The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian news

  • Super Camp, Boko Haram and the end of evil 

     

    Since 2009 when Boko Haram began its violent campaign against the state in Nigeria, it has been a tale of invincibility. The military authorities underrated their sophistication at the time, and this resulted in heavy casualties on civilian populations as well as troops who employed conventional war strategies in a war that is asymmetric.

     

    I must add that the Nigerian authorities were dumbfounded as they could not phantom the way out of dealing with the threat posed by the terrorist group. So this trend lasted for an upward eight years, and with millions displaced and properties worth millions of naira destroyed in North-East Nigeria. The Boko Haram phenomenon posed a severe threat to the territorial sovereignty of Nigeria and consequently plunged North-East Nigeria in a humanitarian crisis that shook our very foundation.

     

    I recall that various school of thoughts propounded theories that would curtail the activities of the terrorist group, but none seemed to provide that magic wand needed to turn the tide against the terrorist group.  And they gained more grounds, so much so that they took control of over 16 local government areas in North-East Nigeria. They established caliphates and attempted to begin an inglorious regime of abductions, maiming and killings, rape, destructions, and other nefarious activities centred around crimes against humanity.

     

    The then government of the day seemed clueless, and there was no solution in sight. And the monster of Boko Haram grew in phenomenal proportion. Nigeria was on the brinks, nowhere including the federal capital territory was safe with the constant attack on critical government infrastructures including the headquarters of the Nigerian Police Force, as well as the headquarters of the United Nations in Nigeria. It was such a sorry tale in Nigeria.

     

    However, things began to look positive with the coming into office of the administration of President Muhummadu Buhari in 2015. I recall one of the first decisions taken was the relocation of the military high command from Abuja to North-East Nigeria, and it was followed with the appointment of service chiefs who were mandated to hit the ground running in the quest to bring the activities of Boko Haram terrorist to an end.

     

    Many of us wondered then how such would happen with the level of grounds gained by the group as well as with the sophistication with which it operated that had left a huge demoralizing effect on the troops in the theatre of operations in North-East Nigeria.

     

    I must confess that some of us had doubts on how this gargantuan task was going to be accomplished by a military that was highly demoralized and lacking the required weaponry to confront a terrorist group that was growing in sophistication daily.

     

    When on 24th December 2016 news filtered in that Sambisa Forest, the operational headquarters of Boko Haram had been captured by Nigerian troops, the country leaped in joy. Even though in some quarters, the news was received with a pinch of salt, it was nonetheless true. This was a significant milestone in the war against terrorism in Nigeria, and since then, there has been no turning back. The Boko Haram group was left in disarray and attempted to employ other nocturnal means to regain control of their strong base, and that saw to the deployment of suicide bombings using women and children targeted at unarmed civilians. But again, the Nigerian Military was able to sustain the tempo with renewed vigour to the amazement of all the doubting Thomas’s.

     

    The tide changed entirely, and there was hope once again that the threat posed by the terrorist group had been curtailed.  And Nigerians celebrated this rare feat and urged the troops to do more. The political leadership of the country also provided that support by offering all that was needed to boost the morale of the troops.

     

    The military leadership also led by example. The Chief of Army Staff was always in the trenches with the troops in a manner that was quite commendable. In my opinion, that was strategic in the sense that the troops were charged to give their best in defence of the country. And today, the successes recorded have been applauded in many quarters.

     

    I must add that one of the things that caught my attention with the operations of the Nigerian Military is the deployment of operational strategies that were dynamic and yielded the required results in the war against terrorism in Nigeria. Amongst the avalanche of strategies introduced, the recent introduction of the Super Camp Strategy by Nigerian Military in the final onslaught against Boko Haram terrorist is indeed a masterstroke worthy of commendation.

     

    According to available information, the Super Camp Strategy is such that has seen to the rapid decimation of the Boko Haram fighters. It was revealed that upon the realization that the Boko Haram terrorists were taking advantage of rural communities to strategize and launch attacks on military formations in North-East Nigeria, the military hierarchy designed the Super Camp Strategy that involves the setting up of military camps in remote communities across North-East Nigeria. This was aside the various army formations already in place.

