Flowerbud News

Category: Security and Crimes

  • NAF acquires 30 aircraft, activates 13 in 3 years — CAS

    NAF acquires 30 aircraft, activates 13 in 3 years — CAS

    The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar, has said that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) acquired 30 aircraft and activated 13 grounded ones in the last three years.

    Abubakar disclosed this on Saturday at the inauguration of the new Headquarters of Air Training Command, and the Sports complex at the Air Force Comprehensive School in Kaduna.

    He said professionalism was about providing serviceable equipment and making case to the Federal Government to provide equipment required.

    “I am very happy in the last three years, we were able to acquire 18 aircraft, similarly the Federal Government have paid for additional 12 aircraft, if put together is 30,” Abubakar said.

    “Professionalism is also ensuring that we activate what currently we have; hence we embarked on renovation of our grounded aircraft.

    “So far, we have activated 13 aircraft and working on the 14 to15 ones both in Port Harcourt in Rivers State,’’ Abubakar said.

    According to him, professionalism is having the right structure, hence the decision to unbundle the former Training Command to Air Training Command and Ground Training Command.

    He disclosed that the NAF increased its manpower from 1,000 a year to 1,500 minimum annually.

    “We also recognised the need to have required numbers of officers, in addition to the one coming from Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and that is why we enlisted 400 Direct Short Service Commission Officers’’ he said.

    The CAS also pledged to improve the welfare of personnel hence it embarked on construction of accommodation and renovation of existing ones including office accommodation.

    He said that the NAF was able to make the achievements through the support of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Earlier, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Air Training Command, AVM Muhammad Idris, commended Abubakar for his visionary and well thought leadership.

    He said the construction of the air training command headquarters was completed in eight months. (NAN)

  • FRSC Recruitment: Screening, physical assessments begin Sept. 24

    The Federal Road Safety Commission  (FRSC) has scheduled its screening and physical fitness assessment on recruitment for Sept. 24 to 29.

    Mr Bisi Kazeem, the FRSC Public Education Officer, said in a statement on Friday that the screening would be conducted in all the state capitals.

    Kazeem advised applicants to check their email used for submission of the applications on Sept. 19 for information on the exercise.

    “The email information will contain the venue, date, time of screening and required items to be taken along for the exercise,” he said.

    According to him, shortlisted applicants are to come with the summary data page earlier received and email notification slip which shall admit them to the screening venue.

    The FRSC image maker said that any candidate without the printout of the summary data page and notification slip for the phase of the exercise would not be admitted into the venue.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the FRSC recruitment started on May 28, with the uploading of the application forms on FRSC recruitment portal. (NAN)

  • Youths riot, injure 2 policemen, destroy patrol vehicle in Jos

    Youths of Lopandet village in Du District of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau have attacked and injured two Policemen attached to the ‘A’ Division of the State Police Command while on duty in the community.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Police Command in the state, DSP Terna Tyopev, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Jos that the incident occurred on Monday.

    Tyopev said the youths also vandalised a police patrol vehicle.

    NAN reports that gunmen had on Sunday night attacked Lopandet community, killed 11 persons and injured scores of the residents.

    “You will recall that Lopandet community of Jos South local government area was on Sunday attacked by gunmen during which 11 persons lost their lives and many others got injured.

    “As usual, we mobilised our men to the area to forestall further attacks and ensure law and order.

    “Unfortunately, the youths of the community attacked some of our men and injured Inspector James Gomos and Sgt. Muazu Adamu, of our ‘A’ Division.

    “The youths also vandalised one of our patrol vehicles, ” the police spokesman said.

    He said the injured officers were currently receiving treatment at the Police Clinic, Jos.

    He advised members of the public to see policemen as friends and partners in progress, rather than enemies. (NAN)

  • Boko Haram: NAF destroy terrorists’ facilities in Sambisa forest

    The Nigerian Air Force says the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, has successfully destroyed some Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) facilities and equipment at Alafa Yagayaga in Sambisa forest.

    According to the Air force, ATF has also destroyed a suspected BHT ammunition depot in Kusuma on the fringes of Lake Chad, Borno.

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

    He said that the air strikes was in continuation of OPERATION THUNDER STRIKE 2 which commenced on Sept.3.

    “The air strikes against BHTs at Alafa Yagayaga were targeted at structures within the settlement identified via previous Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions to be rendezvous (RV) points for the insurgents.

    “Consequently, a combination of NAF fighter aircraft and helicopter gunships were detailed to carry out air interdiction on the locations while the NAF ISR aircraft conducted Battle Damage Assessment (BDA).

