The Nation Newspaper

Tag: INSECURITY

  • On insecurity in the North

    On insecurity in the North

    Nigeria and its northern states have got an issue in their hands. In the last three years or so the north has been burning. There is bombing in the streets and slums of Maiduguri, Kano, Yobe, Bauchi, Kaduna, Adamawa and on the plateau.

    There are prison breaks in Bauchi, Maiduguri, Kogi etc. There are killings in police stations, schools, in the hospitals, in churches and even in mosques of rival Islamic clerics. The air is permeated with the sounds of improvised explosive devices and punctuated with trigger-happy and rag-tag insurgents baying for blood of the innocent and helpless masses. There is maiming, killing and harassment with impunity in the north. The north, it seems is at war with itself.

    This past three years the north has witnessed massive bloodshed. Boko Haram has killed more than 3000, bombed and burnt more than 150 churches and properties worth billions of naira have gone down the drain. This insurgency has delivered a punch that has hit the economy and social environment of the north and its fledging credibility of hospitality which is now politically and religiously wounded. This shows how politically inept the so called “northern leaders and elder statesmen” are. As this wind of insecurity blows across the north and continues to gather momentum – and its political, economic and cultural fortune begins to dwindle by the day- the sign of a failed political and religious leadership pollutes and dents the firmament of the legacy of the Ahmadu Bellos, the Tafawa Balewas and the Aminu Kanos.

    The northern elites and political leaders took the easy path; follow the political sentiment instead of showing the way of conflict resolution and religious harmony. In today’s north there is something cowardly about its leaders’ handling of the Boko Haram imbroglio; they take a French leave and look the other way when security fails. But the elites did just this, they abdicated their responsibilities by refusing to be arrow-head of cohesion when it was needed; the result of their inaction is the insecurity the north is harvesting. Think of the bombing, think of the absolute anarchy, think of the people at the mercy of joint military tasked force (JTF) and the insurgent and think of the failing northern Nigeria. Yes, the zone that cannot maintain law and order, a north that cannot enforce peace and protect lives, a north that can be overpowered and overwhelmed by a sect brandishing “jihadism” and “IEDS”, a north that appeases politicians and religious extremists at the expense of the masses.

    This insecurity in the north is sad and dangerous for Nigeria. But it’s worse and a tragic event for the north and families of those who died for no good reason.

    • Moses Sunday Ajehson

    Kubwa, Abuja.

     

  • Insecurity threatens investment in data centre

    Data centre business may not flourish in the country.

    Experts in data management, who spoke on the issue, said the fear that insecurity in the cloud keeps individuals and private enterprises from chossing the option.

    Executive Director, Kitskoo Cloud, Monu Ogbe and head, Document Management, FirstBank of Nigeria Mrs Grace Oyebo, said the fear of storing data in the cloud is genuine.

    Ogbe said the fear of insecurity has led its firm to partner with Tech Mahindra of India and launch of Kitskoo Guradian, its flagship product.

    “Security of data is one reason why Kitskoo has partnered with Tech Mahindra. We are going to launch the Kitskoo Guradian which will serve as backup for customer,” Ogbe said.

    For Oyebo, the cloud is not an option on the cards for FirstBank’s electronic data management services (EDMS).

    “We have not gone to the cloud because right now, people cannot ascertain its security. As an expert that goes for international conferences at least twice a year, meeting with experts in the cloud, there are still a lot of things to be dealt with in the cloud. In First Bank, we are very careful. You have to apply technology based on your own level (of development). You don’t say because people are doing it in Japan and other places, you have to do the same. If people are saying cloud and you want to go, there are some underlining factors you must consider. I don’t think we have gone to the cloud,” she said.

    According to her, though the bank has not started, there is a plan in that direction in the pipeline “We have not started but we intend to cloud some items which we are keeping secret to our hearts but we have a lot of back up devices,” she said.

    On disaster recovery sites, she said the bank has three of such sites across the country. “We have our disaster recovery sites, the hot site and the cold site not in the cloud anyway but I will not disclose where they are because of secuiryt reasons. We have them all over so that if there is any disruption, we fall back to them but for the cloud, we are planning to go but I don’t want to disclose our plan in this respect because, “We have at least three disaster recovery sites in Lagos and outside Lagos so that even when there is a downtime, you scarcely can know. The crowd you noticed recently in our branches was because we are changing our financial system FINACO from 7 to 10 and there is no way it will not impact on our services on working days.”

     

     

     

  • How to tackle insecurity, by lawyers at summit

    For President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Mr Okey Wali (SAN), it was an accomplishment to assemble stakeholders in an effort at finding a lasting solution to the security challenges facing the country. On becoming NBA President on August 31 last year, he set up the Okey Amechi (SAN)-led Peace and Security Committee with a mandate to organise a summit to examine the causes of insecurity and recommend pragmatic solutions . Last week, the summit was held Abuja. Lawyers gave their assessment of the event. They spoke to Legal Editor JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU.

