Category: News

Chetanne Chinelo, Enugu

An unidentified male has been feared killed on Wednesday as traders of Ogbete Main Market in Enugu State protested the sealing off of their shops by the state government.

Following the state government’s ban on the illegal sit-at-home declared by Simon Ekpa, the Governor Peter Mbah administration in Enugu State had sealed some shops for not opening for business on Monday.

The state government had earlier held townhall meetings with different sectors and groups in the state to galvanize support in ending the sit-at-home. Gov. Mbah, during market visits on previous Mondays, cautioned that the state government would seal off shops of those who refused to open business on Mondays in the name of obeying the sit-at-home order.

In protest, traders whose business premises were sealed trooped out on Wednesday to express their displeasure over the development.

Although the protest started peacefully, some video clips making rounds on social media and sighted by our correspondent showed that the protest became violent at some point along the Ogui Road axis of the state.

As at the time of writing this report, it is not clear who shot at the unidentified male.

However, a source who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity said it was a local vigilante officer who tried to quell the violent protest that shot at the male.

The state police command is yet to issue an official statement.

Recall that on Monday, July 24, 2023, a coalition of civil society organisations and residents of Enugu staged a march in solidarity with the government’s ban on sit-at-home tagged ‘Enough is Enough’.

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), on Tuesday, re-arrested suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, after a tussle with officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS).

Emefiele’s re-arrest occurred on the premises of a Federal High Court in Lagos sitting in Ikoyi after Justice Nicholas Oweibo admitted the embattled and suspended apex bank chief to bail in the sum of the N20m.

The judge also ordered that Emefiele be remanded at the correctional center pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions.

Battle For Emefiele’s Custody

Shortly after the ruling, DSS operatives strategically positioned their Hilux Pick Up van used in bring Emefiele to court, in a manner suggesting that they wanted to take him back to their detention centre.

This prompted Emefiele’s lead counsel, Joseph Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and other lawyers to raise an alarm about their client’s planned re-arrest by the secret police.

After the court ruling, the suspended CBN governor holed up inside the courtroom with his lawyers.

However, when the prison officials moved to take Emefiele into custody pending the fulfillment of his bail conditions, the secret police challenged them and it led to a fight.

Amid the clash, Emefiele’s lawyers “reluctantly allowed the DSS disobey court order and take custody of their client” to avoid a gun battle.

The prison officials then exited the court in their vehicle and the DSS took charge.

At exactly 03:03pm, DSS operatives led the suspended CBN governor out of the courtroom into their waiting vehicle.

President Bola Tinubu had suspended Emefiele as the apex bank chief on June 9, 2023. A day after, the secret police confirmed that the embattled and suspended CBN chief was in its custody.

After several legal fireworks by Emefiele’s counsel challenging his prolonged detention by the DSS, the secret police bowed to pressure on July 13, 2023 and announced that the suspended apex bank chief has been charged to court.

Emefiele was brought to court by DSS operatives in a hilux vehicle on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.

Appearing before Justice Oweibo, Emefiele, 61, pleaded “not guilty” to the two counts of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition filed against him by the Federal Government.

In his submissions, Emefiele’s lawyer, Daudu, urged the court to grant bail on self recognizance or on other liberal terms, pending the hearing and determination of the trial.

He said, “There is no counter affidavit from the Federal Government opposing bail. Also, the defendant is a renowned banker and can only stay at his house, he can’t travel anywhere.”

However, counsel for the Federal Government, Nkiru Jones-Nebo, in an oral submission, opposed the bail application, insisting that the prosecution had not been given time to respond in line with the provisions of fair hearing enshrined in the constitution.

She also said that the prosecution had information that the defendant’s refusal to hand in his passport suggested his capacity to evade and abscond from his trial.

“As the governor of the CBN, he is a powerful man, and can intimidate the witnesses. Granting him bail will intimidate the prosecution witnesses who have come forward to give evidence. He can evade trial based on his antecedents. We urge the court to dismiss the bail application,” she argued.

