The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau

  • Dambazau warns against religious sentiments on Southern Kaduna crises‎‎

    Dambazau warns against religious sentiments on Southern Kaduna crises‎‎

    The Minister of Interior retired  Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman  Dambazau has called on‎ opinion and religious leaders to refrain from giving religious connotation to the crisis between herdsmen and farmers in Southern Kaduna.  ‎

    Dambazau gave the advice in a statement by his Press Secretary, Mr Ehisienmen Osaigbovo, in Abuja on Tuesday.

    He said that the warning became expedient ‎‎‎following insinuations that the criminal violence in Southern Kaduna had s religious interpretation.

    ‎The minister called on well-meaning Nigerians to refrain from‎ making comments capable of heightening the crises, but join hands with government to end the perennial problem.

    Dambazau noted that some people were always looking for ways to further create division along religious or ethnic fault lines for their selfish interest, with the aim of creating instability in the country.

    He said that true religious leaders should not‎ fan the embers of hate, but ensure that communities live in peace and harmony.

    “Economic growth and development will remain a mirage for Nigeria, with over 500 ethnic groups and multiple religions,  unless we resolve to live amicably as a people with a common destiny,” he said.‎

    He said that‎ ‎criminals who perpetrate violence against innocent, law-abiding citizens did not discriminate along religious and ethnic lines, citing examples of how Communities in Zamfara, Katsina, Taraba, Enugu, Lagos and Niger were victimised by those violent criminals.

    “A criminal should be treated as such, whether he is involved in armed robbery, drug trafficking, homicides or cattle rustling.

    “People should avoid honouring criminals with religious or ethnic attachment,” he added. ‎

    He advised opinion and religious leaders to focus on the real enemies of our society, who illegally acquire weapons to terrorise Christians and Muslims communities alike.

    Dambazau said he had directed the Nigerian ‎Police to ensure the sustenance of law and order and to arrest and prosecute anyone involved in criminal activities in the area and across the country.

    He ‎urged citizens to cooperate with the police by providing information in its quest to restore normalcy to the troubled communities.

    He assured Nigerians of government’s commitment to tackling the root causes of the similar crisis in all parts of the country while paying special attention to measures aimed at eradicating poverty, climate change, population explosion and youth restiveness.

  • Police spends N600m on dogs

    Police spends N600m on dogs

    The Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mr Solomon Arase, has said that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) had spent over N600 million on the procurement and maintenance of foreign dogs in the last few years.

    Arase made the disclosure at the inauguration of the Police Dog Breeding Centre and Ultra Modern Mounted Troop in Abuja on Thursday.

    “This is certainly not sustainable in the face of the current dwindling resources,” he said.

    The IG said that so much money was being spent on the importation of dogs from foreign countries that rarely adapted to the country’s policing objective.

    He said that the projects inaugurated were funded within the budgetary provisions of the Force Animal Branch.

    Arase said that the force animal branch had remained under utilised in the past while the force continued to rely on importation of dogs and other animals for its operations.

    He said that the centre was built to aid the police acquire capacity to locally breed police dogs as well as support other security agencies in the country.

    The Police boss said that the centre if effectively utilised, would save the nation some foreign exchange that would have gone into procurement of dogs from foreign countries.

    The IG said that the centre had the capacity to breed and supply police dogs to the entire West African sub-region.

    “It is projected that at optimal breeding capacity, it can produce well above 200 dogs per year,” he said.

    He said that the establishment of the facilities was part of the long term strategies aimed at restoring police primacy and aligning it to best global standards.

    In a remark, the Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, said the projects were timely considering the current security challenges facing the country.

    Dambazau said that Nigerians deserved a police that was competent and reliable.

    He said that the projects would not only reduce spending but would also provide job opportunities for other Nigerians aside from the police.

    The high point of the occasion was a display by police dogs and award presentation to the Minister of Interior, Arase, and Mr Mike Okiro, Chairman, Police Service Commission, among other.

