TheNewsGuru

Tag: bandits

  • BREAKING: Ondo traditional ruler, Oniku of Iku kidnapped

    BREAKING: Ondo traditional ruler, Oniku of Iku kidnapped

    The Oniku of Iku, in Ondo State, has been abducted by armed bandits while embarking on a journey in the State.

    Four other subjects were abducted alongside the Ondo traditional ruler.

    Mikaila Bello, the Oniku of Iku in Ikare Akoko, was kidnapped, on Thursday evening travelling back to the town from Akure.

    A source told newsmen that the bandits ambushed the ruler and the other victims along Ago Panu on the Owo-Ikare road.

    “The driver of the vehicle was stabbed by the gunmen, but we were able to rescue him alone and rushed him to the hospital,” said the hunter, who also serves as a vigilante in the area.

    “He is there receiving treatment now with wounds all over his body. Sadly, these people (bandits) are still lurking around our forest in Ondo.”

    The kidnappers had yet to contact the victims’ families or demand a ransom at the time of filing this report.

    Attempts to speak with the  Ondo state Police spokeswoman Funmilayo Odunlami didn’t yield any positive result.

    TNG reports Ondo state has come under incessant attacks in recent times. Iku in Ikare Akoko is about 47 kilometres, 1 hour drive from Owo, where terrorists recently unleashed mayhem on worshippers at St Francis Catholic church.

    Also recently, another attack by suspected terrorists occurred at a construction company site in same Owo.

    It was not immediately clear the connections of the security infringements in the area.

    The State Government and security agencies are yet to release official statements on the recent incident.

  • Just In: Bandits reportedly run over Kaduna, abduct many villagers

    Just In: Bandits reportedly run over Kaduna, abduct many villagers

     

    Several villagers in Damari town under Kazage Ward in the eastern part of Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State are fleeing their homes en masse after bandits dislodged members of the Ansaru terrorist group last week after a fierce fight.

    A local union said at least 50 persons have been abducted by the bandits in the last three days.

    The locals believed that Ansaru members were lesser evils compared to bandits abducting people for ransom, looting property or killing those who show little resistance to their excesses.

    The villagers recently came under attacks by bandits that besieged the farming community on a “vengeance mission” over last week’s clash with Ansaru terrorists in the area.

    The terrorists, who had been protecting the communities from the bandits, had relocated from the area days after a deadly clash with bandits, which resulted in casualties from both sides.

    Sources said the Ansaru fighters had moved to communities in Danmusa in Katsina State and parts of Zamfara and Sokoto states.

    “It’s not yet clear if they’ve finally relocated or they’d seek reinforcement and come back in the coming days,” a native of the area said yesterday.

    It was learnt that most of the relocating locals passed through Unguwar Gajere towards Layin Dan’auta where the district head lives.

    The source said, “For now, the bandits are in charge and are having a field day attacking our people.

    “Our people see the Ansaru fighters as protectors because they don’t attack or steal our property. They only preach their kind of religion and urge our people, especially the youths, to join them. They also lead prayers like during the eid and arbitrate over land, marriage and other issues.”

    The Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressives Union (BEPU), in a statement by its chairman, Ishaq Usman Kasai, expressed concern ý over the rate at which people were fleeing the area.

    He said women and children were seen trekking for safety as of 11 am on Friday with about 20 vehicles seen conveying people out of the community.

    “The union had reported two days ago, the cruel activities of bandits, killing and abducting people in Damari and adjourning areas.

    “On Thursday, July 28, 2022, the bandits passed through the same Damari town shooting in the air sporadically and came back to the town in the early hours of Friday which is a market day, snatched motorcycles, seized money from marketers, rustled cattle and kidnapped scores, including a grain businesses man,” he said.

    Ishaq said there was no presence of security agents in the town, adding that it was against this disturbing situation that they were calling on the authorities to urgently mobilise security personnel to the community.

    There was no official comment from the military, the police and the Kaduna State Government.

    A resident, who simply identified himself as Mohammad Kuyello, said: “It was really sad seeing our people abandon their farms. They’re also leaving their property. The bandits have taken over Damari as we speak because they’re going house to house carting away foodstuffs and people’s property as if there is no government.”

