The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • ‘I heard bomber shout ‘give way’ before blast’

    ‘I heard bomber shout ‘give way’ before blast’

    Survivors of the Zaria, Kaduna State attack, relive their close shaves. One of them says that shortly before the explosion, he saw the suicide bomber struggling to enter the secretariat hall where much more people were gathered. ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE reports

    Some survivors have recounted the last moments before a suicide bomber blew herself up, killing 26 persons and injuring 32 others at Sabon-Gari council headquarters in the university town Zaria, Kaduna State last Tuesday.

    The blast occurred at about 9.20am, according to the Chief Medical Director of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, Zaria, Prof Ibrahim Khalid who also supplied the casualty figures.

    Majority of those affected were civil servants who left their homes early enough to queue up and wait for the biometric verification exercise going on at the secretariat, while others besieged the secretariat to receive the newly sworn Interim Management Committee chairman, Mohammed Usman Samaru, an engineer, as he resumed duties.

    Several eyewitnesses who were lucky to escape the blast unhurt, said they were still confused over the mission of the suicide bomber, whom they described as a young woman.

    Adamu Hussein Lere, one of the survivors, claimed to have seen the woman when she was attempting to push her way to the hall of the event. He said he was convinced that the bomber’s target was the hall, but for the large crowd that obstructed her.

    Hussain said he heard the bomber clearly telling the crowd in Hausa, “Gafaran ku, Gafaran ku”, meaning give way, give way and when it seemed difficult to move, she detonated the bomb.

    “The impact would have been more devastating if he had gained entry into the hall,” he stated.

    An eyewitness said that after the evacuation of bodies, most people argued what may have informed the bomber’s mission during the holy month. They suspected that senior members of the civil service who were looting the state’s funds through the use of ghost workers were against the ongoing biometric exercise and might have sponsored the attack.

    Some insinuated that the removal of security checkpoints and soldiers from major roads and flashpoints could have been responsible for the return of suicide bombers to the state after warding them off for over a year.

    There is no doubt however that, having enjoyed a bomb-free state and relative peace for about a year and half in Kaduna State, the Sabon-gari attack has stirred tension as many feared, it could be a return of suicide bombers to Kaduna.

    When our correspondent visited the ABUTH, Shika, some survivors narrated their ordeal. Ahmed Suleiman said he has been screened and verified to collect his cheque for payment. While on queue, the restless lady attempted to push him and others away, but before they could say anything he heard a sound and the next place he found himself was the hospital.

    According to him, “I am fasting, I have been praying to God to allow me scale through without problem and I did. I was close to the point where I was to collect my cheque, but found myself in the hospital. God knows why.”

    •Another survivor in hospital
    •Another survivor in hospital

    Another survivor, Usman Shehu, a 52-year-old local government worker from Lere, said he was shuttling between Lere and Zaria in a bid to get verified and collect cheque for his June salary.

    He said he never imagined that he would later be a victim of bomb attack, particularly during the Ramadan Fasting. However, he thanked God to be counted among the living and not the dead. Similarly, 45 years old Abdul Garba said, “We came for the screening, and I was on queue, suddenly I saw myself on the floor, I fainted and never knew where I was until I woke up in the hospital. I am a primary school teacher in Kauru local government.

    ýOthers who spoke were still in confused state of mind due to the shock that overwhelmed them after the blast.

    But while the survivors were trying to recount their encounter about the bomb blast, Kaduna Governor Malam Nasir el-Rufai did not hesitate to condemn it, describing it as an “inhuman act of terror.”

    El-Rufai said the people must not take any chances, as a measure to contain further attacks, he advised residents to avoid public gatherings and report all suspicious persons to the nearest security agencies as well as community leaders. In addition to that, he ordered for immediate deployment of extra security forces to beef up security against another attack.

    While El-Rufai is taking adequate security measure to avoid any possible attack, the Senator representing Kaduna North Central Senatorial District, Comrade Shehu Sani, who also blamed porous security for the attacks in Sabon-gari and other parts of the north said if those saddled with the responsible of ensuring safety of lives and property of Nigerian can’t do it, they should be fired. “It is high time that the new government reviewed the security policy and system of the country,” he stated.

    Senator Sani who at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, Zaria, Kaduna to visit the victims told journalists that security agencies must as a matter of necessity take proactive measures to stop the cruel killings in parts of the north.

    But didn’t leave the hospital without sending a message to the northern politicians, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other stakeholders to come together and put an end to Boko Haram insurgency.

    The position of Governor El-Rufai and Senator Shehu Sani over the Sabon-Gari bomb attack is not different from most residents who want a final solution to nip Boko Haram in the bud.

    The jittery residents have expressed hope that the state and federal wake up to the responsibility of securing lives of innocent Nigerians killed almost every day by Boko Haram insurgents.

