Nigerian Police Arrest Peace Corps Commandant Over Tenancy Dispute.

The National Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), Dickson Akoh, was arrested by armed policemen from the Inspector General of Police (IGP) office on Friday at the Peace Corps Head Office in Abuja. The arrest was reportedly over a tenancy disagreement between Akoh and his landlord, despite a court ruling in favor of the Peace Corps.

 Details of the Arrest

– The policemen invaded the office in a commando style, breaking into Akoh’s office and arresting him alongside 16 officers.
– The officers allegedly vandalized doors, ransacked offices, and destroyed property.
– No warrant of arrest or detention order was produced.
– Akoh has been detained incommunicado since Friday, with no access to family members or lawyers.

 Reactions

– The Youth Advancement Initiative (YAI) condemned the arrest, calling it “unacceptable, illegal, and unlawful.”
– Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju criticized the IGP for resorting to arrest in a civil case.

 Court Ruling

– A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court ruled in favor of the Peace Corps, stating that the rent expires in 2025.
– Justice M.M. Adamu set aside the writ of attachment executed against the Peace Corps on February 16, 2024.

Naval Personnel Involved in Fatal Shooting of Colleague in Zamfara.

A tragic incident has occurred in Zamfara State, where a naval personnel, identified as Leading Seaman A. Akila, allegedly shot and killed his colleague during an argument at Forward Operating Base Dansadua. The incident happened in the early hours of Friday, October 25, 2024.

Major General Buba Edward, Director of Defence Media Operations, confirmed the incident and stated that Akila opened fire sporadically, killing his colleague under questionable circumstances. Akila was subsequently disarmed, arrested, and detained, with an investigation currently underway.

According to General Edward, the case will be escalated to a standing court martial set up to address such misdemeanors among troops after the investigation is completed. The administrative procedure for notifying the family of the deceased is ongoing, and the name of the victim will be released to the public in due course.

The incident occurred during Operation Fansan Yamma, a military operation aimed at addressing security concerns in the region. The Defence Headquarters has urged the media to exercise caution in reporting the incident to avoid further demoralizing the family of the deceased.

Defence Headquarters Refutes Allegations of Arms Supply to Terrorists.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has clarified that arms recovered from terrorist groups in Nigeria were primarily obtained through ambushes and surprise attacks on security forces, not through intentional supply by security personnel. Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, made this revelation during a recent briefing, aiming to address allegations of military involvement in arms trafficking.

 Origins of Terrorist Arms

Buba attributed the widespread availability of arms to instability in the Sahel region and Libya’s collapse, which has fueled the crisis and enabled arms smuggling across borders. This is consistent with reports from the Institute for Security Studies, indicating that terrorist groups in the Sahel region have exploited poorly controlled national stockpiles and targeted military barracks to acquire heavy weapons.

 Countermeasures

In response to concerns raised by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu regarding military-grade weapons in terrorist caches, Buba assured that the Armed Forces remain committed to neutralizing terrorist threats. The military has implemented rigorous and targeted countermeasures following each assault.

Recent Operations

The ongoing counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations have yielded encouraging results, with 50 terrorists neutralized and 122 arrested in the last week alone. The Armed Forces continue to prioritize securing armouries and weapons stocks, recognizing the challenge posed by vulnerable military outposts.

 Silencing the Guns

The African Union’s 2020 focus on Silencing the Guns has renewed urgency, emphasizing the need for countries in the Sahel to strengthen operational capabilities, boost soldiers’ morale, and prioritize rigorous stockpile management.