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Category: Security

  • May 29: Abia CP, NSCDC guarantee security before inauguration

    May 29: Abia CP, NSCDC guarantee security before inauguration

    The police and other security services have heavily fortified state inaugural locations before, during, and after the May 29 event.

    Thus, the Commissioner of Police, Abia State Command, CP Mustapha Mohammed Bala, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Commandant, Paul Ozoemene Igwebuike, have assured state citizens of a smooth inauguration event.

    CP Bala reminded Abians and guests to report any suspicious activities or people to the police or other security services during the inauguration.

    The CP cautioned non-state actors, organisations, and people who want to cause disturbance before, during, and after the celebration to stay away from the locations since law enforcement would not hesitate to quell any aggressive or insecure behaviour.

    He advised locals not to worry about the heightened security patrols in their neighbourhoods since the Command is dedicated to keeping Abia safe before, during, and after the time.

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    The Abia State Commandant of the NSCDC, Paul Igwebuike, also pledged his men’s security for a smooth inauguration.

    He underlined that any society determined to grow in socio-economic and political development must have peace and that his Command will continue to work with appropriate security agencies to preserve relative calm in the state.

    He added his Command has taken tactical steps to address the projected inflow of visitors from inside and beyond the state and their security and traffic consequences before, during, and after the exercise.

    “My men are strategically deployed across the state with special attention to flash points, inauguration venues, and other locations of interest. The Abia NSCDC chief also ordered the Rapid Response Squad commander to increase motorised patrols throughout the state to guarantee a smooth inauguration.

    He urged the public to be law-abiding and avoid acts that could disrupt public peace and safety in the state, warning that anyone caught would be prosecuted, and to always provide timely and credible information to state security agencies to better serve them.

  • Herdsmen attack: Benue youths tackle Miyetti Allah, Isa Yuguda over comments

    Herdsmen attack: Benue youths tackle Miyetti Allah, Isa Yuguda over comments

    The Benue Youths Forum  BYF has once again lashed out at the Miyetti Allah group and former Bauchi State  Governor,  Isa Yuguda over what they described as unguarded statements on killings by Fulani herdsmen in Benue state.

    The BYF said such statements are capable of creating tension in the state.

    The BYF in a statement issued by its President,  Terrence Kuanum said the group with the name Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore had in a shameful outing after another evil gathering said to be a meeting in Abuja asked security agencies to hold Governor Ortom responsible for what they described as continuous conflicts in Benue.

    The BYF said It is indeed shocking that the apex socio-cultural body of Fulani ethnic nationality who have variously taken responsibility for the genocide in Benue after openly declaring war on the people because of the promulgation and implementation of the Open Grazing and Ranches Establishment Law of the state are now the ones crying blue murder.

    “That the group accused Governor Ortom of confiscating cattle belonging to Fulanis in Benue’s borders with Nasarawa and Taraba states when of a truth, the Fulanis are the once unleashing terror on the people in a bid to take over their lands is another irony.

    “The terrorists masquerading as herders have no moral rights to question the anti-grazing law of the Benue state government, especially as they are known for their penchant for breaking laws because they enjoy the backing of high-profile politicians particularly those of Fulani extraction.

    “The merchants of death also need to know that there is nothing as retrogressing as calling for the development of 415 grazing reserves in the country as nations desirous of developing have moved past archaic and anti-development processes and patterns such as the ones the Fulanis are calling for.

    “That the criminal elements were deployed into Nigeria by some undemocratic forces to help in ethnic cleansing of people in the Benue valley and annex their land does not mean the Fulanis should think that the country belongs to them.

    “The Benue Youth Forum once again calls on relevant security agencies to arrest the leadership of the clandestine terrorist group, especially the President, Abdullahi Bodejo and National Secretary, Saleh Alhassan for coordinating the genocide in Benue state through their words and actions.

