We Killed two, arrested 13 aides in Igboho's house raid - DSS

Residence of the Yoruba Nation agitator, Mr Sunday Adeyemo (aka Sunday Igboho), after an attack on the house by the Department of State Services in Ibadan and suspects arrested in the house during their parade in Abuja…on Thursday. Photos: Olufemi Olaniyi and Olatunji Obasa Eniola Akinkuotu, Oluwatosin Omojuyigbe, Segun Adewole, Olufemi Olaniyi and Solomon Odeniyi 2 July 2021 The Department of State Services, on Thursday, paraded 12 of Sunday Igboho’s followers, saying one other was being profiled. The DSS said a joint team of security operatives had raided Igboho’s residence early on Thursday based on an intelligence report. Parading the suspects at the national headquarters of the secret police, its spokesman, Peter Afunaya, said the security team was engaged in a gun duel by nine men suspected to be Igboho’s guards. Afunaya stated, “A team of joint security operatives raided the residence of Sunday Adeyemo at Soka in Ibadan. This was based on intelligence that he had stockpiled arms in the place. “On approach to his residence, the team came under heavy gun attack by nine men suspected to be Igboho’s guards. Six were armed with AK-47 guns and three others with pump action rifles. “In the course of the exchange, two of the armed men were gunned down, while the rest were subdued and arrested. Only one operative, who was shot by the assailants in his right hand, sustained injury. He has, however, received medical attention and is very stable. “The gun duel, which lasted an hour, offered Igboho the chance to escape. Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, is now on the run.” Those arrested are: Abdulateef Ofeyagbe; Amoda Babatunde, aka Lady ‘K’, Tajudeen Erinoyen, Diakola Ademola, Abideen Shittu, Jamiu Noah, Ayobami Donald, Adelabe Usman, Oluwapelumi Kunle, Raji Kazeem, Taiwo Opeyemi and Bamidele Sunday. Afunaya added that the team searched the house and subsequently recovered seven AK-47 assault rifles, three pump action guns, 30 fully charged AK-47 magazines, 5,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, five cutlasses, one Jack knife, one pen knife, two pistol holsters, a pair of binoculars, a wallet containing $5, local and international driving licences in his name, ATM cards, a German residence permit No. YO2N6K1NY bearing his name; two whistles, 50 cartridges and 18 walkie-talkies. Others are three charm jackets/traditional body armour, two laptops, one Toshiba and one Compaq laptops and his passport and those of many others. Afunaya added that five of the AK-47 assault rifles recovered from his residence were snatched from Nigeria Customs and Immigration personnel at Idi Iroko, Ogun State. Afunaya explained that Igboho and his group, in the guise of campaign for self-determination, had become well-armed and determined to undermine public order. He added the arrests and seizures were a confirmation of a grand plan by Igboho and his cohorts to wage a violent insurrection against the Nigerian state. Some of his aides had said the invasion, which they alleged claimed the lives of five occupants of the house, was carried out by soldiers and operatives of the Department of State Services. The Nigerian Army, however, said it had no hand in the attack. One of our correspondents, who visited Igboho’s house, observed blood stain on the floor in front of the main building. Windows of some vehicles and buildings on the premises were shattered. There was thick blood clot in one of the chalets, an indication that someone might have been killed or badly injured, and one of Igboho’s aides said the victim, who he identified simply as Alfa, was praying inside the building when he was shot in the head and died on the spot. A resident of the building said although government agencies had been monitoring Igboho’s movements before now, the attack might not be unconnected to the Yoruba Nation rally scheduled to hold in Lagos on Saturday. The Convener of the Igangan Development Advocates, Mr Oladiran Oladokun, who visited the scene of the attack, told one of our correspondents that the invasion of Igboho’s residence was an attack on the entire Yoruba people. One of Igboho’s aides, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “Chief