    But one thing that brought sudden relief to residents of Kaduna State and Zaria in particular is the reported arrest of the mastermind of the Jos and Zaria explosions. They hope that the suspect, if found guilty, will face the full wrath of the law.

  • Questions after checkpoints withdrawal

    It was thought that the withdrawal of non-essential military checkpoints would give the police a golden opportunity to prove their mettle and adequately take charge of internal security in line with constitutional provisions. That has not happened.

    On June 22, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the dismantling of the checkpoints across the country, directing the force to step into the vacuum that will be created by the exit of the soldiers.

    Before that directive was issued, not a few Nigerians had negative memories about the force.

    So Buhari’s order, no doubt, gave room for the police to exploit the directive fully in order to worm its way into the hearts of these Nigerians, who mostly recall the ugly scenes.

    But within two weeks of the directive, it seemed as if the police were yet to put their acts together and live up to expectation.

    The internal security appeared to be falling apart and growing worse than when the soldiers’ checkpoints dotting many parts of the country.

    Besides the terrorists, Boko Haram, intensifying attacks in Borno State in the first two weeks of the directive, they have also ventured out of the area, which they have been restricted to many weeks back, to now carry out fatal attacks in new places.

    Some of the new attacks within two weeks of the directive took place in Borno, Yobe, Plateau, Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara, Adamawa, resulting in the death of more than 400 people.

    This increasing onslaught by Boko Haram has now started to generate some unanswered questions among Nigerians on its likely causes and who should actually be blamed for the fresh attacks that have also injured many Nigerians.

    Some of the questions bordered on whether there was any error in dismantling some of the essential military checkpoints that would have ensured that the sect did not leave where they have been restricted to until they are eventually smoked out.

    There were also worries whether the attacks were being fuelled by those who want to create fears in the minds of Nigerians so that the innocent Nigerians can pressure the government for the return of all the dismantled military checkpoints in the country.

    Could anybody be really benefiting from those military checkpoints?

    Another question is whether the police should be wholly blamed for the rising attacks?

    The Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, who was appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan, had before the end of that administration ordered dismantling of all police roadblocks in the country.

    The police, under him, were expected to take advantage of the dismantling of military checkpoints by introducing measures that would boost internal security to the outfit’s credit.

    How successful any measure introduced to boost internal security by the police, in the first two weeks of the directive, has not been very visible as Boko Haram seemed to be having a field day.

    Rather than do everything possible to remove the dents on their image by properly securing the country, some of the policemen on the roads, in the first two weeks of the directive, were said to be involved still in extortion from motorists, especially at nights.

    Many of them, who dared not mount the outlawed roadblocks, appeared on many roads in the cities, the moment darkness set in, doing the job the way they know how to do it and flashing their blinding torch lights on the faces of motorists.

    But when the situation appeared to be getting out of hand, the Police Force last Tuesday was said to have signaled commencement of special Stop-and-Search operations on highways with emphasis on roads in and out of major cities/towns, nationwide.

    It is however not clear why it took the Police Force two weeks to give the stop-and-search order after Buhari’s directive was given.

    It was however a welcome development on Wednesday when news filtered in that the masterminds of the Jos and Zaria bomb blasts have been apprehended.

    A statement issued by the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abayomi Shogunle, announcing the new order in the Police Force, had also urged the public to report any unprofessional conduct by policemen at www.stopthe bribes.net or nearest Police station.

    While hoping that the new move will go a long way in boosting internal security, it is also prayed that no Nigerian who responds to the call by reporting such unprofessional conducts at any of the police stations will not be victimized and end up in the police net.

    Besides the issue of Policing, another question agitating the minds of some Nigerians is whether there was any withdrawal of key equipment, tools, weapons or group of fighters from the battle against the sect, which have been very critical to the successes said to have been recorded in the tail end of Jonathan’s administration. Or are the fresh attacks just desperate moves of a sinking sect?

    While it is difficult to really pinpoint where the problems are coming from, which has led to rise in attacks by the sect, it is expected that other key players in security issues would urgently reassess the situation and take steps to stop the rampage.

    Everything must be done now to stop the massacre and destruction by ensuring peace and safety in all parts of Nigeria.

     

    Villa visit excites #BBOG group

     

    The joy and happiness on the faces of members of the #BringBackOurGirls (#BBOG) group led by former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili and Mariam Uwais knew no bounds last Wednesday.

    They were happy that they were formally received at the Presidential Villa by President Muhammadu Buhari after 450 days that over 200 secondary school girls were abducted by Boko Haram in Chibok, Borno State.

    Apart from the previous attempts by the group to access the seat of power and have audience with former President Goodluck Jonathan thwarted by the last administration, many of the members have not been spared by attacks on the social media.

    The group, which was harassed by many government agencies under Jonathan’s administration, was also labeled as an arm of the then opposition party and now ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The group, at the meeting with Buhari, did not fail to maximize the opportunity as about eight persons from the group delivered one speech after the other thereby holding up Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for close to two hours at the Council Chamber briefing room.

