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  • Military learning every day to deal with terrorists’ threats, says DHQ

    Military learning every day to deal with terrorists’ threats, says DHQ

    The Defence Headquarters says that the military is continuously enhancing its strategies to effectively counter the threats posed by terrorists, bandits, and other criminal elements.

    The military has consistently eliminated a substantial number of terrorists, dismantled their infrastructure, and diminished their capabilities through ongoing operations.

    The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba said this in a statement on Thursday, November 23.

    He said: “Our war objective is to destroy these groups, decapitate them, and erode their ability to rage terror attacks against citizens.

    “The war against terrorists, insurgents, violent extremists and others creating insecurity in the country wages on, and the military is progressing towards its goal of total destruction of these elements. In this war, the military is learning every day how to better deal with the threat posed by these groups.

    “We are maximizing the substantial advantage that we have such as air superiority and aerial cover for the ground forces. The joint operational environment is witnessing communication and coordination of fires between ground and aerial assets to decimate the enemy on the ground.”

    According to Buba, military onslaught against terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements were still ongoing in the North East, North West, North Central and South West zones. 

    He said: “In the South East zone, troops conducted offensive actions against the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN) as well as other miscreants engaged in diverse violent activities. While in the south-south zone, troops curtailed the sabotage of the nation’s oil infrastructure and theft of crude oil.”

    Giving an update on military operations across the country in the past week, the defence spokesperson said troops killed 99 terrorists and arrested 198 others.

    Buba said troops also arrested 49 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 139 kidnapped hostages.

    He said troops also recovered 141 assorted weapons and 1,463 assorted ammunition, comprising “one GPMG, one GT3 rifle, one assault rifle, 49 AK47 rifles, one Josef magnum pump action gun, one double barrel gun, two single barrel guns, nine locally made pistols, 13 Dane guns, one hand grenade, seven locally made rifles, three RPG chargers, two locally made hand grenades.

    Ammunition seized, according to the military high command, includes 347 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 966 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 25 rounds of 9mm ammo, 58 live cartridges, 50 rounds of empty cases of 7.62mm special ammo, 30 magazines, 27 vehicles, 47 mobile phones, 34 motorcycles and the sum of N717,580.00 amongst other items.

    The Defence spokesperson said troops in the Niger Delta area recovered 578,900 litres of stolen crude oil, 454,330 litres of illegally refined diesel and 10,000 litres of kerosene.

    “The troops also destroyed 245 dugout pits, 31 boats, 69 storage tanks, 23 vehicles, 162 cooking ovens, one pumping machine, three outboard engines, one tricycle and 50 illegal refining sites,” he said.

    The military high command said going by the outcome of ongoing operations across the country, the “military is ready, capable, and eager to continue its mission of securing the country by the destruction of terrorists, extremists, and insurgents.”

    Buba said: “Given that there are several lines of operation in countering insurgency. It is pertinent to state that combat operations against these insurgents, terrorists, and extremists remain one line of action.

    “It is for this reason that the armed forces is calling on Nigerians for support, particularly in the area of public opinion. We have to show support for our troops to win this war.

    “The gallant men and women of the armed forces continue to put themselves in harm’s way to ensure the safety and security of citizens. We have to exhibit patriotism and encourage them in our public discussion.

    “The leadership of the armed forces under the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, is open to workable ideas to improve ongoing operations.  Nigeria belongs to us all and therefore victory in this war is non-negotiable. Together, we not just win, but we have dominion.”

  • Insecurity: Deputy Speaker advocates space command in military

    Insecurity: Deputy Speaker advocates space command in military

    The Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt Hon Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has recommended the establishment of a military space command.

    He urged the Federal Government to take the surveillance and security of the country’s space seriously.

    He urged that such Command be headed by a Service Chief to be referred to as the Chief of Space Staff

    Kalu said it was time Nigeria moved from the usual mechanisms of fighting insurgencies and other forms of Insecurity and took the battle into space to achieve unusual results.

