Attacks on security operatives a declaration of war FG - by Sodiq Oyeleke

The Federal Government has described attacks on security operatives as a declaration of war against the country. The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammad, said this during a press conference on national security in Lagos State on Tuesday. In a copy of the text of the press conference obtained by our correspondent, the government’s spokesperson condemned the attacks on security personnel. He said, “Now, there is a growing dangerous trend which I will like to comment on. It is the practice of launching deadly attacks against the nation’s security personnel. Soldiers as well as police, customs, and other security agents have been killed and maimed in some parts of the country in this growing trend of targeting security forces. “I want to say, unequivocally, that any attack on our security men and women is an attack on the state and a declaration of war against the nation. It follows, therefore, that this will be countered with overwhelming force. “When those whose responsibility it is to protect us are themselves being subjected to mindless attacks, it can only be for one reason only: To instill fear and evoke a sense of pervasive insecurity among the people. “Whether known or unknown gunmen, those engaged in this dastardly act will pay dearly for their actions.” He, however, appealed to Nigerians to support security agencies, who face the added task of having to watch their backs while working to protect others. “While the government continues with these efforts to restore peace and security continues, I want to appeal to all of us to play our part in lowering the palpable tension in the polity as a result of the security challenges. The first step is to tone down the rhetoric,” he added.

Genevieve Nnaji to star in Fela’s musical show premiering on Clubhouse - by Victoria Edeme

Nollywood actress and director, Genevieve Nnaji, will star in an audio adaptation of the Broadway musical ‘FELA’ which will premiere on the Clubhouse app this weekend. The audio adaptation on Clubhouse termed ‘Fela Ten-Twenty’ will portray the “#EndSARS movement in the context of Fela Kuti’s legacy,” Fela Ten-Twenty director/producer, Funa Maduka, told CNN. The ‘Ten-Twenty’ signifies the date #EndSARS protesters were reportedly shot at the Lekki Toll Gate on October 10, 2020. “Fela’s music… demanded global engagement with African political thought. In the aftermath of the October 2020 #EndSars protests … his message still achingly resounds. This production is a love letter to those fighting for a better Nigeria,” said Maduka. The organisers further revealed that Nnaji will star as one of the ‘Kalakuta Queens’, representing the musician’s dancers in Fela Ten-Twenty. Read Also Femi Kuti speaks on Fela’s loss in 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Fela Kuti loses out in 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction Don’t relocate to Canada, better Nigeria possible, Fayemi urges youths Nnaji revealed in a statement that she is “honoured to be part of the production.” She said, “The contemporary issues highlighted are what sold me. This is an artful retelling of Fela’s story and I’m honoured to be a part of it. “I grew up on radio plays and the experience is nostalgic for me – the power of voice to influence minds and touch hearts is undeniable.” According to Maduka, part of the proceeds from the show on Clubhouse on May 15th and 16th will go to the GEANCO Foundation and will be used to provide scholarship to young female victims of terrorism and gender inequality.

Insecurity: Southern Governors ban open grazing, ask Buhari to address nation - by Matthew Ochei

