The Nation Newspaper

Tag: arms

  • Boko Haram fighters resist troops with Libyan arms

    Boko Haram fighters resist troops with Libyan arms

    Sect’s women, kids to be freed

    Reps curb President’s emergency powers

     

    Boko Haram insurgents have been fighting the army with sophisticated weapons from Libya, it was learnt yesterday.

    President Goodluck Jonathan last Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Borno –the epicentre of the sect’s activities – and two other states, Yobe and Adamawa, all in the northeast, to combat Boko Haram’s malignant insurgency.

    Since then, soldiers deployed in the states have been battling to rout out the sect’s members, who have been fighting back.

    On Sunday, the military announced the death of three soldiers in the battle. One soldier was also declared missing, although scores of terrorists were killed.

    “They have been putting up fierce resistance and they are very, very well-armed with weapons from Libya,” a senior military official told The Guardian of London, adding that most of the militants who have waged a bloody four-year battle to create an Islamist state have scattered across the borders.

    A renewed military campaign, including aerial bombardments of Boko Haram training camps in three remote states which were put under emergency rule this month, has led to the capture of almost 200 militants and the death of dozens in a week, according to the military. In one raid, a helicopter gunship was hit by anti-aircraft and anti-tank fire, the military said.

    North African country Libya recently emerged from a civil war which claimed almost one million lives including that of its long-standing President Col. Muhammar Ghadaffi.

    Although a transition government led by the rebels who flushed out Ghadaffi is in place, Libya is littered with weapons and small arms.

    The Senate and the House of Representatives yesterday endorsed the declaration of a state of emergency in the Northeast states.

    The House cut some of the powers the President requested in the implementation of the state of emergency.

    Also yesterday, President Jonathan ordered the release of some arrested Boko Haram members especially women and minors.

    Among the beneficiaries of the order are wives and relations of Boko Haram leaders in custody. They are to be released after a re-orientation, according to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ). Also yesterday the DHQ said Nigerian soldiers in Mali would not be withdrawn for special operations in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states against Boko Haram insurgents.

    According to a statement by the Defence spokesman, Brig-Gen. Chris Olukolade, the order for the release of women, minors and others had been communicated to field units and the Joint Task Force.

    The statement said: “Consequent upon the directives of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Defence Headquarters will be releasing from detention a number of persons being held in connection with terrorist activities.

    “The move is in furtherance of the Federal Government position in response to requests by the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Reconciliation. The measure, which is in line with presidential magnanimity to enhance peace efforts in the country, will result in freedom for suspects including all women under custody.

    “The details of the directives and those to benefit from this gesture have been communicated to field units and the Joint Task Force.

    “The beneficiaries will be released to the State Governors who will be involved in further rehabilitation before these suspects are released to their respective community leaders/relations.”

    In a separate statement, the DHQ said Nigerian soldiers in Mali would not be withdrawn for special operation in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe against Boko Haram insurgents

    The statement added: “As the operation to rid our country of terrorist activities continues, the Defence Headquarters wishes to reassure Nigerians that the Nigerian military is quite capable and ready to discharge this duty professionally and creditably well.

    “The report, therefore, in a section of the press that Nigerian troops are to be withdrawn from Mali to face the ongoing insurgency is complete falsehood.

    “There is certainly no need for such action now as the human and material resources of the Armed Forces of Nigeria are being meticulously deployed and quite able to meet its present internal and external assignments.

    “As a matter of fact, the normal and scheduled rotation of troops in various missions will continue.

    “This routine should not be misunderstood or misrepresented to misinform Nigerians and the international community.

    “These times are too sensitive for anyone to engage in unnecessary sensation, speculation or rumour mongering on military affairs please.”

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima, said he is in support of the decision of President Jonathan to release some detainees suspected of terrorist activities.

    Shettima said the decision of thePresident may bring Boko Haram leaders to the negotiation table.

    The governor made his position known in a statement through his Special Adviser on Media, Alhaji Isa Umar Gusau.

    The statement said: “I am in the picture of the very welcome development and I look forward to receiving them. It is cheering news for me and the government of Borno State because it will no doubt help in fast tracking the peaceful resolution process which like I have always said, remains the long term solution to the crisis.

    “Releasing the detainees will further show the commitment and sincerity of the federal government to the peace negotiation which should attract the sect members to the negotiation table and increase community participation in the process.

    “The State Government is dutifully committed to every lawful and reasonable efforts that aims at the return of peace and security of lives and property in Borno, the Northern region and Nigeria in its entirety since no society can achieve any meaningful and steady progress in an atmosphere of violence”

  • Disbandment of task force on illegal arms unlawful, says court

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has blamed the Federal Government for the increased proliferation of arms across the country.

