Insecurity: CAN, NSCIA Clash, US Asks FG To Protect Nigerians [PUNCH]
The United States has advised the Federal Government to do more in protecting Nigerians and humanitarian organisations that are assisting the country in the face of activities of Boko Haram insurgents and other religious and ethnic violence.
The US Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, made the call in Washington DC on Tuesday during a joint media briefing he had with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, after the US-Nigeria Bi-national Commission meeting.
Pompeo made the call amidst increasing attacks by Boko Haram insurgents on aid workers and residents of the North-East as well as the rising killings by bandits in other parts of the country, particularly, Niger, Zamfara and Katsina states.
Also on insecurity, the Presidency and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs on Wednesday hit back at the Christian Association of Nigeria over its attack on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), who on Tuesday said insurgents had killed more Muslims than Christians.
But CAN on Wednesday insisted that the NSCIA could not exonerate Boko Haram as an Islamic organisation.
Buhari, had in an op-ed published in a United States-based magazine, Christianity Today, said Christians were not the primary targets of the insurgents.
CAN’s Director of Legal and Public Affairs, Kwamkur Samuel, in his response, told The PUNCH on Tuesday that Buhari’s statement was provocative.
He said Boko Haram had wiped out all Christian communities in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, among others.
The rising insecurity in Nigeria featured at the US-Nigeria Bi-national Commission meeting in Washington DC.
The Department of State, which hosted the meeting, made the full transcript of the media briefing available to journalists.
Pompeo said although the US government was aware that the issues involved in the security challenges were hard and complicated, there was the need for the government to protect its civilians.
To achieve this, he said the US would provide $40m in humanitarian assistance to Nigeria in addition to the nearly $350m that was provided in 2019.
He said, “The foreign minister and I also discussed the massive humanitarian crisis caused by Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa and other religious and ethnic violence.”
Protect religious communities, America advises FG
Pompeo stated, “We know that these issues are hard. We know that they’re complicated. But I strongly encourage the Nigerian government to do more to protect its civilians, including religious communities and the humanitarian organisations, seeking to assist them.
While noting that security cooperation between the two countries had been expanding, Pompeo cited Nigeria’s recent $500m purchase of 12 US-made A-29 aircraft.
This, he said, supported the recently stated goal of Buhari of creating “a security force with the best training and modern weaponry.
“The United States has already invested in the training of Nigeria’s military on human rights and the Law of Armed Conflict.
“Nigeria was one of the first African nations to join the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. America is now supporting the Nigerian fight against ISIS’s largest global affiliate, ISIS-West Africa – a dangerous threat to both of our countries.
“In part due to this terrorism threat, on Friday, President Trump announced the suspension of immigrant visas for Nigerians because Nigeria has room to grow in sharing important national security information.
“I am optimistic that’s going to happen. In the proclamation, President Trump highlighted Nigeria’s importance as a strategic partner in the global fight against terrorism and recognised the government’s commitment to improving information sharing with us.”
On economic cooperation, he noted that Nigeria was already America’s second-largest trading partner in Africa.
He stated, “The US companies from Google to Chevron to KPMG invested over a billion dollars in Nigeria in 2018 alone, creating over 18,000 jobs and indirectly supporting three million others.”
He said he was pleased that Buhari had prioritised that fight against corruption. He stated, “In support of that fight, I am announcing today that the United States and Nigeria have signed an agreement to return to the Nigerian people more than $308m in assets stolen by a former dictator,” he added.
Onyeama, on his part, said security in Nigeria had become a major issue and an existential threat.
He said while the nation hoped to procure the fighter planes Pompeo mentioned, there were other areas like sharing of intelligence.
On Wednesday, the President’s op-ed in Christianity Today generated more reactions. The apex organisation for Muslims in the country, the NSCIA, called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on insecurity.
The group, which condemned CAN, supported the President’s statement that insurgents had killed more Muslims than Christians.
The NSCIA stated this at a press conference addressed by its Director of Administration, Alhaji Yusuf Nwoha. The press conference was attended by its Deputy Secretary General, Prof. Salisu Shehu and Head (Media and Communications), Aselemi Ibrahim.
