The Nation Newspaper

Tag: uncover

  • Uncover them now

    Uncover them now

    • It’s not enough to announce that religious bodies are supporting terrorists. Name and arraign them.

    Given the level of devastation visited on Nigeria by terrorists, whenever the crime is mentioned, everybody shows concern. Unfortunately, not only has much progress not been recorded in taming it, law enforcement agencies have only been coming up with information that fail to raise confidence among the general public.

    Since 2009 when the Boko Haram insurgency started visiting mayhem on the land, the military, Department of State Services (DSS), the police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have made attempts to assure the people that we would soon put the menace behind us. All to no avail.

    It has become a custom for the law enforcement agencies to make claims they fail to substantiate. At one time, the Federal Government under the Buhari presidency announced that it was about to arraign 400 terrorism financiers. With relish, the Attorney- General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, said then that the suspects would be brought to justice in weeks. About two years after, nothing has been heard about the matter.

    Rather than boost confidence in the anti-terrorism battle, government’s failure to live up to promises has given the impression that such promises are fake or that the government lacks the political will to arraign the suspects. This is unfortunate because the people are the greatest source of intelligence; they must be enlisted into the war against terrorism if the society is to be freed of it.

    One area that calls for serious attention is financing terror. Last month, the EFCC came up with a claim that some religious bodies are working in tandem with the terrorists. While the commission’s chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, claimed one body has been uncovered as financing terrorism in the country, he said another has been laundering money for them. As usual, the religious organisations were not named, nor any concrete evidence adduced.

    We hope this is not just another empty claim. If the commission had not got to an advanced stage in its investigation such that it was ready to be laid before a court of law, why make such announcement? Was it meant to tip off the criminals and their supporters?

    In 2021, similar proclamation was made by Mr. Malami with respect to “a large number of high profile terrorism financiers in the United Arab Emirates.”

    But when authorities of that country arrested six Nigerians involved in the crime, they were not only named, but arraigned and consequently sentenced.

    If we are to win the war against terrorism, the EFCC, DSS, police and other law enforcement and intelligence agencies  have to step up their acts. The most critical aspect of prosecution is investigation. Without an ironcast case, it’s impossible to secure conviction, which is the sure way to deter criminal activities in the country.

    President Bola Tinubu and his attorney- general should change the narrative. They owe Nigerians the duty of getting the law enforcement agencies to carry out thorough investigation and diligent prosecution of these cases. Mr. Olukoyede should realise that his job is not just to address press conferences and talk shops. He should set targets for himself, and ensure he meets the targets.

    The judiciary equally must complement the other agencies. Expeditious hearing and determination of such matters brought before their lordships will go a long way in stemming the tide. We have been on this plain for too long, with unimaginable bleeding. As the late Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia once wrote of his country, Nigeria must be free.Given the level of devastation visited on Nigeria by terrorists, whenever the crime is mentioned, everybody shows concern. Unfortunately, not only has much progress not been recorded in taming it, law enforcement agencies have only been coming up with information that fail to raise confidence among the general public.

    Since 2009 when the Boko Haram insurgency started visiting mayhem on the land, the military, Department of State Services (DSS), the police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have made attempts to assure the people that we would soon put the menace behind us. All to no avail.

    It has become a custom for the law enforcement agencies to make claims they fail to substantiate. At one time, the Federal Government under the Buhari presidency announced that it was about to arraign 400 terrorism financiers. With relish, the Attorney- General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, said then that the suspects would be brought to justice in weeks. About two years after, nothing has been heard about the matter.

    Rather than boost confidence in the anti-terrorism battle, government’s failure to live up to promises has given the impression that such promises are fake or that the government lacks the political will to arraign the suspects. This is unfortunate because the people are the greatest source of intelligence; they must be enlisted into the war against terrorism if the society is to be freed of it.

    One area that calls for serious attention is financing terror. Last month, the EFCC came up with a claim that some religious bodies are working in tandem with the terrorists. While the commission’s chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, claimed one body has been uncovered as financing terrorism in the country, he said another has been laundering money for them. As usual, the religious organisations were not named, nor any concrete evidence adduced.

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    We hope this is not just another empty claim. If the commission had not got to an advanced stage in its investigation such that it was ready to be laid before a court of law, why make such announcement? Was it meant to tip off the criminals and their supporters?

    In 2021, similar proclamation was made by Mr. Malami with respect to “a large number of high profile terrorism financiers in the United Arab Emirates.”

    But when authorities of that country arrested six Nigerians involved in the crime, they were not only named, but arraigned and consequently sentenced.

    If we are to win the war against terrorism, the EFCC, DSS, police and other law enforcement and intelligence agencies  have to step up their acts. The most critical aspect of prosecution is investigation. Without an ironcast case, it’s impossible to secure conviction, which is the sure way to deter criminal activities in the country.

    President Bola Tinubu and his attorney- general should change the narrative. They owe Nigerians the duty of getting the law enforcement agencies to carry out thorough investigation and diligent prosecution of these cases. Mr. Olukoyede should realise that his job is not just to address press conferences and talk shops. He should set targets for himself, and ensure he meets the targets.

    The judiciary equally must complement the other agencies. Expeditious hearing and determination of such matters brought before their lordships will go a long way in stemming the tide. We have been on this plain for too long, with unimaginable bleeding. As the late Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia once wrote of his country, Nigeria must be free.

  • Boko Haram: Nigerien, Chadian troops uncover 70 bodies in Borno mass grave

    Boko Haram: Nigerien, Chadian troops uncover 70 bodies in Borno mass grave

    Troops from Chad and Niger have discovered what appears to be a mass grave outside Damasak,Borno State,which was liberated from the terror group Boko Haram last weekend.

    No fewer than 70 bodies,some of them beheaded,were found dumped near a bridge outside the town .

    The skeletal bodies were partially mummified by the dry desert atmosphere,  witnesses said, suggesting that the killing had taken place some time ago.

    Niger military sources said yesterday that they were awaiting the arrival of Nigerian authorities to take charge of the operation.

    “Niger and Chad’s troops have discovered a mass grave at Damasak, which appears to contain the bodies of Boko Haram’s victims,” said one of the military sources, who asked not to be identified.

    The dusty streets of Damasak were largely deserted following its liberation on Saturday, after many inhabitants had fled the terrorists’ four-month rule. Shops and businesses were looted and Boko Haram’s black and white insignia were scrawled on buildings around the town.

    Nigeria announced on Thursday that scores of dead bodies had been found in a well in Bama, Borno State that was also recently reclaimed by  Nigerian troops, from Boko Haram.

    The authorities said the large number of bodies found in the well are apparently some of the hostages of the terrorists or those who resisted them.

    An intelligence officer is reported to have confirmed that a cordon and search operation in the town is continuing with interrogation by troops.

    Bama, the second largest Local Government Area in Borno, fell to Boko Haram on September 11, 2014.

    Some residents, mostly women and children who tried to flee the area at the time were reported to have died of thirst and hunger as insurgents tightened their grip on the town.

    The community was liberated from the group on Monday by Nigerian soldiers.

  • Police uncover fake university hospital in Imo

    A fake doctor and suspected leader of a gang, which specialises in extorting money from candidates seeking admission into higher institutions, has been arrested by the police in Imo State.

    Fidelis Chukwujindu of Umudumabiakam Ogboko in Ideato Local Government Area was arrested while conducting entrance examination for 576 victims, who reportedly purchased the admission forms at N8,000 each.

    Chukwujindu, who was later discovered to be a native doctor, posed as a medical doctor. He was arrested on the premises of the college hospital, which has the sign post: “University College Hospital, Ogboko, Ideato, P.O. Box 1960 Orlu, Imo State”.

    Parading the suspect with his victims, the Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Musa Katsina, said the gang strategically selected the site opposite the State University, Ogboko, which is adjacent to the Rochas Foundation College, to convince their victims of the genuineness of their business.

    “This is a primitive catalogue of illegality by a self-acclaimed medical doctor, who paraded himself as a graduate of Harvard University.

    “But he’s just a native doctor. More than 5,000 people have been swindled by this man.”

    Katsina said the suspect and his cohorts, including a deaf and dumb woman, Mrs. Ngozi Anyaoha, who was introduced as the dean of the college, were arrested by the a squad attached to the command, following a tip-off.

