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Armed Forces Day Shows Nigerian War Veterans Are Gallant, Honourable in Death- Oyebanji

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has declared that the fact that Nigeria still celebrates the Armed Forces Remembrance day annually shows that soldiers who lost their lives while protecting the territorial integrity of the country didn’t die in vain.

Oyebanji restated that the celebration is a loud confirmation that the war veterans are gallant and honourable in death while those still in the Armed Forces fighting the battles against insurgency, banditry and other criminalities, are still being dignified by the Nigerian citizens.

Oyebanji said these on Monday, at the Grand Finale of the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day held at the palatial Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

The programme performed by a detachment of men and officers of the 32 Artillery Brigade, Akure, Ondo State, featured mounting of a Guard of Honour, Gun Volley and Laying of Wreaths to respect and honour the fallen heroes for their immesurable services to nationhood.

After the Governor, represented by his deputy, Chief ( Mrs) Monisade Afuye; and other dignitaries laid their wreaths, a widow of one of the war victims, Mrs Esther Bankole, was also allowed to perform similar function.

Speaking at the sideline after the programme, Mrs Afuye, said the Armed Forces Remembrance Day was conceptualised for Nigerians to acknowledge, venerate and honour the fallen heroes.

She added that it was another opportunity for the government at all levels to show appreciation to men and officers of the Nigerian Army, who are fighting hard to preserve the nation’s bond of unity and entrench watetforced security in the system.

Underscoring the expediency of the enormous respect and honour commanded by fallen heroes and the Nigerian Army, the governor said: “We should all bear in mind that in the course of these patriots fighting for Nigeria, particularly during the civil war and while fighting insurgents and criminals, some of them lost their lives or suffered all manners of body disabilities.

“Looking at these harrowing experiences, you can all agree with me that nothing is too much to sacrifice to honour these heroes.
My appeal to Nigerians is that, we must show love, support and benevolence to the families of the victims.

“And to those who are still in the service fighting insurgents, kidnappers, bandits and other criminals, we must show them love and give other incentives to make them more patriotic in their services to their fatherland.

“Let me congratulate them, because whatever must have happened to them, Nigerians are still remembering and honouring them, which indicates that they remained gallant and honourable in death and most importantly, their labour of hardwork has not been in vain”.

Present at the occasion were: Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon Adeoye Aribasoye, Secretary to the State Government, Dr Habitat Adubiaro, Head of Service, Engr. Sunday Akomolafe, Deputy Commandant, 32 Artillery Brigade, Akure, Brig. Gen. J. N. Garba , Commissioner of Police, Mr. Dare Ogundare and other Security Chiefs.

The roll call of attendees included: The Chairman of Legions, Ekiti Chapter, Lt. Col. Abdurasaq Atoki (Rtd), Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Ayorinde Ilori Faboro, Local Government Chairmen, representative of Ewi of Ado Ekiti, among others.

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IGP orders arrest and investigation of officer caught on tape making unauthorized political comments about Edo guber election

The Nigeria Police Force says it is aware of a recent video evidencing political comment by an individual dressed in a Spy Police uniform regarding the upcoming Edo State gubernatorial elections, which has been circulating on social media platforms.

In a statement released, the spokesperson of the police force, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the NPF strongly condemned this act and clarified that the individual is not a regular officer of the Nigeria Police Force, but a Supernumerary (Spy) Police Officer employed by a private company.

“Supernumerary Police Officers are private individuals trained by the Nigeria Police for specific security functions, primarily within their place of employment.

“They are not on the payroll of the NPF and do not swear to the oath of allegiance like sworn regular police officers, thus they have the right to belong to any political party of their choice and freedom of expression.

” In this extant case, the Police frowns at the wearing of his official SPY uniform and engaging in political activities.

The individual involved has been arrested for further investigations. We reiterate that his political comments do not reflect the views of the Nigeria Police, and the public is urged to disregard any such statements and trust in our continued commitment to professionalism, neutrality, and the rule of law.” Adejobi said

In the viral video, the officer could be heard saying ;

“They want to make the governance of our state a family affair, an affair between two friends and we Edo people will not allow that to happen and this is the time to bring Obaseki to justice.

” He has committed a lot of crimes against Edo people. We have spared him because of the immunity given to him by the Constitution. Very soon, he will not have immunity, he will be free and the Edo people will deal with him as we please”

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UAE deports 400 Nigerians

Four hundred Nigerians including 90 females and 310 males have been deported from the United Arab Emirates, UAE, the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, reports.

They were received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by the office of the National Security Adviser alongside the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other stakeholders.

It was gathered that a total of 103 Nigerians deported from the Republic of Turkiye, recently, were received by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other stakeholders.

The deportees who arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Friday at 7:00 pm through the pilgrims wing of the airport were received by Federal Government officials led by NEMA personnel.

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#Endbadgovernance: Court grants N10m bail each on 10 protesters

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday slammed N10 million bail each on the
ten members of the #endbadgovernance# protesters who were charged with attempting to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu between July 1 and August 4 this year.

Justice Emeka Nwite admitted them to bail while delivering a ruling on their bail applications.

Among others, the protesters are to produce one surety each in the same amount while the sureties must be residents in Abuja.

Besides, the sureties must be property owners in Abuja and must deposit documents of the properties to the court in addition to swearing an affidavit of means.

Also, both the defendants and the sureties must deposit their international passports and three recent passport photographs with the court.

Justice Nwite, while rejecting the objections of the Inspector General of Police against the bail request, ordered the defendants not to participate in any public rally throughout their trial.

Pending the perfection of their respective bail conditions, the Judge ordered that they be remanded in prison custody.

Meanwhile, September 27 has been fixed for the commencement of their trial.

The accused persons were said to have committed the treasonable offence during their one-week nationwide protests when they allegedly levied war against Nigeria.

The offences were said to be contrary to sections 96, 410 and 413 of the Penal Code.

The Inspector General of Police, IGP, who brought the charges against them alleged that the accused persons broke into the Abacha Army Barracks and openly called on the military to take over the constitutional government of President Tinubu.

He also alleged that they attempted to force their way into the seat of power during which they allegedly burned down a police station and injured police officers.

They were also said to have incited the Nigerian public against the government and destroyed several public properties including a Police station, High Court complex and National Communication Commission, NCC facilities.

The accused persons are Michael Tobiloba Adaramoye, Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaluwa Eleojo Simon, Angel Love Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello Nurudeen Khamis and Abduldalam Zubair.