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Tag: CDS

  • If violence is what they need to unleash, their days are numbered – Defence Chief to terrorists

    If violence is what they need to unleash, their days are numbered – Defence Chief to terrorists

    The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, has restated the resolve of Nigeria’s military to restore peace in the southern part of Kaduna State.

    The Southern part of Kaduna has become a hotbed of deadly attacks in recent months.

    Irabor made this known in Kafanchan on Thursday during a peace meeting with stakeholders involved in Southern Kaduna crisis.

    He stated that the days of perpetrators of violent attacks in the area were numbered as the military was prepared to unleash the full strength of its arsenal on them.

    “We are committed to ensuring that peace is restored in this part of the country.

    “However, for those who do not want to heed to our appeal for peace and who think that violence is what they need to unleash on us, I am here to tell them that their days are numbered.

    “If the peace in Southern Kaduna is disrupted, the peace in Kaduna and indeed the peace in Nigeria will be disrupted because Kaduna is central to the existence of Nigeria,” he stated.

    The Defence Chief cautioned the people against taking laws into their hands in the face of provocations, urging aggrieved parties to always recourse to the law.

    He pledged to increase military presence and hardware in Southern Kaduna but maintained that there must be willingness among the people to embrace peace for such to yield positive result.

    “You can have all the personnel and equipment in the world, if there’s no willingness amongst the people to live in peace, it will count for nothing.

    “So, we need to start looking at ways beyond military deployment to solve this crisis,” he added.

    He advised communities to set up security committees as well as vigilante groups to work in consonance with security forces to fish out criminal elements.

    On stoppage of night grazing as suggested by some stakeholders, Irabor promised to bring up the issue as a point during the national security council meeting.

    “This is not something I have authourity to make a decision on, but I can assure you I will bring it up as a point during the national security council meeting for further consideration,” he said.

    In his remarks, Gov. Nasir El-rufai, represented by the Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, decried the politicisation of the crisis in Southern Kaduna.

    He said the state government would continue to do its best in carrying out its primary responsibility of protecting lives and property.

  • Peace returning to troubled parts of Nigeria – CDS

    Peace returning to troubled parts of Nigeria – CDS

    The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, has assured Nigerians that the year 2022 will see peace returning to all troubled parts of the country.

    Irabor gave the assurance on Saturday in Abuja at the 2022 International Military Sports Council’s Day Run for the armed forces and security agencies with the theme: “Running for World Peace’’.

    He said the world needed peace at this time given the tension of monumental proportions on-going between Russia and Ukraine and the various security challenges confronting Nigeria.

    According to him, peace is returning to various troubled parts of Nigeria and the security forces have been playing their roles at redressing the challenges.

    Irabor said the exercise was to help the personnel to keep fit to enable them to continue the work of defending and protecting the country, adding that the job required their physical agility.

    “Beyond that, it also helps you to keep mentally alert because the job that you are involved in requires that your physical and mental well-being must be in top shape.

    “I am hopeful that for us in Nigeria, the peace that we have yearned for all these years will be a turning point this year.

    “Never again will we have the level of insecurity that we have had in the past and this is an assurance.

    “I also thank Nigerians for the support they have given to members of the armed forces and other security agencies in tackling insecurity in our country.

    “It is not yet over. We appeal for more support and I believe that Nigerians and of course, every other friend of Nigeria will support the armed forces to install an environment that is peaceful,’’ the defence chief stressed.

    The five kilometres walking and jogging began at Aguyi Ironsi Cantonment, Asokoro, Abuja through Yakubu Gowon Barracks and terminated at Aguyi Ironsi Cantonment.

    Participants were drawn from the military, the police, and paramilitary agencies.

  • I sold CDs in barbershops-Banky W

    I sold CDs in barbershops-Banky W

    Banky W, Nigerian singer has recounted how he and his colleagues sold CDs across barbershops.

    The politician cum entertainer made this known during the second part of an episode of The Waterbrook series titled ‘Final Say Faith’.

    The 40-year-old movie star revealed that they toured saloons and barbershops in his neighborhood.

    According to him, they sold CDs from the trunk of their car after creating a record label from the comfort of his dormitory room.

    “When I was moving, I was in Yankee. I felt a leaning that I have to come back to do this music thing. I spoke to my best friend Tunde. It took us back to when we first started music. We didn’t have connections or money,” he said.

    “We started a record label in my dorm room. The label was not worth the piece of paper that we used to register it. Myself, Tunde, and Tini, the three of us said, ‘nobody will come and save us in this dorm room.’

    “We recorded the music and went to every hair salon, and barbershop in the neighborhood and begged the owners to allow us to sing for their customers. Sometimes, they would throw us out. Other times they allowed us.

