Military Moves to Prosecute Surrendered Terrorists - Vows to halt ISWAP recruitment drive – Newstrends
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Military Moves to Prosecute Surrendered Terrorists – Vows to halt ISWAP recruitment drive

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Military authorities, yesterday, said plans were afoot to commence the prosecution of surrendered terrorists in the North-east.

It also vowed to halt the recruitment drive of the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) in the zone.

The military had recently raised the alarm that the group had embarked on a fresh recruitment drive.

Over 1,200 terrorists recently surrendered to troops with their families amid protests from North-east communities that the claims of repentance might not be genuine and the danger the likely return of the insurgents posed.

Intelligence agencies have also commenced discreet investigation into the claims of the surrendering insurgents to ascertain whether their decision to lay down their arms was not a decoy to activate sleeper cells across the country.

Speaking in Maiduguri, Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Maj. Gen Christopher Musa, said the military was working within the ambit of international laws and maintained that the law would take its cause.

He further noted that the military was doing all within international laws in the handling of Boko Haram and the prosecution of surrendered terrorists against the backdrop of the recent mass surrender of the terrorists.

“We are just doing what we are supposed to do. The laws will naturally take its course, nobody will take them in and tomorrow say ‘go, your sins are forgiven’.

“No. It doesn’t work that way, and that is why we were able to talk to the Governor (Borno) and advise him to call for a stakeholders’ meeting which was held to chart a way forward,” Musa said.

Speaking earlier during a media tour of troops in the frontlines, units and formations in the theatre of Operation Hadin Kai, Sector I and II in the region, Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the objective of the visit was to review the wrong narratives about the surrendered Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists.

He noted that operations conducted against the terrorists had resulted in depleting its ranks.

“Therefore, it is very important to stop their desperate recruitment bid,” he said.

Nwachukwu said the efforts of the military should be highlighted by the media for Nigerians to appreciate the efforts of the troops particularly, in the fight against insurgency and terrorism in the North-east.

He said the media tour was aimed at discussing the issues of rehabilitation of surrendered terrorists and plight of the victims of the conflict.

“These fundamental reasons gave birth to the media tour of the North-east. The Boko Haram insurgents have been surrendering. People have questioned the authenticity of the surrendering of these insurgents. People are also questioning why the insurgents are surrendering at this point in time.

“The fight against insurgency has recorded tremendous success considering what it was in the past. At some point, few years back, as far back as 2014, Boko Haram was almost advancing towards Lokoja, they were marching towards Abuja. Today, they have been boxed to the Timbuktu or the hills,” he said.

Kingsley Nwezeh, Thisdaylive

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Nigerian varsity VC suspended over alleged gross misconduct

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Suspended Vice-Chancellor Augustine Angba

Nigerian varsity VC suspended over alleged gross misconduct

In an unexpected turn of events, the Governing Council of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) has suspended Vice-Chancellor Augustine Angba on allegations of severe misconduct.

The decision was reached at a meeting of the Governing Council on Monday, May 6, 2024, where they resolved to release Angba of his duties with immediate effect.

The council has nominated Professor Stephen Oshang of the Faculty of Agriculture to serve as the interim Vice-Chancellor until further notice.

UNICROSS

The suspension comes on the heels of a vote-of-no-confidence passed by some staff members of the university on January 17, 2024.

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The staff, who were protesting the non-payment of five months’ salary arrears, had carried placards with slogans like “This Management and the VC must go” and “We don’t want them any longer.”

Angba had previously criticized the staff unions, claiming that four members had hijacked the union and incited others to protest on the streets.

However, the Governing Council’s decision suggests that they found merit in the allegations against the embattled Vice-Chancellor.

Despite several attempts, Vanguard efforts to reach the university’s spokesperson, Mr. Onen Onen, for comments on the matter were unsuccessful, as his phone line was not answered at the time of filing this report.

Similarly, Professor Angba’s phone line was busy when contacted.

Nigerian varsity VC suspended over alleged gross misconduct

(Vanguard)

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Lagos to experience morning, afternoon thunderstorms for 3 days

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Lagos to experience morning, afternoon thunderstorms for 3 days

NiMet’s weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja forecasts sunny and hazy conditions on Monday over parts of Yobe, Jigawa, Kano and Katsina states throughout the forecast period with chances of morning thunderstorms over parts of Taraba state.

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Your position on state police unacceptable, Lagos Assembly tells IGP

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Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olukayode Egbetokun

Your position on state police unacceptable, Lagos Assembly tells IGP

The Lagos State House of Assembly has kicked against the position of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Olukayode Egbetokun, that Nigeria is not ripe for the establishment of state police.

Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, directed the Clerk of the House, Olalekan Onafeko, to write the Inspector-General and the National Assembly stating that the state lawmakers reject Egbetokun’s position.

Recall that the IGP, represented at a recently held one-day dialogue on state policing, themed, ‘Pathways to Peace: Reimagining Policing in Nigeria,’ opposed the establishment of state police, arguing that it would increase ethnic tension and cause divided loyalty in states of the federation.

The IGP also suggested that the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps be merged with the police force.

However, speaking at plenary on Monday, Obasa, who noted that the FRSC and the NSCDC have not been able to solve the problems of accidents on roads and pipeline vandalism respectively, wondered how effective they would be if they are merged with the police force.

“In Lagos State, we have the Security Trust Fund through which successive administrations starting from that of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu have provided enormous support to the police command in Lagos State. Yet, crime of different dimensions has continued.

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“This shows that no matter what Egbetokun has proffered as solution, such won’t solve our problem. The position of the IGP is unacceptable.

“We strongly believe that if we have state police, we would be able to solve the issues of crime in our nation or reduce it to the minimum.

“As we have seen in other climes, the United Kingdom has different levels of policing just like the United States of America. So why should ours be different?

“The lives of our people are very important and we must do everything possible to make sure we protect lives and property. We want to state categorically that we believe in state police and we want to urge the National Assembly to continue with its intendment to establish state police through the process of constitutional amendment,” Obasa said while praising President Tinubu for his resolve to end insecurity in the country.

Commending the Speaker for his stand on the issue of state police, the lawmaker representing Badagry Constituency 1, argued that with its current structure, it would be difficult for the Nigeria Police Force to effectively secure the country.

Also declaring his support for state police, another lawmaker, Hon. Sa’ad Olumoh (Ajeromi/Ifelodun 1), said each Nigerian state currently has a local security outfit in the semblance of state police.

“Today, which state does not have state police one way or the other? This is a cause that should be supported. For the IG to come out and say state police is not in the interest of Nigeria shows he is not considering the reality of insecurity on Nigerians,” he said.

Your position on state police unacceptable, Lagos Assembly tells IGP

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