The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Terrorism

  • Terrorism as threat to education

    In recent years, the nation has witnessed a recession in the fortunes of our education. The sector witnessed stunted growth caused by many man-made factors. When it became obvious that there is a failure in the standard of education, the society pointed fingers at teachers, policymakers, curriculum formulators and government for the poor delivery of knowledge, wrong policy and poor funding sector.

    While the nation is yet to proffer solution to the misfortune that hit our education, home-grown terrorist organisations have become another factor threatening development of education. Our schools have become the target of mindless violence by people using terrorism to achieve selfish objectives.

    For many years, terrorism was an alien word in sub-Sahara African countries, especially in Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroun. In the past eight years, bloodthirsty criminals have perpetrated large-scale carnage reminiscent of terrorist acts Vice-Chancellor (VC) of carried out in the Middle-East and the Western countries.

    In 2014, schoolgirls were abducted in their sleep in Chibok in Borno State, weeks after secondary school boys were brutally killed by Boko Haram members in Buni Yadi, Yobe State.

    Since rescue operation was slow, the nation was awash with reports that the girls were either married off by the terrorist group or sold into slavery elsewhere. Some of the schoolgirls were trained to kill or become suicide bombers.

    In the wake of these heinous attacks, the entire schools in the Northeast of Nigeria hurriedly closed down in fear of being attacked. Primary, secondary and some tertiary institutions had to close down indefinitely. Schools that are considered vulnerable to attack in other parts of the country took precautionary measures.

    Government and the people in the troubled region fought tooth and nail to ensure terrorist attacks on schools stop, but the situation has not changed till this moment.

    Terrorism does not only cause social injury to the society, it also thwarts the rights of humanity to a dignified existence. In a clime where terrorism reigns, there is no freedom of movement, free speech, education, liberty to life and happiness.

    More so, under international law, a crime against humanity is an act of persecution or any large scale atrocities against a body of people and is the highest level of criminal offense.

    On February 19, 2018 when the government was still making effort to get the outstanding Chibok schoolgirls out of the Boko Haram’s den, a replica of Chibok abduction played out in Government Girls Science Technical College in Dapchi, Yobe State, thereby bringing the country backward in its fight against terrorism.

    This heinous act has sent fears directly to school children, their teachers and administrators, drawing back the progress of education. The money which the government is supposed to use to fund education is being used to fight terrorism.

    Therefore, education has suffered under the current democratic dispensation more than any previous republics. Terrorism has threatened the government and kept the citizens on their toes, looking for a way out. Crimes similar to terrorism pervade the nation daily, while the repercussions of not addressing it stare us in the face every day.

    Assassinations, hired assassination, hostage taking, religious extremism, cultism, armed robbery, arson, herdsmen attack etc are other forms of crimes that have stunted the growth and development of our education.

    For us to have a stable education that will be beneficial to young people, they must be holistically addressed by the government.

    As observed by Hajia Aisha Alkali Wakil, the Federal Government and the National Assembly need to probe incessant abductions and the source of Boko Haram’s funding. The police must curb the proliferation of firearms and illegal weapons. Soldiers need to be stationed at vulnerable schools to stop attacks on education. Man’s inhumanity to man must be nipped in the bud for us to have a truly egalitarian society.

     

  • Security chiefs move to end sea piracy in A’Ibom waterways

    Security chiefs move to end sea piracy in A’Ibom waterways

    Incessant attacks on waterways, Youth restiveness, cultism as well as terrorism and how to end the upsurge in crime were the resolution and action point during the meeting with all the security agencies in Akwa Ibom Wednesday.

    The security summit which was an interactive session between security agencies and local government chairmen across the 31 local council areas in the state reviewed security situation in each council area.

    Stakeholders brainstormed on how to stem the tide of terrorism, cultism and youth restiveness in the state.

