society
REUTERS’ MERCENARY JOURNALISM………Efforts by Reuters to Blackmail the Nigerian Military Through Mercenary Journalism Fails
REUTERS’ MERCENARY JOURNALISM………Efforts by Reuters to Blackmail the Nigerian Military Through Mercenary Journalism Fails
Sadly, Reuters, an international news agency, now part of Thomson Reuters, wrote that it was working on a series of stories about purported actions of the Nigerian military during the government’s 13-year war against Islamist insurgents in the country’s North East. To them, they were committed to producing an accurate, fair and complete report hence, their request to arrange a time to discuss before their reporting. The supposed stories were purported to focus on 2 specific areas: First, supposed military-run programme of forced abortions performed on women and girls who were held captive and impregnated by Islamist militants and second, a supposed killing of children by the military as part of counterinsurgency operations.
The Reuters report was to also allege that, since 2013, Nigeria’s military had run a secret, systematic and illegal abortion programme in the country’s North East terminating at least 12,000 pregnancies among women and girls. That, many children were shot, poisoned, suffocated or run down by vehicles in army-led actions. Furthermore, the report was to allege that soldiers selected babies and toddlers for killing after rescuing them and their mothers from Islamist militants, amongst other weighty concocted allegations. The key motive for supposedly carrying out the abortions was allegedly the notion that the children of Islamist militants, because of the blood in their veins, would one day follow in their father’s footsteps and take up arm against the Nigerian Government and society.
Hmmm! Wickedness really runs in the veins of some people and it surely runs deep in the veins of the Reuters team that concocted such evil for interrogation. The fictitious series of stories actually constitute a body of insults on the Nigerian peoples and culture for, no people or culture in Nigeria practices such evil as dreamt up by the Reuters team. Irrespective of the security challenges we face as a nation, Nigerian peoples and cultures still cherish life. Hence, Nigerian military personnel have been raised, bred and further trained to protect lives, even at their own risk especially, when it concerns the lives of children, women and the elderly. This much is reflected in Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs), Concepts of Operations, Rules of Engagements (ROEs) and other documents that guide military operations. Hence, nowhere has the Nigerian military operated (Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Rwanda, Yugoslavia, [Darfur] Sudan, Gambia and Guinea Bissau, amongst others) that, there has been any trace or allegation of infanticide. The Nigerian military will not therefore, contemplate such evil of running a systematic and illegal abortion programme anywhere and anytime, and surely not on our own soil. The Nigerian military will not also deliberately plan to target children during its counterinsurgency operations or other operations, both within and outside Nigeria.
The Reuters team must have been schooled in, and have now become proponents of scorched-earth and inhuman policies employed by colonialists during the colonial era and during the battles for independence in Indo-China, Malaysia, Algeria and other places. Villages and crops were burnt. Children, women, elderly, the innocent were killed in systematic and inhuman programmes. Nigerians, and by extension Nigerian military, are not made in such wicked mould, and the Reuters team cannot appropriate the evil of infanticide to the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the Nigerian peoples.
But, let’s interrogate the issues. It took Reuters 13 solid years to craft an allegation of infanticide against the Nigerian military and the Nigerian nation. This shows that a news agency as ‘renown’ as Reuters is itself complicit for failing in its mandate to draw attention, to inform the publics about supposed occurrences that offend not only the laws of armed conflict but also international humanitarian law.
Let us analyze the period from July 2021 till November 2022. A total of 82,064 Boko Haram fighters with members of their families have surrendered to troops of Op HADIN KAI. Out of this number, 16,553 were active male fighters, 24,446 were women while 41,065 were children. The Borno State Government is camping and accommodating them family-by-family, as per households, without having to separate the children from their parents. In the same camp are thousands of pregnant women and nursing mothers. A total of 262 babies were born within a period of 4 months (94 in July, 98 in August, 60 in September and 11 in October 2022). This figure comprises 150 female and 112 male children. The children were neither aborted nor yanked from their mothers and killed, as may have been the joy of Reuters.
