The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Terrorism

  • Cleric urges leaders to assist victims of terrorism

    The Catholic Bishop of Lafia Diocese, Dr Mathew Ishaya, on Monday urged Nigerian leaders to evolve strategies that would alleviate the suffering of the victims of terrorism and other evils acts.

    Ishaya stated this when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia.

    He said the call had become imperative in order to improve the standard of living of the victims of violence in the country.

    Ishaya said the nation should give those people a sense of belonging.

    “The security challenge facing the state and some parts of the country such as terrorism, communal crisis, among other evil acts, have affected our lives and the socio-economic development of the country negatively.

    “Our brothers and sisters have been displaced; they are homeless due to the activities of Boko Haram, communal crisis and other forms of violence in the society. There is need to assist in reducing their suffering.

    “I want to task the world and Nigerian leaders to work out strategies that will permanently alleviate the suffering faced by the victims of Boko Haram and others form of violence in order to improve their standard of living.

    “Our role is to preach and to ensure that peace and unity of the state and Nigeria at large are sustained.

    “No meaningful development can be achieved in any society without peace. Peace is priceless and non-negotiable,” the cleric further stated.

    He said the Federal Government had done its best in fighting terrorism.

    Ishaya called on Christians and other Nigerians to use the Easter period to demonstrate generosity to the less-privileged persons in order to give them a sense of belonging.

    The catholic bishop also urged the people of the state to embrace peace and shun all forms of negative acts in order to inherit the Kingdom of God, saying that no religion encourages violence.

    He called on Nigerians, especially the youths, to be law-abiding and respect constituted authority.

    The bishop urged the people of the state to live in peace and tolerate one another irrespective of ethnic, religious and political affiliations.

  • ‘Why it’s difficult to identify sponsors of terrorism’

    A member of the Presidential Committee on Financial Action Task Force, Dr. Sam Chukwuka Onyeka, has explained why it is difficult to identify sponsors of terrorism.

    He said those who sponsor and fund terrorism globally do so through an underground system called Hawala.

    Onyeka, who spoke with reporters in Abuja at the end of a book launch, advised the government to develop laws with strict punishment for sponsors of terrorism.

    The book: Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism in Nigeria was written by him.

    He explained that the challenges of money laundering and financing of terrorism were not known to Nigeria alone, but to the rest of the world.

    Onyeka said: “You need to understand that those who finance terrorism do not come out in the open to give support. Nowhere in the world; it is not easy to identify them.

    “It’s difficult pinpointing or saying this man is supporting terrorism because those who support terrorism do not come out in the open.

    “Even in America, it is difficult. The best you can do is to block the possible avenues they use, including the banks. That is why the United Nations Sanction Committees and a number of facilities that we have locally exist.”

  • Terrorism is deepening ethnic distrust, researchers warn

    Researchers at the University of Ibadan (UI) have found that the spate of bombings in Kano has deepened mutual distrust between indigenes and non-indigenes.

    The research also found that most clergy men are rejecting posting to the northern part of the country due to insecurity while churches track their members by opening a register containing their phone and addresses.

    The study entitled: “Effects of Terrorism on Non-indigenes in Sabo-gari Kano State” was carried out by a student of Sociology, Nwanosike Chiamaka Precious, and supervised by Dr Oludayo Tade? at the University of Ibadan.

    While warning that further deterioration of security may make relocation of non-indigenes from the northern states inevitable, the researchers urged Federal government to step up intelligence among its security agencies and stop insecurity and rising terrorism.

    The research which was conducted among residents of Sabon-gari, a predominant settler community in Kano, focused on the effects of terrorism on the socio-economic lives of non-indigenes and their coping strategies. While speaking to newsmen on their findings, the researchers said that terrorism has crippled evangelism, business, and social relations among peoples while restricting their movement to a particular place in the state.

