Army ready to pay N1m for information on kidnapped Colonel

The Nigerian Army is offering a reward of one million naira for anyone with useful information about the whereabouts of its kidnapped officer, Col Samaila Inusa.

The Army said that informants will be given protection and treated with utmost confidentiality

The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations Office of 1 Division Nigerian Army, Colonel Abdul Usman told newsmen in Kaduna on Sunday that Col Inusa was abducted by unknown gunmen around Kamazo, along Kaduna Refinery Road, in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Saturday night.

The statement said that "the abductors dropped off Colonel Inusa's wife and left with him in his car. The car headed towards Abuja."

The Army had initially pledged a reward of five hundred thousand naira for information on the kidnapped Colonel Inusa, only to raise it to one million naira on Monday.

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Army issues statement on crisis in Ibi, Taraba State

PRESS STATEMENT BY LT COL CO EGEMOLE ON CRISIS IN IBI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA ON FRIDAY 25TH MARCH 2016

On behalf of Officers and men of 93 Battalion, I am delighted to welcome you to our Headquarters in Takum. Let me start by thanking you most sincerely for your continuous commitment and support in publicizing the activities of the Nigerian Army in aid to civil authority as ensured in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As amended) and to reassure you of the Chief of Army Staff commitment to protect lives and properties whenever we are called upon to do so in line with the provisions of the law.

The essence of this briefing is to create awareness in the public on what happened on the 25th March 2016 at Ibi Local Government Area (LGA). Ibi LGA of Taraba state has been characterized by ethno-religious crisis and the one of 25th March 2016 was one of such. The incidence started by some youths throwing stones at Muslims in the mosque during Juma’at prayers which later escalated to sporadic shooting, but for the timely intervention of troops and other sister security agencies, normalcy was restored and 24 hours curfew imposed. For now, there has been no report of death.

However, 6 persons have so far been arrested in connection to the crisis and manhunt is ongoing for other perpetrators. The troops have recovered 3 AK-47 assault rifles, 2 AK47 magazines, 4 single barrel guns, 11 cartridges, 1 axe, 2 hammers, 1 cutlass, 2 handsaws, 1 knife, 3 mobile phones, 1 catapult, 1 broken butt, 19 rounds of 5.56mm, 104 rounds of 7.2mm (Special) ammunitions and I litre of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from the suspects. In line with established procedure, we will be handing over suspects and arms to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation and prosecution.

It is worthy to note, prior to this incidence, the Unit had 2 major peace meetings as directed by higher authorities between the stakeholders within the same week but it seemed all that was said fell on deaf ears, but dialogue will never cease.

We will continue to encourage the stakeholders to resolve the crisis politically and will not relent in making sure there is lasting peace in Ibi as stipulated in the Chief of Army Staff Vision.

Further more, measures have been put in place for more peace meetings to resolve the ongoing crisis in Ibi LGA. All stakeholders in the area are also requested to educate mostly the youths on the need for peaceful co-existence and tolerance amongst one another for the benefit of growth and sustenance.

Thanks

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Soldiers step on IED as troops kill four terrorists (graphic photos)

Troops of 114 Task Force Battalion, 28 Task Force Brigade, working with some vigilantes better known as Civilian JTF have killed four Boko Haram terrorists and rescued 54 captives in counter-insurgency operations.

A statement released by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col Sani Usman said that the troops which cleared Boko Haram terrorists along Bita-Madube Ciki-Njubul axis also recovered foodstuff, motorcycles and weapons.

The statement reads in part ;
"Troops of 114 Task Force Battalion, 28 Task Force Brigade, in conjunction with some vigilantes in their area of operation, have carried out clearance operation of reported remnants of Boko Haram terrorists along Bita-Madube Ciki-Njubul axis.

During the advance, 2 soldiers unfortunately stepped on a buried Improvised Explosive Device (IED) that seriously injured one of the soldiers . Nevertheless, the troops continued the advance and had contact with the terrorists and cleared them out of Madube Cikin, killing 4 insurgents, destroying 2 vehicles and 2 motorcycles belonging to the terrorists. The troops also recovered 2 cylinders, 1 AK-47 rifle, 3 boxes of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, 2 bicycles and bags of grains.

The troops also rescued 54 persons held hostage by the Boko Haram terrorists. The released hostages are being screened while the wounded soldiers have since been evacuated for proper medical care."

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Troops kill 25 Boko Haram insurgents, rescue 18 captives

Nigerian troops engaged in counter-terrorism operations in the Northeast have killed 25 Boko Haram fighters, recovering some arms and ammunitions in the process.

The troops also rescued 18 persons who had been held hostage by the terrorists.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col Sani Usman.

"Troops of 151 Task Force Battalion, 21 Brigade have also cleared remnants of BokoHaram terrorists from three villages in Iza general area, killing 25 Boko Haram terrorists and recovered some weapons. The cleared villages were Mballeri, Shuari 1 and Shuari 2.

"In addition, the troops also rescued 18 persons held captive by the terrorists. They comprised of 2 men, 7 women and 9 children. The rescued persons have been moved to the Brigade’s headquarters for further screening and care.

"Unfortunately, one Civilian JTF accompanying the troops fell off a vehicle and sustained some injuries. He has however since been evacuated to the unit’s Regimental Aid Post for medical treatment and he is in stable condition."

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Kano market fire not our fault - Electricity firm

The Kano Electricity Distribution Company, KEDCO has rejected the suggestion by an official of the state fire service that the inferno which destroyed the famous Sabon Gari market during the weekend was caused by an electrical spark.

In a statement signed by its Chief Customer Relations Officer, Malam Abubakar Yusuf, KEDCO said that the feeder line supplying electricity to the market was not on at the time of the fire outbreak, and had indeed been switched off since Friday evening because of load shedding.

“We wish to put the records straight that the fire incidence at Sabon-Gari market never emanated from power spark.

“It is also on record that the two dedicated transformers supplying the market are still intact and had no sign of any power surge after the incidence.”

The statement lamented the attempt by the fire service to link the disaster to power surge.

“The fire service never called us to alert us of the incidence as they normally do when there is a fire outbreak, but unfortunately for us they just went ahead to blame us.”

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Why foreign airlines will sack 2000 Nigerian workers

The National Union of Air Transport Employees,NUATE, is lamenting the plan by foreign airlines plan to sack over two thousand Nigerian workers  because of a new Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN policy on forex and fund transfer which has restrained them from transferring their earnings to their home countries to meet operational costs in line with international regulations.

In a Save Our Souls, SOS letter  to the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, Acting General Secretary of NUATE, Comrade Olayinka Abioye said that the affected workers have been destabilized.

He appealed to the Federal Government to intervene and prevent the impending huge job loss.

In the words of the NUATE scribe; “The reason being adduced for this danger is that their earnings in the past year is under lock with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN , as they are unable to transfer these earnings to their respective home countries to meet operational costs in accordance with international rules.

“Following concerns raised recently by leaders of these workers and other stakeholders and in appreciation of the good intent of the government’s fiscal policy, we humbly make this clarion call for your (Minister)  intervention to grant foreign airlines concession to repatriate their proceeds to their home countries.

“We hasten to place on the front burner an emerging threat confronting over 2, 000 private sector aviation workers in Nigeria which requires your intervention to forestall imminent loss of jobs of these number of workers."

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Buhari to scrutinize 2016 budget before appending signature

Buhari will assent to the 2016 budget after scrutinizing the details - Garba Shehu http://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2016/03/buhari-will-assent-to-2016-budget-after.html

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