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By Sulaiman Maijama’a

Reading the report of the disheartening revelation that the Bauchi state government has uncovered over 7000 ghost workers and pensioners from its payroll, which will enable it to realise over 500 Million Naira savings monthly, has given me sleepless nights this week. This is one of the terrible experiences I have had in recent times. I did not know when I was engulfed by raw, unadulterated pain, thinking about how the state’s governor, Bala Mohammed, is taking bold steps to sanitise civil service and block all leakages, other ungodly and unpatriotic people are sabotaging his efforts. If the government is to employ fresh graduates on the N50,000 salary scale, 500 million is equivalent to 10,000 employees.

 When the global economy is ravaged, and governments all over are trying to cushion the effect. Bauchi State is not an exception; these people fail to have the conscience, unleash their cruelty on the resources of the poor masses. And while these fraudulent people, whom I describe as “demons in human structure”, are benefiting illegally from this organised financial scam, the Governor is unjustifiably being criticised for being seen at fault, and the civil servants are in difficulty. This is, indeed, more than double jeopardy. However, if justice is to prevail, one cannot point an accusing finger at the citizens of the state who have been registering their discontent and throwing a barrage of questions to the State Governor, Sen. Bala Mohammed, seeking clarification on why are the salaries of some workers not paid as at when due. Those who think to seek clarification on issues of this nature is a crime know nothing about the Constitution because every citizen is entitled to ask questions on any public issue, except for classified matters, as by law established.

For a couple of months ago, there have been concerns by the Bauchi State citizens, especially civil servants, as regards the hitches that result in delay of the payment of some workers’ salaries in the State. Because Bauchi State is a civil service state, the problem appears to be the greatest concern of the people these days. The opponents of the PDP led administration take that to their advantage by crashing in, posing questions to the Government in power as to why the delay and why despite death, retirement and record of no employment, there has been an exponential rise in the wage bill?

This fraud in civil service started long before Senator Bala Mohammed came on board as the executive governor of Bauchi state. Though his approach to bringing it to a halt is extraordinary, It appears we have a long way to go as the efforts have always proven to be an exercise in futility.

To address the challenges on the issue in September 2020, Governor Bala hosted a Media Parley with civil servants, labour leaders, Government’s officials, elder statesmen, stakeholders and the Media where massive corruption in the system was exposed. A financial consulting firm, DYNATECH Solutions Limited, contracted by the State Government to sanitise its payroll and nominal roll, had revealed that ghost pensioners had been paid over N700 million within one year. While addressing the government, DYNATECH said the sum of N744,000,000 had been siphoned out of the state treasury.

I was then happy when the Governor resolved not to spare anyone found behind the organised financial crime on the Government’s payroll. Unfortunately, however, less than one year down the line, some people could be brave enough to summon the courage and orchestrate their devilish act, just a replay of last year. Something then is wrong!  For Senator Bala to find a lasting solution to this, he must begin to speak to those found to be involved in collecting undeserved salaries and pensions “in a language that they understand”. What language do they understand?

I remember a couple of months ago when some crooks found to be behind financial scams on the state’s payroll were publicised; their names published on national dailies along with pictures and their places of work. Please, your Excellency, sustain this. Whoever is found indulging in such a shameful act, regardless of his social status, should be breaking news for the day on national dailies, radio and television stations. Their names should make the banner headlines, and their pictures take the front pages of the newspaper. This is the best way to embarrass them, just like they embarrass the responsibility they are entrusted with. It will also serve as a deterrent to others.

Since these people do not mean and wish well for the society as their actions result in general affliction in the society with public institutions being grounded to a halt, please, your Excellency, we want to see them facing the fullest wrath of the law, being chased to jail, for they are nothing but calamity to our journey to promised land.

Maijama’a writes from the Faculty of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano. He can be contacted via sulaimanmaija@gmail.com.

