Category: Security

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The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed  said this at a press conference in Abuja.

He was responding to statements credited to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party on the security challenges facing the country.

The minister said, “The PDP alleged that kidnappers and bandits are not being brought to justice. This is
apparently aimed at the Federal Government.

“It is shocking that a party that ruled this nation for all of 16 years does not know that kidnapping and banditry are not federal offences.

“The PDP should therefore call out the states, including those being controlled by it, to ensure a rigorous prosecution of arrested kidnappers and bandits.

“Meanwhile, PDP conveniently forgot that as far as terrorism, a federal offence, is concerned, this Federal Government has successfully prosecuted thousands of Boko Haram members in Kainji, as part of a continuing exercise. We are now seeking the cooperation of the judiciary to continue with the trial of arrested terrorists.”

Punch

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James Duddridge said this while fielding questions from reporters on Tuesday, when he led a delegation to pay a courtesy visit on the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, in Abuja.

He said the United Kingdom is a strong ally of Nigeria in the efforts to mitigate the challenges posed by terrorism and insurgency.

He stated, “The situation is massively complex and no partnership is going to resolve the multiplicity of problems whether it is Boko Haram or Daesh or a number of other issues. In the UK you have a strong partner across the full gamut of issues, so, it is not just about intelligence and hard security and military, it is about societies, it is about humanitarian support, it is about education and development partnership.

“It is not an end game, we don’t get to a point where we would say ‘ this is the end of our relationship with Nigeria,’ because we got what we want, we set a higher bar, we are long –term partners.”

Punch

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The House held a record three-hour executive (closed-door) session that lasted three hours , from where the lawmakers unanimously adopted a series of resolutions.

Emerging from the meeting, the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, read out the resolutions part of which the House condemned the attacks on security personnel and formations around the country and sympathised with families of victims.

The House reiterated its commitment to ensuring that country is secured, while announcing its resolve to organise a secial security summit, and invite the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd.); the service chiefs, heads of paramilitary agencies and NIGCOMSAT.

The House also resolved that “The President should immediately declare emergency on security sector,” while calling on the judiciary to accelerate trial of suspected terrorists, bandits and others criminals.

“The President should as a matter of urgency ensure financial autonomy for local governments,” the lawmakers said, while calling on the Federal Government to ensure protection of national infrastructure across the country.

Punch

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The Speaker stated this while briefing the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Speaking with State House correspondents, Gbajabiamila said the President was as passionate as anybody else to ensure that the situation comes under control.

Asked on the agenda of his engagement with the President, he said, “It is the usual, normal engagement. I came to see him, I haven’t seen him in a little while. I came to see him exchange ideas, rub minds together as to where we are as a country, rub minds together politically, economically, socially, which is a continuous engagement for four years. That’s all this was all about.”

On whether the issue of security in the country was discussed, he said,”We will always speak about security because that’s number one. We speak about the security situation, we speak about the economy, will speak about the politics of it all and at least he has a listening ear.

“We proffer ideas, you know, he tells us his own views, and we come to some consensus, one way or the other.

“Some of these things, you cannot be privy to them for now. We are still working on a way out. All I will always say, I say it all the time, uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. The President is dealing with a very, very difficult situation and he is as passionate as anybody else to bring it to closure and we are here to help him bring it to closure.”

He said,” You are aware that the House of Representatives, some time ago, passed a resolution and we set up an Adhoc committee, a special ad-hoc committee, which involves all principal officers and 30 other members of the House.

“We are going to start that process looking at the different solutions and we will be bringing the reports to Mr President. He is fully aware of it and he is opened to anything and everything. That will help us in coming to a resolution in this matter.”

Punch

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He hinged the decision on the operational requirements of the force.

In a letter dated April 15, 2021, addressed to the EFCC Chairman and signed by the Principal Staff Officer to the IG, Idowu Omohunwa, the police boss directed that the affected officers should report not later than Wednesday (today).

The letter was titled, ‘Withdrawal of senior police officers from the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police and above attached to the EFCC.’

It read in part, “I write to extend earnest regards of the Inspector-General of Police and to inform the chairman that the Inspector-General of Police has directed the withdrawal of all senior police officers from the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police and above attached to your agency.

“The decision is informed by the current operational requirements of the force. You are accordingly requested to kindly direct the immediate release of the concerned officers who are to collectively report to the undersigned on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at 10am for further instructions.

“I am to also request that you avail this office the comprehensive nominal roll of all police personnel attached to the EFCC to include their date of transfer and designations in the agency for the purpose of updating our records.”

Punch

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The police authorities have deployed officers of the new Special Weapons and Tactics Team in state commands, Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammad Dingyadi, has said.

Dingyadi stated this while featuring on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme monitored by .

He said, “They (SWAT officers) have ended their training and they have been posted to the state police commands that brought them for training. They are there with them and they are performing the functions of the SWAT.”

About 1,850 members of SWAT were later trained at the Police Mobile Force Training School, Ila Oragun, Osun State and the PMF Training School, Ende Hills, Nasarawa State.

The SWAT officers were subsequently deployed in police formations across the country to fight crimes particularly robberies.

Punch

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El-rufai said this during a radio interview .

“I mean it and I will say it again here. Even if my son is kidnapped, I will rather pray for him to make heaven instead because I won’t pay any ransom,” he said.

The Governor also said his administration is not considering paying ransom to secure the release of the students abducted by bandits from the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Kaduna, in March.

According to him, his government is “absolutely not paying ransom” but considering other means to ensure the students are returned to their parents.

According to him, “These bandits have lost their right to life under our constitution and must be wiped out in their entirety. There is no other way to approach the current insurgency situation today as far as governmental action is concerned.

“The bandits are at war with Nigeria and there is no other way to approach the current insurgency but for security forces to take the war to the bandits and recover forests where they are occupying.

“The security agencies mostly react to cases of banditry and abduction, we are in a war with these terrorist challenging the sovereignty of the Nigerian state.

“Our security forces must collaborate to take the war to the bandits and terrorists, recover and restore the forest to enable our law-abiding citizens to engage in legitimate farming and livestock production.”

Punch

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Fugitives who escaped from the custodial centre in Owerri, the Imo capital, will be granted amnesty if they return voluntarily, the Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, has said.

He said this during the inspection of the centre after it was attacked by unknown gunmen.

During the attack, over 1,880 inmates were said to have escaped while 36 stayed back.

According to the minister, escape from custody is unlawful, and a crime.

He said, “Unlawful escape from custody is a crime but the government in its magnanimity will grant amnesty to prisoners who willfully return.

“They will no longer be charged with an unlawful escape but only for the initial crimes that took them to prison. So we urge all escapees to return before they are caught on the run.”

Punch

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The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has appointed a Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, as the acting Inspector-General of Police with immediate effect.

The Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, disclosed this to State House correspondents in Abuja .

Baba is taking over from Mohammed Adamu, whose tenure Buhari extended for three months on February 4.

He has only spent about two months out of the three-month extension.

Punch

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Five of the 39 kidnapped students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka Kaduna have regain freedom after 25 days in captivity.

Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed the development in a statement .

He said the five students were recovered by troops of the Nigerian Army .

Aruwan said they were undergoing thorough medical check-up at a military facility.

According to him: “The Nigerian military has informed the Kaduna State Government that five of the many kidnapped students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Kaduna were recovered this afternoon and are presently in a military facility where they are undergoing a thorough medical check-up.

“The Kaduna State Government will provide updates on further operational feedback to be received on this case.”

Punch/TheNation/Vanguard