But the court overruled the Federal Government.

The judge also ordered that Emefiele be held at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, pending the perfection of his bail as against the request of the prosecution that the defendant should be remanded in DSS custody for further investigation on another matter that may soon by filed in court.

However, the secret police fought prison officials who came to the court to take custody of Emefiele and left with him.

The trial has been fixed for November 14, 2023.

In his ruling on the bail application, Justice Oweibo said, “I find and hold that the prosecution has failed to establish why the defendant should not be granted bail.

“Consequently the defendant is admitted to bail in the sum of 20 million naira with one surety in like sum.

“The surety must be owner of a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court who must not be less than Level 16 in the Nigerian Civil Service.

“The defendant must deposit his international passport to the court.

“Case is adjourned to 14th of November for trial.”

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Former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has been granted a N20 million bail.

The bail condition includes producing a suretee with landed property within the jurisdiction of the court in Ikoyi, Lagos, depositing his passport and also producing a Civil servant not below level 16 to perfect bail.

Emefiele was docked and charged before Justice Nicholas Oweibo sitting at the Federal High Court, Lagos, on Tuesday.

The prosecution accused Emefiele of illegally having a single-barrel shotgun (JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371).

The Department of State Services (DSS) brought him to Court amidst tight security.

He was also charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

According to the government, the offense violates Section 4 of the Firearms Act, Cap F28 Laws of the Federation 2004, and is penalized under Section 27 (1b) of the same Act.

Daily Trust

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has alleged that four persons, who plotted to attack him, have been arrested by the police in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.

Reacting to the incident, PDP said it was alarmed, and it demanded a comprehensive investigation into the matter.

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, also called on the federal government to urgently investigate the attack on Atiku and beef up security around him.

In a statement by his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku said, “We wish to alert the Nigerian public that about 9:44pm on Sunday, 23 July, 2023, a man seeking to confirm the residence of His Excellency Atiku Abubakar in Yola was apprehended at the gate of the residence.

“The man, who was apprehended by security operatives at the residence of Atiku Abubakar, was later handed over to the police. Upon further interrogation by the police, the suspect identified himself as 29-year-old Jubrila Mohammed and confessed to being a Boko Haram member from Damboa in Borno State.

“The suspect also informed the police that he and his colleagues, who were later arrested, too, intended to attack organisations associated with Atiku Abubakar and some other sensitive locations in Yola.

“We commend the police for the work that they continue to do in this particular investigation. We further ask that other relevant security agencies remain on top of their brief.”

A statement by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, said the party insisted that by the confession of the arrested assailants, the plot had the pawmarks of a sponsored attempt on Atiku’s life, ostensibly by forces unsettled by his bid to retrieve his mandate at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).

Ologunagba stated, “Our party believes that the intent of the sponsors of this evil plot is to silence our presidential candidate, massacre innocent Nigerians and cause chaos, confusion and anarchy in the polity.

“The PDP asks, is this foiled attack on Atiku Abubakar and sensitive locations in Yola, Adamawa, connected to the recent APC’s threats of chaos and anarchy in the country, if the PEPC upholds the clear provisions of Section 134 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) with regard to the mandatory and statutory requirements for which a candidate in a presidential election can be declared winner?

“Could it also be a plan to orchestrate a sense of insecurity in the country, starting in Adamawa State, the home state of our presidential candidate so as to justify the imposition of a state of emergency in Adamawa State as a precursor to a declaration of a state of emergency throughout the country?

“Our party charges the Inspector General of Police to take the lead provided by the confession of the assailants to track down their sponsors and bring them to book in the interest of the security, unity and wellbeing of our nation.

“The federal government has a duty and obligation to Nigerians and, indeed, the whole world to ensure that the perpetrators of these dastardly act and their sponsors are brought to book. This particular investigation is important to the country because of the scope and dimension of the attempted attack.

“Our party commends the collaborative effort of the vigilant people of Yola, Adamawa State, and security agencies in foiling the attack, while urging Nigerians to remain calm and alert as the authorities commence investigation to fish out those behind this evil plot.”

On his part, Frank, who called the attention of the international community to the developments in Nigeria, bemoaned the alleged attempt on Atiku’s life at his residence in Yola on Sunday.

In a statement, Frank said the arrested suspect confessed to the police a grand plot to plant bombs at the Modibbo Adama Central Mosque, the residence of Atiku, as well as the American University in Yola.

He stated, “These confessions of the dreaded Boko Haram sect are troubling and worrisome, as this is the first time an attempted attack of this magnitude would be planned on the person of HE Atiku Abubakar.

“Having received the official Police HQ Situation Report, we would like to call on the federal government to, as a matter of urgency, beef up adequate security around the former vice president, with swift investigation into unravelling the circumstances leading to Atiku as a target by this group.”

Arise News

Suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, on Tuesday morning, was arraigned at the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on two counts of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.

Emefiele was arraigned before the vacation judge, Justice Nicholas Oweibo, after over six weeks since his arrest and detention by the Department of State Services (DSS).

After several legal fireworks by Emefiele’s counsel challenging his prolonged detention by the DSS, the secret police bowed to pressure on July 13, 2023 and announced that the suspended apex bank chief has been charged to court.

Emefiele was brought to court by DSS operatives in a hilux vehicle on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.

Appearing before Justice Oweibo, Emefiele pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him by the Federal Government.

Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Joseph Daudu, led other lawyers in Emefiele’s defence.

After Emefiele’s plea, Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), told the court that his client has been in detention for weeks. He also told Justice Oweibo that the application for bail has been filed and served on the prosecution.

Meanwhile, the DSS raised objections to the court hearing the bail application, insisting that it has not been served.

Emefiele’s Travails

President Bola Tinubu had suspended Emefiele as the apex bank chief on June 9, 2023. A day after, the DSS confirmed that the embattled, suspended CBN chief was in its custody.

An Abuja High Court on July 13, 2023 subsequently ordered that the secret police charge Emefiele to court within one week or release him.

Hours after, the DSS said Emefiele has been charged to court in compliance with the court order.

The Federal Government later filed two counts of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition against Emefiele before the Federal High Court in Lagos.

The FG, in the charge sheet, accused Emefiele of possessing a single-barrel shotgun (JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371) without a licence.

The government maintained that the offence is contrary to Section 4 of the Firearms Act, Cap F28 Laws of the Federation 2004, and punishable under Section 27 (1b) of the same Act.

In the second count, the suspended CBN Governor was accused of having in his possession 123 rounds of live ammunition (Cartridges) without a licence, which is contrary to Section 8 of the Firearms Act Cap F28 Laws of the Federation 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1)(b)(il) of the same Act.

Count one of the charges reads, ‘That you, Godwin Emefiele, Male, of No. 8 Colorado Street Maitama Abuja, on or about the 15th of June 2023, at No. 3b Iru Close, Ikoyi, Eti Osa Local Government, Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had in your possession one (1) Single Barrel shotgun (JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371) without a licence. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 4 of the Firearms Act, Cap. F28 Laws of the Federation 2004, and punishable under Section 27 (1b) of the same Act’.

Count two: ‘That you, Godwin Emefiele, Male, of No. 8 Colorado Street Maitama Abuja, on or about June 15, 2023, at No. 3b Iru Close, Ikoyi, Eti Osa Local Government, Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had in your possession One Hundred and Twenty-Three (123) Rounds of live ammunition (Cartridges) without a licence You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 of the Firearms Act Cap F28 Laws of the Federation 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1)(b)(il) of the same Act.’

Emefiele would later ask the court to admit him to bail on self recognizance but the court has not ruled on the matter.

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‘ENOUGH IS ENOUGH’ was the message written in bold letters on a banner displayed by hundreds of Enugu residents who staged a protest against the sit-at-home orders in the South-East on Monday, July 24.

