Presidential aide defends Borno airstrike, calls terrorist collaborators legitimate military targets
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Dada Olusegun, the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, has defended the Nigerian military's airstrike on Jilli village market near the Borno鈥揧obe border. Olusegun stated that anyone conducting business with terrorists is a legitimate military target, not a civilian. This comment was made on X in response to a radio broadcaster, Osasu Suave, who questioned if images circulating online resembled a market. The Nigerian Air Force strike, conducted under Operation HADIN KAI, targeted the Jilli Saturday market in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State. The military identified the location as a terrorist logistics hub for the Islamic State West Africa Province, asserting the operation followed sustained intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance based on verified intelligence of motorcycle and gun truck movements linked to suspected terrorists. However, local sources and the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency YOSEMA have disputed this, confirming civilian casualties in what YOSEMA described as an accidental strike. Preliminary reports from local authorities indicate over 40 civilian deaths, though figures remain unverified. The Defence Headquarters maintains that Jilli village is a known terrorist logistics corridor and convergence point. Sani Uba, a spokesperson for Operation HADIN KAI, stated the strike followed rigorous targeting procedures supported by intelligence and aerial surveillance, with post-strike assessments indicating neutralized terrorists
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Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, stated that he relies on his wife's prayers for continued support from President Bola Tinubu, highlighting its importance for ministers to fulfill their mandates. Speaking at the inauguration of the Water Supply Network to Bwari Satellite Town, Wike mentioned that his administration has officially commissioned 50 projects and plans to commission 10 more before January. He stressed that presidential backing is crucial for performance, drawing from his experience as a former governor and minister. Wike revealed he asks his wife to pray for the President's continued support for the FCT Administration, acknowledging the support received has enabled positive changes. He added that governance aims to improve citizens' lives, a goal he believes the Tinubu administration is working towards.
Must ReadThe National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA of Nigeria and its Egyptian counterpart are preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding MoU to enhance cooperation in fighting substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking. This agreement aims to strengthen intelligence sharing, joint operations, and training between the two nations. NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa retd., announced this during a visit from the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohammed Fouad, at the agency's headquarters in Abuja. Marwa emphasized the global nature of the drug problem and the need for international collaboration, citing existing partnerships with various international law enforcement agencies. He noted that drug cartels are seeking alternative routes in Africa due to pressure elsewhere and highlighted NDLEA's success in dismantling drug manufacturing operations, including methamphetamine labs run by Mexican cartels in Nigeria. Ambassador Fouad underscored the importance of stronger bilateral cooperation between Egypt and Nigeria, as prominent African countries, to address narcotics trafficking from a continental perspective. The proposed MoU is expected to bolster intelligence gathering, capacity building, and coordinated enforcement actions to curb the illicit drug trade across Africa.
A coroner's court in the United Kingdom has ruled that Beatrice Solomon, a 27-year-old Nigerian woman, died by suicide. Ms. Solomon, who moved to the UK in November 2023 on a skilled worker visa, was found unresponsive in her Stanfield home. Her husband, Damian Butler, discovered her upon returning home from work. Emergency responders pronounced her dead at the scene. Police investigators ruled out any third-party involvement. During the inquest, Mr. Butler stated that his wife had struggled with her mental health for the past year, attributing it to issues with Stoke-on-Trent City Council. He also revealed that Ms. Solomon had made two previous attempts to take her own life. A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death as oxygen deprivation. Coroner Li Hammond-Naylor concluded that Ms. Solomon died by suicide, noting that she had researched and planned the act. Ms. Solomon, a caregiver, is survived by her husband, a son, and her siblings.