    This, he said, would go a long way to assist the existing security architecture in defending the territorial integrity of the nation.

    He spoke at the closing ceremony of a two-day post inauguration retreat organised for Members of the House Committee on Defence by the National Defence College, Abuja.

    Kalu said, “In making your work easy, we tell you, work within your scope of work. I have seen you also struggle to meet the challenges and the dynamic demands of security, all of which are issues that have gone around the space.

    “In some countries, you have Space Service Chiefs, what are we doing about that? There is a need for one to be created. We are beyond what is obvious.

    Read Also: FG to engage guards to secure over 853KM coastline, 10,000 perimeters waterways

    “Some of the warfare is now taking place in space. And I can assure you, we ignore that, we will not be doing justice to the mandate of protecting the territorial borders of this country.

    “So, anytime we start looking beyond what happens here, think about what happens up there, the space”, he said.

    He stressed that appointing a Space Service Chief to head a Space Command is important, as most warfares now are done in space and cyber operations.

    He said Nigeria must be prepared to structure “our preventive operations before we are hit. It calls for deeper conversations as the Parliament will be willing to support this initiative”.

    Kalu, however, submitted that internal security of the country should be for the Nigeria Police and they should be allowed and supported to employ more hands, “To enable the military operate within their areas of competence and training which is not internal security.”

  • Military adopts gender policy to protect women, children during conflicts

    Military adopts gender policy to protect women, children during conflicts

    The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in Abuja has said the asymmetric nature of the current security challenges in the country made the military and other security agencies to adopt a more realistic gender mainstreaming strategy to defend and protect women and children during conflicts.

    It also said the Armed Forces of Nigeria has attained 27.9 per cent female participation in peace support operations as against the 17 per cent benchmark recommended by the United Nations (UN).

    The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, said this at a one-day Gender Mainstreaming Conference organised by the DHQ yesterday in Abuja.

    The CDS said the Nigerian military had received encomiums from the UN and the Africa Union (AU) for adopting commendable gender mainstreaming policies in all its military operations within and outside Nigeria.

    He said: “The available record reveals that the Armed Forces of Nigeria have been able to attain 27.9 per cent female participation in peacekeeping operations.

    Read Also: Military adopts gender policy to protect women, children during conflicts

    “These deliberate efforts by the military are in line with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, mandating countries to develop their own action plans to identify, evaluate and control efforts to achieve the objectives of Women, Peace and Security.

    “The UN Security Council Resolution 1325 was mooted to ensure women and societal security needs are safeguarded through increased emphasis on prevention, protection and participation of women in military operations.”

    Gen. Musa said the conference, with the theme: Building Capacity Through Gender Mainstreaming to meet Security Challenges, was meant to find the right ambience for the Nigerian military in designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating operational and administrative doctrines that would promote and enhance their capacity to combat the myriads of security challenges.

    He reiterated that the armed forces under his command would remain focused in championing gender based doctrinal policies both in its operations and other engagements. 

  • Military warns miscreants to stay off

    Military warns miscreants to stay off

    Anybody or group planning to disrupt tomorrow’s off-season elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states would face the consequences of their action, Defence Headquarters (DHQ) warned yesterday.

    It said the military is aware of plans by miscreants to disguise themselves in military uniforms in order to disrupt the election process.

    The military high command spoke through the Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, during a briefing at Defence Headquarters Abuja.

    Buba said: “We are aware of plans of some to disguise themselves in military gear to orchestrate havoc and disrupt elections in some areas. Our message to such a group is that there will be injurious consequences for such an action. The military will not fold its arms and watch its image dragged to the mud.

    “Election is a serious business and the military is giving it the seriousness it deserves. So much is being put in place, troops and platforms are being deployed to those locations to reinforce security that is already in place in those states.”

    Giving an update on troops operations across the country in the last one week, the defence spokesperson said the military killed 113 terrorists and arrested 300 of others.

