Here are irresistible top 20 defense and security news that is trending now:
1. PRESIDENT BUHARI NEEDS N826 BILLION ANNUALLY TO FUND ARMED FORCES – DHQ.
Defence Headquarters says President Muhammadu Buhari would need nothing less than 2 billion dollars (about N826 billion) annually to fund its Armed Forces to effectively fight the daunting challenges of insecurity it presently faces. Director of Production, Defence Headquarters, Air Vice Marshal M. A. Yakubu made this revelation while speaking at a public hearing on a bill to establish an Armed Forces Special Trust Fund organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Defence. He said even the sources of funding specified in the Bill would be inadequate to tackle the problem. The Bill seeks alternative sources of funding for the Armed Forces to improve the software, hardware, and training. Yakubu said the projection for funding in the Bill is estimated at about N100 billion per year. When established, the Support Trust Fund is expected to draw funds from one percent of the total money accruing to the Federation Account; 0.5 percent of the profit made from the investment of the National Sovereign Wealth Fund (NSWF) by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment, one percent of Value Added Tax (VAT) remitted to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) as well as any take-off grant and special intervention fund as may be provided by the Federal Government, states and local governments of the Federation.
2. NAF REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO PROTECT TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reaffirmed its commitment to continue to protect the nation’s territorial integrity against any form of threat. The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, made this known in his remarks at the Inter-denominational Church Service as part of the activities to mark the service’s 57th Anniversary Celebration at the Protestant Church, NAF Base, on Sunday in Abuja. Amao expressed gratitude to God for His mercies which have continued to keep NAF as the pride of the nation over the past 57 years since its establishment as one of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. According to the CAS, all these efforts were geared towards having a professional service capable of deploying effective and efficient airpower in the protection of the nation’s territorial integrity against any form of threat internally or externally. Amao, however, cautioned that while the service is celebrating these achievements, a lot needs to be done to ensure the security of the country and its citizens at this trying time.
3. NIGERIA CALLS ON NATIONS TO STRENGTHEN TIES TO COMBAT TERRORISM, VIOLENT CRIMES.
The Nigerian government has called on nations to strengthen cooperation through the United Nations (UN) Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy to combat terrorism and other violent crimes. The country’s position was made known in a statement delivered by the Minister of Police Affairs, Mr. Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi while speaking at the 30th Session of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, holding in Vienna, Austria. AIG Garba Baba Umar, Mr. Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, and DCP Lanre Sikiru Bankole The Minister who led Nigeria’s delegation to the meeting condemned terrorism in all its manifestations, including banditry, kidnapping, and hostage-taking by terrorists to raise funds. He noted that such cooperation amongst Nations will further enhance timely information sharing, logistical support, and capacity-building activities to affected States.
4. SENATOR ALLEGES FRAUD IN NIGERIA ARMED FORCES, DEMANDS PROBE.
A member of the Senate, representing Osun East Senatorial District, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, yesterday, alleged that fraud was rampant within the Nigerian armed forces and some paramilitary agencies, noting that the nation would not overcome insecurity if left unchecked. The senator said the arms and ammunition being snatched from Nigerian soldiers by insurgents and the neglect of the defence industry, which is responsible for manufacturing war armaments, should be investigated. Fadahunsi claimed that the military service chiefs prefer the importation of arms because of what they stand to gain from the exchange rates to the detriment of local manufacturing of guns and other weapons. Speaking in Osogbo, Fadahunsi, who is a retired Assistant Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), lamented that the Federal Government appears not ready to probe the military. He said the nation needed nothing less than one million soldiers and one million policemen to be able to ensure effective security, alleging that the war against insecurity was suffering setbacks because of fraud in the armed forces.
5. NIGERIAN ARMY GOES TOUGH ON PERSONNEL USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO ENGAGE ARMY AUTHORITY, ISSUES WARNING.
The Nigerian Army (NA) on Friday issued a warning notice to its personnel or anyone using social media to engage the authorities on the proposed Army Housing Scheme for soldiers and their families. In a statement issued and signed by Director Army Public Relations, Brig. General Mohammed Yerima in Abuja, any personnel caught using social media to engage the authorities will be severely dealt with. He lamented that a scheme meant to benefit soldiers and families could be so fragrantly twisted in the social media, using names and numbers that are alien to the Nigerian Army. "The motive for this kind of strange act will ultimately be uncovered," Yerima said. The army spokesman further explained that the referenced story being circulated in social media about the Army Housing scheme is false.
