No fewer than 1,506 Boko Haram, Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, and members of their families have surrendered to troops in the North-East zone of the country.
The Director of the Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major General Musa Danmadami, disclosed in Abuja during the bi-weekly briefing on troop’s activities, and operational successes in the various operational theaters within the six geo-political zones of the country.
Danmadami stated that in the past two weeks, both kinetic and non-kinetic operations were conducted in the various theatres of operations, with significant results recorded.
He said Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai and other operations in the North East zone have sustained and continued to dominate their general area of operation.
He further disclosed that several terrorists were neutralized, while others and their families members surrendered to the troops, adding that a large cache of arms and ammunition, including cash and live-stock were recovered within the period under review.
“Operational activities were conducted in villages, forest, mountains, towns and cities of Gwoza, Askira – Uba, Kukawa, Monguno, Damboa, Mobbar, Konduga, Ngala, Bama, Dikwa and Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State and Yunusari, Geidam, Karasuwa and Damaturu Local Government Areas of Yobe State.
“Operations were also conducted in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State. Several raids, fighting patrols and ambushes operation were conducted to curb the activities of terrorists and other criminal elements within the Area of Operation.
“Notably, between March 10-11, 2023, troops while acting on credible intelligence ambushed Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists at locations within Askira-Uba, Kukawa, Gwoza and Damboa Local Government Areas of Borno State.
“At these locations, troops made contact with the terrorists, during which 7 terrorists were neutralized while other fled in disarray with gunshot wounds.
“Troops exploited these areas and recovered 8 AK47 rifles, 64 rounds of 7.62mm special, 128 rounds of 7.62mm belted ammo, 1 pump action gun, 1 PKT machine gun, 13 rounds of 5.56mm ammo, 1 jack knife, 1 mechanic tools box, military camouflage uniform, 1 boafeng radio, 6 motorcycles, 1 blanket, 4 mobile phone and 1 sack of groundnut.
“Equally, on March 12, 2023, troops while on fighting patrol intercepted a vehicle and arrested 6 Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorist logistics suppliers at Kalari Abdul village in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.
“Troops recovered 1 vehicle, 8 mobile phones, the sum of N2,226,450.00 only amongst other items.
“On the same day, troops conducted search and rescue operation at suspected kidnappers hideout at Moyaladi, Miya and Gaya villages in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State and Modori and Gurusulu villages in Yunusari Local Government Area of Yobe State.
“Following the operation, 4 suspected kidnappers were arrested and 6 kidnapped victims rescued while troops recovered 1 AK47 rifle and 6 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo.
“In another development, on 14 March 2023, troops conducted clearance operations to the terrorists’ enclaves within Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State. During the operations, troops made contact with Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and following a fire fight, 6 terrorists were neutralized.
“Troops exploited the general area and recovered 3 AK47 rifles, 10 dane guns, 12 dummy rifles, 118 rounds of 7.62 x 50mm NATO ammo, 10 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm NATO ammo, 1 round of 12.7mm NATO, 41 livestock, 2 mobile phones and the sum of N4,000.00 only.
“Troops also rescued 49 kidnapped civilians comprising 26 adults and 23 children.”
Additionally, between March 15 – 22, 2023, troops on fighting patrol to Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province enclaves at villages within Biu, Gwoza and Bama Local Government Areas of Borno State encountered terrorists. Following fierce fire fights, troops neutralized 6 terrorists and arrested 5.
Troops exploited these various locations and recovered 4 AK47 rifles, 7 AK47 magazines, 1 x 60mm mortar, 1 firing pin, 102 rounds of 7.62mm special, 2 donkeys, 10 mobile phones, 10 sachets of Axzol tablets, 199 sachets of tramadol tablets and the sum of N4,370.00 only as well as also rescued 64 kidnapped victims.
Equally, on March 12, 2023, troops conducted operations to a terrorist’s leader hideout at Zodie village in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State but no contact was made.
Troops however, search the area and recovered 2 AK47 rifles, 18 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 5 SIM cards, NIMC printout and 81 cattle suspected to belong to the terrorist leader.
“Consequently, within the weeks in focus, troops in the North East zone recovered 16 AK47 rifles, 1 x 60mm mortar bomb, 10 dane guns, 12 dummy rifles, 1 pump action gun, 1 PKT gun, 280 rounds of 7.62mm special, 118 rounds of 7.62 x 50mm NATO, 13 rounds of 5.56mm ammo, 10 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm NATO ammo, 1 round of 12.7mm NATO, 17 AK47 magazines, 1 firing pin, 1 mechanic tools box, 2 knives, 6 motorcycles, 24 mobile phones, 41 live stocks, assorted food items, 1 vehicle, 4 SIM and other sundry items as well as the cash sum of N2,234,820.00 only.
“Troops neutralized 13 Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists, arrested 6 logistics suppliers and rescued 119 abducted civilians, while a total of 1,506 Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and members of their families comprising 154 adult males, 514 adult females and 838 children surrendered to own troops at different location within the theatre of operation.
“All recovered items, rescued civilians, and apprehended suspects have been handed over to the appropriate authority for further action while surrendered Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and members of their families are been profiles for further action.”