    He also said troops arrested 25 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 91 kidnapped hostages in different parts of the country.

    According to him, in the South South region of the country troops denied oil thieves crude worth N571,793,350.00

    He said troops of operation delta safe in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 76 dugout pits, 35 boats, 95 storage tanks, 10 vehicles, 129 cooking ovens, 5 pumping machines, 13 speedboats, 6 outboard engine, one vessel, 3 motorcycles and 49 illegal refining sites. 

    “Troops recovered 514,640 litres of stolen crude oil, 339,315 litres of illegally refined AGO and 775 litres of DPK,” he said.

    Buba also disclosed that  troops recovered 129 assorted weapons and 717 assorted ammunition from criminal elements across the country.

    Read Also: Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa polls: Military warns miscreants against violence

    The Defence spokesperson  said the breakdown is as follows: “one Unserviceable AA gun, one RPG tube, five RPG bombs, one GT3 rifle, 54 AK47 rifles, eight locally fabricated rifles, one locally made rifle, two pistols, two pump action guns, two dane guns, 4 locally fabricated pistol, three skeleton of AK47 rifles, nine hand grenades, one unserviceable AK47 rifle, 14 magazines, 321 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 40 live cartridges.

    “Others are: 53 rounds of 5.45mm x 39mm ammo, 35 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 100 rounds of shotgun, 11 rifle body, 7 breech block, 7 rifle butts, 8 rifle muzzles, 9 piston assembles, 210 springs, one drilling machine, hand filling machines, 10 magazine purges, IED making materials, 4 boafeng radios, 15 motorcycles, 20 mobile phones and the sum of N348,200.00 amongst other items.”

     He said the armed forces will continue to exert military pressure on groups that seek to derail any progress towards peace and security in the country.

    Buba said: “There is no doubt that these groups must be defeated and are indeed being defeated. It is for these reasons we are inflicting severe damage on the terrorist, insurgents and violent extremists through our  operations across the country. Accordingly, we are targeting their leadership, infrastructure and foot soldiers.   

    “The coordination between the air and ground forces is like never seen before and yielding amazing results and achievements. We are expecting new platforms that would further enhance our capabilities to further  root out the terrorists and destroy their military capabilities.”

  • Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa polls: Military warns miscreants against violence

    Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa polls: Military warns miscreants against violence

    The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says anybody or groups planning to disrupt the November 11 off-season elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states would face the consequences of their action.

    It said the military is aware of plans by miscreants to disguise themselves in military uniforms in order to disrupt the election process.

    The military high command spoke through the Director of Defence Media Operations Major General Edward Buba, during a briefing at Defence Headquarters Abuja on Thursday, November 9.

    Buba said: “We are aware of plans of some to disguise themselves in military gear to orchestrate havoc and disrupt elections in some areas. Our message to such a group is that there will be injurious consequences for such an action. The military will not fold its arms and watch its image dragged to the mud.

    “Election is a serious business and the military is giving it the seriousness it deserves. So much is being put in place, troops and platforms are being deployed to those locations to reinforce security that is already in place in those states.”

    Giving an update on troops operations across the country in the last one week, the defence spokesperson said the military killed 113 terrorists and arrested 300 of others.

    He also said troops arrested 25 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 91 kidnapped hostages in different parts of the country.

    According to him, in the South-South region of the country troops denied oil thieves crude worth N571, 793,350.00

    He said troops of operation delta safe in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 76 dugout pits, 35 boats, 95 storage tanks, 10 vehicles, 129 cooking ovens, 5 pumping machines, 13 speedboats, 6 outboard engines, one vessel, 3 motorcycles, and 49 illegal refining sites.

    He noted: “Troops recovered 514,640 litres of stolen crude oil, 339,315 litres of illegally refined AGO and 775 litres of DPK.”

    Buba also disclosed that troops recovered 129 assorted weapons and 717 assorted ammunition from criminal elements across the country.