6. WHY ABDUCTED GREENFIELD VARSITY STUDENTS ARE STILL WITH BANDITS – GUMI.
The Islamic cleric, Shiekh Ahmad Gumi, on Sunday explained why many of the abducted students of Greenfield University are still with bandits. The bandits abducted more than 20 students from the campus on April 17. The hoodlums had last month killed five students out of the abducted students and released a few others. Gumi, who featured in a Channels Television programme, Sunday Politics, said the rank of the bandits had been infiltrated by Boko Haram insurgents. He said: “The Greenfield abduction is unique because for the first time we saw a cooperation between some bandits and Boko Haram elements which confirm that Boko Haram are encroaching into the field, which is a bad situation.”
7. NIGERIAN ARMY BEGINS SEVEN-DAY SHOW-OF-FORCE IN IMO TO NAB IPOB, ESN OPERATIVES.
The Nigerian Army will be moving in new ammunition and explosives into the 34 Artillery Brigade in Obinze, near Owerri in Imo State, in an apparent show-of-force to dislodge the Indigenous People of Biafra and the Eastern Security Network operatives. SaharaReporters learnt from reliable military sources that the army planned to blow off some of its expired military hardware, including explosives, to create panic for the IPOB and ESN militants and wade them off security stations. The 34 brigades confirmed this on Friday, saying the blowing of explosives would last from May 14 (yesterday) to May 21. The acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Lt. Babatunde Zubairu, in a statement, however, called it the “demolition of unserviceable ammunition and explosives.” Zubairu said the 82 Base Ammunition Depot would conduct the exercise, Enugu, from May 14 to May 21, adding that the exercise would take place between 7am and 5pm daily throughout the period.
8. ONLY 9% OF THE ARMED FORCES BUDGET IS SPENT ON EQUIPMENT- GBAJABIAMILA.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila says the record has shown that only nine percent of the total budgetary allocation to the Nigerian Armed Forces is spent on equipment. Gbajabiamila made this known at a public hearing on the Armed Forces Support Trust Fund (Establishment) Bill, organised by the House Committee on Defence on Monday in Abuja. Gbajabiamila said that appropriation records show that about 91 percent of the current funding of the Armed Forces is spent on recurrent overhead, salaries, and welfare. Gbajabiamila said that the importance of the bill is evidenced by the dwindling resources available to the Armed Forces of Nigeria to prosecute the various security operations it is involved in.
9. CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF DESCRIBES HYDROGRAPHIC SHIP AS REVENUE BOOSTER.
The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, says that the newly acquired Hydrographic Ship, NNS LANA, will be a revenue-generating asset for Nigeria. Gambo said this on the occasion of the reception for the NNS LANA which held on Monday at the NNS BEECROFT Jetty/Parade Ground, Apapa in Lagos State. He said that they were happy that the ship had completed its maiden voyage from France to Nigeria and that it would be added to the Nigerian Navy inventory. The CNS said that the ship would be deployed in Nigerian waters and anywhere her services were required, in order to boost hydrographic efforts within the Nigerian maritime space. Gambo said that the Nigerian Hydrogropher had been given approval to produce navigation charts for the country and the countries in west and central Africa. The CNS said that Nigeria had embraced the Blue Economy initiative in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal-14 agenda.
10. EX-ARMY PERSONNEL ARRESTED FOR TRAINING ESN MEMBERS CREDIT: SOURCES.
The police have arrested a dismissed army lance corporal allegedly responsible for training and recruiting people into the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the militant arm of the outlawed pro-Biafra group, IPOB, PREMIUM TIMES has learned. He was arrested a few days after a top commander of the terror group, Awurum Eze, was arrested in Aba, Abia State. The group is alleged to have been responsible for killings of security agents and destruction of public properties in the South-east and South-south zones. They have, however, denied the allegations. According to sources, the 32 years old dismissed soldier, whose name was given as Livinus Owalum-Barnabas, was arrested on Sunday, at Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT by men of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).
