COVER
Troops Kill 103 Terrorists, Arrest 22 in North-East – DHQ
By Gom Mirian, Abuja
The Defence Headquarters, yesterday said Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have killed 103 Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists and arrested 22 of them and their ‘collaborators’.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Musa Danmadami, a major general, said in Abuja at the bi-weekly news briefing on the operations of the armed forces that the feat was recorded in the last three weeks.
Maj. Gen. Danmadami added that out of the 22 arrested in the North-east, 14 of them were terrorists’ logistics suppliers conveying grains, ammunition and fuel among others while 4 were terrorists spies.
He said the troops also rescued thirty (30) civilian hostages while a total of 423 terrorists and their families surrendered during the period.
He said that troops had on 1 December 2022, had a meeting engagement with Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa State Province terrorists at Waji Roko in Damboa and Bama Local Government Areas of Borno State leading to the killing of 103 terrorists and recovered of cache of arms.
“Troops neutralized 103 terrorists, apprehended four terrorists commanders, arrested 12 Boko Haram Terrorists logistics suppliers and 2 terrorist collaborators as well as 4 terrorists spies.
“Equally, 30 abducted civilians were also rescued while a total of 423 Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and members of their families comprises, of 41 adult males, 126 adult females and 222 children surrendered to own troops at different locations within the theatre.
“All recovered items, rescued civilians and arrested terrorists have been handed over to the appropriate authority for further action, while the surrendered Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and members of their families are being profiled for further action,” he disclosed.
According to him, troops recovered 20 AK47 rifles, 2 G3 rifles, 5 FN rifles, 2 QJC guns, 1 gun truck, 2,411 rounds of 7.62mm special, 143 belted rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 1 barreta pistol, 26 AK47 magazines, 4 bandoliers, 4 x 36 hand grenades, 1 x 42 hand grenade, 1 RPG tube, 1 HEAP bomb, 1 HEAT bomb, 1 mortar tube, 2 mortar tripod stands and a 60mm mortar bomb.
Other items recovered are 33 motorcycles, 33 bicycles, medical suppliers, 50 pieces of males and females fabrics, bags of grains, jerrycans of groundnut oil, cartons of detergents, the sum of N291,060.00 and other sundry items.
Army, Others Nab Five Kidnappers in Abuja, Crush 429 Motorcycles
The military high command, yesterday said its troops had in conjunction with other security agencies intercepted and crushed 429 motorcycles in a raid carried out at Karamajiji and Lugbe general areas in Abuja.
Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General, Musa Danmadami disclosed this at a bi-weekly briefing on troops’ activities and operational successes recorded in the various operational theaters in the six geo-political zones of the country.
Gen. Danmadami, said troops on December 8, in conjunction with other security agencies raided Karamajiji and Lugbe general areas in Abuja Municipal Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory to rid the general area of the menace of criminal elements.
He said during the operations the team intercepted a total of 429 motorcycles, adding that the motorcycles were subsequently crushed same day in an open field at Lugbe in the presence of all participating security agencies.
“Equally, on 16 December 2022, troops in conjunction with other security agencies conducted fighting patrol to Kassanki village in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory and arrested 5 suspected kidnappers in their hideout,” Danmadami added.
He said troops had in the last three weeks conducted both kinetic and non-kinetic operations in the various theatres of operations, with significant results recorded.
The Defence spokesperson said that troops in the North Central Zone of the Country have sustained to crack down on the nefarious activities of terrorists and other criminal elements in their general area of operation.
According to him, between 8 and 15 December 2022, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN raided the residence of a notorious gunrunner who was on the wanted lists of own troops at Rampla village in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
He explained that during the operation troops recovered 2 fabricated pistols and 1 fabricated rifle.
“Troops also carried out covert operation on 9 December 2022 and arrested 2 notorious kidnappers at Gora and Maijuju villages in Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau State.
“Equally, troops while on patrol had contact with bandits within Kampani general area in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State. Following the operation troops neutralized 1 bandit while other fled.
“Troops recovered are 25 rounds of 7.62mm special and 2 motorcycles among other items. Also, a notorious gun runner was equally arrested along Kwankonka-Zaria road in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau state on 19 December 2022 with 1 fabricated AK47 rifle, 1 fabricated pistol and 533 rounds of 7.62mm NATO concealed in a bag of grains.
“While a bandolier was also discovered inside a jerrycan of palm oil. Consequently, within the weeks in review, troops recovered 3 locally fabricated AK47 rifles, 2 locally fabricated pistol, 25 rounds of 7.62mm special, 533 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 3 motorcycles, cutlasses and mobile phones among other items.
“In a related development, the air component of Operation SAFE HAVEN on 3 December 2022 conducted air interdiction operation at identified bandits hideouts at Odare, Magama forests and Zurak general area of Kampani village in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.
“During the operation 7 motorcycles, each mounted by 3 bandit were seen trying to escape but were bombarded. Feedback confirmed that the bandits suffered severe casualties as they were all confirmed to have been neutralized in the air strikes,” he explained.
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
As part of efforts to reposition the newspaper for optimum corporate performance, the management of Asset Newspapers Limited, Publishers of DAILY ASSET, has announced the appointment of David Torough as the Editor of the Abuja-based national daily.