    “We also condemn in totality recent comments by former Bauchi state governor, Isa Yuguda in which he alleged that Governor Ortom made a law to chase Fulani herdsmen out of Benue.

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    “Governor Yuguda in that interview on an Channels Television also justified and supported the incessant killing of innocent farmers in Benue and other parts of the country by armed Fulani militia claiming to be herdsmen.

    “That too calls for the urgent attention of security agencies as Yuguda presents himself as a co-sponsor of the carnage being perpetrated by his kinsmen across the country.

    “The BYF also wants President Muhammadu Buhari to grant the request by Governor Ortom to procure weapons for the newly created Benue Community Volunteer Guards to enable them protect the people.

    “The Forum equally expects the President to give the security agencies the go-ahead to tackle the security situation in Benue without protecting the Fulani militia who have made the state a killing field.

    “It is also imperative for the armed herdsmen who take delight in violently resisting laws in places they find themselves to be reminded that the Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law has come to stay and no amount of sponsorship of terrorism in the state can change the situation.

    “We therefore pledge our support for Governor Ortom and urge him not to be deterred by the antics of those callous agents of satan who are synonymous with bloodshed as they shall fall by their own swords, now or later” the group said

  • Benue Killings: Atiku Not a unifier, Says Benue Youths

    Benue Killings: Atiku Not a unifier, Says Benue Youths

    Following utterances made by the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on the invasion of benue state by Fulani herdsmen, the Benue youths Forum, BYF  has once again described him as somebody that is not capable of unifying the country.

    The President of the Forum , Terrence Kuanum who spoke with newsmen in Abuja said Atiku’s utterances has been a source of concern to benue citizens.

    Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had about two ago while fielding questions during a presidential interactive session organized by Arewa Joint Committee held at Arewa House in Kaduna, said he was “very angry with Governor Samuel Ortom for profiling Fulanis as bandits and terrorists because he, Atiku is also a Fulani person.”

    And just last weekend, the PDP Presidential Candidate made another terrible unforced error while claiming to be reacting to last week’s killing of over 40 people including two police officers in Gbeji, Ukum Local Government Area of Benue state by terrorists suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.

    Alhaji Atiku in the statement on his verified twitter handle clandestinely justified the killings of Benue people in their sleep, claiming that the heinous act was apparently due to what he described as “sustained clashes between farmers and herders…”.

    Kuanum said that the PDP presidential candidate tagged the dastardly killing of children, women and the aged in their communities as “escalation of inter-communal violence” clearly heightens the suspicion as to his level of insensitivity and complicity in the incessant attacks on Benue communities.

    “Equally sad and irresponsible is the comment by Alhaji Atiku which suggests that the killings in Benue state were occasioned by lack of inclusion and integration of people into “communities where they live, work, pay taxes and raise their children”.

    “Atiku’s veiled justification of the massacre in Ukum and indeed other parts of Benue is coming barely a week after he openly declared his hatred for Governor Ortom for standing firm to ensure that the people are not wiped out and their lands annexed by invaders.

    “Alhaji Atiku’s loud silence over the massive killings of unarmed and innocent Benue people because they refuse to surrender their land for cattle grazing was suspect. And now that he has come out to express how bad he feels that Governor Ortom has been resilient in ensuring that his (Ortom’s) people are not wiped out of the face of the earth by his kinsmen finally confirm that the man who is privileged to be the holder of the title of “Zege Mule u Tiv” is not really “the shadow under which the Tiv people can seek refuge”.

    “That careless and callous comment coming from an individual who is parading himself as a “unifier” clearly shows where he stands on the incessant invasion of Benue communities and massacre of the people and the destruction of their property by well armed Fulani militiamen.

    “We see that evil statement which came from the abundance of Atiku’s heart as a justification of the massacre in Benue state and a mockery of those who died in those attacks as well as a declaration of support for the marauding Fulani terrorists that carry those heinous activities.

