NEWS
Drone Bombing: Group Condoles Families, Kaduna Govt over Death Toll
![Airforce Destroys Terrorists Structures in Bakassi](https://dailyasset.ng/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Airforce-Destroys-Terrorists-Structures-in-Bakassi.jpg)
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
Some groups recently, commiserated with the families, people, and Government of Kaduna State over the unfortunate, mistaken bombing of some innocent civilians in the Tudun Biri area of Igabi Local Government Area, LGA, in the state.
The group which said it received the news of the development in Kaduna with serious pain, appealed to residents to believe in the ability of the nation’s Armed Forces to enthone a secured Nigeria for the betterment of all citizens.
The coalition is led by a foremost African peace-building group, Global Peace and Life Rescue Initiative (GOPRI), which noted that the military drone was in hot pursuit of some terrorists that infiltrated some communities in the area before the unfortunate incident.
While expressing its heartfelt condolences to the families, people, and government of the state, the group, however, took a swipe at a call for the resignation or sack of the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff, by a northern-based group operating as Arewa Action Group for Good Governance.
Recall that the Arewa group on Tuesday, had alleged that the action of the Nigerian Army has cast a shadow on the human rights rating of the Nigerian Army.
The group, in a statement signed by Moses Saleh, accused the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa, of conniving with the Nigerian Army to cause havoc in communities in Kaduna State.
The group said the Chief of Defence Staff sanctioned the action of the Nigerian Army without the involvement of the Nigerian Air Force, the service responsible for air operations.
But in its reaction to the allegation, the GOPRI-led coalition expressed disappointment at the claim by the northern group even as it said such a group was not in existence anywhere in Nigeria or beyond.
In a statement issued by the coalition, they called on the military chiefs not to be deterred in their relentless efforts to rid Nigeria of terrorists following the actions of some faceless individuals masquerading under some nonexisting groups.
In the statement signed by the, the Executive Director of Global peace and life rescue initiative GOPRI, Amb. Melvin Ejeh, the Convener of the Conference of Islamic Preachers in Africa (CIPA), Sheikh Mohammad Abubarkar Zango, the coalition commended President Bola Tinubu over the high-powered delegation he dispatched to the community for immediate assessment of the situation.
The group which said though it does not speak for the military, said the Nigerian military remains one of the best in the world, noting that a single mistake should not be a yardstick to attack the nation’s revered military who are making sacrifices and achieving monumental results daily.
It said: “In as much as we won’t want to join issues with the nonexisting group, we will not also sit on the fence while some enemies of the country succeed in their desperate clandestine plan to pitch Nigerians against the military and its leadership.
“The Global Fire Power (GFP), an institution that ranks the military of different countries, recently rated the Nigerian military as one of the best in the world, in its survey.
“This places Nigeria above 18 European countries namely: Denmark, Belgium, Portugal, Bulgaria, Austria, Ireland, Macedonia, Finland, Hungary, Croatia, Slovakia, Serbia, Albania, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Anybody in doubt can do their research,” the coalition said.
The coalition added: “We are saddened over the unfortunate deaths of innocent civilians in Kaduna State.
“Our hearts go to the immediate family of the deceased. We sympathize with the families, people, and Government of Kaduna State over this regrettable incident. We call on the Government to make adequate arrangements for the families the deceased left behind.”
It added: “We commend President Tinubu over the high-powered delegation he dispatched to the community for immediate assessment of the situation.
However, we are saddened and shocked by the reckless, and irresponsible derogatory, defamatory, and inciting statement issued by a faceless sponsored group, operating under the name, Arewa Action Group for Good Governance, against our revered Chief of Defence Staff,
CDS, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja, at a time Nigerians are mourning. “
According to the coalition, “This group which has no visibility and physical address anywhere in the country according to our investigation, is just out to play their paymasters’s script just to tarnish the good reputation of the CDS and COAS to cause bad blood between them and Nigerians.”
The coalition said it did not see how an operational hazard would translate to be caused by the CDS and COAS.
“While we are not trying to justify the killing of innocent Nigerians under any guise, however, credible intelligence available to us suggests that the soldiers were in hot pursuit of some terrorists who had infiltrated the communities on that faithful day,” it said.
The group said, “Operational hazard happens anywhere in the world no matter how advanced.”
It advised Nigerians against playing politics with issues of national security rather than coming together to solve the problem.
“While we call on the government and military high command to ignore the faceless group, we appeal to the DSS to commence an immediate investigation to unravel the sponsors of the faceless group who are out to malign the office of CDS and COAS. Their action is capable of causing religious and ethnic unrest,” it tasked.
NEWS
Ajuri, Tinubu’s Spokesperson Takes Exit, Cites Mesical Reaaona
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Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President Chief Ajuri Ngelale has quit his job. He said in a statement in a Abuja that he would proceed on an ” indefinite leave, to deal with ” medical matters” affecting him amd hia immediate family.Hos statement reads: “On Friday, I submittd a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President informing my office that I am proceeding on an indefinite leave of absence to frontally deal with medical matters presently affecting my immediate, nuclear family.
