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Tag: FCT

  • FRSC confirm nine deaths, 10 injuries in Abuja mishap

    FRSC confirm nine deaths, 10 injuries in Abuja mishap

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed nine persons dead in a road accident that occurred at the weekend on Yangoji-Abaji in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

    The Corps made the confirmation in a statement by the Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem.

    The organization also said that 10 other person’s were critically injured in the accident.

    It said that the accident specifically occurred at about 6:05am on Saturday.

    According to the statement, the accident involved a Toyota Hiace Bus, with vehicle registration number KTG-450 KQ and Howo Sino truck along Yangoji-Abaji road.

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    We haven’t started carrying guns – FRSC

    According to Kazeem, the bus crashed into a stationary trailer while it was coming from Osun State, heading to Katsina State.

    He explained that the two vehicles involved in the accident were commercial.

    “Twenty-two people were involved in the crash. They were all male. Ten were injured and nine were killed. First aid was given to two. The FRSC recovered N3,170, six bags and 4 different mobile phones,” the FRSC said.

    He added that the nine corpses were deposited at the mortuary in the General hospital, Kwali and that the Nigeria Police Force, Kwali Division, had taken over the investigation.

    He quoted the Acting Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Dauda Biu, as attributing the accident to dangerous overtaking and loss of control.

    According to the Acting Corps Marshal, crashes at night were more fatal than others in the daytime.

    He said the corps would constantly engage the motoring public through aggressive awareness and sensitisation campaigns until the desired result was achieved of having an accident-free society.

    He advised vehicle owners to avoid road crashes, especially at night by ensuring that their vehicles were put in order.

  • TRENDING: Watch scenes of collapsed Abuja building+photos

    TRENDING: Watch scenes of collapsed Abuja building+photos

    A shopping mall collapsed on Friday in Kubwa a suburb of the federal capital territory at 10.15am as three men were rescued while two are still trapped in the mall.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) visited the scene of the collapsed building and the one storey mall as indicated in photos taken at the scene was flattened.

    A man who refused to identify himself as captured in the trending video vowed that he would get to the bottom of the matter.

    As at the time of filing this report, three survivors have been rescued while two other men are said to be trapped in the rubble.

    Watch video below:

     

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    A post shared by Media/News Company (@thenewsgurung)

  • AITEO Cup: Three quarter-final matches hold Saturday

    AITEO Cup: Three quarter-final matches hold Saturday

    The cities of Jos, Kaduna and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja will witness top class football action this weekend as the quarter-final matches of this year’s AITEO Cup competition (men’s version) take place.

    Niger Tornadoes and Lobi Stars are the combatants in Jos to determine a slot in the semi finals while top-tier teams Wikki Tourists and Nasarawa United clash in Kaduna.

    Kogi United, the surprise team of this year’s competition, are up against Kano Pillars at the Area 3 Stadium, Abuja.

    It would be recalled that the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, at its meeting of 18th August adopted the resolutions of a peace meeting of Club representatives with NFF officials that agreed to a rebooting of the AITEO Cup Competition 2022 (men’s version) from the quarter-final stage.

    A notice to Football Associations of the States hosting the quarter-final matches has clarified that the fourth match between Heartland FC of Owerri and Katsina United FC is determined to have been won and lost, with Heartland FC the winners and already in possession of a semi-final ticket.

    AITEO CUP COMPETITION 2022

    QUARTER FINAL FIXTURES (MEN)

    Niger Tornadoes Vs Lobi Stars – 27/08/22 – Jos – 4pm

    Wikki Tourists Vs Nasarawa United – 27/08/22 – Kaduna – 4pm

    Kogi United Vs Kano Pillars – 27/08/22 – Area 3, Abuja – 4pm

  • FCT-IRS clarifies taxing of residents of neighbouring states working in FCT

    FCT-IRS clarifies taxing of residents of neighbouring states working in FCT

    Mr Haruna Abdullahi, the  Acting Chairman, Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) says the law is clear on where residents working in other states pay taxes.

    Abdullahi gave the clarification when he appeared on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja, following concerns of multiplicity of taxes.

    NAN reports that there has been concern with regard to proper categorisation of people residing in neighbouring states like Nasarawa and Niger but working in the FCT.

    The FCT-IRS boss said the Personal Income Tax clearly stated that tax deductions should be done based on tax payers’ places of residence.

    He said “Section 22 of the Personal Income Tax stated that tax payment should be made where people reside.

