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We Won’t Pay Ransom to Kidnappers Again, Tinubu Declares

Published

6 months ago

March 14, 2024

Eric

President Bola Tinubu has, again, directed that on no condition should ransom be paid by government to kidnappers, bandits or other criminal elements for the release of their victims, as he read the country’s security agencies the riot act following incessant kidnap incidents.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, revealed the directive yesterday in Abuja while briefing newsmen at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, chaired by Tinubu at the State House.

The federal government also said it was still reviewing offers from the United States and other countries to help in rescue missions, saying it would disclose its decision soon.

The comments came as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, assured residents of improved security, including reduction in cases of kidnapping, in the nation’s capital.

At the same time, Commissioner, FCT Police Command, Benedict Igweh, disclosed that the correctional officer, Usman Ishaya Magaji, who shot and killed a convicted offender, Ibrahim Yahaya, at Wuse market on Tuesday, had been arrested for interrogation.

The government’s decision to put a damper on kidnapping for ransom followed recent incidents, particularly in Kaduna State, where some children were kidnapped and held in captivity while their abductors demanded billions of naira for their release.

Idris briefed newsmen on the latest developments at the end of the FEC meeting yesterday.

He stated, “In council today, Mr. President reiterated his directive to the security agencies and the Ministry of Defence to ensure that those our kids that have been abducted by these criminal gangs are brought back to their homes safely.

“Mr President has also reiterated his zero tolerance for payment of ransom. That was also mentioned by Mr. President at the council today. So, the security agencies are working round the clock.

“So, these children and people that have been abducted by criminal elements will be brought back to safety pretty soon. The security agencies are working hard in that direction.

“And Mr. President has also directed that no ransom will be paid by government to any of these criminal elements. It is important that it will be put out there.”

On the rising wave of kidnapping in the country, Idris said, “You’re also asking about the apparent surge in this kidnapping across the country. Now, it is true that some of these are happening, we have seen what has happened in Kaduna, in Borno and then in Sokoto.

“Of course, government is watching that very closely and not just watching, also ensuring that security agencies are taking proactive steps to ensure that this is halted significantly.

“Now, like I said, Mr. President has said it is an unacceptable situation and the government will not condone abductions or kidnappings or any kind of criminality in that direction.

“We’re seeing this happening and government is taking very proactive steps, first, to mitigate that, and also to stop the spread of this apparently.

“We are seeing that the more the security agencies are also hitting these targets or criminals, the more they are pushed to also getting some soft targets. But government is not taking any excuses.

“The president has directed that security agencies must, as a matter of urgency, ensure that these children and all those who have been kidnapped are brought back in safety and also in the process to ensure that not a dime is paid for ransom.

“So, it’s important to underscore that no dime, government is not paying anybody any dime and the government is optimistic that these children and other people that have been abducted will be brought back to their families in safety.”

Asked what specific support the United States was prepared to offer Nigeria in the rescue of the kidnapped children, the minister said other countries had also offered to help.

He stated, “Talking about what support, if any, are we getting from other countries, specifically the US, well, we’re aware that it’s not just the US that has actually offered.

“Other countries have also offered to support Nigeria. But what we can tell you is that government is still reviewing these offers and the position of government will be made known to you.”

Wike Assures of Improved Security in FCT

FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, assured of improved security, including reduction in kidnapping, in the nation’s capital.

Wike gave the assurance yesterday after a closed-door meeting with the FCT Commissioner of Police, Benedict Igweh, and the Senate on the state of security in the territory.

The minister said regarding the meeting, “It’s nothing difficult, just normal interactions, just to brief them on what we have done as regards security in the FCT.

“I am glad they are all happy with what we have done and what we are going to be doing and the suggestion, which they have given to us but which I cannot disclose to the members of public. This is just a very interactive session.

“What is important is what the FCT should expect from now. I will say improved security, more infrastructure. You can see what is going on in the FCT. It has been turned into a construction site and you can also see what has happened in the FCTA.

“Now we have our own Civil Service Commission, now we have our own permanent secretaries, which had never been. There are new things in the FCT and the residents are happy.” Wike added that from the interaction with the senators, it was agreed that security had improved in the FCT.

“Let me also say that there is no part of the world where criminality has been eradicated. We have heard several times in the United States of America, where criminals go to schools and shoot students.

“So, people should not have that impression that you cannot have one crime or the other. What we need is being able to limit or reduce the level of insecurity.

“But if anybody tells you that as societies are concerned, you will not have one crime or the other, that is not correct and we must tell ourselves the simple truth. Also, most of the kidnapping stories you hear, some of them are stage-managed by people.”