While I fully appreciate that the ship of state waits for no man, this agonizing decision — entailing a pause of my functions as the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity and Official Spokesperson of the President; Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen — was taken after significant consultations with my family over the past several days as a vexatious medical situation has worsened at home.I look forward to returning to full-time national service when time, healing, and fate permit.I respectfully ask for some privacy for my family and family”NEWS
Fuel Crisis: 1000 CSOs Fault Tinubu’s Economic Team, Want Immediate Reconstitution
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By David Torough, Abuja
About 1000 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), under the auspices of Coalition Of Civil Society Organisations (CCSOs), on Saturday Faults President Bola Tinubu’s Economic Team and called for immediate reconstitution.Expressing deep concerns over the state of the economy and escalating fuel prices compounding the hardship of Nigerians despite the recent protest, the groups said Tinubu must act now to avert disintegration.
The groups said the current situation across the country has cast doubt on the competence of the Tinubu economic team and called for urgent review. The CCSOs in a statement by its National Coordinator, Mallam Ibrahim Mohammed, pointed out that the plight of Nigerians is sinking low and their patience is wearing off following the deteriorating economy.The statement reads in part, “The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) is deeply concerned about the deteriorating state of the Nigerian economy, which is becoming increasingly unbearable for millions of citizens.“It is evident that the recent hike in fuel prices and the unstable exchange rate are the direct results of economic mismanagement by those responsible for overseeing our nation’s financial policies. The ripple effects of these failures are being felt in every household across the country, worsening poverty and crippling economic activity.“The floating of the Naira, which was initially sold to Nigerians as a means of stabilizing our currency, has done little to prevent the continued devaluation of the Naira. In fact, the exchange rate disparity has widened significantly, with the Naira losing value daily, impacting the cost of living, basic commodities, and inflation.“While this policy was expected to ease foreign exchange pressure, it has instead deepened economic challenges due to poor implementation and lack of strategic foresight.”The coalition also expressed concern over what it described as a death trap of indebtedness of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which also they claimed had slowed down importation of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, hence the current shortage of PMS across the country. “Of equal concern is the precarious position of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which finds itself in a debt trap, with global suppliers of petroleum products losing confidence in Nigeria’s ability to honour its obligations.“Reports have shown that NNPCL has accrued debts totalling over $6 billion, causing petrol supply shortages. International suppliers are now reluctant to continue providing fuel on credit, exacerbating supply chain issues and pushing up the price of petrol at the pump”, they claimed.The CSOs also asserted that, “We hold the managers of the Nigerian economy responsible for these disturbing developments. Their inability to provide sound policies and long-term solutions has left the nation in this predicament.“It is clear that there is no cohesive strategy to address the rising debt, the growing imbalance in the foreign exchange market, or the country’s heavy reliance on importation for petrol supply. The recent hike in fuel prices reflects the collapse of responsible economic management and accountability.“Nigerians are left to bear the brunt of these failures. Businesses are shutting down, transportation costs have skyrocketed, and citizens are spending an increasingly larger percentage of their income on basic necessities. This state of affairs is unacceptable.”The group therefore placed some demands; Immediate intervention from the government: There needs to be a comprehensive and transparent plan to stabilize the Naira, restore confidence in the petroleum supply chain, and negotiate a restructuring of NNPC’s debts to ensure continuous fuel supply.“Accountability for economic mismanagement: Those responsible for the reckless management of our foreign exchange policies and NNPC’s debts must be held accountable. The government must also disclose its plan to mitigate the rising fuel costs and economic burden on Nigerians.“A return to sound financial policy: The floating of the Naira has proven ineffective under current conditions. We call for a re-evaluation of monetary and fiscal policies to stabilize the economy, reduce inflation, and attract foreign investment.“In conclusion, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations reiterates that without immediate corrective measures, the economic situation will continue to deteriorate, leading to further hardship for the average Nigerian. The government must act decisively and responsibly to reverse this downward spiral”, they added.NEWS
Tension in Makurdi Community as NAF Personnel Demolishes Houses, Destroys Rice Farm
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There is growing tension in Ugondu community, Makurdi LGA, Benue state by young people opposed to the demolition of houses and destruction of rice farms in the area allegedly on the directives of senior Air Force officer, Air Commodore Akinbuwa Ayodele.
It was learnt that Commodore Ayodele, who is facing multiple legal actions following dispute over a plot of land located on George Akume Way Makurdi and owned in blatant disregard to the judicial process embarked on destruction of structures on the plot.
Eyewitness said when the equipment arrived no one imagined it was for destruction.
But in a militray- like operation, two flats of two units each, completely roofed, electrified and plumbing work completed were among the structures demolished as the bulldozers rolled over rice farms in the vicinity as well.
It was learnt that last year, a Makurdi High Court presided by Justice Mary Ijohor, granted an order of perpetual injunction, in the same matter, upon application by the supposed owner of the plot and awarded the sum of One Million Naira (N1,000,000.00) only, as cost. The matter, enforcement of fundamental rights, was marked as MHC/582/M/2023.
Godwin Akor whose rice farm was destroyed in a chat with newsmen said that he was shocked at the development. He however said he won’t speak more on the matter as it is still before the court.