An Army officer and a villager have been hospitalised while several cars were set ablaze in the Ette community of Ikot-Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State following a clash that erupted in the area on Tuesday.

Our correspondent gathered that the clash started following a misunderstanding between the Army officer and diesel thieves in the community.

A community source who pleaded not to be mentioned told our correspondent in Uyo on Wednesday that trouble started when the army officer (name withheld) was pursuing diesel thieves in an attempt to arrest them.

The source added that members of the community descended on him, and in an attempt to escape from the mob action, he shot at one of the villagers.

The enraged residents, the source added, blocked a section of the East-West Road, forcing motorists going to Port Harcourt to divert to other routes for their safety.

Reacting, the Public Relations Officer of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, DSP Timfon John, who confirmed the incident, said the command had begun an investigation into the incident, which she noted had been brought under control.

According to her, “The command is aware of the incident. What actually happened was the case of an army officer who was pursuing diesel thieves. When the community descended on him, he attempted to escape from the mob action. So, he fired and eventually shot one of the villagers.

“The Army man and the villager who got shot have been taken to the hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, the situation is under control, an investigation is ongoing and further details will be communicated.”

Rampaging youths protesting incessant harassments and extortions by military personnel have reportedly razed five military vehicles in angry reprisal following the gruesome murder of a youth activist by a soldier in Akwa Ibom State.

The incident, LEADERSHIP learnt, happened in the early hours of Wednesday in Ete, a coastal oil-bearing community of Ikot Abasi local government area of the State.

According to a resident, Effiong Ekwere, the soldiers attached to Sterling Global, an oil firm, were chasing a diesel-bearing truck allegedly for extortion, an action that infuriated the angry youths, who engaged one of them in a duel with the intent to disarm him.

The officer was said to have shot at the victim to scare and free himself from the mob, resulting in his instant death, thereby escalating the violence.

The Ete, Ikot Abasi portion of the East-West Road, sources said, was blocked for several hours, forcing vehicles and passengers coming into and out of Akwa Ibom State to and fro the neighbouring Rivers State, to be stranded.

“There’s crisis in Ete in Ikot Abasi LGA, an Army man that was on official duty at the Sterling Global company shot one of the community boys dead today, and they had shot another person dead as at last week.

“As a result of that, the community has now risen to tell them that enough is enough. That they should concentrate on doing their official duty at the company and leave the innocent citizens to be.

“For this, and other atrocious behaviours of the Army in the community, the youths set five of their trucks ablaze, including one bus and a Hilux van. Please, we are waiting for peace talk and government intervention on the issue,” the resident told our Correspondent.

Military sources from the 2 Brigade headquarters, Uyo, confirmed the incident, saying “the matter is already under control.”

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Timfon John, also confirmed the development, saying the officer had been hospitalised and the remains of the victim deposited in the morgue, as investigations continued.

A Sudanese military plane has crashed in a residential area on the outskirts of the capital, Khartoum, killing several officers and civilians on ground.

The plane crashed late on Tuesday during takeoff from the Wadi Seidna military airport in northern Omdurman, part of greater Khartoum, leaving more than 20 people dead, according to military sources quoted by the Reuters news agency.

The sources told Reuters that the plane crash was most likely due to technical reasons.

Major-General Bahr Ahmed, a senior commander in Khartoum, was reportedly among the dead.

The military, which has been at war with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023, released a statement on Tuesday, saying military personnel and civilians had been killed, without providing further details.

“The injured have been taken to hospital and firefighting teams managed to contain the blaze at the crash site,” the statement said.

Residents in northern Omdurman reported a loud explosion from the crash, which damaged several homes and caused power outages in surrounding neighbourhoods.

The Karari Resistance Committee, part of a network of volunteers coordinating aid across Sudan, reported that 10 bodies and several injured people were brought to al-Nao Hospital in Omdurman, said a report by the AFP news agency.

The 6 Division, Nigerian Army said its troops have arrested 29 suspected oil thieves, destroyed 24 illegal refineries and recovered over 60, 000 litres of stolen products in the Niger Delta region.

The Army said the feat was achieved during a recent raid conducted in some states of the Niger Delta in collaboration with other security agencies.

This was contained in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, on Monday by the Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Jonah Danjuma.

