The Sokoto State Commissioner for Carriers and Security Matters, Colonel Garba Moyi (rtd) confirmed the attack but was not sure of the number of casualties.

However, multiple reports suggest that many may have died following the attack.

Residents of the area and security sources told Channels Television that the gunmen attacked the base, codenamed “Burkusuma Camp”, in the early hours of Sunday, killing an unknown number of military personnel.

According to the sources, the armed men came in their large numbers and started shooting at the camp from all angles.

The military source could not confirm if the said camp is the same with the Burkusuma camp in Sabo Birni Local Government Area.

Meanwhile, a former Chairman of Sabon Birni, Idris Muhammad Gobir, also known as Danchadi, told newsmen that the “Burkusuma Camp” was attacked with several security operatives in the place still missing.

He said the marauding bandits also  burnt down two patrol vehicles and carted away another one which was used to convey food items stolen from the villagers.

Although telecommunication services have been shut down in North West State, the former chairman explained that a resident of Burkusuma who accessed mobile telecommunication service from Niger Republic told them about the attack.

Another resident of the area who craved anonymity, equally confirmed the development, explaining that some vehicles were sent to evacuate the corpses of the fallen heroes.

He said over 10 trucks conveying armed military personnel are in the forest trailing the bandits.

A personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), who sought anonymity, said that three persons from the agency were among the casualties.

After carrying out the attack, the bandits later went to another village, Katsira, and shot four persons.

Two of the victims died instantly while others were receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

The bandits also abducted three persons from the village.

Security personnel in the area, including the spokesman of the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major Yahaya Ngulde, however, said they are not aware of the incident.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Sanusi Abubakar also said he has not been briefed about the latest assault on the state.

ChannelsTV

The remains of the corps members were transported from Abuja in a military aircraft, drawing angry reactions from Nigerians.

The bodies of five prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who died in a road accident have been returned to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The remains were transported from Abuja in a military aircraft, drawing angry reactions from Nigerians.

The five prospective corps members died in a road accident on their way to the NYSC camp in Katsina State

Their remains were ferried home in a C-130 Nigerian Air Force aircraft which landed at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Wednesday.

The after-death heroic treatment done to the graduates angered some Nigerians who went on social media to vent their anger on the country’s leaders.

Some of them expressed shock that the bodies of the young graduates who died in a road accident were airlifted home – when the government could not provide air ticket for them when they were alive.

In her comment on a Facebook post, Sarah Abia wrote, “What is the need? What joy can it bring now?

“Dying by road, transported to be buried by aircraft.

“Nonsense!!!!

“Oh God deliver us from hypocrisy of this nation. May their souls rest in peace.”

For Womi Iwara, “There respect the death than the living, those people may not have tested aircraft before but now that they are death there are coming back with aircraft, wicked world, honoring them as if after service there would have been job for them, rest in peace my fellow hustling Nigerians.”

Emem Okon said, “Why didn’t they put them in the aircraft to the camp.

“Now their dead bodies enter (sic) the aircraft.

“Nigerian leader’s God will judge some of you since you all have the abilities to do good and help but u refuse.

“I pray God comfort their families and Friends.”

For Everest William, “The same aircraft that they won’t use to convey them, when they are going for service.

“Now that they’re dead, that’s when they consider them worthy of been flown in an aircraft.

“Is this not medicine after death?

“Is this not eye service & hypocrisy in the highest order?”

The Accident

The bus carrying the young graduates was travelling at night from Uyo, Nigeria’s South-south, to Katsina, in the North-west region, when the accident occurred along Abuja-Abaji-Kwali Expressway last Wednesday around 4 a.m.

Four of the victims were from Akwa Ibom State, while one was from Imo State.

Two of the deceased, Innocent Ukpere and Victor Akpan, were graduates of Mass Communication from Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic.

The other three, Miracle Asuquo, graduate of Psychology; Stella Ekikoh, graduate of Sociology and Anthropology; and Ezuruike Coleman, a graduate of History and International Studies, were graduates of the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

They were buried on the 4th of Aug.

