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Tag: killings

  • Calm returns to Lagos communities after weeklong killings

    Calm returns to Lagos communities after weeklong killings

    Relative calm has returned to communities around Igbo Olomu-Agbede axis,at the border between Ogun and Lagos states following two bloody attacks by  suspected Ijaw militants during the week.

    But fear of renewed attacks still hang in the air with residents saying security arrangement in place is not strong enough.

    Security chiefs however said there is nothing for the people to fear.

    “We are also working round the clock to stop the perpetrators from further terrorizing the people of these communities,” Lagos Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni, said.

    Residents said 10 were killed in the first attack although the police said only two died.

    Hundreds of others have fled their homes in the aftermath of the invasion of the communities by gun wielding youths who came in speed boats on waterways.

    Affected communities include Igbo Olomu, Oke Muti, Elepete, Ajegunle, Imaamuola, Magbon, Pakisa, Ereko and Agbede.

    Most of the villages remained deserted yesterday on account of the mayhem.

    “The situation is better than it was but we are still of the opinion that something more can be done about the security arrangement,” Gbade Oguntade, a Community Development Association (CDA) executive in Igbo Olomu, told The Nation yesterday.

    He added: “What we have here are soldiers and policemen on patrol. They go and come at intervals.

    “What we are asking for is a permanent security post to protect us from these killer gangs.

    “They come without warning. They come in their speed boats through the waterways and unleash mayhem before speeding off again.”

    Security men were sighted conducting stop and search operations in the area.

    Operational vehicles of outfits like the Rapid Response Force (RRS), OP MESA and the Nigerian Army were also seen across the communities.

    All major roads leading into each community were cordoned off by security men.

    Owoseni said the militants usually use the cover of darkness to launch attack on the people.

    “We are aware of their antics. They hide under the cover of darkness to attack the areas.

    “We have therefore ordered a 24 hour surveillance of the communities. We are also working seriously to get to the root of the attacks and curtail them,” he said.

    Representative Babajimi Benson (Ikorodu) said all hands were on the deck to “ensure that life and property are adequately protected.

    Benson said he had been assured by the Police Commissioner and the Commander of the RRS that troops would further be deployed to strengthen the current security arrangement in the axis.

  • Echoes of Enugu killings

    I have followed with keen interest the development in the country over the unfortunate attacks on communities by suspected Fulani herdsmen. The incessant attacks which are ravaging some communities in the country have posed a serious security threat to our unity and peaceful co-existence as an indivisible entity.

    Of all these callous incidents of herdsmen attacks, I had special interest in the recent carnage in Nimbo community in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, which drew the attention of the world.

    I lived and studied at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) for five years in the late 80s, and I came to identify the people of the state as peaceful and accommodating.   During my academic pursuit in Nsukka, I undertook constant visits to Adada River in Uzo Uwani L.G.A, located not too far from Nimbo community where the killings took place.

    When the governor visited the Nimbo community, saw a dead body, wept and called for fasting and prayers, many people then misunderstood the wisdom behind his emotions, empathy and resort to God’s intervention. But, when I recalled that tears streamed down President Barack Obama’s cheeks in January this year, when he summoned the memory of the 20 elementary school children slaughtered in Newtown, Connecticut, I saw wisdom, leadership, humility and maturity in what the Enugu governor did at Nimbo.

    After his press conference, where he gave a narrative of what transpired and how the security agencies failed him despite all the assurances and painstaking efforts he made to forestall the attack on Nimbo, I was overwhelmed with emotion and convinced that the security agencies have questions to answer.

    The recent turn of events, has proved those who had criticized the state’s handling of the Nimbo attack wrong. The trend of events has portrayed the governor as a statesman and diplomatic leader with a deep rooted instinct in crisis management and passion for peace and unity of the country. It has proved that he displayed maturity in the face of provocation, by not allowing a reprisal attack that would have done the Igbos more harm than good.