    The security meeting further analysed security issues in some volatile council areas of Akwa Ibom State with particular attention to Ukanafun, Etim Ekpo, Ika and other coastal areas such as Ibeno, Esit Eket, Ikot Abasi and Eastern Obolo.

    Cases of pirate encroachment from neighboring riverine states which frustrates activities of fishermen and oil companies operating in the areas were also discussed.

    Security chiefs and council chairman also deliberated on the worrisome security situation in Ukanfun, Etim Ekpo and Ika council areas where terrorists hold sway for about two years and vowed to change the narratives in the months ahead.

    In an interview after the security meeting, the Akwa Ibom Commissioner of Police Adeyemi Ofuseyimi said the security session had resolved with council chairmen to harness youth potentials in their various council across as a panacea to cultism and youth restiveness.

    He said when the local governments who are closer to the youths were able to engage the youths with meaningful skill, youth would become useful citizen and contribute their quota to the society.

    The Police Boss observed that when youths were idle; they were compelled to belong to cult groups to occupy their mind and time and encouraged the council chairmen to engage youths positively to the benefit of the society.

    Read Also: Anti-Piracy law ‘ll boost maritime security, says Defence Minister

  • Boko Haram membership thinning out, says Buhari

    Boko Haram membership thinning out, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja said the era of Boko Haram terrorism is gradually drawing to end, with the narrowing of the recruitment base of the insurgents, and renewed onslaught by the Nigerian Army.

    He made the remark while receiving the Letter of Credence of Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to Nigeria, Most Rev. Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi, at the State House.

    President Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina said the terrorist group had lost appeal in its initial strongholds, necessitating a steady retreat that will eventually culminate in ending the insurgency.

    “You can’t indoctrinate people who are below the age of 14 years and blow up churches, mosques, markets and you keep shouting God is great.

    “It is either you don’t know what you are saying, or you simply don’t care or believe what you are saying. It is part of our success story that Boko Haram is finding it more difficult to recruit people.

    “The Nigerian Army is also not making it easy for them to grow, with more intelligence, orientation and regular, measured onslaught on their camps,’’ he said.

    The President said the ongoing effort to dismember the terrorist group, and render it completely powerless will be intensified.

    President Buhari, who described the Catholic Church as a strong partner in the development of Nigeria, noted that the church had made very significant contributions to the development of the educational and health system of the country.

    On corruption, the President said the fight against the culture of pilfering public funds would be prolonged, and would require a new orientation by repositioning the entire educational system.

    “I am pleased that the African Union has spoken out boldly against corruption and appreciated the work that we are doing here,’’ President Buhari told the Archbishop.

    In his remarks, the Archbishop Filipazzi said the Holy Father, Pope Francis, had taken a keen interest on the fight against terrorism, corruption and reviving of the Nigerian economy.

    “Mr. President, the Holy Father, sends his warm greetings and he is keen to denounce corruption everywhere,’’ he added.

    The Apostolic Nuncio said he had travelled to the North East and was pleased with the efforts of the Nigerian Army in tackling the insurgents, and recovering some of the earlier lost grounds.

    President Buhari also received Letters of Credence from the Ambassador of Niger to Nigeria, Mr. Alat Mogaskia and the High Commissioner of Ghana, Alhaji Rashid Bawa.

  • IGP Idris vows to sustain fight against crime

    IGP Idris vows to sustain fight against crime

    The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris yesterday reiterated the force commitment to ensuring the security of lives and property of citizens of the country, stressing that the police would sustain its resilience and tempo at combating crime across the country.

    Speaking at the opening of a 5 day training programme for 81 senior police officers of the force on National Counter -Terrorism Incident Site Commanders Management  of the Zone10 Headquarters, Sokoto, Idris said is resolute to police the country based on international core values that would ensure proactiveness so as to rid the country of rime and criminals.

    “We will ensire that the country is secured for all innocent and law abiding citizens”, he assured.

    Participants at the police Mess venue of the training programme being facilitated by CSP Okon Asuquo and SP Manir Madugu include 79 conventional and mobile police officers drawn from the zone, 1 each from NSCDC, DSS and Fire Service.

