Connect with us

Opinion

Kuje Prison Break: A Prelude

Published

on

Since 2015,  Nigeria has  suffered the average of two prison breaks per year. On the whole, there has been a total of 15 prison breaks, leading to the escape of 7000 inmates. In 2020 alone, the Nigerian Correctional Service(NCoS) recorded a total of 5000 escapees due to prison breaks. However, the audacity of the July 4 Kuje prison break has taken the issue of prison breaks in Nigeria to an entirely new dimension. The idea  that a terrorist group like the Islamic State of West  Africa Province (ISWAP) could bring in their assets, and brazenly attack NCoS facility that is in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for two hours,  indicates that the security architecture of the country has collapsed.
This is indeed a challenge to  President Muhammadu Buhari, whose predecessor, former president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, a man without any military orientation,  yet never recorded prison breaks as rampant as it has been in the past seven years. The  president’s incpacitation in addressing security matters in the nation has excused  the flaws of  the Minister for Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, and his defence counterpart, Bashir Magashi, against the people’s expectation. Apparently, with the tedium of prison breaks since last year, he has shown himself as lacking the capacity to make changes in the middle of the game to win. If the report that the terrorists attacked the facility with 300 men is true, then nowhere is safe in the country; not even Aso Rock which is 47 Km, or 56 minutes drive away.
It is then necessary to question the function of the security agencies, especially, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Department of State Service (DSS), the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), or the Intelligence Unit of the Nigerian Police Force. Have  they not all  demonstrated gross incompetence? Going by the figure made available by the NCoS, more than 400 escapees are still at large out of the 879; and some leaders of Boko Haram are among the 69 escapees that are terrorists. At the scenes of the attack, all President Buhari could offer was his disappointment. In his words, “I am disappointed with the Intelligence system. How can terrorists organise, ship weapons, attack a security installation and get away with it? You can imagine how this Commander-in-Chief has brought the highest office in the land and the country to ridicule.
At this point, how can we be sure that he even pays attention to the contents of his security briefing? Because. if he does, he ought to have known of the collapse of the intelligence gathering system of the country. Maybe, his ignorance was the outcome of his ineptitude at choosing the right people and matching them with responsibilities in the areas of their strength. If not, Rauf Aregbesola would have known the business running the Ministry of Interior. It was even hard for him to get the number of escaped inmates right. Instead of tendering his resignation, the minister concocted a theory, implying that the brazen attack was a result of the degradation of Boko Haram in the North East. He seems completely oblivious of the level of planning and resources involved in executing such an attack. Degradation is just a way of saying the government has its face in the mud.
With the series of prison breaks since 2015, both ministers ought to have been on top of their game.  According to the Minister of Interior “We have a world class facility here by any standard”, but there were no CCTV cameras installed in the facility. Even the comments of the Senate President, Armed Lawal, put it quite succinctly during his visit to the facility when he said, “How on earth does a centre of this magnitude in the FCT not have any CCTV? It means we can say that all other medium security custodial centres across the country do not have CCTV.” During the attack, four inmates were reported to have died, while sixteen others sustained varying degrees of injuries. Unfortunately, vital information is missing from the report, indicating if the dead or wounded inmates were awaiting trial or convicted. Imagine an innocent inmate awaiting trial cut in the crossfire, and maybe, killed in the process.
Prison breaks in Nigeria have become a reoccurring decimal, growing in scale, intensity, and sophistication.  Under President Buhari, there have been 15 major prison breaks, leading to the escape of more than 7,000 inmates. In fact, the first major breaking in the country this year was the Mandala Prison break in Ilorin, on January 2, 2022, where three inmates escaped; followed by the prison break on May 13, 2022, at Agbor prison, Delta State, leading to the escape of another three inmates. And July 4, 2022, Kuje Prison break, where an uncertain number of inmates escaped, including 69 Boko Haram commanders.
The year 2021 was the official year for prison breaks; on April 4, 2021, in the Owerri prison break, 1,844 inmates escaped; on September 13, 2021, in Kabba prison break, Kogi, 240 inmates were freed; on October 22, 2021, in Abolongo prison, Oyo break, 837 inmates escaped; on July 19, 2021, in Jos maximum security prison break, four inmates escaped. On November 28, 2021, in Jos medium security prison attack, 262 inmates escaped and 10 were killed. On October 19, 2020, Oko Prison in Edo was attacked during the EndSARS saga; on October 21, 2020, another Benin Prison break saw 1,993 inmates escape from the two facilities; on October 22, 2020, in Okitipupa prison break, 58 inmates were released.
On June 4, 2018 – Minna Maximum Security prison break, 210 inmates’ escaped. On October 7, 2017, the Enugu Maximum prison break happened and two inmates escaped; on December 27, 2017, IkotEkpene Prison was attacked and 47 inmates escaped. On September 3, 2015, in Sokoto Remand Home break, 13 inmates escaped. The ominous nature of this incident portends grave danger for the safety of law-abiding citizens. It means that these men can be in any part of the country, on the bus, or loitering around your neighbourhood. The sad part is that most of these convicts know no other way of life, but crime; but, the truth is, the escape of common or hardened criminals is nothing to be compared to the escape of terrorist commanders who are leading the war on Nigeria’s destruction.
For instance, one of the escaped Boko Haram commanders was seen in a viral video that emerged two Sundays ago, where kidnapped victims of the ill-fated Abuja/ Kaduna train attacks were being flogged. How shall we then protect ourselves living in a country with an upended security infrastructure, especially when the Commander-in-Chief who took an oath to protect us is eager to leave office, instead of getting down to the saddle to fight the war started by his policies? Death is staring us in the faces because of the murderous incompetence, and nepotism of President Buhari, but he was in Liberia giving a lecture on security. There is an Igbo aphorism, that you do not chase rats, while your house is on fire.
President Buhari would have been declared a hero if he toed the line of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Mohammed, and resigned; or,  listened to his kinsmen from the Northern Elders Forum and do all of us the favour of handing over to a more competent and energetic Vice President Osibanjo. Of course, this would never happen; we all are like sheep for the slaughter. God save us all.