     

    The Summit was declared open by President Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented by the Minister for Justice and Attorney –General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN).
    He restated the Federal Government’s commitment to tackling unemployment and poverty to fight terrorism and similar social vices.
    The President praised the NBA for organising such a summit at this critical point in the life of the country given the challenges posed by insurgents, militants and kidnapping.
    He praised the theme of the summit, Comprehensive and Sustainable Peace and Security in a Plural Society: Extreme Challenges to Nigerian Internal Security, stating that it was timely and timeous.He said terrorism, kidnapping and other forms of threats to national security were capable of eroding the core values of the nation if not well handled.
    “Bombing of innocent men and children by the terrorist groups coupled with the wide range of kidnapping must be seen as a direct attack on the core values and integrity of Nigeria.
    “It will be recalled that poverty, unemployment have been identified as some of the root causes of our present security challenges.
    “Government is, therefore, tackling the problem head on, on several fronts”
    He reassured Nigerians of government’s continued effort in canvassing for reconciliation to ensure that the nation’s core democratic values were not undermined, that the Federal Government was opened to constructive suggestions from the NBA and other stakeholders on the way forward in dealing with insecurity. ”

     

    The Senate President, David Mark who was represented by the chairman, Senate Committee on Human Rights and Legal Matters,Senator Umaru Dahiru said that the National Assembly had commenced the amendment of some laws on security to adequately face the challenges of insecurity in the country.

    He stated that said that the National Assembly was equally amending the law on kidnapping so as to adequately tackle the problem posed by the crime and promised that the National Assembly was ready to take a look at recommendations made at the end of the summit in order to find lasting solution to insecurity. The National Assembly has gone extra mile to tackle the issue of terrorism and arrangements are almost concluded to revise the terrorism law that was passed in 2011.

    The chairman of the occasion and Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Miriam Mukhtar (CJN) , said dialogue was one of the key factors to peaceful coexistence in the country. She called for the transformation of what she called zero or winner takes all approach to politics saying the fractured relationship among our leaders should be restored to build a lasting peace in the country.

    The CJN said: “ A true new consensus must be forged among leaders to restore confidence in the system.

     

    The Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, who was represented at the occasion by Wazirin Nupe, Senator Isa Mohammed, lamented the activities of criminals in the society and said the only way to curb it is to empower law enforcement agencies in the country to do their job.

    He called for the licensing of preachers by the government regulate the activities of such preachers because many people are indoctrinated at the places of worship.

    The Sultan said: “ Traditional leaders are doing their best but violent preaching leads to destruction.”

    He said Nigeria has a lot of challenges and such challenges can only be overcome by such eminent people that were assembled by the NBA for the conference.

     

    The Oni of Ife, Okunade Sijuade, who was represented at the event by his Royal Majesty, Oba’ Kole Ojutalayo, said: “ The diversity of Nigerian nation is a challenge but we have decided that we shall remain one. Kidnapping, Boko Haram, armed robbery, political intolerance,etc are there but we shall overcome them.

    The royal father said: “ Traditional leaders make efforts to have what you lawyers call consensus ad idem”

    He condemned the recent attack on the Emir of Kano and prayed for his quick recovery.

     

    In his goodwill massage, the former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari said: “The topic of the summit as articulated is apt, unless this country is mobilised, secured and managed, the black man will be a disappointment in the world”

     

    Former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, represented by Abubakar Gimba, praised the NBA for organising the summit . He said the issue of security is a big challenge to everybody, because no meaningful development will occur in a hostile and unfriendly environment. He condemned the state of insecurity in the country and called on every stakeholder to join hands in finding a lasting solution to the problem.

     

    Welcoming participants to the occasion, the President of NBA, Mr. Okey Wali (SAN) said: “ Our choice of you as invitees to this summit was not accidental, but a product of our well considered judgment that you are obviously among Nigerians who when we gather together, as we have today, and decide to speak frankly and freely from our hearts to ourselves, will certainly provide the much needed ideas that will usher in the great days of peace and security, that have unfortunately eluded this country for a long time now.

    “We cannot continue in this state of affairs, with daily loss of lives and properties. Just recently, – on January 19, 2013, there was an attack on the life of the Emir of Kano which led to the death of five of his aides. May their souls rest in peace.

    The theme of this conference is comprehensive and sustainable peace and security in a plural society: extreme callenges to nigerian internal security.

    “The vision to convoke this summit had come to me even while I was running for the office of president of NBA. And when the power to actualise the vision was vested in me by members of the NBA to be their president, I made it my primary concern. During my inauguration as the president of the NBA on August 31 , 2012, is set up two committee that I thought should not wait for the other adhoc and standing committees where the chief Solomon Awomolo (SAN) led committee to organize Bar Leaders Summit on the future of the NBA while the second was the Okey Amaechi (SAN) led committee to organize this summit that is, the NBA summit on peace and security. Let me also place on record, the debt of gratitude of the Nigerian Bar Association to you, our dear invitees for honouring this invitation.