By Tordue Simon Targema

Although extortion by security agents mounting roadblocks on Nigerian highways is not a new phenomenon, the trend has assumed an alarmingly worrisome dimension recently. A foreigner plying Nigerian roads in a commercial vehicle would think Nigerian security agents are double-tasked to be collecting taxes as well from drivers! Perhaps, the confidence which the officers demonstrate while collecting the illegal money and the coercive techniques which they deploy in doing so will dispel any doubt from the foreigner that such money is illegal and extortionist in nature. Sadly, this is the situation motorists and commuters on Nigerian highways have found themselves in.

I have extensively travelled across Nigeria. As an academic staff of a university, I have the privilege of travelling across the country. For instance, after obtaining my bachelor’s degree in the northeast, I moved to the northwest and obtained a master’s degree, and am currently pursuing my doctorate degree in the south-south. This has given me extensive exposure to Nigerian roads. Also, I have attended several academic conferences in each of the six geopolitical zones. My experience on Nigerian roads is a very horrible one, made so by a multiplicity of factors such as the deplorable nature of the roads and massive extortion by security agents. These have made the thought of travelling in Nigeria by road a dreaded one even to people who are extremely adventurous by nature, to talk less of those who have a phobia for travelling.

My experience on a recent trip to one of the south-south states from the northeast spurred me to pen down this piece. In what appeared to be a painfully interesting drama series, we watched cheerfully, albeit in deep anguish as our driver bargained with our security agencies who, I learnt, have raised the charge from the normal 50 naira to 100 naira, a development that did not go down well with commercial drivers. My driver was highly agitated paying the new charge but could not help it. He devised all possible gimmicks to resist it which could not help out. First, he attempted evading as many of these checkpoints as he could- army, police, civil defence, immigration, road safety and vigilante, custom, produce tax force ….name it! But this strategy usually backfired, as each of the checkpoints he evaded would call the very next checkpoint ahead and ask them to bundle us right back.

In no time, he realized that this was not by any means a workable strategy, and with intense pressure from the equally agitated passengers, decided to cooperate. Of course, he had to, because the few experiences we had with the checkpoints he evaded were terrible, as the security agencies were utterly aggressive and would at each of such instances traumatize him, heap up charges against him and intimidate him as much as they could to coerce him into submission. Worst of all, each of those checkpoints he evaded demanded – and actually collected from him – far more than their normal 100 naira. To cap it all, he nearly had an accident in the process of evading one of such checkpoints! Obviously, evading the checkpoints was not the way to go; a different strategy was, thus, imminent.

Mind game, pleading, teasing and joking with the security agencies was the next strategy. At each of the checkpoints, he would use any of these he felt was the most appropriate. For instance, if he had discovered by virtue of experience, appearance or instinct that a certain officer was a northerner, he was sure to use emotional appeal as a way to escape the payment. Language would have been a formidable force in this regard but for the obsession of our officers with money who would still insist he tip them after the pleasantries. You would feel their whole being and soul depend squarely on the illicit money they collect from drivers! Well, on a handful of occasions, this strategy worked and he was waived the charge.

Teasing and joking with the security operatives was the next strategy, but after it, they would always ask: anything for the boys? In such cases, our driver would retort: oga, when I de return, I’ll see you. At this, some would let go, but most would remind him that that is what he said while he was coming down! In such unfortunate cases, he would have no escape but to cooperate.

Another strategy he adopted was to tell them he had no change. In such cases, he would give them a thousand naira note to prove he has no change. This was a counterproductive strategy and in no time, he had to drop it, perhaps, forced by pressure from passengers because it was time-wasting. Why? Upon receipt of the thousand naira note, the officers would not let him go with it, but reluctantly look for change from their previous collections and give him. In the event they did not get it there, they would have to wait until collections from other drivers coming behind us complete the change! This generated intense condemnations of the passengers who felt that he was wasting their time and asked him to be cooperating or if indeed he had no change as he claimed, look for change at a filling station. Of course, the driver himself was pissed off with the attitude of the officers and had no choice but to change strategy.

