SR SahelReporters

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja Benue state Governor, Samuel Ortom has condemned Friday’s attack on the convoy of Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, in which about persons reportedly 15 lost their lives and several others sustained injuries. While sympathizing with his Borno state counterpart over the incident, the Governor described the attack as shocking and sad. The Governor in a statement, Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Terver Akase urged his Borno state counterpart, not to be deterred by the incident. The statement read, “the attack on the convoy of Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, in which some persons were killed is shocking and quite sad. “I deeply sympathize with Governor Zulum and families of those who lost their lives in the unfortunate ambush.  I am optimistic that he will not be discouraged by the attack as he continues to support security agencies to restore peace to all parts of his state. “May God grant the souls of the gallant security men on

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Defence Headquarters has disclosed that 18 member Civilian Relocation Committee, comprising Armed Forces of Nigeria, Nigeria Police Force and Civilian Joint Task Force were killed in an ambush by members of the Boko Haram and and ISWAP at Barwati village in Borno state. This was contained in a statement signed on Saturday by the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John Enenche, in Abuja said, the attack/ambush was however successfully repelled by the gallant troops. He said sadly, a total of 18 lives including 4 soldiers, 10 Policemen and 4 civilians were lost during the sad incident. He explained that the troops on hot pursuit of the insurgents successfully recovered 3 vehicles. Two of the vehicles according to the DMOs Coordinator, belonging to the Nigeria Police that were earlier carted away by the terrorists during the attack. Similarly, one BHT gun truck was also captured. The casualties recorded he said  were as a result of th

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Defence Headquarters says its  Air Task Force of Operation LAFIYA DOLE under the subsidiary Operation HAIL STORM have  neutralized several Boko Haram Terrorists, while several of their camps were also destroyed at Tongule, Bone and Isari Musa in Borno State  In a statement signed on Saturday by the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, (DHQ) Maj. Gen. John Enenche in Abuja said, the strike on Tongule was undertaken after surveillance missions revealed continued assembly of the terrorists within the settlement at nighttime. He noted that, the Air Task Force dispatched Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopter gunships for a night attack on the location, with their barrage of rockets neutralizing several of the terrorists.  According to him, Bone, a settlement along the Yale-Kumshe axis, on the other hand, was attacked by a force package of NAF fighter jets and helicopter gunships after credible intelligence reports established that the location served

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Armed Forces of Nigeria says  its Sector 2 troops of Operation Whirl Stroke and 117 Guards Battalion, has killed two suspected armed bandits linked to late Terwase Agwaza, popularly known as Gana at Kwaghaondo village in Chanchanji council ward of Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State. The military also rescued 3 kidnapped victims, while 2 kidnappers were also killed at Bakonu road in Nasarawa state. In a statement signed on Saturday by the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, (DHQ) Maj. Gen. John Enenche, in Abuja said, it was in continuation of the aggressive clearance operation to stamped out banditry and other criminal activities in North Central zone of the country. According to him, the troops while on joint clearance operation on 25 September 2020 around Mararaba Udege in Nasarawa State raided a suspected kidnappers' camp along Bakonu road in Nasarawa Local Government Area.  He said, In the course of th

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Federal Government has obtained a fresh order stopping the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress from embarking on their planned strike which is to start on Monday. Sahel Reportes reported that the restraining order was issued on Friday by Justice Ibrahim Galadima of the National Industrial Court in Abuja, following an ex parte application by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation. This came barely 24 hours after the same judge made a similar restraining ex parte order in favour of a group, Peace and Unity Ambassadors Association, on Thursday. The duo of Acting Director of the Department Civil Litigation of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs Maimuna Shiru, and Mr Tijjani Gazali, led the Federal Government’s team, who moved the ex parte application that was later granted by Justice Galadima on Friday. The NLC and TUC had jointly declared to.  embark on a nationwide strike on Monday to press for the reversal of the recent hike i

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja   Governors of the 36 states have appealed to the organised labour to shelve the industrial action planned to commence on Monday to protest the hike in prices of petrol and electricity. The Governors rose from an emergency meeting held Thursday on the issue with a resolution to set up a committee to liaise with the Federal Government and labour on how to work out a middle ground over the disagreement created by the price increases. In a communique signed by the Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, the governors said any strike action now could worsen the already bad economic situation in the country. According to the communique, the meeting dwelt on two key issues: the planned industrial action by labour and the deduction for Local Governments’ allocation to fund the construction of primary healthcare centres in each LGA. Part of the communique released, Friday afternoon by the NGF secretariat in Abuja, r

