News
Ex-Defence Chief Irabor backs closure of Abuja plaza
*Sats, attack on soldiers means attack on State
By Francesca Hangeior
The former Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor has backed the closure of the Banex plaza in Abuja, saying an attack on soldiers constitutes an attack on the State.
Irabor stated this in an interview with Arise Television on Wednesday.
Recall that the incident that took place in the plaza in the Wuse 2 area of Abuja after a clash happened on Saturday where traders engaged two soldiers in a fight.
According to eyewitnesses, the soldiers visited the plaza to complain about a phone, which resulted in a heated argument and fight with the traders.
After the incident, many shop owners and traders quickly closed for the day to avoid being caught up in a reprisal attack and on Monday, military personnel arrived in about five Hilux vehicles and reportedly shut down the plaza.
Reacting to the development, Irabor described the Banex Plaza incident as a very sad one, adding that on no account will it be right to raise a finger on a uniformed man.
He said, “This applies to any uniformed person for as long as he is an agent of the state. An attack on him is an attack on the state, so any Nigerian of goodwill must condemn such an act.
“For me, I join to support the closure of Banex Plaza for as long as it takes to have anyone responsible for that dastardly act brought to justice. This is because if we fail to do so, we will be calling for anarchy.
“The only men who are sacrificing their lives to ensure our collective good are members of the armed forces, the police, and other security agencies,” he said.
Irabor noted that if not for the policemen and some other private individuals who rescued the soldiers, the situation would have been worse and would have reflected poorly on the nation.
He appreciated the media’s role in the whole incident but emphasised the need to “put context when setting the agenda for discussion”.
“The media has created an awareness that in our civics, there are people you must respect. You have to put the context in setting the agenda for this discussion.
“The populace needs to be re-educated to understand the place of national security and the responsibility of each and every one of us in preserving the sanctity of our various establishments that seek to make us live in a very good environment.”
Speaking on claims that the army has refused to comment on the situation, he said it is the responsibility of the state to speak on their behalf.
“Whatever job members of the armed forces do, it is not on their behalf but on behalf of the state, so they are only an agent of the state. They ought not to speak for themselves; the state should speak for them.
“It was a mild view, and it would have been harder, not necessarily from the army but from the appropriate agency of government, to be able to speak against such a dastardly act.
Irabor called for cooperation from Banex Plaza’s leadership in the ongoing investigation so as to bring out the perpetrators of the crime to book.
He said, “I believe Banex Plaza has leadership because they need to cooperate appropriately so that whatever investigation is ongoing can be concluded, and they must also cooperate by bringing out those who committed that act.”
News
Reps Direct Ministry of Health to Provide Detailed Report on Nutrition Interventions Amid Malnutrition Crisis
By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has called on the Ministry of Health to submit comprehensive information on the federal government’s and donor agencies’ nutrition interventions aimed at combating malnutrition in Nigeria.
Chairman Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Rep. Chike Okafor during a budget defense session eemphasised the need for detailed figures for 2024 and clear projections for 2025, including an overview of contributions from 27 development partners.
Members of the committee also questioned duplications in budgeted nutrition supplies, stressing the importance of transparency and effective utilization of resources to address the nation’s nutrition challenges.
The Ministry, led by Permanent Secretary Daju Kachollom, proposed ₦2.9 billion for nutrition interventions in the 2025 budget, focusing on therapeutic supplies and expanding successful community-based programs. Efforts to reduce reliance on imported therapeutic foods and promote local manufacturing were also highlighted.
The committee underscored the need for effective collaboration between government agencies and the private sector to ensure better nutrition outcomes across the country.
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Speaker Abbas expresses sorrow over Niger tanker explosion, multiple fatalities
News
Fear as Trump’s deportation raids in US to start in Chicago immediately afte inauguration
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
US President-elect, Donald Trump’s incoming administration plans to immediately order a series of deportation raids targeting illegal immigrants after his inauguration.
Chicago is expected to be the first major city targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents as part of Operation Safeguard, the New York Times reported, citing two people familiar with planning the undertaking.
The massive deportation operation is expected to target criminals and gang members in the United States illegally and run for one week.
Trump has promised to conduct the largest deportation program in U.S. history.
Up to 200 ICE agents are being sent to Chicago to help kick off the operation on Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal reported. The agency has already asked agents to volunteer for the post-inauguration raids.
“There’s gonna be a big raid across the country,” Tom Homan, who will be in charge of U.S. borders once Trump takes office, told Fox News in an interview.
Homan has previously said he will instruct ICE agents to carry out raids on illegal immigrants at their workplaces.
In addition to Chicago, the sweeping crackdown will also target other major U.S. cities with large immigrant populations.
Trump is set to take the oath of office on Monday, January 20, in an inauguration that will take place indoors.
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