Terrorists Abduct 87 Persons In Kaduna
Suspected terrorists have abducted about 87 people in a fresh attack on the Kajuru-Station community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The latest attack was confirmed by a member of the Kajuru-Station Youths, Harisu Dari, on Monday. Harisu, said the terrorists stormed the village around 10 pm, breaking into some shops and stealing food items and other valuables. He explained that no contact has been established yet with the 87 locals abducted on Sunday night. “As of the time I visited the community this morning, security operatives have not been drafted to help restore the confidence of the villagers. “The villagers are traumatized by the sad development. The government needs to re-strategise in tackling these terrorists,” he said. The attack came barely two days after 15 women and a man were abducted in the Dogon-Noma community of the same local government. Kajuru and Chikun LGs had in the past two weeks become the hotbed of kidnapping, causing tension in the state. Recall that the terrorists had in two weeks kidnapped over 172 villagers in the area. However, the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan is yet to respond as of the time of filing this report.
Police Denies Involvement In Formation Of Vigilante Group
The Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa State, CP Shehu Umar Nadada, has dismissed claims of the police command’s involvement in the creation of a Fulani Nomad Vigilante team. This comes in response to the recent formation of a 1,144-member security team by the President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Abdullahi Bello Bodejo. During a courtesy visit by members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, CP Nadada clarified that the command had no prior knowledge of the establishment of the Fulani Nomad Vigilante team and cannot be held responsible for their actions. While acknowledging that the police provided security during the inauguration ceremony, CP Nadada emphasized that it was done solely to prevent potential disruptions and maintain law and order. Residents had expressed concerns about alleged collaboration between the police and the nomad vigilante group, but the Commissioner affirmed that the police only secured the event venue and had not officially endorsed the vigilante team. In his statement, CP Nadada asserted, “We have been working with some vigilante groups that are recognised by the government, but we will not work with any vigilante that is not recognised by the government.” The Chairman of the NUJ, Nasarawa State Council, Salihu Alkali, congratulated the CP on his recent posting and pledged cooperation to ensure the success of the police command’s programs.
Senate Summons Service Chiefs Amidst Security Concerns; Economic Meeting Postponed
In response to the escalating security challenges gripping the nation, the Senate has called for a crucial meeting with the Service Chiefs, scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday. This decision has prompted the postponement of another significant meeting – a session with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Yemi Cardoso, and the economic team, initially slated for Tuesday, February 6, 2024. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and other Financial Institutions, Senator Tokumbo Abiru, clarified the rationale behind the rescheduling. He elucidated that the delay stemmed from the House of Representatives’ consultations with the CBN Governor concerning the country’s economic status. Senator Abiru emphasized the importance of understanding and cooperation among legislative counterparts, underscoring the need for patience. Consequently, the meeting with the economic team has been deferred to Friday, February 9, 2024, at 9 am. This adjustment aims to allow ample time for discussions with both the Service Chiefs and the economic experts. Postponing the meeting, the Chairman Banking Committee, Senator Tokumbo Abiru said “our plan today is to have a session with the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and the essence of the meeting is well known to all of us, which has to do with the economic situation in the country. But some how, the CBN governor has been held back in the House of Representatives as the House tries to do consultations with him regarding the situation of the economy as well. He said that was why the meeting was initially delayed, adding that their part “we should be rational in trying to see reasons with our brothers and sisters in the House of Representatives and the CBN governor. “To that extent, on our part we have to adjourn our own to Friday February 9, 2024. Another reason according to Senator Abiru, which he deemed proper to explain, was the meeting of the Senate with the Service Chiefs. “Tomorrow, we have a session with the Service Chiefs and that may extend to Thursday because they are issues of very serious concern to us. In order to play safe, to have enough time to interact properly with the economic team, which means we will extend the invitation beyond the governor to also include the economic team”, he added.
Police Intercepts Vehicle Loaded with Political Thugs in Yobe
The Yobe State Police Command says, working in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, it has interpreted an 18-seater bus boarded with political thugs in Gashua Local Government Area on mission to arrive at Damaturu to disrupt the electoral process. DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Yobe Police Command, Damaturu revealed in a statement made available to Nigerian Anchor in Damaturu. According to him “On 3rd February 2024 at about 0700hrs Military Checkpoint intercepted the bus while conveying thugs to Damaturu Metropolitan Council to cause mayhem in the electoral process but made their Waterloo, the police took them into custody for a district investigation and subsequent prosecution. The following are some of the suspects arrested: Abu Bakar Garba Bololo, aged 25, Habu Mato, aged 35, Suleman Musa, aged 50, Yusuf Danjuma, aged 33, Abdullahi Haruna, aged 45. Others are Zanab Mohammed, aged 25 of Unguwan Lawan and Rachael Bitrus, aged 23 and seven other syndicate members of Jakusko and Gashua LGA”. “The suspects claimed they were recruited to serve as agents of one of the opposition parties. Meanwhile, the investigation is swift to unravel the criminal implications of the matter”. “In this regard, the Commissioner of police in the state, Garba Ahmed, reiterated the commitment of the Police and sister Security Agencies to ensure the security and safety of the electorate and relative peace enjoyed in the State. “However, calls on the good members of the public to remain resolute and shun violence, thuggery as security is firm to act on any untoward deviation”.
ISWAP Attack Police Headquarters In Borno
The Borno State Police Command has confirmed the killing of four policemen by Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on Friday in Gajiram, headquarters of Nganzai local government area of Borno State. Confirming the incident to our journalists on Saturday in Maiduguri, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Nahun Daso, said the bodies of the slain police officers have been recovered. Similarly, sources, according to Zagazola Makama, a Counter-Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad region, revealed that the terrorists disguised themselves and sneaked into the town at about 11 am on Friday and went straight to the police quarters in Gajiram town and opened fire, killing the four policemen. Makama added, “Sources said mobile policemen at the police quarters engaged the terrorists in a heavy gun battle, which prevented them from burning down the quarters. “It was learnt that when the troops of ‘Operation Hadin Kai’ Joint Taskforce stormed the scene, the terrorists had fled.” Gajiram is located about 73 kilometers from Maiduguri, the restive capital of Borno State.
BREAKING: Senate Summons Security Chiefs Amid Escalating Insecurity In Nigeria
The Nigerian Senate has called upon security chiefs for a meeting in response to the escalating insecurity in the country, with a specific date for the interaction to be determined later. After a closed-door meeting lasting over three hours, the senate expressed its condemnation of the rising occurrences of kidnappings, banditry, and the outright murder of innocent citizens by criminals. The Senate Leader, Michael Bamidele Opeyemi, revealed that all 109 senators sponsored the insecurity motion due to its importance. Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in his remarks, expressed deep concern over the ongoing banditry and kidnappings. He highlighted that the situation has escalated to the extent where intermediaries are facilitating ransom payments on behalf of kidnappers. Akpabio vehemently condemned recent attacks by bandits in Plateau and the gas explosion in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State. Akpabio also mentioned that a specific date will be decided for the security chiefs to appear before the Senate. The lawmakers paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the attacks and the Ibadan explosion by observing a one-minute silence before adjourning until Tuesday, February 6, 2024.