Police Nab Killer of Wuse Market Offender

FCT Commissioner of Police, Benedict Igweh, said the correctional officer, Usman Ishaya Magaji, who shot and killed a convicted offender, Ibrahim Yahaya at Wuse market on Tuesday had been arrested for questioning.

Igweh also said sanity had been restored to the market. He assured the people that the FCT Police Command would continue to work for the security of the residents, stating that the force would continue to comb the forests bordering Niger, Kaduna, Nasarawa, and Kogi states.

Featured

NLC Laments Fuel Price Hike, Says ‘We Feel Betrayed’

Published

3 days ago

September 4, 2024

Eric

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has lamented the recent increase in the price of fuel, saying the President Bola Tinubu administration betrayed them.

The Congress made the revelation in a statement signed by its president, Comrade Joe Ajaero, on Tuesday, and made available to newsmen.

He wrote:

WE FEEL BETRAYED

We are filled with a deep sense of betrayal as the federal government clandestinely increases the pump price of pms. One of the reasons for accepting N70,000 as national minimum wage was the understanding that the pump price of pms would not be increased even as we knew that N70,000 was not sufficient.

We recall vividly when Mr President gave us the devil’s alternatives to choose from: either N250,000 as minimum wage (subject to the rise of the pump price between N1,500 and N2,000) and N70,000 (at old pms rates), we opted for the latter because we could not bring ourselves to accept further punishment on Nigerians.

But here we are, barely one month after and with government yet to commence payment of the new national minimum wage, confronted by a reality we cannot explain.

It is both traumatic and nightmarish.

Yet, when we told government that it’s approach to resolving the fuel subsidy contradictions was patently faulty and would not last, it’s front row cheer leaders sneered at us, saying we did not understand basic economics.

But if truth be told, this act of betrayal is consistent with the character of this government. We recall the assurances we were given by the leadership of the National Assembly on the 250% tariff hike, that it had been dealt with and there was no need to openly engage the Minister of Power who was at that meeting.

Instead of the promised reversal, the rate has since been jerked up further putting more Nigerians and businesses in jeopardy.

The combined effects of government’s ferocious right -wing market policies brought Nigerians and Nigeria to their all-time low and led to the End-Hunger/End Bad Governance protests.

Rather than make amends, government arrested and hounded into detention some of those who took part and some of those who had nothing to do with these protests, charging them with criminal conspiracy, subversion, treasonable felony, terrorism financing and cyber crime with an intent to overthrow the government of President Tinubu.

The police and other security agencies have since been on rampage terrorising the citizenry in pursuance of government’s agenda of muzzling lawful dissent.

In brazen pursuit, they have defamed and libelled not a few individuals.

They have gone as far as appropriating the statutory roles of the Ministry of Labour and Employment in resolving trade dispute matters and issues considered outside the jurisdiction of the security agencies.

That the government is on rampage in the face of stifling conditions of living is an understatement but we promise Nigerians that we at the Nigeria Labour Congress will not be cowed into submission. Together with civil society, we brought about this democracy when some of the actors in power today were conspiring with the military on how to perpetuate their hold on political power.

When the State and the security forces picked on us in a hybrid war, we had our suspicions. We knew they were up to something sinister and needed to distract/divert our attention or possibly frighten or weaken us before they came out with it so that we would not have a robust response.

Now that they chickens have come to roost, we were right in our suspicions. However, we want to let Nigerians know that the clandestine/surreptitious increase in the pump price of pms is the first among the equally sinister policies government has up its sleeve.

On our part, we stand resolute with the people and will neither be distracted nor intimidated by the government or its security agencies.

We insist that government cannot criminalise protests or basic rights in the domain of the citizenry.

Accordingly, we demand the immediate:
1). Reversal of the latest increase in the pump of pms across the country;

2). Release of all those incarcerated or being prosecuted on the assumption of having participated in the recent protests;

3). Halt the indiscriminate arrest and detention of citizens on trumped up charges;

4). Reversal of the 250% tariff hike in electricity;

5). Stop to the hijack of the duties of the Ministry of Labour and Employment;

6). End to policies that engender hunger and insecurity;

7). Halt to government’s culture of terror, fear and lying.

We are guided by our belief in our country and the need to secure and sustain its sovereignty, integrity and welfare of the people.

In the coming days, the appropriate organs of the Congress will be meeting to take appropriate decisions which will be made public.

Featured

Falana Condemns Treason Charges Against #EndBadGovernance Protesters

Published

3 days ago

September 4, 2024

Eric

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana, has criticized the rising use of treason charges against protesters in Nigeria.

Falana, who spoke at a two-day international conference on anti-corruption and climate change in Abuja on Tuesday, condemned these charges.