Next was the use of prospective NYSC members as a bargaining point. This strategy worked for him significantly- not without difficulties though. Luckily for him, he had about four prospective NYSC members from the south-south deploying to their orientation camp as his passengers. Trust our smart driver; it took him no time at all to activate this as a point of a bargain! Oga, na kopas I carry ooo, he would tell each officer that rudely returned his 50 naira. Boom! Questions from all angles would start pouring out: kopa never pay for their transport? Na for free you carry them? Blablabla. At these, he would strongly insist that the prospective corps members were government properties, that the car he was driving is a government vehicle (the car actually had SURE-P inscribed on it), and that the officers too are government agents, hence, there is no point collecting much from him for conveying the corps members to their orientation camp. This would usually weaken the officers who would never give up but instead, as a final push, return to us: where are the kopas? At this we would all chorus: na we ooo! Of course, even those of us that were not corps members would join in to add to the echo. They would then tease us, ask us some few jovial questions, collect the 50 naira and then we move.

This was one of his most effective strategies. Despite its seeming efficiency, some of the rude officers would outrightly reject his 50 naira, ask him to go and park and delay us until he gets the sense in his head to give them their rightful 100 naira. Indeed, it was their entitlement. A look at the manner in which it was being demanded and collected dispels every doubt that such collections are illicit. At some of the checkpoints, the officers would, without saying anything else, ask the driver to go and park. At such points, he would oblige, park his vehicle, come down and walk up to them to give them their due. I found this arrogant and irritating too. Why? If you are shameless enough to descend so low and extort poor commercial drivers, then you should be prepared to keep aside all silly notions of pride and dignity and take it right there on the road before the prying eyes of passengers and all onlookers. But some of our pompous officers feel they are above this, and would rather the driver park, walk back and pay them their dues. No thought of the delay such would cause the commuters, no. they simply wanted their money and nothing else!

In one of the states in the north-central region, this worrisome trend has assumed yet another funny dimension. Trucks (used for pushing water and other commodities) are used at checkpoints, perhaps, because they are easier to push and much more flexible than logs of woods. Still in the same state, the officers- almost at each checkpoint- have engaged the services of jobless young men who stand on the road and coordinate the illicit deal for them. At these points, such young men are as pitiless and brutal as the sun or heavy rain on a lone traveller in the heart of a desert. They would neither listen to any plea nor get amused by the jokes of the driver. Never would they give in to any of his antics or gimmicks, worst of all, they have scant or no regard at all for NYSC! If anything, the mention of it gets them irritated. They got our driver really hard at this. Who be kopa? Na weting kopa de give me? They would ask him. And their gallant officers were ever ready to step in should any driver underrate them. Perhaps, the driver understood that they are traps to lure the wrath of the officers. He would oblige, give them the 100 naira once all tricks fail and then they would pull away their trucks and we would move on.

As we drove deeper into the night, the due increased. Rightfully, it increased to 200 naira, then 300 naira. It got to a point where we had to go down and collectively beg the officers that we are NYSC members deploying to our orientation camp, that they should give us consideration. They first turned deaf ears at us- perhaps, out of guilt- but later allowed our driver to pass. Clearly, our infuriated driver saw that he would not continue at that pace. He had to find a town nearby, parked at a filling station and we passed the night there.

You would think the proliferation of security checkpoints on our highways is an assurance of safety! At this, I bet my last kobo that you are woefully wrong. Around 4:30 am, we hit the road again. At the first checkpoint after we took off, an officer- after collecting his due – whispered to the driver that the road was not safe. Armed robbers were on operation some miles away! Armed robbers with this heavy security presence? I asked myself. The driver had to stop again. At first, we thought it was a lie but could not take the risk of defying the caution, so we stayed there till daybreak. Around 6:00 am, we continued and, lo and behold, came to the spot of the armed robbers’ operation! Two 18-seater buses stood there, their front tires flattened with bullets and the windscreen pierced through with bullets too. No passenger was wounded, even as they stood there, traumatized. They were unlucky. They got robbed. An old woman who could not stand the trauma fainted and was rushed to the nearby hospital afterwards. We stopped by and the stranded passengers eagerly narrated their ordeals. We couldn’t help out because our vehicle had no space for more passengers, and so, we only kept them solidarity companionship of about five minutes and moved on.