    The Defence spokesperson said the breakdown is as follows: “one Unserviceable AA gun, one RPG tube, five RPG bombs, one GT3 rifle, 54 AK47 rifles, eight locally fabricated rifles, one locally made rifle, two pistols, two pump action guns, two dane guns, 4 locally fabricated pistol, three skeletons of AK47 rifles, nine hand grenades, one unserviceable AK47 rifle, 14 magazines, 321 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 40 live cartridges.

    Read Also: Kogi guber poll: INEC begins distribution of sensitive materials

    “Others are 53 rounds of 5.45mm x 39mm ammo, 35 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 100 rounds of shotgun, 11 rifle body, 7 breech blocks, 7 rifle butts, 8 rifle muzzles, 9 piston assemblies, 210 springs, one drilling machine, hand filling machines, 10 magazine purges, IED making materials, 4 boafeng radios, 15 motorcycles, 20 mobile phones and the sum of N348, 200.00 amongst other items.”

     He said the armed forces will continue to exert military pressure on groups that seek to derail any progress towards peace and security in the country.

    Buba said: “There is no doubt that these groups must be defeated and are indeed being defeated. It is for these reasons we are inflicting severe damage on the terrorist, insurgents, and violent extremists through our operations across the country. Accordingly, we are targeting their leadership, infrastructure, and foot soldiers.  

    “The coordination between the air and ground forces is like never seen before and yields amazing results and achievements. We are expecting new platforms that would further enhance our capabilities to further root out the terrorists and destroy their military capabilities.”

  • Military warns against election violence in Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa

    Military warns against election violence in Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa

    The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, said the military would enforce the presidential directive to deal decisively with perpetrators of violence in the forthcoming elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa State.

    The CDS also warned military personnel deployed during elections to avoid any act of partisanship.

    Gen. Musa said this at different fora when he visited Kogi State Government House, and while addressing the troops of OPERATION SAFE CONDUCT in the state, on Thursday, November 2.

    In a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, the CDS while speaking at the Kogi State Government House, assured the state governor, Yahaya Bello, that the military and other security agencies were ready to allow for an enabling environment for the people of the state to exercise their franchise.

    The statement read: “The CDS warned Kogi people to desist from electoral violence and embrace peace and tolerance. He said the Armed Forces of Nigeria has zero tolerance for electoral violence and will ensure total compliance with the Presidential directives to deal decisively with violators.

    “The CDS also condole the people of Kogi state over the recent demise of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland Alhaji Ado Ibrahim.”

    While addressing troops of OPERATION SAFE CONDUCT in Kogi state, the statement said Gen. Musa called for absolute professionalism by the military during the forthcoming election.

    According to the statement, the CDS warned military personnel not to be involved in any act that would be inimical to the smooth conduct of the election.

    It further stated: “In his meeting with Military Commanders and heads of security agencies in the state, the CDS charged them to create an enabling environment to allow Kogi State indigenes to exercise their civic responsibilities and elect the candidates of their choice.

    Read Also: Military rules out coup in Nigeria, says Armed forces dedicated to democracy

    “He said security personnel will be monitored to ensure they perform their duties as expected. The CDS emphasized that there is an already standing Court Martial to prosecute any Military personnel found wanting in the discharge of his duties during the election.

    “He called on military personnel to remain apolitical and ensure maximum security of lives and property before, during and after the elections.”

    While ensuring people in the state of the military’s resolve to safeguard lives and property during and after the election, he urged citizens to report any wrongdoings by any military personnel to the appropriate authority for proper sanction.

    It noted: “The CDS called on citizens to cooperate with troops to enable them to perform their duties as dictated by the Constitution. The CDS however warned against any compromise to subvert the forthcoming Kogi election.”

  • Military rules out coup in Nigeria, says Armed forces dedicated to democracy

    Military rules out coup in Nigeria, says Armed forces dedicated to democracy

    The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Gwarbin Musa, has assured that the coup sweeping across neighbouring West African countries will not happen in Nigeria.