    Read Also: Don’t go to Supreme Court, AA candidate tells Atiku

     

    The idea is indeed strategic that it gives the remnants of Boko Haram fighters little or no opportunity to move freely and to pass in between static defence location. And the result has been phenomenal with heavy casualties inflicted on Boko Haram remnants.

     

    I am elated with the final defeat of Boko Haram terrorists and must give credit to the gallantry exhibited by the Nigerian Military. I believe that Nigerians must indeed doff their hats for the efforts of the Nigerian Military in defeating Boko Haram in Nigeria. This is on the heels that those in positions of authority made a lot of sacrifices.

     

    The introduction of the Super Camp Strategy has proven to be effective in the war against terrorism in Nigeria. Nigerians must indeed come to terms with this reality and extend their support to the operations of the Nigerian Military.

     

    Credit must also go to President Muhammadu Buhari for standing by his words to do everything within his powers to ensure that no Nigerian territory is under the control of Boko Haram terrorists. And to the leadership of the Nigerian Military for exhibiting a high sense of patriotism in protecting the territorial sovereignty of Nigeria. The fighting troops that have laboured day and night also deserve our commendation. I think that a cue must be taken from this sense of dedication and commitment to duty as exhibited by the Nigerian Military. And if that is the case, there would be no stopping Nigeria in our quest for greatness.

     

    Goulding wrote this piece from the UK.

     

  • NAF destroys terrorists’ training facility in Borno

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has destroyed an Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) training camp near Mallam Fatori on the fringes of Lake Chad in the Northern part of Borno.

    Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information confirmed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

    Daramola said the training facility was destroyed by the Air Task Force (ATF) of the Operation Lafiya Dole.

    He explained that the operation was executed based on credible intelligence reports and confirmatory Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

    Daramola said the ISR identified a building on one of the Lake Chad islands that was being used by the terrorists as a facility to indoctrinate and train new fighters.

    “The ATF, therefore, dispatched its aircraft to attack the location, which upon arrival over the target area observed significant activity of the terrorists.

    Read Also: Troops neutralise three terrorists in Borno

    “The attack aircraft scored devastating hits on the building completely destroying it and neutralizing the ISWAP occupants.

    “The few other fighters seen fleeing the location were mopped-up by follow-on attacks,” he said.

    The spokesman said the NAF, operating in concert with surface forces, would sustain its operations against the terrorists in the North East.

  • Buhari for ECOWAS summit in Burkina Faso

    President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja Saturday to attend the one-day ECOWAS Heads of State and Government Extraordinary Summit on Counter-Terrorism, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

    Given the growing threat of terrorism in the sub-region, the West African leaders had called for the Summit to review different initiatives taken so far, and redefine the priority intervention areas for the containment of the worrisome attacks in the area.

    A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, said the decision to convene the Summit was reached at the 55th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja on June 29, 2019.

    “President Buhari recognises the imperative of collective actions in the fight against terrorism, and will continue to partner with ECOWAS member states and international organisations to address the menace.”

    Read Also: Buhari: ‘Victory not unexpected’

    In Ouagadougou, ECOWAS leaders are expected to adopt a priority action plan on counter-terrorism and put in place a mechanism to monitor the implementation of the measures adopted towards ensuring lasting peace in the sub-region.

    President Buhari will be accompanied by Governors Abubakar Bello, Dapo Abiodun and Okezie Ikpeazu of Niger, Ogun and Abia States respectively; as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, and the Minister of Defence, Major-General Bashir Magashi (retd).

    Also on the President’s entourage are the National Security Adviser, Maj-General Babagana Monguno (retd) and Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.

    The President is expected back in Abuja at the end of the Summit.

  • Akure Monarch in seclusion, begins seven-day annual leave

    The Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi will today begin his seven days annual leave.

    The period called “ULEFUNTA” will commence on Saturday and end next week Friday.

    Oba Aladetoyinbo is expected to use the period of the leave to pray for the peace and progress of Akure kingdom.

