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  • California man linked to anti-Islam film taken in for questioning

    California man linked to anti-Islam film taken in for questioning

     A California man convicted of bank fraud was taken in for questioning yesterday by officers investigating possible probation violations stemming from the making of an anti-Islam film that triggered violent protests in the Muslim world.
    Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, 55, voluntarily left his home in the early hours of yesterday for the meeting in a sheriff’s station in the Los Angeles suburb of Cerritos, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore said.
    “He will be interviewed by federal probation officers,” Whitmore said. He said Nakoula had not been placed under arrest but would not be returning home immediately. “He was never put in handcuffs… It was all voluntary.”
    Nakoula, who has denied involvement in the film in a phone call to his Coptic Christian bishop, was ushered out of his home and into a waiting car by several sheriff’s deputies, his face shielded by a scarf, hat and sunglasses.
    The crudely made 13-minute English-language film was filmed in California and circulated on the Internet under several titles including “Innocence of Muslims”.
    The film sparked a violent protest at the U.S. consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi during which the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans were killed on Tuesday. Protests have spread to other countries across the Muslim world.
    U.S. officials have said authorities were not investigating the film project itself, and that even if it was inflammatory or led to violence, simply producing it cannot be considered a crime in the United States, which has strong free speech laws.
    Two attorneys visited Nakoula’s home hours before he was taken in for questioning. They said they were there to consult with him.
    Nakoula, whose name has been widely linked to the film in media reports, pleaded guilty to bank fraud in 2010 and was sentenced to 21 months in prison, to be followed by five years on supervised probation, court documents showed.
    He was accused of fraudulently opening bank and credit card accounts using social security numbers that did not match the names on the applications, a criminal complaint showed. He was released in June 2011, and at least some production on the video was done later that summer.
    But the terms of Nakoula’s prison release contain behaviour stipulations that bar him from accessing the Internet or assuming aliases without the approval of his probation officer.
    A senior law enforcement official in Washington has indicated the probation investigation relates to whether he broke one or both of these conditions. Violations could result in him being sent back to prison, court records show.
    Clips of the film posted on the Internet since July have been attributed to a man by the name of Sam Bacile, which two people linked to the film have said was likely an alias.
    A telephone number said to belong to Bacile, given to Reuters by U.S.-based Coptic Christian activist Morris Sadek who said he had promoted the film, was later traced back to a person who shares the Nakoula residence.
    Stan Goldman, a Loyola Law School professor, said whether Nakoula is sent back to jail over potential probation violations linked to the film, such as accessing the Internet, was a subjective decision up to an individual judge.
    “Federal judges are gods in their own courtrooms, it varies so much in who they are,” he said, noting such a move would be based on his conduct not on the content of the film.
    As well as the fraud conviction, Nakoula also pleaded guilty in 1997 to possession with intent to manufacture methamphetamine and was sentenced to a year in jail, said Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.
  • Cattle seller kills friend over N1000

    Cattle seller kills friend over N1000

    The ancient town of Iseyin in Oyo State recently witnessed an incident of two friends who went to war because of N1,000 with one biting the dust in the process. Tunde Busari reports.

