News
NIPSS INDISPENSABLE IN OUR NATION’S POLICY RETOOL – VP Shettima
NIPSS INDISPENSABLE IN OUR NATION’S POLICY RETOOL – VP Shettima
By: Our Reporter
The Vice President, Sen Kashim Shettima, has assured that the Tinubu administration will reposition the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, for good and quality policy advice to the government.
This, he said, had become pertinent given the very crucial and indispensable role the institute would be playing in shaping and retooling government’s policies.
According to the VP, the Federal Government would make use of the beautiful recommendations brought by the institution.
Vice President Shettima gave the assurance on Tuesday when he received in audience the management team from NIPSS led by the Director General, Prof. Ayo Omotayo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said, “We really need to recalibrate the system and see to it that all the beautiful policy recommendations by NIPSS are brought into reality, because the world is changing and the world is gradually becoming knowledge-driven.
“NIPSS is a policy think-tank for the government just as we have its equivalent in other parts of the world such as the Global Policy Institute, the Chatham House, the Adam Smith Institute, the Royal United Institute for Defence Studies in Russia, and the Hopkins Institute in the United States of America.”
VP Shettima cautioned Africa against missing the chance to fill the gap in a knowledge-driven world as she did during the agriculture and industrial revolution.
“We missed the agricultural age; Africa missed the industrial age. We are now in the knowledge-driven age. When others are talking about artificial intelligence, of bio-technology, of internet things, we are busy dwelling on farmer-herders clash and things that we ought to have overcome decades ago,” he stated.
Asking the management of the Institute to make a formal presentation of the executive summaries of all its policy recommendations to the government, Vice President Shettima said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is determined to reset the national agenda. President Bola Tinubu has the courage to take far-reaching decisions.
“As much as possible, we will support you not to compromise on your quality, not to compromise on your standard, so that you should not be a dumping ground for frustrated public officers because, at a point in time, that was what NIPSS degenerated into.
“If somebody is going to be punished then he is sent to NIPSS for a year. Somebody with such a mindset can hardly absorb what you are going to teach. So, this time around, as much as possible, we will minimise political patronage and send credible people within the required age bracket, within the required professional cadre so that whatever experiences and exposure they gain can be translated into the governance structure.”
Earlier in his remarks, the Director General of NIPSS said his management team came to brief the Vice President on the operations of the institute, adding that the organisation was established in 1979 to advise government on several policy directions and train high profile policy makers in the country.
His words, “There is no problem in the country that NIPSS has no solution to. NIPSS supports the Presidency in terms of policy. It deals with all sectors of the economy.”
According to Prof Omotayo, the Vice President oversees the administration of NIPSS, approves the nominees to be trained, as well as approve the course of study for the session.
Those in the delegation were Brig Gen L Y Udaya (rtd); Prof Fumi J. Para-Mallam; Prof Dung Pam Sha; Codr S Dahun; Prof Sola Adeyanjin; Bawa Ahmed and Dr Catherine Maduagwu.
NIPSS INDISPENSABLE IN OUR NATION’S POLICY RETOOL – VP Shettima
Troops Foil ISWAP Attack Attempt in Guzamala
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 3 Area of Responsibility have foiled an attempted attack by suspected ISWAP/JAS terrorists on Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mairari in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State.
Sources said the incident occurred at about 1329hrs on April 19, when the terrorists attempted to infiltrate the base through Charlie/Delta Company axis.
The attackers, operating with two gun trucks, were sighted advancing toward the entrance gate of Mairari town along the Gajiram axis.
Troops immediately engaged the advancing terrorists, forcing them to abandon their mission and retreat.
Following the encounter, troops dominated the general area with patrols, while air support was also deployed and hovered over the vicinity. However, no further terrorist presence was observed after the exchange.
Security sources said exploitation and clearance operations are ongoing to prevent regrouping and to secure surrounding communities.
Troops Foil ISWAP Attack Attempt in Guzamala
Troops Arrest Suspected Terror Logistics Couriers in Kogi State
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops under Operation MESA have arrested two suspected terrorist logistics couriers along the Obajana–Kabba road in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Sources said the operation was conducted at about 0010hrs on April 20, following credible intelligence report on the movement of suspected terrorist logistics couriers.
Troops of 12 Brigade mounted a snap checkpoint at RA Oshokoshoko and intercepted a vehicle conveying the suspects en route Obajana from Makurdi.
A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of a sack containing 314 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and three AK-47 magazines, concealed behind the driver’s seat.
Other items recovered include two mobile phones, a driver’s licence, a National Identification Number (NIN) slip, and an identity card.
The suspects and recovered items are currently in military custody for further investigation and action.
Troops Arrest Suspected Terror Logistics Couriers in Kogi State
News
Stolen cows allegedly rustled by Berom militia from Plateau, sold by paramount ruler traced to Nasarawa
Stolen cows allegedly rustled by Berom militia from Plateau, sold by paramount ruler traced to Nasarawa
By: Zagazola Makama
Security operatives in Nasarawa State have intercepted stolen livestock allegedly rustled by Berom militia from Bokkos in Plateau State and sold through illicit channels, leading to the arrest of a suspect who claimed to have purchased the animals from a paramount ruler.
Police sources said the breakthrough followed credible intelligence received by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Lafia on April 19 regarding suspicious cattle being traded at the Lafia cattle market.
Acting on the tip-off, detectives swiftly mobilised to the market and arrested one Alhaji Ziya-U Inusa, a resident of Dengi in Plateau State, who was found in possession of eleven cows suspected to have been stolen.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed that he purchased twelve cows from a paramount ruler in Plateau State (name withheld) but transported only eleven due to limited vehicle capacity.
Further investigation led to the emergence of one Abdullahi Adamu from Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, who identified himself as the rightful owner of the recovered livestock.
Adamu explained that the cows were part of a larger herd of 57 cattle rustled in May 2025 by armed youths in Bokkos, adding that all previous efforts to recover the animals had been unsuccessful until the latest operation.
Security sources confirmed that the recovered cattle have been secured, while investigations are ongoing to unravel the network involved in the rustling and illicit sale of the livestock, including the alleged role of intermediaries and buyers.
The incident adds to a growing pattern of attacks against the livelihoods of pastoralist communities in Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Mangu, and other parts of Plateau State.
Zagazola has consistently reported how Berom militia have engaged in livestock theft. In most cases, the victims (Fulani herders) are killed and buried in shallow graves, while in some instances, troops or police intercept the criminals and recover the stolen livestock.
The latest such incident occurred on April 16, when troops under Operation Enduring Peace responded to a rustling incident in Mangu Local Government Area, where suspected criminals fled before security forces arrived.
Similarly, on April 15, troops under Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) recovered 48 rustled cattle in Yelwa village, Heipang District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State. Sources said the recovery followed a distress call received at about 0635 hours reporting the rustling of cattle belonging to a resident of the community.
In another operation on April 13, troops foiled an attempted cattle rustling in Bassa Local Government Area, recovering 92 cattle after pursuing suspected youths who abandoned the animals while fleeing.
Zagazola reports that such incidents are among the main triggers of the cycle of reprisal attacks, further escalating tensions in affected communities.
Stolen cows allegedly rustled by Berom militia from Plateau, sold by paramount ruler traced to Nasarawa
Troops Foil ISWAP Attack Attempt in Guzamala
Troops Arrest Suspected Terror Logistics Couriers in Kogi State
Three Killed in Barkin Ladi Amid Rising Tensions Over Livestock Poisoning in Plateau
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