African News Today

<strong>IGP Deploys Armed Officers As Abuja-Kaduna Train Service Restarts Monday</strong>

5Dec

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

IGP Deploys Armed Officers As Abuja-Kaduna Train Service Restarts Monday

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Usman Baba has directed the deployment of armed operatives to secure the Abuja-Kaduna train services. This was contained in a statement issued by the force spokesperson, Oluwuyiwa Adejobi, on Sunday. Adejobi said the personnel would be drawn from the police mobile force, K-9force intelligence bureau, explosive ordinance unit, and railway police command. The Abuja-Kaduna train service is scheduled to resume on Monday, December 5. The statement added that the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, has kept regular contact with the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, and other security agencies in preparation for the commencement of operations. The statement read, “The deployment covers major railway stations along the route and operational coaches...

<strong>You Have Failed To Secure Nigerians, Govs Reply FG</strong>

4Dec

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Security

You Have Failed To Secure Nigerians, Govs Reply FG

The governors across the federation under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, have accused the Federal Government of failing in its constitutional mandate to secure citizens which has negatively affected economic activities. The governors said that the spike in poverty level among the citizens was a consequence of the rising insecurity on commercial and agricultural activities. According to them, the failure of the government at the centre to clamp down on non-state actors had permitted “bandits, insurgents, and kidnappers to turn the country into a killing field”. This was contained in a statement issued by the NGF Director of Media and Public Affairs, AbdulRazaque Bello-Barkindo. The statement followed the accusation by the Minister of State for Budget and Na...

<strong>Over 3000 Illicit Weapons Seized In Nigeria In 18 Months – Arms Control Centre</strong>

24Nov

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Security

Over 3000 Illicit Weapons Seized In Nigeria In 18 Months – Arms Control Centre

The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, NCCSALW, has disclosed that more than 3,000 illegal arms were recovered across Nigeria in the past 18 months. This was stated by the national coordinator of the centre, Abba Dikko, in Kaduna on Wednesday. Dikko said the recovery was part of a calculated attempt to curb the proliferation of illegal firearms across the country. He stated that the recovered arms will be destroyed in Kaduna on Thursday stressing that the centre remains committed to riding the country of unauthorized wielding of firearms. Dikko said, “Since the take-off of the centre in May 2021, tremendous achievements have been recorded and landmark progress made and within the period under review over 3000 arms were recovered. “We...

Why We Negotiate With Kidnappers, Bandits To Free Hostages – IGP

10Nov

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Security, Terrorism

Why We Negotiate With Kidnappers, Bandits To Free Hostages – IGP

Usman Alkali Baba, the Inspector General of Police, has explained by security operatives sometimes go into negotiation with non-state actors in order to secure the safe release of hostages. He explained that it would be risky to apply extreme force in a bid to free hostages abducted by armed terrorists. Alkali Baba disclosed this when he appeared at the weekly briefings coordinated by the Presidential Media Team in Abuja on Thursday. The Police Chief stated this against the backdrop of more than 80 Chibok girls still in the captivity of Boko Haram, including 29 students of FGC Birni Yauri who remain in captivity several years after their kidnap. He said, “You see, the issue of kidnapping is an issue that borders almost all the security agents, including the military, it is...

UNICEF Condemns Abduction Of 21 Schoolchildren In Katsina

5Nov

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Security, Terrorism

UNICEF Condemns Abduction Of 21 Schoolchildren In Katsina

The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has kicked against the abduction of 21 children abducted by terrorists in the Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State and asked for their immediate release. UNICEF in a statement issued by its representative in Nigeria, Ms Cristian Munduate, in Katsina on Friday described the development as an irony whereby those who ought to protect and care for children have instead become their abductors. The statement read, “UNICEF is concerned about the report of the abduction of no fewer than 21 children at a farm in Mairuwa community, Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, North-West Nigeria.” “Confirmed reports indicate the 21 children – 17 girls and four boys – aged between 15 and 18, were abducted last Sunday at about 12:30...

1Nov

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Security

UK, US Terror Alert Needless – NSA

The Federal Government has said that Nigeria is not precarious to prompt the travel advisory issued by the United States and United Kingdom governments as well as other countries. Recall that the counties had warned their citizens to avoid travelling to Nigeria, Abuja particularly, due to a likely terror attack. President Muhammadu Buhari had on his return from a visit to South Korea over the weekend, dismissed the terror alert, noting that it would not be the first time the western countries will issue such an advisory to their citizens in foreign countries and that of Nigeria not be different. The advisory by the UK and US had generated so much panic among Abuja residents after staff of the embassy and High Commission and other citizens of both countries were advised to ...

Colleagues Rally Around As Abductors of Ex-UI DVC Demand 50m

30Oct

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Security

Colleagues Rally Around As Abductors of Ex-UI DVC Demand 50m

The kidnappers of Adigun Agbaje, a former deputy vice-chancellor academics of the University of Ibadan, UI, have asked for a N50 million ransom to free him. Agbaje was taken into captive on Saturday along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway after a gun duel between men of the Nigeria police and the kidnappers. Agbaje was taken into captive on Saturday along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway after a gun duel between men of the Nigeria police and the kidnappers. The incident was confirmed by the Oyo police spokesperson, Adewale Osifeso. According to the police spokesperson, one officer was killed during the attack while another was severely injured. Reports say the abductor are demanding N50 million ransom from the family of the academic in order to free him. Collogues of the...

Ohanaeze Reacts To Kidnappings In Enugu, Indicts Army, Police

29Oct

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Security

Ohanaeze Reacts To Kidnappings In Enugu, Indicts Army, Police

Apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has demanded an elaborate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the spate of abduction incidents along the Enugu-Ugwuogo Nike-Nsukka road by gunmen. Several commuters had been abducted while plying the road, some of whom are students of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN, and high-profile dignitaries in the State. There have been speculations that the perpetrators are aided by insiders among security agencies. Reacting to the development, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide said information gotten from one of the victims suggests that there is a chain of communication between the gunmen and the security personnel stationed at checkpoints on the road. Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, the National President of t...

Terror Alert: Remain Vigilant – IGP Asks Citizens

28Oct

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Security, Terrorism, United States of America

Terror Alert: Remain Vigilant – IGP Asks Citizens

In response to the terror alert issued by the US, Usman Baba, the Inspector-General of Police, has assured residents across the country of the commitment of the force to ensure the safety of lives and properties in collaboration with other security agencies. Baba gave this assurance while directing all strategic police managers in charge of police commands and tactical formations within the country to step up security alertness in their different controls, especially in the FCT. The IGP’s directive was contained in a statement issued by Force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement issued on Thursday. Adejobi said, “He similarly directed that all emergency numbers across the country should be activated to full capacity for a 24/7 prompt response with combatant off...

Insecurity: If You Depend On Military, You Will Die – TY Danjuma

23Oct

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Security

Insecurity: If You Depend On Military, You Will Die – TY Danjuma

Former Minister of defence, Theophilus Danjuma, has fingered the government for the insecurity in some parts of the country. He stated this during the installation of a monarch in Wukari, Taraba State on Saturday. According to the retired general, the mission of bandits is to re-colonise Nigeria. Recall that Danjuma had in 2018 indicted the army and other security apparatus for conniving with gunmen to attack Nigerians. Danjuma said, “The armed forces are not neutral. They collude with the armed bandits. They kill people, kill Nigerians. They facilitate their movements, they cover them,” Danjuma had said. “If you depend on the armed forces to stop the killings you will all die one by one.” The Nigerian army in its reaction to Danjuma’s claims set up a panel to probe ...