The governors in 17 states of the southern part of Nigeria have demanded the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to address Nigerians on the challenges of insecurity and restore the confidence of the people. The Forum stated this in a 12-point communique read by its Chairman, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, at the end of its four hours meeting held in Asaba, the Delta State capital. The governors affirmed that the people of Southern Nigeria remain committed to the unity of Nigeria on the basis of justice, fairness, equity, oneness, and peaceful co-existence between and among its peoples with a focus on the attainment of shared goals for economic development and prosperity. He said, “Southern Governors expressed very grave concern on the security challenges currently plaguing the nation and strongly urged that Mr. President should address Nigerians on the challenges of insecurity and restore the confidence of our people. “We observed that the incursion of armed herders, criminals, and bandits into the Southern part of the country has presented a severe security challenge such that citizens are not able to live their normal lives including pursuing various productive activities leading to a threat to food supply and general security. “Consequently, the meeting resolved that open grazing of cattle be banned across Southern Nigeria. “Agreed that the progress of the nation requires that urgent and bold steps be taken to restructure the Nigerian Federation leading to the evolution of state police, review of revenue allocation formula in favour of the sub-national governments and creation of other institutions which legitimately advance our commitment to and practice of true federalism. Read Also Insecurity: Buhari charges spiritual leaders to unite, fight terrorism Govt silent as PDP knocks Oyetola over absence at southern govs’ meeting Southerners talk too much, North already planning to leave Nigeria – Ex-Oyo gov, Ladoja “In view of widespread agitations among our various peoples for greater inclusiveness in existing governance arrangements, the Federal Government should convoke a national dialogue as a matter of urgency.” The forum expressed concern about the continued gridlock on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway. The meeting, therefore, recommended the activation and establishment of ports in other states of the federation to create new jobs and promote socio-economic activities in the country. The Southern Governors also expressed concern on the economic implications of another lockdown on the country and therefore suggested greater coordination and cooperation between Federal and State Governments in evolving strategies for dealing with the pandemic. Fifteen governors were in attendance at the meeting. They are Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Dr Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos). Others are Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), David Umahi (Ebonyi), Willie Obiano (Anambra). Imo and Akwa Ibom States were represented by their deputy governors, while Osun and Cross Rivers states were absent at the meeting.

Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida -By Olukorede Yishau

One of the promotional materials reads: “Love IBB or hate him, every Nigerian needs to see Badamasi, portrait of a general, an Obi Emelonye film.” The face of Nollywood actor Enyinna Nwige glitters on the poster of the biopic on Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, Nigeria’s only military ruler who chose to address himself as President. It will hit the cinemas on June 12, the 28th anniversary of the celebrated presidential poll won by the late MKO Abiola, which IBB shamelessly aborted. From the clips I have seen, the biopic traces his beginning, his military training, and his ascension to power. I have also seen a clip showing a protest and bonfire. IBB, as he is widely known, was and is still beautiful, charismatic, and even friendly, but he personifies the concept of ‘evil genius’. Many coups in the country’s history had this son of Niger playing one major role or the other. IBB was there when Murtala Mohammed overthrew Yakubu Jack Gowon; he backed Muhammadu Buhari to terminate the democratic administration of the late Shehu Shagari; he is also credited with foiling the Dimka coup which killed Murtala Mohammed, and he was not missing in action when Buhari was shown the exit for him to take the crown. When he came into power, it was like a messiah had come from unexpected quarters. He behaved as if a friend of the common man was finally manning the purse and fairness would dictate the disbursement of its goodies. He started talking about the rule of law, he was talking about ending poverty, he was talking about human rights, and he was talking about a government with a human face- an obvious criticism of the government he overthrew, which had zero respect for human rights, rule of law and many others. IBB followed up his talks by setting up committees to work out the implementations of his ideas. He attracted some of the best brains from the academia, the Bar, and everywhere else. Many were excited about the turn of events and natural critics of government pleaded for the man to be given a chance. It took time for it to become clear that a political Diego Maradona was in the saddle, and he would dribble Nigeria into a tight corner, which, years after, it would be trying to get itself out of. One of the populist moves IBB took was to get his Attorney-General, the respected Egba Prince, Bola Ajibola, to assemble a National Committee on Corruption and Other Economic Crimes. It was chaired by the late Justice Kayode Eso. Its task was defined by its name. One of the suggestions the committee made, as Eso recalled in his book, ‘The Mystery Gunman’, was the enactment of rules against living beyond one’s means. It also sought the establishment of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, which I suspect was the root of the one Olusegun Obasanjo later set up. IBB showered Eso and his committee with encomium when he received their report. He described its recommendations as the real panacea to the ills of the nation and promised to act on them, but the only action he took was to dump the report. If he had not done that, many in his government and his friends would have had their times in jail. Several other populist moves, including the one which gave the impression he was going to be in power for a short period, went the way of the Eso committee. The Maradona was just playing games. Another game in which he was at his best was to gift us political parties, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republic Convention (NRC) as though ideology could be decreed. He kept disqualifying candidates until the late Bashorun Abiola decided to be a presidential candidate and went on to win convincingly across the country, even with a Moslem-Moslem ticket. Of course, the Maradona annulled the election and, when the heat was too much for him to deal with, he introduced another lexicon by announcing he was stepping aside. And he completed his assault on our sensibility by installing a civilian, Chief Ernest Shonekan. Whether by omission or commission, the decree IBB rushed in to justify Shonekan’s leadership of the country did the opposite because it had no provision to enable anyone to appoint an Interim National Government, and a Lagos judge declared the government illegal. The late Gen. Sani Abacha, who was like IBB’s right-hand man, ‘slapped’ Shonekan out of the Villa. Evil followed evil after that. It was all IBB’s making. The country practically went up in flames. There were protests, there were bombings and innocent people were clamped into jail. Amid the discontent in the land, Abacha sponsored groups to campaign for him to become a civilian president. They went by all kinds of names, including the infamous Youth Earnestly Ask for Abacha (YEAA) led by Daniel Kanu, who mesmerised with his acquired American accent. To cow the nation, prominent figures were clamped into detention; and a few were lucky to escape abroad. Madam Kudirat Abiola and Pa Alfred Rewane were gunned down. Bagauda Kaltho, who was a correspondent with The News, was bombed. It was a terrible era in the annals of the country. All thanks to IBB’s error of judgment. The heavens eventually intervened and the man who wanted to be a life president became history in circumstances we are yet to fully unravel. In the run-up to the 2003 elections, and later in the run-up to the 2007 polls, there were signs IBB considered stepping back into power under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but Obasanjo, the man he helped midwife his ascension from prison to power, and others, checkmated him and with time, he gave up the dream. The Maradona finally settled down for full retirement in his sprawling Minna Hilltop mansion. There he receives visitors regularly and appears in the media occasionally. One unforgettable appearance was when he and Obasanjo gleefully described each other as a fool. The hullabaloo blew over and he returned to his quiet moments. Africa Today publisher Kayode Soyinka, in his ‘Born Into Journalism Memoir of a Newspaper Reporter’, reserved a copious space for the story of the first and only parcel bomb incident in Nigeria’s history. It happened under IBB and killed Dele Giwa, one of the brightest minds in Nigeria’s journalism. Soyinka was with Giwa when the incident happened and survived miraculously. Recalling the day Giwa was killed, Soyinka writes: “During my time at Newswatch, a horrific incident, unique to Nigeria, occurred on 19 October 1986. It was the gruesome murder of Dele Giwa. I miraculously survived the attack. I was on an official visit to Nigeria from London. As usual, I was staying with Giwa at his Lagos home, which was then on 25 Talabi Street, Ikeja. That was when a parcel bomb was sent to him. “The deadly package was delivered to him by his unsuspecting son, Billy, in his study, where we were having our breakfast. He took a quick look at the parcel and handed it over to me to see. I held it in my hand, looked at it, and handed it back to him. When he took it back from me, he said: ‘This must be from the president.’ The padded envelope, just slightly bigger than A4 in size, had marks that suggested it had been sent from the ‘Cabinet Office’ in Lagos. It was addressed to ‘Chief Dele Giwa’ – though he was not a chief – and with the instruction printed on it that it must be opened by the addressee only. Dele thought the envelope contained some vital documents which may help Newswatch with some stories. As he readjusted his chair and tried to tear the envelope open from the top left-hand corner, the envelope exploded. It was a huge and horrific explosion. There was a big ball of fire. “Dele absorbed the shock and most of the impact of the massive explosion on his body, as he was the person who held the envelope and had tried to open it…Dele Giwa was in deep shock. He was still alive, as helpers rushed in and helped to carefully drag him out of the rubbles of the explosion. He was rushed to First Foundation Hospital, in Opebi, owned by a close friend of ours, Dr. Tosin Ajayi. There, he died early afternoon that Sunday.” The Babangida junta said it had nothing to do with the murder, but it took only feeble steps to find the perpetrators. People formed their opinion anyway and many hold the regime responsible. My final take: As we throng the cinemas to see the biopic, which features some of Nollywood’s best, we must never forget that IBB is one of the leaders who failed the country, who left the country worse than they met it, who became richer than when they came into power and who deserve nothing but the harsh sides of our tongues. We should never forget.

