Security

Breaking: Military men arrest Catholic priest in Cross River

Published

5 years ago

October 30, 2020

*** Gov Ayade fingered

It has just been confirmed that Rev. Fr. Titus Armon, Assistant Parish Priest of Holy Spirit Parish, Abuochiche, Bekwarra LGA was arrested yesterday evening at about 6pm by military men who didn’t identify themselves.

Eye witness accounts by parishioners who attended Evening Mass said Father Armon was picked up right in the Church Premises just as he finished the evening mass and was greeting parishioners.

More information coming in has it that he was “arrested” by men In military uniform dispatched from Calabar! He was arrested in place of his twin brother, also a priest who serves in Anambra. His twin brother has recently been highly critical of the governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade.

Father Armon, the one at Anambra had written a very critical fact check on the tenure of Gov Ayade!

Efforts however are under way by the Catholic Heirachy lawyers from Joe Agi SAN Chambers to trace him and effect his release.

“We look forward to his release and more details on why he was arrested and who instigated his arrest as the day goes by,” the eye witness say.

Parishioners at SS Peter and Paul are said to be restive and are wondering why a priest will be arrested and from within the premises of the church too.

Reports reaching us indicate that community leaders are working hard to placate worshippers so as to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

Fact Check on Ayade by Father Armon which probably led to the arrest:

“Governor Ayade warns Cross River State Youths.*
(Copied)
Great Cross Riverians, I want to salute the courage of our young people who joined their compatriots across the nation to protest against police brutality and bad government in Nigeria.
*♤ _Where were you hiding when #EndSARS started in Cross River State?_*

As you are aware, my administration has over the years made the well-being of our young people a key priority.
*FACT Check: _Most of them belong to the same Cult fraternity as your brother Frank!_*

Indeed, not only do we have the youngest political appointee in the country, who is just over 16 years old, our state executive council is the youngest in the country.
*♤ FACT Check: _That IS NOT TRUTH. The youngest person was 19yrs when appointed._*

I value the life of every Cross Riverian. I am therefore, appealing to our young people to avoid any act that could bring them on the way of harm now that the Federal Government has deployed anti-riot policemen in our cities.
*♤ FACT Check: _It’s your responsibility! DON’T PASS THE BLAME to the Federal Government of Nigeria._*

You have through your sustained protests, made your points. We have heard you loud and clear.
All the issues you have raised are noted and I hereby, make the following commitments:

1. We will proceed with the process of asphalt overlay and fixing of potholes within Calabar metropolis. We must however, allow the rains to subside to give us a dry sub-surface to make for a better and more lasting job.
*♤ FACT Check: _You recently said on record that you were not elected the Governor of Cross River State to be repairing potholes. Has_ #EndSARS _now changed your mind?_*

2. We will find additional means to create more jobs for our young people.
*♤ FACT Check: _You keep on making this same promise every year, during the COVID-19 pandemic you made the same promise yet again._*

I would like you to note that in spite of being the least federal allocation earning state, we do not owe salaries. We also do not owe pensions
*_😳🙄🤔Prof. Ben rapture is real! Our lean resources not withstanding, we will strive to commence the payment of gratuity as soon as possible. What happened to your Intellectual Money and Green Money?_*

Do not forget also that our administration granted tax exemption to low income earners in the state.
*♤ FACT Check: _Your guys are still beating up citizens and collecting Tax from them._*

3. The focus of our administration has been on industrializing the state with a view to creating job opportunities for our people. We have established several industries including the ultra-modern rice mill, Ogoja, Cocoa Processing Factory, Ikom, Calabar Pharmaceutical Factory, Calabar Noodles Factory, Frozen Chicken Factory, Calabar Garment Factory, Rice Seedling Factory, Toothpick Factory, Piles and Pylon Factory, all of which have been completed. The factories will soon commence operations, thus providing more job opportunities for our people, including our young people.
*♤ FACT Check: _All these bogus factories mainly located in warehouses are privately registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC; Barrister Alphonsus Oga Eba, Due Process DG and your candidate for the PDP-CRS Chairmanship is a major shareholder in most of them._*

