Tag: troops

The House of Representatives on Thursday resolved to conduct an immediate investigation into the utilization of take-off grants, bailout funds, and interventions allocated to MDAs, government Institutions, and government-owned enterprises from 2015 to present.

In a resolution following a motion of urgent public importance, the House directed an ad hoc committee headed by Emeka Chinedu (PDP, Imo) to assess compliance with existing regulations and guidelines regarding the management and reporting of these funds, including any instances of diversion or misappropriation.

The Committee is expected to make recommendations for the enhancement of regulatory frameworks, sanctions, monitoring systems, and accountability measures to ensure the effective and intended use of public funds in all relevant sectors.

Read Also: Troops rescue five abducted victims, arrest three suspects

Presenting the motion, Minority Leader of the House Kingsley Chinda drew attention to the provisions of Section 88 (2) (b) of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria that empowers the House to expose corruption, inefficiency, or wastage in the management of public funds appropriated by the National Assembly.

He said the effective utilization of public funds is paramount to fostering accountability, transparency, and trust in the MDAs, Government Institutions, and GOEs;

Recognises that over the years, the government has allocated Take-off Grants/ Intervention Funds to existing and newly established agencies and institutions to support their foundational operations, as well as Bailout Funds to various agencies designed to facilitate specific services and settle outstanding liabilities.

Chinda expressed concern about persistent allegations of the diversion and mismanagement of these funds, as well as the potential failure to utilize them for their intended purposes, thereby undermining the effectiveness of vital public services and projects.

According to him, the significant financial losses resulting from the mismanagement of these funds represent a substantial drain on public resources that could have been used for essential services and national development in line with Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution.

He alleged that the misuse of Take-off Grants, Bailout Funds, and other interventions has severely compromised national development goals, hindering progress towards critical social and economic objectives.

He said the misappropriation of these funds has led to a demonstrable deterioration in the quality of public services delivery and compromised the security of the nation, thereby undermining public trust in government effectiveness.

He maintained that the lack of stringent oversight and monitoring mechanisms may contribute to the inefficiency in the deployment of these resources, resulting in wasted funds that could otherwise be utilized to improve the good intended government policies and as well protect lives of citizens

He stressed that an extensive investigation is necessary for the National Assembly pursuant to Sections 88 & 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to clarify the scope, usage, and accountability surrounding these financial allocations, thereby fulfilling its oversight responsibilities and ensuring public funds serve their intended purposes and contribute effectively to national development.

…rescue 75 kidnap victims, arrest 18 oil thieves

Troops on internal security operations across the country killed 92 terrorists, including a terrorist commander, in the past week.

The troops arrested 111 criminals and rescued 75 kidnap victims, while 101 terrorists, comprising 11 adult males, 39 adult females, and 51 children, surrendered in the North East.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen Markus Kangye, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing in Abuja.

He said troops also achieved some feat in the Niger Delta region, recovering 452,396 litres of stolen crude, 224,175 litres of illegally refined di diesel and 1,920 litres of petrol, and 18 oil thieves and bunkerer.

He said: “Additionally, troops discovered and destroyed 87 crude oil cooking ovens, 28 dugout pits, 23 boats, 33 storage tanks, 61 drums and 47 illegal refining sites.

Read Also: Troops rescue five abducted victims, arrest three suspects

“Other items recovered include two pumping machines, three tricycles, five motorcycles, two mobile phones and six vehicles among others.”

Kangye said troops also recovered 117 high-caliber weapons and 2,939 ammunition across the theaters of operation.

According to him, the troops received 58 AK-47 rifles, 21 locally fabricated guns, 26 dane guns, seven pump action guns, four PKT guns, two GPMGs, one QJC W85 gun, one HK 21 gun, one M60 MG, 11 RPG bombs, two RPG tubes and one fabricated 60mm mortar.

“They also recovered quantity 2,278 rounds of assorted 7.62mm ammunition, 26 live cartridges, 64 rounds of 9mm ammo, 18 magazines, as well as other 8 assorted arms,” he said.