    Chukwujindu said the institution, which he claimed was in partnership with the National Universities Commission (NUC), was officially approved by the previous administration.

    He, however, denied using the name of Governor Rochas Okorocha to swindle anybody.

    “This is a college and not a university and as such I did not obtain approval from the NUC and I went to the Ministry of Education, Abuja, where I obtained approval and it is affiliated to the University of London,” he insisted.

  • Hezbollah Kano armoury: Security agents uncover more arms

    Security operatives in Kano yesterday made fresh discovery of more arms at 3 Gaya Road, Bompai, Kano. A bunker containing Hezbollah armoury was discovered in the house, prompting the arrest of three Lebanese nationals.

    In a statement yesterday, the spokesman of 3 Brigade Nigerian Army, Capt. Ikedichi Iweha, said a further search on the bungalow led to the discovery of more dangerous weapons buried under a wardrobe.

    The statement said: “After painstaking search of the premises, the search team uncovered an underground bunker in the master bedroom where a large quantity of assorted weapons of different types and caliber and ammunition, which was properly wrapped, was recovered.

    “On further search of the property, a cooler was recovered; it was buried under the wardrobe which had 80 indicators, five PPK pistols, 334 rounds of 7.62mm special, nine magazines, four pistol silencers, 18 36 hand grenades caps, four explosive fuses and two explosive devices.

    “You may recall that on May 28, a combined team of the DSS and 3 Brigade of the Nigerian Army conducted a search on a house located at No 3 Gaya Road, off Bompai Road, Kano. The property belongs to Abdul Hassan Taher Fadlalla, a Lebanese, who is currently out of the country.

    “We continue to count on the support and cooperation of the people of Kano in the effective discharge of our duties. We assure you of our utmost commitment in ensuring that peace and an atmosphere suitable for business continue to prevail.”

  • Police uncover ‘gang of killers’ in Jos

    The Plateau State Police Command has uncovered a criminal gang that allegedly carried out most of the killings in Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas.

    There have been over 100 attacks in which over 300 people were killed in the last 12 months in both councils.

    The killings were always attributed to “unknown gunmen”.

    Police Commissioner Emmanuel Dipo Ayeni yesterday told reporters how the suspected were arrested.

    The police chief spoke in Jos, the state capital, on the activities of the command in the last two months.

    He said: “Based on information concerning attacks on Sopp, Jebu, Ranchol Sopp, Kwaki, Forest, Hawan Kibbo and Bangai communities in Riyom Local Government Area in early October by unknown gunmen, a team of detectives from the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID) swung into action and uncovered the killer gang.

    “A gang of five, suspected to have carried out series of attacks in Riyom and its environs, was arrested by the police. Its members are: Muhammed Abdullahi, Yau Abdullahi Yarima, Jafaru Abdullahi Damina, Musa Abdulahi Damina and Abubakar Abdulahi Damina.

    “An identification parade was carried out and one of the victims of the attacks identified two members of the gang as those who attacked his parents and killed all members of his families in one of the attacks.”

    Ayeni said the suspects would be charged to court for criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.

    The police command has, in the last two months, arrested 25 suspected armed robbers and recovered 17 stolen vehicles and 13 motorcycles.

    The police chief said: “The value of the items recovered is put at N13.4million. Twenty assorted arms and ammunition as well as cartridges were also recovered from the suspects.

    “The police command, through intelligence-based policing, has reduced crime to the barest minimum and provided the necessary environment for the interplay of law-abiding residents.”

  • Police uncover bomb factory in Kano

    Police in Kano yesterday discovered a bomb factory after the arrest of two suspects.

    The suspects are undergoing interrogation at the Bompai headquarters of the command.

    The factory was uncovered at Hawan-Hotro, a Kano suburb.

    Materials used for making bombs were intercepted in a raid yesterday.

    Police Commissioner Ibrahin Idris who spoke to reporters said the bomb manufacturing industry has been cordoned off by armed mobile policemen and would soon be demolished.

    Three vehicles suspected to be owned by the Boko Haram sect, which were intercepted, have been transferred to the police headquarters in Bompai for further investigation.