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By Aviashima Toom, Abuja Domkat Bali, former minister of defence, has died at the age of 80. Bali, who served as minister of defence and member of the supreme military council between 1984 and 1985, and the Armed Forces Ruling Council of 1985 to 1990, died on Friday. He was joint chief of staff between 1984 and 1985 when President Muhammadu Buhari was head of state. The octogenarian retired as a decorated military officer in 1990. In December 2010, he emerged as Ponzhi Tarok, paramount ruler of the Langtang in Plateau state. In a condolence statement signed by Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, Buhari described the retired officer as a man with records of bravery and patriotism. He said Bali’s records will inspire young military officers, adding that his foundation will always be remembered. “President Muhammadu Buhari condoles with the people and government of Plateau State over the passing of an illustrious son and highly decorated retired military officer, Gen. Domkat Bali, who se

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja. The Nigerian Army has on Friday, decorated the 39 newly promoted Major Generals with their new ranks. They includes, the Commander Sector 2 Operation Lafiya Dole Maj Gen Olufemi Oluyede, General Officer Commanding 7 Division Maiduguri, Maj Gen. Kalif Ibrahim and the General Officer Commanding 8 Division Sokoto, Maj Gen. Aminu Bande. Also decorated is the Provost Marshal, Maj Gen. Hussain Ahmed, among others. The Minister of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd), while congratulating the newly decorated generals, urged them to be committed, diligence as well as remain responsive in the discharge of the constitutional duties. Gen. Magashi said the officers’ disposition of hard work, dedication and loyalty to the constituted authority earned them the promotion. According to him, their new ranks should be a call to service and sacrifice to the defence of the country as the nation is confronted with myriad of security challenges. He stated

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Defence Headquarters has disclosed that, its Air interdiction missions being conducted by the Air Task Force of Operation LAFIYA DOLE as part of subsidiary Operation WUTAR TABKI 2 have continued to deal decisive blows on terrorist elements in the North East zone of the Country The Military disclosed this in a statement signed on Friday by the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, DHQ Maj. Gen John Enenche in Abuja said, The latest of were achieved on 1 and 2 December 2020, at Bone and Mudu, 2 settlements along the Yale-Kumshe axis of Borno State as well as at a third location, simply known as the ‘S’ Region, within the heart of the Sambisa Forest.  He said, the air strikes, which were executed employing a force package of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships, were carried out after series of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions revealed pattern-of-life evidence indicating that the 3 locations wer

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Nigerian Army through its Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole, (OPLD) has warned individuals and communities lending their support and collaboration with Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists to desist forthwith or bear the consequences. This warning was given sequel to the authentic and reliable information at the disposal of the Theatre Command, OPLD indicating that despite the obvious implications and the dangers of collaborating with Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists and other criminal elements in the society, some unscrupulous elements still indulge in such unpatriotic act. The statement signed by Col. Ado Isa, Deputy Director Public Relations Headquarters Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole describes the level of collaboration and support ranging from providing useful information and intelligence on troops and law abiding citizens, to logistics supply and trading with the terrorists by those dubious humans. “In particular, certain communities in t

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Armed Forces of Nigeria says, its Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI has neutralized several armed bandits, destroyed some of their facilities, including logistics items, at their hideout in a forested high ground area near Bayan Ruwa in Zamfara State.  In a statement signed on Thursday by the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, DHQ, Maj. Gen. John Enenche in Abuja said the feats was achieved through air strikes executed on 1 and 2 December 2020. He explained that, pursuant to credible Human Intelligence (HUMINT) reports and confirmatory surveillance missions indicating that a group of armed bandits, led by one so-called Jummo, who has ties to terrorist elements in the North East, had established a camp at the location, where they kept their motorcycles, high-calibre weapons as well as scores of rustled cattle.  He said, accordingly, the Air Component dispatched an appropriate force package of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and he

By Aviashima Toom The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom today flagged off the N500 million agricultural value-chain development loan scheme for civil servants and political appointees in Benue State. The Governor while flagging off the scheme in Makurdi said, Benue as Food Basket of the Nation must live up to its reputation, stressing that every country in the world excels by utilizing its competitive and comparative advantage. According to him, the famous groundnuts pyramids of Kano were largely produced from the Benue Valley and sold to multinational companies like UAC and John Holt for exports before the oil boom of 70s and 80s. Ortom stated that the need to diversify Nigeria's economy away from oil makes agriculture one of the sure pathways for sustainable economy and quality livelihood, reaffirming his administration's commitment to greater investment in agriculture. He noted that the loan facility which is an arrangement between Benue State government and Ban

........,Urges Youths to Lead The Struggle for Improved Workers Welbeing  By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said it has stepped up its campaigns against casualization of labour particularly in the transportation, telecommunications, oil and gas and the hospitality sector. Speaking on Tuesday, during the second national youths Delegates Conference of the NLC, in Abuja, President of NLC, Ayuba Wabba said workers live in an era where businesses put profit before people.  Wabba charged the youths to lead the struggle for improved workers welfare. The NLC President also said the advancement of technology especially the floodgates of the internet and social media applications occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic have ushered in its wake a huge traffic of dislocations, displacements and despair. According to him, workers must be alive to these developments and engage businesses and government to ensure that deployment of these technologies does not erode in