    “The attack platforms acquired the targets and took turns to attack the location, destroying the structures and killing most of the BHTs in the process.

    “The few surviving BHTs, seen fleeing the area, were strafed and neutralised by the helicopter gunships,” he said.

    Daramola said that the attack at Kusuma was initiated, following credible intelligence indicating the presence of a BHT logistics/ammunition depot within the settlement.

    “Accordingly, the ATF detailed a fighter aircraft to attack the insurgents’ position while the NAF ISR aircraft conducted BDA.”

    He explained that at end of the attacks, the BDA revealed a direct hit on the ammunition depot which was engulfed in fire.

    The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information added some other adjoining BHT structures were also destroyed and the occupying terrorists neutralised.

  • Delta Govt to establish Army Brigade in Asaba

    By Ifeanyi Olannye

    The Delta Government says an Army Brigade would soon be established in the state capital, Asaba to boost security in the state.

    The Commissioner for Information, Chief Patrick Ukah, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Asaba.

    He said that it was part of the decisions reached at the State Executive Council meeting held on Tuesday in Asaba.

    Ukah said that the council approved the purchase of a landed property to fast track the establishment of the brigade.

    According to the commissioner, the decision to purchase an existing property, as opposed to erecting a new structure, is to facilitate the establishment of the Brigade.

    He said that the Brigade would be located at Kilometre 2, Anwai-Illah Road, opposite the Government House.

    “With the brigade in place, security in Asaba and environs will be beefed up to ensure safety of lives and property,’’ Ukah said.

    He also said that the council approved the Delta State Economic and Fiscal Update, a Fiscal Strategy Paper and a Budget Policy Framework, 2019-2021.

    “With this approval, the state governor, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, can now present the 2019 budget to the State House of Assembly in September, with a view to getting the budget passed by January 2019,’’ he said.

    Ukah said that the council also approved the construction of an access road from the NPA Expressway by former Protea Hotel in Warri to the Warri refinery. (NAN)

  • NSCDC arrests 25-year-old man over employment scam in Jigawa, recovers 5 fake appointment letters

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Jigawa Command, has arrested a 25-year-old man over alleged forgery and sale of fake employment letters to unsuspecting job seekers in the state.

    The corps’ spokesperson in the state, Mr Adamu Shehu, confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Thursday.

    Shehu said the suspect, a resident of Kanti Quarters in Kazaure Local Government Area, was arrested on Aug. 16, at about 6:30 p.m. by men of the command.

    He explained that the suspect was arrested after one Malam Inusa Musa, whose child was requested by the suspect to pay the sum of N120,000 to be issued with NSCDC employment letter, reported the matter at the command’s headquarters.

    “Already, the suspect had collected N1,700 from the victim as payment for employment form, but the father, who later became suspicious approached our personnel in the area with the issue.

    “Thereafter, the suspect was invited to come along with the employment letter and was arrested on arrival.

    “Initially the suspect claimed to be fronting for one big man in Abuja, however, when thoroughly quizzed, he confessed to be the sole mastermind of the crime,” Shehu said.

    The spokesman said that when the suspect was arrested, three forged employment letters of NSCDC were found in his possession addressed to Yahaya Saleh, Yunusa Sabo and Musa Inuwa, respectively.

    According to him, on hearing about the suspect’s arrest, two young men Idris Isa and Ismail Isah came to it’s office with two forged copies of employment letters of the Nigeria Immigration Service given to them at the cost of N120,000 each.

    “But they paid the suspect the sum of N20,000 deposit and agreed to pay the rest of the amount later,” he said.

    Shehu added that investigation into the case was ongoing after which the suspect would be charged to court.

    He, therefore, warned the public to be wary of fraudsters who paraded themselves as employment agents to deceive innocent and vulnerable youths for the purpose of obtaining money from them.

    “The general public, especially youths who are desperate to get employment are implored to be cautious not to fall victim of forgery and scam.

    “The command also wishes to draw the attention of the public that the corps is not recruiting any category of personnel,” he said. (NAN)

  • Three soldiers, four others killed in suicide attack

    No fewer than three soldiers were among the seven people on Sunday killed in a suicide car bomb in Mogadishu, Somali.

    The Mogadishu Regional Administration spokesman, Mr Salah Omar Hassan, said the dead also two children and two adult civilian pedestrians.

