Nigeria Police Force

By Abdelghaffar Amoka Abdelmalik

I love ABU and the used-to-be lovely Zaria; But is it time to run away?

After submitting the final copies of my PhD thesis in March 2012, a friend and I conversed about my plans after the PhD program. “I am leaving back to Nigeria in few days, resume my job, get married, and start living the Nigerian life”, I told her. And she was like, it appeared I had got everything planned out. And I said I couldn’t find anything to keep me back in the UK. Then about a year later, I got a postdoc research fellowship in Norway.

Immediately after my postdoc in 2015, I was looking forward to coming back home. I had this picture of a laboratory I want to set up in my university to perform impactful research from this part of the world. Maybe I was crazy. But for the five years three months that I spent in Europe, I never saw myself living there for long, but how I could use the experience of the few years to add value to the world of research from my country.

But after the kidnapping of my friend’s family last month, for the first, I started to ask myself if my decision to return to the country was the right one. And last night, I heard gunshots from my room before midnight. I knew something was wrong, but I could not figure out what it was and where. So I could not sleep well. Then, after waking up in the morning, I got a call that the same terrorists they choose to call bandits strike in Zaria again, but this time at Zango-Shanu and went away with four victims.

Criminals use to operate while hidden. But these terrorists take their time to break into houses and abduct their victims unchallenged. The police can’t dare do anything to them because they have superior arms and unlimited ammunition. One would expect special forces capable of repelling these terrorists to be put in Zaria due to these frequent occurrences, but nothing like that.

The government seems to have given up, and we are left on our own. The Governor insists no one should pay a ransom but no provision to prevent the kidnapping of anyone. So you have two choices when you have a victim with them; either you pay ransom to get them released after torture, or you leave the victim to die with them.

I closed my eyes, and I still see the picture of the state of my friend’s wife and kids when the bandits released them, and I cried. I am still wondering why these innocent young children and their mother should pass through that horrible experience. The system has failed them. The country has failed them. Now we live in fear. The government has failed us.

A distant cousin in Canada called me a few weeks ago and asked about my plans for my family with this insecurity that is getting worse by the day. I was dribbling around, and he said: how can you make an impact in an environment you are not safe? You can only make an impact if you are alive and free. That statement refused to leave my head.

You can’t sleep well at night for fear of the terrorists. So, how do you concentrate during the day to be productive to make your dream impact? Our children can’t go to school. The state government has closed down all the state-controlled schools for fear of kidnapping but no structure to prevent kidnapping the same children from their houses. So, what has he done?

The kids are living a caged life. You can’t even allow them to play outside talk less of sending them on an errand outside the house for fear of insecurity. We got President Goodluck Jonathan out for Boko Haram; President Buhari came in, and kidnapping was added to the list of the insecurity challenges. It has become a big business. The business CEOs sit in their houses while getting sophisticated arms for their boys for the kidnapping operation. They are ruthless, and of course, the informants are among us. There seems to be no much intelligent service to get rid of this challenge. At least not from the kidnapping of my friend’s wife and kids.

With all these challenges, the political leaders, including those claiming to be fighting corruption, are getting richer while the people are getting poorer. For example, a former recharge card seller, now an aide, has billions of naira in his accounts that he claimed are “gifts” from people. But he didn’t get such “gifts” when he was a  recharge card seller. Aside from workers at CBN, NNPC, DPR, etc., other workers struggle to survive with that thing called salary. And unfortunately, most of the victims are from families struggling to survive, but the informants perceive them as rich.

People are shouting why the Doctors that the country spent a lot to train are leaving. But, with the level of unemployment, economic hardship, and insecurity, will you stay and submit your life to banditry if you have a choice to leave the country?

The political leaders surround themselves with security personnel. They can run to any country of their choice if they think their lives and immediate family are unsafe while we are left for the bandits.

I had so much optimism in this country, but I am not sure any longer. Should we continue to live this life of fear and uncertainty? I never thought of the idea of relocating to another country till last month when those poor little kids and their mother were abducted for 40 days.