    “I wish to state at this point, that what NBA has done by convoking this summit, goes to signpost the additional role the NBA as a stakeholder in this country. With 100 branches spread across the country, and with our credible, non partisan, non religious platform; we will henceforth, not only hold up the mirror to the society, but will go the extra mile, where necessary, to suggest practical ways of curing the noticeable defects in the system. It is necessary to point this out, so that nobody will misunderstand our intention. For we are involved, a strong Bar can only thrive in a strong country”

     

    M. A. Abubakar stated: “ Well, I must say that so far so good, this summit has come at a very auspicious time, because it appears to me as if all those who should raise their heads and speak, are quite feeling shy to do that and I believe that the NBA is right in coming out now with this summit. From the keynote address, the parameters were set for a summit that ended with very

    In his welcome remarks, the chairman of NBA Peace and Security Committee, Okey Amechi (SAN) said: “Our committee readily keyed into the vision and passion of the NBA president , the NBA, therefore, has created this platform for free intercourse of ideas, bearing in mind the philosophy underpinning the idea is free market of ideas, that it is better to have uproars in the village square where discussions are free than to have whispers in the cellars where revolutions are hatched I hereby commend members of our committee for sparing no effort in making sure that the right ambience is put in place for this epochal summit”.

    Former General Secretary, NBA, Olumuyiwa Akinboro said: “ First of all, I will like to congratulate the Okey Wali led Executive of the NBA for a job well done. This is one of the best well planned NBA event. Looking at the quality of participants, it is really awesome. I am sure that with the quality of personalities that we have here, NBA is definitely coming out with genuine contributions that will definitely move Nigeria forward.

     

    Former President of the West African Bar Association (WABA) Mr Femi Falana (SAN) said: “We have had some good analysis but what I have seen as a short coming of all the analysis is the absence of class dimension which has denied the conference of a rigorous undertaking. What I mean is that we have more or less concentrated attention on Boko Haram, kidnappers and the dangers constituted by them to the society, without interrogating the emergence of these organisations, without addressing unemployment, poverty, disenchantment and frustration of the youth that drives them to embrace these organisations for me I think that is fundamental. It is not enough to talk about the architecture of security, you must talk of the social implications, the social aspect of security, the human element and of course not much attention has been paid to the culture of impunity in the country which promotes insecurity, which promotes violence. If those who were caught were not brought to book, others are encouraged.

     

    Concluding his speech, the keynote speaker, Chief A. K. Horsfall said: “We started this lecture by saying – Nigeria, nay the world is in turmoil. There is insecurity everywhere! Sadly we are going to conclude by confirming our earlier position. We must conclude that terrorism and violent extremism is now at our earlier position. We must conclude that terrorism and violent extremism is now at our door step. Mali is actually next door. The fall out from Mali is bound to directly affect this country. The economic woes of the western world will of course also impact on our country.

    “On the world scene we must recall that the two world Wars arose soon after western economic depressions. I am tempted to predict that we are perhaps likely to face such global security crisis again. Perhaps the fact that the American have returned Obama to White House, a cool-headed realist, may prolong global conflict for a while, however the seeds of major further global conflict cannot be too far away! With the scepter of Isreal versus Iran; the emerging development in the China Sea over some new found mineral rich Islands that both the Chinese, a new super power and Japan and other western allied countries claim, the flash point between China and Japan in particular are heightened; the unresolved Korean situation; and the continuing India- Pakistan dispute over Kashmir. All of these continuing developments must remind us that the drum of global wars are still beating and can be ignited once more, any time! On the Nigerian scene we must accept that Boko Haram and violent militancy will stay with us for a while, yet. But we must not loose hope. Timely, appropriate and properly co-ordinated politically, defence, security and law and order actions may bring the country back from the brink”

     

    General Secretary, NBA Emeka Obegolu said: “The peace and security summit organised by the NBA as an intervention to what is generally agreed to be the major challenge facing Nigeria today lived up to its pre- summit billing as a neutral and impartial platform for effective deliberations by stakeholders in the Nigerian project. The array of resource persons and guests will lend credence to the commitment shown by the NBA towards contributing our own quota to finding a solution to our problem.We believe that a strong Bar can only be found in a strong country, thus our commitment to contribute towards the strengthening of the firmament of the country.

     

    Former president of the NBA, Joseph Bodunrin Daudu SAN said: “The summit in terms of organisation, in terms of presentation and in terms of the quality of the suggestions can only be classed as excellent. I am happy that the NBA has always continued to be relevant in the scheme of things nationally. As it relates to whether the contents of the communiqué will be enforced.

    “ I do have my doubts because the we have always had is that the executive is either reluctant or very slow in dealing with these issues and we also don’t know what the approach is, so my wish and my desire is that they should listen, because the NBA is the voice of the people and therefore they should listen to the voice of the people and take action. The who is who in security were here and they gave their insights and thoughts in these matters, whether they are in the opposition or whether they are in government does not really matter, the government should see everybody as their own and to distil the relevant material from what has been suggested and be seen to be doing something.

     

    Chief Adegboyega Solomon Awomolo (SAN) said: “Let me first and foremost congratulate Okey Wali (SAN) of the NBA, especially for the initiative of this talk shop. It is indeed an eminent task to gather prominent Nigerians especially those who have participated in the in the governance of this country. Former heads of State, former Secretary-General of the Commowealth, the chief Justice of Nigeria and a lot of other people. We have been able to listen to them, see through their mind and they all spoke with one mind, let there be peace in this country. Let us pursue all it requires to unite Nigeria and to save us from the catastrophe of terrorists. Terrorism has taken very serious dimension in Nigeria and I can tell you that nobody is safe anymore.

