The Defence Headquarters has declared 97 persons wanted violent extremism and secessionist threats against the state.

Prominent among the wanted persons is the factional leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Simon Ekpa.

Major Gen Edwaed Buba, Director, Defence Media Operations, confirmed the names and pictures of the people declared wanted in Abuja yesterday, March 22.

The wanted persons, terrorists/bandits and insurgents commanders are from the North East, North West, North Central and South-East zones.

A breakdown of the wanted persons shows that 43 were declared wanted in North West Zone plagued by banditry, and kidnapping among others.

Some bandits/terrorists leaders include: Alhaji Shingi; Malindi Yakubu; Boka ; Dogo Gide; Halilu Sububu; Ado Aliero ; Bello Turji; Dan Bokkolo; Labi Yadi ; Nagala; Saidu Idris; Kachalla Rugga and Sani Gurgu.

In the North East plagued by Boko Haram and Islamic State for West Africa Province terrorists, 33 persons were declared wanted.

Among them are terrorists commanders, Abu Zaida; Modu Sulum; Baba Data; Ahmad; Sani Teacher; Baa Sadiq; Abdul Saad; Kaka Abi; Mohammad Khalifa; Umar Tella; Abu Mutahid; Mallam Mohammad; Mallam Tahiru Baga; Uzaiya and Ali Ngule.

In the North Central and South East 21 Insurgents/militants and violent criminals were declared wanted.

They include factional IPOB leader Simon Ekpa; Chika Edoziem; Egede; Zuma, ThankGod Gentle; Flavour ; Mathew; David Ndubuisi ; High Chief Williams Agbor; Ebuka Nwaka; Friday Ojimka.

Others in the South East include Obiemesi Chukwudi aka Dan Chuk ; David Ezekwem Chidiebube and Amobi Chinonso Okafor aka Temple .

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his deepest sympathy to the family of his former official photographer, Sunday Aghaeze whose wife, Marbel died and was buried on Friday.
> In a message to the Aghaezes at the funeral, the former President said that he was shocked by the news of the demise of the brilliant chartered accountant who was upwardly mobile in the public service, adding that the family had lost a pillar of support, a peaceful and loving mother.
He advised Aghaeze and the children to take solace in the good name and solid reputation that the deceased left behind, and to thank God for giving them Marvel for the period He allowed.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has assured the Nigerian armed forces of the support of the FCT Administration in the fight against insecurity in the Territory.
“Whatever you think FCT can do for you, don’t hesitate to tell us. I will do it for you because you need support to succeed.

“While we are sleeping in the night, you are moving about, just to protect us. “So, we need to give you the necessary support.”
Wike spoke when the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher G. Musa visited him today, March 22.
The Minister sympathized with the CDS over the tragic death of some soldiers in Delta state, and pledged the support of the FCTA to help alleviate the sufferings of families of the deceased, describing the killing of the soldiers as barbaric and unfortunate.
“First of all, let me condole the families and the Nigerian military over what happened in Delta State. It was the most barbaric act I’ve ever seen.
“I don’t think any right-thinking person will ever support such a heinous crime. Not that the people died, but the way they were killed is quite unfortunate.
“We, as FCT, will support the Nigerian military in whichever way we can to see what we can do to reduce the pains of the families of these individuals.
“And you are doing your best. People must appreciate. It is not easy for somebody to bring out his life and say I want to die for the country.
“So, every Nigerian should give you people the support. Nigerians’ prayers are required. I know how many soldiers you’ve lost in terms of fighting Boko Haram, bandits and other kinds of crime. So, you require support in all ramifications.”
Wike stressed the importance of synergy among organs of government, adding that the FCTA will continue to work with all security agencies in the FCT to achieve the security component of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the territory.
The Minister said that the FCT Administration will set up a rapid response unit comprising a joint team from the various security agencies to respond to security challenges in the FCT.
He said that the rapid response team will also be equipped with advanced technology to improve their ability to fight crime in the nation’s capital.
“What we are trying to do is to build a centre, what we call FCT Rapid Response Team, which will be a joint team, including the military, the police, the DSS and the Civil Defence, where every form of technology will be provided.”
Earlier, the CDS had assured the minister of the support of the members of the armed forces, saying that the armed forces will continue to work with other security agencies in the FCT, especially the police, to protect lives and property.
He reminded all that the security agencies cannot do it alone but needed the support of the Administration and residents of the FCT.
“Ours is to provide standby force in case it overwhelms them, then we can move in and we want to have them ready. In doing that, we are building up a rapid response team that will involve ground troops and air, especially helicopters.
“We want to be able to have them on standby 24 hours.”

