Category: Security and Crimes

The United States says it is evacuating all its troops from northern Syria amid heavy clashes between Turkish-led forces and Kurdish fighters.

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on October 13 that Turkey “likely intends” to extend its attack further than originally planned.

The Turkish offensive is aimed at dislodging the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which Ankara claims is a branch of the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) that has fought for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey for three decades.

Esper said the SDF was in negotiations with the Syrian and Russian governments to form an alliance against the Turkish force.

The Kurdish authorities are “looking to cut a deal, if you will, with the Syrians and the Russians to counterattack against the Turks in the north,” Esper said.

The Kurdish administration later announced on October 13 that it had struck an agreement with the Damascus government.

“In order to prevent and confront this aggression, an agreement has been reached with the Syrian government… so that the Syrian Army can deploy along the Syrian-Turkish border to assist the Syrian Democratic Forces,” the Kurdish administration said.

Earlier, Syrian government media said the army was sending troops to the north to “confront the Turkish aggression,” without giving further details.

The United Nations has said that more than 130,000 people have fled their homes because of the Turkish offensive.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement last week to pull out all American troops from Syria has been widely criticized, with many observers warning that the president’s move will likely lead to a resurgence of the Islamic State (IS) extremist group.

Kurdish forces are holding an estimated 10,000 IS prisoners and experts fear they will escape detention as Kurdish and Turkish forces engage in battle.

On October 13, some 700 IS supporters escaped from a detention facility near the northern town of Ain Issa.

The Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) has launched an empowerment programme for unemployed women, youth and widows in Ekiti.

The Acting Director of Defence Information, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

The President of DEPOWA, Mr Omobolanle Olonisakin, while inaugurating the empowerment programme in Ado-Ekiti, said the organisation was committed to addressing the plights of the less privileged in the society.

Olonisakin said that the skills acquisition training being organised for indigenes in Ekiti and the neighbouring states would provide jobs for the unemployed populace and ultimately promote socio-economic development of the state.

She said that the programme was DEPOWA’s ‘little way towards effecting positive change’, urging the trainees to take every aspect of the training seriously.

According to her, the knowledge gained will enable them become economically independent as well as catapult them into gainful employment.

“DEPOWA is committed to providing necessary succour to our teaming populace, especially the less privileged in our society by responsively complementing the welfare programmes of the Armed Forces and Police for barracks and surrounding communities.”

Olonisakin disclosed that the DEPOWA’s empowerment programmes in Ekiti and Ibadan in 2018 was largely successful, adding that most of the beneficiaries were now small scale business entrepreneurs and employers of labour.

She revealed that some of the previous beneficiaries were part of the resource persons in the DEPOWA training team who are currently imparting acquisition skills to the new set of trainees.

“The beneficiaries are being trained in cosmetic production, tile installation, beads stringing, bag making, facial make-up and gele (head gear) tying.

“Others are barbing, grinding machine operation, as well as fabric tie and dye.

“The two weeks vocational training is being conducted without any cost on the beneficiaries and at the end of the training, DEPOWA will issue free starter packs to successful graduands to enable them set up their enterprises,” she said.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai has donated two brand new Hilux Vans to the National Park Services (NPS) to enhance patrols towards weeding out criminal elements.

As part of efforts and resolve to stamp out banditry, kidnapping and other security threats emanating from Forests, Parks and bushes used as dens and hideouts,

The COAS who was represented by Major General Fidelis Azinta, Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation, made the presentation to the Conservator General Ibrahim Goni at the premises of the Command Officers Mess in Abuja.

Azinta said, “The issues of banditry and kidnapping will be reduced to the barest minimum with these vehicles which is the beginning of such partnership to prevent these criminal elements the use of our national parks and reserves.

“Our Chief of Army Staff (Lt. Gen TY Buratai) is a man of his words, who recognizes that when Security Agencies partner and work together, they will achieve greater results that could impact more positively on the National Security.

