NEWS SUMMARY: TOP SECURITY RELATED NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY 21 MAY, 2021
By Olayemi Esan & HS Abdullahi
1. NEFARIOUS ACTIVITIES BY CRIMINAL ELEMENTS WILL NOT DETER OUR TEMPO OF OPERATIONS – DHQ.
The Armed Forces of Nigeria says the plans and efforts of the criminal elements to perpetrate nefarious activities so as to discredit the government and efforts of security forces will in no way deter the military from sustaining the tempo of operations. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Bernard Onyeuko made this declaration during a media briefing on the updates of the operational activities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday. He said different theatre Operations of military troops have inhibited economic saboteurs activities and exposed and forestalled other criminal activities in the country. The director added that the Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs have conducted several operational visits to the various theatres of operation and to 6 geo-political zones to consult with Government Officials, traditional and religious leaders and various interest groups for the purpose of sensitization on the current security challenges facing the country.
2. MILITARY, POLICE BEGIN INVESTIGATION INTO OSHODI CRISIS.
The Nigerian Military and the Lagos State Police Command have ordered an investigation into the crisis which occurred at the Capa Mosafejo area of Oshodi in the State on Thursday. The Command’s spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, while urging Lagos residents to go about their businesses as normalcy has been restored to the area. He also stated that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered that intensive patrol in the area. The statement reads, “The Lagos State Police Command was aware of the conflict that occurred at Capa Park/Mosafejo Osodi, Lagos today, Thursday 20th May, 2021 at 7am. “Normalcy has been restored to the area, as the matter is under investigation. We urge Lagosians to go about their lawful businesses in the area and in the state in general. “No cause for alarm. The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu has ordered that intensive patrol be emplaced in the area. Thanks.” It had been earlier reported many residents and passengers were stranded in the area as soldiers took over major places in the area.
3. NIGERIAN ARMY 4 BRIGADE BEGINS RANGE COMPETITION EXERCISE IN BENIN.
The 4 Brigade Nigerian Army on Thursday began a competition range exercise at the Nigerian Army Range, Ekehuan, in Benin, Edo. In a statement on Thursday in Benin, Maj. Ojo Adenegan, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations of 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, said that the exercise would last until Friday. Adenegan said that the exercise was part of the training schedule for 2021, geared toward enhancing troops’ proficiency in weapon handling and marksmanship with fire arms. “This is geared toward combat readiness and preparation of troops. “The general public and particularly members of Ekehuan community are hereby advised to keep off the Nigerian Army Range area throughout the duration of this exercise. “Members of the public are equally enjoined not to panic on the sound of firing of live ammunition as adequate measures have been put in place to guaranty safety,” he added.
4. ALBANAWY APPOINTED ISWAP LEADER, ARRESTS 30 COMMANDERS LOYAL TO LATE SHEKAU, TAKES OVER SAMBISA FOREST.
The Islamic State of the West African Province (ISWAP) under the new leadership of Abu-Musad Albarnawy has taken over all territories under the control of late Abubakar Shekau in a major revenge onslaught against the former Boko Haram leader. The fighters, it was also gathered, have arrested 30 top commanders loyal to the late Boko Haram leader This newspaper, metrowatchonline.com, learnt that the Commanders include: Abdul Bash, Commander Parisu, Abu Mujaheed, Commander of Sabil Huda, Mala Ali, Commander of Farisu, Amir Hassana, Commander Garin Dambe, Malam Bako, Commander Hizba, Amir Halid, Commander Njimiya Falluja, Commander Garin Mala, Abu- Fatima, Commander, Gwashke, Kaka BK, Commander Garin Abu Asmau among others.Others are Alai Bukar, Commander Mina Ngawri, Abu-Ubaida, Commander Jungle Gabra, in Pulka, Amir Abdulrahman Commander, Gobara, Abu Muhammad, Commander Alava, Ali Shara, Commander Yuwe Hanyan Bama, Amir Huzayfa Commander Yuwe Hanyan Welcome, Abubakar Sarki, Commander, Yuwe Hanyan Konduga, Ibn Abbas, Commander Barin Bulla Yaga, Ali Ngule, Commander Madara Mountain among others. They also include Ummati Mai Shayi, Commander Madara Mountain, Mala Musa Abuja, The Chief Bomb Maker, Mallam Bana Sharra, Chief Judge to Shekau faction, located at Garin Mala Hassan, Baba Dr. Konduga, Chief Medical Doctor, Alava Road, Ma’azu Dan Lokodisa, The Chief Prison Officer, Alai Abba, the Caretaker of Women, children, Mala Musa, Chief Mechanic Officer, located at Parisu, Abu Zaid, Chief Bomb maker, located at Parisu, Abu Aisha Special Clearance operations Unit, Fairs, Amir Okasha, Bomb Timer, Farisu and Amir Awana among others terrorists. Impeccable intelligence sources within the North-east war theatre however revealed to metrowatchonline.com that ISWAP fighters in about 50 gun trucks and dozens of motorcycles stormed Sambisa forest recently forcing Boko Haram Commanders loyal to Shekau to surrender or face instant execution.
