The Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base, Ibaka in Mbo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom, has apprehended two persons over alleged theft of 2,100 liters of premium motor spirit.

The Commanding Officer, Capt. Aliyu Abdullahi disclosed this while handing over the suspects and items to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) in Ibaka on Monday.

Abdullahi said that navy personnel apprehended the suspects at about 7.45p.m on Jan. 24, while on a routine patrol along the Mbo River area.

He said that during the patrol, naval personnel intercepted a wooden boat carrying over 2,100 Liters of petrol, carefully concealed under cargos such as bread, fruits and bags of cassava flakes among others.

He said that the intention of the suspects was to smuggle the product from Nigeria into the Republic of Cameroun.

The commanding officer said that under the watch of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, the FOB IBAKA would remain committed to fighting waterway crime.

Abdullahi said it would be impossible for maritime crimes to continue in the waterways and coastal areas of Akwa Ibom.

“We shall continue to detect criminals and their activities within the nation’s waterways through the use of advanced surveillance equipment and intelligence.

“Individuals or groups involved in smuggling or any form of criminal activity within Nigeria’s waters should desist immediately,” he said.

Receiving the suspects and Items, ASC Willie Emediong, said that the NSCDC would prosecute the suspects after thorough investigations on the matter.

DR Congo, head of UN peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, Bintou Keita has called for immediate action to end the crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, saying, “we are trapped”

Keita made the call while briefing the Security Council on Sunday in New York on the latest developments, as the non-State armed group M23 advances on cities in the east amid reports of deaths and injuries of civilians and peacekeepers.

Spiralling violence and killings in the eastern DR Congo had triggered an emergency Security Council meeting amid peacekeeper and civilian deaths along with sharp calls for action.

Roads are blocked and the airport can no longer be used for evacuation or humanitarian efforts. M23 has declared Goma airport “closed” and falsely accused FARDC of using it in airstrikes against the civilian population.

“We are trapped.

“I call on this Council to act now to secure the civilian population, humanitarian aid workers, and all United Nations personnel.

“Today, despite ongoing MONUSCO support to FARDC, M23 and Rwandan forces penetrated Munigi quarter in the outskirts Goma city, causing mass panic and flight amongst the population,” she said.

The Humanitarian Coordinator in DR Congo, Bruno Lemarquis, expressed his profound concern regarding the intensification of ongoing fighting around the city of Goma and its growing impact on civilians.

Since the renewed M23 offensives near Goma on January 23, 2025, hundreds of thousands of people have once again been forced to flee multiple active conflict zones, with reception and assistance capacities already overstretched.

Several displacement sites on the outskirts of Goma, hosting more than 300,000 people, have been completely emptied within hours.

Humanitarian actors, including essential personnel who remain operational in Goma, are doing everything possible to address the needs of the most vulnerable civilians despite an alarming deterioration of security in displacement sites and certain neighbourhoods of the city.

The proximity of fighting to densely populated areas and the use of heavy artillery impose intolerable risks on civilians. The emergency capacities of Goma’s hospitals are overwhelmed, despite support from humanitarian actors.

“On behalf of the humanitarian community in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, I call on all parties to the conflict to immediately halt the military escalation.

“This violence exacerbates the suffering of populations in eastern DRC and worsens the already precarious conditions of civilians.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner of DR Congo said Rwanda is planning “a brutality” against her country, bringing the region to the brink of tragedy.

“Each minute that is passing without decisive action by this Council is a victory for the aggressor,” she said. “The world is watching you. It’s time to act.

Rwanda’s Defence Forces (RDF) have stepped up attacks, violating the ceasefire agreement, aggravating an already disastrous humanitarian situation.

In Goma, the RDF has blocked roads, endangered civilian and humanitarian flights and continue to attack camps for displaced persons, she said.

The Luanda Process, endorsed by the African Union, has been sabotaged by Rwanda, she stressed, highlighting the plundering of Congolese minerals and attacks on civilians, peacekeepers and humanitarians.

DR Congo will reject any attempt to include M23 in the Luanda Process, which is an agreement between States.

The Security Council must not remain inactive, she said, calling on it to act decisively to, among other things, order the end of hostilities, demand a withdrawal of Rwanda troops on Congolese territory and apply relevant sanctions and an embargo on all minerals labelled as Rwandan.

She also called on the Council to establish a regime to address systematic violations of arms transfers to Rwanda and remove the country from its list of troop-contributing nations. Also speaking,

Ambassadors of Uruguay and South Africa, whose peacekeepers were recently killed by armed groups in DR Congo, appealed to the Security Council to protect UN troops.

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has called on members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to serve with diligence and contribute meaningfully to the development of the state and the nation.

The governor made this appeal on Friday during the swearing-in ceremony of Batch C, Stream II corps members at the permanent orientation camp in Ikot Itie Udung, Nsit Atai Local Government Area.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Development, Mr. Effiong Nicholas, Governor Eno encouraged the corps members to maximize the opportunity to serve their fatherland and foster unity across diverse backgrounds.

“As stakeholders in Nigerian projects, it is incumbent on you to continue the building process across linguistic, religious, ethnic, and socio-cultural boundaries,” he said. “Nigerians are looking up to you to give the country a new lease of life.”

The governor assured the corps members of the state government’s unwavering commitment to their welfare and safety.
“We are consciously taking necessary steps to ensure that your life and property, including those of other citizens, are protected against all forms of molestation and abuse,” he added.

Governor Eno also urged the corps members to develop a positive attitude to work, embrace innovation, and make lasting friendships during their service year.
“Nigeria needs people like you to show that we can stay together and achieve our aim of a united and indivisible nation, though tribe and tongue may differ,” he said.

Earlier, the State Coordinator of NYSC, Mr. Sam Pepple, disclosed that 1,660 corps members, comprising 718 males and 942 females, had been deployed to the state. He noted that the corps members were settling into the orientation exercise, which was designed to instill the vision and ideals of the NYSC scheme.

Pepple appealed to the state government to address the camp’s infrastructure challenges and urged local government chairmen to construct corpers’ lodges in their respective areas for the benefit of the corps members.

The ceremony’s highlight was the administration of the oath of allegiance by the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaete Obot.