CONFERENCE ON TERRORISM IN NIGERIA

Responding to terrorism in Nigeria

Terrorism in Nigeria is a direct consequence of the people’s deep dissatisfaction with their government, said participants at the fifth policing executive forum held recently in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, which dwelt on responding to the emerging trends of terrorism in the country.
A lecturer of Mass Communications at the University of Maiduguri, Abubakar Mu’azu, while tracing the antecedents of several dissenting groups along Nigeria’s geographical lines, including the Niger Delta militants in the South South; the Oodu’a People’s Congress in the South West; the Bakassi Boys and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra in the South East, and the Jama’atu Ahlus Sunnah Lid Da’awati Wal Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram, in the North, said Nigerian leaders mishandling of national issues gave rise to these groups.
“There is widespread disenchantment with the Nigerian State arising from its failure to meet its obligations to the people and the perception that State policies are implemented to advance private interests for personal accumulation,” Mu’azu said.
“All these groups emerge because of the failure of governance, a complacent security regime and absence of strong culture that enables citizens to make effective demands from their rulers.”
Violence begets violence Mu’azu, who dwelt on the activities of Boko Haram, which he said he had monitored over time in Borno State, stated “the environment creates the terrorist group”.
He said the sect’s recurring attacks including suicide bombings in the country is the direct result of the Nigerian government’s “brutal suppression of all forms of dissent” by its predictable use of force.
“The resort to suppression using the State’s stock of arsenal of violence often sends the wrong signal to groups that have grievances that civil approach was unworkable,” Mr Mu’azu said.
“Some scholars have observed that the security services, especially the Police and the State Security Service (SSS) are employed to oppress rather than protect, the citizen.”
He however added that the military are the worst offenders for their reported indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians.
“The military are aggravating the situation, as illustrated with their inhuman and degrading handling of people, to the extent that people are now saying it is better to join Boko Haram and get security since the military is not protecting them.”
Civil society activists also disclosed that the situation in Borno State, the sect’s base, has taken a new dimension with at least four different types of killings identified - those perpetrated by Boko Haram, others by security forces, some by ritualists, and others termed “hatred killings” being carried out by people settling scores with opponents.
The criminalisation of the state
Also speaking at the event, Chidi Odinkalu, the Africa director of the Open Society Justice Initiative, said the greatest threat to Nigeria’s existence is the Nigerian government’s continuous condoning of corruption and crime.
“Our biggest single national security crisis is not Boko Haram. It is the total failure, corruption and criminalisation of the state.
We have being witnessing a descent into this particular situation over at least 25 years since when Dele Giwa was killed and the government at the head level covered it up,” said Odinkalu, referring to the assassination of renowned journalist Dele Giwa via a letter bomb on October 19, 1986.
“In Nigeria nobody has being convicted for any of the killings that took place in this country in 25 years since Dele Giwa. That is state incapability. That is a state security crisis.”
Odinkalu, a lawyer with 23 years experience, said the failure of the Nigerian government through its security agencies and the judiciary has led to the agitations of dissident groups across Nigeria.
“The government promoted the elimination of Nigerians as a method of government and as a method of alienation of the state and security.
The killing of Saro Wiwa further showed this. In every part of this country, the language is the same - marginalisation, alienation! Now, every geo-political zone in Nigeria has its own language of killing. And they kill without accountability because they have seen the state do so without accountability” he said.
Dealing with ‘terrorists’
While state and non-state actors have advocated dialogue with perceived terrorist groups, a discussant at the event, Felix Ogbuadu, a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, said the government’s challenge with dealing with Boko Haram, unlike other agitation groups, has been the sect’s refusal to dialogue ever since the Police extra-judiciously exterminated the sect’s leader, Mohammed Yusuf, in 2009.
“I agree dialogue is desirable but how does government dialogue with a group that does not operate in the open and no one has been able to convince them to come out. I plead with all Nigerians to please prevail on them to come out; and also with government to assure them to fair hearing so that they can table their grievances,” Ogbuadu said
while reminding participants that the failure of security agencies is a reflection of the failure of government in all sectors of the country.
But the State Security Service (SSS) through a representative, Usman Abubakar, while giving several accounts of how Boko Haram since 2003 has launched series of attacks across Northern states leading to numerous deaths, said the group’s ideology goes contrary to Nigeria as a democratic nation.
“I am a Muslim but honestly speaking I’ll tell you this group means bad for humanity, for the Nigerian State, for everybody,” Abubakar said. “Their goal is to islamise the whole of Nigeria.
What they are doing is to create confusion everywhere so that they can do whatever they want. We must do everything humanly possible to ensure they are rehabilitated and those who are not ready to be rehabilitated they are arraigned in competent courts of law.” Solutions to an endemic problem
As discussions continue nationally and globally on strategies of curbing terrorism, Odinkalu says Nigeria can only be taken seriously once the country’s two decade old national security policy reflects modern times.
“We need to comprehensively change our national security document. The last review of our national security doctrine was done under General Babangida which resulted in the promulgation of the National Security Agencies Act in 1986. It is now 25 years old and overdue for reforms as it was based on a regime’s security doctrine that is not valid in a democracy.”
Other recommendations arrived at by the over 50 participants drawn from law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations, the academia, local and international development organisations, at the instance of CLEEN Foundation, which promotes co-operation between civil society and law enforcement agencies, include the withdrawal of the military from high-risk locations “as they are grossly unsuited for such a function and may have exacerbated the security situation”, promoting effective collaboration between all law enforcement agencies “to encourage information exchange”, the establishment of a research grant to support academic studies aimed at “providing better understanding of extremist groups operating in Nigeria and their activities”, amongst others.

Surveillance patrol

Terrorism:Surveillance patrol car to the rescue.

The security challenges confronting Nigeria today could be surmounted, if the country, among others, acquires properly equipped surveillance vehicles or patrol cars, with tracking devices as it is done in developed and some Third World nations.One of the greatest problems facing the country, even in tracking the menace of the dreaded Islamist sect, Boko Haram, is inability of the security agencies to gather intelligence report, which could help them to be proactive in the fight against crimes.But part of the solution seems to be in sight. A security-conscious company, Safety Vision Nigeria Limited, has made available and proposed to the Federal Government, through the police, to embrace the technology, which would aid the security agencies, especially the police force, to give the criminals, especially, robbers and terrorists a run for their money.According to the Managing Director, Dr Bola Yusuf, the company has a patrol car with in-built equipment that would help the police to enhance emergency response capacity, provide a functional national crime data base and tracking devices that would help them in their surveillance operations.He said the company would develop police Response Command Centre, a centralised area where emergency, distress calls, monitoring, command deployment and control are configured for immediate responses in the event of any danger to lives and property.The company, he further stressed, could also create a data base where crime records are stored daily. His words: "Information can be obtained here within one minute. This information includes officers’ identification and their locations at any given time."The patrol car is not just the normal conventional patrol vehicle, used by the Nigeria Police. The technology in the latest patrol car has the capacity to share information with any other security agency that is linked to the police data centre. In advanced countries, for instance, the sophisticated patrol car helps the police to effectively combat crimes in the streets, highway and neighbourhood.Explaining how the bullet-proof patrol car functions, Dr. Yusuf said the car had digital IP camera for surveillance, which makes it difficult for anyone to sidetrack, in the event of any emergency. The reason is that the system is professionally configured with non-stop recording capability. It also has equipment that could capture the full image of persons and things. The in-built device could capture full image at 360 degrees radius, including the image and the activities of the patrol operator.He said: "It is amazing! The patrol car also records voice, which makes crime detection and subsequent arrest very easy. Culprit can easily be identified by his/her voice." One of the unique features of the patrol car is that it has a memory which records what happens as it is being used to track down criminals and plays back what happened during an operation. Not even the security agents, who operate the vehicle are spared as unethical behaviours, like taking of bribes and other sharp practices are recorded. "It has three parts, its brain box, black box and memory. The memory does not stop as it collects and records information all the time. It has a hard disc that stores all recordings." Besides other functions, the patrol car has a specialised device to enhance detection of fake vehicle particulars and drivers licence on the highways; monitor inter-border movements with a view to accurately identifying illegal immigrants, among others. "This can be achieved, if Nigerian Immigration Service is configured to Nigeria Police data centre, to share information. This will, no doubt, step down the fear of terrorism and other vices that can be a threat to the security of this country," he said. Just like the last bombing of the UN building in Abuja on August 26, 2011, the vehicle would have been able to expose the perpetrators even before they executed the heinous act. "Let us put a system that will expose everybody. This is the time to do it. If there were collaborators, the system would have exposed them because all you need is to get all the identifications of all the staff of UN in Abuja into the system. You can also track all movements in and out. You can even play back whatever happened that day. Unfortunately, no one can play back what happened at the UN building that day," he regretted.Another unique feature of the patrol car is the in-built long lasting battery as it does not require the services of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to operate. "It can operate at any location, including the creeks, whether there is light or not. It is rugged, effective, accurate and more efficient than other conventional surveillance systems," he said.Dr. Yusuf explained that apart from helping to combat crime, the system could be a veritable source of revenue for the government. He said criminal activities would be nipped in the bud if the Federal Government could avail itself of this opportunity by acquiring the sophisticated patrol car for the security agencies."This is an emergency security response deployed by the security agencies in advanced countries to cordon off danger zones for the purpose of allowing police forensic department to take evidence before any unwanted encroachment by unsuspecting public. This security measure was conspicuously absent during October 1, 2010 bomb blast in Abuja. This can help, in no small measure, to carry out an effective security investigation through forensic examination, without any fear of interference or connivance.""The patrol unit of the Nigeria Police will be configured to checkmate drivers with bad driving habits on our highways, streets, pedestrian crossing, red light violation and other traffic laws. The patrol unit will be saddled with the responsibility to monitor, arrest and charge the road traffic violators as corrective and punitive measures. "If this system is put in place, it will check recklessness on our highways and thus, make it easy for the police patrol unit to make arrests. All activities on our highways and streets are under digital surveillance. The system is error-free and cannot be manipulated even by the operator. It is configured to track vehicle plate numbers at any distance, which makes escape to be difficult by the offenders."There are indications, however, that the idea of acquiring the patrol vehicle had been sold to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, but he seems to be complaining about the price of the car.

