TheNewsGuru

Tag: Security Challenges

  • God will hold Buhari accountable for insecurity in Nigeria – Ndume

    God will hold Buhari accountable for insecurity in Nigeria – Ndume

    The Senator representing Borno South senatorial district of Borno State in the National Assembly (NASS), Senator Ali Ndume has said God will hold President Muhammadu Buhari responsible for the security challenges that besieged Nigeria under his tenure.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Senator Ndume said this on Sunday while that President Buhari is responsible for not only the security and welfare of his citizens but everything that happens within his tenure.

    According to Ndume, Buhari, who has the power to appoint and sack non-performing service chiefs, has been acting as the director-in-chief rather than as the commander-in-chief of the country’s armed forces.

    “The President is the Commander in Chief. The bulk stops at his table. The president is responsible for not only the security and welfare of his citizens but everything that happens within his tenure. President Muhammadu Buhari is responsible for that. And I think he understands that.

    “What I am not comfortable with, I have said it before, is for the president to be directing. He is not a director-in-chief. He is commander-in-chief. The president should take up and do what is required of him as the commander-in-chief.

    “As I said, for him as a president, it is him that God will ask. For me as a Senator in Southern Borno, it is me that God will ask whether I have represented or said or talked on behalf of the people, I have executed my mandate as their representative in the National Assembly.

    “So, it is not like you are looking for somebody who is to do that. It is the president. The president can appoint anybody to do so-so thing, direct anybody to do so-so and so but he is the commander-in-chief. So, he is the one that is responsible,” Ndume said.

    Speaking during an interview on Channels TV Sunday Politics programme, the Borno South Senator, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, also said the Nigerian army does not have the capacity to fight terrorism.

    Ndume said the major problem is inadequate equipment for the armed forces and manpower. According to him, Nigeria has less than 400,000 personnel. He also said that the allocation to the army is insignificant and not released on time.

    Speaking on the move to impeach President Buhari, Ndume said “talking about impeaching Buhari now is not the issue. The issue is to resolve security challenges in Nigeria”.

  • Some of Nigeria’s security challenges are imported – Buhari

    Some of Nigeria’s security challenges are imported – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said that government had recognised that some of the security challenges confronting Nigeria were imported by foreign elements.

    Buhari, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, stated this at the Graduation of Course 30 of the National Defence College (NDC) on Friday in Abuja.

    He said that the nation and indeed the African region had been facing difficult times such as terrorism in the North East, banditry and other criminal activities across the country.

    He added that the military and other security agencies have been given directives to decisively deal with all forms of security challenges and secure the nation.

    According to him, the military has continued to counter the terrorism that was very prevalent in the North East which has resulted in the surrendering of thousands of persons who are being managed by government agencies.

    “Government is also deeply concerned about the activities of bandits and criminals who have rare their ugly heads in some parts of the country.

    “This is because the number of violent unprovoked attacks on citizens appear to be on the increase. This is unacceptable.

    “Accordingly, we have given strong directive to the military and other security agencies to deal decisively with terrorists, bandits and other enemies of the country.

    “We have also adopted bilateral and multilateral arrangements to tackle the trans border and maritime crimes because we recognize that some of our security challenges are imported into Nigeria by foreign elements.

    “I want to assure all Nigerian that the government is doing all it can to eliminate or apprehend the criminals or bandits, wherever they are,” he said.

    Buhari commended the nation’s apex defence institution for its continuous effort towards raising a discipline and professional strategic leaders for the armed forces, security agencies as well as Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    He said the college had since its establishment 30 years ago, continued to fulfil its mandate and had grown to be at par with similar colleges across the world

    He charged the participant to deploy the knowledge they had acquired in making useful suggestions toward addressing the challenges in their areas of responsibility.

    The president assured that the government would remain committed providing needed resources for the security agencies to carry out their assigned tasks.

    The Commandant of NDC, Rear Adm. Murtala Bashir, said the college had 102 participants drawn from the military, paramilitary, security and intelligence agencies as well as selected MDAs and participants from 16 allied countries.

