National
Terrorism provides cover for other crimes to thrive – COAS
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has said that terrorism provided cover for other crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent acts to thrive.
Lagbaja said this at the 3RD Counter-terrorism and Counter-insurgency Seminar organised by the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), in Collaborations with Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA0, on Wednesday in Abuja.
Represented by the Deputy Chief of Operations (Army), Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Emekah, Lagbaja delivered a paper titled, “ Over a Decade of Terrorism, Insurgency, Counter-Terrorism and Counter Insurgency in Nigeria: An Appraisal”.
He said that Nigeria was facing different forms of insurgencies from the six geo-political zones, adding that those involved had resorted to the use of terror in the pursuit of their agendas.
According to him, the country is indicated to have one of the highest terrorism threat levels in the world, quoting Statista, 2023.
This has been blamed on the fact that several terrorist and militant groups are active in Nigeria, leading to attacks on both civilian and military targets.
“Notable among these groups are Boko Haram and Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) in the North East in pursuit of a supposedly Caliphate initially physically, but now on a digital form.
“The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the South East pursuing a break away agenda from the country.
“Terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria have created cover under which other crimes and violence are perpetrated by criminal gangs.
“Armed robbers have found an alibi to loot banks, while politically hired assassins operate under the cover of terrorists like Boko Haram.
“The increasing terrorist activities of IPOB in the South East has heightened insecurity in the zone by giving criminals the opportunity to exploit the violent situation,’’ he said.
Lagbaja said the largely cash based and informal economy operated in Nigeria had made it difficult for security agencies to trace the movement of illicit funds, especially funds meant for funding terror.
According to him, the cash and informal basis of the economy has made it easy for most terrorists funds to move outside the radar of the financial intelligence units and formal banking system.
He added that Nigeria lacked a comprehensive citizen identity and information data to track individuals, making it more difficult.
He said terrorists have become more localised generating their own funds within their immediate environment, through local entrepreneurship, smuggling, kidnapping, extortion and drug trafficking.
He said that synergy among agencies and a whole of Government Approach was required to be able to track funding of terrorism in the country.
COAS also advocated for provision of good governance, unflinching sense of patriotism and pride in the country and enhanced capacity of security and law enforcement agencies to adequately analyse the security challenges. (NAN)
Eseme Eyiboh, special adviser on media and publicity to Godswill Akpabio, has refuted Elisha Abbo’s claims that the senate president orchestrated his removal as the senator representing Adamawa north.
In October 2023, the court of appeal in Abuja annulled the election of Abbo and declared Amos Yohanna, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the rightful winner of the senatorial race.
Speaking on the Arise News programme PrimeTime, Abbo claimed that Akpabio had warned him in advance that five senators would be removed.
“He told me that five senators would be removed. I asked how he knew, and he said, ‘I am the senate president. I know’. True to his words, five of us were removed. I had no idea that I was one of them,” he said.
However, in a statement released Thursday, Eyiboh criticised Abbo’s allegations, calling them an attempt to deflect responsibility for his legal troubles.
Eyiboh pointed out that Abbo had retracted a similar accusation in 2023, acknowledging that his previous claims were premature and based on faulty information.
He noted that the court of appeal’s ruling, which found Abbo’s election invalid, was made after a “thorough” legal process in line with the constitution.
“It is sad and regrettable that despite publicly retracting a similar allegation in 2023—after admitting that his earlier accusation was premature and based on the available information at our disposal—Mr. Abbo has once again embarked on a campaign of misinformation and blame transfer,” Eyiboh said.
“Following a discussion with the Senate President last year, Mr. Abbo himself acknowledged that Senator Akpabio had no involvement in the judicial process that led to his removal. It is puzzling that he would now return to the same baseless allegations he once renounced.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Court of Appeal, after a thorough legal process, ruled unequivocally that Mr. Abbo’s presence in the Red Chamber was in error. The court determined that he was not validly elected as the Senator for Adamawa North, and consequently, he was removed.
