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B’Haram: Some Borno residents sabotaging our efforts, says DHQ
Coordinator of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen. John Enenche, has accused some residents of Borno State of sabotaging efforts of the military by providing information on its movement and activities to Boko Haram.
He spoke on Monday while answering questions on the killing of 45 farmers at Zabarmari in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State by the insurgents when he featured on a Channels Television programme Sunrise Daily.
He said information gathered from the attack showed that some of the insurgents were already cohabiting with the villagers before they struck.
Asked how the military had no prior intelligence on the attack, Gen. Enenche said the army needs information from locals to aid its operation.
He said, “That has been our worry. It’s a concern to us. You need a guide, you need information. Will they tell us? That’s a question that we have to ask. Yes, sometimes. And most times, no. And that was one of the issues we have been ensuring to overcome, with civil-military cooperation activities, reaching out to them, even sending people by proxy to talk to them.
“Those are the things that have been one of the banes of the final success in the whole of this operation. Our patrols will pass through a route, in a village.
“By the time you are going, some people are looking at you. When you are coming back, the next thing is that you meet an IED planted on the road. And people saw them, they won’t tell you. So, that’s the area I think we are all working together as stakeholders.
“And it is not possible to force information out of people. It’s not possible, just like they say you force a horse to the river, but not to drink water. So, all we are trying to do is to build up their confidence in the system and encourage them that look, this is not good for you. Now they do not expect that this will happen, even those ones that they deceived, that they are preaching to them.”
On the actual number of casualties from the attack, Enenche said contrary to the UN’s statement that over 100 people were killed, the military has so far identified 43 corpses.
According to him, the field commandants “gave me a synopsis of what happened. When the governor was to go and after they had recovered the dead, the troops had to move in there and they counted 43.
“Probably, we may count up to the figure he (Kallon) gave in the future but as it is now, what we have counted with the locals is still 43 and we are hoping that we don’t get beyond that.
“This is the real situation. I did not sleep. We had to follow it because this is very relevant coming from the United Nations.”
Speaking on how to enhance the military’s performance and the role the service chiefs play in that regard, Gen. Enenche said though the military is in need of new ideas, it is better they are from lower-ranking officers.
“Of course, we need fresh ideas. Like I was at the graduation of Army War College on Friday last week, incidentally, I was the commandant there before and what we do in from time we now play; there is what we call exercise star ride, we have the similar one at the National Defence College even at the armed forces command and staff college, we now play real lifetime exercise to the participants and students. They see where there are areas that they could improve upon and they bring out their reports. Those are fresh ideas because it is dynamic.
“So, we get input from the war colleges and then the NDC and also we have planning teams and those are the people that come up with these ideas. I can assure you that the things we do progressively are never in the past. So, fresh ideas, that is how we generate them from the various components that I have mentioned.
“My training is bottom-up approach. That is the intercontinental system. It comes from the bottom-up then you will now look at it at the top. I have been a commander and I have been a commandant so that is the way it works.
“You don’t look down on your subordinates and junior commandants. Those are the people on the field. You’ll get it better with the bottom-up approach. That is better from my experience because if you now go and bear on them, that means you are lording it over your subordinates. They bring up their ideas then you now look at it.”
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Tinubu restructures media team, says no individual presidential spokesman
Tinubu restructures media team, says no individual presidential spokesman
President Bola Tinubu has reorganised his media team, re-designating the positions of his two recently appointed special advisers for media and communications.
This is contained in a statement released on Monday night by his Special Adviser on Media and Strategies, Bayo Onanuga.
He said Sunday Dare, the special adviser on public communication and national orientation, is now the special adviser on media and public communications.
Onanuga added that Daniel Bwala, announced last week as a special adviser on media and public communication, will now function as the special adviser on policy communication.
“These appointments, along with the existing role of special adviser, information and strategy, underscore that there is no single individual spokesperson for the presidency,” the statement read.
There had been some confusion as Onanuga, designated as special adviser on communication and strategy, had been the presidential spokesman since the exit of Ngelale Ajuri, who was special adviser on media and publicity.
However, on Monday, Bwala announced himself as the presidential spokesperson.
“Today, I resumed officially as the Special Adviser, Media and Public Communications/Spokesperson (State House). I am happy to have joined a meeting of the robust and fantastic communication team of Mr. President. I love the existing unity among the team and hope we can leverage on that even for more synergy,” he wrote on his X handle.
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President Tinubu arrives in Brazil for G20 Summit focused on SDG challenges
President Tinubu arrives in Brazil for G20 Summit focused on SDG challenges
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria arrived in Rio de Janeiro late Sunday night, marking his participation in the 19th Heads of State and Government Summit of the G20.
Accompanied by a high-level delegation of ministers, Tinubu was welcomed by Brazilian officials, including Ambassador Breno Costa of the Ministry of External Relations.
The summit, hosted by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, takes place from November 18 to 19 under the theme “Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet.”
Discussions will prioritize sustainable development’s economic, social, and environmental dimensions, alongside pressing geopolitical concerns, including the Israel-Hamas conflict and escalating tensions between the United States and China.
Tinubu’s delegation reflects a diverse portfolio of Nigeria’s strategic priorities. Among those joining him are Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Livestock Development Idi Mukhtar Maiha, and Minister of Art, Tourism, Culture, and Creativity Hannatu Musawa. Others include Minister of State for Agriculture Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi and National Intelligence Agency Director General Amb. Mohammed Mohammed.
As part of his agenda, Tinubu is expected to engage in bilateral meetings on the summit’s sidelines to further Nigeria’s socio-economic reforms and global partnerships.
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President Tinubu’s attendance underscores Nigeria’s commitment to engaging in multilateral platforms to address global challenges and promote sustainable development.
His participation also signals Nigeria’s intention to leverage the G20’s influence to strengthen its domestic economic agenda and global standing.
Brazilian Ambassador Carlos Areias, who extended President Lula’s formal invitation to Tinubu earlier this year, highlighted Brazil’s advocacy for robust global strategies to combat food insecurity and foster equitable development.
Tinubu’s presence at the summit is seen as a testament to the growing role of African nations in shaping global economic policies.
President Tinubu arrives in Brazil for G20 Summit focused on SDG challenges
News
Ondo gov: Go to court, Tinubu tells aggrieved PDP, others
Ondo gov: Go to court, Tinubu tells aggrieved PDP, others
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged candidates dissatisfied with the results of the Ondo State governorship election to seek redress using the judiciary to address their grievances.
He spoke after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the election.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu congratulated Governor Aiyedatiwa and lauded the peaceful conduct of the election.
He also commended the 17 political parties and their candidates for their maturity during the campaigns and on election day.
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“Those dissatisfied with the outcome of the election can explore the opportunities provided by the judicial system to seek redress on areas of conflict,” the statement read.
President Tinubu said the Ondo election demonstrated the capacity of INEC to deliver credible polls, highlighting the timely deployment of electoral workers and materials as well as the uploading of over 98% of results on the same day.
He also expressed appreciation to the security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, National Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, National Youth Service Corps, and the military, for their professionalism in ensuring a peaceful electoral process.
Tinubu stressed the importance of maintaining civility in post-election activities.
Ondo gov: Go to court, Tinubu tells aggrieved PDP, others
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