    They quoted a respondent as saying: “We non-indigenes are scared because we do not know their next plan. Whenever we go to the market, we buy quickly and return to our houses. We are scared in terms of school so that they will not go to our children’s school to go and look for them there.”

    Another participant said: “This insecurity is affecting our right to life and right to own property. Nobody can make any investment in this town and nobody is sure of tomorrow. You next door neighbour is number one suspect. One must be careful and focused and watch the next step the person beside you is about to take.”

    The researchers also found that social activities, such as attending parties, birthday, and weddings have reduced, while churches now? record lower attendance, with many projects abandoned as people avoid religious centres. Commenting on that, another respondent “Church crusades are now discouraged while evangelism is at minimal. ?I have stopped going for night programmes. We normally go out for evangelism before but we cannot go because of fear of bomb, and fear of gunmen. Visitation has stopped. We only reach people through mobile phones. But to visit or go to hospital to pray for people that are sick? Those ones have been grounded.”

    The researchers noted that the Book Haram threat has negatively affected the economy of Kano, and that most house owners are being owed rent due to uncertainties over security. Many non-indigenes have relocated their investments away from Kano to the east, west and south while many husbands have sent their wives and children to their home states to reduce the risk of becoming victims.

    This, they attributed to the fact that the men fear starting afresh in a new place after investing in Kano all their lives.

    While calling on the Federal Government to tighten security and build solidarity among Nigerians, they warned about the unintended consequences of allowing terrorism to separate Nigerians through mutual distrust. The researchers also asked police to set up check points around Zungeru and Burma roads where there are no security checks.

     

  • AUN trains journalists on terrorism reporting

    Fifty-seven journalists, editors and producers covering the insurgency in the Northeast region returned to the classroom to learn how to cover emerging issues better.

    They were trained by the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola as part of a peace conference for activists from five northeastern states under the AUN-Adamawa Peace Initiative.

    The 57 participants were drawn from print, broadcast and online media organisations in Borno, Yobe, Taraba, Bauchi and Adamawa States.

    The theme of the workshop, ‘”Redefining the role of Journalists in peacebuilding”, addressed how journalists could cover conflict stories professionally in a nation in search of order, stability and development.

    One of the facilitators, Dr. Jacob, said beyond reporting the conflict, journalists must be peace builders.

    “With the Boko Haram insurgency becoming more violent and intractable, workshop organisers felt it was a propitious time to launch a comprehensive, practical training for local journalists on peace reporting, so they can see themselves not only as journalists, but also as peacemakers,” he said.

    The acting chair of AUN’s Communications and Multimedia (CMD) programme, Udo-Udo Jacob, who said Peace Journalism has crystalised in the last 10 years, however noted that it is yet to be well developed in practice, particularly in Nigeria.

    He said it was the first Peace Journalism workshop in Nigeria.

    The other facilitator, Don North, is a veteran journalist with rich experience in reporting conflicts from Vietnam, to Latin America and Iraq.

    In a keynote address AUN’s President, Prof Margee Ensign, articulated the role of the media in a pluralistic democracy.

    She spoke on “The Press & Democratic Reform in a Changing World:  Building Alliances for Good Governance and Accountability”, highlighting political instability and weak institutions as some of the critical challenges facing Nigeria.

    She also called for a more assertive role for the media in holding governments and political leaders accountable.

    The workshop had three sessions and an interactive panel discussion led by resource persons with strong industry experience. Participating journalists made their own invaluable contributions to factors militating against objective, accurate and factual reporting from the war front.

    It also provided them the opportunity to join the Peace Journalism Network, whose objective include providing an online forum for journalists to share experiences, exchange notes and develop best practices in peace reporting.

    The next workshop is scheduled for this month.

     

  • Terrorism: Methodist Church conference blames politicians

    METHODIST Church men’s fellowship has blamed the political class for fanning the embers of terrorism.

    It urged the military to ensure that such religious extremists were crushed for the country’s unity.

