Health and Safety

Troops’ onslaught on Boko Haram, ISWAP terrorists in Northeast intensifies

Published

4 years ago

January 27, 2020

DHQ warns against obstruction of goods between North, South

…Army confirms arrest of informants***

The Nigerian Army says its troops of Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD), have continued to pound Boko Haram and Islamic State for West Africa (ISWAP) terrorists in the North East.

The Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator, Col. Aminu Iliyasu indicated this on Sunday, in a statement, adding that some terrorists’ informants were recently arrested.

Iliyasu disclosed that the troops of 159 Battalion deployed at Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe State had an encounter with the terrorists on Jan. 19 and neutralised two of the criminals.

He said that several of the insurgents were believed to have escaped with gunshot wounds while two AK-47 rifles, five magazines and 45 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition were recovered.

The spokesperson also disclosed that the Joint Tactical Team deployed to Borno and Yobe States apprehended a Boko Haram female recruiter (Zainab Usman) at Modu Sulemri area of Abujan Talakawa Ward of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council.

He added that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a wife of Alai Usman, a high profile Islamic State West Africa Province logistics supplier.

According to him, the suspect is believed to be in contact with other high profile Boko Haram/ISWAP commanders, helping them to recruit young fighters.

“Also, on Jan. 2020, troops of 212 Battalion deployed in Auno, Kaga LGA of Borno State in conjunction with elements of Civilian Joint Task Force arrested one Mallam Ahmed Yakuba, a high profile Islamic State West Africa Province informant at a location south of Auno Village.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect was born in Niger Republic, grew up in Sudan and has been in Nigeria for the past 15 years.

Also read: Nigerian Army donates 20,000 books to IDPs camp school

“However, during interrogation, the suspect confessed to being a spy for the Islamic State’s West Africa Province criminals on a mission to spy on troops’ location in Auno and other locations along the Maiduguri – Damaturu road.

“In another development, on 22 January 2020, troops of 212 Battalion deployed at Gajigana in Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno arrested a Boko Haram terrorist, Bukar Sanda in Gajigana Village.

“During preliminary interrogation, the suspect confessed to having left the Village two years ago and joined ISWAP insurgent group where he was trained on weapon handling.

“He further confessed to have returned to the community in order to spy on troops’ location,” he said.

Iliyasu further disclosed that the troops of 21 Special Armoured Brigade deployed at Bama in Borno, in conjunction with elements of Cameroonian Defence Forces and Civilian JTF under Operation RUFE KOFA, successfully raided terrorists’ hideouts at Abbaram, Nguzuwa 1&2 and Cina on Jan. 20.

He added that the operation led to the killing of five terrorists and recovery of one motorcycle, two mobile phones, two Dane guns and two wooden guns.

Other items recovered according to him are, eight refilled rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, one AK 47 Rifle magazine and two locally fabricated magazines.

“Furthermore, two women and four children hostages were rescued.

“The rescued children were instantly administered with the Oral Polio Vaccine by the Army Medical Team in line with the Buratai Intervention Initiative,” he said.

Iliyasu further disclosed that troops also made partial contact with some terrorists at Shuwarin in Bama Local Government Area of Borno and neutralised one of them.

He added items such as one locally made pistol, one wooden AK47 rifle and one Boko Haram Terrorists’ flag were recovered from the fleeing terrorists.

According to him, all Boko Haram structures within the enclave including food items, a makeshift market, thatched houses and locally made irrigation pumps, were destroyed.

“Troops of 121 Battalion deployed at Pulka in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno, successfully cleared an ambush laid by Boko Haram criminals on Jan. 18 at Warabe, Borno.

“In the aftermath of the encounter, two Boko Haram criminals were neutralised while several others fled with gunshot wounds under the cloak of darkness.

“The troops also captured two AK47 rifles and three refilled rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition among other items.

Iliyasu stated that the troops of Operation MESA in Kaduna, Sokoto and Niger states also recorded huge successes in the fight against bandits and kidnapper in the last few day.

He said that the combined troops of 2 Battalion, Forward Operating Bases at Kushaka, Birnin Gwari and Pandogari in Kaduna and Niger States unleashed their superior firepower on bandits leading the death of them.

According to him, items recovered are one AK 47 Rifle, three AK 47 Rifle magazines, 10 round of 7.62mm Special ammunition, two mobile phones and one motorcycle.

“Similarly, on Jan. 22, troops of 8 Division responded to a distress call about kidnappers holding some victims within the fringes of Zugu forest in Kebbe LGA of Sokoto State.

“Troops swiftly mobilized to the area. After a brief fire fight, the kidnappers abandoned the 2 kidnapped victims and fled.

“The rescued victims have since been reunited with their families.

“On Jan. 21, troops of 31 Artillery Brigade under Operation MESA while on clearance operations had meeting engagement with bandits at Dogon Gona in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

“The bandits fled due to the superior firepower of the troops. Nevertheless, troops rescued the five kidnapped victims, administered them with First Aid after which they were released to reunite with their families”, he added.