I had two chances and came back because I believed in Nigeria and wanted to make an impact. Will I return if I have the 3rd chance?

I still remember that prominent MKO Abiola’s interview on TV during the June 12 crisis, where he stated this famous quote: he who fights and runs away lives to fight another day.

Don’t hesitate to run if you have the slightest opportunity.

Abdelghaffar Amoka Abdelmalik writes from Zaria and can be reached through aaabdelmalik@gmail.com.

By Ishaka Mohammed

The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has received the NPF Special Investigation Panel (SIP) report on the alleged indictment of DCP Abba Kyari. 

In a statement signed by the public relations officer of the Nigerian Police Force, CP Frank Mba, the IGP received the report on Thursday, August 26, 2021.

The IGP commended the panel and assured the general public that appropriate actions would be taken after carefully reviewing the report. “[IGP] reiterated as always the commitment of the Force to justice for all,” the statement reads.

According to the chairman of the panel, DIG Joseph Egbunike, “The report presented contained the case file of the probe, evidences and findings as well as testimonies from DCP Abba Kyari and other persons and groups linked to the matter.”

Recall that the panel was inaugurated on August 2, 2021, to probe the alleged indictment of DCP Abba Kyari by the American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The case centres on Mr Kyari’s involvement in a multimillion-dollar transnational fraud involving Ramon Abbas, aka “Hushpuppi”, who is currently in the custody of the US authorities.

By Muhammad Abdurrahman

Despite the directive of court mandating the Kano State Commissioner of Police to continue to recognise the elected executive officers of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) pending the determination of the substantive case, the Kano State commissioner of police, Mr Sama’ila Dikko, has allegedly refused to obey the court’s injunction.

On July 7, 2021, the Kano State High Court handed down an interim order restraining Police and the National Executive Council of the PCRC from dissolving or purporting to dissolve the leadership of the State committee. The said order also restrained a supposed caretaker committee members or anyone else from parading themselves as new executives. However, the state’s commissioner of police, who findings reveal is heading a state command for the first time in Kano, is yet to obey the High Court’s order despite evidence of service.

Reports gathered by The Daily Reality also revealed that the Police Commissioner, Mr Dikko, has been served with the court order. The said commissioner sued as the 8th Respondent in the suit has even filed several applications before the court through the command’s chief counsel Mr Sunday Ekwe.

On two different occasions after the court’s order, one at Kwalli Division and the other at Takai local government, the Kano Police Commissioner has frustrated functions organised by the PCRC to foster synergy and understanding between police and community. The commissioner of police was also alleged to have gathered all his Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and instructed them not to recognise the court recognised executives of the PCRC.

Speaking on this, Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa said, “Kano Police command has no hand in what is happening in PCRC. The conflict is between the suspended chairman of the PCRC and the national body. Some members of the PCRC wrote a complaint letter to the national headquarter about the gross misconduct of their chairman. After reading the complaint, the national body suspended the chairman, dissolved the entire executive members and appointed a caretaker committee.”

“You also asked about the alleged sale of PCRC ID cards. This is not true; I don’t issue ID cards. Police don’t issue ID cards. So I don’t know where you got this information. This is grievous,” the PPRO protested.

When contacted to comment on the matter, the suspended chairman of PCRC, Dr Saleh Jili, said, “Firstly, DSP Kiyawa was the root cause of all this conflict. He, alone, being the secretary of the PCRC, wrote a complaint against me to our national headquarter for my resistance to his unauthorised issuance of PCRC without proper account and coordination. What he did was an outright contravention of the PCRC Constitution as well as the National Executive Council directive. We caught a suspected thief with a PCRC ID card, and he told us where he got it and who gave him.”

“Secondly, all the allegations he made against me were false, misleading and frivolous. And about my suspension, PCRC National Executive Council has no such power to suspend me and stated by our constitution because they were not the ones who elected me. It is like to say President Muhammadu Buhari impeaches governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State. Can this be possible?”

Counsel to the embattled state chairman, Abba Hikima Esq., said, “The Kano Police Command is out to strangulate the Federal Government’s effort toward effective community-based policing in Kano at a time when Nigeria is bleeding with criminality. The PCRC has, for the past 37 years, championed Nigeria’s community policing project in Kano and Nigeria. Therefore, we shall follow all legally allowed means, including commencing contempt proceedings against the person of the commissioner of police. He is about the only one resisting the order of Kano High Court to ensure that he does not disrespect our courts and get away with it.”

Barrister Hikima added that “The Commissioner’s actions are clearly arbitrary and contemptuous and if not urgently checked by either the hierarchies of the police or the court itself would herald chaos and anarchy. Same also posses a threat to Kano’s community policing program.”

The PCRC is Nigeria’s oldest community policing based organisation, established in 1984 to foster partnership and understanding between police and community members. The committee in Kano State has procured several vehicles for the police, built police outposts and supported the police in various ways.

Earlier this year, the Kano State PCRC organised a state-wide security summit massively attended by dignities, security experts and artisans from the 44 local government councils of Kano state. During the meeting, people received training on “How to report crimes and criminality without getting victimised.”

Eleven abducted persons have been rescued by men of the Nigeria Police Force in Zamfara State.

The kidnap victims were taken away by their abductors on Thursday, 12 August.

Zamfara State police public relations officer, SP Mohammed Shehu, said, “The effort that led to the unconditional rescue was sequel to the report of abduction of 11 persons by some group of hoodlums suspected to be bandits at Yarkofoji community in Bakura Local Government Area of the state on 12th August, 2021.”

Also, in yet another rescue effort, the Chief Security Officer of the College of Health Technology, Tsafein, regained his freedom.

SP Shehu said, “The report of his abduction was reported to the police at the early hours of 18th August, 2021, when a group of hoodlums went to his house at around 0040hrs and abducted him. The police search and rescue team swung into action by combing the surrounding forest. Luckily enough, the victim was rescued safely.

“The search and rescue strategies employed by the Commissioner of Police Zamfara State Command, Mr. Ayuba Elkana, led to the successful rescue of the abducted victims without any ransom paid by the relations of the victims.

“The Commissioner congratulated the victims for regaining their freedom and urged them to always be conscious of their security and report any suspicious person to the Police or any nearest security outfit for the prompt response. All the victims have been taken to the hospital for medical checks. Later debriefed by the Police and reunited with their families.”

The police spokesperson further reiterated their readiness to protect the lives and property of people.

Zamfara is one of the northwestern states suffering from the activities of bandits and kidnappers, despite security agencies’ efforts and Governor Matawalle’s vow to bring an end to it.

By Muhammad Sabiu

On Monday, suspected gunmen killed seven people, including a police inspector, in an ambush when some workers were being conveyed to a Shell Petroleum Development Company facility in Imo State, southeastern Nigeria.

Imo State police spokesperson, Mike Abattam, confirmed the incident to the press on Wednesday.

“They were ambushed, they came out from the bush and started firing at them. They (the victims) were all in the vehicle.

“The seven people include a police inspector who was providing security for them,” Mr Abattam said

As of the time of filing this report, no one or group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

According to Bamidele Odugbesan, a Shell spokesperson, the oil giant has shut down the site and its other facilities around the area as a “precautionary measure.”

South-east has been hit by attacks by suspected members of the proscribed separatist group, IPOB, which agitates for the breakaway of Biafra in recent months.

IPOB’s leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is standing trial in Abuja on treason charges and illegal possession of firearms.

By Umar Haruna Tami

We have already lost count of how many times kidnappers came and abducted people from different locations in Funtua. Still, the ease with which they carry out their operations day by day is alarming. The two successful kidnappings that occurred in the past weekend – Saturday’s in a single house near GRA, Sunday’s in mass in Sabuwar Abuja – symbolise the fragility of the security agents that are meant to protect the town and its people from these monsters.