Nwoha said rather than playing to the gallery as ethnic irredentists and religious bigots would do, Nigerians should support government to eliminate insecurity.
NSCIA seeks state of emergency
Nwoha said, “The level of insecurity in the country has reached an unacceptable crescendo that declaring a state of emergency on it appears not only necessary but also pressing.
“Therefore, the NSCIA stridently calls on the Federal Government and all its agencies (including the military) to use whatever means possible to arrest this descent into anarchy. Nigeria cannot just continue like this with the blood of the innocent being shed unjustly and human security being at its lowest ebb.
“The situation of Nigeria today is desperate and desperate situations require desperate measures in the collective interest of well-meaning Nigerians. Let the monster of insecurity be tackled actively and proactively with the full weight of Nigeria’s security and defence capacity.”
Act decisively, NSCIA advises Buhari
The group said those who were assigned the role of guaranteeing external security should not wait until there would be no nation to secure.
It stated, “The time to arrest the insecurity in the land is now and we repeat our call to President Muhammad Buhari to combat the current spike in insecurity with candid decisiveness.
The NSCIA lamented that Nigerians were dying needlessly to “the satisfaction of the evil-minded political profiteers, ethnic irredentists and pseudo-religious agitators disguising as religious leaders.”
It also gave the names of Christians who had been arrested for terrorism. The NSCIA added, “Christians have been known to engage in terrorism in Nigeria with a view to blaming it on Muslims.”
The NSCIA said the aborted bombing of the Living Faith Church in Kaduna, would have been blamed on Muslims if the suspect was not arrested.
It also made a tactical reference to the nationwide protest against killings organised by CAN and attended in Lagos by the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye.
According to the group, rather than see insecurity as a national challenge some religious leaders have resorted to scoring cheap political goals and engage in self-indicting propaganda.
The NSCIA said, “One of them is the recently organised street show by some religious leaders who give political colouration to grinding insecurity fuelled by hypocrisy and hubris. But efforts must be doubled through the instrumentality of hard work and prayers so that the enemies of Nigeria will be unveiled and this is where government must double or triple its efforts at counter-insecurity measures.”
Criticising CAN, the NSCIA stated that Boko Haram did not represent Islam or Muslims. It stated, “The group and the enemies of Islam hiding behind its mask are pursuing a rogue, venal and doggy agenda far removed from Islam.
It’s height of falsehood to say B’Haram is ploy to eliminate Christians – NSCIA
“It is, therefore, the height of insincerity, wickedness, falsehood and hypocrisy to suggest that Boko Haram is a ploy to eliminate Christians, a dummy being promoted by some dealers camouflaging as religious leaders to their followers and the outside world.”
It noted that more Muslims, including Imams, had been slaughtered, displaced and dismembered than Christians by Boko Haram.
The group added, “To suggest that Christians are killed because they refuse to embrace Islam stands logic on its head. Were Muslim scholars and individuals killed in mosques, market squares and villages killed because they refused to denounce Islam?
“In September 2018, a prominent Muslim General was murdered in cold blood and his body was dragged to an abandoned mining pit filled with water in Dura-Du District of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.”
The NSCIA said it did not generalise the killings by accusing Christians in Nigeria of murdering Muslims.
The organisation said some terrorist acts attributed to Boko Haram were not more than false flag operations by the irredentist political and self-righteous anti-Islamic religious associations in Nigeria.
You can’t exonerate B’Haram as Islamic organisation, CAN replies NSCIA
In his response to NSCIA’s statement, CAN’s Director of Legal and Public Affairs, Samuel, said it was unfortunate that the Muslim group digressed from the reality to presenting names of Christians who were engaged in terrorism.
He said besides providing the names, the NSCIA ought to have named Christian organisations sponsoring them, their leaders, their headquarters, where they were being rehabilitated and their international partners.
Samuel stated, “Unless and until the organisation provides details of these questions, they are very far from making sense to Nigerians. For the Boko Haram and killers Fulani militias, the names of their organisations are known, their leaders are always on one medium or video justifying their actions. They have headquarters with international partners and have always claimed responsibility for their actions.