4. We are doing more than it is in public domain to confront the security challenges in Calabar. We have deployed a special security team from Abuja and so far, the team is doing a good job, arresting between 15 to 20 suspected kidnappers on daily basis.
*♤ “Benedict! Benedict!! Benedict!!!… _how many times did I call you? I am not saying that you are lying;_ I AM SAYING YOU ARE NOT TELLING THE TRUTH. Kidnappers are having a field day in Calabar and Akpabuyo on a daily basis_*

99.9 percent of suspects are non-indigenes of the state. So I commend our people for their non-involvement in this crime of stealing human beings.
*♤ FACT Check: _That Is Simply NOT TRUE more of the captured suspects paraded were indigenes of the state._*

5. The dualisation of the Tinapa-Odukpani Highway with the spaghetti flyover and an interchange bridge will be completed this coming dry season.
*♤ FACT Check: _Are you prepared to take native Oath “Mbiam” that the Spaghetti Flyover will be completed this coming dry season? Have you now found a sponsor as a result of #EndSARS? My friend “mbòk, biko, ejòr, dòn allah,” fear GOD…_*

6. Asphalting of the dual carriage road in northern part of the state will get to the Bekwarra axis of the road by the end of the month. The Okpoma, Mfom part of the road will be completed by the first quarter of 2021.
*♤ NO COMMENT!*

7. Boki East-West road and the North Ukelle road which the World Bank reckoned was beyond the capacity of the State, will be completed by the first quarter of 2021.
*♤ NO COMMENT!*

8. The construction of the 275km superhighway and the Bakassi Deep Seaport was set back by three years when the Federal Government took our State to court. It took a spec

Security

HURIWA: Execution of Brigadier General by ISWAP a National Disgrace

Published

3 months ago

November 18, 2025

Sunrise

***Says its Clear Evidence of Nigeria’s Collapsing Security Architecture

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned the “shocking silence and lethargy” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration following confirmation that ISWAP terrorists captured and executed Brigadier General M. Uba after ambushing a military convoy and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) operatives in Borno State.

In a strongly worded statement on Tuesday, National Coordinator of the group Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko said the incident exposes the dangerous level of infiltration, operational breakdown, and intelligence compromise within Nigeria’s defence system.
HURIWA noted that any serious government would have responded with an immediate, full-scale counterterrorism offensive aimed at eliminating the perpetrators.

“The Nigerian State is normalising the abnormal,” HURIWA said.
“How are terrorists killing citizens and military generals with ease while the government responds with indifference? Where is the leadership? Where is the national outrage?”

HURIWA said emerging accounts—including voice recordings of the General’s last moments—suggest that ISWAP fighters traced his location after intercepting military communications, raising two unsettling possibilities:
Terrorist collaborators inside the military hierarchy, as repeatedly warned by Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, or Severe compromise of Nigeria’s security communication infrastructure.

The group criticised the Army for failing to immediately launch a transparent investigation into how a serving General could be tracked, captured, and executed in such a sophisticated manner.
HURIWA also faulted the Defence Headquarters for initially misleading Nigerians with claims that the ambushed troops “repelled the attackers with superior firepower” and returned safely—a narrative contradicted by emerging evidence.

According to a Reuters report citing ISWAP’s Amaq propaganda channel, the terrorists executed Brigadier General Uba after capturing him—directly contradicting the Nigerian Army’s earlier claims of his survival.
“A foreign news agency had to tell Nigerians the truth about their own General,” HURIWA said.
“This is a shameful failure of integrity and accountability.”

HURIWA expressed deep concern that President Tinubu has not addressed the country despite the killing of a senior military officer—an event the group described as a national security emergency.

HURIWA said this failure of leadership reinforces a perception that the government is overwhelmed, indifferent, or unwilling to confront the deepening insurgency head-on.

The organisation also condemned the continued reintegration of “repentant terrorists,” warning that many return to unleash more violence on communities.
HURIWA questioned why the Federal Government repeatedly resists counterterrorism support from the United States, including earlier offers under President Donald Trump to help obliterate terrorist enclaves.

“Why does the Nigerian State appear uncomfortable with decisive actions that could wipe out these extremist groups?” the group asked.
“What exactly is the government protecting?”

HURIWA said the execution of Brigadier General Uba is not just a tragic loss but a damning indicator that Nigeria’s security system is crumbling under the weight of corruption, infiltration, and poor political leadership.