President Bola Tinubu has acknowledged Tony Onyemaechi Elumelu as Africa’s ingenious business leader.
Elumelu, who is the chairman of Heirs Holdings, Transcorp, United Bank for Africa, and founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation, celebrates his birthday, today, March 22.
Celebrating birthday with Elumelu, whom he also described as “the foremost businessman and philanthropist,” the President, commended him for his industry and the uncommon spirit of excellence that governs the entirety of his enterprise.
President Tinubu emphasized the business leader’s streak of genius in driving investments, creating opportunities for Africa’s ebullient youths, and providing them with the support they need to soar.
The President expressed happiness for Elumelu for being named on Time’s list of 100 most influential people in the world in 2020.
He commended him for his steadfast trust and faith in the certainty of a greater Nigeria and for always projecting the best of our great nation.
President Tinubu wished Elumelu many more years in good health and strength as he persists in his endeavour of contributing substantially to national and continental development.

Benue Government has suspended all mining activities in the state to determine the legitimate ones through the compilation of miners’ data.
The State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, who gave the directive for the suspension of mining activities at a meeting with members of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Benue Chapter, in Makurdi also directed the Mineral Resources and Environment Management Committee (MIREMCO) to immediately begin documenting the data of all miners in the state.
He said that the decision to conduct the revalidation exercise was due to reports of security threats.
He frowned at the contamination of water sources for residents in the affected areas, especially in Kwande.
The governor enjoined security agencies and the joint task force on illegal mining to ensure that the right thing was done to enhance the well-being of the people and increase the Internally Generated Revenue.
“The state government will not tolerate any illegality. It is our administration’s prerogative to protect the lives and property of the people.”
The state Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Fidelis Mnyim, said that Governor Alia is not against mining but wants to check illegal mining activities.
Mnyim, who is also the chairman of MIREMCO, said the state has come up with a checklist that would be used to scrutinise the mining sector in Benue.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Nigeria Miners Association in Benue, John Tersugh, promised to cooperate with the governor to sanitise the mining sector.
The mining officer in the Federal Ministry of Mining and Solid Minerals, Simon Ogwu, promised to support the state government to sanitise the mining sector in Benue.
Two miners, Benjamin Nyior and Dennis Tarhemba, called for a conducive working environment to enable them to carry out their activities effectively.
Some members of the association appealed to the governor to address the issue of multiple taxation within the industry and provide necessary mining equipment to assist them on the field to contribute to the revenue profile of the state. Source: NAN.

The mandate secretary for education in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Dr. Danlami Hayyo has praised the minister, Nyeson Wike for providing scholarship to
13,964 indigent students of various categories.
Dr. Hayyo, who spoke today, March when the minister launched the rehabilitations of some schools in the territory, said that the minister had since disbursed the sum of N280.3 million as scholarship to the fresh and existing indigent students across all levels of education.
According to him, the scholarships are parts of the efforts to leave no child behind in the quest for an educated society.
The mandate Secretary said that the rehabilitation of schools is aimed at revitalizing educational infrastructure in schools with a focus on rehabilitating and constructing various school facilities such as classrooms, laboratories, libraries, admirative blocks, toilets and water system.
“The goal is to enhance the learning environment, promote education excellence and ensure the students and teachers have access to quality facilities, conducive to their academic and teachers’ development.”
Flagging off the rehabilitation and reconstruction of 19 schools in the capital territory, at the School of the Gifted in Gwagwalada Area Council, minister Wike said that the schools to be rehabilitated cut across the six Area Councils.
He said that his government is determined to give the best to the education sector, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“It is not only access to education. If you give access to education without quality, then you have not given education. While we are providing access, we must also provide quality and the quality entails that the environment must be conducive and habitable.
“So, be assured that we will give you the best. We are looking into the teachers too, how we are going to provide quality teachers to teach our children.”
The Minister also assured the contractors working on the rehabilitation and reconstruction project of timely payment.
He said that funding for the project has been provided in the 2023 supplementary budget, adding that provision has also been made in the 2024 statutory budget for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of 20 additional schools.
“Let me assure you contractors that nobody will be owed. As I came in, there was a file I met in the office.
“I made sure that your mobilization has been sent to the bank so that you don’t need to worry yourself. That has been done.”