    Another source said between Saturday and Sunday, over 100 vehicles were seen taking people to safety.

    “People with their animals are still leaving as there’s no military presence. An influential medical personality, who has a hospital, mobilised troops who helped him evacuate his equipment from Damari.

    “The implication is that people prefer terrorists to bandits and this is dangerous because, by the time the terrorists fully indoctrinate the people and change their perception, they would collectively turn against the state and the people who refuse to join them.

    “Of course, there’s a military super camp at Mu’azu, but they’re yet to respond to the emergency… Maybe they’re waiting for something,” he said.

  • Abuja: A capital city under siege of bandits as residents live in perpetual fear

    Abuja: A capital city under siege of bandits as residents live in perpetual fear

     

    … disturbing signals from Abuja, Kwara, Niger, Lagos

    The major reason for relocating the Capital of Nigeria from Lagos to Abuja has been defeated from all fronts as the seat of power is seriously under the threat of bandits.

    The reason given was simply Lagos was prune to external invasion from the sea while Abuja that’s surrounded by rocks is far safer.

    Another excuse is the fact that Lagos was a border town and that it was not safe for a border town to house a capital city.

    Federal Capital Territory is surrounded by so many rocks making it impenetrable by invaders even Nigeria’s Presidential Palace is said to be inside Aso Rock making it an impossibility for any bandit or terrorist to dare invade.

    But events that has unfolded in the last two weeks point to one singular fact that despite the rocky nature of the seat of power, external aggressors could throw stones from afar and still cause panic as all residents of the capital city no longer sleep with both eyes closed.

    In this news analysis, TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) will take a look at the turbulence insecurity has caused in different parts of the country particularly the city warehousing the seat of government.

    The first terrible security alert that made residents to start thinking twice whether to remain in Abuja or quickly relocate was when Captain Samuel Attah and his troops were ambushed and neutralised by bandits in Bwari barely two weeks ago.

    The agonising part of it all was that they were members of the Presidential elite force known for bravery.

    As if that was not enough, another attack took place close to the mythical Zuma Rock and those gallant soldiers too at the military checkpoint were members of the same presidential elite force.

    This two developments in the past two weeks has made the capital city surrounded by rocks not too safe as both incidents took place less than 100km from Abuja township. Bwari Area Council is in the periphery of Abuja and Zuma Rock can be sighted from afar from most outskirt satellite towns of Abuja such as Zuba, Dede, Kaigini, Kubwa and Bwari where the first attack took place.

    The only cheering news from the capital city is the fact that the police announced that there is security beef up in all the surrounding states to Abuja.

    The FCT police boss, Commissioner of Police, Sunday Babaji, had explained that with the move, security operatives in the neighboring states and the FCT would take the attack to the enclaves of the terrorists terrorizing their territories.

    The neighboring states are Niger, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Kogi, Benue, and Plateau.

    Babaji believed that the action would help to adequately secure the FCT.

    He was quoted to have declared this in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the FCT, Anthony Ogunleye, late Thursday.

    The statement partly read, “In order to enhance the provision of security in the nation’s capital, the FCT Administration has taken steps to re-invigorate the G7 security operations which involves security collaboration and partnerships with states that are contiguous to the Federal Capital Territory.

    According to the FCT CP, the re-invigoration of the G7 security operations will see the commencement of security actions and procedures by members of the G7, which will involve taking the fight to the bandits and terrorists in their camps which are mostly located in states bordering the FCT.

    “The Police Commissioner, however, called for the collaboration and cooperation of residents of the FCT whom he urged to provide actionable and timely intelligence to the security agencies while also calling them to be security conscious at all times.”

    He also assured residents of their safety and urged them to go about their lawful activities.

    Babaji added, “I’m also assuring them that the FCT is safe. Every member of the community should go about their lawful businesses.

    “We are on top of the situation. We have deployed our men both overt and covert and we are doing everything possible in synergy with all the security agencies, with the support of our traditional rulers and religious leaders to make sure that FCT is safe,” he assured.