Let us now spotlight the rescued Chibok girls who were kidnapped from their school by Boko Haram Terrorists in 2014. A total of 11 of the Chibok girls were rescued this year 2022. Hauwa Joseph with her child, Mary Dauda with her child, and Ruth Bitrus were rescued in June 2022. Troops also rescued Kauna Luka with her child and Hanatu Musa with her 2 children in July 2022. In the same vein, Aisha Grema with her 4 year-old child and Falmata Lawal were rescued in August 2022. Furthermore, Asabe Ali with her child, Jinkai Yama with her 3 children, Yana Pogu with her 4 children and Rejoice Senki with her 2 children were rescued in September and November this year. The names of the rescued girls are in Serials 18, 46, 41, 38, 7, 11, 3, 12, 20, 19 and 70 respectively (in the order of rescue) in the list of the abducted Chibok School girls. The rescued girls were handed over to the Borno State government after their rescue.
A visit to the Rehabilitation Centre accommodating the Chibok girls on 29 November 2022 revealed that, there were 2 other Chibok girls (with their children) recued earlier, making the number of the Chibok girls in the Centre to be 13. Other residents in the facility were children who were rescued by troops unaccompanied (by any adult) or who separated from their parents/relatives due to fog of war. The welfare of the Chibok girls with their children and the unaccompanied children, is a major priority of the Borno State Government. UNICEF is assisting the Centre in tracing the relatives of the Chibok girls as well as those of the unaccompanied/separated children to facilitate reintegration with their communities. If there was any evil, illegal programme to systematically kill the children of Boko Haram terrorists, then the children that the terrorists begat through the Chibok girls would have been prime targets.
The Joint Investigation Centre (JIC) is where captured terrorists (men and women) are being processed, to determine their level of complicity in the heinous crimes committed by the Boko Haram Terrorist group. There were 1,952 persons in the facility, which included 23 women with 11 children who remain attached to their mothers as at 30 November 2022. There is also a medical facility being run by the Centre in collaboration with medical staff of ICRC. The welfare of all the occupants at the JIC is thus highly prioritised, including basic education for the children, tailoring and hat-making skills acquisition for the adults as well as provision of recreational and sporting facilities for all the occupants.
Since July 2021 when the Boko Haram terrorists started surrendering with their families in droves, a community-based reintegration process is evolving, involving local traditional leaderships, town councils and family members. The process is made easier due to the fact that most of the surrendered terrorists were actually conscripted from their villages by the core terrorists, whose ranks have been degraded by more than 95 percent. Accordingly, a total of 4,933 recued civilians/surrendered persons (including 1,977 children, 1,423 women and 1,533 men) have been reintegrated with their communities from the camp housing the Chibok girls alone. The children were not taken from their parents and killed; unaccompanied ones were not also rounded up and killed.
A crucial point to note is the fact that, more than 245 United Nations agencies, International NGOs and local NGOs operate in the North East, who are active in the IDP camps and other concentrations of vulnerable peoples. They provide food, medical care and other services in collaboration with the Nigerian and Borno State Governments. But the wickedness of the Reuters team members must have blinded them, shutting them off from the humanitarian realities in the North East of Nigeria. UNICEF, Girl Child Concern, International Medical Corps, Save the Children International, Girl Effect, Concern For Women and Children Development Foundation, International Federation of Women Lawyers, Women and Children’s Right and Peace Building Awareness Initiative, Medicin Sans Frontiers (France, Switzerland, Belgium and Spain) as well as Centre for Protection of Women and Girls are some of the humanitarian organizations operating in the North East. These have direct responsibilities for the welfare of children and/or women in the crisis area. Could the humanitarian community operating in the North East of Nigeria be equally complicit in condoning or supporting infanticide as thought of by Reuters? Could the United Nations Secretary General have commended troops of OP HADIN KAI when he visited Maiduguri recently? Or, is he, himself also complicit for failure to address an organized infanticide in the North East, which exists only in the warped, wicked imagination of the Reuters team?
The history of the Nigerian military dates back to 1863, especially with respect to the Nigerian Army that conducts land operations either as a single Service or in joint operations with other Services or security agencies. So, what metamorphosed into the Nigerian military actually passed through several processes and experiences through the First and Second World Wars as well as a Nigerian Civil War. Contingents of the Nigerian military have also taken part in several UN or regional peace keeping or peace enforcement missions abroad, with honours as mentioned in previous paragraphs. To participate in such missions, Pre-Induction Training and In-Theatre Training are usually carried out vigorously. The protection of civilians especially women, children and the elderly, always formed a major plank of such training sessions.