    “For instance, we have employees in the FCT that are resident in places like Mararaba in Nasarawa State or Suleja in Niger State.

    According to the law, yes they work today in Abuja but their home and place of residence is outside Abuja.

    “So, according to Section 22 of Personal Income Tax, such persons would pay their taxes in Nasarawa State or Niger State as the case may be,” he said.

    Abdullahi said that while there were still grey areas in following the law to the latter, the Joint Tax Board (JTB) was working to ensure proper tax remittance.

    “It is an issue the Joint Tax Board is also trying to clarify because it is affecting a lot of states like Lagos , Ogun and probably Kano, Bauchi and Gombe.

    “That is one of the reasons why we are here to enlighten people and educate them about their responsibilities before taking action.

    “So, these are things we are working on.

    “The law provides for it but because these things continue to happen, the system will continue to see how it can enlighten people on it,” he said.

    Abdullahi called on residents caught up in such circumstance to report any tax deductions that were not properly categorised.

    He sad “if for instance a worker’s pay slip indicates tax deductions from Nasarawa State while the person resides in the FCT, a complaint should be lodged for proper categorisation.”

  • Environmental workers threaten to shutdown cemeteries in Abuja

    Environmental workers threaten to shutdown cemeteries in Abuja

    The striking staff of Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), on Thursday, threatened to shut down all public cemeteries in the Federal Capital Territory.

    The threat was coming after the striking workers shut down the cemeteries on Wednesday, but agreed to reopen them on Thursday.

    The striking workers had been on an indefinite strike since Tuesday over the failure of the FCT Administration to implement a new salary structure for them.

    Comrade Muktar Bala, Chairman of Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) in AEPB, told newsmen that if no action was taken, the cemeteries will be shutdown.

    He said that the union would also shutdown all other operational systems of the environmental board.

    Bala said the FCT administration had not placed any priority on the welfare of members of the union, who were daily exposed to various health hazards, including handling of corpses.

    According to him, the reopening of the cemeteries on Thursday was temporary to allow for negotiation, but will be shutdown again if the discussions fail.

    “As the Chairman of one of the unions in AEPB, I can assure you that it is a collective decision by the whole unions, with backings from the National union.

    “People think it is only waste management that we do, they don’t know that even unclaimed corpses in hospitals are taken care of by us.

    “These dead bodies that have over stayed in the hospital for three to four years, we take care of them, without knowing what killed them.

    “Hospitals come to us when they want mass burial for such dead bodies. If there are unclaimed or unknown corpses either on the road or elsewhere, Police will write reports and bring them to us for burial.

    “All these hazards, people don’t look at it. We want to tell the administration that apart from managing the solid waste, we engage in other things,” the chairman said.

    Bala emphasised that if no agreement was reached, the union would not only shutdown the cemeteries, but also close all the board’s systems and operations in the territory.

  • FCT communities lament lack of potable water, seek intervention

    FCT communities lament lack of potable water, seek intervention

    Despite the enormous annual budgetary allocations by the government for portable water supply, residents in and around the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, are in the pain of getting clean water for household use and drinking.

    Concerned by the lack of potable water in some communities within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, residents and stakeholders have called on the government at all levels and relevant authorities to intervene urgently.

    The outcry is coming on the heels of a recent investigation by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), which exposed that residents of Ike Bassa and Ike Ninzo in Kwali Area Council; and the Zokutu community in Kuje Area Council are drinking contaminated water from shallow-dug holes and caves.

    A resident of Ike Ninzo community, Mohammed Aliyu, laid bare the community’s plight during an anti-corruption radio programme, PUBLIC CONSCIENCE, produced by the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development, PRIMORG, Wednesday in Abuja.

    During the programme, Chief Executive Officer at Washmata Initiative, Dr. Boluwaji Onabolu, called on relevant authorities to urgently wade into the water emergency in the affected FCT communities to avoid the health consequences of people using contaminated water.

    Onabolu, who noted that the government has a statutory responsibility to provide safe water, called on the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to develop a vulnerability risk assessment as part of the strategy used by state governments and the area councils in providing water to citizens.

    She stressed the need for more motorized boreholes to be provided in FCT communities groaning under lack of access to potable water and tasked the FCT Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) with adopting a systemic approach to ensuring the most vulnerable communities are reached.

    “FCT RUWASSA needs to use a systematic approach called a vulnerability risk assessment to do a rapid assessment and know the most vulnerable, leave no one behind and prioritize those people.