    Its National President, Dr. Samuel Ebenezer Ogbodo Ejiofor, in his presidential address at the society’s 18th Annual National Conference in Umuahia, described the state of the nation as deplorable.

    Ejiofor said the menace of the Boko Haram had become a disgrace to the nation and its citizens, adding that it was the military that could contain the terrorists.

    He said: “The issue of Boko Haram and other act of terrorism is at an alarming state, which is making us look like a failed state. However, we are happy that the security agencies are equal to the task of containing the menace.

    “It is a known fact that the government is doing its best in containing the Boko Haram and militancy. The political class, instead of joining hands to save the nation, is rather fuelling the whole thing.

    “People are talking about Jonathan; Jonathan did not do anything. A traditional ruler is the chief security officer of his community; a governor is the chief security of his state; and a local government chairman is the chief security of his council.

    “If all these people are alive to their responsibilities, there will be adequate security within these areas. So, it is not a question of Jonathan, it is a responsibility for all of us and this means that everybody should be alive to the issue of security at all times.

    “The situation is a clear testimony as the politicians have refused to play politics with the laid down norms. Rather, they are heating the polity, thereby increasing tension in an already tensed society and giving room for the terrorists to operate”.

    Ejiofor lamented that activities of politicians and their parties were being trailed by controversy, fraud, militancy and complaints.

    “The trend is the same in all the parties, without exception,” he added.

    He challenged religious groups to rise up and take a lead in promoting religious harmony, adding that they should embark on interfaith dialogue as antidote for peace.

    He said: “Our present state is so critical that Christians and our Muslim brothers cannot ignore their responsibilities and the task of bringing people to the truth, promoting peace and good works of the church and Islam.”

  • Lawyers seek special courts for terrorism

    Terrorism has assumed a frightening dimension with the government appearing overwhelmed by the menance. But lawyers say “no” to the menace and are proffering a way out, reports ADEBISI ONANUGA

    Lawyers have called for the establishment of a Counter Terrorism Commission (CTC) and a special court to try terrorism cases.

    This, they said, would ensure speedier determination of terrorism cases.

    They gathered to review the various acts of terrorism, which are being unleashed on innocent Nigerians by the Boko Haram insurgency,  and the attendant government’s inability  to end the menace.

    They lawyers included  activist and constitutional lawyer,  Mike Oze khome(SAN), who was represented by Charles Omosohwofa; Head of Department, Jurisdiction and International Law, Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo;  Gbenga Ojo, a legal practitioner and lecturer in the Faculty of Law, LASU and former Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja Branch, Monday Ubani among others.

    Though terrorism cases are within the jurisdiction of Federal High Courts (FHC), they, however, pushed for the establishment of such commission or court to speedily try terrorism cases.

    The occasion was at this year’s Law Week seminar of the NBA, Badagry Branch, which has as its theme: “Terrorism: Threat to  human rights – the Nigerian experience”.

    Ojo, who was the guest speaker, said the National Industrial Court (NIC), was specially established to handle labour, employment and trade union disputes.

    “There is no reason why Nigeria should not establish a special court for cases of terrorism. The wheel of justice moves very slowly in the court including Federal High Courts. Time is of the essence in cases of trial of terrorists.

    “We advocate for the establishment of special courts for cases of terrorism.  This will complement the newly suggested Counter Terrorism Commission (CTC). It is only when Nigeria does this, that the country will demonstrate political will to fight and stamp out terrorism in Nigeria,” he said.

    The university don explained that the CTC should be in the nature of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practice and Related Offences Commission (ICPC), adding that the commission should employ and train its lawyers in prosecuting terrorism.

    Ojo said the war against terrorism must involve capacity building for judges, prosecutors and investigators.

    He remarked that cases of terrorism should not be assigned on the basis of a lawyer being a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) or a professor of law.

    “The Federal Ministry of Justice should have a pool of lawyers specially assigned and trained comprehensively on prosecuting cases of terrorism with all its intricacies,” Ojo said, adding that judges should be specially trained on the laws, practice, procedure and intricacy of terrorism.

