Category: Northern Reports

The World Institute for Peace has bemoaned the inability of security agencies, especially the lead agency, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), to stop political thuggery and other vices.

The Executive Director, World Institute for Peace, Lamina Kamiludeen Omotoyosi, briefing reporters, lamented the increased activities of political thugs in the build up to the February polls while the security agencies look the other way.

He therefore called on President Muhammadu Buhari to activate state machinery in a proactive manner to the act, which has lingered for too long.

“As the country is approaching the 2023 presidential election, it is very necessary for the federal government to put in top gear, measures to stop any act of thuggery and banditry in the country. Meanwhile, the way political thugs are grouping in the Southwest, especially Oyo and Osun states obviously, it is becoming unbearable and this needs a very weighty action to halt its growth.” he said.

Speaking further, he stressed that the free will given to political thugs to operate in the West and banditry in the North as well as the activities of unknown gunmen in the Southeast all pose threats to the hope of a peaceful, credible and free elections.

“It is very necessary that any form of violence must be tackled before any election in order to ensure a peaceful, fair and democratic process of electing the leaders of any country”, he added.

He, therefore, implored “the federal government to have an independent team that will work for this election,” devoid of any state governor’s influence.

A first-class traditional ruler, Agwom Izere, His Royal Highness Dr. Isaac Azi Waziri, who was kidnapped in the early hours of Friday, by suspected gunmen, has been rescued by the combined efforts of security agencies and local vigilantes.

The Nation gathered that the combined efforts of vigilantes, hunters, and some brave youths mobilised and combed the hills where the monarch was suspected to have been taken, and engaged the gunmen in a gun battle that led to the arrest of two of the kidnappers.

One of the chiefs, who craved anonymity, confirmed to The Nation that the monarch has been rescued and is on his way to the palace, adding that the rescue operation was carried out by security agencies and local hunters.

The traditional ruler was kidnapped from his palace in Angware, Jos East Local Government Area of the state at about 3:00 am, after the gunmen had shot two of the security men attached to him.

The Council Chairman of Jos East Local Government of Plateau State, Hon. Ezekiel Izang, who confirmed the kidnapping of the traditional ruler, said the kidnappers took him away around 3 a.m. on Friday at his palace and injured some security personnel attached to him.

To this end, a statement by the Plateau State Police Command Spokesman, DSP. Alfred Alabo, who confirmed the rescue of the monarch, stated that, “In line with the assurance of the Commissioner of Police, Plateau State Command, CP Bartholomew N.  Onyeka, psc(+), that criminals will surely be apprehended during or after committing every crime in the state, abductors of HRH. Rev. Dr. Azi Wakili, the paramount ruler of Jos East LGA, Jos has been arrested by gallant police operatives of the Command.

“As soon as the information was received, police operatives led by the DPO of Angware, SP Timothy Bebissa raced to the scene to rescue the abductee but were engaged by the gunmen in a gun battle where one of our operative sustained a gunshot injury and one yet to be identified civilian guard was shot death by the kidnappers.

“In a relentless effort, the police, other security agencies and security help groups strategised, swung into action, rescued the traditional ruler and arrested two suspects in connection with the nefarious act.

“However, the injured police officer has been taken to the hospital for treatment while the deceased corpse was deposited at a hospital for autopsy.

The Federal Government has urged the organised private sector (OPS) to invest in scientific prototypes created by local innovators.

The government says investment in scientific research results and prototypes showcased at the just concluded expo can create jobs and reduce crime.

Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Sen. Adeleke Mamora said this yesterday in Abuja at the closing ceremony of the Technology and Innovation Expo.

He said, “Furthermore, the inclusion of government, private sectors, academia and research institutions provided a platform for all the stakeholders to come together and discuss ways to support innovation and entrepreneurship in the country. It was great to see the collaboration between these groups, and we look forward to seeing the positive results that will come out of these discussions.

“In light of all the lessons learned, the outcomes of the expo and the contributions of all the stakeholders, we encourage the organised private sector (OPS) to take advantage of the research results and prototypes showcased at this expo, to create jobs for our people, reduce poverty and crime in the country as well as create wealth for both themselves and the nation.

“We must acknowledge the role of international partnerships in driving innovation and development in Nigeria. We have seen how collaborations with other countries can bring in new technologies, knowledge, and expertise, and we must continue to seek these opportunities to support the growth and development of our nation.”

The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi has assured that when he becomes the President, there would be no Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp across Nigeria, as he would combat insecurity to a standstill. He also said his administration would ensure that Nigeria feeds itself as it has all the potential to do so.

Obi who was at the Minna Polo ground in Niger State for his presidential campaign rally on Thursday evening, stated that fighting insecurity is his top priority, as a government that cannot keep lives and properties safe is not a government.

“We will ensure that nobody will be a refugee in his country. There would be no IDP or IDP camps. Nobody will be killed in his country. We will employ all we can to ensure that this ends. We won’t take chances. We will fight insecurity. The criminals, those terrorists are not more formidable than the government. When we get in we will ensure that they have no opportunity to operate. In this area, I can assure you that you will not find us wanting,” he said.

Speaking about the country feeding itself, Obi said that being an agrarian state, the food revolution would start in Niger State and spread to other states. “We will use Niger State as an example that Nigeria can feed itself. We assure you that all the facilities that are dead across the state would be brought back alive.” The LP presidential candidate further said that he would wage war on power and unemployment.

In his remarks, Peter Obi’s running mate, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, said by electing Peter Obi as the next president, the voters would be giving power back to the people.

The Police Command in Borno State said it has arrested a nine-man gang of serial ritualists known as “Karangiya,” who specialised in dismembering body parts of their victims.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Abdu Umar, who disclosed this to newsmen on Friday, said they were arrested on Dec. 16, 2022 by men of the command.

He said the suspects murdered unknown persons and dismembered their remains, noting that the last incident was recorded where a victim’s eyes were removed around the Post Office area.

“There was another case where a woman was killed and thrown into the river and her body parts were removed,” he said.

He explained that after visiting the scene, detectives embarked on an intelligence investigation to find those behind the dastardly act.

He said, “On the Dec. 16, 2022, at about 1945hrs, one Mohammed Bukar, 18 year-old, from Shuwari area in Maiduguri, went and reported at Jere Division that he was on his way to collect his GSM phone from charging together with his friend.

“He said that they sighted a group of youths who called themselves members of ‘KARANGIYA GROUP’, armed with sticks and cutlasses coming towards their direction.

“On reaching them, the members of the group started beating Mr Bukar while his friend took to his heals and ran for his life.

“It was in the process that one of the armed members, Ali Bukar, used a long knife and attempted to cut the head of the victim, but the victim used his left hand to shield his head.

“Again, the suspects lifted the cutlass and cut off the hand of the victim and ran away, leaving him in a pool of blood,” he said.

The Commissioner said that the police swiftly stormed the scene and arrested the principal suspect Ali Bukar and eight others for investigation and subsequent prosecution.

Umar said that the suspects would be charged to court.