By George Odok
The 13 Brigade Nigerian Army Calabar has handed over two suspected drug dealers to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suspects, Effangha Effangha, 37, and Eno-Obong Udome, 34, were arrested by Army personnel attached to the Cross River Government security outfit “Operation Akpakwu” on Thursday and Friday.

The Officer Commanding 13 Brigade Provost Company, Maj. Stanley Ikpeme, did the handing over to officials of NDLEA on behalf of the Commander, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Abdullahi, in Calabar.

“These suspects were arrested by own troops at Nelson Mandela street in Calabar and Ekpenyong Ekpo in Akpabuyo local government area of Cross River for peddling in substances suspected to be drugs.

“Consequently, I am directed to handover the suspects and the drugs to officials of the NDLEA for further investigations and possible prosecution.

“You are please requested to furnish this office with the outcome of the investigation to enable us update our records,” he said.

Mr Abubakar Mohammed, Principal Staff Officer Operations, NDLEA, Cross River, received the suspects on behalf of his command for further investigation and prosecution.

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, has urged telecommunications service providers in Nigeria to support the efforts by the military and other security agencies to address insecurity across the country apprehend perpetrators of crimes across the country.

Irabor made the call when he received the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Mobile Telecom Network (MTN) Nigeria, Mr Karl Toriola, who was on a familiarisation visit to the Defence Headquarters on Friday in Abuja.

The Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.

The CDS said that communication was part of the essential mechanism that could be used by the armed forces and other security agencies to track down perpetrators of criminalities and nefarious activities in the country.

He gave assurance that the Defence Headquarters would welcome and sustain any fruitful engagement and partnership with all stakeholders, including service providers to build a peaceful environment for economic activities to thrive.

Irabor commended MTN for playing invaluable roles in matters of communication in Nigeria, adding that the military and other security agencies leverage on it to boost their operations.

Earlier, the MTN boss, Toriola, said that prioritising the defence sector, other security and paramilitary agencies necessitated his visit to DHQ as the first point of call since his assumption of office.

Toriola said that the visit was also in recognition of the selfless sacrifices of members of the armed forces in their service to the nation.

He further stated that MTN as a telecoms service provider would continue to build cordial working relationship with all branches of government agencies, including engaging and aligning with the military and intelligence agencies in order to ensure security of lives and property of Nigerians. (NAN)

By Desmond Ejibas

The Commissioner of Police in Rivers, CP Friday Eboka on Friday dissolved a special police tactical unit code-named Eagle Crack Squad.

The team recently came under public scrutiny following allegations of extortion, intimidation and rights abuses made against its members.

The command’s Spokesman, SP Nnamdi Omoni in a statement in Port Harcourt stated that Eboka announced the disbandment shortly after a meeting with his management team.

“The dissolution is coming on the heels of complaints of unprofessional conduct exhibited by the personnel of the unit.

“Recall that the CP in his maiden briefing on Tuesday promised to address all cases of infractions by the police and increased supervision of the men.

“The CP had also warned to deal with erring officers and hold Divisional Police Officers and Head of Departments vicariously liable.

“To this end, the dissolution is with immediate effect while all personnel attached to the unit are to report to the headquarters for redeployment,”Omoni stated.

He appealed to members of the public to rekindle their trust in the police and assured them that the command was committed to improving policing in the state. (NAN)

By Abubakar Ahmed

The Commissioner of Police in Zamfara, Abutu Yaro, has confirmed the abduction of 317 female students of the Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangebe on Friday.

Yaro made this known on Friday while speaking with jjournalists on Friday in Jangebe, Talata-Mafara Local Government Area of the state.

He expressed dismay with members of the affected community who resorted to taking laws into their hands by attacking vehicles, including those on rescue mission and journalists and appealed for calm.

“People must understand that the government and security agents are on their side and against the bandits that is why it is very important for them to see the need to allow security agents do their work effectively and rescue the victims.

“We are doing our best along with all sister security agencies, members of the vigilantè group and the state government to get to the bottom of this matter.

