The announcement was made in a statement from the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser, NCTC-ONSA, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The National Coordinator of NCTC, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, said the trials represent Nigeria’s unwavering pursuit of justice and a reaffirmation of its resolve to confront terrorism through lawful and transparent means.

He said it was encouraging to see the convergence of the judiciary, law enforcement, legal practitioners, and partners, once again united in purpose and duty.

According to him, these trials are a cornerstone of the national commitment to upholding the rule of law while addressing terrorism and violent extremism.

Laka noted that Nigeria had recorded significant successes in strengthening its criminal justice capacity to handle terrorism-related offences.

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He added that recent progress in the prosecution of such cases had played a critical role in addressing concerns raised by the Financial Action Task Force, FATF.

“Indeed, the advancements made through these trials have greatly contributed to Nigeria’s efforts toward exiting the FATF Grey List,” he said.

Laka extended appreciation to the federal government, the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and the Justices of the Federal High Court for their professionalism and dedication to justice.

He also acknowledged the valuable support of international partners, investigators, legal teams, and support staff.

On his part, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, commended the collaborative efforts of the ONSA and various local and international stakeholders for their ongoing support and contributions to the trials.

Fagbemi was represented by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Babadoko, at the ceremony.

He reiterated the federal government’s determination to ensure justice was served to both victims and accused persons within a framework that respected the rule of law and human rights.

Source: NAN

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The Nigerian Army, in a post on its official X handle on Tuesday, stated that its sustained onslaught had continued to cripple the adversary’s freedom of action across the country.

The post revealed that a high-intensity raid was launched on Boko Haram/ISWAP strongholds in Ajiri and Mastari villages of Bama Local Government Area of Borno on September 29, eliminating four notorious fighters.

It said a meticulous sweep of the area uncovered the following: two Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) bombs, two AK-47 magazines, 28 rounds of 7.62mm (special) ammunition, 25 rounds of 7.62x54mm Light Machine Gun ammunition, and a Light Machine Gun Barrel.

It added troops also neutralised another terrorist in another encounter at Banki Junction in Bama Local Government.

In Plateau State, army said the troops acting on precise intelligence conducted a raid operation that led to the capture of two notorious kidnappers, Isah Abdullahi (24) and Mujahid Musa (23), in the forested mountains of Panyam.

According to the post, initial investigations reveal their involvement in a series of violent attacks on villages within Mangu Local Government Area.

“Items recovered during the operation include two motorcycles, three mobile phones, and various paraphernalia.

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“In a related operation, troops apprehended a notorious arms dealer, Kabiru Zaki, in Bukuru town of Jos South Local Government Area, alongside another suspect, linked to a recent murder in Brazongo village, Bassa Local Government Area.

“Meanwhile, in South Eastern Nigeria, troops have engaged IPOB/ESN terrorists in a ferocious firefight at Lilu, in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra, after the terrorists attempted to ambush the troops with Improvised Explosive Device.

“Overwhelmed by superior firepower, the militants retreated into the surrounding forests, leaving behind a Closed Circuit Camera and components of Improvised Explosive Devices.

“Additionally, troops responded swiftly to a distress call about the abduction of civilians along the Gurbi-Jibia road in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.

“Upon sighting the advancing troops, the terrorists fled, abandoning four injured victims who were immediately rescued by the troops and evacuated for medical attention,” it said.

The Nigerian army remains steadfast in its resolve to continually weaken terrorist groups and their accomplices.

According to the post, the Chief of Army Staff has issued a stern directive, urging troops to maintain unrelenting pressure on all fronts until the nation’s adversaries are completely vanquished and peace is restored.

Source: NAN

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The Nigerian Army, in a post on its official X handle on Sunday, said the success was recorded on Friday.

It said the troops, while conducting a fighting patrol to Saulawa, cleared Maidaro and Ngade Alha villages before making contact with the rampaging terrorists.

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It added that one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 rifle magazine loaded with 23 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and 11 motorcycles, were recovered during the operation.

“The troops in their untiring commitment have continued to deny the terrorists freedom of action and significantly undermined their capabilities.

“The Nigerian army remains determined to protect the nation and its citizens from the scourge of terrorism,” it said.

Source: NAN

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The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known while briefing newsmen on the operations of the military in the second quarter, on Thursday in Abuja.

Buba said the troops recovered 2,783 weapons, 64,547 ammunitions and denied the oil thieves of an estimated sum of over N10 billion during the period.

He said the arms and ammunition recovered included 1,169 AK47 rifles, 36,273 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 14,764 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 713 assorted arms and 9,850 assorted ammo.

Others, according to him, are 9.2 million litres of stolen crude oil, 2.8 million litres of illegally refined AGO, 29,900 litres of DPK and 31,380 litres of PMS amongst other item.

In the North East, Buba said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai conducted operations deep in terrorist enclaves in Sambisa Forest and the Tumbuns of the Lake Chad Region targeted at terrorist commanders and leaders strongholds.

He said the operations denied terrorists the ability to carry out major offensive as well as diminished the their offensive capability, saying the terrorist were limited to low level skirmishes and attacks, mostly on soft targets.

According to him, troops neutralised 857 terrorist, arrested 913 suspects and rescued 594 kidnapped hostages during the second quarter of the year.

“Additionally, troops recorded a total of 4,582 surrendered BH/ISWAP terrorists combatants and their families.

“Troops dismantled the terrorist military capabilities by recovering 559 AK47 rifles, 151 fabricated rifles, 181 dane guns, 157 assorted arms, 13,493 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 5,409 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 4,921 assorted ammunitions.

“The air component of Operation Hadin Kai in the second quarter of the year conducted air interdictions to terrorists enclaves at Mandara mountain, Maradun, Southern Tumbun Fulani and several other locations in the N.E.

“Several terrorist enclaves and hideouts were destroyed killing terrorist leaders, commanders and foot soldiers as well as destroying their logistics dumps,” he added.

In the North Central, Buba said the troops of Operation Safe Haven neutralized 130 terrorist violent extremist, arrested 544  suspects and rescued 277 kidnap hostages.

He added that the troops also recovered 39 AK47 rifles, 37 fabricated guns, 126 assorted arms, 3,852 rounds of 7.62mm special, 827 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 499 assorted ammunitions.

Under Operation Whirl Stroke, he said the troops with the support of sister services had emplaced measures to minimise communal clashes and optimised operations against terrorist and their cohorts.

Buba said the troops neutralised 138 terrorist, arrested 377 suspects and rescued 204 kidnapped hostages as well as recovery of 63 AK47 rifles, 110 assorted arms, 3,563 rounds of 7.62mm special, 1,524 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 649 assorted ammunitions.

In the North West, he said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralised 764 terrorist, arrested 673 suspects and rescued 592 kidnap hostages.

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According to him, troops recovered 420 AK47 rifles, 126 fabricated guns, 174 assorted arms, 9,893 rounds of 7.62mm special, 4,678 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 1,239 assorted ammunitions.

He said the air component conducted air interdiction to terrorists enclaves/camps in Kankara, Zurmi, Danmusa, Maradun and Gusau as well as other areas within  Katsina and Zamfara states.

According to him, several terrorist leaders and commanders were wiped off the battlefield via air interdictions conducted.

Under Operation Whirl Punch, defence spokesman said the troops neutralised 170 terrorist, arrested 366 suspects and rescued 178 kidnap hostages in the last three months.

He added that the troops recovered 60 AK47 rifles, 88 assorted arms, 2,016 rounds of 7.62mm special, 924 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 88 assorted ammunitions.

According to him, the air component conducted air strikes on terrorists enclave at Mariga, Kabago, Alawa Forest, Kwaki forest, East Getamiya, Katarma, Chikun, Kuduru, Giwa and several other areas in which terrorists hibernate within in Niger and Kaduna states.

In the South-South, Buba said the troops of Operation Delta Safe, neutralised 14 violent extremist and arrested 455 persons involved in crude oil theft.

He said the troops also recovered 9.2 million litres of stolen crude oil, 2.8 million litres of AGO, 29,900 litres of DPK and 31,380 litres of PMS, as well as recovered 2,752 assorted weapons.

According to him, troops also discovered and destroyed 243 wooden boats, 2,752 assorted ammunitions and 543 illegal refining sites within the quarter.

In the South-East, Buba said the troops of Operation UDO KA conducted rigorous clearance operation across the theatre to frustrate the activities of IPOB/ESN group and  maintain peace in the region.

According to him, troops neutralised 180 terrorist, arrested 354 suspects and rescued 149 kidnap hostages.

“Troops also recovered 28 AK47 rifles, 44 pump action guns, 3,456 rounds of 7.62mm special, 1,402 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 801 live cartridges and 324 assorted ammunitions,” he said.

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Their freedom came hours after the terrorists released a video showing some of them being flogged and followed by the threat to kill and sell some of them as slaves.

