By Francis Onyeukwu

Mr Monday Bala Kuryas has assumed duty as the 29th Commissioner of Police (CP) in Anambra.

Kuryas, who replaced Mr John Abang recently elevated to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police, hails from Kurya Dadu in Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

A statement issued in Awka in Friday by the command’s public relations officer, CSO Mohammed Haruna, said that the new CP holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science obtained from the Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, in 1986.

Kuryas joined the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet ASP in 1990 and had since then occupied various positions in the Nigeria Police Force which include:

Divisional Crime Officer Serti Baruwa, Taraba (1993); DPO Ardo Kola and Yoro, Taraba (1997-1998).

Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Akim, Airport and Ikom in Cross River (2003-2006); DPO Bori and CPS Port Harcourt in Rivers (2006-2009).

He served as Area Commander in Lafia, Nasarawa State, between 2012 and 2015 and in Nsukka, Enugu State, from 2015 to 2017.

He equally served as Deputy Commissioner of Police in Kogi, Osun and Ondo States before his elevation to CP.

The statement added that Kuryas had attended several professional courses, seminars and workshops on combat operations, intermediate command course and tactical leadership among others. (NAN)

By Desmond Ejibas

Mr Friday Eboka has been appointed the new commissioner of police in Rivers.

The command’s spokesman, SP Nnamdi Omoni, disclosed this in a statement in Port Harcourt on Friday.

The spokendman said Eboka would be the command’s  42 commissioner of police.

The new CP replaces newly promoted Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Joseph Mukan who has been redeployed to Zone 8 Headquarters as  zonal commander.

Prior to his appointment, Eboka was the Commissioner of Police, Railway Police Command in Lagos.

Eboka, who hails from Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from the University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka, Enugu State.

The statement described Eboka as a “versatile police officer with impeccable track record in crime fighting.” (NAN)

By Justina Auta

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it will introduce drug integrity test initiative, expected to metamorphose into an anti-drug culture for every Nigerian.

Gen. Mohammed Marwa (retired), the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, disclosed this at the second annual conference organised by the Drug-Free Arewa Movement (DFAM) in Abuja

The event, themed “Youth and the Region’s Big Issue; Drug Abuse”, was organised by DFAM, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO).

According to Marwa, the NDLEA will strike a balance between drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction interventions.

He said that was why the agency planned to initiate evidence based prevention activities to include sensitisation, treatment and care of drug dependent persons.

“We are launching an intensive sensitisation programme targeting youths in and out of school and the workplaces.

“The agency plans to introduce the Drug Integrity Test initiative anticipated to metamorphose into an anti-drug,” he said.

The NDLEA boss noted a strong correlation between substance use and criminal behaviours such as insurgency, banditry, rape, kidnapping, human trafficking, terrorism and all forms of insecurity in the country.

He expressed concern over the prevalence of drug use amongst women, adding that one in every four drug users in the country is a woman.

“Women involvement in substance abuse has more implications than men, especially when the critical role of women in child nurturing and upbringing is considered,” he said.

Marwa commended the NGO for stemming the tide of substance use among youths through the various anti-drug activities.

He called on other stakeholders to also complement government efforts in ridding the society of the scourge.

Oliver Stolpe, Country Representative, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), reiterated the commitment of the international communities in supporting Nigeria to eliminate drug abuse.

Stolpe stressed the need for more investment in the health sector, adoption of evidence-based prevention ways, expand community based drug centre and improve regulated access to drug prescription use as some strategies to curb drug abuse.

Also, Dr Amina Bello, Wife of Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger, and Chairperson, Northern Governor’s Wives Forum, stressed the need to focus more on prevention and proliferation of drug abuse, particularly in the northern region.

She said the wives of the northern governors were committed to ending drug abuse, adding that rehabilitation centres are being upgraded and established in all the northern states to curb the menace in the region.

Mr Ibrahim Yusuf, Lead Convener, DFAM and Executive Director, Triumphant Youth Foundation, said the organisation had so far set up over 380 anti-drug clubs in schools across the 19 northern states.

