COVER
Insurgency: 1,000 Boko Haram Terrorists, Others Surrender
By Gom Mirian, Abuja
No fewer than 1,000 Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs), some senior Commanders and their families comprising adults and children have surrendered to the Nigerian troops, while 27 were killed following sustained military air and land bombardment of their enclaves at separate locations in the North East
Acting Director, Directorate of Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko, who disclosed this at the bi-weekly briefing on the Armed Forces of Nigeria operational activities in Abuja yesterday, said notable among the terrorists who laid down their arms were the notorious BHT bomb expert named, Musa Adamu popularly known as Mala Musa Abuja and his deputy, Usman Adamu aka Abu Darda.
Onyeuko said several arms and ammunitions were recovered from the terrorists among other items and 29 abducted civilians rescued within the period under review.
“Following the intensity of these operations coupled with non-kinetic efforts by our own troops, which yielded tremendous results as evidenced in the number of casualties and massive surrender of terrorists in Buni Yari, Gorgore, Baga and Monguno towns as well as Maiduguri – Baga Road, Maiduguri – Damboa Road and Bula Yobe-Darel Jamel Road, operations were also carried out at Kayamri and Mairari villages as well as Monguno and Kukawa towns, all in Borno state.
“On July 31, there were distress calls from locals, on cattle rustling, kidnapping and armed bandits attacks on farmers at Bagida village in Sokoto state; Shinkafi in Zamfara state and Maigora, Falale and Ungwan Dudu villages as well as Kankara – Katsina Road in Katsina state.
“In all, troops repelled the criminals, rescued farmers and kidnapped victims as well as recovered arms, ammunitions and some livestock, while some criminal elements were arrested.
“Cumulatively, a total of 89 livestock, five AK-47 rifles, three rounds of 9mm ball and 48 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition were recovered and 4 kidnap victims rescued.
“Also, two notorious cattle rustlers named, Mallam Buda Umar from Niger Republic and Mai Hatsi Ibrahim from Gada LGA of Sokoto state as well as four armed bandits and drug peddlers were arrested.
“Furthermore, between 2 and 6 August 2021, the Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI, carried out intensive air strikes on bandits’ hideouts at the South of Dansadau Town; North of Kwiambana Forest Reserves as well as North of Sububu Forest and Dudufi village under Faru District in Maradun LGA, all in Zamfara State,” he said.
He said the air strikes resulted in the destruction of bandits’ structures including the residence of one of their leaders named Halilu Tubali, in which the armed bandits converged for a meeting.
He added that the air strikes in conjunction with ground troops’ assaults resulted in the neutralization of no fewer than 123 armed bandits and destruction of their logistics facilities in the process.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies have and will continue to remain committed to fight all forms of criminality until sustainable peace is achieved in our dear Country.
“The Military High Command appreciates the enormous sacrifices of the troops in the various theatres of operations across the Country. It salutes their courage, service and commitment to the nation,” Onyeuko added.
NDLEA Intercepts G3 Rifle, 78 Rounds Ammunition
In a related development, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),Benue State Command, has arrested a man with a fabricated high calibre G3 rifle and 78 rounds of live ammunition.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd) who said this during a news conference yesterday in Abuja noted that the suspect would be handed over to appropriate authority for further investigation.
Marwa said that the checkpoint was created to stop and search vehicles for drugs, noting that NDLEA made the arrest when other criminal items, such as heavy weapons, as in this instance, were found.
Marwa said that the suspect was arrested on Aug. 4 in a bus from Onitsha to Jos where the vehicle was flagged down at Aliade checkpoint for search.
“In the process, an iron box completely welded was found in the vehicle, and when the passengers were questioned to know the owner, the suspect, Celestine Christian, accepted ownership.
“When the steel box was taken to the Benue State Command along with the suspect, an electric filing machine was used to cut it open.
“A fabricated high calibre G3 rifle was discovered with 78 rounds of live ammunition and five empty shells of same calibre were discovered” he said.
Marwa noted that people now manufacture weapons on their own, hereby selling to bandits, kidnappers and criminal gangs among others.
He said that it was important for this to be investigated by the appropriate agencies of government, assuring that due sanctions would follow as it might not be the only manufactured weapons.
While interrogating the suspect, Christian claimed he had talent in making local guns, adding that he was hoping to get a job in the military with it.
Christian said that he was aware it was a crime to manufacture weapon without permit in Nigeria and that he was looking forward to having one.
He said that he had met a soldier who told him to make a sample and told him he could get a government job with his talent.
According to him, “I do not have permit, but I was looking forward to getting one with my talent. They will not believe I can do this that is why I need to convince them with sample”.
“However, I also asked that Christian be transferred to Abuja because of the calibre of weapon found with him, which he claims he manufactures.
“For us at NDLEA, we will continue to do our best with our highly dedicated officers and men to cut-off accessibility to illicit drugs by criminal gangs by blocking the trafficking of these psychoactive and psychotropic substances.
“In doing this, we will not shy away from complementing the efforts of other security agencies, especially our armed forces in our collective bid to restore security and maintain law and order in all parts of the country.
Similarly, Marwa said that three bandits armed with AK 47 rifles were also intercepted by officers on patrol in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina state.
He said that the suspects were from Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna state and were going to Kankara Local Government Area in Katsina state for a devilish assignment.
He noted that a car, three AK 47 rifles with magazines and ammunition, different types of charms, rings, cash and other items, were recovered from them.
All is now set for the Edo State gubernatorial election tomorrow. The off-cycle election will take place across all the local government areas. There are 17 political parties on the ballot.
