Author: The Nation

Terrorists have taken over and set up camp inside the Kainji National Park in New Bussa, Borgu local government area of Niger state.

This, it was learnt, had forced staffers at the national park to stop reporting for work after several attacks on them by the terrorists which left some of the workers injured.

It was gathered that the terrorists come out daily from their hideouts to attack travellers along the busy Wawa-Luma highway which connects to the Benin Republic.

A source from one of the communities surrounding the National Park, Aliyu Umar, claimed that the terrorists were in large numbers occupying the park, adding that their activities had made several farmers to abandon their farms.

He said business activities have also been affected as the terrorists also kidnapped 10 passengers in a commercial Sharon bus along the Wawa-Luma Road and injured three others who were on a motorcycle last Tuesday.

Efforts to get the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abiodun Wasiu, proved abortive as his number was not going through.

The Vice Chairman of Borgu Local Government Area, Mallam Abdullahi Nasir, confirmed the development, describing it as very worrisome and disturbing.

Similarly, Chairman, Borgu Local Government, Suleiman Yerima, disclosed that effort of the council in collaboration with some security personnel, led to the rescue of four out of seven kidnapped victims.

He said that the local government was taking proactive steps towards combating the activities of terrorists and kidnappers so that socioeconomic development would thrive.

Over 20 persons have been feared killed in fresh clash between two ethnic groups in Takum local government area of Taraba State.

The fight which broke out yesterday morning, was said to have been between the Kuteb and Hausa ethnic groups.

A resident, KM Kasman, told our reporter that yesterday was Takum market day, adding that trouble started after a van conveying cattle to the market was attacked.

He said the attack led to the death of the occupants of the van, and that the news angered the kinsmen of the victims who immediately launched a reprisal in Takum Town.

He said many lives were lost and houses destroyed in the process.

A curfew was said to have been imposed in the town.

Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, (MACBAN), Southern Taraba, Yau Ibrahim, confirmed the incident.

He said: “Some Hausa boys were transporting cows from Dogon Gawa to Takum market. They were attacked leading to the death of some. That led to a clash in Takum town,” he stated.

The Police Spokesman in Taraba, Abdullahi Usman, did not confirm the incident and said the command was still waiting for information from the division.

Takum and surrounding areas have remained volatile for some time with clashes between the Kuteb, Fulani, Jukun, Hausa and other ethnic groups.

The clashes were mostly interpreted to be either ethnic, political and economic in nature.

• Seizes drug consignment, military uniforms headed for Borno

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a large consignment of methamphetamine concealed in powdered custard containers as part of a consolidated cargo going to London, United Kingdom (UK).

The drugs were seized at the SAHCO export shed, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos, NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said in a statement, yesterday.

Babafemi said the illicit drug consignment weighing 30.10 kilograms with a street value of N567million was detected and seized by NDLEA operatives at the airport on Tuesday, May 16.

He said the seizure was swiftly followed by series of operations that led to the arrest of a freight agent, Nwobodo Chidiebere; a female suspect, Chioma Lucy Akuta and ultimately the suspected drug lord behind the shipment, Charles Chinedu Ezeh, who was arrested at Sotel Suites, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos on Thursday, May 18.

According to NDLEA, Eze claimed he was a businessman who traded in articles from Onitsha, Anambra State, but investigation revealed he lived in London with his wife and children until December 10, last year, when he fled to Nigeria after his involvement in a drug related offence in the UK.

Babafemi said: “Though he claimed to have been living in hotels since his return to Nigeria last December, operatives were however able to locate his mansion at 1, Hawawu Abikan Street, Lekki, on Friday 19th May, where a search was conducted and his travel and property documents among others were recovered.

“Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Adamawa on Monday 15th May arrested a 32-year-old notorious drug dealer, Prince Ikechukwu Uzoma, in Mubi with 1kg of skunk. Ikechukwu had twice been arrested in the past, and convicted for the same offence.

“He was in 2017 sentenced to six months imprisonment and in 2019 he was again sent to two years in jail. In the same vein, a trans-border trafficker, Faisal Mohammed, 27, was on Wednesday 17th May arrested in Mubi following the interception of a truck from Onitsha, Anambra State, where a total of 2,376 sachets of tramadol comprising 23,760 pills were found concealed in three blue rubber Jerrycans which were hidden underneath the body part of the trailer. The suspect admitted the opioid was to be taken to Cameroon.