Air Marshall Oluseyi Petinrin

Boko Haram: No wrangling among security agencies —CDS.

THE military high command has refuted reports that there is division among the security agencies in the country, due to the reported release of the leader of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, Aliyu Tishau, from prison.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, at a joint service press conference, Air Commodore Yunus Anas said the Boko Haram leader was released because of a court order to that effect.
"The attention of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) has been drawn to the recent media reports suggesting some disagreements between some Nigerian security organisations in their efforts to stop criminal and terrorist activities in the country, particularly as regards the purported release from custody of one A1iyu Tishau, the self-confessed co-founder of the Boko Haram sect.
"This press conference is, therefore, essentially to assure Nigerians that there is no iota of disunity or rancour within or between security agencies in the fight against terrorism, despite the orchestrated speculations by a section of the media.
"It is necessary to put on record that the so-called co-founder of Boko Haram, Mr Tishau, was arrested and detained by security agencies for questioning on his relationship with the terrorist group and was later released on the strength of a court order.
"Mr Tishau subsequently found his way to the Africa Independent Television (AIT), where he made several spurious and untenable claims. His much publicised diatribe is understandable and should be situated on the psychology of someone who went through a period of detention and needed a platform to vent his anger.
"This committee, therefore, finds it amazing that a media report of such sensitive national security issue will be based on the ubiquitous reliable source. Similarly, we want you to please note that the story credited to one of the national dailies on the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) was not made by any official of the agency nor by anybody in Defence Headquarters," Anas stated.
In another development, the Nigerian Navy has begun taking measures to prevent pirates activities on the country’s waters.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, Navy spokesman, Commodore Kabir Aliyu, said the actions included setting up of a combined maritime patrol of the waters of Nigeria and Republic of Benin.
According to the statement, "the upsurge in sea robberies and piracy within the territorial waters of the Benin Republic and its neighbouring countries of Nigeria, Republic of Togo and Ghana has assumed a worrisome dimension of late," adding that "in view of the urgent need to address the problem, the governments of Nigeria and Benin Republic initiated diplomatic talks which resulted in the setting up of a combined maritime patrol of the waters of the two countries."

JTF MEN

Boko Haram kingpin, five others arrested.

A MAN who security agents have described as the "operational commander" of Boko Haram has been arrested in Borno State.
Ali Saleh and five others are being held, even as security agencies are trailing more suspected members of the Islamic fundamentalist sect.
But, Saleh’s status seems controversial, with the claim in some quarters that the suspect is a mere gun runner.
The government has not ruled out peace talks with the sect, despite its rejection of dialogue.
Saleh was arrested alongside some members of the sect by the Joint Task Force after an attack on some buildings on Baga Road in Maiduguri, the state capital.
Governor Kashim Shettima confirmed the arrest of the Boko Haram chiefs yesterday.
He told the Associated Press in an interview that with the arrests," I believe the worst is over".
The governor said Boko Haram maintains a loose command-and-control structure, which allows groups to operate autonomously.
"They operate in some sort of cells, some sort of units that the interlinked, but generally, they take directives from one commander," Shettima said.
The governor said a negotiated peace could be reached between the government and the sect.
But, he warned that those who continue with assassinations and bombings will be hunted down.
While Shettima and others say progress is being made, residents of Maiduguri largely refuse to talk about the security situation in public. Privately, they say they remain scared of both Boko Haram and the security agencies, who have been accused of brutality in their new crackdown against the sect.
A highly placed source, who spoke in confidence, said the attack that led to Saleh’s arrest occurred about three weeks ago and the JTF operatives combed the area and arrested the suspects.
"It was during interrogation that the JTF discovered that Saleh is an operational commander of the sect," said the source.
"We have to crosscheck our information on Saleh with the members of the sect in custody with him and with other intelligence networks to ascertain that he is a key member of the leadership of the sect.
"It is safe to say that we have an operational commander of Boko Haram with the JTF and some members of the sect under his command."
Saleh and some of those arrested are said to have confirmed their involvement in some of the bombings in the country.
"We are still interrogating them and we are on the trail of others too," the source said.
When contacted through text message at 6.29pm yesterday, the Commander of the JTF, Col. Victor Ibalemen, replied: "I am in a meeting."
Another source, however, said: "I think it is too early to say that Saleh is a Boko Haram leader. Based on local intelligence, some are claiming that he is a notorious gun runner in Borno State.
"Saleh was arrested, following a tip-off by some people.
"And you cannot dispute the claim of the locals because they know themselves. Whatever is the status of Saleh and relationship with Boko Haram, it is the duty of security agencies to tell the nation."
President Goodluck Jonathan has asked security chiefs to be on the alert, irrespective of the gains the JTF has recorded in Borno State.
He also insisted that there must be synergy among all the security chiefs.
The President reportedly gave the order at the review meetings he had with the security chiefs on Monday and Tuesday.
A source said: "The sessions were lengthy but fulfilling. But the President asked the security chiefs to be on the alert. He said they should not take any situation for granted.
"Apart from improved intelligence gathering, the security agencies were directed to take pre-emptive measures as may be dictated by any situation."
But the Federal Government does not rule out dialogue with the sect.
A top government official, who pleaded not to be named, said: "We have read what they said but the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan does not rule out peace talks with Boko Haram leaders.
"Already, Vice-President Namadi Sambo has a copy of the Galtimari Panel on Boko Haram in Borno State and the findings are being studied by the presidency.
"No government will succumb to threats but as far as the President is concerned, the crisis at hand is resolvable at the peace table.

Lagos airport

Boko Haram: Security search paralyses movement at Lagos airport.

