also approved for that regime from the same account to prosecute the same war without much ado.

    When the loan was being debated, at least, two APC senators- George Akume and Olubunmi Adetumbi questioned the procedure on the ground that it had consequences for extant Appropriation Act but were overruled with the Senate approving the loan. Also, the $2 billion approval given to Jonathan from the Excess Crude Account was heavily criticized by the opposition.

    The issues canvassed are not entirely new given that we had gone through this path before. If the approvals attracted stringent criticisms and opposition during the last regime, there are serious grounds to raise dust for the appropriation of funds to fight a war that had been declared won. So reservations on the governors’ action are not out of place.

    Some of the governors who were said to have consented to the approval on behalf of their states have raised issues. While Ayo Fayose of Ekiti queried the approval, Nyesom Wike of Rivers asked for similar funds for the Niger Delta to tackle its numerous challenges including insecurity and environmental degradation. Curiously, local government chairmen in Ekiti State have gone steps further to institute legal action to restrain the federal government from tampering with the said amount. As it stands, the government cannot tamper with the money until the case has run full cycle. Ironically, whatever security challenges in the north-east that warranted the approval may have to wait until all the issues to it are thrashed out.

    Osinbajo added a new dimension to the controversy when he said the money is not meant to fight insurgency alone but for security challenges being experienced in all states of the federation including community policing. The claim though belated, runs contrary to the brief Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki gave reporters on the issue. He did not leave any one in doubt that the fund was to fight insurgency. He said the amount will include but not limited to the “purchase of equipment, procuring intelligence and logistics to ensure we finally put an end to the scourge of insurgency”.

    Those who argued on behalf of the government defended the fund on the ground that it is vital to finally secure the gains made in the insurgency war. That is the interpretation of the conversation by the APC publicity secretary. That is also the summation of the intervention of Shettima when he drew comparison with countries with low security threats but still vote hugely for national defence. The purport of their argument is, technically defeating Boko Haram is the more reason we should commit more funds to the project to sustain the gains.

    It was therefore a big surprise when Osinbajo came in the midst of the controversy to claim that the fund was for sundry security challenges across the country. That clarification came too late and did not tally with what those who spoke on behalf of the government understood of it. If the explanation of Osinbajo is to be believed, how come Wike was demanding that the same measure should be applied to the security and environmental challenges that inundate the Niger Delta?

    Beyond this, it is sad Boko Haram insurgency has been a victim of undue politicization since it reared its ugly head. Overtime, this has complicated calculations in the handling of the war. Not only have we been unable to figure out its local sponsors, it is increasingly getting difficult to fathom which interest it serves. The current controversy mirrors the enigma the scourge has become.

  • Army set for multiple operations against insurgency

    Army set for multiple operations against insurgency

    The General Officer Commanding (GOC), First Division, Nigerian Army, Major-Gen. Mohammed Mohammed, has reiterated the military’s readiness to embark on an all-throng approach to tackle insurgency in the North.

    Mohammed, who spoke yesterday, when he visited Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, said his visit to Kano, among others, is to seek the government’s cooperation in accomplishing his mission of taming criminals. He noted that the military cannot do it alone.

    The GOC said the multiple operations will begin today, adding that the division is currently covering nine states, especially the whole of Northwest and North Central, including Kogi State.

    His words: “We have an expanse of space that we have to govern within the period we are, and in view of the challenges, we either mitigate them, reduce them to the barest minimum or eliminate them completely. But we can’t do it without your support, and that is why we have come to register our presence with you and solicit your support. We also thank the governor for the support he has been giving to the military.

    “Operations will begin tomorrow or on Thursday in Falgore Forest, Zamfara State; Brinin Gwari forest on the Abuja-Kaduna road, because crime on those roads is really becoming worrisome and the Army can’t watch the miscreants have their way when they can be handled.”

    Governor Ganduje maintained that through a close relationship with relevant security agencies, the state has, for some time, enjoyed peace and stability. He, however, lamented that there are some pocket of criminality here and there.

