The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says the troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria operating in different theatres of operation eliminated 105 terrorists and apprehended 140 others in the last one week.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, said this at a bi-weekly news briefing on the operations of the armed forces on Thursday in Abuja.

Buba said the troops also arrested 26 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 86 kidnapped hostages in the South South region.

He added that the troops recovered 208 assorted weapons and 5,332 assorted ammunition comprising 95 AK47 rifles, one assault rifle, 39 locally fabricated guns, 34 Dane guns, 14 pump action guns, among others.

In the North East, Buba said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralised seven terrorists and arrested four terrorists as well as recovered 20 AK47 rifles, two fabricated guns and 12 dane guns.

He added that 353 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 209 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 34 live cartridges, 62 mobile phones and the sum of N100,000, among others, were also recovered.


According to him, 224 ISWAP/JAS terrorists fighters and their families comprising 23 adult males, 126 adult females and 87 children surrendered to troops in Bama and Konduga areas of Borno within the week.

In the North Central, Buba said the troops of Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke neutralised 35 insurgents, arrested 65 violent extremists and 15 rescued kidnapped hostages.

He added that troops also recovered various caches of arms and ammunition within different theatres of operation.

In the North Central, the defence spokesman said the troops of Operations Hadarin Daji and Whirl Punch, neutralised 57 insurgents, arrested five and rescued 66 kidnapped hostages during the week.

In the South-South, Buba said the troops of Operation Delta Safe destroyed 18 illegal refining sites and recovered 657,300 litres of stolen crude oil, 23,750 litres of illegally refined AGO and 1,050 litres of DPK.

He added that the troops discovered and destroyed nine dugout pits, 19 boats and 21 storage tanks, 35 cooking ovens, nine vehicles, nine mobile phones, and three pump machines.

According to him, troops rescued three kidnapped hostages and apprehended 50 people suspected of oil theft and other violent extremists/insurgents as well as recovered 20 weapons and 243 ammunition, amongst other items.

In the South East, Buba said the troops of Operation UDO KA neutralised six insurgents, arrested five and recovered various types of arms and ammunition.

“All recovered items, arrested suspects and rescued hostages were handed over to the relevant authorities for further action,” he said.

The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has secured the conviction and sentencing of Abdulazeez Isah to three years imprisonment for parading himself as a staff of the EFCC.

Abraham Adama and Uzoma Isaac Iwu  were also jailed  for fraud by Justices Darius Khobo and A. Isiaka of the Kaduna State High Court, sitting in Kaduna.

Dele Oyewale, EFCC Head, Media and Publicity, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday. 

While Justice Isiaka jailed Isah after pleading guilty to one-count charge bordering on impersonation,  Justice Khobo handed Adama two years imprisonment  for cheating by impersonating American movie star Sylvester Stallone on social media and three years to Iwu for cybercrimes.

The charge against Isa reads: “That you Abdulazeez Isah sometime in November, 2023 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, committed an offence of impersonation to wit: falsely presenting yourself as a staff of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the general public, which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017.”

The charge against Adama reads: “That you Abraham Adama (a.k.a Sylvester Stallone) (m), sometime in 2023 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, committed an offence to wit: cheating by impersonation when you falsely presented yourself as Sylvester Stallone (an American actor) on several online social media applications to several unsuspecting victims and in that assumed character cheated one Amelia James of the total sum of $200.00 (Two Hundred USD) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law of 2017 and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law.”

The charge  against Iwu reads: “that you ISAAC UZOMA IWU(a.k.a manpaulmarkus@gmail.com) on or about the 18th of January, 2024 at NITEL Quarters of Sabo Axis, Kaduna State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court falsely presented yourself as Man Paul Markus and in that assumed character defrauded members of the public by luring them into investing into Crypto Currency via your email address manpaulmarkus@gmail.com and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017”.

The three defendants pleaded guilty to their charges when they were read to them.

Based on their pleas,  EFCC Counsels , M.U Gadaka and K.S Ogunlade prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

Justice Isiaka convicted and  sentenced Isah to three years imprisonment or a fine of N150,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira)  while  Justice Khobo convicted and sentenced Adama to  two years prison term with a fine option of N150,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) and Iwu to three years imprisonment or a fine of N150,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira.).