    The Senior Special Assistant on Security to the Minister, Ambassador Abu Mohammed, while corroborating the CP, revealed the readiness of the heads of security agencies in the neighboring states to participate actively in the G7 operations.

    He also called on residents to be wary of fake news, especially on social media which is designed to cause panic amongst the citizenry.

    Kwara:
    Signals from Kwara not too good as the police alleged that bandits are are already occupying strategic areas of the state.

    Read full memo from the state:

    The Deputy Inspector General of Police,
    The Nigeria Police,
    Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB),
    Area 10, Garki,
    Abuja.

    The Commissioner of Police,
    Dept. of Finance and Admin.,
    The Nigeria Police,
    State Headquarters,
    Ilorin.

    INTELLIGENCE REPORT ON THE MOVEMENT OF BANDITS.
    The Bureau is in receipt of information on the movement of some Bandits/Kidnappers numbering about 112 who will be travelling in two each on motorcycles while their arms and ammunitions will be conveyed by a truck loaded with food items in disguise.
    Source further reveals that, the route they will ply include but not limited to Kebbi State via Kanba, Malavi to Benin republic. The movement is scheduled to commence on 1st and 2nd of August, 2022 at about 2300hrs.
    It is pertinent to note that, they already have a Base in Kainji Lake National Park which shares boundary with about four States i.e. Kebbi State, Niger State, Kwara State and Oyo State respectively.

    They have concluded plans to use Kwara State National Park Forest Reserve as their major Base and part of Kisi and Igbeti in Oyo State as they already have some underground hideouts in Naanu by Rafin Kunama reserve area, Kwara State.
    2. In another development, a reliable source sighted two suspected bandits on a motorcycle carrying RPG machine guns with round chains in Kagondabi village via Moro L.G.A Kwara State. Kagondabi village is the last locality under Ejidongari Ward, and it can be accessed through Gaa-Dasu via Sabongada in Bode-Saadu, Moro L.G.A. Kwara State.
    3. Intel also has it that, Yikpata NYSC Camp located in Edu L.G.A Kwara is very porous and prone to attack anytime from now as Bandits are said to be hibernating in the forest surrounding the camp.
    4. PROJECTION: From the foregoing, it’s obvious that Kwara is very vulnerable at the moment and may be contending with bandits’ attacks anytime soon.
    5. SUGGESTION: Against this backdrop, there is need for the command to as a matter of urgency liaise with the State Government and activate proactive measures to neutralize this threat.
    ii. Acpols, Dpos and Hods in the state be abreast of this development and be directed to fortify their respective AOR to avert any unforeseen circumstances.
    6. Meanwhile, the Bureau will sustain monitoring and render prompt reports.
    Above for your necessary action, please.

    ELECTRONIC SIGNED
    CSP YUSUF ABDULRAHEEM,
    OFFICER IN-CHARGE, SIB,
    KWARA STATE COMMAND,
    ILORIN.

    Niger:

    As for Niger State that has been the footstool of bandits after Kaduna and Katsina.

    It’s alleged that a 24hour curfew has been imposed and no movement in areas considered red spots.

    Lagos:

    The police in the former capital city have been put on red alert over fear of an impending invasion by bandits.

    The Lagos Police Command said it has placed the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) on high alert following threats by terrorists to attack some states in Nigeria including Lagos.

    According to the state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, the command is working closely with sister security agencies to ensure that no person or group of persons succeeds in destabilising the peace and serenity enjoyed by the good people of Lagos State.

    In a statement signed by the Command Spokesperson on Sunday, Benjamin Hundeyin said Abiodun Alabi allayed the fears of Lagosians “that all human, material, and operational resources have been fully and optimally deployed across the length and breadth of the state, especially at border towns, towards ensuring there is absolutely no breach of the peace.

    Alabi noted that consequent to the carefully laid down security plans and strategies, all residents of Lagos State are urged to go about their lawful duties without panic or fear.

    He also enjoined residents to “remain very vigilant and report suspicious movements and persons to security agencies.”

    “The Command is not unmindful of intelligence reports suggesting that Lagos State could be on the radar of some persons planning attacks across the country.