    Painting the hall red with their T-shirts’ colour, the selected members of the group in the hall numbering about 150, also took every available opportunity to render their solidarity songs.

    They also posed for photographs with the President and his team in the hall.

  • Menace of taxi robbers

    Menace of taxi robbers

    Robbers operating in cabs may well be the worst nightmare of residents of the nation’s capital, Abuja. GRACE OBIKE tracks some of their tactics

    Every capital has them: the wily pickpocket and the itinerant dupe with a phoney accent pretending to be a francophone visitor. Still, the worst scourge of Abuja must be the gangs which specialise in dispossessing their unsuspecting passengers of their cash in addition to putting them in all sorts of danger. Some say all the horrible tales they once heard of Lagos have been replicated in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The cab robbers are the scariest of all the criminals. Everyone knows that Abuja residents love their taxis, which are the robbers’ veritable tools of operation. They are also cheap to ride, going for as low as N200 or even lower for N150. This is unlike Lagos where taxi fares are almost a fortune.

    You board a taxi, believing all you have for company is the driver. As the ride progresses, the driver finds an excuse to make a detour to a lonely road. He stops the vehicle pretending to have discovered a serious fault. Suddenly, his accomplice jumps out of hiding, threatens the passenger with a weapon and takes away all he has.

    When you seek help or intervention from bystanders as the rogues flee, people often tell you to thank God you escaped alive.

    According to most residents of the nation’s capital, the incidence of robbers operating in cars has been on the increase in the last few years, especially along Kubwa Expressway, Jabi, Berger and other parts of Abuja.

    The fraudsters have adopted the technique of driving by busy bus stops with sometimes three rogue-passengers on board. Without completely slowing down, they mark out people standing alone and wait for the person to ask if they are going to a particular place. The victim feeling lucky amongst other passengers, boards, feeling safe since there are already people inside, sometimes a female among them.

    The occupants of the vehicle will be so friendly and eager to accommodate their victim and give him as much comfort as possible. The car speeds off only to get to an isolated road a few minutes from where they picked the passenger and the first passengers begin to discuss dollars and pounds being in the boot of the vehicle or electronics to sell.

    An unsuspecting victim may even join in the conversation which is the easiest way that they can achieve their goal and the victim will be lucky if they just stop at stealing his money and possessions on them because most go as far as making the victim clear out the accounts for them.

    The scariest part in the taxi robbery is that the rogues do not only threaten their victims but hurt them so badly in some cases, some even killed. They operate with such deadly weapons as guns, knives and swords. Helpless victims submit to their will but some of the evil ones, after dispossessing their victims of their belongings, throw them out of moving vehicles.

    One such case was that of a woman who after being robbed was thrown out of a vehicle. She did not fall off completely and was dragged over a distance by the speeding vehicle. Her skin was said to have peeled off in the ordeal.

    Many others have been beaten severely, some scared off at fake shrines where they are forced to swear never to divulge their criminal act to anyone, not their relatives or the police.

    To them, it is just plain hustling and trying to make ends meet. A victim, who recently fell into their trap, spoke with Abuja Review, saying that her abductors kept saying that they were hustling just like everyone else. The victim who only spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “As they beat me and took all the money in my bag, one of the men kept saying, I must make it in this Abuja, sebi we are all in Abuja, I must make it, come rain, come shine, nothing will stand between me and success.”

    Another resident John Ishaku told Abuja Review how the criminals sent a foreigner running away from her work and Nigeria. Ishaku explained that his Kenyan friend was duped and dragged to a shrine somewhere in Jahi.

    “After the incident,” he said, “she came back to tell us that they had not only stolen all the money in her purse, but dragged her to a shrine and made her swear in the shrine not to divulge their act to anyone or call the police. They went with her to the ATM and she cleared out the account for them. She was so scared, and spent three days in church fasting and crying on the altar. She refused to leave the church even after she had been convinced by the pastor that she was OK and not under any form of spell. She packed her belongings and left Nigeria for good. Something has to be done about these people. Abuja is a place filled with so many foreigners and not just Nigerians. These criminals are spoiling the name of this country.”

    Resident of Abuja has a way of handling these criminals when they are caught: instant jungle justice unless they are lucky to be saved by law enforcement agencies. There have been cases of a crowd giving them the beating of their lives. A few years ago, a video went viral of an Abuja crowd that stripped some of these criminals naked and beat them up. The criminals were thrown down from an overhead bridge, which was really gruesome. Another group which defrauded a victim along Area I last year was chased and blocked in the traffic, one of them lucky to have escaped but the second was taught a lesson that if he survived it, he would think twice about embarking on another mission.

    However when contacted, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) FCT Command, ASP Anjuguri Manzah said that the cases of one chance in Abuja has actually decreased because the FCT police commissioner CP Wilson Inalegwu has made progressive efforts in curbing criminality in Abuja.