“The Christian Association of Nigeria has much respect for the leadership of the NSCIA but regretted that they are being misled into taking issue with CAN. That attempt to exonerate Boko Haram as an Islamic organisation has failed! ”
He said CAN was not surprised that Boko Haram used Christian agents “because facts abound that most of the kidnapped Christians are forced to change their faith and work for the insurgents.”
The CAN official said the insurgents told Nigerians that they had converted and married Leah Sharibu, who was kidnapped from Chibok, to one of their commanders.
He added that a committed Christian National Youth Service Corps member was reported to have told his Church not to bother paying for his ransom because he preferred to work for the insurgents.
He said, “It is true that one of the killers of Rev. Lawan Andimi (Adamawa State CAN chairman) was a Christian who was forcefully converted to work for the terrorists. Is it not also true that Boko Haram with terrorism is gaining more favour in Nigeria and is likely to have more youth followers regardless of their religion?
“Is it not a likely outcome that with the rehabilitation packages and possible absorption of the so-called repentant terrorists into Nigerian Army, a high number of jobless youth will join the group for the sake of survival?
“I think at this point displaying names of Christians who have participated in terrorism will not help justify the case of the NSCIA because Nigerians already know that they are being killed by Boko Haram, Fulani militiamen, ISWAP, bandits, kidnappers and their likes. Nigerians know also their religion and the angle they come from. We cannot deny the fact that not all Muslims are terrorists but all terrorists are Muslims.”
Presidency dismisses CAN’s claim on Chibok/Dapchi schoolgirls
On its part, the Presidency disputed CAN’s allegations that the Federal Government refused to pay ransom to secure the release of the Chibok schoolgirls because the majority of them were Christians.
Recall that 276 girls were abducted from their school in Chibok, Borno State, on April 14, 2014 by Boko Haram, but 57 of the girls escaped to safety almost immediately.
The insurgents eventually went away with 219 of them. Over a number of years, 107 of the Chibok girls regained freedom, but till date, 112 are missing.
CAN had alleged on Tuesday that the Dapchi schoolgirls kidnapped in Yobe State almost four years later in 2018, were speedily released because the government paid random, having realised that most of them were Muslims, except Leah Sharibu, whom the insurgents held back on account of her Christian faith.
But, in its reaction, the Presidency dismissed CAN’s claim on payment of ransom to Boko Haram, saying that the regime of Buhari did not pay any ransom for the release of the Dapchi schoolgirls.
“We are again constrained to react to unfounded allegations by the Christian Association of Nigeria about the payment or non-payment of ransom for the release of the Chibok and Dapchi schoolgirls”, it said in a statement by Buhari’s media aide, Mr Femi Adesina.
It recalled that in 2018, the Buhari regime, through the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had clarified that no ransom was paid on the girls.
It added, “We urge CAN to desist from disinformation which can further divide Nigerians. The letter and spirit of the Holy Bible do not support discord, which CAN’s allegations are liable to cause.
However, the Presidency said Buhari was committed to having the Chibok schoolgirls released and would pay ransom if his regime needed to do so.
“President Muhammadu Buhari made it very clear in 2015 that if ransom needed to be paid to free the Chibok schoolgirls, he would pay.
Don’t rationalise killings, Atiku tells Buhari
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in his twitter personal handle, @atiku, said killing by any misguided group was wrong and should be condemned.
He tweeted: “We must not rationalise killings. Whether Christian, Muslim, traditionalist, or atheist, the killing of any human being, by Boko Haram, or any other misguided group, is wrong and should be condemned unequivocally. There is no compulsion in religion. Only love. –AA”
Northern Groups Unveil Operation Shege Ka Fasa, Symbol In Kaduna [PUNCH]
The Coalition of Northern Groups on Wednesday unveiled the symbols of Operation Shege ka fasa, the security outfit that will tackle the kidnapping and banditry in the zone.
The outfit, the group said would be formally inaugurated in the coming weeks when all necessary legal processes might have been formally adopted and ratified by the northern states’ governors.
It is literally embedded with the strength of a roaring lion like that of a leopard in Amotekun of the South-West.
Shege Ka Fasa is designed to be the vanguard of the entire North encompassing every ethnic group and religion and to be deeply patriotic in its operation.
