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Post Date : August 26, 2021

Taliban: Over 500 Turkish troops leave Afghanistan

Turkey’s defence ministry said Wednesday it had started pulling troops out of Afghanistan, apparently abandoning its plans to help secure Kabul’s strategic airport. “The Turkish Armed Forces are returning to our homeland with the pride of successfully fulfilling the tasks entrusted to it,” the ministry said in a statement. Turkey had more than 500 non-combat troops stationed in Afghanistan as part of NATO’s now-abandoned mission in the war-torn country. It had been negotiating with both the Taliban and Washington about playing a role in protecting the airport after the US troop withdrawal, which is scheduled to be completed on Tuesday. US officials said those talks had been continuing last week. But the Taliban’s swift capture of the Afghan capital left Ankara’s plans in disarray, eliminating a key point of leverage in its tumultuous relations with the United States. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara was still interested in playing a role in Afghanistan, keeping its lines of communication open with Taliban leaders. “It is important for Afghanistan to stabilise,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said as the troop withdrawal was announced. “Turkey will continue to be in close dialogue with all parties in Afghanistan in line with this goal.” Erdogan has been under intense political pressure at home not to accept migrants that might come from Afghanistan in response to the fundamentalist Islamist group’s rise. Turkey became home to more than four million migrants — most of them from Syria — under a deal that helped stem the European Union’s migrants crisis in 2016. Ankara is building a wall along its eastern border to Iran to keep out Afghans trying to use the route to enter Europe. Erdogan said Turkey was now home to roughly five million migrants of various status and could not accept any more. “We cannot handle an additional burden of migration originating from Syria or Afghanistan,” he said. AFP

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Post Date : August 25, 2021

Personnel monitoring CCTV not asleep during NDA attack —DHQ

The Defence Headquarters on Wednesday denied claims that military personnel monitoring the closed-circuit television at the Nigerian Defence Academy were fast asleep when the attack on the facility happened. It also said a board of enquiry has been constituted to ascertain the incidents that led to the security breach. The DHQ disclosed this in a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Benjamin Sawyerr. The PUNCH had earlier reported that bandits on Tuesday attacked the NDA in Kaduna, killed two personnel and kidnapped one. An online news platform, TheCable, had reported that officers in the CCTV monitoring room at NDA slept off while the marauders operated. Dispelling the claim in a statement, the DHQ said the military personnel are trained and dedicated to their duties. It read, “The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to a news publication by an online news media claiming that personnel on duty at the Nigerian Defence Academy CCTV monitoring room were sleeping when bandits attacked the officers’ residential quarters leading to the death of two officers and the abduction of one other officer. “The Nigerian Armed Forces wishes to state categorically that the allegation is untrue and hence challenge the Cable Online to publish forthwith a verifiable proof of personnel sleeping during the incident. “It is therefore imperative to caution the Cable Online media to guide against being used as a propaganda tool by enemies of our dear country. “The Cable should not consciously or unconsciously collaborate with these unscrupulous elements to spread unverified stories on the unfortunate event that occurred at NDA Kaduna while tarnishing the good image and reputation of personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the eyes of the civil populace. “It is perhaps important to mention that the AFN as a professional force consists of highly trained personnel who are dedicated to their duties of protecting lives and property of all Nigerians. “Let me use this opportunity, to reiterate that the NDA authorities, acting on the directive of the Chief of Defence Staff has constituted a board of enquiry to ascertain the remote and immediate cause(s) of the breach of security with a view to sanctioning any personnel found culpable and also prevent future occurrence. “Let me also assure (Nigerians) that we shall continue to update the general public as events unfold as we are all aware the search and rescue of the abducted officer are still on. Troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria will continue with its operations to ensure all those involved in the dastardly act are brought to justice.”