    He stated that, “the Commissioner has given directives that crimes and criminal activities in the FCT should be stamped out by all means, we have been working on his directive and the cases of one chance has actually reduced drastically, we are making good efforts to ensure that the FCT becomes crime free and residents can live free and without any fear of intimidation.

    “We deal with the cases of one chance often, whenever we catch them or they are reported to our stations, we don’t keep themý, we charge them to court immediately and they are prosecuted. Residents can be assured that the police is making all efforts in ensuring their safety.”

    The decline or increase in criminal activities in the FCT especially in cases of the one chance will still have to be left for residents to decideý, a resident who might have encountered this hoodlums frequently may not be eager to agree that it has declined but people will have to be careful, security conscious at all times and be careful of how they board vehicles in isolated parts of town.

     

  • Plague of Plateau

    Plague of Plateau

    Cholera has been an annual blight, sometimes afflicting the state three times in one year. YUSUFU AMINU IDEGU reports on the cost of this year’s outbreak in Plateau State

    It is a seven-letter disease which residents of Plateau State dread probably as much as Nigerians feared the Ebola virus. In panic, many evade handshakes. They no longer buy fruits the way they used to, and are more careful these days where to dine and even what sachet water to drink. Except it is absolutely necessary, hospitals are also avoided.

    •A cholera patient on hospital bed
    •A cholera patient on hospital bed

    You cannot blame Plateau residents. Cholera, said to be caused by unhealthy water and unhygienic environments, has struck in every of the last eight years, sometimes thrice in one year. The cost is dire: many lives are lost.

    The last two weeks have been terrible, as the plague has been ravaging several parts of the state, including the capital, Jos. That of Langtang North has claimed at least 15 lives. A team of WHO and UNICEF personnel fought hard to contain the outbreak in Jos.

    Last year, the state battled the disease more than three times in about five local governments especially Quan Pan, Shendam, Mikang, Jos South, Barkin Ladi as well as Jos North local government areas.

    The cases were triggered by overcrowding, poor sanitary conditions and lack of potable drinking water, among other factors. That year, the state government mounted a vigorous public enlightenment campaign to sensitize citizens on preventive measures and what to do in an epidemic situation. But, in spite of that the state continued to witness cases of cholera.

    No fewer than 15 persons have died from the disease in the latest outbreak, while several others were hospitalized, some in critical condition.

    The outbreak occurred in Langtang North Local Government Area of the state particularly in Kantam and Filam villages of Langtang North council.

    The news of the outbreak was broken by the member representing Langtang North in the state House of Assembly Hon. Godfrey Lamdip when he raised it on the floor as an issue of urgent public importance.

    The lawmaker said, “The cholera outbreak in the local government…has killed at least fifteen people so far with several other victims hospitalised. I have to bring the issue before the House of Assembly so that prompt action can be taken to save lives because several members of these communities are already migrating to neighboring local governments which can even lead to the spread of the epidemic.”

    With this alarm, members of the House from neighbouring councils were also not comfortable. They said their communities might also be affected if nothing was done to halt the spread.

    After much deliberation on the incident, the House mandated its health committee to liaise with the state ministry of health and ensure prompt action to stop the spread.

    The prompt action actually followed, in a matter of days, the spread was contained. Those on hospital admission, over 50 of them, were treated and discharged. Dr. Raymond Jurit, the state Epidemologist, who led the team of medical experts to Langtang North said, “We immediately dispatched medical team to the communities and we thought them how to handled the victims. The medical team did their best to manage the cases and reduced the level of casualties.

    “We have taken samples of the stool and vomits and we are already testing them in our laboratory. We do so to ascertain what the situation is. For now we are only suspecting it is a case of cholera, but one is not sure until we see it in the laboratory test we are currently conducting. But then, from the symptom, it is obvious it is a case of cholera but it has to be scientifically certified before we declare it so.

    “But in all efforts, I must commend the contribution of Chairman, Langtang North Local Government, Hon Dan Dul. Since the case was discovered, he never went to his office, he was always on ground with the medical team and really assisted the medical team in the management of the cases,” said Dr. Jurit.

    •A boy in hospital, with the disease
    •A boy in hospital, with the disease

    On the risk factors leading to the outbreak of the disease, the Epidemologist said, “We went there to discover that the communities have no good drinking water; their water source is just not good for human consumption. That was what caused their own cases. But we have recommended that something has to be done fast to solve the water needs of those communities, if not, all the efforts of the medical team in containing the cases would be in vain, that will be bad enough, so the state government and the local government have promised to address that as soon as possible”

    Asked why such cases of cholera are becoming too frequent in the state, the epidemiology said, “You know, Cholera is a water born disease, so where there is scarcity of water, there is a risk factor already. Another thing is personal hygiene, a lot of citizens don’t heed our warming and sensitization campaigns, coupled with our low level of ignorance. In most of the villages, people defecate in the open, most of them defecate close to their houses, all these are risk factors.

    At the moment, apart from Langtang North, some cases has been reported in Jos North and Jos South, but they are not as serious as that of Langtang North. But in Jos, you will relished that the recent strike by labor union contributed to the outbreak. During the strike, there was no distribution of treated water, so citizens went for other sources of drinking water most of which are not from hygienic sources. But now that workers have resumed work, we are not going to have new cases of the outbreak again.

    “In that of Jos North, we are working hand in hand with UNICEF and WHO, so we promptly contained that and there is no more case in Jos North. But generally if the genera public will heed to all precautionary measure we tell them through our public enlightenment program, them we will not have problem. We told people to watch their hands regularly and properly is as simple as that” said Dr. Jurit.

    Few weeks ago when refuse were left to decompose on the streets of Jos as a result of workers strike, it was feared that cholera may break out any moment. So far, four people have died in Joss city with vomiting and stoking suspected to be cholera. If not for the intervention by UNICEF and WHO, the outbreak in Jos May have claimed hundreds of lives in a very short period.

    Meanwhile, the chairman of Langtang North local government, Hon Dan Dul has declared weekly sanitation exercise for the next one month to ensure every community is kept clean. The state government has also intensified public enlightenment campaign using the state media.

  • Matching word with action

    Those who have any skeletons in their cupboards regarding the running of public offices in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan now have reason to be concerned.

    This is because President Muhammadu Buhari last week earnestly began probe into some fraudulent practices that have almost milked the nation dry.

    Buhari, during his campaign period prior to the March 28 Presidential election, had put no one in doubt as to his determination to kill the corruption monster that has dwarfed Nigeria and prevented it from adequately providing basic infrastructural facilities for Nigerians over the years.

    Knowing Buhari as a no-nonsense man and one who means what he says, some of the key actors in Jonathan’s administration, probably out of fear of what they have done wrong in office, did not wait for the May 29 handover ceremony to take place before jetting out of the country.

    While many ex-government’s agency heads in this group have not returned to the country after five weeks that Buhari assumed office, many others in Jonathan’s administration, under one guise or the other, have also travelled out of Nigeria since May 29.

    Though some Nigerians might have misconstrued part of Buhari’s inaugural speech to mean that the sins of corrupt officers in Jonathan’s administration have been forgiven and that he will only look ahead, signs from the seat of power in the last two weeks have shown that it is not going to be the case.

    Buhari, who kept his plans against corruption in the past administration to his heart, at the beginning of his government had stopped immigration and other government agencies from preventing members of Jonathan’s cabinet from travelling out of the country.

    Even if he wanted to close his eyes to financial wrongdoings under Jonathan’s administration, what he met in the treasury on assumption in office couldn’t allow him.

    What he met on the ground was so bad that his administration could not pick up and move with the speed it wanted to.

    Unable to keep calm over the issue, Buhari a forthnight ago raised the alarm that he virtually met empty treasury on assumption of office.

    As if the empty treasury left behind by the last administration was aimed at crippling the nation, Buhari then vowed to recover the stolen money.

    Seeing the predicament of Buhari’s young administration, the United States and other nations, where most key actors in Jonathan’s administration have relocated to, have promised to help Buhari in his drive to recover the stolen money.

    While these happened two weeks ago, the Buhari’s administration last week Monday put action to its words.

    It sets up a four man panel comprising state governors, Edo – Adams Oshiomhole, Gombe – Ibrahim Dankwambo,

    Kaduna – Nasir el-Rufai and Akwa Ibom – Emmanuel Udom, to probe the oil sales and expenditure of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) between 2012 and May 2015.

    The panel, which is expected to report back to the National Economic Council (NEC), headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, by 23rd of this month, is also to probe expenses and other payments out of the Excess Crude Account.

    Briefing journalists on behalf of NEC last week Monday, Oshiomhole said: “This is the first time we had a National Economic Council meeting in which under the instructions of the President, NNPC and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation was compelled to provide information in black and white on issues as it relates to the total sales of Nigeria crude from 2012 to May 2015. This has never happened before and for us this is profound.

    “What we saw from those numbers, which I believe Nigerians are entitled to know, is that whereas the NNPC claimed to have earned about N8.1 trillion, what NNPC paid into the Federation Account between 2012 and May 2015 was N4.3 trillion and NNPC withheld and spent N3.8 trillion.

    “Which means the cost of running NNPC is much more than the cost of running the Federal Government. That tells you how much is missing, what is mismanaged, what is stolen, there are huge figures.

    “President Buhari has promised to do that henceforth all monies must go to the federation account. What you need, you budget for. Nigeria cannot continue with you earn the money and spend it. Where is transparency? Where is the role of the National Assembly?”

