Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) have neutralised three suspected bandits in Teng and Kayarda communities of Qua’an Pan Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau. Maj. Samson Zhakom, the Media Officer of the operation, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Jos. Zhakom said that the troops ambushed the suspected bandits on Tuesday morning, following an intelligence report over planned attacks on some communities in the state.

He explained that the troops also recovered some weapons during the operation. “This morning, some armed militia heading to attack some villages on the Plateau were ambushed and neutralised by troops of OPSH. “This followed credible intelligence on plans by bandits to attack Teng and Kayarda villages in Qua’an Pan LGA. “During the operation, troops in ambush positions, made contact and neutralised three bandits while others fled in the process. “Troops further recovered four AK-47 rifles, four AK-47 magazines and 56 rounds of 7.62 mm (Special) ammunition from the suspects,” he said. The media officer said that troops had intensified efforts to arrest other members of the criminal group who are still at large.(NAN)

Rep. Donald Ojogo (APC-Ondo) has criticised former Attorney General, Mallam Abubakar Malami, over his comments on the APC’s endorsements of President Bola Tinubu. Ojogo, in a statement on Tuesday, recalled that Malami argued the APC should focus on governance, insecurity, and the economy instead of endorsing President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The lawmaker, representing Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency, said Malami lacked the moral standing to criticise the party, given his past actions as Attorney General. He stated that Malami’s record as AGF contradicted his current position on matters affecting the Nigerian people, especially on issues of security and governance. Ojogo recalled Malami’s opposition to the formation of the Amotekun Corps, which he had once described as “illegal” during his time in office. “I served as Commissioner for Information under the late Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu’s administration when the Amotekun Corps was established to combat insecurity,” Ojogo said. He described Malami as a major obstacle to efforts aimed at tackling insecurity, particularly in the South-West region during that period. “As a direct witness, I saw Malami consistently frustrate Southern Governors’ attempts to address security concerns affecting our people,” Ojogo stated. He said Malami opposed every measure proposed by the Southern Governors Forum under Akeredolu’s leadership when insecurity was at its peak in the region. Ojogo commended the boldness of Akeredolu and his peers, saying their courage helped reduce crimes like kidnapping and killings in the South-West. He said Malami oversaw several moves to halt the creation of the Amotekun Corps during its formative stages, despite widespread support for the initiative. Ojogo added that Malami’s disdain for the concept of state policing was clear and undermined efforts to tackle insecurity while he served as Nigeria’s chief law officer. (NAN)

The Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai, Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, says the Boko Haram/Islamic States West African Province Terrorists are not waging war against the armed forces but against Nigeria.Abubakar stated this while speaking with Defence Correspondents who are on media tour to the theatre of operation on Tuesday in Maiduguri.

He said the war against insurgency was an asymmetric warfare that was difficult to fight, urging the media to treat terrorism as war against the nation. The theatre commander said that troops had continued to make sacrifices to ensure that communities affected by the activities of Boko Haram/ISWAP were stabilised.He said the military had also ensured that human rights were upheld in all the lines of operation they needed to face to carry out military action.“We have our troops here in the field spreading different locations during these harsh weather conditions, which can rapidly become also very cold at night.“So there are heroes, and I tell you, we will do them well to appreciate them occasionally and the only way to do that is through the media.“These are also Nigerians and it is not the terrorists against the armed forces. It is the terrorists against Nigeria as a nation.“So once we begin to understand this and have a common front, we will be able to make a very tangible progress,’’ he said.The Chief of Staff, Operation Hadin Kai, Brig.-Gen. Adamu Ibrahim, explaining why female terrorists were not being killed or prosecuted, said that Nigeria was signatory to international law of armed conflict.Ibrahim said that the law explicitly protects combatants who are no longer actively participating in the fighting as well as women and children.According to him, Boko Haram are Nigerian citizens and they are fully eligible to have wives and children.“As long as their wife and children do not take off arms and engage in direct combat operations in this, then they are not Boko Haram combatants.“The Nigerian military fully enforces and upholds human rights laws, and as such, we would not violate the laws against the Boko Haram, by engaging their families,’’ he said.Giving overview of the activities of OPHK, Maj. Ademola Owolana, said the Joint Tax Force Northeast operation was organised to effectively curtail the activities of the insurgents across the entire territory.Owolana said the operations were being hampered by a number of factors such as drone attacks by terrorists, activities of fifth columnists and planting of IEDs.He said the troops had continued to show resilient in defeating the terrorists across the theatre of operation with several successes so far recorded.According to him, in recent attack on Kukawa, own troops with support of air components defeated the terrorist onslaught; the covering was two motorcycles and neutralising 28 terrorists.“Furthermore, the terrorists have continued to attack isolated communities in search of logistics, equipment of fighters, close-ledger, and outdoor high-value targets.“This threat profile suggests desperation of JAS and ISWAP leaders to reassess themselves, demonstrate strength, recruit more fighters, and amass logistics interpolation for future offensive across the theatre,’’ he said. (NAN)