The Nation Newspaper

Tag: INSECURITY

  • Insecurity in Rivers is troubling, says NDDC chief Semenitari

    A former Acting Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, has described insecurity in Rivers State as troubling, in view of rising cases of kidnapping, robbery, cultism, politically-motivated killing, beheading, sea piracy and other criminal activities.

    Mrs. Semenitari, an ex-Rivers commissioner for Information and Communications, was yesterday in Port Harcourt the guest speaker at the first memorial lecture in honour of a foremost human rights lawyer,  Ken Atsuwete, an indigene of Delta State, but based in Port Harcourt, until his murder last August 29, close to his home in Aluu, near the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).

    Commissioner of Police Zaki Ahmed, who was represented by the Deputy Commissioner (DC), in charge of Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Felix Wamar, insisted the frontline lawyer was killed by robbers, who wanted to take his Lexus 300 vehicle, adding that the three arrested suspects were being prosecuted.

    The Executive Director, Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (IHRHL), Anyakwee Nsirimovu, however, disagreed.

    He declared that Atsuwete, a pastor at Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), was killed by political forces in Rivers.

    The Vice-Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Prof. Ndowa Lale, who chaired the lecture and launch of “The Safe House,” a project of Ken Atsuwete Foundation, for less-privileged widows, stated that the activist fought for the rich and down trodden, to ensure justice, with his practice dedicated to humanity.

    The representative of Rivers South East, Senator Magnus Abe, who was represented by a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Worgu Boms, described the “irreplaceable” Atsuwete as an activist-lawyer with sincere humility and objectivity in the way he went about his duties and activities.

    Atsuwete’s widow Wendy said it had been a year of loneliness and pain, feeling incomplete without the husband in her life and in the lives of their three young children.

    The widow said: “I arrived Nigeria with the kids in July (last year) and went back to the United Kingdom on August 12, 2016, to sort things out, close all accounts, move out from our home, and ship some of our goods to Nigeria. I arrived on August 28, 2016, and by 6 am. on August 29, he was dead.

    “It is like a bad dream I am yet to wake up from. We had enrolled the kids in Chokhmah School for a September start, but I immediately had to withdraw them, because I knew I could not keep up with the fees. He also planned for us to move to a house in the D-Line area (of Port Harcourt), from Aluu.

    “My son, Jolomi, misses his dad like crazy. He was going to join the football team in Chokhmah. He has had a tough time without his hero. You know fathers and their daughters. Oma kept having nightmares and she scared me to bits. I was worried for her, but thank God she is better now. Ama does not really understand what is going on. She asked after her dad for the first time sometime last month. ‘Mummy, where is daddy?’ she said. I told her he had died and is in Heaven. She asked to see him and I told her she couldn’t see him until she turns 100.”

    The guest speaker, who spoke on: “Addressing the Effects of Insecurity on Family Life,” stated that in Nigeria, physical insecurity is rife and violence a common place.

    The ex-commissioner for Information said: “The inability to disagree and to allow contending views fight for intellectual space is the bane of our politics in Nigeria, but worse in the Niger Delta. The fact that Atsuwete’s home had been invaded in the past and the fact that he had been threatened for his stance on issues, made it difficult for his friends and family to view his death as just another kidnap gone wrong. It is perhaps the most painful part of Atsuwete’s death that the story appears to have too many loose ends still dangling.

    “The police have arrested some persons, who they say admitted to killing Atsuwete, but the question that keeps playing in our minds is why? What exactly went wrong? That piece of the puzzle appears missing somewhere. At least in our minds.

    The guest speaker admonished stakeholders to work to end insecurity, especially in Rivers,, stressing that the oath of office of a governor is to protect life and property.

  • Fed Govt weighs National Guard option to battle insecurity

    Fed Govt weighs National Guard option to battle insecurity

    THE establishment of a National Guard to address emerging security threats and emergencies in Nigeria is being considered by the Federal Government, it was learnt yesterday.

    Minister of Interior Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) gave an indication to this in Abuja  when the Adjutant General of the California National Guard, United States (U.S.), Maj.-Gen. David Baldwin, visited him.

     The National Guard is a security outfit established to tackle national security threats and emergencies like it’s obtained in the U.S .

     The minister, however, stressed that a lot of consultations would be done with stakeholders before any decision is taken in that regard.