“What we have done by this presentation is to assure the National Park Service of Nigeria that we will continue to work with you to stamp out criminal elements who use our parks for their activities.

“The Chief of Army Staff also said I should assure you that all the Nigerian Army units, sub formations that are operating in the areas where you have parks and forest reserves have been put on standby to support you anytime you need them”.

He said the Army would continue to support the NPS in staff training and other areas they will call on him.

Speaking after receiving the vehicles, the Conservator General of the National Park Service Alhaji Ibrahim Goni who represented the Permanent Secretary ministry of environment, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, appreciated COAS for the kind gesture.

He said, “I will like to assure you sir, that the vehicles will be used strictly for patrols to enhance the capacity of park rangers for effective protection and to improve the level of security in the country.

“It is my fervent prayer that this partnership will be sustained and taken to higher level in order to promote our collective efforts towards making Nigeria safe”.

He called on other Security agencies and Para-military including the Nigerian Navy, Air Force, Police etc to emulate the Nigerian Army by partnering with NPS.

Earlier, the Director of Procurement and Projects office of Army Standards and Evaluation, Major General Adeyemi Adetayo said the gesture by the COAS became necessary to help checkmate criminal activities across the national parks, reserves and forests noting that the parks across the country have turned to criminal hideouts.

He assured that all the reserves in the country will be adequately protected to help get rid of the criminal activities. (Flowerbudnews)

Mrs Angela Esekhaigbe, the new Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service in Federal Capital Territory, has urged officers and men of the command to be dedicated to their duties.

Esekhaigbe gave the advice at a valedictory session in honour of her predecessor, Comptroller Ibraheem Yanda and four others who retired from the service in Abuja on Thursday.

She urged the officers to brace up to the challenges of their duties and called on them to be ready to work hard and do their best to bring about the much needed change in the service.

She pledged to carry all officers along for the progress of the service.

“As the first female comptroller of the FCT, I will make the difference. I will carry my officers along.

“Together we will work to push the command forward and the entire NIS.

“We will serve our nation with all our strength and might,” she said.
Earlier, the outgoing comptroller, appreciated God for all the years he spent in service.

“I thank God for bringing me this far. It is a happy moment,” Iyanda said.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has destroyed a major Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) Logistics Base and Training Camp at Kusuma on the fringes of Lake Chad in Borno.

NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

Daramola said the operation was executed on Wednesday by the Air Task Force of Operation LAFIYA DOLE.

” The air strike was executed after credible intelligence reports had established that a section of the settlement was serving as a training camp for the terrorists.

” While,  some buildings within the camp were being used to store their fuel, arms and ammunition as well as other logistics supplies.

” The pre-attack surveillance showed scores of fighters attempting to flee the location upon hearing the sound of the attack aircraft.

” They were engaged by the attack aircraft in successive passes, neutralising many of them.

” The terrorists’ logistics supply store, which was also hit, was seen engulfed in flames due to the raid,” he said.

The spokesman said the NAF, operating in concert with surface forces, would sustain its efforts to completely destroy all remnants of the terrorists in the North East.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Mohammed Adamu has called on the Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering to be firm in the discharge of their duties.

Adamu made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at his maiden meeting with sector, intelligence and unit commanders of the task force.

He said the meeting was convened to engage the commanders on new approaches to the security of critical assets in the oil sector.

Adamu said the task force was established with mandate to work with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other security agencies to protect oil pipelines and prevent illegal bunkering.

“Your core duties in this regard include and not limited to the protection of NNPC pipelines/infrastructure throughout the federation, identify and destroy all illegal refineries and depots.

“Surveillance and generation of intelligence that could be utilised to prevent any act of sabotage in the oil sector, arrest and prosecution of pipeline vandals and those engaged in illegal bunkering,” he said.

According to him, in the performance of your duties, you are to be guided by the fact that oil pipelines are not ordinary assets and their security is of strategic importance to the country.