    “The Benue Youth Forum therefore calls on the Alhaji Atiku to exhibit his acclaimed love for the Tiv people by condemning the act carried out by the Fulani militia if indeed he is sincere to himself.

    “BYF also wants the Tiv Traditional Council to monitor Alhaji Atiku’s future utterances and outings concerning and relating to happenings especialy tragedies in Tiv land and consider a review of his title of “Zege Mule U Tiv” if he does not amend his ways and live up to expectation” he said

    While we call on Atiku to moderate his desperation for power and avoid careless utterances just to attract sympathy even at the expense of the sanctity of human lives, we demand an immediate and well published apology from the PDP Presidential candidate for that assault on the entire Benue community.

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    “The Forum also wants the PDP Presidential standard bearer who presents himself as a “unifier” to come out clear on his plans and strategy to tackle the incessant killing of people in Benue if elected or forget the votes of Benue people in next year’s elections.

    “We also demand nothing short of a genuine and sincere commitment from Alhaji Atiku Abubakar that he will turn a new leaf and show that he is not in any way disposed to condoning the madness being perpetrated by terrorists and bandits especially in Benue if he becomes the president.

    “The BYF therefore commends Governor Ortom for the good work he is doing to protect the people and encourages him not to be deterred by the antics of those who do not wish Benue well.

    “We assure the governor and the people of our unflinching support to all efforts and initiatives such as the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law and the creation of the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards, aimed at curbing the senseless killings of Benue people in their communities” he said

  • FG decimating terrorists, bandits – Lai Mohammed

    FG decimating terrorists, bandits – Lai Mohammed

    Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the minister of information and culture, has claimed that terrorists and insurgents are being gradually eliminated from the nation.

    According to Lai Mohammed, the government’s efforts have made the North East once more accessible.

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    During a ceremony to commemorate World Tourism Day in 2022, the Minister made this announcement in Calabar during a joint press conference with Professor Ben Ayade, Governor of Cross River State.

    Even our harshest critics will concede, I’ll say it here, that in the past three months, the government has managed to control security-related difficulties. I want to reassure you that the worst is past in terms of insecurity.

    Unfortunately, many who make comments about insecurity don’t begin with where we were in 2015

  • Benue Govt to Buhari: Pay attention to humanitarian crisis in Benue

    Benue Govt to Buhari: Pay attention to humanitarian crisis in Benue

    The government of Benue State has pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to pay attention to the state’s humanitarian crisis, as he has done in the North East, in order to end the sufferings and further loss of life in the state.

    Dr. Emmanuel Shior, Executive Secretary of Benue State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, made the appeal yesterday while flagging off the monthly distribution of food and essential items to Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the state, urging the President to use the remaining months of his administration to help those in need in the state.

    Shior, who lamented the overwhelming burden the state government was shouldering by catering for the needs of the IDPs, said: “it is unthinkable to have IDPs in camp for over five years, and you are left with the responsibility of catering for them.”

    While lamenting that the Federal Government had abdicated its responsibilities to distressed Nigerians, the Executive Secretary blamed the federal government for the inability of the displaced persons to return to their ancestral homes.
    “We urged the President to please pay equal attention to the humanitarian crisis in Benue as being done in the North East. The situation in Benue is dire and it is our earnest desire to have Presidebt Buhari come in to assist us becaue the burden is overwhelming for the state.

    “This will help him write his name in gold. He is a father and we will not be tired of crying to him until he gives us listening ears because he has abandoned the IDPs in Benue. We hope that our continued cry to him will eventually get his attention to come and do something here before he leaves office especially as we are entering the election period.”

    Dr. Shior, who raised concern over the increasing number of displaced persons in the state disclosed that 600 households were recently sacked from their ancestral homes in Logo and Gwer West LGAs by armed herders in fresh attacks stressing that the state was planning an expansion of the IDPs camps to solve the problem of infrastructural deficits with the figure of the IDPs rising to over two million.