MOVEMENT and business activities were, for the greater part of Wednesday, paralysed at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, following a serious congestion brought about by searches being conducted by security operatives.
Wednesday’s traffic congestion made it one week the airport had been recording serious traffic which was attributed to the recent threat by the deadly Boko Haram sect to bomb the Lagos airport.
Following the security search carried out by a team of all security operatives at strategic parts of the airport, the traffic congestion spread to as far as Maryland, from the Ikeja axis, while the one at Oshodi spread to as far as Palmgroove end.
A trip from Ikeja to the airport, which ordinarily should take less than 20 minutes, took almost two hours while many airport users, who could not bear the heavy traffic, decided to trek to their offices.
The congestion, which started as early as 7.00 a.m. led to many passengers missing their flights, just as workers of the various aviation agencies got to their offices late.
The development was compounded by the government's directive which barred all motorcyclists from operating in the airports.
While men of the anti-bomb squad focused their search on all cars and vehicles entering the various parts of the airport, other security operatives, including the police, frisked people to ensure that those without cogent reasons for being at the airport were not allowed in.
The congestion may, however, continue for some time, following the appeal made by the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr Harold Demuren, to the travelling public on the situation at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Ikeja axis and its environs.
The traffic congestion, according to Demuren, may not be unconnected with "the prevailing preventive measures to curtail the ongoing security threat in the country, particularly as it affects the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA).
"This is part of our spirited efforts to ensure that screening of all vehicular movement in and out of the airport is conscientiously carried out. The screening is in support of the enhanced body pat down being carried out on passengers without compromise."

National Union of Road Transport Workers, Rafiu Akanni Olohunwa

Breach Of Peace Trial: Ex-NURTW Boss, Others Absent From Court.

Former chairman of the Lagos State council of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Rafiu Akanni Olohunwa and other accused persons, were yesterday absent at the Ikeja Magistrate’s Court, when their case over breach of public peace resumed for hearing.
Olohunwa, the treasurer, Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya a.k.a. MC Oluomo and nine others are standing trial for alleged breach of public peace in a widespread crisis over control of motor parks in Lagos.
But when the matter came up for hearing yesterday, only MC Oluomo was present, while Olohunwa and other accused persons shunned the court.
All attempts to speak with Olohunwa on phone proved abortive, but Oluomo, who is the union’s chairman in Oshodi, said he came to court because he believed no one is above the law.
"As you can see, I am here because I know that our trial was adjourned till today. I don’t know the reason why others are not present in court, but I know that nobody is above the law. I can’t speak for the others, but can only speak for myself," he said, amid cheers from his teeming fans and supporters who had joined him in court.
He declined to speak further on the issue, saying, "I’m not in any position to say anything for now because, as you all know, the matter is in court."
The case was adjourned till 30 November as the presiding Magistrate, A.O. Isaac, was said to have commenced his annual leave.

POLICE BOSS

As Lagos CP reads riot act to NURTW.

Suspected ritualists in Lagos beheaded an unidentified man and chopped off his manhood. Residents of Ajegunle, a Lagos suburb were shocked when they woke up to see a headless body on Aroworade Street.Residents trooped to the scene to catch a glimpse of the victim who was bound hands and feet. He was stripped naked. Nobody was able to identify the dark-complexioned man who was brutally murdered by the ritualists.A woman who resided in that street and identified herself simply as Mama Bose told Daily Sun that she heard the scream of a man at about 2am after which the environment remained quiet again.Mama Bose said she never envisaged that the man was in danger. The woman said she felt that one of the destitute, who walked the streets in the area must have screamed unnecessarily and she went back to sleep. Residents in the area were said to have moved round the houses in the street to ascertain if any man was missing or did not come back from work. Another resident, one Mr. Wale said the man might be a visitor returning from a far journey and did not reach his destination on time because of traffic gridlock along Ore – Benin Road. He said probably the visitor was coming for an emergency mission and could not reach his host on phone.Meanwhile, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Layeni Division, Mr. Chijioke Ndu, a Chief Superintendent of Police, led a team of policemen to the scene to ascertain the situation. A policeman at the station told Daily Sun that Ndu had told all the policemen in the division to be at alert to observe suspicious movements so that the hoodlums could be apprehended in the area. The divisional police officer also reintroduced the strategy, which was used to track down and arrest two men in possession of human skulls two years back.Ndu also contacted officials of Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local Government Area about the headless body. The council responded by depositing the body in a general hospital mortuary. Area ‘B’ Apapa Commander, Mr. AlHassan Ali, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, told Daily Sun that the police were on the trail of the alleged ritualists. Ali also urged residents in the area to be observant and report any suspicious stranger to the police. He appealed to the residents to avoid black spots, stop moving around or sleeping outside during unholy hours. He reminded them that,‘we are already in Ember month’ and that they should be careful because some people want to make money through evil means. He said the police were still investigating the matter and the identity of the deceased was still unknown. He said nobody came up to tell the police about any missing person in the area.He also said the case would soon be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Musiliu Smith Street, Yaba.In another development, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Yakubu Alkali, has read riot act to the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). Ali told the national executives of NURTW to shun violence and embrace peace.

MEND

We’ll bomb Eagle Square again on Oct 1.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta MEND has announced plans to bomb the Eagle Square, Abuja again on the nation’s 51st anniversary on Saturday. MEND issued the threat in a press statement released yesterday by its spokesman, Jomo Gbomo.The terse three-paragraph statement said Nigerians had nothing to celebrate after 51 years of independence. MEND advised the public to take the release as the first and final warning before the detonation of the explosive devices.The statement dated September 28 reads: "On October 1, 2011, The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) intends to place bombs within and in the immediate vicinity of Eagle Square, venue for the proposed 2011 independence anniversary celebrations."After fifty one years of independence, Nigerians still have nothing to celebrate."The general public is strongly advised to consider this as a first and final warning. No additional warnings will be issued subsequent to deployment or detonation of these devices which will be novel in nature." MEND had a few days to the 50th anniversary of the nation last year similarly warned that several explosive devices had been successfully planted in and around the Eagle Square by its operatives. It made real its threat when two cars exploded outside the justice ministry near the Eagle Square, while President Goodluck Jonathan was inspecting parade by the military. The incident, resulted in the death of at least 10 persons, while 36 others, including 11 policemen were seriously injured. The blasts completely destroyed six cars, damaged 18 others and shattered the glasses of a hotel in the vicinity.MEND leader, Henry Okah was arrested in South Africa and is currently facing trial in connection with the 2010 Abuja blasts.Ritualists behead man, chop of his manhood

nafdac director-general, Paul Orhii

Fake Drug Dealer Arrested.

A suspected fake drug dealer, Jerry Stephen, has been arrested at Igbogila area of Ayobo/Ipaja Local Council Development Area, Lagos State.
The 27-year old suspect from Edo State was caught with drugs with fake NAFDAC registration number A4-038-8L.
Stephen said he had been selling the drugs for the past three years and he bought them in Ajegunle, Lagos. He said he bought the drugs from one Peter, which he in turn sold for N200, adding: "I have not achieved anything, the money I made from it is barely enough for my feeding."
He said he was a student of Business Administration of the Institute of Continuous Education affiliated to Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; but he dropped out for lack of fund.
The suspect said he lives close to the manufacturer of the drugs at Kehinde Sreet, Ajegunle, Apapa, Lagos.
The suspect was said to be parading himself as a council health worker before the vice chairman of the council, Hon. Kashimawo Elijah with some members of neighbourhood watch officers arrested him.
Speaking on the incident, the chairman, Ayobo/Ipaja LCDA, Hon. Falilat Ajijola said the name of the council should not be dragged into the mud by the suspect and his likes adding, "Fake drugs cause damage to people’s lives. My advice to people is that they should please stay away from hard drugs and any other illicit drugs."

GOVERNOR FASHOLA

Land: Lagos Battles 300 Court Cases.

