DEFENCE
National Security : Buratai Blows Hot on Banditry, Kidnappers
By Gom Mirian, Abuja
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Tukur Yusufu Buratai on Tuesday, officially redeemed its earlier pledged commitment of effectively partnering with the National Park service of Nigeria (NPS) to root out criminals from parks, reserves and forests across the country.
General Buratai redeemed the pledge in Abuja at the Army Headquarters Command Officers’ Mess 1 Asokoro, where he donated two brand new hilux vans to NPS to further enhance it’s services performance to root out banditry and kidnappers hideouts.
The COAS who was represented by the Chief of Standard and Evaluation, Nigerian Army, Major General Okwudili Azinta, explained that Collaborating with the NPS would drastically reduce the issues of banditry, kidnapping and other forms of criminality in the country.
“What we have done by this presentation is to assure the National Park Service of Nigeria that we will continue to work with you to stamp out criminal elements who use our parks for their various activities”.
Buratai promised to continue to support the NPS in staff training and other areas.
“I assure you that all the Nigerian Army units sub formations that are within the areas where you have parks and forest reserves have been put on stand by to support you anytime you need them”, he said .
The Conservator General, National Park Service, Alhaji Ibrahim Goni, who also stood in for the permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, while receiving the vehicles said the gesture was the demonstration of the NA commitment to tackle the current security challenges associated with forest and protected areas in Nigeria.
Alhaji Goni Pledged to judiciously use the vehicles for the said operations to ensure safety for all.
“I will like to assure you sir, that the vehicles will be used strictly for patrols to enhance the capacity of park rangers for effective protection and to improve the level of security in the country site.
“it is our fervent prayer that this partnership will be sustained and taken to higher level in order to promote our collective efforts towards making Nigeria safe”, he stressed.
He, however, beckoned on all other security agencies including the Nigerian Police Force, Navy and other para-military forces to follow suite.
Earlier in his remarks, the Director of procurement in the office of Standards and Evaluation, Nigerian Army, Major General AO Adetayo said the gesture by the COAS became necessary to help minimise the criminal activities across the national parks, stating that the parks across the country had become criminal hideouts.
He said all the reserves in the country will be adequately protected to help get rid of the criminal activities.
Former Chief of General Staff under Gen. Sani Abacha’s government, retired Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diya(GCON), is dead.
The former military governor of Ogun died at the age of 79.
His death was announced on Sunday in a statement by his son, Oyesinmilola Diya.
It read, “On behalf of the entire Diya family home and abroad; we announce the passing on to Glory of our dear husband, father, grandfather and brother, Lt- Gen.
“Our dear Daddy passed onto glory in the early hours of March 26, 2023. Please keep us in your prayers as we mourn his demise in this period.
Further announcements will be made public in due course,” he said.
(NAN)
By Gom Mirian, Abuja
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has assured candidates seeking to participate in its ongoing recruitment exercise that concerted efforts are being made to resolve challenges they are facing on the application portal to make the process seamless any moment from now.
The Director, Media, and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, gave the assurance in a statement released yesterday in Abuja.
The assurance is coming barely five days after the online application portal was opened on March 12.
Femi said the portal began to experience glitches due to the heavy traffic.
“Over 200,000 applicants tried to access the portal.
”However, Femi said the agency has taken the decision to “upgrade the infrastructure on Tuesday to accommodate the large volume of applicants after over 53,170 applicants had successfully logged into the portal.”
He added that data at the back end of the portal was been synchronized to adjust to the server upgrade.
“The management, therefore, wishes to apologize to the applicants for the hitches being experienced and urge them to exercise patience while the system completes synchronization to serve them better.
Troops of 13 Brigade Nigerian Army, Calabar, deployed for Operation Akpakwu, have rescued the Commissioner for Women Affairs in Cross River, Mrs Gertrude Njar, from captivity.
The announcement of her rescue is contained in a statement by Capt. Dorcas Aluko, Army Public Relations Officer, 13 Brigade, Calabar on Wednesday.
The Commissioner was kidnapped on Feb.
”Acting on actionable intelligence on victim’s whereabout, troops laid a tacit ambush for the kidnappers around Peter Effiong Creek, Messembe, Jebs.
”The gallant troops tactically sprung an ambush to take the kidnappers by surprise while on search of the victim.
”In the ensuing melee, the criminals abandoned the victim and fled into the creeks,” Aluko said.
She added that the troops were on the trail of the fleeing criminals.
According to Aluko, the victim is currently receiving medical treatment, after which she will be discharged.
”The Commander 13 Brigade Nigerian Army commends troops for their gallantry and urges them to sustain the tempo against all criminal elements in the Brigade’s Area of Responsibility.
”Members of the general public are also encouraged to continue providing timely and accurate information on criminal activities within their vicinities,” she said. (NAN)
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