    I am convinced that he considered the consequences of a possible counter-retaliation on his innocent brothers and sisters residing in other parts of the country, when he condemned the dastardly act and promised to do everything possible within his constitutional powers to bring the culprits to book and put an end to the incessant killings in the state.

    I have realized that the governor’s path to peace, dialogue and strategic engagement of all concerned, towards bringing the culprits to book and finding a sustainable solution to the menace of the herdsmen, was not a sign of weakness but a sign of reasoned maturity and commitment to the promotion of our national unity and integration.

    I sincerely commend the governor for this uncommon wisdom geared towards a peaceful, united and prosperous nation.

    The significant fact about the Enugu attack is not only that it drew the attention of the entire world to condemn the heinous act and call for justice, the President after the prompt visit of the Enugu Governor to him, also condemned the attack and directed the security agencies to immediately secure communities under the attacks of herdsmen and arrest the perpetrators of the dastardly acts and bring them to justice.

    I was delighted by the decisive action of the governor, shortly after the attack to reactivate and strengthen the vigilante groups in all the communities in the state with an initial seed fund of N100million to provide complimentary security services in their respective areas.  The governor equally constituted a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to unravel all the circumstances surrounding the attack.

    I was equally impressed by the avalanche of heartfelt condolences and   commendations the governor has received over the Nimbo attack and for the maturity he displayed in handling the matter.

    It is on record, that the governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were the first to pay a condolence visit to the state over the Nimbo attack. They condemned the attack and commended Governor Ugwuanyi for “the show of maturity in handling the provocative incident, which they described as a criminal act that cannot be associated with tribe, religion or political party.”

    I appreciate the inspirational words of the chairman of the APC Northern Governors, Governor Ibrahim Shettima of Borno State during his visit: “Times like this call for maturity, calmness, leadership role, which Governor Ugwuanyi has displayed. We are one nation with a common destiny. The killers should be treated like criminals and should be fished out and dealt with.”

    Worthy of note is that the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola also condemned the carnage as callous and commended Governor Ugwuanyi for the manner he has handled the matter by not allowing a reprisal attack.

    It is also on the condolence register, that the South-east governors and other leaders from the zone; the South-east PDP governors and other leaders of the party; South-east Council of Traditional Rulers; the state chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN); South-east Town Unions; some Catholic and Anglican Bishops in the state; the Fulani and Shuwa Arab Communities in the state;, the governor’s kinsmen under the aegis of Nsukka General Assembly and Nsukka Professional Group, among others,   all condemned the attack and commended the Enugu Governor for his maturity in handling the sad incident of Nimbo which did not lead to further violence or a reprisal attack.

    Just a few days ago, I watched the governor on television, accompanied by Fulani leaders to a community in the state (Akpakwume/Nze) to dispel the rumour of an impending attack on the people of the area and to reassure them of their safety. My heart thawed over the wisdom in his efforts to embark on a prompt visit to the community to promote peace and unity and guarantee the people of their safety. This is an attribute of a statesman and detribalized Nigerian.

    Two days after the visit, I also read in the media, that the governor met with the Fulani and Shuwa Arab communities in the state and Leaders of Apkakwume/Nze community on how to foster peace and unity and enhance the security of lives and property of the people of the state in the wake of the recent attack on Nimbo community.

    It was reported that after the meeting, all the parties involved unanimously resolved through a communiqué read by the secretary of the Fulani community in the state, Bala Ardo, that there will be no night grazing or rearing of cattle, no carrying of arms by the cattle rearers, and no night movement of cattle from one location to another in the state. The meeting also constituted a joint peace committee that will be meeting every month to promote peace and address any issue that might arise between the herdsmen and their host communities, etc.

    From the foregoing, there is no doubt that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has through the sequence of his actions since the incessant attack on Nimbo community, demonstrated quality leadership that provides answer to the fundamental problems of national disunity, tribalism and religious bigotry that have threatened our existence as an indivisible entity.

    Again, I commend him immensely for being in the vanguard of national discourse for peace, unity and integration, for in unity we stand and in disunity we fall. Enugu State is truly in the hands of God!

