Govts step up moves to combat insecurity

Security seems to have broken down in some parts of the country where bandits are having a field day. This has forced the states and the Federal Governments to step up the fight against crime, report Faith Yahaya, Abuja; Damisi Ojo, Akure; Donatus Nadi, Lafia; Bolaji Ogundele, Warri; Rasaq Ibrahim, Ado Ekiti; Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba; Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna and Augustine Okezie, Katsina.

IGP seeks support for Operation Puff Adder

Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu is seeking support for Operation Puff Adder, his initiative to combat insecurity in various parts of the country.

He was in Katsina on Wednesday to seek support for the cause. On Tuesday, he was in Sokoto in furtherance of the anti-insecurity initiative. Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III pledged to support to the police and other security agencies to restore order.

The Sultan spoke at his palace in Gida Sarkin Musulmi, Sokoto when he received the IGP. Governor Aminu Tambuwal and Deputy Governor Mannir Dan’iya were also at the palace with the IG.

Sultan Abubakar promised to use the platform of the Forum of Northern Traditional Rulers to rally support of all the traditional rulers in the North to fight armed banditry and other crimes in the region. He aligned with the IGP’s policy direction of using the tool of Community Policing and Partnership to combat crime. The Sultan also urged Nigerians to support the police in the fight against all manner of crimes.

The IGP visited the police headquarters where he urged the officers and men of the command to up the ante in the fight against armed banditry and other crimes, promising to do everything within his power to provide them with adequate working tools and healthy working environment.

During the IGP’s visit to Katsina, Governor Aminu Masari announced the donation of 12 vehicles to the police.

Adamu urged the men of the Police Special Forces and other Tactical Units deployed in Katsina State to deal decisively with those terrorising the state.

Force Spokesman Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Frank Mba, in statement in Abuja, said the IGP admitted the obvious security challenges facing the country but said the challenges were not insurmountable.

He also assured that everything humanly and operationally possible is being done towards bringing a permanent end to incidences of armed banditry and other crimes in the country.

The IGP had earlier paid a courtesy call on, where he sought his support in the renewed fight against criminal elements.

Masari, who was represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Mannir Yakubu, pledged support of the state government and the people to ‘Operation Puff Adder’ and other security initiatives of the police.

The initiative also got a boost in its operational asset as the state government donated 12 Toyota Hilux vans to the police in the aid of the mission.

Mba also stated that the IGP also visited the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Usman, where he sought his cooperation and other traditional authorities in the fight against criminals.

Air chief orders elimination of bandits, insurgents

Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Saddique Baba Abubakar has ordered his men to eliminate bandits and insurgents terrorising their areas of responsibility.

He told his men to think out of the box and immediately evolve strategies to eliminate the bandits.

The CAS  spoke during the inauguration of accommodation projects at the Regiment Training Centre (RTC) and Military Training Centre, (MTC)  NAF base in Kaduna yesterday.

Represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, NAF Headquarters, Air Vice Marshal, Emmanuel Anebi, the CAS asked the Air Officer Commanding, Ground Training Command, Air Vice Marshal Idi Amin, and his regiment officers to ‘think out of the box’.

He said: “While capacity is been built within the NAF, we must continue to develop strategies to anticipate and curb emerging security threats across the country.”

The CAS said the efforts of the Federal Government to adequately equip the military were already yielding the desired results as terrorists are being targeted and neutralised.

Police arrest five kidnap suspects in Ondo

Five suspected kidnappers were yesterday arrested in Ondo State. They police apprehended them after the abduction of Omoghae Igbegbon on Akunnu-Akoko/Auga-Akoko Road.

They allegedly disposed their captive of N185,000 and demanded  for N30m ransom for his release.

Addressing reporters at the state police command headquarters, Akure, Police Commissioner Undie Adie said his men tracked the kidnappers to their hideout in Ibilo, Edo State.

He said: “On April 2, one Prince Omoghae Igbegbon of Senior Staff Quarters, NIFOR, Benin City Edo State was attacked by unknown gunmen numbering six along Akunnu Akoko/Auga Akoko Road in Ondo State.

“The hoodlums robbed him of N185,000 and dragged him into the bush. The abductors demanded N30m as ransom for his release.

“On April 3, a team of Police men with members of vigilante group trailed the kidnappers to their den at Ibilo, Edo State and after exchange of gun fire, the kidnappers fled to unknown destination.

