Crime Facts

“Nnamdi is a criminal, he hijacked ESN from Southeast govs – Uzodimma alleges

Imo State Governor , Hope Uzodinma, has accused Indigenous People of Biafra and its leader , Nnamdi Kanu, of hijacking the Eastern Security Network from the governors of the South – East region, The Punch reports. The governor , who met with journalists in Owerri on Friday night, disclosed that the South -East governors would be meeting in Owerri , the Imo State capital, to outline modalities that would see to the birth a security outfit for the region. Uzodinma disclosed that the South – East governors had agreed and put in place modalities to establish ESN but Kanu hijacked the name of the outfit. The governor also accused Kanu of using ESN operatives to cause mayhem in the region. He said , “ The governors will not want to be a copycat , especially with the pressure put on us after the formation of Amotekun by the South -West governors . “ In the next couple of weeks , governors of the South – East will hold a security summit in Owerri with a view to fashioning out modalities for setting up a security outfit for our region. We will hold an elaborate discussion with a view to finding a lasting solution and to complement the work of security agents in the country. “ It is necessary for every zone to be vigilant and have a security outfit, especially with the present situation we have in this country . We cannot lose fate with the management of security in our region and at the same time , we must be careful in the way we go about it. “ South – East governors tried to set up the Eastern Security Network by working with Ohanaeze Ndigbo . The attorneys -general of the five South – Eastern states have already anchored a report on it and before we know it, IPOB hijacked the name and started using it to commit crime . “ That arrangement has not stopped. We are trying to take a review. We will come up with an outfit that will be lasting . We don’ t want to do things because others have done it or be copycats . There are permutations and we must defend our people and ensure that there is no external aggression . “ It is not failure of government because the primary responsibility of government is to protect the lives and property of the people . ”

Buratai unveils book, urges youths to always show respect for elders

The immediate past Chief of Army Staff and Ambassador Designate, retired Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Friday, unveiled his book titled, “The Legend of Buratai” volume 2 in Abuja. The book, co-authored by a seasoned journalist and essayist, Dr Abubakar Sani, is a true-life story of Buratai about his journey through life. While speaking on the book, Buratai said that showing respect for elders was one of the pillars that propelled him to prominence in life and reach the top in his military career. He also urged young ones to always keep fit, saying that fitness was a very important aspect of life that many youths had not taken seriously. Buratai also enjoined the youths to be religious by being devoted to God and had the fear of God. He explained that volume one of the book was a fiction by Sani, adding that the title of the book gained his attention which encouraged him to write Volume 2 by himself. “As rightly mentioned, volume one is a fiction and it came as a surprise toe and suddenly, it attracted attention both locally and internationally. “Volume two arose from volume one because of the inspiration and its success. I said I must get it right and we must put my experiences right from the primary one,” he said. The former army chief recalled how he almost got drown in a pond and other encounters like terrorists’ attacks, which he titled, “miraculous escape” in the book. He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the opportunity to serve the country at a higher level and others who had supported him to succeed. “I want to appreciate you all for the show of love and appreciation for a service that one had done for his fatherland. “I see it as something that is natural and normal and the secret behind that is, right from my school days, that culture of respect for elders, senior and parent had been what has been propelling me to remain humbled, focus and love everybody around me,” he said. The Chairman of the occasion and a Member, House of Representatives, Jafaru Ribadu, commended Buratai for his wisdom and efforts to document a thorough account of his journey as a military General. Ribadu said that the book would help the general public to understand the critical and often selfless roles played by the military in ensuring peace and security of the nation. A former member of the British Parliament, George Galloway, who delivered a keynote address virtually, described Buratai as an asset to Nigeria and the world. Galloway also described the former army chief as a gallant general who had dedicated his life to service having commanded one of the largest armies in the world. He commended Buratai for his role in ensuring that the Nigerian national unity was protected t his time as Chief of Army Staff. He said the personal account of Buratai’s life in the book was apt, adding that the history of a person could be best written by the person. According to him, Winston Churchill was once told that history would not be kind to him and Mr Churchill replied, “O yes it will because I intend to write it myself” and I am glad to say that our gallant Gen. Buratai is now following. He said that there were people who would choose to misrepresent one’s life and career, adding that it was important for one to write about his own account and events in life. The book reviewer and Co-author, Dr Sani, said the book would serve as a role model for young people who want to aspire higher in life. Sani said that the book had 125 pages and nine chapters, adding that it covered the early life of Buratai as narrated by him as well as the account of his classmate and close friend, John Atanda among other narratives. He added that the book also focused on Buratai’s journey in the military and personal principles.