The Defence spokesman said all the items that were recovered and the suspects that were arrested had been handed over to the relevant authorities for further action.

The troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in partnership with other security agencies have apprehended 29 suspected oil thieves and recovered over 60,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in the Niger Delta region.

The troops also destroyed 24 illegal refineries and demobilized eleven boats used by oil thieves to evacuate their stolen products.

Confirming the development, the Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt Col Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, said the troops in a clearance operation conducted along the Imo River, deactivated six illegal refining sites and destroyed 113 drum pots and 83 drum receivers.

 He said the troops demobilized two boats and recovered 18,000 litres of stolen products adding that around Asa in Obigbo Local Government Area (LGA), troops uncovered a reservoir with over 1,000 litres of stolen products as well as 100 sacks filled with over 1,500 litres of stolen crude. 

“The operations were conducted at different times around Okoloma, Obuzor, Lekuma, Abiama, Asa and Ukwa general areas. Similarly, in Buguma general area, in Asari-Toru LGA, one illegal refining site, with two big pots as well as two receivers, with one stocked with over 9,000 litres of stolen crude were handled appropriately”, Danjuma said.

He said around Ebocha Well 5, troops swooped on an active illegal refining site with 28 empty locally made ovens, reservoirs filled with 5,900 and 3,500 illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) and stolen crude respectively.

He said also recovered at the site were 37 sacks filled with over 2, 220 litres of illegally refined AGO adding that one suspected oil thief was apprehended at the scene. 

He said along Kumufari Creek in Akuku-Toru LGA, one illegal refining site, 200 meters hose with a reservoir stocked with over 1,500 litres of stolen products were handled accordingly.

Read Also: Troops destroy bandits’ camps in Zamfara, kill 44

He said: “In Delta State, following tip off about suspected illegal bunkering activities around Okpai Oluchi community in Ndokwa East LGA, troops mobilised to the area and conducted a sting operations. 

“During the operations, over 70 sacks were confiscated along SEEPCO Energy company pipeline within the Community, which led to the confiscation of over 2,800 litres of stolen products.

“Additionally, troops intercepted the movement of a suspected oil thief, who fled and abandoned his vehicle at Emiye street along palace road in Isoko South LGA. The abandoned vehicle is a Sienna bus with Registration number Lagos APP 89 CV was loaded with 15 sacks of illegally refined AGO”.

Danjuma said in Bayelsa State, in the boundary between Joinkrama 4 in Yenagoa LGA and Okarki in Ahoada West LGA, troops destroyed two illegal refining sites. 

He said around Biseni at the bank of the River Niger and Akpedi community in Yenagoa LGA and Akinima in Ahoada West LGA, troops intercepted 2,500 litres of AGO in sacks. 

He said in Akwa Ibom State, troops continued to dominate the operations area, denying criminal elements freedom of action.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said troops on internal security operations killed 358 terrorists, arrested 431 suspected terrorists and rescued 249 kidnap victims in January.

The Director of Defence Media Operations Maj.-Gen Edward Buba, who said this in a statement yesterday, stated that troops arrested 59 suspected oil thieves and recovered stolen products worth about N2.7 billion.

He said troops also recovered 370 weapons and 4,972 ammunitions within the period.

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He gave a breakdown of recovered weapons to include 105 AK47 rifles, 25 locally fabricated guns, 32 Dane guns, 23 pump action guns, 3,066 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 758 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 980 cartridges, 72 assorted arms and 500 assorted ammunition.

According to the defence spokesman, troops in the Niger Delta region recovered 2,732,038 litres of stolen crude oil, 42,515 litres of illegally refined AGO, 200 litres of DPK and 2,250 litres of PMS, among other items.

He reiterated that the armed forces will continue to fight admirably in defeating terrorists and their cohorts across the country.

“Troops remain focused in creating conditions in which the safety and security of citizens is assured,” he said.