Danmadami conveyed the military high command commendations on the unrelenting efforts of troops and other security agencies in the various theatres of operations across the country.
He appreciated the media community for their partnership and continued cooperation with the military and other security agencies, in “our quest to restore peace and security to our dear country”.
Danmadami also appreciated the entire populace for the support given to the members of the Armed Forces and other security agencies in the conduct of “our various operations across the country, while also urging them to continue to provide prompt and creditable information on the activities of terrorists and other criminal elements, in their respective areas.”
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Ohanaeze denies ‘Political Rascals’ toga on Yoruba attributed to Chief Iwuanyanwu
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Sunday described as untrue and a fabricated falsehood, stories making the rounds that the Chairman, Council of Elders, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, CFR (Ahaejiagamba) referred to the Yoruba as political rascals.
In a statement by Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, National Publicity Secretary, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, the apex Igbo socio-cultural body described the news as “a typical falsehood, fabricated by social media entrepreneurs, decorated with wings, expanded with venoms, injected with ethnic nuances, and propelled to fly to various corners, fronts, and heights in order to create inter-ethnic mistrust between the age-long partners in the social, cultural, religious and economic development of Nigeria. Indeed it is a lie from the pit of hell”.
Speaking in Awka, Anambra State on Saturday at the event to mark the one year in office of Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, the governor of Anambra state, Chief Iwuanyanwu drew the attention of the audience and the general public to the fact that Ndigbo and Yoruba people are neither quarreling nor fighting, implying that the Yoruba are a friendly group of people.
According to Iwuanyanwu “I want to tell those in Lagos to realize that there is no war between us and the Yoruba”, adding that “those who attacked Ndigbo in Lagos recently are rascals who should be arrested”.
“This has mischievously been twisted to imply that ‘Yoruba people are political rascals and that we will fight them’, the statement noted.
“This is quel dommage!’ It is from the insidious minds that wish to create a rift between the Igbo and the Yoruba ethnicities.
“At any time in history, there is often a tug of war between two major groups; mostly the good people with conscience on one hand and the devious insidious minds on the other.
“However, the moral force of the godly will always countervail the unconscionable. This helps to keep the world in an ontological equilibrium.
“So, as much as some mischief makers will twist the speech by Iwuanyanwu, the truth remains that Ahaejiagamba holds the Yoruba in very high esteem and he used the Awka event to express it.
“The emphasis is that we must not attribute the ugly event in Lagos to the good people of Yoruba ethnicity, rather, it was the handiwork of rascals, hooligans, spies, charlatans, miscreants, and dregs of Lagos society.
“It is important to highlight that Chief Iwuanyanwu is a renowned patriotic detribalized Nigerian.
“He enjoyed the fidelity, confidence, solidarity, and support of the Yoruba when he was in active business and politics.
“He would recall with deep emotional attachment the cordial relationship he had with the Yoruba when he contested for the presidency of Nigeria in 1992;
“Similarly, as an Executive Chairman/Publisher of Champion Newspaper Limited, Chairman of Oriental Airlines Limited, Chairman of Oriental Shipping Lines Ltd; among others in all his private and public discussions has often commended the profound Yoruba cultural values, intellect, and hospitality.
“He applauds the cordial relationship between the Igbo and the Yoruba, citing that several Igbo are an integral part of various Yoruba communities.
“The depth of the roots of the intermarriages that have taken place between the Igbo and the Yoruba is transcendental, eternal, and can no longer be uprooted.
“The successful marriages of Yoruba daughters by frontline Igbo sons; Chief Emeka Anyaoku; Asagba of Asaba, Professor Joseph Chike Edozien; Professor Vincent Ike, Professor Okey Ndibe, etc, and vice versa, exemplify the irreproachable similarity in the Igbo Yoruba cultural values and cosmology.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Ohanaeze Ndigbo will resist any attempt to paint the 2023 presidential election with an ethnic tar.
“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Peoples Congress (APC) and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) enjoyed the support of eminent Igbo sons and daughters.
“It is also on record that the emergence of Peter Obi and the success he recorded in the presidential election was by Nigerians of all ethnicity, class, and creed.
“This accounts for why the Ohanaeze was about the last to adopt Peter Obi as a presidential candidate of the Labour Party.
“Ohanaeze rather re-affirmed and indeed reaffirms its stand on the position of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) led by Chief E K Clarke and Chief Ayo Obasanjo,” Chief Ogbonnia stated.
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Ogun man arrested for impregnating 19-year-old daughter
A 43-year-old man, Abiodun Oladapo, has been arrested by men of Ogun State Police Command for allegedly impregnating his 19-year-old daughter.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the State, SP, Abimbola Oyeyemi disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.
Oyeyemi said the suspect was arrested following a complaint lodged at Mowe Divisional Headquarters by one Oluwatoyin Idowu, who reported that her son, Michael Idowu, was wrongly accused of impregnating the victim.
He said, “Upon investigation, the victim who is five months pregnant, confessed to the police that her father had been sexually abusing her since February 2022 with threats to kill her if she informed anybody about it.
According to her, when she got pregnant, her father asked her to lie against Michael Idowu for being responsible for the pregnancy.