    Bashir said the participants comprised of 28 from Nigerian Army; 20 from Nigerian Navy; five from Nigerian Air Force; 29 from strategic institutions/MDAs and 20 international participants.

    He said the college had trained the finest from the military, security agencies and MDAs both from within and outside the country since inception in 1992, adding that some had distinguished themselves in their careers.

    According to him, the mission of NDC is to develop future strategic leaders who are sufficiently equipped with knowledge and skills.

    “for participants of course 30, this mission was achieved through the pathway of study in nine modules comprising researc methodology and strategic writing, state and social political environments, economy and finance, science and technology, international affairs and regional studies.

    “Others are policy strategy and national security, military history and conflict studies, peace supports operations and higher defense management.

    “The module were delivered in for s of lectures, seminars, study tours, research papers and studies under a broad theme, ” a Whole of Society Approach to Enhancing Human Security in Nigeria.”

    “The course also involved exercises that stimulated real life scenarios and the review of the National Defence and Security Policies,” he said.

    A foreign participant, Commodore Ashwsni Tikoo of Indian Navy, thanked Nigerian government and the armed forces for giving them the opportunity to be a part of the course and learning experience of a lifetime.

    Tikoo said the course had also afforded him the opportunity to make new friends that would help to shape his military career.

    He said the scope of the curriculum was vast including economic development, social security, internal security, geostrategic issues among others.

    “It has been a great learning experience and particularly for me I would say that my knowledge about the African continent has increased very considerably.

    “And obviously, when you get to know so much about this continent, which has 54 countries, rich in resources and beautiful people, it is a great experience.

    “I am sure that when I go back to my country with this kind of learning and experience, it is definitely going to enable me to bring in certain changes in my own country with the perspectives and the learnings that I have had here,” he said.

  • Group urge Fani-Kayode to proffer solution to security challenges

    Group urge Fani-Kayode to proffer solution to security challenges

    A pro-democracy group, the National Democratic Alliance has advised former Minister of Aviation, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, to proffer solutions and not escalate current security challenges with unguarded utterances.

    The group gave the advice in a statement issued by its Secretary, Biodun Olajumoke, on Sunday in Abuja.

    Olajumoke recalled that Fani-Kayode recently heaped blame on military hierarchy over insecurity in the country in a video recording following some terrorists’ attacks.

    He stated that the former minister alleged that while young and junior officers were doing their best in the battlefield, senior commanders were doing nothing.

    Fani-Kayode also alleged that it was becoming “increasingly difficult to comprehend the glaring incompetence and lack of patriotism, professionalism, diligence and courage of the leadership of the Nigerian Armed Forces’’.

    Reacting to the video, Olajumoke accused Fani-Kayode of expressing frustration over the loyalty and total submission of the military under Gen. Lucky Irabor, to constitute authority.

    According to him, rather than proffer solutions to security challenges, the video by Fani-Kayode smacks of deliberate efforts to cause more confusion and heighten tension in the polity.

    He charged that Fani-Kayode was not unaware that political tension was one of the causes of the security challenges.

    The secretary urged Fani-Kayode to proffer genuine solutions to the crisis, adding that all military personnel, whether young, junior soldiers and officers or senior officers had been victims of the security challenges.

    According to him, what the nation needs now is to support the military to defeat the enemy and not to castigate or instigate military personnel against one other.

  • Families of passengers in Abuja-Kaduna train attack protest, calls on FG to double its efforts in rescuing their loved ones

    Families of passengers in Abuja-Kaduna train attack protest, calls on FG to double its efforts in rescuing their loved ones

    The families of passengers kidnapped by terrorists during the March 28 Abuja-Kaduna train attack have staged a protest at the Radio House in Abuja, calling on the federal government to double its efforts in rescuing their loved ones.

     

    Aliyu Mahmud, a relative of the seven-month pregnant woman, was among the victims’ families who staged a peaceful protest on Thursday.

     

    The protesters, who bore placards, spoke with reporters.