     

    • Idowu, a public affairs analyst wrote in from Ikeja, Lagos.

  • Alleged extra-judicial killings by DSS

    SIR: The Department of State Security (DSS) has recently been in the news – for bad reasons. I refer to the alleged brutal, extra-judicial brutal killing of one Damilare Eyitayo (a 39 year old man) by operatives of the service.

    Section  33 (1) of the 1999 constitution provides that “Every person has a right to life and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria”.

    Similarly, section 35 (1) of the same constitution provides that “Every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person, and accordingly, no person shall be subjected to torture or to in-human or degrading treatment”.

    The story, as published by The Punch  edition of Monday May 9, page 4 and 5 goes thus: “The DSS operatives, said to have been accompanied by policemen and soldiers, stormed Aje Street in the Iyana Ipaja Area of Lagos State  in search of one Mr. Rilwanu, a supposed suspect. It was learnt that Rilwanu had gone into hiding, but his wife led the operatives to the house of his best friend (Damilare Eyitayo) after she was beaten up. Damilare Eyitayo was thereafter arrested and taken to the DSS office, also in Lagos, where he was brutally tortured until he died…”

    Nigerians are today suffering untold harassment and intimidation in the hands of DSS operatives. The question now is; what can be done to halt this steady descent into outlawry by untrained and notorious DSS operatives?

    I suggest that DSS operatives henceforth undergo psychiatric test to ascertain their level of sanity. Going forward, any case of suspect or arrested person dying in the custody of DSS anywhere in Nigeria must be investigated, and any operative indicted should be treated as common criminal.

    DSS operatives must be made to understand that the use of torture as means of extracting confessional statements from suspect is unacceptable. Finally, the Director General of DSS must as of necessity visit state chapters of the agency, so as to have on the spot assessment of facilities and also activities of the agency, and if possible have direct interaction with detained suspects in order to find out if they actually committed the crime for which they were arrested.

    If the above approaches are adopted, cases of extra-judicial killings by operatives of the department will be reduced.

    Meanwhile, Nigerians eagerly wait to see justice done in the murder of Damilare Eyitayo.

     

    • Dr. Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha,

    Owerri, Imo State.

  • Group demands compensation over killings

    The President of Ofuobi Igbo Organisation (OIO) and Eze Umuokorobia of Lagos State, Nnaemeka Agbo, has condemned the spate of killings in Igbo land by Fulani herdsmen. He said the ugly development has attracted the attention of Igbo youth at home and in the Diaspora.

    He said the youth have studied the situation and were pained, adding that they are waiting for the Federal Government’s reaction.

    Agbo said: “I thank Mr. President on the latest direction to security agencies to fish out the perpetrators and their sponsors. I also appreciate the concern of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Governors of the Southeast geo-political zone on the plight of our kinsmen who lost their wives, children and husbands during the massacre in Enugu State.

    “The Boko Haram insurgency began on the disguise of fighting against Western education. In no time, thousands of people in the Northeast were killed and millions displaced. The victims, including Ndigbo, lost properties worth millions of Naira. We shall not fold our hands and allow such killings to continue in the Southwest and Southeast. The Fulani herdsmen must be stopped.

    “I therefore, call on all Igbo youth, governors and leaders to be pro-active in checkmating the barbaric killings of Ndigbo even in their fatherland by the herdsmen.  Vigilance groups should be established and equipped to guard against re-occurrence of such act.”

    The Ofuobi Igbo Youth Organis-ation of Nigeria hereby demands as follows:

    “That the Federal Government should set up unbiased panel of inquiry to unravel the remote and immediate causes of the massacre of Igbo people in Enugu State, investigate and establish if the Enugu State Commissioner of Police and the Army compromised in their duties. The killers and their sponsors must be brought to justice.

    “That the Fulani herdsmen should leave Igbo land immediately to avoid reprisal attacks because they have killed more than 500 people; including children whose blood are crying to heaven.

    “That the Federal Government should compensate the families of the deceased and provide relief materials to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in Enugu State as being done in the Northeast.

  • Enugu, Agatu, Nasarawa killings criminal, says Sultan

    Enugu, Agatu, Nasarawa killings criminal, says Sultan

    Sultan of Sokoto and President-General,  Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has described the killings during attacks on communities of Agatu in Benue state, Nnibo in Enugu State and some parts of Nasarawa state as a crime and urged the government to bring perpetrators to justice.

    He called for a thorough investigation by appropriate security agencies into the killings in order to fish out the evil perpetrators and forestall re-occurrence.

    Sultan Abubakar made his view known in a statement signed by JNI Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu. He said: “Crimes are abominable and whoever commits them is a criminal.”

    He lamented that certain groups or people ascribe the killings to ethnic and/or religious premise and to whimsically apportion blame in order to batter the gradual restoration of peace and security in Nigeria.

    The statement said: “Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) received with great shock and deep concern the news of incessant killings and maiming of innocent lives and the destruction of public and private properties. Of particular concern are the brutal murders of people in Agatu-Benue state, Nnibo-Enugu state and some parts of Nasarawa state. It is indeed alarming that within few weeks, deadly attacks were reportedly unleashed while the perpetrators go un-arrested.

    “JNI therefore condemns in strong terms these repeated heinous attacks and once again calls on the relevant security agencies to brace up to the trends, in order to put a stop to this ugly tide, as human lives are sacred and must be seen to be treated as so.

    “JNI and indeed all Nigerians, view the fall out of these repeated attacks, particularly the taking up of arms against other citizens as another trend of insecurity that portends grave danger to the Nation. We must not forget so soon the adverse effect of the so called Boko Haram group, that claimed the lives of many thousands innocent lives.

    “Hundreds have been abducted, the males forced into insurgency and the females into slavery. Millions more are wallowing in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Nigeria and in Refugee Camps in neighbouring countries. Public and private properties worth trillions of Naira have been destroyed.

    “We therefore call for a thorough investigation by appropriate agencies in order to fish out the evil perpetrators, bring them to justice and forestall re-occurrence. The repeated heinous acts of attacks are crimes against the citizenry and the perpetrators are therefore criminals and must be treated so.

    “It is indeed absurd and most unfortunate that certain groups or people ascribe the incidents on ethnic and/or religious premise and to whimsically apportion blame in order to batter the gradual restoration of peace and security in Nigeria. Well, the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State has debunked the rumours, likewise the Inspector General of Police has also debunked the insinuations over those being blamed.

    “We must thus be cautious of packaging crimes on religious and ethnic garments. Crimes are abominable and whoever commits them is criminal. Security agencies should brace up in being proactive and utilize maximally intelligence reports in order to nip-in the bud possible eruptions of security problems within and around communities.

    “Painfully, His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, JNI, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, on behalf of Nigerian Muslims, condoles the families of those who lost their lives and sympathies with all affected victims, and also calls for concerted introspection and commitment by relevant agencies to take proactive and effective measures in addressing this pernicious problem.

  • Police arrest soldier suspected of killing 11 in Cape Verde

    A soldier suspected of killing 11 people in a shooting spree at a military base in Cape Verde was arrested on Wednesday, a media report said.

    The report said that the man is suspected of murdering eight members of the military and three civilians, citing police officials.

    The reasons behind the massacre on the Atlantic archipelago’s Santiago Island are not yet clear, although the Cape Verdean government has ruled out a terrorist motive and any link to drug smuggling.

    It implied that the culprit may have suffered from mental health problems.

    It said that among the three civilians killed were two Spanish technicians who had been maintaining the base.