11. DESPITE MASSIVE WORKERS’ PROTESTS, EL-RUFAI INSISTS NO GOING BACK.
Business and commercial activities in Kaduna state came to a standstill Monday as the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) commenced its five-day warning strike to protest the sack of 4,000 workers by Governor Nasir el-Rufai. The five-day warning strike by the NLC and its affiliate unions as well as associations, which was also to forestall further sack of workers by the state government, saw the state thrown into complete darkness since Saturday as the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) switched off the 33kva injection sub-station serving the state at Mando. Impact of the total blackout was further felt by the citizens, as supply of fuel to Kaduna state was cut off, leaving filling stations in Kaduna to close shop and join the strike as residents seeking fuel for their generators were left at the mercy of black market operators who now sell fuel at exorbitant rates to make a good profit while the strike lasts. Activities at the Kaduna International Airport were also in a lull as the airport was under lock and key since Monday morning with no plane taking off or landing at the airport.
12. UNIJOS TRAINS OVER 400 ON SECURITY INTELLIGENCE.
The Management of the University of Jos has organised training on security intelligence for no fewer than 419 of its members of staff in the security department of the institution. The two-week training was organised in conjunction with Lathad Consulting Ltd, a private security firm. Speaking at the closing of the exercise on Monday in Jos, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Sebastian Maimako, ssid the training was timely. He said the spate of insecurity in the country had necessitated the need for the exercise. Maimako further explained that the exercise aimed at updating the personnel with the contemporary knowledge, skills and best practices on handling security issues within the university and the wider society.“We don’t need to be told that this training is apt in view of what is happening in the country today. “We are being challenged by some forces of darkness who do not mean well for this country.“
13. IMO POLICE NAB LONDON BASED ‘UNKNOWN GUNMAN’ WITH WEAPONS.
In line with the mandate and directive of the Inspector General of Police, IGP ALKALI BABA USMAN psc+, NPM,fdc, to restore peace and tranquility in Imo state, as well as the determination and adoption of robust crime prevention and detection strategy of the new Commissioner of Police Imo State, CP Abutu Yaro, fdc. Operatives of the Command while on surveillance and confidence-building patrol arrested one Micheal Osundu “m” of Owerri but claim to be based in London, United Kingdom. He was arrested in connection with criminal activities in the state, and he is reasonably suspected to be part of the hoodlums that attacked the Nigeria Correctional Services and the Police headquarters on 5/04/21. However, at the point of arrest, one English made Pump action rifle and twenty-six (26) live cartridges, a pair of Police uniform with the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)which was hidden in his Tinted Toyota Escalade vehicle were recovered.
14. IGBOHO THREATENS THE NIGERIAN ARMY AS HIS ARMED THUGS ATTACK DSS OPERATIVES.
The Leader of Yoruba Nation, a secessionist group, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has warned that any attack by the Nigerian Army on the South-East will be repelled by his group just as his thugs reportedly attacked operatives of the Department of State Security Service (DSS). In a statement by his media aide, Olayomi Koiki, Igboho said attacks on the South-East is an attack on the Yoruba people, urging the government to put a stop to raids in the South-East region. The statement read, “We would like to inform the Federal Government Of Nigeria that any attack on the South-East is an attack on the Yorubas. Biafra people have been targeted by the Nigeria Army and if there are any further attacks on them, we would have no other option but to support our brothers and sisters in Biafraland.” Meanwhile, armed thugs loyal to self-styled Yoruba activist, Sunday Igboho, Saturday assaulted officials of the State Security Service (SSS) during the Yoruba nation rally in Osogbo, Osun State.
15. WE’VE UNCOVERED 476 ONLINE SITES FIGHTING BUHARI GOVT – LAI MOHAMMED.
The Federal Government says it has uncovered about 476 online publication sites dedicated to daily churning out of fake news to fight the government. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed disclosed this on Monday in Abuja when he received officials of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations on a courtesy visit Mr Mohammed said the latest of the hatchet jobs by the traducers was the fake publication on President Muhammadu Buhari’s mental status. “It will amaze you that recently we unveiled almost 476 online publication sites that are dedicated to daily engaging in churning out fake news to fight the government. “The latest which I found ridiculous is the one that said days ago, that they had information that when Mr President was in the UK the last time, he was advised to step down because he could not even recognise members of his immediate family.