On Monday, the Federal government charged 10 leaders and organizers of the #EndBadGovernance protest, which occurred from August 1 to 10, 2024. The protesters appeared before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, facing treason charges among other allegations.

The defendants; Michael Adaramoye (also known as Lenin), Adeyemi Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaoluwa Simon, Angel Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello, Nuradeen Khamis, and Abdulsalam Zubairu, pleaded not guilty to the six-count indictment filed by Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun.

The charges outlined in case number FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024 include treason, attempts to destabilize the country, intimidation of the President, and the destruction of government property in Kano.

The #EndBadGovernance protests, which drew significant attention in August, were part of a broader movement demanding greater accountability and reforms in Nigeria’s governance.

Falana expressed grave concerns about what he termed the “tribalisation” of treason, questioning the logic behind charging citizens with such a serious offense simply for protesting.

“I have been under pressure in the last 24 hours from Nigeria and abroad. People are wondering why the charge of treason is being tribalised in our country. How can you say that because people protested, they are being charged with treason?” Falana asked.

Assuring the public that there is no reason for alarm, Falana revealed that he has taken up the case and plans to advise President Bola Tinubu to instruct the police to withdraw the charges.

“All those who have expressed concern, do not be bothered; there is no cause for alarm. We are taking up the case, and we are going to advise the government, particularly the President, to direct the police to withdraw the charge. And that advice is also in the interest of the government because a treason charge is not like a charge of stealing,” Falana said.

He highlighted his experience defending treason cases, noting that this would be his fifth such case. “In the four previous cases, the government was compelled to withdraw the charges because we turned the case into the trial of the government,” Falana added.

He warned that misuse of treason charges could have negative repercussions for the government, citing past experiences as evidence.

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PDP Govs Call Wike’s Bluff, Says Threat Irresponsible, Reiterates Support for Fubara

Published

4 days ago

September 3, 2024

Eric

The governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party have slammed former Rivers State Governor, and Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and labelled his threats as unbridled and irresponsible.

On August 24, the PDP Governors’ Forum expressed support for Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara, and called on the party’s NWC to grant him his “rightful” position as the leader of the party in the state.

In response, Wike announced over the weekend at the PDP secretariat in Port Harcourt that he would take firm action against PDP-controlled states that threatened his political structure in the state.

He stated “Let me assure all of you, not while we live will anybody take away the structure of the PDP from us. But let me tell people, I hear some governors who say they will take over the structure and give back to somebody.

“I pity those governors because I will put fire in their states. When God has given you peace, you say you don’t want peace – anything you see you take.”

Meanwhile, the forum, in a statement by its Director General, Emmanuel Agbo on Tuesday, labelled Wike’s threat as completely unacceptable.

The statement read in part, “The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF) under the chairmanship of H.E. Senator Bala Abdulkarim Mohamed (CON) and Governor of Bauchi State and all the member-Governors has been drawn to a widely circulating news story in which the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, H.E. Barrister Nyesom Wike, former Governor of Rivers State, made scathing and threatening comments regarding member-Governors of the Forum and notes the significant concerns that have been raised in the public space regarding the unity and peaceful coexistence within our party.

“The statements and threats to peaceful coexistence made by Wike to “Put fire” in the PDP controlled States are unbridled, irresponsible and without ambiguity unacceptable as it undermines efforts to build and maintain peace, cohesion, collaboration and mutual respect amongst leaders and members of the party. It is rather unfortunate that this is coming from someone who was once a member of this highly revered forum as a former governor.”

The forum emphasized its commitment to a “touch one, touch all” approach, pledging to support one another both individually and collectively, regardless of the circumstances.

It continued “A tradition Wike tremendously enjoyed in his days of travail as governor. Thus, we, therefore, maintain that our position on the affairs of the PDP in Rivers State, as unanimously resolved at our 2024, 3rd, and 4th Meetings held in Enugu and Taraba States respectively are not subject to review by any individual no matter how highly placed.

“We wish to emphasise that neither is the position of the Forum personal nor does it by any stretch of the imagination undermine the relevance of any stakeholder in the party. Rather, as loyal party faithful, members of the Forum remain committed to that pristine practice that was intended to guarantee order, eliminate conflicting centres of loyalty epitomised by the situation in Rivers State, and guard against distracting the Governor in the prosecution of his mandate. Wike benefitted wholly from that arrangement.

“We are irrevocably committed to working with the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party, the PDP, in ensuring that Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State is conferred with all the privileges he is entitled to as a Governor elected on the platform of our party, both at the state and national levels.”

The governors affirmed that their unwavering commitment to party unity is of utmost importance.

They highlighted that the PDP has always prioritised unity and collective advancement.

The PDP Governors’ Forum stated that their recent actions, including backing Fubara, demonstrate their dedication to these principles.

The Punch