The Nigerian Army has said more Boko Haram/ Islamic State West Africa (ISWAP) Province terrorists are surrendering to the troops of Operations Hadin Kai in Borno State even as about 56 terrorists have laid down their arms and embraced peace. The Army, in a statement on Thursday by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the troops sustained air and artillery bombardments on the enclaves of the terrorists in Sambisa Forest and its environs were responsible for this. He added that 56 terrorists and their families laid down their arms, adding that 18 male fighters of the terrorist groups along with their families including 18 adult females and 19 children on Wednesday surrendered to the troops. The statement was titled, ‘Operation Hadin Kai: Again more terrorists surrender as troops escalate operations across North East theatre’. It read, “More Boko Haram / ISWAP terrorists are surrendering as troops of Operations HADIN KAI, conducting Counterterrorism and counter Insurgency operations in northeast Nigeria escalate ground and air offensive operations against the terrorists.

The Father of the Speaker of Zamfara State House of Assembly, Alhaji Nasiru Muazu Magarya, has been abducted together with the speaker’s stepmother, uncle, and four other persons by suspected bandits. The incident which happened on Wednesday evening was in Magarya in Zurmi Local government Area of Zamfara state.

A High Court in Oyo State has on Wednesday granted an ex-parte motion restraining the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) from arresting popular Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday ‘Igboho’ Adeyemo. Also, the court stopped the DSS and AGF from blocking Igboho’s bank accounts.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has commended the Nigerian Army for restoring security and peace in the South-East and nation at large. The President-General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Prof. George Obiozor, made the commendation on Wednesday, when the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division, Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, paid him a visit in his Enugu office. Obiozor expressed delight over the GOC’s visit to the Ohaneze House and stated that “without peace, nations cannot progress.

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted bail to 12 aides of Yoruba nation activist Sunday Adeyemo, better known as Sunday Igboho, who were been held in detention. Justice Obiora Egwuatu while delivering the ruling on Wednesday said it is clear that no charge has been brought against Sunday Igboho’s aides since their arrest. As such, the court held that detaining them without charging them contravenes the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and their fundamental rights. Pelumi Olajengbesi, the counsel to the 12 aides, had asked the court to admit his clients to bail unconditionally. Eight of the applicants, the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th applicants, were granted bail in the sum of N5million each with surety in like sum resident in Abuja. While the remaining four applicants, the 2nd, 5th, 6th, and 12th applicants, were approved bail in the sum of N10 million each with two sureties in like sum also resident in Abuja. The lawyer to the Department of State Services, I. Awo, told the court that he was not opposed to the bail of eight of the applicants.

Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has assured residents of Jos North LGA of the state that the breach of peace following an attack by hoodlums at Gada Biyu on Tuesday night, has been put under control. Governor Lalong, through his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr. Makut Simon Macham, said, “The intervention of the security personnel immediately brought the situation under control as the youths were dispersed and the road cleared, thereby restoring traffic flow.” He, however, warned against any act that could lead to the breakdown of law and order in the area. He assured residents that, “security forces have continued their operations to dominate areas affected by recent attacks in Bassa and Riyom LGAs with a view to restoring normalcy and arresting perpetrators, as earlier directed after an emergency Security Council Meeting”.