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DEFENCE

President Tackles PDP Over $1bn Defence Spending Allegation

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President Muhammadu Buhari
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By Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

The Presidency said on Sunday that the opposition-Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) was in a state of “socio-emotional distress” over its call on the Federal government to account for the $1bn withdrawals from the Excess Crude Account(ECA) for purchase of military hardwares.

In a prompt response to allegations by the PDP, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement on Sunday, described the allegation by the opposition party as laughable.

He said: “the PDP “thinks that all governments in the world run on the basis of freewheeling looting as they did their own.

“Here is what happened to that USD1 billion.

“It’s on record that the Buhari administration paid about USD 490 million for a dozen Super Tucano fighter aircraft in a direct, government-to-government (no Contractors or Commission Agents) transaction with government of the United States.

“Various other military procurements have been made. Balance of expenditure stands at about USD 880 million or so.

Barring considerations of national security, the details of the stage of implementation, the procurements made and the suppliers will be obtained and if your story can wait until tomorrow Monday, a work day, we can give you more or all of the details.

“The PDP spent Defence procurement funds on their failed 2015 political campaigns as proven in court. That is not to say every succeeding government, more so one led by a Buhari will do the same,” the presidency added. 

The Peoples Democratic Party had on Sunday expressed shock at the alleged confession by the National Security Adviser, NSA, Gen. Babagana Mongunu (rtd), that he is not aware of the whereabouts or disbursement of the $1bn drawn from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) by the Muhammadu Buhari-led Presidency in 2017 for security purposes. National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus and President Muhammadu Buhari.

The party’s spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan on Sunday said that “the confession by the NSA, who coordinates the security architecture of the nation, directly places a huge burden on President Buhari’s doorsteps over reported stealing and diversion of funds meant for security, while insurgency, banditry, killings and kidnapping fester in the land under his watch.

“The revelation by NSA further vindicates the PDP on our initial alarm that the All Progressives Congress, APC-led administration is overtly corrupt, deceptive and unreliable in the handling the affairs of our nation. 

“It further validates the stance of the PDP that agents of the Presidency and the APC were hiding under the guise of security to siphon the $1bn from the ECA. “This, peharps, informed the desperation by the cabal to draw from the account without recourse to statutory due process of appropriation by the National Assembly. “From Gen. Mongunu’s confession, Nigerians can further see why our nation is daily confronted with disturbing videos and reports of our fighting troops protesting their neglect and inadequate equipping, leading to their vulnerability in the fronts. 

“Now that the NSA has declared that he is not aware of the whereabouts of funds, the burden, straightaway, lies squarely on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately address the nation on how the money was handled,” the PDP alleged.

DEFENCE

Police Arrest Two Suspected Car Snatchers in Delta

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The Delta State Police Command has arrested two suspected car snatchers and recovered a Toyota Camry in the state.

The command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Warri.

Edafe said that the suspects were arrested on Tuesday by operatives attached to the Ekpan Division of the Nigeria Police Force.

He said that the suspects were apprehended at the New Era axis of Jakpa Road, Ekpan Community, where the stolen vehicle was also recovered.

“On Sept. 8, the Ekpan Police Division received a report concerning a Toyota Camry car stolen in Benin City on Monday.

“The operatives embarked on an intelligence-led investigation and trailed the vehicle to the New Era area of Jakpa Road in Ekpan Community.

“The operatives immediately proceeded to the location, sighted the vehicle and laid an ambush, leading to the arrest of the two suspects and recovery of the vehicle,” he said.

Edafe said the suspects were currently in police custody, adding that investigation into the matter was ongoing.

He said the Commissioner of Police in charge of the command, Samuel Erale, had reiterated the command’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks in the state. (NAN)

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DEFENCE

Army Strengthens Operational Effectiveness, National Security, Repositions Senior Leadership

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By David Torough, Abuja

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the strategic redeployment of senior officers to key command, operational and staff appointments across the Nigerian Army (NA), as part of ongoing efforts to enhance operational effectiveness, strengthen leadership and align the Service’s command structure with Nigeria’s evolving security environment.

The exercise prioritises critical operational theatres and strategic appointments to ensure the right leadership, experience and expertise are positioned to deliver decisive effects.

In the new postings, Major General IA Ajose moves from Army Headquarters (AHQ), Department of Army Operations, to Theatre Command Joint Task Force (JTF) North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), as Theatre Commander, while Major General AE Abubakar has been redeployed from OPHK, to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre (NAHFC) as Dean, Faculty of Operational Research.

Major General AM Alechenu moves from Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Garrison to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, while Major General RT Utsaha moves from AHQ Department of Army Standards and Evaluation to DHQ Garrison as Commander.

Similarly, Major General AM Umar moves from AHQ Department of Civil-Military Affairs (DCMA) to Army War College Nigeria (AWCN) as Commandant, while Major General UM Alkali moves from AWCN to AHQ DCMA. Major General GS Muhammed moves from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to the Nigerian Army Finance Corporation (NAFIC) as Director General, while Major General JE Osifo moves from NAFIC to the Military Pension Board (MPB) as Chairman and Major General IE Ekpenyong has been redeployed to DHQ Department of Defence Logistics as Director Engineering Services.

At the operational level, Brigadier General AA Bello moves from 6 Division Garrison/Sector 3 JTF South-South, Operation DELTA SAFE, to DHQ Department of Defence Operations. Brigadier General MS Adamu has been redeployed from Nigerian Army Women Command to the newly established 8 Brigade as Commander, while Brigadier General MS Sule moves from Special Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE to 27 Task Force Brigade as Commander.

Similarly, Brigadier General I Sule, has been redeployed from the Directorate of Recruitment Management to 6 Division Garrison as Commander while Brigadier General E Azenda, moves from Land Forces Simulation Centre to 2 Division Garrison as Commander and Brigadier General AS Bugaje, moves from 2 Division Garrison to the Land Forces Simulation Centre as Director Administration.

The COAS has charged the newly appointed officers to justify the confidence reposed in them through exemplary leadership, operational innovation, professionalism and unwavering commitment to duty and relentlessly focused on the constitutional mandate of defending Nigeria’s sovereignty, protecting its territorial integrity and supporting civil authority in maintaining peace and security.

The NA remains resolute in sustaining a dynamic leadership and force-employment framework that enhances operational outcomes, strengthens joint and inter-agency coordination and improves the capacity of the Service to respond decisively to contemporary and emerging threats in furtherance of Nigeria’s national security objectives.

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DEFENCE

Troops Foil Cattle Rustling, Recover 500 Cattle in Kaduna

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Troops of Operation Fansan Yamma have foiled a cattle rustling operation and recovered more than 500 cattle in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The troops, from Sector 1, Joint Task Force North West, conducted the operation on Tuesday following a distress call from residents over cattle rustling at Rugar Mande Kurmin.

Lt.

-Col. Aliyu Danja, Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

Danja said that upon receiving the distress call, the troops swiftly mobilised to the suspected withdrawal routes of the terrorists and established blocking positions.

He said the troops engaged the terrorists from multiple positions, forcing them to withdraw in disarray and abandon the rustled cattle.

According to him, all the recovered cattle were subsequently handed over to their respective owners.

The media officer said the successful operation further demonstrated the troops’ commitment to protecting lives and property and disrupting criminal activities across the Joint Operations Area.

He urged members of the public to continue providing security agencies with timely and relevant information to enable the military to eradicate terrorist elements within the Joint Operations Area.

Danja reaffirmed the commitment of Operation Fansan Yamma to denying criminal elements freedom of action across the Joint Operations Area.(NAN)

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