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Insecurity, unemployment: CAN says jobless youth are easily recruited by terrorists

Lukman ABOLADE
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Insecurity, unemployment: CAN says jobless youth are easily recruited by terrorists

OLASUPO Ayokunle, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) says terrorists find it easy to recruit due to the high rate of employment in Nigeria.

“When development plans are not executed, you see graduates leaving school without any employment and an idle hand is what the devil can use,” Ayokunle said in Iwo, Osun State.

“Anybody that can give them (graduates) pittance, they are ready to take it and work for them. So, terrorists find it very easy to recruit them because they induce them with money and all other things.”

The CAN president said this while commenting on the insecurity in Nigeria at the investiture ceremony of Micheal Abodunrin, the new Chancellor for Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State on Saturday.

As Nigeria marks her 60th independence anniversary, Ayokunle said the lack of implementation of development plans by the government is a result of poor governance.

“You cannot just look at the security situation in isolation. Insecurity in the country is a by-product of bad governance, the government should be at the forefront of prevention by making infrastructural facilities and welfare available to them.”

According to reports, insecurity in Nigeria has seen a rapid increase in the last decade due to Boko Haram insurgency that has killed nearly 30,000 people and displaced about two million Nigerians.

Aside from Boko Haram, the country has also been plagued with internal crisis including frequent Fulani-Herders clash, bandit attacks among others.

In 2019, the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) report published annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) ranked Nigeria as the third most terrorised country in the world.

PDP condemns attack on Zulum’s convoy, asks Buhari to replace Service Chiefs

Vincent Ufuoma
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PDP condemns attack on Zulum’s convoy, asks Buhari to replace Service Chiefs

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, have condemned Friday’s attack on the convoy of  Babagana Zulum, Governor of Borno State by insurgents.

About 20 people including security operatives were reported to have been killed and injured on Friday when Boko Haram insurgents ambushed the governor’s security convoy on its way to Baga town where Governor Zulum was billed to flag off a resettlement scheme designed to resettle locals in their respective communities in the troubled parts of the State.

Friday’s attack was the second in three months that the governor’s convoy would be attacked by the insurgents.

In July, the governor had also faced a similar attack in Baga in which he blamed compromise and foul play among security operatives detailed in the North East.

While reacting to the recent attack, the PDP in a statement noted that the repeated attack on the governor as well as the rising wave of terrorist attacks in the region reinforce apprehensions of security compromises and lapses in the Nigerian security architecture.

Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP National Publicity Secretary, who issued the statement on behalf of the party on Sunday renewed the party’s call “to immediately rejig the nation’s security apparatus.”

“Our party is alarmed by the frightening situation where insurgents now have the temerity of repeated attacks on the armed convoy of a state governor, which highlights the nightmare being witnessed by ordinary compatriots, as soft targets, in various troubled areas across our dear nation,” Ologbondiyan said.

He said the opposition party restated its call to President Muhammadu Buhari to heed the call by well-meaning Nigerians, including the two chambers of the National Assembly, to immediately rejig the nation’s security apparatus by replacing his Service Chiefs with fresh hands to effectively confront the security challenges facing our nation.

While saluting the gallantry of the Nigerian troops combating terrorists in the North East, the party sympathized with the governor as well as the families of the victims of incessant attacks in the region.

It urged the governor not to be deterred.

On his part,  Mohammed Adamu, the Inspector General of Police has “directed Olubunmi Ogunsanwo, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Police Medical Services, to work in sync with Bello Makwashi ,the Commissioner of Police, Borno State Command and the Police Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO) towards ensuring adequate provision of medicare for the officers injured during the attack.”

Adamu reassured the country, particularly the people of Borno State that the morale of police officers and other security agencies involved in providing security especially in the state has not and will not be dampened by the incident.

He added that the incident has further served as impetus in strengthening the resolve and commitment of the personnel of the Force in the fight against insurgency and other crimes.

