ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Bandits have reportedly set ablaze a primary school in Dekara town, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, despite allegedly collecting a N10 million levy from communities in the area.

Residents revealed that the attackers burnt down Central Primary School, Dekara, during an attack on the town on Wednesday.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the bandits emerged from the Kainji Lake National Park and invaded the community.

According to him, villages and communities in Dekara District recently raised and paid N10 million demanded by the bandits after they threatened to attack them if the levy was not paid.

He said the payment was made following assurances from the bandits that residents would be allowed to remain in their communities without further attacks.

“The bandits imposed a N10 million levy on communities in the district. The money was paid because they threatened to attack us if we failed to comply.

“But despite receiving the money, they still attacked the district headquarters and burnt down the primary school,” the resident said.

In a related development, bandits reportedly launched fresh attacks on Dnakau, Lanta and Unguwan Kawo communities in Shiroro Local Government Area.

Residents said one person was killed while another was kidnapped during the attacks.

The victims were identified as Moses Joseph of Unguwan Kawo, who was abducted, and Emma from Bagna community, who was shot during the raid.

Efforts to get the reaction of the Niger State Police Command were unsuccessful.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, neither answered phone calls nor responded to a text message sent to him as of the time of filing this report.

Daily Trust

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

An Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Essien Udim Local Government Area has sentenced a 36-year-old mother of four, Uwakmfon Isaac Jonah, to life imprisonment for attempting to murder a 12-year-old girl.

Jonah, a hairdresser and divorcee from Ikot Obong in Afaha Clan, Essien Udim LGA, was convicted on a one-count charge of attempted murder contrary to Section 276 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38 Vol. 2, Laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2022.

Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice Winifred Effiong held that the prosecution proved the charge beyond a reasonable doubt and sentenced the defendant to life imprisonment, the mandatory punishment prescribed by law.

According to evidence presented before the court, the victim had accompanied her mother, a pepper trader, to the market where she was hawking fresh pepper when the defendant approached her under the guise of wanting to make a purchase.

The prosecution said Jonah told the girl that an elderly customer wanted to buy pepper but could not walk to the market. She allegedly persuaded the child to accompany her to a nearby bush, claiming the customer was close by and payment could be made there.

Testifying before the court, the victim said she initially followed the woman because she appeared respectable and was neatly dressed. However, she became suspicious when they ventured further into the bush and attempted to turn back.

The girl recounted that the defendant restrained her, tied her mouth with a piece of cloth to stop her from screaming, and attacked her with a knife.

“She brought a knife from her bag and cut my left eyebrow and the right side of my neck before running away,” the victim told the court, adding that the incident occurred in a bush near Urua Akpan Market in Essien Udim.

Jonah was arraigned on August 12, 2024. The charge was read and interpreted to her in the Annang language, and she pleaded not guilty.

During the trial, the prosecution called three witnesses and tendered the statements of both the defendant and the victim as exhibits.

In her defence, Jonah admitted taking the child from the market into the bush but denied attacking her. She claimed she handed the girl over to another woman who was cultivating waterleaf in the area.

Justice Effiong rejected the defence, describing the claim as unsubstantiated because the defendant failed to provide the identity, address or any description of the alleged woman.

The court held that the victim’s testimony was corroborated by independent evidence, including the injuries she sustained, the defendant’s admission that she led the child into the bush, and the victim’s immediate identification of the defendant while receiving treatment at Saint Mary’s Hospital, Urua Akpan.

The judge ruled that the circumstances clearly demonstrated an intention to kill.

“The defendant lured a vulnerable child away from the safety of a public market and into a secluded bush. The child sustained a deep cut to the neck and injuries to the eye.

“The neck is one of the most vital and vulnerable parts of the human body. A person who deliberately inflicts a deep cut on the neck of a helpless child must be presumed to intend the natural and probable consequences of such an act.

“The fact that the child survived does not negate the intention,” the judge held.

Justice Effiong further stated that the defendant’s attempt to shift responsibility to an unidentified third party failed to create any reasonable doubt, describing the prosecution’s evidence as direct, credible and compelling.

Following the conviction, defence counsel urged the court to temper justice with mercy and grant the defendant a second chance.

However, the judge held that the court lacked the discretion to impose a lesser sentence because Section 276 of the Criminal Code prescribes life imprisonment for attempted murder.

“This court lacks the jurisdiction to reduce the sentence prescribed by law. The defendant, Uwakmfon Isaac Jonah, is hereby sentenced to confinement for life,” Justice Effiong ruled.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

…say legislation expressly bars state police from being used for partisan political

By Gloria Ikibah

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has defended the proposed State Police Bill, insisting that concerns over possiblekal abuse by state governors should not stand in the way of a reform he believes will significantly strengthen security across the country.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Friday after returning from a week-long engagement at Chatham House and the London Climate Action Week in the United Kingdom, Kalu said the constitutional amendment was carefully drafted with safeguards to prevent the misuse of state policing.

According to him, while fears surrounding political interference are understandable, the benefits of decentralising policing far outweigh the risks.

He said: “The fear of a minor percentage of risk should not stop Nigerians from enjoying the major percentage of benefits that is found in that bill.

“Let me ask this question: How many governors have used state high courts to jail opposition members? What is the statistics out there?

“Yes, the fear is there; it is a legitimate fear. But what is more legitimate is that Nigerians should embrace the benefits of state police.

“Because of those concerns, while drafting this document, we ensured that there are clear guardrails defining the powers, duties and operational limits of state police.”

Kalu explained that the proposed amendment will move policing to the Concurrent Legislative List while establishing national standards that every state police service would be required to follow.

He also noted that the legislation expressly bars state police from being used for partisan political purposes or political conflicts.

“It is a beautiful piece of legislation that we have put together”, he noted.

The Deputy Speaker disclosed that once the constitutional amendment is approved, it will be followed by a comprehensive review of the Police Act to provide the legal framework needed to operationalise state police.

“There is going to be a consequential repeal and reenactment of the Police Act because it is going to be the implementation Act of the constitutional amendment we are making now.

“This means the President will champion the repeal and reenactment of the Police Act, and it is in that Act that many of the operational details Nigerians are currently concerned about will be adequately addressed”, Kalu stated.

Reflecting on his engagements at Chatham House, Kalu said the visit offered Nigeria an opportunity to present its democratic reforms and constitutional changes to key international stakeholders ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He emphasised that Nigeria cannot not afford to ignore global opinion, noting that international perceptions often shape diplomatic relations, investment decisions and economic partnerships.

“Nigeria is in the comity of nations; we are not an isolated nation.

“One thing with global politics is that perception is everything. If you don’t communicate and frame your narratives properly, others will frame the narratives for you”, he added.

According to him, discussions at Chatham House centred on Nigeria’s preparations for the 2027 elections and reforms designed to improve the credibility and transparency of the electoral process.

Kalu said he also highlighted the significance of Section 60(3) of the Electoral Act, which makes the electronic transmission of election results the default legal position.
He further revealed that the National Assembly is pursuing constitutional reforms to ensure that funding for the country’s defence sector is placed on the First Line Charge, guaranteeing timely and uninterrupted financing.

“Elections are coming, international observers will be here, documents will be flying around. We need to let the world know the level of our preparation and the innovations we have introduced into the Electoral Act to enhance credibility.

“We informed them that we are pushing to ensure that financing for the defence sector occupies the First Line Charge so that funding will not be delayed or subjected to interference.

“It is important to have these conversations with international bodies so that the framing of discussions around what Nigeria is doing will be in the proper perspective”, the Deputy Speaker said.

Speaking on his participation at the London Climate Action Week, the Deputy Speaker said he used the platform to attract global investors to Nigeria’s climate adaptation, mitigation and energy transition programmes.

“I was there wooing investors from around the world to come and participate in Nigeria’s climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.

“I also showcased our roadmap for the green economy, particularly the reforms being driven under the Ministry of Solid Minerals.

“I saw significant interest, especially regarding energy transition. Our allies, particularly the United Kingdom, expressed strong interest in what Nigeria is doing, and I am confident that we will begin to harvest the outcomes of those engagements in the coming days”, he explained.

Kalu also urged Nigerians, particularly young people, to become ambassadors for the country by promoting balanced narratives that acknowledge challenges while celebrating progress.

He disclosed that the London trip was funded personally by himself and members of his team, saying patriotism should not always depend on government sponsorship.

“This trip was not sponsored by government. I sponsored it together with some members of my team because we believed it was time to project Nigeria positively to the world.

“It is not always about what government can do for you; it is also about what you can do for your country”, he stated.

He cautioned against using social media to paint an entirely negative picture of Nigeria, arguing that online narratives have lasting consequences for the country’s international image.

“We do not have any other country but this. If we destroy its image, we become strangers wherever we go.

“We know we have challenges, and we should criticise constructively, but we must also tell the positive stories. Leadership will come and go, but you will remain a Nigerian for life.

“When I spoke at Chatham House, I made it clear that we did not come to say Nigeria has arrived. We are only 27 years into our democracy, while many countries we are compared with have over 200 years of democratic experience.

“If we are patient and continue building our institutions, we will get it right. Let us keep Nigeria first in the way we project our country to the world because the narratives we create are being leveraged internationally to define who we are”, he stated.