Two soldiers at a roadblock before the Kabba Correctional Centre in Kogi State have been reportedly killed and another seriously injured when gunmen stormed the facility in the early hours of Monday.
Over 100 prisoners were said to have been freed during the attack on the facility, our correspondent gathered.
The soldiers were said to have mounted routine checkpoint about 50 metres before the correctional centre along the Lokoja-Okebukun-Kabba highway when the hoodlums rained bullets on them before they marched on the correctional centre.
Unconfirmed account reported gunmen sprayed bullets on an uncompleted building where the soldiers stayed before breaking into the correctional centre where they set over 100 of the inmates free.
Some of the correctional officers on duty were said to have been injured, while another soldier was said to have been hit in the leg.
A source confirmed to newsmen that some of the prisoners were later rearrested about 8am on Monday beside Kudon Hotel, Kabba, when they made efforts to board a vehicle to escape towards neighbouring Kwara State.
The Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone 8, Ayuba EdehConfirming the incident said the Commissioner of Police and other heads of security agencies have swung into action for an assessment of the cause of the situation.
The kidnapped victims of the Lagos-bound 18-seater passenger bus, recovered by Ondo Amotekun, have recounted their ordeals at the hands of their kidnappers, blaming their abductors’ actions on their driver’s actions.
The three people on board were the remaining nine passengers were rescued by the Amotekun Corps on Friday after being kidnapped and brought into the jungle.
The three victims, Benjamin Ojoga, Omolara Fajana, and Faith Sunday, who were reunited with their families at the Amotekun headquarters in Alagbaka, Akure, on Saturday, said the bus driver abandoned them and raced away after the kidnappers began shooting into the air.
Benjamin Ojoga, one of the rescued victims, said the gunmen struck when the passengers alighted from the bus to allow it to move freely on a bad stretch of road in Ifira-Akoko, claiming that the driver’s decision made it easy for the kidnappers to abduct them because they were unfamiliar with the terrain.
He said, “It was after the gunshots that the driver of the bus zoomed off which gave the kidnappers the opportunity to abduct us. I got injured from the beating the kidnappers gave me. They were saying that I’m a ‘force man’ and I told them I’m not. But they didn’t believe me.
Narrating her experience at the kidnappers’ den another victim, Omolara Fajana, stated that the driver asked them to alight from the bus to enable it move smoothly on a bad portion of the road.
She said, “On that day, we were coming from Abuja and heading for Lagos. Shortly after leaving Ibilo, our bus got stuck on a bad portion. After spending about three to four hours getting the bus out, we continued the journey.
“On getting to Ifira-Akoko, we saw another bad portion and the driver told us to alight so that the bus would be lighter and to enable it to move easily. Immediately we alighted from the bus, we heard gunshots and everybody became jittery. At that moment, the bus zoomed off and the gunmen were able to abduct four of us. One of us, an old woman limping, was allowed to go but they collected her phone.
“The incident happened around 6:30 pm. Then, they made us walk for about three hours inside the bush. The kidnappers spoke pidgin English and they appeared to be herdsmen.“
Speaking about the rescue operation, the Amotekun Commander in the state, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, said the corps had been making efforts to apprehend the suspects
Adeleye stated, “After we secured the release of the first nine, my men continued to comb the forest which is massive. It is the same forest that extends to some parts of Kogi State. We started tracking them and once they started maintaining contact with the victim’s families, we also commenced tracking up to the point we gave them a hot chase and we were able to secure the victims’ release. “
The commander, however, noted that no arrest had been made, stating that it was working on the case alongside the police and the Department of State Services.
“It is a synergy of all security agencies, we are just taking the lead,” the Amotekun boss noted.
Rev. Silas Yakubu Ali of the Evangelical Church of Winning All Churches (ECWA), Kibori-Asha Wuce in Kaduna State’s Zango-Kataf Local Government Area, was assassinated.
The late pastor had left for Kafanchan on Saturday but was not seen again until Sunday morning, when a search party discovered his body in Kibori, near Asha-Awuce.
He was alleged to have died as a result of a machete attack.
Kaduna Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed the terrible occurrence and said security officers were on the hunt for the perpetrators.
“The Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai expressed deep sadness at the report of the killing, which he described as horrifying and cruel. The Governor offered prayers for the repose of the soul of the cleric,” the commissioner said.
“Going further, Governor El-Rufai sent his condolences to the family of Reverend Silas Yakubu Ali, and to the ECWA Church in Kibori-Asha Awuce, as he prayed for God to grant them fortitude and comfort over this sudden and painful loss
“The Governor urged security agencies to intensify efforts towards apprehending the perpetrators of the heinous killing, while appealing to members of the community to maintain calm. Security agencies are conducting investigations in the general area.”
Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, the Registrar of the National Examinations Council (NECO), has revealed that examination misconduct is widespread in Nigeria’s northern states.
In the last five years, he claims, examination malpractices have been common in Bauchi, Borno, Kano, and Kebbi states.
The Registrar made this admission during a presentation titled “Consequences of Examination Malpractice: Closing the Gaps and Incentives for National Growth” at the Association of Model Islamic Schools’ Biennial National Conference and AGM in 2021.
The Registrar discovered that most of the states with high levels of examination misconduct were in the north after conducting an analysis.
“In 2016, Bauchi (8.17%), Kaduna (6.20%), Kano (5.51%), Plateau (5.31%), and Sokoto State (8.87%) experienced high level of examination malpractice.
“In 2017, Bauchi (10.79%), Kebbi (16.06%), Borno (7.87%) and Kano (7.29%) states featured prominently in high level of examination malpractice.
“In 2018, Kano (12.45%), Kebbi (10.71%), Gombe (5.40%) and Zamfara (5.14%) states were more involved in examination malpractices.
“In 2019, Bornu (13.08%), Kano (11.70%), Kebbi (8.67%), Taraba (5.04%) and Yobe (6.56%) states had high level of examination malpractice.
“Similarly, in 2020, Adamawa (18.51%), Bauchi (7.88%), Kaduna (6.87%), Kano (7.88%) and Katsina (18.01%) states had high level of examination malpractice.
“In the five years under study, Bauchi, Borno, Kano and Kebbi States featured prominently in the high level of examination malpractice”, he said.
Wushishi further said that aiding and abetting, copying foreign materials, collusion and double scripts were more in occurrence over the last five years, adding that leakage of questions has had zero level over the past five years.
He stated that examination malpractice has caused the lowering of educational standards in the educational system in Nigeria, adding that it has the potential of making the nation’s educational institutions to produce quacks and inferior manpower as graduates.
Wushishi recommended that government needs to relax over-emphasising certification and paper qualification for everything in the country, stressing that appropriate sanctions should be meted on the culprits of malpractices who are caught.
The National Union of Local Government Employees has stated that the Value Added Tax should be collected by the 744 local government councils rather than the Federal Inland Revenue Service or state governments.
According to NULGE President Akeem Olatunji, who mentioned this in a chat with one of our journalists on Sunday, VAT collection by the third tier of government will have a more positive influence on communities and individuals.
Olatunji stated that local governments should be in charge of collecting VAT because “both companies and consumers dwell within the LG districts.”
On August 10, 2021, Justice Stephen Pam of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, declared that the Rivers State Government, not the FIRS, should be collecting VAT and PIT in the state.
Last Monday, the court denied FIRS’ request for a stay of execution, stating that the previous order remained in effect until it was overturned by a higher court of competent jurisdiction.
“We support the collection by the LGs because both companies and consumers reside within the LG areas for beneficial impact directly on the people and communities,” Olatunji stated in response to questions about the VAT
The police command has detained a yet-to-be-identified police officer in Lagos State for allegedly killing an admission applicant, Monsurat Ojuade.
We learned that 18-year-old Ojuade was shot and killed around 11.35 p.m. on Friday in the Ijeshatedo area of Lagos State.
Ojuade allegedly took the just completed Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and received a score of 236.
The admission seeker’s death was confirmed by the Lagos State Police Command, which added that one officer had been arrested and detained in connection with the incident.
The police command announced this in a statement by Adekunle Ajisebutu, its Public Relations Officer, captioned, “Shooting incident at Ijeshatedo: Erring police officer apprehended, detained.”
The statement read, “It has come to the knowledge of the Lagos State Police Command that one Monsurat Ojuade (female) aged 18, was hit by a stray bullet at about 0100hrs of 11th September, 2021 when a team of detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, went on investigation activities to effect arrest of a robbery suspect in Ijeshatedo area of the State.
“Concerted efforts were made to save the life of the injured victim. She was immediately taken to the hospital for urgent medical attention but later died on the way to the hospital.
“The Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, regrets this unfortunate but avoidable incident and sincerely commiserates with the bereaved family in whose pain he shares in this moment of grief.
“This is, therefore, to inform the bereaved family, sympathizers and the general public that the erring Police officer who pulled the trigger has been identified and is currently being detained.
“The Commissioner of Police has directed that the said police officer should be tried and charged to court immediately after being dismissed from the Force.
“This, it is believed, will serve as deterrent to others who do not act professionally in the course of their duties.
“This singular sad incident notwithstanding, the Lagos State Police Command shall continue to strive vigorously and conscientiously to protect the lives of property of the citizens in the State.”
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has detained a woman and her son for an alleged incestuous relationship in Kwara State.
Three children have already been born as a result of the incestrious relationship., which occurred in the Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Fati Sime, the mother, and her son, Adamu Sabi Sime, moved to the neighborhood from Benin Republic.
Fati’s second son, who was also accused of sleeping with her, is thought to be at large.
Confirming the incident in Ilorin on Sunday, the Spokesperson of the Kwara State NSCDC, Babawale Zaid Afolabi, said the mother and her two sons have been handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further background checks because they lacked the necessary papers to stay in Nigeria.
“Yes, the case is true. It was reported to us last Thursday by one Mallam Bandede, the district Head of Mosne Community in Kaiama. “When our operatives in Kaiama got there, we discovered that the mother (Fati) has three children for Adamu Sabi, her biological son. “Further check revealed that the younger brother of the accused , who was also confirmed to be sleeping with the mother, is now at large,” Babawale said.
Some of the residents in Kaiama, who spoke on phone with our reporter on Sunday, expressed shock over the incident. They called on the immigration service to always carry out diligent checks in profiling foreigners who are migrating into the country
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and six states convened a security summit in Abuja on Thursday under the auspices of the G7 to discuss how to respond to the country’s rising insecurity.
The G7 Security Summit was attended by the FCT Police Commissioner, as well as his colleagues from Benue, Kogi, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna, and Niger States.
The meeting, which took place at the Nigeria Police Officers Mess, was attended by DSS officers from Kogi and Benue, as well as the Director Security Service, FCTA, and FCT Commandant (NSCDC).
The conference was called to discuss concerns such as kidnapping, banditry, livestock rustling, and other criminality, according to Babaji Sunday, the FCT Commissioner of Police and Chairman of the G7 Technical Committee.
He underlined the need of working together with all sister agencies to prevent criminal activity.
He hinted that, “That is why we are meeting to strategize to address the challenges now that we banditry and cattle rustling and other criminality”.
Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, termed the country’s security challenges as “hydra-headed” and “unique in Nigerian history.”
He urged the G7 governors to equip various security services in response to the increased security challenges.
He urged the Commissioners of Police, top officials from the FCTA Department of Security Service, the military, and other security organizations to take the discussions seriously in order to preserve the states and the country from a terrible wave of insecurity.
Adesola urged the G7 countries to protect the FCT from criminality and violence.
According to him; “It is very instructive that we all come to terms with the ugly and horrifying security situation bedeviling the G7 States in particular and the nation at large. Bluntly speaking, we are faced and challenged with a situation that is not only hydra-headed, but quite unprecedented in the history of our country.
“This meeting couldn’t have come at a better time than now, given the present insecurity challenges and criminality in our nation today.
“We should bear in mind that Abuja is the Nation’s Capital City and as such we all do have a common stake to protect the FCT from being vulnerable to any act of criminality and attack. It Is Important to remind us that Abuja, aside from being the seat of the Federal Government, is equally playing host to foreign Embassies and high Commissions of many countries of the world.
“The city of Abuja, strategically is the gateway of the nation and the symbol of Unity to all tribes of the nations. Therefore, any major security breach or criminal act will be a gross embarrassment to the country”.
In addition, the Director, Department of Security Services, FCTA, Malam Adamu Gwary said that the FCT administration will do everything possible to ensure safety in Abuja and its environs.
He added that, “We want to come together to forge a common front particularly on cross border crimes. We want to have a common front on information sharing”.
More so, the Nasarawa State Police Commissioner , Adesina Shoyemi said “The people who come to Abuja find out that they cannot cope and move to the suburb, which is why we need to monitor properly. We are combing the nooks and cranies of the state and very soon all the criminals will be arrested”.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) FCT Commandant, Dr. Peter Maigari said the meeting will focus on collaboration with other agencies through synergy.
The Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) organized a one-day sensitization training in Abuja for heads of secretariats, departments, and agencies.
The workshop’s goal is to rid the FCT Administration of corrupt practices.
Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), remarked that in order to tackle corruption effectively, all hands must be on deck.
He took advantage of the opportunity to remind public officers in the FCT Administration to follow Public Service Rules when performing official duties, while also stating that the FCT Administration had already institutionalized good working ethics and international best practices, resulting in stronger institutions.