    His innocuous countenance coupled with his small frame is a sharp contrast to the crime he is alleged to have committed.  The exhibit at the police disposal, however, confirms the allegation that Muhammed Moto killed Abdulahi Muftau during a scuffle resulting from an intense wrangle in the ancient town of Iseyin in Oyo State.
    Currently detained at the Homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Iyaganku, Ibadan, Oyo State capital, Moto is in a seclusion fervently praying to God to bail him out of his predicament as other inmates with whom he shares a cell have inundated him with the likely judgment awaiting him in the court of law.
    On account of this, nothing else could distract him from observing his prayer as a devout Muslim he claims he is. With a heavy heart, the Ilorin-born lamented that what brought him into the detention could have been averted if he had exercised some caution, even though the deceased, according to him, was all out to overstretch his patience.
    The duo, on August 21, at a joint in the town, met and the deceased offered a mobile phone for sale. Moto expressed his willingness to buy the article if the price was right. The deceased was said to have paused briefly before he asked Moto to pay N4, 500. This transaction occurred under an atmosphere in contrast with the tragedy that ended it five days after.
    The aftermath
    “If I had known that that phone would lead me into this problem I would have saved my money to buy a new one. He also did not show that he wanted to use the phone matter to cause this problem. In fact, after we had agreed on N4, 500 I said I would pay him N3, 000, which I paid on the spot, with a promise to pay the balance later. He gave me the phone and we left the place for our different homes,” Moto said in Yoruba language in an emotion-laden tone.
    The following day, the deceased without a prior notice, appeared at the place where Moto sells cow and ram. The deceased walked briskly up to him and told Moto that he wanted to buy a ram. Moto suspected no harm in the deceased’s request and obliged him.  The deceased’s choice was a N2,500 worth ram which he gladly handed over to him with a belief that the deceased would give him N1000 to balance the N1500 he owed the deceased.
    But this expectation hit the rock as the deceased collected the ram and walked away without uttering a word. “I first wanted to challenge him for not saying anything but something within me just told me to leave him. I also told myself that it was more or less a relief of the debt I owed him. But I still asked myself about my balance of N1000. Because this is the second transaction I had with him, I played it down and carried on,” Moto said.
     It was gathered that the deceased’s decision to buy a ram in less than 24 hours after he had sold the phone to Moto might have been a deliberate action to force his balance out of him because he was unsure of when he would settle the debt.
    A police source disclosed that investigation had not shown that the deceased ran a food canteen or had an occasion to celebrate to inform his purchase of a ram. The deceased, the source added, must have attempted to play a fast one on the suspect to maximize his profit on the phone sold to him.
    “How can you sell your phone yesterday and come today to pick a ram without dropping a kobo? It shows he deliberately wanted to do business with the dealing. It is done everywhere by greedy traders. Unfortunately, he is dead and no more now to defend this claim because what we are talking about is based on what the suspect is saying. That is why we always advise people not to toy with their life. Now he is gone for good. He cannot rise up to disclaim what the suspect is telling us here,” the source remarked.
    Another indication that the deceased might not be a gentle man was his alleged claim that the ram was stolen from his house five days after and his pressure on Moto to join him in searching for the ram. Moto who had not forgotten the N1000 deficit on the ram charged at the deceased and also warned him to leave his place to avoid embarrassment. The deceased would not take this. He stood his ground, alleging that Moto must know about the disappearance of the ram.
    “When I told him I could not abandon my cows and follow him to look for his ram, he then said I should return the phone to him. He said if I did not return the phone to him he would make trouble with me. That was the beginning of my problem. I did not know he was serious until he refused to leave my place and decided to follow me about,” he said.
    As at the time of this report the police were still working on how the duo found their way to the bush where they engaged each other in a physical combat that resulted in the death of the deceased. The news making the rounds in Iseyin, especially among the youth, is that Moto deliberately lured the deceased to the isolated ground to have enough space to unleash his perceived accumulated anger on the deceased.
    Royal intervention
    This argument was the basis of the youths’ attempt to cause chaos in the town after the news of the incident filtered out. It was learnt that the timely intervention of the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdul Ganiyu Salawu prevented the violence.
    Oba Salawu, when he got wind of the planned violence, was said to have invited the youths to his palace where he pleaded with them with an assurance that the police would rise to the occasion and ensure their late colleague would not die in vain.
    Although this royal intervention impressed the youths, the Iseyin Divisional Police Headquarters also lived up to its statutory responsibility by keeping an eagle eye on every nook and cranny of the town to avert a surprise action.
    After preliminary investigations including a visit by a team to the scene of the incident and depositing the corpse at the mortuary, the suspect was hurriedly transferred to Ibadan also to douse the tension.
     “In that circumstance, the best a DPO should do is to transfer the suspect immediately because you cannot predict those youths. You know some thugs who have been looking for opportunity to commit crime might exploit the incident. So, the DPO acted as an experienced officer,” another source said. Despite the fact that Moto surrendered himself for arrest and his admission that he macheted the deceased, he insisted that the deceased provoked his act. He stated that when the deceased chased him to the scene and realised he was not going to listen to him, the deceased allegedly held his clothes, tore it and struggled with him.
    Moto added that the deceased also struggled to remove a cutlass he kept in his pouch which was tied to his arm, the attempt which he said he resisted until the cutlass he was carrying fell on the ground.
    “Unfortunately for me he picked the cutlass and started hitting me with it. I then used the stick I use to direct cows to disarm him. To say the truth, I picked the cutlass and took a revenge on him after which he fell and died,” he said, looking pale as if he was pressured by a force to make the confession.
    The acting Police Public Relations Officer, Oyo State Command, Daniel Oboyi, an Assistant Superintendent (ASP), confirmed the incident which he described as gory, relying on the pictorial image of the deceased.
    The officer said Moto is still in the custody, stating that the investigation of the matter is near completion. “Soon after we are through with the on-going investigation, the suspect will be charged to the court. We only want to ensure that all grounds are covered for the sake of justice,” he said.
  • Pam, Dung, Giwa cleared for Plateau North

