Connect with us

News

Insecurity: We’ll Crush Insurgents, Bandits Soon, FG Assures

Published

on

The Federal Government, yesterday, said that the current service chiefs would deploy all necessary force to deal with terrorists and bandits terrorizing some parts of the country.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Major Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), stated this at the weekly presidential media briefing at the Council Chamber, State House, Abuja.

He also ruled out the possibility of government negotiating with the criminals, saying that doing that will suggest weakness and incapacity on the part of government.

He said the government would not succumb to blackmail and the use of criminals by proxies to harass innocent citizens.

He said, “While the government is not averse to talking, it must apply the necessary force because you can’t trust these people.

“Government wants to use military assets to eliminate them but if along the line, they come out, good. It paints the picture of weakness, incapacity.”

The NSA further declared that the Federal Government will not engage mercenaries in its fight against insurgents and other forms of insecurity in the country.

While responding to a question on renewed calls by North-East governors on the Federal Government to engage foreign mercenaries in routing Boko Haram terrorists in Sambisa forest and other insurgents’ enclaves, he said, “The President’s view and directive is that we will not engage mercenaries when we have our own people to deal with these problems. We have the personnel and resources, and the President has given a new lease of life to the Armed Forces.”

He said the government would not succumb to blackmail and the use of criminals by proxies to harass innocent citizens.

According to him, “While government is not averse to talking with these entities, it also has to fully apply its weight. You can’t (negotiate) with people who are unreliable and who will continue to hurt society. We will apply the full weight of the government to deal with these criminals.

“These are not people looking for anything that is genuine or legitimate, they’re just out to take calculated measures to inflict pain and violence on innocent people. We must deal with them the way they need to be dealt with. We will fully assert the government’s will.

“We are also focusing on the associated dimensions of the banditry and terrorism: Illegal Drugs, the flow of small arms and light weapons, and Illegal mining in places like Zamfara. These are some of the scenarios fuelling the violence, and we are already tackling them decisively.”

The NSA also disclosed that between March and December, 2020, the military successfully took out 2,403 insurgents in the North-East.

On why the government was silent on Ahmad Gumi, an Islamic cleric, who has been calling on government to grant insurgents amnesty, Monguno, he has met and interacted with him briefly in Kaduna at the zonal town hall meeting with service chiefs but that he was still waiting for the cleric to come forth as he promised to help.

He also said the  recent changes made by President Buhari to the security architecture “gives us a ray of hope that things will be adjusted, so that whatever we do as regards securing Nigeria will be in conformity with the aspirations of the people.

On external support, the NSA said, “There’s a Regional Intelligence Fusion Unit, comprising US, UK, France working with us and our neighbours. They’ve been supporting us with intelligence. For us what’s most important is acting on the intelligence—that’s why we’re investing in equipment and assets.”

On the new service chiefs, Monguno said, “The new direction of government is to come out with full force. Government will not allow itself to be blackmailed by any group or any individual who thinks he can hide under the surface and use proxies to deal a fatal blow on innocent people.

”That I want to assure you categorically and unequivocally, government is going to apply full weight to deal with these criminals until such a time that they vacate the shores of this country.

”In dealing with this issue, government realizes the tangential, auxiliary organizations to key in both the issue of drugs coming in and smuggling of arms and light weapons.

”As a result of what I said about delivering maximum force, the weight of our security organizations,  does that obviate the need for us to use soft approach.

“We are ready to dialogue with these people but for us, it’s not a priority.

“We can’t be singing the same song everyday and these people are unreliable. They are ignoble, they are ready to undermine whatever agreement we have had, so, because of that, if the opportunity avails itself, of course, we will talk with responsible people from the side of those people.

“I don’t even know how to categorize them because it’s not as if they are looking for something you can point a finger at, it’s not some kind of nationalistic situation, and something you can actually identify and relate to.

“These are just a murderous group of individuals who are keyed up on drugs and I don’t know what anybody wants to negotiate with these people.

“And the people who have been negotiating with them in the first place, don’t you think they should actually, if there is that sincerity of purpose talk with the right people in government? So, for negotiations, it is there, we would see what happens if it happens.”

 

 

Continue Reading

News

Elder Statesman, Others Emerge PH Boat Club’s New Officials

Published

on

The Port Harcourt Boat Club 1947 has elected new officers to pilot its affairs.
An elder statesman and staunch supporter of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Sir Kingsley Fubara Hart emerged the club’s Secretary.
Sir Hart’s emergence followed an election conducted by the electoral committee over the weekend which threw up new officials to pilot its affairs at its corporate headquarters in Port Harcourt.
The election which was adjudged one of the most credible, fairest and freest elections in the annals of the Port Harcourt Boat Club 1947, saw the emergence of Dan Harrison as Chairman.
Other members elected to run the activities of the body are Chief Coker Jimmy, Dr Oma Awoh, Chief Bib- Manuel Afonya, Dawari Dingo, Dango Kala- Otaji, Bara Alagoma and Dago George.
Recall that Port Harcourt Boat Club 1947 was founded by the former Military Governor of old Rivers State, King Alfred Diete-Spiff.
Many years after its inception, the club is still waxing strong with notable personalities as members.
Former Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Chief AbiyeSekibo is also a prominent member of the club.
The elected officials including Sir Kingsley Fubara Hart were subsequently sworn in, signalling a new chapter for the revered group of bigwigs in the oil- rich region.
With the likes of an elder statesman, Sir Kingsley Fubara Hart on board, the narrative has changed for Port Harcourt Boat Club 1947 as expectations are high.
The newly elected boat Secretary, Sir Fubara Hart promised to work assiduously with the chairman and other members to chart a new course for the esteemed club.
He said efforts are in top gear to enroll new members who will contribute their quota to the advancement of the club.
Sir Hart described his emergence as an act of God, promising to support the new leadership to achieve the desired objective.
He hinted that the core values of the club would be upheld with vigour, saying working in synergy with the principles laid down by its founders remains their watchword.
He said the rules and regulations of the club shall be sustained in the interest of the club and every legitimate member.

