News

Panic as bombs hit gunmen’s hideouts, FG goes after IPOB

Published

5 years ago

April 7, 2021

There was panic among residents of the Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State on Tuesday as the military bombarded the Ikot Akpan forest in the area.

The PUNCH learnt that the military operation was aimed at flushing out hoodlums who had been attacking police formations in the state.

Residents, who share boundaries with hoodlums’ hideouts, told one of our correspondents that the bombing of the forest started at 8am and ended at 12 noon on Tuesday.

The military exercise came barely 24 hours after gunmen attacked the Imo State police command headquarters and the Nigerian Correctional Service in Owerri, the state capital, where 1,844 inmates were freed.

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, on Monday ordered security agencies to fully mobilise and go after gunmen that had been attacking security agencies.

It was gathered that before the military exercise in Akwa State on Tuesday, residents had been asked to steer clear of the Ikot Akpan forest suspected to be a camp of gunmen.

Residents said the operation began with the deployment of helicopters and drones for aerial surveillance and bombing before ground troops moved in to flush out criminal elements.

The Essien Udim LGA, where the Minister of Niger Delta, Senator Godswill Akpabio, hails from, has been under attacks by gunmen, who have been killing cops and destroying their facilities.

Recall that hoodlums, whom many suspected to be members of a cult group in February, this year attacked the police at the Ikpe Annang junction, where a police inspector was set ablaze inside a police van.

Also in February, they attacked Ikot Afanga community and killed an inspector of police identified as Aniekan, while a divisional police station in the LGA was set ablaze by the hoodlums. They also burnt police vehicles.

On March 31, 2021, three police officers, including a chief superintendent of police, Ben Ajide, were killed and four others declared missing in a failed reprisal carried out by the police against the hoodlums.

On Tuesday morning, residents, who had not fled the area stayed indoors as the military bombarded the hideouts of the criminals.

Fear gripped residents as fighter jets flew at low levels to ensure proper surveillance of the area.

A resident of the Essien Udim LGA, Essien Sunday, who confirmed the bombardment in an interview with one of our correspondents, described the exercise as a fearful experience.

It was a fearful experience, I told my children and wife to stay indoors – Resident

He stated, “We were woken up this morning by sounds of gunshots and military helicopters hovering around the entire village with fearful sounds. Although we heard the information, nobody knew it was going to be that fearful. So, I instructed my wife and children to remain indoors throughout the exercise.

“I don’t know how many people were arrested by the army but what I know is that they carried out an aerial surveillance of communities in the LGA.”

Poly students could hear sounds of fighter jet and gunshots –Lecturer

Another resident and lecturer in the department of Mass Communication, Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osura, Dan Etokidem also confirmed the bombardment.

He said “Well, the bombardment started in the early hours of today. I learnt they (the military) sent advance notification that the civilians should vacate the said areas before moving in this morning. So, the aerial bombardment and the support troops, moved in this morning around 8am or so. Most students from the polytechnic could hear the fighter jets and the gunshots. So, that is just It.

“It was an offensive to flush out criminals within three major communities in the Essien Udim LGA, the communities are Uwa, Ikot Afanga, Ikot Akpan communities all in the local government area.”

Also, another resident of the community, Godwin Akpan, said although people were afraid during the bombardment, it was a great relief to the communities who had experienced attacks against the police.

“Yes, there had been cases of insecurity of late with the hoodlums targeting police officers and establishments and of course the military had to come in. Advanced notice was sent to the communities to vacate the areas.”

The Defence headquarters did not respond to inquiries on the reported attack on the forest on Tuesday.

But a top military officer, who confided in The PUNCH, said the exercise, was not a bombardment.

He stated, “It was a joint military operation conducted by the Nigerian Army, Air force and other security agencies to flush out criminals elements in the Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, that have been terrorising the state. The operation was successful. For now, no arrest has been made.”

Go after IPOB members, immediate past IG tells police

Less than 24 hours after gunmen attacked the Imo State Police Command headquarters and the Nigerian Correctional Service at Owerri, the immediate past Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Adamu, on Tuesday, visited the state.

During the visit, the ex-IG insisted that members of the Indigenous People of Biafra carried out the attacks. He, therefore, vowed that there would be no hiding place for members of the secessionist group.

Recall that IPOB on Monday said it was not involved in the attacks.