By: Raphael Pepple

Continue Reading

Opinion

Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance 

Published

on

Quote:”But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged”.

The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.

The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.

For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.

President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.

The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.

Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.

The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.

But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.

It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.

Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.

The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.

Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.

Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.

Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.

Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.

Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.

“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.

The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.

As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.

The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.

By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator

Continue Reading

Opinion

Checking Herdsmen Rampage

Published

on

Quote:”
Do the Fulani herdsmen have an expansionists agenda, like their progenitor, Uthman Dan Fodio? Why are they everywhere even the remotest part of other areas in Nigeria harassing, maiming, raping and killing the owners of the land?”
According to reports,   suspected Fulani herdsmen on June 25, 2025 invaded Ueken, the ancestral home of the Tai Kingdom, in the Ogoni Ethnic Nationality of Rivers State and murdered one  Goodluck Dimkpa, a father of one. The attack has reportedly caused panic and led to residents fleeing the community. It also generated coordinated protests from aggrieved Ogoni youths.
In a swift reaction, The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) decried and  strongly condemned the  invasion  by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

In his denunciation,  MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply troubling, warning against a recurrence of the violence experienced in Benue State. “The killing of yesterday is bad and very unfortunate. We are getting preliminary information about how the herders gained access to the farmland, and it appears some hoodlums may be collecting money and granting access illegally.”

He called on the Hausa community in Rivers State to intervene swiftly to prevent further attacks.
“We want the Hausa community in Rivers State to take urgent action to ensure these issues are resolved”.
But will such appeal and requests end the violent disposition of the Fulani herdsmen? It is not saying something new that the escalating threat and breach of peace across the country by the Fulani herdsmen or those suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, leaves much to be desired in a country that is bedevilled by multi-dimensional challenges and hydra-headed problems.

On June 13-14, 2025, about 200 adults and children were reported to have been gruesomely murdered and burnt in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, by suspected herdsmen who stormed the community, attacked the innocent people, and wreaked  havoc described as one the deadliest attacks in the Middle Belt of Nigeria, in recent times.Two days before the Yelewata senseless massacre, precisely on June 11, 2025, about 25 people were killed in Makurdi still by people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.
Plateau State, Southern Kaduna and other Middle Belt States have their own tales of woe from the unprovoked attacks by the Fulani herdsmen leading to loss of lives and properties.
Some upland Local Government Areas  of Rivers State, such as Etche, Omuma, Emohua, Ikwerre, Oyigbo, Abua, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, have severally recounted their ordeals, as herdsmen invaded farmlands, destroyed crops, raped female farmers and killed protestant residents.

In my considered view the Fulani herdsmen whom life means nothing to, have gone too far. The right to life and property are fundamental but the  herdsmen’s invasions violate such inalienable rights of the people.Already Nigeria seems to exist on a precipice with the majority of her about 200 million people groaning in the quagmire of unpopular economic policies, reprehensible democratic practices translating to a gale of decampment to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) which is a tell-tale sign of an imminent one party State, looting of public funds with impunity and barefaced corruption in all sectors of the nation.
Nigerians, therefore, cannot afford to live with the debilitating consequences that the activities of the Fulani herdsmen portend in the face of the trending precarious socio-political and economic challenges. In fact, in all the States like Benue, Borno, Plateau, where incessant herdsmen attacks are frequent, residents live in petrified fear because of the disregard and disrespect for the sanctity of human lives. This fear leads to gross lack of development.
The governors of those States though Chief security officers, seem to be incapacitated, to carry out the primary responsibility of protection of lives and property of their citizens as enshrined in the grand norm. The mayhem caused by herdsmen in many states of Nigeria has left indelible pains in some families and communities, sufficient enough to make the government to control the activities of the herdsmen.
Some of these men who claim to ply their occupation are seen carrying lethal weapons. Which law in Nigeria gives people right to illegally possess weapons? How could the herders publicly carry lethal weapons without security operatives’ arresting and questioning them? The Fulani herdsmen, it’s not out of place to say,  are above the law. Because of their possession of weapons, the herdsmen are licensed to destroy lives, property and crops-the source of livelihood of others, thereby increasing food insecurity, poverty, hunger,  hostility and lack of development.
Do the Fulani herdsmen have an expansionists agenda, like their progenitor, Uthman Dan Fodio? Why are they everywhere even the remotest part of other areas in Nigeria harassing, maiming, raping and killing the owners of the land? Such nonsense must be made to stop, no matter whose ox is gored. Security operatives should be proactive to check  attempts of Fulani herdsmen to breach the peace. They should arrest and prosecute culprits because Fulani herdsmen who perpetrate  the heinous  acts have always been allowed to go  non reprimanded.
There is need to enhance vigilance and community coordination while residents should be alert,  take necessary precautions and work with traditional rulers, chiefs, youth leaders and local vigilante to stem the ugly trend.
Again the wanton destruction of lives and properties which no doubt has overwhelmed the Nigerian Police, makes the clamour for State Police, indispensable. The National Assembly should consider the amendment of the Constitution to allow States to have their Statutory policing agencies.
Igbiki Benibo
Continue Reading

Opinion

Is Nigeria Democratic Nation?

Published

on

As insurgency has risen to an all time high in the country were killings has now grown to be a normal daily activity in some part of the nation it may not be safe to say that Nigeria still practices democracy.

Several massacres coming from the Boko Haram and the herdsmen amongst all other insurgencies which have led to the destruction of homes and killing, burning of communities especially in the northern part of the country. All these put together are result of the ethnic battles that are fought between the tribes of Nigeria and this can be witnessed in Benue State where herders and farmers have been in constant clashes for ages. They have experienced nothing but casualties and unrest.

In the month of June 13-14, the Yelwata attack at the Guma Local Government Area by suspected gunmen or herdsmen who stormed the houses of innocent IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) claiming the lives of families, both adults and children estimated to be 200 victims. They were all burnt alive by these unknown gunmen.

This has been recorded as one of the deadliest insurgencies that had happened in recent years.  Some security personnel that were trying to fight the unknown gunmen also lost their lives.

Prior to the Yelewata attack, two days before the happening, similar conflict took place in Makurdi on June 11, 2025. 25 people were killed in the State. Even in Plateau State and the Southern Kaduna an attack also took place in the month of June.

All other states that make up the Middle Belt have been experiencing the farmers/herders clash for years now and it has persisted up till recent times, claiming lives of families and children, homes and lands, escalating in 2025 with coordinated assaults.

Various authorities and other villagers who fled for safety also blamed the herdsmen in the State for the attack that happened in Yelwata community.

Ehebha  God’stime is an Intern with The Tide.

Continue Reading

Trending