SR SahelReporters

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Defence Headquarters says, its troops of Air Task Force of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has neutralized several Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters  at Doron Naira on the fringes of Lake Chad in Borno State. This was contained in a statement signed on Thursday by the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen John Enenche in Abuja said, It was achieved through air strikes executed on 24 November 2020 after series of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions indicated that the location was used as the staging area from where the terrorists launched recent attacks against friendly locations in and around Baga.  He explained that, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships, dispatched by the Air Task Force to the location, took turns in engaging the target area, hitting the terrorists in their hiding places under the dense vegetation and neutralizing dozens of them.  According t

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Defence Headquarters have disclosed that, no fewer than 67 bandits, armed with very high calibre weapons, including Anti-Aircraft (AA) Guns, neutralised and several others injured in air interdiction missions executed by the Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI at Birnin Kogo Forest in Katsina State. In a statement signed on Tuesday by the Coordinators, Defence Media Operations, DHQ, Maj. Gen. John Enenche in Abuja also said, about 15 armed bandits were eliminated in air strikes conducted by the Air Component at Ajjah Forest in Zamfara State.  He explained that, both air strikes were carried out on the 23 November 2020, sequel to credible Human Intelligence (HUMINT) reports as well as aerial surveillance missions that led to the identification of the 2 forest hideouts, which housed scores of the armed bandits along with hundreds of rustled cattle. "The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships dispatched by the Air Co

By Aviashima Toom  National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, today in Makurdi, conferred the honour of ‘Life Patron of NULGE’ on Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom.  The event which took place at the New Banquet Hall, Benue Peoples House, attracted national, state and local government officials of the union.  National President of NULGE, Comrade Ahmed Labbo who presented the award to Governor Ortom, said the union had unanimously chosen the Governor for being the first to have granted full administrative, political and financial autonomy to local governments. Comrade Labbo also stated that the appointment of NULGE as a permanent member of the state joint account and the Governor’s favourable disposition to the cause of NULGE members which was responsible for the industrial harmony in the state also endeared him to the union. Responding, Governor Ortom thanked NULGE for the honour done him, saying that it would spur him to do more.  He said the process for the pro

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Defence Headquarters disclosed that, the Air Task Force of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has knocked out an Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) logistics base, neutralized several of their fighters in air strikes conducted at Tumbun Rego on the fringes of Lake Chad in Borno State.  In a statement signed on Tuesday by the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John Enenche, in Abuja said, The mission was executed on 22 November 2020 on the heels of credible intelligence reports indicating that the location, with its makeshift structures camouflaged under dense vegetation, was being used by the terrorists as a hub for logistics items conveyed via the lake and its tributaries for onward transportation using trucks/ motorcycles.  He said that, the Air Task Force therefore dispatched Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships to attack the location. Overhead the target area, significant number ISWAP elements were observ

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Military says, Troops of Operation Accord have continue to intensified the onslaught against criminal elements in the North West zone with significant successes. This, the gallant troops According to the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen. John Enenche in a statement in Abuja said, while on covert operation at Galadi village in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State made contact with bandits.  According to him, during the operation, 2 bandits were neutralised while 2 AK 47 rifles were recovered.  He also said that, the gallant troops during clearance operation  at Sabon Tunga and Tamuske villages neutralised several armed bandits and rescued 3 kidnapped victims.  "The gallant troops supported by Nigerian Air Force helicopter gunships bombarded bandit's enclaves at Dutsen Emai in Zamfara State". He added Enenche noted that, on same 21 November 2020, troops while on routine patrol at Gobir

By Aviashima Toom The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, National Secretariat is to present an award of 'Life Patron of NULGE in Nigeria' to Governor Samuel Ortom. The event will take place tomorrow, 23rd November 2020, at the Benue Peoples House Makurdi. Benue State Chairman of NULGE, Comrade Terungwa Igbe in a letter to the Governor intimating him of the National President's intended visit to the State for the conferment of the award, said the honour was in recognition of his support and "inestimable contribution to the emancipation of the local government system." The letter noted, Governor Ortom support to the passage of the Local Government Autonomy Bill by the 7th Benue State House of Assembly. "The NULGE family in Nigeria resolved to appreciate you with this award because you are the first Governor to have fully granted autonomy to the Local Government in Benue State by approving for their participation as union leaders, in

