₦airaland Forum

FreeStuffsNG:
They will come back later. ECOWAS has managed to move on without them.

Three mobile policemen attached to PMF 51, Oghara, have been reportedly abducted by suspected herdsmen in the Ohoror community of the East-West Road in the Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

Sunday Special gathered that the kidnappers also carted away the service AK47 rifles with ammunition of the policemen who were marched into the bush.

It was learnt that the kidnapped cops were part of a team of six mobile policemen drafted to the Ughelli-Patani Road nipping point.

It was also learnt that the news of the abduction created tension in the community.

A police source said the cops were whisked away while attending to a distress call.

“While they were at the tipping point, a young man simply identified as Moses Progress, 22, from the Uwheru community came to inform the team that he was robbed of his OPPO phone and money by suspected herdsmen under a nearby bridge close to their point while performing rituals to the god of the river.

“Consequently, the leader of the patrol team reportedly detailed the three inspectors to follow the complainant to the scene, armed with their AK-47 rifles.

“While waiting for the return of the three inspectors, the team later saw the complainant on a speeding motorcycle without our men,” the source said.

“He was stopped to inquire about the three mobile police officers who went with him. It was at that juncture that he told them that, when they got to the scene, they were attacked at the bush by six herdsmen and he had to escape while the policemen ran in different directions.

“When he told our men that he did not know the whereabouts of the police officers who went with him, there was no option than to arrest him after they called for backup,” the source added.

The Police Public Relations Officer for the Delta State command, Bright Edafe, could not be reached for comments on the incident as of the time of filing this report.

Foreign exchange expenses eroded the operating profit of Guinness Nigeria Plc for the year ended December 2023, resulting in N5.233bn loss.

This was contained in the unaudited interim financial statements of the firm filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited on Thursday.

Shareholders of the brewer protested the non-declaration of an interim dividend for the period ended June 2023 at the 73rd Annual General Meeting of the group held in Lagos.

Addressing the concerns of shareholders, the former Managing Director, John Musunga, blamed the forex harmonisation policy of the Federal Goverrnment for the development.

He also argued that best practices when declaring dividends required the company to have great retained earnings or post profit.

“In this situation, our retained earnings declined quite a bit because we had to service that change in FX and our profit and loss position also became adverse as we recorded N18bn in losses. Good practice says that if you don’t have retained earnings or declare a loss, you don’t pay dividends,” Musungu said.

At the end of 2023, Guinness Nigeria’s revenue rose by 20.38 per cent to N142.595bn.

However, the cost of sales, which rose to N96.656bn from N76.161bn, on the back of marketing and distribution expenses (N23.790bn), administrative expenses (N8.264bn) and the 255.79 per cent jump in finance expense to N23.884bn from N6.713bn during this period.

This pushed the firm to N5.233bn loss, compared to a profit of N4.024bn in 2022.

A breakdown of finance expenses provided by the brewer showed that forex was still a major issue for the firm.

The loss on remeasurement of foreign currency balances was a major contributor to the jump, followed by exchange differences on foreign currency loans and accrued interest.

Last October, Guinness announced it was planning to stop the importation and distribution of certain Diageo international premium spirits effective from April 2024.

It said that its discontinuation of the importation of spirits from the multinational alcoholic beverage company would reduce its foreign exchange requirements.

Also, Diageo will be setting up a Nigerian arm this year due to the discontinuation of the importation of its spirits.

Diageo’s new Nigerian business will be solely spirits-focused. Some of the popular products of the brand include Johnnie Walker, Singleton, and Baileys and others.

Guinness Nigeria, which is a subsidiary of Diageo, incurred N49bn in exchange rate loss in its 2023 half-year operations and had in August revealed challenges with accessing forex for its operations despite the harmonisation of the segments of the currency market by the Central Bank of Nigeria in June.

The Kano State Fire Service, on Thursday, rescued a 37-year-old, who was in the process of committing suicide by hanging himself on a tree.

The man, identified as Saifullah Rabiu, according to his suicide note, said he was indebted to someone to the tune of N2 million for the payment of a foreign visa.

The State Fire Service spokesman, Saminu Abdullahi, confirmed the development in a statement made available to journalists.

The statement read, “At about 10:07 am, our Central Control Room received an emergency call from the Ministry of Works and Housing, Kano State, reporting a rescue incident at the State Road by Nassarawa Emir’s house.”

Following the call, according to the statement, the fire service personnel on standby duty mobilised to the scene of the incident and arrived at about 10:10 am.

