By Olayemi Esan and HS Abdullahi
1. GENERAL IRABOR: WE’LL NOT RELENT UNTIL ENEMIES OF STATE ARE BROUGHT TO THEIR KNEES.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, said yesterday that the armed forces would not relent in their onslaught against terrorists until the enemies of the Nigerian state were defeated. Irabor said despite the risk of paying the supreme price, the security personnel remained unrelenting in their resolve to keep the peace in Nigeria and deal with the security challenges facing the country. His position came as troops killed 17 insurgents and members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Borno and Rivers states. Addressing a group, God Bless Nigeria, which organised a solidarity march to the Defence Headquarters complex in Abuja, the defence chief vowed that enemies of the state would be brought to their knees.
The marchers carried banners with the inscription, “Armed Forces Appreciation Day”, in support of the country’s security forces.
2. ARMY VOWS TO CRUSH BOKO HARAM, IPOB.
The Nigerian Army has reiterated its commitment to crushing Boko Haram terrorists, members of the banned Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), and ending all forms of criminality in the country. Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Major General Farouk Yahaya stated this on Saturday during the passing out parade of the 80 regular recruits intake at the Nigerian Army Depot, Zaria in Kaduna State. Major General Farouk who was represented at the event by the General Officer Commanding One Mechanized Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Danjuma Ali-Keffi, explained that the military will not rest on its oars until the entire country is safe for all citizens to live in. “Nigeria is facing numerous security challenges occasioned by the activities of Boko Haram terrorist group, armed bandits kidnappers, IPOB and other criminal elements. We would not rest on our oars until this country is safe for all of us,” he said.
3. ILLEGAL OIL DEPOT DISCOVERED IN IMO, SUSPECTS APPREHENDED – POLICE.
Security operatives of the Imo State Police Command at the weekend uncovered an illegal petroleum depot in Ogbosisi, Naze, Owerri North Local Government Area of the state. Six persons were arrested during the raid. A tanker truck discharging petroleum products was also intercepted. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bala Elkana, said a team drafted from the Anti Riot Unit and Quick Intervention Team made the discovery. “On 29th May 2021 at about 0957hours, acting on information received from a credible source, Operatives of the Command attached to Anti-riot unit and Quick Intervention Team, uncovered an illegal depot where petroleum products are stored for onward transportation to locations targeted for attacks,” Elkana said.
4. FG DEFENDS CHOICE OF FAROUK YAHAYA AS CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF.
The federal government yesterday defended its choice of Major General Farouk Yahaya as the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS), while also revealing plans to immortalise the former COAS, late General Ibrahim Attahiru and others that perished in a plane crash about a week ago in Kaduna State. Defending its choice, the government insisted that contrary to public opinion, the appointment of Yahaya, who resumed duty yesterday, was based on national interest and not on ethnic and religious sentiments. Also, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, charged the new COAS to build on the legacy of his predecessor, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, who died in a plane crash on Friday, May 21. The appointment of the new COAS on Thursday had elicited fierce criticisms from a wide spectrum of Nigerians who alleged that other more qualified senior army generals were denied the position because they hailed from the south-eastern part of the country.
5. BANDITRY: ISRAELIS SECURITY EXPERTS ARRIVES NIGERIA TO TRAIN NEWLY ESTABLISHED NATFORCE OPERATIVESPUBLISHED 1 HOUR AGO ON MAY 30, 2021.
The Director-General of National Taskforce on the Prohibition of Illegal Importation/Smuggling of Arms, Ammunitions, Light Weapons, Chemical Weapons, and Pipeline Vandalism. (NATFORCE) Dr. Baba Mohammed has welcomed a team from Israel to train the management staff and operatives of NATFORCE nationwide. Speaking on Thursday at tje NATFORCE office, where he received the trainers, he said it’s a fulfillment to have a long-awaited team from Israel who finally arrived at NATFORCE Head office on the 27th of May, 2021. In a statement obtained by CAPITAL POST on Sunday, which was signed Dr. Baba Mohammed, he.said, “as part of its technology transfer, NATFORCE in addition to local training arrangements has also initiated and concluded arrangements for comprehensive training of its workforce by ETOS Company, a world-renowned International Security Trainer Organization.
