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Breaking: Troops arrest 20 IPOB members, recover arms, hand them to Police

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</div><br></div><div class="breadcrumbs" id="breadcrumbs"><br></div></div></div></div></div><div class="rtp-site-content row" id="rtp-content"><div class="content-area large-6 medium-8 small-12 column " id="primary"><main class="site-main clearfix" id="main"><article class="post-1543476 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-national-news tag-ipob" id="post-1543476"><div class="entry-content"><p>Troops of 82 division Nigerian Army have arrested 20 suspects said to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) made up of 16 men and 4 women and they have all been handed over to the Nigerian Police force.</p><p>Col. Aliyu Yusuf, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations made the disclosure on Monday while giving an update “on the activities of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) members”.</p><p>He said: </p><p>“Through its unreasonable demand for secession IPOB have continued to interrupt on the security situation in 34 Brigade Area of Responsibility.</p><p>Col Yusuf said;</p><p>“The activities of the threat elements have led to an increase in organized crimes such as Armed Robbery, Kidnapping and other sundry criminal violent acts.</p><p>“Recently, there have been various attacks on civilians, Police and military personnel on check points and escort duty.</p><p>“It is as a result of the activities of these criminal elements that appropriate superior authority directed the conduct of aggressive patrol within the general area to safeguard lives and property of law abiding citizens.</p><p>“On Thursday 7 January 2021, following incessant robbery and killing of civilian and security operatives by suspected IPOB militia within Orlu Senatorial Zone, troops of 34 Brigade were deployed in Orlu and its environs to commence effective Patrol and dominance of the general area to forestall the activities of IPOB.</p><div class="mrf-adv__wrapper mrf-adv__wrapper--framed" data-label="Advertisement"><div class="mrf-adv mrf-preInsertedMad mad sRoba adSemiInvisible mrf-madLoaded" data-placement="" data-madtype="sRoba" data-sectionid="home" data-virtualpageid="3" data-loadstrategy="onScroll" data-refreshfrequency="0" data-layout="inline_square_deeplinking_s" data-invalidatelayout="false" data-loadonevent="navigationChange" data-navigationlevel="1" data-scrollposition="3" data-madprocessed="true" data-madid="8"><div id="placement_151330_0"></div></div></div><p>“On Thursday 7 January 2021 own troops in conjunction with Nigeria Police conducted a Raid Operation of a suspected hideout of the Armed Group in Umutanze Community in Orlu Local Government.</p><p>“An SUV Lexus 330 with Registration Number Lagos KRD 320 EY was intercepted with 5 occupants, suspected to be members of IPOB.  On sighting own troops 4 of the occupants absconded, however One Mr. Freedom Udochukwu Nwachukwu was arrested and handed over to the Police for further interrogation.</p><div class="mrf-adv__wrapper mrf-adv__wrapper--placeholder  mrf-adv__wrapper--framed mrf-heightLocked" data-label="Advertisement"><div class="mrf-adv mrf-preInsertedMad mad sRoba" data-placement="" data-madtype="sRoba" data-sectionid="home" data-virtualpageid="4" data-loadstrategy="onScroll" data-refreshfrequency="0" data-layout="inline_square_deeplinking_s" data-invalidatelayout="false" data-loadonevent="navigationChange" data-navigationlevel="1" data-scrollposition="4" data-madprocessed="true" data-madid="9"></div></div><p>“On Friday 22 January 2021, troops of 34 Brigade in conjunction with the Imo State Police Command carried out raids in Okporo/Ezenta and Akata axis of Orlu Local Government Area to recover corpse of Police Officer killed by Member of IPOB.</p><p>“During the raids operations, 1 IPOB member was killed and 1 Jeep Vehicle was recovered. Various IPOB Training Camp was discovered and destroyed.</p><p>“On Monday 25 January 202, own troops were ambushed at Banana Junction, Orlu Local Government Area by members of IPOB while escorting Army Headquarters Team led by Director  Civil Affairs, Brigadier General HE Nzan who came to inspect Nigerian Army Civil Military Cooperation Project at Nkwerre.</p><div class="mrf-adv__wrapper mrf-adv__wrapper--placeholder  mrf-adv__wrapper--framed mrf-heightLocked" data-label="Advertisement"><div class="mrf-adv mrf-preInsertedMad mad sRoba" data-placement="" data-madtype="sRoba" data-sectionid="home" data-virtualpageid="5" data-loadstrategy="onScroll" data-refreshfrequency="0" data-layout="inline_square_deeplinking_s" data-invalidatelayout="false" data-loadonevent="navigationChange" data-navigationlevel="1" data-scrollposition="5"><ins></ins></div></div><p>“IPOB Militia attacked own troops and during the encounter, 4 escort soldiers were killed and 4 AK47 got missing. 1 Hillux Vehicle was recovered.</p><p>“In a Similar Development, On Wed 17 February 2021, Based on accurate Intelligence Reports, Raid Operation was conducted in the Forest Close to Lilu Village in Ihiala General Area of Anambra State by Combined Troops of Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force and the Nigeria Police.</p><p>“The Operation commenced with Air Strike at about 171750A February 21 from Mi-35 Combat Helicopter on confirmation of the IPOB Camp/Hideout, while Ground Troops engaged the escaping IPOB criminals.</p><div class="mrf-adv__wrapper mrf-adv__wrapper--framed" data-label="Advertisement"><div class="mrf-adv mrf-preInsertedMad mad sRoba adSemiInvisible mrf-madLoaded" data-placement="" data-madtype="sRoba" data-sectionid="home" data-virtualpageid="6" data-loadstrategy="onScroll" data-refreshfrequency="0" data-layout="inline_square_deeplinking_s" data-invalidatelayout="false" data-loadonevent="navigationChange" data-navigationlevel="1" data-scrollposition="6" data-madprocessed="true" data-madid="7"><div id="mrf-7" data-google-query-id="CMr1uY-8_e4CFTNB9ggd9xkGoA"><div id="google_ads_iframe_/22571134/crispr/vanguardngr.com_4__container__">“Thereafter Troops exploited further into the IPOB Camp. The Militia were suspected to have escaped with their dead and varying degrees of gunshot injured members, taking advantage of the poor visibility during the preceding operation.<br></div></div></div></div><p>“However 2 IPOB Militia were seen dead and troop completely burnt down their Camp. Items and Equipment Recovered from IPOB Training Camp include 1 AK47, 1 Local Made Pistol, 1 Dane Gun, 5 Local Cartridge Ammo, 2 IPOB Flags, 1 ESN Flag, 1 IPOB Sign Post, 1 Gen BTY, 1 Vehicle Battery, 1 Water Pumping Machine, 4 GD Black Belt, 1 Military Fragmental Jacket, 1 Mobile Handset, I Ladies Motorcycle, 4 Twine Rope, 1 Chain.</p></div></article></main></div></div>

Breaking: Troops arrest 20 IPOB members, recover arms, hand them to Police

Troops of 82 division Nigerian Army have arrested 20 suspects said to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) made ...

1:21 pm

Davido Tackles Laycon, Zlatan Others As Top Music Stars Storm Lagos For Epic Football Match (Photos)

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</div><br></p><p>Davido, the Nigerian music act who is the rave of the moment was recently in action on Saturday, February 20, during a football match.</p><p>The singer was in action at the Campos Mini Stadium in Lagos for a charity match reportedly organized by his affiliations.</p><div align="center"><div class="clear"></div><div class="clear"></div></div><p>The star-studded encounter featured top music acts including Mayorkun, Peruzzi, May D, Asa Asika, Dremo, Tunji and Adewale Adeleke, Idowest Kiddwaya, Laycon and a host of others.</p><figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered"><br></div></div></figure></div>

Davido Tackles Laycon, Zlatan Others As Top Music Stars Storm Lagos For Epic Football Match (Photos)

Davido, the Nigerian music act who is the rave of the moment was recently in action on Saturday, February 20, during a football ...

1:46 pm

“Bandits, Criminal Herdsmen Are Not Nigerians” — FG

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</div><br></h1></header><div class="entry-content mh-clearfix"><h3>Seeks amendment of ECOWAS protocol to block them</h3><p>The Federal Government, yesterday, addressed the issue of  insecurity facing Nigeria, saying some of that the bandits and criminal herdsmen terrorising the country are non-Nigerians.</p><p>Consequently, the government said it is seeking amendment of  the ECOWAS Protocol on  free movement of human and cattle within the sub-region.</p><p>This came on the heels of the spate of kidnappings and banditry across the country, the latest of which was the mass abduction in Kagara, Niger State, last Wednesday.</p><p>The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this  when he featured on Channels Television programme ‘Sunrise Daily.’</p><p>According to the Minister, bandits and criminal herdsmen coming into the country through the land borders could not be checked because of the ECOWAS Protocol that allows trans-human.</p><p>“The ECOWAS Protocols allows trans-human between all the ECOWAS countries. That is why we are thinking of seriously reviewing the ECOWAS Protocols in that respect. What we find out today is that a lot of criminalities have been introduced through the herdsmen and trans-human,” he said.</p><p>According to him, the criminal herdsmen and bandits also have access to sophisticated weapons because of the proliferation and smuggling of small arms and light weapons across the sub-region.</p><p>“The issue of smuggling of small and light arms is a very serious one and it has to do with border control. If you go and build a house in the slum as a rich man, poor people will not allow you to rest. Nigeria is surrounded by countries that are either poor or land-locked,” Mohammed  said.</p><p>“We say we want to develop our local agriculture to ensure food sufficiency, by encouraging our farmers to grow rice, maize, cassava and stop importation of rice.</p><p>“But our neighbour, the Benin Republic says  no, because they make their living from the duties they collect from their ports. So, when we are charging 70 per cent duties on imported rice to discourage importation, they will charge five per cent.</p><p>“All the rice smugglers from Thailand and the rest of the world will come to Benin Republic, but the rice is destined for Nigeria market.’</p><p>Mohammed said the security challenges including, farmer-herders clashes, insurgency, banditry and kidnapping in the country did not start during the administration.</p><p>The Minister pointed  out that the challenges built-up gradually over many years with certain factors including climate change, urbanisation and the shrinking of Lake Chad which supported agriculture of seven countries in the sub-region.</p></div>

“Bandits, Criminal Herdsmen Are Not Nigerians” — FG

Seeks amendment of ECOWAS protocol to block them The Federal Government, yesterday, addressed the issue of insecurity facing Ni...

12:48 pm

Bandits Strike Again, Abduct Katsina Monarch, 13 Others

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</div><br></p></header><div class="entry-content mh-clearfix"><div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_top"></div><p>Amid anxiety over the fate of abducted students of Government College, Kagara, Niger State, bandits struck again in neigbourbing Katsina State, abducting a monarch and 13 others in two separate attacks.</p><p>The gunmen were said to have kidnapped the 91-year-old traditional ruler of Kunduru community on Friday night.</p><p>Sunday Vanguard learned that the victim who is the Galadiman Kunduru is the father of the Secretary to Katsina State Government, Alhaji Kasimu Ibrahim.</p><p>The monarch was whisked away by the gunmen who stormed the town on motorcycles</p><p>One of his children who pleaded for anonymity, confirmed the incident to Sunday Vanguard yesterday, adding that the incident had already been reported to the Police.</p><p>The nonagenarian was said to be having health challenges.</p><p>Sources also said the abductors had not made any contact with the family.</p><p>As of press time, the Permanent Secretary could not be reached as phone calls to his mobile phone were not replied to.</p><p>When contacted, spokesman for the Katsina State Police Command, Superintendent of Police, Gambo Isah, said he was not aware of the incident.null</p><p>“I am not aware of that incident,” he told Sunday Vanguard.</p><p>In a related development, gunmen kidnapped 13 travellers in Faskari Local Government Area of the state.</p><p>The victims were made up of 12 women and the driver of the vehicle they were travelling in.</p><p>Isah also confirmed the incident, saying the bandits struck at 10: am on February 17, 2021.</p><p>He explained that the victims were travelling to Funtua from Mai Gora to collect loans from a bank provided through a family support programme.</p><p>The Police spokesman said three persons later escaped from the bandits.</p><p>He added that the Police were making efforts to ensure that abductees were rescued alive.</p><p>According to him:</p><p>“it’s not true that seventeen women going for a wedding were abducted.</p><p>“What happened was that thirteen women from Mai Gora were travelling to Funtua for this family support loan facilities from a bank, somewhere before Dan Rimi village, these bandits came from the bush and shot at the tyres of the vehicle they were traveling in, forcing the driver to stop. Three women escaped while the remaining nine and the driver were abducted.</p><p>“We are making serious efforts to ensure that the nine women and the driver who are still in captivity are rescued alive. The incident happened at 10 a.m.”</p><p>Residents said the bandits were yet to contact any of the families of the victims as of press time.</p><p><strong>CREDIT: Vanguard</strong></p></div>

Bandits Strike Again, Abduct Katsina Monarch, 13 Others

Amid anxiety over the fate of abducted students of Government College, Kagara, Niger State, bandits struck again in neigbourbing...

12:47 pm

“Nigeria May Get COVID-19 Vaccines In 10 Days” — Minister

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</div><br></h1></header><div class="entry-content mh-clearfix"><div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_top"></div><p>Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said in Lagos on Saturday that Nigeria might get COVID-19 vaccines in the next 10 days.</p><p>“We are told that by the end of this month, which is about 10 days from now, we shall get the vaccines,’’ the minister said.</p><p>“We do not produce the vaccines. They are manufactured abroad in about four or five countries,’’ he told newsmen at the end of an inspection tour of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Idi-Araba,</p><p>Ehanire explained that the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Russia and China that had succeeded in producing the vaccines were now giving licences to other countries to reproduce them.</p><p>“South Africa has a licence to make the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccines, while Russia only recently gave India the licence to produce AstraZeneca,’’ the minister said.</p><p>He said countries that produced the vaccines had serious challenges with COVID-19 and decided to attend to their needs first, a situation that the WHO described as vaccine nationalism.</p><p>Ehanire noted that while the whole world suffered the pangs of COVID-19 about 75 per cent of vaccines already produced were being used in 10 countries.</p><p>The minister stressed that Nigeria had put all facilities in place to receive the vaccines.</p><p>Welcoming the minister earlier, LUTH’s Chief Medical Director, Prof Chris Bode, asked the minister for assistance in the recruitment of 350 nurses, 50 consultants and 150 medical officers.</p><p>Prof. Bode said that the hospital also needed an Oxygen plant and increased funding to build a four-storey isolation centre, run the hospital effectively and pay huge monthly electricity bills.</p></div>

“Nigeria May Get COVID-19 Vaccines In 10 Days” — Minister

Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said in Lagos on Saturday that Nigeria might get COVID-19 vaccines in the next 10 days. “...

12:45 pm

Pst. Adeboye Calls For The Release Of Leah Sharibu From Boko Haram Terrorists

Pst. Adeboye Calls For The Release Of Leah Sharibu From Boko Haram Terrorists

Pst. Adeboye called on all pastors in the RCCG as well as all well-meaning people all over the world to intensify their prayers ...

12:44 pm

Ahmad Lawan Blames South-West Governors For Killings In Shasha Market, Ibarapa

Ahmad Lawan Blames South-West Governors For Killings In Shasha Market, Ibarapa

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, says divisive utterances by some Southwest governors were responsible for the killings in Sasha m...

12:42 pm

"Republic Of Benin Is Not Aspiring To Be Part Of Nigeria" - MFA

<div class="entry-content mh-clearfix" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_top" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: Sarala, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 16px auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-title="“Republic Of Benin Is Not Aspiring To Be Part Of Nigeria” – MFA" data-a2a-url="https://voiceofyala.com/2021/02/republic-of-benin-is-not-aspiring-to-be-part-of-nigeria-mfa.html" style="border: 0px; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; touch-action: manipulation; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="a2a_label a2a_localize" data-a2a-localize="inner,Share" style="border-radius: 4px; border: 0px; box-shadow: none; clip-path: polygon(0px 0px, 0px 0px, 0px 0px); clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); color: #005a8c; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 32px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 32px;"><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Fvoiceofyala.com%2F2021%2F02%2Frepublic-of-benin-is-not-aspiring-to-be-part-of-nigeria-mfa.html&title=%E2%80%9CRepublic%20Of%20Benin%20Is%20Not%20Aspiring%20To%20Be%20Part%20Of%20Nigeria%E2%80%9D%20%E2%80%93%20MFA" style="border: 0px; box-shadow: none; color: #005a8c; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 32px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 4px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: middle;"><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div></a></span></div></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Sarala, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Sarala, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">REPUBLIC OF BENIN IS NOT ASPIRING TO BE PART OF NIGERIA</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Sarala, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to misleading reports in the media that the Republic of Benin is aspiring to be the 37 State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Sarala, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama in the presence of his counterpart from the Republic of Benin granted a Press Interview after a very fruitful meeting between Ministerial delegations from both countries and stated therein “… the President of Benin Republic said he would like the relations between the two countries to be so close as if Benin was the 37th State of Nigeria”.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Sarala, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Federal Republic of Nigeria has no territorial ambition and has never aspired to make Benin or any country as part of Nigeria.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Sarala, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Minister of Foreign Affairs was therefore quoted out of context and the general public should kindly disregard the wrong information.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Sarala, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Signed<br>Ferdinand Nwonye<br>Spokesperson<br>Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Sarala, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Saturday, 20 February, 2021</p><figure class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Sarala, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1.25rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img class="wp-image-686503" src="https://9jaflaver.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/13171349_20210220223553_jpeg3ebf870887d6adc7ad7232516fc5239e-808x1024.jpg" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;"></figure><div><br></div><div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: Sarala, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 16px auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div>

"Republic Of Benin Is Not Aspiring To Be Part Of Nigeria" - MFA

REPUBLIC OF BENIN IS NOT ASPIRING TO BE PART OF NIGERIA The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to misle...

12:40 pm