By David Torough, Abuja

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has charged troops of Joint Task Force North Central Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to intensify military operations aimed at decisively eliminating kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements threatening peace and security in the North Central region.

Lieutenant General Shaibu gave the directive on Thursday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force North Central Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin, Kwara State.

Addressing the troops, the Army Chief reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property across the country.

He noted that troops have continued to sustain operational momentum designed to deny criminal groups the freedom to terrorize innocent citizens, infiltrate communities or undermine national security.

He assured the personnel that the Army Headquarters was deploying the necessary combat enablers and operational resources to strengthen ongoing clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts in Kwara and Niger states.

Lieutenant General Shaibu also reiterated his commitment to the welfare of troops and their families, describing improved welfare as essential to maintaining high morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.

He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as the democratically elected government.

Earlier, the Theatre Commander of Joint Task Force North Central Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Major General Y Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership, timely interventions and sustained support towards improving the operational capacity of the task force.

Major General Yahaya assured the Army Chief that troops under the operation would remain committed and steadfast in carrying out their mandate of restoring lasting peace and stability across the region.

From Muhammad Muhammad Al-amin, Maiduguri

The Borno State Government has temporarily closed Government Day Secondary School, Mussa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area after suspected insurgents abducted 42 children from the community.

The decision was announced by the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Lawan Wakilbe, during a government delegation’s visit to the affected area on Monday.

According to the governor’s spokesperson, Dauda Illiya, the visit was part of ongoing efforts by the state government to respond to the attack and reassure residents of intensified measures aimed at rescuing the abducted students.

Before arriving in Mussa, the delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Uba, Alhaji Ali Ibn Ismaila Mamza II, at his palace in Uba.

In Mussa, the team met with the Commanding Officer of the 115 Battalion, Askira, Lt. Col. Ishola Olufisola, alongside community leaders and parents of the abducted children.

During an interactive session with families of the victims, Wakilbe conveyed the sympathy of the Borno State Government and assured residents that security agencies were working tirelessly to ensure the safe return of the children.

He reiterated Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s commitment to protecting students and improving security in schools across the state.

As part of immediate safety measures under the Safe Schools Initiative, the commissioner ordered the temporary closure of Government Day Secondary School, Mussa, and approved the relocation of students to Government Secondary School, Uba, where learning would continue under tighter security.

Speaking on behalf of affected families, Ishaku Jidaye commended the governor for his swift response to the incident but appealed for stronger efforts to secure the release of the abducted children, noting that families were facing emotional and psychological distress.

The delegation also visited Dille and Lassa communities to assess security conditions and evaluate the safety of public schools in the affected areas.

During the inspection, officials directed that all Safe School Initiative measures be fully implemented pending further government directives.

The team also inspected several educational facilities, including the ongoing Government Secondary School project in Uvu, High Islamic College in Uba, the wind-damaged Government Day Secondary School in Rumirgo, and boarding facilities at Government Secondary School, Uba, where relocated students are expected to continue their studies.

The delegation included the Chairman of Askira/Uba Local Government Council, Mada Saidu; Education Secretary of Askira/Uba LGA, Fatsuma Adamu Askira; Education Secretary of Gwoza LGA, Dr. Habila Putaya; Zonal Director of Education, Uba Zone, Tijjani Saleh Chul; and Hon. Luka Apagu.

The abduction occurred on May 16 when suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira/Uba Local Government Area.

According to Senator Ali Ndume, the victims included four secondary school students, 28 primary school pupils, and 10 children taken from nearby homes, bringing the total number of abducted persons to 42.

By Julius Tambaya, Abuja

The Kwara State Police Command has confirmed that gunmen have kidnapped 10 people from the Yashikira Emir’s palace in Baruten LGA of the state.

According to a statement on Monday by the spokesperson of the state’s command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the gunmen also attacked the Yashikira police station simultaneously around 2am on Monday.