The group demanded a full, open, and independent investigation into the circumstances of the General’s capture and death, an operational overhaul of military communication systems, immediate offensive operations against ISWAP, and a national address by President Tinubu outlining concrete steps to prevent further collapses.

Security

Avoid Disclosing Your NIN to Unauthorized Persons, Groups

Published

10 months ago

April 10, 2025

Sunrise

– NIMC Cautions Nigerians

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued a strong warning to Nigerians against giving out their National Identification Numbers (NIN) to unauthorized individuals, groups, or platforms, especially in exchange for money.

This caution comes in the wake of arrests made by security operatives in multiple states, including Anambra, over illegal activities involving the solicitation of NINs for fraudulent purposes.

In a statement released by Dr. Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC, the Commission expressed deep concern over reports that some individuals in Anambra State were collecting NINs from unsuspecting residents for monetary compensation—an act NIMC described as not only illegal but also a breach of national laws.

“This illegal activity violates the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, the Data Protection Act 2023, and the Cybercrime Act 2023,” Dr. Adegoke stated. He confirmed that in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), those responsible for the criminal scheme have been apprehended and are currently undergoing interrogation. They will be prosecuted accordingly.

Dr. Adegoke emphasized that the Federal Government has not authorized any group or individual to collect NINs from citizens in such a manner, urging Nigerians to remain vigilant and to avoid disclosing their NINs to unauthorized persons.

“At no time should NIN holders give out their NINs for monetary compensation. This is against the laws of the Federation. Anyone caught will be dealt with appropriately,” he warned.

He further clarified that the NIN is strictly for accessing verified government and private sector services and should only be used through authorized and secure channels.

To report suspicious NIN collection activities, members of the public are advised to contact the Commission via email at nimccustomercare@nimc.gov.ng or call 0700-2255-646 / 019-23000010.

NIMC reassured Nigerians that necessary steps are being taken to curb such fraudulent practices and protect the integrity of the national identity system.

Security

Tinubu Signs Bill Establishing National Centre for Arms Control

Published

1 year ago

September 18, 2024

Nats Odaudu

The development was made known at a workshop focused on gender mainstreaming in efforts to curb the spread of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria and the West African sub-region, held on Tuesday in Abuja.

The workshop was organized by the NCCSALW. Ribadu, represented by the Director of External Affairs from the Office of the National Security Adviser, Amb. Ibrahim Babani, described the president’s assent as a crucial step in the government’s fight against the illegal proliferation of arms.
He noted that this legislative backing would solidify the centre’s authority and facilitate more coordinated efforts to tackle the issue.

Ribadu also emphasized the importance of gender mainstreaming in addressing the arms control problem, citing key international frameworks such as the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.
This resolution underscored the need to protect women from the impacts of conflict and ensure their active participation in peacebuilding and security initiatives.

AIG (rtd) Nuhu Ribadu
National Security Adviser

He also referenced the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, which highlights regional cooperation in stopping the spread of weapons that disproportionately affect women and children in conflict zones.

“The importance of gender mainstreaming in preventing the proliferation of small arms and light weapons cannot be overstated,” Ribadu said. “It strengthens our strategies and ensures our approach to security is inclusive and sustainable.”

Speaking at the workshop, the National Coordinator of NCCSALW, retired Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Johnson Kokumo, detailed the centre’s recent efforts in combating illegal arms proliferation.
Kokumo mentioned that the centre recently retrieved a substantial cache of illegal arms from the Nigeria Customs Service and arrested 10 suspects involved in illicit importation. These suspects are currently being prosecuted for offenses that include the illegal importation of 544 firearms and 112,500 rounds of ammunition, in violation of Nigerian law.

Kokumo further revealed that the centre has retrieved 3,383 decommissioned and illicit small arms, along with 26,749 rounds of ammunition, from various government agencies. He also announced plans for an Arms Destruction Exercise later this quarter to ensure that recovered arms are permanently removed from circulation.

Highlighting the global implications of small arms proliferation, Kokumo said, “The control of small arms and light weapons is not only a national concern but also a matter of international importance.” He added that addressing this issue through a gender-sensitive approach is both a moral imperative and a strategic move, considering the grave impact of armed conflict on women and children.

“This workshop is a significant step in ensuring that gender perspectives are integrated into national and regional strategies for small arms and light weapons control,” he stated.