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Tag Insecurity

  • Feb, Sat, 2020
Defence/Security

Insecurity: Utomi, Nwosu, others call for national dialogue

Utomi
By Emmanuel Afonne
Abuja, Feb. 15, 2020 (NAN) Professor Pat Utomi, a renowned economist and former presidential candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC), has called for national dialogue on the political future of the country and its security challenges.
Utomi made the call in Abuja at a one-day strategic citizens’ conversation on the state of the nation, organised by Nigeria Patriots Renaissance Forum.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conversation was aimed at rigorously dealing with how Nigeria’s political structure has contributed to under-developing it.
The programme was also organised to fashion a way forward for a robust transformative process for national development and resurgence.
Utomi, while explaining the rationale behind his call for a national conversation, said the time had come for all hands to be on deck to make concerted efforts to fix the numerous problems confronting the country.
“As I go around Nigeria, I have found out that most Nigerians are in despair; they have even given up on their country and that is a very dangerous thing to happen to any people.
“The question, therefore, is: why are Nigerians so distrust; why are they so unhappy; why are our leaders trading abuses and insults everyday on one another.
“It seems to me that it is because we are not having national public conversation which should focus on the common good of all.
“Some think the Nigerian state is hijacked and privatised; there is a sense in which people think elections are meaningless in Nigeria and there is a sense in which there is a level of distrust.
“We need to engage all critical stakeholders’ and groups, but we are starting from the group I like to refer to as complacent middle,” Utomi said.
According to him, the engagement will ensure that Nigerians think and work positively to move the country forward.
Also speaking, Chief Ralph Nwosu, National Chairman of ADC, urged political parties in the country to evolve new ways of engaging and giving back to the society.
This, he said, would rekindle hope in many Nigerian citizens who saw political parties and politicians as dirty.
“There has been this concern that the voices of the citizens are not being heard again.
“So, we came together to ask ourselves: what do we need to do? We need to start engaging the citizens so that their voices will start to matter.”
Prof. Peter Nwangwu, a scientist and former presidential candidate, said that the country needed to be restructured to ensure full transformation.
“We need a Nigeria where there will be total mindset reengineering. There is the need to clean up the rubbish from bottom to top, to have a society that is equitable because there are good people in Nigeria.
“There are intelligent Nigerians; if we run this country right, it will be one of the best places on earth to live.
“People will come to this country because God has blessed it so much, but we have made an incredible mess of it.”
Others speakers at the meeting also spoke on the leadership challenge, national security, economy, corruption index, political development and credible elections, as well as citizens’ participation in politics. (NAN)
EMAF/WAS
Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

Defence/Security

Insecurity: Group urges FG to reopen cases of gun running against individuals, groups

Insecurity
By Emmanuel Afonne
Abuja, Feb. 11, 2020 (NAN) A pressure group, North Central Renaissance (NCR), has urged the Federal Government to revisit cases of gun running involving individuals and groups in order to trace the inflow of illegal arms into the country.

A statement by the group’s convener, Mr Jerome Lan, on Tuesday, stressed the importance of reopening such cases in view of the growing security challenges in the country.

Lan said that the fight against insecurity cannot be successful while individuals alleged to be keeping large cache of unlicensed arms are not made to face the law.

“Nigeria has witnessed an upsurge in banditry, kidnapping and bloodletting across the country in recent times.

“The frequency in Boko Haram attacks, banditry and kidnapping points to the fact that there are arms in the hands of criminals who have continued to use them to terrorize and kill innocent citizens.

“All hands must be on deck to checkmate the inflow of these arms in Nigeria.

“Recall that on the Feb. 24, 2017, the DSS while acting on credible intelligence, searched and found some incriminating items stashed in the boots of a Mecedez Benz S550 (BWR 135 AH) and Masarati 47 (BWR 207 AJ) cars.

“The cars were parked at the premises of a private property in Abuja, allegedly owned by Sen. Suswam.

“We are concerned about security and well-being of citizens; we herein call on the relevant agencies to immediately reopen and investigate all those alleged to be illegally involved with fire arms,” Lan said.

He also stated that there were too many weapons in the hands of criminals and as such anyone suspected to own such weapons should be investigated for the sake of security in the country.

