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Tag: Service Chiefs

  • End banditry now, no room for excuses – Danjuma to Service Chiefs

    End banditry now, no room for excuses – Danjuma to Service Chiefs

    Former Minister of Defence and Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, has asked Service Chiefs to end and terrorism and banditry across the country and return the country to the path of peace.

    Danjuma made the call at the presentation of a book titled “Big Boots: Lessons from my Military Service” written by retired Maj.-Gen. Solomon Uduonwa, on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The former military chief, who chaired the book presentation, said there must be no room for excuses in the efforts to end the lingering insecurity ravaging the country.

    He extolled the virtues of the author and his commitment to excellence in his military career.

    “Number one problem today, security and we must end the pandemic, stop the killings that are going on in our country as soon as possible.

    “Those of you who are still serving no excuses and absolutely no,” he said.

    Danjuma commended the military leadership for their efforts in addressing the various security challenges bedeviling the nation.

    He also commended the armed forces for effective management their own pension.

    In his remarks, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, said the military was positioned and working tirelessly to restore peace across the country.

    Musa added that the armed forces would continue to uphold the values of service, integrity and honor that define extreme military tradition.

    “Let me at least also mention to our distinguished chairman that the armed forces of Nigeria is positioned, is willing, dedicated and committed in ensuring that we restore peace and security in our own dear country.

    “We shall not be deterred and there are going to be challenges. But that  is why we are here.

    “I want to assure you that we have learned a lot from your record, and very distinguished senior officers that have modeled us all through the years.

    “We cannot afford to fail and we will not fail,” he said.

    The CDS also extolled the virtues of the author, retired Gen. Uduonwa for his exemplary service to the army and the nation in general.

    The author of the book, Udounwa, said he was motivated by the desire to document his experiences for the younger generation.

    He said that the first factor that motivated him was that the military profession thrived on experiential learning.

    He added that younger generations of military officers and soldiers required the experiences of those who served before them to learn strategy, administration, operational management, and the rest.

    “If you don’t document your experiences, that could be lost and then those coming behind you might not be able to learn from all the exposure and all the training that you had while in service.

    “So, my book is going to be of interest to serving personnel, to military historians to the academia for people who are interested in national and international security affairs, and for the general public.

    “So, that was the motivation”.

    “I hope the younger generation of officers who are still serving will learn from some of the challenges I faced and how I was able to navigate through them.

    “I hope they will learn that to serve in the military requires discipline, requires professionalism, requires integrity, requires character, requires courage, and so many other virtues that an officer must display while undertaking his duties,” he said.

    Uduonwa explained that the title of the book “Big Boots” was informed by the size of his feet and boots in the military.

    He said that he faced bullies in primary school but decided to unleash his big feet on one of the bullies and ended the reign of terror.

    “Then when I joined the military, because my feet are very big, I was also given Big Boots, which went with me everywhere I served, and which I used in trampling on terrorists and every other threat to our national security,” he added.

    NAN reports that the book presentation attracted the presence of the former service Chief like Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, Gen. Lucky Irabor, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya and other serving and retired top officers.

  • What Senate told Service Chiefs over killing of soldiers in Delta

    What Senate told Service Chiefs over killing of soldiers in Delta

    The Senate Joint Committee on Defence, Army, Navy and Airforce on Wednesday in Abuja met with the Service Chiefs over the killing of 16 soldiers in Okuoma Community in Delta.

    The meeting observed a minute silence in honour of the late 16 soldiers before going into a close door session.

    Speaking, Sen. Ahmad Lawan, the Chairman of the Committee, condemned the killing of the soldiers.

    “The troops of 181 Amphibious battalion, on Thursday, 14 March, 2024, went on a peace mission to Okuoma Community in Delta.

    “The troops on the peace mission to Okuoma community in Bomadi local government area of Delta State were surrounded by some community youths, which resulted in the death of officers and men.

    “Acknowledging the gravity of the attack on the military personnel, the Senate at its plenary on Tuesday, March, 19, mandated the Joint Committee on Defence, Army, Navy and Airforce to investigate the incident.

    “The Senate also urged the federal government to ensure that those responsible for the heinous crime are identified, apprehended and brought to justice,” he said.

    Lawan added: “We in the Senate and indeed, the National Assembly, will always support our military in whatever way we can, the National Assembly has that history.

