Military Takes Down 53 Illegal Refining Sites, Apprehends 19 Suspects

In a significant operation, troops of Operation Delta Safe have eliminated 53 illegal refining sites, captured 19 suspected oil thieves, and recovered stolen products. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, revealed these accomplishments during a press briefing in Abuja, where he also highlighted the military’s ongoing efforts to combat crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region. Furthermore, the military successfully dismantled 54 dugout pits, 66 boats, 138 storage tanks, 253 cooking ovens, two pumping machines, eight speedboats, 17 hoses, 18 drums, and two cylinders used in these illegal operations. Notably, they recovered a significant quantity of stolen crude oil, illegally refined AGO, and DPK. Additionally, troops neutralized a criminal, rescued three hostages, and seized a fabricated rifle, 18 vehicles, and one flashlight. Operation UDO KA in the South East resulted in the arrest of suspected IPOB/ESN members in Ebonyi and Imo States, along with the neutralization of five terrorists, the apprehension of 12 suspected criminals, and the rescue of seven kidnapped hostages. The troops also recovered various weapons and explosives, which were subsequently handed over to the relevant authorities. These operations have been pivotal in uncovering and dismantling criminal ‘safe havens’ used by extremists across various theatres of operation as criminals have been exploiting national parks, game reserves, and forests as hideouts, with disturbing activities discovered in some of these camps, shedding light on the horrific acts committed by these extremists.

Tinubu commits to strengthening Military at NDC graduation

In a commitment to bolster the capabilities of the Nigerian military, President Bola Tinubu, represented by Defense Minister Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, pledged to utilize his constitutional powers to ensure the military is well-equipped and prepared to fulfill its constitutional mandate of safeguarding the nation. This announcement was made during the graduation ceremony of participants from the National Defense College (NDC) Course 31, held in Abuja on Friday. President Tinubu praised the Armed Forces of Nigeria as one of the nation’s most esteemed institutions and assured that the government would consistently recognize the dedication and patriotism of the military’s brave men and women. He commended the commandant and management team of the college for their diligent efforts in nurturing a group of strategic leaders for the armed forces, various government ministries, departments, agencies, and even representatives from allied countries in the course. The president acknowledged the college’s track record of producing intellectually adept, courageous, patriotic, and morally upright military and civilian leaders. He noted that the college’s approach of fostering comprehensive knowledge across diverse thematic areas had contributed to identifying sustainable solutions not only to Nigeria’s security and development challenges but also extending its impact across Africa and beyond. President Tinubu expressed his confidence that the graduates of Course 31 would effectively apply the knowledge, expertise, and skills they acquired during the program to tackle the current and emerging security and developmental issues facing the nation. This commitment to empowering the Nigerian military stands as a testament to the government’s dedication to ensuring the country’s security and prosperity. “Our dear country is faced with the flora of challenges including insecurity, social economic hiccups, climate change and migratory issues, ‘the so-called Japa syndrome’. “We are confronted by systematic corruption, crude oil theft, reduce national productivity, weak infrastructure, weak revenue base, rising domestic and external debt among others. “Those challenges demand creative and purposeful driving leadership to mitigate. “Since coming into office, I have rolled up my sleeves myself to confront and address them frontally and we shall overcome with the special grace of God. “I must admit that those challenges will require the deployment of knowledge and insight you have acquired from this college,” he said. The president said he had taken some essential policy steps such as removal of oil subsidy and liberalisation of foreign exchange rate among others, to reposition the Nigerian economy for prosperity and inclusive growth. He added that he rejigged the leadership of the armed forces and police among others to usher in fresh perspective to dealing with the security challenges, urging the participants to go back to their respective services and agencies and align with the visions of the new leadership. Tinubu said the world was currently faced with myriads of threats such as the disruptive effect of emerging technologies, cyber threats, unconstitutional change of government in African sub-region. He urged the military to help the governments to build resilience against the recent spate of the democratic recession in West Africa and building stronger assistance and mitigation to all the challenges. “I am banking on you to provide creative leadership solutions towards addressing those national, regional and global challenges,” he added. The president also pledged to ensure the completion of the college’s permanent site before the end of his first term to enable the college to conveniently transmute into a full-fledged Defence University.

Nigerian military denies receiving coup request, expresses commitment to democracy

In response to a misleading and concerning report, the Defence Headquarters has vehemently denied that the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) received any solicitation to facilitate a change of leadership within the nation. The Director of Defence Information, Brigadier-General Tukur Gusau, said this in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja to clarify the situation. Gusau emphasized that at no point did the armed forces receive or issue any communication indicating support for a leadership alteration to any individual or group. He condemned the unfounded claims, attributing them to those with ulterior motives who harbour ill-will towards the nation. He asserted, “This statement appears to have originated from individuals who are not aligned with the nation’s well-being and progress. It is an unfortunate product of the imagination of a small faction that is dissatisfied with the advancements and prosperity of our beloved country.” The Defence Headquarters also sought to reaffirm the military’s staunch alignment with democratic principles and unwavering loyalty to President Bola Tinubu, who holds the position of President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The military’s steadfast commitment to upholding the constitution of the nation was also underscored by Brigadier-General Gusau. “We wish to underscore that the military is fully comfortable within the democratic framework and stands firm in its dedication to safeguarding the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Any suggestions to the contrary are baseless and misleading.” The statement further extended a stern caution to those disseminating false information. “We call upon those circulating such fabrications to cease immediately or be prepared to face legal consequences. Both the Military and other security agencies are actively monitoring such negative agents. Our collective responsibility is to bolster our democracy and foster unity,” he said. Gusau further urged the nation to collaborate in protecting the democratic values and progress that Nigeria has strived to achieve. The Defence Headquarters’ statement reflects the military’s firm commitment to democratic governance and its unwavering dedication to upholding the country’s constitutional integrity.

No order for us to intervene in Niger coup –DHQ

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said the Armed Forces of Nigeria is yet to receive an order for any military intervention in the Republic of Niger following the coup that led to the ouster of democratic governance in the country. The Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, in a statement on Thursday, dismissed the online report that the Nigerian military was assembling its forces for military action in the Republic of Niger. According to him, the AFN is yet to receive any order from the appropriate authority to commence military action against the Military Junta in Niger. “It is no longer news that some members of the Republic of Niger Armed Forces seized power from a democratically elected government through unconstitutional means. “In reaction to this illegal takeover of government, the ECOWAS Heads of Government met and a series of options were reached on how to intervene in the crisis. “Military option was the last option to be taken in case every other option fails, to reverse the situation and return the Government of the Republic of Niger to constitutional order. “At the moment, the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff is currently holding an extraordinary meeting in Abuja to discuss the political situation in the Republic of Niger and submit their plans to the committee of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS for consideration. “In conclusion, the Armed Forces of Nigeria cannot proceed on any operation in any of the member states of ECOWAS without the mandate from the Authority of Heads of States and Government,” he said.