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Not certain of the actual cause of Wednesday’s twin explosions in Apapa, Lagos, police forensic experts, who are already investigating the blast are yet to rule out bomb explosion.
This is just as it was gathered that the anti-bomb operatives who stormed the scene of the blast in the early hours of yesterday to take the debris for forensic examination, had begun post-blast investigations to ascertain the cause of the explosion.
The forensic team had earlier encountered some hitches as security operatives attached to the Folawiyo Energy Limited (FEL), the tank farm, refused to allow men of the anti-bomb department access to the FEL premises.
The initial police explanation that the explosion was caused by gas cylinders and not bombs, further fuelled the suspicion of the anti-bomb disposal unit who were keen on establishing why and how a cylinder exploded around a petrol depot.
THISDAY gathered that the first thing the forensic experts set out to do was to look for the remains of the gas cylinders.
Although it was yet unclear if they succeeded in finding the cylinders that allegedly caused the blast, sources said its discovery would lead to uncovering whether the explosions were caused by bombs or whether it was triggered by faulty appliances.
While stressing that the Explosives Ordinance Depot (EOD) of the Lagos Police Command was yet to rule out the incident being a bomb explosion, the source told THISDAY that investigations had begun.
The source said: "We are yet to rule the incident out because certain factors must be cross-checked. Do not forget that gas is a major component of explosives.
"It is the gas that even makes the explosions worse because of the fragmentation in the gas. It would take EOD experts to ascertain what truly happened in this case.
"Because of the extent of the blast, the gas might have been used to fuel car air conditioning systems because gas makes a bigger effect. You can never underestimate the effect of gas.
"When our men are taken to the range for periodic training exercises, we are often set to task to construct a local bomb and we often use gas to make the effect louder."
He added: "We don't want to incite panic among residents of Lagos unnecessarily and that is why we are taking time to investigate. During investigations, if we see residue of explosives, we can then conclude.
"It is this post-blast investigations which would reveal if the components have explosive substances because the explosion might have been caused by carelessness in handling of the gas."
The management of FEL had denied that the explosion had nothing to do with their premises, claiming that the blast occurred around 200 metres away from the premises.
An official of the company had earlier told THISDAY that there was a “trailer spark” in the premises.
However THISDAY confirmed that while there was an explosion within the FEL premises, which claimed a life, there was another explosion on the opposite side of the depot, which claimed three lives. Yesterday, the premises of the FEL was cordoned off, and even its staff were not allowed into the premises.
The twin explosions had occurred first at Folawiyo Depot before it happened five minutes later at Alex Junction, killing four persons including a food vendor.
However, as at yesterday, the death toll from the blast may have increased to five following the search of a missing pineapple seller who was only identified as Folakemi, whom some believe, might have been caught in the blast. Eyewitness account said the teenager was hawking her wares at Alex junction minutes before the blast occurred.
THISDAY had on the night of the incident seen scattered wraps of pineapple on the ground near the blast scene but in the melee nobody apparently took note of her absence until yesterday when enquiries as to her whereabouts began.
Meanwhile, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, who was at the scene, said the explosion was caused by fuel-laden tanker and not a bomb as alleged.
Braide, who spoke after she was allowed entry into the depot said: “I may not be able to tell you the number of people that died but I will be coming up with a statement later. We have commenced investigation. In cases like this, you just do not go and be making statements up and down.
“After the investigation, we will come up with what transpired and make it known to the press. We don't know if the tank farm explosion was linked to that of the car.
“There is nothing whatsoever suggesting that it was a bomb explosion. It was a tanker loaded with fuel that burst into flames. Policemen are on ground there now and we cannot yet ascertain the casualty figures. But everything is under control."
Braide's statement conflicted with reports from the Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, who later said it was too early to conclude if the explosion was a blast or not.
Manko said: "We don't want to create unnecessary tension for now but note that the EOD have begun investigations. If it is a bomb, we will begin enlightenment campaign to create awareness on ways to identify these people."
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Contrary to the argument in the political class that an elected official cannot retain his or her seat after defecting from the party under which he or she was elected when there is a crisis, the Federal High court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State yesterday declared that the defection of 22 state lawmakers elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was legal and constitutional.
