News
Troops nab five ISWAP collaborators, rescue kidnap victim
Troops of the Nigerian Army have apprehended five suspected terrorist collaborators and secured the surrender of an ISWAP fighter in Borno.
An operational report made available to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday said the operations also led to the arrest of additional suspected criminals in Plateau.
The report said troops also restored normalcy in a Delta community following a deadly clash between youths and operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
“Troops of 29 Task Force Brigade Garrison, raided Benisheikh in Kaga Local Government Area of Borno on Tuesday and arrested five suspected terrorist collaborators,” it said.
The report also revealed that troops recovered a dane gun, seven mobile phones and two locally made knives.
It added that the suspects and recovered items were in military custody for further investigation.
It further said that an ISWAP fighter surrendered to troops of Sector 3, Joint Task Force, North East, Operation Hadin Kai, in Monguno, Borno.
According to the report, preliminary investigations indicate that the fighter escaped from a terrorist camp in Tumbunma village, in the Lake Chad region near Bukar Meram in Marte Local Government Area.
“Items recovered from the surrendered fighter include an AK-47 rifle, 31 rounds of 5.56mm special ammunition, a camel bag, a small solar panel, an earpiece and two mobile phones.”
The report also said that in Kaduna, troops of 4 Demonstration Battalion rescued a female kidnap victim following an attack and the abduction of civilians in Kauyen Masaka village, Igabi Local Government Area.
“Troops responded to the incident at about 1:41 a.m. on Tuesday, rescuing the woman and recovering a motorcycle.
“The rescued victim was reunited with her family and disclosed that other captives fled during the military intervention,” it said.
The report further revealed that troops of Headquarters 24 Armoured Brigade arrested an additional suspect following the interrogation of three suspected criminals earlier apprehended in Sabon Gida-Pil Gani village, Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau.
It said troops subsequently raided the suspects’ residence, recovering two locally fabricated pistols and 10 cartridges.
The report added that investigations were ongoing to recover an alleged AK-47 rifle and other weapons believed to be in the suspects’ custody.
“In Rivers, troops of 16 Brigade Garrison, working with personnel of 5 Battalion, discovered an illegal refining site in Ogbogolo Forest, Ahoada East Local Government Area.
“Items found at the site include two long cooking drums, another drum, two half drums and two long pipes. The items were handled in line with extant regulations.
“In Delta, troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion, working with Operation Delta Sweep and 3 Battalion (Reinforcement), restored normalcy in Okpara inland community, Ethiope East Local Government Area, following a deadly incident involving NDLEA operatives and youths.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that some NDLEA operatives encountered resistance from youths while attempting to arrest a suspected drug peddler, during which a youth sustained gunshot wounds and later died.
“The incident reportedly triggered attacks on the vigilante office and community town hall, with four vehicles, a motorcycle and the community leader’s residence burnt,” it said.
The report added that troops subsequently cleared and reopened blocked access routes, conducted patrols and maintained a presence in the community to prevent further violence.
It said normalcy had been restored, with residents returning to their normal activities, while troops continued to engage community leaders to sustain peace.
It also said efforts were ongoing to strengthen security and prevent a recurrence of the violence.
(NAN)
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) says about 93 per cent of children affected by recent diphtheria outbreaks in Nigeria had not received the full recommended vaccine doses.
The agency’s Executive Director, Muyi Aina, disclosed this on Thursday during its quarterly media briefing in Abuja.
Mr Aina said an analysis of cases recorded during the outbreaks showed that most affected children were either unvaccinated or had received fewer than the three recommended doses.
“We looked at data from all the cases that we have had, and in the different outbreaks that are happening, over 90 per cent, I think 93 per cent of the children had not received the full complement of vaccines that they should receive,” he said.
He said some affected children had either received no vaccine or only one of the three recommended doses.
Mr Aina attributed the situation partly to misinformation and false rumours affecting vaccine uptake in some communities.
“The vaccines are available. We have advocated, and we have interventions to get communities to access these vaccines,” he said.
“But when people allow misinformation and false rumours to influence their behaviour, they don’t access the vaccines.”
Mr Aina said reducing vaccine-preventable diseases remained a critical priority of the agency’s immunisation programme.
Other vaccination programmes
Mr Aina said more than 18.3 million girls had received the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, and efforts are ongoing to expand coverage among eligible girls.
“For the human papillomavirus vaccine, over 18.3 million of our girls have now been vaccinated,” he said.
He added that the measles-rubella vaccine had reached more than 102 million children aged nine months to 14 years.
According to him, 882,000 children in Kebbi, Bayelsa, Ondo and Bauchi states had received at least the first dose of the malaria vaccine.
Mr Aina said the agency was also recording gradual improvement in routine immunisation coverage and reducing the number of zero-dose children through targeted interventions.
READ ALSO: NPHCDA records 45 million quarterly PHC visits, links 773,000 pregnant women to care
“We are reducing our number of zero-dose children through several interventions, including the identification, enumeration and vaccination of children, and through targeted interventions to reach underserved communities,” he said.
He urged caregivers, community leaders and teachers to support vaccination efforts to protect children against preventable diseases.
“I think this should be a wake-up call for all of us who are caregivers, for those of us that are community leaders and teachers, that we need to again focus on making sure that we get all of the vaccines that we need,” Mr Aina said.
He added that efforts are underway to expand the Basic Health Care Provision Fund to more facilities, increasing coverage from 8,300 to 15,000.
(NAN)
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Tersoo Kula, Chief Press Secretary to Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, has called on residents of the North-Central region to support President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term in office in the 2027 general elections.
Kula made the appeal during an appearance on TVC News on Wednesday, arguing that Tinubu’s return to office would ensure continuity in the implementation of his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He defended the Federal Government’s economic reforms, describing them as essential measures for achieving sustainable economic growth and long-term prosperity. According to him, states across the North-Central region stand to benefit from the policies.
The governor’s spokesperson also linked Benue’s development efforts to the working relationship between the state and federal governments.
He explained that the Alia administration’s investments in agriculture, education and healthcare had received support from Tinubu’s economic policies, which he said had helped stimulate economic growth and increase federal allocations to state governments.
Kula further pointed to the reactivation of previously dormant industrial facilities, including Benue Brewery, Bensono Orange Juice Company and Taraku Mills, as evidence of the state government’s efforts to revive industrial activities and expand economic opportunities.
He also stated the activities of the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), which has ventured into the production of bread, nails and steel as part of efforts to boost local manufacturing.
According to the governor’s aide, these initiatives demonstrate the state government’s efforts to utilise available financial resources to promote economic development.
On infrastructure, Kula listed urban renewal initiatives and road construction projects across Benue as some of the administration’s achievements.
He disclosed that the state government had commenced plans to construct three township roads in each of the 23 local government areas of Benue State.
The spokesperson added that the welfare of civil servants and pensioners remained a priority for the Alia administration.
Kula urged voters in Benue and other states in the North-Central region to support both Alia and Tinubu in the 2027 elections, expressing confidence that their continued leadership would sustain development efforts in the state, the region and the country.
2027: Benue gov’s aide urges North-Central residents to back Tinubu, Alia
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