    Onabolu harped on the sustainability of motorized boreholes and stated, “In several communities in Abuja, motorized boreholes have been provided, but for some reason, these boreholes have broken down.

    “So every institution that provides water should not provide water without leaving tools and training behind to ensure that the communities can also operate and maintain this water,” She advised.

    Earlier, Mohammed Aliyu described the water situation in his community as “very pathetic,” revealing that the whole community gets their water from just one pond, which animals also share.

    He stated that there is no government presence in the community as not even a single motorized borehole was provided in the community over the years. He called on government and non-governmental organizations to speedily come to their rescue.

    “Ike community faces a serious problem because we don’t have potable drinking water. The members of the community drink from a river, and it is the same place where animals drink water from.

    “In most cases, the water is always contaminated. You should imagine the situation of animals going there to drink at any time. So, people fall sick in this community because of the lack of this potable drinking water.”

    Aliyu disclosed that several efforts by residents of Ike Ninzo to have Kwali Area Council and their representative at the National Assembly intervene in getting them boreholes over the years had been fruitless.

    “We are pleading with not only the government, even non-governmental organizations that can come to our aid, but we will also highly welcome them,” He stated.

    A journalist with ICIR, Ijeoma Opara, who conducted the investigation, revealed that poverty and unavailability of water in the communities made the residents of Ike Bassa and Zokutu source their water from caves and unhealthy ponds.

    According to Opara, the investigation further exposed the government’s inability to provide potable water. Hence the residents had to resort to crude and unhealthy means of getting water by digging shallow holes.

    She called on residents of the communities in FCT lacking access to potable water to be relentless in demanding that their basic needs and rights be provided by their leaders and representatives.

    “Residents need to connect with their representatives at various levels of government. They need to demand; they need to push further for these basic rights. It will be detrimental to these residents to despair at this point,” Opara warned.

    Public Conscience is a syndicated weekly anti-corruption radio program used by PRIMORG to draw government and citizens’ attention to corruption and integrity issues in Nigeria. The program has the support of the MacArthur Foundation.

  • Police restore normalcy after Task Force, motorcycle operators clash in Abuja

    Police restore normalcy after Task Force, motorcycle operators clash in Abuja

    The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said it had restored normalcy in the Gosa Market area after a clash between Task Force and motorcycle operators in the area.
    The Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT, DSP Josephine Adeh, said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.
    Adeh said the command had, at about 11:30 a.m., received a report of civil unrest around Airport Road, near Gosa market area of the FCT.
    She said the incident was due to an uncultured display of dissatisfaction by commercial motorcycle operators who took to the streets, burning tires and other substances.
    The police spokesperson said the motorcycle operators took to the street following the activities of the Task Force who earlier, confiscated some motorcycles for certain violations.
    According to her, upon the receipt of the information, operatives from Iddo Divisional Police Headquarters were swiftly drafted to the scene.
    She said the operatives had taken necessary measures to restore peace and normalcy to the situation.
    Adeh urged the public to eschew the generation and promulgation of fake news or contrary narratives and go about their lawful businesses without fear of harassment or molestation.
    She said monitoring and surveillance would continue at the scene while efforts were being made to arrest the miscreants responsible for the disturbance.
    Adeh said the Commissioner of Police, Mr Babaji Sunday, pledged the commitment of the command to bring crimes and criminality to the barest minimum
    The CP said full wrath of the law would be meted out on persons involved in the burning of combustible materials on tarred roads, adding that the act amounted  to the vandalism of government property.
  • Correctional Service releases Ex-Governors Dariye, Nyame

    Correctional Service releases Ex-Governors Dariye, Nyame

    The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command has released two former governors, Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame, as well as three others from costodial centres.

    The Public Relations Officer, FCT command, Mr Chukwuedo Humphrey disclosed this to newsmen on Monday in Abuja.

    Humphrey said that the letter of their release was sent to the command by the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy Committee on Monday.

    He said that the two former governors were pardoned on ill health and age grounds and were released immediately, but did not disclose the names of the three others

    “We have no right to hold them further as soon as we have the letter of clemency from the presidency.

    “If we do, it will be against their fundamental human rights.

    “They have left the facility today. We got the warrant of release today and have done the needful.

    “Dariye and Nyame were in Kuje custodial centre while the three others were in Suleja custodial centre,” he said.

    Newsmen reports that the ex-governors were among the 159 prisoners pardoned by the Council of State during a meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on April 14.

