Security

By Uzair Adam Imam

An Osun State High Court sitting in Ede has convicted and sentenced five men to death by hanging for the kidnap and murder of Alhaji Ibrahim Adamu, a Fulani man.

The convicts, Ibrahim Issa, Lateef Bello, Abdul Ramon Soliu, Bello Ibrahim, and Abudu Mumini Jolaanobi Saheed – were arraigned on four charges, including conspiracy to kidnap and murder.

In her judgement, Justice Kudirat Akano found the convicts guilty on all four counts and sentenced them to death by hanging.

The prosecuting counsel, Faremi Moses, presented evidence that the five men kidnapped Alhaji Ibrahim Adamu on April 17, 2018, around 7:45 pm from his home in Owode-Ede, Ede North Local Government Area, Osun State.

Adamu was abducted in his Toyota Corolla and subsequently killed after his family paid a ransom of N3 million.

Faremi called three witnesses, including the investigating police officer, Mr Ganiyu Taofeek, who submitted several exhibits, such as extrajudicial statements and a mask recovered at the scene.

Counsel to the convicts, Bola Ige, argued that the prosecution failed to prove the accusation beyond a reasonable doubt.

Justice Akano ruled, “The prosecution has proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the convicts committed the offences. They are hereby sentenced to death by hanging.

“The convicts were led out of the courtroom in handcuffs, sobbing and begging for mercy.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini 

The military high command has established new commands in Kaduna State to address insecurity. 

The three new commands are located in Samaru Zango-Kataf, Giwa, and Birnin-Gwari. Additionally, the Air Force will establish a base in Millennium City, in Chikun local government area. 

The Southern Kaduna Journalists’ Forum (SKJF) has praised the collaboration between the State governor, Uba Sani and the Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa, for their efforts in addressing insecurity in the State. 

In a statement issued by SKJF chairman, Ango Bally and Secretary, Lilian Silas, the forum expressed joy over the establishment of the military bases. 

The statement read in part: “These strategic moves will significantly help in addressing the protracted banditry, kidnapping and other security threats in the region and enhance agricultural activities in the State”. 

The Forum expressed optimism that the deployment of additional military personnel will significantly improve security and enable farmers to access their lands without fear, especially in communities like Maro-Kajuru, Kauru, Sanga, Giwa and Birnin-Gwari, which have been witnessing persistent banditry attacks.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini 

The newly appointed Kano State Commissioner of Police, CP Salman Dogo Garba, has convened a strategic meeting with Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), Tactical and Operational Commanders.

This meeting is part of a broader effort to strengthen security and safeguard the lives and properties of all residents in the state. 

The Commissioner of Police appreciates the officers for their commitment and dedication to crime fighting and maintaining peace despite the daunting security situation in the state.

He further charged them to remain resolute and redouble efforts towards surmounting the scourge of thuggery and other violent criminal activities that had hitherto bedevilled the good people of the state. 

He charged the officers to continue with the community policing engagements with their stakeholders and to ensure no thuggery (Daba) incidents are recorded in their areas of responsibilities.

They are also warned to always be available to supervise their men, as the CP will be going around on supervision. 

Dogo reminded the officers that accountability and professionalism will be his driving forces.

In addition, he urges all the supervising officers to ensure the cleanliness of their offices, including detention facilities. 

The CP reiterated that “I can not be sitting in my office to allow thugs (Yan Daba) and other perpetrators of criminal activities to disrupt the peace being enjoyed in the State.”

By Abdullahi Algasgain

The attention of the Sokoto State Government has been drawn to a malicious publication credited to the Muslims Rights Concern (MURIC) alleging a plan by the sttate government to dethrone the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.

The state government wondered how a responsible body like MURIC, claiming to be protecting the rights of the Muslims would descend so low and cheaply as to join hands with deluded mischief makers and enemies of progress to fabricate such a false and unsubstantiated story just to create an unfriendly atmosphere and fear in the minds of the law-abiding and peaceful citizens of the state.

We believe that MURIC is not the type that will be dancing to the tunes of enemies and mischief makers who are trying to take away the attention of the good people of Sokoto state and Nigerians on the transformative initiatives taking place in Sokoto State over the last one year.

We also like to assure MURIC that the present administration just like the previous administrations in the state cherishes and respects the Sultanate Council long before MURIC was established.

The Sultanate Council, which has a long standing historical importance is so reverred to all the people of Sokoto State, therefore we still hold the institution in very high regards and esteem.

This is not the first time stories such as this were fabricated to show that all is not well between the state government and the Sultanate Council, as some few months back we had a similar obnoxious story which the state government categorically condemned and denied in whole.

From the look of things,those nefarious detractors and distracting enemies of progress have not relented in their failed efforts to smear the cordial relationship existing between the state government and the Sultanate Council.

MURIC should have cared to find out if there was ever any query, warning or any threatening documents served on the sultan by the state government.

We equally like to remind MURIC that promoting Islamic affairs is the second item on the Ahmed Aliyu’s nine-point Smart Agenda,therefore Islam means so much to the present administration, coupled with the fact that Sokoto being the Seat of the Caliphate, is a 100 per cent Muslim-dominated society.

It is on record that no administration in the history of Sokoto State has done to Islam what the present administration has done in just one year. This we say without any fear of contradictions.

Therefore, for any one to think that the present administration could engage in acts or actions that could jeopardize the development of Islam is not only unfair but unjustifiable.

To put the records straight, we would like to tell the world that the relationship between the Ahmed Aliyu-led administration and the Sultanate Council under the leadership of our most respected monarch, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has been very cordial.

The present administration always consulted with His Eminence, the Sultan on issues affecting the state, and his invaluable contributions and inputs are always respected and included in policy implementation.

On the issue of sacking and transfer of some District Heads in Sokoto State, MURIC should know that the affected District Heads were accused of some unbecoming behaviours,such as land racketeering, aiding insecurity as well as insurbodination to the constituted authority.

In order to give them fair hearing the committee summoned all the affected District Heads, after which it came up with a whitepaper report, advising the government on what to do. And it was based on that and also in the public interest that the state government acted in conformity with the recommendations made by the whitepaper committee.

It is equally important for MURIC to note that nobody is above the law, therefore,the sacked District Heads are just reaping what they saw, and that the action taken by the Sokoto State Government was indisputably in the best public interest.

Abubakar Bawa
Press Secretary to
Sokoto state Governor
25/06/2024.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Former Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Solomon Dalung, recounts his harrowing near-death experience at a hospital in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

Dalung reveals that he fell ill on Wednesday and was rushed to the hospital, where he lost consciousness shortly after undergoing doctor’s interviews.

In a post shared via X on Friday, Dalung recounted being admitted to the emergency ward but left unattended for over four hours due to non-payment of admission deposits.

He shared how he regained partial consciousness and managed to make the necessary deposit before receiving medical attention.

“I took ill on Wednesday, arrived at the hospital, and shortly became unconscious after doctor’s interviews.

“I was ferried into the emergency ward but abandoned for over four hrs due to non-payment of admission deposits.

“Regained partial consciousness and later did the transfer of deposit,” he revealed.

“After that,” he continued, “I fell into unconsciousness again for about seven hours.

“To God be the glory, I have been discharged after three days and recovering. Were it not for partial consciousness to pay the deposits, I would have been Mr. late.

“Many Nigerians have gone this way. Where is our humanity?” Dalung added, highlighting the urgency for better healthcare accessibility and compassion towards patients in need,” he said.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Amidst the devaluation of the Nigerian currency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has issued a stern warning to embassies, instructing them not to demand foreign currency for goods and services within the country.

In a memo addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede emphasized the illegality of collecting any currency other than the Naira in Nigeria.

The memo, dated May 5, 2024, highlighted the violation of Nigerian laws and financial regulations by embassies invoicing consular services in United States Dollars.

Olukoyede underscored the significance of adhering to Section 20(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, which designates currencies issued by the apex bank as the sole legal tender in the country.

The EFCC boss condemned the refusal of some embassies to accept the Naira for consular services, describing it as an affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty and undermining its monetary policy and economic development objectives.

Expressing zero tolerance for this trend, Olukoyede urged the Minister to convey the Commission’s displeasure to all embassies in Nigeria, reiterating Nigeria’s expectation for their operations to comply with existing laws and regulations.

This move by the EFCC comes as embassies in Nigeria persist in demanding and collecting Dollars for goods and services, a practice detrimental to the local currency.

By Uzair Adam Imam

On Thursday night, a group of bandits stormed the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTEC) in Osara, Okene, Kogi State, kidnapping several students as they prepared for upcoming exams.

An eyewitness reported that the bandits arrived at the university around 9:00 p.m., entering through the bush and infiltrating three lecture halls where students were studying.

They fired shots into the air, causing panic and trapping students inside.

Despite efforts by local security guards and gate personnel to confront the attackers, some students were abducted before the bandits could be repelled.

Fortunately, their intervention limited the bandits’ access to only the first three lecture halls.

The targeted students were getting ready for their first semester exams scheduled to begin on Monday, May 13, adding to the shock and distress of the incident.

One student, who wished to remain anonymous, described hiding in the bush with classmates for over an hour until the area quieted down enough for them to cautiously emerge.

While confirming the incident, CUSTEC Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdulraman Asipita, declined to provide further details on the number of students abducted, stating that the university is actively managing the situation.

Efforts to contact Kogi’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bethrand Onuoha, and Retired Cdre Jerry Omodara, the State Security Adviser, were unsuccessful, as their phones went unanswered.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The FCT Police Command has apprehended two notorious car thieves, Ibrahim Haliru, 45, and Babangida Mohammed, 27, who have been terrorising residents of the Federal Capital Territory and its environs. 

The suspects, who were arrested on April 23, 2024, at about 3:00 p.m. in a hotel in Nasarawa State, were found to be in possession of five stolen vehicles and various charms. 

According to the FCT Police spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the suspects had been on the command’s wanted list for several months and were trailed and arrested with the aid of digital reconstruction intelligence. 

The FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Benneth Igweh, has commended the efforts of the officers involved in the arrest and urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the police. 

The Commissioner also reassured residents of the Command’s commitment to ensuring their safety and security, and encouraged them to take the necessary steps to protect their valuables. 

The police have urged anyone with information about criminal activities to contact them through their emergency lines: 08032003913, 08028940883, 08061581938, and 07057337653 (PCB: 09022222352, CRU: 08107314192).

By Uzair Adam Imam

Former Jigawa State Governor and PDP Chieftain, Sule Lamido, has criticized Northern governors for their recent visit to the United States, stating that it showcased their lack of understanding of the Nigerian Constitution.

Lamido voiced his concerns via a statement on his official Facebook page on Sunday. The governors had traveled to the US to participate in a peace summit organized by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP).

Lamido said, “Our Northern governors as concerned leaders traveled all the way to the United States of America to attend a lecture at the American Institute for Peace titled “ADVANCING STABILITY IN NORTHERN NIGERIA”, as to find a lasting solution to the intractable problems of insecurity bedeviling their respective states.

“Their concern, commendable as it were, ended up exposing their ignorance at understanding the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the very instrument which gave them the legitimacy and the authority to be Governors.

“If the Governors had traveled to the US to engage on how to boost agriculture or health issues or any other pressing local problems listed on the Concurrent List of our Constitution, this could be quite understandable.

“But to engage on issues which are on the Exclusive Legislative List such as security says a lot about the substance they are made of.

“Security is a very wide subject which their Excellencies must have capacity to grasp. Most urban towns in their states lack portable drinking water, and refuse dumps have taken over some streets.

“Our children attend primary schools under the trees and where there are classes, they take their lessons sitting on the floor, yet the security implications of this cannot be discerned by their Excellencies.

“Deliberate and harshly induced poverty by unplanned government policies have made citizens lose their esteem, honour and self worth by lining up scrambling to collect palliatives from patronizing and condescending leaders yet the Insecurity of this is of no worry or concern to them.

“You have governors with no human empathy or respect for dignity or decency in an open show of shame throwing money like confetti from an open Jeep and people scrambling to pick it like the Governor of Niger State. Yet they fail to see the security implications of all these.

“If the governors were serious and wanted to have a lecture on security, they need not have embarked on such a wasteful journey with the accompanying expenditure of flight tickets, hotels with all their aides and above all the valuable time wasted at the expense of running their states.

“Certainly, they could have gotten more than they wanted from our resourceful institutions such as NIPSS in Kuru Jos or ASCON in Badagry or even NIA.

“These three institutions have more than enough materials, essays and templates on the problems on security in Nigeria more than the far fetched American Institute.”

The former governor, however blamed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the NIA for failing to properly guide the governors.

Lamido said, “I blame the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the NIA for failing to properly guide the governors for this folly.

“The governors could not have traveled without the facilitation of the Ministry or our Embassy in Washington.

“Nigeria and Nigerians now carry the image of ‘advancing our shame and embarrassment beyond our frontiers’ caused by their Excellencies!”

He further stated, “One is inclined to believe Rufai Oseni when he recently said ‘Nigerian madness has no bound or limits.

“So in Nigeria today, one’s biggest challenge is how one remains sane in this insane country,” he stated.

By Dr. Fahad Ibrahim Danladi

Unfortunately, bigotry has permeated the fabric of our society, affecting some Nigerians. Recently, I was surprised to learn that the girls wearing miniskirts in the Lead British School, Abuja bullying video were Muslim students.

This incident highlights a concerning trend, also seen in Lagos, where students in private schools may be restricted from wearing modest attire that aligns with their religious beliefs.

In contrast, I’ve witnessed a more inclusive approach in the United States, where my children attend public school. Their schools accommodate diverse religious and cultural backgrounds by offering flexible dress code options.

For instance, my daughter’s elementary school has a uniform policy with various styles that cater to different religious and cultural needs. Similarly, my other daughter in middle school wears traditional Hausa dresses to school without issue.

In light of the Supreme Court’s ruling, it’s crucial for both private and public schools in Nigeria to adopt inclusive uniform policies that respect the two major religions in our country, promoting a culture of acceptance and understanding.