This, he said would expose the collaborators and suppliers of such weapons and trace their route into the country. (NAN)
EMAF/ISMA
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Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

General news

Toto LGC recommits to tackling insecurity, unemployment

Toto LGC recommits to tackling insecurity, unemployment

By Awayi Kuje
Commitment
Toto (Nasarawa State), Oct. 21, 2019 (NAN) Alhaji Nuhu Dauda, the Chairman, Toto Local Government Council of Nasarawa State, has said that his administration is committed to tackling insecurity and unemployment to promote peace and development in the area.
Dauda said this on Monday at a townhall meeting with residents and members of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gadabuke.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the townhall meeting is: “Familiarisation and Enhancement of Political Movement in Gadabuke, Toto Local Government Area’’.
Dauda said that the council had built security posts across communities in the area in order to promote peace for the overall development of the area and the state.
He added that his administration had given topmost priority to youth empowerment and infrastructural development in order to improve the standard of living of the people of the area.
“The council has completed the construction of one kilometre Toto road to ease transportation system in our local government area.
“With the efforts of the state government and security agents, the communal crises, and cases of kidnapping and other forms of security challenges had dropped drastically in this area.
“I have also ordered for the procurement of 25 brick machines for bricks making in addition to the three machines donated by the state government in order to empower the youths to become self reliant.
“All these gestures are to empower the youths as well as to improve on the standard of living of the people of this area for the overall development of the country,” he said.
Dauda therefore urged the people of the area and Nigerians at large to support government policies and programmes in order to enjoy dividends of democracy.
He urged the people of the area to live in peace, respect constituted authorities and be law abiding for development to thrive.
The council boss added that no society could achieve meaningful progress and development without peace, hence the need of his call for his people to embrace peace at all the time.
NAN also reports that the event had in attendance the council’s Deputy Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Musa; Secretary, Malam Nuhu Mohammed; councillors; Special Advisers; APC leaders stakeholders; youths and women leaders, among others. (NAN)
AKW/BHB/MST
Edited by Buhari Bolaji/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Insecurity: Monarch tasks FG on job creation

Insecurity: Monarch tasks FG on job creation
By Awayi Kuje
Insecurity
Umaisha (Nasarawa State), Aug. 15, 2019 (NAN) Alhaji Usman Abdullahi, the Ohimege Opanda in Nasarawa State, has urged the Federal Government to create more jobs to the jobless Nigerians in order to curtail incessant kidnapping and other security challenges facing the country.
Abdullahi, a first class traditional ruler, made the appeal on Thursday while fielding questions from newsmen in his palace in Umaisha, Toto Local Government Area of the state.
The Egbura traditional ruler said that creation of more job opportunities by the federal government would go a long way in not only tackling poverty in the country but will also address security issues, including youth restiveness.
“A lot need to be done by the Federal Government in order to create mass employment opportunities for the jobless youths and other Nigerians.
“Creation of more jobs through various programmes will go a long way in tackling insecurity thereby improving on the standard of living of people in the country,” he said.
Abdullahi also called on youths and other Nigerians to be serious in their education pursuit in order to excel in life.
He added that education is key to success and a route to escape from poverty box, hence the need for Nigerians to embrace it with utmost priority.
The first class monarch also appealed to the state government to link the area with Kogi state through road construction in order to improve on their socio-economic life.
“Look at Toto local government, we are not developed, no electricity, no good potable water and no good roads, among other social amenities.
“We want the government to establish a higher institution in this area and we also want the government to link us with Kogi state through road construction.
“If these are done, it will go a long way in bringing in development, boosting agricultural activities thereby improving on our standard of living,” the monarch said.
Abdullahi further appealed to the governments of Nasarawa and Kogi to do the needful by collaborating with each other in order to return Kogi IDPs taking refugee in the area.
“I want you to pass this message to the governor that we still have refugees from Kogi state in this area.
“So, our governor should liaise with the governor of Kogi state so that these refugees will go back to their respective villages in Kogi,” he said.
Besides, Abdullahi enjoined Nigerians to disregard revolution calls by some unpatriotic elements, urging them to unite against such calls in the interest of peace and national development.
The first class traditional ruler also urged his subjects and other Nigerians to pray and support leaders at all levels, live in peace and tolerate one another irrespective of their affiliation for the overall development of the country. (NAN)
AKW/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Metro

SSANU links insecurity, kidnapping to bad roads

Insecurity
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, July 30, 2019 (NAN) The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has linked the increased rate of kidnappings, banditry and armed robbery in the country to bad roads across the country.