    He noted that several years ago , the government had planned the establishment of a National Guard, but the idea did not come to fruition due to a number of challenges.

    Dambazau explained that the National Guard would help to fill the gap between the operations of the military and the Police in tackling security challenges and emergencies.

     He said the military is becoming increasingly involved in dealing with some security threats, which is outside their constitutional mandate. He added that the Police might be overstretched in dealing with  such issues.

    Dambazau said Nigeria  will continue to collaborate with the international community, including sharing experiences with the U.S. Army in the training of Nigeria’s security personnel.

    Maj.-Gen. Baldwin said they were in Nigeria to foster partnership between both countries.

    He said California as one of the biggest states in the U.S. had its own National Guard like other states, which is responsible security and emergencies.

    He said the California National Guard will be involved in the training of Nigeria’s security agencies under the Ministry of Interior such as the Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Fire Service (NSCDC) and Prisons to deal with security challenges and emergencies.

    On the establishment of a National Guard in Nigeria, he said it was up to the Nigerian government to decide the veracity and modalities for the establishment of any security outfit.

  • Insecurity in Rivers: Gunmen kidnap 16 passengers, move them into forest

    Insecurity in Rivers: Gunmen kidnap 16 passengers, move them into forest

    The insecurity in Rivers State heightened Monday, as gunmen hijacked a commercial bus on the ever-busy East-West Road, kidnapping the 16 passengers on board and moved them into the forest, just as the 5-day annual conference of the African Bar Association (AFBA) was opening in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

    The hijacked bus belonged to a popular transport company (name withheld), while the driver of the bus was among the kidnapped persons, whose whereabouts remained unknown, as at press time.

    The hijack/kidnap took place on the Emohua axis of the East-West Road in Rivers state, after the gunmen barricaded the dualised road and sporadically opened fire on the bus, thereby forcing the driver to stop.  

    The bus, which was riddled with bullets, was abandoned by the road side.

    The opening ceremony of the AFBA’s annual conference had in attendance the immediate President of the Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, who was the keynote speaker, the Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, and his counterpart of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, among other eminent personalities.

    It was gathered that a combined team of security operatives, consisting of the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Anti-Cultism Unit, the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad and personnel of the Joint Task Force had been deployed in the forest, bordering Emohua and Ikwerre Local Government Areas of Rivers state, to ensure quick rescue of the victims and arrest of the criminals.

    Rivers police Spokesman, Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), who confirmed the incident, stated that the command was currently analysing the information it received from witnesses, assuring that the Rivers Commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed, was on top of the matter.

    Omoni assured that concerted efforts were already being made to apprehend the hoodlums, while pleading with members of the public to be vigilant and assist the police and other security agencies with useful information on suspicious movements in their neighbourhoods.

  • Dogara: Nigeria loses N7tr to insecurity in high seas yearly

    Dogara: Nigeria loses N7tr to insecurity in high seas yearly

    House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara yesterday said Nigeria lost about N7 trillion annually to insecurity and revenue leakages in the waterways.

    Dogara spoke at a public hearing on a Bill to amend the Maritime Operations Coordinating Board Act organised by the House of Representatives.

    The bill seeks to ensure the repositioning of the board for effective control of maritime operations in Nigeria’s territorial waters and create the Maritime Security Fund.

    Dogara insisted that security in Nigeria’s territorial waters must be strengthened and urged the Navy and other relevant agencies to ensure greater collaboration to stem the tide of piracy and other coastal attacks.

    He assured Nigerians that the House would embark on holistic review of extant maritime legislations with a view to halting the loss in the sector.

    The Speaker said: “It is even more disturbing to note that Nigeria is said to be losing about N7 trillion annually in the maritime sector due to leakages in revenue generation and insecurity in the water ways.

    “Between January and March, 2016, several attacks were reported off Nigeria’s coast. This was said to involve pirates stealing cargoes of crude oil and petroleum products.

    “Reports had it that no fewer than 44 ship crew members were abducted and in the first half of 2017, over 20 commercial vessels were attacked in Nigerian waters.

    “The increasing level of attacks and violence in the Gulf of Guinea has given Nigeria and other countries in the sub-region very damaging and negative image.

    “This is in addition to an estimated monthly loss of $1.5 billion to the country.

