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Buhari Govt Threatens To Declare State Of Emergency In Anambra

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The Federal Government has threatened to declare a ‘state-of-emergency’ in Anambra State over the lingering insecurity situation in the state

Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, disclosed this after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.

He disclosed that the Federal Government is determined to ensure a hitch-free election in the state.

When our national security is attacked, and the sanctity of our constitutionally guaranteed democracy is threatened, no possibility is ruled out.

“As a government, we have a responsibility to ensure the sustenance of our democratic order. As a government, we have a responsibility to provide security to life and properties.

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“So, what I’m saying in essence, no possibility is out ruled by government in terms of ensuring the sanctity of our democratic order, in terms of ensuring that our elections in Anambra hold.

“And you cannot rule out the possibility of declaration of state of emergency where it is established, in essence, that there is a failure on the part of the state government to ensure the sanctity of security of lives, properties and democratic order.”

(DAILY POST)

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Full Text Of President Tinubu’s Speech At Burial Ceremony Of 17 Slain Soldiers

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Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff and other Service Chiefs, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief of Staff and other military officers.

It is with heavy heart that I join you today to commit to earth, the remains of our officers and men who died in the course of duty on 14 March 2024 in Okuama Community, Delta State.

The officers and soldiers who lost their lives that day were patriots, brave and noble men who gave their lives to defend and protect our nation against internal and external threats. Their sacrifice will be remembered and honoured for generations to come and their.

On 14 March, Lt. Colonel A. H. Ali, the Commanding Officer of 181 Amphibious Battalion, led three other officers and 13 soldiers to the Okuama Community to mediate in the lingering dispute with Okoloba Community.

They went as peace makers and peace keepers respectfully seeking to bring an end to the hostilities between the two communities.

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They didn’t go with tanks, machine guns and other weapons.

They were on a mission of peace.

Before the dastardly attack, Lt. Colonel Ali, as the Chief of Army Staff briefed me, enjoyed great operational exploits; fighting terrorists and insurgents in the North East and North West before his deployment to the Niger Delta.

READ ALSO: Tinubu Gives Scholarships, Houses To Children, Families Of 17 Soldiers Killed In Delta

Ali kept faith with his military calling till the end.

On behalf of a grateful nation, we honour the sacrifice of Ali and the other gallant patriots who died that day. They will forever be remembered as heroes who answered the call of duty and paid the ultimate price.

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Lieutenant Colonel Ali,
Major D.E Obi,
Major S.D. Ashafa,
Captain U. Zakari,
Staff Sergeant Yahaya Saidu,
Corporal Danbaba Yahaya,
Corporal Kabir Bashir,
Lance Corporal Abdullahi Ibrahim,
Lance Corporal Bulus Haruna,
Lance Corporal Sole Opeyemi,
Lance Corporal Bello Anas;
Private Alhaji Isah,
Private Clement Francis,
Private Abubakar Ali,
Private Adamu Ibrahim,
Private Hamman Peter, and
Private Ibrahim Adamu,

Each man now belongs to the hallowed list of servicemen and women who defended our country and protected their fellow Nigerians not minding the risk to their own lives.

They have all been awarded posthumous national honours. The four gallant Officers have been accorded the Award of Member of the Order of Niger (MON). The thirteen courageous soldiers who also lost their lives have been Awarded the Officer of the Federal Republic Medal.

I commiserate with the families of our fallen heroes and the entire Armed Forces. I share in the pain and grief you carry today. It is my prayer that God will comfort all who are bereaved as a result of this tragedy.

READ ALSO:Tinubu Orders Army To Pay Slain Soldiers’ Benefits Within 90 Days

It is worth restating the debt of gratitude we owe these valiant soldiers and their families.

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As Commander-In-Chief, I do not take the contributions of members of our Armed Forces for granted. I recognise your valour and bravery. I honour your unflinching commitment to making our country safe from criminals, bandits, kidnappers and insurrectionists.

While we continue to grieve for the courageous men we lost that day, let us also, on this solemn occasion, be reminded of the unfinished business of working for peace and harmony in our communities.

We must begin to rebuild our communities and make them into places where love, tolerance and harmony will reign. Leaders at all levels especially community leaders and traditional rulers must work to strengthen the bonds that unite us. We must endthe cycle of violence and bloodletting.

I want to make it clear, once more, that those who committed this heinous crime will not go unpunished. We will find them and our departed heroes will get justice.

READ ALSO: Labour Party Reserves 2027 Presidential Ticket For Peter Obi

The elders and chiefs of Okuoma also have a duty to help the military in fishing out the gunmen who committed the barbaric crime against our men.

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I wish to also commend our Armed Forces for their restraint in choosing not to carry out any reprisal attacks in Okuoma or its neighbouring communities. We must all ensure that the innocent people of Okuoma are not made to bear the punishment of the guilty and wicked among them.

To the entire armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I have a message for you: Do not let the death of your compatriots discourage you. There is no higher honour than the vocation you have chosen to pursue. We cherish you. We cherish your labour of love. We salute your daily sacrifice in protecting your fellow citizens from danger. We acknowledge your sacrifices to defend our nation.

Within our continent, our sub-region and across the world, the Nigerian Military has remained a force for good, embodying a great example and keeping our democracy safe.