The protesters, mostly youths and middle-aged persons gathered at Okpara Square, close to the government house, from where they marched around the Enugu metropolis.

As the protesters marched through major streets in the Coal City, they chanted solidarity songs, expressing their frustrations over the weekly Monday sit-at-home orders, which had taken a huge toll on personal and business activities in the South-East region.

The weekly Monday sit-at-home was initially ordered by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), starting to demand the release of the leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who has been held in the custody of the Department of State Services since his forced repatriation from Kenya in 2021.

Initially a peaceful exercise, the sit-at-home eventually became a bloody affair after hoodlums, referred to as ‘unknown gunmen’, started enforcing the order.

Nigerian security agencies insist those enforcing the sit-at-home are members of IPOB’s militant arm, the Eastern Security Network (ESN). But IPOB has continued to distance itself from the violence that surrounds the sit-at-home orders.

IPOB, through its spokesman, Emma Powerful, in January 2022, announced that it has suspended the sit-at-home exercise. The group declared that those enforcing the order are criminals and should be treated as such by security agencies and the government. But a faction of the pro-Biafra group, known as IPOB Autopilots’, led by Finland-based agitator Simon Ekpa, has continued to enforce the order.

Residents of the South-East, and visitors, who decide to flout the order by stepping out for business, work or personal issues on Mondays risk losing lives and property. Several lives have been lost, and property destroyed at the hands of the unknown gunmen who insist on enforcing the sit-at-home.

After ordering and enforcing a one-week sit-at-home, from July 3 to July 10, the Ekpa-led IPOB faction has ordered a two-week sit-at-home, to commence on July 31.

The protest by Enugu residents on Monday was in line with concerted efforts to thwart the two-week sit-at-home.

The protest is backed by Enugu state governor Peter Mbah, who has moved to end the sit-at-home exercise since he assumed office on May 29. The governor recently said Enugu loses N10 billion every Monday to sit-at-home.

Mbah had directed that government workers who fail to report to work on Mondays, or any other day declared as sit-at-home, risk losing their jobs. Traders also risk losing shops in public markets if they don’t open for business, according to the directive issued by the governor. The directive was also extended to private schools and major shopping malls – failure to open on days the IPOB-faction ordered sit-at-home could lead to withdrawal of licence and shutdown.

As the protesters marched along major streets on Monday, one of the leaders, who was holding a public address system, declared that Enugu residents are fed up with the sit-at-home orders.

“We want to let the whole world know that we are tired of the sit-at-home. We don’t want to sit at home anymore. We want to do business. We want to make money, we want to go to school, we want to go to work. Enugu residents want to go about their normal businesses without any molestation,” the man said in a loud voice.

A resident, who introduced himself as Ikem Nwobodo, told The ICIR correspondent that the two-week sit-at-home must not be allowed to succeed. “It will be suicidal for people to be forced to stay at home for two weeks with the economic situation in the country today. It must be resisted. Enough is enough!”

Another protester, Stanley Okeke, said it is time for residents of the South-East to resist those enforcing the sit-at-home.

“This nonsense (sit-at-home) has crippled the economy of the South-East. We (people of the South-East) are known for business. We are known to be enterprising and industrious. We can’t continue to sit-at-home. It is fear that has sustained this situation, but we are now ready to fight back,” he said.

Observations revealed that major shops and malls opened for business. But there were few customers during the morning hours. Transporters, including commercial buses and tricycles (Keke), were also moving on the roads, although passengers were few. Private cars were also on the road. Residents who wished to go anywhere were able to get to the destination.

Heavily armed police operatives moved around the Enugu metropolis in patrol vans. Armoured vehicles were also seen on Enugu streets.

Some residents, who were not among the protesters, came out on the road to hail the group. Others joined in the protest. The number of protesters swelled as they moved around the city.

A report published by The ICIR in January noted that micro businesses in the South-East states lost an average of N4.618 trillion ($10.495 billion) in one year to the sit-at-home order.

