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Abuja In Panic As Security Committee Bars Vigilantes From Using Firearms
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Security Committee has introduced a Code of Conduct barring members of the vigilante groups operating in the various communities in the territory from using prohibited firearms.
The Director of Information and Communication, FCT, Mr Muhammad Sule, disclosed this in a statement, yesterday, in Abuja.
Sule explained that in the newly established Code of Conduct for the group, the security committee also prohibited them from carrying out any operation without the presence of the police or the express approval of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), in their jurisdiction.
However, members of the vigilante were permitted to possess and use weapons for self-defence or other lawful purposes as allowed by the DPO.
“These were some of the decisions reached by the FCT Security Committee at its 11th meeting, presided over by the Minister, Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Bello, in Gwarinpa I District, Abuja.”
“Similarly, the new code required that any member of the group, who recovers a hazardous weapon from a criminal suspect is expected to keep a detailed account and report to the police for further investigation.”
He also revealed that the committee permitted the vigilante group to arrest anyone who violated the laws of the land as allowed under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
“It agreed that any community desirous of establishing a vigilante group should apply and obtain the approval of the DPO within the locality.
“On the recruitment of members of the group, the FCT Security Committee, which is the highest decision-making body on security matters, resolved that the process must be supervised by the Community Accountability Forum (CAF)/Security Committee of the community concerned.
“The CAF is to ensure a fair representation of all segments of society and avoid religious, political, and ethnic persuasion.”
Meanwhile, the director said that the meeting also agreed that all those to be recruited must be properly profiled by the community leaders and security agencies.
He said that the FCT Administration encouraged communities to form vigilante groups to complement the work of security agencies, especially in gathering intelligence and boosting the fight against criminals.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman, has cautioned foreign countries over terror alert in Nigeria.
Usman said foreign countries should stop informing the public about terror alerts.
The police boss said the recent terror alert should have been given to the police and not the public.
The United States and United Kingdom governments released a security alert.
In a travel advisory, they urged their citizens to stay away from Abuja due to the planned terrorists’ attacks.
They also urged their citizens to vacate Abuja until the terror alert is dealt with.
However, the IGP assured the general public of their safety.
The IGP spoke while inaugurating a police station and barracks in Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State.
He said, “How can you enter the country and said there is security alert, you didn’t inform the police, and you go around telling your people; don’t go to Abuja, return from Abuja.
“When you have information on security, it is proper to inform the police and we will find a way to tackle it, instead of taking it to the public.
“We are working in synergy with other security agencies to ensure the safety of residents.”
Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.