The Nation Newspaper

Tag: security

  • Lagos partners MTN on security

    Lagos partners MTN on security

    The Lagos State Government yesterday unveils a code, 9999, with which Lagosians can donate to the special purpose vehicle – Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) with which it is changing the security architecture of the state.

    The government said this followed a deal it sealed with MTN Nigeria Limited, on collection of donation towards the Fund.

    LSSTF Executive Secretary Dr Abdulrazaq Balogun, said the development was part of the strategy to provide wide range of avenues for Lagosians to contribute towards the fund, thereby scaling up the provision of security for the people.

    Balogun said through the partnership, MTN subscribers would be able to donate N50 to the fund at a time, by just texting ‘HELP to 9999.’

    He urged Lagosians to make the donation a continuous one, adding that with her huge population and its goodwill, this would not be impossible for the state

    He said: “The Lagos State Security Trust Fund is delighted to announce a partnership with MTN on collection of donation to the fund. This is one of the avenues we are providing to allow teeming Lagosians who are eager and willing to contribute to the Fund to be able to do so.

    “The fund, in the past and still counting, has donated and still donating several equipment and vehicles to security outfits in the state to enhance their capability to perform optimally towards securing lives and property of the residents,” Balogun said.

  • Security expert warns against divisive utterances

    Security expert warns against divisive utterances

    A renowned security analyst, Ambassador Abayomi Nurain Mumuni, has expressed concerns over what he called “uncoordinated utterances” from some Nigerians.

    Mumuni, the Ajagungbade of Lagos, also called on the South East elders (Ohaneze Ndigbo), including South East Governor’s Forum to be bold enough to address the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)’s agitation of Biafra Republic and declaration of cessation from Nigeria.

    The author of books on Global Terrorism and its Effects on Humanity and Demand by Terror described the developments as very disturbing and unpatriotic, calling on government at all levels to take proactive measures before it gets out of hands.

    He faulted the actions of the Arewa Youths Forum.

    Mumuni said: “It is unpatriotic for any individual or group to make such cessation request. The Igbos are Nigerians. Agitation for Biafra died long time ago. We are all Nigerians and we’ll continue to work together in the interest of our great country.”

    The security analyst chided the eastern leaders for keeping “criminal silence for too long,” stressing that their silence provoked the outburst of the Arewa youths.

    “Where were those youths making cessation calls during the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) 16 wasted years? Why didn’t they come out during Jonathan’s government? They probably refused to clamour for Biafra then because they were dinning and winning with the government of the day.

    “When they surfaced during this administration, renewing their agitation for Biafra, they were not called to order by their elders. If they had been cautioned earlier enough, we wouldn’t have been in this mess,” he said.

    The former governorship candidate in Lagos state under the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) said it is high time the eastern leaders and their governors told Nigerians where their loyalty lies.

    “You can’t be a Nigerian and still be a supporter of Biafra,” he said.

    Mumuni called on government to initiate communication strategies with the agitators to avoid public disturbance.

    “If not properly addressed now, the consequences will be unbearable. By then, every household will one way or the other pay dearly for it. We do not want to witness the implications or the consequences of this inaction. We’ve seen the consequence of neglect in Rwanda, we were all alive during the Sierra Leone crisis, we are living witnesses to Sudan’s needless ethnic wars and many more. The civil war was witnessed by our parents, we must not wish that for our own generation. We should not look for trouble where there is none,” he said.

    Mumuni enjoined government to extend literacy to all rural communities, saying, lack of good education is playing a negative roles, and that such lapses actually gave room to the emergence of militia groups.

    “More so, the implication of poverty and having to feed from the trash plays another role. Our country deserves leaders with visions,” he said.

  • Fayose to Corps members: Be security conscious

    Fayose to Corps members: Be security conscious

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has called on corps members serving in the state to be security conscious and avoid unauthorised journeys.

