The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has disclosed that its Nigeria Mission Control Centre (NIMCC) received a total of 151 false emergency satellite beacon alerts across the country in 2024.

NIMCC expressed concern that none of the alerts received last year were genuine, describing it as an unfortunate trend that wastes manpower and logistics committed by emergency response agencies to trace the alerts.

The Director of Search and Rescue Department at NEMA, Air Commodore Kenneth Oyong, made the remarks on Wednesday in Enugu during a Sensitisation and Awareness Campaign/Training for COSPAS-SARSAT Beacon Users in Nigeria.

Represented by the South-East Zonal Director of NEMA, Mr. Wilson Brandon, Oyong stressed the need for more responsible usage of beacon devices.

He acknowledged the support of the Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, for approving the training, saying her leadership continues to inspire the agency’s efforts in improving search and rescue operations.

According to him, “The Director General of NEMA’s visionary leadership and unwavering support for enhancement of our capabilities in the Search and Rescue Department in NEMA has been a source of inspiration to us all.”

He added, “As we gather here today, I want to emphasise the critical importance of safety at sea, in the air, and on land.

“The COSPAS-SARSAT (Search And Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking) system is a vital component of our national safety infrastructure, providing distress alert services to those in need.

“However, the effectiveness of this system relies on the proper use and understanding of COSPAS-SARSAT beacons by users.

“This is why we are here today to sensitise beacon users on the proper deployment, operation and maintenance of these life-saving devices. Our campaign aims to reach all beacon users in Nigeria, including maritime, aviation and land-based users.”

The director further stated that the training would cover key areas such as: “The Overview of COSPAS-SARSAT System”; “The Importance of COSPAS-SARSAT Beacons in Emergency Situations”; and “Proper Installation, Testing, and Maintenance of Beacons.”

He added that other training topics include: “Understanding False Alerts and How to Prevent Them” and “Best Practices for Beacon Use and Emergency Procedures.”

The Head of the Mission Control Centre, Commander Ademola Oriyomi, emphasized the objective of encouraging stakeholders to use beacon technology responsibly.

Oriyomi stated that promoting responsible and effective use of the devices would significantly improve national search and rescue efforts.

“We want to ensure that NEMA carries all stakeholders using beacon technology along and achieve zero-false beacon alerts/calls moving ahead,” he said.

He noted that beacon technology experts would present on various relevant topics and that an interactive session would follow to foster collaboration among participants and NEMA-NIMCC officials.

During the training, Mr. Salami Abdullahi delivered a lecture titled: “Prevalence of False Alerts in Nigeria and its Implications,” while Mr. A.O. Ayorinde spoke on: “Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) Beacon Handling, Maintenance and Coding Method,” among others.

Participants at the training were drawn from key agencies, including the National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Nigerian Air Force, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, officials of private and commercial airlines, and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), among others.

The training is themed: “Keeping Abreast with Emerging Technology.”

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a stern caution to political and community leaders in the South-East, urging them to desist from mobilising young people in the region for enlistment into the Nigerian Army.

In a statement on Tuesday, IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, accused the Nigerian military of manipulating the South-East populace under false pretenses, allegedly seeking to use Igbo youths as cannon fodder in violent conflicts, especially in the northern parts of the country.

According to IPOB, the Nigerian Army has been secretly engaging traditional rulers, clergy, community elders, and youth leaders across the region, encouraging them to rally support for military recruitment drives.

“The Nigerian Army has begun employing Igbo individuals to mislead Ndigbo into enrolling their children in the Nigerian Army,” the group said.

It further claimed, “The Nigerian Army assigned 3000 individuals from Kaduna and various northern states, while only 200 individuals were allocated to each state from the South-East region, indicating that we do not belong to Nigeria at all. Join the Nigerian Army and endure the challenges.”

IPOB raised questions about the fairness and transparency of the recruitment process, and accused the government of marginalising the South-East in gainful employment opportunities.

“The question is, if the Nigerian Army presents a solid job prospect, will the Nigerian government or its violent military provide Igbo youths with such an opportunity?”

“Are our young people not capable of securing jobs in the Central Bank, NNPC, EFCC, Customs, and other profitable parastatals in Nigeria?” the group queried.

IPOB also criticised the government’s treatment of soldiers killed in action, especially those from the South-East.

“What actions has the Nigerian government taken to support the families of soldiers who died in active duty defending Nigeria?” it asked.

“Why were the valiant Igbo soldiers who allied with their peers to prevent Nigeria’s downfall in 1966 characterized, betrayed, and labeled ‘the Igbo coup plotters,’ resulting in the slaughter of thousands of Ndigbo in the North during that same year?”

According to the group, the identities of many soldiers killed in the North are kept secret, and a large proportion of the casualties are of Igbo extraction.