    “I would tell them we had CDs for sale in the trunk of our car. That’s how EME that has done endorsement deals signed artistes, being a stepping stone. That what led me to what we’ve done in music, movies, food.”

    Banky W said it was in the process that they hit gold with EME, a record label he said was a stepping stone.

    “I’m in the food business now. Even though it wasn’t in line with purpose, if I didn’t do that then, I won’t be here. Use every arrow. The opportunity of a lifetime must be used within the lifetime of that opportunity,” he stated.

    “Opportunities don’t last forever. Mike Edwards from Big Brother is my friend, we’ve worked together. Sometimes you see Mike doing his workout. He has muscles in places I didn’t know muscles existed.

    “When I was young, I probably had the same potential to be an athlete. I’m 40 years old now. That opportunity is gone. There’s nothing I can do to compete with Mike. Opportunities have a window, a lifetime.”

  • Reps grill CDS, Service Chiefs designate for confirmation

    Reps grill CDS, Service Chiefs designate for confirmation

    A House of Representatives Special Committee on Wednesday commenced the grilling of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the three Service Chiefs designate, appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The House Special Committee was constituted on Wednesday last week following a letter of nomination addressed to Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila by President Muhammadu Buhari pursuant to the provisions of Section 18 (1) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

    The panel is headed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Rep. Babajimi Benson, with chairmen of the committees on Army, Rep. Abdulrazak Namdas; Navy, Rep. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, and Air Force, Rep. Shehu Koko as co-chairmen.

    The newly appointed CDS, Major General Lucky E. O. Irabor; the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Ibrahim Attahiru; Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Rear Admiral Auwal Zubair Gambo, and the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshall (AVM) Isiaka Oladayo Amao, were subjected to a thorough screening by members of the Special Committee at a closed-door session held at the National Assembly.

    Speaking at the opening of the hearing, Rep. Benson said: “I can assure you that the nominees will be grilled on questions covering a wide range of subjects.

    “Areas in which they will be questioned include professional skill and experience, Nigeria’s war on terror and insurgency and insecurity in general, funding of the military and strategic security knowledge and vision of the nominees as well as welfare of military personnel.”

    He said Nigeria is blessed with brave and gallant soldiers, many of whom have paid the ultimate price in service to the country. Thus, he said, “It is to their memories that we must get it right with our National Security and help secure the peace for which they gave their lives.”

    He said from the inception of this 9th House, national security has been discussed more than 200 times at plenary, but that the nation is still grappling with diverse and increasing security challenges, despite some successes recorded by the gallant men and women of the Armed Forces.

    “While I appreciate there is no single magic solution, I believe the kind of leadership provided to our Armed Forces is part of the solution mix.”

    Rep. Benson noted that because of the sensitivity of security issues, the proper screening session would be held behind closed door to help protect national security and “give the nominees the freedom to respond more adequately, comprehensively and expansively without any fear of an unwitting exposure of sensitive information.”

    While commending the president for appointing the CDS and the service chiefs at this time, Rep. Benson said: “Over the next days, we will compile our notes, deliberate fully and extensively as a committee and submit our report and recommendations to plenary next week.”

    In a remark, the Minister of Defence, General Bashir Magashi (rtd), thanked members of the committee for their prompt action to screen the CDS and the Service Chiefs.

    He said the Armed Forces of Nigeria are fully aware and alert to their constitutional role, noting that “I have no doubt that those nominated by Mr President will make this country proud.”

    Giving his vision, the nominee for CDS, Major General Irabor, said he intended to have a leadership focus and philosophy to ensure professional armed forces that meet Nigeria’s security needs.

    On his part, the nominee for COAS, Major General Attahiru, said his focus would be to reposition the Nigerian Army to meet its mandate, ensure continuous leadership development among officers and men as well as innovation to meet the demands of the 21st century.

    Also, the nominee for CNS, Rear Admiral Gambo, said despite his experience, he would need a great deal of the loyalty, cooperation and support of all the officers and men of the Nigerian Navy to succeed, saying he would re-energise the Nigerian Navy to make her meet her needs.

    Similarly, the nominee for CAS, AVM Amao, who is a fighter and instructor pilot, said his focus would be to ensure the integrity of the Air Force and to enhance and sustain airmen capabilities, with focus on purposeful training and human capacity development, innovative efforts, a disciplined workforce and boost morale to improve personnel welfare.

    After their submissions, the session resolved into a closed-door for proper grilling of the nominees.

  • #EndSARS: Buhari meets with Defense Minister, CDS

    #EndSARS: Buhari meets with Defense Minister, CDS

    President Muhammadu Buhari has just ended a closed-door meeting with the Minister of Defense, Major General Bashir Magashi, and the Chief of Defense Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, at the State House.

    Although there was no official information confirming the agenda of the meeting, as at the time of filing this report, sources within the State House, suggested it was all in the bid to tame the escalating violence trailing the #EndSARS protests.

    It should be noted that the protests had in the last two days degenerated into bloody violence in different parts of the country, leaving tens dead and property worth millions of naira destroyed.

    Although government at all levels had been taking steps to meet the initial five-point demand of the protesters, the actions have refused to be doused, generating new demands daily.

  • BREAKING: Six NAF personnel sentenced for murder of ex-CDS Badeh

    Six Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel, who were aides to the former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Late Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, have been awarded various sentences by the General Court Martial (GCM) sitting at the NAF Base, Bill Clinton Drive, Abuja.

    The six NAF personnel, who were standing trial for various offences are: Squadron Leader Tom Gwani, Flight Sergeant Amu David, Flight Sergeant Philemon Degema, Flight Sergeant Sabo Simon, Sergeant Mukhtar Abdullahi and Sergeant Alfred Alexander.

    Details shortly…

  • Former CDS, Alex Badeh for burial January 23

    Former CDS, Alex Badeh for burial January 23

    The late Ex-Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Alex Badeh, will be buried on January 23 at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja.

    According to a statement by John Agim, a brigadier general and the Acting Director Defence Information, DDI, the remains of late CDS will be committed to mother earth at 12.30 p. m. after a Church Service.

    Mr Agim said the service will take place at the Nigerian Airforce Base, Protestant Church, Bill Clinton Drive Airport Road at 10 a. m.

    He added that there would also be a service of song on Sunday by 5 p.m. at the Air Force Base, Protestant Church, Bill Clinton Drive.

    Mr Badeh, a retired Air Chief Marshal, who served as CDS under ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, was shot dead on December 18, 2018 by unknown gunmen, on Keffi-Abuja highway, while returning from his farm.

  • 95 repentant Boko Haram fighters set for release – CDS

    Ninety five ex-Boko Haram terrorists that have been rehabilitated under the Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) programme are now set to be reintegrated into the society.

    The Chief of Defence Staff, Gabriel Olonisakin, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja when he declared open a stakeholders meeting to work out modalities for the reintegration of rehabilitated ex-Boko Haram fighters.

    Mr. Olonisakin recalled that in January 2017, six cleared suspected terrorists successfully underwent the programme and were reunited with their families in Borno, Kaduna and Kogi states.

    He also recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had at a National Security Council meeting in September 2015, directed the establishment of “Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC)”.

    The corridor was to create opportunity for willingly surrendered and repentant Boko Haram fighters to undergo a deradicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration programme.

    The programme was to facilitate their return to normal life.

    The CDS said that following the directive of the president, a committee comprising the governors of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, the service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police was constituted under his chairmanship.

    Other members of the committee, he said, were: the Director General of NEMA, Chief of Intelligence Agency and a Director from the Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA.

    Mr. Olonisakin said that the 95 ex-fighters had undergone a 16-week DRR programme involving various social and spiritual counselling, introductory elementary formation education and vocational training, among others.

    He said that he was satisfied they were fit to be reintegrated into the society.

    “I have followed keenly activities in the camp since the ex-fighters arrived therein and I believe that they are different from who they were six months ago.

    “The ex-fighters have been transformed, made to imbibe good characters and habits, and have also learnt vocational trades to empower them.

    “The next stage of the programme, re-integration is the most important and complex aspect of the DRR programme.

    “It requires painstaking planning and careful execution.

    “Hence the need for our gathering here today to work out modalities for the smooth transfer of the ex-fighters to their respective state authorities and eventually to their relations,’’ he said.

    The CDS advised the stakeholders to “carefully examine all issues and come up with workable recommendations’’ to facilitate their hitch-free re-integration, resettlement and empowerment.

    Giving the breakdown of the 95 ex-fighters, Adegoke Adetuyi, the Commandant of the DRR, said 91 of them hailed from Borno, two from Yobe and one each from Adamawa and Bauchi states.

    Bamidele Shafa, the Coordinator of the OPSC, said that so far the body had facilitated the rehabilitation of 750 cleared men, women and children, who had been released to their states.

    According to him, the operation formally began its activities at its camp in Gombe state on April 22, 2016.

    According to him, at the moment, there are 254 ex-fighters in the camp undergoing the DRR programme among which the first set of 95, who have completed their programme are due to be transferred to their respective state authorities for reintegration into the society.