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Tension In Abia As Bandits Raid Banks

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There was palpable fear and tension  among residents and banks in Umuahia, the Abia State capital and Aba, the commercial nerve centre, Monday, over alleged mails from armed robbers who warned of imminent attacks.

Some branches of the banks in the capital city closed down yesterday when newsmen visited their premises. Staff of the banks that pleaded anonymity confirmed that the banks received a letter from robbers notifying them of their visit.

“This is the second time we are getting such letter in one week,” a source said.

Contacted, Abia Commissioner of Police, Mr. Jonathan Johnson said no bank in Umuahia had notified the police of any such letters, but that the police would not take the rumour for granted as top security measures are being put in place to contain the situation.

He decried the attitude of some persons or institutions that hoard information from security operatives.

However, he expressed concern over the security situation in the state, but said his men were on top of it.

“Our handicap is that our riffles cannot be compared with that used by the hoodlums, but we are on top of the situation,” he assured.

He said additional 1000 mobile policemen had been deployed to the state to help beef up security.

Investigations by our source have revealed that while some banks refused to open for business, others operated under tight security as customers and visitors were subjected to serious security checks.

Meanwhile, the Abia State Government has re-assured residents of Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state of their maximum security and protection.

Special Adviser to Governor Theodore Orji on Electronic Media, Mr. Ugochukwu Emezue who gave the assurance in Umuahia while reacting on security situation in Aba , appealed to bank workers in Aba to resume operations in the interest of the innocent members of the public.

He assured that the security apparatus has been reinforced to contain the new wave of bank robbery in the city.

While dispelling rumour that Abia has become a lawless state, the governor’s aide said that crime rate in the state especially bank robbery has reduced significantly until the recent incidents.

While appreciating the efforts of the police in combating crime in the state, he decried the withdrawal of soldiers from the joint military patrol teams and urged the military authorities to return their men to complement the efforts of the police.

He urged robbers and perpetrators of other violent crimes to embrace the current amnesty offer granted to kidnappers by the state government and key into the Federal Government amnesty package for a better and legitimate means of livelihood.

Emezue said the state government is consulting the Chinese embassy on a possible skill acquisition programme in China for the repentant criminals.

 It will be recalled that banks in Aba embarked on impromptu and indefinite strike after last Tuesday’s raid of some banks in the commercial city by armed bandits who carted away undisclosed sums of money.

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Adeniyi’s Impersonator Faces Trial, Knows Fate, July 3

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The Federal High Court sitting in the Central Business District of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has conducted a hearing of one Ibrahim Shu’aibu, a 50-year-old man, for assuming the character of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, among other distinguished personalities in Nigeria, to commit fraudulent activities.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) had in January addressed the media about the suspect’s apprehension by the Service’s Police Unit following his involvement in fraudulent activities, which included luring numerous citizens to pay him money for the issuance of job appointment letters.
During the court hearing, the lead Counsel of the NCS, Abidemi Adewumi-Aluko, said the accused was arraigned on a nine-count charge to which the defendant pleaded not guilty.
Justice Binta Nyako, the Presiding judge, adjourned the hearing to Wednesday, 3 July 2024, and ordered that the accused be remanded with the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the fulfillment of bail requirements.

By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

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Trans-Border Trade Setback: Shippers’ Council Pledges Support For ITC 

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The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has expressed readiness to support the International Trade Centre (ITC) as part of measures toward resolving challenges faced by trans-border traders and trade facilitation.
Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Barr. Pius Akutah, disclosed this in Lagos last Friday, when  delegates of ITC, paid a working visit on a fact finding mission.
While harping on the role of the Council as an ombudsmen in port operations, Akutah emphasized that trade facilitation is a major initiative of the NSC, pledging to provide the necessary support to ensure the success of the study brought forward by the ITC team.
He noted that the study will strengthen the Council’s ability to formalize informal trade at border areas, gather statistics, and plan for trade volumes.
Akutah stated that the focus of the study is on agricultural products, as a significant area of potential for Nigeria, not only in the African region, but also globally.
He expressed optimism that the study will help develop skills and improve operations at the Border Information Centre (BIC) managed by the Council.
“Trade facilitation is one of the major aspect of what we do so we are going to give you the necessary support to achieve the success that is desired.
“The study will help us to plan and develop more skills in terms of what we do at the Border Information Centre. Shippers Council is a partner and I want us to take our partnership to the next level that will focus on engagement with our stakeholders”, Akutah noted.
Speaking earlier during the courtesy visit to the NSC headquarters, Associate Programme Officer, ITC, Richard Eke- Metoho, who led the delegation, said the visit to the Council was part of the team’s ongoing study to identify areas for improvement in trade facilitation, particularly at border crossing points.
He stated the importance of collecting data from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, which manages a border information center at Seme-Krake border.
According to him, some of the identified challenges faced by traders and truck drivers using the Seme-Krake border, a key trade route is the number of checkpoints and lack of scanners.
He said information collected by the team will not only identify existing trade facilitation measures that are working effectively, but also lead to the development of new trade facilitation measures that address the challenges faced by traders
He said, “We are here to collect experience from the Nigerian Shippers Council.
“From our interactions with the Shippers Council, we keep finding similar problem faced by traders, most especially on the number of checkpoints and scanners that are really needed especially for transporters and truck drivers.
“It is still an ongoing study. The more information we collect right now, the more it will help us to make more informed decision process. At the end of the study, we will be able to develop a report that will pinpoint all the main obstacles that traders are facing”.

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Customs Condemns Attack On Officers In Katsina

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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has condemned the brutal attack on its officers and men at the Gamji Makaho checkpoint in the Dankama area of Katsina State on April 17, 2024, which claimed the life of Customs Assistant II Auwal Haruna.
The Service vowed that it would stop at nothing in securing justice for the victims of the attack.
NCS also said it would rejig its anti-smuggling operations while strengthening collaborations with other sister security agencies as part of measures to reinforce the fight against smuggling.
Speaking on the resolve of the management to pursue the matter to its logical conclusion, Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi extended his heartfelt condolences to the family and colleagues of CA II Auwal Haruna.
He disclosed that the service, in close collaboration with other security agencies, is tirelessly working towards “apprehending the perpetrators of this reprehensible act and ensure they face the full consequences of the law.
“Violence against our officers is utterly unacceptable, and we will pursue every avenue to bring those responsible to justice.
“The safety of our personnel and the security of our borders remain paramount. We are committed to working with traditional rulers, government bodies, and sister agencies to combat this heinous crime against our personnel”.
He further reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the service under his watch to combating smuggling and other cross-border crimes, adding that the Service will not falter in its mission to uphold the laws of the land and protect the interests of the Nigerian people.
The CGC said: “Intelligence available to us indicates that certain unpatriotic community members are harbouring suspected accomplices involved in this heinous crime.
“We implore these individuals to embrace patriotism by aligning with the laws and refraining from condoning illegality. It is in the best interest of our communities and nation to collaborate with law enforcement agencies to root out criminal elements and ensure that justice prevails”.

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