The people of Edo State will decide on the ballot who will be Governor Godwin Obaseki’s successor.
The winner of the election replaces Obaseki in the Dennis Osadebe House on Nov. 11.The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it is set for the election.
According to the electoral umpire, 2,249,780 registered voters, representing 85.57 percent of the 2,629,025 total registered voters have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) across 4,519 polling units in the state’s 18 local government areas.Out of the 17 candidates in the race, three are in focus: Asuerinme Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party.
Ighodalo is a 64-year-old economist, lawyer, and politician from Okaigben, Ewohimi, in Esan South East local government. He is former chairman of Sterling Bank. He served on the economic teams of both former Governor Adams Oshiomhole and the outgoing governor, Obaseki.
Okpebholo is a 54-year-old businessman and politician from the Udomi-Uwessan community in Irrua. He has a background in Business Administration and a Master’s in Policy and Leadership Studies.
Akpata is a 51-year-old lawyer from Edo South Senatorial District. As the first non-Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 28 years to be elected president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Akpata offers an alternative to the APC and PDP political dominance.
One thing that has trailed preparations for the election is fear of security breaches.
Last week, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun announced the deployment of 35,000 police personnel to the state for the election.
However, major political parties and actors in the election have been engaging in inflammatory rhetoric, with the PDP refusing to sign the peace accord initiated by the National Peace Committee (NPC).
Yesterday, a civil society organisation called YIAGA Africa identified eight local government areas that could potentially become hotspots during the election.
The local government areas are Ikpoba/Okha, Oredo, Egor, Ovia South West, Ovia North East, Esan South East, Etsako West, and Etsako East.
The civil society warned of a high likelihood that politicians might resort to violence to manipulate the election.
Yesterday, Edo State Government declared today work-free to enable workers and electorate travel to their voting areas ahead of the election.
A statement by Joseph Eboigbe, Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG), reassured that security measures had been provided to ensure a free, fair, and credible election.
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has emphasized that it is willing to encourage state owned enterprises to list on the Nigerian Exchange in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
Disclosing this in an interview in Abuja yesterday, the Director General of SEC, Dr.
Emomotimi Agama said listing their securities would lead to democratization of their operations, inclusiveness and wealth creation for Nigerians.He said, “Inclusivity is very critical because in inclusivity, you have ownership. And so we all build our industries and the country together.
“For us at SEC, we would provide incentives that will encourage as much as possible, these state owned enterprises to list.
“You know that beside the incentives, one of the things that we at the SEC will continue to do is to educate those that are managing these institutions, to get them to understand that listing of those institutions does not remove power from them. It rather provides bigger power, because united we stand, divided we fall.”
Agama said the commission will continue to provide education, provide incentives and most importantly, make sure that time to market is reduced adding, “providing that certainty, getting them the assurance, knowing fully well that when you want to come to the market, when you decide to come to the market, you are able to follow a calendar, and that calendar is supported by the SEC.”
The DG disclosed that the SEC is also working towards inclusion via technology adding that the use of technology will make the capital market more attractive especially to the younger generation.
“That is why we encourage apps, we encourage FinTech tools, and that is why we supported the launch of the e-offering platform at the Nigerian exchange.
“And we encourage every other one who wants to participate and is qualified to participate in this process, to turn around the way people see investing.
“We want investors to have a beautiful experience. We want them to feel at ease, to make it so easy for them that each time they feel like investing, it brings happiness to them, and we will continue to do that through encouragement of technology, through education and everything that we need to do, incentivizing industries and making sure that bottlenecks are removed and the process of rejuvenating The Nigerian capital market,” he added.
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Former Governor of Kogi State Yahaya Bello yesterday honoured the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
A statement from Bello’s Media Office signed by Michael Ohiare said that the decision was made after due consultations with his family, legal team and political allies.
The statement read, “The former governor, who has great respect for the rule of law and constituted authority, had all the while only sought the enforcement of his fundamental rights in order to ensure due process.
“The case has been before a competent court and Alhaji Yahaya Bello had been duly represented by his legal team at every hearing.
“It is important for the former governor to now honour the invitation of the EFCC to clear his name as he has nothing to hide and nothing to fear.
“The former governor believes firmly in the efforts of the administration of President Bola Tinubu to place Nigeria on the path of sustainable economic development and support the fight against corruption in the country.
“It is on record that he was the first Governor of Kogi State to put in place an anti-corruption mechanism to check graft and ensure that the resources of the state work for the people of the state.
“He was accompanied to the EFCC Headquarters by high profile Nigerians.
“It is our hope that the commission will be as professional as necessary and respect his fundamental rights as a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Details of his engagement with the operatives of the anti-graft agency will be disclosed later.”
However, EFCC denied that the former governor was in its custody.
The commission, in a statement by its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale said that Bello remained wanted with a subsisting warrant of arrest.
He said, “Media reports today that a former Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello is in the holding facility of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is incorrect.
“The commission wishes to state that Bello is not in its custody.
“Bello, already declared wanted by the commission for alleged N80.2 billion money laundering charges, remains wanted with a subsisting warrant for his arrest.”
Bello was declared wanted after the incumbent governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo helped the embattled former governor to escape arrest in April.
Ododo’s arrival with heavy security at the residence of the ex-governor in Wuse, Abuja prevented the EFCC men from effecting his arrest.
Ododo’s entourage drove out with Bello in the governor’s car.
Since then, it was said have holed up in the Kogi State Government House, Lokoja.
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