The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abba Kyari

  • FG to construct 3,000 new homes under Bama Initiative – Osinbajo

    FG to construct 3,000 new homes under Bama Initiative – Osinbajo

    The Federal Government says it will soon kick-off the implementation of a comprehensive rebuilding plan under the Bama Initiative scheme for the North-east areas that were ravaged by Boko Haram insurgency.

    The Acting President Yemi Osinbajo stated this in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Laolu Akande.

    Akande said the acting President was speaking at a meeting that comprised the Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno, some ministers and service chiefs in the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday.

    According to Osinbajo, the Bama Initiative will lead to the construction of 3000 new homes, 10 police stations, 18 primary and secondary schools, health centres, creation of Special Bama Squad for security and the recruitment of 1500 local hunters as Agro Rangers, among others

    He said: “Under what has been termed as the Bama Initiative, the Federal Government will contribute 67 per cent of the funding, while Borno State would provide the balance of 33 per cent.

    “It is a partnership that is certainly going to work.’’

    The Bama Initiative will cover towns such Bama, Banki, Gulumba Gara and others

    The Federal Government in partnership with the Borno State government is expected to carry out actual re-construction of houses for the return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as well as provide infrastructure such as roads for Bama town and adjoining communities.

    The Initiative will also see to the kitting and deployment of thousands of police officers and officers of the National Security, Civil Defence Corps who are expected to be trained for the special task.

    Equally, 20 doctors, 100 nurses and other relevant health officers are to be recruited to provide essential health services for the town, in addition to employment of teachers who will be deployed to 18 new schools to be constructed in the areas.

    Road re-construction projects are also featured under the Bama Initiative which is now under exploration, including the rehabilitation of Maiduguri-Bama-Daral Jamal-Banki road network.

    The welfare of returnees is also a major priority of the plan, ensuring a comprehensive support programme for IDPs as they return.

    It is expected that the implementation of the plan will kick-off in next few weeks.

    The meeting, which was presided over by the acting President, was attended by the Ministers of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali; Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau; the Budget & National Planning (of State), Zainab Ahmed and the Power, Works & Housing (of State); Alhaji Mustapha Shehuri.

    Other government functionaries at the meeting included the Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari and the National Security Adviser to the President, Baba Munguno.

    Others were the military, police and civil defence chiefs, and the Director-General of National Emergency Management Agency.

  • Buhari mourns Madam Omowunmi, sends ‘heart-felt condolences’ to Bisi Akande

    Buhari mourns Madam Omowunmi, sends ‘heart-felt condolences’ to Bisi Akande

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed “heart-felt” sadness over the death of Madam Omowunmi Bisi Akande, wife of the founding chairman of the governing All Progressives Congress, (APC).

    Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, said Buhari’s condolence message was contained “in a letter penned by him”.

    He said the president had earlier spoken on telephone  to the bereaved party chieftain on Wednesday, where he (President Buhari) described the death of Akande’s wife of 50 years as an “irreparable loss’’.

    The President’s message read: “I received the very sad news of the death of your dearly beloved wife, Madam Omowunmi Akande this morning.

    “I am following our phone call with this letter of condolence, which comes from my heart.

    “To lose a wife, a dear wife after 50 years, a constant and loving companion through good and bad times, is a blow only a man of unshakeable faith can withstand.

    “Please extend my personal condolences to the immediate and wider Akande family and to friends of the family for this irreparable loss.

    “May Allah give you the strength and Iman to endure her passing away.’’

    It would be recalled that the Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari, on Wednesday, led the presidential delegation to condole with Chief Bisi Akande over the demise of his wife.

    Kyari described the death of the deceased as a loss to the nation.

    “Yesternight, I received a call from Acting President Yemi Osinbajo while he was with President Muhammadu Buhari in London.

    “He gave me the news of Madam Akande’s death and said that the president and himself are very sad over the sudden death of Mrs Akande.

    “He thereafter directed that I lead a presidential delegation to Ila-Orangun immediately to condole with Chief Akande,’’ he said.

  • ‘Court empowered police to detain Evans for 90 days’

    ‘Court empowered police to detain Evans for 90 days’

    An Assistant Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, said on Friday the police has the court’s backing to detain the kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a Evans, for 90 days, contrary to insinuations in some quarters that he is being held  illegally.

    Kyari, who led the special squad of policemen that smashed Evans’ gang, said the detention is to allow for thorough investigation of the suspect.