    “As I said recently, prevalence of insecurity in our waters resulted in the loss of $1.3 billion annually to illegal unregulated fishing in West Africa alone.

    “The only way to promote intra-African trade in our water ways is to ensure safety and security of navigation in our waters.

    “Our water ways and even the Gulf of Guinea have been witnessing increasing level of piracy and kidnapping of expatriates and Nigerians alike,’’ he said.

    He assured that bills that would address insecurity in the sector, especially piracy, would receive urgent passage in the House to restore order to the marine sector.

    Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas confirmed the recovery of over N420 billion stolen oil fund in 2016.

    Ibas said that the recovery was aside from stolen oil worth N6. 7 billion destroyed in various illegal refineries between January and June.

    He cited the report of study conducted by Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) data, saying estimated oil production in Nigeria plummeted by more than 25 per cent in 2009, as a result of piracy and sea robbery.

    He, however, reiterated Navy’s commitment toward combating criminality ranging from vandalism, kidnapping, environmental pollution, maritime terrorism, illegal bunkering and poaching.

    Other anti-economic growth vices, the naval chief said, included smuggling, proliferation of arms, waste dumping and oil pollution.

    He noted that such colossal loss to piracy and sea robbery was avoidable, but added that intense efforts were being made to drastically reduce the menace over the past 18 months.

    Ibas said “according to the Oil Producers Trading Section (OPTS) report, annual crude oil loss due to COT for 2014 amounted to about 36,162 barrels per day’’.

    He, however, said that the intervention of the Nigerian Navy had led to increase in national crude oil production from less than a million barrels per day in early 2016 to over two million barrels per day in April, 2017.

    Chairman, House Committee on Navy, Rep. Abdussamad Dasuki, lamented that while incidents of sea piracy had reduced in other territorial waters due to effective coordination, “it is increasing in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea.

    “This is apparently disturbing given repeated warnings by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) that attacks by sea-borne bandits off the West African coast are on the rise in Nigeria.

    “To compound the problem, the United Nations Security Council reported that Nigeria was losing about 1.5 billion dollars monthly due to piracy and other activities,’’ Dasuki said.

     

  • Nigeria loses N7tr to insecurity in high seas annually – Dogara

    Nigeria loses N7tr to insecurity in high seas annually – Dogara

    The Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, on Monday said Nigeria lost about N7 trillion annually to insecurity and revenue leakages in the waterways.

    Dogara said this at a public hearing on a Bill to amend the Maritime Operations Coordinating Board Act organised by the House of Representatives.

    The Bill seeks to ensure the repositioning of the board for effective control of maritime operations in Nigeria’s territorial waters and create the Maritime Security Fund.

    Dogara insisted that security in Nigeria’s territorial waters must be strengthened and urged the Nigerian Navy and other relevant agencies to ensure greater collaboration to stem the tide of piracy and other coastal attacks.

    He assured Nigerians that the House would embark on holistic review of extant maritime legislations with a view to halting the loss in the sector.

    The Speaker said, “it is even more disturbing to note that Nigeria is said to be losing about N7 trillion annually in the maritime sector due to leakages in revenue generation and insecurity in the water ways.

    “Between January and March, 2016, several attacks were reported off Nigeria’s coast. This was said to involve pirates stealing cargoes of crude oil and petroleum products.

    “Reports had it that no fewer than 44 ship crew members were abducted and in the first half of 2017, over 20 commercial vessels were attacked in Nigerian waters.

    “The increasing level of attacks and violence in the Gulf of Guinea has given Nigeria and other countries in the sub-region very damaging and negative image.

    “This is in addition to an estimated monthly loss of 1.5 billion dollars to the country.

    “As I said recently, prevalence of insecurity in our waters resulted in the loss of 1.3 billion dollars annually to illegal unregulated fishing in West Africa alone.

    “The only way to promote intra-African trade in our water ways is to ensure safety and security of navigation in our waters.

    “Thus, the onus is on the Nigerian Navy to stem the tide of pirate attacks and secure our territorial waters in cooperation with other agencies of government.’’

    He added that in the absence of enabling laws stipulating stiff penalties and adequate funding, the Navy might not be able to perform its responsibility effectively and efficiently.

    Dogara said that the importance of the maritime sector and its capacity to take Nigeria out of recession could not be undermined.

    “The importance of making Nigeria’s maritime sector safe and secure cannot be over emphasised given that the bulk of our trade and commerce come through our waters.

