The Federal Government has urged Nigerians to exercise restraint following the brewing conflict in the northern regions of Oyo State, as well as the tension in Ondo State.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, and shared on his official Twitter handle.

A part of the statement which has now been deleted says “the Federal Government is moving in quickly to bring state, community, security, traditional institutions, religious organizations and youth groups into a purposeful dialogue that will bring effective resolutions to the problem within constitutional and legal frameworks.”

Another part says, “Let us all try to be our brother’s keeper and work towards building a peaceful community that works for all irrespective of ethnicity, religion and other forms of differences.”

Troops of Operation Tura Takaibango have eliminated five Boko Haram/Islamic States West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in their attempt to overrun Abbagajiri and Dusula towns in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno.

Brig.-Gen. Benard Onyeuko, Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, in a statement on Friday, said the troops had sustained an onslaught against the terrorists in the North-East.

Onyeuko said the troops of the 402 Special Forces Task Force Brigade had on Wednesday, identified and encircled some terrorists’ enclaves at Abbagajiri and inflicted heavy casualty on them.

According to him, in the aftermath of the decisive encounter, five Boko Haram terrorists were neutralised while few others are believed to have escaped with gunshot wounds.

He said that troops also captured one Pulemyot Kalashnikova Tankovyy(PKT) gun, three AK-47 rifles, four extra AK-47 rifle magazines and a vulcanising machine.

Onyeuko added that foodstuffs, some Improvised Explosive Device (IED) making materials including the criminals’ hideouts and clothing among others were also captured and destroyed.

He said the renewed onslaught against the remnants of Boko Haram/ISWAP criminals by the troops was indicative of the end of all criminal elements within the North-East.

According to him, troops of Operation Tura Takaibango are highly commended for their dedication and determination in flushing out remnants of the terrorists from their hideouts.

“They are also encouraged not to relent but build on the successes recorded.

“The entire populace of the North-East region are hereby assured of the Nigerian Army’s renewed vigour and determination to crush the remnants of Boko Haram/Islamic State’s West Africa Province criminals from their enclaves in this zone,” he said.

Governor Abdulahi Sule of Nasarawa State has confirmed the presence of the Boko Haram terrorist group in his State which has been witnessing serious security challenges recently.

Governor Sule disclosed this on Friday while briefing State House reporters after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The governor, who said the group was part of the elements fueling the security challenges in the State, recalled that the terrorists had been dislodged from their camp in Toto before regrouping at the Nasarawa/Benue border from where they are now launching attacks on residents.

Engr. Sule, who said some of the Boko Haram elements active in Nasarawa State belong to the Darussalam group that had been dislodged from Niger State, disclosed that a lot of them were hitherto killed while 900 were arrested after a joint security operation.

He said their membership of the Boko Haram insurgency group was confirmed by those arrested, expressing confidence that action will be taken to curtail the menace, having briefed the President on the situation.

He said that his meeting with President Buhari focused on the insecurity issue and the possible federal government take-over of Jitata road, which serves as an alternative route from the state to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).