    The police Boss represented by the Assistan Inspector General of Police Zone 10, Mr Yakubu Usman urged the participants of the all important course to abail themselves of the opportunity to add value to their capacity and competence in the course of their operations.

    He said” the training is primarily to equip you with the needed capacity to adequately and rapidly respond to  incidents especially on terrorism.

    ” I therefore, urge you to listen attentively, ask questions and teach others not here so they can leatn from the knowledge you acquired”, he said.

    Also speaking on the sidelines, the Sokoto police Commissioner, Murtala Usman Mani said the programme was timely and coming when the country was faced with security challenges.

    According to Mani” we are more concern about the security of Nigerians that is why the police is encouraging all necessary measures to synergise with relevant agencies in order to fight crime and criminals for the safety of an average citizen.

    ” Basically, we are faced with more of lesser crimes which is what we will focus on and to build a template for proactive operations against and ahead of any act of terrorism “, stated.

  • Government should call herdsmen’s action terrorism

    The continuous harassment of Fulani herdsmen, apart from resultant loss of lives, is a recipe for food insecurity in the nation. The way the herdsmen invade farmlands and have their cattle go on a feeding binge shows that the culture of impunity still reigns in this country.

    A troubling thing is that, with all this nauseating devastation of land and people’s lives, the federal government seems not to be too interested in calling a spade a spade. The activities of these herdsmen are nothing less than terrorism, and they should be labelled a terrorists’ group.

    They seem to value the lives of cattle more than human lives, which is so sordid. Humans are supposed to be the beneficiaries of the farm products these cattle plumage and freely feed on, yet the herdsmen’s hunger for placing cattle above human lives goes on unabated.

    If the government can label IPOB (Indigenous Peoples of Biafra) a terrorist group, why not the herdsmen, after all what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

    It’s time the federal government found a lasting solution to this menace, and very speedily too.

    • Joseph Paul wrote in from Makurdi, Benue State.

     

  • Police train 147 officers in Zone 5 to counter terrorism

    Police train 147 officers in Zone 5 to counter terrorism

    The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, said on Friday that 147 officers of the Nigeria Police Force and sister security agencies in Zone 5, have been trained to counter terrorism.

    The I-G made this disclosure at the closing ceremony of the five-day National Counter Terrorism Incident Commanders’ Management Course held in Benin.

    Idris represented by Commissioner of Police in Edo, Mr Johnson Kokumo, said that the Force would continue to synergise with sister security agencies to counter terrorism.

    “The Nigeria Police will continue to partner with other sister security agencies to curb any form of criminal activities, especially terrorism in the country.

    “The training is a clear indication of the willingness of police to synergize with sister security agencies to sustain peace in the country.

    “The training is to impart new security knowledge on the participants.

    “The Police will always make his officers and men available to attend similar training when called upon by sister security agencies,’’ he said.

    In his remarks, the Assistant Commissioner, ACP Emmanuel Aina, urged the participants to domesticate the thematic concerns of the training in their various formation and agencies.

    He said the training has further exposed the participants to taking urgent steps to respond to emergencies timely without recourse to who should take the lead with other security agencies.

    Earlier, the lead facilitator for the training, CSP Okon Asuquo, thanked the I-G for approving the training.

    He said the training has further exposed participants to contemporary policing challenging issues through group discussion, presentations, simulations and lectures.

    He said the concern was to demonstrate practically various topics such as major incidents, method of terrorist attacks, and multi-agency response to incidents.

    The 147 officers drawn from the Police, Army, FRSC, NSCDC, EDSMA, Nigeria Fire Service, and DSS, who successfully participated in the training programme, were presented with certificates.

    NAN

  • Army demands N18b more to battle terrorism, vandalism in 2018 Budget

    Army demands N18b more to battle terrorism, vandalism in 2018 Budget

    The Army yesterday urged the National Assembly to increase its budget by N18. 177 billion to enable it effectively fight against terrorism, pipeline vandalism and other security challenges.

