Defence & Security
50,000 soldiers involved in counter-terrorism, separatist operations nationwide – Lagbaja
50,000 soldiers involved in counter-terrorism, separatist operations nationwide – Lagbaja
Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), stated on Tuesday that more than 50,000 soldiers are presently involved in several peacekeeping operations across the country.
The internal security operations include counter-terrorism efforts in the North East, separatist operations in the South East, and combating oil theft in the South South.
Lagbaja gave the disclosure at a special luncheon organised for frontline troops of 6 Division, Nigeria Army, Port Harcourt.
Represented by Maj.-Gen. Kevin Aligbe, Commander, Training and Doctrine Command, Nigeria Army, Lagbaja said the troops had sacrificed their comfort for Nigerians to live peacefully.
“So, it is a fact that over 50,000 of our colleagues will miss wishing their families and loved ones a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in person this season.
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“This is not because they do not want to but because they will be on duty across difficult-to-access towns, villages, and hamlets across the country and beyond.
“They (troops) are duty bound to stand guard while their families and other families rejoice and celebrate together. To these gallant warriors, I say thank you for your sacrifice.”
Lagbaja stated that 2024 would be a significantly improved year due to the various programs the Federal Government had launched for the Nigerian Army and the nation as a whole.
“In the coming year, the Nigeria Army expects to take delivery of helicopters and other combat enablers that will see a better security environment develop across the country.
“Also, the Army Headquarters has initiated several welfare projects that will directly impact the lives of soldiers and their families.
“Troops wellbeing is of utmost importance, and we shall continue to work tirelessly to provide personnel with the necessary resources and support to carry out their duties effectively,” he added.
The army chief said he was passionate to return troops home to their families and had already begun taking actionable steps to ensure their safe return.
He said among the measures taken to safely withdraw soldiers from armed conflicts was the engagement of other security agencies to take over their constitutional role from the army.
“To this end, we look forward to creating a more stable condition that will allow for a drawdown in the strength of troops deployed on internal security operations across the country.
“We shall endeavour to help build capacity in statutory security agencies to take charge of our internal security effectively.
“Consequently, we hope to recalibrate our efforts towards our primary constitutional duty of ensuring our territorial integrity,” Lagbaja said.
Earlier, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Nigeria Army, Maj.-Gen. Jamaal Abdussalam said the COAS luncheon was organised to appreciate troops for their many sacrifices for the country.
He stated that the sacrifices made by troops in the ongoing oil theft and illegal bunkering operations in the Niger Delta had led to a persistent increase in oil production.
According to him, the division will continue to support the Federal Government to enable the country to realise its expected oil output target for 2024.
“I assure the Niger Delta people the division shall continue to conduct our operations in line with global best practices and adherence to the fundamental human rights.
“Our troops have been involved in various kinetic and non-kinetic activities that have considerably shaped the operating environment – with their attendant operational hazards.
“Key among the hazards is the loss of precious lives of our dear colleagues and the occasional loss and damage of our equipment,” he said.
Abdulssalam assured that the gunmen who ambushed and shot dead four soldiers in Ahoada council of the state would soon be apprehended and prosecuted.
Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, represented by his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Ordu, commended the Nigerian Army for their sacrifices and pledged the state government’s backing for security agencies in the state.
50,000 soldiers involved in counter-terrorism, separatist operations nationwide – Lagbaja
Defence & Security
Nigerian Army, DSS eliminates 7 terrorists in the North West, recover 10 rifles, motorcycles
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Nigerian Army, DSS eliminates 7 terrorists in the North West, recover 10 rifles, motorcycles
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Hadarin Daji, in conjunction with the operative of the Department of State Security Services(DSS), have nutrialsied 7 terrorists in the North West of Madachi in Isa LGA.
The terrorists were naturalized on Friday at about 251720A while responding to a distress call about the movement of the bandits on 40 motorcycles toward the Modachi general area.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the troops eliminated 7 of the bandits while others escaped with bullet wounds toward the axis of Shinkafi.
