SR SahelReporters

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Defence Headquarters says it's troops has recorded significant achievements in her operations against proscribed terrorist groups across Nigeria in February 2025. During the month, security forces neutralized 221 terrorists, arrested 674 suspects, and rescued 320 kidnapped hostages. Several insurgents, along with their families, surrendered, and troops recovered a substantial cache of weapons and equipment. Director of Defence Media Operations DMO, Maj-Gen  Markus Kangye disclosed this in a statement on Thursday said that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remained steadfast in its counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency efforts. Ground, maritime, and air forces conducted coordinated offensives, targeting terrorist hideouts and preventing oil theft in the South-South region. According to him in the North east, Troops of Operations HADIN KAI neutralized 75 terrorists, arrested 71 suspects and rescued 75 kidnapped hostages. Additionally, troop...

From Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Senate committee chairman on Anti-corruption and Financial Crimes, Distinguished Senator Emmanuel Memga Udende, has said his sponsorship of the bill to establish the Federal Medical Center Adikpo in Kwande Local Government of Benue state is to bring medical care closer to the people especially in times of emergency. This was contained in a statement signed by the Special Assistants on Media and Publicity, Office of Senator Emmanuel Udende, Jerry Iorngaem, in Abuja.  Senator Udende stated this at the one day public hearing on the amendment of the Federal Medical Centres Act of 2022 involving about 40 bills. Jerry noted that, the Benue North East Senator at the public hearing of the bill said distance between Adikpo, a Nigerian boarder town and Makurdi the state capital with a Federal Medical Centre covers over 300 kilometer and places patients who need medical care on a danger line. He explained that the people of Kwande w...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All-Progressive Congress (APC) in a show solidarity has unanimously passed a vote of confidence on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, declaring their support for his administration’s efforts to stabilize Nigeria’s economy. Reacting to the gesture from the NEC, Tinubu said the commendation from the party’s highest decision-making organ was a call for more hard work, promising not to fail the party faithful. “I am happy with your vote of confidence, and I accept it. The vote is a challenge to do more work; we will vigorously pursue our sovereignty in food security, investment and development. “I am happy with food prices coming down, especially as Ramadan approaches. The Sun is high, and the sky is bright outside. While the rest of the world unravels, we see growth in Nigeria. We are seeing a gradual return to stability. We are seeing improvements. I thank you, governors, ” President Tinubu said. He also th...

By Mohammed Bello Doka Jude Ndukwe, a man with a long track record of falsehoods, contradictions, and outright hypocrisy, has once again shown his true colors. In his latest rambling attack on Chief Femi Fani-Kayode (FFK), Ndukwe attempted to paint his former benefactor as an enemy of the Igbo people. But this shameless diatribe is not only dishonest but also reeks of ingratitude, selective amnesia, and a desperate attempt to remain politically relevant by playing the ethnic victim card. A History of Lies and Misinformation Jude Ndukwe has never been a stranger to misinformation. His past is littered with baseless claims, deliberate distortions, and outright falsehoods designed to mislead the public and manipulate emotions. In 2017, he falsely accused government officials of secretly funding the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a reckless claim that had no credible evidence but was deliberately designed to stoke ethnic tensions and incite division. This is not an isolate...

  By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Nigeria Police Force says, it has received credible intelligence indicating a high likelihood of violence and significant security threats should the planned Local Government elections proceed in Osun State.  The police also notes that, The reports gathered from joint intelligence gathering reveal that various groups, including political elements and other interest parties, are mobilizing to instigate unrest, disrupt public peace, and undermine the democratic order. "Given this imminent threat to security, the NPF strongly advises the Osun State Government to suspend the planned elections forthwith in the interest of public safety and national stability". NPF said  This was contained in a statement signed on Friday by the Force Public Relations Officer ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi in Abuja. According to the statement, the Force has assessed the current security landscape and determined that proceeding with the elections under thes...