    Jolly Nyame, 66, ex-governor of Taraba from 1999 to 2007, was serving a 12-year jail term at the Kuje prison over misappropriation of funds while he was in office.

    Mr Joshua Dariye, 64, who governed Plateau between 1999 and 2007, was also jailed for corruption during his time as governor between 1999 and 2007.

  • FCT Election Tribunal: We will appeal judgment – AMAC chairman

    FCT Election Tribunal: We will appeal judgment – AMAC chairman

    Mr Christopher Maikalangu, the Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), says he will appeal the FCT Election Tribunal judgment nullifying his emergence as winner of the Feb. 12 area council elections.

    In a statement issued in Abuja, he called on his supporters to remain calm for the needful to be done.

    The statement, jointly signed by Ephraim Audu and Kingsley Madaki, his Chief Press Secretary and Senior Special Assistant on Media was issued on Friday night in Abuja.

    “Following the judgment at the FCT election tribunal, the leadership of Abuja Municipal Area Council has renounced the judgment that was passed in favour of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    The chairman therefore, called on his supporters to remain calm and not take laws into their hands as his legal team had already appealed the matter at a competent court.

    Newsmen report that Maikalangu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was declared winner of Feb. 12 AMAC chairmanship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He polled 19,302 votes to defeat Murtala Usman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who scored 13,240 votes.

  • FCT is safe – Defence HQ assures

    FCT is safe – Defence HQ assures

    The Defence Headquarters, Nigeria has assured that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja is safe. The Defence HQ assured residents of the FCT that the hierarchy of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies are undaunted and unrelenting in efforts to ensure the safety of lives and properties.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Major General Benard Onyeuko, Director of Defence Media Operations made this known during a press briefing on Nigeria’s military operations held at the Defence Headquarters on Thursday.

    Major General Onyeuko disclosed that troops of 7 Guards Battalion and 167 Special Force Battalion in conjunction with the air component of Operation WHIRL PUNCH conducted a clearance patrol around Bwari general area between 24 – 26 July 2022, and successfully cleared Kawu and Ido villages of terrorists who recently attacked soldiers in the FCT.

    “Consequently, about 30 terrorists were neutralized and their enclave and hide-out destroyed. Ground troops also recovered 6 x motorcycles, 2 x AK47 rifles, 1 x fully loaded LMG magazine amongst others during mob up,” Onyeuko disclosed.

    The Defence Media Operations Director also disclosed at the press briefing that 27 pipeline vandals were arrested in the Niger Delta region while a total of 5,159,500 litres of substance suspected to be crude oil and 1,432,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil were recovered, adding that all arrested economic saboteurs and recovered items were handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action.

    “The Statistic above shows a significant loss to the economy of the Country. It has a street value of about Two Billion Five Hundred and Thirty Four Million Seven Hundred Seventy One Thousand Five Hundred Forty Three Naira Eight Kobo (N2,534,771,543.08). However, the number of arrested individuals have also increased and could reduce the illegal activities of these of oil thieves. Operation DELTA SAFE has therefore sustained it efforts to ensure relative safe and peaceful operations environment in the Niger Delta,” Onyeuko.

    Read text of the press briefing below:

    PRESS BRIEFING BY DIRECTORATE OF DEFENCE MEDIA OPERATIONS ON ARMED FORCES OF NIGERIA’S MILITARY OPERATIONS HELD AT DEFENCE HEADQUARTERS NEW CONFERENCE ROOM ON 28 JULY 2022

    1. Defence Headquarters bi-weekly briefing on troops activities and operational successes being recorded in the various operational theaters of the 6 geo-political zones of the Country. In the past 2 weeks, kinetic and non-kinetic operations were conducted in the various theatre of operations which recorded significant results. The brief will cover operational activities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies which were conducted in tackling insecurity in the Country between the period 14-28 July 2022.

    NORTH EAST ZONE
    2. The Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI in the North East zone between the17 and 19July 2022 responded to the activities of Boko Haram Terrorists/Islamic State of West Africa Province criminals who kidnapped some civilians and rustled some cattle at Balkani village in Jere Local Government Area. Troops made contact with the terrorists and rescued the kidnapped civilians and recovered the rustled cattle. Also, at another location troops rescued 2 civilians that were kidnapped by Boko Haram Terrorists/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists at Kayamade village in Kondoga Local Government Area of Borno State.