    The court presided over by Justice Elvis Chukwu held that the disbandment of the National Task Force against illegal importation and Smuggling of Small Arms and Light Weapons, was unlawful.

    Justice Chukwu, in a judgmeny yesterday, set-aside a directive that was issued by the Nigerian Customs in 2011 disbanding the task force on the ground that such action was not only inimical to national security, but also breached the rules of natural justice.

    The judge dismissed the objections filed by the Federal Ministry of Finance and the National Security Adviser (NSA). The respondents challenged the competence of the suit on grounds that the applicants, led by its Chairman, Osita Okereke, failed to declare any reasonable cause of action.

    The applicants had approached the court and prayed it to determine whether the action of the NSA in disbanding the national task force which was inaugurated by the Federal Government on July 16, 2010, sequel to an allegation that was leveled against it by Custom authorities, without granting the organisation fair hearing, was not illegal, unconstitutional and null and void.

    The claim the Customs had alleged that the organization attempted to usurp its duties by trailing and seizing several containers containing arms that were illegally imported into Nigeria.

    It was further alleged that the task force operated illegally considering that it was not duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC.

    Justice Chukwu held that the respondents failed to prove that the task force usurped duties of any government agency.

    “The respondents had claimed that the inauguration of the task force was carried out in error. However, the court will want to know at what point this error occurred. From the totality of evidence before the court, it is obvious that there had been a reasonable communication between the applicant and the respondents.

    “It is my considered view that there was a breach of the rules of natural justice as the applicants were disbanded without being accorded opportunity to defend themselves. They ought to have been given a hearing before the task force was disbanded.

    “The court has jurisdiction to exercise judicial review of such decisions whenever there is denial of fair hearing in any proceeding, be it administrative or ministerial. The court has the powers to declare it a nullity.

    “However, let me state that this court will never encourage any organization to meddle in the affairs of a government agency. The mandate upon which the applicant was set up is clear, to identify sources and main routes of illegal importation of light weapons and arms, as well as, liaising with security agencies to combat the menace of arms proliferation.

    “The task force was established under the Private-Public-Partnership which does not require registration with the CAC. The initiative was aimed at improving the security of lives and properties in Nigeria.

    We are all witnesses to the effect of proliferation of light arms in this country vis-à-vis the achievements that were recorded by this task force, an averment that was not denied by the respondents.

    “In fact, the precarious nature of security lapses in the country today will even make this court to grant the application as prayed in this suit. This court is convinced that the application has merit and is accordingly granted. I

    therefore issue an order quashing the directive of the 2

    nd respondent disbanding the applicant, same having breached the rules of natural justice,” the Justice Chukwu held

     

     

     

  • Arms recovered from ex-militants handed over to Nigerian Army

    A total of 39, 880 assorted arms and ammunitions recovered from repentant Niger Delta militants were yesterday handed over to the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu.

    The inter-agency task force set up by the Chief of Defence Staff carried out the handover.

    A breakdown of the weapons include 482 automatic arms, 20,132 ammunitions, 295  magazines and  18, 971 locally made guns.

    They were recovered from ex-militants in Delta, Bayelsa and Lacto Marine men.

    The General Officer Commanding the 82 Division, General Adebayor Olaniyi, said the exercise was a product of the amnesty’s programme which started in 2009.

    The GOC said President Goodluck Jonathan had “reasoned that without security there can be no development; he also reasoned that if the arms had gone out of these areas, it would have done grievous harm to the nation.”

    While commending the task force, he said, “these weapons of mass destruction will be destroyed openly just as they were openly collected from the armed militants.”

    Governor Sullivan Chime lauded the federal government’s initiative in setting up the task force.

    Chime, represented by the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. John Egbo, urged the federal government and all security agents not to relent in ridding the Niger Delta of illegal narms.

    The coordinator of the task force, Air Vice Marshal Gbum, said the recovery was in response to new claims and agitations by some groups that felt excluded from the amnesty programme.

    He noted the task force was not engaging in fresh amnesty, which is beyond its mandate.

    Gbum stated: “The mandate was strictly to verify and reconcile the disarmament records and document qualified ex-militants, who truly submitted weapons to security agencies for inclusion in the Presidential Amnesty Programme.”

    He said the mandate took the task force to two states as well as the Lacto Marine men where claims of ex-militants were painfully scrutinised to ensure their records showed beyond reasonable doubt that they truly disarmed to security agencies.