  • Fg must step in, stop politically-motivated killings in Rivers-apc Chieftain, Senator Abe

    Fg must step in, stop politically-motivated killings in Rivers-apc Chieftain, Senator Abe

    The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) in the 7th National Assembly, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Rivers Southeast Senatorial District in the inconclusive March 19 rerun. Abe, who hails from Bera-Ogoni in Gokana LGA of Rivers State, is a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Rivers ex-Commissioner for Information. In this interview with BISI OLANIYI in Port Harcourt, the former Minority Leader in the Rivers House of Assembly says the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration must quickly step in and put an end to the politically-motivated killings and assassinations in Rivers State. He also expresses surprise that there are communities in Rivers that the people have publicly banned the holding of APC meetings, with the support of militants in the communities and they will ask APC members to leave the communities, among other issues. Excerpts:

    There are lots of crises, killings in Rivers State. From all indications, the All Progressives Congress (APC) seems to be at the receiving end. How do you view the situation?

    It is really quite unfortunate that in 2016 Nigeria, we will be discussing these issues. The unprecedented level of violence that we witnessed in the 2015 elections has not abated. In fact, the 2016 rerun elections in Rivers state were actually a bit worse than the 2015 elections.

    Even after the elections, the level of threats on members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state is still high. Indeed, in many communities in my senatorial district (comprising the four Ogoni LGAs Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme, as well as Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro and Oyigbo councils), which is the district where the elections were postponed, a lot of our party members perpetually run out of their communities, because a lot of them are being attacked and killed.

    In fact, the very one that has shivers down my spine is the case of one young man, who used to be in the opposition and just recently joined APC. He was with me last night, telling me that he was in danger and that I am in danger. Just this afternoon, we got information that he was assassinated at a burial.

    People went to a burial where everybody was gathered, the assassins came down in cars, opened fire on him in the burial in front of all the thousands of people and killed him in cold blood. I am still in shock. We keep saying to people that we are in danger; something should be done. It is this same group of people that have been attacking and killing people in the area over the past three four years.

    It was the same gang that attacked members of the APC when they were going to attend the President Muhammadu Buhari’s inaugural rally in Port Harcourt and the President visited them in the hospital. They are still killing people up till now. It was the same gang that attacked the APC rally at Bori in Khana LGA three times, publicly opened fire on people.

    It was a similar gang operating in another area that attacked the APC rally in Okrika. The funny thing is that in all these things that are happening, there is no investigation going on. Nobody is being arrested, prosecuted or detained.

    With the current situation in Rivers State with inconclusive elections and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) clearly stating that it will not hold any election in the state, until the security situation improves, what is the way forward?

    I do not think that that statement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is in consonance with the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We have laws in this country and what makes a country sovereign is the fact that your laws are effective within your own borders.

    The Nigerian law does not anticipate a situation where INEC has to take permission from any group of criminals before it can conduct elections. That is not the law. The law is that INEC is to set a date for elections and the Nigerian state is to make the place conducive for elections. That is the law.

    So, if the place is not conducive and people do not come to agree with INEC up till 2019, does it mean that the elections will not hold? What if the same situation is replicated all across the country, are we going to now cancel holding of elections in this country? The same lack of security that is making it impossible for us to hold elections is making it impossible for ordinary Nigerians to go about their normal business.

    You have been part of the whole political activities that have been going on in Rivers State. How will you describe the roles of security agencies, especially the police, military, DSS and others in the March 19 rerun in Rivers State?

    You cannot hold the security agencies directly responsible for what is happening in Rivers State. The governor (Nyesom Wike) is the chief security officer of the state. The Federal Government has effective command on the security agencies. Somebody has to give an order to the security agents to fish out the hoodlums and put a stop to these killings.

    Somebody has to fund the order, when it is given. Somebody has to work with the security agencies to implement the order. As it is today, the security agencies are tired. If somebody is arrested now, before evening, people will call you from the highest levels of state government to release the person. They will ask, why are you arresting him?

    If you dare charge the person to court and it goes to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), advice will be written. I mean there are all sorts of shenanigans that the government can use to make sure that people they want to protect are protected. The message is getting to the criminals that as long as they are in power, nothing will happen. That is what is emboldening them.

