By Diana Omueza

The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) has said that the recent coups in the Republic of Niger, Burkina-Faso and Mali are not good images for the West African region and its people.

Dr Chris Kwaja, the Country Director of USIP, said this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

Kwaja said that peace, security and stability should be the fundamental focus of every African nation and not unconstitutional change of government.

“Africa is at a cross road right now and the desire for peace, security and stability is one of the most fundamental of any average African and the international community is also placing these on the front burner of its policy directions.

“It takes governance to make peace, security and stability happen but across Africa today, we have seen cases of coup in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea and that on its own, is not a good image for the region, for West Africa and the people.

“It is not just about national security or regional security alone but also about human security in the context of uncertainty that citizens of West Africa are now afraid because we don’t know which country will be next,” he said.

Kwaja said it beholds on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as the regional body, to be alive to its responsibilities to ensure stability by understudying the quality of governance in its region.

According to him, ECOWAS body must self reflect on why are coups happening, it does not support coup, so why are they happening.

“ECOWAS should be able to ask are they products or consequences of bad government or governance or are they disenchantment or discontentment of citizens.

“When you look at some of the countries where this coup are happening, they take the face of copulism as if the citizens are happy with the emergence of the military.

“But no matter how good a military regime is, democracy is still the best way to go and which means we need to take a second look at the quality of governance, democracy and particularly in the context of elections,” he said.

The country director said that military coup was not the only coup taking place in the region, adding that any attempt to alter constitutionally designed processes, including attempt to elongate tenure, was a coup.

He also said that attempts by leaders to undermine electoral processes for the emergence of leaders in a democracy system was also a civilian coup.

He advised African leaders to focus on good governance and the rule of law in order to attract peace, security and stability to the region. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng))

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Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Idris Abdulrahman

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Defence Headquarters says the the Armed Forces of Nigeria is yet to receive order for any military intervention in the Republic of Niger following the coup that led to the ouster of democratic governance in the country.

The Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, in a statement on Thursday, dismissed the online report that the Nigerian military was assembling its forces for military action in Republic of Niger.

According to him, the AFN is yet to receive any order from the appropriate authority to commence military action against the Military Junta in Niger.

“It is no longer news that some members of the Republic of Niger Armed Forces seized power from a democratically elected government through un-constitutional means.

“In reaction to this illegal takeover of government, the ECOWAS Heads of Government met and a series of options were reached on how to intervene in the crisis.

“Military option was the last option to be taken in case every other option fails, to reverse the situation and return the Government of Republic of Niger to constitutional order.

“At the moment, ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff is currently holding an extraordinary meeting in Abuja to discuss the political situation in Republic of Niger and submit their plans to the committee of Heads of States and Government of ECOWAS for consideration.

“In conclusion, the Armed Forces of Nigeria cannot proceed on any operation in any of the member states of ECOWAS without the mandate from the Authority of Heads of States and Government,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The National President, Nigerian Air Force Officers’ Wives Association (NAFOWA), Mrs Rakiya Abubakar, has solicited the continued support and collaboration of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in the areas of education, women and youth empowerment, healthcare and poverty alleviation.

Mrs Abubakar made the call when she paid a courtesy call on the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, at the Headquarters NAF (HQ NAF), Abuja on Tuesday.

She said her request was in line with the motto of NAFOWA which is, “Service to Humanity”.

The Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, made this known in a statement on Tuesday.

Mrs Abubakar, who was accompanied by other members of the association, appreciated the CAS for the support and encouragement they had received so far noting that the Association was willing, able and ready to contribute its quota to the overall success of the Service.

She congratulated the CAS on his appointment, promotion and subsequent decoration with the rank of Air Marshal by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

She said the visit was to consolidate on the existing cordial relationship between the NAF and NAFOWA and reaffirmed the unalloyed loyalty and support of the association to the service.