    He made the call on Monday at closing ceremony of the orientation course for Batch ‘A’ Stream 1 corps members held at NYSC Orientation Camp in Ise/Orun/Emure.

    Represented by his deputy, Dr. Kolapo Olusola, Fayose advised the corps members to respect the norms and cultures of the host communities of service.

    Fayose also charged them to make best use of opportunity to contribute to the development of the state which he described as one of the most secured in Nigeria.

    Earlier in her address, the NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs. Nwanne Ukagha, explained that 2,084 corps members participated in the orientation course.

    She urged the corps members to give their best in serving the community of posting whether they are well remunerated or not saying their service is to the nation.

     

  • Reps: Security should be on the alert

    Reps: Security should be on the alert

    The House of Representatives yesterday condemned the ultimatum by the Coalition of Arewa Youths to the Igbo to leave the North.

    The House urged security agencies to be on the alert to forestall any breakdown of law and order that may arise as a result of the threat.

    The resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion under matter of urgent public importance by  Oghene Egoh (Lagos-PDP).

    Egoh condemned the threat issued by some pro North youth groups and the stand of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on the matter.

    The lawmaker stressed the need for the Federal Government to urgently intervene to avert a national crisis.

    “As part of the campaign by the IPOB for the actualisation of Biafra Republic, Biafra agitators shut down major towns in the South-East on May 30, 2017.

    “It is disturbing that 16 Northern youth groups on June 6, 2017 gave Igbos residing in their states up to Oct. 1, 2017 to vacate the region.

    “In its reaction, the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) said it received with gladness the ‘quit notice’ and urged the Igbo to return home immediately.

    “The two calls created alarming twist, which is ominous and dangerous for the good health of Nigerians.

    “This motion is not interested in the merit or demerit of Biafra; nor is it interested in apportioning blame on those who made the two unpatriotic calls.

    “Rather, this is only concern for the nation’s leaders to immediately intervene to stop these agitations from resulting in violence that may consume the entire nation,’’ Egoh said.

    He also urged the National Assembly and the Presidency to initiate dialogue with the two groups to avoid damage to the nation.

    “While people have the right to their views and decisions about lives, the National Assembly must rise to the occasion we find ourselves and put an end to the confusion that is brewing.

    “This must be done by appealing to both parties to withdraw their demands to avoid loss of lives, especially that of innocent children, women and others who are not part of the problem,’’ Egoh warned.

    Without debate on the motion, the House urged the Arewa youths and their Biafra counterparts to rescind their decisions.

    The legislators called on the Federal Government to urgently wade into the crisis to avoid loss of lives and properties.

  • Security practitioners meet

    The Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN) Lagos chapter has held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and seminar.

    Its Treasurer Pastor Nasiru Sule-Bamigbola in his report said the association did well in the outgoing year. He also scored the group high in other areas. His report was accepted by the House.

    During the election that followed, all the executives were returned unopposed for another four-year term. They included Chairman, Wilson Esangbedo, and Pastor Sule-Bamigbola.

    In his acceptance speech, Esangbedo promised to fly the banner of the group higher by executing some projects, including ongoing ones. Specifically, he said he would also emphasised training.  He enjoined the stakeholders in the industry to join hands to move it forward, noting that there is strength in unity.

    He said the seminar, which harped on supervisory leadership, was vital, noting that the more security supervisors were trained, the better for the industry as they are important in the value chain. ‘

    ’The supervisors make things happen, they create the environment for efficiency. If they are not well-trained, there will be a problem, for they are the ones coordinating things,’’ Esangbedo added.

    A paper presenter, Major D. A. Banjo (rtd) of the Africa School of Security Technology (ASST) urged supervisors as leaders to deploy the various management strategies to get things done.

    He suggested the provision of resources, development of competence and confidence and training of supervisors to enable them optimal performance.

  • Child security tops Lagos agenda

    The Lagos State government has promised to bring back the four abducted pupils and two teachers of Igbonla Model College in Epe. They were abducted by gunmen on the school’s assembly ground on Thursday, last week.