Efforts by the Lagos State government to ensure the development of the state may continue to suffer as the government has said it is still battling with over 300 cases against it in court over landed properties earmarked for developmental projects.
This disclosure was made by the State Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Mr. Enitan Oshodi, during a visit by the Chief Whip of the State House of Assembly, Dr. Razak Balogun, and party chiefs in Surulere Constituency 2 to some selected ministries in the state to solicit for government’s assistance over the plight of the people of the area.
According to the commissioner, the state government has a lot of ideas to benefit the people of the state, but getting landed properties from the people of the state has been the hindrance to its goals.
The majority of the cases in court, the commissioner said, were instituted by the supposed owners of the lands.
“We are in court in many places where we have started work. We rely on the local government to provide land since we have the responsibility of providing the funds and working with the private sector for this purpose,” he said but added that most of the projects embarked upon by the ministry have been stalled as a result of legal tussles between those who claim to be the owners of the properties and the government.
Among the projects solicited for by the Surulere people is a recreation centre for sporting activities in some parts of the constituency, job creation, the eradication of street begging and use of hard drugs by underage residents of some areas of the constituency
Responding, the Commissioner, who disclosed that begging had become one of the biggest ventures in the state, explained that the government had done its best to ensure that beggars in the state are discouraged and frustrated.
Within this week, the government has arrested over 600 beggars, Mr. Oshodi said while maintaining that many of those who engage in street begging also engage in the use of hard drugs.
“They also bring people from up north; they come in trailers and they are not coming to bomb, but to beg. And we have a culture of giving believing that if we don’t give, it won’t be well with us.
“Many of the beggars will tell you they are Muslims yet they don’t ever leave the road to pray when it is time for prayers. We have a lot of motherless babies home, yet our people prefer giving to these street beggars.
“There is a task force that has been arresting them, but they say we can’t deport them back to their states because they are Nigerians and have free movement. Even their governors are complaining that we deport them,” he said adding that recently, the rate had become alarming.
For drug abuse among the youths of the state, he said it was the direct result of unemployment and added that the state was getting to the grassroots to establish skill acquisition centres.
He also said child abuse cannot be eradicated, but can be reduced through mass enlightenment of parents.
While welcoming the lawmaker and residents of the constituency to his office, the state commissioner of Health, Dr. Jide Idris, lamented that a major challenge before his ministry is shortage of staff.
He said the hospitals and healthcare centres across the state are understaffed and as a result, the medical staff are daily overworked.
He said that as a result of this challenge, the government had taken the decision to aggressively address the issue of the primary healthcare which would become fully staffed and ease the stress of medical officers at the general and teaching hospitals in the state.
“One of the problems we have in the general and teaching hospitals is that those places are completely overwhelmed by people. People will only go to where they can get service and you cannot stop that, but as they do so, they overstretch the capacity of the staff who end up doing more than their colleagues do in other states,” he said.
While emphasising that this was responsible for some of the lapses that are seen from some medical practitioners, he said that getting staff in the hospitals was not the solution, but revamping primary healthcare centres, upgrading some and fully staffing them to reduce the stress on the medical practitioners.
“Whether people like it or not, I must tell you that we have serious human resource challenges in this state. We have the largest health workforce, but compared to the population, we have acute shortage.”
He also advised residents to report quacks to the state government after the lawmaker informed him about their requests that the area, which has Orile-Iganmu, Itire, Ikate, Ijesha and a few other communities, needed health centres, employment into medical facilities in the area and that there was a proliferation of quacks operating in the area.

POLICE ON PARADE

Boko Haram: Need For Security Consciousness.

When on Friday, 26 August, a suicide bomber crashed his Honda Accord vehicle into the United Nations House in Abuja, it was the opinion of majority of Nigerians that the Islamic fundamentalist sect, Boko Haram has introduced an international dimension to its struggle against civilisation in the country.
The bombing of the UN House was not the first attack by the sect on public buildings in the country but it was certainly the first on an international institution. By attacking the UN House, the sect was able to get undeserved international attention as news and photographs of the bombed building was relayed throughout the world by news agencies.
Following the attack, various security measures were taken by both the federal and some state governments to stop the sect from wrecking more havoc on the people.
It is in the light of this that we commend the proactive measures taken by the Lagos State Government to protect residents and public institutions from attacks by the Boko Haram fanatics. We observed that security had been beefed up at the state secretariat and some crisis-prone areas to prevent residents being used to foment trouble.
Apart from this, we also want to implore the state government not to take lightly the unconfirmed report that the sect plans to extend its activities to Lagos by bombing the Third Mainland bridge. The bridge is a strategic infrastructure connecting the mainland to the island and everything possible should be done to protect it.
The state government should also embark on an enlightenment programme to sensitise Lagosians on the need to be security conscious. Residents should be told to report every suspicious movements and unknown faces to the law enforcement agents.
In the light of the present security clampdown on nationals of some countries in the north by the Immigration Department, it is not impossible that some of these nationals will escape down south to continue their violent activities. The state must be made too hot for them.
Security agents must be posted at the entry points into the state to check the influx of these agents of destruction.
We also implore the security agencies to mop up the illegal arms in the country. Efforts should be made to initiate security measures to curtail profileration of arms across the country. Gun owners should be asked to renew their license and those who do not have license for their guns should face the music.
It is sad to note that the wanted mastermind of the UN House in Abuja was earlier arrested but later relesased without being prosecuted.
Government should, as a matter of priority, prosecute all those charged with violence to serve as a deterrent to others. It should also address the massive poverty among the people through the provision of youth empowerment, job creation and social justice.

National Security Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, retired General Owoye Azazi

Tackling Boko Haram: The Admission By Azazi

The statement by the National Security Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, retired General Owoye Azazi that suicide bombings introduced by the Islamic fundamentalist group, Boko Haram, in Nigeria caught security agencies napping must be seen as a sincere and open admission of the country’s unpreparedness to tackle terror in the magnitude introduced by the Islamic sect.
For his frankness and sincerity, Gen. Azazi must be commended. As the NSA, the security of the nation rests on his shoulders. His job includes advising the president on security challenges in the country and proffering solutions to them. For a retired general that he is, and the former Chief of Defence Staff, to have admitted shortly after a council of states meeting that the success recorded by the Boko Haram was due to the fact that the nation’s security agencies were not used to the new tactics of suicide bombing adopted by members of the sect shows that we have been deluding ourselves about our security.
His admission which came shortly after the bombing of the UN House in Abuja by the Boko Haram should serve as an eye opener that we have left our doors open for too long and the enemies have moved in. Disgruntled Nigerians have imbibed negative foreign cultures and have been indoctrinated to wreak havoc on their fatherland.
According to Azazi, “We do not want the people of the country to feel so unsafe. These problems of religious sects and all that could have started over 15 years ago and they have escalated up to this point. The problem is that we are not prepared as a nation for this new level of terrorism. The buildings and public facilities we have were not prepared for that.”
With this exposure of our lax security by no less a person than the man saddled with our collective security, it is hoped that the Federal Government will go back to the drawing board to fashion out comprehensive security measures to protect the nation from both internal and external aggression.
When suicide bombers struck in the United States on September 11, 2001 and brought down the famous twin towers in New York and the horrendous bombings in London, we watched the drama on our television and read the horrendous attacks in our newspapers and magazines, and told ourselves that it cannot happen here. How short-sighted we were. Now, the suicide bombers have arrived and they are wreaking havoc all over the place, killing and maiming innocent people and destroying public infrastructure.
As a first measure, security at the country’s borders should be tightened and all illegal routes through which undesirable elements infiltrate the country should be blocked. Secondly, all illegal aliens, especially those from our neighbouring countries which have borders with Libya, formerly controlled by Muamar Gaddafi and are sympathetic to his cause, should be placed under close watch. Identified fanatics among them should be rounded up and deported.
Security should be beefed up in all public buildings while access to them should be restricted. Government workers should also be enlightened on security measures to protect government properties. The Federal Government should also embark on an enlightenment campaign to educate the populace on the need to be security conscious and report any suspicious movement to the security agencies.
Security agencies should urgently mop up illegal arms now in possession of criminals. There seems to be an upsurge in violent crimes such as armed robbery and kidnapping due to the proliferation of small weapons after the April general elections. This has to be curbed.

NDLEA BOSS

Nigerian Drug Ring Busted In India.

