News
Army Moves To Tame Criminals In Creeks, Others
Determined to end the upsurge of criminality in Rivers State, the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, says it would take the battle to the creeks and other identified flash points to flush out criminals and kidnappers across the state.
The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Port Harcourt, Maj-Gen Enobong Udoh, stated this during the meeting of the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN), Rivers State chapter at Somitel Hotel in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
Udoh disclosed that within the next four weeks, people of the state would witness drastic reduction in crimes, adding that the division has concluded plans to establish road blocks across all the six entry points into the state.
The GOC, who was represented at the occasion by the Commander, 6 Military Intelligence Brigade, Brig-Gen E.S. Buba, further disclosed that the division was poised to rid the state of all forms of criminality, adding that it would achieve this through robust working synergy with other security operatives in the state.
According to him, the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army was inaugurated to deal with multifarious issues threatening the four states of the South-South, including Rivers, Delta, Akwa-Ibom and Bayelsa, with a view to restoring peaceful environment in the affected states.
The GOC particularly said that kidnapping, illegal bunkering and cultism are some major crimes threatening the four states, and added that within a few weeks, positive results would be achieved in this core mandate of the new division.
He used the opportunity to appeal to the residents of the state to be ready to make some sacrifices, adding that total security cannot be achieved without some inconveniences.
“We are going to lunch our war in the creeks, I mean my words. You cannot achieve security without any inconveniences. If we inconvenience you through our strategies, please, do bear with us because we will achieve our aims and missions.
“We have identified all the entry and exit roads in the state, and we will establish road blocks on these roads”, he stated.
The commanding officer while thanking the state government for its assistance, described private security guards as important agents in crime fighting, and assured them of his support at all times.
Also speaking, the state Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mohamed Lawal Aruna, urged the association to make information gathering a critical aspect of their work in other to assist security operatives fight crime and criminalities in the state.
Represented by the Deputy Commandant, G.U. Miebi, Aruna, emphasised that the state command was satisfied with the way the association was carrying out its operations in the state, and urged them to report those unlicensed private security practitioners to the command.
In her goodwill message, Desk Officer of NSCDC in-charge of Private Security Guards in the state, Mrs. Claire Nnenna Okpo, said members of the group need not to carry arms in other to be effective in crime fighting, adding that the presence of private security guards in the society was a deterrence to criminals.
Speaking during the meeting, the state Chairman of Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN), Rev. Mark R. Abere, urged the Federal Government to enforce the ban on the use of all unregistered SIM cards to make calls, adding that the measure would help in fight against crime in the country.
According to him, those kidnappers often call the family of their victims with unregistered SIM cards, adding that it was wrong for communication service providers to allow such calls.
He assured of his association’s desire to partner with security operatives in the state in crime fighting.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.