     

    Mallam Yusuf Ali (SAN) said: “Let me start by commending the leadership of NBA for the initiative of putting this in place it will go a long way in proffering solutions to the security challenges before us. Everybody who witnessed the formal openining and the showcase session will agree without any iota of doubt that this is coming at the right time, in the right moment, in the right place and with the right group. The fact that we have security challenges in Nigeria is as obvious as daylight is obvious and the kind of issues that have been discussed at the summit is such that people have identified the various areas of justice that have been denied which is at the root of these problems. They include social justice, economic justice, political justice, religious justice and others. Once these issues are addressed, we will be getting out of the woods. It is also important to note what Chief A. K. Horsefall said yesterday, we must not think that it is a quick fix, because that is always our mentality, we always believe that everything can easily fixed.

     

    Country President, FIDA International, Mrs. Hauwa Shekarau said:First and foremost I think that kudos must go to the NBA for thinking it fit to organise a summit of this magnitude. And what I like most about the summit is that almost every stakeholder was invited both traditional rulers, religious leaders, security agents, community based organisations and all that. Everybody was invited and it was a worthwhile conference, so we must congratulate the NBA for taking the bull by the horns, by taking part in proffering solutions to the security challenges of this country which is tending to tear us apart and destroy us as a country. Neverthless, I must talk about my constituency because at the end of the day, it is women and children that are at the receiving end. We have seen how the insecurity has displaced so many homes, women are displaced from their homes, they are living in the refugee camps where many of them are victims of sexual violence and all such assaults .

     

    Chief Roland Otaru, (SAN) said: “This summit is awesome, wonderful, well planned and will actually provide the way forward in ensuring peace and tranquillity in Nigeria”

     

    Dr. Dorn Cklaimz Enamhe said: “It is left for Nigeria to accept the resolutions and outcome of this awesome Summit. The keynote speaker was deep and his paper was well researched. The calibre of presenters was great and the NBA has effectively and efficiently discharged it mandate. The NBA cannot live in a society where all they need to do is go to court, no. It has to make its own contributions to the development of the society and stop some of these societal ills from coming over. I believe that the NBA is ahead of time and responsive to the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians. It is indeed a great summit.”

     

    An Abuja based legal practitioner, Mr. Emmanuel Ofong said: “ For the first time, one is beginning to see the rays of hope. Before today, there was not much hope, we were living by fear day by day. But what saw, what I heard and listened in this summit has built up my confidence.

     

    Arthur Obi Okafor (SAN) stated “First of all, I must congratulate the President of the NBA, Okey Wali (SAN) and his excecutives for conceiving and implementing this wonderful summit. We have stated our positions in a very frank and honest manner, in a very down to earth analysis of the situation on ground, very dangerous situation that we have. But we have come together to dissect it and give it its proper colouration. The elite class has failed the country, that is the truth. Not just those in government, the elite class in general, we have failed. When we talk of corruption, it has many faces and not only just taking money from the coffers of the government. We have failed to address issues as they are, we have failed to nurture institutions that will give and sustain security to lives and property in this country, we have failed to give our northern brothers education which they desperately need to be able to become major players in the affairs of this country. Yes, the South ios ahead in education, good enough, the South did not plan to keep the North educationally backward, but the North is part of this country and since they are part of this country, we must also bring them up so that we be at par in education and when everyone is educated, we know our civil rights and obligations, for now, many of them do not understand what you mean by Nigerian project.

     

    Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) said: “The communiqué that is issued at the end of this summit, if you add it to that of an earlier forum which was organised earlier this month by the Vanguard newspapers, you will discover that Nigeria will move some notch forward. There is no doubt about it that good ideas have been canvassed, the challenges have been identified and the solutions also identified. I want to say that I am very proud to be a member of the NBA, which has played a very key role in terms of moving the country forward. And NBA President, Okey Wali SAN has been very good upstairs,I believe that the NBA has done a great job and Nigeria will move forward.”

     

    For S. I. Ameh, (SAN) “ This Summit is quite timely and it is keeping in touch with the vision of the NBA, particularly, the Okey Wali led administration, that the NBA will not only be about ;lawyers alone, but about the welfare and wellbeing of all Nigerians. This is a good template that has been set and I wish that other associations, organisations and interest groups in the country, particularly, stakeholders in the security sector will also follow suit and let us see how we can bring to the barest minimum, this security problems of our country”

     

    The Chairman of NBA Lagos branch Mr. Taiwo O. Taiwo said: “The theme of the summit is very direct and straight forward, the participants are heavy weights politically, socially and economically. And Iam sure that our communiqué has provided solutions to the security challenges of this country assuming that the government gives it the proper proper attention that it deserves”

     

    Former Chairperson, NBA women’s Forum, Hajiya Fatima Kwaku said: “ This summit came at a very very auspicious time. I commend NBA President Okey Wali (SAN) and his executives for this bold initiative. I am particularly happy because women are the ones suffering most from the insecurity in the land. It is no gainsaying the fact that women and children are the most vulnerable class of people in the society, so anything done of purported to be done to alleviate this suffering and loss of lives has my support. I urge the Federal Government to give serious consideration to and implement the communiqué the comes out of this summit. I give kudos to the NBA and I am proud to be part of it.