Yusuf said it had also partnered with other stakeholders to distribute over 200,000 booklets to youths on the adverse effects of drug abuse and preventive measures.

He added that the organisation had recently rehabilitated seven street youths, re-united them with their families and sponsored them to universities to study medicine, nursing, law and accounting.

While unveiling the DFAM Treatment Centre project, Mr Abba Kawu, Team Leader, Innovation and Project Coordinator, said the centre would collaborate with NDLEA and others to rehabilitate, counsel and train drug addicts on various skills.

Kawu, therefore, appealed for more support from all stakeholders to achieve the objective and reduce prevalence of drug abuse in the country. (NAN)

By Monday Ijeh

A joint search and rescue mission, involving the Police, the military and other law enforcement agencies is ongoing to safely rescue abducted persons in Niger.

The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr Frank Mba, announced this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that suspected bandits had, on Tuesday night, invaded Government Science School, Kagara in Niger and abducted some students.

Mba said the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammed Adamu, had ordered the deployment of additional tactical, intelligence and investigative assets of the force for the rescue operation.

According to him, four units of Police Mobile Force (PMF) attached to Operation Puff Adder II, one Unit of Police Special Forces, personnel of the Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU) and operatives from the Force Intelligence Bureau have been deployed.

He said that personnel of the Force Criminal Investigations Department, as well as one Police aerial surveillance helicopter, had also been deployed.

According to him, the police component of the search and rescue operation was being coordinated by the Commissioner of Police in charge of Niger.

He said the commissioner was effectively harnessing all deployed resources and working in collaboration with the Military and other law enforcement agents.

The FPRO said the idea was to ensure an intelligence-driven, focused and result oriented ground and aerial surveillance in the rescue operations and bring the perpetrators to book.

Mba said the I-G called for calm and enjoined members of the community to provide the joint mission with information that could assist in the ongoing search and rescue operations. (NAN)

Israel on Thursday said it was developing a new ballistic missile shield, the Arrow-4, with the U.S, another layer in a defensive system built with an eye towards Iran.

Israel’s Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 interceptors are already operational as part of a multi-layered system to destroy incoming missiles in the atmosphere and in space.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz said in a statement that, “The development of Arrow-4 together with our American partners will result in a technological and operational leap forward.

“It will prepare us for the future battlefield and evolving threats in the Middle East and beyond.

”Israeli leaders have described Iran’s ballistic missile programme as a threat to Israel and the world.

Iran however says its missile development is defensive and aimed at deterring attack.

According to the Defence Ministry,  Israel Aerospace Industries will serve as the prime contractor for the Arrow-4.

Boeing and Israel’s Elbit Systems are also part of the Arrow defence project. (Reuters/NAN)

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday evening, met behind closed doors with Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger, at the State House, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the agenda of the meeting was not made known to newsmen as at the time of filing this report.

NAN, however, gathered that the governor was in the State House to update the president on the security situation in his state where some staff and students of Government Science Secondary School (GSSS), Kagara, Rafi council area of the state were abducted by gunmen on Wednesday morning

The president had earlier in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, condemned the abduction and dispatched a team of top security officials  to the state to coordinate the rescue operation in the state.

Buhari also expressed sadness over the killing of one of the students by the kidnappers, vowing not to relent until normalcy is restored in the security situation in the country.

Gov. Bello, who spoke to State House correspondents, thanked President Buhari for swiftly ordering actions on the GSSS Kagara school kidnap.

The governor said he had requested for more security personnel and equipment to fast-track results in the rescue operation in the state.

“I came in this evening to thank Mr President for his quick response to the plight of Nigerlites, following two serious kidnap incidences.

“At the same time we rubbed minds on what we think should be done so that we find an everlasting solution to the situation and Mr President has confirmed to me that this matter will be given proper attention.

“We’ll continue engaging the service chiefs and the federal so that we can guide and advice them on what we think should be done. So I think it was a wonderful meeting,’’ he said

He also expressed support for the call by the nation Upper Chamber for the declaration of a state of emergency on security in the country.

