NEWS
Diri Okays Kinetic, Non-Kinetic Approaches for Tackling Insecurity
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, on Monday, said the adoption of both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches in the fight against banditry, kidnapping, insurgency and other forms of criminality will help in tackling insecurity rocking the country.
Diri stated this during a courtesy visit of participants of the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC) 19, of the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) in Government House, Yenagoa.
The Bayelsa Chief Executive, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr.
Peter Akpe, emphasised the need for complementation, stressing that no military strategy, however sophisticated, can substitute for inclusive governance and equitable distribution of resources that will give the citizenry a sense of belonging.He informed that his administration was sustaining the prevailing peace in Bayelsa mainly through non-kinetic measures, such as prioritisation of youth employment, skills acquisition scholarships and as well as opening up rural communities with roads and bridges to engender socio-economic development.
Describing the theme of the NISS study tour, “Ethnic Militias and Resource Competition in Africa: Implications for National Security”, as apt, Governor Diri said that Bayelsa and the Niger Delta are most suitable environments to conduct such research activity.
He recalled that the Niger Delta agitations in the past were necessitated by decades of criminal neglect and marginalisation its people suffered despite the region’s huge contributions to the commonwealth of the Nigerian state.
Stressing the need for equitable resource sharing, Senator Diri pointed out that when ethnic communities felt alienated from resources on their own soil, there is the likely tendency for the affected people to resort to armed violence.
He commended the Director General and the entire leadership of the NISS for consistently investing in the intellectual and professional capital of the nation’s security and intelligence architecture, expressing optimism that the team would work hard to actualize its study objectives to promote national security.
His words: “We welcome you and also appreciate you for choosing Bayelsa for this particular study tour. These studies are so important; but most of the time, because we don’t study, we don’t get empirical data or information on what is really going on. And so, we tend to theorize everything.
”We take this study very seriously. Therefore, we commend the Director General and the entire leadership of the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), Abuja, for your consistent investment in the intellectual and professional capital of our national intelligence and security architecture.
”Distinguished participants, your chosen theme — “Ethnic Militias and Resource Competition in Africa: Implications for National Security’ — could scarcely have found a more appropriate field laboratory than Bayelsa State, and indeed, the wider Niger Delta.
”Bayelsa is the heart of the Niger Delta. Beneath our creeks, our mangroves and our communities lie the wealth that has powered the Nigerian economy for over six decades. Yet, for so long, our people lived with the painful paradox of plenty of gas flares lighting the night sky over our communities without electricity, pipelines crossing farmlands that no longer yielded crops, and a generation of young men and women growing up to watch wealth pass them by.
”On the issue of national security, I believe that no military strategy, however sophisticated, can substitute for inclusive governance, equitable resource sharing, and a credible social contract between the state and its citizens.
And so, in Bayelsa, the Prosperity Administration of His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri, has continued to use more of the non-kinetic approach by prioritizing youth empowerment, skills acquisition, scholarships and the opening up of our communities through critical infrastructure.
”Because we understand that an idle, hopeless and excluded young person is the most fertile recruiting ground any militia, anywhere in the world, can ever hope for. I respectfully urgently urge you to look closely at what has worked here in the Niger Delta, what has not and why.”
In her remarks, the NISS team lead, Vivian Okpeh, said the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC) 19 is a 10-month intensive training programme designed to equip participants with advanced skills in intelligence management, strategic leadership and national security policy formulation.
She further said that the study theme was carefully selected in recognition of the growing influence of militia groups, noting that their activities have profound implications for governance, economic stability and national development, which require a coordinated and well-resourced response
While calling for greater collaboration between the NISS and Bayelsa, Okpeh expressed readiness of the Institute to partner the state government in training the 2027 set of participants in the EIMC programme in Bayelsa.
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Odo-Ere, the headquarters of Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, came under attack from armed bandits, resulting in the death of a Civil Defence officer and the abduction of his daughter.
According to sources, the victim, identified as Ayo, a member of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), was shot in the head during the attack.
A source confirmed that Mr. Ayo was rushed to a medical facility but was declared dead on arrival.
His remains have since been deposited in a mortuary as a “Brought-In-Dead” case.The attackers reportedly abducted his first daughter before fleeing the area, further deepening fears among residents following the latest security breach in the community.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies have yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
The attack has heightened concerns over the growing insecurity in Yagba West and surrounding communities, with residents calling for urgent intervention by security authorities.
Two crew members of a US army helicopter that crashed near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday were rescued by an American sea drone, US officials have said.
It was the first such operation carried out by US forces, the officials added.
US Central Command (Centcom) earlier said the two “soldiers were safely rescued within approximately two hours and are in stable condition” after their AH-64 Apache helicopter went down “near the coast of Oman while patrolling regional waters”.
It was not immediately clear whether the aircraft had developed a mechanical or any other technical problem, or had been downed by Iranian fire. The incident is being investigated.
In its statement on Tuesday, Centcom said the two crew members had been rescued at 19:33 EDT (23:33 GMT) on Monday.
“Rescue efforts were led by US Naval Forces Central Command and the 82nd Airborne Division, with support from US Air Force and Navy units including US 5th Fleet’s Task Force 59,” the statement added.
The military officials said the pair had been rescued by an uncrewed surface drone that was operated by Task Force 59.
In 2024, Task Force 59 launched a new unit focusing on “the operational deployment of unmanned systems teamed with manned operators to bolster maritime security across the Middle East region”.
It was not immediately clear what type of drone was used in the rescue operation, but a US official said that it had a speed boat-like design.
US President Donald Trump earlier told reporters the two crew members were “fine”, and that a report into the incident would be issued later.
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
The Benue State House of Assembly has extended the suspension of former Speaker, Aondona Dajoh, and former Majority Leader, Saater Tiseer, by an additional three months pending the determination of separate court cases instituted by the duo against the legislature or the withdrawal of the suits.
The resolution was reached during plenary on Tuesday, presided over by the speaker, Berger Alfred Emberga, following a motion of urgent public importance moved by the Majority Leader of the House and member representing Kwande West State Constituency, Thomas Dugeri, and seconded by the Deputy Chief Whip, Simon Gabo, representing Mata State Constituency.
The House subsequently adopted the motion and resolved that the suspension of the two lawmakers should remain in force for another three months pending the outcome of the judicial process or the withdrawal of their respective cases against the Assembly in line with the law governing the institution.
Also during Tuesday’s plenary, the Benue State Sports Marketing, Gaming and Lotteries Bill, 2026 scaled through second reading on the floor of the House.
Following its consideration, the Speaker, Alfred Emberga referred the bill to the Joint House Committees on Finance, Youth and Sports for further legislative scrutiny.
In his opening remarks marking the commencement of the First Sitting of the Fourth Legislative Session, the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Emberga welcomed members back from recess and urged them to remain committed to their legislative responsibilities.
He noted that the recess afforded lawmakers the opportunity to engage with their constituents and participate in political activities, including party primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Speaker described the Fourth Legislative Session as a defining phase in the Assembly’s tenure and charged members to focus on issues that directly impact the welfare of the people. He identified security and peace-building, economic resilience, infrastructure development, enhanced revenue generation, effective oversight of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and greater citizen participation in the legislative process as key priorities for the session.
He further urged members to sustain harmonious collaboration with other arms of government while remaining steadfast in making laws that reflect the aspirations and yearnings of the Benue State people.
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