DEFENCE
NAF Trains Critical Asset Protection Squad

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Regiment Training Centre (RTC), has graduated 151 Regiment personnel of NAF’s Critical Asset Protection Squad.
Those trained consisted of 10 officers and 141 airmen and airwomen, NAF’s spokesman, Air Commodore Ayodele Famuyiwa, said in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.
The training is in furtherance of NAF’s sustained efforts at building the capacity of personnel for force protection and safeguarding critical national assets.
Speaking during the graduation on Friday in Kaduna, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, urged the graduands to maintain high level of discipline and professionalism.
Amao also urged them to consolidate on the knowledge gained during the Critical Asset Protection Squad Course 4/2023, to improve their skills for the benefit of the country.
The CAS, who was represented by the Chief of Training and Operations, AVM Aliyu Bello, said NAF would continue to adopt new processes in line with the changing security environment and his vision.
He said his vision is “to enhance and sustain critical airpower capabilities required for joint force employment in pursuit of national security imperatives”.
Amao commended the Air Officer Commanding, Ground Training Command (AOC-GTC), the Commandant, staff, and instructors of RTC for the painstaking training of the fourth batch.
He said the first and second courses were conducted with the assistance of the Israeli Four Troop Security Company.
“There is no doubt that the RTC has done a great job in moulding and equipping the graduating students with requisites skills, knowledge, and the right attitude needed for efficient conduct of base defense and force protection responsibilities.”
On his part, the AOC-GTC, AVM Sola Olatunde thanked the CAS for providing the enabling environment in terms of policy direction, resources and other enablers to effectively run the centre.
Olatunde said that the training institutions under the GTC now have added capacity to train allied students of other nations.
He said the development was another testimony to the CAS’s tenacity for purposeful training and capacity development across board.
According to him, the command has instituted curriculum review, infrastructural upgrades, and instructor enhancements to make all NAF institutions regionally and globally attractive.
The course included rigorous physical training, aimed at equipping the trainees with tactics, techniques and procedures to function effectively and adapt to the dynamics of changing irregular warfare environment.(NAN)
DEFENCE
Zulum Offers N5m Each to Families of 8 Slained CJTF Members

Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has donated N5 million each to the families of eight members of Civilian Joint Task Force ( CJTF) who recently died in an explosion on the Dikwa to Marte road.
Zulum who made this known on Friday during a condolence visit to the families of deceased in Maiduguri, also granted scholarship to their children.
The Civilian CJTF is a volunteer security group that supports military operations against insurgents in Borno State and other parts of the North-East.
” I want to announce a financial assistance of N5 million to each of the bereaved families to cater for their immediate needs.
” Furthermore, the Borno Government will provide full educational scholarship to all children of the deceased CJTF members.
” For those who left no children, we shall extend assistance to their close family members,” he said.
The governor said the gesture was part of his administration’s commitment to assisting the families of security personnel and members of the CJTF who paid the supreme price of defending his people
Zulum described the deceased as martyrs who made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of their communities and assured that their bravery would always be remembered.
He prayed for the repose of their souls of the deceased and urged the bereaved families to take solace in the heroic legacy left behind by their loved ones.
The CJTF operatives died on Tuesday after they ran into an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the area.(NAN)
DEFENCE
Police Nab 5 Suspected Cultists, Recover Firearms in A’Ibom

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom says it has arrested five suspected cultists and recovered firearms at Ibesikpo Asutan area of the state.
DSP Timfon John, the Police Public Relations Officer, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Uyo.
John said the arrests took place at the cultists’ hideout in Ikot Etuk village, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area on Wednesday.
She said that the operatives of the command, based on credible information, arrested the cultists.
John said that during the operation, operatives recovered one locally made pistol, one fabricated single-barrel gun and assorted charms.
According to her, the suspects have voluntarily provided useful information to the police regarding their criminal activities.
“This includes their involvement in a recent attack on Fulani herdsmen, which resulted in the killing of two cows.
“The stolen cows were reportedly shared among various cult groups within Ibesikpo Asutan,” she said.
John said that efforts were currently underway to apprehend other fleeing gang members and recover their operational weapons.
The spokesman further said the developments would be communicated to the public as they unfold. (NAN)
DEFENCE
Police Arrest 4 Suspects, Recover Stolen Property in A’Ibom

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom said it had arrested four suspected criminals in Udi Street in Uyo and recovered numerous stolen items.
DSP Timfon John, the Command’s Public Relations Officer said this in a statement in Uyo on Monday.
John said that the suspects were arrested base on credible intelligence and in compliance with the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare’s directive.
She said that an operation which was inaugurated last Friday at exactly 1:15 a.
m., led to the arrest of the four suspects.”In a significant intelligence-led operation, operatives of the command raided a location in Udi Street, leading to the arrest of two individuals and the recovery of numerous stolen items.
The raid also resulted in the arrest of another two suspected receivers of stolen property,” she explained.
The command’s image maker said that exhibit including 14 sewing machine heads and a generator were recovered from the suspects.
According to her, two complainants have come forward and identified their stolen machines among the recovered items.
She added that investigation into the matter was ongoing. (NAN)