Militancy: Our Revenue Has Dropped Below 20% – Okowa

The Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, who played host to the Commandant, 4 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Brig-General Banbella Raji, in Asaba yesterday, decried the continued attack on oil and gas installations by militants, regretting that the revenue accruing to the state had dropped to below 20 percent of what it used to be two years ago.

Okowa who apart from pipeline vandalism, also said that the state was facing the challenges of herdsmen clashing with farmers and some Fulani men posing as herdsmen to kidnap people.

He said: “Pipeline vandalism is affecting us so much that what we currently receive is below 20 per cent of what the state received two years ago. As a state, we will continue to support the operations of the Army and other security agencies to enable them carry out their functions in the state.”

The Governor commended the Army for collaborating with the Police in checking some criminal activities which ordinarily were within the purview of the Police, Okowa said, “We hope that the peace we enjoy now will be sustained, it is our hope that the security operatives remain proactive.”

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FFK Warns Buhari Over Niger Delta Militants

Chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former aviation minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has raised alarm that Nigeria will disintegrate if President Muhammadu Buhari directs military to tackle the Niger Delta militancy.

Writing through his Facebook account, the PDP politician reacting to the report on the CNN that “the Nigerian government is preparing troops for a crackdown in the Niger Delta if peace talks fail.”

FFK writes: “This is sad and ominous. As United States Senator Ted Cruz once said “the light of truth is stronger than the terror of darkness”.

“It follows that the biggest mistake that the Buhari administration can possibly make is to attempt to “crack down” on the Niger Delta and kill innocent civilians.

“If this ever happens, for whatever reason, it will set off a chain of events that will lead to the end of Nigeria as we know it.

“Nigeria will disintegrate before Buhari’s very eyes if any more innocent blood is shed and if the towns, creeks and villages of the oil-producing states are shelled and reduced to rubble.

“The cause of the people of the Niger Delta, and indeed that of the Igbo people of the eastern states, is just and their struggles and aspirations are legitimate and reasonable.

“Self-detetmination is a right. It is a concept and principle that is universally accepted and that has the backing of international law.

“You do not threaten and bomb those that seek to exercise that right: you treat them with respect, decency and decorum and attempt to persuade them to stay.

“This is a point that is lost on President Buhari and those around him. The Avengers are not Boko Haram: taking them on in the field of battle would be a monumental error.”

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DONE DEAL: Henry, Charles Okah, Nnamdi Kanu May Be Freed As MEND, FG Strike Deal To End N-Delta Crisis

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and the Federal Government have allegedly reached initial agreement, including the release of former militant leader, Henry Okah, in prison in South Africa and Charles Okah, incarcerated in Nigeria.

The agreement also includes that ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, would not be harassed by government if he makes himself available as a delegate on MEND Aaron Team 2, while the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, would be released on condition that he renounces the agitation for “Biafra Republic.”

MEND in a statement by spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, today (Saturday) said: “The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is the only militant group from the Niger Delta region who are presently engaged in a dialogue with the Federal Government of Nigeria - through oil companies and security agencies -with a view to resolving the current Niger Delta crisis.”

“Thus far, the deliberations have been fruitful, various concessions and guarantees have already been secured. Some of which include, but are not limited to: Release of Henry Okah, Charles Okah and Obi Nwabueze; Review of the life sentence handed to Mr. Edmund Ebiware based on a proposal put forward by the Aaron Team representative for Abia and Imo states, Senator Adolphus Wabara.

“Also, conditional release of IPOB leader, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu and others if they renounce their agitation for a “Biafra Republic,” the group said.

Furthermore, MEND said they agreed: “That Mr. Government Ekpemupolo shall not be arrested, harassed and/or intimidated whenever he makes himself available as a delegate of the MEND Aaron Team.”

It added: “That international arbitrator and conflict negotiator, American Dr. Judith Asuni shall be accepted as the representative of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) on the MEND Aaron Team; that the criminal charges against Urhobo freedom fighter, Mr. Kelvin Prosper Oniarah shall be reviewed.

“That the life sentence which was handed to seven soldiers in 2008, who actively supported the Niger Delta struggle be reviewed under the Presidential Amnesty Programme. The affected persons are: Suleiman Alabi Akubo, Major. Mathias Peter, SGT, Alexander Davou, L.Cpl., Moses Nwaigwe, L.Cpl., Nnandi Anene, L.Cpl. Taatihi Emmanuel, L.Cpl and Caleb Bawa, PTE,” it said. .