     

  • North’s governors urge militants to lay down arms

    North’s governors urge militants to lay down arms

    The Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF), in a statement by its chairman, Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, said it was worried about “senseless killing of innocent citizens” in the North.

    The statement, signed by Aliyu’s Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo, asked the terrorist groups to embrace dialogue.

    The statement said: “The Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) has appealed to terrorist groups in the country to give peace a chance, saying a situation where aggrieved individuals take laws into their hands will not advance the course of peace.

    “The chairman of the forum and Governor of Niger State said the senseless killing of innocent citizens from Thursday last week through the weekend in various parts of the North negated all efforts to restore peace to the region.

    “The forum expressed serious concern at the renewed attacks on citizens, beginning from a fire incident caused by bomb blast at Gamboru Market in Borno State on Thursday, as well as the killing of 10 people at Kogom Village in Plateau State on the same day.

    “The forum said it was equally alarmed at the killing of five young men playing card game in Gombe town on Friday and the killing of another five persons and burning of houses when Hausas and Jikuns reportedly engaged themselves in a bloody combat in Wukari, Taraba State on Saturday.

    “The forum said it is saddened by the news on Sunday of the death of five persons in Zangon Kataf Local Government of Kaduna State which took a violent pattern like the ones before it.

    “It decried the rising wave of murders of innocent Nigerians and increasing propensity of citizens to resort to violence to settle their differences.

    “The forum said the surest way to resolve differences is through dialogue and therefore challenged those with grievances in all parts of the country to follow the path of dialogue instead of violence.

    “The forum commiserated with the families of those killed or injured during the blast and called on all security agencies to double their efforts in the discharge of their responsibilities of protecting the lives and property of the citizens.

    “It said Northern Governors were working closely with the federal government to ensure that normalcy returns to the region.”

     

  • Comedian Funny Bone in Genevieve Nnaji’s arms?

    Comedian Funny Bone in Genevieve Nnaji’s arms?

    IT’S not a fluke, comedian Funny Bone was seen in the arms of top Nollywood screen diva, Genevieve Nnaji.

    While your mind is tempted to run wild, it happened at a very hilarious scenario recently and under the prying eyes of the cameras, in presence of their fans who stormed the just concluded Celebrity Shift Prayse which held at the Lagoon Restaurant amid pomp and pageantry.

    The comedian, who obviously was overwhelmed by the presence of the star actress, could not resist asking her for a warm embrace while he led a group of cameramen to capture the scenario.

    “See Genevieve, God! I don’t they see you for screen since but na today I dey see one you one on one. I dey come huge you and keep your hand. As I dey come make you self stand up like say you know me, like say we be friends and hug me. Cameramen abeg me una come o,”. The whole hall went on frenzy as she generously hugs him.

    All the stars present at the event looked absolutely stunning and others who also got teased by the comedian include Monalisa Chinda, Susan Peters, Ibinabo Fiberisma, Segun Arinze, Julius Agwu, Okey Bakassi, Lilian Bach among others.

  • UK jails smuggler over Nigeria arms deal

    AN arms dealer has been found guilty of helping to ship thousands of AK47 assault rifles and millions of rounds of ammunition from China to Nigeria.

    Gary Hyde, 43, of Mask Lane, Newton on Derwent, near York, was convicted by a jury at Southwark Crown Court of breaching UK trade controls.

    He moved the weapons without a licence and hid more than one million US dollars (£620,460) in commission payments, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs said.

    Southwark Crown Court heard the delivery from China to Nigeria in 2007 was made up of 40,000 AK47 assault rifles, 30,000 rifles and 10,000 9mm pistols, along with 32 million rounds of ammunition.

    Hyde was convicted after a retrial of two counts of becoming knowingly concerned in the movement of controlled goods between March 2006 and December 2007.

    He was also found guilty of one count of concealing criminal property between March 2006 and December 2008 after he was alleged to have hidden the profits in a bank in Liechtenstein.

    Peter Millroy from HMRC said: “Hyde was an experienced arms dealer who thought he could deliberately not comply with the law in order to make some extra money to hide offshore.

    “He knew full well that his activity required a licence but he decided not to comply with the law, and we are delighted that after an extensive investigation he has been bought to justice.”

    Hyde, who served as a special constable for seven years, will be sentenced on November 23.