The security agents and the residents of almost every community have already been defeated through fear. Even a rumour of kidnappers’ presence sends fear around the town and that with a single gunshot, everyone would end up running for their life. Even the “‘Yan Karota” volunteers’ confidence to confront the monsters has since been defeated upon realising that the machine guns the kidnappers carry cannot, in any way, match the plug-bulleted ones they have. Thus, they too run for their lives, even though what they do defines good citizenship.

So a city as big as Funtua, with routes linking it to many towns and villages from East, West, South and North, is under security threat. These links make it easier for the kidnappers to make away with whoever they have successfully carried with little chance of being tracked and attacked. This also makes their operations tricky to thwart in poor-populated areas.

They failed to conduct only two operations that targeted Rabe Sale’s children and that of NAK’s family. But the abortions of these two kidnap attempts have anything to do with the connection between the would-have-been victims and the reserved soldiers brought to the town for special operations simply because they are aristocrats.

But what would be the fate of community members that have already been defeated by the fear of being potential victims of kidnappers even when they shut and lock their doors but have no connection to the soldiers for emergency aid and one of those elites happens to not live among them? The latest kidnap of over ten people in Sabuwar Abuja at only 10 pm — thank God that the captors released them — signifies nothing bolder than the community’s vulnerability and the limited chances the sophisticated security agents have to abort their operations or exchange fire with them. But, on the other hand, they now have the assurance that it wouldn’t cost them much to do whatever they want and at any time!

What Funtua communities need now, just as the other Northern communities need, is making available the reachable lines of those special forces for emergencies. Second is the provision of more of these agents—both the soldiers and policemen — with weapons they can use to repel the kidnappers’ attacks in areas not far from where their help could be needed in time. Third we, the community members, need to reduce the extent of our collective fear for the kidnappers that we can stand up to them, not always run away. It is time for us to start being responsible for where our political choice has landed us.

Umar Haruna Tami wrote from Funtua, Katsina State. He can be reached via umartami1996@gmail.com.

By Muhammad El-Bonga Ibraheem 

The damning and weighty allegations against DCP Abba Kyari, who many consider a cult hero within the Nigerian security system, is confoundingly infelicitous. The FBI indicted the fine police officer for being in cahoot with the internationally recognised fraudster known as Hushpuppi, who has been in US custody since July 2020 for multiple crimes perpetrated in and outside America. 

DCP Abba Kyari is an officer I so much respect. In fact, in him, I see a bright future for the police force given his expertise and tenacity in arraigning criminals and finding a way out where there is seemingly none. This development, however, evidently leaves me very sad that the person we hold in high regard isn’t what we really think he is, at least from what he portrays to the public and from what the FBI concludes from their thorough investigations. 

Over the years, the Deputy Commissioner of Police has attracted quite a myriad of attention that transcends across the nooks and crannies of the country. There is this general belief that whenever the police want to fish out criminals or swiftly achieve some desired results, Abba Kyari, nicknamed “Jack Bauer”, is the man for the job. He led many successful operations that culminated in the arrest of some criminals at the top of the Nigerian kidnapping echelon, notably Evans, the billionaire kidnapper. That singular arrest catapulted his reputation and made him a cult hero amongst the ranks and files of the police force and within the psyche of the Nigerian masses, who are usually downtrodden. Not very long ago, his men hunted the killers of the late APC chieftain Ahmed Gulak who was iniquitously murdered by IPOB terrorists masquerading as “unknown gunmen” in Imo State. 

Despite his unrivalled excellence as a super cop, nonetheless, that doesn’t mean Abba Kyari isn’t infallible. The FBI said Abba Kyari received orders from Hushpuppi to arrest and detain a criminal “colleague” after their falling out having scammed a Qatari national of more than $1m. The report added that Abba Kyari allegedly supplied an account of which a “thank you” message, which the FBI alludes could be from the proceeds of the crime, was sent to him by Hushpuppi.

