Criminality

The alarming rate of insecurity in Nigeria needs to be tackled not from the point of weakness on the part of government and security agencies but decisive actions against criminal elements causing havoc in the country.

The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama, is one of Nigeria’s most respected clergymen. He served as the President of Nigerian Bishops Conference (2012-2018), and currently chairs the Episcopal Conference of West African Catholic Bishops.

The National Human Rights Commission, on Saturday, expressed concerns over the rising cases of kidnapping of boarding schools’ students in northern parts of the country.

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc Olamilekan Adegbite, Saturday, urged mining companies to prioritize the welfare of host communities for smooth operations.

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), on Friday, called for the arrest of Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, for saying journalists are criminals for calling bandits criminals.

Mr Dachung Bagos, the member representing Jos South South/Jos East Federal Constituency, has said that the military needs modern and sophisticated equipment to combat kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery and other forms of insecurity in the country.

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, on Thursday assured Nigerians that the Petroleum Industry Bill, which is before the National Assembly, will change the fortune of the country by the time it becomes law.

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday cautioned against ethnic profiling in the battle against insecurity in the country, vowing to deal with insurgents, bandits, kidnappers and other criminals threatening national security.

The Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa, has urged Nigerians to take ownership of the renewed fight against the menace of drug abuse in the country.

President Muhammadu Buhari said on Thursday that criminals who were terrorising the country should be dealt with accordingly, without resorting to ethnic profiling. He reiterated that government shall continue to deal with insurgents, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements who constitute threat to innocent citizens across the country.

Buhari stated this on Thursday while declaring open a joint security meeting of Northern State Governors’ Forum, Northern Traditional Rulers Council and delegation from the federal government in Kaduna State.

President Muhammad Buhari has tasked the new Service Chiefs to adopt new strategies in tackling insecurity bedevilling the country.

As the conflict between herders and farmers continues to rage, the Federal Government has disclosed mapping out 30 grazing reserves for implementation of the National Livestock Transformation Plan, NLTP, as a lasting solution to the crisis.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (rtd) has expressed regret that the drugs abuse situation in the country is so bad that criminal elements especially kidnappers and armed bandits now ask for payment of ransoms in drugs.

The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) says the National Assembly’s call for declaration of a state of emergency on insecurity will allow President Muhammadu Buhari to take extra constitutional actions to address the nation’s security challenges.

An Akure Magistrate Court has remanded 15 persons suspected to have been involved in illegal mining of gold in Ondo State.

The embattled former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, on Monday, criticised his successor, Hope Uzodinma, whom he said was trying to intimidate him and his supporters in the state.

Chairman of the South West Governors Forum Rotimi Akeredolu has declared that the governors in the region would fight criminality with every legal means.

A self-confessed leader of a bandit group in Zamfara State on Monday renounced criminality and surrendered his arms to the state government.

As part of efforts to sustain the peace and security of lives and property, the Kebbi state governor, Atiku Bagugu has engaged top clerics to preach a message of love and togetherness among Fulani communities in the state.

Islamic Cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has maintained his position that some Fulani herdsmen were forced into criminality because they were victims of cattle rustling.

Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has said the students and staff of Government Science College, Kagara, Niger State kidnapped by bandits last Wednesday were being kept in Birni Gwari, Kaduna State, by their abductors.