The statement reads, “In the latest crackdown against illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta Region troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, working in synergy with other security agencies have successfully apprehended 29 suspected oil thieves, deactivated 24 illegal refining sites, demobilized eleven boats and recovered over 60,000 litres of stolen products.

“The operations were conducted across the Niger Delta from 3rd and 9th February, 2025. In clearance operations conducted by troops, along the Imo River, 6 illegal refining sites were deactivated, 113 drum pots and 83 drum receivers were destroyed. This was in addition to two boats demobilised with over 18,000 litres of stolen products recovered. Also, around Asa in Obigbo Local Government Area, troops uncovered a reservoir with over 1,000 litres of stolen products as well as 100 sacks filled with over 1,500 litres of stolen crude.

“The operations were conducted at different times around Okoloma, Obuzor, Lekuma, Abiama, Asa and Ukwa general areas. Similarly, in the Buguma general area, in Asari-Toru LGA, one illegal refining site, with two big pots as well as two receivers, with one stocked with over 9,000 litres of stolen crude was handled appropriately.

“In a similar vein, around Ebocha Well 5, troops swooped on an active illegal refining site with 28 empty locally made ovens, reservoirs filled with 5,900 and 3,500 illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil and stolen crude respectively.”

It added, “Also recovered at the site were 37 sacks filled with over 2, 220 litres of illegally refined AGO and one suspected oil thief apprehended at the scene. Likewise, along Kumufari Creek in Akuku-Toru LGA, one illegal refining site, a 200-meter hose with a reservoir stocked with over 1,500 litres of stolen products was handled accordingly. In Delta State, following tip-off about suspected illegal bunkering activities around Okpai Oluchi community in Ndokwa East LGA, troops mobilised to the area and conducted a sting operation.

“During the operations, over 70 sacks were confiscated along the SEEPCO Energy company pipeline within the Community, which led to the confiscation of over 2,800 litres of stolen products.
Additionally, troops intercepted the movement of a suspected oil thief, who fled and abandoned his vehicle at Emiye Street along Palace Road in Isoko South LGA. The abandoned vehicle is a Sienna bus with Registration number Lagos APP 89 CV was loaded with 15 sacks of illegally refined AGO.”

In Bayelsa, Danjuma said at the boundary between Joinkrama 4 in Yenagoa LGA and Okarki in Ahoada West LGA, troops destroyed two illegal refining sites.

“Similarly, around Biseni at the bank of the River Niger and Akpedi community in Yenagoa LGA and Akinima in Ahoada West LGA, troops intercepted 2,500 litres of AGO in sacks.

“In Akwa Ibom State, troops have continued to dominate the operations area, denying criminal elements freedom of action,” it added.

 As Buratai, Owaloko, others storm Kuta

 

 

The Olowu of Owu Kuta, HRM Oba Dr Hammeed Adekunle Makama, Tegbosun III, has declared that the Owu chieftaincy titles were not cheap, nor for sale, but for deserving individuals.

Oba Makama said this at his Palace in Kuta town, Osun State, on Tuesday, when he conferred chieftaincy titles on a retired Botswana Army officer, Brig.-Gen. Michael Mukomani, and a Saudi Arabia’s Princess, Ms Amani Bint Muhammed A Aljizani.

While Brig.-Gen. Mukomani was conferred with ‘Otun Balogun Agba’ of Owu Kuta Kingdom, which translates to the Right Hand Man of the King, Ms Amani was conferred with the title of ‘Erelu Fiwagboye’ of Owu Kuta, which entails that the honoree must have a community development initiative for Owu Kuta Kingdom.

Olowu, who praised Nigeria’s former Chief of Army Staff and one-time Ambassador to Benin Republic, Gen. TY Buratai (rtd), who accompanied the honourees to the palace, for his support and encouragement, said the retired Nigerian Army General has been adopted as Owu son.

Incidentally, Buratai also holds the chieftaincy title of Balogun Agba of Kuta.

Speaking earlier, Gen. Buratai explained how he met Gen. Mukomani at the War College in Bangladesh and the feat the latter had achieved in Botswana’s Army thereafter.

Buratai said, though Gen Mukomani couldn’t make it to the Botswana legislature in the last election, he’s optimistic that he will be successful in subsequent elections because of his sterling qualities.