    “To this end, CP Abiodun Alabi, has placed the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) of the Command on high alert alongside all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, and Tactical Commanders, all in a bid to ensure that any possible planned attack is promptly and decisively nipped in the bud,” the statement said in part.

    Civil Defence alert:

    Also last week, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) placed all its state commands on alert following intelligence reports that elements of the Boko Haram Terrorists as well as those of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have heightened plots to attack the nation’s capital, Abuja and five other states including Lagos.

    In the leaked memo dated July 25 and signed by the Deputy Commandant General DCG Operations, Dauda Danladi Mungadi which was addressed to all state commands of the NSCDC, the Corps said two separate bandit groups have also concluded plans to attack Abuja and others.

    The security alerts started raining inan alarming rate after the July 5th attack of the Kuje Correctional facility when terrorists stormed the facility and rescued their members.

    There are so many questions begging for answers as to how the guards that were stationed in the Kuje vicinity were removed 24hours the invasion.

    The recent attacks in Zuma and Bwari equally have a semblance of soldiers being removed from their duty posts 24hours before the attacks of the bandits or better still the terrorists

    The deputy speaker of the House of Representatives Idris Wase had claimed that there were 44 reports on looming attack of the Kuje Correctional facility but nothing was done.

  • Insecurity: Terrorists, bandits dictate affairs of Nigerians – By Ehichioya Ezomon

    Insecurity: Terrorists, bandits dictate affairs of Nigerians – By Ehichioya Ezomon

    Due to insecurity in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari is perceived as unqualified to lecture on security. But he’s good at it the other day on the global stage in Liberia.

    Buhari spoke in the capital, Monrovia, and advised leaders, especially of the West African sub-region, and the African continent, to avoid actions that warrant unlawful change of governments by anti-democratic forces.

    Being a major player in coup-making – an enterprise he benefited from as Head of State from December 1983 to August 1986 – Buhari knew what he’s talking about.

    Buhari had joined other world leaders to commemorate the 175th Independence Anniversary of Liberia that Nigeria had helped rescue from warlords that plunged the country into a devastating civil war from 1989 to 1997.

    Focusing on West African leaders, Buhari relished his “democratic credentials,” and warned against conducting elections that breach “trust, freedom and transparency.”

    His words: “I would like to use the opportunity of this event to address an important issue affecting three countries in the ECOWAS region: Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

    “All the three nations have National Elections in 2023. In Nigeria, we are working towards a free, fair, transparent, credible and acceptable outcome of elections and their results.

    “It is important and necessary for all our countries to key into these resolves as they are indispensable to peace and stability in our countries and sub-region.

    “The deepening of democracy and good governance are essential antidotes to check-mate unconstitutional change of governments as we sadly witnessed within the last three years in three countries within our sub-region.”

    Ironically, back home in Nigeria, the opposition members of the National Assembly (NASS) were plotting a palace coup of sorts against the president via an impeachment.

    When on July 27 the impeachment move was shot down by Senate President Ahmad Lawan, members of the minority caucus staged a walkout of the chamber, and thereafter availed the press of their grievances.

    Senate Minority Leader Philip Aduda said that due to insecurity that’s left even Abuja unsafe, the Senate, at a closed door session, took a decision to give Buhari a six-week ultimatum to resolve the problem or be impeached.

    But Dr Lawan, expected to “brief the public on the issue that happened,” shot it down for not personally briefed, prompting the minority caucus to stage a walkout.

    As Aduda told the press: “We are worried that nowhere is safe in Nigeria, and as such, we have walked out of the chamber in protest. The security situation is deteriorating and urgent steps need to be completely taken to ensure that these issues are curbed immediately.”

    At the July 28 plenary, the House of Representatives’ minority caucus declared that it’s “on the same page” with its Senate counterpart on the threat to impeach Buhari.

    Nigeria’s pervading insecurity has informed recalling the late Gen. Sani Abacha as saying: “Any insurgency that lasts for more than a day has the backing of government.”

    True talk, as the Abacha junta sponsored the terrorism visited on agitators for revalidation of the annulled epochal June 12, 1999, poll won by the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola!

