SR SahelReporters

......As Several Illegal Refineries Destroyed In Niger Delta By Aviashima Toom, Abuja. The Armed Forces of Nigerian in its operations last week repelled terrorists’ attack on a convoy of vehicles conveying IDPs from Maiduguri city to Baga town in Borno State during which several Boko Haram and Islamic State of West African Province fighters were killed in the process by the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole. They also sustained its fight against crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal oil bunkering in the South South zone with its attendant successes including some other major significant strides recorded across the country. Coordinator,Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, Maj. Gen. John Enenche, confirmed this on Friday in Abuja, while giving an update on the armed forces of Nigeria operations from 22 to 29 October 2020, said 3 terrorists were killed, some arms and ammunition recovered during the encounter while some levels of destruction of se

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja. The Defence Headquarters had refuted the claims of an online media report alleging the killing and dumping of 4 dead bodies inside a pond in Jos, plateau state capital. Maj. Gen. John Enenche, Coordinator, Defence Media Operations refuted the claims in a during the weekend, while responding to an online Vanguard publication dated 30 October, 2020 with a caption “Soldiers allegedly kill four persons, dump body inside pond in Jos” by its Jos Reporter Marie- Therese Nanlong . The vanguard online report allegedly reported ,“some residents of Gwafan village in Jos North local Government Area, claimed that soldiers attached to the Special Task (STF) Force, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), killed 4 members of the community and dumped their bodies in surrounding Dams in the area during an attempt to stop hoodlums from looting the residence of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara.” Gen. Enenche described the report as bei

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By Aviashima Toom, Abuja   No fewer than twenty two terrorists were killed when Boko Haram fighters attacked Army Super Camp in Damboa.   In a statement by the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John Enenche, the terrorists were subdued by the superior firepower of the troops.   According to the statement, “troops of Operation FIRE BALL under Operation LAFIYA DOLE has continued to decimate members of the Boko Haram/ Islamic State of West Province in order clear the remnants of the terrorists from the theatre.   “Consequently, on 25 October 2020 in what could appear to be a suicide journey the BokoHaram/Islamic State of West African Province attacked the well fortified Army Super Camp Damboa under 25 Bde in Sector 2.   “The terrorists met their waterloo as they were pounded with superior fire power and additional fire support from the Air Task Force. The criminals withdrew in rout as they could not withstand the well organised and determined soldiers during the encounter”.

By Aviashima Toom  The Commissioner for Health in Ekiti, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, says no fewer than 800,000 babies die of poor breastfeeding yearly across the globe. He said this at a news conference to commemorate the 2020 edition of the breastfeeding week on Thursday in Ado Ekiti. According to him, poor breastfeeding is largely responsible for the high infant mortality rate in the country. He, however, noted that the incident was gradually being checkmated following the advent of exclusive breastfeeding and improved medical practices.  The commissioner said Ekiti was rated as having 55.4 per cent compliance with the first six months exclusive breastfeeding policy it initiated in 2019.  He said that the improvement in the state was due to the proactive action taken by Gov. Kayode Fayemi interms of increased sensitisation.  “Findings have shown that investing in breastfeeding will prevent 13 per cent of child deaths and morbidity if 90 per cent of mothers exclusively breastfee

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on government officials especially elected officers to put an end to unnecessary forms medical tourism The Congress made the call on Thursday mark this year’s Global Day of Action on Care held in Abuja. Briefing journalists in Abuja, NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba reiterated that government must be ready to invest heavily in the health sector, saying no country survives without effective health care. He expressed dismay that apart from the open fact that the country’s health care sector has been neglected for too long, health care workers have been subjected to unfair treatment for too long. The NLC president said with the massive resources at government’s disposal, Nigeria can afford to build and effectively equip some of the best hospitals in the world, with global best practices and personnel. “But successive governments failed to take health care as a top priority beyond mere policy statements,” h

By Aviashima Toom. Benue State Government is to collaborate with the Federal Government to build 500 units of two and three bedroom flats in the State. Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Ngunan Addingi stated this today at Benue Peoples House Makurdi while briefing journalists at the end of the State Executive Council meeting presided by Governor Samuel Ortom. She stated that the Ortom administration has taken the issue of housing very seriously as it would ease the problem of accommodation for many families.  Mrs. Addingi noted that EXCO had also approved over N109 million contract for the installation of traffic lights at six locations in Makurdi, the state capital. She added that the traffic lights some of which had already been installed are to be located at Tito Junction, University of Agriculture junction, David Mark bye pass junction, Balcony Junction, Katsina- Ala street junction and B Division junction. The information Commissioner said EXCO al

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja. The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), had graduated 15 personnel, comprising 4 officers and 11 airmen/airwomen of the Air Provost (AP) Specialty, from the Advanced Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Course at the 057 Provost Investigation Group (057 PIG) Forensic Laboratory in Ikeja, Lagos.  Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, Director of Public Relations and Information , NAF disclose in a statement said, the graduation of NAF advanced crime scene investigators took place on 23 October,2020. Commodore Ibikunle said that, the 4-week intensive training was conducted to further develop the capacity of the AP personnel to effectively and efficiently employ scientific approach to crime fighting.  The Course covered areas such as; forensic collation of crime scene data for continuous analysis, evidence recovery from scene, crime scene photography and fingerprinting.  Other areas covered are; the evacuation of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED)

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, has called on the officials of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to henceforth be participating in an orientation exercise for fresh Nigerian Army cadets who just graduated from the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). The COAS also want CCB officials to deliver papers at their induction programme, with a view to sensitizing the cadets on the importance of the assets declaration form and decent ethical conducts, among others. Lt. Gen. Buratai spoke at a workshop on ‘Compliance with Assets Declaration and Code of Conduct for Nigerian Army Officers and Soldiers,’ in Abuja. According to him, the Army, under his leadership, was desirous of maintaining the highest standard of accountability in the conduct of its activities, consistent with the requirements and behaviour of public officers, which conforms to highest standard of probity, public morality, transparency and accountability. Buratai, explained

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja. For the second successive year, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has won the prestigious International Public Relations Association (IPRA) Golden World Award (GWA) for Excellence in Crisis Communication Management. The Director ,Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday. Commodore Ibikunle added that,the NAF is also among the major winners of the 2020 African Public Relations Association (APRA) Public Sector/Government Category Awards, which recognize Superior Achievement in Branding Reputation and Engagement (SABRE).  He said, the two awards were as a result of NAF’s campaign through the documentary, “Women of War”, which highlights the NAF’s ongoing initiatives to empower women in roles hitherto considered to be beyond them due to certain cultural misconceptions. The 2020 GWA, which was announced by the Member Services Manager of IPRA, Janice Hill in a message to the

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja Nigeria Labour Congress has urged federal and state governments to release all COVID-19 palliatives still stored in warehouses across the country.   The union also condemned the mass looting of both the COVID-19 palliatives and non-COVID-19 items in the country.   This was contained in a statement on Monday titled, ‘NLC Demands The Immediate Release Of All Covid-19 Palliatives And Relief Welfare Materials’.   The NLC in the statement signed by its President, Ayuba Wabba, said the distribution of the palliatives by the authorities would help assuage the sufferings of the people. The statement partly read, “It is obvious that the palliative provisions that were procured by government for immediate distribution to the mass of our people at their critical time of need and to assuage the hardship occasioned by the lockdown were hoarded and held back by some government officials.   “The reasons for this have not been made known to the public. We also understand that

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja   Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff, says ”criminal elements” are threatening military officers with travel ban. The army came under criticism after soldiers opened fire on #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki tollgate on Tuesday. Nigerians had taken to the streets to protest police brutality and demand good governance. The army denied involvement in the Lekki shooting which sparked off nationwide violence — with mobs looting and destroyed public and private infrastructures. At a conference with army commanders in Abuja on the #EndSARS incident, Buratai accused some international organisations of threatening military officers with travel ban over alleged violations of human rights. “Criminal elements are threatening us with travel ban but we are not worried because we must remain in this country to make it better,” he said. “The first time I travelled outside of this country, I was already 50 years and a General, so I don’t mind if I live the rest of m

  By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Defence Headquarters says, its troops of Operation SAHEL SANITY have neutralized several Bandits, while over 93 suspected bandits logistics suppliers and collaborators were also arrested within Sokoto, Katsina, Kaduna, Kebbi and Zamfara States.  In a statement signed on Monday by the Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig. Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, said it became imperative due to their mandate to rid the North West zone of the country of armed bandits, cattle rustlers, kidnappers and incessant killings of innocent citizens,   According to him, has led to the degradation of the bandits and their activities to the barest minimum as indicative by the successes recorded. He also said that the gains are gradually bringing stability and normalcy back to the zone as evident by the massive resumption of farming and socio-economic activities. He noted that the tremendous successes achieved since the commencement of the operation coul

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja. Scores of armed bandits were eliminated as well as cluster of huts belonging to them cleared in some identified camps at Yadi and Kufai Shantu areas of Giwa Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State during a joint offensive operation conducted by both the Land and Air Components of Operation Thunder Strike on 24 October, 2020. This was contained in a statement signed the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, DHQ Maj. Gen. John Enenche, in Abuja said, it was achieved on the heels of credible Human Intelligence reports as well as series of aerial surveillance missions that led to the identification of the hideouts of a notorious bandits’ leader and his fighters. He said that the attacks by the troops was conducted in two waves to support each other in the operations. “The first wave of the Air Component’s air strikes, which involved 7 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft undertaking 12 missions in a total of 23 sorties, commenced at dawn

By Aviashima Toom,  Abuja The Armed Forces of Nigeria says its troops of Air Task Force of operation Wutar Tabki, a subsidiary of Operation Lafiya Dole has eliminated several criminal elements, destroyed many of their hideout in two different locations in Borno state.  on different operations conducted on 21st and 22nd October, 2020. In a statement signed on sunday by the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, DHQ, Maj. Gen. John Enenche in Abuja said, the airstrikes were conducted on the heels of Human Intelligence reports as well as series of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions indicating the regrouping of the criminal elements at the affected locations in Borno. Gen. Enenche quoted the locations affected by this operation to include , Ngwuri Gana along the Gulumba Gana-Kumshe axis as well as at Jumacheri near Damasak all in Northern part of Borno State. According to him, the operation by troops was achieved through separate air interdiction missi

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai has commissioned some developmental and intervention projects at Asabari Barracks, Saki in Oyo state. In a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations ,2 Division Nigerian Army ,Col. Hassan Ifijeh Mohammed on Friday. According to the Deputy Director, the commissioning was done by the representative of the COAS, Maj Gen AB Omozoje who is the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Nigerian Army. Gen AB Omozoje in his remarks expressed appreciation to His Royal Majesty Okere of Saki Land and the people of Saki for been supportive to the Nigerian Army. He also advised the troops to remain loyal and apolitical to the Nigerian Army as well as keep ,maintain and put into proper use the the new facilities provided for them. Gen. Omozoje however promised to pass their goodwill message to the Chief of Army Staff. Also commissioned was a Remodeled Quarter Guard, at the As

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja   The troops of Operation Fire Ball have inflicted heavy casualty on Boko Haram/Islamic States for West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists killing 16 in recent encounters in North East theatre of operation. The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, in a statement on Sunday, said that operation was a subsidiary operation launched under Operation Lafiya Dole to route out remnant of terrorists. Onyeuko said that four terrorists’ gun trucks were destroyed as well as recovery of large cache of arms and ammunitions during the various encounters. He disclosed that the troops had on Oct. 21 noticed unusual vehicles tailing the convoy of vehicles conveying Internally Displaced Persons from Maiduguri Cosmopolitan City to Baga town in order to infiltrate their position. According to him, the troops inflicted heavy casualty on them by killing three terrorists and destroyed one Gun Truck. He added that one Anti Aircraft Gun, three AK47 Rifle

By James Uloko That the issue of unpaid pensions and gratuity in Benue state is a mighty problem for all concerned is not debatable.  The argument, however, is whether the state government is doing enough and what progress the administration is making in sorting out the problem. While some stakeholders insist the administration of Governor Samuel Ortom has done virtually nothing about it, others say what the government has done is too little to have any meaning for pensioners. The fact, however, is that, considering the multifarious demands on the states available lean resources as well as the magnitude of the pension problem, the administration’s efforts in the payment of arrears of pensions and gratuity is significant.  What do the available figures tell us? The annual budget of Benue state for 2020 is N108 billion. This is meant to cover all activities of government, including current salaries, all outstanding obligations, education, roads, electrification, health servic

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has proffered solutions to the ongoing crisis resulting from the attacks on #EndSARS protesters. The protest against police brutality turned bloody on Tuesday night when soldiers shot at protesters keeping vigil at the Lekki toll plaza. Not less than 38 people lost their lives violently across the nation on that day alone, while many sustained injuries, data from Amnesty International, an international rights organisation, shows. While the Lagos State Government promised to investigate the Lekki killings, President Muhammadu Buhari failed to mention anything related to the shooting in his nationwide broadcast on Thursday. Prominent individuals, leaders and organisations across the globe have condemned the killings of the unarmed protesters and demanded a holistic probe of the events. Meanwhile, in its reaction released on Friday evening, the body of lecturers said it was shocked to receive reports of v

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni today, 23rd October, 2020 received Honourable Members, House Committee on Police Affairs at the Force Headquarters, Abuja. The Committee, led by the Chairman, Honourable Usman Bello Kumo, was at the Force Headquarters, as part of the oversight functions of the House of Representatives, to assess and proffer advice on the ongoing reforms of the Nigeria Police Force and efforts at restoring normalcy to areas affected by violence arising from the ENDSARS protests in some parts of the country. The IGP, who noted that the Force has commenced Comprehensiv​e Internal Review and Evaluation of circumstances that led to the ENDSARS protests and the violence, fatalities and damage to critical infrastructure that emanated therefrom, apprised the Committee on efforts made so far by the Force to restore normalcy and prevent future occurrence. Some of these efforts, the IGP reiterate include: strengthening the internal disciplinary mechanism of

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja. The Chief of Military Public Information Multinational Joint Task Force Ndjamena, Col. Mohammad Dole says, some key stakeholders have been brainstorming on possible ways to bring to an end violent extremism within the Lake Chad Basin to pave the way for enhanced economic growth, agricultural development and human activities in the region. In a statement released on Friday, Col. Dole explained that “the Multinational Joint Taskforce (MNJTF) and the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has organised an inception workshop to articulate an inclusive regional communication strategy to prevent violent extremism in the Lake Chad Basin. According to him, “this laudable and proactive initiative was in recognition of the need to reinforce information and communication line of operation to counter (prevent) and replace the extremist ideology propagated by the Boko Haram and armed g