News / politics / Security

Ribadu speaks on report he blamed government officials for banditry

Nuhu Ribadu, a former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, has blamed most of the country’s challenges on fake news peddled by the social media.

Ribadu spoke on the development in the nation’s capital, Abuja, on Sunday at a news conference he addressed.

He was reacting to reports in the social media that he accused some top government functionaries of sponsoring banditry in the country.

The former EFCC boss said it was time for him to clear the air on the issue, which he said had been on for some time. He said: “July 2019 was the first time I came out to know about it, and I came out with a very strong denial, saying that it was a fabrication and had no basis.

“It was a piece of rubbish with very bad grammar and factual destruction, but indeed very damaging.

“I reacted very strongly after that, it didn’t stop and I was forced again to issue a statement denying it.

“I thought that would have been the end of it, but not long afterwards, it started coming back again and I am worried and concerned.”

Ribadu said globally, people who were worried and concerned and wanted to fact-check had been getting in touch with him, adding that he had continued to respond to the issue every single day.

He said: “I want to again deny in the strongest term and send a message to everybody to disregard the statements, it is not fair, it is not just.

“It is very sinful for you to create something from no where and attribute it to an innocent person who doesn’t know anything about it, I have nothing to do with that message.

“This is my strongest denial, everybody should please disregard the statement: it is not from me, it is not true.”

Ribadu said he had been inundated by messages from friends and associates who wanted to find out if the tweets on the issue were actually from him.

He, however, said he had made a formal complaint …

News / Security / Transportation

Death toll in Kaduna attacks rises to 40

With the killing of four persons in Kacecere and Ungwan Taila villages of Zangon-Kataf Local Council, Kaduna State, the death toll in recent attacks in the state has risen from 36 to 40.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, in statement, yesterday, disclosed that two bodies were discovered in Kacecere village, while the other two were discovered in Ungwan Tilla.

“The military has reported to the Kaduna State Government the discovery of two more bodies in Kacecere village. This discovery was reported by Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), as it continued with search-and-rescue operation in the area, following the September 27, 2021 attack. The dead bodies were identified as Idris Mairiga and Yunusa Dangana, both residents of the village.

“Kacecere village was attacked in reprisal to earlier attacks in Jankasa village in Zangon Kataf, and Madamai in Kaura, as reported to the government by the security agencies. The latest discovery of two bodies brings the death toll from the Kacecere attack to 12, while that of Madamai stands at 38. Search-and-rescue efforts are ongoing in both locations.”

The commissioner, in another statement he issued, said troops of OPSH had reported an attack by unidentified persons at Ungwan Taila village, in which two residents were killed.

According to a report to the Kaduna government, the troops arrived at the location to find that the assailants had killed two residents, Helen Lucky and Hananiah Elijah

“Receiving the report, Governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed deep regret at the further loss of life from such attacks in the area. He prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased and conveyed his heartfelt condolences to their families.

“In the meantime, the troops will continue search-and-rescue operations in the area. Citizens will be briefed on further updates,” he added.…

Crime / News / Security / Telecommunication

Sokoto shuts down telecom networks in 14 LGs over banditry

The Sokoto State Government has shut down telecommunications networks in 14 of the 23 local government areas of the state.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Muhammad Bello.

Bello said in the statement issued on Monday: “About three weeks after it approved an Executive Order in response to the situation of insecurity in the eastern flank of Sokoto State, Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, on Monday disclosed the state’s collaboration with the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to block services of communications operations in 14 local government areas of the state.”

The affected LGAs are Gada, Goronyo, Gudu, Ilela, Isa, Kebbe, Sabon Birni, Shagari, Rabah, Tambuwal, Tangaza, Tureta, Wurno and Dange Shuni. Bello stated that 13 of the local governments were initially affected by the Security Challenges (Containment) Order approved on September 1.

He explained that the order led to the closure of some roads to motorists, suspension of animal trades, prohibition of transportation of cattle, as well as transportation of more than three persons on motorcycles and tricycles, among others.

“In addition to these local government areas, Dange Shuni local government area will also be affected by the latest communications blockade, bringing the number of LGAs affected to 14,” the governor’s spokesman added.

Meanwhile, there was confusion in parts of Sokoto after the telecommunications network from two major service providers went down, as residents were unable to make calls or access internet services.

But telecommunication services were available for users of two other service providers, a situation that reduced the tension and apprehension among the people.

Comments and posts on most social media platforms in the state were mostly expressions of frustration and anger by residents questioning the rationale behind the decision of the authorities.

On Sunday, six locals were killed when bandits attacked Saminaka, a village located along the Bale-Tangaza Road in Tangaza, one of the LGAs affected by the Executive Order.

Sources in the village said the village came under attack in …

Crime / News

Five feared killed as Customs chases rice smugglers in Katsina

Five residents of Jibia, Katsina State, were reportedly killed on Monday by Customs officials who were chasing rice smugglers in the area.

The killing has sparked a protest in the community.

Many other people are said to have sustained injuries in the accident and are receiving treatment at a local health facility, Premium Times has reported.

Witnesses said the vehicle of the Customs officials ploughed into a gathering while chasing the suspected rice smugglers, killing five persons instantly and injuring many others. “They were chasing rice smugglers at high speed. Their vehicle lost control and killed at least five persons, which prompted violent protests by the residents,” a source said, asking not to be named for security reasons.

“The Customs’ vehicle was vandalized by the angry protesters,” he added.

Neither the police spokesperson in Katsina, Gambo Isah, nor the Nigeria Customs Service has commented on the incident.…

Crime / News

Masari to COAS: 10 Katsina LGAs under severe attack daily

Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State says 10 out of the 34 Local Government Areas in the state are under severe attack daily by the bandits.

The governor disclosed this when he received the new Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, on a courtesy visit on Thursday.

He told the COAS that 10 local government areas have been under repeated attacks from bandits who kill, rape, injure the people, burn houses and rustle cattle.

According to Masari, the Katsina State Government is totally unhappy with the current security situation in the state and therefore must be brought to an end. He restated that the issue of security in the country is a collective responsibility not only for the security agencies.

He said: “Here in Katsina, we have created three tiers of security success, from the community to the local, up to the state level, aimed at ensuring peace in our communities.

“We want peace restored as soon as possible and allow the military to go back to the barracks for the police to take over.”

The governor further assured the COAS of the state government commitments in offering all the necessary support to enable the military discharge its duties effectively.

Earlier, the COAS told the governor that he was on operational visit to the state to interact with the troops in order to know their challenges.

According to him, the visit was also to seek for the continued support of the state government and commended the governor for his logistic and equipment support.

Yahaya assured the governor that the military would continue to work with other security agencies in the state to ensure relative peace.

He further called on the public to support the army in the discharge of their duties, especially by providing them with necessary information on criminals.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the COAS had earlier paid a similar visit to the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmuminu Kabir-Usman, who also expressed serious concern over the issue of insecurity in the state.

The …

Crime / News

If bandits can bring down fighter jet, then they are more than being called ‘bandits’ — Rep

The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Army, Abdulrazak Namdas, on Thursday said if bandits could shoot down a fighter jet, there is more to their activities than being tagged banditry.

Namdas spoke against the backdrop of the downing of an Alpha Jet of the Nigerian Air Force on Sunday.

Gunmen brought down Jet in Zamfara State.

Namdas stated this in Abuja at the opening of a two-day Capacity Building Workshop on Conflict Reporting for Journalists organized by the Konrad-Adenaeur Stiftung, a German foundation, in conjunction with the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism. He noted that journalists play critical roles in the fight against insecurity through ethical reportage and pace setting, as agenda setters.

He said: “It is important that the right terms and terminologies are used when reporting or describing any act of terror, attacks or conflict to better inform the people.

“If a bandit can graduate to bringing down a fighter jet and you still call him a bandit, then there is a problem.

“It is the responsibility of the media to report with the correct names because there is no religion, tribalism or party lines in any form of conflict.”

According to the lawmaker: “When you get kidnapped, nobody knows if you are APC (All Progressives Congress) or PDP (Peoples Democratic Party), so we need to be together.

“The politicians should not be setting the pace, the media is supposed to set the pace.

“As chairman, House Committee on Army, the challenges before us are very enormous in terms of security and all stakeholders must be on board because we cannot resolve insurgency, banditry with kids gloves.

“We felt the need for a capacity building with the media because today if you look at some of the terminologies and cliché on who is a bandit, terrorist, cattle rustler, armed robber, you begin to wonder who is giving such names.”

Namdas said the Nigerian media has been very vibrant from time immemorial as it played a key role in ending the days of military dictatorship for the …

Crime / News

Bandits kill 13 policemen in Zamfara State ambush

The Zamfara State Police Command has confirmed the killing of 13 policemen in an ambush by bandits.

The confirmation was contained in a statement by the spokesperson for the command, SP Mohammed Shehu.

In the statement on Sunday, Shehu said the bandits “ambushed the policemen while responding to a call on an attempt to attack nearby communities, 13 personnel paid the supreme price”.

He said the attack occurred on Sunday around 12:30pm when the policemen were deployed in Kurar Mota village in Bungudu Local Government Area in response to a distress call, adding: “Unfortunately, 13 personnel paid the supreme price. However, the bandits on their part suffered heavy casualties.

“A special Anti-Banditry Operations is currently ongoing with a view to track down the assailants.

“The Commissioner of Police CP Hussaini Rabiu, when he visited the injured policemen at the hospital reaffirmed that the unfortunate incident would not discourage the officers and men of the command from discharging their mandate of protecting lives and properties of the citizens.”
…
Crime / News

Kaduna: Bandits kill 222, kidnapped 774 in three months – Commissioner

Bandits in three months in Kaduna State have been reported to have killed 222 persons and abducted 774 during heavily armed attacks.

This was disclosed by the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan.

The Commissioner, who spoke on Tuesday when he presented the second quarter security report in the state, said bandits raped 20 women between April and June 2021.

He noted that 159 persons out of the total number killed were from Kaduna Central Senatorial District, which falls under Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Igabi, Chikun and Kajuru Local Government Areas. He said 54 persons were killed in Southern Kaduna Senatorial District.

Five of those killed were women, with four minors.

Aruwan said for Kaduna Northern Senatorial District, nine deaths were recorded, adding that among those abducted were 239 women and 32 minors.

He said 87 bandits were killed by security agencies and 24 suspects arrested by the Department of State Services.

He put the total number of cattle rustled by bandits at 8,553.

Aruwan added: “Insecurity, particularly in frontline communities, have threatened food security because most farmers in those communities have abandoned their farmlands for fear of being killed or kidnapped for ransom.”…