“They left behind one pump action, one double barrel and two single barrel guns. The victim escaped to a community in Ibilo where he explained his ordeal in the hands of the kidnappers.

“The Police placed the community on red alert to watch out for any strange faces. Thereafter, one Ismaila Wakili, 19 years, from Niger State whom the victim later recognized as one of the kidnappers was arrested and handed over to the Police.

“Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed committing the crime and mentioned other members of his gang.

“The suspect later led a team of detectives to the hideouts of the hoodlums at Aduwawa in Benin City, Edo State.”

The CP said Abdullahi Sanni, 33, from Kogi State, Mohammed Abdullahi, 36, from Sokoto State, Umoru Usman, 25 from Kebbi State and Sheu Usman, 25, from Niger State were arrested.

He said the suspect identified themselves as members of the gangsters terrorising Akoko axis of the state.

Adie said efforts were on to arrest other fleeing members of the gang, while those already apprehended would be charged to court after conclusion of the ongoing investigation.

However, Wakili, who had earlier admitted to have participated in the crime, denied knowing the other four suspects, stressing that the operation was his first outing.

On last Monday’s bank robbery in Idoani, where seven persons were killed, the Police Commissioner said investigation was on to unveil the perpetrators.

Adie added that that security measures have been scaled up around bank premises across the 18 local government areas of the state.

Days of kidnapping are over in Nasarawa, says CP

Nasarawa State Police Commissioner Bola Longe has said the days of kidnapping are over in the state.

Longe spoke on Wednesday at the state police command, Lafia while parading 17 suspected kidnappers and armed robbers arrested by the command across the state recently.

The police commissioner: “The command has been re-strategising on how to further check criminal activities in the state, especially armed robbery and kidnapping. The command has put in place several anti-kidnapping and robbery templates.

“Not only that, we want to state without any equivocation that the command has the will, the training, the logistics and  temperament to comprehensively reduce criminal activities to the barest minimum in the state.”

The police commissioner appealed to members of the public to combine synergise with the state police command by giving the command useful information that could lead to the arrest of criminal practitioners in their communities.

“The identity of the giver of such information will be subjected to utmost confidentiality. Such information will assist the command in realising its goal of making Nasarawa a state where criminals will neither hide nor intimidate law-abiding citizens in their goals of self-actualisation.”

“Therefore, we are warning criminal practitioners to stop their antics or be dealt with in accordance with the provision of the law,” Longe added.

Suspected herdsmen kill four  in Delta community

Not fewer than four persons have been killed between Tuesday night and yesterday morning by suspected herdsmen, who invaded some parts of Abraka community, Ethiope East Council Area of Delta State.

The Nation gathered that the killer herdsmen, besides attacking anyone in sight, were also stopping farmers and farm labourers from gaining access into farmlands, taking over parts of the community with their herds of cow and leaving many injured.

One their victims was identified as Kennedy Ukuanovwe. Ukuanovwe, father of seven and native of Urhuovie Quarters of Abraka was attacked by the invaders along the Abraka-Benin Road, while riding his motorcycle around the areas under invasion, shooting and cutting him to death.

The other three casualties, who could not be identified as at the time of filing this report, included a woman, a soldier and another man.

A community source, who spoke to The Nation on the development, said: “It was only Kennedy (Ukuanovwe), who was killed on Tuesday night that has been identified, the other three dead people have not been identified in person yet. The other three were killed by the Fulani herdsmen this morning (Wednesday)”.

At the time of filing this report, policemen and other security operatives were seen patrolling the town, which is host to the main campus of the Delta State University (DELSU), and hometown the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in last month’s elections, Chief Great Ogboru.

Delta State Commissioner of Police Adeyinka Adeleke said: “It is not only one person that died. We saw corpses. Other persons also died but we don’t know who actually killed them. Our men are still in the bush. When they come out, they will be able to give details.”

Ooni’s wife urges religious leaders to preach against kidnapping, killings

The wife of Ooni of Ife and founder of En-heralds Ministry, Prophetess Silekunola Naomi Ogunwusi, has urged the religious leaders in the country to preach against kidnapping and indiscriminate killings in the country.

Mrs. Ogunwusi said faith remains one of the potent weapons to fight crimes in the society, saying the religious leaders must join the fray to make Nigeria a peaceful nation.

She spoke at the palace of Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu yesterday during the commencement of a three-day revival in the town organised in concert with Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN).