The crime branch in New Delhi, India claimed to have busted a Nigerian drug racket that used to get heroin smuggled to the capital from Kandahar inAfghanistan through Pakistan and Kashmir. The gang then re-packed the drugs and sent it through post to Nigeria, from where it used to be transported to Europe on rail.
This was revealed by two Nigerians who were arrested for allegedly possessing 1.2kg heroin worth around Rs 1.2 crore in international market. “The duo had concealed the heroin inside the seats of children’s bicycles and were planning to send it through the postal parcel service,” said Ashok Chand, deputy commissioner of police (crime).
Richard Nwafor (38), an MBA, and Chris Chinonye (32) were held from the Gole Dakhana area on Saturday when they had come to send the parcels. “There was a tip-off that two Nigerians would come to Gole Dakhana to book parcels containing heroin for Nigeria. The seized heroin was concealed in 20 bicycle seats and kept in polythene pouches and, after being wrapped with carbon, was hidden between the upper portion of the seat and the sponge inside it,” said Chand.
Nwafor, who had started a readymade garment business in Nigeria after his graduation, came to Delhi in June this year. “He used to import readymade garments from China and Dubai, for which he frequently travelled to these countries. In 2009, he incurred huge losses in his business as his counterparts in China and Dubai cheated him. He then contacted one of his friends, Ikonne Livinus, and came to India on his suggestions. Livinus gave him a consignment of heroin for sending it to Nigeria. Nwafor purchased cycle seats and after concealing the heroin in them, planned to send them to Nigeria by post,” said Sanjay Bhatia, additional DCP (crime).
Chinonye came to Mumbai in 2008 on a business visa. “He used to export readymade garments from India to Nigeria. At the end of 2009, he came to Delhi and started trafficking heroin from India to Nigeria. “Chinonye had earlier sent heroin to Nigeria concealed in women’s handbags and other such items. He was assisting Nwafore in sending the seized heroin to Nigeria,” Chand said.
Sources said the accused had earlier used soft toys to send the drugs. “While Afghanistan and Pakistan have been part of the golden triangle from where the drug syndicate is run, we have found India is emerging as a favourite destination for transportation,” said a source.
This year, five Nigerians were arrested in the city for murder while 33 were held for being involved with drug or fake lottery gangs. The police said that after the arrest of four Nigerians in the money exchanger murder case one month ago, they had identified 29 Nigerians living in West district alone without proper papers and approached the Foreigner Regional Registration Office for their deportation, said additional CP (West) V Renganathan.

ACN National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed

ACN Urges FG To Stop Extra-Judicial Killings By Police.
The Action Congress of Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to take a decisive measure to end the recurring killing of innocent citizens by the police, following the recent death of a baker after he was allegedly brutalised by the police in Lagos.
Its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed said unless government acts fast, the persistent extra-judicial killings could lead to a situation where aggrieved persons or groups will take the laws into their own hands, thus precipitating anarchy.
Mohammed also said the government must ensure that all those who have fallen victims to these senseless and needless killings, by the same police force being maintained by tax payers to protect citizens, get justice so they can have a sort of closure.
Mohammed recalled that it was government’s inaction in the face of extra-judicial killings of members of the Boko Haram that helped push the sect into a killing frenzy, in which it targets security agents, especially policemen, and engage in a dangerous bombing campaign.
”No society can have peace without justice. Therefore, the government must ensure that all victims of extra-judicial killings in the country get justice. It is not just enough to dismiss the policemen who carry out such killings. They must be made to face the law, and their cases dispensed with summarily to serve as a deterrent to others who may want to toe that path.
”The bad eggs in the police, which has the responsibility of maintaining law and order, have continued to act with impunity, terrorising innocent citizens and behaving like criminals. In most cases, these killers in uniform get away with their unconscionable acts, and that has been the reason behind the continued killings. Several cases of police
killings, including that of Mr. Modebayo Awosika – son in-law of veteran journalist Alhaji Alade Odunewu – have yet to be conclusively dealt with and justice served without fear or favour. This mus stop!
”Like we did in our earlier comment on this issue, may we also remind those under whose command these impunity are being perpetrated that they may also still be brought to justice years after they may have left the force -as has happened in other countries around the world where cases of extra-judicial killings have been perpetrated,” Mohammed said.
Mohammed called for an independent investigation into the death of the 52-year-old baker, identified as Mr. Ismaila Qadri, in the hands of some policemen from the Ipaja police station, Alagolo, simply because he was not able to cough out enough money to ‘bail’ himself after he was arrested in an illegal raid usually carried out by policemen in the area to extort money from hapless citizens.
Mohammed said the police should not be entrusted with investigating the case, since no one can be a judge in his own case.
”If the unfortunate death of this baker can be used by the authorities to begin the process of ending the mindless killing of Nigerians by the police, either at checkpoints, via illegal raids or in other circumstances, he would not have died in vain,” Mohammed said.

Comrade Shehu Sani

How To Stop The Bombs.
Comrade Shehu Sani is a Kaduna-based author, civil rights activist and one of those who facilitated former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent meeting with the dreaded Boko Haram Islamic sect.
Obasanjo’s host, Babakura Fugu was killed by Boko Haram members a few days after the meeting you facilitated. What would you say was responsible for that?
I got a report that the man was killed and that the people who killed the man also issued threats that all those who were involved in the peace process, including myself, were targets.
They said they were not going to make peace with an unbeliever or any infidel government and with Obasanjo.
They said they will come after all those who initiated the move for the parley, especially me. Obasanjo was also named among those to be killed. I am sad over Fugu’s death.
As far as the threat is concerned, I am a fighter. I have been in the struggle for years and I don’t think the threat should stop me from doing what I believe should be done.
After the killing of Fugu, the real Boko Haram came out on the BBC and Voice of America to condemn the killing as well as those who issued the threats.
Could we now conclude that there are elements in the Boko Haram sect that were uncomfortable with the peace initiative and meeting with Obasanjo?
As someone who was part of that meeting, I observed that a faction was not happy.
They were not unhappy with the peace process or meeting, but with their exclusion. They could also have differences with the main group and may want to frustrate attempts at peace.
The second hypothesis is that there is a political interest and that perhaps, the peace process could expose those things that were not known to the Nigerian people.
The killing of Fugu and the text sent to all of us was meant abort the peace process. But I suspect that the team that attacked the Police Headquarters is different for the one that bombed the UN building.
Those who attacked the Police Headquarters made a broadcast. Those who attacked the UN building belong to a splinter group. What this process has shown is that it’s possible to achieve peace with Boko Haram, but how to make it all-embracing is the challenge.
From what they said at the meeting with Obasanjo, it was obvious that it is with the Borno State government that they have issues. Why, then, did they attack facilities not owned by the state government?
I think they are the best people to answer this question. During the meeting, Obasanjo said killings and bombings will not promote the interest of Boko Haram and that of the country.
Obasanjo also said he will not want to see anybody engage in acts detrimental to peace and security of the country. But I have no doubt that if followed, the suggestions they gave could lead to peace in the country.
Are you sure the bombing will stop once these demands are met?
Before we got involved, I used to think that this crisis had no chance of being resolved. People should understand that a stick approach was adopted for the Niger Delta problem, through the killing of Ken Saro-Wiwa and others, but it did not work.
And when the carrot approach was used, it brought about a solution. I have no doubt that if there is going to be compliance with their demands, we will find the formula for peace. If you have two groups fighting the government, at least, try to make peace with one and then you know that you have just one to deal with.
But if we don’t follow this process, the government will continue to spend billions of naira on the army and the police without achieving anything meaningful.
We are told that the sect finds Western education abhorrent…
They are the best people to answer that. But I was shocked at the meeting to see that some of their women are university graduates.
And one woman, who stood to speak, holds a master’s degree. All their children are also in Western schools. I was a bit confused. But given the atmosphere, I couldn’t ask questions. However, I am of the firm belief that they are well educated. Most of them are university graduates. They said they have a name, but they are popularly called Boko Haram.
Some Northern elders said you never approached them before the meeting?
It would be ridiculous to tell a man in his seventies or nineties what to do and what not to do. This problem has been on for the past three years. It behoves on them as elders and leaders in this part of the country not to simply remain indifferent, even if they have problems with President Jonathan.
I am not a fan of the president, but I am passionate about peace and security in this country. He is our president and we must accept that fact. I don’t think that they need me to initiate negotiation with Boko Haram.
The Northern elders met over a hundred times over the issue of zoning. They also met over two hundred times in an attempt to get a Northern consensus candidate. I believe that since they didn’t ask for Shehu Sani’s advice to hold those meetings, they could have also used the same passion for zoning and consensus candidate towards ending the problem of Boko Haram.
For anybody to imagine I should have come to his house to call him is mischievous and an attempt to blame his failure to act on another person. If they were interested in stopping the violence, it wouldn’t have grown as big as this.
Most of them think that because they don’t like the President, they should leave him to suffer. We are bringing new initiatives to bring about the end of Boko Haram’s activities.
If offered the chance to spend a night in either Maiduguri or Jos, which would be your preference?
Anyone interested in peace should be able to bear the consequences. As Mandela said, if you want peace, you should talk to your enemies and not your friends.
I believe the issue of Maiduguri and Jos could be addressed. If our revered Professor Wole Soyinka was asked to meet with Christian and Muslim leaders in a town hall, it would serve more purpose than a lot of English and grammar on the pages of newspapers.
And if others, who also dared, go to Jos and Maiduguri, to meet Muslims and Christians and tell them to understand one another, it will have more impact than posting insults and abuses on Facebook and Twitter pages or commentaries in newspapers.
I believe that an effort at peace, even if modest, is one billion times better than one trillion commentaries and analyses that make no impact. In 2009, I went to Jos. I brought Berom Christians and Muslims to a primary school, where I made them resolve their differences.
I told them the need to embrace peace and that there should be no killings any longer and I offered my modest contributions. It’s my idea of what peace initiative should be.
Why do you think Jos erupts from time to time?
What has led to the constant killings and crises are these: non-implementation of the probe panel reports that have been submitted to several governments; the disconnect between the leaders and the led; indigene and settler syndrome; manipulation of religion by politicians and the exclusion of common people from the peace process.
When you bring in Christian and Muslim leaders to Abuja or to government house in Jos, you can’t be sure that these people will take the message back to the grassroots. Let me tell you that if you have a weekly neighbourhood meeting between Christians and Muslims in a suburb of Jos, it will help resolve the problem.
How do we end the crisis?
It will end if Christian and Muslim leaders as well as the government partner to involve neighbours in the peace process. It is not about signing communiqués, but about neighbours getting to agree to live in peace. I recently wrote a book that would be distributed to primary schools.
The reason for primary schools is that the children still have open minds and are not yet polluted by prejudice and sentiments. And I believe that if we have lost hope in the older generation stereotype and belligerent faith and thinking, we can at least plant the seeds of hope in the hearts of these young people.

