•Directs conclusion of financial plan for Lagos-Calabar rail project
By Deji Elumoye, Kingsley Nwezeh and Kasim Sumaina in Katsina
President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the military service chiefs to be decisive in dealing with terrorists and ending the insurgency in the North-east without further delay.
Buhari has also justified the extension of the Kano-Katsina-Jibiya rail line to Maradi in Niger Republic, saying the project, when completed, will boost trade between Nigeria and Niger Republic, foster trans-Sahara trade and contribute to the expected gains in the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA).
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao, who spoke on the presidential directive during a visit to Maiduguri, said the president routed the order through the Chief of Defence Staff, Maj.Gen. Lucky Irabor, for them to come up with new strategies to rout the insurgents.
•CAN advises FG to seek help from US, Isreal
Chuks Okocha, Kingsley Nwezeh and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
Troops backed by the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole, at the weekend, overran some terrorist camps in the North-east, killing over 60 insurgents. Coming after a recent visit to Borno State by the new service chiefs, the soldiers might have been buoyed by the visit.
The battle with the insurgents, however, triggered an exodus of refugees from four local government areas of Borno into Yobe State.
But the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), yesterday, called for the arrest and prosecution of any Fulani herdsman that broke the law. And the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) advised the federal government to seek assistance from the United States and Israel in the fight against insurgency.
New Service chiefs arrive Maiduguri to tackle insurgency dailytrust.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailytrust.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
By Michael Olugbode
The new Service Chiefs arrived Maiduguri on Sunday afternoon to meet critical stakeholders and brainstorm on strategies to end the protracted Boko Haram insurgency.
The Service Chiefs who were appointed few days ago by President Muhammadu Buhari were led on the visit by the Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Lucky Irabor.
They torched down at the headquarters of Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri on Sunday afternoon at about 1330 hours.
With the Chief of Defence were Chief of Army Staff, Maj. General Ibrahim Attahiru; Chief of Naval Staff, AVM Awwal Gambo and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao.
Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
Military authorities said yesterday that troops of Operation Delta Safe dismantled 13 Illegal refining sites set up by oil bunkerers in the Niger Delta region.
The military also recovered 9,856.1 barrels of stolen crude, 1,339,000 litres of illegally refined diesel or Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 500,000 litres of kerosene or DPK while 24 suspected oil thieves were nabbed.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, Coordinator, Directorate of Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Major General John Enenche, said troops of Operation Delta Safe sustained the aggressive fight against economic sabotage in the South-South zone.
Enenche, who spoke during the weekly briefing on military operations at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), said the operation which was conducted between 14 to 20 January 2021, also covered illegal maritime activities.