Military training institutions in Nigeria also focus extensively on Laws of Armed Combat and International Humanitarian Law. Aside all these, Nigerians and the Nigerian military are lovers of children. Nigerian military personnel have thus constantly denied themselves ration, supplies, transport and medicine in order to cater for rescued civilians especially children, women and the elderly. The Nigerian military have grown in leaps and bounds in experience and stature in humanizing operations, even in the most confused and intense operational environment. Hence, it offends the pedigree of the Nigerian military, it offends the Nigerian culture, and it offends honour for Reuters to postulate that the Nigerian military had routinely carried out both small-scale and mass killings of children in its counter-insurgency/counter-terrorism efforts in the North-East of Nigeria.
The Reuters condemnable series of stories can only have arisen from a mentality of “media or Press-bullying”. Reuters is a media company with world-wide reach that sells news to print, electronic and online media outlets. The so-called News Editor for Sub-Saharan Africa, Alexandra Zavis, remains in South Africa and concoct evil lies to insult Nigerian peoples and cultures with allegations of infanticide purportedly being sponsored and carried out by the military and civilian leaderships in North East of Nigeria.
The Reuters’ series of stories are akin to telling the world that Nigerians still live on top of trees. It now seems that the new stock in trade for Reuters is, ‘mining’ and selling lies to demonize Nigerian military, Nigerian institutions and Nigerian leaderships. This new vocation of Reuters is worse than illegal arms trade, worse than hard-drug trafficking, and actually worse than terrorism. The so-called Reuters’ News Editor for Sub-Saharan Africa, Alexandra Zavis, should better retrace her steps, before the founder, Paul Julius Reuter, starts to regret the demonic journalism being practiced by the journalists that he left behind!
JIMMY AKPOR
Major General
Director Defence Information
2 December 2022
MAJOR GENERAL IBRAHIM: A VISIONARY LEADER FOR NIGERIA’S FUTURE MILITARY
… As he take over as 33rd Commandant of the Nigerian Defense Academy
In a pivotal moment for the Nigerian military, Major General Abdul Khalifah Ibrahim has officially taken over as the 33rd Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna. His appointment follows nearly two years of leadership by Major General JO Ochai and underscores Major General Ibrahim’s extensive experience and unwavering commitment to military education, training, and operations within the Nigerian Army.
A native of Kaduna and originally from Borno State, Major General Ibrahim’s career has been marked by significant achievements since his commissioning on September 19, 1992, as part of the 39 Regular Combatant Course. Known for his calm demeanor and impressive stature, he has earned the reputation of a “soldier’s soldier” throughout his distinguished military journey.
Major General Ibrahim holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in History from the Nigerian Defence Academy, a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from Ahmadu Bello University, and a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan. As a fellow of the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies, he engages in high-level discussions with military leaders globally and is a respected participant at the US-led Africa Land Forces Summits, further enhancing his credentials as a leader in military education.
His extensive military training includes participation in various operational courses and key leadership roles, including Platoon Commander, Company Commander, and Operations Officer, as well as serving as the Deputy Nigerian Contingent Commander in peacekeeping missions under the United Nations. Major General Ibrahim’s operational experience encompasses critical missions in Liberia, Sudan, and Nigeria, showcasing his capability in both domestic and international military operations.
Notably, he played a crucial role in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan and served as the longest-ever Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force against Boko Haram in Chad. His leadership during operations such as Lake Sanity and Sharan Fagge has been instrumental in restoring peace and security in the Lake Chad Basin region.
As he steps into his new role at the NDA, Major General Ibrahim is expected to leverage his wealth of experience to enhance cadet training and education, preparing them to tackle the challenges of modern asymmetric warfare. Military analysts express confidence in his ability to address current concerns regarding discipline within the institution.
Major General Ibrahim’s accolades include the Grand Service Star (GSS), Distinguished Service Star (DSS), and the prestigious national honor of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) awarded by the Nigerian government in 2023. His contributions to peace and security have also earned him recognition from the Chadian government.