Nnamdi Kanu has changed registration status of IPOB, Igbo group insists

…Urges the public to disregard IPOB’s attempt to cover up the truth SOME concerned Igbo professionals have reiterated their claim that the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has changed the registration status of the proscribed group. In the statement, the professionals recalled that barely twenty-four hours ago, they had alerted the public on the development in the UK, wherein Kanu was reported to have registered IPOB as a “community interest company”. Operating under the aegis of Coalition of South East Professionals Network in Nigeria and Diaspora, CSEPNND, the Igbo professionals who claimed that Kanu carried out the change of IPOB’s registration in the United Kingdom, UK, said the action vindicated their consistent position that the fugitive was using the platform to achieve personal and selfish desires. While maintaining that Kanu’s agitation for the realisation of the Republic of Biafra was anything but altruistic, the coalition urged well-meaning Ndigbo in particular, and Nigerians in general, to disregard the “terrorist” group and their activities, which they insisted, were inimical to national security and progress. Their position was conveyed in a statement by their National President, Prof. Madumere Chika, and National Secretary, Anayo Uchemba. They said they were compelled to make this further clarification, in response to a statement on social media by IPOB claiming otherwise. The Igbo professionals adopted their earlier position, saying they would not dignify a group that did not exist, in the eyes of the law with a response to some of their questions which is out of frustration. “As a coalition of professionals, who have distinguished themselves in different fields of endeavours, we refuse to dissipate energy responding to a non-existent group, as doing so will amount to dignifying a ‘terrorist organisation,” the statement said. It added: “Yes, IPOB, by its acts of violence against the good people of South East, as well as a threat to national security, has since been designated a terrorist organisation, having been so proscribed.” It continued: “Nothing in our investigation showed that the aforesaid labelling, which was accorded consequential gazetting, was ever set aside in any competent court in Nigeria or anywhere in the world. “It is on this basis, therefore, that we, for the umpteenth time, appeal to well-meaning Igbo sons and daughters – both home and in the diaspora – to denounce Kanu, IPOB and all their works. “Finally, we Challenge them to a public debate on any National Television of their choice within the shortest period, we also invite the public to approach online platforms, with a view to confirming our alert and other former IPOB member’s that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has altered the registration status of his self-serving platform – IPOB”. To buttress their position, the South East professionals draw attention to the fact that Kanu has since “filed zero income in UK financial report”, ostensibly to pave the way for the personalisation of the group. In their earlier statement, the concerned Nigerians had called on well-meaning Igbo sons and daughters to pull out of the group and openly identify with the Nigerian State as others are already doing, saying Ndigbo has so much to gain being in an indivisible Nigeria than Kanu’s acclaimed Biafra. This was as they further charged them on the need to remain firm and resolute in their decision in showing unalloyed allegiance to the Nigerian State and not allow Kanu succeed to in manipulating them into joining his secessionist group to promote his selfish agenda. They had asked: “, How can Kanu change the registration status of IPOB to his personal business if he truly means well for his followers? Kanu and his wife remain the sole signatories to IPOB’s main account in Germany, is this not clear that it’s a personal business?”. They had contended further that, “This has completely vindicated our stand that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is just a common fraudster who is only out to make money and other personal gains for himself and not representing the Igbo nation”. In its reaction, the proscribed IPOB had dismissed the position as false, describing CSEPNND as “faceless”. In a statement by one pseudo-Emma Powerful, who purports to be the publicity secretary, the proscribed group insisted that IPOB had not effected any change in its registration documents, “The attention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been drawn to the ridiculous and fallacious media report that our Leader has altered the registration documents of IPOB and converted same to his private estate with his wife, Mrs Uchechi Okwu Kanu as one of the signatories. “The stupid claims emanating from a faceless group and DSS-creation masquerading as Coalition of South East Professionals Network in Nigeria and Diaspora (CSEPNND), only exists in the imagination of those behind the trash. “There is no iota of truth in the above gibberish which only confirms that the DSS has run out of ideas in its propaganda war against IPOB. Assuming but not conceding to this tissue of lies, when and how has who owns and runs IPOB become the headache of these dullards? “We thought they said IPOB is an organization of miscreants run by a lunatic? How come the Nigeria Government is suddenly beginning to lose sleep over the ownership of IPOB the assembly of miscreants?”, the statement read.