Bandits demanded additional N100m after collecting N60m ransom –Parents of kidnapped Kaduna varsity students. - Godwin Isenyo

Parents of the remaining kidnapped students of the Greenfield University, Kaduna in bandits’ captivity have begged the Federal Government to rescue their children, saying the bandits refused to release the students after paying N60m ransom. They claimed they could no longer meet the latest demand of N160m cumulative ransom by the bandits. The students abducted by the bandits on April 20, 2021 at the school located along the Kaduna-Abuja highway have spent at least 24 days in captivity. Few days after their abduction, the bandits killed five of the 23 students for failure to pay N800m they demanded as ransom. Also, the bandits’ leader, Sani Jalingo, in an interview on the Hausa Service of the Voice of America, vowed to kill the remaining students if the parents failed to bring N100m and 10 motorcycles. But the bandits rescinded their threat upon the intervention of the controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi. Speaking on behalf of other parents in Kaduna on Thursday, Chairman of the aggrieved parents, Marcus Zarmai, begged the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to use his good offices to ensure the safe return of their children from the kidnappers’ den. According to him, the bandits are now demanding a ransom of N160m with each of the parents expected to contribute N10m for the remaining 16 students. This, he said, was after the parents had contributed over N60m to the bandits for the release of their children without result. “We, the parents, are appealing to the Federal Government to assist us to pay the ransom demanded or find any other way to ensure the safe return of our children. “The same strategy that was adopted to rescue the kidnapped students in Jangebe, Zamfara State, Kankara in Katsina State, Kagara in Niger State and Afaka in Kaduna State should be adopted by the Federal Government to rescue our children too because they are also Nigerians,” he added. Easter Chukwuemeka, whose mother was among those kidnapped by the bandits, also called on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency intervene as the absence of their children had impacted negatively on them. Among the remaining 16 persons in the bandits’ den are 13 students and three female workers of the university. NAF jet pounds bandits’ hideouts, kills scores in Kaduna forests –Official Read Also Police arrest five suspected bandits in Zamfara Nigeria: As bandits buffet, government is hopeless Buhari pledges action against bandits' threat to food security The Nigerian Air Force component of the Operation Thunder Strike has bombarded bandits’ hideouts in different locations in four local government areas in Kaduna, including Chikun, Kajuru, Kachia, and Birnin Gwari, reportedly killing scores of bandits. The state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, who confirmed this, however, did not mention the day the operations were carried out. He said the operations were as reported to the state government by the NAF. According to Aruwan, armed reconnaissance was conducted over Erena, Kusasu, Kuduru, Kulefe, Kusherki and Shiroro in neighbouring Niger State, as well as Chikun and its environs in Chikun LGA. He said, “Bandits were seen fleeing the Kaduna State part of Kusasu (in Chikun LGA) on motorcycles. They were trailed by the crew and subsequently neutralised. “Following this, armed reconnaissance was conducted along the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway, Olam Farms, Rugu, Akilbu, Polewire Rijana, Katari, Jere and adjoining settlements. “Normal human activities and free flow of traffic were observed along the highway and rail line. All locations scanned were reported calm with no threats observed.” In addition, the commissioner noted that strike aircraft carried out operations over Jan Birni, Birnin Gwari LGA, which he said was observed to be active with bandits, noting that some bandits were taken out and the camp set ablaze and destroyed. Aruwan added that the air operations, including air interdiction, armed reconnaissance and patrols, would be sustained in the coming days over Kaduna metropolis and other areas of interest in the state. “Major highways will also be covered, including the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari, Kaduna-Abuja, Kaduna-Zaria, Kaduna-Kachia and Kaduna-Afaka roads. Receiving the feedback, Governor Nasir el-Rufai commended the crews for the successful missions, and thanked them for their proactive operations,” he stated. Copyright PUNCH.