Isah bagged his imprisonment by falsely parading himself to unsuspecting members of the public as a member of staff of the EFCC. Upon arrest, he admitted financing the production of fake T-shirts, identity cards and caps of the Commission found in his possession. Adama impersonated Sylvester Stallone (an American actor) while Iwu got his imprisonment by indulging in internet crimes.

Veteran actress, Ethel Ekpe, who adorned the Nigerian entertainment screen, died of cancer on Wednesday in Lagos State.

The late actress played the role of ‘Segi’ in the defunct sitcom on Nigerian Television Authority by Ken Saro Wiwa titled ‘Basi and Company.’

Ekpe also featured in Amaka Igwe’s ‘Forever’ and the ‘Sons of the Caliphate.’

The news of her death was announced by the Director-General, National Film and Video Censors Board, Dr. Shaibu Husseini, in a late Facebook post on Wednesday.

Husseini wrote, “I have been reliably informed that Ethel Ekpe, (Ethel Aderemi nee Ekpe), the screen beauty that delighted fans with her inimitable interpretation of the role of Segi in the defunct sitcom on Nigerian Television Authority by Ken Saro Wiwa titled ‘Basi and Company’ has passed on.

“The actress and later day Pastor and star of Amaka Igwe’s ‘Forever’ and most recently ‘Sons of the Caliphate” reportedly died of Cancer today in Lagos.”

“She will be sorely missed,” adding that his family “will particularly miss her because we named my second daughter Ethel, after her. Good night good woman!”

The Bauchi State Police Command has declared a cleric in the state, Idris Abdulaziz, wanted.

This is disclosed in a Special Police Gazette made available to journalists in Bauchi on Thursday.

The police bulletin which was through the command Criminal Investigation Department, displaye the picture and details of Abdulaziz and pledged reward for anyone who assist in his arrest.

According to the bulletin, Abdulaziz is declared wanted for contempt of court.

When contacted for comment on the development, Abdulaziz’s lawyer, Mr. Ahmad Musa, said the declaration by the police is not something new as the state government is using state resources to suppress the voice of the opposition.

He said, “This is not something new, Malam Idris Abdulaziz is the only person speaking the truth to power. The state government is using state resources to suppress him and silence him, which they will fail.”

Our correspondent reported that Musa had accused the Bauchi State Government of using the state judicial branch to politically witch-hunt his client.

He said that on Monday, the state government through the office of the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Hassan El-Yakub, filed fresh charges at the Chief Magistrates Court, Bauchi, against the wanted cleric.

He said, “This is coming week after my client went into exile after security agents raided his Dutsen Tanshi residence in the Bauchi metropolis on January 24, to execute a search warrant.

“Abdulaziz left Bauchi State to flee persecution and arbitrary arrest and detention by the Bauchi government following trumped-up charges accusing him of committing blasphemy against religious creed. He has successfully left Bauchi to a safer place.”.

The Islamic cleric has denied charges against him by the state government of “inciting disturbances, insulting or inciting contempt of religious creed.”

The hearing of notice for the fresh case against Abdulaziz was pasted at his residence situated at Dusten Tanshi, in the Bauchi metropolis.

According to the court documents, the case was supposed to come up on Tuesday, February 6.

However, Musa, on Tuesday, said the new charges contain the same allegations being tried at the Upper Sharia Court 1, Bauchi after Abdulaziz was first arraigned last April.

“The case went from the Upper Sharia Court 1, Bauchi State to High Court, Bauchi and now it is properly before the Court of Appeal, Jos Division,” Musa explained.

Musa alleged that the twist of events in the case against his client has further exposed the political inclination of the state government to use the state judicial branch to persecute Abdulaziz.

Abdulaziz is a popular Islamic cleric based in the Dutsen Tanshi area of the Bauchi metropolis.

His ordeals began last April when he told a gathering that he does not need the support of any person when in difficult times, not even Prophet Muhammad, but only God.

“In difficult times I don’t need the support of Ibrahim Niase, Abdulkadir Jelani, Ahmad Tijjani (Sufi scholars), and even Prophet Muhammad except for Allah,” Abdulaziz, a strong Sunni Muslim said in his lecture on the oneness of God.

The comments generated controversy in the state and beyond. While his brethren in the Sunni sect supported him, some of his rivals from the Sufi sect have called for his prosecution, accusing him of disrespecting a religious creed.

The state government subsequently took over the case and prosecuted him.