Shettima: End to Nation’s Insecurity in Sight, Tinubu Not Relenting in Peace Efforts

• Ndume says Nigeria risks losing Borno, N’east to terrorists, visits attacked Ngoshe, Pulka 

•Again, terrorists kill two vigilantes in Kwara 

•Theatre commander hints troops killed over 300 terrorists in weeks

Deji Elumoye, Linus Aleke in Abuja and Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Vice President Kashim Shettima has assured Nigerians that an end to insecurity is in sight. Shettima stressed that President Bola Tinubu was working hard to ensure that peace was sustained in all parts of the country.

He prayed for unity, progress, and peaceful coexistence under the Tinubu administra-tion, reiterating that the president is doing all within his powers to secure life and property across the country.

Shettima made the comments in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, when he formally received Governor Dauda Lawal and his supporters into All Progressives Congress (APC), from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on behalf of Tinubu.

He said, “We pray for more unity and progress under President Bola Tinubu because as our leader is working very hard to ensure the safety of lives and property across Nigeria.”

Shettima maintained that the security challenges in Zamfara State and other troubled states would be addressed, saying the coming of Lawal would help achieve that.

The vice president said opposition parties, like African Democratic Congress (ADC), PDP, and other parties, would not thrive in Zamfara State because all major politicians in the state were now together in the ruling party.

He expressed support for the governor, and applauded the people of the state for supporting their governor and APC.

Earlier, Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, who represented Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, said members of the National Assembly on the platform of APC were in total support of Lawal’s defection to the party.

Jibrin said, “The governor will now be working together with other governors to help address the problems of the state and further enhance development.”

He stressed that security challenges were not peculiar to Zamfara or Nigeria, adding that the problem is surmountable.

He said, “The solution lies in collaboration and team work. The state governor’s collaboration with other governors and the federal government will enable him overcome present challenges. His joining the APC shows wisdom.”

Jibrin urged the people of Zamfara State to vote APC in 2027 in order to reap more dividends of democracy.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, said history had been made in Zamfara with the defection of the governor to APC.

Abbas said the state was part of the progressives in the past, expressing delight that Lawal has returned the state to the progressive fold.

“Today there is no opposition in Zamfara State,” he said, wishing the governor and the state well in their political journey.

Abbas urged the governor to carry everybody along.

He also advised the people of Zamfara to support Lawal in order to bring about more development.

Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, said governors elected on the platform of APC were happy to welcome Lawal into their fold.

Uzodimma thanked the people of the state for supporting the governor at all times, saying, “It is a win-win situation for Zamfara. APC is a moving train and we are happy that the state has joined that train. All governors of APC will support Governor Lawal to do more for this state.”

APC national chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, stated that Zamfara was now entirely an APC state, as all the former governors of the state had assured him of their support for Lawal.

Yilwatda said he was impressed with the performance of the governor, particularly the enhancement of development in the state through the implementation of massive infrastructural projects, including the construction of a brand new airport.

Yilwatda later handed over the flag of APC and a broom, the symbol of the party, to  Lawal, symbolising his grand entry into the party.

Lawal, in his brief remarks, thanked former governors of the state, including Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawale, and Senator Abdulazeez Yari, among others, for their support and cooperation. 

He pledged to work for the success of APC at all levels in next year’s general election, saying, “I will embrace all my predecessors, and I will work hard for the progress of Zamfara State.”

In their separate remarks, Yari and Matawale pledged their support for Lawal and Tinubu in next year’s general election. Matawale announced that contrary to reports making the rounds in some quarters, he would not contest the governorship in 2027, declaring that his only governorship candidate is  Lawal.

Ndume: Nigeria Risks Losing Borno, N’East to Terror-ists, Visits Attacked Ngoshe, Pulka

Former Senate Leader and senator for Borno South, Ali Ndume, warned that the state and the entire North-east zone might be lost to Boko Haram insurgents.

Ndume called on the federal government to ensure that the Nigerian Army was fully equipped to win the battle against insurgency and banditry.

He had over the weekend visited two of the affected areas – Ngoshe and Pulka – in company with Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum.

Ndume, who spoke with newsmen yesterday, expressed grave concern that the military were initially overwhelmed in some parts of Borno State by terrorist groups.