    In line with tradition, the Deji will not receive any visitor nor attend any function throughout the period of the leave.

    A statement by his Chief Press Secretary( CPS) Michael Adeyeye notified the public that there will be no beating of drums in Akure under any guise throughout the seven days of the leave.

    Read Also: Xenophobia: FG seeking compensation for Nigerians – Dabiri-Erewa

    Besides, in observance of the period, all shops, stalls and market around the Deji’s palace will be under lock and key for the period of the leave.

    However, this will not affect other markets, stalls and shops except those around the Deji’s Palace.

    Also, the road leading to the Deji’s palace will be closed during the period.

    The statement advised all road users to make use of the adjoining routes throughout this period of Seclusion.

  • No Nigerian arrested during evacuation from S/Africa – Mission

    Nigeria Consul General in Johannesburg, Godwin Adama, says no Nigerian was arrested in the cause of evacuation of those voluntarily wish to leave South Africa following xenophobic attacks on them.

    Adama told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) through telephone in Abuja that no returnee was detained or refused to board flight on Wednesday by South African Authorities.

    He said, though some had immigration problems, they were quickly fixed.

    The consul general added that what happened was that many of the returnees missed the flights because of their uncoordinated attitudes.

    He said the delay in the evacuation process was caused by misplacement of travel documents as required by South Africa immigration laws.

    “Some will still tell you that they put their documents inside bags that had been checked into the plane; some even said that they had theirs stolen and all that.

    “Then others have issues of expired passports,’’ he said.

    Adama said the evacuation process was difficult, adding that the second batch flight had to be rescheduled to enable those who had issues with their documents resolve it.

    “We did not transport anybody on Thursday.

    “We are waiting to prepare properly because we lost some spaces in the aircraft on Wednesday due to the attitudes of some of our people.

    “If you give instructions, they will not follow; calling them, they will not pick; even when they hear their names, they will not respond.

    “So, because of documentation, a lot of people missed the flight but nobody was detained.

    “Everybody that had issue with immigration was resolved and we ensured they all travelled.’’

    Adama, however, admitted that there were obstacles in the process and that there were hitches at one point or the other, but that the mission solved every problem and everybody travelled.

    The envoy explained that some of the returnees were interrogated by the immigration but the mission secured their release.

    He said that there was a case of a woman, who wanted to travel with children that were not her own, adding that the case was treated as that of human trafficking.

    “We equally resolved that too as the father of the children came to the airport for identification,’’ he said.

    He said that mission was working to ensure that all seats in the expected aircraft were occupied and that the manifest would be ready before the plane comes again.

    “We want to ensure that we have more than enough passengers as we do not want more seats to be empty.

    “We are liaising with the South African authorities too; we are putting up a joint meeting with the host immigration service and other protocols.

    “We are all on the same page before the next exercise.

    “The next batch of passengers will not be Friday because we are not prepared for that but we want to finalise and send them the manifest.’’

    He said that the mission had not given any time, but once it finish, it would intimate the airline within 24 hours.

  • Your negotiating skill saved us from crisis, ExxonMobil tells Ngige

    The Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited has attributed the peaceful resolution of the industrial dispute that engulfed the company last year to the astute negotiating skill of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige.
    Speaking when he led members of the management team on a congratulatory visit to the Minister, Executive Vice Chairman of the company, Udom Inoyo, said It took the dexterity, understanding and good negotiating skill of the Minister to resolve the industrial dispute ExxonMobil faced last year.

    Inoyo said: ” Your re-appointment did not come to some of us as a surprise because we witnessed first-hand how efficient you could be and happy therefore that Mr. President made the right choice.

    “It is instructive that the tireless efforts, sleepless nights and experience with which you approach every negotiation is the reason for the stable industrial peace we have today. The price of such will be incalculable if they were to be measured in naira and kobo,”

    Read Also: Buhari committed to workers’ welfare, says Ngige

    Ngige commended ExxonMobil for making social dialogue a tool of corporate management, adding that the worker-friendly disposition of the company made it one of the few in the oil sector with minimal job losses at the outset of the first term of the present administration when the nation’s economic fortunes dipped.

