Security

Southern Kaduna Killings: Sit Up, Stop Blame Games, Human Rights Commission Tells Police, Other Security Agencies

Published

4 years ago

July 25, 2020

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has condemned in very strong terms the incessant killings and wanton destruction of properties in various communities in Southern Kaduna, Kaduna state and some other parts of the country.

The Commission charged the Police and other law enforcement agencies to sit up and stop the prevailing blame games so as to bring the perpetrators to book.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tony Ojukwu Esq who stated this while reacting to the Southern Kaduna killings early this week, restated that the primary duty of government and security agencies is to protect lives and properties of citizens and those of other nationals residing in the country as guaranteed in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, as well as other national, regional and international treaties to which Nigeria is a signatory.

Tony Ojukwu
Executive Secretary, NHRC

He stated that the alleged invasion of Gora Gan village in Zango-Kataf local government area of Kaduna state which resulted in the killing of no fewer than 10 persons including a 7-year-old boy and the village Head is most annoying and devastating.

Executive Secretary also lamented a similar incident in Kakun Daji village in Kaura local government of Kaduna state where 21 people were allegedly murdered in cold blood by yet to be identified gunmen.

In the light of the above, he called on the relevant Ministries and agencies of government like the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to visit the affected communities and provide the necessary humanitarian support and aids to the families of victims and survivors to forestall further violation of their human rights.

Ojukwu called on the Police and other law enforcement agencies to refrain from watching helplessly while the lives of those whom they are supposed to protect are cut short by miscreants and other categories of enemies of the state. This is to rekindle people’s confidence in the government which has a sacred duty to protect their lives and properties despite any security challenges.

The Chief Human Rights Officer in Nigeria opined that state and local government policing structure can no longer be wished away especially in the wake of grave security challenges like senseless killings, kidnappings, banditry, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), communal clashes, ethnic and religious violence etc. in various parts of the country.

According to the Executive Secretary, “most of these criminal elements are citizens and they live amongst the people in various towns and communities. Accordingly, state and local government policing will surely rid the society of criminals who unfortunately pose a serious challenge to the protection of human rights over the years”.

Ojukwu further reiterated call for the implementation of the recommendations of the Presidential Panel on Reform of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and the Nigeria Police Force which, amongst other, recommended the establishment of State and Local Government Police to check the spate of criminality and insecurity in the country.

Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu

The Commission is also urging Nigerians to volunteer information to the Police and other security agencies so as to enhance intelligence led policing which is the practice in some other climes where insecurity has posed a challenge like in Nigeria. The security agencies must rise to the demands of the moment and stop the blame game going on presently.

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)