    “This will greatly boost government revenue, increase our foreign reserve and ultimately provide jobs to millions of our youths.

    “Our water ways and even the Gulf of Guinea have been witnessing increasing level of piracy and kidnapping of expatriates and Nigerians alike,’’ he said.

    He assured that bills that would address insecurity in the sector, especially piracy, would receive urgent passage in the House to restore order to the marine sector.

    The Speaker added that establishment of Maritime Security Fund would provide the Navy with needed funds to effectively discharge its sub-regional duties of patrolling the joint development zone between Sao Tome and Principe and Nigeria.

    The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas, at the hearing, confirmed the recovery of over N420 billion stolen oil fund in 2016.

    Ibas said that the recovery was aside from stolen oil worth N6. 7 billion destroyed in various illegal refineries between January and June, 2017.

    He cited the report of study conducted by Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) data, saying estimated oil production in Nigeria plummeted by more than 25 per cent in 2009, as a result of piracy and sea robbery.

    He, however, reiterated Navy’s commitment toward combating criminality ranging from vandalism, kidnapping, environmental pollution, maritime terrorism, illegal bunkering and poaching.

    Other anti-economic growth vices, the naval chief said, included smuggling, proliferation of arms, waste dumping and oil pollution.

    He noted that such colossal loss to piracy and sea robbery was avoidable, but added that intense efforts were being made to drastically reduce the menace over the past 18 months.

    Ibas said “according to the Oil Producers Trading Section (OPTS) report, annual crude oil loss due to COT for 2014 amounted to about 36,162 barrels per day’’.

    He, however, said that the intervention of the Nigerian Navy had led to increase in national crude oil production from less than a million barrels per day in early 2016 to over two million barrels per day in April, 2017.

    On his part, Chairman, House Committee on Navy, Rep. Abdussamad Dasuki, lamented that while incidences of sea piracy had reduced in other territorial waters due to effective coordination, “it is increasing in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea.

    “This is apparently disturbing given repeated warnings by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) that attacks by sea-borne bandits off the West African coast are on the rise in Nigeria.

    “To compound the problem, the United Nations Security Council reported that Nigeria was losing about 1.5 billion dollars monthly due to piracy and other activities,’’ Dasuki said

     

  • ‘No killing, insecurity in Ondo Community’

    ‘No killing, insecurity in Ondo Community’

    Concerned stakeholders in Irun, Akoko Northwest local government area of Ondo state Thursday debunked the report of insecurity in the ancient town as reported in the media.

    They described the claim as unfounded and baseless; stressing that the purported petition written to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris by some indigenes in the community was mischievous.

    The petition was entitled:’Re-illegal installation, threat to lives, murder and destruction of properties at Irun-Akoko’.

    According to the Olisa of Irun-Akoko,Chief Rufus Ajakaye,the security agents within the local government could testify that peace is reigning supreme in the town.

    He said the socio-economic activities were booming in the town without any disturbance,while the youth leader in the area,Kola Ariyo corroborated the notion.

    Ajakaye stressed that the choice of Oba-elect, Prince Adeusi Bada was widely accepted by the cross section of the community.

    Ariyo denied that the Onirun-elect had hands in the death of one Adekiya Apata,stressing that the suspected killer had already been charged to court.

    The Oba-elect, prince Bada described himself as a peace lover,who would not destroy his home because of becoming a monarch.

    He emphasised that his progenitors were from Irun-Akoko and not strangers as some people claimed.

    The Onirun-elect hailed security agents for their professionalism and the way they handled the issue having won three cases with the fine of N180,000 granted him thereafter.

    Prince Adeusi urged the state government to expedite action and approve his appointment to facilitate the presentation of instrument of office in the interest of peace in Irun-Akoko community.

  • George: State police to tackle insecurity

    George: State police to tackle insecurity

    •PDP chieftain flays breaches of Lagos masterplans

    Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Deputy National Chairman Chief Olabode George has called for the establishment of state police to tackle the rising cases of insecurity.

    At a conference yesterday in Lagos, titled: “Our paradise is slipping away”, George said the wastage of lives by a cult group known as “Badoo” in Ikorodu and environs of Lagos State had heightened the need for state police.

    He added that the full weight of the law should be brought to bear on apprehended criminals.