But the immediate past IGP, who spoke when he visited the state police command to inspect the damage done, said IPOB members were responsible for the Imo jailbreak and the razing of the state police command.

Adamu, who urged officers to use their rifles against the IPOB members, said members of the group were among inmates set free on Monday.

The ex-IG “This is an incident meant to discourage and demoralise you. If they had wanted to test your resolve, they wouldn’t have come in an ungodly hour.

“Those who are attacking police officers and other security agents, as well as security facilities, should not think that they will get away with it. Never!.

“I’m here to encourage you that this group of people that take delight in attacking security agents and security facilities, you should deal with them ruthlessly. You should never ever spare them.

“You should use all the force available to you to ensure you incapacitate them; to make sure that you don’t give them space; to make sure that they don’t exist. These are criminals. They’re not covered in anyway by law. The law is against their activities. But you are covered by law.

“You have facilities and weapons at your disposal that you can unleash against these people. So, your strategy should change. Let your strategy be the type that will counter the strategy of those people.

“When criminals strike, it is a concern. This should be a concern of everybody in Imo State. The local authorities within the area where the police headquarters and Correctional Service are sited, should feel concerned that both facilities were attacked. If both facilities were attacked, the people of that area have been attacked. Therefore, they should feel concerned.

“Some of the suspects that were released by the attackers belong to IPOB group. There will be no hiding place for them. They will re-arrested.”

Defend yourselves against IPOB members, Uzodimma tells cops

Also, the state Governor, Hope Uzodimma, called on the police in the state to defend themselves against IPOB members.

The governor, who spoke at the state command headquarters when the ex-IG, visited the state, asked the cops to be vigilant

He said, “If you can’t attack them, you can at least use your rifles to defend yourselves. Any attack on police formation is an insult on us as a government. It is also an attack on the integrity of the government. We must take charge, take control and ensure discipline.”

“I have seen the quantum of destruction perpetrated on the security facilities by the hoodlums. Everyone in Imo State is unanimous on condemning this act.”

Gunmen who attacked Imo prison, police command are cowards, says Osinbajo

The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, who also visited the state, described the attacks as cowardly.

The Vice President disclosed that the Federal Government was adopting measures to stop further attacks on security formations in the state.

He said that government would strengthen security at the correctional centres, police formations and the state at large to combat rising security challenges in the country.

The Vice President spoke to journalists after inspecting the level of damage at the correctional service and the police headquarters.

He stated, “This incident is cowardly. Any attack on institutions of law and order was an attack on the well being of the citizens”

Also on Tuesday the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, after inspecting the correctional service attacked by hoodlums, said inmates who escaped would be pardoned if they returned voluntarily.

PUNCH

News

Court Orders DSS Probe as Prosecutors Link VeryDarkMan to Alleged Leak of Coup Trial Evidence

Published

8 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Everydaynewsngr

The trial of six men accused of plotting to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu took a dramatic turn on Tuesday after the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the alleged leakage of sensitive court evidence to social media.

During proceedings, prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), informed the court that video recordings already tendered as evidence had surfaced online. He alleged that the materials were published by social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, and noted that the activist was present in court during the hearing.

Oyedepo urged the court to investigate how the videos were obtained and made public.

In response, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik directed the DSS to immediately probe the alleged leak. The judge ordered security operatives to determine whether any protected court materials were released in breach of existing witness-protection orders and to identify those responsible.

Justice Abdulmalik ruled that the investigation should proceed alongside the ongoing criminal trial, stressing that neither the defendants nor their legal representatives had admitted involvement in the alleged publication.

Counsel to the six defendants denied any connection to the leaked materials. Some members of the defence team argued that the prosecution should file a formal application supported by an affidavit if it wished to pursue the matter before the court.

The hearing also featured testimony from the prosecution’s fourth witness, identified only as “DDD,” who maintained that the defendants voluntarily made their statements and were neither tortured nor coerced during interrogation.

The witness dismissed claims that the accused were chained while giving statements, stating that they walked into the interview room unassisted. He further told the court that none of the defendants requested the presence of lawyers, family members, Legal Aid Council officials, or a Justice of the Peace before making their statements.

Following the testimony, the prosecution closed its case in the trial-within-trial after calling four witnesses.

The court adjourned proceedings to June 25 and June 30 for the first three defendants to open their defence, while the remaining defendants are scheduled to present theirs on July 1 and July 2.

