Reunion Wire

A 19-year-old man was arrested at Swakopmund on Saturday for the alleged murder of 22-year-old Immanuel Hermanus Ganaseb.

According to Erongo Community Policing Affairs Commander Inspector Ileni Shapumba in a crime report issued here, the incident happed on Friday evening when the suspect allegedly stabbed the deceased with a knife at a bar in the DRC informal settlement.

‘The suspect reportedly fled the scene after committing the crime which occurred at about 23h00 and was traced down and arrested. The murder weapon was also recovered,’ he said.

Shapumba added that it is still not clear what led to the incident, however police investigations are ongoing.

The suspect was charged and is set to appear in the Swakopmund Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The Defence Headquarters, says the military has neutralised 59 terrorists, arrested 88 criminals, 10 kidnappers, 20 gunmen and 19 suspected oil thefts in one week.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, in a statement on Friday, said the troops also rescued 88 kidnapped hostages within the period.

He said the Armed Forces of Nigeria was engaged in several operations across the six geopolitical zones to tackle the security challenges confronting the nation.

Buba said the troops recovered a total of 68 weapons and 1,364 ammunition comprising 26 AK47 rifles, one GPMG, one AKMS rifle, one FN rifle, four pump action, five pistols and 19 dane guns.

Also recovered by the troops were, 1,083 rounds 7.62mm special, 228 rounds 7.62mm NATO, 14 rounds 5.56 x 45mm, 15 fully loaded AK47 magazines, nine rounds of 9mm ammo and sum of N41,915.00 only and CFA 49,000.

Others, according to him include, 323,650 liters of stolen crude oil, 128,700 liters of illegally refined AGO and 4,000 liters of DPK, while an estimated sum of N388,441,660.00 was denied the oil thefts.

“As at 28 July 23, the military has neutralised 59 terrorists, arrested a total number of 88 criminals, 10 kidnappers, 20 gunmen and 19 suspected oil thefts,” he said.

In the North East, Buba said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai conducted offensive operations against the terrorist enclaves in Gwoza, Konduga, Bama and Mafa Local Government Areas of Borno, neutralising terrorists, rescued hostages and recovered weapons.

He said the offensive caused some terrorist fighters to surrender and denounced their ideology while some gun runners and collaborators were also arrested in Yobe.

According to him, troops neutralised 13 terrorists, arrested 12 and rescued 18 hostages, while a total of 764 terrorists comprising two adult males 336 adult females and 426 children surrendered to the troops at different locations within the theatre.

In North Central, Buba said the troops of Operation Safe Haven raided criminal hideouts at Logo, Takum, Ukum Local Government Areas of Benue and Taraba States respectively.

He said the troops made contacts with the criminal elements and neutralised several, rescued hostages and recovered weapons.

According to him, troops also arrested kidnappers/criminals and recovered weapons at Lere and Sanga Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.

He added that troops of Operation Whirl Stroke raided kidnappers’ hideouts at Wukari, Ukum, Logo and Takum Local Government Areas of Benue and Taraba States.

According to him, troops also arrested suspected cattle rustlers and bandits in Guma, in Benue and a gun runners in Doma in Nasarawa State recovering large quantity of ammo, adding that a total of 17 suspects were apprehended.

In the North West, Buba said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji rescued 50 kidnapped victims in Talata Mafara and Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara and neutralised five terrorist in Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto States.

He said the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji conducted air interdiction on terrorists’ hideouts in Sola in Zamfara State where the terrorists used to attack commuters along Road Jibia-Katsina and take hostages.

According to him, troops neutralised 13 terrorists and recovered one GPMG, 3 AK47 rifles, one PKT gun, one FN rifle, one fabricated rifle, two dane guns, two locally made pistols, 8 dane guns, 28 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 123 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 22 rounds of 7.62mm empty cases.

“Others include: 12 motorcycles, two tricycles, six mobile phones, four cutlasses, one boafeng radio, one solar radio charger, one dagger and 12 arrows.

“Troops also arrested three terrorist collaborators and rescued 75 kidnapped civilians.*

In the South-South, Buba said the troops of Operation Delta Safe haven, recovered 498,650 litres of crude oil, 168,145 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, and 4,400 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosine.

He said the troops also recovered 152 assorted rounds of ammunition, 23 calibers of weapons and 8 AK47 magazines.

Others, according to him, include six vehicles, two boafeng radios, one 8HP, electric saw, matchetes, axe and IPOB flag dagger.

“Troops destroyed 42 illegal refining sites, 36 wooden boats, 68 storage tanks, 77 ovens, 19 dugout pits, 4 speedboats and 5 outboard engines.