The presiding judge, Justice Olayinka Faji, in his ruling stressed that the defendants would not lose their seats for another re-election because there was indeed an established case of crisis in their former party (PDP), which prompted their defection to APC.
However, the ruling of Justice Faji coincided with the recommendation of the ongoing Constitutional Conference which has suggested that any elected official who defects from the party on which he or she was elected automatically loses the seat.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also recently warned that henceforth, politicians who cross-carpet while still in elective positions will have to lose their seats.
A member of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Ilyas Ibrahim, who stayed back in PDP and the leadership of the PDP had dragged the defendants to court that they should vacate their seats as they had dumped the party for APC.
Counsel for the plaintiff, Mr. Salman Jawondo assisted by O.J Adeseko, had urged the court to declare the seats of the speaker and 20 others vacant in view of the fact that they were elected on the platform of PDP, but defected to APC.
Jawondo argued that having left PDP for APC, the defendants’ seats should be declared vacant and that they must stand another election for them to retain their seats.
But counsel to the defendants, Wahab Bamidele, Tosho Yakubu and Bola Razaq Gold, argued that the defendants had the rights to defect to any other party because of the prevailing crisis in their former party. But Justice Faji in his ruling in suit no FHC/IL/CS/6/2014, PDP, Ibrahim Vs Razaq Atunwa and 20 others and INEC declared that the defection of the lawmakers was legal and constitutional.
The judge relied on the judgment by Justice Chukwu, which restrained Alhaji Kawo Baraje from parading himself as the INEC-recognised chairman of PDP.
Justice Faji explained that the mere ruling that Bamanga Tukur was recognised as the official chairman of the PDP then, showed indeed that there was a faction and crisis in the PDP. The ruling had also forbidden Baraje from parading himself as the chairman of the party.
The judge explained that at the time of the defection by the Kwara Assembly members, there was indeed a faction in PDP, which made the defection by the Kwara Assembly members legal and constitutional. Reacting to the ruling yesterday, former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General in the state now a member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Ahmad Ali, said Justice Faji's judgment had laid to rest the constitutionality of defection by the legislators.
According to the lawmaker, "It is a landmark judgment on the issue of defection. This is the first final judgment, compared to various conflicting interlocutory orders by the Federal High Court in Nigeria. It supersedes all other previous non-judicial gratuitous statements. I urge PDP to quickly appeal this sound judgment if they so wish. We are comforted that in the Federal High Court there are still many judges who are bold and still stand as bulwark between the dregs of the society and the powerful forces.
"The judgment for the first time answered the question: was there a division in PDP when the legislators defected?. The court said yes. If it is yes (as any reasonable man already acknowledges) then any member can constitutionally defect."
However, the National Conference delegates yesterday approved the recommendation for independent candidates for any election in the country.
The conference further recommended that any elected official that cross carpets to another political party should lose his or her seat. Though, some members argued that the matter should not be discussed because it is still in court, but majority of the delegates insisted that it should be decided upon and when it was put to vote, members adopted the recommendation that whenever any elected politician vacates his or her office prior to the defection, the person loses his or her seat accordingly.
The conference also called for the amendment of the 1999 Constitution to allow for individuals who may not wish to contest election on the platform of any political party to be allowed to do so. The 1999 Constitution states that for anyone to stand for election he must be on the platform of a registered political party.
The conference also rejected the suggestion that government should fund political parties, while recommending that INEC should place a peg on campaign funding and expenditure.
On the issues of creation of local governments and funding, the delegates said it is the duty of the state governments and therefore the local government issues have been removed from the exclusive list to the concurrent list.
The delegates had agreed that the federal government should continue to fund the old 774 local governments, but no decision was taken on the creation of new local governments.
The delegates agreed that states should be allowed to create election tribunals. The conference adopted the recommendation that any person living above his means of office should be investigated by the anti-corruption agencies to determine the source of his or her wealth. The aim, the delegates explained, is to enable the person(s) concerned to explain his or her source of wealth.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Still hurting from the defeat it suffered at the Ekiti governorship poll last Saturday, the All Progressives Congress (APC) at its National Working Committee (NWC) meeting in Abuja, Thursday, resolved to go to court to challenge the outcome of the election which it said was marred by several constitutional breaches through harassment and intimidation of citizens by security forces.
