Crime
Train Attack: Senators in hopeless lamentations, blame failure of government
***Renew call for state police
Lawmakers at plenary on Tuesday expressed anger over the new wave of insecurity that has shifted from the usual highway attacks to Airport and railway with privileged Nigerians as targets.
They blamed the new dimensions on failure of leadership on the part of the government at national level and in Kaduna State that has now become the new theater.
They spoke against the backdrop of the attack on the Kaduna train bound conveying about 970 passengers in which more than 50 were killed, while others sustained various degrees of injuries, as some were also abducted
In the late hours of Monday bandits planted explosives on the train track and demobilised it around Kateri and Rijana by 8pm.
Both the Kaduna State government and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) had since confirmed the attack and evacuation of passengers.
The NRC has since suspended train services between Abuja and Kaduna until further notice following the attack by bandits.
The attack was coming barely two days after suspected bandits attempted to attack the Kaduna airport where they prevented the plane from taking off
These were happening about seven months after bandits attacked the Nigerian Defence College, the Nigerian Defence College in the state, killing two officers and abducting one.
A Kaduna senator, Suleiman Kwari, had called on the National Assembly and the federal government to revisit talks of state police.
The National Assembly had ignored the clamour for state police by some governors and many other Nigerians in the Constitution amendment conducted last month.
The lawmaker representing Kaduna North senatorial district, made the call during plenary on Tuesday as the Senate deliberated a motion on Monday’s train attack.
“We had live chats with people that were caught in the unfortunate incident and was really scary.
“A woman with a baby in her arm in the ill fated train was calling for mercy that she had an aged mother by her side and was pleading that she came only for medical attention she was pleading for mercy instead of mercy she had her head shattered right before other travellers.
“Fortunately some of the military personnel had to induct some people on the act of crawling that was what saved the situation, many of them crawled from the VIP coaches to the economy coaches which helped in reducing the casualty. “Unfortunately the drones and other advanced technologies that have been advocated for have not been acquired by the government.
He said federal police, policing the roads and the forests is something that cannot stand, hence he renewed call for State police.
In his contribution, Mr Kwari who described the incident as pathetic, said state police would make the security of lives and properties easier.
“I think we need to look again, more closely to the call for state police because unless this is done, having a federal police policing our bushes and our roads is something that cannot stand,” he said.
While he lamented the delay in response time by the military, he commended them for “the last-minute intervention.”
Another Kaduna senator, Uba Sani, had raised a point of order on “the continuing attacks on Communities and public facilities in Kaduna State.”
In his motion, he said terrorists have in recent times stepped up attacks on some communities and public facilities in Kaduna State.
The lawmaker narrated how the incident took place,
“The latest attacks took place in some communities in Giwa Local Government, namely Angwan Sarki Yahya, Tashar Shari, Bare-Bari, Tsaunin Natal, Dillalai, Durumi and Jatin Kanwa, all on Yakawada Ward.
“Other places affected include Kaya community, Mai kyauro and Fatika where over 50 people were killed and over 100 kidnapped.
“Not done with their devilish acts, they made an attempt to penetrate the Kaduna International Airport.
“Although the attack was foiled by vigilant security operatives, one person lost his life. When people were trying to come to grips with a week-long wanton destruction of lives and property, the terrorists struck again.”
While the lawmaker complained that the attacks are aimed at instilling fear in the people and destroying economies, he questioned the strategies and tactics being adopted by security forces.
He also said the advocacy for creation of state police would bring law enforcement closer to the people.
“Effective gathering of intelligence and sustained security operations at the local level will make life uncomfortable for terrorists.”
On his part, Benue senator, Gabriel Suswam, blamed the recurring attacks on the failure of the leadership of the state.
He wondered why the Kaduna State government has done very little to stop the attacks and called on the leadership of the federal government to “address the issue.”
Like his colleague, Danjuma La’ah (APC, Kaduna Central) asked the state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to speak up and call for help if he is overwhelmed.
