President Bola Tinubu has ordered a total security cordon over forests in Kwara, Kebbi and parts of Niger states following recent kidnappings and terrorist activities.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, announced the directive on Tuesday in a post on his verified X handle.
He said that the President also directed the Nigerian Air Force to expand air surveillance across the innermost parts of forests in Kwara where terrorists are believed to be hiding.
“The President had ordered the Nigerian Air Force to intensify and expand air surveillance across the innermost parts of the forests where criminal groups are believed to be hiding.” Dare said.
The Presidential aide said the Air Force was mandated to maintain 24-hour surveillance and synchronise operations with troops on the ground.
He added that the directive also applies to the Kebbi and Niger axis, where more rescue operations are expected.
Communities were urged to provide timely information on strange movements or activities to support security forces.
The Federal Government’s renewed security drive comes as it intensifies counter-terrorism operation in major hotspots across the country.
Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.
Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.
He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.
Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).
He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.
He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.
Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.
