Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) in Abuja have arrested a trans-border trafficker, Emeka Okoro and another drug dealer, Ibrahim Bello in Abuja with cocaine weighing 1.1kilogramme, which has a street value of N264million.
The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi in statement made available to newsmen, stated that while Okoro was intercepted with 900grammes of cocaine in a commercial bus along Abuja-Gwagwalada road on Monday 26th April, 2021 based on intelligence, while Bello was nabbed with 200grammes of the illicit drug in Zuba area of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), same day through a controlled delivery operation.
According to the Commander, FCT Command of the Agency, Mohammed Malami Sokoto, Okoro was an intending traveller to Libya through Kano and Agadez in Niger Republic, with wraps of cocaine weighing 900 grammes while the other seizure of 200 grammes was equally made following intelligence on the 26th April, 2021.
“The wraps of cocaine were not to be swallowed as it has always been the case, but to be concealed in Jerry cans of palm oil and transported through the border in Kano to Agadez and Libya. The suspect, Emeka Okoro revealed that this has been the trend in the past months”, the FCT Commander of NDLEA disclosed.
In another development , the Kogi state Command of the Agency has intercepted and seized 157.5kilogrammes of skunk concealed in false panels in a Peugeot J5 bus with registration number Lagos AGL 641 XW while a 43-year-old suspect, Christian Godwin was arrested.
According to the Commander, Kogi state Command of the Agency, Adewunmi Alfred, the suspect and his consignment were intercepted at a patrol point in Lokoja, the state capital. “The skunk was sourced from Ikire in Osun state and heading to Masaka in Nasarawa state before our men arrested the suspect, seized the illicit drug and the vehicle used to convey it on Monday 26th April, 2021”, Alfred added.
In his reaction, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended officers and men of the FCT and Kogi state Commands of the Agency for their vigilance and commitment to the task of ridding the country of illicit drugs.
Saying, “These seizures and arrests in FCT and Kogi point to the fact that we’ll continue to disrupt and dismantle the drug supply networks of these unconscionable elements and deny them the benefit of their illegal trade”.
Following the incessant attack on communities ravaged by bandits in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, the communities have negotiated with terrorists for a ceasefire
The agreement entered into by the the communities was to pay taxes and vats to the terrorists who have been attacking their villages.
Meanwhile, our correspondent has not been able to verify the information making rounds about payment of tax and VAT to terrorists in the affected communities.
However, a sources from the local government hinted that , the people started the negotiation with the terrorists, who have been attacking them, so as to have peace in the area.
A police source, who does not want his name on print said they got information that the terrorists asked villagers to pay tax to them.
Co-convener, Concerned Shiroro Youths, Sani Abubakar Yusuf Kokki, said all communities and villages in Gurmana and Manta districts of Shiroro local government have negotiated with the bandits.
“Virtually all communities and villages in Gurmana and Manta districts of Shiroro local government, Niger State have negotiated with terrorists for a ceasefire after reaching an agreement to certain amount of money among other conditions including purchasing of Honda Motorcycles for them.
“Also, some communities and villages in Bassa/Kukoki Ward have followed suit by agreeing to pay certain amount of money among others while the terrorists suspend their nefarious activities,” he said.
Newsfocusng learnt that some villages pay as much as N2million in addition to other demands of the group.
Some residents of the area, who lamented their plight in the hands of the terrorists, said they prefer paying their revenue to them if they would let them have peace rather than pay to a government that does not care about their security and welfare.
Niger State police command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, could not be reached for confirmation as of the time of filing this report and his mobile telephone was switched off.
Gunmen have again killed two Policemen manning a checkpoint at Urua Inyang, headquarters of Ika Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state.
The armed hoodlums, according to a member of the community stormed the checkpoint with several motorcycles and shot the two officers dead, while others fled, leaving the hoodlums to seize their riffles and set patrol the van ablaze.
Confirming the attack, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko Macdon in a release made available to Newsfocusng in Uyo on Wednesday said “On 27/4/2021, at about 7:00pm, some armed men on Motorcycles, heading towards Ika Divisional Headquarters vicinity, armed with AK-47 and other dangerous weapons with the intent to attack the Division and set it ablaze met stiff resistance as the Divisional Police Officer and other Officers on ground fought gallantly and repelled the attackers who took to their heels with possible bullet wounds.
The statement read in bits; “Unfortunately, before heading towards the Station to attack it, they ambushed and killed a Woman Police Corporal, one Esther Akpan who had just closed from duty and was on her way home in company of a Police Special Constabulary, one Isonuyo Effiong Paul and burnt the Volvo vehicle attached to the Division.