By Doris Nnaji The Special Military Task Force, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), in Plateau has arrested 27 suspected cult members operating in various communities in Jos North Local Government Area (LGA) of the state. Maj.-Gen. Chukwuemeka Okonkwo, the Commander of the task force, said this while speaking with newsmen on Saturday in Jos. Okonkwo said that the arrest followed raids by troops from November 17 to November 20 in communities in the area. He said that the suspects -21 males and six females, were arrested in Apata, Jenta Adamu and Jenta Miango communities in the area. Okonkwo said that the arrest was in continuation of the task force’s effort to rid the state of crimes and criminality. The commander assured that the task force will not rest on its oars until petty crimes, killings and other forms crimes were curtailed in the state. “This exercise is in continuation of our determination to end all forms of insecurity in Jos and Plateau in general. “The suspects are la

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Armed Forces of Nigeria says,  its Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI has neutralized 17 armed bandits and destroyed their camp in the Dunya Forest area of Katsina State.  In a statement signed on Friday by the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, DHQ, Maj. Gen John Enenche in Abuja said, the feat was achieved through air strikes executed on 18 November 202 on the heels of credible Human Intelligence (HUMINT) reports and confirmatory surveillance missions indicating that dozens of Ansaru terrorist group-linked armed bandits had established a camp at the location, which also housed scores of rustled cattle.   He said that, the Air Component dispatched an appropriate force package of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships, which engaged the location in successive passes, destroying portions of the camp, including their storage facility, which was seen engulfed in flames. Adding that HUMINT sources later confirmed that

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Armed Forces of Nigeria says, itsLand and Air Components of Operation THUNDER STRIKE have neutralized several armed bandits in a joint offensive operation to clear identified bandits’ camp around Kuku area of Kagarko Local Government Area along the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway axis of Kaduna State.  This was contained in a statement signed by the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John Enenche on Wednesday in Abuja. He said that the operation was executed yesterday, 17 November 2020, on the heels of credible Human Intelligence reports indicating that a cluster of huts and other structures at the location served as hideout for a notorious bandits’ leader, named “Major”, along with his fighters.  According to him,the first wave of the Air Component’s air strikes, which involved 6 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft undertaking 5 missions in a total of 13 sorties, commenced at dawn and targeted the cluster of huts housing “Major”. The attack

By Aviashima Toom A mobile Police inspector by name Joseph Enyi has been arrested and detained at Ugba Police station for raped of a 13 year old female student in Ayilamo, Tombo ward, Logo local Government area in Benue state. The incident happened on Thursday, 12/11/2020 in Ayilamo. Narrating how the incident on a telephone chat, a community leader in Ayilamo Hon Wuam Hilega said at about 5 pm on Thursday, a five female students of Tombo Community secondly School Ayilamo, were sent on errand by their game master to fetch water from a nearby hand dug well close to the Mobile police quarters Hon. Hilega, stated that the mobile police man by named Inspector John, who was sleeping in front of his yard called one of the girls to come. " The girl by named Philomena Torhile was afraid to come but the police inspector threatened her that if she don't come he will deal with her, so the other girls advised her to go becuase the police man was an officer " said Hon Hile

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja. Troops of Operation Accord have intensified the onslaught against criminal elements with attendant successes. This followed the eliminations of some suspected armed bandits, arrest of kidnappers and recovery of firearms amongst others by the troops during different operations in Sokoto and Katsina states. Maj. Gen. John Enenche, Coordinator Defence Media Operations explained this in a statement said, the troops acted swiftly following credible intelligence on the presence of kidnappers in Garin Arawa of Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State on 16 November 2020. “Troops immediately mobilized to the village and made contact with kidnappers. “In the course of the encounter, one kidnapper was killed in contact while others escaped with gunshot wounds. “Items recovered from the operation, include one AK47 rifle, one magazine and one motorcycle.” Gen. Enenche also states, troops deployed at Dungun Muazu received a distress