    If you post policemen or soldiers, you deploy them to a place. Somebody is supposed to feed them, fund their presence there and provide water. They are human beings. People are supposed to support them. Where they do not get the support, who is going to be responsible for the kind of effectiveness that you expect from the security agencies?

    There are just two ways of dealing with this thing. The Rivers state government is supposed to take the lead in putting a stop to the criminality, but let me give you an example. You heard what happened in Gokana LGA of Rivers state, when the current SSG (Kenneth Kobani, an indigene of Bodo-Ogoni in Gokana LGA) was arrested. He (SSG) is the Chairman of the Arrest Resistance Committee set up by the Rivers state government and at the place where he was arrested, members of the committee opened fire on the soldiers and bombed the INEC office in Gokana LGA.

    In all Rivers governor has said, have you heard him mention the fact that assault weapons were used on youth corps members in Gokana LGA? Has he condemned it? He has not condemned it. Is he going to go after those who did it? He is not going to, because they are his boys. He set up the committee – Arrest Resistance. They were armed to resist arrest, even by the military. They are not afraid of the soldiers.

    The police could not free the youth corps members who were held hostage there. So, the matter in Rivers state is serious beyond words and if the state government is going to put political expediency above the life of Nigerian citizens, then the Federal Government has the responsibility to step in, provide the leadership and resources necessary to bring this sad episode to an end. You cannot just blame security agencies. How are they going to achieve that?

    You have just mentioned the Federal Government. Is APC’s government at the centre alive to its responsibility of protecting lives and property of Rivers residents?

    APC is a political party. We have a government in Nigeria that is for all Nigerians. I have heard people say that those who are getting killed are cultists. Why is APC claiming everybody killed is its member? I have always responded by raising two issues. First is that whether the people are members of the APC or cultists, whoever, there is a process in Nigeria for taking human life and that process is not being followed in Rivers State.

    So, it does not matter who these people are. The critical thing is that they are Nigerian citizens and this is not how their lives are supposed to be terminated at will in this country. APC is a political party. It has no power to actually do much. I am one of the leaders of APC.

    Today, there are communities in Ogoni that have publicly banned the holding of APC meetings, with the support of militants in the communities, asking people who are members of APC to leave the communities. We have reported it to the security agencies. No action has been taken. So, what is the APC to do? This matter is strictly between the Federal and State Governments. They are the ones that have the powers of cohesion, resources and constitutional responsibility to deal with this issue.

    If the Federal Government, because President Muhammadu Buhari does not want to intervene in the work of Rivers state, has kept quiet to give the state an opportunity to deal with this issue, should not be taken for granted. The security challenge in Rivers state is clearly not being dealt with by the state government. So, it is now up to the Federal Government to step in and take responsibility.

    Somebody must be responsible for what is happening in Rivers state. It cannot be that it is nobody’s business. Neither can it be the business of APC or Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This is the business of Nigeria and there are authorities responsible for what happens in Nigeria.

    Why are some of your people working against you, to ensure you do not return to the Senate?

    What I see going on is politics gone too far. Everybody knows that if there is an election in Rivers Southeast Senatorial District and the people are allowed to choose their representative, I will be chosen. Everybody knows that across the state. It is not a hidden matter, but everything is being done to stop the people to have the right of free choice.

    The Rivers governor had gone to say, stop Senator Abe by all means and from that time till today, there has been no peace. Everything is being done to stop the people of the area from having the opportunity to elect a representative of their choice. Everything is being done to cow the electorate. Everything is being done to stop people from coming out to vote.

    I have said it time without number that I am not asking for any favour. All I want is to create an atmosphere where people can vote and the votes can be counted. If that happens, win or lose, I stand by what the people decide, but there are people who are going out of their way to make sure that, that does not happen. That is the cause of everything that you are seeing here.

    How will you describe the current situation in Rivers State?

    There is nothing out of the ordinary that is going on in Rivers state other than the fact that you have an administration that has refused to put the security of lives and property against its own political interest. You have a situation where the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are suspended in Rivers State. You have a situation where all the rights guaranteed by the Nigerian constitution to Nigerians are being denied members of the APC in Rivers state, including the right to life.