At this juncture, no matter how much you want to twist the issue, Kyari shot himself on foot by cavorting with people of dodgy characters. The fact that an internationally known criminal in the mould of Hushpuppi— with criminal networks spanning from Nigeria to America, Britain, Korea etc.— can make one call to a police officer to have someone arrested for scuppering a “job” is indeed shocking and also speaks volumes about the influence he exerts in the force. The duo chatted many times where Kyari was egregiously revealed to have received direct orders from Hushpuppi regarding how the police should treat the arrested person. DCP Abba Kyari’s relationship with Hushpuppi also involved buying clothes for the fraudster to the extent that the latter would come and get them from the former’s office. While a police officer remains everyone’s friend, Kyari’s frolicking with Hushpuppi is too difficult to be whitewashed unless the investigations are finalised to determine his innocence if indeed he is. 

Although Abba Kyari had already responded to the weighty allegation, his explanations don’t hold any water, for he needs to prove to everyone keenly fixated on the issue, beyond any reasonable doubt, that he’s indeed not guilty. Much to his chagrin, Kyari edited the Facebook post conveying his initial response many times and subsequently deleted it. The various chats where Hushpuppi ordered Kyari and his men to arrest his so-called colleague and be dealt with like an armed robber without any form of investigation is an indication that they could have been frolicking for a long time. The “arrest” of Hushpuppi’s colleague for weeks is a preemptive move to prevent him from scuppering an ongoing “job” of scamming a Qatari national where the fraud money was later laundered in the US. This is where the FBI fingered Kyari as a possible co-conspirator in the whole issue. 

 The FBI is reputedly known for being painstakingly meticulous regarding their investigations. If they’re really on your case, nothing is usually left untouched, for they do back up their reports with undeniable, substantiated facts and documents. I have read an analysis from a lawyer friend who argued that the US has no jurisdiction to request Kyari’s extradition to be questioned in the US since he committed the alleged crime in Nigeria. The US— and by extension, the developed nations— always fear that justice may not be served, knowing full well how our system here in Nigeria operates. Is it not in this same Nigeria that James Ibori got cleared of any wrongdoing by Nigerian courts, having committed one of the greatest corruption in our history? But later on, James Ibori finally met his waterloo when he was arrested in the UK and forced to serve many years in a UK prison. 

Some of our northern people have started defending Kyari, painting the whole thing an ethnic colouration. I read a post where someone said the Igbos support Kanu and his proscribed IPOB group at all costs; the Yorubas support Igboho against all odds; therefore, he asks: why shouldn’t we, as northerners support our own? You see, this habit of shielding glaring depravities is one of the reasons why Nigeria continues to lag in all facets of development; it is also the reason why we continue to grope for exemplary leadership to lead us to the promised land within our fold. What is wrong should be dismissed by all and sundry regardless of religious and ethnic ties. Besides, the duo of Igboho and Kanu have openly declared their rebellion against the Nigerian nation. As for Abba Kyari, he is a civil servant in our most crucial agency whose responsibility is to serve and protect the interest of all Nigerians regardless of their ethnic disposition or religious affiliation, which explains why his issue is huge. Unfortunately, he got himself soiled in a huge mess that has the propensity to obliterate all his outstanding brilliance records.

The police suspension of the super cop to pave a berth for an investigation into the matter is a commendable move. Whatever sprouts out of from the investigation, Kyari should blame himself for it’s the offshoot of his actions, having chosen to dine and wine with criminals. When you rise to fame through something magnificent, you shouldn’t do anything to bring it down, for posterity will always forget your good days but will loudly judge and label you with your few bad instances. Sadly, such is the case of Kyari today. 

Muhammad El-Bonga Ibrahim writes from Abuja. He can be reached via bonga2004@icloud.com.

By Muhammad Sabiu

No fewer than 17 people have been killed and 85 buildings torched in the recent violence that erupted in two local government areas of Plateau State: Bassa and Riyom.

After an emergency security meeting, the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Edward Egbuka, confirmed this to journalists at Government House, Jos.