     

    Mahmud said: “I have my sister who is seven months pregnant with her husband. Words cannot explain what they are going through and what we are going through.

     

    “Please, the government should do the needful and let this come to an end as soon as possible. They should try as much as possible to reach out to the perpetrators and rescue our loved ones.

     

    “There are children there, pregnant women, the sick, the aged and only God knows what they are going through. They have been in captivity for ten days, so you can only imagine what they are going through and how it is affecting us.

     

    “Whatever we do, we think of them. When we eat, we think of them. When we sleep, anything we do, we think of them. We are pleading with the government to please do the needful so that this situation will come to an end as soon as possible.”

     

    Another protester, Aminu Uthman, said it had been some difficult ten days since his brother and wife were abducted.

     

    “My immediate younger brother and his wife are amongst the victims. It is a nightmare and the most difficult ten days I have has in my life. I cannot sleep or eat. A lot of things are going wrong.

     

    “The bandits called only once and they gave him the phone to speak to us. They are yet to make any request but they called and he is with them.

     

    “We voted for this government because of insecurity. We had the trust that they would address insecurity. This protest is not for the family members alone, it is for Nigerians generally. This thing can happen to anybody,” he said.

     

    Another relative, Hajia Idayat Yusuf, pleaded for the release of her two sisters.

     

    She said: “It has been hell for me. My two sisters from the same parents were abducted. Some of those abducted have underlying ailments such as ulcers, diabetes, hypertension and there is no medication. We are really concerned.

     

    “In the last ten days, it has been hell, we cannot sleep, and we cannot eat. We are fasting but we are fasting abnormally. We are really begging that the government should come to our rescue.

     

    “Please, the government should come to the aid of those that are alive. We are sorry for those that have lost their lives. We sympathise with the families of those in the hospital but for those alive, at least, bring them back. We are appealing to the government to do something.”

     

    Terrorists on March 28 blew up rail tracks on the Abuja-Kaduna route, killing eight passengers.

     

    No fewer than 41 people were injured. Many were abducted.

     

    The terrorists threatened to kill the other hostages if the government does not do “what we want”.

  • AMBUSH: Bandits massacre 11 soldiers, burn two armoured vehicles in Kaduna

    AMBUSH: Bandits massacre 11 soldiers, burn two armoured vehicles in Kaduna

    In an ambush on Birnin Gwari highway, Kaduna State, bandits on Monday massacred 11 soldiers and burnt armoured vehicles.

     

    A source explained the terrorists in their hundreds, ambushed and massacred the soldiers, setting two military Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) ablaze.

     

    The source further disclosed that hundreds of bandits were moving alongside rustled cows when the soldiers suspected that the cows may have been rustled, and engaged them in a fierce battle.

     

    “The soldiers thought it was a few bandits and tried to engage them. Though the solder killed some of the bandits, the terrorists overpowered them. The terrorists do not leave their dead behind. They also burnt down two APCs,” he said.

     

    A resident of Birnin Gwari, Isa Ahmed, said that a military redeployment was sent to the area on Monday morning to evacuate the dead soldiers.

     

    He said he counted about 11 corpses of soldiers loaded into a van for evacuation.

     

    Recall that the 123km stretch Kaduna-Birnin Gwari highway has been designated as one of the most deadly routes in Northern Nigeria.

  • El-Rufai accuses communities of shielding criminals

    El-Rufai accuses communities of shielding criminals

    Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has accused communities of shielding criminals living amongst them.

     

    El-Rufai made the accusation on Wednesday when he visited the Chief of Kagoro, Mr Ufuwai Bonet, at his palace in Kaura Local Government Area, to condole with him over the recent attack in the area.

     

    In his words: “There are criminals in every ethnic group and in every religion.

     

    “If we want to end this kind of problem (insecurity), we must be ready to give up those we suspect to be criminals even if they are our sons and daughter.”

     

    He stressed that peace can only be achieved if communities respect constituted authorities and report suspects to the security agencies.

     

    “This is the only way we can live in peace,’’ he said.