    He said:  “All those who want Evans released did not know that the police had obtained a 90 -day warrant to detain him.”

    He said the detention warrant was obtained on June 21.

    Evans had challenged his continued detention in court, describing it as illegal.

    He is praying the court to order his immediate release if they cannot arraign him in court immediately.

    He is also asking for N300million damages from the police for his “illegal” detention.

    However, Kyari said: “We envisaged that they would do that hence we beat them to it.”

    In a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed on his behalf by a Lagos lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje, the kidnapper said his continued detention without trial was illegal.

    He is praying the court for an order directing the respondents to immediately charge him to court if there is any case against him in accordance with Sections 35{1}{c} {3} {4} {5} {a} {6} and 36 of the 1999 Constitution.

     

  • Kidnapping: Police nab most wanted suspect in Lagos

    Kidnapping: Police nab most wanted suspect in Lagos

    The Inspector-General’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT) led by ACP Abba Kyari on Saturday said it has arrested one of the most wanted suspected kidnappers in Lagos.

    Kyari, who confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that the suspect was arrested at his Magodo residence in Lagos.

    “IRT headquarters in Abuja is celebrating the arrest of the most wanted brilliant and notorious high profile kidnapper in Nigeria.
    “He has collected several billions of Naira as ransom in the last seven years as the kingpin of kidnappers.

    “He was arrested at about 1.00p.m on Saturday in his residence in Magodo Estate, Lagos,” Kyari said.

    He commended the Force Headquarters for mobilising the resources to go all out against the “richest and most notorious kidnapper” in the history of Nigeria.

    Kyari said the Inspector-General had directed that the suspect should be paraded before newsmen on Sunday in Lagos. (NAN)

  • Police arrest two suspected kidnappers in Kogi

    Police arrest two suspected kidnappers in Kogi

    The Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), has arrested two suspected kidnappers, whose gang have been allegedly terrorising Kogi and its environs, the Commander, ACP Abba Kyari, has said.

    Kyari, confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday.

    Kyari said that following the Kidnapping of Alhaji Jibrin Idris, an Islamic Scholar in Enabo, Ankpa Local Government  Area of Kogi, on Feb. 2, police launched a manhunt for the kidnappers.

    He said that the effort was in response to the Inspector- General of Police, Ibrahim Idris’s, directive to the IRT.

    Kyari said that the Islamic scholar was subsequently released by his abductors after the payment of ransom.

    “After about three months of unrelenting follow-up, the kidnappers escaped to Enugu State after collecting the ransom in February and realised that IRT was trailing them.

    “They were arrested on May 29 in Ayingba, Kogi, and 9th Mile, Enugu State.’’

    He said the suspects were a 24-year-old man and a 31-year-old man from Ankpa in Kogi, who had confessed their involvement  in the kidnapping of the chief imam at Enabo in Ankpa District.

    “They mentioned two other gang members now at large. We are on their trail.

    “We recovered the phone used for the ransom negotiation by the kidnappers,” Kyari said.

  • Five suspects arrested over planned attack on banks in Lagos

    Five suspects arrested over planned attack on banks in Lagos

    The Inspector-General of Police (IGP’s) Intelligence Response Team (IRT) on Friday announced the arrest of five suspected armed robbers who had planned to attack some banks in Lagos.

    The IRT Commander, ACP Abba Kyari, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    Kyari said the arrested suspects also participated in the killing of four policemen and an Army Captain in Ikorodu in April, this year.

    The commander said that the suspects were arrested at Ikorodu and Ajah areas of Lagos State, as they perfected the planned attacks on the banks.

    He said their arrest was part of the IGP Ibrahim Idris’ effort to neutralise the threat posed on Lagos by the notorious new militant leader called America.

    According to him, America was also responsible for last week’s kidnap of school children in Epe.

    “Five key members of the notorious militant group led by America, who have perfected plans to attack and rob five banks in Lagos have been arrested in Ikorodu and Ajah areas of Lagos state.

    “They were all arrested after several days of unrelenting follow-ups by the IRT.

    “Four of the arrested suspects are militants, who were sent by their gang leader, America, to survey the banks.

    “The team was also to hire two operational buses that will be used to convey the militants to and from the river banks, to the commercial banks.

    The fifth suspect is a security man in one of the banks targeted to be robbed,” Kyari alleged.

    The commander, however, noted that the banks targeted were located in Lekki and Ajah areas of Lagos state.

    He said that the suspects confessed to have chosen the targeted banks because of their proximity to the river banks.