Mrs. Ogunwusi stated that increasing crimes in the country in spite of the proliferation of churches didn’t connote that all the church leaders were deceptive and unGodly.

The evangelist added that the body of Christ had been working with governments to rid the country of crimes.

“There are so many people who are using the name of Christ to do evils. But the body of Christ must work harder, we have a lot of work to do in view of the ways people were being killed, kidnapped and maimed by bandits.

“We have been praying and preaching against these but we must know that crimes had been before the coming of Jesus Christ and we should not forget that we are having more children on daily basis and the more we do this, the more we must intensify efforts to preach Christ to them to help them grow stronger in faith,” she said.

Air Force shells insurgents in Zamfara

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has said its Air Task Force (ATF) on Operation DIRAN MIKIYA has recorded successes in a renewed air offensive against bandits in Zamfara and its environs.

NAF Spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola,  in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said the operation was carried out on Monday.

“The air strikes, which were intensified on April 8, with the deployment of additional aircraft, are aimed at flushing out the bandits from their hideouts in Sububu, Rugu and Kagara Forests, amongst others, whilst ensuring the protection of the lives and properties of citizens in the North West of the Country.

“On the first day of the intensive operation, the ATF conducted coordinated air raids against multiple identified bandits’ hideouts at Doumborou, Sububu, West Malamawa, Baturia Pond and Rugu Forest, where several bandits were neutralised and their camps destroyed,” he said.

He said the ATF on April 9, conducted waves of attacks against several targets, adding that the first wave struck three bandits locations within Sububu forest as well as another camp in Kagara forest.

“Targets attacked in the second wave were notable armed bandits’ hideouts at Kamarawa, Kunduma and Tsamare hill, while the third wave focused on armed bandits hideouts in Doumborou.

“The ATF also provided close air support to surface forces of Sector 2 to enable them move into the attacked areas to mop-up the fleeing survivors and recover their weapons.

“In all, the ATF degraded eight camps and neutralized scores of bandits,” he said.

Daramola said reports indicated that, as a result of the air strikes, some of the bandits were fleeing towards the border between Nigeria and Niger Republic.?

“Accordingly, the ATF is liaising with relevant authorities to ensure that the bandits are prevented from escaping through the Southern part of Niger Republic,” he said. ?

He said the NAF, in consonance with surface forces and other relevant authorities, would sustain its efforts to end the scourge of banditry and other related threats to life and safety in the North West of “our dear nation.”

El-Rufai warns against reprisal over Kajuru killings

Following Monday morning’s killings at Banono and Ungwan Akut, Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai yesterday visited the troubled Kajuru local government area, urging all communities in the state to reject an eye for an eye stance in resolving differences.

Addressing the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at their camp in Maraban Kajuru, the governor said attacks and reprisals only produced pain and suffering. He said he has directed relevant agencies to reassess the condition of the IDPs who are from different communities to enable them return to their communities soon.

Speaking in Maraban Kajuru, Kajuru local government after meeting with the IDPs, El-Rufai said  he was saddened by the situation. “What we saw is unfortunate, but we must speak out and tell our people the right thing to be done. An eye for eye is not a solution to the vicious cycles of killings and will complicate and undermine collective efforts.

“Our admonition is simple. If Fulani or Adara communities have complaints of killings or attacks, they should report and allow security agencies and government to take up the administration of justice. If these communities resort to taking the laws into their own hands, it will not work. That  is not the solution.”

According to the governor, “all communities must resist the temptation to take the law into their own hands. Security personnel and assets cannot be in every inch of our state. Communities must stop this abnormality of taking the laws into their own hands. It has never worked and will never work.”

El-Rufai said  it is not helpful to create false narratives and politicize security challenges that can be solved with goodwill and law abiding conduct by all parties. “As a government, we will continue to collaborate with security agencies, traditional and religious institutions in peace building, but we will be frank to our communities.

“They have lived peacefully before this mistrust and they can rekindle the glorious past by simply not taking the laws into their own hands and doing away with jungle justice. On our own part, we will do our very best in protecting lives and property.

“We will also not shy away from applying the law to anyone found complicit in the violent communal conflicts, irrespective of their status, religion, ethnicity or political persuasions. Let us cherish all lives. No life is more precious than another life.”

After receiving briefings from officials of Kajuru local government council and the volunteers managing the IDPs, the governor directed that urgent reassessment of the condition of the displaced citizens be undertaken so that their return to normalcy can be fast tracked.