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Without paying ransom govt has freed thousands – Ribadu
The National Security Adviser to the president, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has said the Federal Government has freed many kidnapped victims in the country without paying any ransom.
He also said since the coming of this administration, the country has not had any organised terrorist attacks, adding most of the roads hitherto unsafe for commuters are today secure for travellers at any time of the day.
Ribadu, said this while delivering a paper titled, “Navigating the Maze: Addressing Multi-Dimensional Insecurity Challenges in Northern Nigeria” at the combined convocation lecture of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto on Thursday.
He said, “Since assuming office, we have successfully freed over a thousand individuals, many of whom were villagers held captive for as long as two to three years.
“We have successfully secured the release of abducted students from the Federal University of Gusau and school children in Kuriga, among others.
“These results were achieved without paying any ransom. Our approach utilizes evidence as the foundation of our non-kinetic strategies.”
He also expressed concern over the high level of poverty rate in Northern Nigeria, especially the Northwestern states.
He said as of 2019, the region had the highest poverty rate in the country, surpassing the national average of 40.1 per cent and that about 87.73 per cent of the population lives in poverty.
He further disclosed that unemployment rates in the Northern region can exceed twenty per cent, presenting a stark contrast to the more industrially diverse and economically vibrant southern regions.
He said, “The illegal arms market in Northern Nigeria has seen a marked increase in demand and supply.
“Criminals and traffickers have developed sophisticated networks to transport illegal arms across Nigeria, deploying innovative methods to circumvent security checks.”
He however assured that the Tinubu-led administration in combating the menace of both insecurities and poverty has developed a holistic framework that seeks to comprehensively address various aspects of insecurity.
He said, “This agenda includes provisions for bolstering security initiatives, promoting socio-economic development, and fostering inter-communal dialogue to address grievances and foster reconciliation.
“Through the Renewed Hope Agenda, the government aims to tackle the underlying causes of insecurity by addressing issues such as poverty, unemployment, social marginalisation and ethnic tensions.”
He further said by implementing targeted intervention and reforms, the government seeks to create an environment conducive to peace and stability in Northern Nigeria.
Ribadu further said President Bola Tinubu was deliberate in appointing northerners to top security positions, aiming to involve those with proximity to the issues in crafting solutions.
He said, “This role is not a tea party, it is a demanding job that requires dexterity, hard work, and consensus building across security and political structures.
“The figures we encountered in terms of both attacks and casualties in May 2023 were heart-wrenching. As recently as 2022, Nigeria witnessed four major terrorist attacks: the attack on the Abuja – Kaduna train, an attack on the Guards Battalion in Abuja, the Kuje Prison attack and another at a Church in Owo, Ondo States.
“Many roads in these parts of the country were unsafe due to daylight operations by criminal elements by criminal elements.”
He further said the government has strengthened the administration of criminal justice by reopening trials of Boko Haram terrorism suspects detained in Kanji and other locations across the country, with prosecutions now underway in eight different courts.
He said, “On the kinetic front, the Nigerian military is conducting numerous operations targeting insurgent groups like Boko Haram and Bandits operating in Northern Nigeria.”
After Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida abandoned his quest for U.S. attorney general, President-elect Donald Trump wasted no time in choosing another candidate for the position.
On Thursday evening, Trump announced his decision on social media.
“I am proud to announce former Attorney General of the Great State of Florida, Pam Bondi, as our next Attorney General of the United States,” he posted on Twitter. “Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on Violent Criminals, and made the streets safe for Florida Families,” according to him.
“Then, as Florida’s first female Attorney General, she worked to stop the trafficking of deadly drugs and reduce the tragedy of Fentanyl overdose deaths.”
No fewer than 38 people, most of them Shiite Muslims, were killed in northwestern Pakistan on Thursday as gunmen ambushed convoys of vehicles that had been under the protection of security forces.
The attack was one of the deadliest in months of sectarian violence in the Kurram region, a scenic mountainous district bordering Afghanistan. Pakistan is overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim, but Kurram’s population of 800,000 is nearly half Shiite Muslim, contributing to a cauldron of tribal tensions.
Conflicts, often rooted in disputes over land, frequently escalate into deadly sectarian clashes. The violence highlights the government’s persistent struggle to maintain control in the region.
The vehicles had been traveling in opposite directions on the main road connecting Parachinar, a Shiite-majority town in Kurram, to Peshawar, the provincial capital 135 miles away.
The road, a vital lifeline for the district, had only recently reopened after being closed for three weeks because of an ambush on Oct. 12 that left at least 16 people dead.
During the closure, residents of Parachinar were cut off from essential supplies, including food and fuel, leading to a growing humanitarian crisis.
On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, November 25, the report Femicides in
UN Women
Globally, 85,000 women and girls were killed intentionally in 2023. 60 per cent of these homicides -51,000- were committed by an intimate partner or other family member. 140 women and girls die every day at the hands of their partner or a close relative, which means one woman or girl is killed every 10 minutes.
In 2023, Africa recorded the highest rates of intimate partner and family-related femicide, followed by the Americas and then by Oceania. In Europe and the Americas, most women killed in the domestic sphere (64 per cent and 58 per cent, respectively) were victims of intimate partners, while elsewhere, family members were the primary perpetrators.
“Violence against women and girls is not inevitable—it is preventable. We need robust legislation, improved data collection, greater government accountability, a zero-tolerance culture, and increased funding for women’s rights organizations and institutional bodies. As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 2025, it is time for world leaders to UNiTE and act with urgency, recommit, and channel the resources needed to end this crisis once and for all”, highlighted UN Women Executive Director, Sima Bahous.
“The new femicide report highlights the urgent need for strong criminal justice systems that hold perpetrators accountable, while ensuring adequate support for survivors, including access to safe and transparent reporting mechanisms,” said Ghada Waly, Executive Director of UNODC. “At the same time, we must confront and dismantle the gender biases, power imbalances, and harmful norms that perpetuate violence against women. As this year’s 16 Days of Activism Campaign begins, we must act now to protect women’s lives.”
The 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action in 2025, coupled with the fast-approaching five-year deadline to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, presents a critical opportunity to rally all stakeholders to take decisive and urgent action for women’s rights and gender equality. This includes ending impunity and preventing all forms of violence against women and girls.
Trump Announces Pam Bondi For Attorney General after Rep Gaetz Withdrawal
SAD! 38 Casualties As Gunmen Ambush Shiite Convoys
One Woman, Girl Killed Every 10 Minutes Globally – UN Women
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