News
Troops neutralise 2 suspected oil thieves, detain 18 others
Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have neutralised two suspected oil thieves, and apprehended 18 others during different anti-illegal bunkering operations in the Niger Delta.
The division’s Spokesman, Lt.-Col. Danjuma Danjuma, said in a statement in Port Harcourt on Monday, that the operations were held in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers.
Danjuma said that soldiers also destroyed 13 illegal refineries, seized 60,000 litres of stolen petroleum products, seven boats, and recovered two AK-47 rifles.
He further said that eight illegal connection points installed on wellheads and pipelines were uncovered during the operations.
The army official stated that vandals engaged the troops in a gun battle while raiding illegal refining sites in Ahoada West Local Government Area.
“Two vandals were neutralised in the process. Two AK-47 assault rifles, eight magazines and 69 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition were recovered,” he said.
Danjuma further stated that troops dismantled four illegal refining sites, seized two boats, and confiscated 6,000 litres of stolen petroleum products during an operation in Bille, Rivers.
“In Odagba village, near Imo River, troops intercepted two wooden boats carrying over 5,000 litres of petroleum products, and confiscated two vehicles and four motorcycles abandoned by suspected oil thieves.
“The vehicles and motorcycles were found to contain over 28 sack bags containing 1,700 litres of stolen petroleum products,” he added.
The spokesman said that in other operations at Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni and Okirika in Rivers, soldiers destroyed three illegal refining sites.
“Also destroyed were four wooden boats and 10 metal tanks. We recovered over 6,000 litres of stolen petroleum products,” he said.
In Delta, the army spokesman disclosed that soldiers intercepted a wooden boat siphoning crude oil from Wellhead 8 at Okpoko Oil Field, Warri South Local Government Area.
He said that during an operation in Ika North Local Government Area, troops arrested nine suspects and seized 2,000 litres of stolen crude oil.
Danjuma said that in Ekeremor, Bayelsa, soldiers arrested nine suspects, destroyed three illegal refining sites, recovered 14,000 litres of petroleum products, 1,500 litres of crude oil, and intercepted four boats.
“At Mbo, Akwa Ibom, our forces intercepted six drums containing 1,500 litres of petrol that were being smuggled to a neighbouring country through the waterways.
“The suspects have been handed over to the relevant agencies for further investigations and possible prosecution,” he said.(NAN)
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
Less than 24 hours after former Kaduna Central Senatorial District lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, openly declared support for Governor Uba Sani’s re-election bid, former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, officially resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Sources reveal that the recent return of prominent politicians such as Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, Senator Danjuma Laah, former Governor Ramalan Yero, and others to the APC has unsettled El-Rufai.
Senator Shehu Sani, in his declaration, stated that his main political objective for 2027 is to ensure Governor Uba Sani’s re-election.
Unwilling to face the emerging political dynamics, El-Rufai announced his resignation from APC in a Facebook post, stating:
“Today, 10th March 2025, I have submitted my resignation letter to my ward in Kaduna, effective immediately. Before this decision, I consulted extensively with my mentors, colleagues, and loyalists across the country about the future. I have now decided to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as the platform for our future political engagements.
“As a member of the SDP, I will focus on engaging and persuading other opposition leaders and parties to join us. Together, we can unify under a strong democratic platform to challenge the APC in upcoming elections and by-elections before 2027, by the grace of God.
“I, therefore, call on all our supporters and those concerned about Nigeria’s future to join us in SDP as we work towards making Nigeria a beacon of hope for Africa and the Black race.”
In reaction to El-Rufai’s defection, Shehu Sani dismissed the move, saying it would have little impact.
“Leaving APC for SDP makes no difference for someone with no political relevance anymore. But one thing is certain—President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani will be re-elected
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
Former governor of Sokoto State and now Senator, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal while flagging off distribution of ramadan fast assistance to the people of the state, Monday reassured that, his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will Reclaim their mandate come 2027.
Tambuwal, who divulged that the Ramadan gesture is targeted at 30,000 households in the state, added, “‘it is aside the thousands of other foodstuff and multiple assistance given by all lawmakers elected under the platform of the PDP in the state”.
According to him, the PDP lawmakers both at he state and federal levels are equally flagging off the distribution of thousands of bags of rice and other grains to all youth and women led organizations to help compliment their ease of fasting.
“”As you aware, many people have lost their lives and they are no more with us. It is by His grace that we are alive and here observing another Ramadan and witnessing the distribution of foodstuff to our people once again.
“We continue to pray to Allahi to grant us continued good health and longevity, for us to witness many more of this blessed month.l of Ramadan. I also would like to take disadvantage of this opportunity to thank our chairman and the leaders of our party in the state for their continued hard work in organizing the party, in mobilizing the people and making sure that our party remain strong and united in Sokoto
“”We are one big united family. And we shall continue to work together towards reclaiming what has been taken away from us. As you know, in the last elections, our mandate was forcefully stolen. But now, we are restrategizing and organizing.
“”And by the grace of Allah, what has been taken away, will be given back to us by come 2027″”. Tambuwal assured.
Speaking earlier, Sokoto state PDP chairman, Comrade Bello Goronyo expressed heartfelt appreciation to all members of the PDP in Sokoto for keeping hope alive and faith with the party, saying the PDP is the only party that truly meant well for the generality of Nigerians.
This according to him could be proven by the current hardship been experienced by Nigerians which where hitherto not the case when the PDP held sway.
Comrade Goronyo therefore appealed to the people of the state and Nigerians to liberate themselves from the grip of APC’s mis- governance come 2027.
US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said on Monday that the United States was cancelling 83 per cent of programmes at the US Agency for International Development.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January demanding a freeze on all US foreign aid to give his administration time to assess overseas spending, with an eye to gutting programs not aligned with his “America First” agenda.
“After a six-week review we are officially cancelling 83% of the programmes at USAID,” Rubio said on social media platform X.
“The 5,200 contracts that are now cancelled spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, (and in some cases even harmed), the core national interests of the United States,” he added.
USAID distributes US humanitarian aid around the world, with health and emergency programs in around 120 countries.
USAID: Experts forecast improved pharma sales
The State Department, which oversees USAID, announced on February 26 its intention to cut 92 per cent of the agency’s program funding, identifying 5,800 grants to be eliminated.
Rubio on Monday notably thanked the Department of Government Efficiency, which billionaire Elon Musk is leading in a drive to slash costs and cut jobs across government departments.
Trump and his allies have argued that foreign assistance is wasteful and does not serve US interests.
But aid groups argue much of the assistance supports US interests by promoting stability and health overseas, and warn that cutting aid threatens the lives of vulnerable people.
AFP