The IGP called for the continuous support and trust of the public for the Nigeria Police Force as it strives to make the country safer and more secure.

Order investigation into missing N700m COVID-19 funds, PDP challenges Akeredolu

Lukman ABOLADE
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Order investigation into missing N700m COVID-19 funds, PDP challenges Akeredolu

THE  opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  National Campaign Council for the Ondo State governorship election has challenged Rotimi Akeredolu, the incumbent governor of Ondo State and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to investigate the alleged missing N700 million COVID-19 fund.

Kola Ologbondiyan, the Chairman, Publicity Sub-Committee of the Campaign Council said in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja that the party’s demand followed an alleged diversion of COVID-19 palliative funds by certain officials of the Akeredolu-led administration.

“We challenge Governor Akeredolu to within three days, set up an independent inquiry into these allegations if his administration has no skeleton in its cupboard,” Ologbondiyan said in the statement.

“This is especially given the conflicting denials by members of the Ondo COVID-19 Response Team over the whereabouts of over N700 million intervention fund.”

He stated that if the hands of the administration were clean, Akeredolu would have ordered an investigation into the alleged missing fund.

“Indeed any clean, transparent and upright administration that had not soiled its hand and which has the interest of the people at heart, would have ordered an open investigation, secure and channel the resources to the wellbeing of the people.

“Given its penchant for condoning corruption and wicked embezzlement of public funds, the APC administration in Ondo state had remained less forthcoming, while officials continue with conflicting denials and endless buck-passing,” he added.

According to him, Akeredolu should have ordered an investigation into the allegations amid the Ondo State’s failure to pay some health workers in the state.

“This is in addition to the circumstances surrounding the failure of the state to pay certain health workers in the past 15 months, despite their participation in the fight against COVID-19 in the state.

The opposition party further challenged the governor to account for the funds from ‘various levies and taxes’ collected from the residents and business owners in the state.

“Furthermore, our campaign challenges Governor Akeredolu to account for the proceeds of various levies and taxes collected by his administration, using numerous platforms to fleece the poor masses, including market women, transporters, artisans, small business owners among others in the state,” Ologbondiyan said.

“It is therefore not surprising that the Ondo people abandoned Governor Akeredolu and pitched their tent with our candidate, Eyitayo Jegede SAN, in their collective quest to end the misrule which the Akeredolu administration represents, and no amount of blackmail, threats, and violence by the APC will deter the Ondo people in this resolve.”

On October 10, Akeredolu, candidate of the APC, Jegede of the PDP and others would face off in an election to decide the winner of the state gubernatorial election.

After 13 months of closure, FG working to reopen land borders

Vincent Ufuoma
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After 13 months of closure, FG working to reopen land borders

THE Federal Government is working towards reopening the nation’s land borders after one year they have been closed, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said.

Osinbajo gave stated this while speaking during a webinar organised by The Africa Report where he noted that the closure of the country’s land borders was done to protect Nigeria’s economy and enhance security.

While stating that the Nigerian Government is committed to the letters of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), he added that Nigeria has started working with its neighbouring countries to work out modalities that would lead to the reopening of its borders.

“We are working with our neighbours to see on what terms we would reopen those borders. At the moment, we are undertaking joint border patrols to control smuggling along the borders and we think it is working and I am sure that soon enough we should have the borders opened,” Osinbajo said.

“We are committed to the AfCFTA but we are concerned about threats to security and the economy and we had to take certain actions that would satisfy the immediate needs of our country. It (border closure) certainly wasn’t meant to be permanent and we are looking forward to reopening as quickly as possible.”

In August 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari gave an order for a total closure of the country’s land borders to the movement of goods from neighbouring countries, saying it is high time the country ended snuggling.

The President’s decision has been heavily criticised by experts and neighbouring countries like Benin Republic.

The rise in the price of essential commodities and staple foods in the country have also been attributed to the closure of the country’s land borders.

