News
Troops neutralise 159, rescue 188 victims in 1 week
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Friday, said that troops eliminated 159 terrorists, and apprehended 174 others in the last one week.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known in an update on the operations of the armed forces in Abuja.
Buba said the troops also rescued 188 kidnapped hostages and apprehended 45 perpetrators of oil theft and recovered recovered 151 assorted weapons and 12,401 assorted ammunition within the period.
He said that the armed forces had taken resolute steps towards ending terrorism and insecurity in the country, through ongoing operations.
According to him, the operations are yielding desired results as troops dismantle terrorist network and decimate their leadership and combatants with several of the terrorist leaders and commanders eliminated from the battlefield.
“Furthermore, troops are strategically deployed to ensure that the off-cycle Governorship election scheduled for Sept. 21 in Edo is violence free, fair and credible.
“Troops role is to support the police to ensure voters safety and security to thwart the activities of those elements bent on fomenting crisis during the elections.
“Our operations against the terrorist and violent extremist remains aimed at providing security and stability for the nation and citizens.
“Troops will therefore continue to be relentless in pursuit of ending all forms of insecurity across the country,” he said.
In the North East, Buba said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai, neutralised 46 terrorists, apprehended 41 suspects and rescued 48 kidnapped hostages, as well as recovery of large cache of arms and ammunition.
He said that a total of 76 terrorists comprising nine adult males, 28 adult females and 39 children surrendered to troops within the theatre between Sept. 11 and Sept. 17 September.
He added that the air component of Operation Hadin Kai conducted air interdiction on suspected ISWAP/JAS terrorists enclave in Southern Tumbun of Borno, neutralising several terrorists and destroyed their logistics.
In the North Central, Buba said the troops of Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke, neutralised 15 violent extremists, arrested 18 violent extremists and rescued 64 kidnapped hostages with recovery of several cache of arms.
In the North West, he said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji, neutralised 73 terrorists, nabbed 23 terrorists and rescued 54 kidnapped hostages, as well as recovered large cache of arms.
Buba added that the air component conducted air interdictions on terrorists kingpin Gambo’s Enclave in Gusau Local Government Area and Bello Turji’s hideout in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara within the week.
He added that several terrorists were neutralised and their structures as well as logistics destroyed.
He said that troops of Operation Whirl Punch neutralised 15 terrorists, arrested 27 suspects and rescued six kidnapped hostages as well as recovery of large cache of arms.
In the Niger Delta, Buba said the troops of Operation Delta Safe, discovered and destroyed 71 illegal refining sites with nine dugout pits, 35 boats, four speedboats, 32 drums and 57 storage tanks within the week.
He added that the troops also recovered 788,400 litres of stolen crude oil, 28,995 litres of illegally refined AGO, 300 litres of DPK and 3,000 litres of PMS as well as 20 cooking ovens, one pumping machine, 14 vehicles, one motorcycles, one tricycle and 10 mobile phones.
According to him, troops neuralised two extremists, apprehended 41 suspected oil thefts and other violent extremists and recovered two magazines, six assorted arms and 189 assorted ammunitions.
In the South East, Buba said the troops of Operation UDO KA, neutralised eight extremists, nabbed 12 violent extremists and rescued 14 kidnapped hostages as well as recovered arms and four vehicle amongst others.
“All recovered items, arrested suspects and rescued hostages were handed over to the relevant authority for further action,” he said. (NAN)
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
The Deputy Speaker, Sokoto State House of Assembly, Kabir Ibrahim kware, has commended governor Ahmed Aliyu for executing numerous developmental projects without taking loan from any financial institution.
Ibrahim Kware whp gave the commendation when he led other members of the State Assembly on Sallah homage to governor Aliyu, added that, the governor is very prudent in managing resources to achieve results.
“There was never a time you approached us with a request for permission to borrow money from any financial institutions whether at home or abroad,”he affirmed.
This , according to him, is worthy of commendation considering the myriad people- oriented projects the governor is executing across the state.