SSANU National President, Mr Samson Ugwoke in a statement made available to News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday.

He added that Nigerian roads have become dead traps with attendant loss of lives on daily basis.

Ugwoke, speaking at the 36th National Executive Council meeting in Benue, advised the Federal Government to blacklist companies that carry out substandard road projects.

According to him, “We have transversed the country and have seen the nature of the roads, we have also seen why it is easy to kidnap people on the highway, it is because of the bad roads that we have.

“If you check where we have the military and Police check points and recently the Federal Road Safety Corps check points, they are all at the bad portions of the roads, So you must slow down, when you slow down you are under arrest.

“So, we are appealing to the Federal Government that one of the ways they should address kidnapping, armed robbery and banditry is by fixing Nigeria highways. Government should fix Nigeria highways. The money is there even if it is by concession, they should do it.

“Government should also not give weak companies that are not able to do good jobs anymore work. Many of the roads are less than five years they were constructed but they have broken down.

“We should blacklist the companies that do substandard jobs in Nigeria. We have good companies with good records. Let us use such companies to do good roads that can last in Nigeria.

“We have lost so many lives on the highway due to accidents. These casualties are avoidable because if the roads are fixed it could reduce accidents.”

The national president expressed concerns over the delay from Senate President Ahmed Lawan in meeting with members of the union, saying they were still waiting to deliberate on ways to address the challenges of the non teaching staff unions.

Ugwoke recalled the Joint Action Committee (JAC) meeting of SSANU and the Non Academic Staff Union of Universities on July 12 and commended the members for a successful protest that had attracted the attention of government.

He said: “A situation where the money meant for the entire University Staff was carted away in a manner that shows that some of us are not supposed to be part of the University System.

“The Academic Staff Union took 80 per cent of the money, leaving a paltry 20 per cent to the non teaching staff unions in the university.

“This you were aware we rejected, we called that meeting of 12th July at the Labour House and the resolutions reached were passed to the government.

“As you are aware, national protest commenced on Monday, 15th of July in all the campuses of universities in Nigeria. We have never gotten it right except this particular one. The protest was total, comprehensive and drew the attention of who is who in Nigeria.

“Your action got to the National Assembly, the senate and the House of Representatives as matters of urgent importance, there were discussed.

“The senate set up a committee to meet with the non teaching staff to ensure that the non teaching staff did not proceed on the planned industrial action. The House of Representatives did the same thing.

“Two days after, we received a letter from the President of the Senate inviting us for a meeting on Monday, July 22 in the chambers of the Senate President.

“JAC met prepared our agenda for the meeting but as we were still meeting, preparing our documents when we heard about the protest by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria.

“We thought we could break through, we came out to the three arms zone, we were stopped by the Police, by then there was smoke everywhere, we could not proceed for the meeting with the senate.

“We wrote a letter because we are still in Abuja expecting to be called anytime day or night. A letter was written to the President of the Senate informing him of our inability to have access to the National Assembly due to the protest on that day in Abuja.

“That was acknowledged but we are standing by. Up till now, we are waiting. So we are hoping, expecting invitation any time and we must answer.” (NAN)
TAK/BOLA/IS
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Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Ismail Abdulaziz

General news

Insecurity: Bring solutions, not condemnations, APC chieftain tells Buhari’s critics