“The Commissioner of Police, who was at the Division for an on-the-spot assessment, condoled with the families of slained female Officer and the Special Constabulary.
“He commended the gallantry exhibited by the DPO and his Men and was also very appreciative of the role played by the Youths of IKA, while urging them to continue partnering the Police in crime fighting. He has however, launch a discreet investigation with the aim of bringing perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice”.
This killing brought to five the number of Policemen killed in the line of duty in Akwa Ibom by unknown gunmen, while four others were declared missing in the recent times.
Two Inspectors were set ablaze and a leader of the Quick Response Squad (QRS), a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), was also shot dead while leading the squad to confront armed hoodlums in their base in Ikot Akpan in Essien Udim Local Government Area.
Herdsmen have attacked and killed a man and his wife at Udei branch in Mbabai council ward of Guma Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue state.
The man, Igba Faga and his wife our correspondent gathered were hacked to death on their way home from their farm on Tuesday evening.
Recall that the State Governor Samuel Ortom on Tuesday said over 70 persons have lost their lives to herdsmen attacks in the last couple of weeks.
All the deaths were recorded in three Local Government Area (LGAs) of the state; Guma, Makurdi and Gwer-West LGAs.
While confirming the attack to newsmen on Wednesday, the Special Adviser on Security to Governor Samuel Ortom, Paul Hembah said the herdsmen had laid ambush on the man and hacked him to death on his way home.
He further explained that the couple who were on their motorcycle, enroute for home had died on the spot and their remains have been evacuated by their family member for onward burial.
Hembah who describe the attack as one attack too many, lamented that the incident took place less than 24 hours after herdsmen attacked the Internally Displaced Persons camp on Tuesday, where seven persons were killed.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Sewuese Anene could not be reached for comments as at the time of filling this report
The House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee, which is investigating capital projects executed and funds repeated every year in the Appropriation Act by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) since 2015, yesterday uncovered a three-year duplication of annual budget figures by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, berated MDAs for failing to turn up for the probe.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Abubakar Makki Yalleman, said the agency duplicated its annual capital budgets from 2017 to 2020.
He, however, urged MDAs to provide accurate information which is supported with facts to assist the committee in the discharge of its task.
Yalleman also appealed to those yet to make submission to the ad-hoc committee do so urgently as they would not accept any excuses on plea of ignorance.
Speaking further on the absence of MDAs at the probe, he said he expected permanent secretaries of government agencies and their directors of procurement not to have turned down their invitation to the inquest.
Yalleman, however, assured them that their absence, notwithstanding, the committee will be thorough and conclusive in its task to get erring agencies to account to the people.
The Director of Finance and Administration of NUC, Sam Onazi, in his presentation, could not offer satisfactory explanation to the lawmakers, as the bulky documents he tendered did not detail the award of contracts from 2017 to date.
The panel, therefore, issued him a seven-day ultimatum to go through its records and resubmit a detailed report to the committee, before the conclusion of its assignment.
The House Speaker, Gbajabiamila, while declaring the hearing open, frowned at the absence of key government agencies at the hearing.
Gbajabiamila, who was represented at the hearing by the House Leader, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, warned the agencies concerned to be prepared to open their accounts for scrutiny and accountability or be sanctioned.
According to him; “I am concerned by the low turnout of relevant government officials to engage the legislature on this very critical assignment. I would have expected to come across on the floor of this public hearing, a minimum of permanent secretaries and perhaps all the public procurement directors in various agencies and ministries of the government.
‘’But from what I am seeing, except if you (committee) had some problems in terms of communications, I want to believe that there is a kind of laxity from those agencies to really formally engage this Assembly on this very important critical assignment. It is on this note, the I would like to urge the chairman, and also direct on behalf of the leadership of the House of Representatives that you have every mandate of this institution and you have all the instrumentalities of the legislature available to you to enforce on any agency that takes this assignment with laxity or takes it for granted.”
The Federal government on Tuesday hinted that the Digital Switch Over (DSO) being put in place, when rolled out by ending of April, is capable of creating nothing less than 800,000 thousand jobs.
The Minister of Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made this known in Abuja at an interactive session with Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation with the 13 Member Ministerial Task Force on DSO project, however kept mum on how much government has spent on the project.
Explaining how the project would create the job opportunities for Nigerians, the Minister said that the manufacturing of Set Top Boxes or decoders alone was capable of creating 50,000 jobs, while television production could create 200,000 jobs.