Speaking on behalf of the State’s Judiciary, Sokoto State Chief Judge, Justice Muhammad Sa’idu Sifawa, commended the governor for the construction of additional Court rooms at the State High Court.
Justice Sifawa also expressed delight over the way and manner the governor responds to issues affecting the Judiciary, which he said, is a clear testimony of the good working relationship existing between the three arms of government in the state.
Responding to the commendations, governor Ahmed Aliyu appealed for more synergy among the three tiers of government in the overall development of the state.
A statement by Abubakar Bawa, the Press Secretary to governor Alhmed Aliyu reaffirmed his principal’s unwavering commitment of the executive arm to providing the direly needed dividends of democracy to the people of the state,in line with his campaign promises.
The governor also urged lawmakers to present all the needs of their constituencies for prompt and diligent implementation.
“”I want to assure you that my doors are always open for you at any given time, to listen to the demands of your people.”
He reminded them on the need to put politics aside and work together with the executive arm for the progress and even development of the people they represent.
Turning to the members of the State Judiciary, the governor appealed to Judges and Khadis to ensure the quick dispensation of justice, so as to decongest the correctional centres.
“It is worrisome to see how inmates are languishing in correctional centres for minor offences in the name of awaiting trial.
“We recently appointed seven additional Judges and 7 Khadis, which is the first in the history of Sokoto State.
“The idea is to enhance the manpower in our Judiciary so as to speed up the dispensation of justice,” he added.
The governor further assured the members of the Judiciary of his administration’s readiness to ensure their welfare at all times.
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
The Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) Muahammad Sa’ad Abubakar 111 has commended the developmental strides of Sokoto state governor, Ahmed Aliyu, just as he assured of the support of traditional institutions in the state.
Sultan who admonished other governor’s to also borrow a leaf from governor Ahmed Aliyu who ensures that resident communities enjoys equal benefit from everybody, added that, Nigerians should project what unites us moe than that which divides us.
“In Sokoto, we appreciate what the Governor is doing and we’d like to assure him of the support of the traditional institution so that he can continue the good work he’s doing of transforming our State.
“The Governor and our security agencies are doing their best and this has made the state to record tremendous improvement in the fight against banditry,” the Sultan averred.
While adding that governor Ahmed Aliyu deserves special commendation for the massive distribution of food items during the just-concluded Ramadan fast, Sultan urged Nigerians to always be law-abiding and desist from any act that may jeopardise the long lasting peace the country is enjoying.
Registering his displeasure over how the social media is been used negatively to promote and sow seed o discord, the Sultan said, some unpatriotic citizens use social media to spread falsehood, misinformation and provocative statements that can destroy the peaceful atmosphere the country is enjoying.
He, therefore, called on the security agencies in the country to be watchful of the unpatriotic citizens trying to create chaos in the land.
Speaking during his
Sallah homage on governor Ahmed Aliyu at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Lodge, Sokoto, Sultan
said, “”In Sokoto all Nigerians are treated as indigenes, an act that gives Nigerians residing in the State a sense of belonging.
Sultan equally stressed the need for for state governors to give much emphasis in protecting the lives and property of their subjects, describing security as the basis upon which all societies could progress.
Responding, governor Ahmed Aliyu reassured his administration’s determination to do everything humanly possible to make the state safe and secured.
He blamed unemployment especially among the youths as responsible for the insecurity being recorded in many parts of the country.
According to Aliyu, many youths have joined informants’ groups so as to be getting stipends to make ends meet.
“This administration has so far trained and graduated thousands of youths and women in different trades so as to make them productive members in the society.
” I want to assure you that we would soon embark on another massive skills acquisition programme to engage more unemployed youths in our modest attempt to reduce restiveness among our youths,” he vowed
Gov. Aliyu further reassured the people of the state that his administration would continue to prioritize Islamic affairs, adding that more Mosques and Islamiyya schools would continue to receive the desired attention from the state government.
He thanked the people of the state for their fervent prayers and support to his administration and called for it’s sustainance.
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.
“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.”