The phrase Shege ka FASA in Hausa means, ‘I dare you.’
The CNGs comprises over 36 groups in the region that gave the Igbo in the North, three-month ultimatum to quit in October 2017.
However, there was truce before the expiration date.
But the coalition on Wednesday, announced the unveiling of the security outfit symbols which it claimed, when inaugurated, would complement the efforts of the security agencies in the country.
Unlike the South-West security outfit, Operation Amotekun, launched with fanfare in Ibadan, Oyo State on January 9, 2020, there was no presence of any dignitaries from the region.
Spokesman for the CNGs, AbdulAzeez Sulieman, at the Arewa House in Kaduna, said the region for the past 12 years had struggled with myriad of challenges of dwindling economy, rising poverty and a crippling security situation.
Suleiman said, “If the state governments and other leaders of the region fail to take action to protect the region the way their southern counterparts are doing, CNG is willing to follow through with all the processes of obtaining the required legal backing for the outfit from the relevant federal authorities.
“We resolved to formalise this request by writing to the governors through the Northern Governors Forum and to the leaderships of traditional, religious and cultural institutions in the region.
“By this, today we unveil the symbols for the Shege Ka Fasa outfit which would be formally inaugurated in the coming few weeks when all necessary legal processes might have been completed or formally adopted and ratified by the northern state governors.”
Okada Ban: Schoolgirl Shot, LASTMA, Police Vehicles Destroyed [PUNCH]
Pandemonium broke out in the Iyana-Ipaja area of Alimosho in Lagos State on Wednesday as motorcyclists and the police clashed over the ban and restriction on the activities of motorcycle riders in some parts of the state.
An SS 2 pupil, Mariam Shobukola, was said to have been shot during the clash, which started around 10am.
While a patrol van belonging to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority was set ablaze at the Iyana-Ipaja roundabout, a police utility vehicle was vandalised at Alaguntan. A motorbike belonging to the police was also damaged.
The whereabouts of the driver of the burnt LASTMA van was unknown as several residents and policemen sustained varying degrees of injury.
Our correspondents, who visited the scene, gathered that the motorcyclists had started a protest before the police were deployed in the scene to disperse them.
PUNCH Metro gathered that among the grouses of the protesters was that some overzealous officials seized motorcycles on roads not affected by the ban.
The police were reported to have shot tear gas canisters into the crowd and live bullets in the air.
The protesters, who were later joined by hoodlums, retaliated with stones and bottles.
A stray bullet was said to have hit Mariam, a pupil of the DST School, Aboru, who was caught in the middle of the riot.
It was learnt that the shot pupil was taken to the Peak Health Hospital, Aboru.
A doctor at the hospital, who spoke on condition of anonymity, identified the victim as a 16-year-old secondary school pupil.
“She was hit in the buttocks by a bullet. She woke up at our hospital. We referred her to the General Hospital, Ile-Epo, for further treatment. The police have also been here,” the doctor added.
Eyewitnesses told PUNCH Metro that the protest turned violent when the police arrived at the scene and chased the demonstrators.
An eyewitness, who identified himself only as Eze, said some people were injured in the melee that followed, as many ran helter-skelter.
He added that some hoodlums used the opportunity to dispossess passers-by of their belongings.
He stated, “There was confusion everywhere. We all ran for dear life. The okada people did not carry guns, sticks or bottles; they were only protesting the ban on motorcycles in some parts of Lagos State and the major roads.
“But when the police arrived, they started shooting. It was from there that the area boys and some other okada riders started hurling stones and bottles at the police vehicles and the policemen.
“The first set of policemen who came retreated and called for reinforcement.”
A motorcyclist, James Edikan, insisted that they were only registering their displeasure at the ban, saying the police aggravated the situation by opening fire on the crowd.
“The police aimed their guns at us. Many of us are lucky to be alive,” he added.
PUNCH Metro observed that many passengers going to Aboru from Iyana-Ipaja were forced to trek long distances, as motorcyclists had deserted the road.
Several hours after the riot, many shops on Ipaja Road remained closed.
The roads were also littered with the remnants of the bonfires made by the protesters.