A statement by the management said the appointments were part of the company’s new strategy to further penetrate the various states in the country and raise its readership and patronage.
“DAILY ASSET is widely acceptable across the country and to maintain our leadership position, we need to increase management presence, hence the need to create new Bureau offices in some locations outside Abuja and Lagos,” the statement quoted the Publisher/ Editor-in-Chief, Dr Cletus Akwaya to have said.
In a statement yesterday, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the fast-growing daily, Dr. Cletus Akwaya said the appointment was part of the new strategy to properly situate the paper for better productivity.
“DAILY ASSET has a commitment with the Nigerian people. We are determined to weather the storm and give Nigerian readers a Newspaper that satisfies their yearnings and reading pleasure and we can only do that with the right set of professionals,” the statement said.
Akwaya, a former Commissioner of Information from Benue State said the difficult times being faced by Nigerians posed a great challenge to the media as the people deserved credible information with which to make choices.
“We have a bond with the people, to offer credible information at all times in the best tradition of the Nigerian Press and on this scale of objectivity, truth and fairness, we pledge to remain steadfast no matter the challenges,” Akwaya was quoted to have said.
He said the newspaper will maiantin its daily print run and circulation to all states of the federation and urged advertisers to take advantage of the deep penetration of the Daily Asset brand to send their messages.
Torough, the new Editor has had a steady rise in the Newspaper in the last five years.
A graduate of Mass communication of the Benue State University, Makurdi, Torough joined the company in 2022 as Benue State Correspondent. He was spotted for his brilliance and redeployed to Abuja the following year and promoted to Deputy News Editor. He was subswuently named Deputy Editor of the paper, a position he held until the recent appointment.
Torough has attended several journalistic workshops and trainings to properly equip himself for the task ahead.
The statement also said the Management named Eze Okechukwu as Deputy Editor.
Before his elevation as Deputy Editor, Eze has been Deputy Politics Editor and DAILY ASSET Newspaper correspondent covering the Senate, having joined the organization in 2021.
Born on March 10, 1975, Eze holds a Masters Degree in Mass Communication from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology.
Eze began his journalism career with Daily Star, Enugu and later worked with Daily Trust Newspaper, Abuja as sports reporter.
Aside from his journalistic excellence, he has a great deal of passion for sports.
From Ngutor Dekera, Kaduna and Aliyu Askira, Kano
Northern governors and traditional rulers yesterday called for the suspension of mining activities across the region for six months, blaming illegal mining for worsening insecurity in many states.The resolution was contained in a communiqué issued after a joint meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna.
The meeting, chaired by the Gombe State Governor and NSGF Chairman, Muhammadu Yahaya, had in attendance the 19 northern governors and chairmen of the 19 states’ traditional councils. The Forum expressed concern over the escalating violence in parts of the North, including the killings and abductions recently recorded in Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kano states, as well as renewed Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe.“The Forum extends its deepest condolences and solidarity to the governments and good people of the affected states,” the communiqué said, noting that the attacks on schoolchildren and other citizens had become “unacceptable tragedies” that required urgent collective action.It commended President Bola Tinubu for what it described as the Federal Government’s “firm response” to recent abductions and insurgency threats, especially the rescue of some abducted pupils.The governors also saluted security agencies for their sacrifices on the frontlines.“We resolved to renew our support for every step taken by the President and Commander-in-Chief to take the fight to insurgents’ enclaves in order to end the criminality,” the Forum stated.A major highlight of the meeting was the North’s renewed push for the establishment of state police, with governors and traditional rulers insisting that decentralised policing had become inevitable.“The Forum reaffirms its wholehearted support and commitment to the establishment of state police,” the communiqué added, urging federal and state lawmakers from the region to “expedite action for its actualisation.”On illegal mining, the governors said criminal mining networks were fuelling violence and providing resources for armed groups.As a corrective measure, they asked Tinubu to direct the Minister of Solid Minerals to impose a six-month suspension of mining activities in order to allow for a full audit and revalidation of licences.“The Forum observed that illegal mining has become a major contributory factor to the security crises in Northern Nigeria. “We strongly recommend a suspension of mining exploration for six months to allow proper audit and to arrest the menace of artisanal illegal mining,” it said.To strengthen the fight against insecurity, the governors also announced the creation of a regional Security Trust Fund.Under the proposed arrangement, each state and its local governments will contribute ₦1bn monthly, to be deducted at source under an agreed framework.They said the fund would help provide sustainable financing for joint operations, intelligence-driven interventions and coordinated security responses across the region.At the end of the meeting, the Forum reaffirmed its commitment to unity and collective responsibility.