Nigerian Army has announced that the presence and operations of EGWU EKE II, known as Python Dance, have driven criminals, including members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), agitating for Biafra aground.
In a statement today, Friday, the Army said that the exercise was meant to deal with emerging security challenges peculiar to the South-Eastern Region, such as kidnappings, armed robbery, communal crisis, farmers- herdsmen clashes, cultism, violent agitations and insurgency, amongst others.
The statement, issued by the Deputy Director of the Public Relations, 82 Division, Colonel Sagir Musa said that EGWU EKE II which began on Friday September 15 in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Cross River States also provided an elaborate humanitarian activities, including free medical services.
The statement said that despite the initial opposition to Exercise EGWU EKE II by the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra members and their sympathizers and unpatriotic elements, the general area of the South East, especially Aba in Abia State is now fully stabilized.
It said that the usual violent activities of the outlawed Biafra “National Guards” who were manning check points and extorting money from traders and motorists, have now been checkmated.
“Similarly, the outlawed Biafra terrorists group presence is no longer visible and people go about their normal businesses without fear, let or hindrance.
“The 82 Division Nigerian Army wishes to reassure the public that it is poised to maintaining the peace and security in the entire South-Eastern Region. Members of the public are please requested to cooperate with security agencies by remaining law abiding and passing credible information to the nearest security check point or call 193 and the various Sector Commanders’ telephone numbers that were earlier made public.”
The statement said that the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai was personally present at the commencement of the free medical outreach.
Those who accompanied the Army Chief were the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. Eric Kelechi Igwe, the General Officer Commanding 82 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Adamu Baba Abubakar and the Chief of Training and Operations Army Headquarters, Major General David Ahmadu and other senior Army Officers.
The statement said that the turnout was impressive, as over 2,000 people benefited in the areas of dental, optometry, laboratory services and blood pressure measurements.
“Others were dispensing of eye glasses, de-worming tablets, assorted drugs, mosquito nets and sanitizer to various categories of people.
“In the same vein, similar medical outreach will be conducted at Nnarambia community Central Primary  School, Ahiara Mbaise in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA of Imo State on 23rd September 2017 as part of the activities of Exercise EGWU EKE II. The Division has also scheduled similar free medical outreaches in other states covering its area of responsibility during the exercise.”
The statement said that the Chief of Army Staff also visited the Step-Up Headquarters of 82 Division at the Nigerian Army Language Institute, Ovim, in Isiuokwuato LGA of Abia State.
It said that so far, the troops have been carrying out routine activities associated with the exercise seamlessly along with other supporting Services and agencies.
“Some suspected criminals were arrested, farmers-herdsmen as well as communal clashes have been averted. Similarly, kidnappers, cultists, armed robbers and other criminal elements have been denied freedom of action through patrols, raids and manning of checkpoints as follows:
“Following credible intelligence report and some distress calls from Ukpata community in Uzo-Wani LGA of Enugu State of a planned attack on the community by Fulani herdsmen on the 19th September 2017, a patrol team of Sector 3 was deployed in the area from 17th September 2017 to date. Through that we were able to prevent serious clash between the Fulani herdsmen and the community.
“Similarly, at about 4.30pm on 17th September 2017, troops of Sector 2 on patrol at Ohaji-Egbema general area, along Obokofia-Agwa, Rombe-Oguta road junction in Imo State, intercepted 2 persons in a vehicle conveying about 15kg of a substance suspected to be Indian hemp. The suspects and the substance have been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
“Also troops of Sector 2, Sub Sector 1, at about 12.00am 19th September 2017, while on patrol along Onitsha-Owerri road arrested 3 suspected hoodlums; Chisom Francis, Chukwu Enema and Uchenna Ogataku that barricaded the highway, extorting money and other valuables from hapless motorists resulting in serious traffic jam. The suspects have been handed over to Ogbaku Police Station.”
The statement said that following a tip off, a criminal hideout was raided at about 12.15am in Obinze community general area on 17th September and that 17 suspected criminals were apprehended by troops of Sector 4.
“Items recovered include 3 x locally made pistols, 5 Dane guns and 15 rounds of various calibers of ammunition. Other items recovered were local charms and 7 wraps of substance suspected to be Indian hemp.
“Furthermore, at about 1.30am on 17th September 2017, troops of Sector 4 in conjunction with the Nigeria Police raided a criminal den at Ukukwa North Local Government Area of Anambra State, where they arrested 7 suspected criminals. Items recovered are; 4 x locally made pistols, 420 live cartridges, about 50kg of Cannabis and some Charms. The suspects and the items were handed over to the Nigeria Police.
“Similarly, based on intelligence, troops of Sector 2, at about 12.00am hours on 18th September 2017, conducted 2 raid operations on suspected cultists’ shrines at Awara and Assa communities of Ohaji-Egbema LGA of Imo State. The raids resulted in the arrest of 10 suspected cult members. They were however, transferred to the Nigeria Police after preliminary investigation.
“In addition, at about 2.30am on 19th September 2017, troops of Sector 1, raided a notorious kidnappers’ den at Ohanze community in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State. The operation led to the release of a kidnap victim, Mr. Monday Benson and the arrest of 3 suspected kidnappers; Arinze Ugiri aged 39 years, from Amouvuro community, Okezie Nwobolo, aged 30 years, from Amouvuro Nteuzor community and Michael Sunday 24 years old, from Okeyan Nteuzor village of Abia State. Suspects have also been handed over to the Nigeria Police after initial questioning.”[myad]

