The Nigerian Army on Thursday presented cheques worth over 400 million naira to the next of kins of 197 deceased personnel under the army’s Group Life Assurance scheme.
The presentation was done at the army headquarters in Abuja.
Wednesday, 1 March 2017
Three Chadian Boko Haram terrorists were arrested on Sunday by troops of the Nigerian Army working with operatives of the Department of State Services in Gombe.
Army spokesman, Brigadier General Sani Usman said in a statement that the terrorists belonging to the Al Barnawi faction of Boko Haram with materials for making Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs.
"The 3 Chadian terrorists suspects, Bilal Muhammed Umar, Bashir Muhammed and Muhammed Maigari Abubakar were arrested at Arawa and Mallam Inna Areas of Gombe metropolis. They were reported to be members of Albarnawi faction of the Boko Haram that operates in Chad and mostly northern part of Borno State but came to Gombe State for another heinous assignment.
"During the operation, one of them, Bilal Muhammed Umar attempted to escape and was shot on the leg. He was however apprehended and is receiving medical treatment.
"The terrorists were also arrested with Improvised Explosive Device (IED), materials that they could have coupled and attack parts of the State.
"The suspects are in custody undergoing preliminary investigation," he said.
If the words of the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Ahmed Gulsen are anything to go by, Turkish Airlines will be using the Kaduna airport during the six week closure of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
James Odaudu, Deputy Director, Press Unit, in the Ministry of Transportation said in a statement on Wednesday, that the Ambassador promised to make this happen when he received the Minister of State for Aviation Sen. Hadi Sirika in his office.
Gulsen said that the reluctance of the airline to use Kaduna airport is based on security issues and its ability to handle international flights.
The News Agency of Nigeria however, reports that Gulsen accepted Sirika's invitation to visit Kaduna for on the spot assessment of the airport.
“The partnership between Turkey and Nigeria is very strategic and therefore at this point of need by Nigeria, Turkey should be ready to assist.
“As the ambassador representing Turkey in Nigeria, I should be able to convince my government and operators of the Turkish Airlines to fly Kaduna.
“I agree with you that the Abuja runway needs to be repaired and that the closure is necessary; I will talk to the CEO of the airline to convince them to fly Kaduna during this period.
“Though it is their private business, but they should be able to trust my judgment as their representative in Nigeria,’’ he said.
The National Commandant of Peace Corps of Nigeria, PCN, Mr. Dickson Akoh and more than 40 members of the organization were on Tuesday night reportedly arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services.
The Public Relations Officer of Peace Corps, Milicent Umoru, told newsmen on Wednesday that the DSS operatives were accompanied by police and military personnel.
She disclosed that Mr Akoh is being detained by the Federal Capital Territory Police Command.
A member of the Peace Corps who pleaded anonymity said that a female officer who was assaulted during the operation was hospitalized after losing consciousness.
”We suddenly saw a detachment of armed security operatives asking everybody to lie face down. They asked the commandant to follow them, and he obeyed, but some of the officers said that they want to follow the commandant and the security operatives started beating up everybody, including state commandants.
“One of the assaulted officers was a female. She was repeatedly hit with a gun butt until she lost consciousness. She was later rushed to the National Hospital.”
The Nigerian Peace Corps which bill was passed in December last year by the Senate is being opposed by the police as a duplication of its duties.
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