READ ALSO: PHOTOS: Tinubu, Governors Pay Last Respects At burial Of 17 Slain Soldiers

It is now our duty to protect the families of our departed heroes.

The Federal Government will provide a house in any part of our country to each of the families of the four officers and 13 soldiers.

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The Federal Government has also approved scholarships to all the children of the deceased up to the University level.

The Military must, within the next ninety days, ensure that all the benefits of the departed are paid to their families.

May the families of the departed and all their loved ones find the strength to bear the pain of this loss.

May God grant our heroes eternal rest.

May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria and keep our troops safe, always.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Commander-in-Chief, Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

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Tinubu Gives Scholarships, Houses To Children, Families Of 17 Soldiers Killed In Delta

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In a heartfelt gesture of support and solidarity, President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday offered scholarships to the children of 17 soldiers killed in the Okuama community in Delta State.

Also, he said the Government will provide housing for the families of the military men.

Tinubu made the announcement while addressing the military, grieving families, and other sympathisers at the burial ceremony held in Abuja to bid farewell to the fallen heroes.

Expressing his deepest condolences to the military, Tinubu said: “I wish to also commend our Armed Forces for their restraint in choosing not to carry out any reprisal attacks in Okuoma or its neighbouring communities.

“We must all ensure that the innocent people of Okuoma are not made to bear the punishment of the guilty and wicked among them.

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READ ALSO: Tinubu Orders Army To Pay Slain Soldiers’ Benefits Within 90 Days

Eulogises Armed Forces

To the entire Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I have a message for you.Do not let the death of your compatriots discourage you.

“There is no higher honour than the vocation you have chosen to pursue. We cherish you. We cherish your labour of love.

“We salute your daily sacrifice in protecting your fellow citizens from danger. We acknowledge your sacrifices to defend our nation.

“Within our continent, our sub-region and across the world, the Nigerian Military has remained a force for good, embodying a great example and keeping our democracy safe.

“It is now our duty to protect the families of our departed heroes.”

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Scholarships, housing

On the compensation for the fallen soldiers, President Tinubu said: “The Federal Government will provide a house in any part of our country to each of the families of the four officers and 13 soldiers.

READ ALSO: PHOTOS: Tinubu, Governors Pay Last Respects At burial Of 17 Slain Soldiers

“The Federal Government has also approved scholarships to all the children of the deceased up to the University level.

“The Military must, within the next 90 days, ensure that all the benefits of the departed are paid to their families.

“May the families of the departed and all their loved ones find the strength to bear the pain of this loss. May God grant our heroes eternal rest.”

Roll call

In attendance are the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-General Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, and Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.

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READ ALSO: Tinubu Appoints New Coordinator For National Counter-terrorism Centre

The Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas are also present.

Governors Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Duoye Diri (Bayelsa), Usman Ododo (Kogi), Uba Sani (Kaduna), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), and Abba Yusuf (Kano) are already seated at the burial site.

… March 4

Recall that 17 military personnel — comprising a lieutenant ​colonel, two majors, one captain, and 12 soldiers — were killed while on a “peacekeeping mission” in the Okuama community on March 14.

On March 18, the military authorities released the names and pictures of the 17 soldiers.

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Below are the names of the dead soldiers:

AH Ali Lieutenant Colonel (Commanding officer, 181 Amphibious Battalion)
SD Shafa Major
DE Obi Major
U. Zakari Captain
Yahaya Saidu Staff Sergeant
6. Yahaya Danbaba Corporal

Kabiru Bashir Corporal
Bulus Haruna Lance Corporal
Sole Opeyemi Lance Corporal
Bello Anas Lance Corporal
Hamman Peter Lance Corporal
Ibrahim Abdullahi Lance Corporal
Alhaji Isah Private
Clement Francis Private
Abubakar Ali Private
Ibrahim Adamu Private
Adamu Ibrahim Private

VANGUARD

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Tinubu Orders Army To Pay Slain Soldiers’ Benefits Within 90 Days

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has ordered the Nigerian army to pay the slain soldiers’ benefits to their respective families within ninety days.

The Military must, within the next ninety days, ensure that all the benefits of the departed are paid to their families.”

Tinubu disclosed this on Wednesday during the burial ceremony of the slain soldiers.

Describing them as men of honour Tinubu said: “The officers and soldiers who lost their lives that day were patriots, brave and noble men who gave their lives to defend and protect our nation against internal and external threats. Their sacrifice will be remembered and honoured for generations to come and their.

READ ALSO: PHOTOS: Tinubu, Governors Pay Last Respects At burial Of 17 Slain Soldiers

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“On 14 March, Lt. Colonel A. H. Ali, the Commanding Officer of 181 Amphibious Battalion, led three other officers and 13 soldiers to the Okuama Community to mediate in the lingering dispute with Okoloba Community.

“They went as peace makers and peace keepers respectfully seeking to bring an end to the hostilities between the two communities. They didn’t go with tanks, machine guns and other weapons. They were on a mission of peace.”

While promising to sponsor the deceased soldiers’ children to school, vowed to punish culprits.

He said: “I want to make it clear, once more, that those who committed this heinous crime will not go unpunished. We will find them and our departed heroes will get justice. The elders and chiefs of Okuoma also have a duty to help the military in fishing out the gunmen who committed the barbaric crime against our men”.

 

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