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Insecurity: Presidency warns non-state actors

Published

5 months ago

August 29, 2024

Admin

The Presidency has issued a stern warning that non-state actors causing hardship, misery, violence and hostage situations would face consequences for their actions.

President Bola Tinubu, who delivered the keynote address at a two-day summit organised by the Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movement (AYDM), a coalition of 130 pan-Yoruba-Itsekiri groups, in Ikeja, Lagos, addressed the role of non-state actors in Nigeria’s political landscape.

The president, represented by Mr. Tunde Rahman, senior special assistant on media, said non-state actors responsible for inflicting suffering, injury, and hostage-taking should be condemned.

“Those who use force to commit evil and cause chaos, including bandits, kidnappers, militia groups, and armed robbers, do not represent us and should face the full force of the law.”

He added that the groups must be eradicated.

Conversely, Rahman acknowledged that some non-state actors contribute positively, such as those protecting pipelines from vandalism.

He said: “While some criticise their actions, we must recognise their positive contributions.”

On Nigeria’s economic situation, Rahman acknowledged the challenges but expressed optimism of gradual improvement.

He cited the National Bureau of Statistics’ report that Nigeria’s headline inflation rate decreased to 33.4 per cent in July 2024 from 34.19 per cent the previous month, suggesting progress.

“Our economic indicators are showing improvement,” he said, highlighting that inflation is declining and the Central Bank of Nigeria has stabilised the financial sector.

Chairman on the occasion, Adewale Adeoye, said the summit was coming at a time when the country was facing a very difficult and unpredictable future and when the three main indices of development, notably food, human and environmental security and leadership with good conscience that brings hope to the long suffering people were threatened.

He, however, cautioned that democracy cannot just be destroyed because of its errors, saying there was the need to confront the “challenges and work towards improving the economic and social conditions of our people.”

This was just as he decried the call for subversion of democracy, describing such as irresponsible and, therefore, “a major reason non-state actors must come together speak with one voice against such self-serving demand.

“Supporting democracy is not about those in power, but about the right of the people to choose, question and democratically engage their leaders. I am aware that the process of even choosing the right leaders by the people in Nigeria is flawed, nevertheless, it does not, in any way, justify the call for military intervention in Nigeria,” he said.

Adeoye insisted Nigeria cannot continue to go this way, saying it must address the hydra-headed problem of food scarcity, insecurity, and leadership deficit.

According to him, “the best way to lay the foundation for the resolution is for Nigeria to go back to the dream of the founding fathers who had opted for a country where each ethnic group would be able to develop on its own terms.

“The greatest pathway to this goal is to restructure Nigeria to stem the violent clashes of civilisations.”

Kudu Abubakar representing Arewa community, in his remark, described democracy as a fraud being perpetrated by some people from the North and South for their own selfish interest, declaring pointedly that democracy as practised by people in power had damaged the country.

Abubakar hailed President Tinubu, as then governor of Lagos State over his achievements which, he said, made him and others throw support for his election into office.

“That does not mean we should not point out where he has failed,” he said.

He particularly decried the security situation in the country, recalling that that was not the situation when he was growing up and the community was able to identify security threats and address such, but stopped short of calling for establishment of a state police.

“Democracy has damaged everything in the country, while we were growing up, we were open to each other. We could easily identify strange people in our communities, but, now, insecurity is ravaging the land.

“Let us tell ourselves the truth, we fought for this democracy under the military, but how many of us that fought for democracy are enjoying it now. We love Tinubu, we fought for his victory, but we cannot reach him again,” he said.

Also, Dare Adesope, decried high level insecurity in the South West region, even as he noted that the Yoruba that regarded farming as their mainstay could not go to farm as they could have loved to do due to the menace.

He, however, urged political leaders in the country to work towards promoting good leadership for the betterment of Nigeria and its people.

News

Sad! Train Crushes Man To D3ath In Oshodi, Lagos

Published

9 minutes ago

January 18, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

There was confusion in Lagos on Friday when a trader was crushed by a Lagos-Ibadan train around Oshodi, Lagos.

The incident happened around 2pm with sympathisers and passers-by thronging the area.

Eyewitnesses said the trader was crushed to death in front of Arena Shopping Complex, Oshodi.

