News / Security

Bwari attack: Troops eliminate 30 terrorists who attacked soldiers – DHQ

The Defense Headquarters says military troops have eliminated 30 of the terrorists who attacked troops of the Guards Brigade in Bwari area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on Sunday.

The Director, Defense Media Operations, Major General Bernard Onyeuko, made this known on Thursday in Abuja.

Onyeuko, who spoke at the bi-weekly news conference on military operations, said the operation was conducted by troops of 7 Guards Battalion and 167 Special Force Battalion in conjunction with the air component of “Operation Whirl Punch” between Sunday and Tuesday.

He said the troops successfully cleared Kawu and Ido villages, neutralizing the terrorists and destroyed their enclave and hideout.

According to him, the ground troops also recovered six motorcycles, two AK47 rifles, one fully loaded LMG magazine amongst others during mob up.

Onyeuko said: “The hierarchy of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies wishes to re-assured Nigerians of its commitment and pact with all Nigerians.

“With the recent operations carried out between from July 23, we wish to assure residents of FCT in particular that we are undaunted and unrelenting in our efforts to ensure the safety of lives and properties.

“People should go about their normal business as their safety is guaranteed.

“The support and cooperation of all Nigerians is hereby solicited as security is everybody’s business.

“Citizens are encouraged to report any unusual persons in your community to security agencies.

“If you see something say something.”

On his part, the Director Defense Information, Major General Jimmy Akpor, urged media to continue to support the military in ensuring that the enemies of the nation were defeated.

On the voice note being circulated on social media purportedly belonging to a soldier involved in the attack, Akpor said that enquiries to know its authenticity was unnecessary.…

News / Security

Terrorists attack Military checkpoint in Abuja, kill soldiers in shootout

An unknown number of soldiers were said to have been killed on Thursday night by Boko Haram terrorists stormed an Army checkpoint around Zuma Rock, the border between the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Niger State.

Sources said the terrorists arrived Zuma Rock on the axis of Madalla and Suleija along the Abuja-Kaduna highway at about 8:30pm and took the soldiers by surprise, opening fire from different angles.

“They were shooting continuously at the checkpoint for more almost one hour, and soldiers at the checkpoint were fighting back. But after a while, the shooting stopped,” a source said.

The sources said the terrorists later abandoned their mission of moving into Abuja and retreated towards Kaduna axis.

While retreating, the bandits who were said to be in several motorbikes, reportedly attacked some villages and shops in Madalla and carried foodstuff on their motorbikes before bolting.

Following the retreat of the terrorists, more troops and equipment from the Army base in Zuma Barracks were deployed for reinforcement to the scene.

Another source said a joint security operatives team were going on patrol around the axis when sounds of gunshot erupted and they moved towards the scene only to discover that it was an ongoing battle between soldiers and bandits.

The source said the security operatives immediately radioed the Army Barracks at Zuma Rock, resulting in the deployment of reinforcement to the scene.

The fighting reportedly caused severe traffic jam, as motorists remained trapped on the Abuja-Kaduna Highway.

The attack comes barely six days after terrorists carried out an ambushed a patrol team of Presidential Guards team along the Bwari-Kubwa Road resulting in the death of six soldiers and officers following intelligence report that they were planning to attack the Nigerian Law School in Bwari.

The attack and other kidnapping incidents have resulted in heightened tension in the FCT, with schools closed.

The management of Federal Government College, Kwali asked parents to evacuate their children from the school as a result of an attack by bandits in a neighboring community 24 hours earlier.…

Education / News / Security

Terrorists ambush Guards Brigade in Abuja, forces closure of schools

Barely 24 hours after terrorists, who hijacked the Kaduna-bound train released a video, where they threatened to kidnap President Muhammadu Buhari and Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, insecurity fears heightened at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), leading to the immediate closure of all unity schools in Abuja.

This was after three soldiers sustained injuries in an ambush by Boko Haram terrorists in Bwari Area Council of the FCT. The soldiers from the elite Guards Brigade guarding the FCT as well as the presidential seat of government were ambushed along Bwari Kubwa road, while on patrol of Bwari Area where the Nigerian Law School and the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) is located.

The Guards Brigade is in charge of the security of the President, his entire family, the Vice President, Very Important Personalities (VIP), the Federal Capital Territory and its surrounding states. This would be the first direct encounter between terrorists and the Brigade of Guards in Abuja.

