By Akinwale Kasali

Gen. Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defense Staff, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to intensify its effort in tracking terrorism funding in the country, stressing that this is a means of curbing Terrorism globally.

Musa added that the EFCC needs to further beam its searchlight by tracing funds related to terrorism.

A statement by the Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau,  stated that the CDS said this  during a visit to the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, in Abuja.

Musa also described the legal system of the country as “soft”, lamenting that the system is delaying the prosecution of suspects.

According to him, the delay experienced in the prosecution of suspects had become one of the major challenges for the military.

The statement partly reads:

“The CDS called for the tracking of terrorism funding in Nigeria, being one of the non-kinetic means of fighting terrorism across the globe.

“The CDS further informed the Chairman of the Anti-Graft body that AFN synergises with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited and other stakeholders to fight oil theft in the country.

“He lamented that the issues of blocking loopholes brought about by the siphoning of oil and the soft legal system which delays the prosecution of suspects have been major challenges.

“The CDS also called for the installation of Closed-Circuit Television Cameras at strategic locations, adding that it would help in the fight against crime in the country.

“He harped on the use of census, and installation of Closed-Circuit Television Cameras in strategic points to contain cases of corruption, terrorism, and other forms of insecurity in the country,” Musa said.

He noted that the military had zero tolerance for corrupt practices.

“The AFN adopts the proceedings of a General Court Martial to checkmate culpable personnel, ” the CDS added.

Musa, however, urged the EFCC boss to encourage public office holders and other Nigerians in positions of authority to uphold good governance to forestall economic breakdown and insecurity.

Tye EFCC Chairman, Olukoyede, stated that the war against corruption must be won as the menace has destroyed the nation’s economy and at the same time dented the image of the country.

He warned that if drastic measures are not taken, the country would be put into jeopardy in the next 10 years.

“As a means to mitigate the menace caused by corruption and insecurity, the chairman posited that cognitive responsibility has to be embraced by the military and other security agencies, adding that the war against corruption should be seen as everybody’s business. Furthermore, he said EFCC, the military, and other security agencies have to join forces in fighting corruption, ” the statement added.

By Akinwale Kasali

Daniel Bwala, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chieftain and Former Spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Organization in the 2023 Presidential Election has applauded President Bola Tinubu for the intervention his administration has, allegedly, made in rewriting the wrongs of previous Governments.

Bwala said that President Tinubu has taken a bold step in reforming the nation. He also applauded him for calling on the oppositions  to join hands with him in building the nation.

He added that the President has put aside politicking because he knew that there must be a country in existence before politics.

Bwala said this on Arise Television during an interview.

He explained that he had no regret joining the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

In his words, he said, “I have no regret going to PDP or supporting Atiku. I do my things based on conviction and at the end of the day, if it doesn’t work out, I accept my fate.

“The reality I have accepted now is that this politicking is gone and because of the crisis in Nigeria, the only way we can have a 2027 election is when Nigeria is safe and secure.

“I saw that this president I supported in APC is trying to ensure he rewrites the wrongs of the past administration.

“When he said he wanted all opposition to come together for nation building, I felt it was the right time to look at nation’s building rather than politicking. There must be a Nigeria before we do politics.”

By Ayodele Oni

The Nigerian Military has lamented that delay in reporting some cases of kidnapping to Security Agencies is hampering rescue efforts.

It declared kidnappers as terrorists, and not bandits for holding citizens against their will and against all norms of human behaviour, and against the laws of armed conflict and any good measure in the world.

Director Defence Media Operations, Maj. General Edward Buba made the declaration on Thursday, during the bi-weekly press briefing on the ongoing counter insurgency war.

Maj. General Buba lamented cases of citizens being abducted in the North East, North West and North Central theatres of operations.

“These citizens were abducted by a brutal and blood tasty group that should only be addressed as terrorists, and not bandits. I repeat, these are terrorists and not bandits.”

He confirmed that the military is leveraging on support from other countries to tackle the issue of insecurity in the country.

“We have leveraged on our international partners for support. Accordingly, they are providing the necessary support including intelligence that is giving us the advantage in dealing with the ugly situation.

He said the hostage situation is an extremely sensitive one which unfortunately is not unprecedented in the history of the ongoing war.

“These hostages are being held in locations that are difficult to get to, but not out of reached. The situation is however indicative of the desperation of these terrorists to detour troops onslaught by all means.

According to Maj. General Buba three major significant abduction cases which includes on 9 March 2024, terrorist invaded and kidnapped 16 pupils (Almajiris) with a woman in Gada LGA of Sokoto State.

“The incident, which took place about 0100hrs was not reported to troops until about 1500hrs of same day. The late reporting of the incident affected troops response time in the ongoing search and rescue effort.

“Also on 3 March 2024, troops received information from coordinator Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) about suspected abduction of unknown number of IDPs by suspected terrorists in Gamboru Ngala LGA of Borno State.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that IDPs left camp to undisclosed location to fetch firewood beyond the permissible distance. They reportedly did not notify the camp authorities of their movement.

“It was later at about 2030hrs at night, when the IDPs did not return to camp that alarm was raised as to their possible abduction by terrorist.

“It was at that stage that troops were notified of the incident. The standard practice was for troops to be notified prior to any movement of IDPs beyond the permissible distance of 5-7 kms from their camp.

“The IDPs reportedly went beyond the permissible distance to get firewood as a result of deforestation around their camp. The terrorist abducted 112 IDPs in the process. Nevertheless, effort is ongoing to get back the hostages.

“The incident was not reported until several hours after the occurrence. The delayed reporting of the incident adversely affected troops response time in the ongoing search and rescue effort.

“These abduction cases were carried out due to cowardice exhibited by terrorists going for such soft targets to impede troops advances.

“I assure you that we will not rest until they are returned because in recent times troops have decimated several of the terrorist leaders, commander and foot soldiers in and fast closing in one several others.

“Given the hostage situation, it can be deduced that the search and rescue effort was grossly affected by the none timely notification of troops of the incident. Nevertheless, I can assure you that we will not rest until these hostages are returned.”