Insecurity: Bring solutions, not condemnations, APC chieftain tells Buhari’s critics
By Peter Uwumarogie
Solutions
Gombe, July 17, 2019 (NAN) Dr Jamilu Gwamna, a chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State, has urged critics of President Muhammadu Buhari on security to provide solutions on how to improve the situation.
Making the appeal on Wednesday in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe, Gwamna said the previous administrations should also take responsibility for the security challenges in the country.
According to him, Buhari inherited the seed of insecurity facing the country that were planted by the past administrations through corruption and wastefulness of resources.
He however noted that the country would make tremendous progress in the fight against insecurity if those condemning and criticising Buhari would recommend solutions that can assist in combating the menace.
“If you can’t make recommendations as to how we can solve the pockets of insecurity in some parts of the country, then of what use is your criticisms. As a patriot, the aim of criticism is for improvement.
“Why criticised or condemn Mr President for the insecurity issues that were created through poverty and other bad governance of the 16 years of the same crop of leaders who now dish out condemnation like Saints.
“President Buhari inherited almost a failed state especially when Abuja was almost becoming a regular ground for bombing; today that has been addressed yet no single commendation in that regard.
“If those criticising and condemning President Buhari are to prove their patriotism, let them also commend Mr President whenever there is improvement and not use isolated cases to dish out condemnations,’’ he said.
Gwamna stressed that it was the ingenious management of the situation by Buhari since 2015 that had not escalated insecurity in the country.
He said that the state of the country before 2015 was “embarrassingly shameful’’.
While appealing to all Nigerians to defend the country’s unity and jettison attempts to politicise security issues in the country, the chieftain warned that “such politicisation is a threat to our collective existence’’. (NAN)
UP/IAA/MST
Edited by Isaac Aregbesola/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Insecurity: Group faults Northern elders, Afenifere

Insecurity: Group faults Northern elders, Afenifere
By Mustapha Sumaila
Killings
Abuja, July 24, 2018 (NAN) The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has faulted allegations of government complicity in killings in some parts of the country.
The group said this in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Mr Niyi Akinsiju, and Secretary, Mr Cassidy Madueke, in Abuja on Tuesday.
Some senior citizens under the aegis of Northern Elders Forum and Afenifere had recently criticised the Federal Government of not doing enough to curb spate of crises and insecurity in parts of the country.

But the BMO advised senior citizens, who many of them were in their eighties, against making unverifiable claims.
The organisation also accused the sectional leaders who converged on Abuja recently of playing the ostrich at a time they should join hands with the Buhari administration to end the bloodletting.
“Any one accusing President Buhari of not doing anything is simply playing to the gallery as, only a few days ago, the Presidency released a list of 22 security measures the government had taken to combat all forms of criminality and banditry in the country.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Army launched operation Ayem Akpatuma covering 17 states, including Benue and Nasarawa states, to stem the tide of herdsmen/farmers clashes.
“They later deployed air assets including combat helicopters in Benue, Taraba and Zamfara to support the fight against banditry.
“Only this month, the President approved the establishment of Operation WHIRL STROKE II, for deployment in Zamfara and Kaduna States,” the group explained.
The organisation also recalled that the Police recently took the fight to Boko Haram camps in Borno and Yobe states where 22 insurgents including sub-commanders and eight suspected abductors of over 200 Chibok girls in 2014 were arrested.
Besides, the BMO advised the elders to avoid a path that would open them up to ridicule especially as they were beneficiaries in the old patronage system.
“It is a known fact that some of those who gathered in Abuja benefitted from the sleaze of recent past, including funds meant for security issues.
“Now they are turning around to condemn acts that they were indirectly responsible for.
“We challenge them to outline clear efforts they made in the past to foster peaceful relations in places now affected by crisis that have roots in age-long ethnic rivalries.”
According to the organisation, it is surprising that senior citizens who should be involved in the search for peace in places where there are communal crisis prefer to play politics by throwing blames to the government at the centre.
The group also urged Nigerians to prepare for more anti-Buhari rhetorics from such groups in coming months, especially as the 2019 elections were a few months away. (NAN)
MS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Defence/Security