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Post Date : August 25, 2021

NDA Attack Won’t Dampen Military’s Resolve To End Criminality, Buhari Vows

President Muhammadu Buhari says Tuesday’s attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), rather than dampen the morale of the Armed Forces, will buoy them to end criminality in the country. In a statement by his special media aide Femi Adesina on Wednesday, President Buhari noted that the attack, which led to the loss of lives, came when the military had put insurgents, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminals on the retreat. The President added that the heinous action would accelerate the total uprooting of evil in the polity, which members of the Armed Forces are solidly resolved to accomplish in the shortest possible time. He commiserated with the families of those who died during the incident, asking God to comfort them, and assured them that the deceased would not die in vain. RELATED: Bandits Attack NDA, Kill Two Officers, Abduct One [Boko Haram Surrender] It Should Not Be Blanket Amnesty And Pampering – Ndume More Boko Haram Insurgents Surrender In Borno, Beg For Forgiveness Troops Continue Humiliating Boko Haram Terrorists In Borno -Nigerian Army A front view of the NDA Headquarters in Kaduna State. The President noted the degenerate act would have consequences that will eventually clean the country of vermin and emancipate the polity from deliberate, targeted, and contrived atrocious acts. Buhari thanked Nigerians who appreciate the military’s efforts and urged those playing hateful politics with the dastardly act to desist from such. According to him, rather than recriminations, this is the time for patriots and “people of goodwill to support and encourage those who are in the vanguard of the battle against wickedness in the land”.

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Post Date : August 25, 2021

8 Killed In Fresh Benue Attack

At least eight people have been killed in Yelewta community of Guma Local Government Area of Benue State. Witnesses said the killings occurred when traders were closing for the day. Chairman of Guma LGA, Caleb Aba, told newsmen in Makurdi by telephone that the victims were hacked to death. Aba said it was Yelewta market day and that the people had hardly closed for the day when the gun-welding invaders pounced on them, killing eight on the spot. “It was a market day and the people were still busy doing their business when they (attackers) launched the attack, shooting guns everywhere. In the end, eight people were killed, one abducted and has not been seen up till now,” he said. The chairman added that the injured had been taken to the hospital for treatment. Contacted, the State Secretary of Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), Ibrahim Galma, said he was not aware of any such development. He also distanced members of his association from the killings. Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Catherine Anene, confirmed that six people were killed by gunmen. She said, “Yesterday, 24th August, 2021, at about 7:45pm, the police got information that unknown gunmen invaded Yelwata community and attacked the first compound that is nearest to the forest. “The policemen who were immediately sent to the area were able to repel them but regrettably before the police arrived, the gunmen had shot six persons they met in the first house. “The police took the six persons to the hospital and they were confirmed dead on arrival while two other person were still receiving treatment at the hospital.” Anene added that the Commissioner of Police, Akingbola Olatunji, has visited the community to condole with families who lost loved ones. He assured Yelwata community that the command will continue to support them.

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Post Date : August 25, 2021

Audacity of fake news: Army recruiting Boko Haram members

By Frederick Nwabufo prejudices whether ethnic, political or religious. Nigeria’s social media dome is a hang-out for lies, malice and bigotry. Falsehood in this seemingly anonymous quarter is oxygenated by hate and bias. The canard of the Nigerian Army recruiting repentant Boko Haram insurgents, for example, has been rippling because it fits into the prevailing solitary narrative and slant. It is really startling to see well-certificated Nigerians gobbling and vectoring fallacies because they suit their bias. These ones advertise ‘’certificated ignorance’’ with vanity titles on their bios. How can anyone who has gone through the tedious mill of pedagogy and who makes pretensions to high academic qualifications resolve without a scintilla of proof that the nation’s military is absorbing terrorists? Is it a case of ‘’certificated ignorance’’ or deliberate mischief? It makes absolutely no sense that a ‘’PhD holder’’ will choose to believe the nattering of internet infestations but disregard obtrusive facts. In scholarship, there is methodology – a process in arriving at conclusions. Theories and arguments must be tested and verified. But why do some cast aside the diligence and thoroughness that come with education to promote falsehood? The surrendering of some Boko Haram fighters has effectuated cynicism and suspicion among Nigerians. Nigerians have a reason to be sceptical about the mass capitulation of the insurgents, especially as the military authorities handed some of them placards, saying ‘’Nigerians forgive us’’ and making drama of the entire matter. Personally, I believe that performance was unnecessary. It is only counter-productive. These are people who are unlettered and whose hands have been made unclean by the blood of the innocents they killed without provocation. It is customary to allow the surrendering of enemy forces. But I do not think it is decent to make a lachrymal show out of the submission of suspected killers. That violates the sensibilities of their victims – widows, orphans and those who lost precious ones. The surrendering of insurgents is a tactical breakthrough if only it will bring an end to the decade-old war in the north-east. But the war still rages, and already the government is rehabilitating and reintegrating these ‘’repentant outlaws’’. It is natural that Nigerians will want to proceed with cautious optimism and cynicism since terrorism is still much alive in the region. Reacting to the pervasive apprehension over the reformation of insurgents, Lucky Irabor, chief of defence staff, asked Nigerians to trust the rehabilitation of the repentant insurgents. A statement issued by Benjamin Sawyerr, defence spokesman, on Tuesday, said: “On the recent fear and apprehension making the rounds about the mass surrendering of Boko Haram/ISWAP ex-members, the CDS reassured Nigerians to trust the relevant agencies that have been tasked with responsibility of planning the rehabilitation of repented insurgents.” Rehabilitation offers an exit path for insurgents seeking absolution. But Nigerians would like to see those who took up arms against the state, killing citizens pay for their crimes. It is a knotty convergence of expedient policy and moral justice. But is the army recruiting repentant Boko Haram members? While the military through ‘Operation Safe Corridor’ has been rehabilitating insurgents, there is no official record of the enlistment of former insurgents into the army. We should give our armed forces some credit. It is acute mischief to spread injurious falsehood that has the potency of desiccating citizen/law enforcement cohesion. The military is about the most organised of all Nigerian institutions – forged in discipline, formulaic procedures and principles. Over the years the army has come out to dispel the speculation that it is recruiting former insurgents. It had to double down on its position on Wednesday as the fiction remains animated. Onyema Nwachukwu, army spokesman, said: “For the avoidance of doubt, the NA does not have any repentant terrorist joining its ranks and does not have any plan for that. There are teeming able-bodied Nigerians that are willing to join the NA to genuinely help in the fight against terrorism and other violent crimes. The campaign of falsehood embarked upon by some individuals who do not wish the nation well cannot distract its personnel from their resolve to bring an end to the violent crimes in the country.” I have done some digging seeking answers from confidants in the military circles and some trusted sources, but there is no verisimilitude in the pesky rumour. At most, some former insurgents are used as informants and baits to capture ‘’bigger fishes’’. I also learnt that the surrendering of insurgents is purely intelligence-driven. There is more to it than meets the eye. Fake news remains fossilised as long as the triggers are operative. Ethnic, religious and political biases fecundate falsehood here. The fake news of the army recruiting former Boko Haram insurgents dovetails with the ‘’northernisation of the military conspiracy theory’’. This falsehood has rippled for long because it fits perfectly into the prevailing ethnic and sectional prejudices. The fight against banditry and insurgency is a collective effort. We should not help in the propaganda of the enemy. Defend Nigeria. By Fredrick ‘Mr OneNigeria’ Nwabufo Twitter/Instagram/Facebook @FredrickNwabufo

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Post Date : August 25, 2021

Fresh Killings: Lalong Reimposes 24 Hours Curfew On Jos North

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has re-imposed a 24-hour curfew on Jos North Local Government Area of the state. This followed the killings on Yelwan Zangam community in Jos North. Daily Trust had reported how over 30 persons were killed and many houses were set ablaze in the area. The killings generated tension in Jos-Bukuru metropolis. In a statement, Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Governor, Makut Macham, said the 24 hour curfew will come into force from 4pm on Wednesday. “Plateau State Government has reinstated the 24-hour curfew earlier relaxed in Jos North Local Government Area following growing tensions arising from the attack on Yelwa Zangam village of the Local Government where people were killed and properties destroyed. “According to Governor Simon Lalong, the 24 hour will come into force from 4pm, today Wednesday 25th August 2021 until further notice. “The Governor has appealed to the citizens of Jos North to cooperate with the Government by abiding to the 24-hour curfew commencing 4pm, 25th August 2021, as security agencies have been mandated to ensure that those who violate the curfew are arrested. “Also, the 6pm to 6am curfew in Jos South and Bassa LGAs still remains in place until further notice. Only people on essential duties such as health personnel, journalists, fire service and para-military and others, are to be exempted from the curfew but should carry means of identification with them at all times. “The Governor is calling for calm as he is seriously grieved by the attacks. He again sympathises with the victims, but wants them to show restraint and allow Government to handle the matter to disallow hoodlums from taking advantage of the unfortunate situation to cause mayhem and destruction in the state.” Lalong had imposed a curfew on the area when some travelers were killed two weeks ago. He later relaxed the curfew.