    Pam, Dung, Giwa cleared for Plateau North

    The Plateau State chapters of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Democratic People’s Party (DPP) have cleared their respective flag bearers for the scheduled bye-election into the vacant seat of Plateau North senatorial district.
    In separate affirmation congresses held in Jos yesterday, Jonathan Yusufu Pam emerged as the ACN candidate while  Colonel David John Dung (Rtd) emerged as the flag bearer for DPP.
    Chris Giwa also emerged as the flag bearer of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).
     Giwa, who was earlier disqualified by the ACN, decamped to APGA, which cleared him to fly its ticket.
    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed October 6th for the bye-election necessitated by the death Senator Gyang Dantong.
    The Barkin Ladi Constituency of the Plateau House of Assembly is also vacant.
    National officials of ACN supervised the congress where Gyang Ezekiel was also affirmed as the party’s candidate for the Barkin Ladi constituency.
    Delegates from the six local governments unanimously affirmed the candidacy of Jonathan Yusufu Pam to fly the party’s flag on October 6th.
    This was after disqualification of two other aspirants, including Chris Giwa.
    Pam promised to make peace and unity of people of the zone his priority.
     Dung said he will use his wealth of experience as two- time military administrator to better the constituents if elected.
    All the parties paid glowing tributes to the late Dantong and Hon Gyang Fulani for their roles as peace makers in the zone.
  • Awe’s mysterious lake and fish

    Awe’s mysterious lake and fish

    Sogidi Lake in Awe near Oyo, in Oyo State has a reputation of being sacred, with lots of healing power. Due to this, people are forbidden from killing the fishes or serving them as delicacies. Taiwo  Abiodun who recently visited the lake writes.

    he environment is cool with lush green leafed trees enveloping the surroundings. Apart from the fence, the trees   also serve as a protection for the mysterious lake that has attracted many from far and near. Many make the long journey to this rustic town to verify the authenticity of the stories they have heard or read about the lake and its mysterious fishes.
    In the lake are fishes of all sizes and shapes swimming, splashing water and jumping as if tempting the reporter to dare kill any of them! However, a stern warning had been handed to the reporter by the guide. He had said before conducting the reporter round that, “Don’t ever attempt to kill any fish or else you will blame yourself! Many have lost their lives and their beloved ones for trying it, I have warned you!’’  With this stern warning echoing in his mind, the reporter remembered his early biblical teaching “to obey is better than sacrifice.”
    The origin of the lake
    Welcome to Sogidi Lake in Awe, Oyo State. According to the custodian of the lake, Pa Stephen Adebayo Ojedele,   the lake has been there since 1750 when the town was discovered. “It was discovered when the monarch, Ilemolu and his entourage were thirsty. The monarch then sent some hunters under the leadership of one Metio to search for water to quench their thirst. Along the line, while in the bush, one of the hunters sighted some monkeys on trees and they pursued them. As one of them corked his local riffle, ready to shoot, another hunter discovered a pool of water under the tree where the money was. The hunters  stopped  their   partner from shooting,  having  found what they  were looking for [water].They  believed  it was due to the assistance of the monkeys that they discovered the water.”
    Ojedele  added that the hunters also saw some  cherry fruits [agbalumo] by the lake, tasted it and said it was  a real fruit,  and  having found it tasty and delicious  they  cried out in   their  local dialect that it was  a real fruit , Eso gidi, this was later shortened to Sogidi, which later became the name of the lake till date.
    In honour of the hunters’ discovery, the painting of a mermaid and monkeys jumping from one tree to another, as well as hunters with their guns are drawn on the walls of the lake to serve as a memento and in appreciation of the efforts of the hunters.
    Forbidden fish
    According to Pa  Ojedele, Sogidi water could appear rough but it is clean, healthy and  good for drinking as well as being highly  medicinal. He said the water tastes like any of the well treated and bottled water. The mystery is that as a lake which does not flow nor does any flow into it, it is good. However, during the raining season it overflows its banks. He added that there has never been any record of cholera breakout in the town as a result of drinking the water.
    As early as 7a.m. women come out to sweep the surrounding and keep it clean. According to Ojedele, “Nobody is allowed to go into the compound with shoes or sandals on, that is the rule. Asides that, nobody is allowed to scoop the water with a bowl, but buckets are dipped into it in order to fetch it (the water). In the olden days gourds were the only acceptable thing used to fetch it, but nowadays bucket is allowed, and this is dipped in once.”
    He added, “The fishes are strange. Some are as big as my lap, others are tiny, but it is forbidden for anyone to kill or eat it as a delicacy.’’  Asked about the repercussion that would befall anyone who flouts this, the guide said whoever kills the fish he or his family members are bound to die mysteriously! To buttress this, he said: “Such had happened before. In 1973 when soldiers had their Barracks in Awe and Oyo, one of them had the effrontery to challenge the taboo. He went ahead and killed some of the fishes, and when he cooked them they didn’t get cooked. They were returned back into the lake dead. Seven days later three of the soldier’s children died, they were then living in Asalu’s compound, here in Awe.” However, this could not be independently confirmed but many of the residents vouched that it was true.
    It is also said that an Igbo man killed some of the fishes and took them home for cooking but they were not done, he reportedly returned them again into the lake.
    On the story that the fish was once a human being, Ojedele could neither confirm nor deny it. He, however, said he could only talk authoritatively on the fact that it is forbidden to kill fishes. He also failed to deny the existence of mermaid.
    “Nobody must kill the fish no matter how  spiritually strong  the person is, the fish may die on their own in the lake as a result of old  age while some bigger ones  always swallow the smaller ones but no one must kill and eat them, the Awe indigenes know this  and would not even try it.’’
    Mermaid
    The painting of the mermaid on the walls of the fence is evidence of the historical fact that the lake once had a mermaid living in it.  Ojedele said, “It comes out in the afternoon when everywhere is hot. It has a woman’s head down to her waist and the rest of her body is that of a fish with a big tail wagging. It appears in November when celebrating Awe Day. The mermaid does not come out again because of dirtiness of human beings. But once in a while it shows herself that she is still around. Anytime a doubting Thomas wants to cause a stir at the lake or doubt her or mock her, the person would experience a lot of things such as he could have his  head  being too  heavy and unable to move or one may hear strange things or objects being thrown into the lake producing strange sounds! Most times, the water on one’s head could be turning or foaming, all these show that the mermaid is still in the vicinity.
    Spiritual power of the water
    A woman who is in her 90s claimed that she used the Sogidi Lake water when she was looking for a child.  “I know many would say because they are Christians or Muslims they would not believe, but it is what had happened and it is still happening today. While those who had benefitted from the mysterious water would be feeling shy to own up but in the wee hours of the day they would secretly come there to take the water. It is real. I have delivered seven children through the assistance of Sogidi Lake.”
    Mrs. Maria Okediwura, a native also testified to the healing and medicinal powers of Sogidi water. She said, “Many come from Oyo town, Lagos and from overseas to take from the water for healing and lots of people used to come irrespective of their religious affiliations. They will bring assorted cans, bottles and plastic bottles to take the water, in fact some send for it from overseas. I can testify to it that many women who used the water while looking for the fruits of the womb got children, some too got healings, yet we are happy that even the so called pastors do come there to scoop from the water and pray on it for their followers or for those seeking for God’s favour. The Muslims, Christians and Aladura people  come there too.”
    Ojedele said one of those whose prayers had been answered by the power of the lake have returned to thank Sogidi and assisted in painting the wall, as a sign of appreciation.
    Testifying further to the efficacy and spiritual healing of the water, Chief Oguntobi Joseph [88] described the lake as a gift to the town. “I am old now. I cannot tell you all but go and ask the custodian of the place he would tell you all about the mystery of Sogidi. It is a good tourist attraction for all activities, it is gift from the above,’’ the old man said with total conviction.
    Neglected place
    Though it was once in a thick forest, Sogidi Lake has become part of the town, as buildings have been erected in the area, “It is now very accessible. Unlike in those days when nobody could near the vicinity around. Today one is free to go there at any time of the day, no more fear.”
    In spite all the stories on Sogidi, the place has not been given  proper care, according to the custodian. “The Oyo State government has not done enough to make the place be a tourist centre as it should be, though some years  back they came to assist  and they built these brick moulded  benches, and also provided  the fence to make it secure but since then it had been abandoned and  left alone. We  as individuals  are the ones taking care of the place, it is painful ,  that it is no  longer  appreciated by the government.”
    Sacrifice for the lake
    When it is prayer time or when the town is facing a calamity, the Christians and Muslims cooperate with traditional worshippers to offer prayers by the lake.
    Another mysterious thing is the disappearance of animals offered as sacrifices to the lake, “If it demands for a goat or a cow, what it demanded for is tethered on one of the trees at a spot there. And what surprise us is that before the next morning the animal would have disappeared mysteriously. Nobody would go there to take it, and nobody dare try it and that is Sogidi for you. And again if there is need to offer a special sacrifice to the lake by the indigenes, each house will have to contribute money no matter how small and buy the cow or goat and when  it is slaughtered  no matter what, all the indigenes must partake in  having their own share, no matter how small the size  given out, every household must have their fair share.”
    But how did the town (Awe) derive its name? Ojedele   explained that when the  natives migrated from Ile Ife they stayed under a tree called Igi Aruwewe, of which they later  shortened to Igi Awe, the place is reserved till today for the coming generation to see. There is a tree which had been planted since 1750, and it is still surviving; it is called Igigi Ogogo. It is old and has holes in it but it never gets dry.
  • Edo traffic officials escape mob action, as trailer crushes six vehicles