    “We are vulnerable to insurgency, but we have been able to contain it. A number of times, some terrorist were arrested here with the help of the military and other security agencies, and then transferred to Abuja for trial.

    “We have collected the design and the lay-out of the training ground you want to build at Falgore forest. The government is studying the designs and deliberating on the kind of help we can offer financially for the project. In the long run, our intention for Falgore forest is to resettle nomadic herdsmen, who are travelling from one end of the country to another, which constitutes security challenges.”

  • Insurgency: Air Force graduates 414 counter terrorism regiment

    The Nigerian Air Force has graduated 414 regiment officers and men trained by the Israeli Military Training Organisation and the British Military Advisory Training Team (BMATT).

    The trained Air Force personnel included 18 officers and 396 airmen and air women.

    Speaking at the combined graduation of the Basic Regiment Officers, airmen and Gunnery II Course and Special Forces course 2017, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Baba Abubakar, said the service had invested enormous resources in accomplishing the training of the Special Forces personnel.

    He said it would desirable that they “reciprocate the good gesture.”

    The Chief of Air Staff, who was represented by Air Officer Commanding, Ground Training Command, AVM Samson Akpasa said, the training was targeted at arming the personnel with experience to withstand fierce challenges.

    He informed they have received training on Special Forces capabilities, such as commando counter terrorism, fire and maneuver training close mortal combat and among others.

    According to him: “The knowledge you have acquired coupled with the practical exercise in the Basic Field Tactics, Weapon Training ,Map Reading and Airfield Defence Training made designed to prepare you for prompt deployment as the need arises.

    “You must be prepared to put in your best effort and sustain the necessary zeal and courage to face challenges in the service,” he added.

     

  • Air Force names building after officer killed in fight against insurgency

    Air Force names building after officer killed in fight against insurgency

    The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on Thursday in Lagos named a building in honour of Late Squadron Leader, Promise Gbenekannu, who died in the fight against insurgency.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the building is a six by three bedroom flats for officers at the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, Ikeja.

    Inaugurating the building, Abubakar said that NAF would continue to uphold its commitment toward the welfare of personnel and their families.

    ““This building being inaugurated today has been named after one of our fallen heroes.

    ““The fallen hero died on board the C-130 aircraft while on a logistics support mission for troops fighting insurgency and terrorism in the North East of the country.

    “”The fallen hero was a C-130 pilot,’’ said the CAS, represented by Air Officer Commanding, Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Yahaya.

    He added that similar building had been constructed in all NAF bases to provide conducive atmosphere for personnel in line with the change agenda of President Muhamadu Buhari.

    “”Accordingly, providing decent housing for officers remains one of the first priorities of our policy thrust towards ensuring that NAF personnel and their families live in a befitting accommodation,” he said.

    He said that NAF had also embarked on the renovation of more accommodation facilities as well as rehabilitation of roads and drainage systems in the base.

    ““It is hoped that this would create enabling environment and motivation for personnel to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently,” he said.

    On insurgency, Abubakar said NAF recently received some new equipment which were undergoing reactivation to enhance the ability to conduct counter-insurgency operations.

    ““The effort of government at adequately equipping the service would enhance professionalism and facilitate effective performance of our constitutional roles.

    ““We will continue to do our utmost to meet our statutory responsibility of defending the territorial integrity of the nation,” he said.

    The Air Force Chief urged the officers to continue to reposition NAF into a highly professional force, assuring that government would continue to provide support to sustain the tempo of operations against insurgency.

    The wife of the deceased officer, Mrs Justina Gbenekannu, while speaking with journalists, commended the NAF for naming the building in memory of her husband.

    “Life has not been the same after the passing out of my husband and I get emotional sometimes but he lived a fulfilled life as short as it was. (NAN)

    Read Also: Air Force destroys barges of stolen oil

     

  • Boko Haram may be regrouping, NLC warns FG

    Boko Haram may be regrouping, NLC warns FG

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has raised an alarm of what it called renewed threats posed by the Boko Haram insurgency to the security of the nation, saying available information have it that the insurgents were fast regrouping and pose potential threat to the nation.

