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Tag: Insecurity challenges

  • Gunmen attack police operatives at checkpoint, kill one in Imo

    Gunmen attack police operatives at checkpoint, kill one in Imo

    A police officer Ukam Efut was shot dead by unknown gunmen at a security checkpoint at Agwa area in Imo State.

    Efut an Assistant Superintendent of Police was shot dead while carrying out his duties at a security checkpoint with his colleagues at Agwa in the Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.

    It was gathered that the victim was killed on Tuesday by gunmen after opening fire on the team at checkpoint.

    Findings show that after the gunmen shot the officer dead, his killers reportedly chopped off his private parts and fled with them.

    A community source told our correspondent that the gunmen met the cop and his colleagues at the checkpoint and opened fire on them.

    They said while Efut died on the spot, the other cops were lucky to have escaped.

    The source said, “Unknown gunmen killed a police officer at Agwa police divisional headquarters, Agwa, Oguta LGA, on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, around 4pm. The deceased officer, Ukam Efut, and two others were at a certain checkpoint, as usual, where they mounted a roadblock and were collecting money from illegal oil dealers.

    “Ukam, the deceased officer, was shot dead and his private parts cut off by his killers. One of the other two officers sustained injuries on his face.

  • Eid-el- Fitr: NCWS urges FG to address security challenges

    Eid-el- Fitr: NCWS urges FG to address security challenges

    The National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) has greeted Muslims on the occasion of the 2022 Eid-el-Fitr and called on the Federal Government to address the security challenges bedevilling the nation.

    NCWS National President Lami Lau made the call on Monday in a statement issued in Abuja while congratulating the Muslim faithful for successful fasting.

    Lau advised Muslims to imbibe the lessons of the fasting while wishing that the Almighty Allah accept their prayers and make them among those who had gained from the event.

    She said that the period of fasting meant self-denial, adding that prayers were the key for fasting and the reason for the fast as a sacrifice to God.

    Lau advised Nigerians and women in particular to embrace the sacrifices for the greater good of their families and the nation at large.

    “Our earnest prayer as Nigerian women is for the Federal Government to do all possible to address the security challenges in the country that has hindered development.

    “As women, the state of the nation is of great concern to us. Our sons, daughters, husbands and fathers are either being killed, kidnapped every day and we are very pained.

    “We pray for the Federal Government and all security agencies that all their efforts will bear fruits,” she said.

    Lau also expressed optimism that affirmative action would be implemented as ruled by the high court.

    She advised women to remain relentless in their prayers for Nigeria, especially as the 2023 general polls draw closer.

  • Nigeria now a fully occupied emergency hospital – Bishop Kukah

    Nigeria now a fully occupied emergency hospital – Bishop Kukah

    The Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah, has described Nigeria as a country that has become one big emergency national hospital with full occupancy.

    In his Easter Message on Sunday titled, ‘To mend a broken nation: The Easter metaphor’, Kukah noted that every aspect of life in Nigeria has been destroyed while corruption is enthroned.

    He said, “Our dear country, Nigeria, still totters and wobbles as we screech towards a dangerous and avoidable canyon of dry bones.

    “One would be tempted to ask, what is there to say about our tragic situation today that has not been said? Who is there to speak that has not spoken? Like the friends of Job, we stare at an imponderable tragedy as the nation unravels from all sides. The government has slid into hibernation mode.

    “It is hard to know whether the problem is that those in power do not hear, see, feel, know, or just don’t care. Either way, from this crossroad, we must make a choice, to go forward, turn left or right or return home. None of these choices is easy, yet, guided by the light of the risen Christ, we can reclaim our country from its impending slide to anarchy.

    “The challenge of fixing this broken nation is enormous and, as I have said, requires joint efforts. Our individual hearts are broken. Our family dreams are broken. Homes are broken. Churches, Mosques, and infrastructure are broken. Our educational system is broken. Our children’s lives and future are broken.

    “Our politics is broken. Our economy is broken. Our energy system is broken. Our security system is broken. Our Roads and Rails are broken. Only corruption is alive and well.

    “The greatest challenge for Nigeria is not even the 2023 elections. It is the prospect for the reconciliation of our people. Here, the Buhari administration sadly has divided our people on the basis of ethnicity, religion, and region, in a way that we have never witnessed in our history.

    “This carefully choreographed agenda has made Nigerians vulnerable and ignited the most divisive form of identity consciousness among our people. Years of friendships, cultural exchange, and collaboration built over time have now come under serious pressure from stereotyping.”

    He added: “We need to start thinking of a Nigeria beyond banditry and kidnapping and the endless circles of violence that have engulfed our communities and nation. We cannot continue to pretend that there are no religious undertones to the violence in the name of God that has given our religions a bad name.

    “The way out is for the state to enforce the secular status of the Nigerian state so as to give citizens the necessary freedoms from the shackles of semi-feudal confusion over the status of religion and the state in a plural Democracy. We must be ready to embrace modernity and work out how to preserve our religions and cultures without turning religion into a tool for tyranny, exclusion, and oppression.