“Meanwhile, a total of 41 suspected criminals were apprehended while an estimated sum of N388.4 million was denied the oil thefts during the period in focus.

In the South East, the defence spokesman said troops of Operation UDO KA neutralised three gunmen and apprehended 23 suspects as well as recovered cache of arms and ammunition during the period.

In South West, he said the troops of Operation AWATSE recovered 5,407 wraps of substances believed to be cannabis.

He added that the troops also recovered four vehicles, 10 mobile phones, 14 cylinders, among others while seven criminals were arrested.

“The aggressive posture of troops is yielding the desired results and denying the perpetrators of insecurity in the country the freedom of action.

“The sustained momentum by the military will certainly cause them to reconsider their decisions.

“The military will continue to take the fight to defeat these forces of evil,” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Vladimir Putin, Russian President, says the Russian Government has written off $23 billion debt burden of African countries.

Putin spoke at the plenary session of the ongoing second Russia–Africa Summit 2023 holding from July 27 to July 28.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) is one of the media partners of the summit, and its Managing Director, Mr Buki Ponle, is also attending the event.

He said Moscow would allocate an additional $90 million for these purposes.

Putin said Russia was advocating expansion of representation of African countries in the UN Security Council and other UN structures.

“Russia and Africa strive to develop cooperation in all areas and strengthen ‘honest, open, constructive’ partnership.

“Russia will also assist in opening new African embassies and consulates in Russia,” he said.

According to him, the reopening of embassies in Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea is going as planned.

He said sovereignty was “not a one-time achieved state,” and it must be constantly protected.

Putin also offered assistance to Africa in countering threats such as terrorism, piracy, and transnational crimes adding that it would continue to train personnel from African countries.

He assured that Russian businesses have a lot to offer partners from Africa.

Putin said transition to national currencies and the establishment of transport and logistics chains would contribute to the increase in mutual trade turnover.

“Russia is ready to provide trade preferences to Africa, support the creation of modern production sectors, agricultural sector, and provide assistance through relevant international structures and agencies.

“Russia will always be a responsible international supplier of agricultural products,” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), says it will collaborate with Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) to accelerate up Nigeria’s economic growth.

The Acting Controller-General of NCS, Mr Wale Adeniyi made the pledge when NEPZA’s Managing Director, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba and his counterpart from OGFZA, Senator Tijani Kaura visited him on Friday.

Adeniyi, while commending efforts of personnel, promised the Service readiness to partner with both agencies for the good of the country.

According to him, NCS is ever committed to collaborate with necessary Government’s Agencies in the task of ensuring national economic development.

“That is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu led administration.

“So, I will like to express my commitment that we will forge this collaboration, we will work closer and we will get collaborations towards productive results for our economy,” he said.

Earlier, the Managing Director of NEPZA, highlighted the roles of Free Trade Zones in job creation, poverty reduction and national economic development.

Adesugba said for NEPZA and OGFZA to achieve their mandates as agencies saddled with the responsibility of developing the sector, there was the need for effective collaboration with the NIS.

He recalled the recent meeting of stakeholders in the sector in Abuja where they brainstormed on how to reposition the sector for optimal performance.

He said it was resolved that they meet with the NCS on the meeting’s outcome to further seek the way forward in the industry.

“We are very happy that we are going back to our various authorities and we are taking with us the fact that we will be working together.

“It is not going to be business as usual, we are going to be working with very vibrant team of Customs officers.

“And they are going to develop the capacity of all the officers and some of the stakeholders in the processes of the free trade zone to ensure investors are attracted to the freezones in Nigeria rather than go elsewhere.

“We want to work with Nigeria Customs and all other stakeholders that have anything to do with the free zone scheme to ensure that investors have sucour in Nigeria.

“And to ensure we are competitive, limit bureaucracy and the one stop shop part of the scheme actually works and we can’t do these without the Nigeria Customs, so that is why we are here,” he said.

Adesugba used the opportunity to congratulate Adeniyi on his appointment as the Acting Controller-General of NCS, while commending President Tinubu for making the right choice by appointing.

He described the NCS boss as a well trained and experienced Custom officer who rose from the ranks to become the Acting Controller-General.

On his part, the Managing Director of OGFZA, who also congratulated the NCS boss, stressed the need for effective public private sector collaboration towards developing the nation’s Free Trade Zones.

Tijani Kaura said he was impressed by the outcome of the meeting as it showed clear willingness by the Customs to support the free zone.

He expressed optimism that the collaboration would be on the interest of the nation, as well as ensure rapid economic growth and progress for the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a five man Committee was set up at the end of the event to deliberate on ways of possible partnership among the three agencies.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria