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COAS urges troops to remain resolute against insurgents, others
The Chief of Army Staff, Maj -Gen. Faruk Yahaya, has urged officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army to remain resolute and determined in dealing insurgency and other adversaries confronting the nation.
Yahaya gave the charge at the interdenominational church service as part of activities to commemorate the 2021 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) at Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja.
He said that NADCEL was a celebration of commitment, doggedness, sacrifice and unity of purpose in ensuring the defence and security of the nation.
“I urge us all not to rest on oars but to continue until we completely defeat and destroy this insurgency and other criminal elements’ activities in our country and render it a more secure and peaceful nation.
“I also urge us all any where we are to remain resolute and determined and with our determination, comment and prayers, we will get there.
“We have made some successes; we should not rest on our oars but continue in that regard,” he said.
The COAS said that they in the military believed in the efficacy of prayer and it is a usual practice to have prayers at both mosques and churches as part of activities lines up for NADCEL.
He said that there was need to constantly be in prayer, giving glory to God for his mercies and guidance as well for the successes God had granted the military in its operations.
While giving reasons for attending the church event being a Muslim, Yahaya said it was borne out of the believe in the military that there is unity of purpose in everything, such as operations.
“The message is that in the military, we are one unit. We believe that there are Muslims, Christians and we operate all as one unit.
“The military job is not about individual and that is why we are arranged in units and sub-units.
“In the army for example, we have sections, we have company, we have battalion, we have brigade and there is no division.
“Whether you are Muslim or Christian, we pray together before we go operations and in operation, when we line up, the man next to you may be a Christian and it does not matter to us because the essence is unity and synergy with other services and security agencies,” he said.
He commended the officers and soldiers wives for holding forth in the home fronts while their husbands were working to keep the nation safe and secure.
While giving his sermon during the service, the Director of Chaplaincy Services (Protestant), Col. Islongo Mairiga, an Anglican Venerable, described the Nigerian Army as a pride of the nation.
Mairiga, while reading from the Bible in the book of Ecclesiastes chapter 4:1, 9-12, emphasised the importance of oneness and unity of purpose which he said remained a force for successful operations.
He said that peaceful living and availability of food are two vital interests of any nations, urging troops irrespective of their ranks to always look up to each other.
“We are praying for Nigerian Army, the nation and the COAS so that collectively, we put our hands together to see to the success that we have in mind in this joint enenvironment,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the Chief of Defence Communication, Maj.-Gen. Elvis Njoku, represented the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor and other senior officers.
The Acting Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Maj.-Gen. Tari-Timiye Gagariga, the Chief of Civil Military Afffairs (Army), Maj.-Gen. Anthony Omozoje and other principal staff officers and commanders as well as members of NAOWA also attended the church service.
NADCEL is celebrated annually from July 1 to July 6 with series of activities which include humanitarian activities and the climax being the COAS commendation awards and lectures on July 6. (NAN
Son of the late head of state and former Minister of Defence, Chief Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, in a letter of remembrance and solidarity written on behalf of the Aguiyi-Ironsi family to the Fajuyi family, marking the 60th anniversary of his death, said July 29, 2026, will be a solemn occasion to honour a soldier they described as “a war hero who offered himself as a sacrificial lamb for the unity and integrity of the nation.”
The family recalled that Lt Col Fajuyi, then Military Governor of the Western Region, made the ultimate sacrifice in 1966 when mutinous soldiers abducted him alongside Maj Gen Aguiyi-Ironsi in Ibadan during the military counter-coup.
They stated that Fajuyi, in a defining moment of conscience, chose honour over personal safety and refused to abandon his guest and superior, a decision the family said reflected the highest ideals of loyalty, integrity, and military brotherhood.
According to the statement, his action transformed him into a national martyr whose legacy continued to inspire unity, courage, and selfless service.
The Aguiyi-Ironsi family also expressed sympathy with the Fajuyi family, acknowledging the enduring pain of their loss, while praying for continued strength, comfort, and peace.
The statement further stated, “He did not run. He did not hide. He chose to stand. In that sacrificial decision lay the essence of his greatness.”
The family called on government institutions, military authorities, and custodians of national memory to ensure sustained recognition and support for the Fajuyi family, stressing that his sacrifice remained a national responsibility to remember and honour.
It urged Nigerians to draw inspiration from his life and death, noting that his legacy continues to challenge the nation to uphold unity, courage, honour, and selfless service.