After a lengthy debate which saw senators expressing anger, frustration and fear, the Senate called on the Army and Airforce to, as a matter of urgency, bombard terrorist enclaves with a view to restoring peace and stability in the country.
The Senate also called on the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant government agencies to assist the affected communities with relief materials.
While they urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movements to security operatives, the lawmakers asked the Military to put special focus on the vicinity of Nigerian Airports especially the Abuja Airport.
They also urged the relevant agencies of the government to step up their information gathering mechanism to forestall this kind of incident.
For the umpteenth time they observed another minute silence to mourn victims of the Monday night terror attack on Kaduna bound train.
Notorious major distributor of illicit drugs within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Ibrahim Momoh has bee rearrested by operativez of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
seven years after jailbreak from Kuje prison
The NDLEA disclosed that Ibrahim Momoh also popularly known as Ibrahim Bendel, was re-arrested during a raid of his hideout at Filin Dabo, Dei-Dei area of the FCT.
In a statement on Sunday Spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, indicated that Ibrahim Momoh was first arrested on 27th November, 2014 with cannabis sativa weighing 385.1kgs, prosecuted, convicted and sentenced to seven and a half years in prison on 22nd July 2015.
He said Ibrahim Momoh escaped from prison custody on 16th May, 2016 while serving his jail term at Kuje Custodial Centre.
The NDLEA operatives on 20th November 2022 following credible intelligence, stormed the warehouse of the fleeing ex-convict, Ibrahim Momoh, and recovered 81 jumbo bags of cannabis weighing 1,278kgs.
“The store was located within his poultry farm in Dei-Dei area of the FCT.
“Though, Momoh was not around at the time, his warehouse manager, 55-year-old Ghanaian, Richard Forson Gordon was arrested, prosecuted and sentenced to two years in jail.
“The Agency thereafter declared Ibrahim Momoh wanted.
“The manhunt for the drug lord paid off on 5th November 2023 when operatives again raided his hideout at Filin Dabo, Dei-Dei area of Abuja where he was arrested with 56.9kgs of cannabis sativa and 42.7 grams of Diazepam,” the agency said
The NDLEA also said another raid carried out by its operatives in the same area of the FCT on Monday 13th November, led to the arrest of a 27-year old Yusufa Ibrahim, 27, who was arrested with 75.3kgs of cannabis.
“Meanwhile, a massive operation in the forest of Efon Alaye in Efon local government area of Ekiti State on Saturday, 18th November, 2023 has led to the destruction of 52,500 kilograms of cannabis sativa covering over 21 hectares of farmland while a total of ninety two bags of same substance weighing 1,380 kilograms were recovered and another 250 bags weighing 3,000kgs stored in different huts on the farm were also burnt.
“No fewer than 15 suspects were arrested on the farm during the operation.
“They include: Okikiri Julius, 27; Ozoemene Friday Efajemu, 31; Tosin Ibrahim, 18; Israel Samuel, 25; Godwin David, 39; Friday Isaac, 19; Ayomide Igbekele, 18; Joshua Daniel, 27; Emmanuel Nwachukwu, 19; Emeka Onyeama, 31; Ani Augustine, 27; Obasi Ogbu, 32; Orsusue Peter, 23; Daniel Emmanuel, 18; and Yinusa James, 22.
“In Ondo State, five persons including another wanted drug kingpin, Christopher Onyebuchi, 40, were arrested at New Bridge Compound, Idoani on Wednesday 15th November and a total of 1,945 kilograms of cannabis recovered from them.
“Others include : Olorunda Ojo, 52; Femi Tomoye, 22; Abdurahman Salahu, 29; and Momoh Jimoh, 31. Onyebuchi had earlier been arrested by NDLEA on 25th March 2022 with 89kgs of same substance but jumped bail after he was arraigned at the Federal High Court, Akure.
“Operatives in the state also on Sunday 12th Nov raided Upemen village in Owo where they recovered 1,834kgs of same substance with 273kgs also seized the previous day, Saturday 11th Nov at Ipesi Akoko.
”While NDLEA officers in Sokoto recovered 290kgs of cannabis from a female suspect, Fatima Salmanu, 20, at Gangaren Tashar, Illela Sokoto in Sokoto North LGA on Thursday 16th Nov, their colleagues in Edo State evacuated 808kgs of the same psychoactive substance stored in a forest at Igueben on Monday 13th Nov.
“Not less than 231kgs of cannabis were recovered and five suspects arrested in a joint raid between NDLEA operatives and soldiers in Kwande council area of Benue State on Monday 13th Nov.
“Those arrested include: Denen Terhemba, 25; Liambee Iorhuna, 36; Iorhuna Sughnen, 20; Aboh Sonter, 23; and Msendoo Tyokaa, 36.
“While operatives in Ogun State on Tuesday 14th Nov arrested a suspect, Tony Jonah at Abule Iroko, with cannabis sativa weighing 67kgs, those in Lagos arrested Chike Agu at Ago Palace way, Isolo with 364.3kgs of Loud, a variant of cannabis.
” In Imo State, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Owerri -Onitsha expressway on Monday 13th Nov intercepted a truck marked XS 669KRD driven by one Orji Ifeanyi, 33.
“A search of the truck led to the seizure of 82,320 pills of opioids including Tramadol 225mg, and Diazepam as well as 32.5 litres of codeine cough syrup and 100 pieces of Molly weighing 49.62 grams,” Babafemi stated.
According to the statement, the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse, (WADA) advocacy campaign continued in equal measure in schools, markets, worship centres and other places across the country in the past week.
“Some of them include: WADA advocacy lecture for Muslim faithful at Badagry Central Mosque, Badagry, Lagos; WADA sensitisation lecture for students of Government Science College, Wase, Plateau State; WADA sensitisation lecture for students of Anglican Girls Secondary School, Ogidi, Anambra State; WADA advocacy lecture at St. Thomas Grammar School, Otan Aiyegbaju, Osun State; WADA advocacy lecture for students and staff of Government Junior Arabic Secondary School, Maigatari, Jigawa State as well as students and staff of Mainland Technical College, Oron, Akwa Ibom state,” he said.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended the officers and men of the FCT, Ekiti, Ondo, Sokoto, Lagos, Edo, Benue, Ogun and Imo Commands for the arrests and seizures.
Marwa urged them and their compatriots across all formations of the agency to sustain the offensive action against drug cartels .
As the yuletide season approaches, Marwa also urged them to maintain a balance with their drug demand reduction efforts. (vitalnewsngr.com)
Attempts by political thugs to abduct the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Imo State has been thwarted by eagle eyed security operatives
The thugs had stormed a registration Area Centre in Amaimo, Ikeduru Local Government Area of the state, with the plan to cart away election materials.
However as they attempted to whisk away the INEC officials into their waiting vehicle the security operatives deployed in the centre repelled them
It was gathered that the armed security operatives fired into the air from a distance, when voters in the area raised an alarm over the presence of the thugs.
The thugs quickly retreated into their bus and sped off on hearing the sound of the gun.
There was heavy presence of security personnel on major roads in Imo.
In Owerri, the state capital, and its environs, armed security operatives mounted checkpoints at strategic locations as early as 6am to enforce restriction on movements.
Heavily armed soldiers were seen at different entry points into the city, stopping and searching vehicles, as well as interrogating the drivers and passengers before allowing them to go.
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) opeeativez have confirmed the arrest of 14 suspected vote buyers in Otueke, Adawari playgrounds in Bayelsa and at various polling units in Imo and Kogi States
The Spokesperson of the antigraft agency, Dele Oyewale made the disclosure through a statement on Saturday in Abuja.
According to him, the suspects were arrested on Saturday in intelligence-driven operations that commenced several days before the ongoing governorship elections in the three states.
“Also, a total sum of N11,040,000, comprising N9,310,00 intercepted from suspected vote buyers and sellers in Bayelsa, and N1,730,000 intercepted from electoral fraud suspects across Imo State, were recovered from them.
“Also, two vehicles were intercepted from the suspects. They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” he said.
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