NIGERIAN MILITARY DISCOVER TERRORISTS BOMB MAKING FACTORY IN YOBE STATE

The ongoing cordon and search by troops in Buni Yadi,Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State has led to the discovery of a Bomb Making factory, where improvised explosive devices (IEDs) used by  terrorists were being produced.  A large quantity of IEDs including those commonly used by suicide bombers were recovered from the site.

The factory, which was located in a fertilizer company, has also converted some of the materials therein for production of all types of IEDs. Troops are still evacuating the materials which include a large quantity of suicide bomber vests from the facility to their base.  It is believed that the heavy calibre bomb used in blowing up the bridge between Damaturu and Buni Yadi was produced in the factory. 

 

The terrorists were sacked from Buni Yadi after a military assault that was conducted last Saturday.  The troops advance was delayed by the series of IEDs planted on the highway leading to Buni Yadi. Four soldiers died from such IEDs in the course of the operation to clear terrorists from the town.

This discovery is expected to degrade the capability of terrorists in the production of explosives, which they have been using lavishly in the area until they were dislodged from their stronghold. (DHQ)

INEC TEST RUNS PVC CARD READERS TOMORROW

The Independent National Electoral Commission will tomorrow, test run the much talked about Smart Card Readers for the 2015 general elections.

The field-test will hold in 225 polling units and 358 voting points across 12 Registration Wards in 12 states of the Federation.

According to the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Kayode Idowu, the exercise will hold in Port Harcourt City, Rivers, Abakaliki, Ebonyi, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti state and Gassol in Taraba state.

Others are Kumbotso in Kano state, Bunza, Kebbi state, Kokona, in Nasarawa state and Shiroro, Niger state, as well as Ikeja, Lagos state, Aguata in Anambra state, Oshimili-South in Delta and Jama’are, Bauchi state.  The field-test is to verify the efficacy of the device.

INEC’s decision to use the PVC Card Reader for this year’s general elections is still a national debate.

PRESIDENT JONATHAN LEADS PHYSICAL TRAINING EXERCISE IN ABUJA SATURDAY

President Goodluck Jonathan is scheduled to lead government officials as well as other Nigerians on a physical training exercise in Abuja tomorrow (Saturday).

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, said the exercise is aimed at promoting sports and fitness in Nigeria.

The training exercise, which will commence at 7.00 am from the Presidential Villa, will include jogging, physical stretches and light aerobics.

It will end with a solidarity rally for President Jonathan at the Eagle Square organized by the Nigerian sports community.  

Prominent Sports personalities like Kanu Nwankwo, Mary Onyali, Austin Eguavoen, Chika Chukwumerije and Joseph Yobo.

The event will be broadcast live by the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA.  

NIGERIAN MILITARY SEIZE MORE ARMS FROM BOKO HARAM

Troops engaged in cordon and search in Baga  continue to discover more arms of various background and shapes abandoned in some houses and the surrounding by fleeing terrorists. 

Heaps of weapons most of which were strange looking or destroyed are still being gathered. Many abandoned or destroyed motorcycles have also been discovered.

A soldier was stabbed while another was shot during a close quarter battle which ensued  as troops involved in cordon and search caught up with some of the fleeing terrorists yesterday evening.  

A number of individuals who claimed to be residents are also being interrogated in order to ascertain their identity and motive. The group consisting mostly women continued to hail and cheer the troops as they conduct thorough search in the area. Wanting to be sure the group was not working for the terrorists despite the excitement, they had to be placed under watch.

The cordon and search as well as patrol of the localities continue while the offensive on terrorists is progressing in other areas of the theater of the counter terrorist campaign.

CHRIS OLUKOLADE

Major General

Director Defence Information

EMIR OF MUBI URGES IDPs TO RETURN HOME, AS NEMA ASSESSES LOCALITIES.

Emir of Mubi, Alhaji Abubakar Isa Ahmadu, has appreciated the Federal Government for the restoration of security in his domain and called on his subjects that were displaced by the insurgency to return home. This is even as NEMA continues to assess damaged communities including Mubi.

Speaking in his palace when he received a Federal Government delegation led by the Minister of Youths Development, Mr Boni Haruna, the Emir advised his people to be vigilant and law abiding and assist the government towards the maintenance of security in the area. He urged returning residents to give all the necessary cooperation to National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) assessment team as they go round to conduct assessment. He thanked the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan  for his concern about the condition of the displaced people and his assurances of support  to assist them return to normal life.

The Youths Development Minister said his visit with the NEMA team was to assess the return of peace in the area and to convey the assurances of President Goodluck Jonathan to support the returnees through the National Emergency  Management Agency (NEMA) to settle back in their homes. The Minister said the commander of the Army Battalion based in Mubi had assured that the soldiers have cleared the town and made it safe  for law abiding citizens to return to their homes.

Leader of NEMA assessment team, Musa Zakari, said the Director General of the Agency, Muhammad Sani Sidi has directed them to carry out the assessment for immediate deployment of necessary support for the returnees to start  rebuilding their lives.

The assessment team met with a returnee, Mr Bitrus Yohana and his family of ten, who came back after several months of displacement. Mr. Yohanna appreciated the Federal Government and the military for the restoration of security in the area. He as well as other formerly displaced persons now back and trading in Mubi Market, called on other displaced persons still taking refuge elsewhere to return home. The team has visited Hong, Maiha, Uba, Mubi and Gombi local government areas.

The Minister and NEMA officials also visited Mubi market where business activities have picked up and other places that included the Adamawa State University and State General Hospital.

It would be called that Mubi was at one time renamed by  Boko Haram.

Sani Datti

Snr. Information Officer, NEMA

22/2/2015

Yola, Adamawa State