Around 2.30pm, one of our correspondents saw the police driving out of Iyana-Ipaja in eight trucks loaded with motorcycles and some suspects.
A government official, who asked not to be identified, said all the LASTMA officials in the area had been withdrawn for security reasons.
He claimed that the protesters first attacked the men of the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit.
He said, “The motorcyclists mobilised from the Moshalashi roundabout to protest. The task force personnel also arrived about the same time to enforce the ban on okada and tricycles.
“The protesters immediately launched an attack on the team. The policemen shot to disperse them.
“A LASTMA vehicle, which was at the Iyana-Ipaja roundabout, was attacked. The driver tried to escape with the vehicle, but he was overpowered and beaten. They snatched the vehicle from him and set it ablaze.
“All the LASTMA officials in that area have been withdrawn, up to Agege and Capitol Road.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, said the riot started after the task force team impounded 86 motorcycles.
He stated that there was no record of death as a result of the incident.
Elkana said, “On February 5, 2020, around 10.20am, the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences and some police officers carried out enforcement on the restriction of motorcycles and tricycles in the Aboru area, where 86 motorcycles were impounded.
“The riders of the impounded motorcycles and thugs in large numbers advanced to Iyana-Ipaja and attacked police officers on duty at the Iyana-Ipaja roundabout, Alaguntan junction and the Aboru junction.
“One Inspector Salifu Umar was injured by the hoodlums, but no life was lost. The injured inspector was rushed to hospital and he is responding to treatment.
“One LASTMA vehicle and two Neighbourhood Watch patrol bicycles were burnt by the hoodlums. The windscreen of a police patrol vehicle was also smashed.
“Reinforcement was sent to the affected areas by the command headquarters and the situation was brought under control.”
The police spokesman added that 34 suspects had been arrested for their roles in the incident, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, condemned the attack on officers carrying out their lawful duties.
He said the CP vowed that the perpetrators, would face the full weight of the law.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olajide Oduyoye, was said to be in a meeting and could not react to the incident when one of our correspondents contacted him.
Subscribers May Be Restricted To Three Phone Lines [PUNCH]
- FG directs NCC to require NIN for SIM registration
An individual may no longer be able to own more than three phone lines going by a directive handed down to the Nigerian Communications Commission by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isah Pantami.
The directive was based on security considerations.
Pantami directed the NCC to revise the policy on SIM card registration and usage, according to a statement issued by his Technical Assistant on Information Technology, Dr Femi Adeluyi, in Abuja on Wednesday.
The revised policy would ensure that, henceforth, the National Identity Number would become a compulsory requirement for registration of new SIM cards in the country.
The new policy would also put a cap on the number of mobile phone lines or SIM cards that could be obtained and registered by an individual.
Currently, many Nigerians have multiple mobile phone lines as they could buy as many as possible.
Pantami, in the directive issued to the NCC, suggested that an individual should not have more than three mobile phone lines or SIM cards.
While fresh registration of SIM card is to be accompanied with a subscriber’s NIN, all already registered SIM cards are to be updated with the identity number before December 1, 2020.
Similarly, foreigners are to use their passport and or visa numbers to register SIM cards.
Parts of the statement read, “The updated policy is expected to ensure that the National Identity Number becomes a prerequisite for Nigerians registering new SIM cards (while for foreigners, their passports and visas should be used), while already registered SIM cards are to be updated with NIN before December 1, 2020.
“There should be a maximum number of SIM cards that can be tied to a single individual, possibly a maximum of three.”
The NCC was equally directed to ensure that only fully accredited agents support the SIM card registration process without pre-registering SIM would be themselves, while the eventual registration should be done by the operators.
The commission was also ordered to ensure that, henceforth, no unregistered SIM is ever allowed on mobile networks.
According to the statement, the updated policy is expected to “ensure that subscribers can easily check the number of SIM cards registered to their name, along with the associated phone numbers and networks.”
The new policy would also make it mandatory for mobile network operators to fortify their networks against cyberattacks.
Provisions of the new policy would further compel the telcos to adhere to the provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation, which guards against any breach of the personal data.