    “We shall let the media know about the final casualty levels, but this is what we have so far identified,” Mr Hassan said, adding that 14 other people were wounded in the incident.

    The car packed with explosives exploded at the Howlwadag, one of the 17 districts of Mogadishu.

    It exploded after it hit the perimeter wall of the compound, located in a residential area.

    Most impact was absorbed by a Quran school and a nearby mosque next to the district administrative centre.

    “Courageous army officers guarding the district headquarter confronted the attacking car-bomb, preventing it from entering the compound,” added the regional spokesman.

    The casualty figures were expected to rise, considering that many houses close to the target compound were severely damaged in the densely populated area.

    Soon after the blast, gunshot sounds were heard, an indication that gunmen had attacked the municipal centre in the city centre.

    There were no immediate claim of responsibility by any group, but the Somali government usually blames the Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabaab for such attacks.

    The Horn of Africa state, without a stable central authority since 1991, is regularly targeted by the Al-Shabaab militants, intent on overthrowing the government.

    Source: East African

  • Buhari to Military: Be ruthless in fighting bandits, Nigerians deserve peace

    President Muhammadu Buhari has challenged military personnel deployed to Katsina State, saddled with the task of fighting bandits in Zamfara, to be `as ruthless as humanly possible’ in carrying out their assignment.

    The president gave the challenge when he addressed the 1000-strong military force assembled to check the menace of the bandits and other criminal elements at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport Katsina, on Saturday.

    The Federal Government had, on July 29, assembled military personnel, comprising the army, air force, police and the civil defence to help in tackling the activities of the bandits.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has deployed fighter aircraft to Katsina, the airport with the closest proximity to Zamfara, to allow for immediate and effective response to the menace of the bandits.

    The president had also authorised the engagement by NAF, of advanced satellite surveillance technology to help in accurate detection of movement and locations of the bandits.

    The bandits had been terrorising innocent rural dwellers, razing down several villages and towns across the local government areas of Zamfara, and also kidnapping for ransom.

    President Buhari, who expressed satisfaction with the way and manner the soldiers were carrying out their assignment, said that Nigerians deserved some peace.

    ‘‘Nigerians are looking up to you and us to secure the country. What is happening in the areas of operations is disgraceful.

    “I’m very pleased with the way officers and men are firmly putting it down and I want you to be as ruthless as humanly possible. Nigerians deserve some peace.

    “When we came into government, what we promised was security.The country has to be secured to be managed.

    “Secondly, on economy, more than 60 per cent of the population of Nigeria is under 30 years.

    ‘‘A lot of them did not have the opportunity to be educated to secure respective jobs; their expectations are very high.

    “The second undertaken we made is to improve the economy and the third is to fight corruption.

    ‘‘We have been doing our best and we depend a lot on you to do what is needed in the field.

    “I do not want you to spare any cattle rustler, armed robber or any bad element who thinks he is above the law.

    ‘‘I commend you for the job you have been doing so far and I assure you that I will continue to be a worthy Commander-in-Chief,’’ he said.

    The president, who donated five bulls to the military personnel, departed for Abuja after the Sallah break in his country home, Daura.

    Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State and other government dignitaries were at the airport to wish the president safe trip back to Abuja.

    While in Daura, the president had received seven APC governors, many members of the National Assembly including Sen. Shehu Sani as well as cabinet ministers, who paid him Sallah homage.

    President Buhari also used the opportunity to hold various family meetings with relatives.(NAN)

  • Nigerian Army hold training week to enhance operations

    By Ruona Isikeh
    The Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps, Benin is set to host the 2018 Nigerian Army Combat Support Training Week as part of efforts to improve its operations.

    Captain Ilaya Dauda, the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations said this in a statement issued in Benin on Saturday.

    Dauda said that the training would hold from August 27 to August 30.

    According to him, the theme of the training week is “Enhancing Combat Service Support Capability through Public Private Partnership to Meet Nigerian Army Contemporary Challenges’’.

    He noted that the training which was designed to enhance leadership skills, would also feature exhibitions by vendors, display of equipment by logistic Corps as well as the conduct of free medical outreach.

    “The medical outreach will involve free medical checkup, eye screening, dental checkup and distribution of free drugs,’’ he said.

    Dauda said that the free medical checkup would take place on August 28 at the Local Government Authority Primary School in Egbaen Community, Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo.

    He advised members of the public not to panic on seeing security personnel and military convoys within the area during the period of the training.

    According to Dauda, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai and Gov. Godwin Obaseki are expected to grace the occasion. (NAN)