surprised every one of us, because the attackers were everywhere, but he escaped. The assailants came around 1.30am, scaled the fence and opened fire. “I think the instruction they were given was to kill every living thing sighted on the premises. A lady was the one directing them. She was calling occupants of the house by their names. That is to show that an insider gave them the information they relied on. “They took away about N3m from his (Igboho’s) room as well as his jewellery.” Another occupant of the house, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “The assailants killed five persons and took away their corpses. Some ladies, who are wives of chief’s aides, were also taken away. They took away the CCTV box so that we won’t play bac Meanwhile, the Yoruba Council of Elders and Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, slammed the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), for the attack on the home of the Yoruba Nation agitator. The YCE expressed concern about the invasion of Igboho’s home. The Secretary-General of the YCE, Dr Kunle Olajide, who spoke with one of our correspondents in Ibadan, said the group was concerned about the incident. He urged the Federal Government to investigate the attack and bring those behind it to justice very quickly. Olajide stated, “It is unimaginable that Sunday Igboho’s home was so viciously attacked. Sunday Igboho is not violating any law of the land. There is freedom of movement and freedom of association in a democracy. “The Yoruba Council of Elders is very disturbed by this. Much as we are not backing any secessionist and self-determination agenda for now, because we believe this country can still be salvaged, but reactions from authorities continue to show us that the government is insensitive to what the people are saying.” Adebanjo slams Buhari On his part, Adebanjo said from all indications, the assault on Igboho’s home was sponsored by the government and described it as an attack on the Yoruba. The 93-year-old stated, “It is a government sponsored attack from all indications. It is unfortunate, particularly for the Yoruba. “Mr President has taken us back to the Abacha regime. It was the same they did to Alfred Rewane, Gen Alani Akinrinade, Chief Abraham Adesanya and many others, including members of NADECO. I have said before that this government is a tyrannical government.” When asked if Igboho did not deserve to be arrested due to his opposition to Fulani herders, Adebanjo said if that was the reason why he was being attacked, then it showed that the government was partial. Police warn against Lagos rally Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command has said it will not allow any rally in the state under any guise. The state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, warned organisers of the planned Yoruba Nation rally and their followers to stay off the streets of Lagos, adding that anyone caught would be dealt with according to the law. Odumosu said intelligence reports available to the police indicated that some people had perfected plans to infiltrate the protesters and cause more mayhem in the state. “Lagos State cannot afford to experience any security lapse, breakdown of law and order, and threat to public peace at the moment, considering the negative effects and reoccurring agonies of the October 2020 violent #EndSARS crisis that led to massive destruction of public and private facilities, while some police personnel paid the supreme price,” he said. Igboho suspends rally Meanwhile, Igboho has suspended the Yoruba Nation rally scheduled to hold in Lagos on Saturday. Igboho, who spoke to the BBC News Pidgin, stated that the rally had been suspended. His words come after a statement by the umbrella body of Yoruba self-determination groups, Ilana Omo Oodua, declared that the rally would hold as scheduled. The statement was signed by its leader, Emeritus Professor, Banji Akintoye, and made available to journalists by his Communications Manager, Mr Maxwell Adeleye. “We want to confirm again that the Pro-Yoruba Nation rally scheduled to hold on Saturday, July 3, in Lagos will proceed as scheduled,” the statement read in part. PUNCH.