     

    Former Legal Adviser, NBA, Kemasuode Wodu said: “ This summit is indeed a very important summit because security is one of the greatest challenges facing us today in Nigeria. You will remember that even at the Eastern Bar Forum (EBF), we organised one in Calabar last year. Remember that this same issue of State Police arose there. The discussions have actually focused on other new areas of security challenges in the country. The resource persons are highly distinguished in their own respects and we have other personalities here who have fantastic ideas on the issue of security in this country. I strongly believe that Nigeria as a country will benefit greatly from the outcome of this summit”.

     

    Former Chairman, NBA Kaduna branch, Anozie Obi , said: “I think that this summit of the NBA is intended to galvanise forces from diverse sectoral groups to find lasting solutions to the challenges of insecurity in the country. Former head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari was straight on the point when he emphasised that if we fail as a country, the black race would have failed. I believe that as we aggregate the experiences of our leaders, both past and present who have graciously attended this summit, for instance, Gov. Rotimi Amechi has given us his experience in Port Harcourt, Senator Markarfi has given us his own experience in Kaduna State and Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola has given us his own experience in Lagos State. Each of them had his own security challenges, they had to key in and addressed security and social imbalances in their respective States. They were ab le to equip the Police and were able bring up some measure of social welfare and justice social in their States. It is my belief that we should use the instrument of law to bring about some measure of fairness, redistribution of national wealth and sanctions for criminals who loot our national resources. With these, the people will be assuaged.

     

     

     

     

     

  • ‘Insecurity bane of development’

    The recently-appointed Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Mr Patrick Hussaini, has said that insecurity is stifling Nigeria’s economic development and nationhood. He made this remark during the 20th matriculation ceremony of the institution held at the sports pavilion.

    He noted that Nigeria could not afford to be left out of the global technological race, adding that the institution would continue to comply fully with the Federal Government’s policy of 70 to 30 ratio of admission in favour of science, technology and engineering to business and arts related courses.

    The rector said 33, 954 candidates applied for admission in the institution through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) out of which 15, 000 candidates came to write the post-UTME test.

    Hussaini said 1, 233 were eventually offered admission into full time National Diploma (ND), while 876 were admitted into the Higher National Diploma (HND). He added that 876 and 104 candidates were admitted into part-time ND and HND programmes respectively.

    He said: “Be rest assured that as a new administration, we shall focus on students welfare, serving the best educational interest of our students in teaching excellence and knowledge. We will inspire student independence of thought and self discipline. Also, we shall create a learning environment in which students and staff can find satisfaction in their work and feel proud in achievement.”

    Affirming the institution’s belief in gender equality, Hussaini said scholarships would be given to the best overall female student in each faculty beginning from 2013/2014 academic session, while the Academic Board would be persuaded to grant a minimum quota of 25 to 30 per cent admission to female applicants.

     

  • Amosun proffers solution to insecurity

    Amosun proffers solution to insecurity

    Ogun state Governor Ibikunle Amosun has an idea on how insecurity can be curbed.

    He believes the solution to the problem lies in the well-to-do and public-spirited individuals sparing a thought for the less privileged.

    The governor wants the rich to support the poor.

    Senator Amosun stated this at the Ijebu-Ode Central Mosque Hall during the zakat (alms-giving) distribution ceremony organised by the Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation.

    Represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Alhaji Shuaib Salis, he urged financially buoyant members of the society to make meaningful contributions towards touching the lives of the less privileged positively through alms giving and economic empowerment initiatives.

    “There cannot be peace, security and unity if the poor and less privileged are not given support needed at particular time. Public-spirited individuals must gear p and come to the aid of the needy in our society through empowerment and other means for a rapid socio-economic development of the country” Amosun said.

    Senator Amosun commended the initiative of the organisation, saying that the gesture would fast track efforts of government to improve the people’s standard of living. Imploring it to scale-up efforts to reach out to the middle and higher class of the society on the benefits of zakat (Alms giving) and Sadaqat (voluntary donation) for the needy.

    Earlier in his speech, the Excecutive Director of Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation in Nigeria, Imam Abdullah Shuaib noted that the organisation was poised to improve the socio-economic well-being of the poor and the needy in order for them to have a sense of belonging and fulfillment.

    Imam Shuaib said the Zakat fund is a right of the poor, the needy, vulnerable women and children from the wealth of those that are economically stable, pointing that the organisation was committed to complementing government’s efforts.

    “We are committed to complement the efforts of government to bring good governance closer to the people by building their capacity with charity to eradicate poverty and control the rising unemployment rate in the country” Shuaib explained.

    A total number of 40 people benefited from the zakat distribution across the State in form of educational, medical and employment support.

     

  • INSECURITY: Implacable sect, sorrow and tears

    INSECURITY: Implacable sect, sorrow and tears

    It sprang up as Boko Haram in 2009, a bomber and deadly Islamic sect in 2010 and 2011, and by 2012, it has become a routine and a staple on Nigeria’s political firmament.

    what started as an uprising between the fundamentalist sect and Nigerian security forces in 2009 soon began to spread in form of violent attacks across several states in northeastern Nigeria. By the time the casualty figure was computed, the death was put at over 1,000, with about 700 killed in Maiduguri alone, according to a military source.