No doubt, the rising tide of insecurity contributes significantly to the deployment of security operatives on the highways. This explains why their presence is most conspicuous in conflict-tone and banditry-ridden states. Little wonder too that they feel their services on the roads are indispensable and they should be handsomely appreciated or rewarded by the people they protect. Now, I am not disputing this fact, neither I’m I underrating their importance. But I feel strongly that the government whose primary prerogative is to secure the lives and property of citizens should saddle the responsibility of catering for the welfare and incentives of the security operatives they deploy on the highways squarely, and not to push it to vulnerable drivers and commuters.

Of course, commuters bear the financial burden too, indirectly through arbitrary increments and hikes of transport fares. A friend of mine boarded a commercial bus and was charged 6,050 naira as transport fare. Curiously, he asked what the 50 naira on top is meant for and was promptly told it will be used for settling security operatives at checkpoints. I do not envy Nigerian commercial drivers, I really don’t. Jalingo to Porthacourt for instance has way over a hundred security checkpoints. Imagine giving 100 naira at each of the checkpoints, that’s way over 10,000 naira. In essence, an average commercial driver uses the transport fare of about two passengers just for settling security operatives at checkpoints. This is outrageous and really unfortunate, to imagine that the cost of spare parts has skyrocketed to an unprecedented degree. I won’t talk of fuel and lubricants required to service the vehicles. I began to ponder: what do the drivers take home after giving returns to their companies, fuelling the vehicles, minor and major repairs here and there, and settling our officers on the highways? No answer came in handy. I simply shook my head and redirected my thoughts to the music in my earpiece. That made more sense and in no time, I got engrossed in my thoughts and forgot about the security men as though they never existed.

It is sad to admit that although our security operatives deserve our daily prayers due to the danger they face daily confronting bandits and terrorists here and there, this extortionist tendency has taken away the public sympathy they deserve and earn them a curse and disrespect from commuters and drivers. This is very bad. It is about time the government checked the rising trend. In the interest of our commercial drivers and commuters, all forms of extortion on the highways must be abolished. Government should be prepared to shoulder the responsibilities of our officers on the highways and when that is done, deal decisively with officers found extorting vulnerable passengers.

I must confess that this is one area president Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has dashed my expectations woefully. In 2015, just before his inauguration, I recall travelling to another part of the country. A security officer was boisterously threatening to beat up our driver for refusing to give him his due. The sharp reaction of our young driver created a scene and in no time, the officer trumped up charges that never existed on the young man- driving licence, manifest, vehicle papers, commuters’ national identification documents, bla-bla-bla. He eventually got the driver who succumbed to the pressure that was already mounting and paid the due.

After we passed, I told the elderly man seating beside me with an air of confidence: the General has come, let me see how they will do this come next month. The old man chuckled and asked me: you think so? I replied in the affirmative. He smiled again and, with a tone of indifference, told me that nothing would actually change. In fact, he charged me to expect the worst. A conversation ensured and I tried my best to explain to him that although I was not president Buhari’s fan and did not think I will ever be, I was confident that once he takes over, all forms of extortions- especially the obvious ones like those on the highways would cease with immediate effect. The old man simply dismissed my argument in a predictive tone:  well, time shall tell better. I affirmed his submission and hoped for a day when extortion on the highways would become a thing of the past in Nigeria, a day that has refused to, and seem never to arrive anytime soon.

Concerned authorities should note that while this day delays its arrival, the effects on commercial drivers and commuters are, at the moment, unbearable. The time to end extortion on our highways is now. By the way, the deplorable condition of our roads is one other thing that usually stress-out life from commuters! In my next article, I shall relieve my experience on the Jalingo-Numan and Odukpani-Uyo roads. I am sure you will find it heart touching too, for now, I leave you in peace.

Tordue Simon Targema writes from the Department of Mass Communication, Taraba State University Jalingo. Email: torduesimon@gmail.com.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Two suspected kidnappers have been reportedly killed by men of the southwest security outfit, popularly known as Amotekun, in Iwajowa Local Government Area, Oyo State

The state Commandant of Amotekun, Olayinka Olayanju, told journalists that the kidnappers were killed during an operation by the Amotekun security outfit on Friday, July 30.