The latest resolve runs counter to the party’s earlier position to respect whatever the defeated Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, decides concerning the outcome of the election.
Fayemi had, soon after the results were declared, conceded victory to Mr. Ayo Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and congratulated him. The duo have also held preliminary meeting on how to set up a transition committee.
Former Governor Fayose had polled 203,090 of the votes cast in the governorship election, to defeat the incumbent Governor Fayemi of APC who scored 120,433 votes.
Just as the meeting of the NWC of APC was going on, a group of women under the aegis of New Era Coalition of Nigeria (NECN) came protesting to the new national leadership to, as a matter of urgency, look into what they termed as some 'fraudulent imposition' at the convention, which has robbed their candidate, Hajia Zuwaira Sani Bakori, the chance of emerging as the Deputy National Organising Secretary.
Although the APC praised Governor Fayemi for being a true democrat by congratulating his opponent and not resorting to a do-or-die battle, the party said the processes of the election before, during and after voting were not entirely free and fair.
In a communique issued after the inaugural meeting of its NWC, the party noted that while voting on election day might not have been characterised by the usual brigandage and violence, the entire process was everything but free and fair.
"Therefore, in order to prevent a recurrence of what happened in Ekiti, especially the militarisation of the process, the harassment and intimidation of citizens, especially those in opposition, my party has decided to challenge in court some of these constitutional breaches and will also encourage our leaders and supporters, who were arrested, harassed and intimidated to seek the enforcement of their constitutionally-guaranteed fundamental rights that were recklessly abridged by the security agencies", it said.
The communique read out to journalists at the party's national secretariat in Abuja by APC's National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, said events of the voting day itself might have led many to believe that the election was free and fair, while the same could not be said of the events before, during and after the election.
The party said its decision to act is not only to ensure that irresponsible and unconstitutional acts are not repeated in subsequent elections, especially that of Osun in August and next year's general election. Giving reasons for faulting the conduct of the election, APC alleged that thousands of armed troops, police, state security and civil defence personnel deployed in Ekiti resulted in a shutdown of the state.
It also alleged that on the eve of the election and on election day, without any reason, security personnel arrested APC leaders and supporters across Ekiti, ferrying them far away from where they could vote or monitor the conduct of the election.
"In fact, the compromise by the security operatives became more obvious when a so-called Special Task Force comprising Military, Police, SSS and NDLEA officers were summoned to a meeting on Friday afternoon – a day before the election, near the Tantaliser fast food eatery at Ado-Ekiti.
"In the presence of AIG Bala Nasarawa, Mrs Florence Ikhanone (National Director of SSS) and Brig.-Gen. Momoh, who was the head of the military to the election, Mr. Ayo Fayose's Chief Security Officer, Kayode Adeoye, and Chris Uba addressed the curiously-named Special Task Force which included 67 SSS operatives, 30 soldiers, 30 NDLEA operatives and 70 mobile policemen.
"Adeoye and Uba reminded the officers of the Special Task Force of their duty to President Goodluck Jonathan, who was identified as their benefactor, and how the officers must ensure that their benefactor wins the election.
"This was the same team that went round the state from Friday evening and throughout the duration of the election picking leaders of the APC from across the state in specially-designated black buses with Presidency plate numbers," it said.
According to APC, the case of the Campaign Manager of Governor Fayemi, Mr. Bimbo Daramola, was particularly traumatic and saddening because his fiancee and aged father were harassed by armed soldiers who invaded his country home in the middle of the night with guns being pointed at them as if they were common criminals.
It said the campaign manager himself, an honourable member of the House of Representatives, was hounded into an unknown place by soldiers, all because of an election.
While defending the party's position, the former interim National Chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande, said contrary to widely held perception that the Ekiti governorship was without blemish, the intimidation meted out to party members using security forces did much to flaw the exercise.
Speaking to journalists yesterday at the APC headquarters in Abuja, Akande said the massive deployment of soldiers, police and the SSS for last Saturday's election amounted to shutting down the state which is unknown to our constitution.
In the same vein, Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG), Professor Julius Ihonvbere, has blamed the defeat suffered by APC in the last Saturday governorship election in Ekiti State on a tactical error, stressing that the said victory of the PDP was enhanced by military intimidation.
"The Ekiti election was successful because of the amount of intimidation and domination by the security forces. When you prevented APC governors from going there for a rally, what are you telling the people?”, he said.