    The Minister further applauded it for an inclusive corporate social responsibility, seeking its assistance in manpower training as well as acquisition of working tools for key directorates in his Ministry.

  • BREAKING: AFN names team for IAAF World Championships in Doha

    Nigeria has joined the growing list of countries that had named its contingent for the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships.

    The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) named African record holder in hurdles, Tobi Amusan and long jump African champion, Ese Brume as well as 33 others for the global tournament holding in Doha, Qatar, from September 27 to October 6, 2019.

    Disclosing the list to our correspondent on Friday, AFN Technical Director, Sunday Adeleye, said over 35 athletes would represent the country at the championship while the federation is awaiting the nod from IAAF on the eligibility of some athletes who had featured for Nigeria at the 2019 African Games.

    Topping the list of athletes are Blessing Okagbara (100 and 200m); Tobi Amusan (110hurdles); Ese Brume (long jump); Patience Okon-George and Favour Ofili (400m); Mercy Ntia-Obong, Adekune Jasper, Joy Udo-Gabriel, Rosemary Chukwuma, Blessing Ogundiran (4X100m); and Okon-George, Ofili, Blessing Oladoye, Abigail Egbeniyi (4X400m).

    The men’s team has African Games gold medalist, Raymond Ekevwo, Divine Oduduru and Usheoritse Itsekiri (100m); Oduduru and Emmanuel Arowolo (200m); Chukwuebuka Enekwechi (shot put); Seye Ogunlewe, Enoch Adegoke, Ogho-Oghene Egwero, Oduduru and Ekevwo (4X100m).

    Adeleye however, said the federation is awaiting approval for the eligibility of some athletes including Sade Oladoye, Ayomidotun Ogundeji, Kelvin Oyeshade, Chioma Onyewere among others.

    He however said that there are plans to depart early to Doha for the tournament in order for the athletes to acclamatise with the weather before the commencement on September 27 at the iconic and technologically advanced Khalifa International Stadium in Doha.

  • Xenophobia: FG seeking compensation for Nigerians – Dabiri-Erewa

    Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, says the Federal Government is pressing for compensation for affected Nigerians in the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

    Dabiri-Erewa stated this at the maiden Diaspora Lecture of Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA).

    The lecture was entitled: “Role of Africans in Diaspora in the Transformation of a University of Technology.”

    Dabiri – Erewa, who was represented by Mr Abdul-Rahman Balogun, her Special Assistant on Media, noted that the Nigerian government was also putting in place measures to ensure perpetrators were prosecuted and justice given.

    According to her, those that have been evacuated to Nigeria would be well taken care of.

    Dabiri-Erewa also enjoined all state governments to create a Diaspora Desk, saying Nigeria has the highest diaspora potentials in Africa and the third in the world.

    Prof. Mobolaji Aluko, the pioneer Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Otuoke, and guest lecturer at the occasion, said Nigerian universities of technology should ensure that they have foreign students’ enrolment through scholarship programme for them.

    Read Also: Xenophobia: Next evacuation of Nigerians next Sunday

    Aluko, also a Special Adviser and Director-General, Office of Transformation, Strategy and Delivery Office in Ekiti, urged universities to sustain regular academic calendar.

    He also called for a conducive environment for learning in universities while parents should develop scientific mindset in their children.

    “We need to start to develop scientific minds in all our children . We should not stop them from being inquisitive and they should walk in groups because nobody achieves anything individually.

    ” They should be given little problems to solve right from their primary school level,” he said.

    In his remarks, Prof. Joseph Fuwape, the Vice Chancellor of FUTA, said that Africa was blessed with great human and material resources.

    Fuwape noted that Nigerians in particular had continued to contribute immensely to the global economy.

    He promised that FUTA would give fresh impetus to collaboration between researchers in Nigeria and abroad to promote national development.

    “This programme would assist us a great deal to identify gaps in transformation trajectory needed for Africa to take its pride of place in the comity of nations,” he added.