Those said to have been released are Gladys Brumen, Oluwatoyin Ojo, Hassan Lawan, and Ayodeji Oyewumi.

No fewer than 20 persons have been freed while over 30 persons are still being held.

Meanwhile, reacting to the threat by the terrorists, the Presidency had on Sunday declared that terrorists’ use of propaganda and violence to force governments to accept or submit to political demands was not new all over world and that it (government) was doing its best to arrest the situation.

In a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the government said that the country’s security and defense forces were not clueless or helpless.

According to him, they had their plans and ways of doing things which they would not display in the media.

He explained that the dilemmas in dealing with the specific case of train terrorists who issued the threat were manifold.

He assured that the security forces were not relenting.

Said he: “They are acutely aware of their duties, responsibilities and what the nation expects of them. Whenever they embark upon those actions, they expect that the public should provide them with the needed support.”

He added: “The Presidency, in the meantime wishes to reassure the public that the President has done all, and even more than what is expected of him as Commander-in-Chief by way of morale, material and equipment support to the military and expects nothing short of good results in the immediate.”

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The government made the declaration on Sunday in apparent reaction to the threat by terrorists in a video that they would kidnap the president, Muhammadu Buhari, and other top government functionaries.

In a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the government said however that the country’s security and defense forces were not clueless or helpless.

According to him, they had their plans and ways of doing things which they would not display in the media.

He explained that the dilemmas in dealing with the specific case of train terrorists who issued the threat were manifold.

He assured that the security forces were not relenting.

Said he: “They are acutely aware of their duties, responsibilities and what the nation expects of them. Whenever they embark upon those actions, they expect that the public should provide them with the needed support.”

He added: “The Presidency, in the meantime wishes to reassure the public that the President has done all, and even more than what is expected of him as Commander-in-Chief by way of morale, material and equipment support to the military and expects nothing short of good results in the immediate.”

The statement reads in full:

Terrorist activity using propaganda and the use of violence to force governments to accept or submit to political demands is not new all over world.

The country’s security and defense forces are not clueless or helpless. They have their plans and ways of doing things which they will not display in the media.

The dilemmas in dealing with the specific case of train terrorists are manifold: punitive action like the popular call for carpet bombing of the known locations may assuage the desire of an angry public for revenge, but what about the hostages? They have committed no offense. All they did was to board a train.

It suffices to say that the security forces are not relenting. They are acutely aware of their duties, responsibilities and what the nation expects of them. Whenever they embark upon those actions, they expect that the public should provide them with the needed support.

Terrorism is a global scourge that must be fought by all actors- the military, the civilian population and the communication service providers. This is the only way safe havens of terrorists are eliminated in every part of the world.

To help the nation against ongoing situation, the media must increase their support for the fight against the exploitation of the internet and social media for terrorist purposes.

The Presidency, in the meantime wishes to reassure the public that the President has done all, and even more than what is expected of him as Commander-in-Chief by way of morale, material and equipment support to the military and expects nothing short of good results in the immediate.

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The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Onyeuko said troops of Operation Whirl Stroke on July 15, eliminated three bandits during a raid at Chito in Sankera ward of Ukum local government area of Benue State.

He said the raid was conducted based on credible intelligence, adding that the bandits engaged the troops in a fierce battle but were overpowered by the superior fire power of the troops.

The director said three bandits were neutralised in the operation while others escaped with gunshot wounds.

According to him, the troops recovered 18 motorcycles used by the bandits to terrorise the general area.

Onyeuko also said troops of Operation Hadarin Daji had in a special operation on July 17, eliminated two terrorists at Falalen-Jaja Village in Jibia local government area of Katsina State.

He added that the troops recovered two AK 47 Rifles, two Magazines, 16 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, six motorcycles, two mobile phones and packets of tramadol drug, among others.

“The military high command commends troops of Operations Whirl Stroke and Hadarin Daji for the feat and encourages the general public to avail troops with more credible and timely information on criminal activities in their areas,’’ he said.

Source: NAN

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The police spokesperson in the state, SP Gambo Isah, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on Saturday in Katsina.

According to him, “On March 11, 2022, a credible intelligence was received that terrorists in their numbers, on motorbikes, shooting sporadically with AK 47 rifles, attacked Yanmama Village, Malumfashi local government area.

“The suspected bandits rustled seven cows and were on their way into the forest, when DPO Kankara was quickly alerted to block their exit route into the Rugu forest.

“The team succeeded in blocking the terrorists at Kanyar-Nogora, Kukar-Sheka village, Kankara LGA and had a fierce gun duel with them.

“The team successfully repelled the terrorists.  Three terrorists were neutralized and seven cows recovered.”

Isah added that on the same date, another distress call was received that terrorists in their numbers attacked Tugu Gari village, Matazu LGA, and rustled unspecified number of domestic animals.

He disclosed that the Police Area Commander, Dutsinma, led a team of policemen to Yantumaki forest, blocked the hoodlums and engaged them in a gun duel.

He revealed that, “The team successfully repelled the terrorists, neutralized one of them and recovered 32 cows and 23 sheep.

“On March 5, 2022, the Command carried out sting operations and raided suspected terrorists’ hideout at Yellawa, Hakin-Biri, Danmusa LGA and Na-Iraqi notorious bandit camps at Safana LGA.

“The team successfully burnt down the camps, recovered two operational motorcycles of the terrorists and recovered 92 cows and 32 sheep.

“The Command succeeded in arresting one Jamilu Sa’idu, aged 28, of Jikamshi village, Rimi LGA, who specialised in calling unsuspecting members of the public through their GSM numbers and threatening them to pay ransom or risk being kidnapped.

“Also, three suspects were arrested in connection with an armed robbery attempt at Tashar Dankawu, Dutsi LGA of the state.”

He said that the state Commissioner of Police, Idrisu Dauda-Dabban, had commended and appreciated the efforts of the officers and men in repelling the terrorists.

“He also urged members of the public to continue to cooperate with security agencies in the ongoing onslaught against terrorism in the state,” Isah said.

Source: NAN

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Speaking at a state banquet to commemorate his official visit to the state, the president commended the support Kaduna State provided to security agencies, noting the establishment of a ministry dedicated to Internal Security.

‘‘I wish to assure the people and government of Kaduna State that the federal government is doing its utmost to contain and crush the terrorists that have been menacing our citizens and their property in parts of the country.

‘‘On behalf of the federal government, I commend the efforts of the Kaduna State government to respond to the demands of development.

‘‘The relationship between our tiers of government represents an instance of successful collaboration between the national and state governments for progress, peace and prosperity.

‘‘I urge Malam Nasir El-Rufai to push on and not relent in his efforts to accelerate change and progress in Kaduna State,’’ he said.

Reviewing his programme in the state since he arrived on Wednesday night, the president said he was delighted to have commissioned projects undertaken by the state government led by Malam Nasir El-Rufai.

‘‘I have been most impressed by the consistent efforts of the Kaduna State government to develop the state, to seek progress on so many fronts and to boldly confront challenges.

‘‘Most of my visits to Kaduna State since 2015 have been in connection with clear strides of progress. I was here in 2017 to commission the hatchery and feed mill project of Olam, a multinational agribusiness company that has sited a major factory in Kaduna.

‘‘In August 2019, I had the honour to commission Phase 2 of the Zaria Water Project and a road project.

‘‘Therefore, I am not surprised that Malam Nasir El-Rufai and his team have undertaken such a major investment in infrastructure development. I am glad to say I have seen with my own eyes the remarkable changes across all the three Senatorial zones,’’ he said.

Declaring that he looked forward to inaugurating more and more projects in the state, the president lauded the Kaduna State Urban Renewal Programme ‘‘for its sheer audacity, breadth of imagination and quality of project execution.’’

‘‘Projects under this programme have been described as an unprecedented investment in urban infrastructure in the state.

‘‘When completed, these projects will define the city of Kaduna for the next 50 years.

‘‘State governments have direct responsibility for the quality of life of the residents of their state. Kaduna State is providing an example of how this can be done.’’

Highlighting other achievements of the Kaduna State government, the president said it was noteworthy that the hardwork of the present administration attracted USD2.8bn in foreign investment to the state since 2015.

‘‘This was further confirmed by Kaduna State being ranked as the number one state for ease of doing business in the last published World Bank Doing Business Report for sub-nationals in Nigeria.

‘‘We have also seen the El-Rufai government increase the internally generated revenue of the state by almost four times in five years, from N13bn in 2015 to N50.7bn in 2020.’’

On health, the president recalled the strong response of Kaduna State in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria early in 2020, welcoming the completion of the 136-bed Infectious Disease Centre inaugurated on Thursday.

On education, the president noted that the state had also demonstrated commitment to equality of opportunity at the basic and senior secondary levels.

‘‘The policy of making education free and compulsory up to the completion of secondary school is a significant contribution to human capital development, and I commend it wholeheartedly.

‘‘I have been told that back in 2015, you inherited a school in the Rigasa area with reportedly over 20,000 pupils instead of the planned 1,500 pupils. We are impressed that Kaduna State government has built more schools to accommodate these students,’’ he said.

In his remarks, Governor El-Rufai called for further military action to stop the activities of terrorists in the state.

‘‘We have spent considerable sums to support federal security agencies in the state in order to promote the safety and wellbeing of our people.

‘‘We are implementing a Safe City project, created a Vigilance Service to provide community level security services and established a Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs to improve coordination among security agencies and intelligence sharing.

‘‘We believe that further military action and more boots on the ground are needed to stop the terrorists that menace our people. But as we tackle security, we must also move forward with the things that our resources and planning enable us to do to make life better for our people,’’ he said.

On ongoing road projects in the state, the governor informed the president that the Nnamdi Azikiwe Way (the old Western bye-Pass) was being reconstructed into a six-lane concrete highway by the Dangote Group under the president’s innovative Tax Credit scheme.

He, therefore, appealed to the president to direct the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to end the two-year delay suffered by this project and give Dangote the go-ahead to start the construction and completion of the earthworks before the onset of the rainy season.

He added that vital projects to reconstruct the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road up to the boundary with Niger State and the Birnin Gwari-Dansadau road, which passes through Katsina State and terminates in Zamfara State, are also stalled at the Federal Ministry of Works, despite the expressed readiness of the Dangote Group to work on them.

‘‘With the rapid progress in the construction of the Eastern Bye-Pass by the Federal Government, our government has completed plans to begin the construction of a new Western Bye-Pass to link with the Eastern Bye-Pass to create the Third Ring Road of Kaduna from the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway behind the Rigasa Train Station and the Kaduna International Airport and terminating at the Kaduna-Zaria highway.

‘‘We need the commitment of the federal government to support this laudable project that will further expand economic opportunities for the people of Kaduna State and Nigeria at large,’’ he said.

The Kaduna governor thanked the president for the working visit to Kaduna State as well as his unflinching support toward the development of the state.

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This was just as the upper chamber called on the government to establish a military base at Shiroro and Kaima communities in Niger State to restore confidence in the security and safety of the affected communities.

According to the Senate, doing so would also safeguard the Shiroro Hydro-electric Power Dam, a national asset located within the area.

These formed part of resolutions reached following a motion considered during plenary on Tuesday.

The motion was sponsored by Senator Mohammed Sani Musa (Niger East) and co-sponsored by Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar (Kwara North).

Senator Musa, in his presentation entitled, “Recent Bandit attack on communities in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State: A call for action”, noted that on Tuesday, 11th January, 2022, 13 persons were confirmed killed in an attack by suspected bandits in Shiroro local government area of Niger State.

According to the lawmaker, on Friday, January 14, 2022, five vigilance group members were killed in an attack on a local market and some communities in Shiroro local government area of Niger State.

He lamented that during the “deadly” operation, “a lot of destruction ensued, including many people who sustained multiple gunshot injuries while many others were kidnapped and taken to unknown destination.”

He said that, “the assailants attacked villagers who were harvesting crops on their farm in Nakundna Village in Shiroro council area and the inability of farmers to harvest their farm produce may likely trigger food scarcity in the state.”

His presentation reads further: “Notes that the current sad reality is that there is no longer semblance of security in the whole of Lakpma axis of Shiroro local government in Kaima Village;

“Regrets that these attacks by armed groups have continued in the North-West and North-Central Niger State despite repeated government assurance to address the escalating atrocities;

“Recalls that over 151, 380 people, mostly peasant farmers, were displaced by the activities of bandits in the last two years. The displaced persons were registered in 13 local government areas of the state, with Rafi council area neighbouring Zamfara and Kaduna topping the chart with 28, 987 displaced persons;

“Concludes that in the Shiroro council area, where the latest incident occurred, over 27, 678 persons were displaced within the period; and

“Notes that the ongoing bloodletting and destruction of public and private assets by the bandits cannot be allowed to continue.”

The Senate, accordingly, in its resolutions, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for ordering air bombardment on the area of operation.

It also called on the federal government to declare a full fledge war on unscrupulous elements since they have been declared as terrorists, and to establish a military Base at Shiroro and Kaima, to restore confidence in the security and safety of the affected communities and to safeguard the national asset located within the area, such as the Shiroro Hydro-electric Power Dam.

The chamber urged the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to provide relief materials and medical team to the victims immediately.

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