Dignitaries at the ceremony included Oba Adedokun Abolarin, Orangun of Oke-Ila; Oba Hakeem Ogungbangbe, Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesu; Oba Kamodudeen Obaloyan; Oba Moses Agunsoye, Elebura of Ijebu-Ijesa, amongst others.

Responding on behalf of the newly installed Owu chiefs, the new Otun Balogun Agba said he was excited to be part of the tradition and development in Owu Kuta kingdom.

He assured Oba Makama that he would always work towards the progress and development of Owu Kuta Kingdom.

“I’m breathing in Yoruba culture, which you enjoy here today, and will take it back to Botswana. I thank you for the exceptional welcome that you have given to me and the entourage of General Buratai. I take this honour with great reverence and respect. I will be the true ambassador of Yoruba people,” he added.

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The Nigerian Army has confirmed the death of a soldier after a driver rammed into troops during its bi-annual route march close to the Myhoung Barracks in Yaba, Lagos State, on Friday.

A statement issued on Friday by the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 81 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Ayeni, confirmed that the accident resulted in the death of a soldier, with others sustaining various degrees of injuries.

He said that the deceased has been deposited in the mortuary while the injured are currently receiving medical care at 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Yaba, Lagos.

Ayeni added that the 81 Division Military Police and other relevant security agencies are conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to this incident.

“The General Officer Commanding 81 Division NA, Major General Farouk Mijinyawa, expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased soldier while praying for the speedy recovery of the wounded. The GOC also called for calm among the public as investigation into the sad occurrence has commenced.

“The Division remains steadfast in its commitment to training and readiness to discharge its duties despite this devastating event.

“Furthermore, this tragic loss will not deter the Division’s dedication to safeguarding the lives and properties within its area of operations in accordance with the NA’s constitutional mandate,” the statement added.

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Zamfara State Governor, Alhaji Dauda Lawal, has commended the Department of State Services for its intelligence-sharing efforts that led to the interception of a large cache of arms and ammunition smuggled from Niger Republic.

A statement issued on Tuesday by the Coordinator, Joint Media Centre, Operation Fasan Yamma, Lt. Col. Abubakar Abdullahi, revealed that the operation, conducted on January 27, 2025, was based on actionable intelligence, TheNigerian Online reports earlier.

The governor, during an inspection of the seized weapons in Gusau, the state capital, on Tuesday night, lauded the DSS and the Nigerian Armed Forces for their swift action in neutralising the threat.

He thanked President Bola Tinubu for his support of security agencies, which he credited for the success of the operation.

These details were contained in a Tuesday statement, titled, “Gov Lawal Inspects Seized Arms Cache, Lauds DSS.”

“This operation is a testament to the efficiency of our security agencies. I want to sincerely commend the DSS for its proactive intelligence-sharing, which led to this major breakthrough.

“I also extend my appreciation to President Tinubu for his commitment to making Zamfara State and the entire country safer,” Lawal was quoted as saying.

He assured all that his administration would continue to collaborate with security agencies to combat terrorism and crime in the state.

The operation, executed jointly by the DSS and troops of Operation Fansan Yamma on Monday and Tuesday, targeted a notorious arms courier, Abubakar Umar, also known as Dangada.

Security sources revealed that Umar had been tracked from Niger Republic to Kaura Namoda-Zurmi Road, where he intended to deliver the weapons to bandit leaders operating in the Birnin Magaji Local Government Area.

DSS intelligence indicated that the arms were meant for high-profile bandit kingpins, including Kachallah Atta, Alhaji Shinge, Alhaji Nashama, and a certain Zaki.

The traffickers, realising they had been ambushed, abandoned a red Abuja-registered Volkswagen Golf station wagon (RBC 731 GU) and fled with serious bullet wounds.

Upon searching the vehicle, security operatives discovered a deadly cache, including:

• Seven AK-47 rifles

• Two PKT General-Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG)

• Two AK-103 rifles

• 169 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition

• Nine PKT rounds of ammunition with one chain

• 13 empty magazines

The governor expressed confidence in the DSS ability to uphold national security and called for continued vigilance against criminal elements.

“This is a strong message to all those fueling insecurity in our state: we will not relent until peace is fully restored.

“I assure our security agencies of my government’s full support in this fight,” he declared.