“In Oyo state, two suspects: Osas Susan, 35, and Thomas Biodun, 23, were arrested at Igbon, Gambari in Ogbomoso North LGA with 2.13kg cannabis while Idris Muhammed, 55, was nabbed with 4,500 pills of tramadol when a commercial bus conveying him and other passengers was stopped and searched along Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

“Similarly, Bulus Mikah, 63, was arrested at Kafanchan, Kaduna state with over 5kg opioids including tramadol, diazepam, rohypnol and exol-5, just as a total of 965kg cannabis was seized from Shehu Muhammadu Dandare, 25, at Maraban Jos, in Igabi local government area of the state.

“While 552kg cannabis was recovered from a warehouse in a bush when operatives stormed and destroyed 1.5 hectares of cannabis farm in Uhodoua forest, Esan South East LGA, Edo state, 10 suspects were arrested with a total of 5.587kg cannabis sativa, 144.4grams of methamphetamine and 48, 260 capsules of tramadol in different parts of Onitsha, Anambra state on Friday 19th May.

“In Kwara, two suspects: Mohammed Isa, 47 and Mohammed Haman, 36, were arrested on Friday 19th May along Ilorin/Lagos road in a commercial bus on their way to Maiduguri, Borno state with 6kg cannabis, 50grams of methamphetamine and 20 pieces of military camouflage caps and uniforms. The same day, operatives in Jigawa state nabbed one Ibrahim Abdullahi, 53, with 120kg cannabis at Sara town in Gwaram LGA.

“Not less than 628 bottles of new psychoactive substance, skuchies when operatives raided a drug joint at Idanre where four suspects were arrested. They include: Olamide Olusola, 26; Abiodun Tijjani, 21; Fatope Temidayo, 29; Agba Obi, 30 and Olafisoye Festus, 26. In the same vein, a suspect, Kayode Hakeem, 22, was arrested at Hawan Dawaki, Kano with 293 blocks of cannabis weighing 211.6kg…”

A former teacher and father of six children simply identified as Salaudeen alias Bolakale, has died after falling inside a ditch in Ilorin, Kwara State.

The ditch was dug by the Kwara State Ministry of Works and Transport effecting road rehabilitation at Irewolede in Ilorin.

The incident was said to have occurred around past 10pm, Thursday, when the deceased was returning from a friend’s place where he had gone to settle a quarrel between the couple.

A resident said that the deceased, from Ile Owanlaarogo compound, Niger road, Il?rin, was riding his motorcycle when he fell into the ditch.

“He unsuccessfully tried to reach the family back home when he was in trouble.

About an hour before the incident, he had called home to inform the family about his mission and his children requested him to buy them bread.

“But after the wife later saw his several missed calls and returned them, they were not answered which caused panic.

“On Friday morning, when she called again, it was some residents of the area who saw his body inside the ditch that answered the call and broke the news to the family,” the source said.

Chairman, Kwara State Road Maintenance Agency (KWARMA), Akeem Adegboye, confirmed the incident.

“It is only one person that died and if you look at the place, you see that it has been barricaded because of the ongoing works on the channel. The only entrance is the one granting access to residents of the estate opposite the road.

“To have gone so far to the extent of (falling into the ditch) is surprising,” the KWARMA boss added.

A 34-year-old woman, Queen Uwagbogu, has been arrested with 100 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition by operatives of the Delta State Police Command.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Bright Edafe, in a statement, said the suspect was arrested around 6:57pm, Thursday, near Effurun Roundabout, Uvwie council area.

He said intelligence gathered before her arrest revealed the woman was an alleged illegal AK-47 ammunition dealer.

Edafe said the command, through its Rapid Response Squad (RRS), same day, recovered a black Lexus RS350 with registration number RBC811CY, a battle axe, and two Iphones during a stop-and-search operation at Oworigbala community, along Okpara-Oworh Road, Ughelli.

“The driver suspiciously offered the operatives money, which they rejected. The driver immediately zoomed off. Noticing that the RRS operatives were hot on his trail and closing in on him, he quickly abandoned the vehicle and escaped into a nearby bush,” Edafe said.