DSS has granted us access to Kanu, says laywer By Nicholas Kalu

The Department of State Services (DSS) has granted detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) access to his lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor. Ejiofor made this known in a statement on Friday. He said: “Thankfully our effort is yielding the desired result. We have just received a communication approving our visit to our Client- Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Shall keep the world posted on the outcome, immediately after the meeting, later in the Day. God is with us.” Ejiofor had on Thursday protested an application for audience with his client had not been approved. In another tweet late Thursday, Ejiofor said he had met with the IPOB leader. The tweet reads:” Update on meeting with MNK today, 2nd July 2021: “My Client – Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, was actually abducted by the accursed Kenya’s Special Police Force on the 18th of June 2021 at their International Airport and consequently taken to an undisclosed residence under dehumanizing conditions. “He was tortured and subjected to all forms of inhuman treatment which worsened his health condition. He was illegally detained for eight (8) good DAYS in Kenya before being transfered to their Nigerian counterpart. “He was purportedly investigated on a bogus charge while in their custody, ostensibly, awaiting to be handed over after their findings proved him innocent of all the spurious allegations. They later beckoned on their Nigerian counterparts to take over. “Kenyan Government was deeply involved in the abduction, detention and ill-treatment of my Client before the illegal handover to their Nigerian counterpart. “A scan of his heart showed that the heart has enlarged by 13% due to the dehumanising treatment meted to him. There will be need for immediate proper medical examination and attention for him. “Mazi Nnamdi Kanu conveyed his goodwill message to all IPOB family members worldwide, and craved for your unrelentless prayers. “We are going back to the Court for the needful. Other details cannot be entertained here. “His fortified legal team will address these infractions at the proper forum as we progress. Other details on our legal strategy, may not be made public. “With Chukwuokike Abiama on our side, Victory is assured. For if God Almighty be for us, who can be against us? #freeMaziNnamdiKanu#” Kanu has been in the custody of the DSS since he was arrested and repatriated to Nigeria on Sunday to face trial after jumping bail in 2017 for charges bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, and illegal possession of arms among others. His trial will continue from the 26th and 27th of July 2021 at the Abuja Federal High Court.

Kanu’s arrest: Lawyers write UK, protest extradition, FG guns for collabor atorsBy Samson Folarin, Solomon Odeniyi, Lesi Nwisagbo, Edward Nnachi, Dennis Naku, John Charles and Raphael Ede

The Federal Government on Thursday said it would go after highly-placed Nigerians and other collaborators of the Independent People of Biafra leader, Nnamdi Kanu. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who stated this at a press briefing in Abuja, said irrespective of the collaborators’ standing in country, they would all face the full wrath of the law for challenging the nation’s sovereignty. Mohammed said this as the lead counsel to the IPOB leader, Aloy Ejimakor, in an interview with one of our correspondents, disclosed that he had written the British High Commission, complaining about Kanu’s arrest and extradition. He also lamented that despite writing the Department of State Services, he had not been allowed access to the IPOB leader. Kanu, who is facing trial for treasonable felony, jumped bail in 2017 and fled the country for the UK when soldiers stormed his parents’ residence at Afaraukwu, Abia State. The Minister for Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, however, announced on Tuesday, that he had been rearrested through the collaborative efforts of Nigerian intelligence and security services. The Abia State indigene, who is also a British citizen, was thereafter taken before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, where an application for his remand in DSS custody was granted. The Minister of Information and Culture, Mohammed, on Thursday, said, “None of Kanu’s collaborators, irrespective of their standing in society will be spared. “They will all face the full wrath of the law for their activities that challenge our nation’s sovereignty and threaten its unity. No one, no matter how highly placed, is bigger than the country.” The minister also faulted those calling for fair trial for the IPOB leader, saying he jumped bail when he was granted one. The minister added, “It is interesting that many are suddenly calling for a fair trial for Kanu as if he didn’t get one before he decided to jump bail and flee. “However, I can assure you that the fair deal that Kanu denied many of the victims of the violence which he instigated through his broadcasts and tweets will not be denied him.” Mohammed claimed that Kanu lived a flamboyant lifestyle before he was arrested. Kanu lived five-star life – Lai Mohammed “It will interest Nigerians to know that for over two years, our security and intelligence agencies were on the trail of the proscribed IPOB leader as he lived a five-star life across several countries, travelling on chartered private jets, living in luxury apartments and turning out in designing clothes and shoes. “Of course, as we all saw, he was wearing clothes made by Fendi, a luxury Italian fashion brand, when he was arrested,” the minister said. He refused to give details of how and where Kanu was re-arrested. He however admitted that the re-arrest was made possible by the diligent efforts of security and intelligence agencies in collaboration with undisclosed countries. He described Kanu’s re-arrest as one of the most classic operations in the world. He added, “There have been speculations on how this re-arrest was pulled off and in which country the hitherto fugitive leader of the proscribed IPOB was nabbed. “What we can tell you, once again, is that the re-arrest was made possible by the diligent efforts of our security and intelligence agencies, in collaboration with countries with which we have obligations. We continue to respect and honour the obligations.” IPOB fumes over Uhuru Kenyetta’s role But IPOB expressed displeasure over the role allegedly played by the Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyetta, in what it described as the unlawful arrest of Kanu. The group, which said its investigations showed that Kenyetta was instrumental to the unlawful arrest of Kanu, observed, “The treacherous action of Uhuru kenyatta against Nnamdi Kanu and Biafrans at large is a clear violation of the 1949 Geneva Convention, and United Nations Code.” The secessionist group stated this in a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, a copy of which was made available to The PUNCH, on Thursday. It stated, “Based on our preliminary findings, President Uhuru Kenyetta was very instrumental to the abduction of our leader in Kenya. The treacherous action of Uhuru Kenyatta against Nnamdi Kanu and Biafrans at large is a clear violation of the 1949 Geneva Convention, and United Nations Code. “As we continue with our investigations into this crime with a view to unmasking all the collaborators, we announce the following interim actions until further notice: “We call on all Biafrans both home and in the Diaspora to boycott travels with Kenya Air Lines; to immediately stop patronising any product made in Kenya; and to boycott any business dealings with Kenyans. We cannot be relating friendly with anyone collaborating with our oppressors to keep us in perpetual slavery!” On his part, the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, advised the Federal Government to ensure that rule of law and due process was followed in the prosecution of Kanu. Governor Wike, who made this assertion during an interview on Arise Television on Thursday, explained that irrespective of the differences the arrested IPOB leader had with Rivers State Government, he suggested that due process must be followed in his prosecution. Special Adviser to the governor on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, stated Wike’s position in a statement in Port Harcourt titled, ‘Trial of Nnamdi Kanu must follow due process—Wike’ with a sub-title ‘demands arrest of bandits, Miyetti Allah militias’. Also on Thursday, there was palpable tension in the Oyigbo Local Government Area of the state. Recall that the military has been in Oyigbo for over eight months since hoodlums burnt down police stations there. Our correspondent, who monitored the area, reported said the military base and police stations in Oyigbo lpare were heavily guarded. It was observed that the number of checkpoints along the Oyigbo road had increased, while sandbags had been placed at the border between Rivers and Abia states to serve as