Fajuyi was killed on July 29, 1966, during the military counter-coup in Ibadan alongside Aguiyi-Ironsi.
By Okey Maduforo Awka
The emergence of Chief Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere as the Minority Leader of the Federal House of Representatives has been described as a vindication of the fact that the Action People’s Party (APP ) represents the collective interests of the Nigerian masses.
Recall that recently, Ugochinyere was elected as the Minority Leader of the party in a keenly contested election of the Federal House of Representatives.
According to a statement by the Chairman Anambra state chapter of the APP Chief Chijioke Okeke, Ugochinyere had been consistent in offering himself as the voice of the people and that of the voiceless.
“It did not come to us as a surprise that our great leader High Chief Ugochinyere became the Minority leader of the Federal House of Representatives because he has always been consistent and focus towards providing himself as the only vent for the masses at the Green Chambers”
“We know his pedegre as a politician as well as a leader and he has remained focus in ensuring that the voiceless are heard and this is also a vindication of our party’s unflinching desire to provide a veritable platform in a democratic process”
Okeke further stated that the fifth columnists who had attempted to deregister the party have been put to shame adding that the party shall continue to champion the interests of the Nigerian people.
“They made failed attempt at deregistering our great party but they lost sight of the fact that the APP is firmely rooted on ground and has all that it takes to drive the wishes and aspirations of the Nigerian populace and with this recent development our traducers have been put to shame and our party is on the path of further greatness “. Okeke noted .
By Okey Maduforo Awka
Six members of the Indigenous People Of Biafra IPOB have been declared wanted by the Nigerian Police .
The six persons led by Mr Chukwuebuka Ohaechesi, include Emma Okonkwo, Jude Uwa, Gentle Okoro, Uchenna Dike, and Emmanuel Nwankwo who are said to be at large.
The were said to have fled to neighboring states in the South East hence signaling the other four Police Commands in the geopolitical zone to assist in the manhunt for them
The Police accused them of executing protests against the detaintion of the leader of IPOB Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is currently serving jail terms in Sokoto Correction Center.
According to a statement issued by the Abia Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, ASP Eguavon Omokaro, the individuals are suspected members of IPOB who have allegedly participated in protests at various times and locations within the state.
The statement alleged that the protests were organised in connection with the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and demands for justice through the judicial process.
The Police Command further stated that these protests have allegedly resulted in breaches of peace and disruptions to law and order in Abia State. Consequently, the Police Intelligence Department reportedly concluded that the named individuals were among the principal organisers and coordinators of the demonstrations.
The statement further alleged that; ;
“It should be noted that on every 30th day of May, these men and their cohorts convene for the so-called remembrance of Biafra, holding clandestine meetings at various locations in the name of the emancipation of the Biafran Republic and the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
According to the police, the six individuals were invited on several occasions for questioning in relation to the allegations against them.
The statement indicated that the first invitation was issued on 18 December 2025, followed by a second invitation on 7 February 2026, and a third invitation on 3 March 2026.
The police alleged that the individuals failed to honour all three invitations.
The statement further asserted:
“These individuals were invited by the police on several occasions. Firstly, on 18 December 2025, they failed to honour the invitation. Again, they were invited on 7th February 2026 and failed to appear. Finally, they were invited on 3 March 2026, and they also failed to present themselves before the police.” It stated.
As a result, the Abia State Police Command announced that all six individuals had been formally declared wanted.
The police appealed to members of the public to provide any reliable information that could lead to their arrest and prosecution, stating that informants would be suitably rewarded.
The declaration of the six individuals as wanted persons is linked to allegations of their participation in pro-Biafra activities, demonstrations concerning the detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and their alleged association with IPOB, an organisation that has been the subject of extensive scrutiny and security operations by Nigerian authorities.
In a statement shared on social media, VeryDarkMan argued that Wike may not fully understand the pain and trauma experienced by parents of abducted children and affected teachers. He claimed that the minister’s children were educated abroad, away from the security challenges facing many Nigerian families.Nigerian entertainment news
The activist stated that insecurity, kidnapping, and attacks on schools remain serious national concerns and should not be dismissed or reduced to political issues. He stressed that the fears and frustrations of parents whose children face security threats deserve greater attention from public officials.
VeryDarkMan further warned that political power is temporary, urging leaders to remain accountable to the people and sensitive to the challenges confronting ordinary Nigerians.
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