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Why Nigerian Military is Operating School of Islamic Affairs – Director, Defence Media Operations…..Says Life Is Spiritual And Military Men Are Not Exempted

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The Director, Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major General Edward Buba, has explained that the purpose of es­tablishing the School of Islamic Affairs is to develop and build the capacity of military men.

General Buba gave the explanation on Thursday at the joint Press Briefing by the Strategic Communication In­teragency Policy Committee which took place at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

While answering questions on the viral photo of the Nige­rian Army School of Islamic Affairs which attracted a lot of reactions from members of the public who questioned the existence of such school in the Nigerian military, General Buba justified the establish­ment of the School of Islamic Affairs by the military.

He said, “Life is spiritual and being military men does not make them less spiritually inclined.”

Furthermore, Buba said, “The military does not only have the School of Islamic Affairs; we also have the Chap­laincy School. Being military men does not make us not to be spiritually inclined.

“They say that life is spiritu­al. Things start from the spiri­tual before we see them in the physical. We in the military are also aware of that. So, we pray according to our religion, be it Christian or Islam.

“And what is the purpose of a school? It is to develop and build capacity. If you want somebody to go and preach to others, he should know what he is preaching about. He should be able to read the scriptures from one point to the other in whatever religion he practises, so that he can communicate that breakdown to the troops and build their faith.

“I believe that answers the question, why is the military operating a School of Islamic Affairs.”

Meanwhile, checks by Saturday Independent showed that the Chaplaincy of the Nigerian Army is a reli­gious institution that renders spiritual, moral, and psycho­logical support services to mil­itary personnel in their service to the nation.

It has three units with differ­ent religious identities, namely Catholic, Protestant, and Islam­ic Affairs. Since the commence­ment of the Army, services of the clergy for the soldiers have been required at both the bar­racks and on the battlefield as well as services for their fami­lies at the barracks.

However, this was never formalised until the situation demanded a religious institu­tional structure to serve the military more effectively.

However, Saturday Independent’s investigation confirmed that the Nigerian Army School of Islamic Affairs is for troops and is intended to educate them spiritually. The school offers education in var­ious areas, including Islamic Studies, Arabic and Islamic Studies, LLB Sharia, Islamic Theology, Qur’anic Science, Hadith Sciences, Qur’anic Ex­egesis, Islamic Jurisprudence and Comparative Religious Studies and is managed by the Nigerian Army Council.

It is open to eligible Nigeri­ans who can apply through the Nigerian Army website and must be able to speak Arabic and English languages. The ap­plication for the 2024 academic year closed on February 23, 2024.

 

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Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Meets Nkem Owoh At Things Fall Apart Festival 2025

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Renowned Nigerian novelist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and beloved Nollywood actor, Nkem Owoh, aka Osuofia, recently graced the Things Fall Apart Festival 2025 with their presence. The festival, held in Enugu, Nigeria, from June 29 to July 5, 2025, was a tribute to Chinua Achebe’s timeless classic, “Things Fall Apart”.

During the festival, Chimamanda Adichie delivered a keynote speech, where she invited Nkem Owoh to the stage, praising him as a “cultural icon” whose work has profoundly impacted Nigerians. She gushed, “This man is an icon for us. I’m his biggest fan,” as the audience erupted in applause. The duo shared a warm hug, and Nkem Owoh reciprocated with words of admiration for Chimamanda’s literary prowess.

Photo source: Instagram

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Ex-House of Reps member dragged to court for beating man who demanded accountability

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A business man, Mr Chinedu Anaukwu, has dragged a former member of the House of Representatives from Anambra State, Chinedu Obidigwe, to court for beating him up for demanding accountability for his performance as lawmaker.

Obidigwe who represented Anambra East/West Federal Constituency, was said to have carried out the act in 2023, shortly before the general election.

According to the victim: “It was in 2023, just before the general election, I had written in Aguleri World Forum, a WhatsApp group, demanding accountability from Obidigwe who was then recontesting to return to the House of Representatives.

“I told him it had been over three years that he had been in the National Assembly, and that before aspiring for re-election, he should give us account of his constituency funds and other achievements in the area.

“His boys were not happy about it, and one day he accosted me with over 13 thugs and ordered them to kill me. They beat me until I lost consciousness.”

When the matter came up on Tuesday at Otuocha High Court, Anambra East Local Government Area, counsel to Anaukwu, Chief Gozie Obi, SAN, withdrew the charges against the second and fifth defendants in the matter, who were identified as aides of Obidigwe who participated in the assault.

While the second defendant is said to be already late, the fifth was said not to have been served with the processes.

Obi who spoke to journalists, said: “Today is the first time the matter is coming up in court for pretrial hearing and in the course of the proceeding it came to light that the second defendant is late and since you can’t sue a dead person, we had to withdraw against him.

“Also, the fifth defendant was not served, but we wanted the case to progress, so we had to withdraw against him too, moreso when we know that the principal defendant is Obidigwe as all the others were just his aides, and acted under his instruction.”

During the sitting, the principal defendant, Obidigwe, was represented by his lawyer, Barrister Emmanuel Offoh.

The matter was later adjourned to November 18 for continuation pretrial before full hearing.

The plaintiff, Anaukwu, in his prayers, is asking for N200 million compensation for his ordeal, as well as the conviction of the former Rep.

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BREAKING: Police take over PDP Secretariat in Abuja

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As tension continues to mount over the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting, which is expected to hold on Monday, armed policemen have taken over its secretariat.

According to an official of the party who spoke to newsmen, the police were deployed to stop the proposed NEC Expanded Caucus Meeting.

Though some staff members of the party were initially allowed to go into the premises of the secretariat without any resistance from the police, they were later sent out.

At the time of filing this report, journalists were also asked to leave the premises of the secretariat, while some policemen were seen cordoning off Dalaba Street, which is the road leading to Wadata Plaza.

Details shortly…

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