“l can assure you that we will rescue all the students unhurt,” he said.

Some residents who spoke with journalists said that the bandits came in their hundreds riding on motorcycles and shooting in the air before entering the school around 2 a.m on Friday.

A staff of the school, who spoke with NAN on condition of anonymity, said that 60 of the girls were safe as some of them hid from the attackers during the invasion.(NAN)

By Emmanuel Afonne

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Sustainable Initiatives for Nurturing Growth (SING), has called for security vigilance in schools across the country following the rising cases of abduction of school children by bandits.

A statement issued in Abuja on Friday by Mr Victor Agi, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the organisation, stated that the abduction of school children had reached a point where more drastic action was needed to stop such acts.

Agi said that the abduction of students of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, Zamfara, in the early hours of Friday and others portend a serious danger to the future of Nigeria and the destiny of the younger generation.

“These targeted attacks at school students, is to say the least, highly condemnable, and should not be encouraged to continue.

“It is a traumatic experience that no Nigerian child should be subjected to, and it is high time the government and relevant stakeholders put a complete stop to these cowardly acts by terrorists, bandits and kidnappers.

“Schools are places for learning and education, and if the society agrees that we are as developed as we are educated, then, the security of our schools should be paramount,” Agi said in the statement.

The group, therefore, called for security to be tightened up around high risks communities to forestall reoccurrence, while also calling for measures to rid the Northern region of banditry.

“We must be wary of activities and moves that intend to make banditry and kidnapping lucrative to perpetrators.

“These are crimes which must be tackled with every sense of responsibility.

“Efforts at making crimes acceptable should be condemned and discouraged by the state in its entirety.

“When we also encourage politicisation of security through our statements and body languages, we end up emboldening criminals.”

SING urged government to swing into action for the immediate rescue of all victims of kidnapping and banditry.

It also called for the activation of relevant security operations that would reduce crimes to its barest minimum.

“We urge prompt action by both the Federal and government of Zamfara that will lead to the rescue of the innocent school students.

“Relevant security apparatus should be immediately deployed to ensure the safe release of the abducted students, while the criminals are properly apprehended and brought to book.

“It is equally advised that a state of emergency be declared on school security in the Northern region until government finds a lasting solution to the incessant kidnapping which has become a high paying business for criminals.

“The Kagara school abduction is still fresh in our minds; with no report of their release yet it is, therefore, highly unthinkable that another attack could be condoned,” the statement added.

SING commended President Muhhamadu Buhari for the untiring effort he had made to tackle terrorism but urged him to take more actions that could put an end to criminal activities in the country. (NAN)

By Yakubu Uba

The 195 Taskforce Battalion engaged in the fight against insurgents in Borno has constructed a mechanised borehole for residents of Zinnari-Madinatu community in Jere Local Government Area, to address the problem of water supply in the area.

Presenting the facility to the community on Friday, the Acting General Officer (GOC) 7 Division, Maiduguri, Maj. Gen. Abdul Khalifa, said the gesture, which is in line with enhancing military-civilian relation, would help in reducing the hardship the community was facing in accessing portable water.

Represented by Lt.-Col. Andrew Wuyep, Commander of the 195 Battalion, Khalifa said the gesture would be extended to other communities in need.

“The borehole will also help reduce health issues associated with drinking unclean water, and also save time and resources involved in searching for water in communities.

“At the same time, it will provide a favourable platform to sensitise the people on the need to be security conscious and responsive in reporting to the security agencies any suspected movement or strange activity that would breach peace,” Khalifa said.

The GOC encouraged the residents to utilise the facility for maximum benefit.

Speaking on behalf of the community, a resident, Malam Zannah Mustapha, commended the army for the gesture which be said would impact positively on the community.

Mustapha urged other organisations to emulate the military in transforming such neglected communities. (NAN)

By Ibironke Ariyo
The Journalist International Forum for Migration (JIFORM) and stakeholders have condemned the incessant attacks on African Migrants in the Middle East.

The President, JIFORM, Mr Ajibola Abayomi, said this at the African Migration Summit organised by JIFORM and Nekotech Centre of Excellence, on Thursday in Accra, Ghana.

Abayomi said that the agony of several African migrants in the Middle East being enslaved under the Kafala System was an open secret that manifested in Lebanon, Yemen, Omani, Saudi Arabia and others.

He said that undue hostilities among Africans and leaders must stop, saying that implementation of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and policies needed to accelerate it must be put in place.

He recalled the xenophobia attack as witnessed in South Africa sometimes ago, saying that such should never rear its ugly head again.

“If fellow black brothers continue to attack themselves back at home, what moral justification do we have to protest racism in the other parts of the world?

“Time has come for various regional economies on this continent to evolve strategic policies to allow free access and trade for the purpose of growth,” he said.

Abayomi urged the media to hold the leaders accountable to the people, saying that fate has placed tools in hands of media practitioners to challenge institutions and authorities to serve the people better by writing objective and balanced stories.

“Above all, we must cover migration with a human face by encouraging the government to take re-integration of returnees more seriously by providing psychological, mental and social support to reunite them with their loved ones.

“They are not failures because they made an attempt to reject poverty.

“Journalists must provide the right information to encourage the people to embrace regular migration entirely as there is a lot to gain from it, ” he said.

By Ibironke Ariyo
The Journalists International Forum for Migration (JIFORM) and other stakeholders have urged Africa governments to reset the economy to revive and regenerate local potentials needed to attract investments to reap migration benefits.

The JIFORM President, Mr Ajibola Abayomi, said this at the African Migration Summit organised by JIFORM and Nekotech Centre of Excellence on Thursday in Accra, Ghana.

Abayomi said that the summit was put together to chart a new course for migration policies in Africa to champion the interest of African migrants abroad.

This, he said, was also to encourage leaders on the continent to evolve empowerment policies to check irregular migration.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the summit is “Labour Migration: Shifting the Paradigm to benefit Africa”.

This is to ensure that Africa protects the economic interest of millions of Africans toiling night and day overseas and that there toil is not in vain.

Abayomi said that without a conscious attempt to develop more brains on the continent and the best hands were frustrated to migrate abroad, there may not be meaningful benefits derivable from the foreign investments.

According to him, we need people to retain the technical skills from the various foreign investments to create more opportunities in our economy.

“To reap migration benefits, therefore leaders in Africa must reset the economy to resuscitate local potentials needed to attract investments.

“Africa must embrace regulated migration to redirect the energies of her youths being misled into human trafficking, child labour and other deadly works.

“As population of migrants increase globally, Africa must re-organise its principles to reap from benefits associated with regular migration,” he said.

Abayomi noted that although Africa was not the continent with the highest irregular migrants, time has come for leaders to take more responsibilities to address the push factors forcing Africans to seek better life elsewhere.

Also speaking, African Union Migration Advisory Committee Member, Ghana, Dr Princess Ocansey, said that African Governments should greatly increase the level of developmental initiative.

Ocansey, who doubled as the Executive Director, Nekotech Centre of Excellence, added that this would keep the young people from venturing in such difficult journeys.

She urged the African government to also look carefully into the policies signed with Middle East countries especially where the KAFALA system was practice.

KAFALA system is used to monitor migrant labourers, working primarily in the construction and domestic sectors in Gulf Cooperation Council member states and a few neighbouring countries.

The countries include Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Prof. Patrick Lumumba, a foremost African activist from Kenya, said that the level of corruption in Africa drove young people into leaving their counties to seek greener pastures thereby driving them into taking drastic decisions.

Lumumba said that time had come for Africans to come together and fight this menace eating deeply into the veins of the young ones.

“I urge you all therefore, today, Africa must change, let the African governments create an enabling environment where young men, women, girls can live to become better citizens.

“We should also prepare our citizens in training them so that we would have them remain here and not think of going out,” he said.