    Musa said that the military remained committed and dedicated to securing and protecting democracy in the country and would not allow anti-democratic forces.

    He further commended President Bola  Tinubu for all his support to the military saying they would continue to be dedicated in doing their job.

    Musa spoke in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday, November 1, during his visit to the troops of 6 Division Nigerian Army and other military formations in the state.

    The CDS, who was accompanied by senior military officers, inaugurated many projects such as the 47 Engineering Brigade Counter Improvised Explosives Device Squadron,  29 Battalion Magazine, two streets named after him among others constructed by the Commander 6 Divison, Maj.- Gen. Jamal Abdulsalam.

    Musa, who planted a tree at the Bori Camp headquarters of the division, insisted that the military would continue to protect the integrity of the country and to defend her citizens.

    He said: “I am in Port Harcourt to visit the troops to see how they are doing, interact with them and to commend them for job well done and to encourage them to continue to do more. 

    “We know we have a number of challenges within the country and Rivers State is not excluded. It is just a way to tell them that we are together and to hear directly from them.

    “We want to thank the Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces the President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu for all the support he has given to the armed forces and security forces and to assure him that we are dedicated and committed in doing our job. 

    “We are here to protect the integrity of Nigeria. I actually came around starting from Imo State, we went to Bayelsa and now I am in Rivers State to try to encourage the troops to continue to do more and remain professional”.

    Musa said the coups happening in countries around Nigeria had caused some apprehension but insisted that there was nothing to worry about.

    He said: “I want Nigeria to be assured that the armed forces of Nigeria is here for them to protect them and to protect democracy and ensure that democracy thrives. They should have no fear. We have had a number of coups in countries around Nigeria, we have Burkina Faso, Mali and and Niger.

    “I know that is a lot of apprehensions. I want to assure everyone that the Arm Forces of Nigeria is dedicated and committed in ensuring and securing and supporting and standing by democracy. We stand by democracy. 

    “You saw that ECOWAS was very decisive on the decision taken against the coup plotters and we want to assure Nigerians that nothing like coup is going to take place in Nigeria. All members of the Armed Forces are pleased with democracy and we will continue to defend democracy”.

    Musa warned criminals, oil thieves and pipeline vandals to desist from their nefarious activities saying the President had increased the capacity of the military to deal with them.

    He said the military would leverage on technology to deal with the challenges to ensure peace and increased crude oil production.

    He said: “The President has equally approved some funds for us to buy enablers to assist us in fighting this menace of crude oil theft, criminality and we are going to leverage a lot on technology. That will give us a lot of leverage and we want to appeal to those criminals doing those things that we are coming after them but it is good and wise for them to stop. 

    “The military is dedicated and committed in ensuring that we restore peace. We want the crude production in Nigeria to grow so that Nigeria can enjoy the dividends of democracy”.

    Read Also: US cuts aid to Niger after July’s coup

    Speaking on off-season elections in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states, the CDS said the military would not tolerate any form of intimidation, violence and stealing of ballot boxes saying that such era was gone with the new regime.

    He said: “On the issue of election, you know three states will be having off-season elections. We are ensuring of providing adequate security. We want the elections to be credible, free and fair to enable every voter come out without being scared or being intimidated by anyone. 

    “We are warning all those that are used to doing it the old ways of using violence to intimidate people, stealing ballot boxes that those days are gone. This is a new regime that we must stop. 

    “Anybody that is caught trying to intimidate anybody or cause any mayhem in any of the three states will have himself to blame. And this we assure Nigerians.”

  • Military seizes 962,500 litres of stolen crude, kill 73 terrorists

    Military seizes 962,500 litres of stolen crude, kill 73 terrorists

    Troops of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), a military operation against oil theft and economic saboteurs in the Niger Delta region, have seized 962,500 of stolen crude oil, 35,420 litres of diesel, and 38,450 litres of kerosene.

    The troops also arrested 14 oil thieves, and destroyed 63 illegal refineries, during operations in the past week.

    The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba disclosed this at a briefing at the Defence Headquarters Abuja on Thursday, October 26.

    Buba said: “The operations of the last one week, resulted in 73 neutralized terrorists with 182 of them arrested. Troops also arrested 14 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 68 kidnapped hostages. In the South-South, troops denied oil theft of the estimated sum of N1, 212,046,140.00.

    “Furthermore, troops recovered 119 assorted weapons and 1,537 assorted ammunition. The breakdown is as follows: one GPMG, three PKT guns, 39 AK47 rifles, 5 locally fabricated rifles, one locally made double barrel gun, one Barreta pistol, 4 locally made pistols, five RPG bombs, five pump action guns, one short gun, one hand grenade, two dane guns, one AK47 rifle loaded with 14 rounds of 7.62mm special, one locally made pistol loaded with live cartridges.

    “Others are 586 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, a bag containing 287 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 389 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 141 rounds of 7.62mm special (belted) ammo, 12 rounds of 9mm ammo, 113 rounds of live cartridges, 25 empty magazine, 13 vehicles, three motorcycles, 10 mobile phones, two HH radio, one boating radio and the sum of N3,308,700.00 amongst other items.”

    The Defence spokesperson said the military is working actively to achieve its mandate of counting and protecting citizens from harm caused by these terrorists and extremists across the country.

    Buba said: “It is worthy of mention that the armed forces are in the lead in the ongoing country insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in the country.”

    “Significantly, these operations have killed or captured several terrorists, extremist leaders, their facilitators, key associates and numerous of their foot soldiers.

    Read Also: More kits coming for military, says Badaru

    “The ongoing surgical operations recently embarked upon have thrown these evil elements into a state of complete disarray due to the precision of the operations. The terrorists and extremists alike are now perplexed and suffocated with little or no hiding place.  It is now a question of sooner than later before it would be too late for most of them.”

    According to the military high command, during the week the military and its foreign partners conducted a surgical operation targeted at the residence of an ISWAP terrorist commander in Niger State.

    Buba said several arrests and discoveries were made as a result of the operation.

    “However, being an ongoing operation not much can be revealed at this stage. Nevertheless, one thing is certain, the operation is just one of several others to flush out the terrorists.”

    “The message is clear to all. You are either on the side of Nigerians and the armed forces, or against us in the fight against terrorists and extremists.”

  • Plateau security: Military cautions  preachers against inciting sermons

    Plateau security: Military cautions  preachers against inciting sermons

    Religious leaders have been warned to desist from making inciting comments that could threaten the peace of the country.

    This submission was made at a symposium organised for religious leaders in Plateau by the Special Task Force Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH) at Headquarters 3 Division Nigerian Army (NA), Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Rukuba, Jos.

    Delivering his keynote address at the event, the Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN and General Officer Commanding 3 Division NA, Major General AE Abubakar, said the aim of the symposium was to outline the importance of religious leaders as key contributors to peace in the society.

    He lamented the damages inciting sermons from religious leaders have caused to include fueling tension and anger amongst religious groups.

    Abubakar informed the gathering that the symposium was a platform for constructive discussions on how to leverage on sermons to bring permanent peace to Plateau State.

     The commander urged the participants to reflect on their sermons and continually preach peace over violence. He further disclosed that the participants were drawn from different religious groups that have shown commitment to a peaceful society. 

    Delivering a paper on the topic: ‘The Effects Of Incitive Preaching On Peaceful Coexistence On The Plateau,’ the guest speakers, Sheikh Ghazali Ismail, Deputy Chief Imam, Jos Central Mosque; and Reverend Father Boniface Nkum, Director of Studies Saint Augustine Missionary School Jos, said religious leaders have strong potential to influence their followers.

    They disclosed that religious stigmatization has caused serious problems in society over the years.

