UK donates N1bn equipment to Nigerian military – Newstrends
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UK donates N1bn equipment to Nigerian military

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UK donates N1bn equipment to Nigerian military

The United Kingdom has donated non-lethal military equipment valued at approximately N1 billion (£450,000) to the Nigerian Armed Forces.

The support is aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s fight against violent extremist organizations in the North East and signifies a strengthened partnership between the British Military and the Nigerian Armed Forces.

At a formal handover ceremony in Maiduguri, the equipment was presented to Major General Wahidi Shaibu, the Joint Task Force North East (JTF NE) Theatre Commander.

The donation includes advanced non-lethal technical tools designed to aid Nigerian forces in their counter-insurgency efforts.

Alongside this donation, the UK is delivering a series of skill-building courses tailored to the Nigerian military’s operational needs in the region.

A team of 20 personnel from the British Army is stationed in Maiduguri, where they are currently leading a course focused on developing critical skills necessary for continued operations against extremist groups. The UK has committed to conducting seven additional training programs by February 2025, targeting specialist skills required for Nigeria’s future security operations in the North East.

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Strengthening military collaboration 

Colonel Martin Leach, Deputy Head of British Defence Staff (West Africa) and Commander of British Military Training Teams in Nigeria, emphasized the importance of the UK’s partnership with Nigeria in combatting extremism.

Speaking at the handover, he stated, “I am delighted to be here today to hand over this equipment and mark another development in the strong partnership between the United Kingdom and Nigeria. The UK stands with Nigeria in the continued fight against violent extremist organisations in the North East.” 

In addition to equipment and training, the UK has personnel embedded in the Theatre Counter-IED Coordination Cell in Maiduguri. This team works closely with Nigerian counterparts to develop intelligence on terrorist networks responsible for deploying improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that target both civilians and military personnel. This collaboration aims to reduce the impact of IED attacks, thereby enhancing safety and stability in the region.

Ongoing training programs 

The UK’s support includes seven more specialized courses to be delivered over the coming months. These training programs are designed to equip the Nigerian Army with advanced operational skills and ensure a sustainable approach to countering violent extremist organizations in Nigeria.

This donation from the United Kingdom reflects a deepening alliance with Nigeria, aimed at fortifying the nation’s defense mechanisms against terrorism and bolstering its military training resources.

UK donates N1bn equipment to Nigerian military

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200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS

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Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa

200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has disclosed that about 200,000 repentant terrorists have so far dropped their arms and surrendered to troops in the North East, noting that the twin strategy of kinetic and non-kinetic operations was responsible for this achievement.

The CDS made this known at the Security and Justice Symposium organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in collaboration with the British High Commission, which began at the National Counterterrorism Centre in Abuja on Tuesday.

He disclosed that the theme of the symposium, ”Securing Peace, Ensuring Justice, Protection, Conduct, and Accountability,” speaks volumes about the deluge of security challenges the armed forces and security agencies are facing.

His words, “All the challenges we are facing today have to do with fairness, equity, justice, and accountability.

“There will not be peace without justice, equity, fairness, and accountability. In our operations, we are conducting both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies, which have to a large extent yielded significant successes, and we want to particularly thank the National Security Adviser for his great support in this regard.

“Nigeria is going through so many challenges, and we feel we’re able to address this, and everybody has a sense of belonging. A lot of the security challenges we are having, we are sure, will go down. I want to thank the National Security Advisor for all the support he’s given us, both the kinetic and the non-kinetic.

“We have said it; the kinetic aspect is just less than 30%. The non-kinetic has a lot to play. The non-kinetic, because when you have democracy, people must have the evidence of democracy. As long as it tells people to sleep well and be peaceful, and they are hungry, their children cannot eat, and all this creates more problems.

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“The issue of informants. We have to look at how we tackle this issue of informants. Because these are the people who have created the issue.

200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS

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Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police

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Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police

The spokesperson for the police in Delta State, SP Bright Edafe, has confirmed the death of two robbery suspects in the state.

Mr Edafe, who disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday in Warri, said that the deceased were killed from the bullets shot by their gang members.

According to him, the incident occurred on Wednesday at Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.

Mr Edafe explained that the deceased were leading the police surveillance team attached to the Ekpan Division to their hideout when they were caught during a shoot-out.

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“The suspects were arrested at Effurun roundabout with a bag containing 57 live cartridges and other items. They were leading the surveillance team to their hideout at Warri/Sapele road when their gang members, on sighting the vehicle of the police team, engaged them in a shootout.During the gun duel, the arrested suspects that were leading the police team were fatally wounded by the gun shot of their colleagues. The two injured suspects were taken to the hospital and later died while receiving treatment,” he said.

Mr Edafe said that items recovered from the hoodlums hideout included: one English pump action gun, one locally made cut-to-size gun and eight live cartridges.

Others were: six iPhones, Smart phones and a Rolex wrist watch.

He said that the command had intensified manhunt on the fleeing members of the gang.

 

Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police

(NAN)

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Akwa Ibom businessman abducted, driver killed, police orderly injured

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Dr. Samuel Ekerenam
Akwa Ibom businessman abducted, driver killed, police orderly injured
Gunmen kidnapped a prominent businessman, Dr. Samuel Ekerenam and k!lled his driver in Eket town, the headquarter of Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Ekerena, the owner of Hephzibah Mall, was abducted about 10:00pm on Saturday, 23 November, 2024.
It was gathered that the gunmen trailed the victim to the shopping complex, shooting sporadically to scare the passers-by away before whisking him away to an unknown destination.
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The body of Ekerenam’s driver was discovered in the pool of his blood, while his police orderly was severely wounded in the gun attack.
The spokesperson of the State Police Command, ASP Timfon John, who confirmed the incident on Monday, November 25, said the Commissioner of Police, CP Joseph Eribo has deployed tactical operatives to comb for the abducted businessman.
The PPRO added that the police were on top of the game and very soon the kidnap victim would be rescued and the perpetrators made to face the full weight of the law.

Akwa Ibom businessman abducted, driver killed, police orderly injured

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