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Boko Haram Demands Presidential Pardon
Members of the Boko Haram sect have asked the Federal Government to grant them presidential pardon under the ceasefire deal which the two parties reached last Friday.
They also sought the immediate release of all their detained and convicted leaders so that they can lay down arms.
Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, chief of Defence Staff, had disclosed last Friday that part of the Federal Government’s arrangement with the insurgents was to have the over 200 abducted schoolgirls of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State released. He was however silent on the conditions given by the terrorists.
The Boko Haram leaders were demanding immunity from prosecution after they have surrendered their arms, as well as unconditional release of their members in detention facilities across the country before they release the Chibok girls, according to the Nigerian Pilot.
The demand came as the Borno Elders’ Forum alleged that the Federal Government was negotiating with impostors and appealed to the authorities to tread softly.
Government sources said that the sect was demanding among others the granting of presidential amnesty to its detained commanders, who are believed to be held in the cells of the Department of State Service.
It was learnt that since the government was eager to secure the release of the Chibok girls, the militants’ negotiators were exploiting it to secure freedom for their top leaders.
“This kind of negotiations doesn’t end in a day. There is a raft of issues, like modalities for demobilisation, a list of demands by the terrorists, amnesty for the fighters etc. But the release of the girls is on top of the agenda”. The source said.
An online news medium, TheCable, quoted a government official as confirming that during negotiations with the sect in Chad and Saudi Arabia, the terrorists’ sought assurances from the Federal Government that their leaders would not face prosecution if they embraced peace.
Military sources confirmed to Nigerian Pilot that the insurgents had demanded unconditional release of their members in detention before they release the Chibok girls.
A senior military officer, who sought anonymity, said the Boko Haram demands were difficult pills to swallow.
He recalled that it was not be the first time that the federal government would be giving unconditional pardon to insurgents or militants.
He said: “Pardon will not be unprecedented. The country has fought a civil war which led to the deaths of over a million Nigerians and nobody was prosecuted. Leaders of the militant groups in the Niger Delta as well as leaders of ethnic militias in the South-West and South-East did not face any prosecution after turning a new leaf.”
The official did not however disclose if the government had agreed to a blanket immunity before announcing that a ceasefire had been reached.
“From what we were told, it was one of the most difficult moments of the discussions, and because of that, we cannot say the deal is signed, sealed and delivered yet, but any progress at all is progress.”
Nigerian Pilot further gathered that discussions with the insurgents resumed yesterday in N’Djamena, Chad and that there was optimism that the Chibok girls would be handed over to President Idriss Derby by the terrorists before the weekends.
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Airtel HR Director, Adebimpe Ayo-Elias Honoured as HR Leader of the Year
The Director of Human Resources and Administration at Airtel Nigeria, Adebimpe Ayo-Elias, has been awarded as HR Leader of the Year at the 2024 HR People Magazine Awards, organized by Mapelwood Global Resource.
The award ceremony, held recently at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, celebrated the achievements of outstanding HR professionals across Nigeria who have contributed significantly to organizational success and workplace culture.
Speaking on the recognition, Carl Cruz, CEO of Airtel Nigeria, expressed immense pride in Ayo-Elias’s achievement, describing it as a milestone not only for her but also for the company.
“Adebimpe’s impact, dedication, and leadership extend well beyond Airtel, and this award is a well-deserved recognition of her influence in the HR field. We are incredibly proud of her accomplishments and look forward to her continued contributions to the industry,” he said.
Receiving the award, Adebimpe expressed gratitude for the honour, reiterating her commitment to advancing world-class HR practices within her organisation.
“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute positively to the lives of those we serve within and beyond the organization. Airtel Nigeria creates an environment that nurtures growth, encourages innovation, and prioritizes the well-being of every employee and as such, this award motivates me to continue championing these values,” she said.
This award reaffirms Airtel Nigeria’s commitment to developing and empowering talent, further establishing the company as a leading force in creating an impactful, forward-thinking workplace.
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Canada Orders TikTok to Shut Down Operations Amid National Security Concerns
Canadian government has ordered TikTok to shut down its operations within Canada, directing the social media platform to close its offices in Toronto and Vancouver.
Despite the office closures, Canadian users will continue to have access to the app itself.
The decision was announced following a national security review led by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne stated that TikTok’s activities posed a threat to national security, though he declined to provide specific details.
“We came to the conclusion that these activities… would be injurious to national security,” Champagne told CBC News, underscoring the seriousness of the government’s actions.
TikTok has voiced strong opposition to the order, vowing to challenge it in court. A spokesperson for TikTok argued that the closure will lead to significant job losses and stated, “Shutting down TikTok’s Canadian offices and destroying hundreds of well-paying local jobs is not in anyone’s best interest.”
The move follows Canada’s previous restrictions on TikTok, including a ban from government-issued devices in 2023 due to privacy and security concerns.
TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has faced similar scrutiny from the U.S. government, which has also considered further restrictions over national security concerns.
TikTok maintains that it will continue to serve Canadian users on its platform, allowing creators to connect and businesses to operate.
However, the dispute between TikTok and Canadian authorities signals ongoing tensions between governments and the app’s China-based parent company.
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Obaseki Commissions Edo State Data Center
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo has said that reforms by his administration in the digital and technology space over the last eight years have revolutionised the state.
The Governor who stated over the weekend at the launch of the Edo State Digital Policy and Edo Data Centre, disclosed that was the first data centre owned by a state in Nigeria.
According to him, his reforms had repositioned Edo as a leading state in digital inclusion in Nigeria, adding that his government was leveraging technology as a catalyst for socio-economic development and inclusive growth.
He said: “I welcome you to the only data center owned by a state in Nigeria. This event is significant because we have started a revolution in Edo State, a digital revolution. We are rounding up with a policy statement that will guide this revolution into the future.
“The population of Edo is scaled towards the youths as they are born in a digital age. The future is digital. It will be difficult to navigate the world today without technology. If you want to develop and grow rapidly, you must begin to think of how to use technology.
“The pace of the advancement of technology in the world today is scary. So, just imagine those who have not started yet; I don’t think they can live in the future world. In Edo, we have always been ahead in our history. We have been a knowledgeable people as we interacted at a global level over 500 years ago on our own level.
“To catch up, we had to do something else and different. That was why from the beginning it was clear to us that we had to introduce technology and make sure that we begin to retrain our young ones, the youths, to own this digital world and the confidence in it.”
Obaseki added: “We have moved Edo into the digital superhighway and to operate on that superhighway, they must know the rules and must be guided by certain rules and practices. That is what we are doing today and incorporating in this policy document. This will enable everybody to understand the shape of this high way and what they need to do on this high way.”
The governor continued: “I had the privilege of working with young people in Edo State and working together, we set up EdoJobs and the Edo Innovate Hub as these have helped our young people and till date, over 50,000 young men and women have benefited from various training and programmes from Edo Innovate. We have been lucky to build a digital ecosystem which has grown rapidly.
“Years ago, as the Chairman of the State’s Economy Team, we set up the ICTA but we struggled all through but we kept it alive, and set up the law governing it. The agency is principally responsible for providing technology for the government.
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