    The attack no doubt was an onset of large-scale terrorist activities that have since completely altered the socio-economic life of the North, and by extension Nigeria. The commando-like operation turned out the worst violence the country would experience since the civil war.

    Like an incubus, the country remained haunted every year by the specter of violent Islamic sect as each passing year has continued to witness its own scary bomb attacks and violent activities in parts of northern Nigerian.

    In 2012, there were so many issues that hustled for headlines- removal of fuel subsidy protests, endemic and crippling corruption, clueless leadership, probes, air crashes, heartless floods. But there was none that stole the headline like the unbridled activities of Boko Haram. It provided front cover for the media.

    Apart from the United Nations’ office bombing in 2011, 2012 would go down as the most horrific in terms human lives lost to the activities of Boko Haram.

    If the targets of Boko Haram were restricted in 2010 and 2011 only to Christians and their worship centres as well as government institutions alone, in 2012, the scope of their attacks broadened to include symbols of traditional Islam and facilities belonging to GSM operators.

    Those who doubted the depth of Boko Haram agenda soon came to realise that the sect had neither friends nor foes. The audacity and seriousness of their challenge was quickly felt by those who thought they were either insulated or exempted from the sect’s indiscriminate violent attacks.

    For instance, the Shehu of Borno escaped death by a hair’s breadth, in a scenario that struck at the very heart of over a hundred years old Islamic heritage of old Bornu Empire.

    Following on the heels of this was the near-death experience of the Emir of Fika and Chairman of the Yobe State Traditional Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Muhammdu Abali Ibn Muhammadu Idrissa.

    Before the Borno attacks, Kano and Kaduna had become battle grounds. These attacks were worrisome because it was a clear signal that no part of the North was considered untouchable any longer.

    These attacks were regarded as a frightening turning point, the assault on emirs was even more chilling. If the emirs could no longer consider themselves safe under a chilling circumstance that signposted the desecration or collapse of the symbols of traditional institutions across the North, it meant therefore that there was no hiding place even for the heathen. That was the stark reality of the activities of Boko Haram in 2012.

    In 2012, Boko Haram seemingly grew more violent with a record number of people killed. More than 770 people were reportedly killed in Boko Haram attacks so far this year, making it the worst year of violence attributed to the group.

    A checklist of the activities of the sect in the year under review indicated that on January 5, 2012, gunmen opened fire at a church service in Nasarawa, Gombe State, killing six people and wounding 10.

    January 6, 2012, Christian mourners at a hall in Mubi, Adamawa State, were attacked in which 18 were killed as they gathered to mourn the killing of three people the previous day.

    February 19, 2012, there was bomb explosion near a church in Suleja on the outskirts of Abuja injuring five people.

    February 26, 2012, a suicide bomber with a car containing explosives hit a church in Jos killing two people and injuring 38. It was carried out by Boko Haram, while Christian youths in apparent retaliation allegedly beat two moslems to death.

    March 11, 2012, suicide bomber attacked a Catholic Church in Jos killing three people.

    April 8, 2012, a bomb explosion on Easter Sunday near a church in Kaduna, killed at least 36 people and seriously injured 13 persons.

    April 29, 2012, a total of 19 people were killed when gunmen opened fire and threw homemade bombs at a lecture theatre in the University of Kano being used for Christian worship. About two professors were among the casualties.

    May 11, 2012, three explosions rocked Maiduguri: one after the other, three bombs went off in Maiduguri forcing residents out of bed and causing panic across the metropolis. The first of the bombs exploded at about 2am at Bayan Quarters, where the former headquarters of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, stood until it was destroyed in 2009.

    June 17, 2012, 25 were killed, three churches bombed in Kaduna, Zaria. Again, many worshippers died while an unspecified number of people were injured in Kaduna State on Sunday, when suicide bombers attacked three different churches in Kaduna metropolis and Zaria.

    About 25 people were reportedly killed in the explosions, though the police, at press time, put the figure at 16.

    June 25, 2012, fresh bomb blast rocked the city of Bauchi. An explosion occurred near a cluster of bars in the northern Nigerian city of Bauchi. the home-made explosive planted in an unfinished building next to a group of pubs went off around 10:00 pm on Sunday in the city’s Tudun Wada Dan-lya neighbourhood, Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ladan told reporters.

    June 22, 2012, explosion occurred at Abuja top night club, Crystal Lounge, located at Wuse II. An eyewitness who was at the club earlier before heading to the beer Barn, another popular drinking spot close by, said he heard the bang at about past midnight.

    June 8, 2012, a bomb blast at a police station in Maiduguri killed many including officers. A police officer at the scene, who could not be named, said five police vans were loaded with the dead.

    October 28, 2012, a suicide bomber struck at St. Rita’s Catholic Church in Angwar yero, Kaduna state, killing eight people.

    October 29, 2012, gunmen stormed a drinking bar in Gindin Akwanti, Barkin Ladi LGA in Plateau State, killing six people.

    October 14, 2012, 24 people were killed in an attack by gunmen on Dongo Dawa village in Gwari LGA in Kaduna State.

    An alleged JTF reprisal attack for the death of a military officer by an improvised Explosive Device (IED) of Boko Haram in Maiduguri led to the alleged killing of 10 people on October 8, 2012. This was, however, denied by JTF.

