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CSO Knocks Gov. Bello Over Herdsmen Carnage In Kogi Community

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The Centre for Leadership Legacy Int’l has condemned in strong terms what it described as lackadaisical attitude of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, authorities of Dekina local government, and traditional Institutions towards the ongoing herdsmen attack on Oganenigu community in Dekina local government area (LGA) which has been under siege by the herders for days.

A statement signed by the Lead Director of the Centre, Comrade Omonu Gowon-Nelson, explained that the latest round of attacks started when Odede village was razed to the ground and many killed or missing at the early hours of Wednesday, 29 March, 2023.

The statement expressed disgust on the aloof disposition of Governor Bello, whom the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, recognises as the Chief Security Officer the State, of which Oganenigu community is a part.

“This is a matter relevant authorities in the state and Dekina LGA are familiar with, and why it’s taking so long for the governor to act calls for worry among the people.

“It would be recalled that a similar attack in March 2018, prompted Governor Yahaya Bello to visit Ojuwo-Ajomayegbi, where the massacre of innocent villagers took place. On that visit, the governor made series of promises aimed at addressing the frequent attacks on the community. None of the developmental promises were fulfilled, aside the instant deployment of security personnel.

“As for the latest round of carnage, trouble started, when insinuation and rumours started flying around about the large movement of armed men from Akande area of Bassa LGA towards Oganenigu community. Relevant authorities were alerted but nothing was done until Odede village ended in ruin,” the statement explained.

It further revealed that following the annihilation of Odede village and the series of fresh threats to extend the Odede horror to other parts of the community, the sick and aged men and women were traumatised and have become refugees in Anyigba, Iyale, Etutekpe etc.

“The situation in Oganenigu community as we speak is nothing short of the Hobbessian State of Nature, where life is lived in continual fear, and danger of violent death; the life of every inhabitant is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”

While reminding Governor Bello and other concerned authorities that the primary purpose of any responsible government is the security of lives and property, Comrade Omonu called for urgent intervention, to bring the people’s misery to an end, even as he made case for the location of a military or Mobile Police formation in the area to forestall further occurrences.

Oganenigu Community, which consists of about 13 fairly large villages, with Aloko as the Ward headquarters has been under recurrent attacks by dare-devil herdsmen since 2015. It’s located about 22 kilometers from River Benue and 47 kilometers from Dekina, the local government headquarters.

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Tinubu Signs Bill Establishing National Centre for Arms Control

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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.

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IPPIS Database Safe and Secure – FG Assures Civil Servants

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By Elizabeth Okwe

Contrary to apprehensions being expressed in certain quarters regarding the security of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), the Federal Government has reassured civil servants that the System database remains secure and has not been compromised.

The assurance came via a statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations,  the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa, on Monday in Abuja.

A news report (not SunriseNigeria) had claimed that the ‘IPPIS Payroll Validation section on the official website of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation had been hijacked by an unknown hacker.

It also claimed that workers’ data stored on the official website of the IPPIS Secretariat, a department at the OAGF, was susceptible to attack because the secure site layer feature of the website had expired and remained unrenewed for over a year.

However, in the statement, the OAGF said the government is committed to maintaining and operating a safe and efficient personnel and payroll management system.

Checks by our correspondent showed that the IPPIS section of the website was still inaccessible when this report was filed.

Mokwa stated that “the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System database has not been compromised,” and reaffirmed that employees’ personnel data was secure.

The OAGF, which is responsible for overseeing the management of the IPPIS and other federal financial initiatives, revealed that it has implemented an ICT Security Policy aimed at safeguarding its digital assets.

According to the OAGF, this policy aligns with global best practices in cybersecurity, ensuring the continuous protection of sensitive data within government systems.

“No data is saved on the OAGF website,” the statement clarified, addressing rumours that sensitive information may have been stored or compromised through the website.

“The IPPIS uses the website only to share information, not for transactions. Neither payroll nor payments are made through the website, therefore, no data is contained in the website,” Mokwa stated.

The statement further clarified that the IPPIS Validation Portal, recently developed to update employee information, had been deployed for a specific period. Once the data validation exercise was completed, the portal was shut down permanently to prevent any further access.

“The IPPIS Validation Portal was deployed on a secure platform,” the statement read, adding that a secure database and application system were procured from HELIX-FONS, a reputable international software provider.

The office acknowledged that the IPPIS is of utmost importance to Nigerian workers, thus it became imperative to assuage the fears of any loss or breach of employees’ data in the IPPIS database.

 

 

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NLC President, Joe Ajaero, Arrested at Abuja Airport

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Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero.

The arrest was carried out at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja this morning.

According to sources, Ajaero was about to board a flight to the United Kingdom for an official assignment when he was picked up by the DSS personnel.

The reasons behind his arrest are still unclear, but sources revealed that he has been handed over to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

Recall that Ajaero was scheduled to attend the conference of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the UK, which is slated to be held today.

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