    On Excess Crude Account, he said: “We looked at the numbers for the ýExcess crude account, the last time the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, reported to the Council and it is in the minute, she reported by November 2014, that we had $4.1 billion but today the Accountant General Office reported we have $2.0 billion. Which means the Honourable Minister spent $2.1billion without authority of the NEC.” He added

    But barely 24 hours after the move by Buhari’s administration to look at past records, fuel scarcity and long queues, under whatever guise, appeared in many petrol stations across the country.

    It is not clear whether the fuel scarcity is a way the marketers, who are mostly used to hoarding fuel in their filling stations, wanted to fight Buhari’s anti-corruption drive in the sector, which may end up with total deregulation of the sector.

    Many Nigerians, no doubt, trust Mr. President will not allow the few saboteurs to continue to hold the country to ransom and make Nigerians to suffer the man-made fuel scarcity for long.

    No matter what is really causing the fuel scarcity, the masses on the street are fully behind the government in the effort to fight corruption to a standstill for the betterment of the country.

     

    Depleting Boko Haram’s foot-soldiers

     

    Besides going all out in military battle against the terrorists, Boko Haram, the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is also  embracing ways to deplete the sect’s foot-soldiers without firing bullets.

    This move is in line with the positions of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and some other retired army generals, who believed that military option alone cannot end terrorism in Nigeria.

    The Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Department in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has started to disabuse the minds of some Boko Haram members and rehabilitate them back to the society.

    Apart from drawing out those already operating within the sect, the department is also concerned with shrinking Boko Haram’s recruitment pool.

    The aims of the CVE programme in Nigeria include identifying the underlying causes of radicalization likely to be social, cultural, religious, or economic factor, and developing strategies to tackle them.

  • Residents urge Buhari to restore checkpoints

    Just weeks after President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the removal of military checkpoints from roads across the country, some Abuja resident especially those living in satellite towns have asked that the roadblocks be restored.

    Barely two days to last Christmas residents discovered that military security checkpoints had been mounted at various strategic inter-changes and junctions within perimeter of the nation’s capital in addition to some existing checkpoints at various entry points to the city.

    According to findings, the development was due to the prevalence insecurity caused by the Boko Haram sects.

    Throughout the Yuletide and even before the removal of the checkpoints, soldiers mounted roadblocks mounted by soldiers forced motorists to drive at slow speed, while suspicions vehicles were pulled over for checks.

    Pedestrians, especially those carrying bags, were also subjected to extensive scrutiny.

    A cross section of residents, who spoke with Abuja Review in separate interviews, said there are doubts over the rationale to relax security checks, which culminated in the sudden disappearance of the military check points from the city centre.

    The residents argued there is still need for them to continue checking,  because of the increasing mass movement of people (old and new settlers) into the city, giving that the greater percentage of the residents are yet to return from the yuletide break.,

    A resident, Emmanuel Ona who expressed worry over the development, noted that there were still more security threats in the air, as people are still moving into the city with a lot of bags and other things, which may be used to smuggle dangerous weapons into the city.

    He said he was shocked and sad when he discovered that the military check points in Kuje and other parts of the city were nowhere to be found.

    “I was very sad when I discovered that there were no longer military check points that were mounted before Berger and Apo Roundabouts, along the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway and Kuje.

    “Because the emergence of the check points gave me and other residents a great sense of security in the city, especially while plying the route on a daily basis. And, most of us had wished that the military checkpoints stay.

    “I am appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to bring back the military check points, to help beef up security within the city centre, given the prevailing security challenges in the land.”

    Another resident, Peace Omole said although, the check points mounted within the city centre and other parts had brought a lot of hardships on commuters, but the current peace we are enjoying is better.

    According to him, the people are ready to pay any kind of sacrifices that would help lessen the current security threats they are faced with, while pursuing their daily bread.

    Omole: “It is better to have these military checks on our streets, if it would allay our fears over the rising insecurity in the country, that’s was why am still to come to terms on the reasons for their sudden removal by the government.”

     

  • Reform boost as el-Rufai frees inmates

    Reform boost as el-Rufai frees inmates

    The release of 96 inmates in a 100-year-old prison in Kaduna State by Governor Nasir el-Rufai is a first step in reforming the penitentiar

    Governor Nasir el-Rufai
    Governor Nasir el-Rufai

    It was understandable that 96 inmates of Kaduna Convict Prison or KCP yelled and jumped for joy when Governor Nasir el-Rufai granted them amnesty. They were among 800 awaiting trial at the 100-year-old jail, many of them serving more than the years of their sentence had they been tried and convicted. The joy of freedom from captivity and getting on with their lives came naturally.

    There are more fundamental reasons to celebrate the governor’s gesture. One, it was a first step towards freeing up space in the prison so that it can resume offering reformatory services conceived by the colonialists. The KCP, established in 1915, is one of the few jails in the country where inmates could study and learn skills but that reformatory aspect has suffered owing, among other reasons, to overcrowding. One hundred years ago, the KCP inmate accommodation capacity was 547. That has been overstretched to more than 1000.

    Another reason to applaud the El-Rufai amnesty is the sense of justice for the inmates and correcting the error of people who kept the awaiting-trial detainees longer than was necessary. Now, there is hope for the 704 still behind bars.

    The Nation gathered that the Kaduna Convict Prison has study centres of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in which two of its inmates are running degree programmes in Political Science and Computer Science. In addition, the prison has 11 training workshops, including leather works, tailoring, knitting, hair-dressing, carpentry, welding, plumbing and laundry, among others. But all the training centres are hamstrung by inadequate training materials and lack of space, thanks to the large number of inmates awaiting trial.

    It was against this backdrop that Governor el-Rufai visited the prison and released the 96 inmates.

    Even though, journalists were not allowed to speak to the inmates, those released were seen jubilating as they were handed their release letters.

    There was no doubt that el-Rufai’s visit brought joy to the inmates, especially those released and gave hope of nearest future freedom to the remaining inmates.

    The prisoners screamed his name from their cells as he waved at them and smiled. Some of the inmates were believed to have been in the prison for years for committing different offences ranging from murder, theft, armed robbery, rape and minor offences such as debt and fighting.

    Those in the governor’s entourage, including the media, were amazed to hear the prisoners shouting the governor’s campaign nickname “Mai Rusau” meaning, demolition master.

    Although El-Rufai was not the first governor to visit the old prison, his call surprised the inmates and the prison authorities.

    In his address he described as injustice, the practice of keeping awaiting trial inmates on minor offences in the prison for too long.

    According to him, his visit to the prison was informed by the briefing of the state Controller of Prison as well as President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to all governors to look into ways of decongesting the prisons.

    El-Rufai said after touring the congested prison that he will work together with the prison authorities to revive the facilities.

    He said, “We are particularly interested in improving the state of training and vocational facilities within the prisons and expand that to outside the prison. We believe acquisition of skills is very important, not only to create jobs but also to reduce the rate of crime.

    “It is injustice for a person to be kept for a long time in the prison on a minor offence and awaiting trial.”

    Earlier, the State Controller of Prisons, Abubakar Garba told el-Rufai of the challenges facing the inmates, urging him to address them.

    He said, “We are happy with this visit by the new Kaduna State governor because the challenges facing our inmates are enormous. Particularly, the issue of congestion is what we would like you to look into.

    “This is because the prison which was built in 1915 was to house about 547 inmates but presently, we have about 1000 inmates with majority awaiting trials, including 114 condemned criminals, with 11 of them being indigenes of Kaduna State including a female.”

    The Prison Controller also sought assistance in logistics, saying that the prison has only two functional vans for moving inmates, two others grounded.

    “This poses as great threat on the citizens of the state since too many inmates are conveyed at  a time to and from courts, hence exposing them to attacks by unsuspecting hoodlums.”

    He also appealed to the governor to assist the inmates in the area of rehabilitation through skill and vocational training, saying some of the training equipment in their workshop are outdated.

    On the peace in the prison, the Controller said they have enjoyed relatives peace for a long time.

    Meanwhile, the Chief Judge, Justice Tanimu Zailani in his brief remarks gave assurance that the judiciary will cooperate with the state executive to actualise its objectives of decongesting all prisons in Kaduna State.

     

    y institution, reports ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE

  • Council chief’s election upheld

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) election petition tribunal sitting at Wuse Zone 6 Magistrate Court, has upheld election the victory of the chairman of Abaji Area Council, Alhaji Yahaya Garba, of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the duly elected chairman of the council in the March 16, 2013 polls.

    Chairperson of the tribunal, Chief Magistrate Binta Moahmmed, while delivering a three hours judgment, which was read by Magistrate Musa Jobbo, said the chairmanship candidate of the defunct Action Congress Nigeria (ACN), Alhaji Abdulrahman Ajiya, has failed in his petition to prove the allegations of the non-resignation of the council chairman as class teacher before contesting and over voting.

    According to him, the allegation of over voting is not proved by virtue of the provision of section 53 (2) of the electoral Act (Supra), which, he said, provides that the basis of nullification of the results of an election shall be when the number of votes cast is higher than the number of registered voters.

    He added that the allegation of the petitioner of ballot box snatching/stuffing, thuggery, intimidation, allocation of votes, harassment and security threat are criminal in nature, which, he said, require prove beyond reasonable doubt.

    “Finally, we note that the petitioner called only four witnesses. We also note that there are 43 polling units in the 7 wards complained of. This burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt has not in our view being discharged by the petitioner, as this petition therefore failed and is hereby dismissed,” he said.

    Reacting to the judgment, Counsel to the respondent, Mahmud Magaji (SAN) represented by Barrister Chris Kelechi, commended the tribunal for delivering sound and transparent judgment.