    “We try to at all times make meaningful appropriation for resources to be available.

    “We know it has never been enough and, in fact, I will take this opportunity to commend our Armed Forces for doing so much with the little we can afford.

    “The insecurity in our country takes precedence over any other consideration and, therefore, it is the position of the Senate that no investment in any sector can be more important than ensuring that we are secured as a country.”

    “We therefore, are very sad as a parliament over this tragic incident. It is our hope in the Senate that those who perpetrated this barbaric and horrific act are captured and the law takes full course on them.

    “I want to appeal to Nigerians that this is our Armed Forces and they cannot secure us without us as citizens playing our part. Therefore, every citizen is supposed to support our Armed Forces.

    “And those in the area where this incident happened must volunteer information because this is the only way we can stop something like this from happening another time”.

  • Insecurity: Ribadu, service chiefs, Northern governors meet in Abuja

    Insecurity: Ribadu, service chiefs, Northern governors meet in Abuja

    Following the incessant cases of kidnapping and abduction in the country, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, convened a meeting with Northern Governors’ Forum and Service Chiefs including the Inspector General of Police and the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

    The meeting was held behind closed on Thursday in Abuja and it lasted for over four hours and after the meeting, the chairman of the forum, Governor Inuwa Yahaya Of Gombe State, spoke on the outcome of the meeting.

    According to him, there are plans in the making by the forum to employ alternative means to arrest the increasing insecurity in the north.

    He  added that the military will be supported in their non-kinetic approach to curtail insurgency.

    Last week, bandits abducted about 300 students from a school in Kuriga, a town in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    At a separate news conference, the military vowed to rescue all abducted victims.

    On the abduction of internally displaced persons in Gamboru-Ngala in Borno State, the military explained that they went beyond permissible distance from the camp.

    Also, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen Edward Buba, said the delay in reporting such incidents is hampering quick response from security agencies and other responders.

  • Northern Governors open up after closed door meeting with NSA, Service Chiefs

    Northern Governors open up after closed door meeting with NSA, Service Chiefs

    The Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) has opened up after having a closed door meeting with National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu and the nation’s Service Chiefs.

    Following the closed door meeting, NGF disclosed it has agreed to new options to address the spate of kidnappings in the Northern region of Nigeria.

    Chairman of the forum and Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya, made this known to newsmen after the close door meeting on Thursday in Abuja.

    Yahaya said that the meeting reviewed the security situation and agreed to adopt alternative options to tackle it.

    The Governor said the alternative options would be different from what they had been doing before.

    He said the Governors were disposed to supporting both kinetic and non-kinetic options  to address the security challenges.

    “Already the military and all other security agencies have been doing their best.

    “What we need to do is to change style, especially adding the non-kinetic approach, so that at the end of it when we join the two, we’ll have a better security situation in the country,” he added.

    The closed door meeting was in response to the recent resurgence of mass abductions of students and residents in the region by terrorists.

    The terrorists had on March 7 abducted 287 primary and secondary school students in Kuriga, Kaduna State.

    Also, a total of 112 Internally Displaced Persons were abducted in Gamboru Ngala, Borno, and 15 Quranic school students in Sokoto State.

  • Insecurity: Senate passes Vote of Confidence on Service Chiefs

    Insecurity: Senate passes Vote of Confidence on Service Chiefs

    The Senate has passed a Vote of Confidence on Security Chiefs for their efforts in fighting the security challenges bedevilling the country.

    President of Senate Godswill Akpabio, said this shortly after a closed door meeting with the Security Chiefs and the National Security Adviser in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Akpabio said that the decision was based on the submissions made by the security chiefs on the progress made in the fight against security challenges in the country.

    “After listening to the security chiefs , the senate is convinced that serious measures are already being carried out against criminals in the country by the various security agencies.

    “Such actions are indeed ,yielding results with arrest of many of the criminal non state actors within the last few days which would surely bring about , a secured and safe country for us all.

    ”Senate is particularly impressed with arrest of those who perpetrated heinous crime across the country in recent time.

    “We,however, urged the various security agencies , to do more by enduring synergy in their operations for total security of lives and property in the country,” he said.

    Akpabio added: “On our part as legislators ,we shall collaborate more with the executive arm of government towards putting the menace behind us.

    “We commend Mr President for his determination and focus in ensuring the security of lives and properties.