     

    El-Rufai tasked the traditional rulers to do more by living up to their responsibility in providing leadership.

     

    “The situation in which youths have taken over leadership of communities is unacceptable.

     

    “If the traditional institutions and other officials cannot provide leadership, we might as well dissolve them and hand over leadership to the youths if that is what will bring peace.

     

    “I want to appeal to you all to rise up to your leadership roles and let us know those behind these crimes so we can deal with them,’’ he asserted.

     

    The governor promised that the state government would take care of those displaced by the attack and return them to their communities.

     

    In his remarks, Bonet, thanked the State Government for its concern since the latest attack occurred and called for an end to the wanton destruction of lives and property.

     

    The traditional ruler commended the security agencies for their vigilance and sacrifices towards restoring peace in his domain.

     

    Kaduna state government has confirmed 34 persons were killed and over 200 houses razed in an attack on the Agban community in Kaura LGA on March 20.

  • Nigerian politicians no longer interested in solving security challenges, their attention focused on 2023 polls – CAN

    Nigerian politicians no longer interested in solving security challenges, their attention focused on 2023 polls – CAN

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on Nigerians to pray for God’s mercy in 2022.

    In a New Year message signed on Friday by CAN President Samson Ayokunle, the group said Nigerians irrespective of their religious affiliations should “cry for the mercy of God” that can preserve the nation and bring an end to all insecurity.

    “I call on all Nigerians, irrespective of their religious affiliations, to rise up and cry for the mercy of God that can preserve us and bring an end to all these pains. It appears as if our governments have got to their wit end over the menace of insecurity. Their major focus now is on the 2023 general election. Can the 2023 election happen if the nation is overrun by criminals? Our nation must survive first and be at peace before an election can take place.

    “Except for the mercy of God to intervene divinely and miraculously, we would be like Sodom and Gomorrah. It is only God who can make the 2023 general election a reality. It is only God in his own way who can teach our leaders the right step to take. It is only God who can send us help from above. Because of the desperate situation, we are in, some governors are already calling for self-defence and declaration of the state of emergency! This is unprecedented,” the statement read in part.

    Looking back to the activities of 2021, Ayokunle said, “Glory be to our God who helps us to escape all dangers and threats of the Year 2021 occasioned by the criminal activities of the bandits, terrorists, kidnappers and other unscrupulous elements amidst us.”

    “2021 was one year too many as a result of the ways and manners these criminals have been operating with impunity as if this is not the country, we have been all these years. It is as if they have taken over the country. They invade communities, markets, churches, and schools. They kill, maim, destroy, and kidnap without much resistance or hindrance.

    “They have turned our roads into death traps where they now kidnap for money, apparently due to the poor conditions of our roads and suddenly kidnapping has become a big business as the innocent people are being kidnapped and ransom in millions are being demanded and paid.

    “Families of kidnapped people are at the mercy of the criminals! Some were not even fortunate as they were killed after the ransom has been paid! Our security agencies have been overstretched and the best done by our government is far from being enough if we must say the truth without deceiving ourselves. The Police have been parading the arrested kidnappers on the television but surprisingly, it appears as if they are too busy with their investigations to prosecute them!,” the CAN President lamented.

    He stressed further that the call for help from the developed world and the United Nations over rising insecurity got little attention as “they seem to be more occupied and busier with COVID-19 than pay attention to the daily destruction of lives going on in Nigeria.”

    He called on denominational and church leaders to use the opportunity of the New Year Fasting and Prayers programme of churches to rescue Nigeria from those who are hell-bent on destroying it by deliberately praying for the mercy of God over our unfortunate situation.

    “For the Lord, our God is a merciful God. He will not leave us or allow these heartless criminals to destroy us. We serve a God who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

    “It was in His mercy that He rescued the family of Noah against the Great Flood; He delivered Lot and his family in Sodom and Gomorrah shortly before the destruction of those cities. By his mercy, he delivered Israel from Egyptian captivity without Israel fighting any battle. The list of God’s merciful intervention in human affairs is endless. That same God will surely have mercy on our country in Jesus’ name,” he said.

