News
Troops neutralise 310 terrorists in Lake Chad region – MNJTF
The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) has neutralised 310 terrorists and dismantled critical logistics bases in Lake Chad region.
Troops of the task force killed the terrorists during Operation Lake Sanity 2, a major offensive designed to combat insurgency in the region.
The Force Commander, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Salau stated this during the MNJTF Operation Lake Sanity 2 Medal Parade held on Wednesday at the MNJTF Headquarters in Farcha, N’Djamena, Chad.
He said the MNJTF has recorded successes, and facilitated the repatriation of over 30,000 refugees and internally displaced persons, adding that their return to communities and restoring normalcy in their lives.
Salau said the operation conducted from April 23 to July 22, 2024, resulted in dismantling critical terrorists’ logistic bases, killed 310 terrorists, and arrested 160 logistic suppliers and informants.
“Additionally, over 800 terrorists and their families surrendered, indicating a decline in support for terrorism”.
While acknowledged the contributions of the operations such as Amnifakat, Gamma Aiki, Yankin Tafki 1 and 2, and Lake Sanity 2, Salau attributed its advancements to the unwavering support by the troops contributing countries and the Lake Chad Basin Development Commission.
“Collaboration among ground troops and air forces from Cameroon, Chad, and Nigeria formed six formidable task forces united against terrorism. Limited air support from the Nigerien Republic also contributed to the operation’s success,”he said.
He said that compensation ceremonies were previously held for fallen and injured soldiers in Cameroon and Nigeria, with a similar ceremony planned for Sector 2 in Chad to honor their memory.
According to Salau, the ceremony held in Chad seeks to pay tribute to the sacrifices made by soldiers during Operation Lake Sanity 2, where several troops lost their lives and many othersr injured.
Salau commended development partners for their supports towards enhancing regional security and stability.
Chadian Minister of Defense, Mr Issaka Malloua Djamous, reiterated commitment to peace and security in the region.
Djamous described Operation Lake Sannity as a pivotal moment in the fight against Boko Haram, highlighting the destruction of terrorists’ bases and the neutralisation of numerous threats.
He tasked troops to intensify vigilance against evolving terrorist strategies, stressing the need for an enhanced human and material capacities.
The minister lauded the European Union and other partners in providing training and equipment, and called for closer regional cooperation and collective commitment among member states.
The News Agency (NAN) reports that the event was attended by the governors of the Lake Chad Countries, Chief of Defense of the Lake Chad countries, traditional Leaders and other top government personalities. (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)