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Drop your arms, embrace dialogue – COAS advises agitators, others
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja has advised Nigerians bearing arms against the country to drop their arms, seek dialogue and other reasonable means to address grievances.
He made the call in Bauchi on Wednesday during the inauguration of the newly constructed Nigerian Army Armoured Corps Headquarters complex, reunion and pulling out parade of some retired senior officers.
Lagbaja said that it was only in a peaceful atmosphere that the economy of any country could thrive, hence the need for all to embrace peace.
“My appeal to Nigerians who have taken up arms against the state is that they see reason that it is only in an atmosphere of peace that people can experience progress and all those things that they deserve from the government, the states, can be realised.
“I appeal to them that they should drop their arms, seek dialogue and other means through which grievances can be addressed,” he said.
Lagbaja also sezed the occasion to charge the troops to continue to remain disciplined, dedicated and committed to the task that the army has been charged with.
He urged the officers and men of the Nigerian Army not to relent, adding “regardless of the challenges that we face in all the theatres, they must continue to remain resolute till we accomplish peace and security in the nation”.
The COAS explained that his presence in Bauchi was also to interact with the troops as they formed the backbone of the fighting force as well as the bedrock of the things the Nigerian Army do.
He said that all challenges raised by the troops ranging from promotion, non-payment of salary, personnels accounts domiciled in Heritage bank, participation in peacekeeping among others, would be addressed in no distant time.
“Most especially, those challenges that border on their pay and allowances and that’s why I asked them to send messages directly to me because it is of utmost importance to me and they will be addressed,” the COAS assured.
Also speaking, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alh. Sa’ad Abubakar III, urged the Nigerian Army not to allow tribalism into their affairs, stressing that it could divide the army and the country at large.
“You are in the military now and so many things have been geared towards where you come from, who is a Muslim, who is a Christian, who is Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba in the country.
“We never knew these things so many years ago.
“Please, don’t allow this thing to creep into the army for that would be the one thing that will divide the army and even the country,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other projects inaugurated by the Chief of Army Staff included the newly constructed Nigerian Army Armoured Corps Fire Service Station and Nigerian Army Armoured Corps Filling Station.
Also lined up as part of activities during the visit of the COAS to Bauchi is the pulling out of 11 senior officers of the Armoured Corps, comprised of seven Major Generals and four Brigadier Generals. (NAN
Amid the recall process initiated against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Arewa Youths Progressives Assembly has told both the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the police that Nigerians are keenly watching their actions.
This came amid viral video of some politicians in the Kogi State mass-signing signatures purported to be that of the Senator’s constituents.
It was gathered that the Senator has already petitioned the police over the development.
However, addressing journalists on Tuesday, the National President of Arewa Youths Progressives Assembly, Shuaibu Usman, accused the INEC of always compromising the electoral process in Kogi State.
Usman, who recalled how results of the last governorship election in the state emerged even before the exercise commenced, urged the commission to redeem itself.
He said, “Kogi parades as a worst example when it comes to INEC conduct of election in Nigeria. We have not forgotten how many credible organisations, including Yiaga Africa, raised the alarm of the electoral heist that went on during the last guber election in that state.
“So, INEC has been notorious for providing a thriving ground for politicians in Kogi State to mess up the country’s electoral system.
“The same people are at it again, this time hiding under the guise of a recall process against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. With their Kogi magic, they quickly manufactured over 250,000 signatures, whereas the entire voters during the main election stood at 120,000.
“One need not be a suitsayer to know that these are the same elements who are known to be chronic election riggers, with INEC as their enablers.
“However, we must caution the INEC that this should not be business as usual; this is beyond Kogi State, so Nigerians are watching.
“We were taken aback when the INEC after announcing that the petition did not meet its requirements, returned a day after to tell Nigerians that the same petitioners have met the requirements- what a quick fix!
“The INEC must not kowtow to the whims and caprices of desperate political elements in Kogi State, as this will be resisted by Nigerians.”
Similarly, the apex Igbo group also urged the police to ensure that all those in forging the signatures of Senator Natasha’s constituents were brought to book.
According to the group, the viral videos showed known faces in Kogi State, wondering why the police were yet to effect any arrest.
“By now, we had expected that some of the perpetrators should be cooling their heels in custody or having their days in court, but it is yet to happen.
“There should be no room for compromise, the culprits, no matter how highly placed, should be identified, arrested and prosecuted.
“We urge that the police should engage forensic experts to analyze those signatures before the INEC takes any further step in the said petition,” Usman further stated.
Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), to halt what it called unjust persecution of socialite, Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu, OFR
This is also as the group faulted the manner of the raid carried out by the commission on the socialite’s residential house in Abuja.
It could be recalled that a video went viral, which showed officials of the commission, reportedly in the family home of the Achimugus.
This came after she was declared wanted by the EFCC.