He stated, “I am calling on the federal government to double its efforts in equipping the army with sophisticated arms and ammunitions.

“I gathered that our soldiers lack adequate ammunitions and they ran away from Ngoshe and Pulka because the terrorists overwhelmed them.

“It was days after reinforcement that they regained the place. Nothing was left standing in Ngoshe and Pulka by the terrorists.”

The ranking senator, who commended Zulum for seizing the initiative to visit the ravaged communities and the residents in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps, urged the federal government to assist the Borno State government in rebuilding the communities and giving immediate succour to the displaced people.

He said, “I have visited Ngoshe, it isn’t something you can describe but for somebody that has seen it, it has been brought down to ground zero. That’s what I have seen. The destruction is complete.

“There is nothing left standing except one small mosque. The people are resilient, the governor is determined to rebuild Ngoshe and there is an urgent need for federal government intervention.”

Ndume said, “I will talk with my colleagues at the National Assembly and we will collectively in both houses, do a motion but before then we are expecting that the federal government will intervene.

“This is necessary because the people are still resilient. I have interacted with them, they are determined, some of them even refused to go into the cities, they want to go back home. Since they have that determination, government must rebuild the place.”

He said, “I must commend the Nigerian Army for taking back Ngoshe again. After we came back, the governor spent a night in Pulka and I must commend him. I see the psychological effect of that and we just want to thank him on behalf of my people. It is something that we will never forget.”

Terrorists Kill Two Vigilantes in Kwara

Suspected terrorists struck again yesterday, when they invaded the ancient town of Igana in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing two vigilantes.

The incident raised fear and tension in the town and other parts of the local government area.

It was reliably gathered that the vigilantes were ambushed and killed while carrying out a community security duty.

According to sources in the area, the two vigilantes had gone out to escort a vehicle conveying a corpse from Oro-Ago to Igana community when they were attacked by the gunmen.

A community source, who spoke with journalists in Ilorin on condition of anonymity, said the vigilantes were on their motorcycles heading to meet the vehicle bringing the corpse when the suspected bandits waylaid them along the road and opened fire.

The source said, “The vigilantes were alerted early in the morning to guard a car bringing a corpse from Oro-Ago to Igana community for burial.

“On their way to meet the vehicle, the terrorists ambushed them close to the town. They shot and killed the two vigilantes and took away their motorcycles.”

The source added that the location of the attack was close to the spot where a woman had previously been kidnapped under a bridge in the same area, highlighting the growing insecurity confronting residents.

It was learnt that a police team from Oro-Ago, reportedly, moved to the scene and conveyed the lifeless bodies of the vigilantes back to the community.

A senior police officer with Ifelodun Local Government Divisional Police Headquarters located at Share, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the development.

“We have risen to the ugly situation and we are working round towards curtailing the activities of the suspected terrorists in the state,” he said.

Troops Killed over 300 Terrorists in Weeks, Theatre Commander Discloses

Theatre Commander of Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Major-General Abdusalam Abubakar, disclosed that troops eliminated over 300 terrorists in recent weeks through coordinated operations and the application of superior firepower. Abubakar made this known while receiving Director-General of Nigerian Army Finance Incorporation (NAFIC), Major-General Julius Osifo, who was on a sensitisation visit to the headquarters of Operation Hadin Kai at Maimalari Military Cantonment, Maiduguri.

According to a statement by Media Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Lieutenant-Colonel Sani Uba, the theatre commander commended the NAFIC delegation for the timely visit, describing it as coming at a critical stage of the ongoing dry season operations.

Uba stated that increased awareness of welfare packages had significantly boosted troop morale, as personnel were reassured of adequate support in times of need.

He added that the initiative aligned with the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General W. Shaibu’s “Soldier First Culture”, which prioritised the welfare and administrative needs of personnel.

He said the visit further underscored NAFIC’s commitment to promoting professionalism, enhancing welfare awareness and supporting sustained operational success in the North-east.

Speaking during the engagement, Osifo urged troops to take full advantage of the Nigerian Army’s welfare and financial schemes designed to improve their well-being and operational effectiveness.

He explained that NAFIC managed key initiatives, such as Nigerian Army Benevolent Fund, Group Life Assurance Scheme, and other support packages for personnel affected by injury, permanent disability, or death in service.