Ihonvbere, who said this while fielding questions from journalists in Benin City yesterday, noted that the candidate of the APC, Kayode Fayemi, had good antecedents, both in governance and academics, which made him stand out of the crowd.
He said the election went the way of the PDP because of the amount of domination and intimidation by security forces, which was an indication that the presidency meant business.
Describing the statement by some analysts that Governor Fayemi lost because he did not extend his campaign to local restaurants and bars as “politically infantile analysis”. He said: “You can have a government that is responsive and responsible to the masses. But you definitely cannot reduce governance to eating Akara and drinking beer and ending up in 'bukas'. That is not what governors are supposed to do. It is not done anywhere on earth.
“Even those who preach democracy to us don’t have their governors behave that way. So, all those people pontificating on TV that he lost because he does not go to drink beer or ride Okada are politically infantile analyses. They do not reflect the truth.
“But we in APC have gone to the drawing board to analyse the situation so that we can draw lessons from it and prevent it from occurring again. “In politics, you win, you lose; after all, PDP lost many states to APC. So, we are not crying, gnashing teeth or breaking our heads over it.”
He dismissed the claim that the Ekiti election was a clear example of a free and fair election, noting that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had more to prove in the 2015 general election. According to him, the success of the Ekiti governorship election should not be used to measure the 2015 general election.
He said while the people appreciate improvement in the country's electoral body when compared with previous elections, INEC must be reminded that Ekiti is just one of the states in the country. According to him, "I don't think the same success will be replicated or recorded in the conduct of the 2015 general election.
"Ekiti is just one state and one of the smallest states in the country with about 2.5 million people, so you can bring in about 15,000 police with all other security agencies but can they try it in all the 36 states of the federation? Meanwhile, a protesting group, NECN, has appealed to the new national leadership of APC to as a matter of urgency look into what it described as 'fraudulent imposition' at the convention.
In a statement signed by the coordinator of the group, Musa Ahmad Abdulkareem, and made available to THISDAY, it alleged that the case of Hajia Bakori, "who is said to have been brazenly robbed of her clear chance of emerging the Deputy National Organising Secretary" should be revisited.
The group said: "It has since been confirmed that, Alhaji Suleiman Othman has not met the stipulated guidelines, as he was said to be out of the country and never made the obligatory screening because his attempt to be screened by proxy was turned down by the screening committee.
"On the contrary, Zawaira Sani Bakori entered the contest eligibly and got screened, including attracting enormous votes from the delegates during the convention."
The group therefore urged the party's NEC to immediately declare Hajia Bakori as the authentic Deputy National Organising Secretary.
PDP Tackles APC But in its usual brickbat relationship with the APC, the PDP has descended heavily on the national leadership of the APC for not accepting the processes and outcome of the last Saturday's Ekiti governorship election which was won by Fayose, the PDP candidate. PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said the position of the APC national leadership over an election widely accepted as one of the freest, fairest and most credible elections in Nigeria, and in which their candidate, Governor Fayemi, had also conceded defeat, demonstrates their "preference for anarchy and blind homage to nihilism and destruction of the democratic order”.
“The APC has once again confirmed that it is nothing but a chaotic organisation, totally averse to democracy and orderliness. It has shown that it is a party of desperate, frustrated and violent individuals promoting a Janjaweed ideology.
“This is a party that is fully aware that it was trounced in all the local governments of the state and even lost in the polling units and wards of its campaign Director-General and that of its Deputy National Chairman, yet it is bent at fomenting trouble to disrupt the peace in Ekiti State apparently out of frustration that it did not get the chance to rig the polls.
“However we wish to alert of an orchestrated plot by the APC to now use the instruments of wild allegations and spurious claims to set the stage to unleash mayhem on Ekiti State using imported armed thugs. We therefore urge Nigerians to note this and hold the APC responsible should there be any breakdown of law and order in Ekiti State,” the party said.
Aregbesola Says Fayose is Intoxicated by Accidental Victory The animosity between the two rival parties yesterday got even deeper, when Governor of Osun State, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, described the outburst of the Ekiti State Governor-elect, Fayose, as an 'over-reaching euphoria of a coincidental victory.'