13 suspected Boko Haram terrorists and families surrender to Nigerian military

Lukman ABOLADE
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13 suspected Boko Haram terrorists and families surrender to Nigerian military

THE Nigerian Defense Headquarters says 13 suspected Boko Haram terrorists and their families have surrendered to the troops in Borno State.

The DHQ in a series of tweets on it’s official Twitter handle on Sunday said the suspected terrorists comprising six women and 17 children from Kodila village surrendered to troops of the Operation Lafiya Dole in the state.

“Sequel to sustained aerial bombardment and aggressive intensive clearance operation by troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE in the North East,” the DHQ statement on Twitter read.

“The 13 suspected BHT alongside six women and 17 children from Kodila village have surrendered to troops of 151 Task Force Battalion at Banki Junction in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.”

The statement added that the suspects and their family members who surrendered on Saturday, September 26, have been receiving medical attention at the 21 Special Armoured Brigade Medical Centre.

“The suspects are currently undergoing thorough profiling and investigation in line with global best practice in handling such cases,” the defense stated.

The ICIR reported that John Enenche, Coordinator Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, on Thursday disclosed that a top Boko Haram Commander alongside his four wives surrendered to the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole.

Enenche did not supply additional information about the terrorist and his wives but however, said the success was recorded as a result of actionable intelligence by the troops.

COVID-19: Nigeria infection rates climbs to 58,198 with 49,722 discharged

Amos ABBA
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COVID-19: Nigeria infection rates climbs to 58,198 with 49,722 discharged

LATEST data released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) revealed, a surge of 136 new cases of COVID-19 infections with three deaths across the country.

In its official Twitter handle, the health agency stated the new infections were recorded in 13 states while 116 patients were discharged from various isolation centres.

Lagos State recorded the highest number of cases with 41 new infections, while Ogun follows closely with 27 infections, Rivers recorded 19 new infections, Abia had 10, while Oyo and Plateau both recorded six infections respectively.

Other states with new infections include Bauchi and Ondo with five infections, Ekiti and Kaduna recorded four new infections, Edo had three, Ebonyi two, while Bayelsa, Delta, Osun and Yobe all recorded one infection each.

However, the fatality figure from COVID-19 across the country stood at 1,106 from the  36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) inclusive.

The NCDC had conducted about 502,545 tests since Nigeria confirmed its first recorded case on February 27.

Nigeria’s confirmed COVID-19 cases have reached 58,198 with 49,722 patients have recovered and have been discharged after treatment from various isolation centres across the country, the NCDC revealed.

The Centre said that a multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, has continued to coordinate the national response activities across the country.

“To wear a mask might be uncomfortable but better a mask than a ventilator. It is important to wear your face mask when you go out. Wear a mask properly; covering your nose and mouth, gaps secured with straps and stay safe for everyone,” its tweet read.

Also, the NCDC has called for institutions in the country to take responsibility in ensuring that individuals adhere to COVID-19 preventive measures.

With about 7,000 infections still active in the country, one of the lowest in the past four months, implying that the nation has gone past its worst phase of the virus.

 

Electricity tariffs: We met the mess Jonathan administration created in the power sector – Lai Mohammed

Lukman ABOLADE
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Electricity tariffs: We met the mess Jonathan administration created in the power sector – Lai Mohammed

LAI Mohammed, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture says the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan created the problems in the power sector inherited by the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Before we came in, the power sector had been privatised by the previous administration, but the people they sold to them are incompetent. “When we assumed power, we met the mess,” Mohammed stated in Lagos on Saturday.

He was speaking during a meeting with the Online Publishers Association of Nigeria.

“Apart from the fact that the Distribution Companies (Discos), could not meter the people, they also could not pay for the electricity generated by the Generation Companies (Gencos), from the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Companies.”

He added that the Federal Government had to take over the debts of the electricity distribution companies.

