By George Mgbeleke
Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured the Nigerian Army of his administration’s continued support in the task of providing adequate security for oil and gas facilities as well as other critical national assets located in the state

In a statement by Chief Press Secretary to the governor,Onwuka Nzeshi, Fubara gave the assurance on Friday while receiving the new Commander, 6 Division Garrison and Sector 3, Joint Task Force (South-South), Operation Delta Safe, Brigadier General Ismaila Sule, at Government House, Port Harcourt.

The Governor congratulated the senior officer on his posting to Rivers State and noted that the State has, across different administrations, maintained a wonderful and mutually beneficial relationship with the Nigerian Army.

He described the partnership as a win-win relationship, stressing that government’s support to security agencies is not an extraordinary gesture, but a normal responsibility, given the importance of security to the social and economic development of the country.

Governor Fubara expressed appreciation for the new military formation being created and sited in Ahoada, describing it as a strategic decision that will help reduce agitation, tension and security challenges prevalent in that part of the state. He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Waidi Shaibu for the favour done to Rivers State.

The Governor emphasized that his government will never ask the military to do anything that will undermine its professional and statutory responsibilities or oppress any citizen, adding that his only interest is peace, progress and the development of Rivers State.

He said Sector 3, which is responsible for protecting critical national assets including oil pipelines, has always enjoyed massive support from the Rivers State Government, and assured that the support will not only be sustained but improved in the current dispensation.

In his remarks, Brig. Gen. Sule thanked Governor Fubara for the warm reception and for the consistent support of the State Government to the Army, pledging to strengthen synergy during his tour of duty in Rivers State.
Brig. Gen. Sule disclosed that he had been briefed by his predecessors on the consistent support the Army had received from the Rivers State Government, and conveyed the appreciation of the military high command to the state.

The Commander said his visit was to officially introduce himself to the Governor as the Chief Security Officer of the State, and to inform him of his plans to tour all 23 Local Government Areas in the State as well as nearby military formations.

Brig. Gen. Sule further disclosed that following the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to expand the Nigerian Army from eight to twelve Divisions, Rivers State will benefit from the expansion with a new Brigade to be stationed in Ahoada along with its affiliate battalions.

He said the new formation will help tackle security challenges in that axis and assured that under his command, the Army will do its best to ensure lasting peace and security across Rivers State.

By Our Correspondent

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Edo State, Emperor Jarret Tenebe, says his AK-47 remark was a metaphor for electoral strength and firmness, not a call to arms.

Tenebe said the expression was meant to communicate the importance of standing firmly by one’s democratic choice and protecting votes.

He explained that just as AK-47 is associated with strength, firmness and reliability, voters must show same qualities in defending their mandate.

The APC chairman stressed the reference was never intended to introduce violence into the electoral conversation.

He said the strength invoked was strength of conviction, not strength of arms.

According to him, defending the vote is a civic responsibility that requires vigilance, transparency and accountability throughout the process.

He said the analogy falls within political symbolism where familiar objects are used to convey resilience and determination.

Tenebe maintained such firmness must remain anchored in law, through peaceful participation, lawful observation and legitimate democratic mechanisms.

He said the message was about being steadfast in political choice and unwavering in democratic participation, not about wielding weapons.

“The essence was resilience without violence and firmness without lawlessness,” he said.

He urged electorate to understand the statement as call to value their votes and stand responsibly behind lawful choices.

BY UTHMAN BABA-NASEER,MINNA.