The soldiers from 7 Guards Battalion, who have been carrying out patrol in the town following intelligence report of an impending attack on the Nigerian Law School, came under heavy fire around the Kubwa-Bwari road.

The wounded soldiers have been moved to the 7 Guards Medical center, where they are currently receiving treatment and are in stable condition.

The signal message on the attack reads: “Troops on routine patrol along Kubwa-Bwari were ambushed by suspected terrorists. Three soldiers were injured during the attack. The soldiers have been evacuated for medical attention. Details on the extent of their injuries are still under confirmation. The ambush attack happening within the general area of Bwari shows that the terrorists are actually within the location and possibly preparing to carry out their plans to attack the law school in Bwari as earlier reported.”

When contacted, the spokesperson of the Guards, Captain Godfrey Anebi Abakpa, confirmed the attack but declined further comments.

It was earlier reported that while responding to potential terror attacks in the nation’s capital following a security alert by the FCT command of the …

Fraud / Law / News / politics

Probe: Court orders CCT Chairman to appear before Senate

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, to appear before the Senate.

In his ruling on Tuesday, Justice Inyang Ekwo said the order was to allow Umar to face his probe over alleged public misconduct.

The judge held that Umar is answerable to the Senate on moral standards and conduct as a public officer administering the law.

Justice Ekwo stated that Umar’s suit seeking to stop his probe by the Senate lacked merit and was consequently dismissed.

The Senate asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit filed by Umar seeking to stop his probe for alleged misconduct.

Umar had initially gone to court to challenge the powers of the Senate to investigate him over an alleged assault he perpetrated against a security guard at the Banex Plaza.

He was alleged to have publicly assaulted one Sargwak, a security guard at the Banex Plaza in Wuse 2, Abuja, following a disagreement between them over a parking space on the premises.

Details later……

News / Transportation

Confusion as Lagos-bound passenger dies at Abuja Airport

There was confusion at Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja following the death of a passenger at the domestic wing of the airport.

The passenger, simply identified as Mama Tobi, was at the boarding area for her flight to Lagos when the incident happened.

She was said to have slumped as a result of high blood pressure.

A lawyer, Felix Ashimole, said the woman died as medical personnel from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria did not respond on time. Ashimole said: “Where is the money they claim was sunk into renovating the airport into world standard?

“For 13 minutes, no FAAN medical personnel.

“She died in my hands and few others.

“A medical doctor on his way to Kano tried but as he finally said, ‘we lost her.’

“But she would’ve been saved had FAAN provided basic insulin.

“She was diabetic.

“Her sugar went high; She entered coma; No medical attention; She saw the light and moved towards it.

“We kept calling her, Mama Tobi, Mama Tobi, don’t leave us, wake up, Good morning but saliva trickled down, foams bubbled and I knew she had seen a better place and wouldn’t be coming back!

“FAAN and the entire airline staff on ground were stupidly acting as if è no concern them.

“They kept announcing boarding and NEVER USED their speaker to ask if there is any medical personnel on ground. Finally they brought an ambulance from their fire fighting department, to take her corpse away! Good night Mummy Tobi.

“Your country and countrymen, failed you.”

It was learnt that the corpse of the deceased was taken to the NAF Medical Centre at the airport.

When contacted last night, spokesperson of FAAN, Faithful Hope-Ivbaze, said it was not true that FAAN did not respond on time, adding: “Our doctors were there.

“We are not happy it happened. We regret it happened but God knows the best in every situation.”

Hope-Ivbaze, however, expressed the condolence of FAAN to the family of the deceased and prayed God to grant them the fortitude to …

Crime / News / Transportation

Breaking: 146 Abuja-Kaduna train passengers unreachable –NRC

One hundred and forty-six of the 362 passengers on the ill-fated Abuja-Kaduna train are unreachable six days after the train was attacked by terrorists.

The Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria, made this known in a statement obtained on Monday.

He, however, said the number of safe passengers had risen to 186.

Okhiria said 51 phone numbers on the manifest are either switched off or unreachable since Tuesday morning and 35 phone numbers on the manifest are ringing, but no response from the other end.

He also noted that 60 phone numbers on the manifest when called, responded non-existent.

The NRC boss clarified that 22 persons are reported missing by their relatives and eight persons were confirmed dead.

Part of the statement read, “51 phone numbers on the manifest are either switched off or have not been reachable since Tuesday morning and 35 phone numbers on the manifest are ringing, but no response from the other end. 60 phone numbers on the manifest when called, responded non-existent.

”The statement is aimed at updating Nigerians on the ongoing development regarding the clearing of the incident site (recovery of the rolling stock, repairs of the track) and status of Passengers that were on board the AK9 train of Monday, March 28.

”Of the 362 validated passengers on board the attacked AK9 train service on March 28, 186 persons on the manifest are confirmed to be safe and at their various homes (additional 14 persons confirmed safe today).

“Two coaches (SP 00016 and SP 00017) earlier re-railed have safely been moved to Rigasa Station.

”This brings the total number of recovered Coaches and safely moved to NRC Stations to be seven. Intensive work continues on track repairs. More concrete Sleepers were moved to site while some section of twisted tracks has been straightened.

”We remain grateful to the security agencies for all the support. We are very appreciative of Squadron Commander MOPOL 1 Kaduna’s visit to the accident site today.

”NRC will continue to update the general public of developments to …

News / politics

2023: Saraki, Atiku, Tambuwal, others meet in Abuja

Former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, alongside Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Governor of Bauchi, Sen. Bala Mohammed and former MD, FSB International Bank, Mohammed Hayatuddeen, last night met with former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

All five PDP presidential aspirants met to discuss the ongoing unity and consensus-building initiative being championed by Saraki, Tambuwal and Bala.

Details later.…

Crime / Transportation

Kaduna train attack: Attackers kidnapped foreigner, killed many – Shehu Sani

A former federal lawmaker, Shehu Sani, on Tuesday, said that the terrorists who attacked the passengers on the Abuja-Kaduna rail tracks abducted a “white man” and killed several others.

He also said the terrorists targeted the Business Class coach of the train.

Terrorists on Monday night bombed the Abuja-Kaduna rail tracks and attacked a train filled with passengers.

Subsequently, the Nigerian Railway Corporation on Tuesday also announced the suspension of train operations along the Abuja-Kaduna route indefinitely following the attacks. The train attack was coming after terrorists, numbering over 200, on Saturday invaded the Kaduna International Airport located in Igabi Local Government Area in Kaduna State, disrupting operation and killing one security personnel of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.

The attack caused panic at the airport and reportedly grounded a Lagos-bound AZMAN aircraft scheduled to take off at 12:30pm.

But Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th Senate, through a tweet on his Twitter handle on Tuesday, noted that the attackers targeted the Business Class coach of the train.

He wrote, “I just spoke with a survivor who is a civil servant working with a public Library. She narrated that the terrorists specifically targeted the Business Class coach. They kidnapped some persons including a “white man” & killed those who resisted while she pretended to be dead.”…

Crime / News / Transportation

Breaking: NRC suspends train operation along Kaduna-Abuja rail

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has suspended train operation along Kaduna -Abuja rail till further notice following the terrorist attack on the route between Katari and Rijana.

The NRC made this known through its Twitter handle on Tuesday morning.

NRC said, “Dear passengers, due to unforeseen circumstances, train operations along the Abuja-Kaduna route have been temporarily suspended. Further communication would be given in due course.”…

Foreign / News / politics

Ukraine War: 427 stranded Nigerians arrive Abuja

No fewer than 427 Nigerians based in the troubled Ukraine arrived Nnamdi Azikwe International airport, Abuja Friday morning.

They arrived en route Romania on Maxi air.

It was gathered that the Federal Government will give each of them $100.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday approved over $5m to effect the immediate evacuation of stranded Nigerians in Ukraine which has been over week invaded by Russia.…

Crime / Education / News / Security

Police rescue six persons kidnapped in University of Abuja

There are indications that six people kidnapped by bandits at the University of Abuja staff quarters on Tuesday have been rescued successfully.

A staff of the University confirmed that the victims were rescued at Abaji, along Abuja-Lokoja Expressway.

The staff said this was achieved with the help of the Police and local vigilante.

“The rescued victims are currently at the Abaji police station,” the staff said. On Tuesday morning, some unspecified number of bandits invaded the staff quarters of the University located at Giri, along Abuja-Lokoja Expressway, attacked staff and their family members, and made away with six people.

The attack sent strong fears and panic among students and lecturers of the school, who had before now registered their concerns about the poor state of security in the school and its environs, particularly the increasing number of strange faces and movements within the school campus.

Some of the frightened residents threatened to vacate the staff quarters as quickly as possible because of the fear of further attacks by the bandits.