    In the paper, the guest speakers agreed that the government must provide an active platform where religious leaders who make inciting statements could be reported and sanctioned accordingly.

    The guest speakers maintained that interfaith dialogue and education must be encouraged in order to promote harmonious relationships between different religious groups.

     While calling on the religious advisory committee of the State to wake up to its duties, they added that religious leaders must take responsibility for the messages they convey to their followers.

    In their separate remarks, the Emir of Wase and Chairman Jamatul Nasir Islam (JNI) Plateau State, Alhaji (Dr) Muhammadu Sambo Haruna, and the Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Plateau State, Reverend Father Polycarp Lubo, said that the  government and security agencies must not spare religious leaders encouraging violence by making inciting statements, while maintaining that no one was above the law in the country.

    They advised that a similar symposium should be organised at the local levels to educate people on the need for religious tolerance.

    Read Also: Furore over death of Borno commissioner at guest house

    On his part, the Special Adviser on Security to Plateau State Governor, Brigadier General GG Shipi (Rtd), disclosed that there must be public condemnation of preachers of inciting statements especially by followers of same faith.

    He revealed that the Inter-religious Advisory Council in the State was active to address issues relating to religion and practices.

    In his vote of thanks, the Chairman OPSH 55-Man Peace Implementation Committee, Justice Daniel Longji (Rtd), said inciting statements create mob action and urged the participants to promote sermons that encourage unity.

    Some of the dignitaries present at the event include; the Emir of Wase and Chairman Jamatul Nasir Islam (JNI) Plateau State, Alhaji (Dr) Muhammadu Sambo Haruna; Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria Plateau State, Reverend Father Polycarp Lubo; Special Adviser on Security to Plateau State Governor, Brigadier General GG Shipi (Rtd); Chairman OPSH 55-Man Peace Implementation Committee, Justice Daniel Longji (rtd), religious leaders of various denominations, Women Wings of CAN/JNI amongst others.

  • Military graduates battle-ready troops to fight terrorists, bandits, others

    Military graduates battle-ready troops to fight terrorists, bandits, others

    The Nigerian Army has graduated a set of “battle-ready” troops to further prosecute the war against terrorists, bandits, and other criminal elements across the country.

    The troops graduated on Friday, October 20, after 16 months of military training at the Army Training Centre, Kachia in Kaduna state.

    Army spokesperson, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

    He said the graduation ceremony featured a practical demonstration of “military drills, showcasing the graduands’ newly acquired competencies in Tactical manoeuvre Physical proficiency, advanced shooting drills, Warrior ethos, unarmed combat, among other vital skills.”

    He said: “The training package, code-named Exercise Restore Hope V, is to adapt personnel who freshly passed out of Depot Nigerian Army to the challenges posed by the ever-changing nature of threats within Nigeria’s security environment.”

    Nwachukwu said the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja described the objective of the exercise as “an effort by the Nigerian Army to close observed gaps in its operations through focused, adaptive, and effective training, with a view to producing highly skilled and competent manpower for operational engagements in all theatres.”

    “Gen Lagbaja maintained that the training exercise perfectly resonates with his Command Philosophy for the Nigerian Army, which is to ‘transform the Nigerian Army into a well-trained, equipped and highly motivated force, towards achieving its constitutional responsibilities within a joint environment,’” Nwachukwu said.

    Read Also: Military won’t let Nigerians down, says NAF’s chief

    “The COAS further clarified that Exercise Restore Hope offers a unique post-Depot training model, designed to enhance the professionalism and battle readiness of young soldiers.”

    “The Army Chief emphasized that training is a key investment needed to achieve operational successes, pointing out further that a nation that places a high premium on funding troops training will spend less in prosecuting her wars.”

    The army spokesperson said the COAS was satisfied with the quality of training and performance of the troops in the demonstration drills.

    “He implored the troops to apply the skills and knowledge gained from the exercise in the field, to create a safe and secure environment for socio-economic development.”