    The four students: Isaac Adebisi, Okonkwo Emmanuel, Abu, and Jeremiah, were abducted alongside, their Vice Principal, A.O Oyesola, and English/Civic Education teacher, Lukman Oyerinde.

    Although the abductors have since called some of the parents to demand undisclosed ransom, government said it would not negotiate, adding that both the military and police as well as local vigilance groups are on the trail of the abductors,

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who addressed Lagosians during the 2017 Children’s Day celebration at the Agege Stadium, last week, assured that no amount of threat and intimidation would distract the state from attaining the best of physical and mental development of the children.

    “The abductors are disgruntled elements bent on distracting this government. These children  would be rescued and brought back in no distant time. The military and police forces are working round the clock to ensure that they are rescued hale and hearty,” Ambode was quoted in a speech delivered by his deputy, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule

    According to Ambode, the need to ensure adequate security for school children informed the government’s issuance of an executive order to all Lagos schools, both private and public, child centred institutions and orphanages.

    “Our administration’s belief in the protection of those who will protect our tomorrow informed our implementation of the Executive Order of December 16, 2016 which established the Lagos State Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy,” Ambode added.

    According to him, the theme of this year’s International Children’s Day: ‘Children of today, our keepers tomorrow’, was apt and in tandem with the policy thrust of the state on education.

    He urged the children to be good ambassadors and agents of change, warning them to steer clear of unwholesome attitudes

    Earlier in her address, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr Adesina Odeyemi, who delivered Adebule’s address, noted that the education sector has undergone tremendous transformation since the creation of the state. she recalled that from 55 secondary schools comprising 19, 538 pupils in 1968, the number of public secondary schools have surged to 679 spreading across 316, 419 for junior secondary school and 248, 339 for senior secondary schools respectively. While primary schools, which also stood at 402 with 207, 126 children in 1969, now boasts of 1010 schools and with about 497, 318 pupils.

    The state, according to her, also has 18 public and private Tertiary Institutions, 5 Technical Colleges and least 18,000 private nursery/primary and secondary schools, which render educational services in the state today.

    Adebule noted that it was not an accident that the state’s budgetary allocations for 2016 and 2017   amounted to over N205.8 billion; rather it was because of the need assessment and the commitment of the government to education growth.

     

  • Tight security at APC primary

    Tight security at APC primary

    There is tight security at the venue of the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) primary in Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

    Delegates are still awaiting the accreditation even though reporters have been moved from the National Stadium to the en-bloc.

    They were screened at five points of entry to the venue of the shadow polls.

    Some of the politicians who came with their supporters were allowed in while their followers remained outside.

    The police, civil defence and other private security outfits screened every person allowed to the venue including top politicians.

  • Arewa youths seek security at seaports

    Arewa youths at Seme border, Badagry, Lagos have urged the Federal Government to secure the nations seaports with a view to curb criminal activities at the points of the country’s sources of revenue.

    The youth, under the umbrella of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), made the call in a statement signed by their chapter Chairman, Comrade Adamu Sambo, in which they lament the negligence of the government on the seaports.

    The group cited example of the recent discovery of 661 pump action riffles in a consignment which the landing Bill claimed contained steel door.

    They reminded the security agencies that their responsibilities include confirmation and physical examination of any items before the signing of any kind of goods out of the port.

    The forum hailed the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Controller-General (CG) for his continuous cleansing of the customs.

    They urged him to leave no stone unturned in his fight against corruption.

    The AYCF regretted that, seaports that are supposed to be a source of great revenue generation avenues has become a source of threat to the nation’s peace in terms of security.

    “Since the closure of land borders, another question begging for an answer is that has the government been able to ascertained maximum revenue generation at the sea ports since when the land borders have been closed?! The federal government should therefore go back to her record to see how much had been lost since the closure of the land borders,” the forum said.

