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Air Force, navy unhappy army controlling war against insurgents — Ex-CDS
Air Force, navy unhappy army controlling war against insurgents — Ex-CDS
Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (retd.) says the Navy and Air Force once became unhappy with Army’s dominant role in the coordination of operations against Boko Haram.
The former defence chief said the arrangement, which placed control of Operation Lafiya Dole under Army Headquarters, left the other services uncomfortable despite their active contributions to the fight.
Irabor made the revelation in his book titled Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, where he also detailed the dire state of military equipment at the height of the insurgency.
He disclosed that at a stage in the fight, the military had to rely on abandoned and dilapidated vehicles — including some from the Nigerian Civil War era — due to the poor condition of equipment available to troops.
The disclosure comes against the backdrop of past incidents in which soldiers were sanctioned for complaining about poor logistics.
In 2014, several soldiers deployed in Borno State were court-martialled after protesting inadequate weapons and support to confront Boko Haram fighters. Some were sentenced to death for mutiny, though the sentences were later commuted.
Irabor, who served as Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole between March 2016 and May 2017, described the equipment situation in the North-East theatre as “deplorable,” saying commanders were forced to improvise to sustain operations.
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He said, “It is worth noting that at a particular stage of operation, the Lafiya Dole theatre’s equipment disposition was deplorable. In order to boost the fighting capability of the forces, therefore, we resorted to scavenging dilapidated and abandoned vehicles.”
He noted that the coordination of Operation Lafiya Dole at some point was handled by Army Headquarters, causing unease among the Navy and Air Force leadership. He said, “In contrast to the provisions of the NDP, the coordination of the operation was undertaken by Army HQ at some point, such that the leadership of the other services (navy and air force), whose forces contributed to the operation felt uncomfortable with such an arrangement.”
Irabor said he tasked Captain Mohammed Narogo with leading the recovery effort, noting that the officer successfully restored several old vehicles to service.
“I tasked Captain Mohammed Narogo with undertaking the responsibility, and he was ingenious in bringing back to service some of the vehicle wreckages. Some of the vehicles were those used during the Nigerian Civil War.
“The effort of the officer made a huge difference, and I recommended him for the Chief of Army Staff’s commendation award, as well as a special promotion to his current rank of major,” Irabor said.
The former defence chief also disclosed that due to the poor state of equipment, the then Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, authorised the use of trucks initially procured for road construction and tractors meant for mechanised farming to support military operations.
Irabor said, “Furthermore, the deplorable state of equipment led the then Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, to authorise that the trucks procured by the state government for road construction be used by the military to enhance their operations.“He equally authorised the use of tractors procured for mechanised farming to be used for military purposes. Closely related to this is the control of forces deployed for operations.”
Air Force, navy unhappy army controlling war against insurgents — Ex-CDS
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Kano Police Trace 12 Stolen Vehicles, Arrest 10 Suspects
Kano Police Trace 12 Stolen Vehicles, Arrest 10 Suspects
The Kano State Police Command has arrested 10 suspected members of an alleged interstate car theft syndicate and recovered 12 vehicles linked to the group.
Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Adamu Bakori disclosed this on Wednesday during a briefing at the Tarauni Area Command.
According to him, five suspects were first arrested in Adamawa on September 7, leading to the recovery of a Mercedes-Benz GLK 350. Further investigation resulted in the recovery of 10 additional vehicles from Kano and neighbouring states.

Five more suspects were arrested on September 12 at Kwankwasiyya City Quarters, Tarauni, where police allegedly recovered a stolen Toyota Hilux.
Bakori said preliminary findings showed that the suspects allegedly operated across Kano, Katsina, Bauchi, Gombe and other states. He said the group allegedly stole vehicles, hid them at different locations and moved them across state borders for resale.
The commissioner noted that 11 of the 12 recovered vehicles were unregistered, making it difficult to trace their owners.
He urged vehicle owners to register their vehicles and display valid number plates, while warning that unregistered vehicles could make criminal investigations more difficult.
Bakori said investigations were ongoing and efforts were underway to arrest other suspected members of the syndicate.
Kano Police Trace 12 Stolen Vehicles, Arrest 10 Suspects
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Osun Govt Vows to Prosecute Those Behind Recent Killings
Osun Govt Vows to Prosecute Those Behind Recent Killings
The Osun State Government has vowed to prosecute anyone found responsible for the recent killings and violent clashes across the state.