Insecurity: Nasarawa LGC to refund 20% workers salary

Insecurity: Nasarawa LGC to refund 20% workers salary
By Awayi Kuje
Deduction
Lafia, May 19, 2018 (NAN) Toto Local Government Council of Nasarawa State said on Saturday that it would refund the 20 per cent (about N1.8million) staff salaries deducted in April to curtail security challenges facing the area.
Alhaji Nuhu Dauda, the Chairman, Interim Management Committee of the council, told newsmen in Lafia that the refund would be made to the affected workers in the interest of peace and development.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that on May 16, the state officials of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), suspended the branch Chairman of NULGE in Toto, Mr Iliya Haggai, for allegedly conniving with the council to deduct 20 per cent of members salaries.
Dauda said that the deduction of the staff salary was done with the consent of the NULGE officials of the area in order to help in protecting the lives and properties of residents as a result of communal crisis between Bassa and Egbira tribes.
“Salary is the entitlement of the staff; I cannot just touch their money without an agreement with the workers and this fund will be paid back as soon as we get fund from the State Government.
“We have applied to the state for more funds and as soon as that fund is released, we will refund the N1.8 million deducted and it will be paid back to the staff.
“Never at any point of time, have I ever connived with anybody to deduct workers salaries of my council staff as they all aware that the money was deducted to take care of the security situation.
“The staff of the council are all aware that I am well known for prompt payment of workers salary.
“What happened was that as a result of the crisis in Toto Local Government, we applied to the state for fund in order to curtail the security situation in our area as we cannot fold our hands to allow the area to be destroyed.
“While waiting for the fund from the state government, we have decided that as long as all of us are indigenes of Toto, let us find a way to source for fund in order to take care of the security situation in the area.
“We then approach the NULGE officials to inform them of our intention and they have agreed after we have sat down with them to explain ourselves to them and we have signed a written agreement to that effect.
“And the agreement was that if the 20 per cent salary is deducted and it will be paid back as soon as possible if resources reach the coffer of the council, and I don’t know why they said that we have connived with NULGE officials to deduct the said fund.
“My message to the general public is that they should disregard such information that I have connived with the NULGE officials to deduct workers salary as the information is highly political and created by those who did not wish the council well,” the chairman said.
He assured the workers of his continued commitment to initiate good policies and programmes that have direct bearing on the lives of people and solicited for their support to enable him succeed.
Besides, the council boss enjoined the people of the area to embrace peace and tolerate one another irrespective of their ethnic, religious and political affiliation.
A copy of the agreement in respect of the 20 per cent deduction obtained by NAN from Haggai confirmed that as it was duly signed by both officials of the council and the NULGE branch officials of Toto.
NAN recalls that a communal clash occurred between the Egbira and Bassa ethnic groups of Ugya, Toto local government area of the state, on April 24.
Several lives and properties were destroyed during skirmish. (NAN)
AKW/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Medical expert proffers solution to nation’s insecurity

Medical expert proffers solution to nation’s insecurity
By Awayi Kuje
Insecurity
Akwanga (Nasarawa State), April 5, 2018 (NAN) Prof. Charles Adeyinka Adisa, a professor of Surgery and Surgical Oncologist with the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, has recommended good governance as a solution to the security challenges facing the country.
Adisa, who is also the National President, Nigeria Christian Graduate Fellowship, proffered the solution on Thursday during the 6th matriculation lecture of 2017/2018 for newly admitted students of NACABS Polytechnic, Akwanga, Nasarawa State.
He spoke on the topic: “Nigeria Security Challenges – Cause, Course, Curse and Cure (4Cs)’’.
The don also said suggested for the development of a more balanced security architecture to tackle the situation.
Adisa identified lack of institutional capacity, pervasive inequalities and unfairness as well as porous borders, ethno-religious conflicts, and corruption as the major causes of insecurity in the country.
Other causes, according to him, are unemployment, poverty and loss of socio-cultural values.

“The cure for the nation’s insecurity include there should be good leadership development, good governance and development of more balanced security architecture, among others, for the peace of our nation.
“The leadership question is at the root of our problem. What type of leader do we want, regional, tribal or religious leaders; leaders with focus and proven integrity would help in tackling the nation’s insecurity.
“Good leadership, this is an antedote to insecurity. This requires that resources are equitably distributed and inclusive governance where everybody has a sense of belonging is established.
“The lopsidedness in the appointment of security agencies should be discountenanced and there should be sound security approach,” he said.
Adisa therefore called for collective efforts in order to tackle the nation’s insecurity for the overall development of the country.
He tasked the students to take their studies with all seriousness in order to excel in their academic pursuit.
The medical doctor also enjoined the students to shun cultism, examination malpractice and other negative tendencies to be resposnioble citizens and for the overall development of the society.
Earlier, Mr David Abuluya, the Proprietor of the institution, also advised the new students against cultism, examination malpractice and other social vices so as to avoid expulsion as well as for the betterment of the society.
Abuluya, who lamented on how cultism, examination malpractice, armed robbery, rape and other social vices had affected the education sector negatively, warned that the management of the institution would not spare any student involved in any social vice.
He said that the topic of the lecture is timely considering the effects of insecurity on societal development.
The proprietor restated his commitment to continue to key in to good policies and programmes that have direct bearing on the lives of lecturers and students. (NAN)
AKW/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola