Gunmen Abduct 2 Nuns… Abandoned Aircraft Returns to Service… Nigeria’s Military Ranking Declines… and more
● Church Seeks Divine Intervention as 2 Nuns Are Kidnapped
Two Catholic nuns were kidnapped by gunmen in Nigeria’s Southeast Anambra State on Tuesday evening. The victims, identified as Vincentia Maria Nwankwo and Grace Mariette Okoli, were returning from a vocational association meeting when the gunmen struck, according to a statement by the church cited by local media.
The church has called for prayers for their safe return. “We commend our Sisters to the powerful intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary for their speedy release,” said Maria Ikeotuonye, the Secretary-General, of Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. “We solicit your fervent prayers and supplications to God that they may be released as soon as possible and come back to us safe and sound.”
Anambra police spokesperson SP Tochukwu Ikenga confirmed the abduction, noting, “A police-led joint operation is already ongoing for the possible rescue.”
● Nigerian Air Force Reactivates Aircraft Grounded for 23 Years
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has restored a Dornier DO-228 aircraft that had been grounded for 23 years. According to Olusola Akinboyewa, NAF’s spokesperson, the plane, originally owned by the defunct Ministry of Mines, Power, and Steel, was abandoned in Kaduna in 2001.
A team of engineers and technicians from NAF’s 431 Engineering Group reactivated it between June and September 2024. “The reactivation of the NAF-039 after 23 years is more than an engineering achievement, it showcases the NAF’s ingenuity, resilience, and commitment to operational excellence,” Akinboyewa said in a statement shared on social media.
NAF Chief Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar commented “The successful reactivation of NAF-039 is not just an operational gain; it is a statement of our capabilities and our commitment to self-reliance.” The aircraft, a Dash 201 Series with 1,081 flight hours, will enhance NAF’s tactical airlift capabilities and bolster NAF’s efforts to uphold national security.
● Nigeria Slips to 39th in Global Military Rankings
Nigeria’s military has dropped to 39th place in the latest Global Firepower (GFP) rankings, which reviewed 145 countries. This marks a decline from 36th in 2023 and 35th in 2022, according to Sahara Reporters.
Among African nations, Nigeria slipped from third to fourth, behind Egypt, Algeria, and South Africa. Despite its investments in military infrastructure and hardware, Nigeria fell in the rankings.
The Global Firepower ranking utilizes over 60 individual factors to determine a given nation’s Power Index score. These factors include military units, financial standing, logistical capabilities, and geography. The Nigerian military has not commented on the rankings, which were published earlier this week.
● Nigerian Minister Defends Relationship With France Amid Criticism
Nigeria will not sever ties with France despite calls from some quarters, Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar has said. Speaking in a televised interview on Wednesday, Tuggar dismissed the demands as “short-sighted” and “not in Nigeria’s national interest.”
“We have always had a relationship with France. It did not start today, and there is nothing different about our relationship with France today,” he said, adding that Nigeria cannot allow other countries to dictate its foreign policy.
Tuggar cited Nigeria’s need for partnerships with global powers like France, the U.S., and Russia to address regional insecurity. He dismissed allegations of ulterior motives in Nigeria’s ties with France, calling such claims “insulting to Nigeria.”
Amid anti-French sentiment in the Sahel, where Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have cut ties with France, Tuggar said, “You cannot say because Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali have decided after all these years, that they no longer want to have anything to do with France, therefore, Nigeria must be compelled.”
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What’s News Today? January 9, 2025, compiled by Ezinwanne Onwuka for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
