Nigerian Army Troops of the newly reinvigorated Operation Hadin Kai has successfully thwarted Boko Haram Terrorist’s attempt to infiltrate into Rann Town, the capital of Kala Balge LGA of Borno State.

According to the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima; “The incident which occurred on 1 May 2021, terrorists in their numbers attempted to disrupt the peace that has been enjoyed by the border town but were met with stiff resistance as the troops in the area took them on a fierce firefight which lasted about an hour.

“The terrorists withdrew in disarray with a large number of them suffering fatal injuries leaving behind several weapons and ammunition including anti-aircraft gun barrel, AK 47 rifle, handheld communication radio and different calibres of ammunition.”

In a related development, on 2 May 2021, another band of Boko Haram Terrorists on a criminal mission attacked Ajiri town of Konduga LGA of Borno State.

The terrorists had reached a part of the town initially burnt 9 houses and killed some innocent residents before they were engaged by the troops deployed in the area.

“The retreating terrorists went away with various degrees of gunshot injuries while the gallant troops are on their chase. Unfortunately, however, 2 personnel paid the supreme price in the resulting encounter.”

The Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru has commended the troops for their resilience and determination to keep their areas free of terrorist activities.

He further charged them to sustain the renewed vigour in discharging their duties.

PIAK

The Vice President, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) South-East Zone, Comrade Stella Igboka has felicitated with women Journalists as it marks the 2021 World Press Freedom Day

She called on Media stakeholders to renew their commitment to the fundamental rights to freedom of expression to defend media workers.

Comrade Igboka who made this call in her message to this year’s Press Freedom Day celebration in Awka observed with dismay challenges experienced in the media profession due to the COVID -19 pandemic, insecurity and economic recession which had led to the closure of media houses, constant attack, harassment and maiming of reporters in the course of carrying out their legitimate assignments.

She made a passionate appeal to government and media owners to address the gender dimensions of the safety of journalists by offering women journalists specialised safety training in the face of these contemporary challenges

Comrade Igboka opined that If journalists face harassment, violence and threats, Women in the PEN Profession face additional risks due to their gender

She described this year’s World Press Freedom theme, “Information as a Public Good” as apt, especially now that the public is battling with discerning verified information from falsehoods that have flooded the internet

Comrade Igboka called on journalists to live up to their responsibility of ensuring that they clear their sources of information, verify facts and data as well as uphold their professional ethics in their reportage and conduct.

In the same vein, (NAWOJ) Anambra state chapter commended women Journalists in the state for their dedication to duty and commitment towards ensuring that the public is fed with accurate and timely information of events as they unfold despite the ravaging effects of the Coronavirus pandemic which poses a serious threat.

Comrade Franklin Onyekachi, the Anambra State NAWOJ Chairperson while addressing members enjoins everyone to bear in mind the theme for this year’s event, ‘Information as a public good’ in carrying out their duties as the watchdogs of the society without fear but always bearing in mind the ethics of our profession.

“2021 being an election year in the state,  I call on all members to shun fake news and unverified reports so as not to cause disharmony or chaos,” she reiterated.

NAWOJ Anambra also lauded the state government for its continued cooperation while soliciting more support.

Philanthropist Calls For Total Press Freedom

Meanwhile, a front-runner of the Peoples Democratic Party gubernatorial aspirant, business mogul and philanthropist, Valentine Ozigbo, has hailed the Nigerian press as critical in developing the country and Nigeria’s democracy.

In a statement marking World Press Day, issued from his office in Udoka Estate, Awka, the capital of Anambra State, on Monday, May 3, 2021, Mr Ozigbo called for total press freedom in the country while describing the media as “The defenders of our democracy.“

An international finance expert, Ozigbo, the immediate Past President and Group CEO of Transcorp Plc, called for strategic institutional investment in the media, stressing the importance of the media in nation-building.

“Today, I celebrate the Nigerian press for their resilience and commitment to the professional and the development of Nigeria,” Ozigbo said. 

“Our journalists operate under some of the harshest work conditions in the world, yet they continue to play their role in building Nigeria and growing our democracy. 

 “I commend the Nigerian press for staying strong, sticking to their commitment, and defending the nation while many other institutions in the country have caved. 

“Any nation that wishes to progress must guarantee the free flow of information is essential that the threats and clampdown on journalists immediately stopped. 

“Rather than censorship, governments should be entering into partnerships with the media by strategically investing in strengthening and equipping the press to carry out its responsibilities of informing, educating, and enlightening Nigerians,” the business leader said.

