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Military Veteran Lauds Synergy Between Aba Power and Abia Communities

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Nigerian electricity distribution companies (DisCos) have been advised to study the type of cooperation between Aba Power, Nigeria’s 12th and newest power distribution firm, and various communities in Abia State to learn how to protect their assets which are frequently vandalised across the country.

A security consultant, Air Commodore Nicholas Orjiudeh (retired), gave the advice in Aba today while speaking to journalists.

“The deep cooperation between the power firm and the communities has led to a series of arrests in recent times of young men vandalising the power infrastructure in nine out of the 17 local government areas in Abia State serviced by Aba DisCo”, Air Commodore Orjiudeh, also an engineer, stated.

“Due to the impressive cooperation, two neighbourhood watches have just caught the same day in two communities the leaders of two gangs of robbers notorious for attacking transformers and armoured cables and other vital power components. They were caught in action”.

He gave the names of the two robbery gang leaders as one Ifeanyi, a 27-year-old man with no visible means of livelihood, and Ezinwa Amanze, a 38 year -old jobless person from Umuekwe village in Aro Ngwa, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.

According to Commodore Orjiudeh, Ifeanyi was attacking power facilities on Umuimo Avenue, off the famous Aba-Owerri Road in Aba, when the local vigilante service saw him and quickly pounced on him while his colleagues fled.

It was easier to catch Ifeanyi than his colleagues because of his reputation in the locality as a robber.

Amanze was apprehended while vandalising the power infrastructure at Isiala Osokwu in Isiala Ngwa South LGA.

Regius Amaechi, a retired commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) who now works as the Deputy Chief Security Officer at Geometric Security Service, confirmed to correspondents that the two vandals were arrested by members of different neighbourhood watches who handed them over to his service.


He stated: “After interrogation, we handed over Ifeanyi to the Rapid Response Squad of the Nigeria Police Force while Amanze was handed over to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad in Aba”.

Both suspects are being tried at magistrate courts in Aba.

Air Commodore Orjiudeh noted that the spate of electricity vandalism in the Aba Ring-Fenced Area used to be much higher but was reduced significantly by a mechanism which the management of Aba Power introduced after it commenced operations in the Aba Ringed Area late last year.

“Just the way the police authorities now emphasise community policing to enhance security in the country”, he continued, “ is the way electricity distribution companies should be focusing on working with communities where their assets are located to protect them because official security agents cannot be everywhere.

“The locals are in an excellent position to provide intelligence which organisational or official security agents can act on quickly”.

While decrying vandalism against critical public assets like telecommunication cables, petroleum pipelines and electricity infrastructure whose social and economic costs are almost incalculable, Orjiudeh counselled various organisations affected by the criminal acts to borrow a leaf from “a new company like Aba Power to reduce the menace significantly”.

Crime

DSS Cracks Down on Plateau Violence, Arms Recovery

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The Department of State Services has recorded another breakthrough, arresting a man believed to be a major supplier of weapons to armed groups.

This comes Three months after arraigning suspects in the Yelwata and Plateau massacres.

In a significant breakthrough, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested Musa Abubakar, a suspected arms manufacturer, in a targeted raid on November 12th.

The operation took place at his workshop in Mista Ali, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The arrest followed weeks of meticulous surveillance and the gathering of credible intelligence.

According to investigators, Abubakar confessed to manufacturing and distributing high-caliber weapons and ammunition.

These weapons were allegedly supplied to groups responsible for the recent violent attacks in Plateau State and other northern states.

Authorities seized a cache of evidence during the raid, including components of improvised explosive devices, various chemicals, and equipment used in the manufacturing process.

The DSS is continuing its investigation, aiming to identify and apprehend other individuals involved in the arms supply chain and bring them to justice.

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Army confirms death of two soldiers in Borno ambush

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Boko Haram terrorists on Friday night ambushed troops of the 25 Task Force Brigade during a routine patrol around Wajiroko in Azir Multe, Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State, killing four security operatives.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Appolonia Anele, confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday, noting that the attack occurred as the troops were returning from a successful patrol around the fringes of Sambisa Forest.

“Troops of 25 Task Force Brigade, on routine patrol to secure communities around Wajiroko in Azir Multe, Damboa LGA of Borno State, came under a sudden and heavy insurgents’ fire while returning from a successful patrol within the fringes of Sambisa Forests,” the statement said.

Anele explained that the patrol team, led by the Commander of the 25 Brigade, Brigadier General M. Uba, included soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF). She said the team fought through the ambush with “superior firepower,” forcing the terrorists to retreat.

However, two soldiers and two CJTF operatives were killed in the attack.

While commending the troops for their gallantry, Anele said the Army high command commiserates with the families of the fallen personnel and praised their sacrifice.

She also dismissed reports circulating online alleging that the Brigade Commander had been abducted during the ambush.

“The Army Headquarters wishes to debunk the fake narrative… alleging the abduction of the Brigade Commander,” she said, urging the public to disregard the misinformation.

She added that the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, saluted the bravery and resilience of the troops, describing their commitment as a reminder of the daily sacrifices made to keep Nigeria safe.

The incident comes barely a month after Boko Haram terrorists killed the Commanding Officer of the 202 Tank Battalion, Lt. Col. Aliyu Paiko, along with several soldiers, during an attack in the Kashimri area of Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.

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BREAKING: DSS Recaptures Ansaru Terrorist Commander Linked to Church Massacre

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The Department of State Services (DSS) has successfully recaptured a high-ranking commander of the Ansaru terrorist group, Abdulazeez Obadaki.

He is believed to be the mastermind behind the horrific mass shooting at a Deeper Life Bible Church near Okene, Kogi State, which took place on August 7, 2012.

This recapture marks a significant step in bringing those responsible for the tragedy to justice. The attack on the church, a deeply sorrowful event, resulted in the tragic deaths of at least 19 worshippers, including the pastor, and left many others with varying degrees of injuries.

The DSS’s efforts to apprehend Obadaki demonstrate their commitment to combating terrorism and ensuring the safety of citizens.

Security sources disclosed that the suspected terrorist leader confessed to orchestrating the Kuje Custodial centre jailbreak following his transfer from Kabba Custodial Centre in June 2022.

According to the sources, after over three years of being on the run, DSS operatives in a, well-oiled intelligence operation recaptured Obadaki aka Bomboy, on Friday morning.

This arrest comes barely two months after the secret police arraigned five suspects linked to the 2022 Catholic Church attack in Owo, Ondo State.

During the February 2022 daylight bank robberies in Uromi, Edo State, which instilled widespread fear across the region, several policemen and bank customers were killed, while hundreds of millions of Naira was reportedly carted away.

The secret police has, of recent, been recording a chain of successes in the capture of terrorists and criminal elements across the nation, with its new leadership fast-tracking the trial of the arrested suspects.

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