    3. In similar operation, troops on fighting patrol repelled Boko Haram Terrorists/Islamic State of West Africa Province attacks at Gwalaram village in Magumeri Local Government Area. Own troops fire power forced the criminals to flee the location. Also, troops came in contact with terrorists along Kwang – Kilakasa road, Monguno, Gajiran in a fire battle engaged the terrorist and neutralized 20 of the insurgents.Troopsfurther exploited the area and recovered 6x AK47 rifles, 3 bicycles, 1 Toyota Landcruiser van, 3 x tyres, 490 roundsof 108mm, 274 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, metal links, 5 x magazine, 2 x Improvised Explosive Device cylinders and 100 litres of Premium Motor Spirit among others items.Troops on 25 July 2022 rescued 4 women with children at Aulari in Borno State, while 2 were the list confirmed to be Chibok girls named Hanatu Musa and Kauna Sarah Luka who are on serial 7 and 38of the missing Chibok girls. Accordingly, within the weeks in focus, a total of 2,016 suspected Boko Haram Terrorists/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and their families comprising of 360 adult males, 580 adult females and 1076 children surrendered to own troops at various locations in the North East theatre of Operation. All rescued civilians and recovered items were handed over to relevant authority, while surrendered Boko Haram Terrorists and their families were profiled and handed over to the appropriate agencies for further action.

    NORTH CENTRAL ZONE
    4. Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE on 16 July 2022 arrested 2 notorious arms dealers, Mr Samuel Kwanu and Mr Ede Umar Yisa whom were said to have delivered weapons to one Mallam Saidu and some bandits in Gidan Bawa village. Items recovered from the suspects include; 2 magazines of 6 7.62mm special, 1 ussi rifle among others. Similarly, On same day acting on intelligence on kidnappers activities along Panda road linking Ayewawa and Dere in Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State and Kampani Sabon Gari village in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, troops of Operations WHIRL STROKE and SAFE HAVEN rescued 6 kidnapped victims and recovered 1 motorcycle. The suspects and recovered items were handed over to the relevant authorities.

    5. In another development, between 15 – 19 July 2022, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE responded to information on bandits activities at Chito and Maraba Ukyonugu villages both in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State. Troops neutralized 6 x bandits, destroyed criminal hideouts/camps and recovered 18 motorcycles. Troops also conducted operations along Road Nasme – Akpanaja -Ondori, Road Nasme – Antie – Ondori, Rukubi and Kekura villages in Doma and Awe Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State. During the operations, troops arrested 8 x suspected cattle rustlers and cultists. Items recovered include; 2 motorcycles, 1 x locally fabricated pistol, 3 x mobile phones and the sum of One Hundred Fifty Naira (N148,650.00) amongst others. All recovered items were handed over to the Nigeria Police Daudu Division for further action.

    6. On 20 July 2022, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN arrested Mr Awal Jumba a suspected kidnap kingpin at Vokti Mungi in Gindiri District Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State. While enroute the barracks, Mr Jumba attempted to escape and he was neutralized. Item recovered include 2 motorcycles and 1 gionee L800 amongst other. Relatedly, troops in conjunction with vigilantes on 24 July 2022 arrested 3 suspected bandits Commanders; Mr Julius Simon (alias Bagga 37yrs), Mr Wolta Zambai (45yrs) and Mr Iliya Peter (alias Boubok 27yrs) at Shimankar village, Shendam Local Government Area Plateau State. Suspects confessed to be involved in buying/selling ammunitions. Suspects are currently in custody and undergoing further investigation. Items recovered include; 3 mobile phones andN5,600 cash amongst others. On the same day, troops arrested 2 kidnappers; Mr Musa Usman (27yrs) and Mr Adam Mohammed (25yrs) at Barkin Ladi, Plateau State. Suspects confessed to have carried out several kidnapping activities including the kidnap of one Master Jeremiah Elijah, a 6yrs on 21 July 2022.

    7. Relatedly, on 25 July 2022, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN arrested a notorious kidnapper/armed robber and cattle rustler; Mr Zwanlan Fatim – 42yrs at Shendam town, Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State. Troops recovered 1 x locally made pistol, 5 x cartridges, 1 x rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 2 x mobile phones, 2 x Union Bank ATM cards, 1 x ID card and assorted charms amongst others. In another development, on 26 July 2022, troops intercepted Two (2) rail vandals, Mr Abba Abdul – 23 yrs and Mr Joseph ZI – 26yrs at Bas village, Heipang District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State. Vandals were intercepted while conveying Eighty Six (86) railways UIC sleepers in a red Peugeot Boxer vehicle with registration No BAU 05 SX.

