Headlines
We Killed 11 Soldiers in Borno, ISIS Claims
The world’s deadliest terror group, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, has claimed responsibility for the attack on soldiers in Borno State last week which took the lives of 11 soldiers, Reutersreports.
ISIS said its men were responsible for the Friday attack of Gajiganna town through its news agency AMAQ.
The terrorist network on Saturday published pictures of burnt barracks and dead bodies it claimed belonged to the soldiers.
Three sources, including one hospital source, confirmed the attack to the Reuters news agency. The sources said the fighters stormed the town on a motorbike at roughly 6.30pm and opened fire on residents and the military in sporadic shootings.
The fighters fled after the military called in air force support and reinforcements from a battalion in a neighbouring town.
Islamic State West Africa Province, an affiliate of ISIS, has carried out a string of attacks in Nigeria in recent months.
The group split in 2016 from Boko Haram, which has waged a decade-long insurgency in North-East Nigeria that has killed some 30,000 people and displaced over two million people.
The Federal Government had declared in December 2015 that it had technically defeated Boko Haram.
While attacks in most parts of the country have ceased, bombings have continued to take place in the North-East particularly Borno State.
A top military officer blamed the recent surge in attacks to the lack of cooperation as well as high wired politics taking place among the top military brass.
The source said, “The attack is true. We lost a lot of men but unfortunately many things are being hidden from the press. Normally, in military operations, when there is a joint mission, the Chief of Defence Staff is supposed to be in charge.
“Unfortunately, that is not the case. The Chief of Army Staff is the one calling all the shots at the moment. And there is a lack of synergy among the services.”
When contacted on the telephone, the Director of Defence Information, Col. Onyeama Nwachukwu, declined comment, said the military had recorded several successes.
He said troops of 121 and 192 Battalions of Operation Lafiya in collaboration with Civilian JTF and local vigilantes, have cleared Surdewalla, Ranwa, Baladayo, Sabon Gari and Shetimeri villages in Borno State, in a simultaneous operation code-named, ‘Operation Hardstrike.’
The troops reportedly killed three terrorists at Ranwa 11, while many were wounded and others escaped.
He said troops of 192 Battalion advanced along Sabon Gari and Shetimeri villages where they cleared a scout of Boko Haram terrorists. A makeshift shelter for suspected insurgents was also destroyed.
Nwachukwu added that two soldiers were injured during an encounter with insurgents at Gajigana town by troops of 212 Tank Battalion.
He said, “Additionally, 177 Task Force Battalion in collaboration with the Civilian JTF cleared Mboa, Mboa-Kura, Yarchida, Bombula, Tshata andBamzir villages. At Furfur village, troops exchanged fire with BHTs which led to the death of one terrorist and recovery of one AK47 rifle, three magazines, 50 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and one magazine bandolier.”
The Punch
Source: Reuters
Arise Television anchor, Rufai Oseni, has alleged that there may be attempts to prevent key opposition figures, including Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, from appearing on the ballot for the 2027 general elections.
Oseni’s remark followed a Federal High Court judgment ordering the de-registration of some political parties.
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party (AP), Action Peoples’ Party (APP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and Action Alliance Party (AAP) over alleged constitutional breaches.
The judgment arose from a lawsuit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL), which argued that the affected parties failed to meet constitutional and statutory electoral performance requirements necessary for continued recognition as political parties.
Justice Lifu subsequently barred INEC from recognising the affected parties, accepting nominations from them or permitting them to participate in activities related to the 2027 general elections.
The ruling, if upheld, could affect the political ambitions of several politicians, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is the ADC presidential flag-bearer, and Osun State governor Ademola Adeleke, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the Accord Party.
But speaking on Arise TV’s Morning Show on Tuesday, Oseni described the court ruling as a “test” of public reaction, warning that more actions could follow ahead of the next general election.
According to him, opposition parties such as the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, should be cautious, claiming that efforts could be made to stop major figures from participating in the election.
Oseni argued that the judgment was part of a broader process aimed at shaping the political landscape ahead of 2027.
He maintained that the ruling came despite some of the affected parties having recorded electoral victories in recent elections.
He warned that Nigerians must remain vigilant to safeguard the country’s democracy, stressing the need for judicial reforms alongside efforts to tackle insecurity.
Oseni said: “NDC, ADC should be careful because there will be attempt, and this is me predicting now, to ensure that Obi, Atiku and other big contenders are not on the ballot.
“This that you saw yesterday is just a test. This is not the real place where the whole thing is going. This is me predicting now.
“You know before you have a show you test the microphone. They want to see the reactions of Nigerians. More is still coming.
“You can see how they carry a judgement when ADC won two House of Representatives seats in Kogi, one Kogi House of Assembly seat, APP one chairmanship seat in Jigawa, Zenith Labour party won several seats in Abia, but they still went ahead and issued judgement for deregistration after the Court of Appeal, a higher court, said it should stay on that.
“If we want to deal with this judicial rascality, can I tell you something? The judge that gave this judgment, nothing will happen to him. Nothing on this earth. They are just coming.
“And who is leading this group? Gbajabiamila. Have you forgotten what Gbajabiamila said on Hon Ajibade’s birthday? So they are just coming. This one is just a test. The next one they will do is the NDC.
“With the way they’re going, if Nigerians don’t shine their eyes when they will finally have this election, you will not have the major contenders in the ballot. This thing they have just done is to test reactions from Nigerians.
“I saw this thing coming. You know we are going into an election in which Atiku Abubakar is the only major candidate from the North. It’s not like the last one you have Kwankwaso that can split the Kano votes. And you have Peter Obi and general consensus that a lot of people are in abject penury, insecurity is raging hard.
“This is the beginning of many things. They are just testing the microphone. It’s engineered. More is coming. Nigerians, it is you that will save your democracy. Judicial reforms have become so important as insecurity in Nigeria.”
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has picked former Rivers State Governor and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.
Announcing the decision, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said Amaechi’s emergence followed broad consultations within the party and reflected his strong performance as runner-up in the party’s presidential primaries as well as his track records of service to his state and the country.
According to the ADC, Amaechi’s extensive experience across both the legislative and executive arms of government, as former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, two-term Governor of Rivers State, and former Minister of Transportation, makes him uniquely qualified to complement Atiku’s leadership, strengthen the party’s national appeal, and bolster its campaign to offer Nigerians an experienced and credible alternative ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The party said the choice of Amaechi underscores its commitment to presenting a leadership team with proven governance experience and national appeal as it prepares for the 2027 presidential contest.
ThisDay