     

  • A case for one man, one gun

    I would start by declaring that I am quite aware of the sensitive nature of the issue I have chosen to write about. I am also not oblivious of the criticism it may attract from many of our countrymen who believe that since Nigeria remains a baby at 52, its citizens must necessarily be infants endowed more with infantile emotions and temperament than discretion and sound judgment.
    I am talking about the need to grant responsible and emotionally mature Nigerians access to arms to defend themselves and family members in the face of increasing inability of government to live up to its basic responsibility of protecting the lives and property of its citizens.
    While British philosopher, Thomas Hobbes, might not have had Nigeria in mind when he propounded his theory of state of nature in the 19th Century, no honest observer would dispute the fact that Nigeria today is a replica of the picture he painted of the human society before the advent of government. Life in that primitive society, he said, was solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.
    To be sure, the debate on whether private arms should be legalised is not new. But at no time was the issue as germane as it has been in the past one year or thereabout, considering the numerous sources of violent attacks on innocent Nigerians. The attacks had come mainly from armed robbery and hired assassination. Now, the people are contending with insurgent groups like the Boko Haram. In many of the northern states, for instance, churches have become desolate as Christians in those states fear that they could be attacked during service as has been experienced in states like Borno, Yobe, Plateau, Niger, Kaduna, Adamawa and Kano.
    The foregoing is besides the menace constituted by thugs who are in the habit of unleashing terror on workers and owners of new building sites. The Yoruba call them omo onile. Armed with all manner of dangerous weapons, they move from one building site to another, brandishing guns and other dangerous weapons as they make illegal and unreasonable demands from the owners of such projects. There is also the menace of kidnappers; a trend that has virtually brought the states in the South East to their knees. Ten days ago, it took a combined squad of the Inspector-General of Police and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Anambra State Police Command to unveil an intimidating armoury of a kidnapping gang that had terrorised the zone for years. So massive was the armoury that the Commissioner of Police in the state said the kidnappers were capable of defeating a small army.
    Early in the week, dare-devil robbers laid siege to Lagos, the commercial nerve centre of the nation, killing no fewer than 10 people as they embarked on a shooting spree around the city after attacking a bureau de change, carting away about N150 million away. The robbers, who were said to number about eight, including two women, drove round in two SUVs. They shot at five policemen inside their patrol vehicle, killing two of them instantly while the third died in the hospital. A stray bullet was said to have hit a six-year-old girl in the eye while her grandmother was hit in the forehead as they watched television in their home.
    The Lagos incident occurred at a time that residents were beginning to think that the police in the state had finally found the winning formula against the men of the underworld. With a lot of support from the state government, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the state’s police command had taken the battle to robbers and incidents of robbery reduced remarkably. The sudden burst of robbers to the scene last Sunday, therefore, came as a shock to many. It pointed to the fact that the police are overwhelmed by the crime rate in the nation, not necessarily because they are incompetent but partly because they lack the necessary equipment. With the nation’s population standing at more than 150 million, the less than half a million policemen available in the country is a far cry from the United Nations’ recommended police strength of 222 per 100,000 people.
    The foregoing scenario has triggered the agitation for a state police in some quarters, but the fundamental question remains how states that are barely viable enough to pay their workers’ salaries would muster the funds needed to equip and maintain its own police? The only viable option we are left with, is to allow individual Nigerians to take their destiny in their own hands by making it possible for them to own their own guns and stop living at the mercy of heartless robbers, kidnappers and hired assassins.
    The fear that is often raised against this proposal is that it could lead to needless killings as temperamental individuals could open fire on their compatriots at the slightest provocation. But this line of reasoning is flawed because it presupposes that such trigger-happy fellows will get away scot-free, whereas we have laws that stipulate death sentence or life imprisonment for such an act. The average Nigerian is a passionate lover of life and would do anything to avoid an act that would lead him or her to incarceration, not to talk of being executed. The current setting in which millions of Nigerians acquire arms illegally is more dangerous because it leaves the law abiding citizens at their mercy. And because the guns in circulation are not registered, it is easier for their owners to kill and get away with it.
    The principle of one man, one gun sets up a scenario of mutually assured destruction. It inhibits the reckless use of gun, knowing full well that the man you set out to kill, his friends or neighbours could also be armed. Armed robbers operate with the brazen boldness they do because they know that the likelihood that they will be challenged during an operation is remote. An armed robber will think twice before invading another man’s house if he knows or suspects that his would-be-victim could be armed.
    Patriotic Nigerians need as many guns as they can muster to neutralise the ferocity of bloodthirsty criminals that hold the nation by the jugular. The alternative is to continue to live at their mercy because the security agencies in whose hands we have entrusted our lives and property have proved time and time again that they are incapable of standing up to them. Imagine how many lives could have been saved in Jos, Maiduguri, Adamawa, Yobe, Kaduna and Kano if ours were a country of one man, one gun. It may not provide the answer to bombs, but it is capable of inhibiting other forms of reckless killings.