The new policy, to be formulated by the NCC in line with the minister’s directive, would, in the same vein, ensure that SIM cards that have been used to perpetrate crime are permanently deactivated.
The NCC was directed to provide the minister with progress reports on the implementation of the revised policy.
Pantami explained that the need for the revised policy was informed by reports from security agencies.
“The revision of the policy is based on the feedback received from the security agencies following the successful revalidation of improperly registered SIM cards in September 2019 and the blocking of those that failed to revalidate their SIMs,” the statement said.
The minister had in late 2019 declared that there were no more unregistered SIM cards in the country, following a directive issued to NCC to block about 9.2 million unregistered and pre-registered SIM cards.
He also directed the NCC to provide security agencies with the identity of any suspect linked to any mobile phone number that was used to commit crime.
Some of the minister’s previous interventions in the sector, such as a directive that sought to compel operators to reduce the cost of data, were challenged by some stakeholders, who argued that he was undermining the independence of the regulator.
However, in the statement that announced the directive for a new SIM card registration and use policy, the minister stressed that he was acting within his powers.
The statement said, “The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, has directed the NCC to revise the policy on SIM card registration and usage.
“This is in line with the powers of the minister as stated in section 25(1) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.”
The section said the minister had the power to notify the NCC, and, or, express his views on the general policy direction of the Federal Government in respect of the communications sector.
ASUU Mobilises For Nationwide Strike [LEADERSHIP]
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday revealed that it has commenced national mobilisation for strike action against the federal government over failed implementation of agreement it reach with the union .
Speaking with newsmen after its congress, the chairman, ASUU, University of Ibadan chapter, Prof. Deji Omole lamented that despite its efforts at making Nigeria great through education, successive administrations have positioned themselves to make Nigeria retrogressive.
He described the federal government as a serial defaulter and bad example for Nigerian youths.
The union accused the Muhammadu Buhari-led government of eroding the trust people initially reposed in them to reposition the education system in the country.
Nigerian Govt Expecting Ibori, Alamieyeseigha, Diezani, Aluko Loots – Malami [LEADERSHIP]
A day after a tripartite agreement was sealed by Nigeria, the Island of Jersey and the United States of America (USA) for the repatriation of $308 million stolen assets recovered from the late head of state, Gen. Sani Abacha, the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has revealed that the federal government has commenced fresh negotiations for looted funds by former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, former minister of petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, the late governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, and Kola Aluko, a businessman.
Malami, who spoke from Washington DC via telephone on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme monitored by LEADERSHIP in Abuja yesterday, said that the recovered Abacha loot would be returned to Nigeria soon.
The deal was consummated by the interested parties in Washington DC on Tuesday.
He added that the further recovery of stolen funds would continue including those from the late Abacha, Ibori, Diezani, the late Alamieyeseigha and businessman, Aluko.
Malami said that the monies in question were domiciled in the United Kingdom (UK), US, and France.
Declare State Of Emergency Now, NSCIA Tells PMB [LEADERSHIP]
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has said that the time had come for President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency on the insecurity in the country.
While addressing newsmen in Abuja, yesterday, on the State of the Nation, NSCIA’s director of administration, Alhaji Yusuf Chinedozi Nwoha, said that the level of insecurity nationwide had reached an unacceptable crescendo that declaring a state of emergency on it appears not only necessary but also pressing.
Nwoha said that now is the right time to arrest the insecurity in the country and called on the federal government to be decisive in combatting the situation.
The NSCIA official said that ‘’these days, hardly does a day pass without some heart-rending news about kidnapping, armed robbery, violent attacks on and savage/ritual killings of innocent Nigerians.
CAN, Islamic Council Disagree On Killings As Presidency Warns Against Divisive Comments [NATION]
THE Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and the Christian Association of Nigeria differed on Wednesday on President Muhammadu Buhari’s assertion that 90 per cent of insurgency victims in the country are Muslims.
While the NSCIA supported the President’s claim that more Muslims are killed than Christians, CAN described Buhari’s claim as “unfounded, false, provocative and misleading.”