Updated: May 18, 2021

The Nigerian Federal Government has disclosed that Nigeria accounts for between 65% and 75% of the crimes that happens on the waters in the Gulf of Guinea.

The Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi speaking on Monday in Abuja, said Nigeria has made progress sorting out insecurity from its side in the Gulf of Guinea.

Hon. Amaechi revealed that a maritime security project would be launched in Lagos this June by President Buhari. The Minister said “the crisis in the maritime sector is the maritime insecurity and it’s more complex than the world knows”, adding that the Federal Government has a solution at hand.

He made plain that if the security plan involving the Army, Navy, and the DSS comes out fruitful, “in the near future, there will be an improvement in the maritime security, then other countries in the Gulf of Guinea can adopt it.

“Seventy-five or 65 per cent of crime comes from our waters and if we are able to eliminate it then we will be making a lot of progress” he stressed. The Minister further disclosed that “If you are in the air, you will see what is happening on the water.

The helicopter has the ability to drop in the Naval men when they see anything suspicious”. He expressed readiness of the FG to partner and share information with whoever wants information as regards securing the Gulf of Guinea.

Earlier, the Belgium Ambassador to Nigeria, Daniel Bertrand officially presented a letter to the Minister requesting the support of the Nigerian government for the Belgium candidate for the position at the International Maritime Organization.

The Ambassador mentioned that they observed with ardent interest what is happening in the Gulf of Guinea and would love to receive assistance and give support in any way to the implementation of maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.

Fellow country men, the intervention of the military at the end of 1983 was welcomed by the nation with unprecedented enthusiasm. Nigerians were unified in accepting the intervention and looked forward hopefully to progressive changes for the better. Almost two years later, it has become clear that the fulfillment of expectations is not forthcoming.

Because this generation of Nigerians and indeed future generations have no other country but Nigeria, we could not stay passive and watch a small group of individuals misuse power to the detriment of our national aspirations and interest.

No nation can ever achieve meaningful strides in its development where there is an absence of cohesion in the hierarchy of government; where it has become clear that positive action by the policy makers is hindered because as a body it lacks a unity of purpose.

It is evident that the nation would be endangered with the risk of continuous misdirection. We are presently confronted with that danger. In such a situation, if action can be taken to arrest further damage, it should and must be taken. This is precisely what we have done.

The Nigerian public has been made to believe that the slow pace of action of the Federal Government headed by Major-General Muhammadu Buhari was due to the enormity of the problems left by the last civilian administration.

Although it is true that a lot of problems were left behind by the last civilian government, the real reason, however, for the very slow pace of action is due to lack of unanimity of purpose among the ruling body; subsequently, the business of governance has gradually been subjected to ill-motivated power play considerations. The ruling body, the Supreme Military Council, has, therefore, progressively been made redundant by the actions of a select few members charged with the day-to-day implementation of the SMC’s policies and decision.

The concept of collective leadership has been substituted by stubborn and ill advised unilateral actions, thereby destroying the principles upon which the government came to power. Any effort made to advise the leadership, met with stubborn resistance and was viewed as a challenge to authority or disloyalty.

Thus, the scene was being set for systematic elimination of what, was termed oppositions. All the energies of the rulership were directed at this imaginary opposition rather than to effective leadership.

The result of this misdirected effort is now very evident in the country as a whole. The government has started to drift. The economy does not seem to be getting any better as we witness daily increased inflation.

The nation’s meager resources are once again being wasted on unproductive ventures. Government has distanced itself from the people and the yearnings and aspirations of the people as constantly reflected in the media have been ignored.

This is because a few people have arrogated to themselves the right to make the decisions for the larger part of the ruling body. All these events have shown that the present composition of our country’s leadership cannot, therefore, justify its continued occupation of that position.

Furthermore, the initial objectives and programmes of action which were meant to have been implemented since the ascension to power of the Buhari Administration in January 1984 have been betrayed and discarded. The present state of uncertainty and stagnation cannot be permitted to degenerate into suppression and retrogression.