“Only through unity, peer review and cooperation can we overcome the pressing challenges before us,” it declared.The Forum agreed to reconvene on a date to be announced.Meanwhile, Nigeria’s worsening security crisis took a grim turn on Monday as bandits launched fresh attacks in Kano State, abducting 25 villagers, even as the Federal Government raced to secure the release of more than 300 Catholic school children kidnapped in Niger State.In the early hours of Monday, armed bandits invaded Unguwar Tsamiya—popularly called Dabawa—in Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State, whisking away nine men and two women after shooting into the air and assaulting residents. The attackers also rustled two cows.A resident lamented the community’s helplessness: “We cannot do otherwise; most of us cannot leave because we have nowhere to go. This is our place, our land and everything is here.”The assault came less than 24 hours after a similar attack on Yan Kamaye in Tsanyawa LGA, a community along the volatile Katsina border.In Niger State, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu has assured distraught families of St. Mary’s Co-Education School, Kontagora that the more than 300 students and staff abducted on November 21 will return home “soon.” Ribadu, who led a high-level federal delegation to the school on Monday, said the abductees are safe, though he offered no specifics on their location or the status of rescue operations.According to Daniel Atori, spokesman for the Catholic bishop overseeing the school, the NSA reassured officials: “The children are where they are and will come back safely.”The St. Mary’s attack is part of a worrying resurgence of mass kidnappings reminiscent of the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction. Security analysts warn that banditry has evolved into a “structured, profit-seeking industry,” with hundreds of Nigerians abducted in November alone.The Kontagora school abduction occurred the same week 25 girls were kidnapped in Kebbi State—victims who authorities say have since been rescued through “non-kinetic” means. About 50 of the St. Mary’s hostages have also managed to escape.Ribadu’s delegation, which included the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), reaffirmed the government’s commitment to securing the freedom of all abducted citizens.As communities from Kano to Niger continue to bear the brunt of these violent incursions, the escalating spate of kidnappings underscores the urgent national demand for a more decisive and coordinated security response.
By David Torough, Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said former Attorney‑General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, will face a team of interrogators at its office daily throughout December.A credible source in the EFCC said on Monday that the daily appearance was part of an ongoing investigation into the whereabouts of an alleged 490 million dollars Abacha loot secured through a Mutual Legal Assistance (MLAT) request.
The source said that Malami, who was summoned for interrogation by the EFCC on Saturday, was barred from leaving Nigeria for the next one month.According to the source, one of the conditions for his release on Saturday was that he should report daily to the EFCC Headquarters in Abuja for further interrogation.The source said Malami would have to appear daily at the anti-graft office due to the volume of the investigation and the seriousness of the charges against him.”We seized his passport, it is the normal routine during investigation, but he has to report at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja every day for the next month.”He will be reporting for further investigation throughout December.”He will be reporting every day, starting from Dec. 1st to Dec. 31st.He will appear before the team of investigators for the entire month of December.”He will be reporting to EFCC for investigation for the period because of the volume of the investigation and the seriousness of the charges against him,” the source added.According to the source, a fact sheet on the former minister revealed that Malami had several issues to clarify with the EFCC within the coming weeks.“We have asked him to explain the whereabouts of the $490 million Abacha loot secured through MLAT.“We didn’t say he stole money, but he should account for the loot. This is one of the issues he will clarify to our investigators.”The commission cited the large volume of documents he must review and the need for extensive interviews as reasons for seizing his passport.The source said EFCC would not engage in a war of words but would release its findings after a thorough investigation.Malami, in a statement by his media aide, Mohammed Doka, on Monday in Abuja, however, described the EFCC investigation as a political witch‑hunt.He confirmed he honored an EFCC invitation on Nov. 28, describing the engagement as fruitful and expressing confidence that the probe would vindicate him.Malami described the EFCC’s allegations as baseless, illogical and devoid of substance, insisting they collapse under factual scrutiny.
Women, Girls Still Struggle to Access Healthcare in Nigeria – Findings
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja As Nigeria marks Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day 2025, new findings suggest that adolescent girls and...
Five Arrested over Plot to Attack German Christmas Market
ShareFive men have been arrested in Germany suspected of being involved in a plot to drive a vehicle into people...
INEC Begins Display of Preliminary Voter Register in Delta
ShareFrom Francis Sadhere, Delta The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Delta State Office, has announced the commencement of the display...
NAF Begins Nationwide Aptitude Test for 2025 Recruitment of 20,000 Candidates
ShareNo fewer than 20,000 applicants nationwide are participating in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Zonal General Aptitude Test for the...
NDLEA Arrests Fleeing Bandits’ Drug Supplier in Niger
ShareThe National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a notorious supplier of illicit drugs to bandits operating in the...
Transportation Expert Lauds Mbah over Security, Infrastructure in Enugu
ShareA transportation expert and elder statesman, Chief Chris Chigboh, has commended Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State for the remarkable...
Baby, Female Passenger Die in Ikorodu Road Crash
ShareThe Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said a fatal road traffic collision on Ikorodu Road has claimed the lives...
Mortuary Attendant in Police Net over Alleged Organ Harvesting in Edo
ShareA mortuary attendant in the Upper Sakponba area of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo has landed in police net...
Tinubu Urges ECOWAS’ Unity to Resist Coups, Ensure Regional Stability
SharePresident Bola Tinubu on Sunday urged West African leaders to close ranks against fresh shocks to democracy, citing the recent...
COAS Urges NMS Students to Uphold Discipline, Excellence, Promises Better Learning Environment
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has charged students of the Nigerian...