FRSC BOSS CHIDOKA OSITA

FRSC Corps Marshal warns officers on physical fitness

Corps Marshal of FRSC, Osita Chidoka has warned officers and men of the commission to remain physically-fit or be shown the way out of the service.

Chidoka gave the warning in Ilorin while addressing officers and men of the zone 8 command.

He warned that any officer who failed physical fitness test would be retired on medical ground.

The FRSC boss, represented by Boboye Oyeyemi, the Deputy Corps Marshal Operations, said the corps had zero tolerance for indiscipline.

He said several officers had been sacked as a result of indiscipline, stressing that the command would not condone any act of indiscipline.

Chidoka said the FRSC would be 25 years old in the next few weeks and must be seen to be above board.

He advised officers and men on patrol not to condone extortion and corruption on the highway.

The Corps Marshal warned that any officer caught taking bribe or involved in corrupt practices on the road would be dealt with appropriately.

He stressed the need for those on patrol to make use of the four-point approach of persuasion, education, subtle force and enforcement.

Chidoka said traffic offenders should not be booked for all offences, adding that men of the corps should also refrain from pursuing offenders on the highway.

He advised officers and men of the corps across the country to avoid friction and work closely with other agencies.


FRSC to reduce 4,000 yearly accident rate by half by 2020, says Chidoka

Road accident rate now stands at 4,000 yearly in Nigeria, but the FRSC says it is working to reduce the rate by half by 2020.

Corps Marshal of Federal Road Safety Commission, Osita Chidoka made this known in Jos on Monday in a message to road corps members.

Chidoka spoke through Adeyemi Omidiji, the Deputy Corps Marshal in charge of Planning, Research and Statistics.

He said the goal of FRSC is to ensure that by 2020, the 4,000 annual road accidents in the country were reduced by at least 50 per cent.

Chidoka said the commission would soon take delivery of equipment from the World Bank in aid of  its activities.

NDLEA BOSS AHMADU GIADE

NDLEA arrests 136 drug traffickers Akwa Ibom in 6 months

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Akwa Ibom said it arrested 136 drug traffickers in the last six months.

The command also said it seized 17.10 grammes of cocaine, 46.6 grammes of heroine, 86.7 kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa, and 27.5 litres of the drug called combine.

The state commander of the agency, Josephine Obi, said this at the commencement of activities to mark the 2012 United Nations Anti-Drug Trafficking and Abuse Day.

Obi said those arrested were 117 males and 19 females, adding that 21 of them had been convicted.

The theme of this year’s celebration is: Global Action for Healthy Communities without Drugs.

The NDLEA boss said the UN had set aside the day for global awareness of the devastating effects of drug abuse and illicit trafficking with a view to sensitise the global community to combat the scourge.

She blamed the proliferation of illicit drugs on individuals, who collaborated with dealers to frustrate efforts by the agency to stop the sales and consumption of the illicit drugs.

Obi lamented that some people did not see anything wrong in the sales and consumption of illicit drugs, but were rather hostile towards the agency, which they saw as disturbing their means of livelihood.

Obi said that many of the places previously raided by the agency had resumed full drugs operations, but gave the assurance that the agency would do all it could to stamp out the tide.

Kaduna violence: IGP vows to end violence in Nigeria

The Acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar has said the police will do everything “humanly and operationally possible” to end the spate of violence in Nigeria.

In a statement signed by the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, the IGP 

Abubakar appealed to residents in Kaduna state to remain calm while efforts are being made by the government and security agencies to find a permanent solution to the persistent violence.

He warned criminal elements who have been carrying out campaigns of violence on innocent Nigerians and institutions to desist forthwith, as the Police and other law enforcement agencies will not sit back idly and watch them put the life of innocent citizens at jeopardy.”

In addition, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of ‘A’ Department, Suleiman Fakai, who is also coordinating Police operations in North-West Nigeria, is already in Kaduna where he is personally coordinating Police operations.

Kaduna government relaxes curfew

The Kaduna State government on Monday relaxed the 24-hour curfew imposed on the state following Sunday’s bomb blast which rocked churches in both Zaria and Kaduna town.

The Kaduna State governor, Patrick Yakowa

The Special Assistant to Kaduna State governor on Media, Reuben Buhari who confirmed the decision said people can now move from 2pm to 6pm today, on Monday.

A dusk to dawn curfew will come into place from Tuesday, restricting movement to from 6am to 6pm.

According to him, the decision to relax the curfew came as a result of intelligence and security report from security agencies.

Buhari advised residents of the state to remain calm, law abiding and cooperate with security agencies as the government is working hard to prevent any further breach of peace in the state.

Kaduna State governor, Patrick Yakowa on Sunday imposed a 24 hour curfew in the state following bomb blasts and retaliatory violent protest in parts of the state.

Explosions at three churches in Kaduna state killed over 34 people on Sunday, leading to reprisal attacks which led to scores of death.

Two explosions rocked churches in the town of Zaria, moments from each other. A suicide bomber drove a blue Honda civic into a church, burning the front entrance and damaging the building.

Some militants also threw bombs at another church, killing four children who were playing on the streets, said resident Deborah Osagie, who lives opposite the church. 

She added that the militants were later caught by a mob and killed.

Another blast hit a third church in the state’s main city of Kaduna, causing unknown number of casualties, witnesses and the National Emergency Management Agency said.

Kaduna violence: Doctors confirm 66 deaths, 140 hospitalised 


Some 66 persons have been confirmed dead following Sunday’s bomb attacks on three churches in Kaduna State.

Red Cross officials also said on Monday in Kaduna that 140 victims of the attacks were taken to various hospitals for treatment.

That two churches were bombed in Zaria and one in Kaduna on Sunday.

They are Christ the King Catholic Church (CKC) located at Yoruba Road, Sabon Gari, Zaria, ECWA Church situated at Wusasa, Zaria and Shallom Church of God at Tirkania area of Kaduna metropolis.

The Chief Medical Director of Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital, Kaduna, Huseini Yahya, said the hospital received 10 bodies, while two died in the hospital.


Similarly, Khalid Lawal, Chief Medical Director of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, near Zaria, said ten bodies were brought to the facility, while two victims died on arrival.


Chief Medical Director of St. Luke’s Hospital, Wusasa, Zaria, Taylor Adeyemi, said three of the 40 victims of ECWA church blast were brought to the hospital died.


Adeyemi said most of the victims brought to the hospital were children.

Public Relations Officer of St. Gerard’s Catholic Hospital, Kakuri, Kaduna, John Sunday, said the hospital received 36 bodies and three other victims died on arrival.

Sunday also said the hospital admitted 72 injured persons who were receiving treatment.

Ex-DIG calls for retructuring of Police to reflect best practices

A retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Abdulrahim Yusuf said the security challenges facing the country could be overcome if the police reform was effectively implemented.

Yusuf told newsmen in Okene, Kogithat presently, the police could not deliver the services expected because of lack of modern equipment and poor quality personnel among the rank and file.

The ex-DIG, who was among guests at the 2012 Ebira national conference, accused politicians and civil servants of compounding the security problems through the violation of provisions of constitution and massive corruption.

He said there was a total disconnect between the people and the elected leaders, which had created room for criminal activities to thrive.

Yusuf said election rigging was gradually becoming institutionalised in the country.

He said this was already manifesting in the behaviours of politicians as stealing of public funds by politicians and civil servants had become the order of the day.

Former Minister of Defence, Tokunbo Kayode, has suggested the creation of a department of home security and a department of national intelligence to check insecurity in the country.

Kayode’ssuggestion coincided with former Osun Governor Bisi Akande’s call for Nigerian youths to be given military training to as part of efforts to stop violence in parts of the country.

A former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Canada, Abdullahi Atta said greed and the collapse of value system were largely responsible for the woes bedeviling the country.

Atta,who was the Chairman of this year’s edition of Ebira National Conference, urged traditional rulers, religious leaders and other men of conscience not to leave the affairs of the country in the hands of politicians alone.

Aliyu calls on FG to release white paper on bomb blasts

Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State called on the Federal Government to release its white paper on the various bomb blasts in the country.

Aliyu said the white paper would enable the government identify persons connected and be punished accordingly, adding that Nigerians would also know those responsible for the attacks. 

He said available records showed that some groups were cashing in on the act committed by the Boko Haram for their own selfish interest.

ARMY CHIEF

Army confirms death of one officer in Kaduna attack

The Nigerian Army has said one of its officer, a Sergeant died in the bomb attacks on churches in Kaduna by unknown gunmen on Sunday.

Assistant Director of Army Public Relations Officer, 1 Division, Kaduna, Colonel Usman Sheka confirmed the death.

Sheka said the attackers hit the officer who was on guard duty at Shalom Church of God, Trikania, Kaduna.

The three churches, Shalom Church of God, Trikania, Christ the King Catholic Church, Yoruba Road, Sabon Gari and ECWA Church, Wusasa, Zaria were attacked attacked by unknown gunmen on Sunday.

The police confirmed that 16 people died in the three attacks.

Others who sustained various degrees of injuries are receiving treatment at St. Gerards’ Hospital, Kaduna and Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, Zaria.

The State Government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on the state to enable security agencies to restore normalcy.

Jonathan expresses sadness over multiple blasts in Zaria, Kaduna churches.


President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed sadness over the multiple explosions that rocked churches in Kaduna and Zaria on Sunday.

Jonathan expressed his sadness in Abuja at a special service to commemorate the 2012 Fathers Day.

When called upon to give his remarks, the visibly gloomy Jonathan said he received the news of the blasts in the course of the service and was really sad about the development.

The president said he had consolation in God who is capable of handling every situation and healing the nation.

He solicited the support and prayers of every Nigerian for the peace of the nation and for the success of his administration.

Bombing of churches threatens national unity

Senate President David Mark has described the endless bombings of churches as a threat to national unity.

He urged the Federal Government and other stakeholders to, as a matter of urgency, explore all necessary measures to halt the carnage.

Mark who was reacting to bombing of churches in Wusasa, Zaria and Kaduna in Kaduna State, urged victims of the attacks not to engage in reprisals.

Tambuwal calls for restraint
 
House of Representatives, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal has called for calm following the rising tension  caused by the multiple  bomb blasts of churches in Zaria and other parts of Kaduna.

Tambuwal said attacking innocent people who know nothing about the blasts, in the name of reprisals, will worsen an already complicated situation.

He said the increasing number of attacks on places of worship, especially on Sundays, required greater caution on the part of the victims and adherents of other faiths.

Bombings: IG orders massive deployment of police in Kaduna

The Acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has ordered massive deployment of police personnel in Kaduna to restore calm following the bombing of three churches in the state.

Abubakar appealed to residents of the affected areas to remain calm and avoid taking laws into their hands as the police and other security agencies were doing everything possible to end the incessant attacks.

He also urged opinion leaders to desist from making inciting or inflammatory statements capable of aggravating the situation.

Abubakar, however, warned criminal elements carrying out campaign of violence against innocent citizens and institutions to desist from such acts.

According to him, the police and other law enforcement agencies will not sit back and watch such people put the life of innocent citizens in jeopardy.

The appeal and warning followed reports of breakdown of law and order in the affected areas as youths took to the street to protest the attack on the churches.

He said as part of efforts to restore normalcy in the state, Suleiman Fakai, the Deputy Inspector General of Police who coordinates police operations in the North West, had moved to Kaduna.

The Acting Inspector General of Police, who spoke through Force Deputy Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said Fakai would personally coordinate police operations in the state.