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Zamfara: Troops neutralise notorious bandits’ kingpin, Kachalla, others

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The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa has confirmed the killing of a notorious bandits’ leader, Kachalla Halilu and scores of other bandits in  the ongoing  operations in Zamfara.

The Defense Chief confirmed the development during a visit to Gov. Dauda Lawal in Government House, Gusau on Friday.
He said Halilu and a score of his followers were neutralised during an encounter with troops deployed to Mayanci general area in Maru Local Government.
He congratulated Zamfara people over the killing of the notorious bandits’ leader and assured them of more efforts to eliminate banditry in the North-West region.
“I am using this medium to congratulate Gov. Dauda Lawal and good people of Zamfara for the great success recorded.
“Killing of Kachalla Halilu is just the begining; more bandits will be killed in Zamfara by the ongoing security operations.
“I commend our gallant troops for their dedication and hard work in the ongoing operations in this state,” Musa said.
The defence chief noted that the ongoing military operations was part of the federal government’s strategies towards ending banditry in the North-West region.
“My visit to Zamfara today is to convey President Bola Tinubu’s readiness to fight banditry and other security challenges in Zamfara.
“More troops of security personnel will be deployed to Zamfara, they are to be supported with more weapons, security helicopters and vehicles to aide their operations,” he assured.
Musa commended Gov. Lawal for his support to the security agencies in the fight against insecurity.
He appealed to the people of the state to continue to give necessary support in form of credible intelligence to security agencies to enable them discharge their duties diligently.
According to him, without support from the communities, “we cannot succeed”.
He, however, cautioned people of the state against rendering any kind of support to bandits, “as that will jeopardise the successes being recorded by the troops”.
“You should avoid conniving with bandits to destroy your state and Nigeria as a whole.”
Responding, Gov. Lawal described the CDS’ visit to the state as very fundamental and apt.
“This is timely, we are happy to receive you today, this visit boost our morale, infact, it increases our confidence in the security agencies.
“Since my inception, our administration has been  collaborating and supporting the security agencies, this is with a view to securing our dear state.
“We appreciate the ongoing operations by the security agencies, we are ready to support them to succeed,” the governor assured.
Gov. Lawal noted with dismay how Zamfara had become an epic center of banditry activities in the North-West region.
“If we are able to join hands and tackle banditry activities in Zamfara, all other security challenges in the North-West will be easily addressed,” Lawal added.
The defence chief, who later addressed military personnel at the 1 Brigade Command, Gusau, commended the troops for the  successes being recorded in the ongoing operations in the state.
“I want to commend you particularly for yesterday’s operation which recorded tremendous success.
“Scores of bandits were killed, over 30 motorcycles and weapons were recovered from them.
“I am here to encourage you to do more, as soldiers, you may not have all what you need.
“We must finish the war we have started, we must end this war, I believe we can do it,” Musa said.
He, however, expressed sadness over the four soldiers killed during an encounter with bandits along Gusau-Tsafe road on Thursday.
“I am very bitter about the killing of those soldiers by the bandits. This is not acceptable. Enough is enough,” he said.
NAN reports that during the visit, the CDS and troops observed one minute silence for the soul of the deceased army personnel. (NAN
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JUST IN: Court adjourns Natasha’s suit against Senate probe to March 25

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The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday adjourned the suit filed by the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, to March 25, 2025.

The adjournment followed a submission by the respondents, who informed the court that they had not been served with the necessary documents.

Akpoti-Uduaghan had approached the Federal High Court, seeking an order restraining the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges from investigating her.

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Delivering a ruling on the application on March 5, 2025, the trial judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, barred the committee from proceeding with the probe.

Details shortly…

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Police arrest 2 suspected gun runners in Delta, recover arms

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The Delta State Police Command has arrested two suspected gun runners and recovered a cache of firearms and ammunition.

The arrests were made during stop-and-search operations along the Warri/Benin Road and Asaba/Benin Expressway on separate dates.

On 3rd March, operatives intercepted a Toyota Camry driven by one Peter James, 55, from Akwa Ibom State.

Upon searching the vehicle, they discovered three AK-47 rifles, 2,080 rounds of 7.62mm AK-47 ammunition, and 1,040 rounds of 5.1mm ammunition.

State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, who confirmed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri on Monday, said that the suspect was arrested near Western Delta University, Oghara, after operatives intercepted a blue Toyota Camry with registration number PHC 257 NT.

Police arrest 2 suspected gun runners in Delta, recover arms
Police arrest 2 suspected gun runners in Delta, recover arms
“The driver was asked to open the trunk of the vehicle, during which it was observed that the trunk of the said Camry, popularly known as ‘big daddy,’ was unusually small. This aroused the suspicion of the men who were convinced that the vehicle had been modified for malicious purpose.

“The policemen then proceeded and removed the seat of the vehicle, only to discover three (3) AK-47 rifles, Two Thousand and Eighty (2,080) rounds of 7.62 mm AK-47 ammunition, one thousand and forty (1,040) rounds of 51mm ammunition loaded in four boxes.

“The exhibit has been recovered, the suspect is in custody, and investigation is ongoing,” he added.
In a separate operation on 6th March, police arrested Yahuza Magaji, 69, and Abba Sani, 17, from Kaduna State, and recovered seven pump-action guns and 1,600 rounds of live cartridges.

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Edafe said that operatives attached to Dragon Patrol Team 02 arrested the suspects while on stop-and-search duty along the Asaba/Benin Expressway by the National Open University, Onicha-Ugbo.

He said that police had intercepted a navy blue Sharon space bus with registration number DKA 408 LM, driven by one Yahuza Magaji, in the company of one Abba Sani, both of Lere LGA in Kaduna State.

“They disguised as traders transporting palm oil and garri, but the police, who insisted on a thorough search of the vehicle, recovered seven (7) pump action guns, five (5) cartons containing one thousand six hundred (1,600) rounds of live cartridges concealed under the back seat of the vehicle.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that suspects bought the arms from Onitsha and were transporting them to Kaduna State. The suspects are in custody, and investigation is ongoing,” he added.

Commenting on the development, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, expressed delight that the marching orders he gave to all tactical commanders, area commanders, and DPOs to up their game were yielding results.

“We are determined to flush out all criminal elements in the state,” said CP Abaniwonda.

“I commend the effort and determination of our men for going the extra mile to detect the hidden firearms,” he said.

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Politics

Rivers Assembly Issues Arrest Warrant For Electoral Chief

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The Rivers State House of Assembly has issued a warrant for the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), to appear before it.

The Martins Amaewhule-led Assembly issued the arrest warrant on Monday during plenary, after the expiration of its 72-hour ultimatum for the electoral chief to appear before the House.

Enebeli had fixed August 9, 2025, to conduct a fresh Local Government (LG) poll in the state following a Supreme Court verdict that annulled the October 5, 2024 local government poll conducted in the state.

The Amaewhule-led Assembly had vowed to probe the conduct of Enebeli regarding the conduct of the annulled LG poll last year.

Over the weekend, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, invited members of the Assembly to a dialogue on the implementation the Supreme Court’s verdict.

The Supreme Court had also barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation and other agencies from releasing funds to the government of Rivers State until it purges itself of what the court described as flagrant disobedience to court orders.

In the judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye, the five-man panel of the court had unanimously dismissed the cross-appeal filed by Fubara challenging the validity of the House of Assembly presided over by Amaewhule as the Speaker.

In dismissing Fubara’s appeal, the court ordered Amaewhule to resume sitting immediately with other elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

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