HumAngle, an online newspaper, quoted him as saying, “It is true. There was an operation yesterday afternoon.

“With the support of local vigilantes and hunters, we killed two of them,” he added

Recall that reports indicated that the kidnappers launched an attack on Iwere Ile town on Friday in a failed attempt to abduct some community residents. Officers of Amotekun engaged the assailants in a gun duel and eliminated two of them.

Killings and kidnappings are not a threat only in Northern Nigeria—the southwest is also badly hit by the menace.

By Abdulrahman Yunusa

Like anyone in this sinful world, one must get in touch with one unforgettable phenomenon in his life, and such experience will hunt them throughout their lives. So, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi might not be an exception because even prophets, who are the best people, get tested with many tragedies. As one Hadith entails, “Ashaddul Balaa al Anbia, thummal Amsal fal amsal”.

Gumi was a man with an impeccable personality and exceptional habits. He is the only Sunni cleric with almost all Awliya qualities: his kindness to his family and students was phenomenal. His worldly abstinence “Zuhud” is second to none, and his vision as a scholar was solid.

Perhaps of all the men of class and honour and men of power and money that late Sheikh Gumi lived and mingled with during his life, he had no open enemy. As I’m speaking to you, Gumi was the most respected cleric in the history of Nigeria, for he was blessed with many natural gifts.

He lived a well amusing as well as exciting life. His reputation cut across boundaries. None among politicians and merchants ever pointed him with an accusing finger, yet almost every responsible man befriended him. Not only politicians but even scholars did that full of humility.

Based on the intriguing accounts I have read so far in Ismaila A. Tsiga’s work, Where I Stand, even the father of the notable Islamic scholar, Isyaka Rabi’u, once eulogised Gumi and showered him with excellent remarks. Moreover, as a learned person, Sheikh Rabi’u didn’t hesitate to honour the scholarly correction issued to him by Gumi.

The same happened in his student-teacher relationship with Sheikh Malam Nasir Kabara, who taught him some books in his house. Later on, Gumi entertained his case while serving as Northern Nigerian Grand Khadi. Also, Malam Nasir kept Gumi in high regard till the day death took them apart.

However, throughout Gumi’s life journey, since the early 1920s, nobody had ever deemed it fit to belittle his personality or maltreat him as a person until when he met dictator General Muhammadu Buhari, who became his waterloo and a sign of divine test. You know, none among sincere men of God has ever lived a trial-free, tragedy-free life. So, his collision with Buhari at that moment was a blessing to him.

Although, one shouldn’t forget that Gumi had enjoyed the companionship of many past Nigerian presidents. He embarked on his advisory journey on national and religious matters before Nigerian independence.

As such, he had good contact with Sardauna. Most of his enthralling life voyage begins with Sardauna, then followed by General Yakubu Gowon. Gen. Gowon’ Christianity did not hinder him from seeing Gumi with the respectful lens as his predecessors. The same way he went with Gen. Murtala, Gen. Obasanjo and Alhaji Shehu Shagari. Nonetheless, Buhari deliberately disgraced him for not kowtowing to accept all his hogwash and twaddle policies to deal with some men.

Therefore, as Buhari failed to honour his intellectual sagacity at that moment, he went further by ditching his head by incarcerating him, holding his salary as a source of living. He even went out of focus helter-skelter to cease his visa. What a sad moment for a kind soul like Gumi’s. When did advising and cautioning leaders become an offence?

No, only those with knowledge and honour easily identify men of their calibre and confer them the burden of respect and altruism they deserve. Unfortunately, the man Gumi met around that particular junta was quite ignorant of knowledge and honour.

Lastly, Gumi endured all the persecutions and enjoyed them good fate until he bid a farewell to this wicked world. However, that never stopped him from achieving his life goals, of which receiving the King Faisal Award topped most of his achievements.