“The court acted in accordance with the extant laws and the Constitution within its sacred duty to uphold the rule of law. Senator Akpabio, a seasoned lawyer and democrat, holds the independence of the judiciary in the highest regard and would never interfere in its processes.
“It is therefore both illogical and irresponsible for Mr. Abbo to now turn around and allege that the Senate President influenced a court judgment—a judgment which he himself accepted at the time and for which he expressed contrition for his earlier unfounded claims.”
In response to Abbo’s claims about being denied official benefits after his ouster, Eyiboh clarified that Akpabio only approves payments that have been vetted according to senate procedures.
“Mr. Abbo has also sought to create the impression that he was unjustly denied official benefits following his ouster. He claims entitlement to salaries, allowances, and even an official vehicle, despite the court’s declaration that his tenure was null and void ab initio,” he added.
“In matters of financial and administrative processing, it must be stated that the Senate President only approves payments that have been duly vetted and forwarded by the appropriate administrative units, in line with extant laws, Senate procedures, and standard due diligence practices.
“If any of Mr. Abbo’s claims for payment did not reach the desk of the Senate President, it is because they failed to meet these lawful standards—not because of any personal or political vendetta.”
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has officially appointed Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame as its new spokesperson, as announced in a statement on Thursday by Kabiru Ali, the deputy director of public relations and information.
Ejodame succeeds Olusola Akinboyewa in this pivotal role. The statement highlights his extensive background and expertise in logistics, strategic planning, and defense management.
Ejodame is a distinguished member of the 45th Regular Course at the Nigerian Defence Academy. He possesses a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, a Master’s degree in Transport and Logistics, and a PhD in Information Systems and Management Studies from the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom.
His professional trajectory includes participation in numerous advanced military and strategic training programs, such as logistics training at the United Nations International Peace Support Operations Centre in Kenya and the Optimisation and Decision Making in Supply Chain Course through the Erasmus Intensive Programme in Portugal. He also excelled at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Jaji and the Air Force War College in Makurdi, graduating as the Best Graduating Participant. Furthermore, he has been recognized with the Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Air Staff Awards from the National Defence College in Abuja.
Ejodame has held several significant positions, including directing staff roles at both the Armed Forces Command and Staff College and the National Defence College. He was the pioneering Dean of the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) in Kaduna, as well as the Director of Procurement at the same institution. His diplomatic experience includes serving as Nigeria’s Defence Adviser at the High Commission in Malaysia, where he was also accredited to nine other countries, fostering Nigeria’s defense relationships in the region.
A noted scholar, researcher, and public relations expert, Air Commodore Ejodame is affiliated with the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM). He is also a Fellow of the Air Force War College, National Defence College, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria.
Ejodame’s appointment is anticipated to significantly bolster the NAF’s public relations and strategic communication initiatives.
Monday Okpebholo, governor of Edo, has commended the judgment of the state governorship tribunal that affirmed his victory in the September 21, 2024, election.
On Wednesday, a three-member panel of the tribunal led by Wilfred Kpochi, a judge, ruled that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, failed to prove the allegations against the respondents.
The tribunal held that “no competent witnesses were called” by the petitioners to prove the averments in their petition.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Okpebholo, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as winner of the election.
Okpebholo polled 291,667 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Ighodalo of the PDP, who got 247,274 votes.
Ighodalo and PDP had approached the tribunal to challenge the outcome.
In a statement released by Fred Itua, his chief press secretary (CPS), Okphebolo asked Ighodalo and other members of the opposition parties to join hands with him for the progress of Edo state.
The governor commended the people of the state for their support and “belief in his vision for a prosperous and united state”.
He added that his administration “remains focused on delivering on its campaign promises and will not be distracted by frivolous litigation”.
“This victory is not mine alone, but a victory for every citizen and resident of Edo State,” the statement reads.
“It is a mandate to continue the work we have started, to build a state where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. We remain committed to our promise of good governance, transparency, and inclusive development.”