“We had two options – cancel the entire sales or to get the Discos to recapitalise,” he added.

According to him, the Buhari administration took over the debt of the Discos, which was about N701 billion, because of the effect the cancellation of the sale would have on the country and international investors.

“The people are simply incompetent and if we did not provide the money that means they will not distribute power to anybody,” Mohammed explained.

“To borrow just to subsidise generation and distribution, which are both privatised, will be grossly irresponsible.”

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) are set to commence a nationwide protest on Monday over electricity tariffs and pump price of petrol increase.

However, Justice Ibrahim Galadima of the National Industrial Court in Abuja issued a fresh restraining order against the unions, following an ex parte application by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

The order came a day after the same judge made a similar restraining ex parte order in favour of a group, Peace and Unity Ambassadors Association, on Thursday.

The judge ordered that both the NLC and the TUC joined as the defendants in the suit should be served with the fresh court order within seven days from Friday.

Media reportage of corruption in Nigeria plagued by systemic challenges – NUJ

Editorial
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Media reportage of corruption in Nigeria plagued by systemic challenges – NUJ

 

STAKEHOLDERS in the media industry have attributed the difficulties and frustration faced by journalists and media workers in the fight against corruption to the deliberate efforts by politicians and government targeted at reducing the power of journalists in society.

This position was unanimously arrived at during a special town hall meeting against corruption, organized by Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development, (PRIMORG) with the support of MacArthur Foundation on Thursday in Abuja.

The well-attended event was used to situate the media in its place in the fight against corruption, and address the challenges of upholding integrity by professionals in the media trade as well as celebrate the virtues of the winner of 2018 Integrity Icon Awards, Bukola Adewumi, an investigative journalist working with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

In his submission,  Christopher Isiguzo, President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), said one of the major challenges facing the media profession in the country is deliberate infiltration by politicians who are now owners of several media houses and outfits.

“These politicians have reasons why they set up their platforms, while the practitioners or journalists have their own idea, and when there is a clash of interest, oftentimes, the interest of the owner takes pre-eminence and that is a problem,” he said.

Isiguzo also pointed out that besides political influence, journalists are poorly remunerated, poorly equipped, and lack health insurance schemes.

In a similar vein,  Emmanuel Ogbeche, NUJ Chairman, Abuja Council, lamented that there is a conspiracy by politicians and elites to economically impoverish and undermine journalists and media due to the power it wields.

The poor state of affairs has made it impossible for journalists to function more effectively in their resistance and reportage of corruption, he said.

” Without making excuses for myself and colleagues, I think society has conspired to institute poverty in the media because politicians and elites understand the power of the media, the conspiracy is let there be economic poverty. If we impoverish the journalist, then we can undermine the system and bring them in as collaborators in weakly our democracy and instituting corruption and getting away with the abuse of rule of law,” Ogbeche stated.

He advocated for legislation on the remuneration of journalists, stressing that the likes of Bukola Adewunmi will always be in short supply if the media space continues to operate in a way that the economic wellbeing of journalists is not guaranteed.

In his intervention on the challenge of journalists in fighting corruption, Dr. Theophilus Abah, the Director General, Daily Trust Foundation, faulted all arms of government for their silence on several corruption reports churned out on a daily basis by media houses.

“The people in authority are not interested in what you do, they are not interested in accountability and transparency and that is a major problem,” Abah said.

“In investigative report, one of the problems we face is that, after we struggle and gone around to gather all we need to publish our story, you expect the National Assembly, and anti-graft agencies to take it up, unfortunately, nobody will do anything.”

While Hamzat Ajibola,  Editor at the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), added” in the last two months, The ICIR has sent two hundred different FOI requests to government agencies asking them to provide details of their capital spending between 2015 and now, but the response we have got is less than 20 per cent.

“As an investigative journalist, the material of your work is the evidence and cannot be manufactured. Every side you go to you have a brick wall which is a serious challenge that faces the media,” Ajibola said.

Lending her voice to the issue,  Ayoade Olatokewa, the Head of News at 99.9 Kiss FM Abuja, stated that the foundation molds a journalist’s morality, integrity and discipline. She said many media practitioners have had diversify to other legitimate means of income in order to avoid the brown envelope syndrome.

“The terrain we find ourselves as journalists in Nigeria is far different out there, you need to do something to support your job if you want to pay bills,” she said.

Meanwhile, earlier in the program, Bukola Adewunmi revealed that she has continued to enjoy the respect of people around her after winning the 2018 Integrity Icon Award organised by Accountability Lab Nigeria.

Speaking on phone from Lagos, Adewunmi said: “It has been a very good story to tell. With the name “Integrity Icon”, everybody looks up to you and I have encountered a lot of people who say “I wish I could be like you.”

The PRIMORG’S Radio Town Hall Against Corruption series is supported by the MacArthur Foundation.

Army keeps mum, as police confirm 11 killed, 13 injured in Zulum’s convoy attack  

Olugbenga ADANIKIN
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Army keeps mum, as police confirm 11 killed, 13 injured in Zulum’s convoy attack  

BORNO State Police Command on Saturday confirmed that the Friday ambush on the convoy of Babagana Zulum, Governor of Borno by members of Boko Haram left 11 security personnel dead and 13 others injured.

There were reports on Friday just after the attack that about 18 security personnel including eight police officers, six soldiers, and four operatives of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) were killed by terrorists during the attack.

But Edet Okon, Spokesperson of Borno  State Police Command told The ICIR that eight policemen and three members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) died in the attack that occurred at Korochara, between Monguno and Baga, Kukawa Local Government Area, about 150 kilometres from the state capital, Maiduguri.

“On 25th September 2020 at about 12 pm, the security convoy who were heading to Baga in respect of Government’s effort to relocate indigenes of Baga to their ancestral home came under heavy gun attack by armed men suspected to be Boko Haram terrorists a few Kilometers from Cross Kauwa,” Okon stated.

“The security convoy returned fire and successfully repelled the attack. In the ensuing gunfight, however, casualties were recorded on both sides. Unfortunately, eight Policemen and three members of the CJTF paid the supreme price. Thirteen other persons sustained various degrees of injuries and were rushed to hospital for treatment.”

He however did not mention the number of soldiers that died in the shootout between the terrorists and government’s troops.

Sagir Musa, Army Spokesperson was also contacted for verification. Over three hours after the inquiry, he referred this reporter to John Enenche, Coordinator of Defence Media Operation.

But Enenche could not respond. He simply advised the reporter to make do with whatever news release signed by him, though no such statement was found on official news channels of the Army.

“Don’t verify any news. Whatever news you heard signed by me is enough. That’s why I’m being careful,” he said. “Information about defence is too much for me to manage as it were. So, please bear with me.”

He insisted he does not speak outside issued press releases. “Bear with the armed forces, please,” he added.

As of the time of filing this report, the Army Headquarters were yet to make any official statement on the number of casualties suffered in the attack.

The ICIR visited the official website of the Nigerian Army to verify if it had released official information in respect to the insurgent attack but the most recent statement was issued on  March 20, 2020.

The verified Twitter handle of the Army @HQNigerianArmy also contains no such information on the Friday attack on the Governor’s convoy.

The information posted on its verified social media account on Friday was about Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff, s assessment of troops’ accommodation as well as construction work at the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Maiduguri the state capital.

Reports say the governor was in Baga from Thursday to Friday to supervise efforts to return displaced residents to the fishing community on the shores of Lake Chad with waterways to neighbouring countries when a convoy of security operatives was ambushed despite precautionary measures taken to ensure safety.

Zulum had in July faced a similar attack in Baga after which he accused the military of compromise.

“You have been here for over one year now, there are 1,181 soldiers here; if you cannot take over Baga which is less than 5km from your base, then we should forget about Baga. I will inform the Chief of Army Staff to redeploy the men to other places that they can be useful,” Zulum stated while expressing his concerns.

The Nigerian Governor’s Forum, chaired by Kayode Fayemi, Governor of Ekiti State also expressed displeasure over the attack. The incident, Fayemi noted proved vulnerability of the nation’s security architecture.

The insurgent attack in Borno State, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has so far displaced over 2 million persons within the country.

Several casualties have also been reported though, the Federal Government claimed to have technically won over the Boko Haram insurgents.

Bello Makwashi, the State Commissioner for Police, however, restated his commitment to protecting lives and properties in the state.

 

Military court demotes, sentences four to 21-years imprisonment over misappropriation of cooperative funds

Vincent Ufuoma
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Military court demotes, sentences four to 21-years imprisonment over misappropriation of cooperative funds

THE General Court Martial of the Nigerian Air Force has sentenced four personnel of the Force to 21-years imprisonment for offenses related to misappropriation of funds.

The court which sat at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base, Makurdi, found Sherifi Olawoore, a Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt), Ademola Adekoya, Flying Officer (Fg Offr) , Michael Oyebanji, Master Warrant Officer (MWO) and Paul Atteh, Warrant Officer (WO) guilty of misappropriating the sum of N41 million.

Ibikunle Daramola, Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, who made this known in a statement on Saturday said in addition to the prison terms, three of the officers also suffered demotion for the negligence of duty.

“Four executive members of the 151 Base Services Group (151 BSG) Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Makurdi, who were standing trial before a General Court Martial (GCM), sitting at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base, Makurdi for criminal misappropriation of over N41,000,000.00, were, on 24 September 2020, awarded various sentences,” Daramola said.

“The four NAF personnel, who were arraigned before the GCM for Misappropriation of Cooperative Funds, amongst other offences, include Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) Sherifi Olawoore, Flying Officer (Fg Offr) Ademola Adekoya, Master Warrant Officer (MWO) Michael Oyebanji and Warrant Officer (WO) Paul Atteh. The personnel were sentenced based on their levels of involvement,” he added.

According to the NAF spokesperson, Nazib Aliyu, a Air Commodore and the President of the GCM,  pronounced the four accused personnel guilty of various charges.

Olawoore who was tried for negligently performing his duty as the President of the Cooperative was found guilty and awarded six months loss of seniority.

Adekoya was tried for negligently performing his duty as Secretary of the Cooperative. He was found guilty and awarded a one-year loss of seniority.

Michael Oyebanji, who was the Vice President of the Cooperative, was tried on a 46 count charge, including; Criminal Breach of Trust, Theft, Criminal Conspiracy, Criminal Misappropriation, Making of False Documents and Conduct to the Prejudice of Service Discipline, contrary to Sections 114 and 103 (d) of the Armed Forces Act Cap A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Sections 312, 287, 96 and 309 of the Penal Code Cap P3 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

He was found guilty on all 46 counts and subsequently sentenced to serve 21 years imprisonment, cumulatively, as well as a reduction in rank to Corporal and ordered to refund all monies misappropriated.

In the same vein, Paul Atteh, who was tried for negligently performing his duty as the Treasurer of the Cooperative as well as for the making of false documents and criminal breach of trust, was found guilty of all three charges.

He was awarded a reduction in rank from WO to Sergeant, in the first instance, and then eventually reduced to the rank of Corporal. He is also required to pay a fine of N1million.

Meanwhile, the GCM has ordered the release of WO Atteh from detention.

The Defence Counsel while pleading with the court to mitigate the judgement of the accused persons,  urged the court to show leniency, describing the accused persons as first-time offenders.

However, while the accused persons can appeal the judgement of the military court, the judgement is also subject to the confirmation by the appropriate superior authority of the military.

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