Surely history will forever remember this Buhari as rude and unfair to the most celebrated Sunni scholar in Nigeria. May Allah keep the soul of Malam Gumi in Jannah, amin.

Abdulrahman Yunusa is a political and public affairs analyst. He writes from Bauchi and can be reached through abdulrahmanyunusa10@gmail.com.

In a statement released on Sunday by the Nigeria Police Force spokesman, Frank Mba, titled, ‘FBI indictment: IGP recommends suspension of DCP Abba Kyari’, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) recommends Abba Kyari for an immediate suspension over his alleged collaboration with Abass Ramon, aka Hushpuppi, and six others, in a $1.1m international fraud conspiracy.

An unsealed 69-page court document shows that DCP Kyari was under investigation by the Bureau for his alleged link to Hushpuppi, who had pleaded guilty to fraud in a United States court in California. Subsequently, the FBI declares Kyari wanted and reportedly requests the Nigerian government for his extradition. He denies all charges in a Facebook post.

The IGP states that the suspension was expected to create an enabling environment for the NPF Special Investigation Panel to carry out its investigations into the allegations against Kyari without interference. The statement in full reads:

“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, fdc has recommended the immediate suspension of DCP Abba Kyari, the Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), from the Service of the Nigeria Police Force, pending the outcome of an ongoing internal investigations touching on him. The IGP, in his letter to the Police Service Commission, dated 31st July, 2021, noted that the recommendation for the suspension of the officer, is in line with the internal disciplinary processes of the Force.

The IGP further noted that the suspension is also expected to create an enabling environment for the NPF Special Investigation Panel to carry out its investigations into the weighty allegations against DCP Abba Kyari without interference. The suspension is without prejudice to the constitutional presumption of innocence in favour of the officer.

The Special Investigation Panel (SIP), comprising four (4) Senior Police Officers, is headed by DIG Joseph Egbunike, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in-charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID). The SIP, inter alia, is to undertake a detailed review of all the allegations against DCP Abba Kyari by the US Government as contained in relevant documents that have been availed the NPF by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The SIP is also to obtain detailed representation of DCP Abba Kyari to all the allegations levelled against him, conduct further investigations as it deems fit, and submit recommendations to guide further actions by the Force Leadership on the matter.

Meanwhile, the IGP has reaffirmed the commitment of the Force to the Rule of Law and assured the public of the sanctity of the probe as well as the absolute respect for the rights and privileges of the officer throughout the period of the investigations.”

By Ahmad Ganga

The arrest of Raymond Abbas, aka Hushpuppi, and the FBI’s revelation that indicted DCP Abba Kyari of being an accomplice to Hushpuppi’s fraudulent activities have exposed the naivety of some Nigerians on social media. Perhaps due to ingrained hatred for the incumbent government or the person of Kyari, many people are vindictively calling for Kyari to “surrender” himself to the FBI. However, this agency has no locus standi to carry out an arrest operation on foreign soils without the consent of the host countries.

Assuming the allegations raised by the FBI is true, America has no authority to arrest Kyari since the crime he was alleged to have committed is on Nigeria’s soil —not the US. Unless Nigeria Police Service Commission constitutes a panel to investigate whether the allegations are true or not; and that he’s found guilty before Nigeria’s government takes further action, the American government has no legal right to dictate whether DCP Kyari is guilty. And this requires due process under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria — not US or FBI’s laws.

However, DCP Kyari has a fixed location which means he’s not on the run. Moreover, since a court in the US granted the arrest warrant — not Nigeria and Abba Kyari is not an American citizen —which gives him the right to fair hearing according to the laws of this land, it’s absurd to see Nigerians haggling to the bone marrow, saying Kyari is guilty of the allegations raised against his personality —even before Nigeria’s government enquires to know whether it’s true or not. But then Nigerians glorify anything foreign as though the foreign lands’ decision is a divine revelation.

I am not in support of Kyari’s heinous relationship with Hushpuppi, neither do I side with many sadists calling for his head. However, I believe there is more than meets the eye to this revelation. Let Nigeria decides whether DCP Kyari is guilty or not through an impending panel of investigation. At the moment, I can’t entirely agree with anyone saying DCP Kyari is culpable until proven by a grand jury.

