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)
The Association of Scavengers, Scrap Dealers, and Recyclers, Abuja, has publicly dissociated itself from a Federal High Court suit filed by unregistered scavengers and beggars against the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the association’s chairman, Mallam Muntari Mohammed, clarified that the group is a duly registered body, with members holding valid identity cards and engaging in legitimate waste management, scrap trading, and recycling businesses.
He stressed that the association has always complied with the FCT Administration’s rules and regulations, maintaining a clean record.
Muntari noted that the association had formally written to the Department of State Services (DSS) and other relevant agencies to affirm its commitment to safeguarding critical infrastructure and adhering to stipulated guidelines.
He distanced the group from unregistered scavengers, whom he accused of tarnishing the reputation of legitimate operators through theft and other illicit activities.
The chairman addressed the FCT Minister’s recent ban on scavenging, which stemmed from misunderstandings about the distinction between honest scavengers and rogue elements.
“We have never confronted the FCT authorities and will never do so,” Muntari said, emphatically dissociating the association from the court case against Wike.
The Vatican has confirmed that only one round of voting will take place this Wednesday afternoon as the conclave to elect the next pope officially gets underway.
Cardinals from around the world gathered earlier Wednesday in the Sistine Chapel, where they took a sacred oath of secrecy before the chapel doors were ceremonially closed with the Latin phrase “extra omnes,” meaning “everyone out.” The papal master of ceremonies then declared the start of the conclave, invoking a centuries-old tradition whose name comes from the Latin cum clave, meaning “locked with key.”
Wednesday’s solitary ballot marked the opening step in the process to choose the new leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics. Should the vote prove inconclusive requiring a two-thirds majority to elect a new pope, cardinals will resume the process on Thursday, casting up to four ballots daily until consensus is reached.
Each cardinal votes by writing “Eligo in Summum Pontificem” (“I elect as Supreme Pontiff”) on a paper ballot, followed by the name of their chosen candidate. In a quiet and orderly procession, they approach the silver and gilded urn in order of seniority to place their ballots.
As the final vote is cast, the tension rises in St. Peter’s Square, where the faithful and millions watching around the globe await the first sign of smoke from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney. Black smoke will indicate that no decision has been made; white smoke will proclaim that a new pope has been elected.
The last two conclaves, in 2005 and 2013, ended on the second day, with Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis elected after a series of swift ballots, respectively.
As the doors remain closed and Vatican cameras withdraw, the world waits in hushed anticipation for the next chapter in the history of the Catholic Church to be written.
Governor Hyacinth Alia will not honour the House of Representatives Committee invitation scheduled for Thursday, May 8.
The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Tersoo Kula, confirmed this to journalists on Wednesday in Makurdi.
The House had summoned the governors of Benue and Zamfara, alongside their Assembly leadership.
Kula stated that the invitation is unconstitutional and the governor will not comply with it.
He explained that Alia has filed a case at the Supreme Court challenging the lawmakers’ invitation.
“Yesterday, the Benue Assembly passed a resolution rejecting the Reps Committee invitation.
“They believe the invitation is based on ignorance and have decided not to attend. They will also challenge it in court,” he said.
Kula added that the governor, independently, has approached the Supreme Court to challenge the invitation’s legality.
He said: “Since the matter is in court, I will not speak further on it.”
Kula also claimed that the civil society group behind the petition is faceless and unregistered.
According to him, the address on the group’s letterhead is fake and lacks credibility.
He said there is a coordinated campaign of misinformation and sponsored protests aimed at destabilising Benue.
In recent weeks, he noted, there have been protests in Abuja allegedly representing Benue people’s concerns.
“These protests aim to provoke a state of emergency in Benue by portraying it in a negative light,” he said.
He claimed the organisers seek to undermine progress and return to a failed political order.
“Their ultimate goal is to create chaos for selfish political gain,” Kula added.
He accused the protest sponsors of trying to remove the governor through disruptive means.
“They will not succeed. Benue people stand firmly with their governor,” he said.
He assured the public that Benue remains peaceful and the government is functioning effectively.
“Governor Alia is committed to fulfilling his mandate and addressing the state’s challenges,” he said. (NAN)