6. BREAKING: GUNMEN ABDUCT OVER 200 ISLAMIYYA STUDENTS IN NIGER.
Gunmen on Sunday, abducted at least 200 students of an Islamiyya school located at Tegina in Rafi local government area of Niger state, ChannelsTV has reported. According the report, while one person was shot dead, another laid critically injured after gunmen carried out the kidnap operation at about 3:30pm. A resident of the area, Zayyad Mohammed confirmed on telephone that the Salihu Tanko Islamiyya school, was built by a retired immigration officer. When ASHENEWS contacted the spokesperson of Niger state police command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun to confirm the incident, he could not pick the calls.
7. BREAKING: IN IMO, POLICE NEUTRALIZES 4 IPOB MILITANTS ATTEMPTING TO TORCH POLICE FACILITIES.
Operatives of anti-riot Squad Imo Police Command at the weekend gunned down four gunmen suspected IPOB Members who attempted to burn another police station in Izombe, Oguta Council Area. According to The Nation, the incident happened less than 24 hours after some gunmen razed down the Atta police station, including Magistrate and High Courts in Njaba Council Area of Imo State. Unlike the Atta incident, four of the militants met their untimely death while others escaped with bullet wounds when they exchanged gun fire with police operatives.
8. IPOB: STAY AT HOME, LOSE YOUR SHOPS, UMAHI WARNS EBONYI TRADERS.
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi has warned that traders who comply with the Mondays sit-at-home order should be ready to forfeit their shops. Umahi issued the warning in a state-wide broadcast on Saturday in Abakaliki to mark the sixth anniversary of his administration. He was reacting to the order by the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) to the people of South-East zone. He directed that all markets in the state should open for business on Monday. The governor said: There should be free movement of people in the state on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and other days of the year. People should go to church on Sunday to pray for the nations fallen security agents, civilians and peace and unity of the state and country. I challenge the youths, local government area chairmen, security agents, Ebebeagu security outfit, among others, to ensure that no one is molested in the state.
8. WE PAID N180M, BOUGHT 10 MOTORBIKES TO SECURE RELEASE OF OUR VARSITY CHILDREN – PARENTS.
Parents of the abducted Greenfield University Students, Kaduna have protested what they described as the uncaring attitude of the state government and the police towards their plight. In a 27-second video clip trending on social media, the aggrieved and visibly angry parents could be seen expressing their displeasure with the authorities. “N180 million, that is what they (kidnappers) collected from us, from parents, without the help of the government. “None of the government officials has come to (our aid) since the 20th of April they took these children; not one single policeman that the government has released to go after them (kidnappers).
9. REPORTS OF ATTACK ON JAJI MILITARY BASE FALSE ― KADUNA GOVT.
The Kaduna State Government has debunked a report by an online medium that Jaji military base was attacked by armed bandits on Saturday. Recall, Jaji military base is located at Igabi local government area of Kaduna State. In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, on Sunday said there was no iota of truth in the said report. The statement quoted the medium as saying that armed bandits attacked the base and gunned down several soldiers. The statement added that: “The military and security agencies have reported to the Kaduna State Government that there was no such attack and all personnel stationed at the base are safe and accounted for.
10. GROUP ACCUSES AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL OTHERS OF EMBOLDENING TERRORISTS.
The God Bless Nigeria Group, a non-partisan organisation, has cautioned Amnesty International and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs), operating in the Northeast to desist from further compromising national security and the counter terrorism war by tactically emboldening the terrorists. The group which gave the warning during a solidarity rally tagged Armed Forces Appreciation Day, in support of the Armed Forces, called on Nigerians to shun divisive actions and comments that could jeopardise the unity and progress of the nation.