Ahmad Ganga is a legislative assistant at the House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria. He can be reached via ahmadgangaa@gmail.com.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

A 45-year-old woman identified as Kafayat Lawal has purportedly hacked Ayomide Adekoya, her 17-year-old daughter, to death with a broken bottle, Punch newspaper has reported.

She was also said to have hacked another child of hers, who was later taken to the hospital.

Confirming the incident in a statement on Friday, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, the Ogun State’s police public relations officer, stated that the suspect was apprehended after the information received by the Divisional Police Officer, Ogijo Divisional headquarters, CSP Mohammed Baba, at about 2:30 pm.

Oyeyemi added that the suspect locked her two daughters and hit and injured them with a broken bottle.

“Upon information, the DPO mobilised his men and moved to the scene where the two victims were rescued and taken to hospital for treatment before one of them gave up the ghost.

“The suspect was then arrested and taken to custody. On interrogation, the suspect, who claimed to have separated from her husband nine years ago, informed the police that her two daughters left home during the Sallah and didn’t return till the following day.

“This infuriated her, and when she wanted to beat them, people around pleaded on their behalf, and she left them, only for them to go out again the following day and passed the night outside. It was the annoyance that made her lock them inside and injured them both with a broken bottle.

“The older one Blessing Adekoya 19 was injured in the hand, while her younger sister Ayomide was stabbed in the chest and unfortunately gave up the ghost while receiving treatment,” Mr Oyeyemi said.

He also noted that an investigation into the incident was ongoing.

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) arrests the former President of the Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, over renewed allegations of corruption. Sources have indicated that Saraki was arrested over allegations of theft and money laundering.

Abba Kyari’s predicament will evoke, in some manner, watertight interpretation by the conspiracy theorists. They can have a soft landing and safe haven to drive their points homes. The US recently denied Nigeria access to purchase helicopters that would aid adequately in fighting the Boko Haram terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers who become a sharp thorn in the country’s flesh. The US scuttled the arms deal with Nigeria, citing the human rights abuses and violations, among others, as its reasons. Is the accusation valid? No! The Information minister falsifies it. 

Before Nigeria heal, recuperate, and move on, the shocking revelation of FBI reports that squarely and directly without evasion indicted the super cop Abba Kyari who has been vibrantly a leading figure in battling those violent crimes are gravelling the peace of the country. Though this isn’t the first time the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), a federal law enforcement agency that’s principal investigator of the Justice Department in the US, accuse Nigeria’s top official.

The current speaker of the House of Representatives was once charged until it was proved that the accusation was baseless, unfounded. The same happened to the late Senator Buruji Kashimu, who was accused of drug trafficking. His extradition to the US failed due to intricacies and involution associated with that international law. The chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, was equally indicted by the FBI and the Americans demanded him to be extradited. It was later discovered that he’s ingenuously sinless. He was vindicated as innocent. Therefore,  the FBI isn’t always correct and voracious, as many Nigerians assumed.

However, even if the alleged report of Kyari’s indictment proved to be flawless and accurate, Nigeria must borrow or take up an American approach. I said so because it will be a lame decision for the country to get rid of such an adept and proficient police officer in these trying moments. Forget about Kperogis and Ochonus, who are not within reach of kidnappers and bandits, who write from their comfort zones in the US, calling for the super cop’s head. Don’t be prey to their flakes.

When former American President, Bill Clinton, was indicted for having an illicit sexual relationship with his secretary within the sacred white house, Monica Kalawesky, the indictment was proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Yet, the US assembly was sagacious in its judgement. They weighed Clinton’s advantage as well as his shortcomings. They had prioritised his advantages and didn’t impeach him, and he later continued to become one of the finest and successful presidents in American history. 

However, in this present critical moment of insecurity eating deep into Nigeria’s flesh, such as dreaded terrorists of Boko Haram in the northeast, bandits and kidnappers in the north-west and north-central and secessionists in the entire south, to get rid of Kyari for his alleged accomplice offence with the notorious Yahoo Boy — Hushpuppi — will come with consequences. Therefore, Nigeria must prioritise its National interest.

