By Suleiman Yakubu

Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has sympathised with his Kaduna State counterpart, Senator Uba Sani, and the people of the state over the unintentional aerial bombardment of villagers at Tudun Biri village that led to the deaths of many people.
The governor, in a statement by his chief press secretary, Mal. Bologi Ibrahim, described the tragedy as unfortunate.
The military on Sunday, while pursuing terrorists, mistakenly bombed villagers who gathered to celebrate Maulud, the birthday of Prophet Muhammad, at Tudun Biri village in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Although the military claimed responsibility, the death toll continued to rise.
While condoling with the government and people of Kaduna State, the governor said, "I am deeply saddened by this unfortunate and unpleasant accident. I, on behalf of all the people of Niger State, share in your moment of grief; may Allah comfort you all and grant the departed souls Aljannah Firdausi."
He also prayed for the quick recovery of those injured.
Mohammed Bago then appealed to relevant authorities to carry out a proper investigation to avert reoccurrence while calling on the security agencies not to be dampened by the incident but to remain steadfast in their fight against all forms of criminality in the country.

By Suleiman Yakubu

The Nigerian Army said it will continue to train and retrain its personnel towards enhancing efficient professionalism in the military, Chief of Army Staff Major General Taoreed A. Lagbaja has assured.
He stated that the present leadership of the Nigerian Army would continue to prioritise training of its officers across all units and formations to enhance core professionalism, noting that such training would prepare the officers to perform wonderfully in the discharge of their military responsibilities.
Speaking at the 2023 Merit Award ceremony organised by the headquarters of the Training and Doctrine Command of the Nigerian Army (TRADOC), held at the command officers mess in Minna on Tuesday, Major General Lagbaja maintained that no meaningful success will be achieved when officers and men of the Nigerian Army are lacking the requisite training.
The Chief of Army Staff, who was represented by the Chief Training Officer of the Nigerian Army Headquarters, Major General Sani Gambo Mohammed, noted that the army leadership in the headquarters has paid adequate attention to the training of its officers, which, according to him, was responsible for winning the onslaught against insurgency and terrorism across the country.
While commending the successful officers who participated in the promotion examination, the Chief of Army Staff appealed to them to see their awards as an opportunity for them to live above board in the discharge of their military responsibilities in order to earn more awards.
In his remarks, the Commander Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) of the Nigerian Army, Major General K.O. Aligbe, said the command, saddled with the responsibilities of training military personnel in the country, will continue in its core mandates to do its best to produce and enhance professionalism among military officers that will compete with other military officers across the world.
He pointed out that the command has trained a reasonable number of military officers within and outside the country within the last decade, adding that the 2023 merit awards were the third in recent times.
Highlights of the occasion were the commissioning of some projects, which included the commander's quarters, two blocks of senior officers quarters, and the presentation of merit awards to successful military officers that participated in the promotional examinations conducted by the command.