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The organised labour on Thursday insisted that there is no going back on its planned strike unless the federal government reverse the increase made on petrol price and electricity tariff. Sahel Reporters reports that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) reiterated their position during a meeting with government representatives, which took place at the Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The NLC had given the federal government a two-week ultimatum to reverse the recent increase in electricity prices and the removal of fuel subsidy else it will embark on a nationwide strike. This was after the meeting of its Central Working Committee (CWC). The strike is expected to commence on Monday, September 28. During Thursday’s meeting, the federal government was expected to unfold its palliative plans, but credible sources said its officials did not bring something tangible to the table that will assuage the pains of worker

BREAKING: APC suspends Governor Fayemi By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has suspended Governor Kayode Fayemi. According to a statement by the party, the governor was suspended due to “his numerous anti-party activities, especially his role in the recently concluded governorship election in Edo State which is contrary to the provisions of Article 21 (A) (ii) of the APC Constitution.” See Full Statement by the party below…   RE: DR. KAYODE FAYEMI ANTI – PARTY ACTIVITIES. After painstakingly reviewing the activities of some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, we the authentic members of the Party in the State and Members of State Executive Committee per Section 12.8 of APC Constitution being duly constituted members of the National Convention of the Party, rose from its meeting of the 23rd September, 2020 and resolved as follows:   We note the continued illegalities in the name of the pa

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Nigerian military has lost one senior military officer (reportedly a Colonel) and two soldiers. Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko, Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, disclosed on friday this in a statement in Abuja. He recalled that on Thursday, troops on a clearance operation against criminals across the North-West zone got information on bandits’ attack in Unguwar Doka village, Faskari LGA of Kastina State. Onyeuko said the Operation SAHEL SANITY operatives responded swiftly and mobilized to the general area. “They successfully cleared the village of the marauders to the admiration of the locals. During the encounter, troops successfully neutralized 21 bandits while others escaped with gunshot wounds into the forest as evident by the trails of blood along the criminals’ escape route. “The gallant troops successfully rescued 3 kidnapped victims including an 8 months old baby who have been in the custody of the criminals for more than 23

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja About 17 secondary school teachers including a principal arrested recently for allegedly aiding and abating malpractices in West African Examinations Council, WAEC,in Four states in Nigeria were, Friday ,paraded by the police in Abuja. The suspects, who were paraded before newsmen at the Force Headqarters, Abuja, by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, however, feigned ignorant of their offence, as according them, they snapped questions of examinations already answered with their phones, saying they didn’t know such act constituted an offence. Mbah, explained that In line with president mohammadu Buhari fight against corruption and another kind of vises in the country one of the foremost examination body in the country and west Africa in general has begun a massive collaboration and partnership with the police designed to strengthened its integrity of its examination processes. He also explained that In line with that spiri

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja   The National Industrial Court has granted an interim injunction restraining the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) their officers, affiliates and privies from embarking on any strike or stoppage of work from Monday September, 28 2020. According to report, Justice Ibrahim Galadima said the order was pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice. The court also granted an order of interim injunction restraining the unions, their officers, affiliates, privies from disrupting, restraining, picketing or preventing the workers or its affiliates or ordinary Nigerians from accessing their offices to carry out their legitimate duties on the 28th September 2020 or any other date. Justice Galadima made the order sequel to an ex-parte application filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Peace and Unity Ambassadors Association through their counsel, Sunusi Musa. The court also granted an order compelling the Inspector General of Poli

  .........As ATF  Launches Subsidiary Operation Storm 2 By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Defence Headquarters says its  The Air Task Force of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has destroyed Boko Haram Terrorists’ (BHTs’) hideouts and neutralized several of their fighters at Bula Sabo and Dole in Borno State.  This is contained in a statement signed on Friday by the Defence Media Operations, (DHQ) in Abuja said the feet's was achieved through air strikes executed on 23 September 2020 to mark the launch of a new subsidiary Operation, tagged ‘HAIL STORM 2’, which is an air interdiction operation aimed at taking out identified Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and BHT targets in the Lake Chad and Sambisa Forest areas of Borno State.  According to the DMOs Coordinator, the attack at Bula Sabo, on the fringes of the Sambisa Forest, was executed after credible intelligence reports indicated that a group of buildings in the settlement were being used as dwelling for some BHT comma

