News
EXPOSED! Terrorists plotting to attack national assets-DHQ warns
The Defence Headquarters, DHQ, on Thursday, raised fresh alarm over the alleged plans by Terrorists to attack critical infrastructure in the country.
Director Defence Media Operations, DMO, Major General Edward Buba who disclosed this to Defence Correspondents in Abuja at a bi-weekly briefing on the ongoing military operations in the various theaters of operations against insurgency activities across the country in the last week however assured the Nation that the Military high Command was doing everything possible to stop the dastardly act.
According to him, “We are aware of some of the plans to target some critical infrastructure in the country.
“Accordingly, we have placed measures to forestall such plans. Security agencies responsible for securing critical infrastructure and facilities have also been placed on alert. Accordingly, some of such plans have been frustrated.
He explained that the military was keeping up the pressure through ongoing operations in five active theatres across the country namely, the North East, North West, North Central, South South and South East, with the North East and North West having the highest levels of intensity.
According to him, “These operations are complex as troops are engaged in fighting in difficult terrains as well as fighting an adversaries that adopts various forms, across the country. Clearly, we have boots on the ground and are fighting in several dimensions to crush the enemy.
” Indeed, troops are fighting on ground, air, at sea as well as in the cyber dimension in several parts of the country. The common denominator in all our operations are the terrorists.
“These terrorists are the enemy that must be fought and defeated. They are responsible for keeping the nation in an almost constant state of counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency.
He explained that during the week under review, troops neutralised 187 and arrested 183 persons while Troops also arrested 26 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 109 kidnapped hostages.
According to him, ” In the South South, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of One Billion One Hundred and Twenty-Seven Million Two Hundred and Twenty Nine Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninty Naira (N1,127,229,890.00) only.
Furthermore, troops recovered 128 assorted weapons and 3,300 assorted ammunition.
“The breakdown as follows: one PKT gun, 80 AK47 rifles, 15 locally fabricated gun, 15 dane guns, 2 FN rifles, 5 pump action guns, 2 single barrel guns, 4 locally fabricated pistols, one fabricated barretta pistol, one locally made double barrel gun, 2 hand grenades, 2 primed IEDs and materials.
” Others are: 1,941 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 729 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 377 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm, 191 rounds of 5.55mm ammo, 199 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 16 rounds of 9mm ammo, 26 live cartridges, 26 empty case of cartridges, 26 AK47 magazines, 6 baofeng radios, 10 vehicles, 4 motorcycles, 4 walkie-talkie, mobile phones and the sum of N102,010.00 only amongst other items.
He further added that the Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 18 dugout pits, 30 boats and 49 storage tanks.
According to him, “other items recovered include 66 cooking ovens, 4 drums, 5 speedboats, 15 vehicles, 2 tricycles, one generator, 11 mobile phones and 57 illegal refining sites.
“Troops recovered 1,l25,440 litres of stolen crude oil, 213,539 litres of illegally refined AGO and 1,230 litres of PMS.Troops are confronted by a vicious enemy that are constantly trying to kill citizens or have killed citizens. Indeed, these terror group are responsible perpetrating insecurity across the country and will not stop doing what the are doing, until they are stopped.
” In this fight, citizens must understand that, we must never compromise on security, otherwise everyone’s security will be compromised. This is a situation that cannot be over emphasized for us to live in safety and security”.
General Buba who assured that he military was doing what was needed at this time to force the terrorist to pay a price for every act of aggression against citizens of the country said “We recognise and have included this as part of our strategy to win the war.
According to him, ” overall, we have no choice but to fight for the safety and security of our citizens. We also fight to safeguard our nation and preserve our way of life as a people. For us a force, Defence is the essence of what we do as an armed forces. Accordingly, we would defeat the terrorists on the battlefield and help our nation flourish again.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, says more than 10 million vulnerable Nigerians who benefited from the N75,000 conditional cash transfer programme do not have access to mobile phones or social media.
Yilwatda disclosed this on Saturday while speaking with journalists after a three-day retreat of the APC National Executive Council in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The beneficiaries, whom he described as poor and vulnerable Nigerians, were largely unable to participate in public discussions about government policies because they lacked access to phones, television and social media.
“We have given 75,000 naira to over 10 million Nigerians across the country using the conditional cash transfer under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
“Mind you, these people who are poor and vulnerable don’t have telephones to make calls; they are not on social media. They don’t have a television. They cannot come and challenge and discuss as we are doing here, but they are out there,” he said.
Yilwatda also criticised former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over his position on the fuel subsidy.
“We are constructing roads and paying people that are working on the road site, and construction is going across the country,” he said.