     

     

     

     

     

  • 3 suicide bombers die attempting to enter varsity

    3 suicide bombers die attempting to enter varsity

    Three Suicide bombers have been confirmed dead in the early hours of Friday in Maiduguri, Borno while attempting to enter some locations in the University of Maiduguri.
    Mr Sani Datti, Head of Media and Public Relations of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

    Datti said that the vigilant University’s Security and Vigilantes group intercepted the suicide bombers before they could gain entrance into the University premises.

    He explained that immediately the suicide bombers detonated their explosives strapped on them, it led to injury of the two University’s security officers and two vigilantes.

    Datti said that the incidence occurred when the new Director-General of NEMA, Mr Mustapaha Maihaja is on a two-day visit to Maiduguri to meet with the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    He said Maihaja would also be meeting with leaders and stakeholders in the states to discuss ways forward in responding to humanitarian needs of the affected persons.

    He said that the remains of the three suicide bombers were evacuated to the Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that amidst stringent security measures in the State, there have been few cases of suicide attacks in IDPs camps and the University of Maiduguri.

    These attacks have claimed lives and left several injured.

  • Security as all’s business

    Security as all’s business

    No nation can develop its full potentials socially, politically and economically without adequate security, peace, law and order.

    This postulation is aptly captured in our constitution under section 14(2)(b) where it states that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of Government”.

    It is generally agreed that there has been a lot of improvement in our National Security since this government assumed power on 29th May 2015. The situation prior to that date is aptly captured by Leadership Editorial of Saturday May 11, 2013. The paper stated as follows:- “All residents of Nigeria are currently living in fear even though the country is not at war. No day passes without reports that scores of human beings have being killed here and there. From Borno to Adamawa and Nasarawa, the story is the same. Gunmen or insurgents with sophisticated weapons have put the security of the nation under serious threat. The number of prized security men that are being killed under these circumstances paints a gruesome picture. Recently, no fewer than 145 security officials have reportedly been killed in separate attacks that took place in Bama, Banki and Lafia. This is not underplaying the thousands of civilians that paid the supreme prize. Wherever one turns, there is blood. At no time in this nation’s history has it found itself at such a cross roads. The nation is gradually descending into a Hobbesian state: Life is laborious, nasty, brutish and short”.

    It is pertinent to state that within available resources the Force in collaboration and synergy with other security agencies have been able to stabilise the polity. Huge successes were recorded in the fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes nationwide.

    The Nigeria Police Force provided adequate security that ensured peaceful and orderly governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states, and hitch free Parliamentary Elections in Imo, Kogi, Rivers and Kano states. Other achievements such as the deployments of Police Special Forces to Kaduna, Niger, Benue and Kogi states have gone a long way to stabilise the polity. These deployments have also made appreciable progress in restoring law and order in these hitherto turbulent states.

    Other areas of note is that, for the first time violators of our electoral laws in the River State rerun Elections which includes serving police officers and INEC officials were made to face departmental and criminal actions in our law courts.

    At the inception of our administration in June last year, we strive to take all necessary steps to address the public perception of the Force by the citizenry. Some of the measures include the launching of our creed nationwide and the “Change Begins with me” mantra of Federal Government which was launched in all Police Commands in the country.

    The launching of the police creed was carried out in line with our principles of conducting police activities in line with democratic policing throughout the country. For the benefit of our audience, the present “POLICE CREED” drawn in line with principles of Democratic policing includes the following provisions which shall serve as the guiding doctrines to all Police Officers of all ranks:-

    • We shall police the country based on international core values of policing with integrity
    • We shall ensure that the rule of law prevails in our actions and activities
    • We shall respect diversity, display courage, show compassion and demonstrate professionalism
    • We shall operate within the principles of Democratic policing
    • We shall shun corruption
    • We shall make Nigeria safer and secured

    Over the years, the Nigeria Police Force saddled with the responsibility of policing the country has been grappling with fundamental challenges which tend to impede its optimal performance. Among these challenges are funding, shortfall in manpower and training and retraining.

