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Insecurity: Go all out for drug barons, cartels, Marwa charges NDLEA commanders
Insecurity: Go all out for drug barons, cartels, Marwa charges NDLEA commanders
By: Michael Mike
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) has declared all round war against drug barons, instructing all commanders of the agency at different level to go all out and smoke out those still in hiding.
He as well ordered for the dismantling of all drug cartels as part of ongoing efforts to totally cut off drug supply which he insisted would drastically reduced growing insecurity and criminalities in the country.
Marwa gave the charge in his meeting with directors and all commanding officers of the agency at the national headquarters of the NDLEA in Abuja, where he commended them for the unprecedented successes achieved so far and tasked them not to rest on their oars.
He said no effort must be spared to remove illicit drug equation from the security challenges facing the country.
According to him, “Within the limit of our resources, we have been able to push boundaries. The statistics of our operations, empirical facts from the field, the general anti-illicit drug climate we have built and the rapport between us and our domestic and international partners, all speak volumes about how we are faring, especially against the backdrop of where we are coming from, of what the situation used to be a few years ago.
“Commendations apart, we also cannot afford not to tell ourselves the plain truth; we still have a long way to go. Hence commanders, officers and men of NDLEA can’t afford to rest on their oars.
“Yes, we have kept the flag of performance flying, but there’s still room for improvement. There is still much to do. And we cannot afford to be complacent now as we have committed to a lot of ongoing efforts to improve our operational capabilities. We are constantly engaging stakeholders within and outside the country to support and help optimise our capabilities. So, if anything, our performance should justify these ongoing efforts. We need to remind ourselves that to achieve our mandate, professionalism and discipline must be maintained at all times and in all our operations.
“We’re working with relevant authorities for improved funding so that we can comprehensively and holistically play our role as part and parcel of the solution to the security challenges facing the nation because if we are able to totally cut the access to and availability of drugs to the criminals, we would have effectively tampered with their nefarious activities and so we’re going to plead for enhanced funding to do more things in support of the fight against insecurity and I trust that the President will give us a listening ear because he’s interested in the progress of the NDLEA.
“This year, we want to raise the bar of our performance and this calls for commanders who are up to the task to be up and doing on the job. We must clean our streets and communities of illicit substances. We all are witnesses to the upsurge in the cases of kidnapping and such vices, this means NDLEA must remain upstanding. For those who have been watching and listening, recently, there is another demand by kidnappers and bandits aside money, which is drugs. In that sense, it means NDLEA is working because they don’t ask for it before, meaning that they’re no longer as available as they used to be and the prices of those available have gone beyond their reach.”
He charged the commanders to always ensure that the corporate integrity of the agency is always protected in all they do. He said: “Therefore, every command must shun any act capable of bringing into disrepute the hard-earned reputation of NDLEA. Where inappropriate actions occur, the management certainly will not overlook it. There will be penalties, just as there are rewards for good conduct, hard work and results. Now, the onus is on every commander to ensure the protection of our corporate integrity.”
While assuring that he remains committed to staff welfare including conducive work environment, allowances, remuneration and entitlements, and the basic welfare package, he asked the commanders to replicate such in their various commands.
He however warned that Commanders will have to justify their retention in Command positions with their performance.
“We have applied meritocracy to the rank and file; it is also fair to apply the same standard to the leadership. The implication for commanders is that your retention in command positions will henceforth be measured by your performance, which will be reviewed every quarter. In the new NDLEA, there is no room for laggards, and there are no excuses for laxity. Where there is a clear deficit of leadership, at zonal, state or area command, the agency will not hesitate to review and make a change of leadership, if necessary. This year, we want to raise the bar of our performance and that calls for having commanders who are up to the task.
“Our jobs are clearly defined: We must clean our streets and communities of illicit substances. Therefore, go and perform and let’s see greater results in the weeks ahead. And I assure you that at any time, you need backup, we are here to provide the necessary reinforcement. On this note, I want to implore commanders to let us keep our eyes on the ball. Let’s be prepared to work hard in 2024 and achieve unprecedented goals.”
Insecurity: Go all out for drug barons, cartels, Marwa charges NDLEA commanders
NEDC Deploys ₦3bn Ophthalmic Equipment, Begins Training at Maiduguri Eye Hospital
By: Michael Mike
The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has commenced a two-week Ophthalmology Equipment Set-Up and Training Programme at the Maiduguri Eye Hospital in Borno State, following the deployment of advanced eye-care equipment valued at over N3 billion.
The programme, which began on Monday, marks a major step in the Commission’s efforts to improve specialist healthcare delivery and address preventable blindness across the North-East region.
