UPDATE ON OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE: TROOPS INTENSIFY OPERATIONS AGAINST FLEEING BOKO HARAM TERRORISTS

In continuation with the clearance operations of the remnants and fleeing members of Boko Haram terrorists group, troops involved in Operations LAFIYA DOLE and HARBIN KUNAMA II have intensified the tempo of their operations in their various areas of operations.

The troops of 232 Battalion yesterday carried out patrols to Muchalla, Lade and Bodeno villages in order to prevent Boko Haram terrorists’ infiltration. Similarly, troops in blocking position at Garkida carried out similar exercise to Dzangwalla general area where they neutralized fleeing Boko Haram terrorists.

On their part, troops of 23 Brigade Support Battalion conducted patrol to Kolkol village with the aim of dominating the area and preventing elements of Boko Haram terrorists infiltrating the area through borders with neighbouring Cameroon. Whereas the troops stationed at Forward Operation Base at Hong have assumed blocking positions in Mararrabar Pella, Kalaa and Shangui to dominate the area and fix any Boko Haram terrorists that venture that way.

DIVERSION OF RICE WORTH N5.5, EFCC ARRAIGNED NURA GARBA AND 5 others

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC arraigned one Ibrahim Rabiu and five others before Justice M. SHITU of Federal high Court Bauchi on a three count charge bordering on conspiracy, diversion and conversion of good and received a stolen property to the tune of N5.5 million.


The Suspects Zakari Isa, Nura Garba, Muhammad wada Ibrahim, Ibrahim Rabiu and one Babawo now at large were arrested by EFCC operatives in Bauchi and Jos following a petition by one Alhaji Umaru Sabo of Pantami quarters, Gombe.

London-Paris Club loans: Our Governors should fear God and pay outstanding salaries and pensions (Photo)

The Federal Government has released N388.304 billion out of N522.74 billion to 35 states as refunds of over-deductions on London-Paris Club loans.

Topping the list of states with the hugest reimbursements are states controlled by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), contrary to their claims that they were being financially oppressed by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

BRIGADIER GENERAL SANI USMAN: Final fall of Boko Haram terrorists headquarters in “Camp Zairo” and others

TEXT OF PRESS BRIEFING BY BRIGADIER GENERAL SANI USMAN, (CMH MSS GOM BA (HONS) MA MNIPR) DIRECTOR, ARMY PUBLIC RELATIONS AT ARMY HEADQUARTERS CONFERENCE ROOM ON TUESDAY 3RD JANUARY 2017

1. Gentlemen of the press, welcome to year 2017 maiden press briefing. It is our first interaction to review our last year training and operational activities which led to the final fall of Boko Haram terrorists headquarters in “Camp Zairo” and subsequent Presidential commendation on achieving that noble feat. It will also enable us to project our plans for year 2017 with a view to defend the territorial integrity of our beloved country Nigeria.

2. The Nigerian Army last year conducted many training activities at all levels, this is in addition to other training exercises conducted by the various Nigerian Army training institutions across the country. Some of the major exercises include; Exercise SHIRIN HARBI and Exercise HARBIN KUNAMA. The exercises were apart from improving troops proficiency, testing of equipment, they also sought to address the prevailing security challenges in Bauchi and Zamfara States. The exercises were tremendous success. The continuous raid operations and patrols conducted by troops have seriously reduced these activities and resulted in the arrests of a large number of cattle rustlers and recovery of arms, ammunitions and rustled cattle.

Attempted Rape; United States cancels visas of Nigerians lawmakers who patronized prostitutes

The US embassy has reportedly cancelled the visas of three members of the House of Representatives to the country. The affected were accused of attempted rape and soliciting for sex from prostitutes while on a trip to the United States.

The three representatives were among 10 lawmakers invited by the US government for the programme held between April 7 and 13, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio.

The legislators, according to report, include: Mohammed Garba Gololo (APC, Bauchi), Samuel Ikon (PDP, Akwa Ibom) and Mark Gbillah (APC, Benue).

Reacting, however, Gbillah expressed surprise that within some hours of bringing the matter to the attention of the House, the US Government had gone ahead to cancel their visas.

INSURGENCY: 1,934, 765 IDPS LIVE IN FORMAL CAMPS, HOST COMMUNITIES AND SATELLITE CAMPS… NEMA

Adamawa IDPs

A total of 1, 934, 765 displaced persons are currently living in formal camps, host communities and satellite camps in liberated communities as a result of insurgency in North Eastern States of Borno, Yobe, Taraba, Gombe, Bauchi and Adamawa states.

This was disclosed by Yola Camp Coordinator , Saad Bello, who, on behalf of the Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani Sidi, took the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Samanthan Power, round the facilities at Malkohi IDP Camp in Yola, Adamawa State at the weekend.

He said there were 32 formal camps in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States with a total of 189, 783 IDPs. Borno has 19 camps with 150, 858 IDPs; Yobe has 9 camps with 31, 988 IDPs and Adamawa 4 camps with 6, 937 IDPs.

A Winning or Rigging Formula? - Gumi

Ringing the 2015 election this time will be very difficult indeed. Voters will remain until the results of their votes casted are pasted in front of them. And with a more potent competitor, the PDP that was once the only "national party' has further polarized the polity not just on the north-south divide but more dangerously on the religious one. Already some of them have already started calling APC an 'Islamic Party' to put in the Christian psyche the loathe of the party. Yet not acknowledging the fact that PDP especially with the recent South African $9.3m scandal, majority of Muslims believe the party is a CAN party.

With this ugly political scenario in situ, re-endorsing President Jonathan is their greatest political blunder because I know the Muslim North will totally reject him. That means the only option left for PDP to continue is by rigging.

PDP is then the epicenter of the most dreaded religious earthquake or the crater of volcano eruption that can shatter and destroy the nation. Because 2015 is not 2011. In 2011, the benefit of doubt which Jonathan enjoyed in the North is completely eroded by his style of governance.

INEC to rescheldle registration points for eligible voters in FCT and 11 states

INEC PRESS STATEMENT

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has noted with concern the agitation in some quarters for an extension of the second phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), which ends on Monday, August 25th, 2014.

This phase of the exercise, which commenced on Wednesday, August 20th, 2014, involved the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and 11 states namely Yobe, Bauchi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kwara, Anambra, Ebonyi, Ondo, Oyo Delta and Cross River.

Much as the Commission is eager to ensure that all legitimate persons who are yet to register as voters have the opportunity to do so, it is logistically impossible to extend this phase of the CVR beyond its scheduled deadline (i.e., Monday, August 25th, 2014).

But in order to give fair chance to legitimate registrants, the Commission will, on a date to be shortly announced, set up registration points at its Local Government Area (LGA) offices where people yet to do so can go to register.

INEC notes with deep regret that old tendencies towards irregularity, such as partisans urging people to come out and do multiple registrations, largely accounted for the crowd clusters lingering at registration points set up for the CVR by the Commission. Many other people who have relocated since the last registration exercise and only needed to apply for their registration status to be transferred to their new location also turned up for fresh registration. When data are consolidated and de-duplication is carried out by INEC, all instances of multiple registrations will yet be eliminated. But, unfortunately, these sets of people obstructed legitimate registrants from having their turn at the registration points.

Police: Islamist Gunmen raid Adamawa village, raze church, LG secretariat

The suspected Islamist gunmen riding on motorcycles on Thursday morning launched coordinated attacks on the Song Local Government Council secretariat in Adamawa State together with a police station in the area.

The Adamawa Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muhammed Ibrahim confirmed that the attack by the assailants claimed five lives, including that of a two-year-old infant who was allegedly hit by a stray bullet. The reports also has it that one soldier and two policemen were killed in the attack that saw the hoodlums also burning down both the council secretariat and the Song Police Station.

Herdsmen Crisis: What Fulani Want From Government (Article) - Ismail Iro

Grazing land and stock-routes top the list of Fulani's demands from government.

All the leading presidential aspirants in the previous elections who were seeking the votes of *Miyetti Allah* Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (M.A.C.B.A.N.) had sent letters to the association assuring the Fulani of enough grazing land and stock-paths if elected. Discussions among government officials, traditional rulers, and Fulani leaders on the welfare of the pastoralists have always centered on requests and pledges for protecting grazing spaces and cattle passages. It has become evident that the political party that ignores the Fulani demand for grazing land would during an election attract a voter revenge.

The Growing pressure from *Ardo'en* (the Fulani community leaders) for the salvation of what is left of the customary grazing land has made some state governments with large population of herders to include in their development plans the reactivation and preservation of grazing reserves. Quick to grasp the desperation of cattle-keepers for land, the administrators have instituted a Grazing Reserve Committee to find a lasting solution to the rapid depletion of grazing land resources in Nigeria.

Alarm: Boko Haram Insurgents Now Disguise As Herdsmen

Nigerian Governors yesterday raised the alarm over the infiltration of their states by suspected mercenaries posing as Fulani cattle rearers. 

The bandits are quite different from Fulani and well-armed, the governors said. Boko Harm insurgents disguise as military men, they use AK-47 and their mission are not known, said the governors who fear that the insurgents may unleash terror on 17 states.