    It also said it should be removed from the zero based budgeting (ZBB) otherwise known as the envelop budget ceiling system adopted by the Budget Office of the Federation.

    Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai made the demands during a budget defence session with the House of Representatives Committee on Army.

    According to him, the envelop budgeting system was making the Army ineffective operationally.

    The Army, he said, requires at least N39, 800 billion capital components and had requested for N261.6 billion, but the Budget Office approved only N233.05 billion in the budget estimates with the National Assembly.

    “It is in consideration of the aforementioned priorities, coupled with the new NA ORBAT implementation that the NA is seeking your kind appropriation of the sum of N39,800,211,098 billion for capital expenditure,” he said.

    Gen. Buratai: “My passionate appeal for N18.177 billion over the ceiling capital appropriation, if approved by this hallowed chamber will enable the Army procure the strategic assets and platforms needed to support the implementation of ORBAT 2016.

    “This will also boost the operational activation of the newly established Divisions (6,7, and 8), cater for the deficiency of arms, ammunitions as well as uniforms to kit the NA personnel.

    “I wish to state that the approval will ultimately enhance the functionality of the Nigerian Army Aviation corps which is established to complement the efforts of the Nigerian Airforce and Joint Task Force (JTF) to combat terrorism, pipeline vandalism and other security challenges”

    The committee’s  suggestion that the Army adopts the construction of high-rise buildings in its barracks as a way of conserving space and resources, he said, was in order, adding that direct labour approach to projects execution would be sustained.

    “We will continue to engage our Army Engineers to execute our projects”, he stated.

    Lawmakers agreed that because of challenges being faced by the Army to tackle insurgency, there was need for it to have some measure of budgetary flexibility, and so the need to remove it from the envelop budgeting system.

    The Chairman of the committee, Rimam Shawulu, noted that  Army barracks across the country were dilapidated.

  • British police arrest six on neo-Nazi terrorism charges

    British police arrest six on neo-Nazi terrorism charges

    British police have arrested six people on suspicion of neo-Nazi “terrorism offences.”

    “The five men and one woman, aged between 21 and 37, were arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism.

    “Namely on suspicion of being a member of a proscribed organisation (National Action),’’ West Midlands police said in a statement.

    The suspects are from various cities, including Cambridge, Leicester and Wolverhampton and from the town of Banbury near Oxford.

    “A number of properties are being searched in connection with the arrests,’’ the statement said.

    It added that the arrests were pre-planned and intelligence-led; there was no threat to the public’s safety.

    National Action was initially banned by the British government in 2016.

    “National Action is a vile racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic group which glorifies violence.

    “It stirs up hatred while promoting their poisonous ideology,’’ Home Secretary Amber Rudd said in September when banning two aliases under which the group continued to operate.

  • Buhari tasks ECOWAS leaders on terrorism, human, drug trafficking

    Buhari tasks ECOWAS leaders on terrorism, human, drug trafficking

    •Seeks regional measures to evacuate, resettle, empower stranded citizens abroad

    President Muhammadu  Buhari yesterday charged leaders in the West African sub-region on the need to urgently tackle the challenges of terrorism, human trafficking and drug trafficking in the area.

    According to him, the problems are greatly affecting young men, women and economies of the region.

    He spoke in Abuja while delivering welcome address at the 52nd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.

    He said “In West Africa, we live in constant threat of violent terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, AQIM and Al-Qaida. Nearly every week we see and hear the horror of human trafficking perpetrated by trans-border syndicates, who lure our youths to slavery through irregular migration.

    “We see the consequences, on our young men and women and on our economies, of drug trafficking and capital flight.” Accordingly, it is imperative that we take urgent action to address these challenges.

