The Nigerian Army and the Indonesian military are set to deepen bilateral defence cooperation, with both countries seeking to expand professional exchanges, operational collaboration and military training.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening the relationship when he received the Indonesian Defence Attaché to Nigeria, Colonel Aslam Setiawan, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

The Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, disclosed this in a statement shared on X on Thursday.

Shaibu described the longstanding military relationship between Nigeria and Indonesia as mutually beneficial, particularly in the areas of professional military education, exchange of operational experience and participation in multinational military exercises.

He stressed the importance of sustained military-to-military engagement in developing a professional, adaptable and combat-ready force capable of responding effectively to evolving security challenges.

The Army Chief called for expanded cooperation in counterinsurgency operations, emerging technologies and other areas of mutual interest between the two countries.

According to him, increased exchange of expertise and technology would strengthen situational awareness, improve operational planning and enhance overall battlefield effectiveness.

Shaibu also highlighted the ongoing expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions, noting that the development would require greater investment in infrastructure, training, technology and institutional support.

He said stronger international defence partnerships could contribute to the Nigerian Army’s efforts to build capacity and improve its operational readiness.

In his remarks, Setiawan reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to strengthening bilateral defence relations with Nigeria.

The Indonesian Defence Attaché said professional military exchanges and multinational exercises provide important platforms for the two countries to share operational knowledge and improve cooperation.

He specifically cited Exercise Super Garuda Shield as one of the multinational exercises offering opportunities to enhance interoperability and exchange operational experience.

The meeting underscored the interest of both countries in sustaining military cooperation through training, professional exchanges, technology and joint participation in multinational exercises.

The renewed engagement comes as the Nigerian Army continues efforts to expand its structure and strengthen its capacity to respond to the country’s evolving security needs.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has warned Point of Sale operators across Nigeria against aiding fraudsters, money launderers and other criminals in perpetrating financial crimes.

The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, issued the warning on Thursday when a delegation of the Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria, led by its National President, Oti Obioha, visited the Commission’s headquarters.

Olukoyede, who spoke through his Chief of Staff, Commander of the EFCC, Michael Nzekwe, said POS operators were increasingly being linked to transactions involving money laundering, terrorist financing and ransom payments.

He urged AMMBAN to strengthen its regulatory structure and establish a comprehensive framework for monitoring its members and maintaining accurate records.

“We have realized that the issues of money laundering, terrorist financing, and even ransom payments are made mostly from POS machines,” Nzekwe quoted Olukoyede as saying.

According to the EFCC chairman, proper records of POS operators and their transactions would assist law enforcement agencies in tracing suspicious funds and identifying individuals involved in financial crimes.

“Your association needs to do more, by coming up with a structure and a comprehensive framework that will have records of all your operators, so that during the course of investigation, we will be able to trace, monitor and have records that can aid us,” he said.

Olukoyede also questioned the level of supervision, training and record-keeping within the POS sector, asking the association to demonstrate the measures it had put in place to ensure compliance among its members.

“My question is, what is the impact of your association on the members? Do you train your members? Do you have records of the address of your members?” he asked.

The EFCC boss further raised concerns over the alleged involvement of some POS operators in fraudulent activities, saying some operators could knowingly or unknowingly facilitate criminal transactions.

“There are even some POS operators who are actually fraudsters; they aid, conspire, give out information and abet fraudsters,” he said.

He noted that inadequate transaction records often create difficulties for investigators attempting to trace funds transferred through POS outlets.

“Most times, in the course of investigation, when you find out that money was laundered through a POS operator, by the time you bring them in, they won’t even know the person who sent the money and who withdrew it — no records of the transactions — and no one is asking questions,” Olukoyede said.

He therefore urged AMMBAN to ensure that its members maintain proper financial records for every transaction and keep reliable information on their operators across the country.

The EFCC chairman also expressed the Commission’s readiness to collaborate with the association on training, public awareness and information sharing to strengthen efforts against financial crimes within the POS sector.

Responding, AMMBAN National President, Oti Obioha, thanked the EFCC for receiving the delegation and acknowledged the need for stronger cooperation between the association and the anti-graft agency.

“We deem it fit to present ourselves to help and work with the EFCC in preventing money laundering and other kinds of fraud,” Obioha said.

He explained that POS operators have a strong presence at the grassroots and could therefore play a significant role in preventing and detecting financial crimes.

“We are at the grassroots, and we observe that your institution is always inviting our members, so we wish we could have a partnership that can see to the training of our members on some of the issues like financial thresholds and the risks involved in some of our operations,” he said.

Obioha said the association was prepared to work with the EFCC to reduce fraudulent activities within the sector, particularly through improved training and awareness.

“We want to collaborate in the areas of training, because most of our agents don’t know the rules of our operations. So, we need to partner in creating awareness,” he said.

The proposed collaboration is expected to focus on improving compliance, strengthening transaction monitoring and educating POS operators on the risks associated with handling suspicious funds and transactions.

With POS services now widely used for cash withdrawals, transfers and other financial transactions, the EFCC’s warning underscores the importance of proper record-keeping and greater oversight within the sector.

The Adamawa State Police Command has intensified security across Yola, the state capital, ahead of Vice President Kashim Shettima’s condolence visit to the family of the late former Minister of Transportation, Bamanga Tukur.

The command deployed heavily armed personnel, including anti-riot policemen and armoured tanks, to strategic locations across the state capital as part of measures to ensure a peaceful and hitch-free visit.

The police said the deployment was ordered by the Commissioner of Police, Adamawa State Command, CP Kabir Hassan, following preparations for the Vice President’s visit.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the command’s spokesman, SP Suleiman Nguroje, said adequate security had been put in place across Yola and other strategic locations in the state.

“Ahead of the official visit of His Excellency, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Adamawa State, the Adamawa State Police Command has deployed adequate security and placed watertight security measures across Yola and other strategic locations in the State,” Nguroje stated.

According to the statement, the command has mobilised various operational units to support the security arrangements.

They include personnel from the Police Mobile Force, Counter Terrorism Unit, Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Intelligence Unit, Traffic Unit and Divisional Police Officers.

The police said the deployment was aimed at maintaining law and order, protecting lives and property, and ensuring that the Vice President’s condolence visit proceeds without disruption.

The Commissioner of Police also disclosed that traffic diversions and stop-and-search operations would be carried out in and around Yola as part of the security measures.

He urged residents and other members of the public to cooperate with security personnel deployed to various locations and remain law-abiding throughout the visit.

The police commissioner further warned suspected criminals, miscreants and other individuals who may attempt to cause trouble to stay away from venues designated for the Vice President’s visit.

He said the command would not hesitate to take action against anyone who attempted to breach the peace or disrupt the condolence visit.

The command also called on residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons, activities or movements to the nearest police station or through the emergency lines provided by the command.

The police assured residents of Adamawa State that adequate measures had been put in place to safeguard lives and property before, during and after the Vice President’s visit.

The condolence visit comes as Shettima is expected in Adamawa to commiserate with the family of Bamanga Tukur, a prominent Nigerian politician and elder statesman.

The heightened security presence is expected to remain in strategic parts of Yola as authorities coordinate traffic and movement around locations associated with the visit.