Commissioner of Police in Delta State, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda has called for the arrest of people flaunting unexplainable wealth and to treat them as common criminals.
He made the call through the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe while speaking as a special guest on a radio program in the state.
He said insecurity in Nigeria will be drastically reduced if those involved are avoided by members of society and are reported to law enforcement agencies for arrest and prosecution.
Abaniwonda decried the new trend wherein some parents and unpatriotic citizens celebrate and endorse the social status of criminal elements flaunting unexplainable wealth.
According to him, this was and still is one of the major reasons why crime and insecurity are consistently on the rise in Nigeria, and in underdeveloped and developing countries of the world.
He disclosed that advance fee fraud, looting of public funds, and kidnapping for ransom, among other forms of criminality, are responsible for high cases of insecurity, occasioned by the increasing urge by young people to “make money” through dubious and life-threatening ways and means.
The CP said the state police command will continue to ensure the protection of life and property across the three senatorial districts, adding that in recent times the command recovered several arms and ammunition which included; AK 47 and AK 49 rifles from criminal gangs operating in different parts of the state.
He assured that Delta State will continue to enjoy a good measure of peace and security while urging insecurity alarmists on social media platforms to always back their allegations with verifiable information and data where available to assist the police and other sister security agencies to do their job better and in real-time.
“Crime fighting is a joint responsibility of law enforcement agencies and the citizens through credible information gathering and sharing, genuine crime alerts, arrest and prosecution of criminal elements among us.
“One of the reasons for the high rate of criminality and insecurity is the new trend wherein some parents and unpatriotic citizens endorse and celebrate ill-gotten wealth or unexplainable riches flaunted by criminal elements,” he said.
Treat those with ill-gotten wealth as criminals – Delta CP Abaniwonda to Nigerians
Treat those with ill-gotten wealth as criminals – Delta CP Abaniwonda to Nigerians
Plateau equips security agencies with 100 motorcycles for farmer protection
The Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, on Thursday, distributed 100 military-grade motorcycles to security agencies in the state.
During the handover ceremony at the Government House in Jos, the governor stated that the initiative aims to enable security personnel to patrol troubled communities and safeguard farmers and their crops across the state.
The governor emphasised that the motorcycles are specifically for accessing rural areas with difficult terrain, often inaccessible by car, to address security challenges.
He said that the motorcycles are not to be seen in urban areas but are strictly for rural patrols.
He noted that his administration has made significant investments in technology to tackle the security situation in the state and promised that more logistical support would be provided to the security agencies, whom he praised for their commendable work in the state.
He said, “We have invested substantial resources in technology, and we now have the capacity to monitor every nook and cranny of Plateau State. Our goal is to prepare the ground for effective responses, considering our terrain is full of plateaus, where vehicles and even ordinary motorcycles cannot go.
“This first batch of motorcycles will be used for round-the-clock surveillance to ensure our security forces provide protection for our farmers. We are focusing initially on areas under threat, including parts of the Central and Northern Zones.
“Let me emphasise this: the Chief Security Officer to the Governor is authorised to seize any of these motorcycles if they are found in towns. They are meant for rural areas, not for city riding. We want the motorcycles to be properly deployed to where they are needed, not for personal use but for collective benefit. This is just the beginning.”
The Secretary to the Government of Plateau State, Arch Samuel Jatau, earlier explained that the 100 military-grade motorcycles would be distributed among various security agencies for patrol across the state.
He said, “Thirty of the motorcycles are allocated to the military, along with 130 raincoats and 130 rain boots. The Nigerian Police Force will receive five motorcycles, 130 raincoats, and 130 rain boots. NSCDC will receive 30 motorcycles, 60 raincoats, and 60 rain boots. DSS will receive five motorcycles, 20 raincoats, and 20 rain boots.
Operation Rainbow will receive five motorcycles, 50 raincoats, and 50 rain boots.
“The Nigeria Immigration Service will receive three motorcycles, 20 raincoats, and 20 rain boots. NDLEA will receive 10 raincoats and 10 rain boots. The Federal Road Safety Corps will receive 20 raincoats and 20 rain boots.
“Nigerian Correctional Service will receive 10 raincoats and 10 rain boots. VGN Mangu will receive nine motorcycles, 20 raincoats, and 20 rain boots. VGN Bokkos will receive nine motorcycles, 20 raincoats, and 20 rain boots. VGN Bassa will receive two motorcycles, 10 raincoats, and 10 rain boots.”
The Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Plateau State Command, Mr Alexander Barunde, assured the state government that the motorcycles would be used appropriately for their intended purpose, adding that farmers can now sleep soundly.
Army busts oil thieves, recovers 200,000 litres stolen crude in Rivers, Bayelsa
The Nigerian Army 6 Division said its troops uncovered massive dumps where illegally refined products worth over 200,000 litres across various locations were stored in Bayelsa and Rivers States.
This came 24 hours after the Army destroyed several illegal oil refining sites and recovered products in Members, Bayelsa State and Odagwa in Etche local government area of the Rivers State.
On the latest discovery, the Army said it was made at Dasaba Creek in Bayelsa State, where an illegal refining site, one oven, and a massive metal reservoir containing products suspected to be stolen crude oil estimated at over 110,000 litres were uncovered.
This was contained in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Thursday by the Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division, Army Public Relations, Jonah Danjuma, and sent to newsmen.
The statement added, “In Rivers State, troops swooped on over 33,000 litres being siphoned into a tank.
“The operation was painstakingly conducted by troops, who traced an interconnected hose to a tank from the Indorama (Eleme Petrochemicals) pipeline, far behind the fence in the bush.
“Several items were also recovered from the sites. These include two pumping machines, a long hose, and eleven drums used to perpetrate criminality in the general area.
“Relatedly, troops of 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army, while on routine patrols, successfully intercepted trucks ladened with products suspected to be stolen crude in Delta State.
“The arrest was made at SEPLAT Energy Nigeria Ltd trunkline, Mosogar. During the operation, the truck was discovered to have over 30000 litres of stolen products. The trucks have been handled in line with the subsisting mandate of Operation Delta Safe in the Niger Delta Region.
“Similarly, troops of 16 Brigade, Nigerian Army, intercepted a truck with Reg No Delta UDH 983 XR along road Elebele-Emeyal in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
“The truck was also ladened with over 30000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude.
“Also, troops deployed at Cawthorne Channel 1, in conjunction with other security agencies, successfully deactivated one illegal refining site with over 5500 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude.
“The site was located close to Well Head 8, behind Glisten Community in Degema LGA, Rivers State.”
The Army 6 Division spokesman said the breakthroughs recorded were in addition to other seizures made within the general area.
The statement added, “Four suspects have so far been arrested along Udoni Obiafu in Onne, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.
“The suspects are, Freedom Effiong, Behaviour Power, Timothy Onyebuchi, and Lovetg Ifeanyi. They will be handed over to the relevant agencies for prosecution.
“These feats are results of the renewed effort by troops to effectively clamp down on economic saboteurs and their collaborators.
“Accordingly, members of the public are please enjoined to provide actionable intelligence on the activities of these economic saboteurs in their vicinity to security agencies.”
NAF destroys Boko Haram bomb factory, kills terrorists in Borno air raid
The air component of Operation Hadin Kai has destroyed suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) factory in Grazah, Mandara Mountains of Borno State.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Maiduguri.
He said two gun trucks were also destroyed while several terrorists were killed in operation carried out on August 2.
The operation, according to him, was in response to intelligence reports of a possible IED factory and logistics storage area in the location.
Gabkwet said that the factory was believed to have been relocated from Gwoza to Timbuktu Triangle in Sambisa forest and finally to Grazah in the Mandara hills.
He added that the location had been under surveillance for weeks with various installations and armed terrorist activities observed.
The spokesman said: “The operation is part of the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai’s mandate to combat recent attacks on innocent civilians in Borno, using IEDs and suicide bombers.
“The NAF has assured that the combined efforts of the entire security apparatus of Operation Hadin Kai will continue to target and destroy terrorist enclaves and logistics.”
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Anambra market leaders, trader clash over collapsing security tower
The leadership of the Ugwuagba Obosi Electrical Market in Anambra State’s Idemili North Local Government Area has found itself at odds with one of its traders, Chekwube Nwankwo, over the fate of a collapsing three-story security tower in the market.
The issue came to a head when Nwankwo, whose shop is located near the tower, petitioned the Anambra State Urban Development Board about the dangers posed by the structure. In response, the market chairman, John Onunkwo, issued a two-week ultimatum for the tower’s demolition.
Onunkwo acknowledged the tower’s deteriorating condition, stating, “We are aware that the security tower is collapsing. Nwankwo had told us about the need to demolish it, but the market has no money, and we asked him to do it by himself as it poses a danger to lives and property.”
“It is not that we cannot use force to even seal his shop, but because we want due process as leaders. We pleaded that he removed the tower but he refused. It is unfortunate that he is the one causing us this problem. We are still pleading with him to relocate his wares to enable us demolish the tower.
“Even the chairman of Idemili North Local Government Area has given him two weeks from now to remove his wares for the demolition after he refused the ASUDEB order to him earlier to remove his wares.”
However, Nwankwo speaking to our correspondent claims he had been “crying out over the years” about the need to demolish the tower, but the market leadership had repeatedly pleaded with him to handle the demolition himself.
“What they want is for the security tower to collapse and kill me, that is when they will now come for a condolence visit to my family with N5,000 and that will be the end, because that is what the leadership does,” Nwankwo said.
The conflict has escalated, with Nwankwo alleging that the market chairman has threatened to revoke his shop allocation and sell the space he occupies.
Nwankwo said, “The leadership now sees my inviting ASUDEB as a slap on their faces and they started to threaten me that they will revoke my shop allocation paper while the chairman threatened that he would sell my shop.”
Nwankwo claims his shop space was officially procured from a former market chairman, and he has been a vocal critic of the current leadership’s alleged misdeeds.
He said, “The nature of my business doesn’t warrant shops, my wares are displayed in the open and that is why they are in the open space and I have my space allocation documents to back up my claims that I procured the space when the former market Chairman, Chief Benjamin Orji, was the chairman.
“I have been the coordinator of the prayer group for nine consecutive years now and I have been condemning the sale of market properties by the leadership of the market, this is why they see me as a threat but I will not be deterred by their antics.”
Meanwhile, a former chairman of the market’s Peace and Reconciliation Committee, Oguka Kamsochukwu, corroborated Nwankwo’s allegations, stating that the issue has shifted from the security tower to the threat of revoking Nwankwo’s shop space.
“The issue now is not the security tower, but how to revoke Nwankwo’s shop space he officially procured from a former chairman of the market. What happens in the market is that when you challenge the leadership, they attack you,” Kamsochukwu said.
Jigawa govt forms 10-man minimum wage implementation committee
The Jigawa State Government on Thursday established a ten-member committee for the implementation of the National minimum wage.
State Commissioner of Information Youth Support and Culture, Sagir Musa disclosed this to newsmen after the state executive council meeting.
According to him “the council approved the establishment of a 10-member committee for the implementation of new minimum wage in the state”
The committee composition includes Head of Service (HOS) – Chairman, Commissioner of Justice. – Member, Commissioner of Finance – Member, Commissioner Budget – Member, Commissioner for Local Government – Member, Commissioner for Basic Education – Member, Commissioner of Health – Member, Commissioner of Information – Member, Special Adviser Salary & Pension – Member and PPS to His Excellency as Secretary.
The committee was tasked to review and advise the government on how to implement the new minimum wage in the state.
Jigawa govt forms 10-man minimum wage implementation committee
FG rejects Julius Berger’s N279bn cost for Second Niger Bridge bypass
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has rejected Julius Berger Plc’s proposed cost of N279 billion for the Second Niger Bridge Bypass, describing it as excessively high.
In a statement on Thursday, Umahi expressed his disappointment with Julius Berger’s pricing, saying, “One of the bypasses, which is 17.27 kilometres by two on asphalt, was awarded to Julius Berger. We changed the pavement elements to concrete, and the cost we calculated was N133 billion. Berger presented a figure almost twice our estimate, at N279 billion.”
He further stated, “We disagreed with this cost during the negotiation in September 2023. We’ve decided to refer the project back to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and invite more contractors to bid because this involves public funds.”