Boko Haram war: Army recalls soldiers from study leave. -Olusola Fabiyi, Oyetunji Abioye and Jesusegun Alagbe.

Troops can’t be schooling when we’re in a war situation –Brigadier generals Following intensified insurgency attacks across the country, particularly in the North, the Nigerian Army has recalled a large number of its personnel studying in civil institutions (universities and polytechnics) across the country, according to a leaked memo by the Nigerian Army Headquarters, Department of Army Training, Abuja. In the memo dated May 11, the Nigerian Army also suspended the sponsorship of personnel in civil institutions with the exemption of students in the final year. This is happening as the army continues to suffer heavy casualties in its counter-insurgency operations that have seen hundreds of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists also neutralised by gallant Nigerian troops. In one of the recent attacks, more than 30 soldiers were reportedly killed in April when Islamic State-aligned fighters ambushed a military convoy escorting weapons and overran a base in Mainok, Borno State. A month earlier, about 30 soldiers were reportedly killed in four attacks by Islamist militants in the North-East. On April 1, 2021, five soldiers and two villagers were killed in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State. About 10 soldiers were also killed in the Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State on April 9. On April 26, wherein 40 persons were killed in Anambra, Imo, Kebbi and Rivers states, two soldiers and three policemen were among the casualties. In March 2020, at least 70 soldiers were killed in an ambush by ISWAP terrorists, AFP reported. The insurgents reportedly fired rocket-propelled grenades at a lorry carrying troops as it travelled near Gorgi village in Borno State. The Islamic State West Africa Province faction split from Boko Haram insurgents in 2016 and has focused on attacking troops, raiding bases and laying ambush on military convoys. The decade-long Boko Haram insurgency has killed around 40,000 people and displaced over two million in the North-East, according to the International Crisis Group. The military has also recorded many gains against the insurgents foiling their attempts to take over territories and also neutralising them in their numbers. For instance, the troops sometime in April eliminated at least 40 Boko Haram terrorists in the town of Dikwa in Borno State. Several other members of the terrorist group were reportedly wounded but managed to escape. In another operation in the same month, troops killed at least 21 Boko Haram terrorists in the Geidam region of Yobe State, according to a statement by the Army spokesperson, Brig Gen Mohammed Yerima. Sometime in March, 57 Boko Haram fighters were reportedly killed by soldiers in the Damboa and Gwoza local government areas of Borno State. Most recently, at least nine Boko Haram militants were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Borno State on Tuesday, Yerima said in a statement, adding that troops of Operation Hadin Kai killed the terrorists as they attempted to attack the outskirts of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, Tuesday. Yerima said the militants tried to advance from the Aldawari axis to attack soft targets in Jiddari Polo but were repelled by the combined troops of the army, police, vigilantes, and hunters. In February, Yerima disclosed that troops cleared Marte, Borno State, and its surrounding areas of terrorists who had laid siege to the region for some days. Yerima said the troops, backed by air cover of the Nigerian Air Force, successfully recovered the town in less than 48 hours. Following the shortage of personnel to fight rising insurgency across the country, Saturday PUNCH learnt that the Nigerian Army had recalled all its personnel studying at various civil institutions except those in the final year. It is however unclear whether the recalled personnel will be deployed for administrative purpose or combat operations in the war front. The memo seen by Saturday PUNCH was signed by Brigadier General I. A Ajose on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, and titled, ‘Exemption of Ex Boys (NMS) from Personnel Affected by Directive on Suspension of NA Sponsorship to Civil Institutions.’ The memo was referenced AHQ DA/G7/230/164 and addressed to the Ministry of Defence, Office of the National Security Adviser, Defence Headquarters, and Nigerian Defence Academy. The other army formations the memo was sent to are: National Defence College, Abuja; Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna State; Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Lagos; Defence Intelligence Agency, Abuja; Defence Space Administration; Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria; and the headquarters of the Training and Doctrine Command. The memo cited three earlier references – A (AHQ DAPP/G5/220/16, dated March 10, 2021); B (AHQ DAT/G7/230/164, dated March 15, 2021); and C (AHQ DAT/G7/230/164, dated April 28, 2021). “References A-C conveyed directives for the recall of all NA personnel studying in civil institutions as well as the suspension of NA sponsorships, with the exemption of final year students. Consequently, I am directed to respectfully inform you that the directive does not include Ex Boys (NMS). Grateful (sic) treat and acknowledge,” the memo stated. Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, two top military sources, who are brigadier generals, said the development was a result of the insufficient number of army personnel fighting insurgency across the country. The sources, who declared that the country was already at war, said personnel could not be studying in schools while a war was going on. “We are in a war situation, but it seems Nigerians are taking things lightly. This is a war situation, and we have less than 200,000 soldiers in a country of around 200 million population. So we are lacking personnel, and as a matter of fact, we have started recruiting,” one of the military sources said. Read Also Boko Haram donation of Ramadan gifts to Borno, Yobe residents stage-managed –Army One month after, Boko Haram demands N28m for 52 Adamawa abductees Boko Haram scare: National Assembly orders thorough screening of vehicles, persons Asked if the number of recalled soldiers from civil institutions would be significant in the anti-insurgency war, the source responded, “It’s significant and it will make a difference. I can’t tell you the number of soldiers in civil institutions offhand, but they are many. ” “We cannot have a war situation and they are in school. But those in final year are exempted,” he added. The source said the army would cope better if other security agencies, particularly the police, would complement their efforts rather than being attached to politicians and other VIPs. He said, “How do we cope? If the police, Immigration and Customs personnel will do their work, probably we can cope. Everybody is waiting on the soldiers, but where are those who are supposed to complement the army? “Every politician has about five or six policemen attached to them. Is that how we are going to fight a war? Sincerely, this is the only reason for the withdrawal of soldiers from civil institutions.” The source also debunked that there was disaffection between top military personnel and the ex-boys of the Nigerian Military School over the directive issued by the COAS. “If you are a soldier, you are a soldier, and if you are an outgoing soldier, you are an outgoing soldier. If you want to be a soldier, you will join the unit and we will post you. So what is the disaffection there? When you finish the NMS, you can go, nobody will hold you, and if you decide to follow your unit, you can stay,” he said. Another military source, also a brigadier general, said the country was in a state of war and could not but recall personnel in civil schools. He said, “We are in a war situation. The era of an officer gallivanting around the world when we are in a state of war is over. What the military has done is the right thing. People even asked for the recall of retired personnel. That will not and cannot work. You know why? These men are tired. That is why they were asked to go when they either reached the official age or were considered not fit again for the system. “It is equally difficult to integrate them back into the system. Some of them have joined political parties and some of them have openly made their views known about the present government and its tactics. So, for the sake of the system and the nation, it is better to use those still in the force. After all, that is what they signed for.” The source added that even if retired personnel were called upon, there was no means of paying them due to the country’s economic crisis. He said, “Also, on the issue of insurance, how do we handle it if we have to recall old hands? Who will pay their salaries and other emoluments when the country is even broke and cannot meet some of its financial obligations? “Those recalled are aware that they were on mere postings before and could be deployed with or without notice. That is the beauty of the job. I am sure that the concerned men and officers are aware of how the system works.” Due to rising insurgency in the country, the Nigerian Army has in recent times suffered heavy casualties by Boko Haram terrorists who seem to have better firepower. Sunday PUNCH had on September 22, 2019, revealed that military troops deployed to fight the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East were using outdated weapons and equipment, including failing Shilka guns procured during the administration of late Alhaji Shehu Shagari, who was the President of Nigeria between 1979 and 1983. The development, according to top military officers who spoke on condition of anonymity, had exposed Nigerian troops at the battlefront to attacks by the terrorists, especially ISWAP fighters, who are said to have more sophisticated weapons. Military officers noted that insufficient and obsolete weapons were also responsible for the heavy casualties the country had suffered in the anti-insurgency war in recent times, noting that there were times the Shagari-era weapons failed during operations. Sunday PUNCH, on July 12, 2020, had also reported that no fewer than 356 soldiers in the North-East and other theatres of operation applied to the then COAS, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, for voluntary retirement, citing “loss of interest” as their reason for disengagement. Controversy had ensued on March 12 after the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd), alleged that $1bn funds meant to purchase arms to tackle insurgency during the ex-service chiefs’ tenure got missing. The development was over a month after the President accepted the resignations of ex-service chiefs and replaced them with new ones. Monguno, in an interview with the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation, alleged that neither the funds nor the weapons the ex-service chiefs were meant to buy could be traced. According to him, the President will soon order a probe into the matter. Some days after, the Presidency announced that six of the 12 super Tucano fighter jets earlier ordered by the Federal Government were set to arrive in the country by mid-July 2021, with the remaining six to come in shortly after. Meanwhile, President Buhari on Thursday urged Nigerians to show more understanding on the current security situation in the country. According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President made the appeal while speaking with State House correspondents shortly after observing the Eid prayers, marking the end of one-month-long Ramadan fast, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. PUNCH.