    We have a situation where people have said that members of the APC are traitors and they should be killed. Even today that APC now constitutes the Federal Government, nobody has demanded that the people should be told that we have a constitutional right to belong to any party of our choice. There is nowhere else in this country where members of any political party-be it APC or PDP, are being targeted for extinction the way it is going on in Rivers statwe and nobody is saying anything.

    What is the fear ahead?

    I am afraid for my life. We have been talking and shouting and people keep going down one after another and nobody is doing anything. I mean I have never seen this kind of situation before. Prior to the rerun elections, we shouted and talked.

    Everybody knew that it was going to be bloody in Rivers state. President Muhammadu Buhari himself gave an order that security agencies must make sure nothing untoward happened here and we saw the results. As we speak now, Rivers people, especially APC members, are still being killed or assassinated. Nobody is saying anything, but we will not stop talking.

  • Ritual Killings: Time to sweep out all hide-outs

    SIR: The persistence of cases of ritual murder, merchandising of human body parts increasing spate of armed burglary and robbery are troubling in a country with a still- functioning state apparatus. This situation is an affront to decent society and should be a cause for alarm for Nigerians and the federal government.

    The Nigeria Police, security and intelligence agencies, government’s town planning and development control departments, religious leaders, citizens, professionals involved in the building trade, other concerned Nigerians and  community leaders have their parts to play to bring these acts of savagery to an end in Nigeria without delay.

    With the ready accessibility of services such as Google Earth, every physical structure in Nigeria and anywhere in the world can be located, mapped and tracked. Drones are now quite cheap and can be mounted with security cameras for detailed scanning of difficult to reach places. A database of owners of all properties should be available to security agencies to aid crime-fighting and protection of citizens.  The Nigeria Police should find these tools handy in their effort to systematically sweep through every community in Nigeria for effective security surveillance and arrest of criminals who continue to give our country a bad image.

    President Buhari should as a matter of priority, give the marching order to the  Police and other agencies to jointly carry out exercises this year to rid Nigeria of this embarrassment and free citizens from fear as they pursue legitimate daily needs.  In addition, the long talked-about Community Policing Blueprint should be rolled out and implemented to fill the security gaps now evident in the country.

     

    • Oteniese Ozioga Amune (Oteniese), Igarra, Edo State.
  • Perpetrators of Rivers killings must be punished, says APC

    Perpetrators of Rivers killings must be punished, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) said yesterday that those responsible for the killings during the rerun election in Rivers State must not be allowed to get away with their action.

    This was part of the resolutions of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja.

    It was attended by President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    Security in and around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was tight during the meeting.

     Major roads that led to the party’s national secretariat were blocked to enable easy passage for Buhari and other APC chieftains.

     Traffic was mainly concentrated around Wuse 2, on the Ademola Adetokumbo Crescent.

     Fierce looking military men and policemen with security dogs stood on both sides of the road leading to the APC secretariat.

    Two armored tanks were stationed at the Wuse 2 axis with security operatives with their dogs to prevent breakdown of law and order.

    APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun told reporters after the meeting that the NEC agreed that killings like what took place in Rivers must not be allowed to spread to other parts of the country.

    He said: “Unless you address it, you are in fact inviting other states to set up their own military wing.”

    He described the events in Rivers as disgraceful, adding that “some of the killings that happened would never have happened in this country. But the assurance we can give you and the assurance Mr. President has given us is that these issues will be vigorously addressed”.

    The APC NEC also resolved to set up a committee to review the party’s constitution to streamline it with a view to downsizing the Board of Trustees’ membership.

    He said: “All subjects on the agenda were discussed and a resolution taken to reposition the party. We went through all our experiences since the last elections and we have taken decisions as to where our strengths were, where we did not quite measure up and all these are going to be addressed.