The President in an opinion article published in a Christian news outlet, Christianity Today, said it is the reality that 90 per cent of all Boko Haram victims have been Muslims
Chopper Shot, 250 Killed In Police, Bandits Forest Battle [NATION]
THE police on Wednesday took the battle to the bandits who have been terrorizing the people by killing, maiming and kidnapping.
The Special Operatives of Operation Puff Adder of the police led the onslaught on the bandits in the Kaduna forest. They were supported by the special forces of the police Air Wing.
The bandits retaliated by firing shots using sophisticated anti-aircraft riffles and General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) at the police helicopter which was providing aerial and intelligence cover to the special forces.
The police said no fewer than 250 bandits and terrorists were killed. The pilot and co-pilot of the helicopter sustained injuries.
But there was no independent confirmation of the casualty figure.
Recounting the battle on Wednesday, Police spokesman Frank Mba, a deputy commissioner, said the daring offensive operation successfully neutralised over 250 high-profile members of the Ansaru Terror Group.
He added: “The operation which commenced in the early hours of today, 5th February, 2020, was carried out by a combined team of operatives of Operation Puff Adder made up of the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Forces, Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Special Tactical Squad (STS) and Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The operation was necessitated by actionable intelligence linking terror and criminal elements in the super camp to series of terror-related violence, kidnappings, gun-running, cattle rustling and other heinous crimes across the country.
”Unfortunately, during the operation, a Police Bell helicopter, which provided aerial and intelligence cover for the ground troops, came under attack from the bandits, using sophisticated anti-aircraft rifles and GPMG. Commendably, the pilot and the co-pilot, who demonstrated uncommon courage and expertise, successfully landed the aircraft at the Air Force Base, Kaduna without further incident.
“They were thereafter evacuated for medical treatment. Both officers who sustained non-life threatening injuries are currently receiving treatment and are in stable condition.
Jonathan Fired Me For Probing Oil Racketeers, Says Ex-EFCC Chair [NATION]
A FORMER Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri, has said that she was sacked by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan for trying to arrest some oil racketeers.
Mrs. Farida said there was a call from the Presidential Villa not to arrest the racketeers but she refused to be compromised on the case.
She said the late Minister for Information Prof. Dora Akunyili knew of the plot to remove her and asked her to beg Jonathan.
But she said she rejected Akunyili’s advice because it was totally against her “conscience and moral judgment.”
She said another highly-placed source said those in and around the Presidency did not like her because she did not contribute money for Jonathan’s elections in 2011.
As part of the countdown to her removal, she said ex- President Jonathan once summoned her on the rumours about her in office.
During the encounter, Jonathan asked her if she would like to go and rest but she was quick to reply if the ex-President wanted to sack her.
She said Jonathan only muttered “no.”
She said she was courageous enough to tell Jonathan not to throw her to the wolves.
Also, she said a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Pius Anyim offered her ambassadorial appointment in line with the agenda to oust her from office.
She said ex-President Umaru Yar’Adua was more committed to anti-graft war than any other person.
She said the death of Yar’Adua left her vulnerable because his demise broke the spine of the fight against corruption
Killings: Gbajabiamila, Others Worried Over Foreign Influence [NATION]
HOUSE of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, have expressed concern that foreign powers are fueling insurgency in Nigeria.
They expressed the fear on Wednesday after meeting with Security Chiefs.
Gbajabiamila, who urged the Service Chiefs to redouble their efforts in the anti-insurgency fight by taking the battle to criminals in their hideout, confirmed that the conspiracy theory was discussed.
He was echoed by Benson, who briefed reporters after he and his colleagues chairing the committees on Army, Navy, National Intelligence and Air Force met the Service Chiefs.
When asked to react to the allegation that some foreign powers were arming insurgents in a bid to destabilise the country, Gbajabiamila replied: “Yes, like I said, that is part of the things we discussed. There could be some truth in that.
“Military issues are not things we should discuss in public, but they (military chiefs) raised a lot of issues that we must all sit down as Nigerians and discuss.
“One of them is that there is probably an international dimension to what we see. There is ISIS, there is ISWAP. These are things that we need to discuss in a very classified manner.
“But, what we want Nigerians to know is that we are committed to them 100 per cent, to see that we assist the military and the Armed Forces and ensuring that this matter is put to an end within the shortest possible time.”