“Over 30 states could not pay salaries and pensions. After we removed subsidies, all states can pay salaries and pensions, and no state is left behind.
“Today, if you return it, you are saying states shouldn’t pay salaries again. And what suffering are you bringing to Nigeria?”
The APC chairman also argued that a return to fuel subsidy would affect the government’s student loan scheme and other projects.
“The projects we’re doing across the country, like the coastal road and gas project to the north, which have passed Abuja, which are aimed at easing the suffering of Nigerians, will be suspended,” he said.
Yilwatda further accused Atiku of seeking to reverse the gains of the Tinubu administration in pursuit of the presidency, saying the APC and Nigerians would not accept such a move.
The APC chairman said the NEC retreat also reviewed the party’s activities at the national, state, local government, ward and polling-unit levels.
According to him, the party concluded that it remained strong and prepared for the 2027 general elections.
He said the NEC passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and other APC candidates who emerged from the party’s primaries for the 2027 elections.
Ivie Atuwatse III, wife of Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri, has opened up on the joys and challenges of being married to the traditional ruler, saying she takes pride in seeing people celebrate his achievements.
Ivie spoke in a recent interview with BBC News Pidgin, where she discussed life as the wife of the monarch and the demands that come with his position.
She said one of the things she enjoys most about the marriage is watching people appreciate her husband’s personality and achievements.
“The thing wey I like about being married to His Majesty is that, all the fame or the popularity wey him get, na say I get to see the world celebrate his genius, his swag also, cos me too I dey celebrate am,” she said.
“And when the world dey celebrate am, e dey ginger me more. I dey extremely proud of am as a human being, and to see that they also appreciate am dey give me much joy.”
However, Ivie admitted that the Olu’s responsibilities can sometimes make it difficult for her to have enough time with him.
“But on the other side, dem say food wey dey sweet sometimes flies dey like to chop from am,” she said.
“Sometimes e dey busy and it can be hard to want to share my husband with all the many different duties that he has, and so that can be equally difficult.”
She said they were learning to adjust to the demands of his position.
“And so, we are learning to navigate it because sometimes I just want him to myself,” she added.
The interviewer also asked whether she would accept another wife if the Olu changed his position on polygamy, having previously said he was not open to it.
Ivie dismissed the possibility, insisting that she was confident her husband would not change his mind.
“Firstly, His Majesty no go fit change him mind about polygamy. Make we just settle that one for there,” she said.
“Me alone, one me, I be like three women, so I dey alright for am.”
Old Trafford, Manchester United’s 74,000-capacity stadium, became a house of worship on Saturday as Nigerian pastor Jerry Eze led the NSPPD UK Prayer Conference, drawing believers from across Britain and beyond.
Hosted by Streams of Joy International, the conference brought together believers from across the United Kingdom and around the world for prayer, worship and fellowship.
Worshippers at the NSPPD UK Prayer Conference held at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Saturday. Photo: X / @AgborMoses34
Admission to the event was free, though attendees were encouraged to register in advance as places were limited.
Despite that, demand reportedly outstripped availability, with some social media users claiming the event was fully booked and turning to TikTok in the days leading up to the conference in search of spare tickets.
Worshippers during the NSPPD UK Prayer Conference at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Saturday. PHOTO: NSPPD/YouTube
Worshippers during the NSPPD UK Prayer Conference at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Saturday. PHOTO: NSPPD/YouTube
The gathering featured several well-known gospel ministers alongside Eze, including Sunmisola Agbebi, Mercy Chinwo, Dunsin Oyekan and Kaestrings.
Worshippers during the NSPPD UK Prayer Conference at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Saturday. PHOTO: NSPPD/YouTube
(Credit: Saturday PUNCH)
10m beneficiaries of cash transfers don’t have phones, not on social media – APC Chairman
‘I’m like three women’ — Ivie Atuwatse rules out polygamy for Olu of Warri
My ex-husband always wanted threesome – US-based Nurse Sugar alleges
-
News15 hours agoTinubu’s tough decisions are already yielding fruits, Yari will deliver on assignment -TSTA
-
Politics15 hours agoBefore dreaming of Aso Villa, APM should first find its feet-Ali Campaign Organization
-
News14 hours agoEFCC nabs City Boy Movement woman leader
-
News15 hours agoPDP group slams Zamfara Governor for attacking Wike, hails FCT Minister’s nationalistic position
-
News14 hours agoSAD: Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s mother is dead
-
News9 hours agoHouse of Assembly Candidate, Sanni Urges Unity Among Ekiti ADC Members
You must be logged in to post a comment Login