According to him; “Film Production can generate 350 to 400,000 jobs, distribution, which entails supplying the market with Set Top Boxes,TVs and Dongles for the internet, will require at least 100,000 wholesalers. Advertising can create a further 50,000 jobs.”
On how the DSO will commence, Mohammed said, “we are kickstarting the new roll out in Lagos state on April 29, while Kano on June 3, and Rivers on July 8.
“We will then follow up with Yobe s on July 15 and Gombe on Aug 12. To date, we have rolled out the DSO in five states and Abuja.”
He said the DSO had gone live in the Federal Capital Territory, Kwara, Kaduna Enugu and Osun states.
He said the ministry considers the DSO as one of its priority projects, given its potential to create jobs, bring governance closer to the people through better access to information, provide quality programming to Nigeria’s estimated 24 million television households, with high fidelity pictures and sound.
“Without mincing words, let me say straight away that for us, the DSO is about stimulating local content and empowering platform owners,” he said.
He disclosed that the ministry had taken some steps to create the enabling environment for the DSO to succeed, for local content to thrive, for indigenous producers to be more engaged and for the local advertising market to grow.
He also revealed that the federal government had carried out an unprecedented reform of the broadcasting industry, given the nexus between the reforms and success of the DSO.
According to him; “The amendments were necessitated by the need to boost the local content in Nigeria, curb anti competitive and monopolistic tendencies and boost advertising revenues.”
“We have amended the code to curb monopoly and exclusivity of programme content in order to create room for the local industry to grow.
“For example, the pay television sector of the broadcast Industry had been controlled by foreign interests, while indigenous efforts to compete have been frustrated or weakened by the established control of the big monopolies.
“It will interest you to know that to date, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has licensed over 30 Nigerian pay tv companies, but only 1, is currently struggling to break through, this is not acceptable,” the Minister said.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday said President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have refused to seek help of experts, especially from other political parties, in spite of the mounting insecurity challenges in Nigeria.
The PDP’s national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan said despite its recommendations that the President Buhari and the APC should seek help wherever it may find, in order to bring the nation out of the crisis they have plunged it to, they have remained adamant and even ignored offer for assistance.
He further stated that, much could have been achieved if the ruling party had swallowed its pride and seek help from experts and other political parties on the myriads of challenges confronting the nation.
He said “ The APC as the ruling party has never expressed unwillingness to bring the knowledge of experts who are in other political parties to join them in finding solution to the crisis which they have sunk the nation”.
“In spite of recommendations in the past to the party and the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to seek help, they have consistently refused”.
“So, given the crisis they have plunged the nation, it is their responsibility to find help wherever they can find it in order to salvage our nation today. Our position in the PDP is that they should urgently seek for help before things gets worse than it is right now”
Following the sad and unfortunate events in Geidam, headquarters of Geidam local government area, the Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni convened a special security meeting in Damaturu to discuss the situation and suggest actionable steps that could be taken to address the security challenges in the area and secure people’s lives and property.
Buni condemned the Boko Haram attack on Gaidam and extended his condolences and sympathies and those of the Yobe State Government to the people.
He reiterated that nothing is more important to him than ensuring the safety and security of the people of Gaidam and other parts of the state.
The Governor also assured that he will use every tool and resource at his disposal and work with all relevant security agencies and the affected communities to ensure that Boko Haram attacks do not happen in the state.
The security meeting generally resolved as follows, that the military and other security agencies should work to protect Geidam town and environs to enable the people who have fled their homes to return and live in peace.
That the security agencies should incorporate hunters and vigilantes into the overall security architecture in order to ensure a broader approach to addressing the security challenges in the state.
That the security agencies should liaise more closely and engage actively with community leaders and people in the community generally to ensure synergy and intelligence sharing that would be useful in preventing attacks.
That the Police should quickly re-establish their presence as a symbol of authority in Gaidam and that traditional leaders should also be actively engaged in the effort to restore public confidence, peace, and security.
That people in Geidam and surrounding areas but also in other parts of the state should report any suspicious objects and avoid handling any unexploded improvised explosive devises that could have been left by the Boko Haram terrorists.
That the Yobe State Government deeply appreciates the effort of security agencies in the state in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency and urges them to continue to do more to protect people’s lives and property.
That people across the state should intensify prayers during this Holy Month of Ramadan for Almighty Allah’s intervention against any and all criminals and terrorists who threaten the security of the people of the state.
The communique was signed for and on behalf of the Yobe State Government by Gen. Dahiru Abdulsalam (Rtd), Special Adviser on Security to Gov. Mai Mala Buni made available to Daily Independent today.
