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Insecurity: EFCC Calls for Collective Fight against Corruption

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has stated that corruption was the key issue promoting insecurity in the country and called for a collective fight against it.

He made this known on Tuesday, September 11, 2024, at the 2024 Annual Civil-Military Conference, organized by Civil-Military Cooperation, (CIMICO) at the National Defence College, Abuja.

Olukoyede who was represented by the Director of Public Affairs Directorate, Commander of the EFCC, CE Wilson Uwujaren stated that “Corruption is the key issue in terms of the promotion of insecurity in this nation. When people talk about insecurity and national development, one factor that is important to note is the implication of corruption on national security management and development. It is time for us to collectively fight corruption which has become a major challenge to our nation’s development. The loss of resources to corruption denies our nation the resources we should have used to provide infrastructure and digital services for our people, deepening the poverty we experience in this country,” he said.

Speaking further, the EFCC boss stated that corruption breeds poverty, which in turn makes the jobless to embrace recruitment into banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism.

Olukoyede pledged EFCC’s unwavering support to the armed forces in the fight against insecurity and to ensure that proceeds of crime are not deployed by rogue elements to oxygenate terrorist activities. “We will continue to monitor the flow of funds, especially in the banking sector, to ensure that illicit money doesn’t get into the hands of bandits, kidnappers, and terrorists,” he stated.

In his welcome address, Mr. Adams Otakwu, convener and founder CIMICO, urged civil society organizations to be driven by patriotism and stay off fraudulent activities. “Civil societies must be genuine and not be involved in fraudulent activities. Our role is to call public institutions to accountability, not to indulge in blackmail. That is not activism, and we must desist from that and engage in productive ventures. As civil society organizations, we are the conscious of the society; if we lose it, we lose everything. It is not about money; it is about patriotism,” he said.

The Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral Olumuyiwa Morakinyo Olotu, on his part, stated that the essence of the conference was to brainstorm and bring forth solutions to the government on insecurity. “We aim to develop implementable strategies to tackle insecurity and promote national development,” he said.

The representative of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babatunde Bolaji Bernard, emphasized the need to reach and educate people at the grassroots level against aiding terrorists and criminal elements and for members of the public to desist from spreading fake news churned out by criminals. “We must educate them on the need not to support criminals, as some of them are conveying terrorists, buying fuel, food, and other necessities for them.”

The Minister of State for Police Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, called for a concerted effort from all Nigerians in tackling insecurity, stating that “Security affairs are everybody’s business, not just the police and other law enforcement agencies. We must join hands with the police and other law enforcement agencies to end the menace of insecurity.”

The event, themed: “Whole of Society Approach to National Security and Development,” brought together stakeholders from various sectors for the forging of solutions to insecurity in the country and the promotion of national development.

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Bandits kill one, kidnap district head, eight others in Kebbi

Bandits have kidnapped Alhaji Isah Daya, the district head of Kanya under the Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The bandits kidnapped the monarch and eight others when they stormed his village on Saturday, October 5, 2024.

The bandits also k!lled one and injured three persons during the attack.

The spokesperson for the State Police Command, Nafui Abubakar, who confirmed the attack, gave the name of the deceased as Sherriff Alhaji Almu.

According to the PPRO, a combined security team led by the police has launched a manhunt on the abductors of the monarch to rescue the abducted persons.

He noted that the Kebbi State Government has provided the needed logistics to tame banditry in the affected towns, particularly Kebbi South, Zuru Emirate.

The attack came a few days after bandits k!lled the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Suru Local Government Area of the state.

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FG mobilises Julius Berger to complete N820b road projects

The Federal Government has told Julius Berger Nigeria Plc to fast-track the completion of the rehabilitation of the 82-kilometre Section II of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano dual carriageway and the construction of the Bodo-Bonny road with bridges across the Opobo Channel, Route 430 in Rivers State.

Works Minister David Umahi said the government could not continually negotiate with the contractor over the same projects.

In a statement in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media, Uchenna Orji, during a meeting with Julius Berger, represented by its Executive Director for Projects, Benjamin Bott, and the Head of Contract Management, Omonigho Brown, the minister stressed the need for contractors handling Federal Government’s projects to exhibit corporate nationalism in price negotiation in the face of the daunting economic challenges facing the country.

Umahi said the Federal Executive Council (FEC), at its meeting on September 23, approved the re-scoping and downward review of the contracts.

He said: “We have Section II, which is 82 kilometres by two, which is the section that JBN Plc is working on.

“And so, if you check what FEC approved on September 23, FEC had approved that the total contract sum within the scope of Berger would be N740 billion. This means that if you remove N391 billion paid already, you now have about N340 billion remaining. This is the scope of their work for the 164 kilometres.”

The minister urged the contractor to mobilise for work on the four sections of the Abuja-Zaria-Kaduna-Kano project to finish the job within 14 months.

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Police thwart plan by armed men to kidnap a foreigner in Anambra, recover four dead bodies

Police Operatives in the morning of Sunday, October 6th, 2024 thwarted the abduction/kidnapping plan of a foreigner by suspected armed secessionist members in Ogbunka village.

The Operatives courageously engaged the hoodlums in a gun battle and saved the VIP.

SP Tochukwu Ikenga, Police Public Relations Officer who disclosed this in a statement said during the gun duel, two Police Operatives who were hit by bullet escaped with the foreigner.

He added that they are stable and are currently receiving treatment in a hospital.

Meanwhile, Operations are ongoing in the area for the possible arrest of the Armed men.

Also, Police operatives attached to Nimo Police Station responded to a distress call on 6/10/2024 by 8:25 pm of a suspected cult clash at Umuka, Nawfia. The Operatives upon arriving at the scene, found four lifeless bodies of young men in a pool of blood with suspected multiple gunshot injuries lying on the road.

The victims were confirmed dead by a doctor on duty and have been deposited to the morgue.

They were later identified as one Ebuka Nwaonkwube Ekenta of Mmimi village Nawfia, Nnatuanya Junior A.K: A Starboy of Mmimi village Nawfia, Aniemena A.K.A Osama of Umuariam Village and one Ahmed Auwal.

Information from eyewitnesses and some villagers reveal that the victims are known for their nefarious activities and are always in rivalry with another cult group in the area.

Furthermore, Joint patrol with Operatives of the Special Anit Cultism Squad (SPACS) has been intensified in the area.

In another development, the Commissioner of Police *CP Nnaghe Obono Itam* has ordered
immediate investigations into the gruesome murder of a 17-year-old girl suspected of being used for ritual purpose.

The girl’s lifeless body was found in a bush at Omasi village on 6/10/2024 by 4:25 pm and she was later identified as one Chinasa Adigwe from Umueje village and her private parts were cut off in a bush at Omasi Village before Police were alerted. The body has been recovered and deposited in a morgue.

The CP while condoling with the family, friends and Community of the deceased states that the Police shall do everything possible to make sure that those behind the barbaric act are arrested and justice served.