barricades. Insecurity: Apply same zeal to apprehend killer herders, Ortom advises FG The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, also spoke on Kau’s arrest and appealed to the Presidency to apply the same zeal and strategy it used to apprehend him to also arrest sponsors of armed herdsmen as well as leaders of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore. Ortom said that the Presidency would not need to dissipate much energy in the arrest of armed herders since, according to him, the leaders of the Miyetti Allah live in the country. He stated, “It is regrettable that Kanu who is fighting a just cause could be arrested while leaders of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore are walking about freely. “Let there be justice and the only way to do this is to arrest the leaders of the herdsmen who have caused so much pain and suffering to our people. “Let me say that if Federal Government could deploy so much zeal to arrest Nnamdi Kanu they should also be able to apply same in arresting the herdsmen, especially, the leadership of Miyeiti Alla Kauta Hore who live with us in the country.” 1,000 arrests won’t stop agitations – Mbaka The Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Nigeria, Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka, said arrest of 1,000 people would not stop agitations. Mbaka spoke on Wednesday during his weekly ministration ‘E No Dey Again’, told the worshippers that some state governors had lured the IPOB leader into the hands of his traducers. While blessing inmates and correctional centres across the country, Mbaka’s countenance suddenly changed and he said, “Don’t sell your sons and daughters because of a political promise that you are not even sure will materialise tomorrow. “Don’t sell your son because you are governors today! Live and let live. “Let the leaders listen. The solution is not in arrest and handcuff, the solution is in job creation! Leaders beware! Their stubbornness will collapse this country one day! If care is not taken, will happen like an earthquake! “Even if you arrest 100 people, it will not stop the agitation. If anything, it will worsen the situation,” he warned. It was not clear which governor or governors that the priest was referring to, but it appeared that South-East governors were not unconnected with Mbaka’s vituperations. Mbaka stated, “Many people are clapping for them (the Federal Government) now, but when the heat becomes unbearable; when the sun riots, when heavens shake you will understand. “When they killed Jesus Christ and put him in the prison-grave – Jesus’ prison was in the grave – they thought it was all over for Him, that the end had come. “Whoever that you have in heart now that is in the prison, may the Lord be with that person. May the Lord show such a person mercy. May the Lord show him favour, even from the prison warders that would be protecting him,” he noted. Mbaka also took a swipe at the Federal Government over what he called, worsening poverty, hunger and insecurity in the country, and charged the present regime and leaders at all levels to act fast and address the country’s challenges before it was too late. Meanwhile, a former Deputy Governor of Anambra State, H Stella Odife has called on the Federal Government to stop using force in resolving national issues, noting that re-arresting the leader of IPOB would not solve the problems in Nigeria. Odife, who spoke during the inauguration of South-East Peace Counsellors by the Advocates for Global Peace Forum International, said that there could not be peace in Nigeria without first dealing with underlining issues. While calling on the Federal Government to listen to the agitation of youths, Odife disclosed that the agitation was as a result of poor governance, militarisation and marginalisation of the zone by the regime led by Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd). “We cannot talk of peace in the South-East without thinking of Nigeria as a whole because the major problem we have down here is as a result of activities at the national level.” Ejiofor, lead counsel to the detained IPOB leader, on Thursday, said two days after he wrote the DSS, he had yet to be allowed access to Kanu. Ejiofor accused the DSS of having an agenda as it had not responded to the letter he wrote to the DSS to enable him to see his client. He also said that he had copied the letter to the court. In a telephone conversation with our correspondent, he said, “They are working in collaboration with the court. That was why they took him to the court without my knowledge. Otherwise, what stopped them from calling me and letting me know the matter coming up on Tuesday. “Now I had to write application to the DSS to allow me to see him and up till now they have not responded. So there is a conspiracy between the Federal Government and the court to kill him.” I’ve been denied access to Kanu since arrest, says lawyer The lawyer, however, said the British High Commission was already looking into the case after he wrote a letter on the matter. Kanu’s lawyer said he filed a formal request with the DSS for counsel visitation, adding that he did not get any response. “And that’s not fair. It’s even straining on being unlawful as a detainee has a constitutional right to have prompt access to his counsel. “Yesterday (Wednesday), I wrote a formal letter to the British High Commission on this matter and I am happy to say that it is receiving prompt and favourable consideration. “In my view, the manner of his interdiction and forcible deportation to Nigeria is profoundly extra-legal and does not conform to international laws and treaties to which Nigeria is signatory. Kanu is not a common criminal, but a political prisoner or a prisoner of conscience. As such, the next engagements will not only be legal but political and diplomatic, especially given the fact he is a British citizen who was unlawfully renditioned and brought to Nigeria against his will and the will of the British authorities,” he added. By Samson Folarin, Solomon Odeniyi, Lesi Nwisagbo, Edward Nnachi, Dennis Naku, John Charles and Raphael Ede PUNCH.

Buhari to launch Kano-Kaduna rail project in few weeks, says Amaechi. Agency Report

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has revealed that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) will launch the construction of Kano -Kaduna rail project in the next few weeks. Amaechi disclosed this on Friday while speaking at the weekly Presidential Media briefing organised by the State House Media Unit in Abuja. He said that all contracts for the projects had been awarded as the loan for the project was not forthcoming from China as earlier planned. He said, “In the next two weeks, we should be launching and commencing immediately the construction of Kano-Kaduna rail project. “The president will be launching it and then we will commence construction immediately. “The reason why we are commencing construction immediately is that all the necessary contracts have been awarded. FG’ll fund one-third of Kano-Kaduna rail project – Amaechi “We have been waiting for the loan for too long from China and the money has not come. “So, we decided to fund it from the budget. We already paid 218million dollars to them and we are about to pay another 100million dollars to make it about 318million dollars. “Kano-Kaduna is about 1.2billion dollars – the moment you pay about 318million dollars, you must have paid one-third of the project. “So, we believe that by the time we get the loan we must have funded up to 600million dollars. “So, that should be able to take the project nearly halfway before the fund will come because if we continue to wait for the loan whether, from China or Europe, we may likely not complete it before we go.” (NAN)

IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu granted access to lawyer by Sodiq Oyeleke

The leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has been granted access to meet with his lawyer, Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor. Counsel to the IPOB leader made this known in a tweet on Friday. There had earlier being a complaint by IPOB that Nnamdi Kanu was denied access to his lawyer before trial on Tuesday. “Update, Thankfully Our effort is yielding the desired result, we have just received a communication approving Our visit to Our Client- Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Shall keep the World posted on the outcome, immediately after the meeting, later in the Day. God is with us,” the lawyer tweeted. Kanu, who is facing an 11-count charge of treason, treasonable felony, terrorism and illegal possession of firearms, among others, jumped bail in 2017 and left the country. The former London estate agent disappeared in 2017 after being released on bail, only to re-emerge in Israel and then in the United Kingdom. Kanu’s arrest: Lawyers write UK, protest extradition, FG guns for collaborators He was re-arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday and ordered to be remanded in the custody of the DSS, while the case was adjourned till July 26 and July 27. The Federal Government said security and intelligence agencies were on the trail of Kanu for over two years before he was re-arrested, adding that the head of the outlawed IPOB movement was detained again on Sunday – without giving details on the location of his arrest. Kanu was initially arrested in late 2015 after calling for a separate state for Biafra, in South-East Nigeria. His detention sparked mass protests and clashes with security services. IPOB, which agitates for a separate Igbo state, has denied being behind the violence, accusing the government of a smear campaign. Election offices have also been attacked by suspected members of the group.

NDDC: There’s fear, tension in Niger Delta, people are agitated, says Tompolo by Segun Adewole

Niger Delta ex-militant, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, has said the Federal Government has failed to constitute a board for the Niger Delta Development Commission which it promised to do in the month of June. Tompolo, in a statement on Friday, said the people of the Niger Delta region are yet to see any tangible move towards the constitution of the NDDC board. He stated the people are agitated, adding that there is palpable fear and tension in the region. He, however, advised his fellow agitators to avoid anything that may throw the peaceful region into chaos because of the government’s nonchalant attitude. The statement read in part, “It could be recalled that I issued ultimatum to the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the National Assembly and President Muhammadu Buhari to do the needful on the issue of the NDDC board by constituting the substantive board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as an urgent matter of public importance and interest to avoid a breakdown of law and order in the region, some time ago.” “My ultimatum led to a consultative meeting between major stakeholders from the region and Senator Godswill Akpabio in Oporoza town, where a truce was reached, as the Minister profusely pleaded that he should be allowed to start and fast-track the process of constituting the board within the month of June 2021. “June 2021 has come to an end. The people of the region are yet to see any tangible move towards the constitution of the NDDC board by the Federal Government. The people are seriously agitated. There is palpable fear and tension in the region. “I wish to reiterate my earlier position that, the government should as a matter of urgency, constitute the substantive board of the NDDC to avoid unnecessary bickering and crisis in the region. Since I reluctantly accepted the outcome of the consultative meeting, I have done so much to keep peace in the region which some major stakeholders in the security circle are aware of. “I have been in constant touch with my fellow agitators in the region to give peace a chance, knowing fully well that there cannot be any meaningful development in an atmosphere of rancour and acrimony. “As it stands now, the one thing the government must do in this issue is to be courageous enough to constitute the NDDC board. Government must be sincere in handling developmental issues in the Niger Delta region as the people have suffered enough, being neglected for several decades. “The truth of the matter is that there is so much bitterness in the land owing to the lackadaisical attitude of this government in handling matters of great importance to its citizens. “As for my follow agitators, please permit me to borrow the biblical words of Jesus Christ, which is we should be wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove to continue our agitation for a better living for our people. “We must avoid anything that may throw the only relatively peaceful region in the country now, into chaos because of government’s nonchalant attitude towards the security and welfare of its citizenry as constitutionally provided. “The average Nigerian citizen is a government of his or her own as the citizens provide everything for themselves today. “The government is unfair to a greater number of its citizens. The Nigerian Government must create an enabling environment for the citizens to live a prosperous and peaceful life. “Multinational oil companies operating in the Niger Delta region are not left out in the troubles of the region. “They are clearly part of the conspiracy in the marginalization of the region. They must perform their statutory obligations to the people of the region by promptly delivering corporate social responsibility to the people. “Most of the companies are operating under the cover of the Nigerian Military, which has further exacerbated the relationship between Multinationals and their host communities. They must do their business in a most friendly atmosphere, and not set neighbouring host communities against one another.”