Fayose had said yesterday that Aregbesola is 'dangerous to Nigeria's democracy' for allegedly calling on his (APC) supporters to challenge security agents during elections.
Aregbesola, in a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said Fayose is only whipping a dead horse by referring to a media report which had been refuted with the retraction published by the same newspaper that published it.
A newspaper had last week published a news item claiming that Aregbesola asked his supporters to dare security agents during elections.
Okanlawon disclosed that the misrepresentation of what the governor said had been refuted the following day, in a well-explained response to the newspaper.
He said Fayose, in an over-joyous celebration of a victory, which subtly came through a yet-to-be ascertained mystery, need to demonstrate that his victory at the poll on June 21 is not a fluke.
The statement said: "We think that after his so-called victory, Fayose should be busy with and worry more on how his government hopes to contend with sustaining and surpassing the huge achievements recorded by the Kayode Fayemi administration before the people of Ekiti get impatient with him.
"But for the lopsided democracy entrenched in this part of the world, individuals like this, who have no business in front of a Government House, would have today through a sleight of hand find themselves in position of responsibility, which they once had and frittered away. "Whatever transpired during that election may be hidden today. Nothing can be hidden permanently from the people.
"But it is germane to say that what happened in Ekiti has no bearing or effect on Osun. Here, we are different; the terrain is different; so are the people and politics.
"We are not in anyway perturbed by the phyrric victory in Ekiti. Ekiti is Ekiti; Osun is Osun. The two are not the same neither are they comparable.
"Therefore the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Ayodele Fayose and their ilk should continue to dwell in their illusory world of 'as it is in Ekiti, so shall it be in Osun."
Okanlawon reiterated that the governor only called on the police to do their job of protecting rather than intimidating the people, who want to exercise their civic duties.
He stated that while the people are exercising their civic responsibilities including voting, soldiers and policemen and men of other security agencies have the constitutional right to protect and not to bully or cow them into submitting to the whims and caprice of some selfish politicians.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Unimpressed with the details of its new policy on the operations of Bureux De Change (BDCs), the House of Representatives yesterday kicked against the new requirements as stipulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for BDC operators in the country.
The lower chamber also set the ball rolling to enact a law that would provide for the lawful management of properties confiscated and forfeited by fraudulent Nigerians.
The House, prompted by a motion moved by Ibrahim Shehu Gusau (PDP, Zamfara), directed the apex bank to suspend the policy just as it invited the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to appear before its banking and currency committee to provide "full brief on the policy somersault".
According to Gusau, the CBN has raised the minimum capital requirement for the operation of BDCs in Nigeria from N10 million to N35 million.
He noted that the mandatory cautionary deposit was equally raised from N3 million to N35 million, which shall be deposited in a non-interest yielding account in the CBN along with the licensing fee, which was also increased from N500,000 to N1 million, adding that the annual renewal fee was also increased from N10,000 to N25,000, while the application fee of N100,000 remained unchanged.
Already, some banks like Zenith Bank have sent out notices to their customers intimating them of the new policy, preparatory for its full implementation.
The motion got the support of many lawmakers. Hon. Asita Honourable (APC, Rivers) described the new policy as "not only super-elitist", but one "intended to create more unemployment in a section of the country."
He emphasised that: "It's discriminatory. In fact, it'll increase Boko Haram killings."
Hassan Saleh (PDP, Benue) dismissed the policy as insensitive, saying it has the potential of worsening the unemployment situation in Nigeria. Expressing what might appear to be neutral views, Hon. Linus Okorie (PDP, Ebonyi), Nadu Karibo (PDP, Bayelsa) and Friday Itula (PDP, Edo) were of the view that the CBN should be allowed to take decisions that would better the country's economy.
Meanwhile, the forfeiture bill which passed the second reading yesterday seeks "to make comprehensive provisions for the confiscation, forfeiture and management of properties derived from unlawful activities".
Sponsored by House Leader Mulikat Akande-Adeola (PDP, Oyo), the bill would be the first of its type.
According to her, there have been concerns by Nigerians over the fate of seized properties, which are sometimes left to rot without being put to good use.
She also noted that often, the whereabouts of monies and structures confiscated by authorities from corrupt officials are not accounted for, thus the need for the bill which aims to provide a coordinated process of managing the properties.
