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Ekiti, Lagos, and Osun to Recruit 1,320 Militiamen for “Operation Amotekun”
“Operation Amotekun” the new security outfit targeted towards tackling kidnapping and criminal activities in the South West region gained momentum as Ekiti, Lagos, and Osun governments disclosed that they would employ about 1,320 militiamen.
This is coming about two-days after South-West Governors led by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State commissioned the “Operation Amotekun”. It is also known as the Western Nigeria Security Network.
This development is coming after the police identified about 52 deadly blackspot they would focus on in working with the newly established security outfit.
Besides, this is also coming amid the announcement by some social-political groups across Nigeria endorsing the security outfit saying it would assist tackle the insecurity challenges in the region.
The groups that endorsed this are the Ijaw Youth Congress, Pan Nigeria Delta Forum, Arewa Consultative Forum, Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign States of Biafra, and the Middle Belt Forum.
It was also disclosed that the recruitment of the militiamen would be from the Oodua Peoples Congress, Vigilantes and hunters, Agbekoya, Ekiti, Lagos, and Osun and would be handled by each state in conjunction with the security agencies.
Ismail Omipidan, the Chief Press Secretary to Osun State Governor, said Osun State planned to recruit 700 locals that would collaborate with the conventional security outfit.
He said the role of the security agency would be restricted to intelligence gathering.
He said further;
“The success of the Civilian JTF initiative in the fight against insurgency has encouraged us to engage the locals primarily in the area of intelligence gathering.
“We are recruiting 700 locals and all security agencies are involved in the recruitment process. It is ongoing and I believe it will be completed soon.”
The Special Adviser on Security to Ekiti State Governor, Brig. Gen Ebenezer Ogundana (Rtd) said Ekiti State looking at recruiting between 400 and 500 people for a start.
Also, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso disclosed that Lagos had donated 20 vehicles and would recruit 120 to support the “Operation Amotekun”
The NBA All-Star game has now to be called The Kobe Bryant MVP Award. NBA commissioner, Adam Silver made this announcement on Saturday 15th February.
The Kobe Bryant MVP Award will be given this Sunday at the closing of this year’s All-Star Game in Chicago. Both teams will be captained by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lebron James respectively. Team Lebron will put on No 2 and team Giannis will put on No 24. These two numbers were worn by Gianna, Kobe’s daughter and Kobe Bryant.
Recall that Kobe won the All-Star Game MVP in 2002, 2007, 2009, and 2011. Also, he played as the youngest player to feature in the All-Star Game at 19 in 1998.
Modibbo Kawu, the DG of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, has been put on suspension by President Buhari. This came following his corruption charges by the Independent Corrupt Practices, ICPC.
This development was confirmed by Armstrong Idachaba, NBC’s Director of Broadcast Monitoring. Further, the most senior director in the commission has been directed to take over from Modibbo Kawu.
Modibbo Kawu is currently facing a 12-count charge bordering on money laundering, abuse of office, and misleading a public officer with the intent of defrauding the government.
So, this contravenes Section 26 (1) (c) of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offenses Act 2000 and punishable under Section 19 of the same Act.
Beisdes, Modibbo was first arraigned in May 2019 over the alleged misappropriation of N 2.5 billion for the digital switch-over (DSO) program of the government.
The Health Ministry in Egypt has confirmed the first case of the deadly Coronavirus. The authorities made this disclosure on Friday 14th February in a press release. They said the World Health Organization has been informed and the patient is in isolation for monitoring and treatment.
The patient’s nationality was not given. However, Egypt is the 28th country in the world to record Coronavirus and the first in Africa.
So, over 64,000 cases of the Coronavirus have been diagnosed around the world and 1,363 persons have been confirmed dead since its outbreak in Wuhan, China
