Army Defends Generals Accused Of Diverting Troops’ Allowances

The Nigerian Army, on Monday, refuted reports alleging the diversion of the Ration Cash Allowance of troops deployed to secure Chinese nationals working at the ongoing Zungeru Hydro Electricity Dam Project in Niger State.

In a report by some online media platforms last week, some troops alleged that they had not been paid their RCA for three months by their erstwhile Commanding General Officers, Maj. Gen. Alabi and Brig. Gen. Jamiu Jimoh, accusing them of diverting their allowance.

However, the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Monday, said the service under the current leadership had zero tolerance for any form of financial misappropriation among other actions which could dampen the morale of troops.

He noted that after investigating the claims in the report, the service found that the allegations were incorrect.

Onyema explained that the allowance was paid in tranches, noting that the last part had been on February 28, 2023.

He added that while the next tranche was being processed, the service had paid the affected troops allowance from March to June.

He said, “Preliminary investigation reveals that troops deployed to the Chinese company in Niger State have always been paid in tranches by the NA on receipt of the funds from the institution concerned.

“Accordingly, the last tranche payment of RCA by the affected institution for the troops deployed, elapsed on February 28, 2023. While the next tranche of payment is being processed, Army Headquarters has paid the troops covering the period March 1 to June 30, 2023, in a bid to ameliorate the operating conditions of the troops and keep them at par with deployments elsewhere.

“Additionally, to cushion the effect of the tranche mode of payment, provision was made to feed the troops daily and this has been a routine. The troops’ RCA was, therefore, not diverted by any of the senior officers named in the publication or anyone else, as wrongly portrayed.”

SOURCE: Punch

Revoke Obasanjo’s Traditional Titles, Yoruba Group Tells Monarchs

The Yoruba World Congress (Worldwide), a socio-cultural group of Yoruba descent, has called on traditional rulers in Yoruba land to revoke all chieftaincy titles bestowed upon former President Olusegun Obasanjo. This request comes in response to Obasanjo’s recent actions at an event in Iseyin, Oyo State, where he ordered some traditional rulers to stand up and sit down, leading to public outrage.

The Yoruba World Congress (YWC) has urged traditional rulers to boycott any event where Obasanjo is present or has control over the microphone until he offers a public apology to the offended traditional rulers. The group emphasized the importance of upholding the prestigious cultural heritage and respect that traditional rulers deserve.

Furthermore, the YWC has called on the National Assembly to consider enacting a law to establish a Federal Ministry for Traditional Rulers attached to the Presidency. This ministry’s purpose would be to manage, protect, and preserve cultural values and heritage, separate from state-level ministries, in order to ensure that royal fathers receive the respect they are entitled to.

In a statement released on Monday, the Yoruba World Congress Worldwide expressed its rejection and dissociation from Obasanjo’s actions and called for a constitutional review regarding traditional councils. The group reiterated its demand for a sincere and remorseful public apology from Obasanjo to the traditional rulers and the entire Yoruba race. Until this apology is issued, the YWC advised traditional rulers to walk out of events involving Obasanjo, decline invitations lacking nobility, and unite in safeguarding their cultural heritage by revoking Obasanjo’s Yoruba chieftaincy titles.

Nigeria Records 210 New Cholera Infections, 10 Deaths

Nigeria has recorded 210 new suspected cases of Cholera infections and 10 ‘suspected’ deaths across eight states of the federation from 31 July to 27 August.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) disclosed this in its latest monthly situation report on Cholera, covering Epidemiological (EP) weeks 31 to 34.

The latest report shows that the suspected cases and deaths of Cholera in 2023 have decreased by 63 and 67 per cent respectively compared to what was reported at Epidemiological week 34 in 2022.

The report revealed that as of 27 August, Nigeria had recorded 84 suspected deaths and 2,860 suspected cases across 25 states, representing a Case Fatality Ratio (CFR) of 2.9 per cent.

Cumulatively, it shows that six states: Cross River (718 cases), Katsina (302 cases), Bayelsa (265 cases), Ebonyi (227 cases), Niger (136 cases) and Abia (118 cases) account for 62 per cent of the suspected cases in 2023.

Highlights
In the reporting month, the report shows that of the eight states that reported 210 suspected cases, Zamfara State in the North-west topped the infection chart with 190 cases, followed by Kano and Bayelsa with seven and five cases respectively.

Also, Bauchi, Niger and Borno states reported two cases each, followed by Gombe and Adamawa states with a single case each.

NCDC noted that 21 Cholera Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) were conducted with nine positive results (Zamfara – 8 and Bayelsa – 1) while 26 stool culture tests were conducted with three positive results.

It added that the national multi-sectoral Cholera TWG continues to monitor response across states.

Cholera
Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by the Vibrio cholera bacillus.

The disease spreads through contaminated food and water, reappearing periodically in countries like Nigeria where people are unable to secure access to clean drinking water and ensure adequate sanitation.

It is a preventable and treatable epidemic-prone disease. The number of cholera cases tends to increase with the outset of the rainy season.

The risk of death from cholera is higher when treatment is delayed. It is very important to visit a health facility if anyone has watery diarrhoea and vomiting symptoms.

SOURCE: Premium Times

Security Agents Thwart Kidnapping Plot in Katsina Community

Security forces thwarted a kidnapping attempt in the Tijjani Malumfashi Housing Estate of Katsina State over the weekend. Around 50 armed kidnappers arrived in the area late on Saturday night, creating fear among residents with sporadic gunfire. Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, the spokesperson for Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Monday.

According to the statement, the kidnappers strategically spread throughout the neighborhood, conducting house-to-house operations before security forces arrived. Unfortunately, six individuals were forcibly taken from their homes, but the timely arrival of security forces prevented further abductions.

Among those rescued was Judge Alkali Saidu. Governor Radda commended the Malumfashi Divisional Police Officer, Bello Umar, the Nigerian Army, and local vigilantes for their heroic efforts in repelling the attack. He stressed the importance of joint operations by security agencies to combat criminal elements in the nation.

Radda also highlighted that this successful response operation, carried out collaboratively by the Malumfashi police team, military units, and local vigilantes, should serve as an inspiring example of bravery for security personnel across the state to follow.

Police Begin Search For Kidnapped Benue Commissioner

The Benue State Police Command has said that it has begun a search for the kidnapped state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Matthew Abo, who was abducted on Sunday by gunmen.

The spokesperson for the state Police Command, Catherine Anene, disclosed this to PUNCH Metro over the phone on Monday.

She said that the command was doing everything possible to rescue the kidnap commissioner.

When asked about the efforts the CP was making to rescue the commissioner, Anene said, “Definitely, policemen have been on the operation since the information got to the command.”

Abo was Sunday night kidnapped by some gunmen who invaded his house at Zaki Biam, headquarters of Ukum Local Government Area of the state.

The commissioner was said to have been at home with his family members when the gunmen came on four motorcycles and found their way into his living room.

During the incident, an eyewitness explained that the kidnappers came on four motorcycles, ordered everyone in the house, including the commissioner’s wife and children, to lie face down before taking their target away to an unknown destination.

“The abductors forced the commissioner to sit behind the rider of one of the motorcycles while a gunman sandwiched him.

Meanwhile, the state Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, said on Monday that the abductors of the commissioner had yet to establish contact with the victim’s family members.

Alia, in a statement issued by his media aide, Kula Tersoo, said that gunmen had a day before the incident, kidnapped a former chairman of the local government, Iorwashima Erukaa.

He said, “While Abo was kidnapped by gunmen in his Sankara home at about 8pm, Sunday, September 24, 2023, Mr Erukaa was also taken away by a yet-to-be-identified gunmen on Saturday, September 23, 2023.

“The kidnappers, who took the duo to undisclosed locations, have made contacts with the family of Erukaa but have yet to make contacts with Abo’s family.”

Tersoo said that the governor, who described the act as barbaric, had detailed security agencies to immediately commence operations to ensure the safe release of the duo.

“He (governor) has called on the people of the state to remain calm, as his administration will do everything to make the state safe for all,” the statement added.

The Sankera axis, which comprises of three local government areas; Logo, Katsina-Ala and Ukum, is the major flashpoint of criminal activities such as kidnapping and killing in the past few years.

Earlier, Tersoo confirmed the abduction of the commissioner.

The CPS said, “Yes he was kidnapped. Unfortunately, he was kidnapped in his country home in Ukum LGA, around 8pm on Sunday, September 24, 2023.

“He was home with his family, children and his people when the armed men came in. They forced him on a bike.

“We received the unfortunate development and His Excellency, Governor Hyacinth Alia, has already directed and detailed the security operatives to ensure his safe release from the kidnappers’ den.”

SOURCE: Punch

Secret Negotiation: We Have Enough Facts To Expose You, Zamfara Gov Fires Back At FG

Governor Dauda Lawal, on Tuesday, said the Zamfara State Government has enough facts to expose the agents of the Federal Government behind the secret negotiation with bandits.

The governor, who had consistently ruled out the option of negotiating with bandits, had earlier raised the alarm that the Federal Government had entered a secret dialogue with the criminals.

But the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, accused the Zamfara Government of politicising security.

However, in a statement Sulaiman Bala Idris, his spokesman, issued on his behalf, the Governor said he had evidence exposing some Federal Government agents involved in the negotiations with bandits in Zamfara.

He added that the Minister of Information should have conducted a thorough investigation before discrediting the State Government.

The statement read in parts: “We sought clarification from the Federal Government regarding the sneaky negotiations with bandits carried out by some of its agents without recourse to the State Government and heads of Security agencies in the State.

“We have facts and evidence on what had transpired between these agents of the Federal Government and the bandits during the negotiations in several places across Zamfara.

“It is disappointing that the information minister discredited our claim without verifying it first. What is expected of him as a professional is to collaborate with relevant authorities to substantiate the claim’s authenticity.

“Zamfara State Government respects protocol and established authority. We would not come out in the media to start exposing the names of the Federal Government agents involved in the covert dialogue with bandits.

“We want to clarify that those individuals leading secret negotiations with bandits in Zamfara are politicising insecurity, not the State Government.

“The Information Minister’s statement claiming that there were no negotiations between government officials and bandits in Zamfara requires further clarification. We have already exposed a few locations where such talks were held with bandits, such as Birnin Magaji, Maradun, Mun Haye, Ajah, Bawo, and Bagege.

“Negotiating with bandits in Zamfara is a grave mistake we cannot afford to make. It is not the solution to the problem and only encourages and emboldens the criminals. We urge the Federal Government to take a firm stance against such activities and investigate the motives of those who engage in them.”

Source: Nairaland