    In a confrontation with the Islamic sect on October 7, 2012, one of the sect’s top commanders was shot dead by JTF in Damaturu, Yobe State. about 30 members of Boko Haram were also killed. Earlier, the insurgents had opened fire on residents of a village, killing two people.

    On independence day, October 1, 2012, about 40 students were killed in Mubi, Adamawa State, by gunmen believed to be members of Boko Haram sect. There are three tertiary institutions in the town – Adamawa State University, Federal Polytechnic and the School of Health Technology. Three students of University of Maiduguri were also killed.

    In Minna, Niger State, two policemen were shot dead by Boko Haram gunmen.

    On November 26, 2012, gunmen attacked the headquarters of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Abuja, killing two officers leading to the escape of 30 detainees.

    On Sunday, November 24, Boko Haram bombed St. Andrew’s Anglican Church at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji, Kaduna state, killing at least 15 people.

    On Friday, November 22, 2012, 20 ladies on mini-skirts were reportedly slaughtered in Maiduguri just 24 hours after 10 people were killed by Boko Haram in Maiduguri.

    If 2012 was eventf­­ul, it will not be out of place to state that it was more so for all the unsavoury incidents of the Boko Haram activities that rendered the entire Northern Nigeria prostrate.

    Similar to last year’s Christmas day gift of bomb attack on Christian worshippers of St, Theresa Catholic, Suleja, Niger State, the sect replicated the gesture this year when suspected Boko Haram militants killed at least six Christians and burnt down a church in Yobe State late on Christmas Eve. The attack against the Church of Christ in Nations occurred in Peri village near the economic hub of Potiskum. The attackers killed a pastor and at least five worshipers during Christmas Eve services.

    “A group of gunmen came into the village at midnight and went straight to the church… they opened fire on them, killing the pastor and five worshipers. They then set fire to the church,” Usman Mansir, a resident of the village, told an evening tabloid. Residents also claimed that the gunmen set fire to several homes surrounding the church, adding that many residents who lived near the church had fled during the attack and were still in hiding.

    Prior to the Christmas Eve massacre in Potiskum, Nigerian state security forces clashed with Boko Haram militants throughout Potiskum city. Militants bombed a local police station and attacked a bank branch before being engaged by the Nigerian security forces. A local police chief and 14 militants were killed in the clashes, which reportedly lasted for hours.

    Also a separate attack on worshipers at the First Baptist Church in Maiduguri, Borno State, killed a deacon and five church members.

    Boko Haram had yet to claim responsibility for the Christmas Eve attacks.

    Prior to the Christmas Eve massacre in Potiskum, Nigerian state security forces clashed with Boko Haram militants throughout Potiskum City.

    Militants bombed a local police station and attacked a bank branch before being engaged by Nigerian security forces. A police officer and 14 militants were killed in the clashes, which reportedly lasted for hours.

    The military last month made the most audacious move against the implacable sect when it placed a total sum of N290 millionbounty on the sect’s top leaders. The leader of the sect, Abubakar Shekau, alone had N50 million of the amount placed on him.

    But the efficacy of that move is yet to be seen as no leader of the sect has been arrested since then.

  • ‘Jonathan must meet lawmakers over insecurity’

    A lawmaker, Mr. Babatunde Ogunola, has said lawmakers would continue to insist that President Goodluck Jonathan appears before the National Assembly following the nation’s insecurity and the Boko Haram insurgency.

    Ogunola, who represents Ado/Odo/Ota in the House of Representatives said President Jonathan has many questions to answer concerning insecurity, adding that the President’s unwillingness to appear before the National Assembly is worrisome.

    The House of Representatives member, who spoke with reporters after empowering over 134 persons with motorcycles, sewing machines, deep freezers, grinding machines, among others, in Ado/Odo, Ogun State, said the National Assembly would not relent in demanding that the executive should perform its responsibility not only by securing lives but implementing the budget fully.

    Ogunola said: “When we wanted to go on vacation in September, we sent for Mr. President to give us details of the challenges we are facing. Till today he has not honoured our invitation and we are still pressurising him to do so because he has a lot of questions to answer.

    “The insecurity we are facing in this country is worrisome. We will not relent until we combat the problems.

    “All Nigerians have a role to play in solving the problems confronting this country.”

    He noted that the inability of the executive arm of the government to perform its duties, especially in the areas of budget implementation and security, accounts for the high rate of unemployment and crimes in the country.

  • How to resolve insecurity, by Falana at NUJ Press Week

    How to resolve insecurity, by Falana at NUJ Press Week

    ACTIVIST-LAWYER Femi Falana yesterday gave a recipe for solving the challenge of insecurity ravaging the country.

    He, however, blamed the rising wave of insecurity on incompetence on the part of the ruling government, socio- economic injustice and the adoption of religion by state.

    Speaking yesterday on “Nigeria’s democracy & insecurity: the way forward” at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, delivered at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Week, Falana said the anti-terrorism will remain elusive without the elimination of the culture of impunity.

    He explained that until the issues bordering on economic injustice, adoption of religion by the state and political sponsorship of pilgrimages are fundamentally addressed, the challenge of insecurity will continue to plague the country.