    He  stressed that quick dispensation of justice is one of the benefits of such training, urging the media to stop giving publicity to the activities of the terrorists.

    The media, Ojo said, should not be seen to be supporting the disintegration of the country, which the insurgents are noted for.

    “The act of terrorism is one of the  most heinous crimes in any state. Most times the motives are unclear and senseless. Nigeria has lost several human lives and huge material costs due to the senseless acts of insurgency in Nigeria,” Ojo said.

    Former Ikeja NBA Chairman,  Monday Ubani, observed that  individuals’ human rights are not respected by terrorists. “They kill and maim lives callously most of the times thereby depriving the citizens the right to life as guaranteed by the constitution,” Ubani said.

    He added: “On the other hand the government,  in a bid to effectively tackle the menace of insurgents, usually impose state of emergency on the areas affected and in the same vein deny the citizens  of their freedom of personal liberty and movement contrary to human rights provisions in the constitution.

    “The Nigerian experience has been  very horrendous. The insurgency has not only retarded human development, it has also retarded physical development. The country deserves peace if we are serious about developing the country.”

    Constitutional lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), in his paper, advised that any measure to be taken by the country to combat the menace must comply with its obligations under the constitution and international rights instruments.

    Ozekhome, who represented by Charles Omosohwofa, said the country must make effort to develop and maintain an effective law enforcement and rule of law, based on national criminal justice system with respect to human rights.

    According to Ozekhome, law enforcement agencies such as the Police, military, SSS, DIA, NIA, Civil Defence among others, need re-orientation for them to be abreast of the duties expected of them.

    “They should be taught that respecting the rights of the citizens constitutes an integral part of their duty. The military in particular, being at the forefront of the war on terror, should be taught to know how to sift the wheat from the chaff in their quest to fight terror and ultimately help in restoring law and order.

    “As patriots, they should understand that extra-judicial killings, inhuman torture, degrading treatment under whatever circumstance and guise, constitute an infringement on human right and is a disservice to the nation,” Ozekhome stressed.

    The constitutional lawyer noted that one right usually violated more than other rights is that of fair hearing.

    “It is the evil propensity in the hearts of terrorists to kill and maim innocent harmless people without giving the individual the chance to defend themselves in a fair and just trial that often result in the carnage and open sadism being perpetrated by them.

    The chairman of Badagry branch of the NBA, Chief Chris Okoye in a welcome address said the theme was informed by the high level of kidnapping, the activities of the Boko Haram insurgency among others.

     

    Okoye lamented that Boko Haram  insurgents have been violating the sovereignty of the country and subjecting the citizenry to incessant bombings with resultant loss of lives and property.

     

     

  • Terrorism: Mutual Assistance Bill scales second reading at Senate

    Terrorism: Mutual Assistance Bill scales second reading at Senate

    Bill seeking to make provision for mutual legal assistance in criminal matters with foreign countries yesterday scaled the second reading at the Senate.

    The Bill, titled: “A Bill for an Act to make provisions for mutual Assistance in a Criminal Matters Bill, 2014”, was sponsored by Senate leader Victor Ndoma-Egba.

    In his lead debate, Ndoma-Egba said the Bill was designed to facilitate the exchange of mutual assistance in criminal matters between Nigeria and other countries.

    With globalisation and advancement in communications technology, he said criminal activities across national borders had continued to grow.

    The senator noted that this had continued to throw up issues of territorial jurisdiction which, in many ways, constitute bottlenecks and a challenge to the successful prosecution of such crimes.

    He said: “To surmount the difficulty of prosecuting cross border crimes, the common practice is for states to cooperate informally through their law enforcement agencies on the basis of reciprocity or, alternatively, resort to bilateral or multilateral treaties on ‘mutual legal assistance’ that obligate state parties to provide such assistance.