The meeting was attended by a of stakeholders, including senior government functionaries from the executive and legislative branches, traditional rulers, local government chairmen, and representatives from the army, police, civil defence, and the Department of State Services, amongst others.
The Immediate-past Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Tuesday said the worsening security in the country has overwhelmed President Muhammadu Buhari.
While adding that the President and his All Progressives Congress (APC) regime needs urgent help and must seek such.
He made this known in a statement made available to newsmen , lamented the multiple attacks on lives and properties in the country on Monday which claimed at least 15 cops and five soldiers, as well as the killing of abducted students of Greenfield University in Kaduna, adding that the situation “cannot continue” and “cannot become Nigeria’s new normal”.
The chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party said, “It is obvious that President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress government need help. They have been overwhelmed by the situation and they sure need assistance from all. Thus, I urge Mr. President to seek help wherever it can be given. This matter has gone beyond what the government can handle alone. The President should know that calling for help in our present situation is not a sign of weakness.”
Saraki, also advised the President to bring together all former Presidents and heads of state, serving and former chief justices, serving and former presiding officers of the National Assembly, serving and former heads of security agencies, traditional rulers with relevant experience, leaders of the private sector, development partners, friends of Nigeria in the international community and all others who can help in finding solutions to the problem at hand.
“The meeting must hold expeditiously and must be followed by immediate actions. I know there are many people who believe that the fact that this suggestion is coming from a source outside government is a good reason for the President to ignore it. I think the attitude this time around must be different. This is definitely not a time for partisanship or for people to play politics with the lives of the citizenry and the future of the country,” he said.
Saraki further called on the National Assembly “to be more assertive in finding solutions to this issue of insecurity” He said the legislature would not be helping the Buhari regime if they did not become more insistent and decisive in their approach to getting the security crisis tackled immediately.
“Even those of us in the opposition party recognise the fact that we can only exist if we continue to have a country. Thus, we are willing to cooperate with the government in finding solutions to this problem. Our former leaders, I am sure, are ready, willing, and able to assist the government with their wealth of experience.
However, all these actors will not jump into the arena without the government facilitating their intervention. The government needs to call on them before this problem consumes all of us.”
“I appeal to Mr. President to take the bull by the horn. He should act to stem the tide of this violence threatening to tear the country apart,” he concluded.
The Senate at Tuesday plenary expressed displeasure over the deteriorating security situation in Nigeria.
This is as they mandate its leadership to book an appointment with President Muhammadu Buhari and Service Chiefs to discuss the issue and proffer lasting solutions.
The senators aired their various views while contributing to a motion of urgent national importance, titled ‘Need for federal government to deploy troops and other security apparatus to immediately bring an end to the menace of insurgency and terrorism in Niger State and other parts of Nigeria,’ sponsored by Senator Mohammed Sani Musa (Niger East).
This is as the President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, rejected a proposal by some senators to shut down the Senate for a while and deliberate behind closed doors on a daily basis, regarding the security issue.
The Senate also resolved to invite the service chiefs to brief them on what they’ve been doing to tackle the menace.
It further resolved to invite the Minister of Foreign Affairs, its defence counterpart, and the Director General of Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA) to discuss the regional implications of the security challenges.
The Senate also called on the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the Chief of Army Staff (CAS) and the Inspector General of Police (IG) to immediately deploy troops to defend the unarmed populace and bring back security to the affected communities.
The Red Chamber charges the CAS and the IG to as a matter of urgency direct the establishment of a permanent military and police command base at the axis adjoining Shiroro and Rafi Local Government Areas respectively and to redesign the modus operandi of the military operations within the affected areas so as to curtail the escalating insecurity.
While also directing the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to, as a matter national emergency, provide relief materials and medical support team to the victims immediately.
Moving the motion, Musa lamented that the activities of bandits and Boko Haram terrorists in Niger State have taken a dangerous dimension.
He , however, recalled that the Senate had made several resolutions, set up Ad hoc Committee on Security and declared every support at bringing to an end the persistent insecurity in the country, yet insecurity has continued to elude the nation.
He said; for almost seven years, the Niger East Senatorial District have come under constant and sustained multiple deadly attacks by heartless and venomous Boko Haram terrorists who are always heavily armed with assorted sophisticated and dangerous weapons unleashing their horror on innocent populace.
He also noted that about 42 communities across the two local government areas of Shiroro and Munya have so far fallen under the Boko Haram control with about 5,000 villagers already displaced in the last three days.