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has expressed the fear that activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have the capacity of affecting the chances of Igbos becoming elected  President of Nigeria in a long time to come.
He said that the IPOB agitation for Biafra has overshadowed the real issue of marginalization of the Igbos.
Speaking to news men in Owerri, capital of Imo State, the governor said that IPOB is not good for the Southeast and that it is not the best way for them to complain about marginalisation to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“There are better ways; the IPOB way is too primitive. If IPOB must do a thing like that it should have changed the name and fought the way Ijaw youths fought, Arewa youths fought, and they would have made more impact. For everything that comes from the Igbo man, we love to go to the extreme.
“Now you want to separate yourself from Nigeria, meanwhile, South-South will not go with you, Edo, Rivers will not go with you. If you cut us off here now as South east, if I need to go to Rivers State, I will go and ask for passport and visa, and we are keeping quiet to say this.
“If there is a crisis now, there is no Hausa man in Igbo land who has a duplex, there is no Yoruba man who has a room and parlour or a N20 million investment in Igbo land, but Igbo have trillions of naira virtually everywhere.
“The same people are asking for secession. If Igbo are asked to go, what happens? They would lose their property, and all of us are keeping quiet, supporting IPOB! It was very childish, and those behind this should stop, that is my advice.
“South-South has produced the president, South-West has produced a president and Vice President, the north has produced many presidents, it is hoping that one day in the next shift, by whatever arrangement, the next people that should be considered is the South-East by Nigeria’s sharing formula.
“So, where are we in our wisdom and the intelligence? That is my position on IPOB; my advice is that Igbo should change their style and condemn IPOB in a manner that should be done and let us flow with the rest of Nigeria for now because we shall benefit more than anyone else.”[myad]

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has said that his government has stopped allocating new land to those in genuine need for it in an effort to control slums.

“We sat down and reflected and we said if we keep on opening phases and we don’t provide infrastructure, at the end of the day, we would just have pockets of slums all over the city. That’s why as an administration, we are not keen on giving land because we are not sure of when infrastructure is going to be there.”

The minister, who spoke today, Thursday, when he received in audience, the management of the National Defence College, was responding to request by the team for a piece of land to build a housing estate for its staff.

Muhammad Bello said that it would be futile for people or organizations to continue to apply and wait for land for mass housing in the already developed phases of the territory, where land allocations have fully exhausted.

He rather advised such government institutions and other private organizations seeking land for mass housing in the FCT to take advantage of the empty estates that are littered across the city and negotiate with finance houses for a suitable long term financing agreement.

According to the minister, the template of everybody getting land and starting a cooperative housing estate is no longer feasible in the FCT, adding that interested parties should identify reasonably priced houses and go into agreement with a financial institution to work out a long term financing model that should be able to meet up with their requirements.

“The reality is that getting land where infrastructure is developed partially or about to be developed is going to be increasingly difficult.

“Land is no longer available in phase 1, phase 2, phase 3, and even in some parts of phase 4 of Abuja.”

Muhammad Bello said that his administration is reviewing land allocations which was made to government institutions and other developers in the territory for mass housing purposes and that such land might revoked and reallocate to more serious contenders in the areas where no appreciable development have been.

The Minister frowned at the rapid expansion of illegal settlements in Piwoyi axis, saying that steps are being taken to discourage the negative trend.

“The villages that you see springing up there are all illegal and if we all agree that they are illegal, then it’s better for us so that we treat them as such. Normally, it’s the construction and the activity in your permanent site and all the other major institutions that are coming up there that are attracting these people.

“If we all keep quiet and we don’t do anything, they will continue to grow. But they are really not supposed to be there and they are usually people that work in your site or work for some of the other construction sites there.”

The minister commended the management of the National Defence College for working towards completing the permanent site of the college at Piwoyi.

He said that his administration will do whatever necessary to ensure that they in move as quickly as possible to a more comfortable location, adding that a number of national and multilateral agencies are waiting to take over their existing location.

Muhammadu Bello said that his administration is working towards addressing the infrastructural challenges around Piwoyi, pointing out that part of the plan is to open up that area through the relevant arterial roads that are in the Abuja Master Plan.

“As you can see, the legislative college is almost done. If you notice, you will see that the Korean Model School also is almost done. A lot of developments are going on around the area.”

Earlier, the Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo said that the team was on a familiarity visit to the minister to explain what they have been doing and also raise issues for the attention of the FCT Minister.

“As our landlord, we have continued to enjoy your support and we are very grateful, particularly the relationship between the administration and the College. The College has continued to grow in strength and in terms of the scope of our activities.

“We have benefiting from all the good things the territory has offered us, particularly the physical properties we have, the permanent site is somewhere in Piwoyi and we hope in the coming years, we will relocate there fully.” [myad]

The Media and Publicity Secretary of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Emma Powerful, has described the order proscribing it as ‘Black Market order’ which he said members of the group will not recognize.

He said that the Abuja Court which proscribed the IPOB yesterday, Wednesday, acted to impress the Federal Government of President Mohammadu Buhari and that the proscription will not stand.

In a statement, Emma Powerful said that the group’s team of lawyers were in the court today, Thursday to quash the order, but the Chief Judge, Justice Abdul Kararati was not in court, adding: “we want to tell the world that IPOB under Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not bothered about the alleged proscription, and we also wish to alert well meaning Nigerians and the world that the Chief Judge justice Dafarati of the Federal High Court Abuja was not on sit and duty today when he found out that IPOB team of lawyers stormed the Court Abuja to challenge the Federal Government obnoxious order obtained from his court.

“Justice Abdu Kafarati gave order yesterday proscribing and labeling IPOB as unlawful and terrorist organization which brought much condemnation from well meaning Nigerians and the world.

“We are aware that the Nigerian Federal Government is resorting to all sorts of measure to frustrate us but we want to tell them we are not bothered about their obnoxious order proscribing IPOB, we will continue our peaceful agitations while they go on with their baseless and shameful proscription we do not recognize.

“IPOB lawyers stormed the federal high court today in Abuja to challenge the obnoxious order but unfortunately the chief judge went out of sit in other to delay and frustrate IPOB because he is fully aware the judicial blunder he committed against humanity. The chief judge was nowhere to be found in the chamber.

“We wondered why the Chief Judge will be out of his sit while he is aware that IPOB team of lawyers arrived to challenge the concocted and fraudulent order obtained against IPOB members.

“We are also aware that the black market order was a product of compromised by people who are bent on destroying the people of Biafra, but failed, they were bought over to prescribe and label IPOB a terrorist group.

“The judge also knows the implications of what he did and that was why he chose to be out of sit to frustrate every efforts IPOB is making to challenge this order.

“However, we are calling on Nigerian Judicial Commission, NJC and the Chief Judge of the Federation to call the Justice Kafarati to order to avoid destroying and making nonsense of the image of Nigerian Judicial System.” [myad]