She explained that when passed, the law would enable synergy between anti-graft agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other related agencies in the fight against corruption in the country.
In her contribution, Hon. Nkiruka Onyejiocha (PDP, Abia) said the bill's consideration came at the appropriate time as it would checkmate the subsisting practice of mismanaging forfeited assets.
However, Hon. Samson Osagie (APC, Edo) cautioned the House "not to place the cart before the horse" by passing the bill, without considering the implications of such a law.
"I want to ask: when will such seizure or confiscation be done? Is it before the trial or after, because individuals are hounded by security and their belongings seized even before charged to court," he inquired. The bill was unanimously adopted and referred by House Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal to the justice committee for further works.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
In an apparent move to tackle the current security crisis and insurgency in the country, the delegates to the National Conference, yesterday recommended for the decentralisation of the Nigeria Police Force to make room for the creation of State and Community Police. By implication, Police has been removed from the Exclusive Legislative List and to the Concurrent Legislative List in the Constitution to allow both the federal and state governments adequately address issues of security and police matters.
These were the high points of the recommendations of the National Security Committee report headed by former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Muhammed Gambo-Jimeta and former Director General of the Department of the State Security, Albert Horsefal.
Though newsmen were barred from covering the debate when the general principles of the National Security Report was discussed at the plenary session, journalists were however present during the debate on the recommendations of the committee’s report.
In approving the recommendations for state and community police, the delegates approved that the federal police should concentrate on the enforcement of federal laws, while state police should enforce state laws.
The delegates also said the issue of state police should be optional to states that desire it and are willing to fund it. The delegates further recommended that state governors should be involved in the running of the police commands in their states and that 70 per cent deployment of police officers from Deputy Superintendent of Police and to the ranks of Constable should be to according to their states of origin.
However, the conference rejected that state governors should be consulted before a Commissioner of Police is posted to any state and that the governors should not control the state police
The delegates further rejected the expansion of the State Security Council to include Immigration, Customs and Civil Defense amongst others, as well as rejecting the expansion of the local government security council.
The delegates recommended that vigilante groups should be made to operate under the police, while rejecting the recommendations that there should a creation of ‘Very Important Persons’ (VIP) Unit in the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The conference adopted the recommendation that retired military personnel be trained and engaged in the fight against Boko Haram. It, however, rejected the recommendation that the National Security Adviser should establish a Homeland Security Force.
It also rejected the recommendation to merge the FRSC with the police as delegates adopted a recommendation for a life insurance to be created for all armed security personnel in the country.
The conference rejected the recommendation for the establishment of the Police Complaints Authority jettisoning the idea that the NSCDC should be merged with the police.
The conference had also rejected the recommendation to bar the Nigerian Army from being drafted for electoral duties as well as the recommendation that the NSCDC, the Nigerian Immigration Service, the NDLEA, the Custom Service be expanded in the composition of State Security Council.
Other recommendations of the conference on National Security include that the border patrol force to be domiciled in the Ministry of Defence.
There was stalemate on the mode of operation and superiority between the federal and state police as a delegate said the federal and state police existing differently would result in conflict of command and operations.
Ayo Adebanjo from the South-west said the state police should be autonomous and should operate as a coordinate with the federal police arguing that State is a coordinate to the federal government.
Lagos-based lawyer, Femi Falana said there are states with different police operations with commissioners of police manning them. “The state police will police and maintain state law, while the federal police will maintain federal laws”.
Adebola Ogunsola moved for the adoption of the report of the committee and was supported by Atedo Peterside.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Over 15,000 people in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State have been displaced following recent attacks on rural communities by gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.
The victims were said to be taking refuge at a primary school and the Divisional Police Station in Gwantu, the headquarters of the local council.
Also, 110 corpses of those who were killed during the incident were given mass burial yesterday by the council authorities while the relatives who were able to identify the corpses of their loved ones collected them for a decent burial.
THISDAY gathered that thousands of people in rural communities in the state had all fled their homes for fear of the unknown following the massive attacks by the gunmen which led to killings and destruction of property.
Over 167 people were killed in the attacks which started on Monday night to Tuesday leading to the sacking of over 20 villages in the area. A councillor representing Gwantu ward, Hon. Shehu Ajetu, told THISDAY in a telephone interview that the villagers are very scared of staying in their communities and are fleeing into the local government headquarters where there is security.
