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ABIA EX-MILAD DENOUNCES MARGINALIZATION OF OKPE KINGDOM

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ABIA EX-MILAD DENOUNCES MARGINALIZATION OF OKPE KINGDOM

· RECOUNTS HOW OBOREVWORI EMERGED AS GOVERNOR

· ATTRIBUTES URHOBO AGENDA TO OKPE BACKWARDNESS

· SLAMS UGHELLI LEADERS OVER SCRAMBLE FOR GOVERNORSHIP SLOT

· URGES OKPE LEADERS TO BRACE UP FOR 2027 CHALLENGE

By: Our Reporter

Air Vice Marshal (rtd) Frank Ajobena may have stirred another round of controversy among Delta political leaders where he observed that the Okpe Nation was the least in the pecking order in Delta Central.

‘’There is a pecking order in the state. Every time something good comes to Delta Central, it has to go first to the Ughelli people. The next in the pecking order are the Ethiope East people, the Agbon people. The Okpe, who are majority, are the least in the pecking order. You could see it even when the contest for the governorship was on. There was a gang up. They didn’t want an Okpe person to be governor. It took a lot of canvassing and the grace of God for the Okpe person to emerge as governor. That position is still being contested by those by those who think they are born to rule Delta State’’

Ajobena spoke in Lagos at the 95th anniversary of Okpe Union.

‘’The identity of a people is fundamental to their emancipation. If you look at the Bible, the issue of identity was the reason Jesus Christ came to the earth. If you look at Psalm 82, verses 5-7. They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the Most High. But ye shall die like men and fall like one of the princes. Each time Jesus Christ tries to introduce man as a divinity, they try to stone him’’.

The military administrator of Abia State from 28th August 1991 until January 1992 maintained that Okpe was not Urhobo.

‘’The issue of identity is fundamental. I don’t know why our brothers are apprehensive of Okpe establishing itself as a nationality. If you go to Google and you look at the definition of ethnic nationality, it is well defined. It is a people that share a common ancestry. We do not share a common ancestry with Urhobo people. It further defined people that share the same language. We do not share the same language with the Urhobos. If you speak Okpe in the midst of Urhobo people, they will say you are speaking in tongues. They don’t understand what you are saying. All these questions that Okpe is Urhobo is for political adventure and political gains. They want to project the Urhobo as a large ethnic nationality. So, they use Okpe to feather their own nest’’

Ajobena stated that the political position of the Okpe Nation must be reviewed to save the kingdom from further backwardness.

‘’Whatever comes to the geographical space that is being referred to as Delta Central today is seen as Urhobo matter. The Okpe people are treated as second class citizens within that space. As long as we remain tied to the apron strings of Urhobo, we will not achieve anything. We need to let them know’’.

He said the actions of leaders in the state have thrown Okpe Kingdom into the back burner position in the political affairs of Delta Central.

‘’Urhobos are our friendly neighbors. We are not quarrelling. We intermarry. I don’t see reason for this apprehension’’.

He, however, warned those celebrating Okpe as the largest Urhobo ethnic nationality to admit their mistake and work for the recognition of Okpe identity.

ABIA EX-MILAD DENOUNCES MARGINALIZATION OF OKPE KINGDOM

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Troops ambush terrorists along Marte–Dikwa road, recover logistics in Borno

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Troops ambush terrorists along Marte–Dikwa road, recover logistics in Borno

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have successfully ambushed Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists along the Marte–Dikwa axis of Borno, forcing them to flee and abandoning logistics items.

A military source said the operation was conducted in the early hours of Thursday by a combined team of 50 Task Force Battalion/24 Task Force Brigade and 134 Special Forces Battalion, supported by volunteer forces.

The source disclosed that the troops, who had laid in wait at Momoh village along the Marte–Dikwa road, made contact with the insurgents moving on bicycles at about 12:45 a.m.

“On sighting the terrorists, the troops engaged them decisively, compelling them to retreat in disarray,” the source said.