Her 80-year-old mother was also said to have been forced to sit on the bare floor, tortured and refused to give her water when she pleaded for it
In a statement made available to journalists on Sunday, the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, described the action of the EFCC for declaring the national honour’s recipient wanted barely some days after she was invited by the commission as gross
Okwu said enquiry by the Igbo group showed that some days after Achimugu was informed of the invitation by her lawyer, the commission rushed to the media declaring her wanted even when their letter in the public domain stated that everything accused her of is ALLEGEDLY and she is presently not in the country
“This development clearly smarks of a premeditated agenda to embarrass and discredit her personality. What else could justify the haste for an alleged crime to warrant being declared wanted just some days after she was invited by the commission?
“Mrs Achimugu is a global figure, not a politician and a national honours recipient, as well as a recipient of the US President’s award. This calibre of a person can never go under hiding.
“The fact that she is currently out of the country when the EFCC extended an invitation to her does not warrant their hasty declaration on alleged case without a competent court sanctioning such action.
“This is utterly reprehensible, and we urge that the EFCC should not continue to be used as a tool for political witch-hunting.
“Mrs Achimugu is an established, decent, and well to do businesswoman who respects the laws and humanity and from a respected family. Her source of wealth has never been a source of controversy or hidden.
“We want to declare that her rights should be respected; her contributions to the growth of citizens and the nation should not be ignored. The EFCC should withdraw the wanted tag on her.
While quoting Section 7 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and Section 36 of the Nigerian Police Act, the Youth President said the relevant laws prohibit arrest by proxy.
He said, “the reported invitation and declaration of Mrs. Achimugu is unlawful and a gross violation of the provisions of Nigeria’s relevant laws. We had waited to see whether the commission would make a turn, but its silence means that they are bent on tarnishing her image for someone who is private and law abiding.
“This is worrisome and should be condemned in all totality. There is no justification for their actions. This is a gross illegality.
“We recall that the EFCC did announce that it would stop this kind of raid, but it appears that nothing has changed. This crude method of arrest defies all logic and legality.
“All these go to show that there is more to this than meets the eye. It is albeit political is pure harassment to satisfy certain interests.
“Having said this, we urge the Chairman of the EFCC, who pledged before now to reform the commission, to direct the operatives to act right and let the law take it due course without further delay or embarrassment”
A business woman, Joy Smart-Chinenye, has revealed how she was arrested, brutalized, tortured, and detained by monitoring unit personnel of the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, based on a petition filed by her husband, George Obinna Smart Unaegbu, over alleged debt to him.
The incident which took place on Sunday (Mothers Day) was said to have elicited a serious drama, wild condemnation and is already causing ripples among the police hierarchy.
Her explanation was contained in a statement released by her lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, titled, “Betrayed, Tortured, and Extorted – My Husband’s Cruelty Knows No Bounds”, obtained by journalists in Abuja.
Ejiofor, also lawyer to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), had in his reaction to the police brutality, described the action of the police as unconstitutional.
According to him, Section 4 of the Nigeria Police Act clearly outlines the duties of the NPF, making no provision for debt recovery.
Joy Smart-Chinenye said, “As I write this, I am in severe agony, tears, and unbearable pain.
While mothers across the world celebrated Mothering Sunday, my own husband, the man I once loved and supported, threw me into Abattoir-SARS detention in Abuja – a facility notorious for holding condemned criminals, kidnappers, and terrorists.
“This is the same man I met when he was just a classroom teacher. I stood by him, fed him, supported him financially, and watched as God elevated him to a multi-billionaire. But how did he repay me? By having me brutalized, arrested, and locked away in one of the most dreaded cells in the country.
“Despite my unwavering fidelity and loyalty throughout our marriage, he has slept with both single and married women, exposing me to multiple infections. I have endured humiliation and betrayal in silence, keeping our marital issues out of the public eye, yet he continues to find ways to destroy me.
“This time, his weapon was the Nigeria Police Force. He manipulated them into arresting me over an alleged debt – a personal, civil matter that should have been settled in court, not through police brutality. On March 27, 2025, officers stormed our home, forcibly took me away in front of our children, and detained me at FCID Annex, Panti, Lagos, where I was tortured and coerced into transferring ₦5 million to an account they provided.
“When I could not meet his remaining demands, I was forcefully transported to Abuja, where I was detained at Abattoir, enduring further abuse, torture and extortion.
“I was repeatedly taken from the SARS detention cell at night to unknown locations, where I was subjected to intense coercion and intimidation. These harrowing experiences continued until the timely intervention of Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor ( I. C. Ejiofor Chambers), whose relentless legal efforts finally secured my release in the wee hours of last night. But the scars – both physical and emotional – remain.
“I can no longer stay silent. In due course, I will grant a press release and expose the full truth about Obinna George Smart Unaegbu. The world deserves to know.”