    “However, it is not that though many countries are able to provide a broad range of mutual legal assistance to other countries even in the absence of a treaty, most domestic laws of countries tend to create obstacles to such law enforcement cooperation.

    “It is on this basis that a mutual legal assistance legislation for every country becomes desirable and expedient.”

    In Nigeria, the Senate leader said, the only legislation on the subject-matter is the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters within the Commonwealth Act.

    He noted that the Act had limited application to Commonwealth countries and did not serve the interest of Nigeria for mutual cooperation and collaboration globally in criminal matters.

    Ndoma-Egba added: “In fact, due to the limitations in the above Act, Nigeria has entered into bilateral agreements with other countries outside the Commonwealth for the purpose of mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.”

  • ‘Why prosecuting terrorism cases is tough’

    Prosecution of crimes, especially terrorism, is difficult in the country due to lack of proper record keeping, statistics and data collection, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Ahmed Raji, has said.

    He said the Terrorism Prevention Act (TPA), the principal tool in prosecuting terrorism, can be effectively applied where there is adequate birth, immigration and other forensic records.

    Raji said the steady rise in terrorism was not due to defects in the extant laws, but because other factors that aided the effectiveness of the statutes were lacking.

    According to him, despite the prosecution challenges, the Terrorism Act has been employed to prosecute at least 40 cases out of which judgments have been delivered in about 15 since the law came into effect in 2011.

    This, he said, is remarkable because criminal trials in the country are reputed to last for over five years.

    Raji said the fight against terrorism might not be won if its causes were not tackled.

    “We must have a correct diagnosis for there to be an effective solution. Until the cause is known, I am afraid we are in the woods,” he said.

    Raji said the Terrorism Act was enacted to ensure that the judicial process was not activated against the perpetrators of terror in the absence of a legislation that not only expressly criminalised the acts, but also provided for appropriate penalties against perpetrators.

    The law, he said, emphasised respect for the fundamental rights of suspects or accused persons, adding that before an individual is detained for investigation for a period in excess of the constitutionally- permitted time, the investigating body must seek and obtain an order of the Federal High Court.

  • Uduaghan: terrorism taking its toll on our economy

    Uduaghan: terrorism taking its toll on our economy

    Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has said worsening terrorism in the Northeast is taking a toll on the socio-economic life of the country.

    The governor spoke yesterday at the second plenary session of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), hosted by the Warri Diocese of the Catholic Church.

    Uduaghan said the Boko Haram scourge has gone beyond just a regional problem.

    The bishops urged the Federal Government to devote the same level of seriousness it employed in curbing the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) to fighting the spreading terrorism in the North.

    The governor said the pressure of the activities of the terrorists have continued to force people in the North to flee their homes and communities.

    “The insecurity in the Northeast is not a northern problem alone; it’s a problem affecting the entire country. The phone calls I receive daily about the movement of people from the North to the South are very scary.

    “I only hope and pray that something is done as a matter of urgency to restore confidence in the people, but I can tell you that the government is doing its best to ensure that terrorism is destroyed.”

    The president of the CBCN and Archbishop of Jos, Rev Ignatius Kaigama, urged the Federal Government to find a solution to the worsening terrorism.

    The clergy also denounced calls by some Nigerians for the dissolution of the country, noting that Nigeria stood a better chance at greatness as one that when fractionalised.

    “We insist that the government confronts the issue of insurgency with the same seriousness as it is doing with the ebola problem. It appears that rather than coming to an end, the activities of terrorists, especially in the north-east, are expanding and growing in sophistication and threatening to spread beyond there.

    “We call on all to genuinely use the powerful weapon of prayers and charity, just as we ask Nigerians to be of good disposition towards one another and our political leaders to have the political will to do only what is noble, honourable and just for our nation.

    The event, which took off with a special mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Warri, ended up at the Bishop’s Conference Centre in Effurun and was attended, by Deputy Governor Amos Utuama (SAN), the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, senator representing Delta Central District and many others.