By Odita Sunday  CP Ishola Olanrewaju's tenure as the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State was nothing short of sterling and memorable.  Despite his relatively short stay, he left an indelible mark on the command as a dogged crime fighter and astute cop.  As the 40th Commissioner of Police in Lagos, CP Ishola brought with him a wealth of experience and expertise garnered from his over two decades of service in the Nigeria Police Force.  His impressive testimonials, which includes a degree in Geography and an MSc in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Ibadan, spoke to his intellectual depth and capacity.  During his time in office, CP Ishola demonstrated unwavering commitment to his duty, ensuring that the Lagos State Police Command operated with maximum professionalism and efficiency. He upped the ante in community policing by engaging with various stakeholders, including protest organizers, to ensure a safe and secure environment for...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has approved the expansion of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) desk offices to all police divisions nationwide. This initiative aims to enhance efficiency, improve service delivery, and ensure easier access to justice for citizens. Force Public Relations Officer FPRO, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi stated this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja  According to the statement previously limited to zonal and state commands, GBV desk offices will now be established at the divisional level, ensuring that cases of gender-based violence receive prompt, specialized, and professional attention.  It added that to support the expansion, the IGP mandated the appointment of qualified officers as GBV desk officers. These officers will undergo specialized training to equip them with the necessary skills, knowledge, and expertise to handle GBV cases effectively. "Additionally, divisional GBV desk officer...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  Hon. Philip Agbese has strongly refuted allegations made by Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan, who claimed Agbese was among those who demanded a $150 million bribe from the cryptocurrency firm. In a statement released on Friday, Agbese described the allegations as "false and baseless," asserting that he was never part of any meeting involving Binance executives regarding any financial transaction.  He emphasized that the leadership of the Committee on Economic and Financial Crimes had already taken legal action on the matter, and Binance had since apologized. "Let it be on record that I am not a member of the Committee on Economic and Financial Crimes," Agbese clarified.  "I visited my colleague, Hon. Peter Ankpanke, in his office while he was meeting with some visitors about an activity of his Committee. Hon. Peter Anakwe, another member of the Committee, was also present. I exchanged pleasantries and discussed Binance...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The Nigeria Police Force expresses surprise and deep concerns regarding recent news alleging that 3,907 arms are missing from the Nigeria Police Force. These allegations are misleading and inaccurate. A statement signed on Thursday by the Force Public Relations Officer ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi in Abuja said that, the Force wishes to clarify that the report appears to stem from an assessment of the report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, AuGF dating back to 2019, likely reflecting records compiled prior to the current Inspector-General of Police’s tenure. In the report, according to Issue 3b, Sub (iii), it is stated that 3907 arms were unaccounted for and not “missing” as speculated by the news. He said It is important to acknowledge the challenges faced by the police during periods of civil unrest, during which several Police Officers were killed and their arms carted away, and some attacks and looting of police facilities a...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  With tensions rising ahead of the Ibusa Youths of Igbuzo election in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta state, Ibusa youths have plan to protest over the alleged plan by the Oshimili North Local Government Chairman to use the office of Delta State Commissioner of Youths development to disrupt the forth coming youth election and impose their candidate on the people. To register their grievance, the youths plan to hold a peaceful protest from  Ibusa to Government house as they openly accused the Commissioner for Youths, Barr. Thankgod Trakiriowei, and also local government Executive Chairman, Hon. Chief Innocent Esewezie an indigene of allegedly  trying to sponsor crisis in the forth coming youths’ leadership election in the community, but the Ibusa youths have vowed that the Commissioner for Youths cannot conduct their election for them. The youths accused Esewezie of trying to use the office of the state Commissioner of You...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja  The National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress APC, Abdullahi Ganduje has seek the support and cooperation of northerners for the re-election bid of president Tinubu as he declared that, it will be the turn of the north to contest the presidency after President Tinubu's 8 years in office. Ganjude made this declaration on Tuesday while receiving some political support groups who were on courtesy visit to chairman of the African largest political in Abuja.  He said, when a leader from the northern part of the country was in office for 8 years, the party advocated that the next president in APC should emage from the south.  "And luckily enough, we worked very hard with the cooperation of Nigerians. Our president has come from the south and is going, inshallah, for second term, 2027. And then after that, it will be turned to the northern part of this country". Ganduje declared.  The support groups, Tinubu Young Generation Foru...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja    The Defence Headquarters says it's have troops neutralized 27 terrorists while 62 suspected others arrested, between January 30 and February 7, 2025. The military also said troops apprehended 23 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 44 kidnapped hostages. This was contained in a statement signed on Friday by the new Director of Defence Media Operations DMO,  Major General Markus Kangye in Abuja According to him, within the week under review, troops conducted offensive operations such as raids, ambushes and fighting patrols. The operation led to the neutralization of several terrorists, apprehended their collaborators, rescued kidnapped victims and received surrendered terrorists. Gunrunners, oil theft collaborators and other violent extremists. The Director DMO, also said in the South South, troops foiled oil theft estimated to the tune of about Two Hundred and Ninety Two Million Six Hundred and Forty Four Thousand One Hundred Naira...

by Aviashima Toom, Abuja  Gallantry, with respect to law enforcement, is always a virtue found only in officers who take some steps ahead of criminal elements.  Gallant officers are calculative and always pro-active. They are not given to reactive measures when it comes to nipping criminal intent in the bud.  It is the norm in the Nigeria Police Force like other security agencies of the State for “Gallantry” to be one of the criteria for the choice of who becomes the Inspector General of Police or head of any of the other agencies. With the current efforts of the Nigeria Police Force in combating vices like armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism and the likes under the leadership of Dr. Kayode Egbetokun as the Inspector General Police (IGP), it is obvious that gallantry is at work and this is a further confirmation that his choice as the nation’s number one police officer at this time in history was not accidental. To the un-discernible  mind, the choice of w...

By Aviashima Toom  In a groundbreaking effort to combat cervical cancer and promote women's health, Phlox Health WASH Foundation and WASH 94.9 FM, Lagos, in partnership with Pathfinder Foundation, the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Lagos State Chapter, and the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, will host a free HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening program. In a statement released by the Program Officer, Phlox Health WASH Foundation, Jennifer Nwosu, the event is scheduled to take place from February 13 to 15, 2025, at the Phlox Health WASH Foundation/WASH FM premises, Plot 770 Somide Oduijirin Avenue Omole Phase 2 Lagos, will provide free HPV vaccinations for girls aged 9 to 14 and free cervical cancer screening for women, ensuring early detection and prevention of the disease. Cervical cancer remains a major health concern in Nigeria, yet it is largely preventable through early vaccination and regular screening. This initiative is designed t...