NAFOWA president said the association’s overall objective was the promotion of welfare and wellbeing of its members, children and the less privileged in the society through education and various skills acquisition programmes.

She also solicited the support of the NAF in the provision of needed infrastructure at the newly established NAFOWA Secondary School and NAFOWA Little Angeles, Asokoro, Abuja.

In his response, the CAS described members of NAFOWA as pillars of strength, unsung heroes and source of motivation to their husbands and families.

According to him, the association has contributed immensely to the educational sector of the Country through the NAFOWA Little Angels Schools and vocational centres.

He said the skills acquisition and empowerment programmes had been impactful, adding that over 300 dependents had benefitted in the last 12 months in various skills including catering, event decoration, soap making, embroidery and tailoring amongst others.

Abubakar urged the air force wives to derive strength from their unity as a community, while acknowledging some of the challenges facing the members occasioned by frequent postings and relocations as well as long absence of their husbands.

According to CAS, when you come together under one umbrella, your synergy as women is unrivalled and amazing.

The CAS also urged them to remain a network of support and beacon of hope to those in despair and others who might be going through other challenges. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Dr Olalekan Balogun (R) and the Acting Zonal Commander of the Ibadan Command of the EFCC, ACE I Halima Rufa’u with others during a visit to the Oba on Tuesday in Ibadan.

By Isaac Aregbesola

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Dr Olalekan Balogun, has pledged his support to the EFCC in tackling the menace of illegal mining activities in Ibadan and  Oyo State in general.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Uwujaren quoted Oba Balogun as making the pledge when the Acting Zonal Commander of the Ibadan Command of the EFCC, ACE I Halima Rufa’u visited him on Tuesday.

He commended the acting zonal commander for coming to his palace at a time that the fight against illegal mining in Ibadan was on the rise.

The Olubadan also expressed pleasure that the EFCC was a major stakeholder in this fight.

“It is evident and we are aware that the commission has been tackling the menace of illegal mining activities head on.

“I can assure you of my full support including the supports of all the traditional chiefs in Ibadan to making sure that the illegal activities come to an end,” the Olubadan stated.

He also commended the acting zonal commander for expediting positive action as regards land and property fraud cases.

He, however, stressed the need for the commission to do more in curbing the menace of cybercrime and other related fraudulent activities amongst the youth.

The acting zonal commander thanked Oba Balogun for receiving her while assuring the paramount ruler that the Ibadan Zonal Command will do more to curb the menace of cybercrime in the state.

Rufa’u said the commission would continue to tackle the activities of illegal mineral operators that had undermined the development of the state and, indeed, the country through non- payment of royalties, taxes and other dues.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Combined troops of 82 Division, Nigerian Army, sister Services, Nigeria Police and other security agencies have successfully raided hideouts and training camps belonging to the IPOB/ESN in Orsumoghu Forest spanning Anambra and Imo States.

This is contained in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Nwachukwu said the raid was in continuation of ongoing operations to deter enforcement of the illegal sit-at- home order declared by the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN), in the South East.

He said the raid operation was carried out on Monday when troops were alerted of the violent activities of the irredentist group enforcing the illegal two weeks sit-at-home order in Onitsha, Nnewi and Iheme Obosi in Anambra State, as well as at New Market in Enugu state.

He said the troops cleared IPOB camps in Ekeututu, Orsumoghu, Lilu and Mother Valley camps of the dissidents during the operations.

According to him, troops came in contact with the group’s armed fighters, who detonated Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), also known as Ogbunigwe, and fired using locally-fabricated mortar tube.

Nwachukwu said the valiant troops overpowered the irredentist group in the firefight, compelling them to abandon their position and fled with gunshot wounds into nearby bushes.

“Further cordon and search of the hideouts by the troops, led to the arrest of five fleeing members of the group and recovery of one IPOB flag, one CCTV camera and two detonated IED bombs and a fabricated mortar tube.

“Sadly, five soldiers and two Nigeria Police operatives sustained varying degrees of injuries from the IED detonated by the criminals.

“The Nigerian Army  encourages all law- abiding citizens of the South East to continue to support ongoing operations with actionable information and to disregard the unlawful two-week sit-at-home order by going about their normal daily activities and businesses.

“The Nigerian army, in synergy with sister services and security agencies, will undauntedly continue to protect and safeguard lives and property of the good and enterprising people of South East Nigeria, within the ambit of the law and the rules of engagement,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vincent Obi

By Reporters

A coss section of farmers, community leaders, security agents and other stakeholders in Jigawa, Gombe, Sokoto, Katsina and Zamfara have given reasons behind their decision to adopt dialogue in addressing peculiar security challenges in their areas.

The stakeholders spoke in separate interviews while responding to a survey by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the security challenges in the country.

According to them, dialogue is important in addressing the crisis even if it is on temporary basis.

They however all agreed that full scale security offensive is necessary to completely wipe out bandits and other terrorists in the long run.

In Gombe State, which faces the challenge of farmers-herders clashes, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Oqua Etim said the command has been successfully tackling farmland invasions through effective dialogue among stakeholders.

He said that the clashes between farmers and pastoralists is gradually becoming “a thing of the past” since the adoption of dialogue to amicably address it.

Etim said that he engaged stakeholders and worked out strategies that helped address the problem in the state.

He also said the state government had constituted an assessment committee of grazing lands and cattle routes to prevent further encroachment of the routes by farmers.

”If farmers encroach, they would be advised to vacate.

“We equally met with the representatives of the herders and cautioned them against encroachment of cultivated farmlands.

“As humans, we are bound to have quarrels because even the tongue at times gets harassed by the teeth.

“In that case, we can never say we don’t have a friction but it has reduced to the barest minimum.”

The commissioner of police said clear policies had been laid out to guide the dialogue.

He said all the parties involved were not supposed to take laws into their hands.

“As long as the grazing areas and cattle routes were not encroached, and if a cow destroys a farm, the damages would be calculated and the cattle owners bear the cost.”

According to Etim, there is no crisis that could not be resolved through dialogue.

“Once we bring ourselves open for dialogue, then the incidences of clashes will be a thing of the past,” he said.

The Commissioner of Police, therefore, urged farmers and herders to eschew violence and coexist peacefully.

In Jigawa, the police alongside the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), also said recurring farmers-herders clashes was the major security threat in the state.

The command Public Relations Officer, ASP Lawan Shiisu, said the command had initiated meetings with stakeholders and built synergy with other security agencies to address the menace, and protect lives and property.

He said that as part of the efforts, the Command recently hosted a meeting with local council officials, community leaders, members of vigilante, hunters groups and security agencies to find durable solution to the problem.

According to him, similar forum will be organised across the 27 local government areas of the state.

Also, Mr Adamu Shehu, Spokesman of NSCDC in the state said they were pursuing practical measures to promote harmonious coexistence between farmers and pastoralists.

“Whenever we receive report of a clash between farmers and herdsmen, our Agro Rangers operating in the affected area swiftly move to the scene.

“The squad usually intervene to protect the interest of the parties involved, and if that is not achieved, then arrests are made,” he said.

According to him, the mechanism is yielding positive results.

He added that the Corps has been working with relevant agencies of government to resolve conflicts, and foster peace and harmony in Jigawa.

Shehu said the state government is currently reviewing land allocations along cattle routes and grazing lands as part of measures to end farmers-herders clashes.

On its part, the state government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state of Zinder in Niger Republic, to curb activies of criminal cross-border herders.

The MoU was signed in May 2023 by Gov. Umar Namadi of Jigawa and his counterpart in Zinger, Mr Lawal Ahamdu-Madugu.

The agreement seeks to integrate and secure livestock routes, as well as control illegal influx of cattle.

Meanwhile, farmers in Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina states said that the peace agreements they entered with bandits was their only option of survival.

“We opted for peace with the bandits to ease the suffering we go through as a people and community,” Bello Abubakar, a resident of Isa in Sokoto state, said.

“It is to ease the merciless attacks we suffer almost on daily basis,” he added.

Abubakar explained that the agreement will allow farmers to cultivate their farms at a cost.

“The term of agreement varies depending on what the bandits demanded from the communities.

“Some bandits enforce monthly levy while others agree on quarterly or even annual levy to be paid by the community members.

“The peace agreement with bandits was not official, however it gives the effected communities a way of living together with the bandits without any intimidation or harassment,” he added.

According to Abubakar, the agreements were solely community driven, with no knowledge or input from the government or security agencies.

In Tsaskiya, Katsina State, the community has also gone into such agreement.

A resident who is also a member of the local vigilante group, told NAN in confidence that since the peace deal with the bandits, the community has been at peace.

“We have all returned to our farms without fear, and so far there has been no breach of the agreement,” he added.

He however refused to disclose the terms of the peace deal and with which group of bandits.

In Zamfara, a community leader in Zurmi local government area who spoke with NAN on condition of anonymity said they had also sealed a peace deal with bandits operating in the area.

“The peace deal is to allow us to farm. Money was given to them to exclude our area in their attacks and kidnapping activities.

“There was no involvement of security agencies in the agreement between us and the bandits; and so far the deal has not changed,” he said.

However, Secretary to Zamfara Government, Malam Abubakar Nakwada, said the state government was not aware of such deals, and emphasised that the government would not negotiate with the bandits.

“We reject any move to negotiate with bandits in order to address the security challenges bedeviling the state, the previous efforts at negotiating with the bandits were fruitless.

”The present administration in the state under Gov. Dauda Lawal has no intention of negotiating with criminals

“We are prepared to work in collaboration with security agencies in the fight against insecurity,” Nakwada said.

In Kebbi where bandits have been unleashing terror on citizens, a resident, Alhaji Salim Ka’oje called for use of technology to deal with the criminals.

“Nowadays security personnel needed not to go to battle grounds before fighting their enamies, because with the use of technology they can strike anywhere they want,” he said.

Ka’oje also stressed the need for security agencies to brace up to the challenges and do the needful.

“Security personnel should not relax until the bandits attack before they trail them, they should be brave enough to trace the criminals to their hideouts,” he added.

Ka’oje who led the parents of the school girls abducted from Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri who spent about two years in captivity, said government should not relax until the criminals were eliminated.

Meanwhile, the Police Commissioner, Mr Samuel Titus-Musa, said that the command had received new fighting assets to face the bandits.

NAN gathered that the state government recently ordered the payment of all allowances owed security personnel in crisis prone areas of the state.

Mr Musa Aboki, the Executive Director,  Voluntary Aid Initiative, a civil society organisation, believed that the new Service Chiefs have the capacity to initiate new measures to tackle the lingering security challenges in the country.

“I am using this medium to call on stakeholders to cooperate with the new Service Chiefs to succeed in the new assignment given to them”, Aboki said.

Similarly, Ahaji Sa’idu Ibrahim, Vice Chairman Sokoto State House of Assembly Committee on Security canvassed the support of the general public to security agencies, to enable them protect citizens and restore peace and stability.

Ibrahim said the security challenges facing the country needed collective engagement to address.

“Our security personnel are doing their best but government commitment will put them in the right track,” he added.

However, Dr Halilu Mohammed, a Bauchi-based Sociologist, attributed the spate of security threats to poor implementation of security policies in the country.

“Poor policy implementation; weak security systems and lack of probity in security budget financing led to security threats in the country,” he said.

He therefore urged governments at all levels to implement policies and programmes that would improve social and economic wellbeing of citizens to promote peace and stability in the country.(NAN)
Reporters/RSA/HMH/MZA

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed