News
NIS Tragedy: Senate Probes Killings
The Senate yesterday mandated four of its standing committees to undertake a fact finding tour of the country to probe the killings and violence being perpetrated against the people.
The Senate took decision at the end of its debate on a motion on the recent attacks and killings in Plateau, Benue, Kaduna and other Central Nigerian states.
It also condemned the incessant killings occasioned by the simultaneous and multiple attacks on communities and villages and observed a minute silence in honour of the dead.
The motion was sponsored by Sen. Barnabas Gemade (PDP-Benue) and five other senators from Benue, Plateau and Kaduna.
The committees are Interior, Police Affairs, Security and Intelligence, Defence and Army.
Leading the debate on the motion, Gemade stressed the need for the government to find a new strategy to combating the menace as had been adopted by other federal systems of the world.
“The nation cannot afford to remain scared of trying tested solutions adopted by other federal systems of the world.
“The pattern of federalised policing under a unitary command may have made sense under military regimes in the past but it was hardly the best in the prevailing situation of insecurity.
“These late night guerrilla style attacks and daylight mass killings of people have become the hallmark of organised and specialised terror or killer groups,” he said.
He pointed out that the danger had worsened in the North-Central and North-Eastern parts, saying that the attacks were not only incessant, but the gory details of the daily massacres were becoming more daring and horrific.
“We are worried that in a confusion of daily headlines, the situation is further degenerating to a point in which we can clearly say that we are in the middle of a civil war with multiple ill- defined fronts.”
Sen. Victor Lar (PDP-Plateau) said the guerrilla nature of the attacks indicated that the perpetrators were out to cause disintegration of the country.
“The guerrilla warfare style that is being adopted by the mercenaries is about becoming the most serious threat to the security of this country.
“If the attack is aimed at the central part of Nigeria, it means that it is aimed at the unity of this country.
“It is therefore a crisis that has the potential of tearing this country apart.’’ Lar said.
Also, Sen. Solomon Ewuga (APC-Nasarawa), observed that the incessant attacks on the various communities across the country called for collective action by political leaders.
“Let us be more serious than we are to discuss on the way insecurity has pervaded places in the North-East and in some portions of Niger Delta,” Ewuga said.
The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the proceedings, called for the decentralisation of the Nigeria Police Force.
Ekweremadu said this would ensure effective security for the people as was obtainable in other federations of the world.
He said that the present system of policing in Nigeria made it difficult for provision of effective security for the lives and property of the people across the country.
He said it was imperative for the Federal Government to consider the need for the creation of a well-coordinated and regulated police at both the states and local government levels.
“We run a federal system of government and it is completely unacceptable for us to have a federal system and for us to also have a centralised police.
“We must be able to provide sufficient police personnel that should be at least be one policeman per hundred metres away.
“And this can only be achieved if we decentralise our police, ensuring that we have state police and possibly local police that is well coordinated and regulated.
“The time has come for us to reflect on this and see how we can provide efficient security for our people,” he said.
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
As part of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary celebration, the Federal Government held a special thanksgiving service on Sunday at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja to offer prayers and give thanks for the nation.
The event drew top government officials and security chiefs, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as their spouses.
Other notable guests included Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, former Plateau State Governor, Senator Simon Lalong, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who led the service chiefs in attendance.
Service chiefs present included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nandap and Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, among others.00
The service came days after the government unveiled the official theme and some of the activities slated for the 2025 Independence celebrations.
This year’s anniversary is tagged “Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation,” as announced by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, in a statement on Wednesday.
“As part of activities to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary, the Juma’at Prayer and the Inter-Denominational Church Service will be held on Friday, 26th September at 1 pm and Sunday, 28th September at 10 am respectively, as well as the World Press Conference on Monday, 29th September at 10 am,” he said.
The Tide source had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu, alongside former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, is expected as a special guest at a national discourse convened by the Island Club, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
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