Category: Security and Crimes

Peace Corps, a critical security need – Gombe Gov.

Gombe state governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has said the Peace Corps organization should be allowed to assist the existing agencies in restoring peace and security in Nigeria.

Governor Inuwa said the state of Nigeria’s security calls for all hands to be on deck, especially in the areas of intelligence gathering and neighbourhood watch, adding that, “it is not about having guns everywhere”.

The governor was speaking in Gombe, the state capital on Tuesday, while receiving the National Commandant of Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), Amb. (Dr.) Dickson Akoh.

Akoh was in Gombe with other national officials of the Corps for a North East zonal meeting, in continuation of the reformation agenda of the Corps.

Speaking through his Chief of Staff, Muhammad Kabir Usman, in an event well attended by commandants of the 6 north eastern states and officials of the state ministries in Gombe; Governor Inuwa also called on President Muhammad Buhari to give speedy assent to the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill reintroduced at the National Assembly last week.

“Everybody has come to the conclusion that we are on a timed bomb. If we fail to take care of our youths, we are failing to take care of our future. Therefore, no reasonable government will neglect such an important segment of the society.

“We have come a long time in Nigeria that peace is eluding us, there are too many crises in Nigeria, we need peace and the right people who can bring this peace are the Peace Corps Patriots.

“No society can develop without peace. Our approach to security issues in Nigeria calls for a review. To secure the nation, to secure our local communities, is not about having guns everywhere; it is about having people with the right frame of minds and right attitude with a peaceful mind.

“So long the people are not peaceful in their minds, so long our local neighborhood are not in peace, Nigeria can never be in peace.

“Therefore, the core mandate of the Peace Corps is very relevant at this state of our national development.

“I call on the President of the federal republic of Nigeria, Muhammad Buhari, to exercise speed in ensuring that the Bill establishing the Nigerian Peace Corps is being signed into law.

“Nigeria is ours, to bring development, to bring peace, is not a sole responsibility of a particular person or a particular group; our security agencies, considering their numbers, they are not enough. At the current situation, the total number of our security agencies in Nigeria, the personnel, are not up to 2 million, and we are over 200 million. So, divide the 2 million by 200 million citizens, it’s a ridiculous percentage.

“And therefore, the task of securing this nation must not be left in the hand of traditional security agencies alone, everybody must come in to contribute. And your contributions as citizens, as a group, is very important, especially at this level of our development”, the governor said.

Pending the President’s assent to the Bill, governor Inuwa urged various state governors and local government areas to key into the activities of the Corps with the view to assisting the organization where necessary.

He said, “for young people to decide that we are doing this voluntarily, we are using our time, we are using our money to bring peace to this nation, I think you need a great encouragement. It is only a Patriot that can do that.

“My prayer is that, the Bill should be signed into law, so that you now become lawful and maybe certain funding should come your way, so you will be able to discharge your core mandate peacefully and in an orderly and efficient manner.

“There is no way you can operate efficiently and effectively without funding, no matter how you want to do the job, it’s not possible.

“Not only the federal government, all the states and local governments should look into your issue and see how they can come to your assistant so that you can continue to render this your vital role to the society”.

While pledging total support of the Gombe state government, Alhaji Inuwa assured that, “the government is articulating a good policy to ensure that the youth of Gombe state are well catered for”.

Earlier, the head of the Corps, Akoh, indicated the intention of the organization to establish its north eastern zonal headquarters in Gombe, in line with the newly established offices of the Deputy National Commandants (DNCs) to man each of the 6 geopolitical zones.

A piece of land for the construction of the zonal office is to be provided by the Gombe state governor.

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The Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board (CDFIPB) has promoted 10 officers from their former ranks of Assistant Controllers/Commandants and Assistant Comptrollers –General (ACGs).

The men moved to the ranks of Deputy Controllers/Commandants and  Deputy Comptrollers-General (DCGs) across its four Services.

Mrs  Georgina Ehuriah, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Interior, announced this on Friday in Abuja, in a statement signed by  Mr Mohammed Manga, Director Press and Public Relations of the ministry.

According to the statement, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the promotion thus enabling the board to act.

‘’The Board in compliance with its guidelines on Appointment, Promotion and Discipline has recently conducted written and oral examinations and interviews for the affected ranks in the respective Services.

‘’This is  with the aim of filling the available vacancies in tandem with the Federal Character Principle, for which each geo-political zone is expected to produce at least one officer on the rank of Deputy Controllers/Commandants and Deputy Comptrollers-General (DCGs).

