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Disbanding NATFORCE Is Counter Productive– Human Rights Activist Following the declaration of the National Taskforce on the Prohibition of Illegal Importation/Smuggling of Arms, Ammunition, Light Weapons, Chemical Weapons and Pipeline Vandalism (NATFORCE), as an illegal security outfit by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major-General Babagana Monguno (Rtd), a pro-democracy activist, Comrade Chike O. Abiandu, has observed that it would be counter-productive. The Lagos-based Human Rights activist said the declaration by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major-General Babagana Monguno (Rtd), that the outfit was an illegal security outfit was not in tandem with democratic ethos since the issue was already before…

  The Brigadier Commander of 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, Owerri, Imo state, Raymond Utsaha, has revealed that hoodlums masquerading as "Unknown Gunmen" have killed no fewer than 150 security operatives and civilians in the South East zone in few months. At a joint media interactive session between him and the state Commissioner of police, Abutu Yaro, which held in Owerri, the army chief said that no "responsible Government" would allow such " criminal elements" to continue to have their way. Responding to an question from The PUNCH on the alleged cases of extra judicial killings, intimidation and harassment by the…

Nigeria’s Minister of Information Lai Mohammed says the Attorney General Abubakar Malami would ensure that Nigerians who accessed Twitter, including Pastor Enoch Adeboye, after the federal government proclaimed a ban on it would be prosecuted. The Minister said this in an interview with BBC Africa Focus on Monday, when asked if Mr Adeboye will be prosecuted for using Twitter, despite justifying his insistence on using the platform with Article 19 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Article 19 of the UDHR states that “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom…

Twenty nine Army Generals, who are members of Course 36, will proceed on annual leave following the appointment of Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya as the Chief of Army Staff, Daily Trust learnt on Monday. The spokesman of the Defence Headquarters, Brig.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, had, last week, denied that the military was planning to retire senior military officers, noting that retirement of senior officers is voluntary for those who desire it. But it was gathered yesterday that the army had commenced the process of retiring 29 Major Generals from the service. A military source told Daily Trust that it had been approved…

As the face-off between the Federal Government and Twitter persists, there are indications that some Western nations had earlier received a formal designation of the activities of IPOB and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, as terrorists. A top Federal Government official, who made the disclosure, said the government, which turned in the petition almost two months ago, was surprised when a number of such Western diplomats issued a statement over the weekend on the Twitter ban. The source said the statement completely ignored the violence being incited by Kanu, a concern the president’s deleted tweet sought to confront. It said this…

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad has warned the newly sworn-in Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court Justice Salisu Garba that he will not condone any act of recklessness from him. Mr Muhammad gave the warning at the swearing-in ceremony of Justice Garba as the substantive Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court in Abuja on Monday. “The exercise that has just taken place should, in no way, be taken for granted or simply tagged as one of those usual ceremonies merely required to fulfill set procedures and obligations. “With me sitting…

Dr Mustapha Gulak is the first son of Ahmed Gulak, the slain All Progressives Congress chieftain and former political adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan has cleared the air on the alleged N10bn reward owed his father by the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma. In an interview with THEPUNCH’s HINDI LIVINUS, he stated that the alleged N10bn reward due to his father from Governor Hope Uzodinma is a conspiracy theory The medical practitioner said: “The issue of people saying he helped Hope to become governor and all that is nonsense. Primaries were conducted and Hope won the primaries.…

Tinted Glass Law General Ibrahim Babangida in February 1991 promulgated a decree prohibiting the tinting and use of cars with tinted glasses. The Inspector-General of Police Usman Alkali Baba has announced the immediate suspension of tinted vehicle windscreens in Nigeria. The IGP announced this on Monday during a meeting with senior police officers including commissioners and DIGs from across the states. He also directed that the issuance of spy number plates be put on hold. This according to the Minister are parts of efforts being put in place to curtail the worsening security challenges across the country. While making the…

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of two new senior aides for the office of the First Lady. According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, on Monday, President Buhari approved the appointment of Dr. Rukayyatu Abdulkareem Gurin to replace Dr. Hajo Sani as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Women Affairs in the Office of the First Lady. Also, the President approved the appointment of the Personal Physician to the First Lady, Dr. Mohammed Kamal Abdurrahman, as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Health and Development…

  The federal government has given a condition to lift its indefinite suspension of Twitter in Nigeria. Geoffrey Onyeama, minister of foreign affairs, said at a meeting with some envoys that Twitter’s operations in Nigeria will be restored only if the platform can be used “responsibly”. Asked when the ban will be lifted, Onyeama said there is no definite timeline for that, but added: “The condition would be responsible use of the social media and that really has to be it.” “We are not saying that Twitter is threatening the country or any such thing; why we have taken this…