NEWS
Delta Soldiers’ Massacre: Army Out On Tinubu’s Orders
The fury of the Nigerian Army unleashed on the errant communities around Okuama, Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State is at the order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Biztellers reports that the order was passed on Sunday upon which the troops moved promptly to comb the communities where about 22 operatives of the NA were massacred when they went on a peace mission.
In compliance with the order the military on Sunday commenced combing the warring communities, which has yielded the arrest of some persons, three of whom were identified prime suspects.
The President had ordered the Defence Headquarters and the Defence Chief to assert full authority to bring whoever was responsible for the malicious act to justice.
This is happening even as civil society groups and opposition parties, including presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 pools have been condemning the massacre of the military personnel.
Consequently, residents in Okouma and the environs have embarked on an exodus, including Ughelli South Local Government Area and Okolaba in the Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State.
It was gathered that soldiers who moved in on the order of the President recovered the mutilated bodies of their slain colleagues in the area.
The unfortunate soldiers were on a peace mission under the supervision of the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj Gen Jamal Abdussalam.
Those affected by the incident were a commanding officer, two Majors, one Captain, 12 soldiers, and one civilian lost their lives in the ambush on Thursday, March 14, 2024.
This happened because the soldiers came on a Joint Task Force (JTF) on a peace mission the neighbouring communities having been engaged in a communal land dispute since January 27, 2024.
It was gathered that some youths from Okoloba ambushed and killed three Okuama youths, Igho Meshack, Godspower Awusa, and Okiemute Agbabuleke, over an age-long land dispute in the area as they were returning from Okwagbe.
The corpses of the deceased were said to have been hidden by the assailants.
In the same vein, some Okuama youths on Wednesday reportedly ambushed one Anthony Aboh, an indigene of Okoloba, and held him hostage.
This led to Chairman, Okoloba Community calling in the Divisional Police Officer, Bomadi Police Division, the Joint Task Force, the Department of State Service, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Unfortunately, the swift intervention of the JTF was met with a totally unexpected twist as the operatives were massacred.
The situation has degenerated with the army receiving the orders of the both the President and the Senate to defend itself and send clear deterrent signals to other communities who might be minded towards undermining legitimate security operations.
President Tinubu’s order was contained in a statement he personally signed.
He wrote, “The cowardly offenders responsible for this heinous crime will not go unpunished.”
The response is titled ‘Statement on the killing of Nigerian soldiers on a peace mission to Okuoma community in Delta State.’
While noting that the military high command was already responding to this incident, President Tinubu gave fresh marching orders for the manhunt and prosecution of the perpetrators.
“The Defence Headquarters and Chief of Defence Staff have been granted full authority to bring to justice anybody found to have been responsible for this unconscionable crime against the Nigerian people.
“As the Commander-in-Chief, I join all well-meaning Nigerians and the men and women of our armed forces to mourn and express my profound grief over the needless death of our gallant soldiers,” President Tinubu declared.
In addition, he extended his “profound condolences to the families of these fallen soldiers, their colleagues, and their loved ones.”
The Senate condoled with the military over the killing of the commanding officer of the 181 Battalion, two Army Majors, and 12 soldiers.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Nigerian Army, Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, in a statement he personally signed, condoled with the service chiefs over the loss of their men.
He said, “On behalf of the 10th Senate Committee on Nigerian Army, I wish to extend our deepest condolences to the Chief of Defense Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Nigerian Army, and officers and men of Operation Delta Safe on the tragic loss of our gallant personnel who were mercilessly killed by some youths during a peace mission to Okuoma Community in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State on Thursday, March 14, 2024.
“The sacrifices made by the Commanding Officer, three officers, and 12 soldiers during this distressing incident shall forever be remembered. Their bravery and commitment exemplify the highest virtue of patriotism, courage, and sacrifice and their legacy will forever inspire us all.”
Senator Yar’Adua also pledged the unwavering support of the Senate to the investigations of the incident that led to the gruesome killing of the soldiers.
He added, “I wish to commend the swift response of the Chief of Defense Staff in directing an immediate investigation to apprehend those responsible for this heinous crime. It is crucial that justice is served and those behind this criminal act are brought to account for their actions.
“The Nigerian Army’s unwavering focus on upholding peace and security in our nation is a testament to the resilience and dedication of our Armed Forces.
“The Senate Committee on the Nigerian Army stands resolutely alongside the Defense Headquarters and the Nigerian Army in seeking justice for the fallen heroes. We shall spare no effort in supporting the necessary investigations and legal processes to ensure that those responsible for this crime face the full consequences of their actions.”
Nigeria’s Folashade Adekeye has emerged as the Chairperson, Forum of the Directors of Oil & Gas Training & Vocational Education Institutes of the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO).
Biztellers reports that Adekeye, the Director, NNPC Academy, took over from Abdelkader Guenone, the Managing Director of the Algerian Petroleum Institute (API), during the second meeting of the Forum, in Abuja, at the weekend.
At the moment, Adekeye heads the NNPC’s oil and gas training arm, brings into the role over 30 years of experience, and is expected to work with her colleagues from APPO Member Countries in order to foster more collaboration towards addressing the challenges of competences, skill gaps, infrastructure, and poor funding in the organization’s training institutions.
Earlier in his keynote address at the opening ceremony of the meeting, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Mele Kyari, represented by Inuwa Danladi, Executive Vice President (Business Services), emphasized the importance of a standardized educational and training approach to meet the changing demands of the oil and gas industry.
Also in his keynote address, APPO’s Secretary General, Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim, charged the Member Countries to work towards further enhancing collaborative efforts to establish Oil & Gas Centres of Excellence across the African continent.
Dr. Ibrahim, also from Nigeria, said having good knowledge of the Forum’s challenges would enable APPO Member Countries to make recommendations and provide solutions in areas such as Oil & Gas project funding, technology adoption, and the formation of Africa Energy Bank.
He concluded that such collaboration by all member countries will guarantee Africa’s energy accessibility, affordability and sustainability, which overall, will strengthen her economies and bring prosperity to its citizens.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the governors of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nyesom Wike over failure to account for Federal allocations dating back to 1999.
It was gathered that action followed reports that the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursed N1.123 trillion to the federal, state, and local governments for March 2024.
They shared N1.208 trillion in April, which saw the states collect N398.689 billion in March, after they collected N403.403 billion in April.
In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/666/2024 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the SERAP is asking the court to “direct and compel the governors and Mr Wike to publish spending details of the FAAC allocations collected by their states and the FCT since 1999 including the list and locations of projects executed with the money.”
The SERAP also asked the court to “compel the governors and Mr Wike to invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission [ICPC] to probe any allegations of corruption linked to the allocations and to monitor how the money is spent.”
In the suit, the SERAP argued that, “Nigerians ought to know in what manner public funds including FAAC allocations, are spent by the governors and FCT minister.”
According to the SERAP, “Opacity in the spending of the FAAC allocations collected by the governors and Mr Wike would continue to have negative impacts on the fundamental interests of the citizens.”
According to the SERAP, “trillions of FAAC allocations received by Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT have allegedly gone down the drain. The resulting human costs directly threaten the human rights of socially and economically vulnerable Nigerians.
“Without the information on the spending details of the FAAC allocations, Nigerians cannot follow the actions of their states and the FCT and they cannot properly fulfill their responsibilities as citizens.
“Directing and compelling the governors and FCT minister to provide the information sought and widely publish the spending details of the FAAC allocations collected by them would serve legitimate public interests.
“The failure by the governors and the FCT ministers to account for the spending of the FAAC allocations collected by them is entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international anti-corruption obligations.”
The suit filed on behalf of the SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi and Andrew Nwankwo.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
Prince Ajibola Afonja, a former Minister of Labour and Productivity under the Interim National Government, has passed away.
He died on Sunday night at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, Oyo State, at the age of 82.
Afonja served as a minister during the brief administration of Chief Ernest Shonekan.
He was also a former Chairman of First Bank and a notable industrialist in his Oyo community, where he was recognized for his company, Integrated Dimensional Systems (IDS).
Afonja sustained injuries from a single-vehicle accident in Ilora, near his country home, and was subsequently taken to UCH in Ibadan for treatment, where he passed away.
Prince Ajibola Afonja, who passed away on Sunday night, was a beloved figure in his hometown, known for his dedication to the peace and development of Oyo.
He was a former senatorial candidate for the Oyo Central Senatorial District under the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).
The Oyo Global Forum (OGF), a prominent community-interest group, through its chairman, Taiwo Adebayo, confirmed the former minister’s passing in a late Sunday statement.
Adebayo described the late Afonja as a unifier.
The statement reads “On this dark day in Oyo, we mourn the loss of Prince Ajibola Afonja, former Labour Minister and Chairman of First Bank Nigeria, who passed away on Sunday night, aged 82.
“Although a national figure with tremendous influence, he was particularly light for the Oyo community where he made pioneering efforts as an industrialist. His legacy of generosity and open-heartedness touched countless lives, and his presence will be profoundly missed.
“Until his last month, Daddy IDS, as he was affectionately known, as a reference to his manufacturing company, remained hardworking, dedicated to realising one of the most transformative business visions for the country’s economy. It was the E-Customs project,”
“For all of us that he inspired, we shall honor his memory by carrying forward the values he embodied and continuing his legacy of service and compassion, the values that guide OGF, which he supported during his lifetime.” It added
He added that his absence leaves a void that will be difficult to fill, but noted that his spirit of generosity and leadership will continue to inspire the community.
The OGF leader extended the group’s deepest condolences to the deceased’s family, the entire Oyo community, and his friends and associates during this mourning period.
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