    He said: “Because of the huge population of IDPs, it is not easy for the state government to cater for the IDPs alone. We have shared the concern that the Federal Government has neglected the humanitarian crisis in Benue which also has another leg which is crisis of infrastructure.

    “The attackers have not only attacked the farming communities and killed and maimed and displaced people, they have destroyed farmlands, homes, schools, bridges, churches and others.”

  • Gov. El-Rufai hails military offensive against terrorists

    Gov. El-Rufai hails military offensive against terrorists

    Nasir El-rufai, the governor of Kaduna State, has praised security agencies for their ongoing offensive against terrorists, kidnappers, and other criminals in the state.

    The governor made the remarks on Wednesday in Kaduna, while launching the fourth edition of the Kaduna Book and Art Festival.

    “In the last six weeks, there has been an improved offensive operation against criminals, and we are confident that if it is sustained, people will be able to drive or take the train to Kaduna without fear,” he said.
    He thanked the festival’s organisers for coming to Kaduna to hold the event despite “what people say about the state.”

    Mr El-Rufai said that his vision was to ensure that Kaduna remained a place where everyone feels at home, with no provision for indigene, tribe or religion.

    According to him, what should matter is the common humanity, such that everyone who chooses to live, work and pay tax is indigenous to Kaduna.
    The governor expressed happiness to see many young people doing so well in poetry and writing, doing wonderful things with their lives.

    “The future of Kaduna is in the hands of young people, particularly women; we are determined to give them opportunities to excel.

    Mr El-Rufai also spoke on the 2023 polls, urging citizens to vote people who would address their problems “not those who created them”.
    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that a lifetime achievement award was presented to Prof. Audee Giwa whose creative works delineate the various layers of life experiences in Northern Nigeria.

  • INSECURITY: Ekiti Assembly approves constitutional amendment for establishment of state police

    INSECURITY: Ekiti Assembly approves constitutional amendment for establishment of state police

    The Ekiti State House of Assembly on Tuesday approved the creation of state police in the face of threatening insecurity in the country.

    This approval was made in the ongoing fifth alteration to the Amendment to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    The Assembly Speaker, Funminiyi Afuye, also agreed with the National Assembly on the move to alterate stipulated rules on how the principal officers of the Houses of Assembly should be removed from offices to ensure stability in the system.

    It would be recalled that the constitutional amendment bill was transmitted to the House of Assembly in March 2022 for necessary suggestions.

    Speaking to journalists, Gboyega Aribisogan, who is the assembly Leader of Government Business, said the ratification of the alteration to the issue of law reform in the country was meant to improve the qualities of laws guiding the arms of government.

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    Aribisogan said: “At the plenary today, the Assembly approved some areas being considered for amendment to the 1999 constitution by the National Assembly. What we did was just a concurrence to the amendments and not further alterations to what had been done by the National Assembly.

    “These include the approval for the Law mandating the state to have state police to improve security across the county. We also approved a law stating the procedure to be followed for the removal of the principal officers of the Houses of Assembly to ensure stability and improve the quality of governance.

    “The Assembly also unanimously approved the alteration to the constitution allowing State to have a law backing the establishment of State Judicial Council just like the National Judicial Council at the federal level so that the Judiciary can be autonomous.”

  • Northern governors meet with traditional rulers in Abuja over insecurity

    Northern governors meet with traditional rulers in Abuja over insecurity

    Governors from the Northern region have met with the region’s traditional rulers council in Abuja, in a fresh move to deliberate on options for the establishment of state police to tackle security challenges in the region.

    A communique developed after the meeting was read by the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong.

    Lalong said the meeting reviewed the security situation in the North and other matters relating to its development and resolved to support the amendment of the Constitution to accommodate the establishment of state police.

    He believes this will effectively and efficiently address the security challenges in the region.

    The forum reiterated its commitment to the development of solar energy in view of the comparative advantage of abundant sunshine in the region.

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    Accordingly, it was unanimously resolved that 2000 megawatts of solar power be harvested across the 19 States and FCT to harness the huge potential of power from solar.

    The joint meeting noted with regret the ongoing ASSU strike which it believes was more punitive in the region as most of the students in the North are attending public universities.

    It called on ASSU to cooperate with the Federal Government in resolving the dispute.

    The Northern Governors also engaged officials of the World Bank to discuss the level of implementation of the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) and Nigeria for Women Project which is being implemented in five Northern States.

    There are speculations that the semblance of peace gradually returning to Western Nigeria, is the result of the establishment of Amotekun security network, created to oversee security challenges there.

  • Five killed in Ifeanyi Ubah’s convoy attack – Police

    Five killed in Ifeanyi Ubah’s convoy attack – Police

    The Anambra State Police Command confirmed on Monday that five people were killed, including two police officers and three civilians, when gunmen attacked the convoy of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah of Anambra South on Sunday.

    Tochukwu Ikenga, the state Police Public Relations Officer, revealed this in an interview.

    On Sunday, while returning to his hometown of Nnewi, Ubah’s convoy was attacked by gunmen in Enugwu-Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area of the state.

    However, one of our correspondents learned that no arrests had been made.

    Aside from the five people killed, the police spokesperson stated that two officers were injured and are currently being treated.

    “Two policemen and three civilians were killed in the attack while the two injured police officers are currently receiving treatment.

    “No arrest has been made yet as we are still exploring every avenue to unravel the perpetrators of the attack. Further details will be communicated as development unfolds,” Ikenga said.

    Meanwhile, a source identified some of the victims of the attack, saying, “Senator Ifeanyi Ubah lost his treasurer, Mr Ikechukwu Odum, who is his most trusted aide. He also lost his personal assistant, Mr Goodness Mathias.

    “Another man killed, who was not in the convoy of the Senator, was identified as Onowu Agu-Ukwu Nri. He is said to be a titled chief in the neighbouring Nri community and had just driven to Enugwu-Ukwu to drop someone who visited him, who would be travelling to Lagos this morning, and he was unlucky to be at that point at the time when Senator Ubah was attacked.

    “He was driving an SUV, so the assassins may have thought he was in the senator’s convoy, and he was gunned down.

    “During the confusion on Sunday, all the cars were just hitting one another. Since the vehicle the senator was driving in was bulletproof, his driver managed to manoeuvre out of the damaged cars and drive away, even as it was being shot at.”

    Senator’s aide
    All efforts made to speak to Ubah proved abortive as his telephone line did not connect.

    But the senator’s Media Assistant, Mr Kameh Ogbonna, said if not for the bulletproof SUV, his principal would have been killed by the assailants’ bullets.

    “If not for the bulletproof SUV the senator was riding in, he would have been dead by now. We were passing Enugwu Ukwu junction when they hit us from all sides,” he said.

    Outrage over attack
    The Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo; a former governor of the state, Mr Peter Obi; the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, have condemned the attack.

    While condemning the attack, Soludo, through a press statement by his media aide, said the government was fully determined to wipe out every act of criminality in the state, noting, “This is the last-ditch effort of a sinking boat by these criminal elements.”

    Obi, on his part, said the attack was “unfortunate and condemnable”, describing it as one of the “cumulative” effects of bad leadership over the years.

    The state Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Okelo Madukaife, commiserated with the senator and families of his aides who lost their lives as well as the state Commissioner of Police.

    Apex socio-political youth organisation in Igbo land, the Coalition of South-East Youth Leaders, also condemned the attack.

  • Boundary disputes worsen insecurity, 676 killed in states

    Boundary disputes worsen insecurity, 676 killed in states

    According to findings, 676 people were killed in various communal and boundary disputes in Nigeria between January 2018 and August 2022.

    In addition, 444 houses were destroyed during the crisis period under consideration.