    The lawyer identified refrain from religion by the government at all levels as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, as one of the ways to tackle the insecurity challenge.

    He faulted the dialogue option being canvassed by the Federal Government as a defeatist alternative, “because it is laughable to resort to dialoging with a seemingly strong and guerilla organisation, when relevant institutions are not on top of the security situation.”

    Falana affirmed that until the government lives up to her creed of implementing the rule of law by ensuring the prosecution of suspected criminals and terrorists, attempts to resolve the security challenge will continue to stare all in the face.

    He argued that the dialogue option helped in solving the unrest in the Niger Delta because the leaders of the ex- militants were known.

    According to him, such option will not work in the Boko Haram situation because the group remains faceless.

    Besides, Falana said the fact that Boko Haram now has splinter groups would make the dialogue option unworkable.

    Faulting the military option canvassed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo as panacea, the lawyer affirmed that the massacre in Odi and Zaki Biam were failed models that have exposed the government’s incompetence in solving fundamental problems.

    On the way out, he canvassed the creation of job opportunities for the youths, as a larger chunk of the populace were excluded from the national wealth.

    He insisted that buck-passing by governments, the failure to cater for the needs of the people, as well as reckless spending by government officials, will add more to the challenge.

    Falana affirmed that greater attention to the people’s education as an empowerment strategy, respect for the rule of law, as well as waging a war against countries in the continent that support terrorism, will go a long way in solving the hydra-headed monster of terrorism.

    He cautioned lawyers against yielding to the temptation of being used through institutional manipulation to frustrate the justice system, as well as strengthening of the weak legal system.

     

  • Insecurity: Firms face shrinking markets

    The spate of violence, kidnappings and civil unrests is hampering corporate growth and precluding companies from exploring nationwide market opportunities.

    Managing Director, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Chief Keith Richards, said the disruptions caused by the gale of insecurity across several states were impacting negatively on companies’ turnovers.

    According to him, companies cannot distribute extensively to nooks and crannies of the country due to the violence in the North and kidnappings in the East.

    Expressing the private sector’s concerns at the 18th Nigerian Economic Summit, Richards identified insecurity, corruption and ease of doing business as three key issues adversely affecting businesses in Nigeria besides the low level of infrastructure.

    Reports by quoted companies and confidential operational reports by corporate sources indicated that there has been significant build-up in inventories in several companies while many have had to scale down their operations to counterbalance the shortfall from the Northern market.

    Corporate sources said spate of violence and escalated sense of insecurity that lingered throughout the past business year undermined their forecasts given that the Northern market represented a major segment for nationwide companies.

    An executive at a quoted healthcare company had told The Nation that the company’s low performance in the 2011 business year was due partly to the insecurity in many Northern states.

    According to the executive, the Northern market, which represented about one-third of the company’s sales target, substantially fell below targets while the company’s margin was also reduced due to additional costs related to security.

    The executive said the sales representatives in major states like Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto and Maiduguri have been forced to relocate to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

    Particularly hard-hit were companies dealing in perishable and breakable products, which have had to contend with longer transportation schedule and sometimes, seizure and obstruction of delivery trucks.

    Corporate sources also said the insecurity in the Northern market has adversely affected the pool of human capital in that segment as existing and prospective employees now turn down placements in the North.

    Companies have been responding to the Northern market challenge by scaling down Northern operations and optimizing opportunities in other markets.

    Corporate reports by companies which factories and main markets are based in the North appear to mirror the slow down escalated by the spate of violence in the region among other reasons.

    Although companies have largely shied away from publicly highlighting the growing negative impact of incessant violence in the Northern states on their operations for fear of reprisals, executives, who spoke in confidence, stressed the need for quick control of the crisis and restoration of peace in the region to forestall complete shut down of operations.

  • Balarabe Musa: blame Fed Govt for insecurity

    National Chairman, Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) and former Governor of old Kaduna State Alhaji Balarabe Musa has said the Federal Government should be held responsible for the insecurity in the country.

    Musa, who spoke to The Nation at the weekend, lamented the upsurge of insecurity in the land.

    He expressed concerns over the looming danger ahead during the 2015 general elections, if no drastic steps are taken to stem the tide.

    The former governor said the terrorist group, Boko Haram, whose violence has left 3,000 dead, was not the only security threat befalling the nation.

    He said the North was very much safer than the South despite the insurgence.

    According to Musa, there is organised violence across the country, political assassinations as well as kidnapping.

    He said the government had failed in securing life and property, despite allocating one quarter of the annual budget to security.

    He said: “The Federal Government is directly responsible for insecurity throughout the country, not only in the North. Although the North seems worse, there is organised violence, political assassinations and kidnapping in the South.

    “Despite Boko Haram in the North, people move freer there than in the South. In the South, there is robbery, assassination, kidnapping, among others.

    “Some important people in the South cannot move without armed guards which is not the case in the North.”

    On the solution to insecurity across the country, Musa said the Federal Government must be more responsible and sincere in its fight against corruption, adding that the high rate of unemployment must also be reduced.

    He said: “First of all, the Federal Government has to be more responsible and sincere in its fight against corruption. The massive youth unemployment across the country must be reduced drastically.

    “Also, executive power across the country must be exercised with care and caution at every level of government, adding that true federalism should be adopted.