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Military neutralises 177 terrorists, apprehend 263 in 1 week- DHQ

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The Nigerian military has in the last one week eliminated 177 terrorists, apprehended 263 others and rescued 158 kidnapped hostages in different operations across the country.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

Buba said the troops recovered 170 assorted weapons and 4,692 assorted ammunition, comprising six PKT guns, 63 AK47 rifles, three FN rifles, one SMG rifle, 29 locally fabricated guns, 37 dane guns and 20 pump action guns among others.

He added that a total of 2,100 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,239 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 419 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm, 212 rounds of 5.56 x 54mm ammo and 722 live cartridges were recovered.

According to him, also recovered are 13 empty cases of 7.62mm ammo, 74 AK47 magazines, two FN magazines, six baofeng radios, 17 vehicles, 43 motorcycles, 31 mobile phones and the sum of N2.1 million amongst other items.

In the North East, Buba said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai, neutralised 64 terrorists, arrested 55 suspects and rescued 29 kidnappers hostages within the week.

He said that several cache of arms and ammunition was recovered while a total of 751 BH/ISWAP/JAS terrorists fighters and their families members surrendered to troops across the theatre.

In the North Central, he said the troops of Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke neutralised 25 insurgents, arrested 64 violent extremists and rescued 42 kidnapped hostages.

In the North West, Buba said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralised 52 terrorists, arrested 41 terrorists and rescued 49 kidnapped hostages as well as recovery of several cache of arms.

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He said the troops of Operation Whirl Punch neutralised 19 terrorists, arrested 20 suspects and rescued 10 kidnapped hostages within the week.

In the South-South, Buba said the troops of Operation Delta Safe maintained momentum against the activities of crude oil thieves and apprehended 41 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 158 kidnapped hostages.

He said the troops denied the oil thieves of estimated sum of N501.08 million by discovering and destroying 49 illegal refining sites with 20 dugout pits, 32 boats and 32 storage tanks.

“Other items recovered include 58 cooking ovens, 17 vehicles, one pumping machine, 5 mobile phones as well as one million litres of stolen crude oil and 141,664 litres of illegally refined AGO,” he said.

In the South East, Buba said the troops of Operation UDOKA neutralised 17 terrorists, arrested 42 violent extremists and rescued 10 kidnapped hostages.

According to him, troops are taking the fight to the terrorist and making significant strides each passing day.

“Much is being done, however, we are focussed on doing much more to address the security situation and safeguard citizens,” he said. (NAN)

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Sterling Bank Eliminates Transfer Fees, Challenges Industry Standards

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Sterling Bank has made a groundbreaking move by eliminating transfer charges on local transactions, aiming to create a more equitable banking experience for Nigerians. The question now arises: will other financial institutions follow this lead?

On April 1, Sterling Bank announced the removal of transfer fees for all local digital transactions, positioning itself as the first major bank in Nigeria to implement such a policy. Initially, the announcement faced skepticism, with many believing it to be an April Fools’ Day joke. However, Sterling has since reaffirmed the policy’s legitimacy and immediate implementation, signaling a significant evolution in the industry’s customer service approach.

Obinna Ukachukwu, the Growth Executive overseeing the Consumer and Business Banking Directorate, stated, “We believe that accessing your own funds should not incur a penalty. This decision transcends financial implications; it reflects our core values.”

With this new policy, Sterling customers can now make free transfers for all local transactions via the bank’s mobile app. This initiative is anticipated to yield considerable savings for individuals and small business owners who frequently engage in transfers.

“We may not be the largest bank in Nigeria, but we are certainly the most audacious,” Ukachukwu declared. “Sterling Bank is committed to the future of Nigeria, and we are backing our fellow citizens with more than just words.”

Sterling Bank has a history of prioritizing customer welfare, having previously offered financial assistance to healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This latest initiative has garnered widespread public support, igniting conversations on social media and prompting calls for other banks to adopt similar practices.

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“We take pride in leading this transformative change,” Ukachukwu concluded. “We hope to inspire others to rethink what customers truly require from their banks, not only in terms of services but also in values.”

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Breaking News: Edo Tribunal Rejects Action Alliance’s Challenge Against Governor Okpebholo

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On Wednesday, the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, convened in Abuja, dismissed the Action Alliance’s (AA) petition aimed at overturning the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo.

The tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi and comprising a three-member panel, determined that the petition, filed by AA and its National Chairman, Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, was without merit.

The tribunal concluded that the issues raised in the petition were pre-election matters, falling outside its jurisdiction to adjudicate.

The petitioners claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had excluded their legitimate candidate from the governorship election held on September 21, 2024. They argued that, in contradiction to several court rulings, INEC recognized a candidate who had not been validly nominated by the party.

Furthermore, the petitioners contended that INEC’s failure to publish the name of their party’s rightful candidate constituted a significant violation of Section 134(1)(b) of the Electoral Act.

In addition to these claims, they asserted that Governor Okpebholo, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), did not receive the majority of legitimate votes and that the election was tainted by corrupt practices.

As a result, they sought the annulment of the election; however, the tribunal panel denied their request on Wednesday.

The panel upheld all preliminary objections raised against the petition. The respondents, including INEC and Governor Okpebholo, argued that the National Chairman of the AA lacked the standing to file the action, as he did not participate in the gubernatorial election.

They also asserted that the petition was barred by statute, as it involved pre-election issues that exceeded the tribunal’s jurisdiction.

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It is noteworthy that AA’s candidate, Mr. Tom Iseghhi-Okojie, withdrew from the race in favor of Governor Okpebholo just days before the election.

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All set for Niger Delta Sports Festival in Akwa Ibom – Umo

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Akwa-Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom has commended the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for investing in sports for the discovery of talents for the region and the country at large.

The governor gave the commendation at the Monthly State Covenant Service held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, as arrangements have been concluded for official opening ceremony of the Niger Delta Sports Festival at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

Eno, therefore, implored citizens and residents in the state to be fully involved in the festival.

He stressed the need for adequate maintenance of facilities recently revamped by the interventionist agency and assured successful hosting of the sports festival.

He promised to provide necessary support to ensure safe stay of all participants and tasked the organisers to leverage the peaceful ambiance of the state and make the competition a memorable one.

According to the organisers, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected in Uyo today (Wednesday) to declare the festival open, with no fewer than 3,000 athletes from the nine states of the Niger Delta to compete for laurels in 17 sporting events.

The competition will be hosted at six venues, including the Godswill Akpabio international stadium and West Itam Sports Centre, while the closing ceremony is billed for April 9.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that contingents from the nine Niger Delta Development states had arrived Uyo for the festival. (NAN)

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