Television Nigerian

Idris Wase, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, has accused the police of sabotaging the anti-bandit campaign by releasing bandits who had been arrested.

Mr Wase, who moved a motion on the floor of the House on Tuesday about the killings in his constituency, claimed that police colluded with suspected bandits.

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The deputy speaker, who represents Plateau State’s Wase Federal Constituency, cited a case of abduction involving his driver’s wife, claiming that the suspect was apprehended but later released by the police.

He also mentioned a case in Kaduna where bandits were apprehended but later released by the police. “I informed the Kaduna State governor, Nasir Elrufai, of the police release,” he said.

Nasir Ali, an APC member from Kano, questioned how the government can send thousands of security personnel to states for elections but fail to protect lives and property.

Emeka Azubogu of Anambra State, who also spoke on the motion, said that insecurity in Nigeria is affecting the economy. “Borno State is not contributing to the economy because of insecurity,” he said.

Ndudi Elumelu, the minority leader, slammed the ruling APC for the security situation, saying the party had failed.

As a result, the House decided that the Minister of Defense should launch a joint security operation in Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, and Nasarawa states to flush out bandits.

The Department of State Services and the Directorate of Military Intelligence were also tasked with gathering intelligence on bandit influx, camping, and operations in the Wase Federal Constituency and surrounding towns.

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In addition, the Speaker established an ad hoc committee to investigate the matter and submit a report within two weeks.

Unknown gunmen attacked a piano market in Pinau community, Wase local government area, Plateau State, on Sunday evening, killing about seven people.

During the attack, the gunmen also injured a large number of villagers.

While buying and selling were taking place, the attackers stormed the market.

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On December 8, residents of some villages complained about an influx of bandits in some of Wase LGA’s villages, which raised suspicions about their movement.

Residents who expressed concern also claimed that local informants were working with the bandits to provide them with information about the area.

While confirming the latest attack that resulted in the loss of life, Wase youth leader Shapi’i Sambo described the incident as barbaric and unfortunate.

He explained that the gunmen stormed the market and began shooting indiscriminately, wreaking havoc on the area.

According to a source, the area has been invaded by gunmen in the last ten days, resulting in the kidnapping of many people and the payment of a ransom.

“The ransom demanded by the bandits is in the millions of dollars. They sometimes collect N2 million, and other times they collect N5 million. They collected N5 million in the last three days before releasing a man they kidnapped a few days ago,” he said.

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ASP Ubah Gabriel, the state Police Public Relations Officer, did not return calls seeking comment on the situation.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, sent a clear message to the relevant MDAs during the annual review of how Federal Government agencies interact with Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the country. “Your role is to support Nigerians engaged in various enterprises by creating a conducive and enabling business environment,” he told them.

Prof. Osinbajo made this statement at the Presidential Villa on Monday, December 13 during the MSME Clinics Stakeholders’ Review Meeting, which was attended by heads and representatives from SMEDAN, BOI, NEXIM, BOA, SON, FIRS, NAFDAC, and other agencies.

“Everyone knows that Nigerians are enterprising,” he says, adding that “practically every Nigerian has some kind of business, some hustle, or some other things that they are doing.”

“People require the right environment, and that is what our role is to ensure that we understand that our role is to facilitate and make it easier, not to become a stumbling block or a tollgate,” the VP said, reiterating that the agencies’ job is to make things easier for MSMEs to do business.

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He also mentioned the average Nigerian’s hardworking nature, saying, “This is a country where people want and desire to work,” but added, “The constraints are what we have to address.” This would be handled by humans rather than spirits.”

“Our creativity and innovation must be first and foremost to remove the obstacles,” the VP said of the challenges. “That is what will solve Nigeria’s problems, implementation of the grand policies that we have, and it depends on us.”

The VP mentioned how it took some young Nigerians three years to get their business registration numbers. He claims he was told that the same registration takes six weeks in other African countries.

“If you get a food and drug administration registration somewhere else, you can be in a Nigerian supermarket… and they come and compete with our own people here,” he explained. This is true in every way, including with exports.”

In her remarks, Amb. Mariam Katagun, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, thanked the Vice President for his leadership and praised the stakeholders and state governors for their collaboration and cooperation in holding MSME Clinics.

Mr Olukayode Pitan, Managing Director of Bank of Industry; Dr Ezra Yakusak, Executive Director of Nigerian Export Promotion Council; Dr Dikko Umaru Radda, Director-General of SMEDAN; Mr Abba Bello, Managing Director of NEXIM Bank; Mr Tony Okpanachi, Managing Director of Development Bank of Nigeria; Mallam Farouk Salim, Director-General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria; and Mr Alwan Ali Hassan, Representatives from CAC, FIRS, NAFDAC, NITDA, and Access Bank are among the others.