Pinnick, not CAF 5th Vice President — NFF

The Nigeria Football Federation has described as untrue, a report in sections of the media that the President of NFF, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick was selected as 5th Vice President of the Confederation of African Football at Friday’s 43rd Ordinary and Elective Assembly in Rabat, Morocco. NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi said the report was a sheer falsehood as such was never even discussed either on the floor of the Congress or at any meeting of the CAF leadership. “The President of NFF, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick was elected as Member of the FIFA Council at the Congress, and that is what we are celebrating. Nobody approached him or put it up for discussion at any forum that he would be 5th Vice President. “Mr Pinnick served as the 1st Vice President of CAF for a year, between 2018 and 2019, before the former leadership of CAF opted not to renew his tenure. There is no way he will now agree to be a 5th Vice President. He is content being a Member of the esteemed FIFA Council – the highest decision-making body in world football – and a high –ranking member of CAF Executive Committee.” In Friday’s election, Pinnick defeated incumbent Walter Nyamilandu of Malawi by 43 votes to 8 to become only the third Nigerian to take a seat in world football’s highest decision-making organ, after late Etubom Oyo Orok Oyo and Dr Amos Adamu.

EXTRA: Man Bags SSCE At 45

Businessman Zakari Yau-Salihu has taken until now to get his Secondary School Certificate Examination at age 45. He was among 41 graduates to obtain the certificate under the 2019/2020 FCT Department of Mass Education (DME) Adult literacy programme. He said he chose to acquire formal education to enable him communicate effectively. “I grew up in the north and migrated to Abuja to look for money, to take care of myself and my family. “When I arrived Abuja, I found it difficult to communicate with people because of lack of education. My business suffered setback because people do not understand what I am saying because they don’t speak my language. “I couldn’t read, write or even speak English language because I didn’t go to school. In 2011, he registered at primary level, spent three years there and wrote a common entrance exam to secondary level. He went through both junior and senior secondary. “Today is our graduation day and it is a great day for me,’’ he said. He said despite the challenges and discouragement from family members and neighbors, he was able to endure for over 10 years to enable him acquire formal education. Yau-Salihu said he was already preparing for the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination to enable him further his education. He explained that majority of his classmates were married and older than him, but that did not hinder them from learning patiently from the much younger facilitators, who taught and groomed them for several years. He encouraged others to also seize the opportunity to acquire formal education, which would enable them become better citizens, and have alternative source of livelihood. “My advice to my fellow students, illiteracy is a serious thing, you cannot become a useful person to the society without education. “Even when you have money, if you are not educated, that money will not be useful to you and you will not know how to manage it well. “My advice to others is to be patient, come and register yourself in adult education school so that you can learn. Those that have registered already, should be patient, priorities your needs and make sacrifices. “Forget about the challenges, even in your neighborhood, they will challenge and discourage you, but based on your determination you can make it.’’ Mrs Victoria Nwanyieze, the Zonal Coordinator, FCT Department for Mass Education, Karu, said they had the mandate to provide adult literacy and vocational education for residents, who seek to improve their knowledge. Nwanyieze said the society had gone digital, hence the need for people to acquire education, “my advice is that they should come here, as it is not too late to learn.’’

‘We won’t tolerate destruction of school system’ — Buhari warns ‘would-be terrorists’