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Defence Headquarters says, it's Troops of Operation Fire Ball, a subsidiary of Operation Lafia Dole has neutralized over 75 Boko Haràm, ISWAP terrorists, recovered large catches of arms and ammunition, while three of its men paid the supreme price in North East. This was contained in a statement singed on Tuesday by the Ag Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig. Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, in Abuja said, it became necessary of the military to clear the remnants of the Boko Haram/ Islamic State  West Africa Province  terrorists from their identified enclaves in the region. According to him, a total of 75 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists were neutralized within this period while equipment such as; 4 x  Gun Trucks, 1 x Bedford Truck, 3 x Anti Aircraft guns,were destroyed.  Onywuko said that, captured weapons include: 6 x Gun Trucks, 4 x Anti Aircraft guns, 1x PKT gun, 4 x General Purpose Machine Guns,1 x Automatic Grenade Launcher, 1 x Dushka Gun, 1 x L

By Perterside Jeff The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday said that its members have been rejecting to migrate to the Integrated Personal Payroll Information System (IPPIS) since 2013. Dr Aniekan Brown, the Coordinator, ASUU Calabar Zone, disclosed this during a press conference in Calabar. Brown recalled that on March 23 ASUU declared an industrial action against the government for not adhering to their demands. “For the records, we consider the IPPIS, which is a payment system as uncongenial with the modus operandi of the university system, given the peculiarities of universities. Government has made it a front-burner, but we consider it a distraction. “The mode of employment, retirement age, sabbatical leave, adjunct engagements, part-time engagements, contract engagements and others are concepts that are unique to the university, and obviously alien to IPPIS,” he added. According to him, on the revitalisation of public universities, the government was in debt to

By Aviashima Toom The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom will on Thursday, 5th, November, 2021, present 2021 budget estimate to the Benue State House of Assembly. Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Ngunan Addingi stated this today while briefing journalists at the end of State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Samuel Ortom. She disclosed that, EXCO also approved that Benue Television be connected to satellite to enable viewers watch the station on their television sets and no longer only on internet platforms, stressing that modalities were being worked out to that effect. According to the Information Commissioner, EXCO also approved Fridays as work free days for Benue workers with effect from 6th November 2020 to 29th January 2021. The decision is to enable civil servants who are farmers harvest their crops.  On the proposed Benue Youth Summit, Mrs. Addingi hinted that Governor Samuel Ortom is to meet with local government chairmen to

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Nigerian Army set to hold a 2 day’s Officers Training conference in Zaria, Kaduna state. The event which is organised by the Directorate of Army Physical Training (DAPT) is set to begin on 2- 4 November 2020. In a statement signed by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa said, the Conference which is themed” – Repositioning the Nigerian Army Physical Training Corps through Effective Training in Support of the Nigerian Army Operations and Excellence in Sports” will take place at Ogundeko Hall, Nigerian Military School Zaria by 8:00am daily. Sagir further explained that the Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Tukur Buratai is expected to be the Special Guest of Honour at the occasion. According to Col. Sagir Musa, the Conference is aimed at exploring options for repositioning the DAPT to meet contemporary fitness challenges in the Nigerian Army in support of the Nigerian Army’s operations and exercises. He further adds that the occasi

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The newly appointed Acting Assistant Director Army Public Relations (Ag ADAPR) for Sector 2 Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD) of the Nigerian Army ,Lt. Kennedy Anyanwu has on November 1, 2020, resumed office as the new Ag ADAPR in Damaturu the Yobe State capital. Lt. Anyanwu before his appointment as the Spokesperson for Sector 2 OPLD, was a Staff Officer 3 in charge of Information/Publication and Social Media in Headquarters Directorate of Army Public Relations in Abuja. Speaking during the Handing and taking over ceremony, the outgoing Ag ADAPR Lt CP Oteh thanked all officers and soldiers of Sector 2 for supporting him during his tenure. He further commended the State Chapter of the Nigerian Union Journalists. He therefore admonished them to extend same good working relationship to his successor, stressing that he has no iota of doubt in the capabilities of the new Spokesperson in handling Media and Public Relations Affairs of the Sector. In his accept