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Drop Your Arms, Seek Dialogue – CAOS Urges Arms Carrying Individuals

Published

2 years ago

June 26, 2024

The Newly constructed Nigerian Army Armoured Corps Headquarters complex commissioned by the Chief of Army Staff in Bauchi

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt:-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja has called on Nigerians who have taken up arms against the country to drop their arms, seek dialogue and other reasonable means to address grievances.

He made the call in Bauchi on Wednesday during the commissioning of the newly constructed Nigerian Army Armoured Corps Headquarters complex, reunion and pulling out parade of retired Senior Armoured Officers.

According to him, it is only in a peaceful atmosphere that the economy of any country could thrive, hence the need for all to embrace peace.

“My appeal to Nigerians who have taken up arms against the states is that they see the reason that it is only an atmosphere of peace that people can experience progress and all those things that they deserve from the government, the states, can be realised.

“I appeal to them that they should drop their arms, seek dialogue and other means through which grievances can be addressed,” he said.

Taoreed also charged the troops to continue to do what they do, remain disciplined, dedicated and committed to the task that the army has been charged with.

He urged them not to relent, adding that “regardless of the challenges that we face in all the theatres, they must continue to remain resolute till we accomplish peace and security in the nation”.

The COAS explained that his presence in Bauchi was also to interact with the troops as they formed the backbone of the fighting force as well as the bedrock of the things the Nigerian Army do who were placed at a premium.

He said that all the challenges that have been raised from the troops ranging from promotion, non-payment of salary to officers using Heritage bank to peacekeeping among others, would be addressed in no distant time.

“Most especially, those challenges that border on their pay and allowances and that’s why I asked them to send messages directly to me because it is of utmost importance to me and they will be addressed,” he assured.

Also speaking, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alh. Sa’ad Abubakar III, urged the Nigerian Army not to allow tribalism into their affairs, saying it could divide the army and the country at large.

“You are in the military now and so many things have been geared towards where you come from, who is a Muslim, who is a Christian, who is Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba in the country.

“We never knew these things so many years ago. Please, don’t allow this thing to trip into the army for that would be the one thing that will divide the army and even the country,” he said.

Other projects commissioned by the Chief of Army Staff included the newly constructed Nigerian Army Armoured Corps Fire Service Station and Nigerian Army Armoured Corps Filling Station.

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Headline

Strait Of Hormuz: US Announces Sanctions Against Iran

Published

20 minutes ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States Treasury has announced sanctions against Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority.

Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said this in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement extended the threat of sanctions to anyone paying the fees, saying they may be providing support to and receiving services from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, and therefore may be exposed to sanctions risk.

“The Iranian military’s latest attempt to extort global maritime trade is proof that Economic Fury has left the regime desperate for cash.

“Treasury has deprived the Iranian regime of revenue for their weapons programs, terrorist proxies, and nuclear ambitions,” Bessent said.

Bessent added that the US has succeeded in disrupting tens of billions of dollars’ worth of revenue from being accessible to Tehran.

Headline

US Launches New Airstrikes On Iran

Published

23 minutes ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States has launched new airstrikes in southern Iran.

The strike shot down four one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz and then a ground control site.

A US official revealed that American forces struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone.

The official described the strikes as purely defensive, saying the US intended to maintain the ceasefire.

Report says this is the second time in three days that the US has carried out self-defense strikes against Iranian military targets in southern Iran.

Recall that on Monday the US carried out airstrikes against Iranian missile locations and boats that US Central Command said were preparing to launch mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

Headline

Woman Passes Out After Receiving 100 Strokes Of Cane

Published

4 days ago

May 24, 2026

Editor

A woman has passed out after she and her partner were each flogged 100 times in public for engaging in sex outside marriage under strict Sharia laws in Indonesia’s Aceh province.

The woman, whose identity was not disclosed, was later carried away after the punishment was carried out in Banda Aceh, located at the northern tip of Sumatra island on Thursday.

A masked official dressed in brown robes administered the caning before members of the public who gathered to witness the punishment.

Her partner was also seen wincing in pain while receiving the lashes.

The pair were among several individuals punished for violating Sharia regulations in the province.

Authorities from the Banda Aceh Sharia Court and the Prosecutor’s Office handed down punishments ranging from 25 to 100 lashes for offences including extramarital sex allegedly arranged through online applications.

Aceh remains the only province in Muslim-majority Indonesia operating under Sharia law, where unmarried couples are prohibited from having sexual relations.

Caning is commonly used in the province as punishment for offences such as gambling, alcohol consumption, same-sex relations and sex outside marriage.

Under Aceh’s Sharia regulations, child rape offenders face some of the harshest penalties, including up to 200 strokes of the cane, a prison sentence of as long as 200 months or fines equivalent to two kilograms of gold.

The punishments are usually carried out publicly as a way of shaming offenders in addition to inflicting physical pain.

Such canings are often conducted outside mosques or in open public spaces, with residents watching and taking photographs during the exercise.

Human rights organisations have continued to condemn the practice, arguing that it causes emotional trauma and violates international human rights standards.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have repeatedly criticised the punishments, saying they conflict with Indonesia’s constitution and global legal obligations.

Amnesty said in a statement: “Caning contravenes Indonesia’s constitution and is in clear violation of international human rights law and standards.

‘It constitutes a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and can amount to torture in violation of the UN Convention against Torture and other international covenants, to which Indonesia is a State Party.’”

Despite the criticism, local authorities have defended the punishments as part of Aceh’s religious and cultural identity, insisting they serve as a deterrent against immoral behaviour.

Earlier in January, another couple in the province reportedly received 140 lashes each after being found guilty of drinking alcohol and engaging in sex outside marriage.

(Daily Mail)