Ozigbo, who is regarded as the frontrunner in the PDP for the upcoming Anambra governorship elections, reiterated his belief in the power of the press and the need for open governments.

He called on the federal government to respect the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and revealed his plan to send a Freedom of Information bill to his State House of Assembly if elected as the governor of Anambra State.

Ozigbo promised that if elected governor of Anambra State, he would set a new standard for how governments should engage and partner with the press to advance society and deepen the democratic process.

“Open government is a major aspect of my Ka Anambra Chawapu Manifesto. I believe in expanding access to information for citizens and leveraging on technology to bring government closer to the people,” Ozigbo declared.

“If I am elected governor of Anambra, I will send a freedom of information bill to my state legislature for action. Information is power, and it is time our people are given access to power in a meaningful way,” he added.

Ozigbo also called on the Nigerian press to take proactive steps in improving standards of practice, upskilling journalists and media practitioners and seeking private sector investment into the media space.

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The Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Kwara State, Mr Olusegun Adeyemi says there is no doubt that societies become better when information is used for the good of all and not to slander or incite chaos.

Adeyemi made this known in a statement issued in commemoration of the 2021 World Press Freedom Day with the theme ‘Information as a Public Good”

According to him, Journalists have a key role to play as they gather and disseminate information.

The NOA Director commended the global community of Journalists and media practitioners and in particular, those serving in Kwara State for their relentless and sacrificial commitment towards ensuring an informed and empowered society.

“On this day, we join others across the world to appreciate members of the forth estate of the realm who continue to strive to provide timely and accurate information even in the face of numerous challenges,“ he said.

Adeyemi called on government and other stakeholders to always ensure the safety, protection and independence of the Press as they render their invaluable services.

He also highlighted the nexus between press freedom and journalists being paid living wages and therefore urged employers to ensure media practitioners are properly remunerated, giving incentives and adequately catered for.

Adeyemi equally charged journalists to be professional in their conduct and reportage of events and to be mindful of the fact that pen is mightier than the sword.

He emphasised that media practitioners in Nigeria should shun hate speeches and fake news and other activities that can fan embers of war, rather they should use their intelligence and influence in building virile, peaceful and stable communities.

Meanwhile, the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria, has called for sanctions on poor remunerations and irregular payment of salaries by some Media Organuzations to Media Practitioners in Nigeria.

In its solidarity  with Nigeria Media Professionals in Country on the occasion marking the World Press Freedom Day, the Group called for urgent laws making it impossible for such violations of fundamental human rights to continue in Nigeria.

In a statement released on Monday and signed by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Abdullahi, the Group called on President Muhammadu Buhari to cause the National Assembly to amend relevant parts of the Laws setting-up the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

It explained that giving the two Regulatory Bodies the powers to shut-down any erring Media Organisations that deny its workers regular payment of  salaries; while there must be template as well on reasonable salary to be paid to a qualified Media Practitioners based on their qualifications and experience.

“It is well-known that people have varied objectives for setting up Media Outfits. While it is lawful to have political, economic and other lawful  interests for setting up Media Organizations, running such Organizations without human feelings such as neglect of payment of salaries is absurd, inhuman and condemnable,” the Group maintained.

The National Coordinator of the Group who is a Human Resource Management Expert, stated that in operating Media Outfit, once it is apparent that the Proprietors could not ‘make the ends meet’ such as non-payment of salaries, they need to shut-down for a while and restrategise before re-opening or close-up completely instead of denying the workers their lawful entitlement.

This irregularity according to the Media Watch Group is common with Private Media Organisations, some of who pursues economic benefit to the detriment of workers’ welfare warning that this must not be allowed to continue.

On the performance of the Media Practitioners, the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria commended them for their sacrifice, commitment and dedication to duty, adding that like Medical Doctors, they too deserve Special Media Salary Scale (SMSS) as they work 24 hours of the day; adding that this would motivate them to give their best to their Employers and the Nation at large.

MMWG however cautioned the Bodies of Media Professionals such as Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria (BON), Nigerian Guild of Editors, the Newspaper Proproetors’ Association (NPAN) and indeed the Nigerian Union of Journalists  (NUJ) to evolve urgently antidotes against fake-news, political blackmail, publication of seditious,  provocative and libelious news as well as airing offensive programmes; which usually fall them into conflict especially with NBC.

More worrisome now the Group said, is the heightened ethno-religious comments and publications capable of aggravating the current insecurity in the land; adding that such unpatriotic and unprofessional acts would always cause embarrassment for them, they must therefore stand-clear of them, the Group advised.