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja All Progressives Congress candidate in the September 19, 2020 governorship election in Edo State, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has said contrary to media reports, he did not beg his rival and Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Governor Godwin Obaseki, to return to the APC. The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Obaseki winner of the election. The re-elected governor polled 307,955 votes to defeat Ize-Iyamu, who got 223,619 votes. President Muhammed Buhari  and the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led APC Caretaker Committee had congratulated Obaseki on his re-election. Sahel Reporters and other media platforms had earlier reported that the APC candidate appealed to Obaseki to return to the party after Saturday’s victory. But in a statement on Thursday by the Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu Campaign Organisation and signed by the organisation’s Director of Communication and Media, John Mayaki, the APC candidate denied the report. The statement was titled, ‘I have not ad

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Inspector-General of police, Mohammed A. Adamu, has stated that the community policing strategy approved by the Federal Government is gradually taking roots in Nigeria and is being warmly  embraced by most strategic partners and Nigerian people. He stated this on Thursday during a One day sensitisation workshop for Nigeria Police Community Policing Officers across the 36 States of the federation and FCT held in Abuja. He said that the  community policing strategy is an initiative intended to bring political closer to the community through partnership and problem solving approach.  Noting that it was based on the premiered that both the police and the community must  work together to identify, prioritize, and solve contemporary problems such as fears of crime, social and physical disorder, and overall neighborhood security threats, with the goal of  improving the quality of life in the communities. The IG added that the strategy relies on organiz

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Defence Headquarters has  disclosed that, its troops have within the last one week thwarted bandits' attacks, rescued 22 kidnapped victims and recovered rustled cows in the North - West Theatre.  The coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John Enenche, updating newsmen on Military engagement on Thursday in various operations across the country in Abuja, said the troops had continued to record credible feat in their quest to rid the zone of banditry, cattle rustling, kidnapping and other sundry criminalities Enenche said that troops also arrested 3 suspected bandits and  2 gunrunners in separate operations while several of the bandits killed in the operations  According to him, items recovered from the criminals in the various operations includes: 1,620 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, One Million, Three Hundred Thousand Naira (N1,300,000.00), one Pump Action rifle and 3 live cartridges carefully concealed in a bag.  He added that preli

By Maliq Ismaila   Four former employees of Signatious Hotel, Warri, Delta State, who were reportedly stripped on the order of the chairman of the hotel and former Minister of State for Education, Mr Kenneth Gbagi, have demanded N1bn compensation and public apology from him. Source told Sahel Reporters that, the victims’ legal team, led by Mr Kunle Edun of Tri-Lex Partners law firm, made the demands, among others in a September 23, 2020 letter sent to Gbagi, who is also a lawyer, on Wednesday. The letter was titled, ‘Trial by ordeal, torture, stripping naked and bestial conduct of Signatious Hotel and yourself in an organised show of shame and animalism: Notice of intention to seek full legal redress’. Edun stated that their clients, Mr Victor Ephraim, Gloria Oguzie, Mrs. Precious Achibong, Roselyn Okiemute Diaghwarhe, because of the tips a guest who lodged at the hotel for four days gave to them on his departure on August 20, 2020. The letter read in part, “That after the guest’s stay

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Armed Forces of Nigeria says, its troops of Army Super Camp Malumfatori of Operation Lafia Dole has eliminated top Boko Haram Terrorists, destroyed their camps at Lake Chad Basin. In statement signed on Thursday by the Coordinator Defence Media, Major General John Enenche, in Abuja said, it was in continuation of the aggressive clearance operation against terrorism and other sundry crimes in the North East. Enenche said that, the successful operation however led to the destruction of several identified  terrorists' camps and hideouts located at Tunbun Gini, Tunbun Nbororo, Tunbun Kayoma, Tunbun Kaza, Tunbun Fulani at the fringes of Lake Chad in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State. He disclosed several top BHT/ISWAP terrorists commanders killed during the successful operation to include; Abu Usman, Alhaji Shettima, Modu Mainok, Bukar Gana, Abu Summayya, Amir Taam and Amir Kuraish among others. According to the DMOs, Coordinator, the A

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has Reactivated 12 operational  support  Equipment as the Chief of Air Staff Commissioned projects in Benue state. In a statement signed by the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Air Commodore IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA, in Abuja, said the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is striving for high serviceability rates of its aircraft and associated equipment, whilst conserving foreign exchange by enhancing in-country maintenance capabilities, to enable it effectively project Air Power in response to Nigeria’s national security imperatives.  He said Pursuant to this strategic outlook, successfully reactivated 12 units of previously moribund Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE).  The repaired equipment according to him, include 6 x Jaguar aircraft Ground Power Units (GPUs), one Eagle towing vehicle for Headquarters Air Task Force Maiduguri, one GPU for 115 Special Operations Group (115 SOG), Port Harcourt and another GPU

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has Reactivated 12 operational  support  Equipment as the Chief of Air Staff Commissioned projects in Benue state. In a statement signed by the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Air Commodore IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA, in Abuja, said the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is striving for high serviceability rates of its aircraft and associated equipment, whilst conserving foreign exchange by enhancing in-country maintenance capabilities, to enable it effectively project Air Power in response to Nigeria’s national security imperatives.  He said Pursuant to this strategic outlook, successfully reactivated 12 units of previously moribund Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE).  The repaired equipment according to him, include 6 x Jaguar aircraft Ground Power Units (GPUs), one Eagle towing vehicle for Headquarters Air Task Force Maiduguri, one GPU for 115 Special Operations Group (115 SOG), Port Harcourt and another GPU

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  - The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, and Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq. The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has married the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq. Multiple sources confirmed to Sahel Reporters said that the wedding Fatiha took place on Friday, September 18, 2020, at the Maitama Juma’a Mosque in Abuja. “It is true that the chief of air staff and the humanitarian affairs minister have gotten married,” one of the sources said. “Very few people were invited to attend the wedding fatiha because the couple and those close to them didn’t want to publicize the issue,” he said. Another source said the two have been in love for some time. “They have been in a relationship for a while and what happened on Friday has put to rest all the speculations about her relationship with Presi

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja   Governor Bello, Iyamu, Buni Yobe state governor and the Chairman Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee (CENCPC) Mai Mala Buni, his Kogi state counterpart Yahaya Bello and the candidate of the All Progressive Congress at the just-concluded Edo governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, have met behind a closed door in Abuja. It was the first outing of the defeated APC candidate after the governorship election. The closed-door meeting with Ize-Iyamu took place Wednesday afternoon at the Abuja residence of governor Buni. Reason for the meeting could not be ascertained as at the time filing this report but it was gathered that the party leadership was persuading Pastor Ize-Iyamu to accept in good faith the outcome of the election. A source closed to the meeting said the discussion centred on the way forward with Pastor Ize-Iyamu after the Edo election. The APC leadership through a statement signed by governor Buni had congratulated

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Federal Government will on Thursday meet again with the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress on the threat by the organised labour to proceed on an indefinite strike and protest over the hike in electricity tariffs and fuel pump price. The FG is expected to unfold its palliative plans during the parley which would hold at the Banquet hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja. The Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Charles Akpan, disclosed the meeting date in an email on Wednesday. It read, “The Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige will be hosting a meeting with the Organised Labour. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 24, 2020, and the venue is the Banquet hall, Presidential Villa, by 3pm.” The FG and the unions had met penultimate Tuesday but the dialogue ended in a deadlock following the failure of the government to reverse the price increase or offer palliatives t

By Henry Adole The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Kogi State Command, has confirmed the death of twenty-three (23) persons in a tanker explosion that occurred in the early hours of Wednesday along Felele – Nataco axis of Abuja – Lokoja road. DAILY POST reports that the accident involved a tanker loaded with petroleum product, a school bus, cars, tricycles and motorcycles. Confirming the incident on Wednesday afternoon, the Kogi State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr Idris Ali gave the figures of the victims to include ten adult males, six female adults, three female children and four other children burnt beyond recognition. Mr Ali, however, said one child escaped death with injury. The Sector Commander said ten vehicles including five cars, one taker, three tricycles and two motorcycles were involved in the accident. He added that eleven of the corpses have already been claimed by their relatives while the rest have been deposited in the morgue at the Kogi State