The US let go of the culpability of Saudi Arabia when Jamal Khashoggi was butchered in Turkey for the simple reason that they had wanted to pursue their billions of dollars deal (arms purchase) with Saudis. National interest always comes first.

Kyari has, in his two decades of service, done a superb and groundbreaking job in bringing the level of violent crimes in Nigeria down. His record is today the top desirable one in the police force. Notably, the Nigerian Government and all its institutions have never found him wanting in all these two decades of service. Kyari has been consistent with his career and currently heading a formidable team that has become criminals’ nightmare. It will be uncanny and suicidal to let him go for the funny accusation of a Yahoo Boy having telephone communication with him outside Nigeria. I urge the Nigeria Police Force to review the report of the FBI about the super cop.

Nevertheless, the FBI report is right or wrong; the officer should be given a top security operation to lead to “fatigue” for the mere mention of his name in the indictment report. After all, Kyari should try to eschew any nexus with people that can easily make others see him as a dissenter. His recent public appearance with Obi Cubana can be a massive slap on his personality.

One lesson Nigerians will learn from this saga is that our culture of highhandedness with the public office should be dropped. Public servants used to be like emperors, especially when they proved to be worthy and successful. It happened with Bank chiefs, politicians etc. Let us have strong institutions.

Salisu Uba Kofar-Wambai is a PhD student at the Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano. He can be reached via salisunews@gmail.com.

By Tajuddeen Ahmad Tijjani

Various reports revealed that US senators are planning to halt the agreed sales of warplanes to the Federal Republic of Nigeria on human rights concerns. This unpopular decision leaves many Nigerians in awe, wondering why would the so-called peace-loving United States do that to a nation bedevilled by security challenges, ranging from violent secessionists, killer herdsmen, banditry, kidnapping and Boko Haram — an insurgency that consumes more than 36,000 lives from 2009 to date. 

The number one enemy of Nigeria is insecurity, as the country’s security agencies are having difficulty in surmounting the problem over the years. No doubt, the government of the federation is trying everything humanly possible to end the ugly trend. However, the challenge continues to prove insurmountable, mainly due to the lack of state-of-art weaponry in the country’s arsenal. Understanding this particular shortcoming forces the Buhari administration to shop for sophisticated armouries from the United States of America – a perceived important ally of the Nigerian state. Unfortunately, the bilateral relationship that exists for decades between the US and Nigeria that is expected to play a significant role in facilitating the arms deals and intelligence sharing has been disregarded by these US senators.

Suffice to say; this is not the first time the US turns down Nigeria’s demand for war gadgets on the purported account of human rights records. Denying Nigeria’s request during the Jonathan administration was undoubtedly one of the significant factors that made Nigerian forces deficient in combating Boko Haram, hence leaving the insurgency to prevail then. Now we are faced with many other terrorist acts; we cannot afford to experience the repetition of what happened before. Therefore, to accomplish this task of securing the territorial integrity of our nation, we must think outside the box and source alternatives to acquire sophisticated war gadgets that would help us eliminate terrorists and terrorism in the African most populace nation.

Ostensibly, America is not helping matters in our war against insurgency. No good ally would deny Nigeria a purchase of weapons at this challenging moment of turmoil. As a matter of urgency, the federal government should leave America and shop for the needed warplanes elsewhere. We can try the likes of Russia, China, Japan, South Korea or Germany to have expeditious delivery and usage because they are best with sophisticated ware fare all over the world.  

It’s high time for Nigeria and Africa to realise that some Western countries are not interested or concerned about our peaceful coexistence. It’s, therefore, significant to give priority to research and development to find ways to save ourselves from such last hour denials. Relying on the US to help us address the multiple security challenges in Nigeria and Africa is becoming suicidal. We must find some better allies that would be ever willing to help us out of any predicament unconditionally.

Tajuddeen Ahmad Tijjani writes from Galadima Mahmud Street K/Kaji Azare, Bauchi State.