Arms
Pentagon: US team going to Haiti to assess needs
A team of U.S. security and law enforcement experts is traveling to Haiti to determine what assistance Washington can provide following the assassination of the Haitian president last week, the Pentagon said on Sunday. “Today, an inter-agency team largely from the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are heading down to Haiti right now to see what we can to do help in the investigative process,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told “Fox News Sunday.” “That’s really where our energies are best applied right now – in helping them get their arms around investigating this incident and figuring out who’s culpable … and how best to hold them accountable,” Kirby said in the interview. President Joe Biden will be briefed by the team when it returns and “then make decisions about the way forwa...
Troops kill 11 Boko Haram terrorists in Borno
The Nigerian Army has said its troops have killed 11 terrorists in separate operations in Borno State over the last three days. It said troops attached to the 82 Division Task Force Battalion, while on patrol in the Ngoshe-Ashigashiya area, neutralised five suspected Boko Haram members during a gun duel. The Director of Army Public Relations, Onyema Nwachukwu, said this in a statement titled, ‘Operation Hadin Kai: Troops on trail of terrorists recover arms and ammunition, truck of petroleum oil and lubricant’, dated July 4, in Abuja, on Monday. The statement read in part, “Troops of 82 Division Task Force Battalion on patrol along Ngoshe-Ashigashiya, about 12km from the unit’s location, have made contact with elements of Boko Haram terrorists at Daushe. “The troops, who fiercely engaged an...
Igbo group urges Nigerian government to charge Nnamdi Kanu for murder
The Igbo Peace Forum (IPF) has urged the Federal Government to press charges of mass murder against the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mr Nnamdi Kanu. The group made the call on Sunday, in Abuja, at a solidarity rally to register their support for President Muhammadu Buhari and the security agencies for their accomplishments in recent security operations in the country. The Group’s National Coordinator, Mr Emeka Okpara said Igbo citizens were concerned that certain individuals had taken up arms against constituted authority, leading to loss of lives and property of several innocent citizens. “It would be recalled that the leader of the proscribed IPOB, Kanu, who was standing trial on several charges, including treason, jumped bail, but was re-arrested recently...
Comrade Oshiomhole welcomes Governor Matawalle to APC
The immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has welcomed the Zamfara State governor, Bello Muhammad Matawalle to the ruling party. In a letter he personally signed and made available to journalists by his media aide, Victor Oshioke, the former Edo State governor said it was with great pleasure, relief and deep sense of personal satisfaction that he welcomes Matawalle to the APC . He said it takes a man of courage, conscience, principles and honour to make the long awaited move, which not mary politicians in our clime would have the audacity to undertake, adding that he has absolute confidence all APC stakeholders in Zamfara State will welcome the governor with open arms and accord him his well earned respect that he richly deserves...
Speaker Gbajabiamila: Constitution review to address Nigeria’s foundational deficiencies
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has called for collaboration between the National Assembly and the 36 state Houses of Assembly to make the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution successful. Gbajabiamila, who spoke at a meeting of the Conference of Presiding Officers of Nigerian Legislatures in Abuja at the weekend, noted that the constitutional amendments are to address Nigeria’s foundational problems. The Speaker also stated that the legislature remained the most important arm of government in any democratic setting, according to a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, titled ‘Constitution review: Gbajabiamila Seeks Collaboration Between NASS, State Assemblies…Says Legislature Remains Most Important Arm o...
DSS asks Sunday Igboho to surrender
The Department of State Services (DSS) has asked Yoruba Nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, a.k.a Sunday Igboho to surrender to the nearest security agency. The Public Relations Officer of DSS, Dr Peter Afunanya, gave the advice at a media briefing on Thursday in Abuja. He said 13 people were arrested in a raid on the Ibadan home of the activist early on Thursday. “Consequently, ADEYEMO/IGBOHO is advised to turn himself in to the nearest security agency. “Those cheering and eulogising him may appeal to or advise him to do the needful. He should surrender himself to the appropriate authorities. “He or anyone can never be above the law”, Afunanya said. He said those arrested will be charged accordingly. He said the operation was based on intelligence report that Igboho had stockpiled arms...