PIAK

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA has raided some eateries in Jos, the Plateau state capital where freshly baked cakes made with cannabis Sativa were recovered in addition to 48.726 kilogrammes of assorted psychotropic substances.

This is contained in a press statement by the Director Media and Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters Abuja Mr Femi Babafemi issued on Monday.

The statement said, “Some of the drug joints raided include KNL Lounge located along Lamingo road and another branch along Mining Quarters, Rantya Low-Cost estate, as well as Tuscany Lounge on Azaki Ave, all within Jos metropolis.”

The statement noted that, “Beside the drugged cakes called brownie recovered from the three eateries, psychotropic substances also seized from there include: Barcadin Codeine 14kg; Flunitrazapem 355.5grammes; Tramadol 370.1 grammes, Exol-5, 30kg, Diazepam 2.5kg and Pentazocine 1.5 kg, totalling 48.726kg.”

The Plateau Commander NDLEA Ibrahim Braji disclosed that “five persons have so far been arrested in connection to the seized drugs.”

In the same vein, the Enugu State Command of the Agency also at the weekend raided the Nsukka axis of the state capital where a 28-year-old lady, Oodo Ndidiamaka was arrested with 80.23grammes of cocaine and 3.81grammes of methamphetamine.

More Arrest

The state Commander of NDLEA, Abdul Abdullahi said “The Command remains committed to unravelling other members of the drug cartel in the state.

Meanwhile, operatives of the Niger State Command of the Agency have arrested a 24-year-old 400-level student of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Abel Godwin Idio for selling two strong variants of cannabis, Arizona and loud, concealed in textbooks.

He was arrested in Gidan Kwano within the vicinity of the university.

According to the state Commander of the Agency, Haruna Kwetishe, “Abel uses the inner pages of his textbooks to conceal the drugs within the campus to sell. Two other traffickers, Yahaya Joshua and Yahaya Audu were arrested the previous day along Mokwa-Jebba road with 32kilogrammes of cannabis Sativa.”

The Chief Executive of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa in his reaction, commended the Plateau, Enugu and Niger Commands of the Agency for disrupting the activities of drug cartels in their respective states.

He charged them to remain relentless in pursuit of the Agency’s mandate to rid Nigeria of illicit drugs.

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The Minister of Federal Capital Territory Administration in Nigeria, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello says he will continue to work closely with the Nigerian Armed Forces and all other security agencies for the continued security of the FCT and the safety of its residents.

The Minister stated this when he received a delegation from the Defence Headquarters Garrison in his office, in Abuja the nation’s capital.

Malam Bello said that Abuja has been secure due to the close working relationship between the heads of the various military formations and other security agencies in the FCT over the years.

He, therefore, thanked them for the good working relationship and members of the FCT Security Committee within the various security task forces that they operate in.

The Minister said, “We will work very closely with you and your offices under the various task forces that you operate, as well as the main Security Committee which meets regularly”

“Usually in that Committee, as you know, we have the representative of the political leadership at the Area Council level, the traditional leadership of the FCT Council of Chiefs as well as the religious organizations as represented by CAN and National Mosque Committee.” Malam Bello added.

The Minister reminded his guests that Abuja occupies a very unique position as the capital city of Nigeria, its major political centre, and the headquarters of its armed forces and diplomatic corps.

The Commander, Defence Headquarters Garrison Maj. Gen. Preye Fakrogha said that he was in the FCTA on a familiarization visit following his appointment.

He said that he had visited other Security agencies within the Territory and pledged to work closely with all of them in line with the leadership philosophy of the Chief of Defence Staff.

Fakrogha added that it was in demonstration of this, that the heads of the other military formations in the FCT had accompanied him on the visit to the FCTA and assured that all the security agencies in the FCT will work in synergy so that the security of the nation’s capital will be guaranteed.

At the event were; the Garrison Commander to the FCTA were Army HQ Garrison Commander, Maj. Gen. Sanusi Dahiru, Commander, Naval Unit Abuja, Navy Commodore Sulaiman D. Ibrahim and Commander, 053 HQ, NAF Camp, Abuja, Air Commodore Christopher Akpa.

As well as the Minister of State of the FCT, Dr Ramatu Tijanni Aliyu, the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola, the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Malam Bahir Mai-Bornu, the Director, Department of Security Services, FCTA Mr Adamu Gwary and other senior staff of the FCTA.

PIAK