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13 hostages rescued during counter-terrorism operations: Military
The Nigerian Army says troops have rescued 13 hostages, intercepted 300 rounds of ammunition and killed a suspected kidnapper in separate operations nationwide.
The military operational update on Thursday covered significant occurrences between Wednesday and Thursday.
The report said the operations also disrupted illegal bunkering, recovered suspected illegally refined petroleum products, and intercepted a trailer carrying illegally mined ilmenite.
Under Operation MESA, it said the troops of 195 Battalion rescued 10 kidnapped victims and recovered the corpse of another victim in Elon/Ikakumo Forest, Akoko-Edo council area of Edo.
The report added that the rescued victims and recovered corpse were handed over to the police at Ibilolo Division for further action. Under Operation ENDURING PEACE, it said the troops of Sector 6 neutralised a suspected kidnapper at Angwan Boka, Riyom council area of Plateau.
According to the report, other suspected kidnappers fled following the engagement, while troops recovered a locally fabricated AK-47 rifle and six rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition.
“In another operation, troops responded to sporadic shootings by suspected kidnappers along the Jos-Makurdi road in Riyom. The intervention forced the criminals to abandon three abducted persons who sustained gunshot wounds, while the kidnappers fled with two other victims.
“The rescued victims were evacuated to the Primary Health Centre, Riyom, for medical attention, while efforts continued to rescue the two remaining abductees,” it said.
The report further revealed that troops of Sector 8 conducted a fighting patrol to Kogul village, Mangu council area, where they engaged suspected militias. It said the troops forced the suspected militias to withdraw, while one soldier sustained a gunshot wound and was evacuated to General Hospital, Mangu, for treatment.
According to the report, troops intercepted four cattle found grazing on farmland without a herder in Manja community, Mangu, while the cattle were taken into military custody for further action.
Under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, the report said troops apprehended a suspected terrorist logistics supplier in Buruku town, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna. According to the report, the female suspect was apprehended with 300 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition concealed in her bag.
The suspect travelled from Zamfara to Lafia, where she allegedly received the ammunition for onward delivery to Birnin Gwari.
“Under Joint Task Force South South, Operation DELTA SAFE, troops of 6 Division Garrison arrested a suspected illegal bunkerer at Omoku, Rivers. The suspect was intercepted with a vehicle conveying eight 200-litre gallons containing substance suspected to be illegally refined automotive gas oil.
“In another operation, troops discovered three illegal refining sites in Okarki Forest, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers. The sites contained crude oil, suspected illegally refined AGO, reservoirs, ovens, pipes and other equipment used for illegal refining activities.
“The troops recovered about 320 litres of stolen crude oil in six sacks and 1,080 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO,” the report said.
It added that troops of 246 Battalion intercepted a trailer carrying illegally mined ilmenite along the Tuomo-Bomadi road in Bomadi council area of Delta. It said the trailer was subsequently moved to Headquarters Sector 1, JTF South South, for further action.
According to the report, the operation also recorded the recovery and burial of the corpse of a soldier who accidentally fell into the waters from a houseboat at Agoubiri, Southern Ijaw council area of Bayelsa, on Sunday.
“In another development, troops of 63 Brigade Garrison arrested three suspected impostors wearing woodland camouflage and carrying plastic rifles along Infant Jesus Road, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta.
“The suspects claimed to be artists filming comedy skits, while 63 Provost Company commenced an investigation into the source of the military kits. “The suspects are expected to be handed over to the police for further action,” it added.
(NAN)
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has unveiled the final list of Lagos State governorship candidate.
The list is contained in a document released by INEC on Saturday in preparation for the 2027 general elections.
According to the document, the Lagos State deputy governor, Femi Hamzat is listed at the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Also on the list is Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour as the African Democratic Congress, ADC, candidate.
Find attach below document containing the full list.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has omitted former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, from its final list of governorship candidates for Gombe State ahead of the February 6, 2027 election.
Politics Nigeria reports that the commission released a list of 16 cleared candidates for the election, but Pantami’s name was missing despite his earlier inclusion in the provisional list published on August 29.
Among the candidates on the final list are Bala Bello Tinka of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Babayo Ardo Kumo of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).
Others include Zubairu Mu’azu Halilu of the Labour Party (LP), Lamela L. Silas of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Ibrahim Jalo Abubakar of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Adamu Mohammed Ma’aji of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Pantami’s exclusion comes amid a series of legal disputes over his emergence as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state.
The former minister had initially sought the APC governorship ticket but left the party after it settled for Gwamna as its consensus candidate. He subsequently joined the PDP and emerged as the party’s flag bearer through voice affirmation at its governorship primary.
However, a Federal High Court sitting in Gombe nullified his initial emergence on May 26, following a challenge to the primary process.
The court ordered a fresh primary election, which Pantami won on September 29 with 2,054 votes, defeating Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki and Usman Aliyu Garry.
Garry had challenged Pantami’s emergence, arguing that the required primary election was not properly conducted before the former minister was declared the party’s candidate.
Despite winning the court-ordered rerun, Pantami’s eligibility remained in doubt following the Supreme Court’s September 24, 2026 judgment on provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 governing political party membership registers and candidate eligibility.
The Supreme Court affirmed the constitutionality of Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) of the Electoral Act 2026 and upheld INEC’s revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 elections.
The provisions bar political parties from fielding candidates whose names were not included in the membership registers submitted to INEC within the stipulated period.
INEC has maintained that parties found to have violated the requirements will not be permitted to participate in the elections through candidates whose nominations breach the law.
Mohammed Haruna, an INEC national commissioner in charge of information and voter education, said the commission would not allow parties to replace candidates affected by the provisions.
Haruna made the clarification during an appearance on Trust TV’s programme on Wednesday evening, explaining that allowing substitutions would enable political parties to benefit from their own violations.
He cited previous disputes involving Zamfara and Plateau states to illustrate the consequences of parties failing to comply with electoral requirements.
“It’s like you committed an offence. And then, you come and benefit from it,” Haruna said.
He added that allowing parties to substitute candidates in such circumstances would amount to permitting them to benefit from an offence they had committed.
Haruna also indicated that the commission expected to make a definite pronouncement on the implications of the Supreme Court judgment by the following Tuesday.
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