On arrival, according to the statement, they promptly rescued a 37-year-old man alive, identified as Saifullahi Rabiu of Semegu Quarters, who was attempting to kill himself by hanging on a tree.

“The victim in a suicide note, said he owed someone the sum of N2 million plus in respect of an entry Visa to foreign countries and he refunded about N500,000 out of the money as he said, but decided to kill himself due to the challenge and embarrassment the owner subjected him to,” the statement added.


Meanwhile, the rescued man has been handed over to D.C.O Zaharaddini of the Farm Centre Police Division for further investigations.

naptu2:
https://thenationonlineng.net/im-not-a-kidnapper-but-an-armed-robber-says-abuja-notorious-kidnapper/

iwaeda:
Same way they started with GEJ.

The FCT Police Command has reacted to reports of an explosion in the Maitama area of the Federal Capital Territory.

In a series of tweets via X on Wednesday, some residents attributed the incident to bomb.

But the FCT police command in a statement by its Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, said the incident was as a result of an overheated metal refuse bin.

“The FCT Police Command hereby wishes to update the public on an alleged explosion on 24/01/2024 at about 1145 hrs, near a refuse dump outside the Bureau of Public Enterprise premises in Maitama, Abuja.”


“A rapid response team and members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit was deployed to assess the situation and preliminary findings indicate than an overheated metal refuse container activated under intense heat, exploded, thereby causing injury to two of the refuse evacuator, who are currently receiving medical attention in Maitama General Hospital.

“The FCT Police Command urges members of the public to exercise caution and refrain from using metal refuse bins. Instead, we recommend the use of plastic or rubber containers for waste disposal, as they pose a reduced risk of incidents related to overheated metal refuse containers,” the statement said.

treesun:
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/01/mangu-gunmen-defy-curfew-to-kill-over-20-burn-houses-in-communities/amp/

The Federation Account Allocation Committee says it shared a total sum of N1.13 trillion of earnings in December 2023 with the Federal Government, States, and Local Government Councils.

This is N500bn more than the N1.08trn shared to each state in November.

The FAAC in a communique after its January 2024 meeting, chaired by the Accountant General of the Federation, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, said the N1.13trn total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N363.188 billion, distributable Value Added Tax revenue of N458.622 billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy revenue of N17.855 billion and Exchange Difference revenue of N287.743 billion.

Madein, who was quoted in a statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Bawa Mokwa on Tuesday, also said A total sum of N57.92 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.

According to the communique, total revenue of N1,674.230 billion was available in December 2023.
Recall that the federation account began to enjoy more revenue following the removal of subsidies and unification of the country’s exchange rate by the current administration.

The statement read, “The N1.13trn total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N363.188 billion, distributable Value Added Tax revenue of N458.622 billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy revenue of N17.855 billion and Exchange Difference revenue of N287.743 billion.

“Total deductions for cost of collection was N62.254 billion; total transfers, interventions, and refunds was N484.568 billion.

“Gross statutory revenue of N875.382 billion was received for the month of December 2023. This was lower than the N882.560 billion received in the month of November 2023 by N 7.178 billion.”
The statement added that the gross revenue available from the Value Added Tax in December 2023 was N492.506 billion which was N132.1bn higher than the N360.455 billion available in the month of November 2023.

The communique stated that from the N1,127.408 billion total distributable revenue, the Federal Government received a total of N383.872 billion, the State Governments received N396.693 billion and the Local Government Councils received N288.928 billion.

It added, “A total sum of N57.915 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.

“From the N363.188 billion distributable statutory revenue, the Federal Government received N173.729 billion, the State Governments received N88.118 billion and the Local Government Councils received N67.935 billion. The sum of N33.406 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared with the benefiting States as derivation revenue.

“The Federal Government received N68.793 billion, the State Governments received N229.311 billion and the Local Government Councils received N160.518 billion from the N458.622 billion distributable Value Added Tax revenue.

“The N17.855 billion Electronic Money Transfer Levy was shared as follows: the Federal Government received N2.678 billion, the State Governments received N8.928 billion and the Local Government Councils received N6.249 billion.

“The Federal Government received N138.672 billion from the N 287.743 billion Exchange Difference revenue. The State Governments received N70.336 billion, and the Local Government Councils received N54.226 billion. The sum of N24.509 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.”

However, FAAC stated, “In the month of December 2023, Companies Income Tax, Excise Duty, Petroleum Profit Tax, Value Added Tax, and Electronic Money Transfer Levy increased significantly, while Oil and Gas Royalties decreased substantially. Import Duty and CET Levies decreased marginally.

“The balance in the ECA was $473,754.57, the statement concluded.