  • How Nigerian elites escalate security challenges in the land – Osinbajo

    How Nigerian elites escalate security challenges in the land – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday said Nigeria’s elite play a major role in aggravating the security challenges besetting the nation.

    Professor Osinbajo stated this in his keynote address at the Leadership Conference and Awards – with the theme National and Regional Insecurity: The Role of Political and Non-Political Actors in Stabilization and Consensus Building – held in Abuja.

    The Vice President believes “the external reasons we cite as reasons for our problems cannot thrive without severe internal weaknesses in our society”.

    He added that “the chief weakness is a human one – our elite, our political, economic, and religious elite”.

    According to him, insecurity in the country is promoted through ethnic and regional sentiments, activities, and utterances of the elites that have so far proved to be socially irresponsible.

    Prof Osinbajo said the elite’s criticism of the activities of government without consideration has become a basis for insurrection and insurgency.

    “So, where are we today? On a nationwide and region-wide scale, we are seeing challenges to national order driven by a profound and pervasive sense of exclusion and marginalisation.

    “And I do not speak of ethnic or religious marginalisation which is really another elite dog whisper to acquire more for themselves in the contest for booty. I speak of a division between the have- nots who have no hope and the haves who seem to have it all.

    “So, the attacks we see on law and order are themselves symptomatic and they are driven by emergent critiques of the fabric of order itself.

    “These critiques are manifesting as insurrections and insurgencies along various axes of identity. These rejections of formal institutions may be driven by conceptions of religious obligations, ethnic identity and generational antipathies but that is only superficial.

    “What they have in common is that they are patterns of solidarity of those who have no stake in an orderly society because such society offers them nothing, and are fundamentally violent and implacable opposition to a system that appears to favour only a few,” he submitted.

    While proffering solutions, Osinbajo said Nigeria’s elite must reach a consensus with other citizens and act in solidarity to settle contending issues in the nation and enlarge the circle of opportunity, especially for the young people.

    He also argued that to tackle insecurity, the nation’s political, economic, and religious leaders must shun divisive narratives so as to bring all Nigerians together, heal rifts between communities and build bridges across divides.

    Although he acknowledged that the country is going through times of trial and testing, he said it is understandable for discontent to emerge and inspire agitation.

    He explained that in a democracy, agitation as an act of making a peoples’ voice to be heard is entirely legitimate. But he stated that what is profoundly problematic is when “we employ destructive and illicit means in pursuing agitation”.

    Osinbajo warned that the people must resist the temptation to see their sympathy with legitimate causes blind them to the destructive and illegitimate means employed by those that pursue the causes.

    Prof Osinbajo encouraged the citizens to continue in the tradition of understanding like the founding fathers who forged the national union through dialogue and negotiation, and traded compromises in the process of making the country.

    The former Lagos State commissioner, however, warned that that the call to continue this tradition does not suggest that people should be lulled into a forced silence or a passive acceptance of whatever they find unacceptable.

    “I mean that their discontent and energy can be channeled towards constructive and positive action. For instance, communities can be mobilised to participate more fully in civil life and drive movements that seek greater accountability across all levels of government.

    “While there is indeed a serious contention for the future and a battle for the soul of this nation raging, the weapons of our warfare are necessarily different. The tools with which we will build a new country and the weapons with which we will fight for her posterity are of a different order,” Osinbajo stressed.

    Quoting the famous words of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr, he added: “Destructive means cannot bring about constructive ends,” urging Nigerians to contend for the soul of the country by promoting civilised values.

    He asked them to uphold a culture of life and refuse violence in any guise even by those who claim to be using it in response to attacks.

    According to him, the nation needs an inter-generational, ecumenical, and pan-Nigerian coalition willing to uphold the value and sanctity of life above and beyond all causes and differences.