    8. Troops of 7 Guards Battalion and 167 Special Force Battalion in conjunction with the air component of Operation WHIRL PUNCH conducted a clearance patrol around Bwari general area between 24 – 26 July 2022. Troops successfully clear Kawu and Ido villages. Consequently, about 30 terrorists were neutralized and their enclave and hide out destroyed. Ground troops also recovered 6 x motorcycles, 2 x AK47 rifles, 1 x fully loaded LMG magazine amongst others during mob up.

    NORTH WEST ZONE
    9. Troops of Operations HADARIN DAJI at the early hours of 27 July 2022 responded to a distress call from Bayi village in Tsefe Local Government Area of Zamfara on banditry activities. Troops trailed bandits to one Alhaji Bello Dan Iya’s residence and neutralized 1 x bandit. Items recovered include; 1 x AK47 rifle, 1 x magazine, 4 x rounds of 7.62mm special, 1 x MPs and 1 x sachet of marijuana amongst others. Earlier, on 25 July 2022, troops engaged one suspected bandit on motorcycle while commuting bush path along Gidan Garba, Magami Local Government Area of Zamfara State. Troops recovered 1 x AK47 rifle and 2 pairs of woodland camouflage. All recovered items are in own custody.

    SOUTH SOUTH ZONE
    10. The Joint Task Force Operation DELTA SAFE in the conduct of operation OCTOPUS GRIP in the South South zone conducted operational activities in the creeks, communities and towns in the Niger Delta. Notably Madangho, Kokoye and jones creek in Delta State, Obi Sagbama village and Debu creek in Bayelsa State were patroled. Also, troops conducted patrol in Awoba, Cawthorne Channel, Boning Channel, Asaramatu in River State. Consequently, troops discovered and destroyed 80 illegal refining site, 60 wooden boats, 316 storage tanks, 262 ovens and87 dugout pits. Troops also recovered 9 speed boats, 15 outboard engines, 19 pumping machines and 17 vehicles. Furthermore, 27 pipeline vandals were arrested while a total of Five Million One Hundred and Fifty Nine Thousand Five Hundred (5,159,500) litres of substance suspected to be crude oil and One million Four Hundred and Thirty Two Thousand (1,432,000) litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil were recovered. All arrested economic saboteurs and recovered items were handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action.

    11. The Statistic above shows a significant loss to the economy of the Country. It has a street value of about Two Billion Five Hundred and Thirty Four Million Seven Hundred Seventy One Thousand Five Hundred Forty Three Naira Eight Kobo (N2,534,771,543.08). However, the number of arrested individuals have also increased and could reduce the illegal activities of these of oil thieves. Operation DELTA SAFE has therefore sustained it efforts to ensure relative safe and peaceful operations environment in the Niger Delta.

    SOUTH WEST ZONE
    12. Between the 15 and 17 July 2022, troops of Operation AWATSE intercepted large consignment of smuggled foodstuff along Seme -Badagry – Owode Road and a smuggler depot along Road Aiyetoro – Abeokuta and Oja-Odan village of Badagry, Owode, Imeko/Afon and Odeda Local Government Area of Lagos and Ogun States respectively. Items confiscated include; Four Hundred and Two (402) 50kg of foreign rice and One Hundred and Ninety Three (193) 30 litres of Premium Motor Spirit.

    13. In another development, during the conduct of Operation SAFE CONDUCT, troops on patrol along Road Osho – Egbedore village in Egbedore Local Government Area of Osun State arrested a political thug and recovered 1 locally fabricated pistol, 5 cartridges and a mobile phone amongst others. Troops also carried out a raid operation at Old Garage within Oshogbo metropolis and arrested a notorious kidnapper terrorizing the people of Osogbo alongside 9 of his gang members. Items recovered include 1 pump action rifle, 6 cartridges amongst others. All recovered items were handed over to the appropriate authority for further action.

    14. The hierarchy of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies wishes to re-assured Nigerians of its commitment and pact with all Nigerians. With the recent operations carried out between from 23 July we wish to assure residents of FCT Abuja in particular that we are undaunted and unrelenting in our efforts to ensure the safety of lives and properties. People should go about their normal business as their safety is guaranteed. The support and cooperation of all Nigerians is hereby solicited as security is everybody’s business. Citizens are encouraged to report any unusual persons in your community to security agencies. If you see something say something.

    BENARD ONYEUKO
    Major General
    Director
    Defence Media Operations
    28 July 2022