According to him, over 15,000 people had relocated to the refugee camps at the primary school and the divisional police station in Gwantu.
“What is happening is that our people in the villages are running away from their homes because they don’t know what would happen. So even people in villages who were not attacked were running away because of fear of the unknown.
“Those who were attacked have no homes again because their houses were burnt. Everybody is running to the refugee camp and at the moment, we have over 15, 000 people at the primary school and the divisional police station.
“There are thousands of others who fled to Akwanga in Nasarawa State because their villages are closer to Akwanga. They are being camped in a primary school that is being constructed. We also have hundreds of others who fled to other places in Jama’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
“The situation is calm now, but we have very serious challenges of feeding and accommodating this large number of people.
“The 24-hour curfew cannot be enforced in the villages because it is just not possible for security agencies to be in all the villages within the locality, I think that is the more reason why everybody is running to where they can be protected,” he said.
Meanwhile a combined team of officials of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the North west zone and officials of the state ministry of health are billed to visit the area for an assessment of the situation.
Spokesman of SEMA, Mallam Abubakar Zakari Adamu, told THISDAY in a telephone interview that the team embarked on an assessment of those killed, those wounded, the houses destroyed and the number of displaced people with a view to providing support.
“We have not been able to move to the area because we also have to ensure our safety first, now that the situation is under control and security had been beefed up, a team led by the executive secretary of SEMA, Mr. Ishaku Dogo Makama, will visit the area on today” he said.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned the bomb explosion at the Emab Plaza in Abuja even as it accused the federal government of not doing enough to curb insurgency.
In a statement signed by the President of the association, Okey Wali, NBA noted that the latest bomb explosion in Abuja was only part of a series of sporadic bomb blasts in some parts of the country.
NBA stated this after a deadly bomb blast hit the capital resulting in the untimely death of 22 persons and being many more injured.
The association reminded the federal government that its primary responsibility was to protect the lives and property of Nigerians.
"We also remind the federal government that further to the principle of social contract, Nigerian citizens surrendered their sovereignty to the country in return for protection by the state," NBA said.
It stated that so far, it seemed that government efforts to curb insurgency were not yielding the desired result.
"We use this opportunity to encourage every Nigerian to be security conscious and collaborate with the security agencies for a more secured society," the association said.
Wali also said there could never be any justification for the dastardly and brazen acts of carnage.
"This latest bomb explosion brings to the fore the need for the federal government to intensify efforts in bringing these acts of terrorism and insurgency to an end. We can no longer afford to keep losing human lives," it said
The NBA, however, expressed its profound condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the incident and wished the injured quick recovery.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-east has asked the Governor of Imo State, Chief Rochas Okorocha, to rescind the unconstitutional and undemocratic plan to issue identity cards to northerners in the state.
Also, the Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Suleiman Kawu Sumaila, has condemned Okorocha’s decision to register all northerners living in the state.
The spokesman of the party in the zone, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, said yesterday in a statement that the unity, stability and harmonious relationship among the Nigerian citizens should be paramount and fundamental even as efforts are made to tackle Boko Haram scourge.
"Whereas we condemn the devilish and heinous atrocities of the deranged Boko Haram elements; we are of the candid view that the Boko Haram elements are not playing Northern script, as their agenda is more or less opaque and futile.
He said the South-east APC believes that the only way to crush Boko Haram insurgents is a well equipped army, security agencies, vigilantes and improved welfare of the citizenry that engender hope, trust and confidence."
Meanwhile, Kawu in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja yesterday, said such actions by the was tantamount to making northerners second class citizens in their country.
"These kind of actions are misguided, unfortunate and highly provocative. I strongly condemn it and warn those propagating it to desist from such paths of perdition," the statement read.
Stating that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) guarantees freedom of movement for all citizens no matter their ethnic group, religion or section, Kawu said it is unlawful for any state to attempt to compel other Nigerians to register wherever they may find themselves.
He said such treatment "is a gross infringement of their fundamental human right to liberty and violation of the constitution," appealing to state governments who indicated their resolve to carry out such exercise "to as a matter of urgency and necessity reverse the ill-informed decision in the interest of peace, stability and national unity."
Noting that there are millions of law abiding and enterprising Igbo people with whom the Hausa people are mutual friends, in all parts of the north as well, the lawmaker said "this relationship should not be destroyed at this point in time."
Noting that many southerners have been arrested for acts of armed robberies and kidnappings, Kawu said "there was never a time when any of the northern state governments compelled innocent Igbos to register in their states."
He cautioned that if the southern governors failed to rescind their decisions, "we may not be left with any option than to met out similar treatment to their people living in our states."
He also urged President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene in the matter by calling "these state governments to order…to protect all Nigerians from being made foreigners in their country."
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
As Nigeria reels under the pain caused by terrorists in the country, African leaders at the ongoing 23rd Ordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, have condemned the spate of attacks by terrorists and insurgents on the African continent.
The Chairman of the AU and Mauritanian President, Mr. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, speaking at the opening of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government yesterday morning, said the continent's leaders must rise to the occasion and adequately respond to contemporary security challenges.
He added the tragic events across the continent are a reminder that to ensure peace and security, there is need for a better understanding of the continent.
President Goodluck Jonathan was present at the meeting, but THISDAY gathered that he was expected to return to Abuja immediately after the bomb blast that 21 persons in Abuja Wednesday.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu would represent him at a meeting of the Assembly on Friday.
Wali in his address to the Peace and Security Council on Wednesday evening, had called on Africa to strengthen its security linkages and early warning systems as a way to curb terrorism and insurgency in the continent.
Speaking with THISDAY, Wali disclosed that although Nigeria was not prepared for terrorism as it was alien to its shores, the federal government was now working assiduously to adequately empower the armed forces and security agencies to cope with the new realities.
He also expressed the commitment of the government to a implementing a long-term strategy to curb terrorism through human welfare programmes.
Also at the meeting on Wednesday evening, Ugandan President, Museveni, who is the Chairman of the PSC, called on national governments to build competent detribalised and non-sectarian national armies.
He blamed the policy of sectarianism for the spate of conflicts and insecurity across the continent.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, his Federal Capital Territory (FCT), counterpart, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) yesterday condoled with the management and staff of the New Telegraph Newspaper over the death of their Managing Editor (North), Mr. Suleiman Bisalla.
Bisalla died with 20 other Nigerians in the Wednesday's bomb explosion in Abuja.
Aregbesola said the news of the sudden death of Bisalla was indeed a depressing, miserable and sad piece of news to him.
In a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, Aregbesola described the untimely death of Bisalla as one that had once again robbed the media industry and the country of a young, energetic man and a fine journalist.
The governor said, the sudden transition of Bisalla would no doubt leave a huge vacuum in his immediate work place, New Telegraph and the media industry as a whole.
He described the death of the journalist and the 20 others as an enormous sacrifice signposted by the pervading atmosphere of insecurity that for sometime now has enveloped some parts of the country.
The statement said in part: “There is no gainsaying the fact that the nation, media world and particularly the budding New Telegraph will miss Bisalla’s invaluable contribution to the newspaper as well as informed writings and reportage.”
Also, Maku in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Joseph Mutah, described the late Bisalla as a dedicated and talented professional who acquainted himself satisfactorily as a reporter and editor.
The minister however, urged the staff of the New Telegraph Newspaper not to be demoralised by the sad and unfortunate incident.
On his party, Mohammed described Bisalla as an outstanding journalist who practised the journalism profession in line with its guiding ethics and principles.
The minister stated that there are valuable lessons to be learnt from the life of Bisalla, stressing that humility, hard work, honesty and integrity were his guiding principles.
Similarly, a statement by the NGE president, Mr Femi Adesina, said: “As we condole the Bisalla family, and the families of the other dead victims, we can't but ask: where and who next? Nigeria, very sadly, has become one huge sepulcher, and death now very cheap. Unnatural deaths have become so commonplace, that Nigerians are almost becoming inured to the news of it, except those directly affected. This is not good for our common humanity.
“We recognise the almost intractable nature of the insurgency in the land, and government is trying its level best. But it remains the bounden duty of government to secure the lives and property of the citizenry, and we, therefore, ask that our security agencies will not relent in carrying out their constitutionally prescribed duties. Terrorism must never get the better of us. Never. But we must devise new tactics and strategies to rein in the situation.”
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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