 

Continue Reading

News

New Oneh Eta Akpajo Emerges

Published

on

The Akpajo Clan in Eleme Local Government Area was recently agog with activities following the coronation of HRH Emere Sunday Obo as the Oneh Eta Akpajo XII/paramount ruler of Akpajo clan in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Emere Obo was crowned by the traditional staff bearer of the clan,  Chief Joseph Goka on behalf of the land priests at the community square.
Before his coronation, the new King was an acting traditional ruler of the community since the death of his predecessor, Emere Friedrich on the 11th of January, 2023.
He was also a member of the late King’s Council of Chiefs and member of Nchia and Eleme Council of Chiefs respectively.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after his coronation,the new Akpajo monarch said his reign will usher in peace and prosperity to the Kingdom.
He said he intends to work together with the government and companies operating in the Kingdom to attract development to Akpajo clan.
According to the monarch, he will always seek the advice of his elders and other clansmen before taking any decisions.
“I have promised them that I cannot use my authority to do anything without hearing from them first,” he said.
Emere Obo also stressed the need for the youths in the area to toe the path of peace, adding that as a traditional ruler, his responsibility is to ensure that Akpajo clan remains peaceful.
He also assured the government of support and praised both past and current administrations in the State for siting projects in the community.
Also speaking , the traditional staff bearer of the clan, Chief Joseph Goka said Emere Obo’s installation was in line with the customs and traditions of Akpajo Kingdom.
He also told newsmen that the king makers have not received any protest from any quarters concerning the installation since the process started months ago.
Chief Goka  equally said his crowning of the monarch was based on instructions from the clan’s land priests and expressed optimism that Emere Obo is capable of representing the clan Traditionally and other wise.
Chief Goka described Emere Obo as trustworthy and law-abiding, adding that having worked with the late traditional ruler, Emere Obo has a full knowledge of the customs and traditions of not only Akpajo clan but the entire Eleme Kingdom.
He assured the new monarch of the support of the people of Akpajo and the entire traditional institution in the area.
Also speaking, one of the community’s land priests, Levy Kattey Jumaa said the installation of the new Akpajo monarch was in line with the customs and traditions of Akpajo and Eleme kingdom.
According to him, the new King has all the qualities expected from a chief in Eleme land, stressing that Emere Obo was only ascending the throne of his fathers having come from the royal family of Akpajo Kingdom.
He urged the public to disregard any insinuations concerning the installation, ”if at all there is any,” adding that it is only the land priests families that talk about kingship installations in Akpajo and Eleme and no other persons outside the land priests families can do that.

By: John Bibor

Continue Reading

News

Awo Idemili Community May Become Ghost Town If

Published

on

If urgent steps are not taken by concerned authorities, the Awo Idemili community in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State may become a ghost town, due to incessant killings, arson and kidnapping of residents by some alleged criminal elements suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB).
The Tide’s sourc learnt that a certain family, the Emenikes, said the only possible solution to save the lives of the family members and that of others was to seek protection in a foreign land.
According to sources, one of the family members, Mr Peter Emenike was adbucted and murdered in a gruesome manner by people believed to be members of the IPOB recently.
It was further learnt that Peter Emenike, now deceased, was the Personal Assistant to the Imo State Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Traditional Matters and was never a member of any secret organisation as to warrant the fate that befell him.
His only offence as further gathered, was an alleged intelligence leaked to the Imo Government which the IPOB framed up in order to get him and his family members nailed.
It also learnt on a good authority that Peter Emenike’s lifeless body alongside that of his wife was found at their residence in Awo – Idemili, Imo State on 14th November, 2024 .
It was also reported that few days later, some family members of the Emenike family were declared missing and as one of them was found dead by a bush path, while others were still held hostage as at when this report was filed.
The Tide’s source claimed that a letter purportedly written by the IPOB members was delivered and dropped inside the car of the deceased bearing the insignia of the IPOB with the inscription: ‘None of your family members can hide for long’.
Unconfirmed report has it that the family, out of fear could not immediately report the matter to the Imo State Police Command as the group is believed to possess some spiritual powers to identify their perceived enemies from afar.
The family members of the deceased including oneMr Daniel Emenike, Boniface Emenike , Paul Emenike and others are now under serious threat by the separatist group (IPOB), thus the urgent need for protection especially in a foreign land.
A security analyst who pleaded anolmity, warned that the assassination of Peter Emenike and the serial killings and abduction of his family members stood as a signal to a new phase of IPOB’s operations .
“ This is not an attack on one family , but on the nation and our collective safety . The government must act swiftly not just to rescue the family but to reaffirm their stance on zero tolerance to terrorism “ he said .

Continue Reading

Trending