The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), says its troops have eliminated 481 terrorists, apprehended 741 suspects and rescued 492 kidnapped hostages in different operations across the country in the month of October.

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

Buba said the troops also recovered 480 weapons and 9,026 assorted ammunition, comprising 263 AK47 rifles, 81 locally fabricated guns, 91 dane guns and 76 pump action guns.

He added that troops also recovered 5,683 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,944 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 642 cartridges, 160 assorted arms and 1,526 assorted ammunitions during the month.

According to him, troops have done a tremendous job of significantly dismantling the terror groups across the country in various theatres of operations.

“Our strategy remains to undermine the ability of these terror groups and their cohorts.

“Troops conducted simultaneous strikes on several terrorist enclaves and hideouts across the country.

“The Air force carried out bombardments and air interdiction on these terrorist hideouts and enclaves with precision, thereby diminishing the fighting capabilities of these terrorists.

“On the whole, even as the armed forces mourn the tragic passing away of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. T.A. Lagbaja, we will not allow his passing to derail our focus to destroy the terrorists.

“We are rather inspired by his actions on the battlefield as a war commander as well as his strong desire to defeat the terrorist in order to end the war,” he said.

In the North-East, Buba said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai, conducted synchronised offensives between the air force and ground forces striking and dislodging terrorists from their hideouts and strongholds.

He said the exerted military pressure on the terrorist in the North East resulted in killing of 198 terrorists, apprehending 166 suspects and rescuing 156 kidnapped hostages.

He added that the troops recorded 257 surrendered BH/ISWAP terrorists’ combatants and their families as well as recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition.

In the North Central, Buba said the troops of Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke, neutralised 50 violent extremists, apprehended 202 and rescued 165 kidnapped hostages during the month.

In the North-West, the defence spokesman said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji had remained focused on their mission to create a conducive and stable security environment for agricultural activities and other forms of socio-economic activities in the zone.

According to him, troops embarked on several offensive operations, canalising and destroying these terrorists in their hideouts and enclaves through ground and air operations.

He said that the troops neutralised 163 terrorists, apprehended 82 suspects and rescued 80 kidnapped hostages.

“Additionally, troops recovered 121 AK47 rifles, 32 fabricated guns, 53 assorted arms, 2,134 rounds of 7.62mm special, 1,015 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 75 assorted ammunition.

“Also, troops of Operation Whirl Punch neutralised 30 terrorists, arrested 111 suspects and rescued 52 kidnapped hostages.

“They recovered nine AK47 rifles, 16 assorted arms, 160 rounds of 7.62mm special, 43 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 36 assorted ammunition,” he said.

(NAN)

Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) have increased the price of metres across the country.

The cost of a single-phase meter has jumped from about N117,000 to N149,800, representing a 28.03 per cent or N32,800 increase, though the exact amount varies by distribution company and meter vendor.

The Discos announced these new prices on their official X handle Wednesday, with implementation set for Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

This change reflects the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s policy of deregulating meter asset providers. Following an earlier price hike in August 2024, the increase has raised concerns among electricity consumers about their ability to afford and access meters.

The Executive Director of the Electricity Consumers Protection and Advocacy Centre, Princewill Okorie, rejected the new meter prices, saying there are no justifications for it.

“What do you want me to say? They keep increasing the meter price, why are they wicked?” he said.

“N200bn was earmarked for the NMMP that was to be implemented in three phases. Only the pilot phase of N59bn was implemented.

And what the 11 Discos could pay back was only N7bn. What did they use the rest of the money for?”

Different distribution companies have set varying prices for their meters.

Check below;

Eko Disco has set single-phase meter prices between N135,987.5 and N161,035, with three-phase meters costing between N226,600 and N266,600.

Ibadan Disco’s prices range from N130,998 to N142,548 for single-phase meters and N226,556.25–NN232,008 for three-phase meters.

Abuja Disco customers will pay N123,130.53–NN147,812.5 for single-phase meters and N206,345.65–NN236,500 for three-phase meters.

Kano Electricity Distribution announced prices of N127,925–N129,999 for single-phase meters and N223,793–NN235,425 for three-phase meters.

Kaduna Disco set prices at N131,150—N142,548.94 for single-phase meters and N220,375—N232,008.04 for three-phase meters.

The price changes stem from NERC’s April announcement of a major policy shift, deregulating meter prices under the Meter Asset Provider scheme for end-user customers.

This change aims to tackle ongoing issues with meter supply and pricing transparency in the electricity sector.

Under NERC’s new order, meter prices will be set through competitive bidding rather than central regulation.

Chad’s military inflicted “many dead and wounded” in air strikes against Boko Haram jihadists, President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno said on Thursday.

“We carried out several air strikes on enemy positions that resulted in many dead and wounded,” Deby told reporters in the Lake Chad region, without giving specific numbers.

Deby, who gave an interview in full military fatigues, said he had “personally” launched the counter-attack against Boko Haram, which targeted the Chadian army in an attack last month in the western region, close to the border with Nigeria.

The Chad government had vowed to “obliterate” Boko Haram when launching its operation in late October after the jihadists killed around 40 people and wounded dozens more in a raid on a military garrison.

The operation “aims not only to secure our peaceful population” but also to “hunt down, root out and obliterate the capability of Boko Haram and its affiliates to cause harm”, interim Prime Minister Abderahim Bireme Hamid told reporters last week.

In a vast expanse of water and swamps, the Lake Chad region’s countless islets serve as hideouts for jihadist groups, such as Boko Haram and its offshoot Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP), who carry out regular attacks on the country’s army and civilians.

Chad and its neighbours Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon set up a multinational force of some 8,500 soldiers in the area in 2015 to tackle the jihadists.

Boko Haram launched an insurgency in Nigeria in 2009, leaving more than 40,000 people dead, and the organisation has since spread to neighbouring countries.

In March 2020, the Chadian army suffered its biggest ever one-day losses in the region, when around 100 troops died in a raid on the lake’s Bohoma peninsula.

AFP