ICYMI: Banks place limits on domiciliary accounts transfers. - Nike Popoola and Temitayo Jaiyeola

Banks have begun to place new limits on transfers domiciliary accounts holders can make from cash their cash lodgements. The limits range from $5,000 to $10,000, according to findings by our correspondents. A circular from one of the banks obtained by one of our correspondents on Friday said, “The maximum limit for foreign currency transfers by cash deposits is now $5,000 per month. “This means that only a maximum of $5,000 monthly will be allowed for transfers if the source of funds is a cash deposit into a domiciliary account. “Cash deposits of foreign currencies other than USD may be paid into domiciliary accounts (subject to an equivalent of $5,000 monthly limit) but will not be allowed for transfer purposes.” It was learnt that this was in accordance with a 2020 circular of the Central Bank of Nigeria. A portion of the circular said, “Ordinary Domiciliary Accounts: Where accounts are funded by electronic/wire transfer, account holders will be allowed unfettered and unrestricted use of these funds for eligible transactions. Where accounts are funded by cash lodgments, existing regulation will continue to apply.” However, a source in another bank told one of our correspondent that the transfer limit was $10,000. Cash lodgement of up to $10,000 cannot be transferred electronically to another account but can only be withdrawn through cash, a source from one of the banks told our correspondent on Friday. According to the source, when huge cash dollar deposit is made, it must also be withdrawn by cash. The source said, “There is no law stopping anybody from lodging more than $5,000 or $10,000 into your account in cash. But what you need to note is that if you lodge more than $10,000 into your account, you cannot transfer that money, you can only withdraw that same cash based on availability. The bank needs to source the money to give it to you in cash.” Scarce foreign exchange earnings had forced the banks and the CBN to adopt a number of policies aimed at preserving limited available foreign currencies. These policies include currency swap with China and the recent naira for dollar incentive for customers that send forex through official channels. PUNCH.