    Really, there appears an official connivance in the current criminality, with high-profile bandits on security wanted lists reinforcing alleged government’s involvement.

    On a viral video, a notorious bandit swore by Allah that it’s the government that gave them arms to carry out the bloody campaigns against innocent Nigerians.

    Another bandit leader, Abu Sani, told the BBC Hausa report that he master-minded the kidnap of schoolgirls in Jengebe, Zamfara State, “to humiliate the government for sending troops to disturb us.”

    He said they reduced N200 million ransom to N60 million, “after they (government) asked some people to plead with us,” adding, “we used the money to buy more arms.”

    The Zamfara State government had denied paying any ransom, but Abu Sani insisted that, “they paid N60 million. I collected the money with my own hands.”

    Yet, another bandit alleged that “many big people, including government officials,” gain from the booming business of kidnapping for ransom in Nigeria.

    Terrorists have lately raised the ante, threatening to kidnap President Buhari, Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, other state governors, legislators and ministers.

    They’ve made a show of the threats by attacking the advance convoy of Buhari’s homecoming to Daura, Katsina State, that injured several journalists.

    Terrorists waylaid troops of the Guards Brigade, Nigerian Army in Abuja, resulting in “three casualties… evacuated to the Military Hospital for immediate medical attention.”

    The Guards’ spokesperson noted that the ambush within the general area of Bwari, “shows that the terrorists were actually within the location and possibly preparing to carry out their plans to attack the Nigerian Law School in Bwari, as earlier reported.”

    This comes as ISWAP terrorists attacked the Medium Security Custodial Centre at Kuje in Abuja, and freed hundreds of inmates, including 64 terrorists.

    Bandits’ attack on a mining site in Niger State killed 13 policemen and civilians, and many kidnapped along with four Chinese. But scores of troops died later in an ambush as they responded to a distress call on the mine attack.

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya, admitting “there are security challenges in some parts of the country,” has stated that “the time is up” for bandits, terrorists and other criminals.

    “This is a message to all the criminals, whether they are making videos or whatever they are making; the time is up and we will get to them by the grace of God… Anybody, who takes up arm against the state in whatever form it is, will have him/her self to blame,” Yahaya said.

    He, however, stated that, “the recent happenings by these criminal elements are panic action, and they will definitely see the noose getting close to them; it’s just a matter of time, we will get them.”

    Commendably, the COAS avowal has yielded dividend in a combined ground and air operation that “successfully neutralised about 30 terrorists in a clearance patrol around Bwari general area between 24-26 July 2022.”

    Yet, the security forces need to do more. As a bandit leader, Abu Aleru, has confessed, bandits kill; they don’t take prisoners, except for ransom to buy more arms.

    The terrorists’ siege to Nigeria seems nervily close to the seat of power, whose occupants have striven to debunk alleged ceding of too much ground to marauders to dictate and control the daily affairs of Nigerians.

    The hoodlums strike at anytime and anywhere. At home, in the office, farm, marketplace, relaxation spot or on the road, Nigerians have nowhere to hide in their country from being mowed down or captured for ransom or ritual.

    Nigerians now calculate the risk factor for venturing out, from or to their homes at a particular time, and through a particular route, to avoid falling victims to criminal gangs in the neighbourhoods or in bushes on the highways.

    The auguries are frightening. So, Buhari should show enough gravitas, as he finishes his tenure, and faces the 2023 polls he promises to make a showpiece of “transparency and credibility,” as a parting legacy.

     

    *Mr Ezomon, Journalist and Media Consultant, writes from Lagos, Nigeria

  • How 26 villagers got drowned during bandits, operatives gun duel in Sokoto

    How 26 villagers got drowned during bandits, operatives gun duel in Sokoto

     

    At least, 26 corpses of residents of Duma village in Tureta Local Government Area of Sokoto State have been recovered.

    The victims reportedly drowned in an attempt to escape from a gun duel between security operatives and bandits in a nearby forest.

    It was learnt that the incident occured last Wednesday when operatives under Operation Hadarin Daji engaged suspected bandits who rustled livestock in some communities in the neighbouring Zamfara State.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Sokoto Police Command, DSP Sanusi Abubakar, while confirming the incident, said when the residents heard gunshots in the forest and spotted some dislodged bandits, they became panic and started running helter-skelter.

    He said, “They thought the fleeing bandits were coming to attack them. They started running helter skelter as a result of which some of them got drowned. Twenty six lifeless bodies were later recovered and buried.”

    Abubakar said the joint operation was still ongoing as the axis was condoned off by the security operatives.

    He, however, dismissed a report that some of the residents were shot by the bandits, saying there was no gunshot injury on any of the recovered corpses.

    Meanwhile, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State on Friday condoled with the people of Duma village over the incident.

  • Bandits gun down three police officers, five vigilantes in Kogi

    Bandits gun down three police officers, five vigilantes in Kogi

    Unidentified gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed three police officers and five vigilantes in an ambush on Saturday in Ajaokuta, Kogi State.

    The killings occurred on Saturday when suspicious movements were reported at the Ajaokuta police station.

    An eyewitness revealed that the locals had reported at the Divisional Police Headquarters that some people were using their farms for criminal activities.

    The DPO immediately mobilised his men and some vigilantes with a view to repelling the impending attack.

    A source who pleaded anonymity, said that unknown to them, the hoodlums had laid ambush for them and opened fire on sighting the security personnel.

    He said that their corpses had been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja.

    Confirming the killings, the Kogi State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omadara (retd.), said the three police officers and five members of local vigilantes were killed in an ambush on Saturday.

    According to him, Divisional Police Officer, acting on an intelligence report that hoodlums had invaded their farm and engaged in illegal activities, mobilised officers in collaboration with men of local vigilantes and headed for the area.

    “They were, however, ambushed and in the process, eight of them were killed including three police officers and five members of the local vigilantes.”

    Omadara, however, said that no matter what, the state government would not rest until the culprits were brought to book.

    He said that the state government under Alhaji Yahaya Bello had assured the people of the state of adequate government protection as Saturday’s incident would not be allowed to repeat itself.

  • Seek foreign help immediately to tackle insecurity – Onitiri tells Buhari

    Seek foreign help immediately to tackle insecurity – Onitiri tells Buhari

    Popular socio-political activist and critic, Chief Adesunbo Onitiri has appealed to President Buhari to seek foreign help for his administration to tackle the insecurity issues presently bedeviling the country.
    Onitiri posited that seeking foreign help urgently is imperative to enable Nigerians to sleep in peace and harmony.
    According to him, the president has to act fast to save the country from incessant attacks from bandits and terrorists.
    Onitiri made this appeal In a strongly-worded Press statement in Lagos yesterday.
    “No doubt this APC administration has failed Nigerians woefully and has nothing more to further offer the nation than to seek help and prepare for early General elections.
    “Any government that cannot protect the lives and property of its citizens has no business to remain in power,” he stressed.
    The social critic noted that bandits and terrorists have overwhelmed this administration, kidnapping, killing, maiming innocent Nigerians, collecting outrageous random from their families with audacity as if we don’t have any government in place.
    “We wake up daily to hear news of our youths, women, and citizens being raped, kidnapped,  maimed, and killed every day and our government behaved as if nothing happened.
    “While the country is in a state of war with the bandits, our students are out of school for over five months. All our higher institutions are under lock and key. This is unacceptable to Nigerians,” Onitiri stated.
    He frowned at the military for allegedly shaking in their responsibilities to protect Nigerians. We are not sure if we have any armed or security forces anymore.
    Onitiri explained that the Kuje Prison and the Kaduna military formations attacks were sour in the mouth. “It’s like our sovereignty as a nation has been eroded.”
     He lamented that the insecurity situation in the country had worsened to the extent that the bandits and terrorists now boast to kidnap our President and state governors.
    The socio-political activist expressed worries that the bandits were so emboldened to attack the Brigade of Guards in Aso Rock which was never heard of.
    This calls for urgent drastic action to save the nation from destruction, by declaring a state of emergency on insecurity, he suggested.
    He noted that it was very shameful for Nigeria as a nation to see bandits and terrorists holding press conferences in the open. Saying they are now getting turbaned and honoured in Zamfara state with top government dignitaries in attendance.
    Onitiri said it’s a double standard for the APC government that the IPOB leader was kidnapped in far away Kenya and Yoruba freedom fighter, Sunday Igboho was arrested in the Benin Republic, but it could not pick the most wanted and notorious bandits in Zamfara.
    He said the genuine questions to ask are whether we still have a patriotic Nigerian Army and if our National Assembly is on the side of Nigerians.
  • Just In: Bandits allegedly kill soldiers at military check point at Zuma Rock in Niger state

    Just In: Bandits allegedly kill soldiers at military check point at Zuma Rock in Niger state

     

    Bandits on Thursday allegedly attacked a military checkpoint close to Zuma rock, a border between Niger State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

    Witnesses said the check point was close to Madalla town, close to Zuba, along the Abuja-Kaduna express way.

    It was gathered that the bandits were seen at 6.15pm on Thursday and opened fire on the troops, killing some.

    The attackers continued to shoot before heading towards the Kaduna axis of the expressway.

  • Gov. Mohammed says his battle ready for criminals

    Gov. Mohammed says his battle ready for criminals

    Bauchi state governor, Bala Mohammed has disclosed that his government is battle ready to confront bandits, kidnappers and all other forms of criminality in the state.

    Mohammed stated this on Monday when he paid a sympathy visit to the family of ex-Governor Ahmed Muazu In Boto village, Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of the state.

    Newsmen reports that some family members of the former governor were recently kidnapped while a 25-year-old man was killed in the process.

    “We are going to take stringent measures, some of those measures that are outside the security rules engagement, we are going to use vigilante and community relations.

    “Because this is the house of a former governor and those people who came, the hooligans and the charlatans, they came to insult us.

    “It  is a big affront and we want to take it as such, we  will not sleep until we get them, we  will not sleep until we protect our leaders because we have been exposed to the vagaries of expectations,” he said

    According to him, “this is a  pure village settlement, it is not his fault that his relations are here and certainly we have to protect everyone and we know that they have informants.

    “But our security agencies are working very hard to make sure they protect us and apprehend them”.

    The governor, however, urged   District Heads, Village Heads and local government executives to share information for curbing criminality.

    “Please, don’t sleep, because nobody will do that for you; you have to protect yourselves; you have to stand up and protect yourselves; they cannot overcome us but we have to overcome them.”

    “We know their routes, they are coming from Plateau state through Kurgwi to Kardam and Lere and so on.

    “Insha Allah, since we know their routes and with technology, we are going to get them,” he said.

    Mohammed said that his administration commiserated with the affected families, and assured to get to the hoodlums, adding that  “we are going to be very daring against them”.

    Earlier, Police Commissioner, Umar Sanda assured that his Officers and men are on top of the situation and very soon they will make a breakthrough in apprehending the criminals.

    Sanda promised to continue to do his best to effectively police the entire state and keep the residents safe and protected.

  • There was a Nigeria – By Owei Lakemfa

    There was a Nigeria – By Owei Lakemfa

    It was one of the sad days that reminded Nigerians the deep trouble to which they have been led. Tuesday, July 5, 2022. On that day, a convoy of presidential vehicles conveying the advance team of  military, presidential guards, media and protocol officers was on its way to Daura, the home town of President Muhammadu Buhari when it was “ambushed” by bandits.

    The convoy extricated itself and went on to its destination. A number of questions arise. Why would such a team travel four days ahead of the Sallah holidays the President was going to celebrate? Who pays for their upkeep and travel allowances? It might be understandable that security men were going to join the presidential team permanently on ground in Daura, but deploying media officers four days before a private celebration, surely is wasteful.

    But that is not the main  issue here; what is primary is: what did the convoy do after escaping the so- called ambush? Did it take the civilians in the convoy to a safe distance and return to fight the bandits? If it had insufficient men and arms at that point, did it call for back up? Did it make sense that the presidential convoy went on its way while hapless, unarmed Nigerians were left at the mercy of those bandits to be killed, kidnapped and extorted?