Activities on the first day included the installation, calibration, and coupling of cutting-edge ophthalmic equipment, alongside the start of hands-on technical and clinical training sessions. The exercise is aimed at ensuring the newly supplied equipment is fully operational and optimally configured for effective eye-care services.
The training is being led by Prof. Abdull Mohammed Mahdi, a Chief Consultant in Ophthalmology, with support from Dr. Abuh Sunday, also a Chief Consultant, and a multidisciplinary team of experts in ophthalmology and biomedical engineering.
Participants include consultant ophthalmologists, resident doctors, ophthalmic nurses, optometrists, and biomedical engineers from the Maiduguri Eye Hospital and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). They will receive intensive practical training on the operation, maintenance, and efficient use of the equipment.
According to the NEDC, the initiative is expected to significantly enhance the hospital’s diagnostic and surgical capacity, particularly in the management of cataract and glaucoma cases. The Commission noted that the intervention aligns with its long-term objective of transforming Maiduguri Eye Hospital into a regional centre of excellence for ophthalmic care.
In addition to the equipment deployment and training, the Commission is undertaking extensive renovation and infrastructure upgrades at the hospital to support modern clinical operations and improve patient experience.
The NEDC is also extending similar ophthalmic interventions across other states in the North-East. Of note is the ongoing construction of an ultra-modern Eye Institute at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi, which commenced last year and is scheduled for accelerated implementation this year.
Officials of the Commission described the intervention as a strategic investment that combines modern medical infrastructure with deliberate human capacity development, noting that the ₦3 billion equipment deployment and training programme will have a lasting impact on access to quality eye-care services in the region.
NEDC Deploys ₦3bn Ophthalmic Equipment, Begins Training at Maiduguri Eye Hospital
NSCDC personnel, 16 others arrested in raid of criminal hideout in Yobe
By: Zagazola Makama
Security operatives in Yobe State have raided a notorious criminal hideout in the Saman Tudu area of Pompomari District, Damaturu, arresting a personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and 16 other suspects.
A reliable source told Zagazola Makama that the raid was carried out on Jan. 18 at about 7:20 p.m. following a coordinated, intelligence-driven operation targeting criminal elements who use the area as a haven.
The source said the enclave served as a convergence point for trafficking and consumption of illicit drugs, as well as planning and execution of various criminal activities within the community.
“During the operation, the team stormed and ransacked the hideout, leading to the arrest of 17 suspects, including one Mohammed B. Kolo, identified as an NSCDC personnel attached to the Yobe State Command,” the source said.
He added that exhibits recovered from the scene included a knife, five bicycles, dried leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa, hemp wrapping papers, a long sack used as a mat and the sum of N8,500 found inside a sack suspected to contain the drugs.
The suspects are currently in custody while investigation is ongoing to determine their level of involvement in criminal activities.
The source said those found culpable would be charged to court for prosecution after the conclusion of investigations.
Residents were urged to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information to sustain the fight against crime in the state.
NSCDC personnel, 16 others arrested in raid of criminal hideout in Yobe
Chadian security forces recover cache of arms, arrest suspects in N’Djamena
By: Zagazola Makama
Chadian security forces on Sunday recovered a large cache of weapons and ammunition during a joint search operation in parts of the capital, N’Djamena, as part of intensified efforts to combat insecurity.
Sources Zagazola Makama that the operation was carried out in the 10th arrondissement and parts of the 2nd arrondissement of the city.
According to the sources, the joint team of internal security forces seized 28 pistols, 14 other firearms, and more than 1,000 rounds of assorted ammunition during the raid.
They also recovered military equipment and six vehicles suspected to be linked to criminal activities.
“Two gun owners were arrested during the operation and are currently in custody for further investigation,” a senior security official said.
He explained that the exercise was conducted under the supervision of top security authorities and formed part of broader measures to dismantle criminal networks and curb the proliferation of illegal arms in the capital.
The official added that the recovery of the weapons had significantly disrupted the operations of armed groups and criminal elements in the affected districts.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Chadian security services to sustaining pressure on all groups involved in arms trafficking, banditry and other threats to public safety.
“The security forces will continue intelligence-led operations to ensure the safety of lives and property across the country,” he said.
Chadian security forces recover cache of arms, arrest suspects in N’Djamena
Gunmen attack churches, abduct unspecified number of worshippers in Kajuru, Kaduna
NEDC Deploys ₦3bn Ophthalmic Equipment, Begins Training at Maiduguri Eye Hospital
NSCDC personnel, 16 others arrested in raid of criminal hideout in Yobe
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