He further added that the FCT Administration’s recent great performance in the ICPC’s Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies is a reflection of the FCT Administration’s whole staff’s hard work and dedication.
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, had earlier remarked in his goodwill message that the FCT Administration has shown tremendous dedication to the fight against corruption.
The Chairman, who was represented by ICPC Director of Systems Study Review Barrister Abia Udofia, said that the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit is not trying to persecute any company or individual, but rather to assist the government in ensuring that things are done appropriately.
FCTA ACTU is active and leading the anti-corruption battle in the FCT, according to him.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Mr. Olusade Adesola, stated in his remarks that the current administration has been vigorously combatting corruption for the past six years, with a remarkable track record of achievement.
According to him, corruption is a cankerworm that has a great potential to destroy any Administration’s progressive progress and advancement.
According to the Permanent Secretary, the FCT Administration has adopted anti-corruption policies and initiatives to ensure that personnel adhere to established government norms and procedures.
The destructive impact of corruption on the nation’s economy and prosperity, according to Mr. Udo Samuel Atang, Director in the Office of the FCTA Permanent Secretary, underlines the fight against corruption in government institutions.
He continued, “The approval of the sensitization effort by the FCT Administration’s authorities is a clear show of the Administration’s willingness to nip the issue of corruption in the bud.”
As the third wave pandemic winds down, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, highlighted that weekly COVID-19 infections in Africa had declined by more than 20%, the greatest seven-day drop in two months.
However, due to the impact of more transmissible variations, the rate of slowing is slower than in prior rounds.
According to the report, the continent registered over 165 000 cases in the week ending September 5th, a 23 percent decline from the previous week but still more than the weekly instances recorded at the peak of the first wave.
The more contagious Delta variant that partly fuelled the third wave has been dominant in several countries that experienced COVID-19 surge. In southern Africa, for instance, where more than 4000 COVID-19 genome sequencing data was produced in August, the Delta variant was detected in over 70% of samples from Botswana, Malawi and South Africa, and in over 90% from Zimbabwe.
Moeti made this known during a virtual press conference on Thursday, facilitated by APO Group. She was joined by Professor Alan Christoffels, Director of the South African National Bioinformatics Institute, and Dr Christian Happi, Professor of Molecular Biology and Genomics and Director at the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases at Redeemer’s University in Nigeria.
Her words; “While COVID-19 cases have declined appreciably, the downward trend is frustratingly slow due to the lingering effects of the more infectious Delta variant.”
“We are spearheading critical work and supporting countries in scaling up pathogen surveillance through genome sequencing to detect and respond effectively to COVID-19 variants.”
“In collaboration with the South African National Bioinformatics Institute, WHO is at the forefront of the efforts to set up the Regional Centre of Excellence for Genomic Surveillance and Bioinformatics in Cape Town. The centre will support 14 countries before being expanded to serve more countries. Last year, WHO and partners established a COVID-19 sequencing laboratory network in Africa which has to date produced nearly 40 000 sequencing data.
“The continent lags far behind the rest of the world when it comes to sequencing, with only 1% of over 3 million COVID-19 sequences conducted worldwide occurring in Africa.
“The third wave has shown us how variants can hijack the efforts to tame the pandemic. Countries must step up surveillance because without genomic information, variants can spread undetected. You can’t fix what you don’t measure.”
Moeti hinted that, WHO has also recently provided financial support to countries including Eswatini, Sao Tome and Principe and Senegal to reinforce genomic surveillance. To date, the dominant Delta variant has been detected in 31 African countries, while the Alpha and Beta variants have respectively been identified in 44 and 39 countries.
The C.1.2 variant initially identified in South Africa has so far been detected in 130 cases in 10 countries globally, including five in Africa. Although the variant has exhibited concerning mutations, there is no evidence that it is more transmissible or may affect vaccine efficacy, but more research is needed.
As Africa’s third COVID-19 pandemic wave eases off, vaccine shipments to the continent continue to grow, with around 5.5 million doses received through COVAX in the first week of September. However, only around 3% of the continent’s population is fully vaccinated.
“To ultimately tip the scales against this pandemic, our best efforts to reduce transmission through public health measures must be met by a significant step-up in vaccine supplies and vaccinations,” Dr Moeti said.
Also on hand to respond to questions were Dr Nicksy Gumede-Moeletsi, Regional Virologist, WHO Regional Office for Africa, Dr Richard Mihigo, Coordinator, Immunization and Vaccines Development Programme, WHO Regional Office for Africa, and Dr Thierno Balde, Regional COVID-19 Deputy Incident Manager, WHO Regional Office for Africa.