    The congress said the insurgents have recently carried out some attacks in the north east which suggest they were regrouping to wreck more havoc on the people.

    President of the congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba who spoke at the National Executive Council meeting of the Congress in Abuja also said that Labour leaders have now become target for assassination, adding that it has reported the recent murder of a Labour leader in Kogi state to the global watch dog for Labour issues.

    While lamenting that workers have been at the receiving end of the harsh economic realities in the country, Wabba said the Congress has received formal communication from the government that they were ready to inaugurate the national minimum wage committee to review the current minimum wage.

    While saying that the committee’s inauguration was supposed to have been done, he said it had to be shifted to allow leaders of the Trade Union Congress return from an official engagement outside the country, hug insisted however that the committee must be given a particular time line to conclude negotiation.

    He also called for the immediate constitution of Boards of agencies and parastatals with workers representatives, pointing out that information available to the congress has it that President has already approved the composition of the board.

    He said the congress has tried to do a lot of policy engagement and look at the various sectors and the challenges from the economic to security and social angles as well as issues in our polity, adding that “clearly speaking, it is obvious that workers have been at the receiving end.

    “Some of the new trend suggest that workers have come under some level of attack and violation of their fundamental rights. When a worker is not being paid after 30 days, his rights have been violated. The same applies to the pensioner.

    “I want to salute your courage for confronting these challenges head on. We will continue to act in a way and manner that will make sure we advance issues of social justice in our system and rule of law and respect for dignity of law should be respected. Some of these challenges are numerous.

    “In the social angle, we are aware of the usual threat to throw our members out of their jobs and that has a lot of social consequences that will add to the problem. Unemployment of our youths is one of the challenges that Labour has tried to tackle over times.

    “Importantly also is the emerging trend in our security paradigm. Hitherto, we have celebrated the successes in areas where we have security challenges in the country. In the recent past, we have seen how the issues of Boko Haram has been responded to.

    “I think there is an emerging trend that suggest that they are actually regrouping. In recent time, we learnt that they have launched two attacks and this has actually raised some concerns. The same thing applies to the emerging agitations in the Niger Delta region.

    “The stability of any system is predicated on peace and stability. Without peace, no investor will be encouraged to do any kind of investment anywhere in Nigeria. That is why the primary purpose of governance anywhere around the world is peace, security and welfare of the people.

    “Therefore, peace and security is very important. When we have instability anywhere, it means that the issue of inequality will continue to be exacerbated. Therefore, we are concerned with all of this, but importantly is the issue of due process and the rule of law.

    “Workers have come under serious attack because those rights have been violated and we have evidences that such rights have been violated. Our political elites who swore by the constitution to uphold the sanctity of the rule of law and respect for human dignity have been acting with impunity. Anywhere there is lack of respect for the rule of law, there will anarchy and so, there will be survival of the fittest.

    “There is a new agitation through a process that is aimed at exploiting all of us by making sure that Labour issues are removed from the exclusive legislative list. We must strengthen our engagement. On no account should any state sign any undertaking on this issue without advancing our position.”

     

  • Adamawa arms 500 hunters, others to battle insurgency

    The Adamawa State government has empowered 500 hunters and vigilance group members in Madagali Local Government Area to fight insurgency.

    Chairman of Madagali council Yusuf Mohammed spoke in an interview with reporters yesterday. Mohammed said the hunters, who know the terrain, are being supported with cartridges and feeding allowances to sustain their contribution in the fight.

    According to him, there were about six attacks in the last one week, with the latest on Wednesday in Sabon Gari village.

    Mohammed lauded efforts of security agents and local hunters in repelling the attacks.

    He called on the Federal Government and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, to deploy more military personnel in the area, which he said was experiencing growing attacks due to its closeness to Sambisa forest.

    “Our area is under siege, our people now live in fear; we can’t go to the farm or travel with ease.

    “I plead for more deployment of military and other security agents,” Mohammed said.

    The government has confirmed Wednesday’s attack in Sabon-Gari in Madagali council.

    Commissioner for Information and Strategy Ahmad Sajoh said two of the insurgents were killed.