5. INSECURITY SCARES SOLID MINERALS INVESTORS, MINERS FROM YOBE.
The Boko Haram insurgency and other security challenges have continue to slow down and scare investors from exploiting solid minerals in Yobe. The alarms were raised Thursday in Damaturu by the Commissioner of Land and Solid Minerals, Mohammed Lamin at the ministerial briefing to mark second anniversary of Mai Mala Buni administration. The ministerial briefing tagged: “Promoting Accountability and Good Governance,” was to showcase the scorecards of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the last two years of Buni administration. According to him, miners and investors are already scared to exploit the abundant solid minerals in Gujba and Gulani Local Government Areas (LGA). While lamenting insecurity to lives and property.
6. NIGERIA’S INSECURITY CAN ONLY BE TACKLED THROUGH CREATION OF JOBS – SENATE.
The Senate Committee on Interior says the creation of more job opportunities for the teeming unemployed is key to tackling insecurity in Nigeria. The Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Kashim Shettima, stated this on Thursday in Abuja when he led members of the committee on an oversight visit to the Ministry of Interior. Mr Shettima (APC-Borno Central) said that addressing youth restiveness required the concerted efforts of all citizens. “Unemployment cannot be addressed squarely from the security angle. We need to create jobs, especially in the area of agriculture, industry and most especially invest in education. “Knowledge is key, we have to invest in education, “he said. Shettima, who addressed newsmen after a closed-door session with the ministry`s Permanent Secretary, Mr Shuaib Belgore, and other directors, said the team was given an elaborate submission on the ministry`s activities.
7, BANDITS KILL EMIR OF KONTAGORA’S SON, OTHERS IN NIGER.
The ancient city of Kontagora, the headquarters of Kontagora Local Government Area, Niger State was on Thursday thrown into confusion as suspected armed bandits attacked the area and shot dead the eldest son of the Emir, Alhaji Bashar Saidu Namaska in his father’s farm. Late Bashar Saidu was said to be on HIS FATHER’S FARM AT ZURU, IN MASUGA VILLAGE ONE OF THE BORDER TOWNS WITH KEBBI state Thursday evening with some other workers that accompanied him to the farm when they were attacked by the armed bandits. Apart from killing the first Class Emir’s son and some people working for the family with him on the farmland, sources told newsmen that the armed bandits also rustled an unspecified number of cows. While the operation lasted, the armed bandits were said to have flagged down both Commercial and private vehicles plying the road, collected their items including mobile telephones, cash and other valuables.
8. MORE DETAILS EMERGE ABOUT THE DEATH OF BOKO HARAM LEADER, SHEKAU.
Intelligence intercepted by a Nigerian security agency has revealed how the longest-reigning leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, died in a battle with rival ISWAP in Sambisa forest. Speculations about Mr Shekau’s death were rife since Wednesday evening, but multiple inside sources and intels gathered by a Nigerian security agency apparently confirmed the death. The intel, sighted by DAILY NIGERIAN, revealed conversations between top fighters of the group who witnessed the death of the dreaded terrorist leader. According to the intel transcript sighted by DAILY NIGERIAN, ISWAP top commander Baana Duguri informed ISWAP logistics commander Modu Sulum that they killed Mr Shekau. Giving the details of the incident, Mr Duguri disclosed that fierce gunbattle ensued when the ISWAP fighters surrounded Mr Shekau and his team. Mr Duguri revealed further that Mr Shekau detonated a bomb and killed himself when he observed that the ISWAP fighters wanted to capture him alive. According to the intel, Mr Duguri informed Mr Sulum that the two sides also lost some fighters during the shooting. More than 40,000 people have been killed and over two million displaced from their homes by the conflict in northeast Nigeria, and fighting has spread to parts of neighbouring Chad, Cameroon and Niger. Boko Haram and ISWAP have fought battles for control of territory in the past.