• It was robbery, say police

There was panic at Gure and Boriya communities in Baruten local government area, Kwara state, following attack by gunmen.

The attackers who stormed the communities Saturday night, were said to have shot sporadically which caused apprehension.

Fortunately, there was no casualty in the attack.

Military personnel, it was learnt, have been drafted to the troubled spots.

Reacting to the incident, the police command’s spokesperson, Ajayi Okasanmi, said it was armed robbery attack on a trader at Boriya, adding that money and handsets were stolen.

“No death, no injury and it wasn’t an attack on a community against another as far as the command is aware.”

Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, condemned the attacks in the communities, assuring that government would do everything possible to avert recurrence of the unfortunate incidents.

The speaker, who represents Ilesha/Gwanara state constituency, alsourged citizens and residents of the areas to be vigilant and report any suspicious movements to security agents.

“My heart is heavy in the wake of recent attacks that have occurred in some of our communities. We understand the pain and suffering that these attacks have caused to the affected individuals and families, and we want to assure you that the government is taking prompt action to avert any future occurrences.

“We also condemn these attacks in the strongest terms possible and we assure you that as representatives, we are doing everything within our power to ensure that those responsible for these attacks are apprehended and brought to justice because we understand the importance of ensuring the safety and security of our citizens.

“We will not rest until we have put in place measures that will prevent any future occurrences of such attacks.”

Journalists have been urged to adopt verifiable early warning reporting that prompts policy markers, relevant agencies to take steps that would prevent outbreak of violent conflicts.

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) made the appeal during a training for journalists on early warning and early response (EWER) reporting organised in collaboration with the Open Society Foundation (OSF) in Lagos last week.

Speaking at the training themed “Media and Effective Early Warning and Early Response Mechanisms: Conflict Sensitive and Objective Reportage”, CISLAC’s Executive Director, Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), said the goal was to strengthen capacity, advocacy, accountability and local engagement towards developing EWER mechanisms to promote safety of citizens across the country.

Musa noted that the multi-dimensional security threats the country was bedevilled by across all regions, gave rise to the need for journalists to engage in conflict sensitive reporting that would put those whose responsibility it was to take action, to be proactive.

He said that lack of transparency, accountability in governance; inactive constituency offices across geo-political zones, as well as growing social injustice were hampering early detection and adequate response to conflict signals at the community level.

He said: “Lagos State, in particular, is bedevilled with clashes between indigenes and non-indigenes on the basis of ethnic differences. And more intense is this challenge, given the recently conducted general elections.

“This situation calls for more collaboration, communication, coordination and collective support for early warning, conflict prediction and early response mechanisms among communities and security operatives, which are central in conflict prevention,” Rafsanjani observed.

Already, the CISLAC boss said the organisation already met with community leaders and deliberated on the need to have trained EWER community representatives who would act as whistleblowers or raise alarm wherever there were issues, situations that could lead to violence if unmitigated.

Musa said CISLAC would complement the role of internal security agencies by building well-informed and vibrant Early Warning Community Observers in Lagos, to enhance collaboration, build trust and ownership with state security institutions, community leaders and security structures all geared towards violence prevention.

Accoridng to him, journalists were being trained because they played key roles in escalating information, urging the media to support activities of the community observers trained to monitor, report early warning threat signals, amplify them and spur security operatives to speedily respond professionally.

He charged journalists to own the EWER system by leveraging verifiable information as caution signals to prevent harm, loss of life and property, as well as to de-escalate crises.

Renowned journalist, Ikem Okuhu, who was the guest lecturer, verifiable information gathering, objectivity in processing and analysis for targeted response planning and appropriate outcome assessment must be considered in EWER reporting.

He said factual information processing in EWER was targeted at raising alarm on conflict signals, mobilising community at risk, encouraging delegation, influencing timely decision, in addition to efficient forecast and information management.

He urged the journalists to be mindful of false alarms or escalating warnings that could be detrimental to public interest, national security.

Okuhu said: “Possible benefits in factual and verifiable early warning reporting include risk mitigation and preparedness, resilience building, vulnerable protection, rapid response and cost efficiency.”