President Muhammadu Buhari has issued a stern warning to “would-be terrorists” and bandits against attacking schools. Speaking on the recent attack by bandits on the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in Igabi LGA, Kaduna, he also commended the military for rescuing 172 of the students. Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, conveyed Buhari’s message in a statement on Saturday. TheCable had reported that the students were abducted when gunmen invaded the school in Afaka town in the early hours of Friday. The abduction is the latest in a series of attacks carried out by bandits across schools in northern Nigeria. Samuel Aruwan, the Kaduna commissioner for internal security and home affairs, had said 172 students and eight staff members were freed from the bandits, but 39 students are still unaccounted for. According to Shehu, Buhari warned that the federal government will not allow the destruction of the school system by bandits. He hailed the prompt intervention of the military, but urged that the others declared missing are found and returned safely to their families. The president also commended the efforts and contributions of local intelligence in significantly confronting the kidnappers, adding that a country which has an efficient local intelligence network is a safer country. He sympathised with victims of the incident, and called on members of the public to support the fight against banditry. “Our military may be efficient and well-armed, but it needs good efforts for the nation’s defence and the local population must rise to this challenge of the moment,” the president said. The Kaduna abduction comes about two weeks after bandits kidnapped more than 200 students from Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, Zamfara state. Buhari had promised that with the ongoing efforts to improve security across the country, the Jangebe abduction would be the last.

Bokoharam ambushes soldiers, kills 15 in Borno

Islamic State-aligned jihadists ambushed a military convoy, killing 15 soldiers and four militia fighters in Borno, security sources said Saturday. The convoy came under heavy attack from Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters near Gudumbali in the Lake Chad region on Thursday. The attack was the latest in a jihadist conflict which has killed 36,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands in northeast Nigeria since it began more than a decade ago. “We lost 15 soldiers and four civilian JTF (militia) in the terrorists’ ambush in the forest near Gudumbali,” a military officer, who asked not to be identified, told AFP. He said 13 government fighters, including 10 troops, were wounded in the ambush. The 10-vehicle convoy was on its way to Gudumbali from the town of Kukawa in Borno for a military operation against the insurgents when it came under fire, said another military source, who gave the same toll. On Saturday, ISWAP issued a statement, claiming responsibility for the ambush, according to the SITE jihadist monitoring agency. ISWAP which split from the jihadist group Boko Haram in 2016, has become a dominant threat in Nigeria, attacking troops and bases while killing and kidnapping passengers at bogus checkpoints.(AFP)

Kaduna students beg in video as kidnappers demand N500m

Gunmen, who abducted 39 students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in the Mando Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State , have demanded N 500 million for the release of the students . According to the Kaduna State Government , the students comprise 23 females and 16 males . In a video published by Daily Trust on Saturday, one of the students , who spoke on behalf of others , pleaded for the government to come to their rescue, saying , “ time is going ” . He also said the kidnappers threatened to take his life and the lives of his colleagues should the government try to deploy troops to their location. The student also complained about the health of his colleagues.

Okonjo-Iweala Makes First Visit To Nigeria As WTO Director-General

The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has made her first visit to Nigeria since she assumed office. She was received upon her arrival in the country on Saturday by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Nasir Sani-Gwarzo. Okonjo-Iweala told reporters in Abuja, the nation’s capital that her visit to Nigeria was to show appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for the support accorded her. She also hinted that discussion on how Nigeria can leverage her position to benefit from trans-national trade formed part of her visit to the country. Okonjo-Iweala’s visit to Nigeria comes about a month after she was confirmed as the Director-General of the global trade organisation. As the first woman and first African to lead the international body, her term began on March 1 and would last until the next four years. The term, which is renewable, will expire on August 31, 2025. In the journey to become the director-general of the WTO, Okonjo-Iweala had the backing of the majority of the member-countries of the organisation. She, however, vied for the job with the Republic of Korea’s Trade Minister, Yoo Myung-hee, who enjoyed the support of former United States President Donald Trump to become the WTO DG. The Korean minister later announced on February 5 that she was abandoning her bid to lead the international trade body, leading to Okonjo-Iweala’s emergence as the sole candidate for the job. Following the withdrawal, the U.S. government through its Trade Representative expressed its “strong support” for the candidacy of Okonjo-Iweala as the Director-General of the WTO. Okonjo-Iweala, 66, was nominated as Nigeria’s candidate to lead the WTO by President Muhammadu Buhari in June 2020. She is a Nigerian-American economist and international development expert who has a 25-year career at the World Bank, scaling the ranks to the second top position of Managing Director, Operations. The Delta State-born economist served two terms as the minister of finance under former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan respectively.

Reps to Army Chief: Come and explain how military weapons got to bandits

The House of Representatives on Friday said the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru should appear before it to explain how weapons bought for the Nigerian Army ended up in the hands of bandits. The House also on Friday expressed grave concern over allegations made by the National Security Adviser (NSA) Major General Mohammed Babagana Monguno (rtd), that the former Service Chiefs could not account for billions of naira voted for the purchase of arms for the fight against insurgency and armed banditry. The National Security Adviser who spoke in a BBC Hausa programme was quoted to have alleged that the new military chiefs had not seen any evidence of arms procurement in their records and hand-over notes on the assumption of office. The Ad-hoc Committee set up by the House to review the purchase, use and control of arms, ammunition and related hardware by military, paramilitary and other law enforcement agencies in Nigeria, chaired by Hon. Olaide Akinremi resolved to invite the Chief of Army Staff, to appear in person to respond to allegations bothering on how weapons purchased for the military and police ended up in the hands of bandits and miscreants. Hon. Akinremi who issued the notice after the closed door session with representatives of the Chief of Army Staff led by Major General C. Ofuche which lasted for 15 minutes, also stressed the need for the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele to appear before the Committee. Hon. Akinremi who observed that both arms of Government are working toward achieving one goal, “it’s for the purpose of one goal, the betterment of Nigeria. “Before I give you the floor, you may be aware of news going round I got that as breaking news this morning also, it says, it seems the money released to former Service Reps to Army Chief: Come explain how military weapons got to bandits Chiefs by President uhammadu Buhari to buy weapons to fight terrorism, banditry and kidnapping is missing. “Because the new Service Chiefs have confirmed to us, that they didn’t see where the new weapons were purchased in their handing over. “Apparently, the money is missing. And the money in question is in trillions of naira. And we must investigate. So with all of these going on, coupled with international interest especially, the Nigerians we represent, they are all watching. So we need to handle this issue with care. We all agree that it is very very sensitive,” he observed. Other lawmakers, who expressed concern over the breach of extant regulations, underscored the need to examine the level of compliance with extant provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007. Speaking on the extant provisions of the section 88 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Hon. Ifeanyi Momah who raised a Point of Order said: “I don’t think the representatives of the Chief of Army Staff can be held culpable or liable for any remarks made here because it is assumed that any remarks that is made is mad by the Chief of Army Staff. So if he’s not the one making the remarks it’s very easy for him to actually engage in culpable deniability because he’s not the one making the remarks.” In his intervention, Hon. Ibrahim Al-Mustapha Aliyu who noted that the Ad-hoc committee was not witchhunt anybody, stressed the need for the accounting officer of the Nigerian Army to appear in person to explain how weapons bought for the military and police ended up in the hands of bandits. “For the chairman and secretariat there is no communication before that the Chief of Army Staff is having another schedule that may not allow him to be physically present here. That is a contravention to section 88, section 89 subsection 1, and of course section one of the Armed Forces Act 1994. So we re not witch-hunting but telling you what the law says. “In line with the position of the previous speakers, I want to reiterate that this is a very serious and sensitive security matter. At least let us see the man, being that this is the first meeting with the Nigerian Army, the accounting officer of the Army should have appeared to give us his account, his position as far as the communications ade to him. “Basically, we are detailed not to be friendly, but to work to find fault. ou can bear witness to the fact that Nigeria is now embroiled in serious security issues and yearin- year-out, appropriations were made and huge sums expended on procurement of arms and ammunitions and yet with most of the arrests made, you find these arms and ammunition with some of these bandits and miscreants. appropriations were made and huge sums expended on procurement of arms and ammunitions and yet with most of the  arrests made, you find these arms and ammunition with some of these bandits and miscreants. “Some of them can  e  traced back to the very military or  police. It is a serious issue andthe National Assembly is well positioned to dig deep  into the root of this issue and find solutions. As moved by my  colleague, there is the need  for a motion to allow the  Chief  of Army Staff come and make his submissions personally to this committee.” In his remarks however,  Major  General C. Ofuche who apologized on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, said: “He should have been here today and all  indication to that was already in motion, but for several trips. If you watched the TV, he was in Ibadan and Enugu  yesterday all for the same security needs. “The country is embroiled in a lot of crises so they are moving around and he  thought he could make it down here this morning for this meeting. And so the notice was quite short for me to come and  represent him because he would have loved to do it personally and that is why there is no written note,” he