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Armed Forces have increased their strength against terrorists, bandits
Minister of Defence, retired Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi, says the Armed Forces have increased their strength, reviewed training and order of battle to curtail security threats across the country.
Magashi said this at the 15th International Security Conference and Award (ISCA) organised by the International Institute of Professional Security (IIPS) on Saturday in Abuja.
“In the armed forces, we have increased our strength as much as possible, reviewed our training tactics and procedures and reviewed our order of battle,’’ he said.
The minister was represented by the Chief of Defence Training and Operations, Maj.-Gen. Adeyemi Yekini at the event with the theme: “Intelligence of Things: Working against Kidnapping and Terrorism.’’
Magashi said the renewed onslaught had started yielding results with the recent arrest of the terrorists behind the June 5 attack at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo in Ondo State.
He said there was also an enhanced synergy between the services and other security agencies which had led to the smoking out of criminals from their hideouts.
He said more than 70,000 terrorists and their families had surrendered to troops in the Northeast while hundreds of thousands of displaced persons had returned to their ancestral homes.
He added that troops had been deployed on the Abuja-Kaduna Highway on 24-hour patrols, while Operation Forest Sanity had been launched in the North Central and Northwest to comb the forests.
He said many camps belonging to criminals had been destroyed and many criminals and terrorists either arrested or neutralised.
Many kidnap victims were also rescued, he added.
Magashi also reiterated the determination of the military and other security agencies to rid the Southeast, South-South and Southwest of all forms of criminality.
According to him, the activities of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) are being checkmated, while crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and piracy are being tackled head on.
“Terrorism as we all know is always enduring. Ending it may not be as quick as one may expect,
“I can assure you, however, that we are on top of the situation and in the shortest possible time, all these challenges will become a thing of the past.
In his remarks, the Director-General, IIPS, Dr Tony Ofoyetan, said ISCA was an annual event designed to deliberate on security issues that would be of benefit to security professionals, industry and the nation at large.
Ofoyetan said the event also provided the opportunity for the institute to honour deserving professionals.
He noted that saboteurs within and outside of government and the country had continually frustrated the efforts of security agencies to end terrorism and banditry.
He noted also that but for the professional doggedness of security operatives the three-arm terrorism groups of Boko Haram, banditry and herdsmen would have overrun the country.
“As we are aware, intelligence is said to be the main tool through which all forms of battles are won or lost.
“For this year’s conference, we have decided to take intelligence out of the conventional box to look at it from the perspective and functionality of things.
“This is done working in consonance with the expectation of its protagonists,’’ he said.
The guest speaker, Dr Timothy Dakwat said in his lecture that deployment of Artificial Intelligence (Al) to fight terrorism was of strategic importance.
His lecture was entitled: “Intelligence of Things: Countering the Threats of Insurgency and Terrorism.’’
Dakwat said that Al could facilitate autonomous operations, more informed military decision-making and increase the speed and scale of military action.
According to him, there are chances that application of AI in the fight against Boko Haram will provide the needed response that can dislodge insurgents from their enclaves.
“It is possible to envision scenarios in which Al can provide much more effective early identification in protecting civilians as well as combatants from enemy fire,’’ Dakwat said.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain the status quo in a dispute over the party’s candidates emerging from the Benue State APC primaries for the 2027 general election.
The order was made on Thursday by Justice Inyang Ekwo during proceedings in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026, filed by Engr. Sesugh Akaagba and other aggrieved APC candidates from Benue State against the APC and INEC.
The plaintiffs had, through an ex parte motion filed on July 5, 2026, sought six interim reliefs, including an order restraining the APC from substituting its validly nominated candidates in Benue State through its June 29, 2026 correspondence, or any subsequent communication, to INEC, pending determination of the substantive suit.
They also sought an order compelling the APC to immediately transmit to INEC the names of candidates validly nominated during the primaries monitored by the electoral commission.
When the matter first came up on July 8, 2026, the court declined to grant the interim application immediately, directing both APC and INEC to appear and respond before any decision was taken. The matter was adjourned to July 16.
At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel representing the APC and INEC were present in court, while the plaintiffs were represented by Mohammed Ndarani, SAN, alongside his legal team.
In his ruling, Justice Ekwo held that since issues had been joined by the parties particularly with INEC now before the court, the defendants were required by law to preserve the subject matter of the litigation pending determination of the substantive suit.
When counsel to the plaintiffs urged the court to caution APC and INEC against taking any further action that could affect the disputed list of candidates, the judge responded that it was “not a matter of advice but of law,” stressing that the defendants were bound to maintain the status quo.
The court consequently restrained APC and INEC from taking any action capable of altering the disputed list of candidates pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The defendants did not object to the restraining order.
At the commencement of proceedings, the court noted that all parties had voluntarily submitted to its jurisdiction by duly filing and exchanging their respective processes.
It held that there was no procedural or jurisdictional impediment to the expeditious determination of the substantive action, and directed that the matter be heard without further delay.
In furtherance of the objective of preserving the res and safeguarding the efficacy of the judicial process, the court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and final determination of the substantive suit, restraining any act or omission capable of prejudicing the rights of the parties or rendering the proceedings nugatory.
The court further directed that INEC be served forthwith with the originating and all consequential processes.
The effect of the subsisting order is that INEC is restrained from tampering with the existing list of candidates pending final determination of the suit, and from receiving, recognising, or acting upon any purported substituted list of National Assembly candidates from Benue State submitted by the APC.
The matter was adjourned to July 21, 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit.
Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and former First Lady Patience Ibifaka Jonathan recently celebrated a significant family milestone as they attended the graduation ceremony of their son, Ariara Goodluck Jonathan, at Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom.
The proud parents joined family members and well-wishers to witness Ariara receive his degree, marking the successful completion of his academic programme. The occasion was filled with joy as the Jonathan family commemorated the achievement, highlighting the importance they place on education and personal development.
The graduation ceremony attracted warm congratulatory messages from friends, associates, and admirers, who wished the graduate continued success in his future endeavours.
The Following names joined the political family of Sen. Dr. George Akume today after leaving the sinking Alia ship .
Under the leadership of Barr. Emmanuel Jime .
The are ;
Chief Nelson Alapa
Douglas pepe SAN senatorial Aspirant zone A,
Engr Peter Ashiekaa
QS Clement Beetseh
Former commissioners
Joy Luga
Ann itodo
Barr martins Shaagee
Miss Dorcas
Prof Usar Joseh
Prof Cephas Tushima
Chief Patrick Idoko
Hon Patience Akor
Hon Fred Idoko
Hon Lawrence Ekpo Onoja Jnr
Hon Andrew Abah
Hon Agbo Innocent Ikwumonu
Hon Simon Omachoko
Hon David Egboja
Dr John Garba
Among together,
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