Troops arrest notorious cattle rustlers, recover arms in Plateau

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of 3 Division/Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) have arrested two notorious cattle rustlers and recovered arms and ammunition in Plateau State.

Sources told Zagazola Makama on Thursday in Jos that the operation followed credible intelligence on the activities of cattle rustlers in Kogul village, Mangu Local Government Area.

According to the sources, the troops raided the hideout of the suspects on Sept. 11 and arrested two of them. Items recovered include one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine, one fabricated revolver rifle, 10 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, one mobile phone and cash.

“The arrested suspects and recovered items are in the custody of the troops for investigation. Follow-up operations are ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal syndicate,” the sources said.

They added that the arrest was significant in curbing the menace of cattle rustling, which has often triggered crisis in Plateau and adjoining states.

Troops arrest notorious cattle rustlers, recover arms in Plateau

Kidnapped victims rescued, terrorists neutralised in Sokoto and Zamfara

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA (OPFY) have rescued eight kidnapped victims and neutralised one terrorist in separate operations in Zamfara and Sokoto States.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the troops intercepted terrorists attempting to move kidnapped victims from Barkin Daji Forest to Bagega Forest in Bukkuyum Local Government Area (LGA).

It said the troops laid an ambush at a known crossing point between Tungar Miragumi and Zugu village, where contact was made and the terrorists engaged in a gun duel, forcing them to abandon their captives.

“All eight victims were successfully rescued and efforts are ongoing to reunite them with their families,” said the sources.

Kidnapped victims rescued, terrorists neutralised in Sokoto and Zamfara

FG’s student loan scheme improving access to higher education -NOA DG

The National Orientation Agency (NOA), on Wednesday, said that the Federal Government’s interest-free loan under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) is reducing dropout amongst undergraduates in the country.

Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the NOA Director General, stated this in Gombe at a news conference on five thematic areas of the present administration.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Issa-Onilu spoke through Mr David Akoji, the Director Special Duties, NOA Headquarters, Abuja.

He reiterated the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to improving access to education at all levels and ensuring that “financial constraints do not prevent young Nigerians from pursuing higher learning.”

Issa-Onilu said NELFUND was established by the Tinubu administration to ensure that no Nigerian who qualified to go for tertiary education was prevented from doing so, as a result of inability to pay school fees.

According to him, funding which used to be the biggest challenge in accessing tertiary education is no longer a threat to undergraduates and students seeking higher education.

The director general said the administration of President Tinubu had disbursed N59 billion to over 600,000 students that have applied for NELFUND Student Loan.

The director general assured that the era of students leaving tertiary institutions without completing their degree as a result of financial constraints was over.

He stated that the initiative showed that the Tinubu-led administration was committed to improving the wellbeing and welfare of Nigerians by empowering young Nigerians with education and skills.

Issa-Onilu urged students in Gombe State who have financial challenges to embrace the initiative to ease the burden, stressing that the loan scheme “is available to all qualified Nigerians who are schooling in public tertiary institutions in Nigeria.”

Speaking on the thematic areas Issa-Onilu said they include; Government Policies, Programmes and Activities, the Nigerian Identity Project and National Symbols, and flood mitigation.

He cited others as National Security Awareness towards achieving improved security consciousness in communities and National Values Re-orientation for Students of Secondary Schools and Tertiary Institutions against sign-out extreme practices.

He also announced plans by the federal government to support 150, 000 youths across Nigeria under the National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), adding that N110 billion had been dedicated to implement the initiative.

The director general further expressed the commitment of Tinubu’s administration to impacting positively on the wellbeing of all Nigerians especially the poor and vulnerable households.

On government programmes, Issa-Onilu hinted that over 2 million households enrolled into the Social Safety Nets Expansion, had benefitted from the Conditional Cash Transfer.

He said: “Trader Moni and Farmer Moni were introduced through the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP). These are interest-free loans of up to a maximum of N100,000 for trader moni, while, farmer moni up to N300,000.”

FG’s student loan scheme improving access to higher education -NOA DG