We feel duty bound to use the resources and means at our disposal to restore hope in the minds of Nigerians and renew aspirations for a better future. We are no prophets of doom for our beloved country, Nigeria. We, therefore, count on everyone’s cooperation and assistance.

I appeal to you, fellow countrymen, particularly my colleagues in arms to refrain from any act that will lead to unnecessary violence and bloodshed among us. Rest assured that our action is in the interest of the nation and the armed forces.

In order to enable a new order to be introduced, the following bodies are dissolved forthwith pending further announcements: (a) The Supreme Military Council (b) The Federal Executive Council (c) The National Council of States. All seaports and airports are closed, all borders remain closed.

Finally, a dusk to dawn curfew is hereby imposed in Lagos and all state capitals until further notice. All military commanders will ensure effective maintenance of law and order. Further announcements will be made in due course. God bless Nigeria.

CAN ANY NIGERIAN TELL US THE DIFFERENCE THEN AND NOW?

Updated May 13, 2021

President Buhari has pleaded to the nigerians to show more appreciation of the problems facing the nation and better understand the military.

Addressing the reporters at the Aso Rock, Abuja shortly after observing the Eid prayer on Thursday, Mr, President has said that the military equipment that are ordered take time to arrive and be deployed for action.

According to the president : “The elite should make the attempt to understand the military. If we order weapons and armoured vehicles, it takes time for the manufacturers. It takes time to ship them and when brought here eventually, they are taken to training institutions, train the trainers before sending them to the field. This is a very long process.”

Mr. president also appealed to Nigerians for more understanding of the current situation in the nation saying: “I expect Nigerians to be more understanding on the issues involved, looking at the time and available resources.

“For example, when we came in, in the North-East, ask people in Adamawa and Borno States and the South-South in terms of security. Without security, you can’t do anything.

“Our big surprise and disappointment is what is happening in the North-West and we are dealing with it.”

The President Buhari, has pledged that his administration will use all its available resources and manpower in dealing with bandits to guarantee that they do not create mayhem against access to farms and food production in the coming farming season.

Mr. President stressed that the threats of bandits and kidnappers will be taken care of to make sure that the nation’s food security is not threatened.

President Buhari, who hoped for a fruitful rainy season this year said “the law enforcement agencies are working hard to regain confidence against bandits so that we can go back to the land. This is very important. This is what the agencies are busy doing right now. We want people to go back to the land so that we can get enough food for the country and even export.”

He further explained the ongoing hard work in order  to tackle the security situation in the country by his administration, President Buhari spoke on the series of  long meetings held in the past weeks, lead by him, saying that a part of resolutions which  had been made public by the National Security Adviser and the others were kept secret.

“With the resources and manpower available to us, we are working very hard. We are hoping Nigerians will understand the problem. Nigerians know at what stage we came in in 2015, what state we are today both on security and the economy and we are doing our best.”

In his statement Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), the president commended the National Assembly for its support, saying: “The National Assembly is cooperating very well. Within the resources available, they are certainly giving us priority on our (military) requests.”

According to the statement the President Buhari and members of his family were joined for the Eid at the forecourt of the Aso Rock by the President of the Senate, Dr Ahmed Lawan, the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, cabinet members and the heads of security and intelligence agencies.

The exercise according to the military is to combat the menace of kidnapping, armed robbery and other criminalities in the region.

Alongside the operation, the military held a multi-agency confidence building patrol bringing together the Army, Police, DSS, Civil Defence, Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) officials at its headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The operation involves the movement of troops and trucks through some major streets in the city.

According to the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Major General Enobong Udoh, the exercise is aimed at reassuring the public of the army and other sister services and security agencies to work together and eliminate crimes within the society.

He said the operation is aimed at maintaining peace and tranquility in the region and not a show of force or brutality.

“We are gathered here for a confidence-building patrol not a show of force. The soldier is not the enemy of the police, the police is not the enemy of the Civil Defence. We are all brothers working for the same goal.

“Wherever you see a soldier, you have seen your brother, wherever you see a DSS officer, you have seen your brother, wherever you see a road safety, you have seen your brother. All of us are working for the same goal,” he said.