The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has responded to a viral video involving Asari Dokubo, a former Niger Delta militant leader.

In the video, Dokubo claimed he could bring down a military aircraft that was allegedly surveilling his home during the recent LGA elections in Rivers state.

Dokubo said the aircraft was attempting to intimidate him because of his support for the election process.

“The federal government knows I have the capacity to bring down any aircraft,” he said.

In response, Edward Buba, director of defence media operations, dismissed Dokubo’s claims as “laughable”.

He added that Dokubo was merely “blabbing” and did not have the power to challenge the military or shoot down its aircraft.

Buba explained that various security agencies use aircraft and helicopters for national security purposes.

He assured that the military operates within professional standards and respects democratic principles.

He added that addressing such claims falls under the responsibility of the “appropriate authorities”.

Buba also responded to reports of 13 former Boko Haram fighters escaping from a rehabilitation centre with government rifles in Borno state.

He said the military is not in charge of the deradicalisation, rehabilitation, and reintegration (DDR) programme, adding that measures are being taken to ensure the programme’s effectiveness.

Buba also noted that over 300 terrorist leaders have been eliminated in military operations across the north-west in the past three months.

He added that the military has adjusted its strategies in the region to replicate the successes achieved in the north-east, with some “wanted terrorist leaders” expressing interest in surrendering through the new Operation Fasan Yamma.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says married women no longer have to provide a letter of approval from their husbands in order to obtain a visa clearance certificate.

The NDLEA’s visa clearance certificate is a document that proves an individual has no drug-related convictions in Nigeria — a requirement by some countries.

Previously, the NDLEA mandated married women to submit a “letter of approval to travel from their husband, attached with his passport photograph,” to obtain the certificate.

This rule, however, did not apply to men.

The policy came under fire recently when an X user criticised the requirement in a viral post, labelling it as discriminatory.

“NDLEA’s visa clearance requires that a married woman should bring a letter of approval to travel from her husband along with his passport photograph,” the user wrote.

“There is no such rule for men. This is such disgusting government-sponsored misogyny. Are married women children?”

The post quickly gained traction, sparking outrage across social media platforms, with many calling the policy unjust and outdated.

In response, the NDLEA issued a statement clarifying that the requirement had already been removed as part of an ongoing review of its visa clearance procedures.

“The entire procedure for visa clearance issued by the NDLEA as required by some countries is currently undergoing review, and the requirement for a married woman to present a letter of approval from her husband to travel is one of the items that the agency has since jettisoned as a non-mandatory item on the list,” the statement said.

The agency explained that the rule was originally introduced due to “some ugly developments in some source countries”.

The NDLEA assured the public that the rule has now been deleted from the list of requirements in the ongoing review.

The revised visa clearance procedure is expected to be made public in the coming days.

Lucky Aiyedatiwa, governor of Ondo, has dismissed Adeboye Taofiq Ewenla, special assistant on forestry (central senatorial district), with immediate effect.

According to a statement issued by the press secretary to the governor, the dismissal followed allegations of bribery and intimidation against Ewenla by some timber merchants in the state.

“Governor Aiyedatiwa also ordered a probe into the activities of those saddled with the responsibility of managing forest reserves in the state, noting that a replacement for Mr. Ewenla will be announced in due course,” the statement reads.

“The Governor urged all political appointees to conduct themselves in line with the provisions of the law and rules guiding their duties.”