By the investigation, the total estimated revenues of micro-businesses in the five South-East states – Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo and Abia – were summed up and multiplied by 52 to arrive at the total sum of N4.618 trillion.

The 52 weeks represented the number of the sit-at-home Mondays in a year.

The investigation relied on figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s data agency, and the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) 2021 survey reports.

Another report, funded by The ICIR and published by Dataphyte, noted that micro businesses in the South-East wasted 71 Mondays between August 9, 2021 and December 19, 2022, losing N5.375 trillion ($12.215 billion) in the process.

In the same vein, a report by The Guardian newspaper noted that, in sit-at-homes observed every Monday, from August 9, 2021, the South-East has incurred an estimated loss of N7.6 trillion in productivity, potential investments as well as loss of lives and properties.

ICIR

The Delta State Government has notified owners of buildings and structures on natural drainage and waterways to vacate or face imminent demolition of such structures.

The Director to the State Government on Special Duties, Frank Omare, during a sensitisation exercise in Warri South and Uvwie councils, insisted that no illegal structure would be spared no matter how important and highly placed the owner in society.

The government believes this will help the free flow of water through the right channels and prevent the incidence of flooding and its negative effects.

Three weeks ago, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori carried out an inspection tour of waterways and drainage systems in the city of Warri and its environs, identifying illegal structures blocking the free flow of water.

The special duties director on Sunday went out on a sensitisation tour, during which he issued the final warning and notification to owners of buildings on the drainage channels to vacate before the state government’s planned demolition exercise which, according to him, is imminent.

During the exercise, buildings on waterways were identified and marked for demolition for obstructing the water course.

Some of the residents were in agreement with the motive of the government, hoping that the move would solve the lingering issue of flooding in the area.

Blocked canals with refuse dumped in them are not an uncommon sight, a situation the state government is hoping to get rid of as soon as possible to ensure environmental restoration of every part of the state.

According to Omare, there shall be no scared cow once the exercise begins.

The government appears determined to take necessary actions to reduce the incidence of flooding and its adverse effect on the environment and the lives of residents.

Channels TV

No fewer than 20 persons were burnt to death in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State on Sunday.

It was gathered that the victims were scooping fuel from a petrol tanker that fell and spilled its content along the Benin–Ore-Sagamu Expressway on Sunday.

According to an eyewitness, the fire was ignited by a spark from a phone held by one of the persons who were scooping fuel.

The eyewitness stated that the victims of the disaster included three children and a pregnant woman who brought a sum of N100,000 to the scene to buy fuel.

The eyewitness said, “We were inside the church when the tanker fell and spilled its contents on the road. Shortly after it fell down and spilled the fuel on the road, some persons rushed to the place to scoop fuel.

“At that time, the rain was falling. Despite that, people still rushed there and started scooping fuel when the fire started after a spark from a phone.

“At the scene, we have counted about three children and over 15 bodies we can’t identify, and also a pregnant woman that wanted to buy the fuel also died in the incident. They were burnt beyond recognition.”

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed the incident and described the victims as fuel scoopers.

“They were scooping fuel from a tanker when the fire started. We have commenced an investigation into the matter,” the PPRO stated.

Punch

A leaked memo addressed to the Lagos State Ministry of Health indicating that the State Government approved N61,285,000 for the mass burial of 103 persons identified as 2020 EndSARS victims has gone viral on social media, sparking outrage.

The memo dated July 19, 2023, captures steps for the processing of funds after approval by the governor.

Earlier, a Ministerial Tenders’ Board Meeting reportedly sat over the recommendations of the Procurement Planning Committee, after which no objections were raised to the award of the mass burial contract to a funeral service provider.

The five-paragraph leaked memo also directs that relevant taxes and deductions are remitted by the approved company.

In response, the Lagos State Ministry of Health confirmed the letter in a statement on Sunday evening, but insisted that details were being misconstrued.

The state government argued that the victims were from incidents of violence that occurred in the aftermath of the EndSARS protests.