    “In collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration, we, in Nigeria, have been evacuating our compatriots who are stranded in Libya. Returnees have been receiving needed support including from state governments and   some non-governmental organisations.

    “I have instructed the National Emergency Management Agency to speed up the evacuation of all Nigerians stranded in Libya and facilitate their resettlement.

    “In view of the enormity of this challenge, may I suggest that we look into the possibility of putting in place a well run regional mechanism for the evacuation, resettlement  and empowerment of stranded ECOWAS citizens abroad.” he said

    He also urged the leaders in a joint effort to step up dialogue with European partners in order to overcome the challenges.

    The President said that the long term solutions to the challenges is to create conditions of peace and security in the ECOWAS countries and ensure sustainable development of the economies.

    “Only through this can we create jobs and other conditions in which our youths will have little or no excuse to embark on the suicidal venture of irregular migration.” he said

    He said that the region since 2001 has been steadily developing the culture of democratic  practice, including good governance and respect for the Rule of Law.

    He said “This trend has just been demonstrated in Liberia. I salute the people of Liberia for the manner in which they conducted themselves during and in the aftermath of the just concluded general elections.

    “It is my fervent hope that the same attitude prevails in the coming run-off election scheduled to hold on 26 December, and a new president is inaugurated in January, 2018 as per the provision of the country’s Constitution.”

    Buhari also appealed to the citizens of Togo to continue to embrace dialogue in efforts to resolve their political differences.

    He therefore urged the government to widen the space for dialogue and mediation.

    On Ginuea Bissau, he said “With regards to our sister nation, Guinea-Bissau, it is worrisome that the continued political deadlock is taking its toll on the people, on good governance and the resources of member States, particularly troops from contributing countries to the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea Bissau.

    “I therefore strongly urge all the stakeholders in Guinea Bissau to respect their undertakings in plans to resolve the political impasse.”

    Reflecting on the recent recession and economic challenges faced by ECOWAS Member States, he said that there is an urgent need to review the spending patterns of all the community institutions, to ensure that dwindling resources are put to good economic use for the optimization of strategic goals of the community.

  • APDA urges united action against terrorism, commends army

    APDA urges united action against terrorism, commends army

    The Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA) has urged Nigerians to unite in supporting the military in defeating terrorism in all parts of the country.

    APDA National Chairman, Mallam Shitu Kabir Mohammed, made the call in Abuja on at the opening of the international seminar on humanitarian issues, human rights and the war against insurgency in Nigeria, organised by the Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC).

    Mohammed, who was the special guest of honour at the seminar held in commemoration of Human Rights Day, noted that the war against insurgency has entered a critical phase in which the cooperation of all Nigerians is needed for it to succeed and advance to peace-building stage.

    In his speech titled ‘Let Security Be Everybody’s Business,’ the APDA chairman appealed to Nigerians to see the war on terror in the country as the responsibility of all, as he called  on citizens to be patriotic and unite against the evil of terrorism.

    He decried the activities of NGOs that pretend to be fighting for human rights but subject the people to the worst form of threat by exposing them to terrorists through reports and statements that place premium on the life and wellbeing of terrorists over those of innocent, law-abiding citizens.

    According to him, “the agents of darkness against the Nigerian state have failed and citizens must begin a process of galvanization to take over the country and assert full control at all levels.

    “From our appraisal of human rights compliance of the Nigerian military, we can only describe them as friends of humanity because of the way they have defended the weak against the ravages of terrorism.”

    He commended the gallant exploits of soldiers who brave the odds day and night to defend the country in the fight to stamp out Boko Haram and other insurgents’  acts of terror.

    Mohammed called on Nigerians to help authorities in defeating cyber terrorism, which he said has become the alternate strategy of those aiming to destabilise Nigeria.

    Meanwhile, the APDA chairman has called on the international community to help rebuild the North East with the explanation that the region has suffered severe devastation from terrorism, adding that rebuilding devastated areas is important to conveying the message that terrorism can never thrive when all concerned are united against it.