Married with children, Major General Ibrahim is known for his interests in current affairs, horse riding, reading, and sports, particularly football, badminton, and table tennis. He is also actively involved in charitable work, supporting the less privileged in society.
The Nigerian Defence Academy community and military stakeholders eagerly anticipate Major General Ibrahim’s leadership as he embarks on this critical role in shaping the future of Nigeria’s military leadership. With pressing challenges ahead, there is a collective hope that he will hit the ground running to foster discipline and excellence within the academy.
*Aisha Achimugu Returns To Nigeria, Honours EFCC’s Invitation In Ongoing Investigation*
Prominent Nigerian entrepreneur and philanthropist, Mrs. Aisha Achimugu, arrived in Nigeria early this morning, April 29, 2025, at approximately 5:00 AM, in response to an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) dated March 4th, 2025 to assist in an ongoing investigation.
Mrs. Achimugu had been temporarily out of the country due to several other scheduled incidents when the EFCC issued its invitation. In line with her respect for lawful institutions and her sense of civic duty, she communicated openly and consistently with the EFCC during her time abroad. She formally wrote to the Commission twice on 5th and 12th March, 2025 , clearly stating her commitment to return and make herself available to assist in the ongoing investigation at the earliest time. Both letters outlined April 28th and 29th, as her confirmed return date.
Upon landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at 5:00 AM, Mrs. Achimugu, without delay, proceeded directly to the EFCC headquarters, fulfilling her promise and demonstrating her respect for due process and the integrity of Nigeria’s anti-corruption institutions.
Mrs. Achimugu reiterates her full commitment to cooperate with the EFCC and any relevant authorities. As a law-abiding citizen and advocate for transparency and accountability, she views this process as a necessary part of public service and remains confident that her cooperation will contribute positively to the Commission’s efforts.
“We also wish to extend our profound appreciation to the EFCC for the professionalism, maturity, and patience displayed in handling her temporary absence. Their conduct throughout this period has been both measured and exemplary, reflecting an agency committed not only to justice but also to fairness and respect for individual rights and circumstances”.
Mrs. Achimugu continues to be an advocate of the rule of law and believes in the responsibility of every Nigerian to uphold the credibility and accountability of our institutions.
From Luminary to Legacy: The Rise of Attorney Tonia Ozubu to South Africa’s High Court
By George Omagbemi Sylvester
In the solemn halls of justice where the weight of law balances the scales of human rights and societal order, a new name has joined the distinguished ranks of judicial nobility; Attorney Tonia Ozubu. Appointed today to the High Court of South Africa, sitting in Pretoria, Gauteng Province, Ozubu’s elevation is not merely a personal victory, but a moment of collective pride for Nigeria, the legal profession and the African continent.
A refined legal luminary, a fearless defender of rights and one of the leading voices within the Nigerian Union South Africa (NUSA), Attorney Tonia Ozubu has carved out a legacy defined by commitment to equity, tenacity in advocacy and an unshakable belief in the dignity of the law. Her journey is a testament to the principle that excellence, rooted in diligence, guided by morality and sharpened by intellect cannot be hidden.
An Emblem of Legal Integrity
Attorney Tonia Ozubu’s legal prowess was never in doubt. From her early beginnings as a bright student of law to her emergence as a frontline human rights defender and diaspora legal advocate, she has continually demonstrated a refined understanding of both the spirit and the letter of the law. Her voice has been clear, authoritative and grounded in the firm conviction that justice must never be reserved for the powerful alone.
As a practicing attorney in South Africa with Nigerian roots, Ozubu has championed the causes of the marginalized, especially migrants; who often face complex legal challenges without representation. She has stood boldly in courtrooms, turning the tides of hopelessness into victories for many. Her legal insight and courtroom precision have earned her the admiration of colleagues, the respect of judges and the gratitude of those whose lives her legal interventions have transformed.
In her own words: “The law must serve as a sanctuary for the oppressed, not a fortress for the privileged.”