    Edo traffic officials escape mob action, as trailer crushes six vehicles

    Men of the Edo State Traffic Management Agency under the Ministry of Transport yesterday escaped a mob action after a trailer ran into six vehicles along Ikpoba slope in Benin City.
    The mob attacked the officials whom they blamed for causing the accident, with sticks.
    It was gathered that the driver of the trailer was being chased for going against traffic when he had a brake failure and ran into cars held in a gridlock.
    The Edo State traffic officials were said to have driven off when the accident occurred.
    An electric pole was also knocked down when the trailer belonging to Dangote Groups rammed into a Toyota Camry.
    Other vehicles involved in the crash included a Mercedes Benz truck; a tanker belonging to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) with registration number Delta A 274 GBJ and a trailer belonging to Dangote whose number was not in good shape at the time of filing this report.
    There were also a brand new unregistered Toyota Camry car; an unregistered Toyota Yaris Car with dealer number (DED140Edo); a Green Mercedes Benz C-Class Wagon with registration number Edo BEN 552AL and a Green Toyota Camry with registration number Edo, USL10AE.
    A policeman supervising the evacuation of the affected vehicles to ease vehicular movement said six vehicles were affected.
    All affected vehicles were badly damaged.
    The driver of the Toyota Camry was said to have died on his way to the hospital.
    Other injured persons were also rushed to different hospitals.
  • Minister signs performance certificate with parastatals, agencies

    Minister signs performance certificate with parastatals, agencies

    The Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar, at the weekend signed a performance certificate with Heads of Agencies and Parastatals in the ministry.
    He described the pact as an evaluation tool for measuring their performances.
    The Minister disclosed that the performance agreement signed with President Goodluck Jonathan last August was part of efforts to foster purposeful and meaningful leadership in the country.
    He informed that the ability to actualise the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of the ministry and its agencies will serve as proof of quality service delivery to Nigerians.
    Key objectives the ministry must achieve, he stated, include resuscitation and revitalisation of the railway system for haulage of goods and carriages of passengers; repositioning of the nation’s port system in line with global best practices; increasing use of inland waterways to stimulate economic activities as well as enhancing maritime safety and security.
    Others are improving inter modality of the transport system; enhancing private sector participation in the sector; and provision of policy, regulatory and administrative services.
    While insisting the performance agreement was non-negotiable, the Minister directed “all matters coming from the agencies must be attended to and disposed off within a maximum of two weeks from the date of receipt of such matters.”
  • Why military should not monitor elections, by Amosun, Oyo speaker

