From Wins Charity, Owerri

The Traditional Ruler of Assa, Obosa-Umuepe Communities Eze Emmanuel Asor has decried insisant attack by Fulani herdsmen for killing, abduction and destruction of farmland in the Communities in Ohaji Egbemna Local Government Area of Imo State.

Asor said that In Abacheke Community Fulani herdsmen on motorcycle fired sporadically Four Confirmed dead, one injured Farmland destroyed, and intimidation heightened in Assa, Obosa-Assa, Umuepe communities

He further stated that Fulani herdsmen with cows have repeatedly invaded farmlands and destroyed cassava, yam, plantain amongst others.

The traditional ruler Eze Emmanuel,Asor said that the little land they have been invaded by Fulani herdsmen and no fewer than,260 Cow grazing in farmlands adding that hunger is imminent because crops were eaten by the Fulani Cow

Eze Asor further said that in Abacheke Community, Gunmen on motorcycles fired sporadically four people confirmed dead on arrival, one person injured and right now Police have deployed tactical teams to the areas.

He highlighting that in Asaa Fulani herdsmen recently killed 1 dead, 9 injure while, five were abducted

Eze disclosed that HURIWA has accused “armed Fulani herders” of “sustained killings” in Imo which is well acknowledge across the State.

He however condemned misinformation and urged the Youths in the Areas to remain calm and he noted that oil companies have took most land, leaving little for farming which is now invaded my Fulani herdsmen

From Ifeanyichukwu Nwannah, Gusau and Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu

Nigeria’s security challenges deepened at the weekend as separate attacks in Zamfara and Enugu states left security personnel dead, civilians abducted, and fresh rescue operations underway.

In Zamfara State, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA foiled an attempted terrorist attack on a Forward Operating Base (FOB) at Kasuwan Daji in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area, killing several attackers and rescuing nine abducted civilians.

According to the Nigerian Army, the terrorists attempted to infiltrate the military base around 1:40 a.m. on Saturday under the cover of darkness but were detected and engaged with overwhelming firepower, forcing them to retreat. Reinforcements immediately pursued the fleeing attackers, leading to the rescue of nine civilians who had been abducted from nearby communities.

The Army dismissed reports that six security personnel were killed during the attack, insisting that only one Army officer and one police officer lost their lives. It said troops have since secured the area and are conducting exploitation operations to determine the full extent of the terrorists’ casualties while reaffirming their commitment to sustaining offensive operations against armed groups across the North-West.

Meanwhile, in Enugu State, a joint security team has intensified efforts to rescue two victims abducted during an attack on St. Joseph Catholic Church, Inoyi, Affa Community, in Udi Local Government Area.

Police said operatives, working with Forest Guards and members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group, pursued the fleeing gunmen and succeeded in rescuing one of the abducted victims unharmed, while the attackers escaped with two others.

The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, directed the Area Commander in Oji River, the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit, and the State Intelligence Department to deploy all operational and intelligence assets, including the Enugu State Command-and-Control Centre, to ensure the safe rescue of the remaining victims and the arrest of the perpetrators.

Although police confirmed that three persons were initially abducted, eyewitnesses said the attackers stormed the church during morning service around 8:30 a.m. and abducted a seminarian, the catechist and two other worshippers before fleeing.

Authorities in both states have assured residents that security operations have been intensified to restore safety, rescue those still in captivity, and bring the attackers to justice.

By David Torough, Abuja

The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) neutralised more than 102 terrorists and other criminal elements, arrested 345 suspects, and rescued 393 kidnapped victims across the country in July, underscoring an intensified nationwide offensive against insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and crude oil theft.

The figures were disclosed by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, during the Defence Headquarters’ monthly operational briefing in Abuja on Friday.

According to the military, troops operating across the six geopolitical zones sustained coordinated land and air offensives that also led to the voluntary surrender of 57 insurgents, while 59 firearms and 1,811 rounds of ammunition were recovered from criminal groups.

In the North-East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai recorded some of the most significant gains, neutralising 54 terrorists, arresting 102 suspects, rescuing 102 kidnapped victims, and facilitating the surrender of 57 insurgents and their family members.

Among the major breakthroughs was the killing of Abu Salim al-Barnawi, described as a senior Boko Haram/ISWAP commander and propaganda chief, during an operation in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

Operation Fansan Yamma in the North-West rescued the highest number of kidnap victims during the month, with 191 hostages freed, while 33 terrorists were neutralised and 66 suspects arrested.

Troops also foiled several mass abduction attempts and rescued dozens of civilians in Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Kano and Sokoto states.

In the North-Central, Operation Savannah Shield rescued 11 victims, neutralised eight terrorists, and arrested 18 suspects, while Operation Enduring Peace recorded 18 rescued victims, 60 arrests, and two terrorists neutralised.

Operation Whirl Stroke also rescued 24 kidnapped victims, arrested 70 suspects, and killed five terrorists across Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Taraba states.

The military said sustained anti-kidnapping operations in the South-South led to the rescue of 37 civilians, the arrest of three suspected terrorists, the dismantling of 18 illegal refining sites, and the recovery of more than 250,500 litres of stolen petroleum products.

Troops also intensified efforts against crude oil theft and illegal refining operations in Rivers State.

In the South-East, Operation Udo Ka arrested 26 criminal suspects and rescued 10 civilians, while recovering weapons and dismantling criminal hideouts linked to armed groups.

The Defence Headquarters also highlighted the role of the Air Component in supporting ground operations, noting that precision air strikes and surveillance missions disrupted terrorist movements in Niger State and enabled the escape of kidnapped victims during separate operations.

Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, commended troops for the month’s operational successes and praised the synergy among the Armed Forces, other security agencies and local vigilante groups.

He also applauded security personnel involved in the successful rescue of 44 pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oyo State, stressing that the victims were freed without any concession to their abductors.

Reaffirming the military’s commitment to national security, the Defence Headquarters urged Nigerians to continue supporting security operations by providing timely and credible intelligence, assuring the public that all information received would be treated confidentially.