11. GROUP BEGS EFCC TO INVESTIGATE BOOKS OF MILITARY PENSION BOARD.
A group of military pensioners have appealed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to look into the books of the Military Pension Board with a view of determining why their monthly payment is always shorter than what was approved by the Federal government. Publicity Secretary, Retired Army, Navy and Air Force Club of Nigeria, Kano State Chapter, Captain Yusuf Abdulmalik (rtd) in an interview in Kano stated that their members, including some retired Generals, are alarmed at the variance between the approved figure and what they eventually get paid at the end of the month. He alleged that the board was also in the habit of taking so long to implement their approved adjustment, pointing out that sometimes the bulk of the accrued arrears end up not being paid in full. He cited with bitterness the 53 percent upward review in 2012, which he said took years to implement, adding that only 30 percent of the arrears of said adjustment was eventually implemented even as he noted that it was paid by installment. .
12. FINALLY, POLICE CONFIRM IPOB KILLED GULAK, ELIMINATE THE MILITANTS, ARREST OTHERS.
,,,,, RECOVERED THREE AK47 RIFLES, ONE PISTOL, FIVE AK47 MAGAZINES WITH 92 ROUNDS OF LIVE AMMUNITION
,,,,,,,, RECOVERED THREE OUT OF THE FOUR VEHICLES USED IN THE ATTACK.
On 30th May, 2021 following a distress received by the Command on the gruesome murder of Ahmed Gulak, Police Special Forces made up of Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Police Mobile Force (PMF) and Tactical Units from the command were deployed to the scene at Obiangwu Junction at Ngorokpala LGA of Imo state. The teams were given a clear instruction to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of the act with a view of bringing them to justice. Eye witnesses account, especially the account given by the Driver of the vehicle that was conveying Ahmed Gulak to the Airport before the attack, gave a vivid description of the assailants and the vehicles they used in carrying out the attack. The assailants were said to have used a Toyota Camry 2005 model with silver color; Toyota Sienna 1998 Model with golden color; Toyota Hilux with white color; and a Lexus RX 330 with golden Color. (Registration numbers are withheld for security reasons)
13. BREAKING: REPS SUSPENDS IMO, ABIA CONSTITUTION REVIEW UNTIL OVER KILLING OF AHMED GULAK.
The House of Representatives Special Committee on Constitution Review Zonal Public Hearing scheduled to take place in Owerri Centre Imo and Abia States on Tuesday, 1st and Wednesday, 2nd June, 2021 has been suspended until further notice. Chairman, House Special Committee on Constitution Review and Deputy Speaker House of Reps Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase in a Statement he personally signed and issued to Journalists in Jos on Sunday said the committee suspended the Public hearing in Owerri Centre for Imo and Abia States Respectively.
14. POLICE UNCOVER ILLEGAL PETROLEUM DEPOT IN IMO, ARREST SIX SUSPECTS.
Imo State police command says it has uncovered an illegal depot where petroleum products are stored for onward transportation to locations targeted for attacks. In a statement, the command’s public relations officer, SP Bala Elkana, said the depot is located at Ogboshishi, Naze in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State. He said the depot is made up of 14 shops stocked with petroleum products, suspected to have been obtained through illegal bunkering. “One tanker truck with registration number GWA 568 AA was intercepted discharging petroleum products into some drums and sacks using a Robin EY15 pumping machine. Both the truck and the pumping machine were recovered,” Elkana said. Six suspects are said to have been arrested.
15. GOV. ZULUM TASKS COAS ON FIGHT AGAINST INSURGENTS, BANDITS.
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has urged the new Chief of Army Staff, Major General Farouk Yahaya, to sustain the fight against insurgents, bandits and other criminal elements in the country. The governor made the call in a statement on Sunday in Maiduguri by his Special Adviser on Communications and Strategy, Malam Isa Gusau. Zulum, who commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the choice of Yahaya, said the development showed Buhari’s consistency and commitment in combatting insurgency in the North East. He said: “With the appointment of General Yahaya, the country has retained the advantage of having in place service chiefs who have all served in Borno and have sufficient operational knowledge in the fight against Boko Haram and ISWAP.