    “I cannot be against a repentant sinner or criminals changing their ways. After all, the doors of forgiveness must always remain open. However, in this case, Nigerians have very little information as to the entire rehabilitation process. Have these terrorists felt the heat or have they seen the light or, is their repentance a mere strategic and tactical repositioning? So far, we have no evidence that these terrorists have been able to confront their victims not to talk of seeking forgiveness from them. Something is wrong.

    “We see these terrorists adorned in our national colours in their green and white kaftans, trousers, and looking like heroes of the state! Are we to assume that they have become acknowledged models for Nigerian youth? Perhaps the next graduating set might be treated to Presidential handshakes, receptions at the villa with full national colours

  • Religious manipulation, reasons for disunity, conflict – Minister

    Religious manipulation, reasons for disunity, conflict – Minister

    Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has stated that the major reason for the insecurity challenges in Nigeria is religious manipulation targeted at the gullible ones to perpetuate conflict and disunity in the country.

    The Minister stated this during a national policy roundtable on the network of policymakers to support reconciliation, peace and security on Monday in Abuja.

    Newsmen reports that the event was organized by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), in collaboration with the International Center for Inter-religious; Intercultural dialogue, and the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.

    According to him, the communal lifestyle of Africans is largely expressed in religious beliefs, which facilitate solidarity, togetherness, love and the promotion of other values that are central to our human ecosystem.

    But regrettably, religion and communal living are painted as fundamentals that are inimical to peace, security and development.

    “The political history of post-independent Nigeria is awash with tragic instances of violent conflicts and acrimony.

    “And this is as a result of the manipulation of religion, and other identity markers amongst ourselves.

    “These acts of manipulation have resulted in structural, physical, psychological violence that has manifested itself in the destruction of lives and properties, mass displacements of people and other humanitarian crises, destitution, the rising rate of poverty and ethnoreligious suspicion, fear and so forth.

    “It has been absolutely disastrous for us as a people, the manipulation of religion, false manipulation of religion, if we look at all the religions they all preach peace and love.

    “But we discovered that there are always individuals who find ways of manipulating religion to create conflicts,” Onyeama said.

    He also noted that religious manipulation is nothing new to Nigeria, for as long as mankind is on this planet, they claim to be enlightened.

    “We claim that in the 21st century that we are enlightened and a higher level of species on this earth.

    “But yet for some reasons, we cannot get beyond some of these prejudices and constantly fall prey to those who choose to manipulate religion, and other differences to cause disunity and conflict.

    “Nigerians cherished faiths, and indeed, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has recognised its enormous relevance in the promotion of the cardinal principles and objectives of the state.

    Onyeama also said that institution of religion has served as a platform for the conception and implementation of public policies and programmes and for mobilization of citizens’ participation in governance and decision-making processes.

    “Without a doubt, religion has contributed to peace in Nigeria in an advantageous position in the comity of nations.”

    In his remarks, Dr Bakut Tswah Bakut, the Director-General, IPCR, also urged religious leaders to engage themselves in influencing policies that would positively support reconciliation, peace and security in Nigeria.

    “More efforts should be made to promote understanding of the basic tenets of faith among the adherents at all levels of religious hierarchies.

    “And we believe that teaching the citizens about unity, love for one another and peace in various places of worship will go a long way in curbing insecurity.

    ”The institute and its partners will also drive the process of promoting interfaith dialogue and peacebuilding in Nigeria,” Bakut said.

  • Kaduna State government receives over 100 pieces of luggage, others belonging to passengers of the iil-fated Kaduna-Abuja train

    Kaduna State government receives over 100 pieces of luggage, others belonging to passengers of the iil-fated Kaduna-Abuja train

    Over 100 pieces of luggage, valuables, gadgets and personal effects belonging to passengers of the iil-fated Kaduna-Abuja train were on Friday received by the Kaduna State government.

     

    This was disclosed by the Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs in Kaduna State, Samuel Aruwan, in a statement.

     

    Bandits had attacked 362 Kaduna – Abuja train passengers, killed eight persons and wounded 26 others while scores of passengers were unaccounted for.

     

    In a statement, Aruwan said “The Kaduna State Government has received luggage, valuables and other belongings of some passengers who were on the Abuja-Kaduna train AK9 which was attacked by terrorists on 28th March. ”

     

    The items were handed over to the Kaduna State Government by the military authorities, who had gathered the items from within and around the train during search operations after the attack.

     

    He said governor Nasir El-Rufa’i expressed his thanks to the Military authorities and commended them for their careful handling and documentation of the item.

     

    ” These items included; over 100 pieces of luggage, valuables, gadgets and personal effects,” he posited.

     

    According to the statement, nine persons had already collected their items after presenting proof at the point of recovery by the military.

     

    He said the remaining belongings, received with a detailed inventory, will be carefully stored.

     

    “A system for the receipt of claims will be communicated to the public subsequently,” he asserted.