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How DSS Operations Fostered a Peaceful Yuletide in Niger State, South-East
By Nathaniel irobi, Abuja
The heightened sense of security experienced during the Yuletide season in various regions of the country can be attributed to a series of covert operations conducted by the Department of State Services (DSS). These initiatives aimed to curb the violent actions of bandits and other criminal factions, according to security sources who informed ELANZANEWS on Thursday.
Sources revealed that the DSS’s actions resulted in the neutralization of members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in the South-East and bandits in Niger State, among other areas.
Elaborating on these developments, a source disclosed to ELANZANEWS that a significant operation was executed on December 30, 2024, targeting armed bandits in the Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State. During this operation, numerous bandits, who had invaded Rafi LGA on motorcycles armed with AK-47 rifles, were neutralized by DSS operatives. Additionally, the operatives seized an array of weapons and motorcycles from the bandits.
This operation marked the second major offensive launched by the DSS against bandits within a week, following an earlier engagement on December 27, 2024, when three bandits were killed in Dogon Dawa, Mairiga LGA of the state.
Just three weeks prior, DSS operatives apprehended notorious bandits terrorizing regions in the North-East and North-West, specifically in the Janyau Fulani Area of Gusau, along the Gusau-Kaura Namoda Road in Zamfara State, and in the Dalori quarters of Maiduguri, Borno State.
Reports indicate that the bandits in Niger State, who had recently attacked Uregi village in Rafi LGA, were convening for a meeting, unaware that DSS operatives had them under surveillance. The operatives launched their attack during this gathering.
A source familiar with the situation noted that three DSS operatives sustained injuries during the engagement but are currently recovering in an undisclosed medical facility.
Reflecting on the security landscape during the Yuletide, a security expert commended the new leadership at the DSS for adopting what he termed “increased synergy.” He emphasized that the overall security situation across the country has significantly improved due to timely intelligence sharing with the military and other security agencies.
He stated, “For instance, it is noteworthy that prior to Christmas, the DSS identified multiple IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra) and ESN camps across various southeastern states. Collaborating with the DSS, we effectively addressed the threats posed by IPOB and ESN leaders who were disturbing residents of the Southeast. Thanks to this collaboration, we dismantled IPOB and ESN strongholds in Orsu, Oru East, Oru West, and Orlu LGA in Imo State, where numerous AK-47s and IED-making materials were destroyed.”
He further mentioned that in Enugu, the DSS led an operation to clear the Imilike Agu forest in Udenu LGA, resulting in the destruction of various weapons and the neutralization of several IPOB/ESN commanders.
According to him, similar operations were conducted in Abia, Anambra, and Ebonyi States.
“This is why residents in the Southeast were able to celebrate Yuletide in peace for the first time in several years,” he concluded.
By Our Reporter
The National Productivity Centre, NPC organized the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) 2025 Productivity Club Quiz Competition, which brought together students from selected secondary schools in Abuja.
The event, held at the Newton Park hotel, Zone 4, Wuse, Abuja on Thursday, March 6, aimed to test participants’ knowledge on productivity and its concepts.
The competition featured students from eight secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT including: Government Secondary Schools Karu, Wuye, Apo Resettlement, Byazhin, Jabi, and Kurudu; as well as Government Day Secondary Schools Karu and Dutse Alhaji, all in the FCT.
In his opening remarks, the Director-General, Hon. Dr. Baffa Babba Dan’Agundi welcomed participants and observers, highlighting the aim of the programme.
Dr. Dan’Agundi said: “This unique programme is targeted at bringing young students together to showcase their knowledge of productivity they have acquired over the years, through the Productivity Coaching and Mentoring (PCM) Programme”.
Explaining further, he added that “Productivity Coaching and Mentoring Programme is an arm of the Productivity Awareness Campaign programme designed to take productivity messages to secondary schools to drive their productivity consciousness and introduce them to basic Productivity improvement tools and techniques, that would guide them on how to improve their productivity in their academic pursuit”.
The Executive Secretary, FCT Secondary Education Board, who was represented by Mr. Henry Sunday Mamman commended the Centre for impacting productivity knowledge to the students. He also encouraged the students to use the knowledge acquired to enhance their overall performance.
After a keenly contested finale, the quiz competition came to a thrilling conclusion with GDSS Dutse Alhaji emerging as the overall winner.
The second and third positions were secured by GSS Karu and GSS Byazhin, respectively.
The event was graced by distinguished guests, including the Director-General, National Productivity Centre, and his team of Directors, as well as Mr. Henry Sunday Mamman, who represented the Executive Secretary of FCT Secondary Education Board.
Hajia Maimuna Musa Adaji, Director/HOD Corporate Affairs and Information, delivered the Vote of Thanks.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday quizzed the immediate-past Minister for Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, for her alleged roles in the misappropriation, violation of procurement process and diversion of public funds of ₦138.4m in the course of disbursing the 2023 budgeted funds for the Ministry.
According to authoritative sources, the ex-minister arrived at the Commission’s headquarters around 11am on Thursday and faced interrogators on her alleged involvement in the fraud.
The sources claimed that investigations by the EFCC showed that funds donated for the funding of P- Bat Cares for Women Initiative were diverted for her self-enrichment.
She reportedly has not been admitted to administrative bail, as the sources added that investigations are still ongoing.
Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye was one of the ministers President Bola Tinubu relieved of their duties in October 2024.
She was appointed as the Minister of Women Affairs by Tinubu on August 21, 2023.
A Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of an Independent Authority for the registration, regulation, and funding of political parties in Nigeria has scaled second reading in the House of Representatives.
The bill seeks to establish a dispute tribunal and regulate the funding of political parties as well as utilisation of the funds.
The bill, which was sponsored by the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, and another lawmaker, Marcus Onobun, further seeks to ensure transparency and a stable democracy.
At the moment, there are 19 registered political parties in Nigeria. The roles to be performed by the new independent authority are currently the responsibilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The independence and neutrality of INEC have been questioned by many including former President Goodluck Jonathan and former INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega, who decried the influence of political interference on the appointments of electoral commissioners.
“The electoral commission must be fully independent and we must have credible people. Political leaders who are so domineering and over-pressuring you (INEC staffers) to do what is wrong should resign and leave,” Jonathan said at a Yiaga event recently.
Similarly, Jega said, “There is political interference in the appointment or removal of electoral commissioners and other election officials.”
Bishop Isaac Idahosa, the 2023 Vice Presidential Candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), also lamented that nobody puts INEC in check.
Meanwhile, INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu has been pushing for the creation of an electoral offence tribunal.
“A major obstacle to the speedy dispensation of justice in this regard is that electoral offences are not time-bound as is the case with post-election offences through the tribunals. Furthermore, they are solely prosecuted by the Magistrate and State High Courts in the jurisdiction where the alleged offences are committed.
“No priority attention is given to such cases as the courts deal with a variety of other cases. Consequently, electoral offences are carried over from one General Election to another which may sometimes affect the diligent prosecution of the cases.
“It is therefore imperative to renew our call for the creation of the Electoral Offences Tribunal that has a specific jurisdiction and limited timeframe for the speedy dispensation of cases,” he said.