16. ENUGU POLICE RESISTS ASSAILANTS’ ATTACKS ON INEC HEADQUARTERS.
Yet to be identified armed miscreants today, 16/05/2021 at about 2030hrs, attempted to set the Enugu Headquarters of the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) ablaze but were stiffly resisted by joint security operatives, who swiftly mobilized to the scene. The State Fire Service personnel, who promptly responded to calls put across to them, helped in quenching fire already set on four (4) vehicles and two (2) cushions within the office premises. The scene at INEC HQ after the attack. Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Ndatsu Aliyu, psc, who immediately raced to the scene alongside Heads of other Security Agencies in the State, has ordered the emplacement of adequate security within the precincts of the office and the launch of a full-scale investigation to unravel the mystery behind the act as well as fish out the assailants.
17. AGAIN, SUSPECTED IPOB MEMBERS SET ABLAZE POLICE STATION IN ABIA, KILL 2 OFFICERS, 6 OTHERS MISSING.
Suspected Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) who are members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) on Monday attacked the Apumiri Ubakala Police Station in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia state, killing two officers. It was reported that the hoodlums attacked the station around 2 am on Monday. The hoodlums reportedly razed the station and operational vehicles parked in the vicinity and carted away their ammunition. According to Sahara Reporters, all the suspects under detention in the station were said to have been freed by the hoodlums. “There was an attack on the Apumiri Police Station in Ubakala Umuahia South LGA, Abia State by unknown gunmen in the early hours of today.
18. BANDITS OPEN FIRE ON THEMSELVES, 12 FEARED DEAD, MANY INJURED.
Bandits terrorising communities in Niger State weekend opened fire on themselves, leaving 12 dead in Shiroro Local Government Area. Besides those killed, several others suffered various degrees of injuries but managed to escape the “battleground”. This scenario which happened last Friday in the community led to the disappearance of some other bandits from the area. Vanguard learned from an impeccable source in the village that there was a sharp disagreement between the leader of the gang and his boys over the ransom paid to them earlier. READ ALSO: Soldier, 5 civilians killed, three others injured in Maiduguri The leader, popularly called Mallam Dogogide, had accused his boys of short-changing him after their previous operations. Dogogide is said to be one of the leaders of the three notorious bandit gangs operating within Shiroro, Rafi, and Munya Local Government Areas in Niger and Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State. It was also gathered that Dogogide had frowned at the laid down operational rules by killing villagers indiscriminately and raping married women. Angered by this, he summoned his boys for a meeting and threatened to sack them and replace them with new recruits. The action, it was gathered, did not go down well with his boys and this was said to have led to a heated argument.
19. TEN KILLED AS SUSPECTED HERDSMEN ATTACK TARABA COMMUNITIES.
No fewer than ten persons have been confirmed killed by suspected herdsmen in Bornon Kurkur community, Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State. Confirming the incident on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer, David Misal, said the attack occurred today, adding that the situation has been brought under control. According to him, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ahmed Azare, has ordered for deployment of more hands to comb the area as well as protect the victims. In a related development, six persons have been found dead between Jatau Kungana and Gazabu communities of the Bali local government area. This is according to the Chairman of the local government, Mahmud Musa, who spoke in an interview. Musa said the fracas started in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State which shares a boundary with Taraba State. He said some Fulani herdsmen were chased from the axis and ran into Bali local government where they were partially resisted and the fight escalated which led to the death of six persons in the axis.
20. WORKERS’ STRIKE: KADUNA DECLARES NLC CHAIRMAN, OTHERS WANTED.
The Kaduna State Government has declared the chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba, and others wanted. Wabba had on Monday led workers in the state on a warning strike to force the state Governor, Malam Nasir El-rufai, to rescind his decision to sack workers in the state. The action by NLC led to the grounding of economic and social activities in the state with workers in the railway, aviation, medical sector, and others joining the protest staged by the Congress. Reacting, Governor El-rufai, in a tweet yesterday, said the NLC and its protest displayed some unlawful actions. He accused Congress of “shutting down electricity, coercion, and restraints of personal freedom, trespass into public facilities and denial of access to healthcare for several of our citizens.” “They closed several hospitals and chased away the patients,” he added. Giving an update today, El-rufai said Wabba and others at the NLC are wanted and that a handsome reward will be paid for information on their hideout.