Items recovered include 7 ak47 rifles, 4 motorcycles, 2 pounds and 4 cutlases.
The interagency cooperation between the Nigerian Army and other security agencies as exemplified in the conduct of this operation is a testament to the strength of our collective resolve to defeat insurgency and other security challenges.
Nigerian Army, DSS eliminates 7 terrorists in the North West, recover 10 rifles, motorcycles
Man begs I-G to assist in locating missing police wife
Mr Ayowole Adekonipekun, a resident of Osogbo, has appealed to the Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Kayode Egbetokun to help in locating his wife, Cpl Ruth Ayowole, who went missing while on official duty in Abia.
Adekonipekun told newsmen on Friday in Osogbo that his wife, with service number 068986, was serving with the Anti-Robbery Unit of Osun Police Command.
The husband said that Ruth and four of her colleagues went missing on Feb. 13, after an ambush during their official assignment to Abia.
Adekonipekun said that his wife and other officers left Osogbo on Feb. 12 and passed the night at a hotel in Asaba.
According to him, he later learnt that they were ambushed between Anambra and Abia.
“I chatted with my wife till around 8:10am on Feb. 13 before they set out for the journey, but two hours later, when I tried to contact her, her number was not reachable.
”I later lodged a complain with the officer in-charge of the Anti-Robbery unit, and the Commissioner of Police, who informed me that they had sent a follow-up team to verify the state of the missing officers.
”It was later we heard that one of the officers named Sodiq, had escaped the ambush and returned to Osogbo, but didn’t know what happened to the rest of the team.”
The husband of the police woman said since then, there had been no news about the missing police officers.
”Myself and others have sent petition to the Police Service Commission, Zone lX in Osogbo and the State Police Command about the whereabout of the officers, but there has been no response.
”I want to appeal to the I-G to please unravel the whereabout of my wife and other officers, it has not been easy to live without my wife in the last two months,” he said.
When contacted, SP Yemisi Opalola, the Police Public Relation Officer in Osun, said that the command and that of Imo, as well as the Army, have been working to find the missing officers.
Opalola said the families of the missing officers had met with the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mohammed Umar-Abba, who briefed them on the efforts being made to trace the missing officers, and urged them to exercise more patience.
Man begs I-G to assist in locating missing police wife
How NSCDC Rescues 10 Suspected Victims of Human Trafficking in Abuja
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has intercepted in Abuja 10 suspected victims of human trafficking, purportedly being sponsored for illegal migration abroad.
The victims were accosted at Zuba motor park, Abuja, by officers of the FCT command of the NSCDC, following a tip off on their return from Minna, Niger State, where they had gone to process their International passport as directed by their sponsor.
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The victims whose age bracket was between 24 and 34 years, consisted of a male and nine females, and all claimed to be indigenes of Ondo State.
It was gathered that each of them paid N80,000 to facilitate the procurement of the International passport.
According to a statement on Monday by the spokesman of the FCT Command of the NSCDC, Samuel Idoko, the intercepted persons also confessed to being promised migration abroad to undertake ready made jobs, especially in North Africa and Canada by a yet to be identified sponsor who according to them, resides in Okitipupa, Ondo state.
While handing over the 10 suspected victims to the Nigeria Agency for the prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP), the FCT Commandant, Olusola Odumosu, warned Nigerians on the dangers of illegal migration abroad.
He said: “Be careful of the types of people that are promising you a better future abroad, don’t be desperate because, some of them end up ruining your lives .
“They deceive you and collect huge sums of money from you that there are ready made jobs, whereas, you may end up in slavery or forced to be sex workers.
“If you must travel abroad, follow the right channel that’ll give you rest of mind, don’t allow somebody to seize your international passport abroad, and place you under an oath that you’ll regret.”
The Commandant further stated that, the victims were handed over to NAPTIP being the agency in charge of human trafficking to carry out further investigations and actions within the ambit of the law.
End
How NSCDC Rescues 10 Suspected Victims of Human Trafficking in Abuja
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