He called on the commanders to imbibe the virtues of inter-agency collaboration, partnership with the host communities, NNPC and other stakeholders in the discharge of their duties.

“You must constantly demonstrate the highest level of professionalism and eschew all forms of corruption.

“You must be firm in your enforcement operations, ensure diligent investigation and speedy prosecution of arrested vandals, oil thieves and those involved in illegal bunkering.

“You will be held liable for any action or inaction that engenders any security breach within your operational jurisdiction as regards pipeline security,” he added.

He said plans were ongoing to engage community policing practice, intelligence-led operations and technology driven strategies to support the task force in the discharge of its duties.

According to him, this will involve the deployment of our newly acquired long-range monitoring, vehicle-mounted CCTV system to support your pipeline surveillance operations.

The Nigerian Army says it has stepped up operations nationwide to ensure a peaceful and conducive atmosphere for all citizens and residents during the peak of the year.

Col. Aminu Iliyasu, Army Operations Media Coordinator disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

Iliyasu said that troops in the various operational theatres across the country had continued to decimate and frustrate activities of criminal elements in line with the resolve of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.

He also disclosed that the Sector 3 supported by the Air Task Force of the Operation Lafiya Dole had successfully repelled an attack on Gubio in Borno between Sunday and Tuesday.

According to him, two insurgents were neutralised, while one gun truck, two AK-47 rifles and one anti aircraft gun were recovered.

“Additionally, 51 civilians hitherto held hostage by the criminals were rescued during the encounter.

“The troops continue to dominate the area with fighting/clearing patrols, ambush, raids as well as cordon and search operations.

“Similarly, troops, acting on timely information also arrested four male suspects with large consignments of dried fish intended for delivery to the criminal insurgents.

“All four suspects are currently undergoing interrogation where they are giving useful information,’’ he said.

Iliyasu said the troops also arrested a pickup truck conveying three adult females, 15 adult males and three rustled cows during a clearance operation at Mada in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno.

He said that the claim by the suspects that they were of the Shuwa extraction was refuted by the locals in the area, adding that none of the suspects could speak any of the local languages.

Iliyasu said preliminary investigation revealed that one of the suspects and a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) operating in the state had been communicating at various times.

He added that investigation further revealed that the suspect was on WhatsApp chat platform with the NGO.

Iliyasu said that in Yobe, troops discovered two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) along a route in Buni Gari in Gujba Local Government Area and safely donated them.

He said that a joint operation with the police had yielded positive results in Cross River and Lagos states in recent times.

He quoted the chief of army staff as reassuring the public of the unwavering resolve of the army to safeguard the territorial integrity of the country with the support of civil authority.

“The Nigeria army hereby requests our good and law abiding citizens to go about their normal economic activities without fear of molestation.

“The populace is equally requested to please assist the army with any useful information that will assist in our operational efforts aimed at ridding the society of criminal elements and other miscreants,” he said.

NAN

The Nigerian Navy has commenced the enlistment of graduates and HND holders into the Direct Short Service Commission.

Navy Director of Information, Commodore Suleman Dahun, announced this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

Dahun said interested applicants, who must be Nigerians by birth, should possess a minimum of Second Class Upper Division for first degree holders and Upper Credit for HND holders.

“Male applicants must not be less than 1.68 metres tall while female applicants must not be less than 1.65 metres in height.

“Applicants must possess NYSC Discharge/Exemption Certificate and should be between 22 and 28 years by Feb. 20, 2020,

“Except for Imams, Chaplains and Medical Consultants who should not exceed 30 years and 40 years respectively by Feb. 20, 2020,” he said.

Dahun said guidelines for the enlistment could be accessed on the Nigerian Navy Enlistment Portal: www.joinnigeriannavy.com.

He said the portal will remain open till Nov. 14, 2019 for interested candidates to apply online.

“Candidates are to note that all the processes ranging from online registration, aptitude test and the selection interview are free of charge,” he said.

He advised candidates to be wary of scammers and refrain from giving money to any individual under any guise.

NAN