“Consequently, President Muhammadu Buhari has therefore approved the promotion of the officers to their new ranks following their excellent performance both during the written and oral examinations as well as interviews recently conducted by the Board in line with its statutory responsibility.”

Ehuriah in the statement listed the names of the promoted officers as Azogu Gerald of federal fire service (Imo – South East)

Officers promoted in Nigeria Prison Service are: Bitrus Filibus (Borno – North East); Aremu Tajudeen (Oyo – South West); and Mbabure John (Delta – South South).

In the NSCDC THOSE promoted are: Adamu Soja (Yobe – North East); and Aminu Abdullahi Katsina (North West).

Others from NIS are Ogwu Julius (Benue – NorthCentral); Uebari Saro (Rivers – S/S); Idris Here (Kaduna – N/W) and Didi Adaeze (Rivers  – S/S).

Ehuriah urged the newly-promoted officers of the Services under the Ministry to ensure improved security and service delivery in line with the policy direction of the Buhari administration.

She congratulated the officers on their promotion and assured them of the support of the Ministry.

She however, implored them to reciprocate the gesture by giving the best of their service towards ensuring the consolidation of the reform policies of the present Administration. (NAN)

The Kaduna State Government on Friday reinstated the 24-hour curfew on Kaduna metropolis and environs, as well as Kasuwan Magani, Kajuru, Kateri and Kachia.

Mr Samuel Aruwan, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity said in a statement that the curfew is effective from 11am till further notice.

He said this became necessary to help maintain peace following the murder of the Chief of Adara, Mr Maiwada Galadima in the hands of his abductors who took him away last Friday.

“The Kaduna State Government calls for calm in all our communities. The criminal elements who perpetrated this crime should not be allowed to divide us.

“This is a struggle between good, decent, law abiding people trying to uphold the peace and criminals who want to divide and destroy.

“It is not a struggle between religious or ethnic groups. Let no criminal find succour in faith or tribe.

“Let us unite against every criminal activity. Let us stand together as human beings who have a right to live in peace,” he said.(NAN)

The Presidential Panel on the Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS) Reforms for the North Central Zone has received 27 complaints and will hold public sitting on the complaints from Oct. 22 to Oct. 25.

The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Mr Tony Ojukwu, said this on Monday in Abuja in his welcome remarks at the commencement of the panel’s public sitting.

According to Ojukwu, the essence is “to increase access to the services of the commission.

“And to seek accountability where there is evidence to indicate that officers or officials of SARS have been involved in acts amounting to human rights violation in the course of carrying out their law enforcement duties.

“Also, to provide opportunities for fair hearing to both complainants and alleged violators and to main stream human rights norms and tenets into the operations and administration of SARS in line with global best practices.’’

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo had, in August, requested the NHRC to constitute the panel to hear and investigate complaints against SARS and to make recommendations.

Ojukwu said that the specific terms of reference of the panel are: “To investigate the veracity of allegations of human rights abuses and abuse of power made against SARS within the last two years.

“To independently review and render advice on any value added by SARS, from a public safety and security perspective, and make recommendations to government.’’

In his goodwill message, DSP Benjamin Okolo, representing the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris, said that the Police would co-operate with the panel and abide by the outcome.

“We have already started some reforms and we believe that the outcome of this panel will equally enhance what we are doing.’’

Okolo assured the panel that nobody would be victimised, intimidated or harassed for airing their views or submitting complaints.

For his part, Mr Idris Bawa of the Nigeria Policing Program (NPP) said the public hearing would add value to reforms in the Police Force.

In his keynote address, Mr Akingbolahan Adeniran from the Presidency said that the public hearing would enhance all aspects of Community policing for better performance.

According to him, the aim is to adequately regulate activities of the police and efficiently direct intelligence gathering.

“We expect the police to appear more as an intelligent driven organisation and work has already started in this area; very soon the police will be more proactive,’’ Adeniran said. (NAN)

by Mateen Badru

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in Lagos on Monday  said it had trained 16 of its personnel in core crime investigative skills as it inaugurated a forensic laboratory  in the state.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, disclosed this at the inauguration of the remodelled Forensic Crime Laboratory and the new 057 Provost Investigation Group Headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos.

Abubakar said that the NAF had embarked on the conduct of various specialist training for its personnel who would be required to man the group for effective operation.

Abubakar said after a gap analysis of the structure of the NAF, it had become obvious that the new expanded NAF Force Structure required a law enforcement arm.

He said that the arm should have the capacity to effectively employ scientific approaches in all the facets of its critical competencies.

He said that it was in the fulfillment of this requirement that the inauguration of the new Provost Investigation Group Headquarters building and the Nigerian Air Force Forensic Crime Laboratory came to being.

“Already, in conjunction with our foreign partners from the United Kingdom, we have trained 16 Provost personnel in the Core Investigative Skills and Interview course.

“Another set of 16 personnel will in four days’ time be concluding the Crime Scene Investigation Course here in 057 Provost Investigation Group.

“In another development, the investigative capacity of the Provost will be enhanced through the training of 10 Provost Officers in the Advanced Detective Course at the Police Staff College, Jos.

“This will be within the last quarter of the year,” he said.

Abubakar, however, stressed that the training of provost personnel in forensic investigation was last conducted 30 years’ ago.

“Akin to the development of investigative and forensic skills, the NAF is also at an advanced stage of expanding and enhancing its utilisation of Military Working Dogs to boost the physical security of NAF in critical mission and essential areas.

“This growth is equally projected to create the capacity for the Air Provost to be integrated into the conduct of Combat Search and Rescue operations in the Service.

“In the same vein, 140 Air Provost personnel will commence the Force Protection in Complex Air Ground Environment training, in conjunction with the British Military Advisory Training Team.

“Furthermore, the rejuvenation of the Air Provost’s Explosive Ordnance Detection capability is projected to commence by the end of this year,” he said.

Abubakar said that the NAF’s recent push to make inroads in the development of the capacity and capability of the Air Provost was premised on the need to have a proactive police force that would nip threats in the bud.

“This will also provide the enabling environment for NAF personnel to freely discharge their duties in furtherance of the Service’s constitutional responsibilities,” he said.

Abubakar, who acknowledged the unflinching support of President Muhammadu Buhari, said that the laudable efforts by the NAF in building capacity could not have been possible without his determined support.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris, was the special guest of honour at the event.

He said that he was delighted to inaugurate the newly constructed Headquarters building of 057 Provost Investigation Group and the remodelled forensic laboratory.

“Forensic science is an integral part of the criminal justice system.

“It is vital in aiding the investigation of a crime and detection of criminals, as well as proving the innocence of people suspected of crimes that they did not commit.

“Without the objective evidence obtained through scientific analysis, many crime cases would have gone unsolved and the perpetrators go unpunished.

“It is thus, a veritable tool for not only detection and prosecution, but also deterrence,” he said.

The IGP said that evidence was the cornerstone in modern police investigation, adding that witnesses could fall, be misunderstood, be influenced or contaminated.

“A well preserved and analysed evidence does not.

“This effort by the Chief of the Air Staff in providing a befitting and functional environment and making inroads in the application of forensics in policing is laudable.

“It is a testimony of the Nigerian Air Force leadership’s commitment to push the boundaries, and improve on the methodologies and technological platforms to detect and analyse evidence of crime in the Service,” he said.

Earlier, the Commander, Air Provost Investigation Group, Group Capt. Garba Hello, in his welcome address, said that the facilities would assist the NAF provost personnel to carry out their duties, especially in the area of criminal investigations.

“These will significantly assist Air Provost Investigators in obtaining credible evidence for successful prosecution of cases in a court of law while at the same time adding to the country’s crime fighting resources,” he said. (NAN)

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja met, for the first time, with the newly appointed Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, when Bichi was ushered into the president’s office by protocol officials, he was asked by the president if they had met before.

The new DG, however, `confessed’ that he was seeing President Buhari face-to-face for the first time in his life.

NAN reports that the meeting of the president and the DSS boss went into a closed door session.

President Buhari on Sept. 13 appointed Bichi, as new Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS).

Bichi, who replaced Lawal Daura, the former DG of the DSS, is a core Secret Service operative, said Malam Garba Shehu, the senior special assistant to the president on media.

He attended Danbatta Secondary School, the Kano State College of Advanced Studies and the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he graduated with a degree in Political Science.

The new Director-General began his career in the security division of the Cabinet Office in Kano, from where he joined the defunct Nigerian Security Organisation (NSO), the precursor of the present DSS.

Bichi had undergone training in intelligence processing analysis, agent handling recruitment and intelligence processing in the UK, as well as strategic training at the National Defence College.

The new DSS boss comes to the job with skills in intelligence gathering, research analysis, conflict management, general investigation, risk and vulnerability operations, counter intelligence and protective operation and human resources management.

In the course of his career, Bichi had worked as the State Director of Security in Jigawa, Niger, Sokoto and Abia States.

He was at various times the Director, National Assembly Liaison, (National War College), Director at National Headquarters in the Directorate of Security Enforcement, Directorate of Operations, Directorate of Intelligence, Directorate of Inspection and Directorate of Administration and Finance.

Bichi also served as Director at State Service Academy