He said the Boko Haram terrorists have mounted their flags in many of the villages they have captured, such as Kaure, Alawa and Magami, and the inhabitants of the war-torn parts of the state have been abandoned and left to their fate thereby compelling them to wallow in perpetual agony and abject misery.
”They have kidnapped many and their wives seized from them and forcefully attached to Boko Haram members. Three military camps in Allawa, Bassa and Zagzaga in the two local government areas have been sacked and some security personnel killed by the insurgents in the last one month of renewed attacks
The negative effects of atrocities committed by these heartless monsters in the period under review include among others, total collapse of the local economies of the affected victims, total collapse of educational system in the affected areas, famine due to collapse of agricultural activities, displacement as a result of desertion of crisis prone areas, depopulation as a result of wanton deaths, social vices such as drug abuse and thuggery emanating from struggle for survival, trauma arising from serial rape cases and inhumane, cruel and deadly subjugation,” Musa said.
The repeated attacks, according to him, are taking place amid the absence of slightest hindrance, resistance or confrontation from the authorities concerned.
Musa called for a total review of the nation’s security architecture, adding that if this menace is not drastically addressed, the attacks will continue and the danger is that it may escalate further to other communities.
Other senators thereafter took turns to voice their views in support of the motion
Meanwhile, Senator Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North) said something drastic has to be done to curb the menace.
According to him; ”We are here once again discussing this unfortunate issue of insecurity. It is indeed with a very heavy heart that I lend my support to this motion. In this chamber, we’ve traced the genesis and possible scenario as narrated by the motion sponsor, even before the crisis got to Niger State, we have discussed it thoroughly. My concern is that something drastic needs to be done. I represent Niger North, and my constituency is in constant attack. They have driven all the farmers away and the bandits now occupy those areas.”
Similarly, Senator Bima Enagi (Niger South) lamented that the federal government is handling the issue of insecurity with kid gloves.
”The situation is bad, our women, men can’t go to the farms or fetch water. Nigerians can’t continue to bear this pain, we can’t continue to allow Boko Haram to force our young girls into marriage or wreak havoc. The federal government is handling this with kids gloves, people are dying everyday. We can’t continue to come here to talk, something must be done,” he said.
Also speaking, Senator Ike Ekweremadu said nothing has come out of the many security-related motions moved by the lawmakers over the years.
According to him, ”Our citizens are killed, police stations destroyed on a daily basis. Mr President recall that in the 8th Senate, you headed a summit where we discussed the security situation of the country and made recommendations, but nothing has happened about that. In this particular Senate, we have several lawmakers moved several motions on this. It’s time for us to sit up and take the business of protecting our people seriously.”
Contributing, Senator Smart Adeyemi opined that government should get help from outside as the country is bleeding.
The ranking senator said: ”The president must rise to the occasion, the country is on fire. We cannot keep quiet any longer. Our security system has collapsed, we need help from outside. The security architecture we have today can’t fight this. The president must know that the country is bleeding.”
On his part, Senator Amos Bulus said: ”We keep saying the same thing, no results, we need to do a follow up, the time is now. Look at what is happening in Niger, Borno, Benue and so on. What are going to do? We can’t continue to talk? A time will come when we can’t enter this chambers anymore if care is not taken.”
The Senate President while rejecting the proposal by some senators to shut down the Senate for some time as they deliberate behind closed doors on the issue, suggested that supplementary budget is needed to recruit more security personnel and purchase arms.
Lawan said: ”What we’ve done today is to speak the mind of our people, how they are faring in the security situation of the country. But what is crucial is to proffer solutions. I don’t think it’s the best of ideas to close the Senate because there’s serious security situation, it’s when there’s challenges that you should be opened not closed, we shouldn’t be detached or discouraged. This is the essence of parliament.
There’s no arm of government that’s not concerned about the security situation of the country, everyone is concerned. We must appropriate funds for the military, they require additional man power, and they can’t do that without funds being appropriated for them. So we need to have a supplementary budget, not only for recruitment but for procurement of weapons. It’s going to be expensive but that’s an investment that’s worthwhile. We appeal to our citizens, this is a case in our lives, we are already in it and by the grace of God we will get out of it.
”As government plays its roles, citizens should do theirs as well. There’s no intelligence without the help of the citizens. I also commend our security forces, they work with less than what they should have, some paid the ultimate sacrifice. In my state last week, so many policemen were killed. They do this work with very limited resources and it’s our duty to give them all the support they require, as well as hold them accountable. We urge the executive arm of government to request for supplementary budget to give our armed forces the resources they require.”
Adopting the motion, the senators thereafter observed a minute silence for all the victims of the callous acts of criminality across the country
