News

EU citizens face losing benefits if they fail to update DWP profile

EU citizens on benefits could lose their universal credit in three weeks’ time unless they evidence their right to be in the UK, charity workers have warned.

The Work Rights Centre (WRC) says it has been told by staff at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that EU and European Economic Area nationals must upload a special Home Office code to prove they have the right to reside in the UK before the end of the month.

If they do not update the online DWP profile with this “share code” they could fall off the system, says WRC. Other charities have expressed similar fears.

WRC has raised concerns that many on benefits including children’s allowance could simply lose out because they did not know they had to update their profile or “journey” on the DWP universal credit website.

“Frankly, this is mass disentitlement waiting to happen,” the charity’s director, Olivia Vicol, said. “Many charities, including ours, warned that a digital-only immigration status wouldn’t remove the pressure of having to prove your rights.”

She says she was informed of the cut-off date by customer service agents who appeared to be “reading from a script” when she sought clarification over a letter that went to claimants from the Home Office advising them they needed to apply for the EU settlement scheme after Brexit.

The deadline will come as shock to many who thought the fact the Home Office is insisting on a digital share code to evidence their rights meant the DWP would automatically know who was entitled to remain in the country or not.

Vicol said the DWP demand will also be a concern for many in the 450,000-strong Home Office backlog of applications still being processed for the settlement scheme. “I can’t even begin to explain how anxious this will make those in the Home Office backlog, who – through no fault of their own – cannot generate the proof the DWP is demanding,” she said.

The letter failed to account for EU citizens who may have had pending applications to the EU settlement scheme (EUSS) and should therefore have had their rights protected until an outcome was reached.

The Home Office minister Kevin Foster has repeatedly said the rights of EU citizens who are still in the backlog would be guaranteed by the issue of a certificate of application from his department.

Vicol said her charity was also concerned about vulnerable EU citizens who were not computer literate and might have had their applications submitted by charities or other representatives, and so might not have been aware they needed to evidence their rights to the DWP. The WRC also fears that those who have moved address or changed their telephone number may not get notification from the DWP of the need to update their online benefits profile.

Almost half of those seeking the assistance of the charity reported they did not know how to get a “share code” from the Home Office when asked to do so by their employer.

“Their current approach puts local authorities and benefits advisers across the third sector in a very awkward position, to fixate on proving status when many people have already done it and others simply can’t,” she said.

A government spokesperson said: “We continue to use every possible channel – including letters, telephone calls, texts, and the direct contact our frontline staff have with their customers – to encourage those who are eligible to apply to the EU settlement scheme.”

News

Police arrest 9 suspects over communal crisis in Kogi

The Police Command in Kogi State has arrested nine suspects in connection with a communal crisis in Itamah area of Kogi.

The crisis occurred after the assassination of the community traditional ruler, Onu Itamah Job Shagari.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Bethrand Onuoha, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja on Thursday.

The late Chief Job Shagari was on Aug. 12 assassinated by some gunmen who invaded the community.

The traditional ruler’s death had created rift between two families — the Okenyi Abu-Atika and Shagari-Ebijegor, resulting in communal crisis.

But the police said they had arrested nine suspects and they were trailing other suspects.

“What the police are calling for now is for peace to be allowed to reign in Itamah community.

“The destruction done in that community is very unfortunate and uncalled for.

“We want a situation where the aggrieved families should come to round table for dialogue toward finding a lasting solution.

A situation where the community members are involved in an eye for an eye, the whole community will be blind and there won’t be peace there at all,” he said.

Onuoha denied the allegation that the command did not respond to petitions brought before it on arson and hostilities that left some houses and other property razed destroyed.

Mr Akoh Jonah, spokesman of the Okenyi Abu-Atika, claimed that more than 40 houses were burnt during the crisis, alleging that the police arrested 11 members of his family

News

Police arrest two suspects with AK-47 rifle in Bauchi

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested two suspects with a fabricated AK-47 rifle and ammunition in the Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of the state.

Spokesperson of the command, SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, September 12, 2024. He said the suspects were nabbed by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit while trying to sell the rifle for N580,000.

“The Bauchi State Police Command is unwavering in its efforts to combat the proliferation of small and light arms within the state. In furtherance of this commitment, the Taskforce operatives, led by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit attached to the Command, have successfully apprehended two suspects in possession of a fabricated AK47 rifle and ammunition at Boto Market in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi state,” the statement read.

“Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects, who travelled from Plateau State to Boto market, negotiated the sale of the rifle for N580,000.

“The apprehended suspects are: Abdulgafar Mohammed, male, 18 years old, from Barkin Ladi, Plateau State and Yusuf Isa, male, 25 years old, from the same address.

“A discreet investigation is ongoing, after which the suspect will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.

Under the stewardship of the Commissioner of Police, CP Auwal Musa Mohammad, psc, Anipr, the Command has escalated efforts to locate and apprehend the manufacturers of such weapons, irrespective of their location. Ultimately, the Command aims to assure the public of its dedication to eliminating illegal firearms in the state and urges the citizens to understand that.

“Mankind must put an end to organised crime, or organized crime will put an end to mankind”, and on the “ keyboard of life, let us as citizens always keep a finger on the escape key to survive.”

News

Police arrest 19 year old undergraduate for kidnapping, killing of a female student in Kogi

The Kogi State Police Command has arrested Paul Jeremiah, 20, for the alleged murder of Damilola, a 19-year-old first-year student at the Federal University, Lafia, Kogi State.

SP William Ovie Aya, the Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed Jeremiah’s arrest on Thursday in Lokoja.

According to him, investigation is underway to determine the details surrounding the incident.

Damilola was reported missing on September 4, 2024.

Reports indicate that Jeremiah and his accomplices initially demanded a ransom of N10 million for her release.

However, after receiving N400,000 from Damilola’s family, Jeremiah, said to be a Kaduna State indigene, was dissatisfied with the amount and subsequently killed Damilola and mutilated her body.

The Police spokesman did not disclose how Jeremiah was apprehended but confirmed that he is currently in custody.