•Obasanjo (l) and his host Fugu, who was gunned dow after receiving the former president in Maiduguri.

What Boko Haram Leaders Told Obasanjo.
Details of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s meeting with family of Mohammed Yusuf, slain leader of the Boko Haram sect, emerge
With the sustained bomb and gun attacks by the Boko Haram sect in the Northern part of country and the inability of the security agencies to contain the menace, most Nigerians seem ready to welcome any move that could ensure a cessation of activities of the sect.
Thus, despite the controversy over its timing and appropriateness, many Nigerians had hoped that the visit of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to the family of Yusuf Mohammed, the late leader of the sect, would lead to an end of its murderous campaign.
During the unannounced trip to Maiduguri on 15 September, Obasanjo met with some family members of the late Yusuf, led by his brother-in-law, Babakura Fugu.
Though Obasanjo said the visit was a private one, many construed it as an attempt to open dialogue between the government and the group, which has claimed responsibility for most of the bomb attacks in some parts of the North, including the one on UN House, Abuja, which killed 23 people.
Yusuf was killed in police custody in 2009, after he was captured by soldiers sent to quell an uprising by the members of the sect in Maiduguri.
Yusuf’s father-in-law, Babakura Fugu Mohammed, was also shot dead by the police within the same period.
Though the group has been in existence in the Northern part of the country since about 2005, it remained way below the radar of the general public until Yusuf and his father-in-law were killed.
The sect continues to cite the extra-judicial killing of its leaders as part of the reasons it has been waging war against the state.
The group has also said part of its mission is to ensure stricter enforcement of Islamic law, the Sharia, in Northern states.
Obasanjo was persuaded by a group of Nigerians, that included Shehu Sani, a Kaduna-based civil rights campaigner and author.
According to Sani, the group considered a few other names before settling for Obasanjo.
Two of the names considered were Muhammadu Buhari, former military head of state and presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, and former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida.
They were, however, dropped because of the frostiness of their relationship with the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Sani said Obasanjo was chosen for three main reasons. “One, during his tenure as president–he could have made many mistakes–we discovered his government didn’t arrest, persecute or launch a war against Boko Haram members.
When Obasanjo’s name was proposed, disclosed Sani, Boko Haram leaders asked for one week to mull over the proposal, which they later accepted. They, however, requested that security personnel be kept away from the meeting.
At the meeting, which Sani attended, Obasanjo spoke in Hausa, which surprised their hosts, and also rejected the plush seat he was offered, electing to sit on the carpet with his hosts.
The meeting began with a prayer, after which Obasanjo asked them the cause of their anger and if, as a family, they could find a way to end their violent campaign.
The former president also said he was worried about the violence and how the group is regularly linked with such.
He explained that the country is in serious danger of disintergration on account of the activities of the group.
A member of the family, who is thought to be their imam, was the first to respond.
He told Obasanjo that the family and the sect have been victims of injustice, beginning with the killing of Yusuf, Fugu’s father and Buji Foi, a commissioner for Religious Affairs in Borno State.
The elderly man said the crisis was sparked by members of the Joint Task Force, who shot at Boko Haram members on a funeral procession for a member, who had died of natural causes, in 2009.
The task force, he said, had taken exception to Boko Haram members’ failure to wear helmets while riding motorcycles.
The family member added that the killing of their members was followed by Yusuf being declared wanted by the police, his eventual arrest by soldiers, who turned him over to the police in whose custody he was killed.
Obasanjo, recalled Sani, expressed shock that it was a disagreement over the wearing of helmets that ignited a crisis that has taken the complexion of a huge insurrection.
After the imam, some other members of the family spoke and Obasanjo asked them to give their names. The women then spoke before Fugu got up to speak.
He told Obasanjo that the group wrote three letters to the government of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, asking that the 2009 killings be investigated. The request, Fugu said, was rejected.
Obasanjo asked for copies of the letters and if he could go with them. He was obliged.
Fugu added that they also petitioned the government on the killing of their members.
That petition was also ignored. And when they went to court, added Fugu, they got a ruling that a sum of N100 million be paid to them, which the government appealed.
Fugu also complained about arrests and detention of their members by the police. Someone then stood up and said the picture painted by Fugu showed that they have been victims of injustice, which has provoked the violent reaction against the state.
Obasanjo said the violence is creating instability in the country and he wanted them to tell him what he can do to bring about peace.
Fugu replied that the justice they want is for the government to understand that injustice has been done to them and that the families of those killed and arrested are suffering.
Fugu also demanded that the court ruling be obeyed by the government. He offered to take Obasanjo around Maiduguri to see their schools and mosques that were unjustly demolished.
They wanted Obasanjo to tell the government to rebuild the damaged schools and mosques.
Obasanjo then asked what guarantee they could give if their requests were met.
But they said the government should accept their requests first. “We have told him our predicament, especially the destruction of our family house, and also the need for the state government to abide by the court order which ruled that a compensation of N100 million be paid for the extrajudicial killing of our father; and also to tell the security agencies to stop harassing and intimidating our family members over issues related to Boko Haram,” Fugu, who tried to dissociate Yusuf’s family from the sect’s recent activities, told journalists.
Why Fugu was eventually shot and killed still remains unknown. But there are speculations that some members of the sect thought he had given too much away.
“The gunman pulled a Kalashnikov rifle from inside the folds of his traditional robes and shot Fugu to death. No one else was wounded in the attack and the gunman apparently walked away,” Simeon Midenda, Borno State Commissioner of Police, said of the incident.
A faction of Boko Haram initially told a foreign radio station that it was responsible for the killing. But a more popular faction of the group denied being responsible for the assassination, claiming that it would not do anything to hurt the interest of the sect or the family of its late leader.
“We did not kill Baba Kura Fugu and we did not claim responsibility for his killing as reported by the BBC and other international media,” Abu Qaqa, a spokesperson for the faction, told journalists in Maiduguri.
However, it was gathered that security agencies believed that Fugu was killed by Mamman Nur faction of the deadly sect, using one Ustaz Mote.
This was further given credence by the State Security Service, SSS, renewal of its wanted notice on Nur, with additional offer of N25 million bounty for information that can lead to his arrest the same day Fugu was assassinated.
The SSS declared Nur wanted a few days after the bomb attack on UN House in Abuja, accusing the suspect, who it claimed recently returned from Somalia, of masterminding the attack.
It was also gathered that Fugu may have been killed because the Nur faction feared he may collaborate with the Federal Government in its investigations of the activities of the sect.
Analysts believe that the killing of Fugu has confirmed speculations that there are different factions of the sect.
But the Borno Elders and Leaders of Thought, BELT, a group of mostly retired, but eminent indigenes of the state, believes that the sect has indicated its readiness to dialogue with the Federal Government as a prelude to ending its vicious campaign.
BELT argued that Fugu’s assassination should not put an end to initiatives that can lead to peace in Borno State, where the sect is most active.
In a letter to President Jonathan last Monday, BELT said: “We wish to remind you of our earlier call for the initiation of dialogue with members of Jama’atul Ahlil Sunnah lil Da’awal Wal Jihad (Boko Haram).
Of recent, we have noticed the sustained desire of the sect through media reports of their willingness to talk with governments (federal and state). ”
But BELT’s optimism is under threat by the fact of Fugu’s assassination just 72 hours after receiving Obasanjo.
Now, it will be difficult to find a new initiator for another parley, even in the unlikely event of the government accepting their recommendations.
Sani, the facilitator of Obasanjo’s visit, told journalists in Kaduna last week that he is receiving death threats from some members of the group. Instructively, even BELT failed to mention any link with the group or even put themselves forward as willing to lead the process in their letter.
Indeed, it was reported during the week that the eight-man fact finding panel set up by President Jonathan and headed by Ambassador Umar Galtimari is now finding it difficult to carry out its assignment because not many people are enthusiastic about appearing before it.
Also, not many Nigerians buy the idea of negotiating with the group, which has repeatedly said its aim is to destabilise the government as a precursor to a wholesale enforcement of Sharia at least across the Northern states.
The sect has not shown any remorse and has, instead, threatened more attacks. For example, the group recently boasted that it has links with al-Qeada and has affirmed that some of its members have recieved bomb-making training in Somalia.
The group claimed that it has over 100 members eager to carry out suicide attacks at any location in Nigeria.
A member of the group said last week that some members of Boko Haram served in the Mauritanian Army and acquired knowledge in the manufacture of improvised explosive devices there.
“You do not play ‘statesman’ over the mangled bodies of victims, least of all where their violators insist on the righteousness of their very conduct,” Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, said in response to Obasanjo’s visit to the group.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly last Wednesday, President Jonathan also said Nigeria will not be intimidated by activities of the terrorists. “For us in Nigeria, terrorist acts, rather than intimidate, will only help us to strengthen our resolve to develop appropriate national strategies and collaborate even more closely with the international community in the fight against the menace,” said the President who also commiserated with the global body over the bomb attack on its building in Nigeria.
Before the attack on the UN House, Boko Haram had also carried out a suicide attack on the Police Headquarters in Abuja, where it premiered its ability to carry out such attacks on 16 June.
Hafiz Ringim, the Inspector-General of Police, who the group later claimed was the target of the attack, narrowly escaped being killed. A dozen visitors to the Police Headquarters were not so lucky.
Prior to the attack on the Police Headquarters, the group had attempted to bomb the Borno State Police Command during a recruitment exercise, but was prevented by an eagle-eyed officer, who shot and killed the driver of the vehicle even after he had successfully slammed the gate.
In Maiduguri, bomb and gun attacks at specific targets and law enforcement personnel was almost a daily affair until very recently.
Boko Haram members have also been active in Niger, Bauchi and Kaduna states. The group has also been indicted for robbery as well as assault on police stations, where arms and ammunition were stolen.
The SSS claimed it is already recording successes in bringing members of the group to book over their nefarious activities.
The intelligence agency has already taken some members of the group arrested over the bombing of the UN House and the bomb attacks in Suleja, Niger State, to court. What is, however, clear is that for now, the sect seems to be winning.