  • IPOB, insurgents’ activities unlawful, says Fed Govt

    IPOB, insurgents’ activities unlawful, says Fed Govt

    •’No serious govt ’ll fold its arms and allow this kind of security breach’

    The Federal Government talked tough yesterday on the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the Southeast and the Islamic fundamentalists in the North. It declared their activities as “illegal”.

    The government said it would keep the peace in the country, warning that it would no longer fold its arms to allow their unlawful activities to continue.

    In a statement by Minister of Interior Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, the government vowed to wield the big stick should the need arise.

    The IPOB has been behind the pro-Biafran agitation in the Southeast and the protests being staged to demand the release of the Director of Biafran Radio, Nnamdi Kanu.

    The Federal Government vowed to always protect the country’s territory and the citizens against any separatist group’s activities.

    Dambazzau said: “The Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy as encapsulated in Chapter II of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, S.14(2) states that ‘the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.

    “The Federal Government, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, respects and upholds the fundamental human rights of all citizens as enshrined in Chapter IV of the Constitution. Incorporated in these rights is the ‘freedom from fear’, which every citizen must enjoy.

    “It is within this purview that it becomes necessary to emphasise that the government will do everything within the law to ensure that the lives and properties of persons, groups or organisations are protected.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the Federal Government will continue to protect citizens’ rights to assemble freely and associate with other persons without hindrance; protect the freedom of thought, conscience and religion; and protect the freedom of expression. However, every citizen is under obligation to recognise and respect the rights of his or her fellow citizens, especially on matters regarding public order, safety and security.

    “No serious government will fold its arms to allow security breach of the kind which threatens the peaceful coexistence and sovereignty of its society. It is therefore imperative to remind ourselves that as long as demonstrations or processions are peaceful and do not infringe on the fundamental rights of others, the government will as a matter of principle, direct security agencies to protect the individuals or groups involved in such demonstrations or processions.

    “Democracy has provided vehicles through which citizens can convey their grievances without resorting to violence, and in our particular case, there are state governments and their assemblies; representatives and senators of the National Assembly; and the judiciary. It is expected that persons with grievances take advantage of using these opportunities instead of resorting to violence.

    “Our experience at least with separatist groups (such as Biafra Movements) and religious extremists (such as Boko Haram) in the last few years, depicted individuals or groups taking laws into their own hands, situations that sometimes led to violent clashes with security agencies. It is important for us to be law-abiding, even while expressing our grievances”.

    The minister, however, urged the security agencies to protect the citizens and residence at this Yuletide season as a result of movement and increase in activities.

    “As a result of increased movements and activities during the end of year and the beginning of a new season, the Ministry of Interior has coordinated with all security agencies under its supervision, and other security agencies, to ensure that the safety and security of all law-abiding citizens are guaranteed in line with our constitutional responsibilities.

    “We are drawing the attention of all Nigerians, especially in this Yuletide season, the necessity to keep their eyes and ears open, and report suspicious activities or persons, especially in motor-parks, airports, mosques, churches, markets and all public places attracting people,” Dambazzau said.

  • Insurgency: Ex- Army chief slams police

    Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd),  said the Nigeria Police Force has failed in the discharge of its statutory duties and that pave way for the army to take over in the Northeast where Boko Haram insurgency has crippled socio-economic activities.

    ‎Dambazau stated this shortly after delivering a lecture entitled:”Education, Security and National Development: The Case of Nigeria” Wednesday at the 61st Interdisciplinary Research Discourse organised by the Post Graduate School, University of Ibadan.

    He noted that the police failure was responsible for the deployment of soldiers to some sensitive parts of the country.

    “The activities of Boko Haram have affected the education of the Northeast and it’s spreading across the whole of northern region. Security is a contemporary challenge we are facing as a nation. The world can never have peace except people have peace in their daily lives.

    “It will impossible for nations to achieve any of its major goals without adequate security. We don’t have a functional law enforcement institution in this country and it’s a major problem for the nation, “he said

    The former army chief noted that there was no need for soldiers to mount road blocks and stay in check points if the police had discharged its duty effectively.