16. ELEVEN MOTORCYCLES SEIZED, 10 COCAINE TRAFFICKERS APPREHENDED BY NDLEA.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 10 suspected online drug traffickers with 107 kilogrammes of cocaine in Abuja, authorities confirmed on Sunday. In a statement, NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said the arrest followed fresh raids in the nation’s capital, adding that a young lady and her boyfriend as well as eight others were apprehended, and assorted drugs recovered from them. The first suspect, 28-year-old Ese Patrick, said to be selling her illicit substances through Instagram account; Ese’s Oven Secret, was tracked and arrested with some pieces of brownies ordered online by NDLEA’s undercover agents, on May 2 and delivered by herself and her boyfriend in a Mercedes Benz car.
17. THIRTY FEARED KILLED AS HERDSMEN ATTACK EBONYI, BENUE COMMUNITIES.
Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen on Sunday attacked some Ebonyi communities, killing at least 30 persons. The gunmen attacked Odoke, Ndiobasi and Obakotara communities in Ebonyi Local Government Area. Sources in the area said the gunmen struck the three communities around 3am on Sunday. The communities share boundary with Ado Local Government Area in Benue State. A resident in the area, Uchenna Okpokwu, said the herdsmen invaded the area with guns and machetes. He said: “They came into Ndiobasi village and started slaughtering the people. “After slaughtering them, they entered Odoke, from that Odoke, they went to Obapta.
18. INSECURITY: SSANU DEMANDS FIREARMS LICENCE FOR VARSITY SECURITY PERSONNEL.
THE Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities has decried the growing rate of insecurity in tertiary institutions in the country, saying none of its members is safe. The President of SSANU, Ibrahim Haruna, therefore, demanded firearms licence for campus security operatives across the country, noting that the security agencies were already overwhelmed by the various security challenges confronting the nation. Haruna spoke at the SSANU National Executive Council meeting in Abuja over the weekend, shortly after the students and staff of Greenfield University, Kaduna, regained their freedom after spending 40 days in kidnappers’ den.
19. NASSARAWA LAWMAKER, 3 OTHERS KIDNAPPED IN KADUNA.
Unidentified gunmen have abducted a member of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly representing Nasarawa Central State Constituency, Mr Ismail Danbaba, his driver and two others to an unknown destination. Danbaba, who was travelling to Jos, Plateau State capital for a workshop alongside his driver and two others people in his vehicle, was abducted on Saturday evening. The Chairman, Nasarawa State House of Assembly’s Committee on Information, Mr Mohammed Omadefu, confirmed the incident in Lafia on Sunday. He said the lawmaker was abducted along Akwanga/Jos road close to the forest in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Our correspondent learnt the legislator was ambushed and whisked away to an unknown destination with his driver and two others in the vehicle.
20. ATTACK: INEC LAMENTS FRESH ATTACK ON ITS OFFICE IN IMO STATE, SAYS ITS THE EIGHT TIME.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has said the destruction its office at Jaba Local Government Area of Imo State increases the number to eight so far. The Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Imo State, Professor Francis Ezeonu, has reported that another office in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State was set ablaze today Sunday 30th May 2021. Ezeonu stated that “Although no life was lost, the building was substantially burnt down, along with electoral materials, office equipment and furniture. This latest incident has been reported to the Police for investigation.” National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Barrister Festus Okoye made this known in a statement issued to CAPITAL POST on Sunday. Okoye said: “This attack is coming exactly a week after our office in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of the State was vandalized on Sunday 23rd May 2021. It is also the 8th INEC office to be attacked in Imo State since the 2019 General Election.”