9. INSECURITY: THERE WILL BE NO WAR IN NIGERIA — SULTAN, DEFENCE MINISTER ASSURE NIGERIANS.
The Sultan of Sokoto and co-Chair of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, and the Minister of Defence, retired Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi have separately assured Nigerians that there will be no war in this country again and every part of the nation will soon experience peace despite agitations for disintegration from different quarters. The Sultan, who spoke at the Second Quarterly Meeting of NIREC in Abuja, on Wednesday, said he would always advocate for dialogue as a way to achieve peace. “People have been talking about war; there will no war in Nigeria, who is going to fight who? In families we have Christians and Muslims, you have ethnic nationalities in your country, you have inter-married.
10. SENATOR DECRIES SHORTAGE OF PERSONNEL IN FIGHTING SECURITY CHALLENGE.
Sen. Kashim Shettima, Chairman, Senate Committee on Interior, has urged the Federal Government to recruit additional security personnel towards tackling current security challenges in Nigeria. Shettima said this during a public hearing on four bills in Abuja on Tuesday. The bills were a bill for an act to establish the Nigerian Civil Defence Academy, Pandogari, a bill for an act to establish the Nigeria Peace Corps (NPC), a bill for an act to establish the National Unity Corps (NUC) and a bill for an act to establish the Nigeria Hunters’ Council (NHC).
11. NIGERIAN NAVY TO IMPROVE CAPACITY BUILDING ON MARITIME SECURITY.
The Nigerian Navy has underlined its achievement on capacity building in order to improve maritime security in Nigerian waters and the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) to mark its 65th Anniversary. The Chief of Policy and Plans, Rear Admiral Christian Ezekobe who represented the Nigerian Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, disclosed this in Abuja when he briefed Journalists on the on the Nigerian Navy 65th Anniversary Celebrations. Rear Admiral Christian Ezekobe said “the objective of this briefing was to acquaint the citizenry with the focus of the Nigerian Navy and the various activities lined up for the 65th Anniversary Celebrations of the Service.” He said “as all aware that the country is facing myriads of security challenges coupled with the prevailing COVID – 19 Pandemic, this Year’s Anniversary is planned to be a low-key to reflect the mood of the nation”.
12. COAS CHARGES OFFICERS TO BE PROACTIVE, RESPONSIVE TO INFORMATIONS.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major Gen Ibrahim Attahiru has charged the Nigerian Army to be proactive and responsive to information and public relations management and practices. Gen Attahiru who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plan, Major General Ben Ahanotu at a 3-day workshop themed: “Respositioning the Nigerian Army Public Relations Towards Addressing Contemporary Communication Challenges” held on Wednesday in Abuja. He said, “The multiple internal security challenges assailing our country and the imperative of military deployment have increased Nigerian Army’s tasks as defenders of national interests. In view of these continuous emergencies and flashpoints across the country, the Nigerian Army, as the linchpin in internal security operations, is required more than ever before to be proactive and responsive to information and public relations management and practices.
13. NIGERIAN NAVY EXONERATE ITSELF OVER THEFT OF 200,000 BARRELS OF CRUDE OIL.
The Nigerian Navy yesterday exonerated itself from the loss of 200,000 barrels of crude oil to pipeline vandalisation and illegal refineries, even as it blamed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for the loss. It said 577 illegal refineries were deactivated since 2020 across the Niger Delta region by it. At a briefing to commence the 64th anniversary celebrations of the Nigerian Navy in Abuja, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, placed the situation on the doorstep of the NNPC, which he said bordered on procedural gaps within the national oil company. Gambo, who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans of the navy, Rear Admiral Christian Ezekobe, blamed the loss of such quantity of crude to the inactions of the NNPC. Ezekobe, who was responding to a question on why Nigeria was still registering such loses, which was revealed at an earlier meeting with NNPC in spite of the navy’s campaign against crude oil theft, said when illegal refineries were dismantled by the navy, NNPC failed to respond to calls to evacuate the products.
14. NIGERIAN AIR FORCE DAY 2021 ENDS WITH INDUCTION OF JF-17 MULTI-ROLE THUNDER AIRCRAFT.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Day Celebration 2021 has ended in Makurdi, Benue State with the induction of 3 newly acquired JF-17 multi-role Thunder aircraft into its inventory. The induction ceremony, which took place today 20 May 2021, was performed by the President and Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari who was represented by the Honourable Minister of Defence (HMOD), Major General Bashir Magashi (Rtd). At the historic occasion, the President stated that the induction ceremony was personally rewarding to him as it marked yet another step in his promise to improve the infrastructure and equipment dispositions of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) and other security agencies for enhanced output, professionalism and service delivery. He also added that the induction of the JF-17 aircraft is indicative of how the NAF has continued to advance it capability and capacity over the past 57 years, while developing competencies to achieve its constitutional mandate of defending the Nation’s territorial integrity by air.
15. NAF AT 57: NAFOWA DONATES PALLIATIVES, MEDICAL EQUIPMENT TO ABUJA COMMUNITY.
As part of activities marking the Nigerian Air Force 57th Anniversary, the Nigerian Air Force Officers Wives Association (NAFOWA) has embarked on medical outreach to Zamani community in the FCT, Abuja. NAFOWA also donated palliatives to military widows and medical equipment to 063 NAF Hospital. The national president of the association, Mrs Elizabeth Olubunmi Amao, said the medical outreach is part of her desire to reach out to military widows in commemoration of the 2021 NAF Day celebration. “Today is set aside to reach out to our sisters who lost their husbands in the course of fighting against insurgency and other security challenges across the country. “These our sisters are mostly absent in the statistics, unnoticed by national and local authorities and mostly over looked by the civil society. Their plights, travails and challenges go unnoticed by the generality of the society,” she said.
16. INSECURITY: US REITERATES COMMITMENT TO HELP NIGERIA.
The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Leonard, has reiterated the commitment of the US government to helping Nigeria in its effort to address the security challenges bedevilling the country. The ambassador spoke on Wednesday when Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu received her in audience in Birnin Kebbi. Leonard said that apart from security, her country was also concerned about education. She lamented the setback suffered globally in the area of doing business and investment as a result of the outbreak of COVID-19. She said the US government had increased resources in its trade and investment hub in order to bridge the gap created by the pandemic. In his response, Governor Bagudu called for further collaboration between the two countries in the area of agriculture, infrastructure and economy of his state.
17. INEC HOLDING EMERGENCY MEETING, MEETS SECURITY CHIEFS MONDAY OVER RECENT BURNING OF OFFICES.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has said that it is going to hold an Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security with the security chiefs to “specifically discuss the solution to these unprovoked and unjustified attacks by arsonists” in the South-East region. The commission in a message to SaharaReporters on Wednesday stated that at the end of the critical meeting, a decision as to the next line of action will be taken. Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, stated this in a response to an inquiry on Wednesday. He said, “The Commission is at the moment meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to discuss the spate of attacks and how to effectively stop them.
18. POLICE ARREST 4 KIDNAPPERS, RESCUE 2 VICTIMS IN PLATEAU.
Mr Gabriel Ubah, the Police Public Relations Officer in Plateau, says the command has arrested four kidnappers and rescued two victims from them. In an interview by telephone on Thursday in Mangu Local Government Area of the state, Ubah said the command was also making efforts to rescue the remaining two victims from the kidnappers. He recalled that the kidnappers had unleashed terror on Gaya Layout near Chichim Quarters in Mangu town around 8.30 p.m. on May 19. But the police and members of vigilante group accosted them and arrested four of them, while others escaped with four victims. Recovered at scene of the incident were 13 empty shells of bullets used during the shoot out with security operatives.
19. AG. IGP ORDER NOT AGAINST INNOCENT PEOPLE IN S/EAST.
The Police Command in Anambra has said the order given by Ag. IGP Usman Baba to personnel to take the war against crime and criminals to their dens was not targeted at innocent and lawful citizens in the South East. DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, the Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra, said this in a statement in Awka on Thursday. Baba had during the launch of ‘Operation Restore Peace’ and return the South East zone to its pride, said the region was known for being peaceful, tolerant, industrious and entrepreneurial. He said that the region had in recent time witnessed an upsurge in cases of kidnapping, armed robbery, communal violence and attacks on security agents and our national infrastructures. But addressing the concerns, Ikenga said it was a deliberate effort by the Police high command to stabilise security order in the South East.
20. OSOGBO PROTEST: POLICE DEBUNK REPORT THAT PROTESTER CARRIED AK 47 RIFFLE UNCHALLENGED.
The Police Command in Osun has debunked reports that protesters carried AK47 riffles unchallenged during Tuesday’s protest,by some youths in Osogbo. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some youths in Osogbo protested the raid and arrest of some suspected internet fraudsters in Osogbo by officials of the EFCC in the early hours of Tuesday. A statement by the spokesperson of the Police Command, SP Yemisi Opalola, on Thursday said that the report and picture of a young man with an AK47 Riffle among the protesters, was misleading. She said that the person pictured in the report was a police officer in mufti and not a protester. “The attention of the Commissioner of Police, Mr Olawale Olokode, has been drawn to the news trending in the social media that one of the protesters, who willingly and unlawfully disrupted the peace and tranquility of Osogbo, was seen with an AK 47 rifle.