There has been controversy over the number of deaths recorded during the EndSARS protest, resulting in the governor setting up an inquest led by Justice Doris Okuwobi.

Since the protest in 2020, both the Lagos Government and the Federal Government have consistently denied any mass killing during the EndSARS protests.

The memo is coming over two years after the widespread protest across the country. The Lagos Government has yet to comment on the leaked memo.

Thousands of Nigerians across the country took to the streets to protest police brutality and called for far-reaching reforms, particularly with regard to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the police.

The weeks-long protests, which gained international attention, culminated in the controversial shooting of protesters at the popular Lekki Tollgate in Lagos, one of the rallying points for those who partook in the demonstrations.

However, the Lagos State Government, in its response to the memo, maintained that the victims to be buried were not from the Lekki Tollgate shooting.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Olusegun Ogboye, said the Lagos State Environmental Health Unit (SEHMU) picked up bodies in the aftermath of #EndSARS violence and community clashes.

The areas cited included Fagba, Ketu, Ikorodu, Orile, Ajegunle, Abule-Egba, Ikeja, Ojota, Ekoro, Ogba, Isolo and Ajah areas of Lagos State. Ogboye added that there was also a jailbreak at Ikoyi Prison.

“The 103 casualties mentioned in the document were from these incidents and NOT from Lekki Toll-gate as being alleged. For the avoidance of doubt, no body was retrieved from the Lekki Toll Gate incident,” the statement read.

Channels TV

At least 22 terrorists loyal to the deceased notorious terrorists’ kingpin, Alhaji Abdulkareen Lawal, aka Abdulkareen Boss, have been neutralised by air strikes on Monday.

The strikes were executed by the air component of Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD) at Batsari and Sola Poi II in Batsari and Jibia LGAs of Katsina State

Sources said the bombardment followed credible intelligence reports that the terrorists were responsible for several abductions and violent attacks on some communities within Kankara LGA of the state.

It would be recalled that air strikes by NAF on August 6, 2022 eliminated Abdulkareem Boss and some of his foot soldiers at Ruga Forest in Katsina State.

Late Abdulkareem Boss was alleged to have masterminded the killing of the Police Area Commander of Dutsin-ma on 5 July 2022 and several other atrocities.

Similarly, an intelligence report at SOLA POI II uncovered a large number of terrorists hibernating at the location with the aim of kidnapping and attacking commuters along Jibia-Katsina road.

The air component of OPHD conducted waves of air interdiction missions which acquired the targets in multiple passes killing several terrorists and destroying their structures and hideouts.

The air component of OPHD, after days of careful planning and coordination had, on 6 August 2022, carried out successful strikes on Abdulkareem’s enclaves located at Rugu Forest in Katsina State, leading to his elimination.

A source said Abdulkareem Boss was a high-valued target who had been on the radar of the military and other security agencies for a while. He was based in Marina area of Safana LGA and was responsible for several terrorists’ attacks, animal rustlings and kidnappings.

When contacted, NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, confirmed the air strikes but declined to give details.

He, however, noted that the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Hasan Abubakar has since assumption of office, directed all air component commanders to jointly synergise their efforts with other security agencies as they bring to bear NAF’s fire power on all terrorists’ targets and their enclaves.

Meanwhile, troops of the 21-Armored Brigade, Bama, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), in collaboration with Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), have killed eight Boko Haram terrorists in three communities of Bama local government area in Borno State.

The troops made the unprecedented incursions into the Boko Haram hideouts in the early hours of Thursday July 20, 2023, in a determined effort to completely eliminate the Boko Haram terrorists hibernating along the fringes of the Sambisa forest.

Intelligence sources including Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad region, confirmed the incident to our correspondent in Maiduguri on Thursday.

He said the troops stormed and cleared some of the terrorists’ hideouts of Bula Daloye, Bulongu Dina, Mairamiri Dina.

The troops killed eight suspected terrorists in a heavy gunfire, recovered their weapons and other items while few others fled. The troops also rescued women and children from the enclaves of the terrorists, he said.

Daily Trust