“The armed criminals, in a coordinated and desperate assault at about 0200hrs, simultaneously attacked the Yashikira Police Divisional Headquarters and the Palace of the Emir of Yashikira,” the statement reads.

“During the attack, part of the palace was set ablaze, while ten people were abducted and taken to an unknown destination. However, the attack on the police station was successfully repelled by police operatives on duty.”

Following the incident, the statement added that the Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, has ordered an intelligence-led tactical operation involving the police, military, forest guards, vigilantes and other security agencies to comb surrounding forests and suspected criminal hideouts in a bid to rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.

The police commissioner assured residents that the command would not succumb to threats or intimidation by criminal elements operating in any part of the state.

“These criminals have declared war against peace-loving citizens, and we are fully prepared to hunt them down relentlessly. We will deploy everything within our operational capacity to smoke them out of hiding, dismantle their networks, rescue all abducted victims and ensure they face the full wrath of the law,” Adekimi said.

The command also assured residents of Yashikira and other parts of Kaiama LGA that security operations had been intensified across vulnerable communities, with surveillance, intelligence gathering and bush-combing operations ongoing.

This latest incident comes after terrorists during church Saturday night vigil killed three persons and abducted 15 worshippers in an attack at Ori-Oke Ajaiye in the outskirts of Ikiran village of Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara state.

It was gathered that the gruesome attack occurred while the worshippers were observing night vigil at about 20:30hours, thereby causing pandemonium within the surrounding communities.

Meanwhile, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has urged the Federal Government to demonstrate a firm political commitment to ending insecurity in the country, saying Nigerians can no longer endure the growing wave of violence and hardship.

The appeal was made in Sokoto during a peaceful procession organised by members of the fellowship at the end of a three-day national prayer and fasting programme.

Addressing journalists on behalf of PFN National President, Francis Wale Oke, the Sokoto State Chairman of PFN, Ben Musa, said Christians across the country had united in prayer for peace and divine intervention against insecurity.

“We have called on all PFN members nationwide to stand together in prayer for God to scatter the enemies of Nigeria and restore peace across the country,” Musa said.

Participants at the rally carried placards bearing inscriptions such as “Protect the Innocent,” “Nigeria Must Be Safe,” and “No to Economic Hardship.”

PFN lamented the continued killings, kidnappings, and attacks on innocent citizens, stressing that the government must urgently rise to its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property.

According to the fellowship, the worsening security situation has become alarming, while many political leaders appear more focused on power and elections than on the protection of citizens.

“Innocent Nigerians are being kidnapped, raped, and killed repeatedly, yet many political elites continue business as usual as though nothing is happening. These are cruel and unacceptable acts of terror,” the group stated.

PFN expressed concern over the activities of bandits, insurgents, and violent herders, saying communities across the country were living in fear.

“We are deeply burdened by the unchecked activities of bandits, murderous herdsmen attacking farmers, and Boko Haram insurgents using religion as a cover to unleash violence on peaceful Nigerians,” the statement added.

The organisation also criticised what it described as a lack of decisive political will to end terrorism and violent attacks nationwide.

“We are saddened by the apparent failure of the government to crush these evils decisively. Empty promises have not helped the situation, while insecurity continues to spread,” PFN said.

The fellowship further faulted the rehabilitation of repentant insurgents, insisting that greater efforts should be directed towards protecting innocent citizens and punishing perpetrators of violence.

“Nigerians are tired of the bloodshed and the seeming focus on politics rather than deploying the full strength of the government to defeat those killing innocent citizens,” it added.

PFN called for immediate and practical measures to halt the killings, warning against allowing insecurity to become normalised in the country.

“The blood of innocent Nigerians demands more than promises. It requires urgent and effective action,” the group declared.

Despite the challenges, PFN expressed confidence that Nigeria would overcome its security crisis through prayer and responsible leadership.

“We believe God is able to break the cycle of violence, secure the release of captives, and restore lasting peace to Nigeria,” the fellowship said.