    Nigerians have always known that the Buhari government has abandoned them to their own fate. But that was not all for that day. At about 10pm, groups of armed terrorists marched undetected to the Kuje Correctional Centre, blew up the wall and operated for two hours with little challenge. They had enough time to call out their members from the cells, preach to the frightened inmates, distribute money for detainees to transport themselves and then set the facility on fire.

    A total of 879 inmates were freed, four died in the attack, while 16 sustained injuries. A security personnel is known to have died in the attack. It is not clear who killed the inmates or how they died as they were not the targets of the  terrorists. For the terrorists, it was mission accomplished as they successfully freed their 64 members held in the facility, carried out serious damage and inflicted a deep wound in the psyche of the country.

    It was a general assumption that the correctional facility which housed high profile detainees would be a target of the terrorists and, apparently, measures were put in place to defend it.

    Interior Minister, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in assessing the attack, lamented: “I am disappointed by the level of defence by the team that was deployed here to protect the facility. We had enough officers and men to protect this facility but unfortunately, they could not hold their grounds effectively and that was the reason for the breach. Otherwise, the facility itself is a world class custodial centre…Kuje is the most fortified in the country, if fortification for security is the determinant of whether it is medium or maximum; it is medium by size but maximum by the security being put there. We have a platoon of soldiers deployed here. We have the high grade of military and police and other security forces deployment for protection but strangely something happened most of which I cannot say on camera.”

    So what happened? Apparently the bulk of the security forces on ground either ran away or lied low for the insurgents to complete their mission. It should also be noted that Kuje is within reach of various security formations, including army, immigration and prison barracks, and the whole security system  at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. So, why no immediate coordinated response? The answer may partly lie in the lack of commitment, motivation and readiness of the security forces to sacrifice for the country.

    The next day, President Buhari, on his way out of the country to participate in a development conference in Dakar, stopped over for 30 minutes to examine the wreckage of the prison.  Some felt that with the brazenness of the attacks that day, the killing of 30 soldiers and seven policemen at Shiroro three days earlier and growing  insecurity, Buhari should have stayed on in the country to personally handle an emergency. This is more so when in June  he travelled out four times paying visits to Spain and Portugal, and attending the Commonwealth meeting in Kigali.

    But the Presidency has a different view. It argued that “governments don’t stop working because nations face terrorist threats”. I am not sure the import of this as Buhari sitting down to tackle an emergency situation would have shown government is truly working. However, the Buhari government was adamant about his Dakar trip, arguing that: “To cancel the trip to Senegal would mean that the terrorists are successful in calling the shots, something that no responsible government in the world will allow.”

    I agree; more so when the security problem has spun out of hand. If President Buhari were to face the security challenges, the ‘international President’ would have no time jetting across the world.

    But Nigeria has not always been like this. There was a Nigeria when there was peace. When a citizen’s religion, region or ethnicity was not a determinant factor. A Nigeria in which citizens travelled at any time, anywhere without fear. That was a pre-December 31, 1983 Nigeria before the military seized power from  the Shagari presidency and pushed the country down the slope. Three regimes were responsible for driving Nigeria into this valley of lawlessness.

    The first is the Buhari military regime which imposed impunity, rule of might, ousting the jurisdiction of the courts, imposing retroactive laws, repression of the media, students and social activists and carrying out the mass sack of workers. A palace coup in August 1985 saw its replacement by the Babangida regime which continued the backward policies of Buhari while introducing its own dimension which included ruinous economic measures under the IMF-imposed Structural Adjustment Programme, SAP; theft of public wealth in the guise of privatisation and the private ownership of the public treasury.  We were yet to recover from  these disasters when  the mindless Abacha regime surfaced to reinforce the misrule while adding its  killer squad signature.

    The country was further degraded by the rise of contemporary terrorism in which local and international terrorists contest for space and power with the state. With the current Buhari government unable to defend its armed convoys, correctional centres and  territorial space, the calls even by governors and the clergy for self-defence, is not out of place. Indeed, we cannot continue with a situation where the only two armed groups in the country are the government and the criminals while the populace is game.