Military
Violent extremism, terrorism, biggest threat to ECOWAS subregion —Commandant, Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre
Violent extremism, terrorism, biggest threat to ECOWAS subregion —Commandant, Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre
By: Michael Mike
The Commandant, Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), Maj. Gen. Richard Gyane has described violent extremism and terrorism (VET) as the biggest threat to the ECOWAS subregion, Africa and humanity.
Gyane stated this in Abuja during a chat with journalists during a mobile training course on women, youth, and VET, organized by KAIPTC on Wednesday.
The Commandant said that the security challenges in West Africa had informed KAIPTC’s decision to organize the capacity building for women and youth to build their resilience to tackle terrorism.
He said that the training, organized in collaboration with the Norwegian Government, would empower women and youth with the requisite knowledge about terrorists’ operations and build their resilience against VET threats.
Gyane said: “If you look at our subregion now, violent extremism is a big threat to us; If you look at the Sahel nations, most of these countries are virtually taken over by violent groups.
“If you look at Nigeria and the Boko Haram group, and the movement of these groups southwards, it is worrisome.
“Why are we particular about women and youth? They become vulnerable. These are the most vulnerable groups in our society, who are subject to radicalization by VETs.
“The aim is to engage these women and youth especially and let them understand the issues, the recruitment and all that about these groups who want to destroy our humanity within the subregion,” he said.
He noted that KAIPTC engages and empowers women and youth through its training programs because when people are empowered, it becomes difficult for VET groups, whose aim is to radicalize the people and take over their countries, to do so.
He however noted that no country could tackle VET alone, and stressed the need for collaboration among all stakeholders beyond the security space in order to curb VET’s surging scourge in West Africa and Africa at large.
Gyane said that, given the porous borders of ECOWAS countries, and the need for them to cooperate and share intelligence, ECOWAS member states should do everything possible to bring on board Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, who are threatening to quit the bloc.
“It is not good for the subregion to have a divided front, and I think whatever we need to do to bring on board these countries, who want to separate themselves from the subregion, is very necessary.
“ECOWAS has done well in certain areas, especially the free movement of persons protocol and I think within the continent of Africa, ECOWAS has done so well.
“But I think we need to collaborate more beyond even the security space. I would want to see us one day using the same currency and all that.
“We should work more as one homogeneous subregion to ensure that people should be free to live and work wherever they are and do business.
“When we do that, it can help us to control violent extremism and terrorism,” Gyane added.
Violent extremism, terrorism, biggest threat to ECOWAS subregion —Commandant, Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre
Army, DSS arrest notorious cultist, gunrunner in Cross River, recover weapons
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 13 Brigade, in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), have arrested a suspected cultist and gunrunner during a raid operation in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Security sources said the operation was carried out at about 1:10 a.m. on April 3 along Effangha Spring Road in Ikom.
The sources disclosed that the suspect, who hails from Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, was apprehended during the coordinated raid.
According to the sources, troops recovered one revolver pistol, one sword, two laptops, four mobile phones, one digital camera, one wristwatch, three identity cards, and a sack of garri allegedly used to conceal the weapon.
The suspect and recovered items have since been handed over to the DSS for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Security authorities said the operation is part of ongoing efforts to curb cult-related violence and illegal arms circulation in the South-South region.
Army, DSS arrest notorious cultist, gunrunner in Cross River, recover weapons
Military airstrikes eliminate scores of ISWAP terrorists in Borno operations
By: Zagazola Makama
Precision air interdiction missions conducted by the Nigerian Air Force component of Operation HADIN KAI have eliminated scores of ISWAP terrorists in separate coordinated strikes at Kangarwa and Ali Jilamari areas of the Northern Tumbuns in Borno State.
Military sources told Zagazola Makama that the operations were executed on April 1, following credible intelligence and confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
The source said the first strike was carried out at about 12:05 p.m. on ISWAP enclaves in Kangarwa, a known terrorist stronghold, after ISR conducted on March 27 confirmed mass movement of fighters within the location.
According to him, airborne surveillance identified multiple terrorists operating around and inside structures within the enclave before precision munitions were delivered in successive attack passes.
He said the targeted structures were completely destroyed, with scores terrorists neutralised in the strike, while others scampered for safety in different direction.
In a separate operation at about 4:45 p.m. the same day, the air component conducted another interdiction mission at Ali Jilamari, described as a newly established terrorist hideout in the Northern Tumbuns.
The source said the mission followed credible human intelligence and ISR confirmation, which revealed active terrorist logistics hubs and structures within the area.
He added that the air platforms engaged the targets with precision strikes, destroying identified structures and logistics hubs while eliminating additional terrorists.
The source described the operations as part of sustained air offensives aimed at degrading terrorist capabilities and denying them freedom of movement in the Lake Chad Basin.
Military airstrikes eliminate scores of ISWAP terrorists in Borno operations
Army troops recover 75,000 litres of stolen crude oil in bonny, River state
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), have recovered about 75,000 litres of stolen crude oil in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Sources told Zagazola that troops of the 146 Battalion (Maritime) discovered a wooden boat anchored around the Lady B creeks, loaded with the crude oil suspected to have been illegally bunkered.
The recovered items were handled in accordance with the directives of OPDS, the statement added.
Military authorities reiterated their commitment to combating oil theft and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta, urging residents and stakeholders to cooperate with security agencies to protect national resources.
Army troops recover 75,000 litres of stolen crude oil in bonny, River state
Troops arrest two suspected militia members in Kokona LGA In Nassarawa
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