Nigerian civil war was an unfortunate tragedy – COAS Major General Faruk Yahaya By Okodili Ndidi

The Chief of Army Staff Major General Faruk Yahaya, Thursday, described the Nigerian civil war as an unfortunate tragedy that shook the foundation of the nation’s unity. He however noted that the reconciliation that followed afterwards, helped to heal the wounds of the war and once more engender unity The COAS stated this while briefing Defence Correspondents on the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2021. He explained that the NADCEL is an annual event which was first celebrated on 6th July 1978, in solemn remembrance of that historic moment of first shot released on 6th July, 1967 marking the commencement of the country’s 30-month Civil War. According to him, “the event is celebrated to equally bring to the knowledge of all Nigerian Army personnel and indeed all Nigerians that the war was an unfortunate tragedy and the reconciliation afterwards should be instrumental to strengthening our national unity. In subsequent celebrations, the NA uses NADCEL as a medium to reflect on its performances in previous year for effective projections. “In doing this, lessons are being drawn from numerous operational activities of the Nigerian Army amidst daunting security challenges peculiar to each region of the country. “This requires doggedness, commitment, perseverance and sacrifice from all personnel of the Nigerian Army. This responsibility has no doubt become compelling particularly in view of our multifaceted security challenges. The Nigerian Army with the collective effort, cooperation and commitment of other security agencies as well as citizens have been able to live up to its expectations though with some rooms for improvement. “We are also profoundly mindful of the confidence placed on us by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces president Muhammadu Buhari and indeed the citizens to defeat our adversaries and secure the territorial integrity of our dear nation. This must be achieved within the shortest possible time. ‘The Nigerian Army solicits the cooperation of law abiding citizens and shall continue to make our citizens proud.” He added that this year’s event will be celebrated in low key, given the circumstances that preceded his coming on board as the twenty second Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army. Yahaya recalled that the demise of the late former COAS Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 others who lost their lives in the most unfortunate air mishap at Kaduna International Airport on 21 May 2021 is still fresh in our memory, stressing this has significantly affected the scheduled activities for NADCEL 2021. The Army Chief noted further that the weeklong annual event lined up to commemorate NADCEL 2021 will be used to reflect on the performance of the NA and celebrate our achievements as well as project the Nigerian Army as an important symbol of national power, unity, integration and development. He said that though low key the celebration is worthwhile as it will create an opportunity to showcase the doggedness and unwavering commitment of the Nigerian Army’s personnel in the face of daunting security challenges. “Other activities lined up to mark the NADCEL 2021 Celebration. These include, Juma’at Prayers in all Nigerian Army formations and units on Friday 2 July 2021 which will be followed by Interdenominational Church Service to be held in all Nigerian Army formations and units across the nation on Sunday 4 July 2021. The NADCEL 2021 will also enable the Nigerian Army reach out to the public through its Medical Outreach Programme on Monday 5 July 2021, during which inhabitants of some selected communities around the country will benefit from a free medical services. “Equally there will be Humanitarian Outreach programme to be conducted by members of the Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA) in selected areas of FCT and environs on 5 July 2021. The NADCEL 2021 activities will culminate with a lecture and COAS Commendation Award on Tuesday 6 July 2021 at Command Officers Mess 1, Asokoro Abuja.” He concluded that the Nigerian Army will discharge its constitutional duties in tandem with the rules of engagement, respect for all aspects of human rights as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as other international principles and guidelines to which Nigeria is a signatory.