The middle-aged man was said to be urinating while standing in the middle of the rail tracks, with his two ears covered with an earpiece.

A witness told out reporter that despite the heavy horn of the train and passers-by shouting to warn the man, he did not hear the alarm.

Sympathetic passers-by who gathered around the dead body said the man killed himself.

Another witness identified the dead man as a trader who owned a shop at a shopping complex called Moyosore.

He said the deceased was chatting with three other persons who heard the honking of the train and ran away from the tracks.

The deceased’s body was still lying on the ground in front of his closed shop while efforts were made to reach his family. Sources said the Police was quickly called upon to evacuate the corpse.

Cases of train crushing people to death have become a recurring incident due to high prevalence of human activities on the railway corridors within the Lagos axis.

In areas like Agbado, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, traders often display their wares on the rail tracks while quickly packing the wares as soon as a train approaches, thereby endangering their lives.

A source in the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) who confirmed the train accident to our correspondent, said the identity of the victim had not yet been figured out.

The Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Lagos Police Command, Ben Hundeyin, was yet to respond to our correspondent’s enquiry on the incident as at press time.

Nigerian Tribune

News

Police declare Ex-President Jonathan’s aide , Reno Omokri wanted

Published

3 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Reno Omokri, a former Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan on New Media, has been declared wanted by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

His offence: he allegedly defamed Pastor Paul Enenche.

The NPF secured an order from the Chief Magistrate Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Wuse Zone 6, Abuja to remand him in prison custody along with a former Dunamis Church Pastor, Abraham Daniel, and two others, Enenche Peter and Alexander Enenche.

The court, presided over by Chief Emmanuel A. Iyanna, issued the remand warrant through an ex-parte motion filed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, on January 13, 2025.

Granting the ex-parte application filed by Francis Gabriel, Esq on behalf of the Police Chief, in Motion No: ME/07/2025 between the Inspector General of Police as Applicant and Daniel Abraham, Enenche Idoga Alexander, Oboyinlo Enenche Peter and Reno Omokri as 1st to 4th Respondents, the Chief Magistrate directed the Police to produce the respondents on return Court date on January 30.

Iyanna held: “Upon hearing the application and submissions of learned Francis Gabriel and upon careful consideration of the averments, the annextures and issues as raised in the submissions of the applicant, the application is hereby granted as prayed.

“It is hereby ordered as follows: An Order of this Honourable Court for remand warrant of the Respondents (i) MR. DANIEL ABRAHAM (ii) MR. ENENCHE IDOGA ALEXANDER (iii) OBOYINLO ENENCHE PETER and (iv) MR. RENO OMOKRI in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service, pending investigation, arraignment/prosecution.

“It is, hereby, ordered that the Respondents be arraigned before a Court of competent jurisdiction after the conclusion of the said investigation.

“On the return date, the Respondents should be produced.

“The matter is adjourned to 30th Day of January, 2025.”

The remand warrant was predicated on a petition to the IGP by Patrick O. Okolo, SAN against Mr Reno Omokri, Gistlover Blog, Aunty Adul, Peter Obonyiro, Kelechi TV and their agents and co-conspirators for alleged defamation of Pastor Paul Enenche.

News

Reps Urges Clear Labeling of GMO Products, Demand More Research

Published

4 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has called on the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) to ensure the clear labeling of all Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) products in accordance with global standards.

This House Committee on Science and Technology gave the resolution during a budget defense session, with the Director General, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha on Thursday in Abuja.

The committee cited the widespread of GMO use in the United States, particularly in maize.

However, committee member Rep. Awaji-Inombek Abiante emphasised the need for transparent labeling, highlighting that Nigerians should have the choice to make informed decisions about the food they consume. He questioned the adequacy of research on GMO products, particularly Tela Maize, before their adaptation in the country.

In addition, Prof. Mustapha presented NABDA’s proposed budget of N5.3 billion for the 2025 fiscal year, which includes N834.4 million for overhead costs and N14.5 million for personnel costs.

Naijablitznews.com reports that the agency employs around 4,000 staff across its 39 centers nationwide. Other agencies, including the Trypanosomiasis Research Institute, PRODA, NBTI, and NOTAP, also submitted their budgets to the committee.