A NUSA Champion, A Pan-African Voice
Attorney Ozubu’s distinguished service within the Nigerian Union South Africa (NUSA) further highlights her passion for justice and community welfare. As one of NUSA’s leading lawyers, she has offered her expertise pro bono on countless occasions, mediated internal conflicts with wisdom and tact and defended Nigerian citizens subjected to undue harassment, detention or legal intimidation.
In moments of diplomatic tension between Nigeria and South Africa, her voice has consistently stood out as one calling for lawful resolution, constitutional dialogue and the upholding of fundamental human rights. Her efforts have fortified NUSA’s credibility and her appointment today elevates the entire Nigerian diaspora legal community.
“Tonia Ozubu’s appointment reminds us that Africans are not just contributors in foreign lands; we are builders, protectors and interpreters of justice.” Dr. Mandla Thabo Mokoena, Constitutional Law Scholar, University of the Witwatersrand
A Milestone for Women in Law
Attorney Ozubu’s appointment also marks a triumph for African women in a profession long dominated by male voices. She breaks yet another glass ceiling, reinforcing the belief that competence knows no gender and that the legal corridors must reflect the diversity of those they serve.
In a profession that often undervalues female leadership, Ozubu stands tall, not just as a woman, but as a master of the legal craft, a strategist in litigation and a moral compass in public life. She embodies the famous words of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor: “The power I exert on the court depends on the power of my arguments, not on my gender.”
Her rise is already inspiring a new generation of Nigerian and African girls studying law, watching her story unfold and realizing that excellence is attainable irrespective of background or border.
South Africa Gains a Giant
The High Court of South Africa in Pretoria is one of the country’s most prestigious judicial platforms. It is here that laws are interpreted with national consequence. That Attorney Ozubu has been appointed to serve in this court speaks volumes of her competence, her impartiality and the confidence reposed in her by the legal establishment.
With her characteristic grace, legal insight and eloquent command of constitutional principles, she enters the courtroom not merely to pass judgments but to build precedents, restore dignity and reaffirm justice as the soul of society.
As the late Chief Justice Pius Langa once remarked: “Judges must be warriors for justice, defenders of the Constitution and servants of the people.” Attorney Ozubu reflects this ethos in totality.
Nigeria’s Legal Diaspora Shines
In a season when Nigeria is often confronted with narratives of corruption, insecurity and governance failure, the elevation of Attorney Ozubu offers a counter-narrative, one of dignity, brilliance and global impact. Her achievement underscores that Nigerian professionals continue to rise, earn respect and contribute to building functional institutions abroad.
This appointment is not just a personal or community success, it is national pride. It affirms that Nigeria’s legal heritage, when nurtured and disciplined, can produce world-class jurists capable of shaping legal frameworks in advanced democracies.
“Tonia Ozubu represents the very best of Nigeria: intellect, courage and integrity. Her appointment is a shining light in a continent that desperately needs more beacons of justice.” Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), Nigerian Legal Icon
A Call to Greater Service
With her appointment comes new responsibility. The robes of judicial office demand impartiality, courage and an unwavering devotion to fairness. But if her past is any indication, Attorney Ozubu will not merely fulfill the call; she will elevate it.
She enters the High Court not just as a judge but as a reformer, a guardian of constitutionalism and a voice for those who often remain unheard in legal corridors. Her rulings, we trust, will be shaped not only by the statutes but by conscience, compassion and a commitment to fairness.
Her story is a living reminder that greatness is not accidental; it is cultivated, tested and revealed through sacrifice.
Final Reflections: A Legacy in the Making
As we celebrate Attorney Tonia Ozubu’s remarkable ascension, let us pause to recognize the deeper significance of her achievement. It speaks to the power of perseverance, the value of service and the enduring relevance of justice.
Her journey from Nigeria to the High Court of South Africa is not just a story; it is a symbol. It proves that when talent is mixed with purpose and disciplined by principle, no height is unreachable.
To Attorney Tonia Ozubu, we say: Congratulations. You have made history. You have lifted a nation’s name. You have redefined what it means to serve the law in its highest expression. As your gavel strikes, may justice always prevail. As your pen writes, may the pages of law be filled with truth. And as your voice echoes in the court, may it always speak for the powerless.
Your legacy has begun and it will inspire generations to come.
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