The government also denied allegations that it was protecting those suspected of killing Olalekan Oyeyemi amid a leadership dispute in the state chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
Speaking on Wednesday, the Special Adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Security Matters, Samuel Ojo, said the administration would allow security agencies to investigate the cases without interference.
Adeleke Summons Security Chiefs
Following the recent violence, Adeleke called an emergency security meeting attended by commanders from the police, DSS, Army, NDLEA, Immigration, Correctional Service, Civil Defence and Amotekun.
Deputy Governor Kola Adewusi represented the governor at the meeting.
Ojo said the security chiefs agreed to intensify efforts to stop further killings and restore peace across Osun.
He also dismissed claims that the government was shielding suspects in Oyeyemi’s murder, saying the police and DSS had been directed to thoroughly investigate the case.
Meanwhile, two NURTW leaders, Gbedegesin and Kareem Akeem, had alleged that Oyeyemi was killed because some union leaders opposed his proposed emergence as the next state chairman.
Transportation Commissioner Sesan Oyedele, however, denied that the government endorsed Oyeyemi for the position. He said the union leaders only informed him of their decision to choose the deceased.
About five people have reportedly been killed between August 24 and September 15 in Ikire, Ile-Ife and Osogbo in incidents linked to motor park disputes and alleged cult-related clashes.
Osun Govt Vows to Prosecute Those Behind Recent Killings
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57-Year-Old Man Arrested Over Sexual Abuse of Stepdaughter in Edo
57-Year-Old Man Arrested Over Sexual Abuse of Stepdaughter in Edo
The Edo State Police Command has arrested a 57-year-old man, identified as Kadiri Edenokun, over the alleged defilement of his six-year-old stepdaughter in Jattu, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.
The suspect was reportedly taken into custody after the alleged abuse of the child was brought to the attention of the authorities, prompting the police to commence an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the case.
Police sources said the suspect allegedly admitted during interrogation that the incident occurred on more than one occasion. However, the allegation remains under investigation, and Edenokun has not been convicted of any offence.
The case has renewed attention on the problem of child sexual abuse in Edo State, particularly allegations involving adults who have regular access to children within homes and other familiar environments.
The Edo State Government disclosed in August that more than 70 cases of child defilement had been recorded in the state between January and July 2026. The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Eugenia Abdallah, said children between the ages of two and 10 were among those affected.
The commissioner also said that more than half of the cases reported during the period involved fathers of the affected children, highlighting concerns over sexual abuse occurring within family settings.
The state government has continued to work with relevant agencies on cases of sexual and gender-based violence, including the provision of medical, psychosocial and protective support to survivors.
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The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has also been involved in providing temporary protective care and other forms of assistance to children and young people affected by sexual violence.
In a separate case reported recently, the ministry provided an update on a 16-year-old girl who was allegedly sexually abused and became pregnant. The ministry said the survivor was placed in a government shelter and was receiving support while arrangements were being made for her welfare and education.
The police have also reported a number of arrests involving alleged sexual offences against minors across Edo State.
The Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daaor, said the command arrested several suspects in August in connection with sexual and gender-based violence. Some of the suspects were subsequently charged to court, while investigations into other cases continued.
Among the cases reported by the command were allegations involving girls aged 13, 15 and 11. Police also reported investigations involving alleged defilement of minors in Okpella and other parts of the state.
At its August operational review, the Edo Police Command said 12 suspects had been arrested in connection with sexual and gender-based violence during the month. The command also reported arrests linked to kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, human trafficking and other offences.
The latest case involving the six-year-old girl is expected to be subjected to further investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged abuse and determine whether sufficient evidence exists to support criminal charges.
The child has reportedly been placed under appropriate care and is receiving medical attention with the involvement of the Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
Child protection advocates have consistently stressed the importance of promptly reporting suspected cases of child abuse and sexual violence, particularly where the alleged perpetrator is a family member, caregiver or another adult with access to the child.
Under Nigerian law, allegations of defilement involving children are treated as serious criminal matters, with the relevant authorities responsible for investigating reported cases and presenting evidence before a court where prosecution is warranted.
The police are expected to complete their investigation and take appropriate legal steps based on the evidence gathered.
Edenokun remains an accused person at this stage, and any determination of criminal responsibility will ultimately be made through due process and, where applicable, by a court of law.
57-Year-Old Man Arrested Over Sexual Abuse of Stepdaughter in Edo
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