The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Olufemi Oluyede, has encouraged soldiers to intensify assault against bandits terrorizing the North-West region focusing on Katsina until all bandits are eliminated so that Nigerians can live in peace. He made this declaration during his operational tour to the 17 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Natsinta Barracks, Katsina, on Wednesday.
Troops of the Nigerian Army have inflicted a major defeat on terrorist elements, eliminating 10 Boko Haram fighters and seizing a cache of automatic firearms during a daring raid on their stronghold in Borno State.
The Edo State House of Assembly has passed a bill amending the Kidnapping Prohibition Amendment Law of 2013, prescribing the death penalty for kidnappers and mandating the confiscation and demolition of properties used in such crimes. The bill was approved during its second reading following a review by the Committee of the Whole. Majority Leader Hon. Charity Aiguobarueghian stressed the necessity of the bill, highlighting the alarming rise in kidnapping cases. He urged fellow lawmakers to support the legislation, calling kidnapping a heinous crime that has caused immense suffering to families and communities.
The United States government is set to investigate how past aid allocated to Nigeria and other countries has been utilized by the persons responsible.. This is coming on the heel of confession by the united State congressman, Scott Perry, of alleges sponsoring of Boko Haram, Al-Qaeda and its affiliate terrorists that the United State Agency For International Development, USAID, was funding across sub-Saharan Africa and middle east.
The Nigerian government recently revealed that over 400,000 Nigerian refugees are currently living in Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, highlighting a concerning situation. Many Nigerians have blamed poor leadership for this crisis. The Federal Commissioner for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons, Tijani Ahmed, made the announcement in Abuja during a meeting to discuss repatriation efforts. He stated that a tripartite agreement between Nigeria, Chad, and the UNHCR had been signed to facilitate the return of refugees. Repatriation from Chad has already begun, with 3,000 Nigerians returning last week, and similar efforts will soon extend to Cameroon.
The Director-General, State Security Service, SSS, Oluwatosin Ajayi, says there is need to allow some communities to acquire some level of armament to serve as their first line of defense amidst delay in security response to communities. Mr Ajayi made this call at the maiden annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies, AANISS, on Thursday in Abuja.