  • Na’Allah’s son’s death: Another tragic chapter in Nigeria’s current security challenges – Buhari

    Na’Allah’s son’s death: Another tragic chapter in Nigeria’s current security challenges – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the killing of Captain Abdulkareem, the first son of Sen. Bala Na’Allah in Kaduna, Kaduna State.

    The president made his feelings known in a condolence message released by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, on Monday in Abuja.

    “The death of Abdulkareem is another tragic chapter in our current security challenges, but I reassure Nigerians that my commitment to protect the lives and property of all Nigerians remains unwavering.

    “I’m saddened by the tragic loss of Abdulkareem and other victims of violence and I wish to appeal to Nigerians to help our security agencies with intelligence in order to track down and bring these terrorist gangs to justice,” he said.

    According to him, human intelligence is essential to the efforts to defeat these criminals; those who work as informants for criminals are destroying their own communities for the sake of pitiful financial gratification.

    The president prayed to Almighty Allah to repose the soul of the late Abdulkareem and give Bala Na’Allah and his family as well as their friends the strength to bear the “very painful loss.”

  • Nigeria’s security challenges surmountable – Fayemi

    Nigeria’s security challenges surmountable – Fayemi

    Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has said that the country’s security challenges were surmountable only if Nigerians were determined to tackle it with sincerity

    He made the assertion on Friday in Ibadan at a symposium organised by Hon. Shina Peller (APC- (Iseyin/ Itesiwaju/ Kajola/ Iwajowa Federal Constituency).

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the symposium titled ‘National Security and Peace Symposium’ was organised to commemorate Peller’s 45th birthday.

    Fayemi said that Nigeria could better surmount her security challenges if the people understood the challenges and are committed to transforming Nigeria for the better.

    “For me, It is a pleasure and privilege to be here to honor Shina, his family and lead generation initiative. We are all here because we believe in a course we need to commit ourselves.

    “At the moment, we know our country is going through a lot of challenges, but these challenges are not insurmountable. These are challenges we can overcome.

    “Countries with security situation that are worse than this have overcome it. We can achieve this if we are single-minded.

    “If we are honest, purpose driven, dedicated and determined, we will put behind all the triggers of violence in the land,” he said.

    The governor listed some of the causes of insecurity in the country as inequality, poverty and unemployment, and called for intensified efforts at eradicating all.

    He said that the best way for youths to contribute positively to their communities was to get themselves involved in politics.

    Also Speaking at the syposium, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, the widow of former Gov. Abiola Ajimobi, said that Nigerians have roles to play in ensuring a better Nigeria despite the level of insecurity.

    Ajimobi, who congratulated the celebrant, said the symposium offered all the unique opportunity to reflect on the problem that has made the society unsafe.

    “As Nigerians, we all have different roles to play in public in spite of the level of insecurity in our society.

    “Today’s symposium offers everybody the unique opportunity to reflect on this problem which has made our society unsafe.

    “It also offers us the opportunity to further interrogate the role of institution’s and those saddled with the responsibility of keeping all of us safe.

    “Vis-a-vis the role expected of us as citizens to complement these hardious part of ensuring a safer society,” she said.

    Prof. Isaac Albert, an International Security expert, advised the federal government to look inward for solution to security challenges facing Nigeria than seeking support from International Community.

    Albert, who was the guest lecturer, said the most important thing is for government to start investing more on approaches that could give the desired results.

    The professor of peace and conflict studies at the University of Ibadan, advised that government should engage the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to educate Nigerians on the need for peace in local communities.

    “The statutotry role of the agency established in 1993 is to re-orientate Nigerians and encourage them to take part actively and freely in discussion and decision affecting their collective welfare.

    “Politicians claiming that the security of Nigeria was worse than what it is now contributed to the loss of confidence in the future of the country by its citizens.”

    “On the balance, it is argued here that there is a little the international community can do to help Nigeria when the country is not doing enough to help itself.

    “Hence, what matters most at the moment is for Nigeria now to start investing more on its whole of the nation, society and nation approaches,” he said.

    He also suggested involvement of traditional rulers in decision making, saying power must be given to local governments and traditional rulers.