    Why military should not monitor elections, by Amosun, Oyo speaker

    Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Alhaja Monsurat Sunmonu, yesterday insisted that the military should be the last resort in quelling electoral crisis in the country.
    Amosun and Sunmonu explained that police, who are constitutionally empowered to provide security for such internal exercises, should be allowed to play the role in election monitoring.
    They spoke at a lecture marking this year’s Press Week of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo state.
    Amosun, who was represented by his Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in his lecture entitled: “The Role of the Military in Strengthening Democratic Process” noted the development theory of the military, which requires them to cooperate with elected leaders and other democratic institutions to ensure that the country is well governed.
    He said: “The military can achieve this through constant contribution of ideas on internal security, economic development, foreign affairs and political intelligence.”
    The Governor also stressed the need for the military to play a better role in fostering inter- agency relationship.
    In her remark, Sunmonu pointed out that the government would have no reason to deplore military personnel if citizens and politicians played the game by the rules.
    She urged Nigerians to obey the law and uphold the ‘one man, one vote’ mantra of democracy.
    According to her, monitoring of elections is basically the task of the police and other Para- Military agencies.
  • Medical college holds lecture

    Medical college holds lecture

    The Faculty of Paediatrics, National Post-Graduate College of Nigeria, is to hold its Faculty Day Lecture on September 19. The title of the lecture is The best brains are preserved in alcohol; not necessarily so for foetal brain.
    The lecture holds at 10 am at the Malaria Research Centre (MRC) of the LASUCOM, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.
    It is to be delivered by the Provost, College of Health-Sciences, Niger-Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Dr Ralph Oruamobo.
  • How ICT raised Osun IGR by 100%, by Aregbesola

    How ICT raised Osun IGR by 100%, by Aregbesola

    The proactive deployment of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is responsible for the improvement of the monthly Internally Generated Revenue of Osun State from N300m to N600m.
    Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, disclosed this at the 2012 Nigerian Telecoms Awards where he was conferred with the ICT Governor of the Year.
    Aregbesola said one of the many areas where ICT has been deployed to drive service delivery was in tax administration.
    According to him: “We have stopped the old practice of tax collection by travelling clerks.
    “Rather, all taxes, rates and levies payable in the state are now done through the banks and paid directly into the accounts of the government.
    “With this technological innovation alone, we have blocked loopholes and have been able to double the internally generated revenue of the government from N300m to N600m monthly.”
    The Governor also said the administration has embarked on an aerial mapping of the entire state and the establishment of Geo-Spatial Land Information Systems, adding that the project had reached an advanced stage.
    “At the end of the exercise, farm holdings are now easily validated, records updated and geo-referenced using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) devices and the data sets were then imported into a GIS environment to allow for storage, retrieval and analysis of the spatial datasets,” he said.
    He further explained that with the Agricultural Land Parcelling Information Systems (A-LPIS) scheme, the state would have access to information relating to agricultural lands available and real time at the touch of a button.
    He also explained Osun ICT youth–centric scheme, christened OYES TECH is aimed at providing digital empowerments for the youthful elements.
    Aregbesola said each of the 5,000 OYES agents under the initiative would be given a terminal (POS/POT machine) and its accessories, which will be financed upfront by the partnering firm.
    “The terminal will be used with skills acquired to earn a minimum monthly income of N40, 000 under the firm’s mentoring and training,” he assured.
  • State, community policing non-negotiable’

    State, community policing non-negotiable’

    Nigeria must as a matter of urgency embrace State and Community policing to save the nation, the Special Adviser to the National President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Anti-terrorism and Security Matters, Rev. Ladi Thompson, has declared.
    He said the best time to adopt State and Community policing  was yesterday, stating that the security challenges facing the nation make them non-negotiable.
    According to him: “Nigeria is far behind schedule based on the realities on ground. If we are to save ourselves from the imminent bloodshed and disturbing global terrorism, we better adopt State and Community policing.”
    Thompson rejected the argument that State and Community Police will be abused by Governors.
    He reasoned that the Police Force cannot possibly be abused more than “it is in the current Federal structure.”
    State and Community Policing, he said, will enhance security in the nation and preserve the cultural identities of the federating units.
    The cleric said states not favourably disposed to having their Police Force should be left alone while those desirous of having their own should be allowed to.