    ”Senate also commends the Security Chiefs for their efforts so far and particularly the men and women on uniform and leaders of various security who despite the challenges, paid supreme sacrifice to ensure they keep the community safe.

    “We urged them to go with all the suggestions made here.”

  • Senate invites Service Chiefs over security challenge

    Senate invites Service Chiefs over security challenge

    The Senate has invited Service Chiefs for an interaction over increasing security challenge in the country.

    This followed the adoption of a motion by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamideleat plenary after a closed-door session.
    Presenting the motion, Bamidele said that the motion was sponsored by the entire 109 senators.

    The motion was titled: “Motion on Spate of Insecurity in Nigeria”.

    Bamidele noted with sadness, the rising spate of killings, kidnappings, banditry and other criminal activities in the nation.

    “Senate further notes the recent killings in Agata local government area of Benue, which led to lost of lives including security personnel and wanting destruction of property.

    “As well as the brutal killings of eleven residents of Logo local government area of Benue.

    “Senate equally notes the various kidnappings in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) where victims have been killed after collecting ransom.”

    Opeyemi said the several cases of kidnappings all over the country where huge ransom had been paid and several of the victims still got killed.

    “The recent killings of two traditional rulers in Ekiti state and the abduction of primary school pupils in Ekiti had further aggravated the level of insecurity in the country.

    “There was also the unfortunate bomb explosion at Bodija in Ibadan, Oyo where no less than five lives were lost and several residential houses, schools, hotels and religious centres were destroyed.

    “The Senate equally notes the killing of several residents of Mangu, Bokkos and Barkin Ladi communities in Plateau.”

    In his remarks, the Senate President Godswill Akpabio said that the Senate would after the meeting with the security chiefs, discuss the outcome with President Bola Tinubu.

    “After the interactive session with the security chiefs, which we agreed that it should be next week, we would also fix a time to discuss the outcome with Mr President.

    “We have a responsibility to collaborate with the executive and contribute our ideas to ensure that our constituents and ourselves, including our children can sleep with their two eyes closed.

    “Security is everybody’s business and without security, we cannot have progress.”

    Akpabio said that the Senate was very determined to make laws and pass resolutions aimed at ensuring rapid progress of the country and the immediate improvement of the Nigerian economy.

    “This will not be possible without a secured nation. We will take this up with Mr President after interaction with security chiefs,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the Senate has adjourned till Feb. 6 to allow the senators participate in the forthcoming bye-elections.

  • BREAKING: Tinubu in closed door meeting with security chiefs over insecurity

    BREAKING: Tinubu in closed door meeting with security chiefs over insecurity

    President Bola Tinubu has summoned security chiefs to a meeting As anxiety continues to mount over rising insecurity across the country.

    Tinubu is presently meeting with service chiefs and other heads of security agencies at the State House, Abuja.

    The extant meeting is coming on the heels of impudent exploits by criminals and terrorists which have led to embarrassing security breaches in some parts of the country.

    In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), most especially, kidnappers have wrecked heinous brutality in the last few days.

    At the meeting are the Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogala; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar; the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and head of some other security agencies.

    Although there has been no official briefing on the meeting, it is believed that President Tinubu and his security chiefs will be reviewing the recent security situation in parts of the country, proposing ways of taming rising free reign of criminals, including kidnappers and bandits.

    The meeting is also coming a few hours after the Minister of the FCT, Chief Nyesom Wike, convened his own security meeting over the horrors unleashed on residents of the seat of power by kidnappers, who have resorted to mindless killing and demands for heavy ransoms from victims.

    Wike berated the area council chairmen for leaving their responsibilities when they are needed most, wondering why the council chairmen would be travelling out of the country even when their areas were facing challenges.

    “This time around we will not be happy, where area council chairmen will leave their responsibilities and travel out. We have gotten reports that council chairmen travel anytime and then, if anything happens, they will not call anybody’s name except the FCT Minister.

    “Recently, NUT embarked on strike and it is not our fault but that of the area councils. Primary schools are under the area councils but again, it will look as if the ministers are doing nothing but that is not our responsibility. However, we can’t fold our hands and we have invited them to this meeting to see how we can resolve the problem.

    “So council chairmen should know that they must live up to their responsibilities. It is not everything that happens, they would say that it is the ministers that have not taken steps.”

  • What we discussed with Service Chiefs behind closed doors – Rep Chinda

    What we discussed with Service Chiefs behind closed doors – Rep Chinda

    Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Kingsley Chinda has given insights into what transpired behind closed doors when members of the lower legislative chambers entered into an executive session with Service Chiefs who appeared before the House on Tuesday.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Chinda, who represents Obio/Akpor Constituency of Rivers State in the green chamber, said members of the House met with the Service Chiefs behind closed doors due to the delicate nature of the engagement.

    Speaking with members of the National Assembly (NASS) New Media Forum on Wednesday, the House of Reps Minority Leader stressed the engagement with the Service Chiefs was successful and that some of the answers they gave were satisfactory.

    Recall members of the House welcomed the Service Chiefs into plenary on Tuesdays when they made presentations on efforts being made towards alleviating the security challenges besetting the nation; after which, the House moved into a close-door session with them.

    “The engagement with the Service Chiefs, you saw how deep the questions were, how free people were allowed to clearly express themselves, because we know that, that’s the security sector. It’s a very delicate part of our government and our society.

    “And that’s why we had to go into an executive session for them to tell us truly what is happening because every week, we have not less than two or three motions on security on the floor of the parliament.

    “And every week we observe one minute of silence for those who have been killed, who ordinarily would have been alive today. We are worried with that, and that’s why we had to take them on very deep issues, which we cannot throw open to the public.

    “But I will tell you that it was very successful. Some of the answers were satisfactory. The areas that we disagreed, we also made them understand that for this, we don’t agree. We also threw alternatives at them and timelines were given for these things to be achieved,” Chinda said.

    Speaking further, the Minority Leader brushed off insinuations that opposition voices are not being heard in the 10th Assembly, stressing that the minority in the House has taken a position to not just act as a watchdog but also provide credible alternatives.

    “Whatever we do, it is about the interest of Nigeria first and foremost, not a personal interest, not for purposes of popularity, not for party interest. We have provided credible opposition but it might be a little bit different from what you used to hear.

    “It will not be noise without action, it will be opposition that will be effective, that will provide an alternative and at the end of the day, as politicians, what we hope to achieve sincerely, is to build a better society. That’s our ultimate goal,” Chinda said.

  • BREAKING: Reps enter closed door with Service Chiefs

    BREAKING: Reps enter closed door with Service Chiefs

    Tuesday’s briefing of Service Chiefs in the green chambers of the National Assembly (NASS) has entered an executive session behind closed doors with members of the House of Representatives.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports before the closed door session, the Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) took turns to outline the various efforts being made to address issues concerning security in the country.

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas had said issues that are not palatable for public consumption would be addressed during the closed door session.

    Earlier, IGP Kayode Egbetokun had disclosed that some challenges besetting the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) include poor logistics, insufficient patrol vehicles, inadequate training, and poor welfare of personnel.

    On his part, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla requested for enhanced surveillance to cover the backwaters, creeks, and other areas behind the coastline of the Niger Delta region of the country.

    Ogalla stressed if this is done, oil theft, pipeline vandalisation, and illegal refining will be monitored 24 hours consistently and the issues resolved to the barest minimum.

    TNG reports Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu had described the briefing as a friendly dialogue aimed at bringing Nigerians up to speed on the current efforts of the security apparatus to keep the country safe in these trying  times of security challenges.

    Kalu stated that the House, which is an equal arm of government, has the power to call the Service Chiefs to come and brief Nigerians on the high level engagement on security matters.

     

    Details to follow…

  • BREAKING: Service Chiefs bend, finally honour Reps invitation

    BREAKING: Service Chiefs bend, finally honour Reps invitation

    After failing to honour an invitation of the House of Representatives last week, Service Chiefs on Tuesday appeared in the lower chamber of the National Assembly (NASS) for a debate on security challenges in the country.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) recalls the House of Representatives had summoned the nation’s Service Chiefs to shed light on the activities of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

    However, the Service Chiefs sent representatives, who were turned back by the House of Representatives, insisting that the chiefs must appear before it on November 21 as summoned.

    As of the time of filing this report, a sectoral debate on the issues of national importance, bothering on security is currently holding with the service chiefs at the green chamber.

    Present are the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, and Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar.

    Also present are Chief of the Naval Staff is Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

     

    Details to follow…