  • Police train officers on how to fight terrorism

    Police train officers on how to fight terrorism

    The police high command in response to the security challenges facing the country recently carried out an intensive training exercise for some of its officers at its training college in Ila Orangun, Osun State. ADESOJI ADENIYI was there.

    No fewer than 55 middle ranking career police officers, including two women participated in a three week intensive training for 2 i/c squadron commanders held recently at the Nigeria Police Force Training College, Ila-Orangun, Osun State.

    The programme was designed to afford the participants the opportunity to be trained in new techniques in weapon handling, tactical manoeuvres and obstacle crossing. Also, academic papers were presented by facilitators from the private sector and police instructors, especially on how to tackle the security challenges facing the nation.

    For the participants drawn from all the squadron commands across the country, it was a rewarding experience. The course 6/2014 chairman, Francis Osagie Erhabor, a Superintendent of Police, said the course though hectic, was very important and strategic for repositioning the police mobile force and squadron commanders in the face of current upsurge in violent crime and insurgency taking place in the North eastern part of the country. Two other participants, AbdulKareem Abubakar (SP) and Felicity Jacob (DSP) said they had really been equipped during the training and promised to discharge what is expected of them.

    Abubakar said the challenges of insecurity required tactical approach urging government to continue to train more security officials to contain all acts of terrorism in the country. ýHe said: “The course has equipped us with not only combat operational techniques that had been the norm over the years but those requiring mental and intellectual capacity.”

    According to Jacob, he and other participants in the training would ever remain indebted to the directing staff, instructors and management of the college for quality training programme.

    The passing out ceremony for the participants provided an opportunity for the Acting Commandant, Police Mobile Force Training College, Ila Orangun, Livingstein Orutugu, to ask the acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sulaiman Abba, to look into the challenges facing the training college. He listed among challenges facing the college, the  provision of primary school within the college to enable their children go to school.ý He said the participants had been exposed to both physical and intellectual aspects of holding the office of Squadron Commander in Police Mobile Force and other aspects of policing. However, Orutugu said: “I thank the Inspector General for the emphasis he put on professionalism.”

    The Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sulaiman Abba, who was represented at the passing out ceremony by the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Force Headquarters, Mr.Felix Uyanna, charged officers and men of the Force to re-dedicate themselves to duty and stand up to the challenges of terrorism. The acting IG said the reason for massive adjustment in the Police security thinking and training became imperative in other to cope with the emerging challenges of insecurity. He reminded the officers that they could not afford to fail Nigerians, therefore, urging them to embrace intelligence-led policing to aid their operations.

    He said: “it is no hidden fact that contemporary Nigeria is faced with emerging security threats and challenges different from what we used to know in the past decades. The emergent threats that manifest in the form of insurgency and terrorism have not only challenged our hitherto and reactive approaches to internal security operations. They have affected the operational preparedness of Police Mobile Force as the last line of defence for the Force to effectively counter and contain these threats as they emerge.

    “The era of riots, violent demonstrations and isolated acts of criminality have gradually given way to more precarious security situation in the country. Now crimes have become better organised, highly sophisticated, extremely lethal and totally complex, perhaps, with transnational links. This unwholesome security situation in Nigeria has not only impugned on the ability of the Nigeria Police Force as the lead agency in maintenance of internal security but also that of other security agencies often invited to aid in internal security operations.

    “Time was when the Police Mobile Force was not only the hope of the Force but also that of the people that time was no more. Time was when  a unit of PMF can effectively confront, contain and conquer any act of insurgency, that time was history. Time was when the PMF was dreaded by criminals more than soldiers that time is no more. Time was when the PMF was impregnable, when its personnel are hardly killed in operation, that time was gone.” Abba said.

    The IGP, who noted that ýthe nation is at a cross road, said a careful assessment of explicitly identified threats to the nation’s security has become imperative.