    The PDP chieftain noted that if states were allowed to have their police side-by-side with the federal  police, cases of insecurity will be reduced to the minimum.

    “Nigeria needs to be restructured, to allow the states have their police, the local police understand  the terrain and would go after the criminals in their hideout.”

    He explained that 40 days after some school children were kidnapped in Epe, the government has not been able to secure their release from their captors.

    “It is the responsibility of the Lagos State government to ensure that these school children are returned alive to their parents.

    “The state has the resources to tackle insecurity, using technology to search the nooks and crannies of the state. These criminals live among us. They can be fished out with the use of satellites. Nobody should play politics with the lives of these children because they are neither PDP or All Progressives Congress (APC) members.

    “It’s really worrisome that the school children have not been seen. The PDP will support any step taken to ensure that they are returned home to their parents in good health.”

    George expressed concerned that the Lagos State masterplans had been impaired, noting that drainages and other outlays could no longer serve their purposes.

    “The incessant rainfall in the last few days has revealed a lot of structural flaws in the guiding vision and in the administrative focus of Lagos State.

    From Ikoyi to the farthest reaches of Epe, Lagosians are being drowned in a stubborn persistent thundering wave of endless flood.

    “Yes the floods, like some incorrigible rushing currents of an angry river, have virtually intruded into the most sacred sanctum of our homes.

    “Thousands have been rendered homeless; hundreds of millions of properties have been destroyed. Lagos is indeed in a sorry, mournful phase. Homes are being destroyed. Roofs are shattered and vehicles drowned in the sweeping rush of floods.

    “In our greed and selfish motivations, we are infringing upon the laws of nature. We are chasing the lagoon away in feverish and selfish paces. But water will always find its level. No one can alter the laws of nature. Nature is now rising up to affirm itself. And we cannot fight back unless we rectify our ways.”

  • ‘ICT can address insecurity, other issues’

    ‘ICT can address insecurity, other issues’

    Although the information and communication technology space has what it takes to address the myriads of problems bedeviling the nation at all fronts, the irony however is that its potential is yet to be fully harnessed.

    One individual who believes the nation’s economic managers need to key into the ICT space for the benefit of the country is Oluwatimileyin Sanwo, CEO, CrystalHills Softwares, a software development company in Lagos.

    According to Sanwo, many of the insecurity challenges facing the country today can be addressed with technologies. “In fact, if government can pay more attention to ICT, it should be able to curb at least 70 percent of the corruption in our system.”

    Sanwo, who is in his 20s, recalled that over the last few years, his organisation has consulted for several firms in the area of IT security to curtail lots of atrocities in their system.

    “We get invited for inspection, check out the vulnerabilities in their environment and we work with the team to install ICT-related technologies to create an automated security system by installing hidden surveillance camera systems, various human detections and alarming system, bomb detectors, electrified barriers and fences and in some cases thermal cameras to see through walls and barriers.”

    At the risk of sounding immodest, the Ijebu-Mushin born ICT expert said, the software developed by his company has helped in the eradication of ghost workers, unpunctuality and comprehensive data capturing of employees.  “In the same vein, we launched an employee shift and attendance management system that can be integrated with various biometric attendance devices. We also majored in the construction and installation of access control systems. This includes security turnstiles, fingerprint controlled doors locks, automated gate systems and related solutions. We also developed various tracking solutions including fleet management systems, fuel monitoring systems for both static and moving tanks. The tracking activities were made possible with our customised portal to proffer the most suitable solution to our indigenous security challenges.”

    The graduate of Food Technology from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye while speaking on his foray into ICT, recalled that he went to the sector by providence. “I grew up in a computer savvy family, where we were exposed to computers since the days of Apple II and the early days of Microsoft Windows. Growing up in the background helped us develop a sound knowledge and passion in the basics of computer. I finished secondary school quite early. After school, I was having issues securing admissions to study computer science in the university of my choice. During this period, I started my internship with a software company back then which was how my career started as a software developer. After few years, I settled to studying Food Science. I took advantage of the numerous industrial actions embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to start my journey as an entrepreneur.”

    Thankfully, shortly after completing his national youth’s service, he decided to take the plunge rather pushing white-collar job. That decision has paid off according to him judging by the modest success he has achieved within the space of few years of setting up shop.