    “All suspects arrested have confessed to the planned robberies and confirmed that they were sent by America, their boss in the creeks, to survey the banks, together with the bank security man who allegedly brought the job to the militants.

    “Also, America had fixed Thursday, June 1, as the date for the attack on the banks, before his boys were arrested by the IRT.

    “The suspects are cooperating with detectives in the investigations,’’ Kyari added.

  • Released Chibok girls arrive Abuja, to meet Buhari at 4pm

    Released Chibok girls arrive Abuja, to meet Buhari at 4pm

    The 82 rescued Chibok schoolgirls have arrived Abuja to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari in the Presidential Villa, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, who confirmed this development on his twitter handle, said the Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari received the girls at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    The girls, who regained their freedom on Saturday from Boko Haram captivity, would be meeting President Buhari at about 4.00p.m today.

    The 82 girls were released to international negotiators who have been working in collaboration with the Federal government for their safe return since they were kidnapped in April 2014.

    Malam Garba Shehu, a presidential spokesman on Saturday in a statement issued in Abuja also confirmed that the girls were release by their captors in exchange for some Boko Haram suspects held by the Federal Government. (NAN)

  • Police arrest four kidnappers in Osun, Ondo

    The Police Intelligence Response Team said it has arrested four suspected kidnappers in Osun and Ondo States.

    The Assistant Commissioner of Police and the Commander of the team, Mr. Abba Kyari, confirmed the arrest in Lagos on Saturday.

    According to him, the suspects are Teslim Ibitoye (38), Sunday David (35) and Akeem Ibitoye.

    Kyari said on April 25, after a follow up and support from Technical Intelligence Support of Inspector-General of Police, police officers traced one of the kidnappers of one Akin Nureni.

    He said the suspects confessed to kidnapping Nureni, who resides at No. 3, Alake Street, Ayetoro Estate, Osogbo, Osun.

    “The suspects confessed to several kidnappings in Osun and Ondo States, including the recent blocking of one Mrs. Basirat Ahmed while driving on a road at Dada Estate, Osogbo on April 11,” the police officer said.

    “A pistol with seven live and four expended ammunition, two single barrel short guns with 16 live and nine expended cartridges, facial mask, victims jewelry and charms were recovered in the suspects hideout.

    “Two of the suspects, Teslim Ibitoye and Sunday David, are receiving treatment at a hospital following bullets wounds they got during gun duel with the police.”

    He said police is making serious efforts to arrest the remaining kidnappers.

    NAN

  • Photos: Buhari attends Juma’at service

    Photos: Buhari attends Juma’at service

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday attended Juma’at prayer at the State House Mosque on Friday.

    The President attended the weekly prayer in the company of the Chief of Staff Abba Kyari and NSA Babagana Monguno.

     

     

     

  • Police arrest 11 kidnap suspects in Port Harcourt

    The Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) has arrested 11 kidnap suspects in Port Harcourt.

    The suspects include Anthony people, who is also known as “Urban Gorilla” and a suspected member of Niger Delta Avenger, a militant group in the Niger Delta.

    The Commander of the IRT, ACP Abba Kyari, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday.

    Kyari gave the names of the other suspects as Sahhed Adekunle (Black Devil), Hillary Wogu, 41, Ogbungbada Chima, 36, Chief Aghara Lobito, 31, Lucky Marako, 36 and Igbiki Sokari 38.

    Others were Dokubo Ipalibo, 28, Okwudili Pascal, 41, Candy Nwankwo, 30 and Tony.

    He said that People was well educated and was a staff of SAIPEM, a multinational oil servicing company, adding that he had worked in the company’s offices in Nigeria and Abu-Dabi, UAE.

    “Upon his arrest, Anthony people confessed to being a key member of the Niger Delta Avengers and the mastermind of the cold-blooded murder of one Saboma George, a militant commander, in 2009.

    “He also confessed to being the kingpin of a kidnap syndicate that was known for targeting medical doctors, pharmacists and other unsuspecting residents of Port Harcourt since 2015.

    He listed some of the victims of the kidnap gang to include Mr Onomake Monday, a pharmacist,
    Prof. Rosemund Osahogulu, a former Vice Chancellor and Mr Ignatuis Ajuru of University of Education, Port-Harcourt.

    “Exhibits recovered from the syndicate were one AK-47 rifle with bridge No. 4398, two SUV cars and a Volkswagen Golf car used for their operations,” he said