“However, one of the most immediate and urgent fallout of the ongoing dialogue is the imperative for the Federal Government and MEND to jointly and separately take proactive steps to rescue and secure the region. This is in the event that the recalcitrant Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) continuing on its senseless and politically-motivated path of attacks on the country's oil assets,” it noted.

MEND asserted: “To this end, both parties agreed that the Special Forces of the Nigerian Army should commence the purely routine but strategic military exercise code-named "Operation Crocodile Tears"; while MEND would commence a meet-the Government-Actors-and-People tour of the Niger Delta region code-named "Operation Moses".

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Military Will Restore Total Peace To North East – Buratai

Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff, while addressing troops undergoing training at the Nigerian Army Special Forces Training School at Buni Yadi, Yobe, assured that the military will restore full peace to the North East in line with the desire of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Buratai charged the troops to sustain the momentum of ongoing counter insurgency operations to flush out the insurgents.

He said, “Operation Lafia Dole’ has entered a critical stage. You must sustain the momentum; there is no going back

“There is no time to waste. We want full restoration of peace in the North East. That is what the president wants’’, the chief of army staff said.

Buratai later told newsmen that he was in Buni Yadi to see how the troops undergoing the Special Forces training were faring.

“We know the importance of this place – Buni Yadi. This is the route they (insurgents) passed through to other parts of the North East and even Plateau in the North Central.

“It is better for us to have dominated and taken over the place’’, he said, and assured the troops of their welfare and logistics need, including required equipment to prosecute the war.

Buni Yadi is the headquarter of the 27 Task Force Brigade of the Nigeria Army.

NAN

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PHOTOS: Troops Ambush Boko Haram Terrorists In Pulka

Army spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, in a statement, said troops on blocking position in Pulka on Friday ambushed and killed two fleeing Boko Haram terrorists while others escaped with gun shot wounds.

“The troops also recovered 1 AK-47 rifle with registration number S 77411, a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) with registration number FN 131908, one Motorcycle, 1 Bicycle and 5 Fabrique Nationale (FN) rifle magazines.

“Other items recovered from the terrorists include 1 AK-47 rifle magazine loaded with 28 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, 67 rounds of 7.62mm linked (NATO) ammunition and Tecno brand of mobile telephone handset with NEXTTEL SIM card, as well as sacks of foodstuffs.

“The troops have continued their routine operations maintaining vigilance to prevent escaping Boko Haram terrorists out of Sambisa forest through that axis,” the statement read.

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Harvest Of Eulogies For Aguiyi-Ironsi

The 50th memorial anniversary of the tragic death of Nigeria’s first military Head of State, Gen Johnson Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi was held at St. Finbars Catholic Church, Umuahia, with prominent Nigerians describing the late General as epitome patriotism.

It was a harvest of eulogies yesterday, at a church service as the participants called on Nigerians to emulate the virtue of the late General and imbibe patriotism; love and unity which they said characterized his life.

Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari described the late ironsi as “a great patriot and a soldier’s soldier”, pointing out that from “all indications he stood for everything good about Nigeria in the beginning”.

Mrs Buhari who was represented by the wife of Anambra state governor, Mrs. Ebere Obiano, said that Ironsi as the first military head of state worked for the unity of the nation and urged that the unity he stood for should be emulated by all Nigerians for the good of the nation.

“From all indications he stood for one Nigeria. We appreciate and support the ideals he lived and died for”, Mrs. Buhari said.

The First Lady also commended the matriarch of the Aguiyi-Ironsi family and widow of the late Head of State, Lady Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi, for holding the forth since unfortunate event 50 years ago, saying that she has exhibited commitment, courage and selfless service.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Major General Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin who was represented by Maj. Gen Edward Nze recalled that the event that led to the death of General Ironsi was as a result of the actions or inactions of past leaders which he said was still having effect on the nation.

Olonishakin therefore advised present leaders in the country to be wary of their actions or inactions and consider the impact of future generations.

“We should therefore learn from experience and think deeply before we take actions. Let us aspire to serve our country, love more, hate less and build a nation where justice and peace reign”, the CDS admonished.

 

From left: Representative of the Chief of Defence Staff, Maj. Gen Edward Nze, representative the wife of the President and wife of Governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano, Catholic Bishop of Umuahia, Most Rev. Dr. Lucius Ugorji, wife of the late Maj. General, Chief Lady, Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi, and Wife of the Abia State Governor, Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu.

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