    “For the first time, NEC has established a budget for the party and we have set up a committee to look once more into the constitution of the party to be able to streamline it. More particularly, NEC decided to down size our Board of Trustees in line with all other constitutional amendment.

    “We don’t have any particularly number for the board, but it is going to be seriously downsized. The committee will be headed be the National Legal Adviser.”

    On whether the meeting of the BoT scheduled to hold next week will still hold, Oyegun said: “We will put our head together on that in the next one day or two and there may be need to hold on a little bit.”

    On the vacant position of National Publicity Secretary, he said: “These are constitutional matters. The zone may have to now propose a replacement. It is part of the decisions of today that we are going to have congresses all over the nation to fill all vacancies at all levels of the party, which resulted from victory at the election by party officials who decided to contest or get appointments at federal level and state levels.

    “There are lots of vacancies and we need congresses because that is what the constitution provides. No day has been fixed for the congresses because we just took the decision today and we are going to work on it.”

    Asked on the party’s position on the rerun elections in Rivers State, he said: “O Rivers, Rivers. It is a disgrace. That is the only thing one can say.

    On the economy, he said: “The President has just finished an economic summit, which he called himself. The President’s priorities are clear. The President is determined to move this nation away from dependent on oil and he has made it clear several times.”

  • Senator raises alarm over silent killings in Taraba

    Senator raises alarm over silent killings in Taraba

    Deputy Senate Minority Leader, Emmanuel Bwacha, at the weekend raised the alarm over silent killings going on in Taraba State.

    Bwacha who represents Taraba South Senatorial District said that the silent killings were being perpetrated by dislodged Boko Haram insurgents who moved from Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States.

    He noted that the alarm became necessary in order to alert the Federal Government and security agencies about the possible break down of law and order in the state.

    The insurgents, he said, were working to establish a new base in Taraba State having been dislodged from Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States.

    He said, “Following the successes recorded by the military in the three North Eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, the insurgents are beginning to relocate and they are finding themselves, a new haven in Taraba state.

    “It is very clear, by the massive movement of strange people into the state, across all the local government areas, in fact the highlights of those areas are there.

    “We are hereby calling on security operatives to go and begin to sniff around and cross check. I am saying this because we have facts on ground.

    “What the insurgents do, because they want to establish a new base, is that they entered bushes where they see people settle, they kill them.

    “We have recorded numerous cases of killings and silent killings are still going on. We now have internally Displaced Persons in Taraba, in their large numbers because those who were displaced from their villages, relocate to the towns.

    “In fact as I speak, this year’s farming season is being threatened already because the farmers would not be in their farms to cultivate anything having been chased away by the insurgents.

    “Once the farmers go to the farmers, the Boko Haram elements go to them and kill them.

    “To worsen the situation, the insurgents move around like herdsmen but they are not the original herdsmen we know because the Fulani herdsmen don’t move about with AK-47 riffle.

    “Boko Haram elements were caught, rearing over 300 cows, it is on record and the Nigerian security agencies are aware of this.

    “The situation is becoming more complex, and difficult because they move around like herdsmen where they don’t carry the Ak-47 riffle physically, they wrapped them and put them on the cows.

    “People will think they are luggage but they are arms. National Security is being threatened and that is why we have to raise alarm.

    “The local vigilante has limitations except when government gives the group, formal backing. They don’t carry arms like the Civilian JTF in Borno State who have official backing of the state.

    “The insurgents are just moving secretly in Taraba state looking for where to settle.

    “The senate committee will soon visit Taraba state to enable them to have on the spot assessment of the presence of the IDPs in the state.

    “As far as I am concerned, President Muhammadu Buhari, has recorded tremendous success in fighting Boko Haram and I also commend him for moving round some of the African sub region to collaborate with them to have a frontal approach.

    “But the insecurity involving traditional herdsmen clashing with farmers needed to be addressed urgently.

    “That is why we have been advocating for ranches to reduce these crises. The American cattle are fatter than our own, they are well fed but they don’t move around. If you keep them in a secluded place, backed with appropriate legislation, we would be able to reduce these crises.”