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Post Date : August 25, 2021

BBNaija S6: I need to see a therapist, Angel asks Big Brother

Big Brother Naija Shine Ya Eye housemate, Angel, has told Big Brother that she would like to see a therapist. She said this in her Diary Session on Wednesday, day 32 of the show. According to Angel, her reason for needing a therapist is that she’s going through emotional exhaustion and has nobody to vent to. When asked if she had something to say to Big Brother, she said, “I also want to ask if I could see a psychologist. As I said, I’m emotionally exhausted and I don’t really have anybody to vent to. I used to have Arin but Arin is gone. “So I’d like to talk to a therapist about my emotional exhaustion, if that’s fine with you.” Earlier in the Diary session, Angel revealed that she is going through emotional exhaustion and stress. She said, “Today, I’m feeling a lot of things. I’m emotionally exhausted, worried, and stressed.” When asked to explain further, Angel said that she’s worried about what the future holds for her. Angel said, “One of my reasons for coming to the show was to find stability and the show is rounding up. So, there’s a lot to think about what I’m going to do after this. “It’s one thing to be here, it’s another thing to go out there and figure things out. So I’m kinda worried about that.” At the end of the Diary Session, Biggy advised her saying, “Never be afraid to trust yourself to handle an unknown future.”

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Post Date : August 25, 2021

Lucky Irabor to Nigerians: Trust rehabilitation of repentant insurgents

Lucky Irabor, chief of defence staff (CDS), has asked Nigerians to trust the rehabilitation of repentant Boko Haram members. According to a statement by Benjamin Sawyerr, director of defence information, the CDS said this on Tuesday at an interactive session with retired senior military officers in the north-east zone in Yola, Adamawa state. Sawyerr said Irabor expressed appreciation to the people of the north-east for supporting military operations, adding that the security situation in the region will get better. “General Irabor posited that the solutions to the north-east security challenges lie in the region, as he was optimistic that the situation would get better and better in the days ahead,” the statement reads. “On the recent fear and apprehension making the rounds about the mass surrendering of Boko Haram/ISWAP ex-members, the CDS reassured Nigerians to trust the relevant agencies that have been tasked with responsibility of planning the rehabilitation of repented insurgents.” The CDS asked the military veterans to take full advantage of the security negotiations in evaluating the various military operations. Irabor said their patriotic and constructive assessment of the general security situation will add value to the ongoing military offensive in the region. “What remains very clear is the desire and will of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to speedily turn around the fortune of the north-east to a state where everyone will be happy again,” he said. The CDS described the attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) as “more of criminal activities associated with normal banditry action” and said the military was already on the matter.

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Post Date : August 25, 2021

Tribunal orders Multichoice to pay FG N900bn tax backlog

A Tax Appeal Tribunal sitting in Lagos has ordered Multichoice Nigeria Limited, owners of cable television services, DSTV, to pay 50 per cent of N1.8trn tax backlog to the Federal Inland Revenue Service. Director, Communications and Liaison Department of the FIRS, Mr Abdullahi Ahmad, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday. Ahmad explained that FIRS discovered the backlog through a forensic audit, as it allegedly showed that Multichoice Nigeria Limited had failed to pay to the Government of Nigeria in past assessment years. He said the five-member TAT, led by its chairman, Prof. A.B. Ahmed, issued the order following an application to it by the counsel to FIRS. He stated that the counsel made the application under Order XI of the TAT Procedure Rules 2010, which requires Multichoice or any other taxpayer who disputes their tax assessments, to make the statutory deposit required under Paragraph 15(7) of the Fifth Schedule to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2007 (FIRS Act). According to him, these relevant laws are conditions that must be fulfilled before the prosecution of the appeal brought before TAT. “In certain defined circumstances to which the Multichoice appeal fits, paragraph 15(7) of the fifth schedule to the FIRS (Establishment) Act 2007 requires persons or companies seeking to contest a tax assessment to pay all or a stipulated percentage of the tax assessed before they can be allowed to argue their appeal contesting the assessment at TAT. “Multichoice Nigeria Limited filed the matter at the Lagos TAT following its dispute over FIRS issuance of Notices of Assessment and Demand Note in the sum of N1,822,923,909,313.94k on 7 April, 2021. ‘The amount constitutes what the FIRS calculated as due in taxation to the Federal Government of Nigeria from Multichoice after an investigation over several months to determine the extent to which Multichoice has been evading taxes in Nigeria,” he explained. Ahmad noted that at Tuesday’s hearing of the matter in Appeal, Multichoice Nigeria Limited amended its Notice of Appeal and thereafter sought, through its counsel, Bidemi Olumide of AO2 Law Firm, for an adjournment of the proceedings to enable it to respond to the FIRS’ formal application for accelerated hearing of the appeal. “In response, the FIRS counsel asked TAT to issue an order requiring that Multichoice make the statutory deposit of 50 per cent of the disputed sum. “After hearing arguments from both sides, TAT upheld the FIRS Act and directed Multichoice Nigeria Limited to deposit with the FIRS the amount prescribed by the law, which is an amount equal to the tax charged upon Multichoice in the preceding year of assessment. “Or one half of the tax charged by the assessment under appeal (whichever is lesser), plus a sum equal to 10 percent of the said deposit as a condition precedent for further hearing of the Appeal. “Thereafter, TAT adjourned the Appeal to September 23, 2021 for the continuation of the hearing, subject to compliance with the Tribunal’s order,” he said. The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that FIRS had, in July, announced its plan to engage some commercial banks as agents to freeze and recover N1.8trn from accounts of Messrs MultiChoice Nigeria Limited (MCN) And MultiChoice Africa (MCA). The Service explained that the decision to appoint the banks as agents and to freeze the accounts was as a result of the groups’ continued refusal to grant FIRS access to their servers for audit and it discovered that the companies persistently breached all agreements and undertakings with FIRS. (NAN)

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Post Date : August 25, 2021

BREAKING: Umeoji bounces back as Oye, Njoku suffers Appeal Court defeat

…Sets to kick-start guber campaign The tussle for the leadership of APGA has swung in favour of High chief Jude Okeke and Hon. Chukwuma Umeoji as the Special Panel of the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu few hours ago struck out the Motion filed by former APGA Factional Chairman Chief Edozie Njoku seeking to Appeal against the Judgment of Justice B. C. Iheka of the Imo State High Court which declared Umeoji APGA Anambra Governorship Candidate and Jude Okeke APGA Chairman. The Court of Appeal in its ruling striking out the Motion upheld the argument of Counsel to Chief Jude Okeke that the Motion is an abuse of Court process and must be struck out. The Court thereafter awarded a cost of N50, 000:00 in favour of Chief Jude Okeke. Furthermore, the halfhearted attempt by Chief Victor Oye to appeal against the same judgment was also stalled as his lawyers failed to compile the records of the High Court to the Court of Appeal. The High Court had a week ago granted Victor Oye leave to appeal against the judgment. It seemed to lawyers in the matter that Chief Victor Oye was not confident about any sort of success in the appeal hence the halfhearted approach to the appeal. Again Chief Jude Okeke withdrew the Motion seeking to appeal against the controversial judgment of the Awka High Court citing the validity, efficacy and comprehensiveness of the Owerri High Court judgment. However, upon noticing that Chief Jude Okeke had withdrawn the Motion, Chief Victor Oye hurriedly filed a counter affidavit against the Motion which had already been withdrawn.  Based on the voluntary withdrawal of the Motion, the court dismissed the Appeal and this is not a consequent of any victory for Chief Victor Oye as the judgment would be eventually set aside at the appropriate time and forum. From the events at the Appeal Court, Chief Jude Okeke has swung back to be favourite to eventually emerge victorious as there is for now no return date for any appeal against the judgment of Owerri High Court which upheld Jude Okeke as Chairman of APGA and Hon, Chukwuma Umeoji as the Governorship candidate of the party.   Reacting, APGA Governorship Candidate Chukwuma Umeoji described developments from the Appeal Court today as victory for Anambra People and their determination to have him elected as the next Governor. Umeoji said all preparations have been concluded for the official launching of his Governorship campaign called Operation take the campaign to the people ( door to door ) which will give APGA landslide victory.

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