The Federal Ministry of Works has reviewed Julius Berger Plc’s performance on all ongoing projects awarded to the company, with Umahi raising concerns over the unacceptable condition of some projects, including the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway phase 2.
He explained that the Ministry would seek selective tendering to complete the project, stating, “We changed the pavement elements from asphalt to concrete, and the total cost we calculated based on prevailing rates is N153 billion.
However, they are proposing N258 billion. Since we’ve been negotiating since September 2023, we have no choice but to terminate this contract.
“We will then request a ‘No Objection’ from BPP for selective tendering, submitting our estimate of N153 billion and their proposal of N258 billion to BPP, while inviting other contractors to bid. This process will be concluded within the next month to ensure the project is completed promptly.”
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FG empowers 500 tomato farmers in Edo
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has empowered over 500 small holder farmers in Edo State with seeds in order to boost tomato production in the country.
The state Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Samuel Owoicho, who distributed the seeds to the farmers who are members of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria on Thursday in Benin, said the effort was to alleviate the high cost of tomatoes in the state.
While also urging farmers to cultivate tomatoes in their backyards for self-sufficiency, Owoicho, said the initiative was geared towards making Edo state self-sufficient in tomato production, reduce market prices and improve food security nationwide.
He said, “The federal government is dedicated to empowering farmers and ensuring a sustainable future.
“The Farmers have received training on best practices for the tomatoes cultivation. The training will ensure they maximise the yield and quality of their produce.
“Tomatoes are not only a staple in our diets but also a key crop that supports the livelihoods of many farmers across the country.
“Recognising the significance of tomato farming, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has been actively working to provide support and foster growth in this sector”, he said.
The Director noted that the ministry was committed to ensuring that tomatoes farmers have access to high-quality seeds and inputs.
“We have partnered with research institutions and seed companies to develop and distribute improved seed varieties that are resistant to pests and diseases, have higher yields, and are better suited to our climate
“Additionally, we are facilitating access to fertilizers, pesticides, and other essential inputs at subsidized rates to reduce the cost burden on our farmers,” he stated.
In his remarks, the state Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Bako Dogwo commended the federal government for the empowerment.
Dogwo noted that the seeds would boost tomatoes cultivation in the state and in the country.
He urged the farmers to use the seeds effectively, noting that the state is also blessed with good soil for the cultivation of tomatoes.
He also called on the farmers to follow the guidelines provided for the cultivation of tomatoes in order to achieve the best results
We shall only pass reasonable power costs to Nigerians – NERC boss
The Commissioner in charge of consumer affairs with the National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Aisha Mahmud has disclosed that the commission which has the critical responsibility of tariff setting will always ensure that while setting prices, only prudent costs are passed to the electricity consumers.
She spoke in Calabar during a 3-day town hall meeting to address numerous complaints from electricity consumers and to sensitise them, explaining that they are out to maximize access to electricity which is a fundamental right of all Nigerians.
Mahmud added that they were holding similar meetings in various parts of the country which have been very successful.
“We are here to resolve problems as have been done in several parts of the country and have been a huge success.
“Complaints will be resolved on the spot and NERC will ensure this is done except for technical issues that require investigation”, she said.
A representative of the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution, Plc Angela Ajere assured consumers that the distribution company is ready to ensure that complaints are resolved.
She welcomed the meeting at the instance of NERC and stressed that it would be a win-win for both consumers and the distribution company.
We shall only pass reasonable power costs to Nigerians – NERC boss
Police releases 10 minors arrested during #EndBadGovernance protests in Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State police command has released 10 minors detained during the #EndBadGovernance protests in the state.
The command’s spokesman, Ramhan Nansel, disclosed this to journalists on Thursday in Lafia.
Police had on August 1 arrested 50 protesters in four local government areas of the state for allegedly attacking their personnel and looting.
In a statement released the same day, police said 25 protesters were arrested in Lafia, 16 in Karu, six in Keffi, and three in Mararaba Udege of Nasarawa LGA.
Nansel said the 10 minors were released to their parents and guardians.
He, however, said the remaining 40 had been charged to court.
The spokesman urged the people of the state to go about their lawful activities without fear of intimidation.
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