Justice Abdulmalik also fixed July 20 for a ruling on the defendants’ bail applications.

The six men remain on trial over allegations of participating in a plot to topple the Tinubu administration—claims they have denied and which the court has yet to determine.

News

Good Governance: Nwoye Harps on Prudent Management of Public Funds, Engagement of Competent Hands

Published

9 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Everydaynewsngr

A Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Peace, Conflict and Development Studies (IPCDS), Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Dr. Ben Nwoye, has emphasized the need for managers of public institutions, especially government-owned establishments, to prioritize prudent management of resources and the engagement of competent personnel.

Nwoye also stressed that placing qualified and capable individuals in positions of responsibility remains one of the surest ways to achieve good governance and sustainable development in any society.

The former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State and current Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party made the remarks on Monday during a good governance facility tour to the remodeled Government Technical College (GTC), Enugu, alongside PhD students of IPCDS.

He commended Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, for the transformation of GTC Enugu under the leadership of Dr. Amaka Ngene, Chairman of the Science, Technical and Vocational Schools Management Board (STVSMB), noting that the institution has been transformed from a dilapidated facility into a modern learning centre.

According to Nwoye, the visit was aimed at assessing the progress made since a similar tour of the school in 2025.

He described education as the bedrock of national development and stressed the need for governments to continue investing heavily in the sector.

“The massive transformation that has taken place at GTC Enugu would not have been possible without prudent management of resources and the appointment of capable leadership,” he said.

“When we first visited, what we saw were merely buildings and classrooms without teachers or students. We were also shown videos and photographs depicting the terrible state of the institution before the intervention of the Enugu State Government.

“Today, barely a year later, we have returned to see whether the state-of-the-art facilities have become functional, and we are impressed by what we have seen. There are teachers, students, and fully operational departments.

“This success is largely due to the quality of leadership driving the school board. The desired transformation has truly taken place, and this goes beyond politics. It is about commitment, competence, and prudent management of public funds.”

Nwoye noted that the beneficiaries of the reforms are young people whose lives are being positively impacted through quality education and vocational training.

“We must commend Governor Peter Mbah for providing the enabling environment and resources needed to achieve this. More importantly, we must acknowledge the efforts of the Board Chairman, Dr. Amaka Ngene, who has driven the entire process.”

He added that practical examples such as GTC Enugu provide valuable learning opportunities for students studying governance and leadership.

“The challenge in our country is not the absence of laws but our failure to implement them. Previous boards allowed this institution to remain in a deplorable condition. What we are seeing today demonstrates what is possible when competent individuals are entrusted with leadership responsibilities.”

Nwoye expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the tour, stating that his students were impressed by the level of transformation witnessed across the institution.

“It is gratifying because when we teach governance principles in the classroom, we can now point to practical examples where those principles are being applied successfully. Sustainable development can only be achieved when education is treated as a priority,” he said.

Speaking during the tour, Dr. Ngene attributed the board’s achievements to a fortified database system, zero tolerance for corruption, truancy, and absenteeism, as well as a commitment to accountability and efficiency.

She also praised Governor Mbah for his commitment to education, describing the ongoing reforms as an education revolution in Enugu State.

According to her, the state’s investment in education has surpassed the UNESCO recommendation of 15 to 20 per cent budgetary allocation to the sector.

“Over the last three years, Enugu State has consistently allocated an average of 23 per cent of its budget to education, reflecting the governor’s commitment to human capital development,” she disclosed.

During the facility tour, the visiting students inspected several functional departments, including the automobile repair workshop, welding and fabrication unit, computer laboratory, garment-making section, and hospitality and catering department.

The facilities provide practical vocational training for senior students, equipping them with employable skills and entrepreneurial opportunities for the future.

Dr. Ngene maintained that Governor Mbah’s administration has demonstrated the impact of good governance through strategic investments in education and human capital development, adding that the results are already evident across the state.

News

Post-Election Cleanup: Enugu Cracks Down on Unauthorized Outdoor Advertising

Published

1 day ago

June 23, 2026

Everydaynewsngr

With the successful conclusion of the Enugu North Senatorial District by-election, the Enugu State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency (ENSSAA) has announced plans to commence a statewide enforcement exercise against unauthorized outdoor advertisements across the state.

The Agency said the operation would target illegally displayed posters, billboards, political campaign materials, banners, and other outdoor advertisements erected without the approval and requisite permits of ENSSAA.

In a statement issued on Monday by the General Manager of the Agency, Mr. Francis Aninwike, ENSSAA said the enforcement exercise would be carried out across Enugu metropolis and all the local government areas of the state in accordance with the provisions of the ENSSAA Law 2016, which regulates outdoor advertising and signage in Enugu State.

Aninwike explained that the Agency deliberately suspended the enforcement exercise in recent weeks to allow the Enugu North Senatorial District by-election to be concluded and to avoid giving political coloration to what is essentially a long-overdue regulatory exercise aimed at restoring order, sanity, and environmental aesthetics within the state’s outdoor advertising space.

He stressed that no individual, political party, candidate, organization, or business is permitted to erect, display, or paste advertisements, including political campaign materials, without first obtaining the approval of the Agency.

According to him, political parties, candidates, and other stakeholders are advised to immediately regularize their advertisements and obtain the necessary permits before displaying campaign materials or other outdoor advertisements in any part of the state.

The General Manager noted that the proliferation of unauthorized advertisements constitutes a violation of the law, contributes to visual pollution, defaces public infrastructure, and undermines the beauty of the environment.

He emphasized that the enforcement exercise is neither targeted at any individual nor directed against any political group.

“This enforcement exercise is not targeted at any individual or political group. It is a routine regulatory action aimed at ensuring compliance with the law and maintaining a clean, orderly, and aesthetically pleasing environment across the state,” Aninwike stated.

To ensure a smooth and peaceful operation, ENSSAA said it has secured armed police escorts for its enforcement teams. The exercise will be conducted daily between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

The Agency urged members of the public to comply with extant regulations and refrain from obstructing officials carrying out their lawful duties.

Aninwike reiterated ENSSAA’s commitment to sanitizing the outdoor advertising sector, enforcing compliance with relevant laws, and ensuring that outdoor advertisements across Enugu State conform to approved standards.

News

US opens applications to support Nigerians seeking admission abroad

Published

2 days ago

June 22, 2026

Everydaynewsngr

The United States Mission in Nigeria has opened applications for the 2026 cohort of the EducationUSA Nigeria Opportunity Fund Programme, inviting qualified Nigerian students seeking higher education opportunities in the US to apply.

The application is open from June 15 and will close on June 30, 2026, according to a notice published by the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria.

The programme, coordinated by the Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Mission through EducationUSA Nigeria, is designed to assist academically outstanding Nigerian students with leadership potential in pursuing higher education in the United States.

According to the mission, the initiative supports access to U.S. higher education while advancing “American leadership, commercial diplomacy, and the shared economic interests of the United States and Nigeria.”

It added that the 2026 cohort aligns with the Freedom 250 celebration, marking 250 years of American leadership, innovation and democratic values.

The statement read, “Freedom250 marks 250 years of American leadership, innovation, and democratic values, and the OFP 2026 cohort will advance these priorities by preparing globally competitive talents aligned with U.S. economic and strategic interests.”

The mission said the programme also reinforces U.S. priorities on “secure, lawful, and well-managed student participation” in American higher education institutions.

It stated, “The program reinforces U.S. priorities on secure, lawful, and well-managed student participation of U.S. higher education systems, ensuring participants understand and uphold the proper use of student visas and full compliance with U.S. immigration regulations.”

Priority consideration, according to the statement, will be given to high-performing students pursuing fields that align with U.S. strategic interests.

It noted, “Priority consideration will be given to the highest-performing students whose academic profiles and career trajectories align with U.S. strategic interests in STEM, AI, and critical emerging technologies.”

The Opportunity Fund Programme provides financial support for essential upfront application costs, including standardised testing fees, application fees and other related expenses.

To qualify, applicants must demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential, a clear intention to pursue post-secondary education in the United States, notable achievements, research capability, and a commitment to visa compliance and responsible participation in U.S. exchange programmes.

The statement further stressed that participants would be expected to maintain high ethical standards throughout the programme.

It said, “Participants are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, compliance, and accountability, including adherence to all U.S. visa regulations.

Applicants are required to submit a completed application form, academic records, a personal statement, evidence of achievements, leadership and research capability, as well as other supporting documents before the June 30 deadline.

Apply here: EducationUSA Nigeria Opportunity Fund Program (OFP) 2026 – U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria