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Senator Lawan tasks defense chiefs with sustaining democracy in West Africa.
Senator Lawan tasks defense chiefs with sustaining democracy in West Africa.
By: Yahaya Wakili
The President of the 9th Senate, Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan, Ph.D., GCON. Yobe North Senatorial District, has tasked the defense chiefs of the 12 countries that are currently members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to ensure the sustenance of democracy within the subregion.
Senator Lawan disclosed this in a press statement signed by Dr. Ezrel Tabiowo, FAI, FIMC, FCP, and Fsca Media Adviser to Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan, Ph.D., GCON. Chairman, Senate Committee on Defense, which was made available to newsmen in Damaturu.
The Economic Community of West African States was previously constituted by 15 countries, which included Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
However, in 2024, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali announced their withdrawal from the bloc, following their suspension from ECOWAS due to the military takeovers of their respective governments. Consequentially, the development reduced the number of ECOWAS member states to 12.
Speaking at the 42nd Ordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defense Staffs, which was held in Abuja on Wednesday at the Defense Headquarters, Senator Lawan commended the Defense Chiefs in attendance for ensuring the safety of member states.
He underscored the need for the respective parliaments to support ECOWAS through the approval and provision of resources needed to guarantee the security of countries in the West African subregion.
Senator Lawan, who currently chairs the Senate Committee on Defense, further tasked the Defense Chiefs with working to ensure that democracy is returned to countries taken over by military regimes.
He said, “Let me state that we need to ensure that democracy continues to flourish in our subregion. We are challenged at this time by some of our countries that have gone out of democratic administrations; we must never get tired of doing whatever we need to do to ensure that democracy is returned to those countries.”
Senator Lawan, while thanking ECOWAS for re-electing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Chairman of the bloc at the 65th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government, said that the National Assembly will continue to prioritize issues of security as well as give its full support to all institutions of ECOWAS within its borders to reciprocate the support extended to Nigeria by member states.
“We, the Nigerian parliament, as always, represent our people in the ECOWAS parliament and always place security on the front burner. We will always support the ECOWAS parliament on our part because we believe that our safety and security also depend on the resources available and approved by us for institutions like this.
“Finally, I want to take this opportunity to thank ECOWAS as a body for giving a second mandate to our dear President, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for an additional year. We believe that it is because of the trust that ECOWAS countries have in the president that he has been given this.
“And, for us as a parliament in Nigeria, we will continue to support Mr. President and, indeed, all institutions of ECOWAS within our borders, to ensure this one year is done successfully,” Senator Lawan said.
Senator Lawan tasks defense chiefs with sustaining democracy in West Africa.
ISWAP evacuates 15 bodies, abandons VBIED after failed attack on New Marte
By: Zagazola Makama
At least 15 dead bodies of suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters were hastily evacuated by their comrades after a failed midnight assault on New Marte in Borno State.
Zagazola Makama gathered from impeccable sources that the insurgents, on about 20 motorcycles had launched a coordinated attack on troops in New Marte at about 1:35 a.m. on Tuesday. They arrived on motorcycles and with a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED), apparently aimed at breaching the battalion’s defences.
However, the combined firepower of Nigerian troops under Operation Hadin Kai, supported by the Nigerian Air Force Air Component, overwhelmed the attackers. The VBIED, meant to cause maximum damage, was abandoned by the terrorists as they fled under sustained fire and aerial bombardment.
According to intelligence sources, the retreating insurgents made desperate efforts to evacuate their dead and wounded, managing to flee with at least 15 corpses of their fighters while leaving behind several destroyed motorcycles and heavy blood trails at the New Marte airstrip.
“They came in like a swarm, heavily armed, and used a VBIED to lead the charge. But once our troops responded and the air component came in, they were completely overwhelmed. They abandoned the VBIED and began dragging their casualties into the bush. From what we tracked, at least 15 bodies were evacuated. It was a major blow to them.”the sources said.
The source added that aerial surveillance and ground exploitation confirmed that several motorcycles used for the assault were destroyed in the process, while others were left behind due to the rapid counter-offensive.
Two Nigerian soldiers lost their lives during the encounter, while one Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle sustained tyre damage and a gun truck was partially hit.
In a related incident, troops also foiled an attempted incursion by ISWAP fighters on the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Kumshe, where the terrorists were again repelled after a fierce exchange of fire. Some terrorists were believed to have been neutralised during the encounter.
ISWAP evacuates 15 bodies, abandons VBIED after failed attack on New Marte
FRSC staff kidnapped in Jos
By: Zagazola Makama
Security forces say it has launched a search-and-rescue operation to free a kidnapped female staff of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Jos South Local Government Area of the state.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that on May 26 at about 5:30 a.m., armed hoodlums invaded the resident in Rantya community and abducted one Kate Jonathan Akpabio, who is a staff member of the FRSC in Jos.
Army troops and other security agencies were mobilised to the scene upon receiving the distress call. A preliminary investigation confirmed that the assailants took the victim to an unknown destination before security forces arrived.
FRSC staff kidnapped in Jos
Gunmen kill two, injure three in fresh Bokkos attack
By: Zagazola Makama
Atleast two persons killed while three others injured during an attack on Mbor village, Mushere District, Bokkos Local Government Area of the state.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the attack occurred in the early hours of May 26, when gunmen stormed the village at about 12:50 a.m. and opened fire indiscriminately.
The sources said as a result of the attack, two persons Jephthah Gretchen, and Juliet Jephthah, were shot and killed on the spot,” he said.
“Three others, identified as Mary Ishaku, Ishaku Ngumut and Nanbam Sunday, sustained varying degrees of injuries.” he added.
The injured victims were rushed to Luna Hospital for medical attention.
The corpses of the deceased were released to their families for burial after relatives declined a request for post-mortem examination.
The sources said reinforcement has been deployed to the community to restore calm and track down the perpetrators.
Gunmen kill two, injure three in fresh Bokkos attack
ISWAP evacuates 15 bodies, abandons VBIED after failed attack on New Marte
FRSC staff kidnapped in Jos
Gunmen kill two, injure three in fresh Bokkos attack
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