National
Army Responds to IPOB’s Call for Igbo Youths to Reject Ongoing Recruitment
The Nigerian Army has issued a strong warning to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for their unpatriotic call urging youths in the Southeast to abandon the current recruitment drive for the military.
In a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, denounced this call as a “brazen yet futile attempt to undermine national unity and cohesion.”
He described the reckless statement circulating in the media, which discourages youth participation in the Nigerian Army’s 88 Regular Recruits Intake (RRI), as misguided.
Nwachukwu emphasized that the youth from the Southeast have consistently shown their dedication and patriotism by fulfilling their recruitment quotas in various military and paramilitary services, as well as contributing significantly to federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
He noted that, contrary to IPOB’s unfounded threats, the registration for the 88 RRI has seen a promising number of applicants from the region. He also highlighted that Southeast youths successfully occupied slots during the recent commissioning of Direct Regular Cadets at the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).
The General reiterated that the Southeast remains a crucial source of loyal and skilled personnel within the Nigerian military, contrasting this with IPOB, which he labeled as a group of terrorists and militias that have led the region into economic decline.
Nwachukwu criticized IPOB’s enforcement of illegal sit-at-home orders that have stifled local businesses and their involvement in kidnappings and violence that have inflicted suffering on the very communities they claim to represent.
He characterized the latest IPOB statement as a veiled threat aimed at intimidating the youth, whose futures they are jeopardizing for their own selfish motives.
The Army spokesman made it clear that IPOB has only intensified the challenges faced by the Southeast, calling it a destructive force. He urged the youth to reject IPOB’s tactics and pursue their aspirations within the military, a profession that prioritizes merit over ethnicity, religion, or creed.
Nwachukwu highlighted the Nigerian military’s commendable efforts in restoring peace in the region and countering the threats posed by IPOB’s terrorist factions, noting that recent successes in combating these criminals reflect the strength and commitment of Southeast personnel serving in the military.
He dismissed IPOB’s propaganda as the desperate cries of a failing organization trying to cling to relevance as it loses its influence.
The General called on the youth of the Southeast and the Igbo community to remain steadfast and not allow anyone to undermine their dreams and rights. He condemned IPOB’s actions as causing only pain, economic hardship, and fear in the region.
“The Nigerian Army stands as a beacon of hope, providing opportunities for personal growth, honor, and national service,” he concluded. (NAN)
A total of 92 visually impaired candidates participated in the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) at the Kano centre.
Prof. Muhammad Yahuza-Bello, JAMB Coordinator for the Kano centre, made the announcement while monitoring the exercise on Monday.
The examination took place at the School of Continuing Education, Bayero University Kano (BUK), under the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG) initiative for candidates with special needs.
Yahuza-Bello, a former vice-chancellor of BUK, explained that the 92 candidates were drawn from Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Zamfara, and Kaduna States.
He added that among the candidates, two had Down syndrome, while two others had autism.
The candidates, both male and female, were provided with specialized gadgets such as typewriters, braille machines, slates, styluses, and paper to facilitate their participation in the exams.
The coordinator also said over 500 candidates with special needs-ranging from visual impairments and albinism to Down syndrome and autism-had registered to take the exam at 11 centres across the country.
He said, unlike regular Computer-Based Testing (CBT) centres where candidates interact with screens and keyboards, special needs candidates benefit from adaptive materials to eliminate barriers to education.
Since its introduction in 2017, JEOG has seen positive results, with an increasing number of special needs candidates gaining admission into tertiary institutions.
Yahuza-Bello pointed out that while approximately 25% of regular candidates gain admission, over 33% of special needs candidates are successful in securing placements.
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National
Court Approves Federal Government’s Request to Protect Witness Identities in Nnamdi Kanu Trial
A federal high court in Abuja has authorized the federal government’s request to keep the identities of witnesses in the trial of Nnamdi Kanu confidential.
Kanu, who leads the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been held by the Department of State Services (DSS) since 2021 on charges of terrorism and treasonable felony.
On Tuesday, prosecution attorney Adegboyega Awomolo informed the court that he had submitted an ex parte application on April 10 to safeguard the identities of the witnesses. He requested that the court provide screens and masks to ensure their anonymity.
“The purpose of this request is to ensure the safety and security of state officers who will serve as witnesses,” he stated.
Kanu Agabi, the defendant’s counsel, did not contest the application.
The trial is underway, with the first witness, a DSS operative, already called to testify.
Kanu was re-arraigned on March 21 before Judge James Omotosho of the federal high court in Abuja.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Aisha Achimugu.
The managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of Felak Concept Group was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Achimugu was taken in around 5am on Tuesday after arriving in Nigeria from London.
More to follow…