Over 1900 Repentant Boko Haram Terrorists Released Back Into Communities – Nigerian Defence Headquarters

The Nigerian Defence Headquarters, Abuja, has stated that no fewer than 1935 repentant Boko Haram terrorists were released from the Bulumkutu camp in Borno State back into the Nigerian society between 2016 and 2022 after undergoing deradicalisation.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, made this known in Abuja on Monday when he delivered a lecture titled: “Non-Kinetic Operations and the Nigerian Armed Forces,” at the opening session of a national security course on “Psychological Operations and Strategic Communication (PSYOPS)”organised by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

The programme was held with the theme, “Winning Hearts and Minds for National Cohesion and Development”.

The CDS, who was represented by Rear Admiral Daupreye Matthew, Director of Training, Defence Headquarters, asserted that the military had not contemplated scrapping the non-kinetic approach as part of the efforts being used to solve insecurity challenges.

He explained that the use of non-kinetic efforts under Operation Safe Corridor had led to the surrender of more than 2,000 Boko Haran members between 2016 and 2017.

According to him, 67 per cent of those who surrendered were of the Abubakar Shekau faction of the insurgents, adding that 1,543 repentant terrorists graduated from Mallam Sidi Camp in Gombe State and 1,935 were released from Bulumkutu camp in Borno between 2016 and 2022.

General Musa noted that from July 2021 to May 4, 2022 alone, no fewer than 51,828 terrorists and their family members surrendered, out of which 13,360 were fighters, stressing that 106,000 terrorists and their family members had so far surrendered in the North East.

The five-day programme was said to have been organised to boost security experts’ understanding of the dynamics of psychological operations and strategic communication.

agabusta:
I thought you said statistics show insecurity in the SE is a farce

Terror Sponsors Behind Air Crash That Killed Former Nigerian Chief Of Army Staff, Attahiru, Claims Retired General Ali-Keffi

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has been asked to probe the air crash that killed former Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru and ensure that those involved in the incident are brought to justice.

Former General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj Gen Danjuma Ali-Keffi (rtd), who made the call claimed that the crash was linked to terror sponsors.

SaharaReporters reported on May 21, 2021, that Ibrahim Attahiru, the Chief of Army Staff, had died in a plane crash.

He died a few months after his appointment.

Later, the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, stated that the crash of the Nigerian Air Force jet which killed the Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen Attahiru Ibrahim, and 10 other officers was due to bad weather.

The DHQ in a release added that the then-Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor, had ordered an investigation into the incident.

It occurred near the Kaduna International Airport in bad weather. Attahiru, one of the victims, was on his way to Kaduna to attend a passing-out parade for army recruits.

The Nigerian Army had listed the officers, who died in the crash, to include Attahiru, Brig Gen. M. I. Abdulkadir, Brig. Gen. Olayinka, Brig. Gen. Kuliya, Maj. L.A. Hayat, Maj. Hamza, and Sgt. Umar. The crew members were Flt. Lt. T.O. Asaniyi, Flt. Lt., A.A. Olufade, Sgt. Adesina, and ACM Oyedepo.

But speaking in an interview with THISDAY, Ali-Keffi, decried that the crash was swept under the carpet as the full report of the crash investigation was not made known, while insisting that the crash was linked to terror sponsors.

He said, "Let me put it succinctly, late General Attahiru showed strong commitment to end the insurgency ravaging the northern parts of the country."

Ali-Keffi said Attahiru devised the strategy to end terrorism in the North, part of which was infiltration of terror groups and the instigation of a crisis among terror leaders, which culminated in the elimination of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, by a rival terror group, Islamic State for West African Province (ISWAP).

Part of the strategy was to also cut off the oxygen of terrorism, including funding and logistics, and to take down terror financiers, Ali-Keffi stated.

Ali-Keffi, who had been billed to receive the late army chief, as GOC 1 Division in Kaduna, pointed to the sudden change of time for Attahiru’s trip to Kaduna, the change of aircraft, change of airport of landing, from the military airstrip to the Kaduna International Airport, his landing in a turbulent, stormy weather, and the ear-shattering explosion that occurred before the crash.

He also pointed to the fact that there was no crater or impact on the crash area, noting that the bodies of the passengers were flung out of the aircraft and burnt beyond recognition long before the aircraft came down, a strong indication that there was an “explosion”.

“The Operation Service Wide (OSW), a presidential task force, which I was commanding at the time of Late General Attahiru’s headship of the Nigerian Army, had as its primary mandate to dismantle the terrorism financing network in order to aid the fight against terrorism and insurgency.

“Late General Attahiru appointed me as GOC 1 Div (whilst still being the Commander of OSW) to enable me effectively discharge the task (OSW). It is important to note that OSW was not just an investigative outfit but also carried out covert operations to capture, or kill insurgents’ leaders and key fighters in the field; destroy insurgent camps and facilities, as well support the military and other security agencies’ operations.

“Furthermore, having command of 1 Div served as cover for me to carry out the task (OSW) without attracting unnecessary attention or making people aware of the existence of the outfit (OSW).”

Ali-Keffi continued, “About 2100 hrs on Thursday 20 May 2021, I spoke on phone with the Chief of Staff (COS) to the late COAS regarding their impending trip to Kaduna the following day (21 May 2021). I had earlier spoken with General Attahiru on the same issue. We ended our conversation on the note that the late COAS and entourage would come by flight at about 1000 hrs the following day.

“About 0630 hrs the following morning, I called the COS to the late COAS to confirm if their travel plan was as we discussed the night before, as I needed to make arrangements for the Mosque that the COAS would attend Jummu’at (Friday) prayers.

“The COS informed me that there was a change of plan. He said after we finished speaking last night, they received a message that the late COAS was to attend a meeting either at the Honourable Minister of Defence (HMOD) office or at the Presidential Villa at about 1000 hrs on Friday 21 May 2021 and that the late COAS was to attend in person and not send a representative.

“It is important to note that the late COAS’ trip to Kaduna was part of his visit to Zaria to attend the Passing Out Parade at the Depot NA slated for Saturday 22 May 2021.

“It is worth noting that the movement of service chiefs out of station (Abuja) is with the prior knowledge of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the Honourable Minister of Defence (HMOD), and the presidency.

“So, why was a meeting scheduled for about the same time that the late COAS was to have departed for (or arrived) Kaduna and why the insistence that he (COAS) should not be represented?

“In any case, the COS informed me that in view of the meeting, they would depart the Flag House (official residence of the COAS) at about 1530 hrs (after attending the meeting and also after the Jummu’ at prayers) for the airport.

“They expected to arrive the airport at about 1600 hrs, board the aircraft at about 1610 – 1615 hrs and depart for Kaduna. At about 1600 hrs, I was informed that they had arrived the Presidential Wing of the Airport. I then set off from the Stallion House (official residence of the GOC) with my entourage in a convoy and arrived the Air Force Base at about 1615 hrs.

“For reasons that I cannot understand till today, the flight was delayed for over an hour and did not take off until 1730 hrs or thereabout. The reason for the delay, as I was informed, was that there was issue with the aircraft that was initially assigned for the mission (to convey the COAS and his entourage) and that it had to be changed.”

Ali-Keffi also disclosed, “Meantime, there was meteorological alert that Kaduna airspace was going to experience heavy rainfall accompanied with storm (wind shear) and it was advised. Already, the cloud had formed in Kaduna, which was visible to us at the airport.

“As a matter of fact, the cloud was so thick, which was indicative of a massive storm. I began to nurse doubts about the flight. At some point, I voiced my doubts to Air Commodore Iyamu and Air Commodore Ilo, who were with me to receive the COAS.

“I even suggested that they should advise Abuja of weather condition with a view to having the flight cancelled. At that point, I was informed that the aircraft was airborne (at about 1745 hrs). I became concerned as to whether the aircraft would be able to land at the airport in such a heavy rainfall, storm (the rain had started falling then).

“Thus, I was not surprised when Air Commodore Ilo informed me that we had to go to the Civil (International Airport) as the NAF runway was not long enough to enable the aircraft to land under the atrocious weather condition. We then set off for the International Airport but at a snail speed due to the heavy rainfall, which was accompanied with shale (ice particles).”

The former GOC further said, “When we got to the vicinity of the airport, there was a thunderous sound, which I thought was the sound of thunder. We had earlier sited what I believed was the aircraft descending to land on the runway. When we turned the bend to enter the tarmac, the thought on my mind was that the aircraft had touched down and was taxing to the parking area.

“I couldn’t see any aircraft on the runway. I frantically looked around and by the far side of the runway there was a fireball. It was the aircraft conveying General Attahiru! We got out the vehicles, crossed the runway and approached the burning aircraft. Firefighters were on hand to put out the blaze. At some point, we had to pull back due to the fear of exploding cylinders.

“We later recovered the corpses of the 10 passengers on board the ill-fated plane far from where the plane wreckage was. Apparently, their bodies, which were on fire, were flung from the aircraft before it came down (already in flames). Furthermore, the aircraft (or what was left of it), at least what I could recollect, was on a relatively flat grassland.