    Expatiating, he said: “As an entrepreneur and a student, I limited my services to web development and creation of e-business platforms as it was easy to work remotely. When Crystalhills started, I thought about how we could use the skills acquired in programming to solve pressing problems in the society. We focused more in creating customised ICT security solutions that includes various types of biometric data capturing, GPS tracking solutions, access controls solutions, automated and embedded systems and system automations.”

    As to be expected, the young ICT firm in its quest to remain relevant in the scheme of things has been keeping pace with new technology and innovation in the area of ICT, which is why the company has embarked on an ambitious expansionist drive by creating software development team which focuses on the development of software solutions that can be used to reduce human intervention in management and create better reporting.

    “Today, we have the school management software commonly known as the School Clerk and Human Resource management software called CrystalHRM. They are both widely used across the country. We have also been gaining international recognition since we took advantage of the various software selling platforms,” he revealed some what elatedly.

    The young entrepreneur despite his modest success thus far is not convinced that there is an enabling environment in the country for small businesses to thrive.

    While acknowledging the fact that the government has done a lot overtime in creation of agencies and policies for development of SMEs, he said the problem lies mainly with the implementation of these policies.

    “The systems also do not have a working system in place to check for quality control. Because of poor quality control, so many sub-standard products are in the market which makes excellent job delivery a higher priced solution. I also feel the government needs to pay more attention to talent discovering and management. The government needs to pay more attention to biometric data capturing and statistics as it will give us genuine population figures because without this, decision making will not be based on facts. It will also save cost while enforcement of law will be easier as every Nigerian will have an identity. Also, traffic control and live patrol surveillance will also be cheaper with IT security cameras installed at all nooks and crannies.”

  • Reps meet ministers, service chiefs over insecurity

    Security was top of the agenda yesterday when the House of Representatives met with Minister of Defence Dan Ali, Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Dambazzau  and service chiefs.

    Chief of Defence Staff  Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok Ekwe Ibas, National Security Adviser (NSA) Babagana Monguno, Inspector- General of Police Ibrahim Idris, Director-General of Department of State Service ( DSS) Lawal Daura and Commandant-General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Abdullahi Muhammad were in attendance.

    The meeting followed the lawmakers’ resolution last week on the need to arrest the spate of kidnappings and other crimes in the country.

    A source said during the over two hours meeting, the security chiefs disclosed the strategies and methodologies of the kidnappers and what the agencies were doing to address the menace.

    However, he said the service was using multifaceted strategies to fight the menace which culminated in the arrest of a kidnap kingpin, Chkwudubem George Onwuamadike, aka Evans.

     

  • Army to curb insecurity in Abia

    •‘Aba ‘ll be safe for business, economic activities’

    The Brigade Commander of 14 Brigade at Ohafia in Abia State, Brig.-Gen. Audu Ibrahim, has promised residents of Aba and other parts of the state of the command’s willingness to curb kidnapping, robbery and other crimes.

    Ibrahim spoke during a tour of 144 Battalion at Ukwa in West Local Government Area.

    The Brigade Commander, who took over from Brig.-Gen. Lawrence Fejokwu, also said the command recently smashed a kidnapping syndicate that had been terrorising the state.

    He said the brigade was trailing fleeing members of the gang.

    Ibrahim hoped the war on insecurity would be won or reduce crimes through collaboration with other security agencies.

    According to him, the Army was aware of the major role Aba plays in the state’s economy and the nation’s.

    Ibrahim said the military would ensure that residents and visitors sleep with their eyes closed and do their businesses without fear.

    He called for prayers for soldiers fighting insurgency in the Northeast, saying: “In the face of your duties, you must be very professional in the manner you perform your duties. Aba is a place where there is high level of commercial activities. It is not your duties to go and settle cases between civilians; that is a civil affair. Your Commanding Officer will never do that. I, as a General, will never do that.

    “Therefore, we don’t expect you as soldiers to do that. Do not go out on illegal duty. If you are not sent on a lawful duty by your Commanding Officer, Company Commander, Platoon Commander, as the case may be, don’t follow others to do duties that you have not been sent to do. That will be a criminal breach of trust and you know that the Army frowns at criminal misconduct.

    “Always remember soldiers in the Northeast in your prayers. Support them spiritually. Their families are here. If you have any way you can assist the families they leave behind, please do that because they are our brothers and colleagues.”