Security

NIREC Hails PMB, Nigerians Over Prohibition Of Nuclear Weapons

Published

4 years ago

August 11, 2020

The Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) has felicitated with President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians over the ratification of the United Nations (UN) Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

NIREC under the leadership of its co-chairmen, the Sultan of Sokoto and president-general of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, and the president of the Nigerian Baptist Convention who doubles as the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev Samson Ayokunle, in a statement made available to the media, also lauded the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for following up to make the ratification of the UN Treaty possible.

Rev. Samson Ayokunle

The statement said as people all over the world are marking the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, “Nigeria, Ireland and Niue” have chosen to remember the victims and honour the hibakusha, the survivors, in the most meaningful way possible, by taking action to ban and eliminate these weapons of mass destruction for good.

The statement reads in part: “While congratulating Nigerians and the Federal Government of Nigeria for this bold step at the International level, NIREC once again calls on government at all levels to sign into law the prohibition of the proliferation of arms and ammunition in Nigeria.

“Given that charity begins at home, the leadership of the Federal Republic of Nigeria must set a day aside to remember all the victims that have been killed by terrorists, bandits and all forms of criminals in Nigeria” .

Sa’ad Abubakar
Sultan of Sokoto

NIREC, however, called for compensation for the displaced victims of violence and security for them to return to their native land.

“Government must provide adequate security for the Nigerian citizens to enjoy peaceful coexistence irrespective of tribe, political affiliation and religion. NIREC is affiliated to the African Council of Religious Leaders and Religions for Peace (ACRL-RfP),” the statement added.

Security

We Have Paid N160bn in Ransoms, Levies to Bandits – Gobir Community

Published

7 days ago

September 1, 2024

Sunrise Nigeria

As the people of Sokoto State, especially those in Sabon Birni Local Government Area, continue to battle insecurity, a group of professionals within the local government, Gobir Development Association, has revealed that the people of the community paid over N160bn in levies and ransom payments to bandits in the area.

According to a press statement signed by the chairman of the group, Idris Alhassan Gatawa, and its secretary, Professor Aliyu Gobir, and made available to newsmen in the state on Saturday, it was said that more than two billion naira was also lost to armed bandits.

The group, while reacting to the recent killing of their District Head, Muhammad Bawa, who was killed by bandits following his abduction along Sabon Birni – Sokoto Road after his official engagement in the state capital, condemned the rising case of insecurity in the area.

The group said, “Over sixty billion naira has been paid as ransom, over a hundred billion naira paid as imposed levies by the bandits, and more than two billion naira lost to armed bandits.

“Likewise, about six hundred thousand heads of cattle and five million sheep and goats were rustled within the last five years.

“About two-thirds of the arable farmlands are inaccessible due to the fear of being killed or kidnapped by bandits, causing severe economic losses, hardship in terms of food and nutrition security, and psychological and social imbalances.”

They, however, appealed to the government at all levels to act swiftly to stop the killings, kidnappings, displacement of people, and livestock rustling to restore peace and stability in all areas affected by banditry. (Sunday PUNCH: Text, Excluding Headline)

Security

Why I Resigned – ex-DG NIA

Published

2 weeks ago

August 25, 2024

Sunrise Nigeria

Ahmed Rufai Abubakar the former Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, (NIA), who resigned yesterday’s evening (Saturday) has given reasons for his resignation.

Ahmed who tendered his resignation letter to President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, on Saturday spoke to journalists shortly after seeing the president.

The former NIA boss cited personal and family issues as his reasons for resigning from office.

“There are quite a number of reasons one will do that. Some personal family issues, but nothing very serious, actually, and the friendship will continue,” he said

“I discussed with Mr. President, he understood very well, and I promised to remain steadfast with issues and the security situations of the country.”

He also expressed gratitude to the President for allowing him to serve for the first 15 months of the new administration, having occupied the office since 2018

“After the briefing, I tendered my resignation and Mr. President graciously approved and accepted the resignation.

“I thanked him for giving me the opportunity to serve Nigeria under his transformational leadership for an extended period of 15 months, which is very rare,” Abubakar said.

He was first appointed DG of the NIA in 2018 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who extended his stay in office in December 2021.

Abubakar, a 71-year-old retired career foreign service officer from Katsina State, joined the security department of the Nigerian Foreign Service in 1993. In 2015, he was appointed senior special assistant to the president (SSAP) on international relations and foreign affairs.

He attended Bayero University, Kano, where he bagged bachelor’s and master’s degrees in French. He also speaks English and Arabic.

(PRNigeria)