“There was no crater. This was indicative of a mid-air explosion. So, what caused the aircraft to explode? I wonder what the Air Safety and Accident Investigation Bureau report says about the incident.”

Ali-Keffi further queried, “Was the flight deliberately delayed in order to be caught up in the rainstorm? Was the aircraft sabotaged, which caused it to explode mid-air? Was the explosion caused by explosives? Was a bomb planted in the aircraft or contained in a parcel, which a passenger unknowingly (or knowingly) carried?”

Ali-Keffi had earlier written to Tinubu over his arrest, detention and compulsory retirement, following the revelations of a presidential investigative taskforce that he headed. The inquest had exposed the involvement of senior government officials, a top banker, and top military brass in terrorism financing.

He was head of OPS, which was set up by former President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate those allegedly involved in terrorism financing.

Ali-Keffi said he headed a presidency-instituted Board of Inquiry (BOI) convened by Major General BM Monguno (rtd), the former National Security Adviser (NSA), which sat in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for five weeks, from early January to late February 2020.

He stated, “I was the president of the BOI, with members/secretary drawn from the NCS, NIS, DSS, NIA, ONSA, NFIU. The Board of Inquiry, which largely conducted its work as an investigative body was tasked to investigate circumstances surrounding the illegal smuggling of petroleum products contained in 168 oil tankers into Benin Republic through a single smuggling route in Ilesa Barbara in Kwara State.”

Ali-Keffi said the BOI went further to uncover 295 oil tankers that conveyed Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), with the major smugglers identified.

He said, “The petition stated that the BOI made a significant discovery regarding the relationship between the smuggling racket, the terrorism besetting the North-east, the banditry/kidnapping for ransom, which was at its formative stage in the North-west and parts of North-central geo-political zones, the illegal mining of minerals in the North-west and North-central, and large scale laundering of mostly funds meant for counterterrorism/insurgency operations that was ongoing mostly in the northern regions of the country.

“A syndicate, which had extensive network in the country as well as being affiliated to international criminal network, was as the centre of moving finances for terrorism for other criminal activities stated above.”

Ali-Keffi revealed, “The most worrisome aspect was that some of the individuals involved in terrorism financing of Boko Haram terrorists and who were also involved in procurement and movement of arms and ammunition for BH and other criminal organisations had links with the military.

“It was, thus, apparent that terrorism and insurgency in the North-east, North-west, and North-central were a criminal enterprise and were largely undertaken with profit rather than any ideology, as the primary motive.

“Thus, we at the BOI arrived at the obvious conclusion that progress cannot be achieved except the financiers, collaborators, supporters and the leadership of the terrorists and insurgents groups are identified and the network dismantled.”

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) constituted an audit committee four days after the Kaduna air crash that claimed the lives of Attahiru and other officers to investigate the incident. The then Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, formed a team of serving and retired senior officers to conduct a safety audit of all NAF operational and engineering units.

Air Force Spokesman, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, said in a statement at the time of the crash that the committee was to, among others, analyse safety reports from operational and engineering units, conduct safety evaluation of NAF units, and recommend safety measures.

It said the team would also interact with unit operational and technical personnel for views, observations, and contributions on safety measures.

Chaired by Air Vice Marshal Abraham Adole, then Deputy Theatre Commander, Operation HADIN KAI, the committee was to submit its report not later than June 18, 2021. The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) in collaboration with Nigerian Air Force also submitted an interim report on the Air Force aircraft, King Air 350.

Presenting the report to Amao, former Chief Executive Officer of AIB, Akin Olateru, said the report contained 27 findings and eight recommendations for immediate implementation.

Although the statement, jointly signed by Gabkwet and his AIB counterpart, Tunji Oketunbi, did not contain the details of the recommendations, the statement said the report was organised into three sections.

It said, “The submitted report is organised into three sections, namely, the information obtained in the course of the investigation; analysis of data collected in view of the board’s terms of reference and the conclusion, which covers the initial findings and immediate recommendations.”

The statement also said the final report would contain more detailed information. But it was not made public.

When contacted, Defence spokesman, Brig Gen Tukur Gusau, promised to react to Ali-Keffi’s claims but referred the reporter to the army.

“Let me see if I can get a response. You should also call the army,” he said.

Spokesmen for the Army and Air Force were not forthcoming with any response at the time of filling the report.

successmatters:
This is how a lot 9f Ch8naza Phillip story starts, if you refuse, they will put gun in your hands and you become a kidnapper.

Melagros:
Every member of the society including the police wants to be rich at all cost