It also condemned the Army’s activities in the South-East, describing them as targeted assaults on local communities.

IPOB further alleged that the military recruitment push was part of a broader “population reduction agenda” targeting the Igbo people.”

“The group also took exception to reported plans to deploy South-East recruits under the ECOWAS standby force mission in the Sahel region, branding it a “proxy war.”

Powerful said, “Our recommendation to the Nigerian Army is to enlist thousands of Igbo youths whom they unlawfully hold in different detention facilities across Nigeria.”

He continued, “Or even better, visit the mass graves where thousands of Igbo youths were buried and enlist their bodies into the Nigerian Army to fight for them.”

In its final warning, IPOB said, “We caution Ndigbo against encouraging and campaigning for Igbo youths to enlist to combat state and foreign-sponsored terrorists who have more resources than the Nigerian Army.”

“We will hold responsible anyone who encourages Igbo youths to the slaughter of Fulani terrorists under the guise of joining the Nigerian Army. IPOB will oppose all depopulation strategies targeting Ndigbo.”

Following a series of deadly attacks that have shaken Plateau State, Governor Caleb Mutfwang has announced immediate security measures, including a ban on night grazing and restrictions on motorcycle movement.

During a state-wide broadcast on Wednesday, Governor Mutfwang condemned the violence as “coordinated acts of terror” with the intention of displacing residents from their ancestral lands and eroding their right to live in peace.

To curb the violence, he also prohibited the transportation of cattle by vehicle after 7pm and imposed a state-wide restriction on motorcycle use from 7pm to 6am.

Referencing past tragedies, Mutfwang said, “The tragic echoes of Dogo Na Hawa, Riyom, Barkin-Ladi, Mangu, and the Christmas Eve massacres in Bokkos remain vivid. The cycle continues, but it must not endure. Enough Is Enough.”

He vowed not to let Plateau State succumb to fear or normalize bloodshed.

“As your governor, I stand resolved — Plateau shall not be overrun by fear, nor shall we accept this culture of bloodshed as the new normal,” he declared.

“My administration is intensifying efforts to protect our people and enforce the rule of law across all local governments.”

The measures, effective April 16, include a statewide ban on night cattle grazing, a prohibition on cattle transportation after 7pm, and restricted motorcycle use during nighttime hours.

Addressing residents directly, Mutfwang said, “My Dear People of Plateau, I speak to you not just as your Governor, but as your brother — one who deeply feels the pain and sorrow that has again darkened our land.”

The latest violence struck Zikwe Village in Bassa LGA late on Sunday, April 13th, when unknown gunmen launched a brutal night attack.

The following day, Kimakpa village in Miango district witnessed similar horror, where at least 50 people were reportedly killed.

“There was no specific target. They were just shooting,” said 25-year-old survivor Peter John. Speaking from a hospital bed, he recounted how he fled by climbing onto the roof after gunmen stormed his family home around 10:00 pm.

Tragically, his sister, her daughter, his older brother, and a nine-month-old niece were all killed.

“They shot and killed my younger sister and her daughter right in front of me,” he recalled.

The recurring conflict between farmers and herders in Plateau is often inflamed by competition over land, compounded by climate change, illegal mining, and land grabbing.

The religious and ethnic divide — with Christian farmers and predominantly Fulani Muslim herders — adds further complexity.

John and other witnesses told AFP that the attackers spoke the Fulani language. While a local herder group condemned the violence, they also claimed their own communities were under attack from farmers.

So far, no arrests have been made, and authorities have yet to establish a motive for the fresh wave of violence.

“This is not an isolated conflict between farmers and herders,” Mutfwang emphasized. “What we are witnessing is a systematic and premeditated campaign,” alleging that the attacks had external “sponsors.”

He encouraged communities to protect themselves lawfully and urged vigilante groups to “organize night patrols in coordination with the security agencies”.

Peter John said he attempted to call local vigilantes during the attack but received no help. “It was too late,” he said.

His seven-year-old nephew, suffering machete wounds to the neck and head, lay nearby in severe pain.

Earlier that day, security forces had reportedly been stationed in Kimakpa due to rising insecurity, but they departed before nightfall.

“The attackers came, shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ (‘God is Greater’), and began shooting, killing people, and burning houses,” John added.

Another victim, Diwe Gado Diwe, described the event as “one of the worst experiences” of his life. His cousin was among the dead, and his brother later died in the ICU after being attacked.

“She told me not to come,” Diwe said of a call from his sister warning him to stay away during the assault.

“I tried calling the vigilante group, but the line didn’t go through.”

Jessica John, 45, sat beside her son, Saryie John, in the hospital, awaiting surgery.

He had returned home with a friend after fleeing the house earlier.

The friend was killed; Saryie survived, though he has a bullet lodged in his chest.