Borno Government has expressed satisfaction with the growing number of insurgents surrendering to the military in the state.

Alhaji Babakura Abba-Jato, State Commissioner for Information, disclosed this at the end of an expanded security meeting held on Saturday in Maiduguri.

The Nigeria Army announced that over 100 insurgents surrendered with their families and weapons within the past two weeks in Borno.

Abba-Jato said government was happy with the development and the sustained military onslaught at the shores of Lake Chad and Sambisa Forest.

“The meeting chaired by the Governor is happy with the clearing exercise going on at the shores of the Lake Chad as well as what is going on around the Sambisa general area with some of the insurgents surrendering.

“They (insurgents) are surrendering along with their arms and ammunitions.

“We will encourage them to surrender and discard their nefarious activities so that they can be accommodated, rehabilitated and integrated into the society,” Abba-Jato said.

He explained that the return of relative peace to many parts of the state has led to restoration of civil authority.

He said it has also contributed to the ongoing resettlement of displaced persons back to their ancestral land and expansion of farming activities in recovered areas.

Abba-Jato said the meeting agreed on the need to clear thick bushes along the 85 kilometre Maiduguri-Damboa road that remained closed for several years for reopening.

He commended the military and other security agencies including Civilian Joint Task Force, hunters and vigilante groups for their sustain effort in the fight against insurgency in the state.

He assured them of government’s continuous support and collaboration from the public.

The commissioner said that a committee of enquiry has been set up to handle the issue of the clash in Maiduguri between members of a taskforce and some EYN Church members.

The incident led to the death of one person with five others injured.

Alhaji Ahmad Idris, the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), has donated operational vehicles to police and vigilante group to enhance community policing in Kano State.

The AGF, who handed over the vehicles to the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Samaila Shuaibu-Dikko, said security business was a responsibility of all and sundry in the society.

“Security agents have a very clear mandate, but the security initiatives in terms of giving them information and enhancing their surveillance operations should come from us.

“This is because we are the ones living in the society, so there is the need for wealthy individuals to complement government efforts, by supporting them with operational facilities.

“That is what we are doing, and I want to use this opportunity to call on others to contribute in enhancing the operations of security agents in the society,” he said.

He said that the gesture would assist to boost their morale for effective service delivery.

“We are doing it for ourselves. They are sacrificing their lives to give us comfort, we should do whatever we can to motivate them to deliver on their mandate,” he said.

Idris also pledged to fuel and service the vehicles for one year.

Earlier, the state commissioner of police, Shuaibu-Dikko, thanked Idris for the gesture, noting that as the commercial nerve centre of some West African countries, Kano needed peace and stability for socio-economic activities to continue to thrive.

Shuaibu-Dikko urged the people to intensify efforts in encouraging security agents to deliver on their mandate effectively, by supporting them with operational facilities.

He assured that the vehicles would be used for the purpose they were given.

Also speaking, the commander of the vigilante, Imam Abdulkadir, thanked the AGF for the gesture and assured of the judicious use of the vehicles

The Minister of Defence retired Major General Bashir Magashi has declared total support for the National Centre for the Control of Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) in the discharge of its tasks to halt illegal weapons in circulation.

General Magashi stated this when a 7- man Management Team of the National Centre of the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, led by its Pioneer National Coordinator, retired Major General Aba Dikko paid a courtesy call on him at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters, Ship House Abuja.

He tasked the leadership of the Centre to ”sanitise the National Security Landscape by checkmating illegal movements, manipulations and management of Small Arms and Light Weapons in the country in compliance with its mandate and International conventions.”

The Minister applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for the establishment of the Centre and for the well deserved appointment of General Dikko, a former Commander of OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE now OPERATION HADIN KAI as the National Coordinator.

He pledged the support of the Ministry to synergise efforts in stopping the effrontery and the parity in Weapons handling between the State Actors and Non- state actors.

The National Coordinator of the National Centre of the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSLW) Major General Muhammed Dikko (retd) who had served under General Magashi in ECOMOG, Liberia, solicited the support of the Minister towards stabilising the operations of the new outfit.

The Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has extended best wishes to the Labour and Employment Minister, Dr Chris Ngige on his 69th birthday.

He joined the medical profession, labour community, the legislature and people of Anambra to salute Ngige for his selfless stewardship to community, state, country and humanity.

The President wished Ngige, who had at various times, served as Senator and Governor of Anambra, greater health, strength and sound mind.

President Buhari, who also noted Ngige’s efforts as he interfaced between government and the organised labour, working for industrial harmony, wished him well in all his endeavours.

This is contained in a congratulatory message by the President’s Spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, on Saturday in Abuja.

The Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya has again solicited the support of traditional rulers in the Northwest of Nigeria for a reliable and actionable information that will aid troops in combating the menace of banditry.

General recognised the crucial role of the local authorities, saying ‘it is pivotal in decisively combating the activities of the criminals.’

A statement by the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyeam Nwachukwu, said General Yahaya made the plea when he paid a courtesy call on the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farouk Umar, at his palace in Daura on Friday.

Operational tour of Army formations

The COAS told the Royal father that he was on an operational tour of Army formations and units in 8 Division and in the North West theatre of operation to evaluate, re-strategise and reinvigorate ongoing operations, as well as motivate troops deployed to fight banditry in the region.

He reaffirmed Nigerian Army’s positive disposition toward collaborating with other security agencies and partnering with stakeholders of the security sector in the region, to effectively degrade the activities of bandits and other criminal elements in order to speedily restore peace and stability to Katsina State and indeed the entire Northwest.

The COAS took time to interact with troops of 171 Battalion at Fort Muhammadu Buhari Forward Operating Base, during which the troops catalogued their challenges as a unit and as individuals.

He reiterated his commitment to ensure that their wellbeing is topmost in the agenda of his command, stressing that”personnel must get their due entitlements and not be short-changed.”

During the tour, the COAS also assessed ongoing projects at 171 Battalion permanent site where he planted a tree to commemorate his visit. He also had interactive session with officers from other security agencies.

Appreciating the Emir and the good people of Daura for their support and cooperation to the troops, General Yahaya urged traditional rulers to use their position of strength and clout to regenerate and firm up their information network in an effort to enhance the operational efficiency of troops in decimating the bandits and ultimately put an end to banditary in their localities and the state in general.

The Emir commended the Nigerian Army and the COAS for their sacrifices and dedication towards curtailing banditry and other security challenges bedeviling the state.

He stated further that”the people of Daura would not hesitate in volunteering within their capacity to mobilise grassroots support for the troops.”

The Royal father urged ”the COAS and troops not to rest on their oars until normalcy is completely restored.”

He also used the opportunity to congratulate the COAS on his appointment and prayed that God will guide and direct him to efficiently command the affairs of the Nigerian Army and use his tenure to bring sustainable peace and tranquility to the nation.