    This is happening as security forces fight to keep bandits, militants, and other violent criminals at bay across the country.

    Security experts said the development required immediate intervention to prevent it from jeopardising the 2023 general elections, and that the situation could worsen the country’s security crisis if the government did not address it on time.

    According to the findings, the majority of the clashes were the result of unresolved age-old disputes, with a few others being new cases.

    A breakdown, according to states, indicated that Ebonyi State recorded the highest communal clashes in the country with 131 deaths; Taraba State, 116. Benue had 92 incidents, Kogi 67, and Cross River 73.

    These were the five worst-hit states within the period.

    Further breakdown of the incidents showed that a total of 113 persons were killed in 2022.

    In Ebonyi, 63 persons were murdered during boundary disputes/communal clashes; Kogi 27; Cross River 8; Gombe 1; Niger 4; Akwa Ibom 3; Benue 2; Taraba 4 and Enugu 1.

    In 2021, 185 persons were reportedly killed and they included 40 persons in Ebonyi; Benue 48; Gombe 22; Taraba 11; Cross River 3; and Akwa Ibom 2.

    Others were Abia 3; Kwara 5 ; Oyo 2 ; Osun 6; Ondo 3; Edo 1; Yobe 11; Adamawa 13 ; Niger 3; Anambra 2 ; Bauchi and Delta had five cases each.

    The year 2020 recorded the least number of incidents and causalities as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. However, 27 deaths were recorded with nine killed in Benue; Abia 2; Taraba 5; Anambra 4; Ondo 2 and Delta 5.

    A total of 121 persons were killed in 2019 with Kogi accounting for 30; Ebonyi 15; Taraba 23 ; Benue 21; Cross River 18; Ondo 4 ; Bayelsa 2 ; Lagos-1 and Edo 7.

    In 2018, a total of 230 persons were allegedly slain with six killed in Adamawa; Delta 12 ; Kwara 2; Cross River 44; Kogi 10; Abia 10 ; Nasarawa 39 ; Ebonyi 13; Gombe 1; Taraba 73 ; Benue 12 and Niger 8.

    Further breakdown revealed that within the five-year under review, Delta recorded 22 deaths; Nasarawa 39; Gombe 24; Adamawa 19; Niger 15; Abia 15; Yobe 11; Kwara 7 ;Ondo 9; Anambra 6; Bayelsa 2; Edo 8; Bauchi 5; Akwa Ibom 5; Osun 6, Enugu 1; Lagos 1 and Oyo 2.

    Commenting on the sad development, the National Boundary Commission said most of the clashes involved unresolved age-long disputes over boundaries, farmland and natural resources.

    The commission in a report disclosed that it was handling 86 disputes across the country.

    The report provided by the NBC Director-General, Adamu Adaji, explained that the North-West zone currently has 15 interstate disputes; North-Central 15; North-East 14; South-West 14; South-South 14 and South-East 14.

    On the measures adopted to manage the issues, the commission disclosed that it had established functional boundary committees in local government areas across the country; erected boundary pillars, and also embarked on enlightenment campaigns.

    “The commission has also adopted a policy on equitable sharing of straddling resources between affected states, local governments, and communities as the case may be,’’ the agency stated.

    Speaking further on solutions to boundary disputes and communal clashes, the NBC said, ‘’The issue of prevention of clashes is normally handled by law enforcement agencies. However, the commission has resolved many boundary disputes.

    “One of the main mandates of the commission is to intervene, determine and deal with any boundary dispute that may arise among local government areas or communities with a view to settling it.

    “The commission has a total of 86 interstate boundary disputes out of which a number of interventions have been carried out, depending on the merit of the issues. Over half of these boundary disputes have been resolved while others are at different stages of the intervention process.’’

    The report further clarified that disputes might be due to a quest for farmlands, infrastructure, or natural resources along the boundaries.

    In boundary matters that were decided by the court, the commission said it would act as directed by the judicial authorities.