The North Central zonal headquarters of the National Centre for the Control of Small and Light Weapons,(NCCSALW) in a sustained inter-agency collaboration received a large catches of arms and ammunitions r intercepted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Kogi State Command.
The North Central Zonal headquarters of the Centre in Minna,on the 6th of October,2026 was in Lokoja for the official handing over of the large catches of arms and ammunition recovered by the Kogi State Command of the NDLEA.
The NCCSALW led by the Zonal Director,Dr. Abdull Adamu Eneche represented by the head of the Support Services of the Centre Lt.Col. Kabir Olukunle Olagunju in a demonstration of proactive synergy and sustained operational follow-up successfully retrieved recovered arms and ammunitions from the NDLEA
Among the recovered items handed over to the Centre, include eight hundred and seventy- four (874) cartridges,one pump action rifle,thirty-five (35) local Dane guns, three (3),locally made pistols, and two (2) VRD PISTOLS.
The retrieval according to Lt.Col. Kabir Olagunju, is part of the Centre’s deliberate and strategic efforts to rid the society of illicit firearms and ensure that all recovered weapons are duly accounted for,documented,and taken out of unauthorized circulation,in line with the Centre statutory mandate.
The brief and significant handover ceremony was attended by the representative of the Kogi State Government, Navy Commander Jerry Duro-Omaodara (Rtd), Security Adviser to the Governor of Kogi State.
The efforts underscores the unwavery commitment of the NCCSLAW under its leadership to further strengthen inter-agency synergy and consolidate the Federal Government’s resolve to curb the unwholesome proliferation of small arms and ammunitions and light weapons across the North Central States and the nation in general.
Speaking during the ceremony, the assistant Commandant General of the NDLEA,ACGN Usman Yahuza Mustapha,stated that over the years, Kogi State due to its strategic Command of the NDLEA,has recovered a large catches of arms and ammunitions from convicted drug dealers during raids operations and stop and-search operations across the state.
He noted that the seizures serve as a strong warning to drug peddlers and arms traffickers in the state.
Emphasizing that the leadership of the NDLEA under the Chairman Chief Executive of the agency,Brig.Gen Mohammed Buba Marwa the agency’s mandate goes beyond drug control “ but safeguarding lives by disrupting illegal arms supply chains”
In line with the office of the National Security Adviser directives, (ONSA), the ACGN formally handed over the recovered weapons to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSLAW),North Central Zone expressing confidence in the centre’s capacity to secure and properly destroy the illicit arms.
He also reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to maintaining zero tolerance for drug and arms trafficking in the region.
Also speaking Lt Col Kabir Olakunle Olagunju Olagunju, representing the Zonal Director, North Central Zone,Dr. Abdul Adamu Eneche commended the NDLEA the strategic Command kogi, state, for the successful recovery and for its unwavering, dedication and to national security
He noted that the recovery and subsequent handover of the arms and ammunition from criminal elements is a significant operational feat, which has directly denied criminal networks access to lethal weapons capable of destabilizing the society.
He further stressed that sustained synergy and intelligence sharing among security agencies remains vital to dismantling the networks of gunrunners and arms trafficking syndicates, adding that tackling the menace of illicit arms proliferation requires a whole-of-society and collective institutional effort, which the Centre will continue to champion under the purposeful leadership of the Director General, DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo (Rtd). Olagunju reaffirmed that the Centre, in line with the strategic directive of the Director General for zero tolerance for illicit arms in unauthorized circulation, will ensure that every recovered weapon is duly accounted for. He therefore encouraged other security agencies to emulate the commendable example of the NDLEA. While formally accepting the recovered arms and ammunition, he assured that they would be properly documented, safely warehoused, and subsequently destroyed in accordance with international arms control procedures and best practices.
In his remarks, Omodara, expressed gratitude to the NDLEA for its efforts in keeping Kogi State free of illicit drugs and illegal firearms. He commended the National Security Adviser for his excellent organization of the Centre, which has earned it wide recognition and acceptance. He called on the Director General of the Centre to establish a state office in Kogi State and across the North Central Zone, noting that its presence in the states would strengthen synergy among security agencies.
He assured that the Kogi State Government would forward a letter of commendation to the NDLEA in recognition of its commendable efforts. He further urged that the recovered arms and ammunition be properly secured and destroy to prevent them from finding their way back into society.