The abducted persons include a nine-year-old son of Prof. Bassey Ubong and his housemaid, one Deputy Registrar identified as Malam Mohammed Sambo, one Prof. Sumaila Obansa Joseph with his son and one Dr. Tobins Ferguson Hamilton.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, Chairman and members of the Governing Council, and other management staff of the school as well as the police and detachment of soldiers and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were the early callers at the venue of the attack.

Students at both at the mini and main campuses of the University were seen in groups discussing the development, with fear and anxiety written all over their face.

Victims and eyewitnesses told journalists that the bandits, undoubtedly, took advantage of the porosity of the school community, gained entry into the staff quarters through the unfenced part of the quarters, and begun to unleash terror on the residents.

They confirmed that the operation started few minutes past 12am on Tuesday, and lasted for …

Agriculture / News / politics

Open Grazing: Obaseki storms Abuja, meets Buhari

The governor made the call when he addressed State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

Obaseki said that the people of Edo had resolved that ranching was a private business and should be treated as such.

He said: “Our people say that as far as they are concerned, ranching is a private business just like every other agricultural venture, therefore, those involved should provide the land. “As you already know, it is expensive to run and manage ranches.

“So I came to discuss with the President that since the people of Edo would rather invest privately.

“Then, the National Livestock Transformation Programme, which is now being implemented by the Federal Government, should acknowledge our model.

“It should also be able to help Edo people benefit from the funding that is now being made available for people who want to go into the livestock business and have made investments in ranches and other similar livestock programmes,”.

According to Obaseki, the state government is yet to promulgate a law banning open grazing because it sees the venture as private business.

“As you know, most Southern States have passed laws relating to open grazing but Edo State has not. Because we want to ensure that whatever laws we pass are laws that we can enforce.

“We have had extensive consultations with our people to deal with the issue that yes, we do not want open grazing because it is out modelled and out dated; however, what are the options?

“If we are asking that we should now have ranches and these cows should be constrained to specific areas such as ranches, then who provides the land?,” he queried.

On politics, Obaseki commended the Senate for joining their House of Representatives counterparts in approving the transmission of election results electronically.

He said: “Definitely if not for God and the technology utilized by INEC, I may not be governor today.

“So, I am one of those people who believe that we should not …

Fraud / Law / News

EFCC quizzes Civil Service Director for being in possession of $16m

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdul rasheed Bawa, says an unnamed former Director in Nigeria’s Civil Service is being questioned for being in possession of $16 million belonging to the Federal Government.

Bawa said this during a sensitization program in Abuja, on Tuesday, on the eradication of pension fraud in the country.

In his keynote address, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, said the Federal Government is determined to eradicate pension fraud, even as some other speakers at the event pledged their support for the EFCC’s anti pension fraud drive.

Some retirees at the summit demanded contributory pension schemes from state governments. The summit is targeted to set the tone for the urgent industry-wide reforms needed to deliver an efficient and sustainable pension administration in Nigeria.…

News / politics

Why I was in Abuja to see President Buhari — Gov. Umahi

The Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has offered reasons for his visit to President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday.

The Governor offered the reasons in a chat with newsmen after the visit to the President on Monday at the Presidential Villa.

Unahi said he met with President Buhari to thank him for the “mega projects” his administration is implementing in the South East, adding that the people of the region are grateful to him.

He said: “One is to thank him very highly for a number of mega projects that he is doing in the South East. “The Second Niger bridge is fast and fast becoming a reality.

“Each time we visit that bridge, it is always like a dream.

“So, we the people of South East are very grateful to Mr. President for this.

“We also thank him for the award of this Eastern corridor of the railway line.

“This is a project that is going to fast track the commercial activities of our people.

“I recall that when I was in school, I used to join train from my state, Ebonyi, and then get up to Maiduguri, where my brothers were staying, for my holidays.

“Mr. President is about restoring that hope.

“We are deeply very grateful.

“But I also reminded Mr. President that one of his cardinal objectives is to integrate into the South East or the state capitals, but in putting together the project through South East that the capital of Ebonyi State, which is Abakaliki, and capital of Anambra State, which is Awka, were omitted.

“And I reminded Mr. President that the South East governors had requested that I write, which I did, but not yet approved to the Honorable Minister of Transport, which Mr. President said he will find out why they were omitted in the first place.

“I am very, very hopeful that Mr. President is going to give approval to those two locations.

“And also the limestone granules to fast track the fertilizer presidential initiative, which has helped the country Nigeria so much …

Crime / News / politics

Ex-governor Suswam opposes state police

A former governor of Benue State, Senator Gabriel Suswam, has spoken against the creation of state police.

Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, Suswam said even when he was a governor, he opposed state police because he believed “most of us don’t have the maturity to control state police.”

He said: “The proposal in the constitution for amendment is that governors will appoint Commissioners of Police, and I can’t be party to that because I know the implication for that. That will be a recipe for complete disintegration of the country, except we want that.

“As a governor, there is no way you will come to my state and misbehave and I won’t charge you for nuisance and put you in jail. And when it comes to elections, you know that I can appoint a Commissioner of Police.

“My mother can be Commissioner of Police, my cousins will be the DPOs here and there, and my lackeys can be in positions; so, anywhere somebody is my opponent politically, that person is gone. So, we can’t practice state police.”

He said Nigeria should not compare itself with developed countries on the issue of state police as those countries had “gone past where we are today.”

“We’ve to wait until we are mature enough for state police,” he said.…

News / Transportation

Passengers trapped in the bushes for hours after a Kaduna-Abuja train broke down

The train reportedly left Kaduna shortly before 7am.

Daily Trust reports that five minutes after the train departed the Rigasa Station in Kaduna, it developed a mechanical fault.

Midat Joseph, an Assistant National Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), who was one of the passengers, said the train creaked to a halt around 7am.

“I left my house as early as 5:am to join the 6:40am train but unfortunately I have been trapped here in this forest. This is not the first time I will be experiencing this mess,” Joseph told the newspaper.

Another passenger said he had a similar experience last Saturday, saying it took them five hours to get to Abuja.

An engineer of the NRC (Nigeria Railway Corporation) who addressed the passengers, told them that it would take them two hours to fix the train.

“We are very sorry, the locomotive is faulty. We have contacted the Idu Train Station for another locomotive. It would take them two hours to be here,” he said.

The passengers have been evacuated from the forest at the time of filing this story, latest reports say.

The President Muhammadu Buhari administration is erecting critical rail infrastructure across the country, in a bid to stimulate an economy hard-hit by dipping crude oil prices and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most of the completed train terminals have recently been commissioned with plenty of fanfare and political-speak.

…
News

Nigeria police disperse protesters wounding one: Activist

 

Nigerian police dispersed a crowd of protesters Monday in the capital Abuja, injuring one, according to activists.

It was unclear what the protest was about or how many people were present but activist Omoyele Sowore, a well-known opposition figure who has organised previous protests against bad governance said he was wounded by a police officer.

Sowore posted a picture of a wound on Twitter but police have denied the reports that he was shot, saying there was “no record of such incident” at this time.

“Contrary to the speculation, police operatives professionally restored calm at the Unity Fountain following attempts by a group of protesters to incite public disturbance,” police spokeswoman Mariam Yusuf said in a statement.

“The protesters who went on the rampage were resisted by police operatives in order to prevent them from causing a breakdown of law and order,” Yusuf added.

Nigerian police dispersed a crowd of protesters Monday in the capital Abuja, injuring one, according to activists.It was unclear what the protest was about or how many people were present but activist Omoyele Sowore, a well-known opposition figure who has organised previous protests against bad governance said he was wounded by a police officer.

Sowore posted a picture of a wound on Twitter but police have denied the reports that he was shot, saying there was “no record of such incident” at this time.

“Contrary to the speculation, police operatives professionally restored calm at the Unity Fountain following attempts by a group of protesters to incite public disturbance,” police spokeswoman Mariam Yusuf said in a statement.

“The protesters who went on the rampage were resisted by police operatives in order to prevent them from causing a breakdown of law and order,” Yusuf added.

“Sowore has just been shot by a female police officer… She fired a teargas cannister directly at Sowore,” activist Inibehe Effiong said on Twitter.

One of his lawyers Marshall Abubakar told AFP he had been rushed to hospital.

“I am with him at the (hospital) theatre now trying to ascertain but it

…
News / Stories

Nigerians demonstrate over rise in kidnappings

Hundreds of angry protesters in Nigeria have burnt tyres and blocked a major road leading from Niger State to the capital Abuja to condemn a rise in kidnappings in the area.

The residents of Gauraka town north-west of the capital called on the government to offer better protection and demanded the immediate release of 12 hostages who had just been seized by men on motorbikes.

The protest blocked dozens of vehicles including fuel trucks.

Local media in Nigeria reported that at least 14 people were kidnapped in nearby towns last week.

President Muhammadu Buhari has been under increasing pressure to address the country’s numerous security challenges, including frequent mass kidnappings for ransom.…