    He urged the tribunal to award a cost N500, 000 to the petitioner for the expenses he incurred in prosecuting the case, saying senior advocates were involved in prosecuting the case, which, he said last for two years.

    But counsel to the ACN Mr Y.G Haruna, a lawyer, said the judgment passed by the tribunal did not captured the areas as contained in the petition, saying he would challenge the judgment at the Appeal court.

    On his part, the chairman of Abaji council, Alhaji Yahaya Garba Gawu, who was in court after the judgment was delivered, commended the tribunal for delivering a sound and transparent judgment.

    He said the outcome judgment has proved to his people that he truly won the March 16, 2013 council election, while calling on his opponent to join hands with his administration in order to move the council forward.

    “As the outcome of today’s judgment has brought a big relief to me in order to use the remaining one year left to dividend of democracy to the good people of Abaji area council, ‘’ he said.

    It would be recalled that the ACN chairmanship candidate, Alhaji Abdularahman Ajiya, had filed a petition to challenge the victory of the incumbent council chairman, Alhaji Yahaya Gawu, of the PDP, after he was declared winner in the March 16, 2013 council election.

    Ajiya, alleged irregularities, over voting across the seven wards out of ten wards of the council, alleging further that the chairman did not resign as a class teacher before contesting the election.

     

  • Firm launches mobile emergency medical care

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO) under the auspices of Doctors on Call Health Initiative has developed a new innovation, known as Telemedicine, to carter mostly for rural dwellers and address cases of medical emergencies.

    The organisation said it has assembled more than 50 doctors aside hundreds of nurses and other medical personnel as part of the team to respond to any emergency from residents of the FCT.

    The firm’s Principal Consultant and Project Head, Dr. Adeloye Adejobi, said the purpose of the innovation is to bring health care access to rural locations by enabling practitioners evaluate, diagnose and treat patient remotely using the latest telecommunications technology.

    He also revealed that their latest discovery was as a result of more than two year research, which he said has received two awards from both the World Bank and the IMF.

    Adejobi further explained that the new medical technology allows patients to receive expert medical care without having to travel.

    “Rural health care practitioners can use telemedicine products to capture and transmit medical data and images to peers and specialists whenever necessary, allowing for cost-efficient expert consultations and improved patient care.

    “Telemedicine enables practitioners to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients remotely using the latest telecommunications technology. In many situations, telemedicine offers numerous benefits as an alternative to traditional in-person medical care.

    “Many patients find it difficult to travel to clinics, hospitals, or doctors’ offices for any number of reasons. Telemedicine can be a great option for patients with unique challenges or in situations making it difficult to travel to receive traditional care.”

    According to him, the new health care service can be used to monitor discharged patients and track patient recovery and also facilitating communication between doctors and patients.

    He added that “Research shows that the use of telehealth technologies results in many positive outcomes is including fewer hospital re-admissions, more faithful following of prescribed courses of treatment, and faster recovery than that of patients not receiving remote intervention.

    “Telemedicine allows hospitals to create networks to provide each other with support. By easily sharing their expertise outside their own institutions, doctors can offer incredible value to their medical colleagues and those colleagues’ patients.”

  • Task team warns criminals

    The FCT Special Task Team on City Cleaning and Management has assured that it would do everything possible to safeguard life and property in the territory.

    This assurance was given by the chairman of the city cleaning team who is also the Terrritory’s Police Commissioner, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu after an emergency meeting.

    The Police Commissioner reiterated that no stone would be left unturned to safeguard all the residents of the Federal Capital Territory; noting that anything that poses danger to the well being of the residents of the Territory won’t be spared.

    Inalegwu called for cooperation by partnering with the members of the Special Task Team to weed the Federal Capital City of all environmental nuisances.

    The Police Commissioner emphasized that the Task Team has put some viable mechanisms on ground to identify bad eggs within its members.

    He remarked that those selling petrol in jerry cans will make the city unsafe and ‘we will go after them’ as well as those operating unpainted taxis, because such can be used for ‘One Chance’ or kidnap purposes.

    His words: “We must have records of all commercial taxis operating in Abuja and that is why the Task Team and particularly the officers and men of the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (VIO) are enforcing it”.

    Inalegwu said that commercial motorcycle (Okada) is banned in the Federal Capital City and remained banned; while the Keke NAPEP operators must remain in the restricted designated areas.

    He warned that pedestrian bridges are for road crossing and not for commercial activities; stressing that anyone caught would face the full wrath of the law.

    According to the Chairman, the Task Team was set up to keep the city clean and any unwholesome practices would be kept at bay.

    The Police Commissioner assured that the Task Team will never work to inflict hardship or discomfort to any resident of the Federal Capital Territory.

    Meanwhile, the Chairman paraded two vehicles fitted with about two hundred litres of PMS (Petrol) drums each totaling 400 litres, earlier arrested by the Task Team and therefore used the occasion to advise residents to stop all those illegal activities.