He added that troops immediately carried out exploitation of the general area, leading to the recovery of eight bicycles believed to have been used by the insurgents for mobility, as well as some beverages suspected to be part of their logistics supply.

The Marte–Dikwa axis has remained a critical corridor in counter-insurgency operations, with sustained military pressure limiting the activities of insurgents in the area.

The source reaffirmed the commitment of troops to sustain aggressive operations to deny terrorists freedom of action and ensure the safety of communities across Borno.

Troops ambush terrorists along Marte–Dikwa road, recover logistics in Borno

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Army troops neutralized 8 Boko Haram in Borno failed attack, recover arms

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Army troops neutralized 8 Boko Haram in Borno failed attack, recover arms

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have successfully repelled a coordinated attack by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists on a Forward Operating Base in Mandaragirau, Borno, killing several insurgents and recovering arms and ammunition.

A military source told Zagazola Makama that the attack occurred in the early hours of Saturday when terrorists advanced from multiple directions toward the base.

According to the source, troops who had taken ambush positions engaged the insurgents with superior firepower, forcing them to retreat in disarray.

“The troops demonstrated resilience and tactical superiority, effectively repelling the assault and immediately launching a counter-exploitation along the terrorists’ withdrawal route, inflicting further casualties on the fleeing insurgents,” the source said.

He confirmed that no personnel of the Nigerian military was killed during the encounter, although one Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.

The source added that at least eight terrorists were neutralised during the operation, while troops recovered seven AK-47 rifles, eight magazines, four RPG bombs, and a cache of ammunition.

“Blood trails were observed along the withdrawal routes, indicating that several other insurgents escaped with gunshot wounds,” he said.

He further disclosed that injured personnel from the encounter were currently receiving treatment at a military medical facility in Biu.

Zagazola gathered that additional bodies of fleeing terrorists were sighted along their escape corridors toward the Timbuktu Triangle, a known insurgent enclave. We saw four more bodies,” said sources.

The military sources also revealed that abandoned weapons and casualties were observed in Garin Mallum and Garin Gajere, suggesting heavy losses suffered by the insurgents during the failed attack.

The military leadership urged to sustain the operational tempo, retain the initiative, and consolidate on the gains recorded against the insurgents.

Army troops neutralized 8 Boko Haram in Borno failed attack, recover arms

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Nigeria Positions Itself for Global Space Leadership at Satellite Week 2026

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Nigeria Positions Itself for Global Space Leadership at Satellite Week 2026

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria is set to sharpen its policy direction in the global space ecosystem as Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited prepares to host the 2026 Nigerian Satellite Week in Abuja.

The Managing Director of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited, Jane Egerton-Idehen, disclosed this in a statement issued by the agency’s Head of Corporate Communications, Stephen Kwande, noting that the event will convene top government officials, regulators, and international stakeholders to shape the future of satellite governance and digital infrastructure.

Egerton-Idehen said the forum is coming at a critical time when countries around the world are strengthening their space capabilities as part of broader national development strategies.

According to her, satellite technology is increasingly linked to economic growth, national security, and digital connectivity, making strategic investments in space infrastructure a priority for many nations.

She explained that the conference is expected to attract high-level participation, including cabinet members, defence authorities, development finance institutions, and technology innovators from across Africa.

The NIGCOMSAT boss also highlighted Nigeria’s growing influence in global space policy, pointing to her emergence as Vice Chair of the Global Satellite Operators Association as a sign of the country’s expanding role in international satellite governance.

She further cited ongoing collaboration between Nigeria and the Kenya Space Agency as part of broader efforts to strengthen partnerships within Africa’s evolving space ecosystem.

Egerton-Idehen described the upcoming satellite week as both a reflection of Nigeria’s 20-year journey in satellite development and a strategic platform to define the country’s next phase in an increasingly competitive global space economy.

Nigeria Positions Itself for Global Space Leadership at Satellite Week 2026

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