News
UK to seize illegal migrants’ phones under new counter terror policy
The UK government has activated a counter-terror policy that allows it to seize mobile phones from illegal migrants without arresting them.
The government said the new law would help it to gather intelligence on smuggling gangs organising small boat crossings to the UK.
According to the Home Office, officers would be able to demand that migrants remove their coats to search for phones and also check their mouths for SIM cards.
The National Crime Agency said the information collected could speed up investigations into smuggling gangs.
Border security minister, Alex Norris, said: “We promised to restore order and control to our borders, which means taking on the people smuggling networks behind this deadly trade.
“That is exactly why we are implementing robust new laws with powerful offences to intercept, disrupt and dismantle these vile gangs faster than ever before and cut off their supply chains.”
Mike Tapp, minister for migration and citizenship, said seized phones could later be returned but that would “depend on the individual circumstances… what’s found on that phone. That’s for the guys on the ground to make that operational decision.”
“If people have devices… that could hold intelligence, then we are right to be able to seize that. But that doesn’t take away compassion,” he added.
The new law also introduces offences that could leave perpetrators facing up to 14 years in jail for storing or supplying boat engines to bring migrants to the UK.
Martin Hewitt, tasked with curbing Channel crossings, said more than 4,000 disruptions against smuggling gangs had taken place since his unit was set up, including seizing cash and convicting key players.
He said yesterday marked a key moment to go further with extra tools to crack down on smugglers.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has fixed its first National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting following the reopening of its national headquarters, Wadata Plaza, after months of closure.
The meeting is scheduled to hold at the party’s secretariat in Abuja.
This comes days after security operatives unsealed the premises, which had been under lock since late last year due to internal leadership disputes.
The development marks a fresh step in the party’s attempt to stabilise its structure after a prolonged crisis. Party officials say the meeting will focus on restoring order and addressing lingering issues affecting the PDP’s leadership.
The secretariat had been sealed in November after a violent confrontation between two rival factions. One group was loyal to the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee. The other faction was headed by Abdulrahman Mohammed, who led a caretaker committee. Both sides had laid claim to the party’s leadership, leading to chaos at the headquarters.
The crisis deepened after a court ruling earlier this year. The Appeal Court nullified the Ibadan convention that brought in the Turaki-led leadership. That judgment shifted momentum to the Mohammed-led group.
Backed by key political figures, the Mohammed faction moved quickly. They relied on the court decision to organise a fresh convention in Abuja. That exercise further strengthened their hold on the party’s structure.
Sources within the party say today’s NEC meeting will largely be attended by loyalists of the Mohammed-led leadership. Among those expected are the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Also expected are former Senate President Bukola Saraki and former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
Party insiders say the presence of these figures signals a strong show of unity from the faction currently in control. Discussions at the meeting are expected to cover reconciliation, restructuring, and preparations for future political engagements.
There are also indications that the NEC may set up committees to address grievances within the party. Some members are pushing for a broader peace process to bring back aggrieved stakeholders.
Terrorists have killed three soldiers in a fresh attack on a military camp in Kemanji community, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The attack reportedly occurred in the early hours of Monday, with residents saying heavy gunfire echoed across the area during the invasion.
According to local sources, the assailants, suspected to be armed terrorists, stormed the military camp without warning and engaged troops in a fierce gun battle.
The confrontation left three soldiers dead, while other personnel were said to have responded with a reprisal attack to repel the assailants.
One resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the incident as sudden and violent, noting that the attackers took advantage of the early morning hours when some soldiers were asleep.
“Kemanji is a border community close to thick forest areas.
“Few of the soldiers were asleep around 3am when the terrorists invaded their camp and killed three of them before others responded,” the source said. (The Sun)
Prominent activist, Aisha Yesufu, has expressed concern over the ongoing teachers’ strike in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), calling on the minister, Nyesom Wike, to urgently intervene and resolve the crisis.
In a statement on Monday, Yesufu lamented the prolonged closure of public primary schools across the FCT, noting that the situation continues to disrupt the education of thousands of children.
She stressed that education remains a fundamental right and should not be treated with negligence, urging authorities to prioritise the welfare of both teachers and students.
“The continuous strike by teachers in the FCT is unacceptable. Our children cannot keep paying the price for unresolved issues,” she said.
The activist appealed directly to Wike to take decisive steps towards addressing the grievances of the striking teachers, including issues surrounding unpaid salaries and poor working conditions.
According to her, swift intervention by the FCT administration would not only restore academic activities but also rebuild confidence in the public education system.
The strike, which has lingered for weeks, has left many pupils at home, raising concerns among parents over the long term impact on learning.
PDP Holds First NEC Meeting After Police Reopen National Secretariat
Just in: Terrorists invade military camp, k!ll three soldiers in Kwara
Aisha Yesufu faults FCT teachers’ strike, wants Wike to intervene
-
News12 hours agoFull List: Items You can no longer Import into Nigeria
-
News12 hours agoSSANU plans indefinite strike as April 30 renegotiation deadline approaches
-
News12 hours agoTerror ‘kingpin’ killed as troops arrests suspects in Nasarawa, Benue, Kwara
-
News21 hours agoRescued eight Benue bus kidnap victims identified as UTME candidates
-
News12 hours agoJAMB releases results of 1.8m UTME candidates
-
News12 hours agoNCA demands arrest of Islamic cleric over alleged bounty on pastor
-
News22 hours agoHardship Not a Licence for Broken Homes – Abejide Tells Couples
-
News9 hours agoTinubu reforms shift Nigeria from fragility to growth as global pressures mount(Photos)