News

Reps Urge FG To Investigate Financial Activities Of Bandits, Use of Telecoms Network

Published

4 months ago

October 8, 2024

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to investigate the use of telecommunications networks and financial systems by bandits to facilitate ransom payments, and to work closely with law enforcement to block such channels of communication and financial transactions used by criminals.

This was sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Rep. Shehu Dalhatu, member representing Faskari/Kankara/Sabuwa Federal Constituency of Katsina State on Tuesday at plenary.

Rep. Dalhatu decried the deteriorating banditry acts to the point where bandits now openly provide bank account details for ransom payments to be made for kidnapped victims.

According to the lawmaker, this audacious act shows not only the impunity with which those criminals operate but also raised significant concerns about the security of the telecommunications and financial systems in the country, adding that evidence of such ransom demands was readily available, including on personal devices, further proving the gravity of the situation.

He asserted that in the past four months, there has not been a 48-hour period without a bandit attack in the Faskari/Kankara/Sabuwa federal constituency, even as he noted that last week Friday, armed bandits ambushed members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps, along the Yankara-Faskari road, killing six members, wounding two others, and seizing their weapons.

According to Dalhatu, just two days later, on Sunday the bandits targeted innocent people at Balan Dawa village, killing three and kidnapping some women while the violence escalated again on Monday, when bandits attacked the Funtua-Gusau road, killing one person and kidnapping an unspecified number of commuters.

He expressed concern that: “the situation has deteriorated to the point where bandits now openly provide bank account details for ransom payments to be made for kidnapped victims.

“Despite previous efforts by government agencies and the deployment of security personnel, banditry in these areas has persisted, signaling that current strategies are inadequate.

“The local communities have made brave attempts to protect themselves through initiatives such as the Vigilantes, but they are severely outmatched by the heavily armed bandits.”

Dalhatu called on security agencies to urgently intensify efforts towards rescuing all those affected by those criminals while the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Police Force should immediately reinforce security measures by deploying additional personnel to the Constituency for the protection of lives and property.

The House adopted the motion and referred it to the committees on Defence, Army, Police and National security for further legislative action.

The lawmakers also observed a minute silence in honour of those killed by the banditry acts and condoled relatives while it sympathised with all those affected.

News

FG endorses Bola Ahmed Tinubu Polytechnic

Published

23 minutes ago

January 22, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The federal government has endorsed the establishment of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal Polytechnic in Gwarinpa, Abuja.

The decision was part of the government’s drive to ensure that every state in the country had at least one federal polytechnic.

The approval of Bola Ahmed Tinubu Polytechnic was conveyed in a letter dated January 9, 2025, by the Education Minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa.

It was addressed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

The FCT Minister’s office confirmed receipt of the letter on January 16, 2025.

In the correspondence, Dr. Alausa urged Wike to identify suitable locations in Gwarinpa for both temporary and permanent sites of the polytechnic.

A joint team from the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Board for Technical Education have been listed to inspect the proposed locations before finalizing the site selection.

The Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal Polytechnic is expected to boost technological education, vocational training, and entrepreneurship development, aligning with the government’s commitment to enhancing technical skills and economic empowerment across Nigeria. [With GWG report]

News

NNPC Ltd says vandals responsible for Buguma wellhead fire

Published

26 minutes ago

January 22, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) reports that the fire incident at its Buguma Wellhead 008, operated by its subsidiary, NNPC Eighteen Operating Ltd (NEOL), was directly caused by the activities of pipeline vandals attempting to compromise the Christmas Tree and steal crude oil.

This unfortunate act of sabotage, which also resulted in severe damage to the well’s back pressure valve, reflects a disturbing pattern of repeated attacks on wellheads in the zone. Since March 2023, crude oil theft on this asset has been persistent, with criminals now resorting to extreme measures, including the use of dynamite to destroy installations and illegally access hydrocarbons.

NNPC Ltd remains committed to combating these fires and mitigating the financial losses associated with these criminal activities, which place a significant burden on the nation’s economy. The company is working closely with relevant security agencies to put an end to these acts of vandalism.

Additionally, NNPC Ltd reaffirms its commitment to supporting communities affected by these destructive activities and will continue to provide necessary relief efforts to mitigate the impact on those affected.

Olufemi O. Soneye
Chief Corporate Communications Officer
NNPC Ltd.
Abuja

20th January, 2025

News

Nigeria Commiserates With Republic Of Turkiye Over Kartalkaya Ski Resort Hotel Fire Incident

Published

2 hours ago

January 21, 2025

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The Federal Republic of Nigeria has commiserated with the Government and People of the Republic of Turkiye over the unfortunate fire incident at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya Ski Resort.

This was contained in a statement by the

Acting Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, on Monday in Abuja.

The statement reads in part: “The Federal Government of Nigeria sympathizes with the Government of the Republic of Turkiye and the families of the victims of the fire incident, and also wishes a speedy recovery of the injured”.

Naijablitznews.com recalled that the fire, which claimed the lives of 66 persons and injured over 50 others in Bolu Province in Northwestern Turkiye, was reported to have started in the early hours of Tuesday 21st January 2025.