“There were attacks specifically at Jebbu Miango on Saturday night, July 31, in which five people were killed and about 85 buildings burnt.

“The next morning, the attacks continued at Tambora in Riyom LGA where 12 people were killed and some houses destroyed,” Mr Egbuka said.

He also stated that some security personnel were killed in the violence, adding that Governor Lalong has ordered security agents to ensure normalcy in the affected areas and make sure that the perpetrators face the full wrath of the law.

He said, “His Excellency (the governor) has read a riot act to us that we should move out and within two weeks bring to book all those that have perpetrated the attacks. This would be done.”

This didn’t come as a surprise since Plateau State is known for ethno-religious violence in the past.

By Nura Jibo

 James Hadley Chase, the master thriller and fictional writing maestro of all time, described so often Mark Girland as a good-for-nothing secret agent with a distinct weakness for money and women. But Girland, unlike Hushpuppi, “finds himself in Prague for his latest adventure. Events in the Communist country prove all too much for Girland as he comes face to face with a sinister world of deception, fraud and corruption”.

That was exactly what happened to Abba Kyari and Hushpuppi! The Nigerian supercop turned American “robocop”/ Hushpuppi turned American prison “puppy”. They squarely fell in the ‘safety nets’ of an American FBI. And the result is another gripping thriller from another James Hadley Chase new fairytales.

But dear Nigerians, wait a minute!

Why should you get disturbed by this saga? It’s not something new. It’s normal within the Nigerian political, military and police spaces.

1. How could you Nigerians too often forget about IG Tafa Balogun corruption saga with Nuhu Ribadu?

2. How dare you Nigerians forget so soon the Magu Magu EFCC corruption drama with the Attorney General of the Nigerian Federation?

3. Why should you Nigerians err if at all you can take a hue in Farida Waziri, Lamorde and Co?

4. Is supercop or superheroism anything to go by in the Nigerian system? How could Nigerians so narrowly forget about the late Ali Kwara and his chivalrous pursuit of armed robbers in Nigeria? What happened afterwards?

5. Is it not the same politicians without any political hygiene that turned Kwara into a political contractor willy-nilly the way they transformed Kyari into a global celebrity on bringing to book criminals in Nigeria?

6. Why should you Nigerians continue to raise your temper on Kyari versus Hushpuppi when you already know how Diezani and Farouk Lawan ended up? What’s new? What’s so special about this case of a new Rambo on the loose?

7. Does the FBI or Nigerian police matter? If so, then catch your breath and rest your case until “THIS IS FOR REAL”!

And if it is for real, then little wonder…

“When a woman turns up in Paris with information to sell to the CIA, is it for real? It will soon become clear that it is, and the FBI, Nigerian police or the CIA aren’t the only ones to realise it. As the tale sweeps from America to Paris and Africa, combining espionage with violence and intrigue, this another drama from “James Hadley Chase” gives a new background for the Hushpuppi thriller while maintaining the highest standards of readability and watchability.

Happy reading and ranting and viewing the two Rambos on the loose!

Nura Jibo writes from Dutse, Jigawa State. He can be reached via jibonura@yahoo.com.

By Muhammad Sabiu

DCP Tunji Disu has been appointed to replace DCP Abba Kyari as the new Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) by the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, following the indictment and suspension of DCP Kyari over alleged involvement in fraud purportedly perpetrated by an infamous fraudster, Hushpuppi.

The appointment was on Monday disclosed in a statement by the Force spokesperson, Frank Mba.

Mr Mba was quoted as saying, “The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, fdc has today, 2nd August, 2021 approved the posting of DCP Tunji Disu as the new Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

“The posting of the officer is on the heels of Management’s decision to fill the leadership gap within the IRT and refocus the Unit for better service delivery.

“The IGP has charged the new Head of the IRT to demonstrate his professional competence in his leadership of the Unit. He also assured citizens that the IRT will remain focused in the discharge of its duties in line with national statutes and international best practices.”