    The issue of police funding has been critical to all past police reforms panels in 1994, 2002, 2008 and 2015. However the issue of funding, as highlighted in those Police Reform initiatives is yet be critically addressed.

    So far, the best approach to the funding of the Nigeria Police Force is the Bill which was tabled before the National Assembly in 2008 titled “Nigeria Police Reform Trust Fund” the Bill is yet to be passed by the National Assembly up till date. The Force is hereby soliciting the support and understanding of our National Assembly to give an accelerated hearing to this bill so as to adequately position the Nigeria Police Force for better funding to enable the Force discharge its statutory responsibilities effectively and efficiently.

    The Nigeria Police Reform Trust Fund (Establishment) Bill is to further provide a legal framework that will outline the counterpart funding arrangement between the Federal Government, the States, Local Governments, and the Organised private Sector, this is yet to see the light of the day.  When the bill is passed, the Police will be funded through a first line charge on the Federation account quarterly from the sources indicated above.

    Another critical challenge presently facing the Nigeria Police Force is the issue of shortfall in Police personnel to police the entire Country. It is imperative to recall that since 2011, the Nigeria Police Force has not conducted recruitment into its ranks and File cadre of the Force, until 2016, when the President and Commander -In-Chief graciously approved the recruitment of Ten Thousand (10,000) young Nigerians into the Force. The absence of recruitment of able bodied Nigerians between the years 2011 – 2016 has left a huge gap in the manpower need of the Force due to attrition as a result of retirements, death and resignations. To bridge this gap, and to attain the UN ratio requirement of 1 Police Officer to 400 citizens of a Country, the Nigeria Police Force need to recruit additional one hundred and fifty five thousand (155,000) officers to police Nigerian population of approximately One Hundred and Eighty Two Million (182,000,000) citizens.

    Consequently if this requirement is taken into consideration, the Force needs to recruit at least Thirty One Thousand (31,000) Police Officers yearly for period of at least Five (5) years from now. This recommendation has been forwarded for consideration of the Federal Government.

    In the area of professionalization of its special Units which are necessary for most operations, the present Police management has laid out some plans to address this challenge in the ongoing Police internal re-organisation. We have laid out plans to establish more specialised training institution to address issue of specialisation within the Force in order to enhance operational efficiency and competence. In the pursuit of this plan, we are planning to establish Police training institutions in the following specialised areas and units of the Force. i.  Border Patrol Units, ii.  Close Protection Units and iii.   Marine Police Units.

    The Force is therefore in advance stage of establishing a Border Patrol Training School in Kudan in Kaduna State, Border Patrol Training School in Imo State and a Marine Training School in Bayelsa State respectively.

    We believe that the establishment of these schools will enhance our capacities to tackle criminalities along our borders and the domination of the creeks of the Niger Delta and other regions against saboteurs and oil theft.

    In our effort to enhance security all over the country, the Police is increasing the capacity to respond swiftly to challenges in all States of the Federation through the establishment of more Police Mobile Force Squadrons. This we are doing with the support of the State Governments who donated facilities for the use of the Force as operational bases for our special units. So far seven additional Police Mobile Force Squadrons have been established in the following States, Osun State (Ilesha), Enugu State (Nsuka), Taraba State(Takum), Niger State (Kontagora), Plateau State (Shendam), Kaduna State (Kanfanchan), and Ogun State (Awa Ijebu).

    Security is every body’s business, and we should all join our hands to address the security challenges together.

    As major stakeholders we should give maximum support to the recently established “Eminent Persons Forum” in each individual state of the Federation, which is meant as a forum for major stakeholders in our individual communities to discuss and proffer solutions to security challenges in each of our communities.

     

    • An abridged version of a speech delivered by the Inspector-General of Police at the National Security Summit on Farmers-Pastoralists clashes, Kidnapping and other forms of violent crimes.