Bello said the call had become imperative so as to address security challenges being experienced in some parts of the country.

“At the moment, if you look at what is happening, we are having security challenges in almost all parts of the country, so yes there’s a need to install some form of emergency on security matters across board.

“So yes, I think the Senate acted in good faith. Something definitely needs to be done.

“To be honest, I’m very convinced by what Mr President told me and I feel I’ve seen the presence of the military in Kagara, I was there earlier today, and I also request for some additional personnel and equipment, which I believe will be granted any moment from now.

“Right now, our immediate priority is to get the kidnapped victims released, after that I think we must have a long lasting solution to the farmers/herders conflicts,’’ he added.

NAN reports that Buhari on Wednesday ordered security forces to ensure immediate and safe return of all the captives.

President Buhari condemned the abduction as a ‘cowardly attack’.

The president directed the Armed Forces and Police to ensure immediate and safe return of all the captives, and dispatched service chiefs to Niger to coordinate the rescue operation.

The delegation was also mandated to meet with state officials, community leaders, as well as parents and staff of the school.

“Our prayers are with families of the victims of this attack,” he said. (NAN)

By Ismaila Chafe

Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara on Wednesday in Abuja briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on the security situation in his state with the president pledging to assist the northwestern state to address the lingering challenges.

The governor, while briefing State House correspondents after he met behind closed doors with the president, said that a presidential intervention toward addressing the challenges facing the state had become necessary “so as to sustain the peace Zamfara is now enjoying’’.

According to him, a solution to the recurring violence between farmers and herders is in sight.

“A solution to the incessant violence is in sight. All state governments must brace up and construct grazing grounds, popularly called Ruga, so as to find a lasting solution to clashes between herdsmen and farmers across the country.

“The provision of the grazing grounds will go a long way in preventing herdsmen from moving from one place to another.

“In Zamfara, we are constructing Ruga for them. It is like a settlement where we can contain some of them because, sincerely speaking, if we allow them to keep moving around, migrating from one State to another, we cannot bring this issue to an end.

“So, the only thing the governors will do, we are discussing that, is to make sure we contain them in one place. The Fulani from Zamfara, for instance, shouldn’t migrate to a neighbouring State.

“But how are we going to do that? This is something that needs a lot of resources because you have to create something that you will use to engage them; you have to provide some social amenities.

“The Ruga that we are constructing has schools, hospitals, veterinary clinics, markets and even a mini stadium where they can meet for their cultural festivals.

“You can also create something like a dairy factory there. If we allow them to migrate from place to place, that is where we will have problems.

“But I believe that very soon the Nigerian Governors’ Forum will discuss that and know the action to take in order to contain them in one place because they are looking for pasture.

“Once they have a grazing reserve and all facilities in one place, I don’t think they will move from place to place and that will be the end of all the clashes,” he said.

Matawalle said he was engaging bandits in Zamfara in dialogue not as a sign of weakness but to initiate a peace deal with them because he realised that not all of them were criminals.

He, therefore, called on his Niger counterpart to dialogue with bandits operating in his state so as to address the menace of banditry there.

“Banditry is something that I inherited when I became governor; it had been there for almost eight years before I came. Following the dialogue I initiated with the bandits, Zamfara is now very calm.

“I have advised my colleague, the Governor of Niger, to meet with all stakeholders and find out the root cause of the crisis so as to initiate dialogue and ensure reconciliation. That is the only way to achieve what I have been able to achieve in my State.

“Most of the criminals that caused trouble in Zamfara were not from my State. Two months ago, we had some repentant bandits who surrendered their weapons to the State government. One was from Yobe, two from Kaduna, two from Niger; so, you see, it is a gang.

“In any case, we are in discussions with the Governor of Niger and he is following the steps so as to ensure a peace deal. Very soon we shall see an end to the clashes,’’ he said.

The governor thanked Buhari for the show of concern and particularly lauded his commitment and readiness to assist Zamfara to consolidate on the peace the state was enjoying.