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Health and Safety

Heavy Downpour Leaves Lagos-Badagry Expressway Flooded; Residents Groan

Published

5 days ago

September 16, 2023

Maritime First

FOGCILS Gives Assurances of Support to APC, Sanwo-Olu

Hundreds of motorists and passengers going to Mile 2 were on Saturday stranded as flood from morning downpour disrupted free movement on the Trade Fair and Abule -Ado axis of the Lagos- Badagry Expressway.

The resultant flood from the downpour also blocked the trade fair axis, temporarily impeding the movement of vehicles on the expressway.

NAN also reports that the rainfall, which started at 5.00 a.m. and continued for hours, forced many passengers to come down from commercial vehicles and resort to trekking from Abule-Ado to Barracks in Ojo.

Some passengers and motorists urged the Lagos State Government to clear the drainage to avert such flood incidents.

*Lagos State Governor, Sanwo-Olu

Mrs Ibironke Adegboyega, a trader in Ebute-Aro, Lagos Island, said that the flood had prevented her from going to open her shop.

*Another passenger trying to cross from one side of Lagos Badagry expressway to the other during the downpour on Saturday.

“The flood has completely blocked the expressway, some vehicles that tried to access the road had been trapped in the flood.

“The drainage is blocked by plastics and nylon preventing the passage of the water.

“Lagos government should wake up to its responsibility and clear the drainage, they should also warn the traders against indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

“I have to go back home now because it is dangerous to force your way in there due to the flood,” she said.

*Commuters trekking due to flood caused the morning downpour in Lagos

Mr Toyosi Stephen, a passenger, said the blockage of the expressway was due to the way the contractor handling the project constructed the road.

“One will see that from Abule-Ado down to the Trade fair axis is very sloppy making water to gather under the bridge.

“This also applies to when you are coming from Barracks down to Trade fair, so the water coming from Abule-Ado and Barracks will gather at trade fair and block the movement of vehicles and passengers.

“Government should work on this and also ensure clearing of drainage around this place all the time.

“I have been trapped here, I have to go back to Agbara and sleep,” he said.

*The blockage at the Trade fair axis of Lagos Badagry expressway.

Mr Mutiu Suru, a bus conductor, said the flood would reduce when the rain stopped and that vehicles and passengers would be able to move freely on the expressway.

“The rain is heavy, that’s why the flood blocked the road, but I can tell you that in an hour’s time, vehicles will start going.

“All we need to do is to exercise patience and relax in our vehicles,” he said.

NAN reports that the floods also affected communities in Badagry including Mowo, Ikoga, Ansarudeen, Ajara-Vetho, Aghelaso, and Zogakome areas.

Health and Safety

HEAVY DOWNPOUR: LASG Postpones Planned 2-Sunday Traffic Diversion On 3rd Mainland Bridge

Published

5 days ago

September 16, 2023

Maritime First

Sanwo-Olu Increases Students’ Bursary by 100%; NANS, NULASS debunk Third Mainland Bridge protest

…To announce new dates later***

Due to the heavy downpour experienced in all parts of the Metropolis today, the Lagos State Government has announced the postponement of the planned Two Sundays palliative works on the failed sections of the 3rd Mainland Bridge, which was scheduled for tomorrow, Sunday 17th, and Sunday 24th September 2023.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi who confirmed this in a release, explained that the rain has affected the preliminaries of the planned palliative works on the asphalt pavement of the bridge by the Lagos State Public Works Corporation.

Assuring that a later date which will be subject to weather conditions will be duly communicated for the palliative works, the Transport Commissioner urged Motorists to continue to access the bridge with observance of safety measures.

Health and Safety

Live Worm Found In Woman’s Brain In Australia

Published

3 weeks ago

August 29, 2023

Maritime First

Australian doctors have found a live parasitic worm in a woman’s brain in a world-first discovery.

In a new study published on Tuesday, researchers from the Australian National University (ANU) and Canberra Hospital detailed the discovery of the parasitic roundworm.

The eight-cm Ophidascaris robertsi roundworm, which is usually found in pythons, was pulled from the patient, a 64-year-old woman, still alive and wriggling after brain surgery.

Sanjaya Senanayake, a leading infectious disease expert from ANU and the Canberra Hospital, said in a media release that it was a world first.

According to the study, the patient was admitted to a local hospital in south-east New South Wales (NSW) in 2021 after three weeks of abdominal pain and diarrhea.

In 2022, after she started experiencing forgetfulness and depression, a neurosurgeon at Canberra Hospital identified an abnormality in the right frontal lobe of the brain from an MRI scan, prompting the surgery that discovered the roundworm.

The study hypothesizes that the patient was probably infected by touching, or eating, native grasses that a carpet python had shed the parasite into.

She remains under monitoring by infectious disease and brain experts.

– Xinhua