Unity schools old students condemn Kebbi abduction
Former students of unity schools across the country, under the aegis of the Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA), have decried Thursday’s attack on the Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State during which scores of students and teachers were abducted by bandits. Mr Lawrence Wilbert, the National President of USOSA, in a statement made available to Daily Independent, on Friday, called for an end to such sad incidents in Nigerian schools. The statement read: “The Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA) unequivocally condemns the abduction of scores of students and staff of Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri in Kebbi State by bandits in the morning of Thursday 17th June 2021. We also decry the fact that a police officer was killed while some students and s...
Security forces kill five gunmen allegedly preparing to attack Rivers
At least five gunmen allegedly preparing to launch an attack on a police division in Eleme Local Government Area, Rivers State, have been killed by security operatives. It was gathered the operatives also arrested six of them after a gun battle that lasted for some time. The gunmen were reportedly camped at a forest between Oyigbo and Eleme council areas where they mapped strategies to launch the attack. But they were said to have been ambushed by security operatives following an intelligence report. A source, who spoke in confidence, said on sighting the security operatives, the gunmen opened fire provoking a gun battle that left five of the gunmen killed and six of them arrested. The source said: “Many of them who came from the Oyigbo axis on their way to Eleme were killed. More than six...
President Buhari seeks international support for peaceful transition in Chad
President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday called on the international community to support a peaceful transition from military to democratic government in Chad. He made this known at a summit put together to discuss recent developments in Chad after the death of President Idris Deby last April. At the summit, Mr Buhari called on: “development partners and countries particularly France, the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, and Russia; the United Nations, the African Union and the European Union, as well as other friendly and partner nations to support the transition framework put in place by Chad’s Transition Military Council led by General Mahamat Idris Deby.” ‘‘The need to support the Chadian government to effectively carry out its planned 18-month transition is sacrosanc...
Ekiti government summons monarchs over killings in community
The Ekiti State Government on Friday summoned the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Adejimi Adu and the Olukere, Oba Ganiyu Obasoyin over the cult-related killings in Ikere town in Ikere Local Government Area of the state. It would be recalled that six persons were reported killed last month in a rival cult clash in the town. The Council authority on Wednesday imposed 6pm to 6am curfew following the killings of two persons on Tuesday by suspected cultists in the town. The Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, warned that there should be no meeting on either side that can cause tension in the town. According to a statement signed by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Deputy Governor, Odunayo Ogunmola, stressed that community leaders in Ikere must allow peace to reign in the town. Egbeyemi warned the O...
Nigerian anti-graft agencies urged to beam searchlight on professional bodies
Human rights activist, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), members of civil society groups and others have called on anti-graft agencies to beam their searchlight on professional bodies in the country if the fight against corruption must be successful. Falana and others are of the opinion that until members of professional bodies who are found to have aided crimes and criminality are sanctioned, corruption will continue to be on the rise. Falana, Chairman, Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), Olarenwaju Suraj, and Executive Secretary, Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption (PACAC), Mr Sadiq Radda, argued that professionals such as lawyers, accountants, bankers etc should be made to face the same punishment alongside their criminal clients. They made the suggestions on Wednesday...
Myanmar army battles anti-coup rebels as armed resistance grows
Myanmar’s army battled local militia fighters in the northwestern town of Mindat on Saturday, residents said, to try to quell a rebellion that has sprung up to oppose the junta which seized power in the Southeast Asian country in February. The fighting is some of the heaviest since the coup and underlines the growing chaos as the junta struggles to impose order in the face of daily protests, strikes and sabotage attacks after it overthrew elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. “We are running for our lives,” one resident told Reuters from Mindat, a hill town just over 100 km (60 miles) from the border with India. “There are around 20,000 people trapped in town, most of them are kids, old people,” the resident added. “My friend’s three nieces were hit by shrapnel. They are not even teens.” The ju...