    NAN reports that Dabiri-Erewa, Dr Mohammed Mustapha Lecky and Dr Babatope Agbeyo were given Goodwill Ambassador awards by FUTA management.

  • No life lost in collapsed Enugu building – Police

    The Police Command in Enugu State has said that no life was lost in the collapsed three storey building under construction in Enugu metropolis.

    The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Ebere Amaraizu, said this in a statement in Enugu on Friday.

    Amaraizu said that the incident took place on Wednesday around Monarch Avenue axis of Independence Layout in Enugu metropolis.

    “From preliminary investigations, it is clear that no life was lost in the incident and no other property was lost rather than the collapsed building under construction.

    “The members of the public should discountenance any other information to the contrary on the incident being circulated in the social media,’’ he said.

    Read Also: Police arrest two students as varsity probes Fayemi’s wife’s attack

    According to him, the cause of the incident is yet to be established.

    “Investigation on the incident is still on as the Command plans to get to the bottom of the matter,’’ he said.

    However, an eyewitness, Mr Clifford Eze, said that the collapsed might be due to use of sub-standard building materials and engineers to execute the project.

    Eze, who is one of the residents of the area, said that the block work for the uncompleted building had already been completed and was at the verge of being roofed.

  • BBNaija: I never had sex with Gedoni, says Khafi

    Khafi Kareem, one of the housemates in the ongoing BBNaija (S4) reality show has maintained that she did not have sex with love interest, Gedoni Ekpata.

    She reiterated that she is still celibate and would not have sex on the show.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Khafi, an officer with the UK Metropolitan Police, disclosed this to other housemates while they shared stories of things unknown to other people about them.

    The former Head of House said she has been celibate for years as a part of healing for some issues she had in her life at a point.

    The news came as a surprise for many fans as Khafi was earlier reported to have had sex with now-evicted love interest, Gedoni Ekpata while he was still in the house.

    The mystery was resolved when fellow housemate, Ike Oyeama, on Thursday, revealed that he and Diana, a fellow housemate planted a condom by Khafi and Gedoni’s bed as a prank. It sparked rumours that the duo had sex.

    Ike told a shocked Khafi that he initially wanted to plant the prank for Omashola and Tacha but was almost caught by the latter, causing him to settle for Khafi and Gedoni.

    Reacting to the news, Khafi said, “Everyone was going to think it was me and Gedoni but my mind is clear, my conscience is clear, it’s not us. It was very funny.

    “Me and Gedoni looked at each other and was like, no; I am a very physically affectionate person. Nothing will happen in the house,” she said.

    Read Also: BBNaija: Khafi, Tacha, Mike, Seyi up for eviction

    Interestingly, the clip of this discussion was only available on Showmax, DStv’s on-demand platform which few fans have access to, and not the regular BBNaija station.

    ShowMax has additional stations that show exclusive BBNaija clips that put some of the discussions into context, leaving the audience with half information on the main channel.

    In the Khafi and Gedoni alleged sex saga, some fans interpreted the prank as evidence and shared these opinions on various social media platforms.

    This led to series of trolling and hate towards the duo of Khafi and Gedoni a.k.a Khadoni from some social media users.

    On Aug. 13, The Sun Uk was the first international medium to publish fans’ speculation and infer that the 29-year-old UK Metro police officer was pregnant.

    The story was analysed on major UK news channels, causing Khafi’s management to release a statement describing the news as misleading and untrue.

    NAN reports that, on his part, Gedoni has repeatedly said that they did not have sex and the rumours were unfounded.

    When asked to address the sex rumours, Gedoni told Ebuka Obi-Uchendu that he was unhappy that the rumour went viral and felt terrible about the effects on Khafi’s chances in the show.

    He added, “I think I will allow Khafi to ask whether we had sex or not. There were intense moments but sex, no.”

    He also detailed the moment he felt sparks for the bubbly Khafi and stated that his feelings for her were real.

    Meanwhile, Khafi is up for eviction on Sunday.