Before Many More Youths Become Robbers.

Armed robbery is despicable and nobody in his right mind would support it. But the Nigerian state, it is sad to say, seems to be encouraging it; or put another way, the country seems to be pushing the youths, especially graduates, into the condemnable act.

If university and polytechnic graduates think the only way to survive these times is to go into armed robbery, then there is something wrong with the country.

For these young men, who ought to look to the future with hope and aspire to be great, to lose hope and turn to robbery says a lot about the country and its leaders.

In recent times, police have paraded and killed young promising men, who would have otherwise contributed to the development of the country, for dispossessing other citizens of their hard-earned property.

Moral decadence and failing family values may be the cause but we think it is much more than these.

Government seems to have failed to live up to expectations of the populace and as these young people feel hopeless, they become outlaws in the mould of monsters.

Agreed, opportunities abound for creative young people to earn a living by becoming entrepreneurs but is the environment conducive for such?

Do they all have equal opportunities to start something small?

Is the government doing enough to encourage these young people to embark on small scale business after school?

Are the banks and finance houses helping to encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship?

Before many of our graduates turn bad, we must begin to think of ways to encourage the young to become self employed.

Our universities and polytechnics must begin to train our children to become independent after graduating from school.

Technical schools must do more than just train these young people.

They would do well to push them in the direction where they can obtain loans and start something small before idleness pushes them the way of crime.

There would always be criminals but when many graduates begin to turn to robbery when they can always do something positive, we need more than sober reflections.

GAY PASTOR

Sodomy: Pastor Caught With Male Church Member Inside Hotel Room.

The police at Ijesha Police Division in Lagos State, have arrested a suspected homosexual pastor, Prince Egimonele, in a hotel as he attempted to have sex with his male church member.

The victim, Chidiebere Mozie, a drummer in the pastor’s church, reportedly played along and informed the police of the appointment with the pastor before they went inside the hotel room to have sex. The police laid ambush for the pastor

pastor, Egimonele, the General Overseer of Jesus Intervention Ministry at Ijesha Community Hall, a native of Abia State, was arrested inside the hotel along Ijesha Road, where he had gone to have fun with Chidiebere Mozie, 23, whom he allegedly lured with N100,000.

However, luck ran out on the pastor when policemen arrested him in the hotel.

Items recovered from the randy clergyman inside the hotel room include a pack of viagra, a drug that boosts male libido, Rough Rider condoms, cream and fruit juice.

After police investigation, the pastor and an accomplice Lawrence were arraigned before a Cele Magistrate’s Court in Lagos on a four-count charge of having sex with a male partner and an attempt to have unlawful carnal knowledge and indecent practice with a male person in a hotel.

The offences, according to the prosecutor, are punishable under Sections 516, 214 and 217 of the Criminal Code.

Section 214 of the Criminal Code Act, Chapter 77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 reads:“Any person who has carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature; or has carnal knowledge of an animal; or permits a male person to have carnal knowledge of him or her against the order of nature is guilty of felony, and is liable to imprisonment for fourteen (14) years.”

Section 217 of the Criminal Code Act reads:“Any male person who, whether in public or private, commits any act of gross indecency with another male person, or procures another male person to commit any act of gross indecency with him, or attempts to procure the commission of any such act by any male person with himself or with another male person, whether in public or private, is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for three years.”

The accused persons pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them.

The presiding magistrate, Mrs. D. T. Olatokun, admitted the pastor to bail in the sum of N250,000 and Lawrence, N100,000 with two sureties each in like sum.

She adjourned the matter till 10 November, 2011 for mention.

The accused were moved to Kirikiri Maximum Prison, Apapa, Lagos, when they could not perfect their bail conditions in good time.

Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi

CDS appeals to Jos residents to report suspicious acts, movements


The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin, has appealed to residents of Jos, Plateau, to report to the nearest security agency all suspicious acts or movements capable of disrupting the peace.

Director, Defence Information, Colonel Mohammed Yerimamade the appeal at a news briefing by the Joint Security Information Managers on the current security situation in the country.

The Joint Security Information Managers Committee was inaugurated by the CDS to jointly update the public on the security situation in the country.

The committee is made up of spokespersons of the armed forces (Army, Navy, and Air Force) and other security organisations in Nigeria such as the Police, SSS, and NIA.

He said the CDS further appealed to Jos citizens to stop forthwith any act of vengeance or taking laws into their hands.


He affirmed that the security operatives on ground, including the military are poised more than ever before, to bring about law and order in the state, while assuring that the operatives must adhere strictly to the rules of engagement.


The CDS has beefed up Special Task Force in Plateau State to 1,200 strength and appointed Maj.-Gen Oluwaseun Oshinowo as its Commander.”

According to Yerima, the Nigerian Police has in its bid to fulfill its mandate, beefed up its strength in the Special Task Force with an additional 2000 Police Mobile Force.

He said the additional personnel were drawn from various squadrons across the country.

He said the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps had also beefed up the force with 100 men while the Department of State Security Service had deployed more operatives.

On the North-Eastern flank in Borno State specifically, the Special Task Force ‘Operation Restore Order’ is also enhancing strategy to curtail terrorist activities through increased intelligence gathering.

The man power of the task force has also been beefed up along with those of other security agencies in the state.

Yerima announced the dismissal of Private Jaduwa Thlama by the Nigerian Army Authority.

Thlama, was one of the soldiers found culpable in the kidnapping of Pa Michael Obi, father of Nigerian national team and Chelsea midfielder, John Mikel Obi.

He has since been handed over to the police for prosecution.

According to the defense spokesman, Thlama’s accomplice, Sgt. Victor Essien, has been referred to a higher prosecuting authority, in line with Nigerian Army military ethics.

POLICE BOSS

Police deny knowledge of recent bombings from Boko Haram member

The Nigeria Police say there is no truth in the claim that a suspected member of the Boko Haram sect informed the force of recent bombings in the country.

Force Public Relations Officer, Olusola Amore made the clarification on Friday while addressing newsmen at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

Amore said the continued publication of an interview granted by the suspect to a television station on Sept. 20 by a national newspaper was unwarranted.

He described the publication which alleged interaction between the police and the suspect as `faslehood.'

Amore said the suspect, Ali Tishau, was invited by the police for questioning on June 27, 2011.

He said the suspect was thereafter released to a sister organisation for further investigation on July 7, ``in the spirit of information and intelligence gathering.''

Amore said the alleged ``panic mood among security chiefs’’ as insinuated by the newspaper report was the figment of the imagination of the reporter.

''More than ever before the security agencies are building synergy to contain the present security challenges facing the nation and a lot are being achieved in this direction.''

Meanwhile, the Nigeria police is collaborating with Nigerien security agencies to fashion out strategy to combat illegal movement of arms, ammunition and immigrants across the borders of both countries.

Amore, said the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim met with Nigerien officers on Sept. 22.

He expressed hope that the strategy would help to address trans-border crimes and unlawful possession of prohibited fire arms in view of current terrorism and political upheavals within and outside both countries.

He said that officials of the Nigeria Customs Service, Immigration and the State Security Service also participated in the meeting.

LAGOS POLICE BOSS, ALKALI

Beggars Batter LASTMA Officials.

A few weeks after unruly street traders at Yaba Bus Stop attacked officials of the Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI, another set of unruly residents, this time, the disabled yesterday stormed the Olowu, Lagos Island office of LASTMA and attacked the officials for allegedly impounding their vehicles.
More than 50 disabled were reportedly involved in the attack on the LASTMA officials.
The angry disabled, stormed the place in about eight commuter buses with crates of empty bottles and other dangerous weapons to vent their anger on officials of LASTMA for impounding their vehicles and depriving them of their means of livelihood.
The incident caused commotion and stampede as shops owners and residents hurriedly locked themselves inside their premises for the three hours the commotion lasted.
The busy Adeniji-Adele Street, Lagos Island, was deserted by motorists and other road users to avoid being caught up in the fracas.
A LASTMA official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the disabled, led by their leader popularly called Balawu stormed their office on the wrong information that some of their buses impounded around Lagos were kept at the LASTMA office on Adeniji Adele Street. He said no bus was detained there.
“At about 9 a.m., the first group of the disabled stormed our office in four buses, singing war songs. They alighted and jumped over the fence into LASTMA premises and started shouting ‘where are our buses.’ They went round the premises but could not find any.
“They came outside and sat on the ground. The LASTMA officials in charge of the Olowu office, who went to direct traffic at a function at CMS bus stop, quickly rushed down to the scene to plead with them,” he explained.
Divisional Police Officer at Adeniji Adele station also arrived the scene with his men to maintain peace.
While the police and LASTMA officials were pleading with them, another group of disabled arrived the scene in four buses and their leader, Balawu, allegedly ordered them to attack anybody in sight.
During the fracas, a LASTMA official, Mr. Wasiu Akintunde was stabbed on the forehead while others received injuries. They were rushed to the nearest hospital for treatment.
About eight of the beggars were also arrested and taken to the Adeniji Adele Police Station where they are being detained.

O.A.U Lecturer Charged With Sodomy.

A university lecturer, Elijah Abodunrin has been charged to Ijeshatedo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos and remanded in prison custody at Apapa Lagos, State, for allegedly having carnal knowledge of a 15-year old boy (names withheld).
Abodunrin claimed that he is a lecturer at the Department of Physiology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
The suspect was alleged to have inserted his penis into the boy’s anus in order to satisfy his sexual desire, after which he reportedly gave him N1,000 and warned him not to tell anyone.
The incident happened at Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos, where the victim and Abodunrin’s parents reside.
Abodunrin, who is now detained at Kirikiri Prisons returned from Ile- Ife where he teaches to see his parents when the incident happened.
It was learnt that when the victim could not bear the pains in his anus, he opened up and told his parents what happened.
The matter was reported at Okota Police Station and Abodunrin was arrested and charged to court for allegedly having carnal knowledge of the victim.
Part of the charge reads: “that you, Elijah Abodunrin on the same date, time and place did have carnal knowledge of the victim against the order of nature.’’
He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The presiding magistrate, D. T. Olatuku granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
The matter was adjourned till 7 November, 2011.
Abodunrin was remanded in prison custody pending when he will meet the bail conditions.

GOVERNOR BABATUNDE FASHOLA

Lagos Partners Private School Owners On School Bus Safety.

To ensure the safety of young school children in public and private schools, the Lagos State Government is working out arrangements to train and retrain school bus drivers in the state.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa, said this at a meeting with the Director General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mrs. Odebunmi Dominga and representatives of the State Universal Basic Education Board and the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools.
He stated that government could not continue to fold its arms and watch the lives of innocent children endangered due to carelessness of some school bus drivers, pointing out that training and retraining as well as other control measures by the school authorities would go a long way to reduce accidents involving school buses.
The Commissioner used the occasion to warn private school owners to always employ qualified and experienced drivers that will ensure the protection of lives of children entrusted in their care.
Opeifa said further that the various programmes introduced by the Government in the Transport sector would go a long way to reduce accidents and sanitise the sector.
He listed some of the programmes as the training of young children on transport and traffic education and the establishment of the Lagos State University School of Transport Studies and urged private school owners to be part of the Lagos State School Traffic Safety Advocacy Programme designed to catch the children young and expose them to transport, traffic and safety programmes.
The Director-General of the Safety Commission also said government would not relent in its efforts at ensuring the safety of children and advised private school owners to desist from carrying underage children in front of their vehicles and also overloading the school buses.
She advised parents to always check the history of schools before enrolling their children and wards and also insist that school drivers must be certified and responsible.