NEWS
Drone Bombing: Group Condoles Families, Kaduna Govt over Death Toll
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
Some groups recently, commiserated with the families, people, and Government of Kaduna State over the unfortunate, mistaken bombing of some innocent civilians in the Tudun Biri area of Igabi Local Government Area, LGA, in the state.
The group which said it received the news of the development in Kaduna with serious pain, appealed to residents to believe in the ability of the nation’s Armed Forces to enthone a secured Nigeria for the betterment of all citizens.
The coalition is led by a foremost African peace-building group, Global Peace and Life Rescue Initiative (GOPRI), which noted that the military drone was in hot pursuit of some terrorists that infiltrated some communities in the area before the unfortunate incident.
While expressing its heartfelt condolences to the families, people, and government of the state, the group, however, took a swipe at a call for the resignation or sack of the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff, by a northern-based group operating as Arewa Action Group for Good Governance.
Recall that the Arewa group on Tuesday, had alleged that the action of the Nigerian Army has cast a shadow on the human rights rating of the Nigerian Army.
The group, in a statement signed by Moses Saleh, accused the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa, of conniving with the Nigerian Army to cause havoc in communities in Kaduna State.
The group said the Chief of Defence Staff sanctioned the action of the Nigerian Army without the involvement of the Nigerian Air Force, the service responsible for air operations.
But in its reaction to the allegation, the GOPRI-led coalition expressed disappointment at the claim by the northern group even as it said such a group was not in existence anywhere in Nigeria or beyond.
In a statement issued by the coalition, they called on the military chiefs not to be deterred in their relentless efforts to rid Nigeria of terrorists following the actions of some faceless individuals masquerading under some nonexisting groups.
In the statement signed by the, the Executive Director of Global peace and life rescue initiative GOPRI, Amb. Melvin Ejeh, the Convener of the Conference of Islamic Preachers in Africa (CIPA), Sheikh Mohammad Abubarkar Zango, the coalition commended President Bola Tinubu over the high-powered delegation he dispatched to the community for immediate assessment of the situation.
The group which said though it does not speak for the military, said the Nigerian military remains one of the best in the world, noting that a single mistake should not be a yardstick to attack the nation’s revered military who are making sacrifices and achieving monumental results daily.
It said: “In as much as we won’t want to join issues with the nonexisting group, we will not also sit on the fence while some enemies of the country succeed in their desperate clandestine plan to pitch Nigerians against the military and its leadership.
“The Global Fire Power (GFP), an institution that ranks the military of different countries, recently rated the Nigerian military as one of the best in the world, in its survey.
“This places Nigeria above 18 European countries namely: Denmark, Belgium, Portugal, Bulgaria, Austria, Ireland, Macedonia, Finland, Hungary, Croatia, Slovakia, Serbia, Albania, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Anybody in doubt can do their research,” the coalition said.
The coalition added: “We are saddened over the unfortunate deaths of innocent civilians in Kaduna State.
“Our hearts go to the immediate family of the deceased. We sympathize with the families, people, and Government of Kaduna State over this regrettable incident. We call on the Government to make adequate arrangements for the families the deceased left behind.”
It added: “We commend President Tinubu over the high-powered delegation he dispatched to the community for immediate assessment of the situation.
However, we are saddened and shocked by the reckless, and irresponsible derogatory, defamatory, and inciting statement issued by a faceless sponsored group, operating under the name, Arewa Action Group for Good Governance, against our revered Chief of Defence Staff,
CDS, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja, at a time Nigerians are mourning. “
According to the coalition, “This group which has no visibility and physical address anywhere in the country according to our investigation, is just out to play their paymasters’s script just to tarnish the good reputation of the CDS and COAS to cause bad blood between them and Nigerians.”
The coalition said it did not see how an operational hazard would translate to be caused by the CDS and COAS.
“While we are not trying to justify the killing of innocent Nigerians under any guise, however, credible intelligence available to us suggests that the soldiers were in hot pursuit of some terrorists who had infiltrated the communities on that faithful day,” it said.
The group said, “Operational hazard happens anywhere in the world no matter how advanced.”
It advised Nigerians against playing politics with issues of national security rather than coming together to solve the problem.
“While we call on the government and military high command to ignore the faceless group, we appeal to the DSS to commence an immediate investigation to unravel the sponsors of the faceless group who are out to malign the office of CDS and COAS. Their action is capable of causing religious and ethnic unrest,” it tasked.
The Nigeria Police Force says individuals who have attained the age of criminal responsibility must be answerable for their actions, regardless of biological age.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Saturday in Abuja said the provision was very clear under the Nigerian law.
He said the provision was in line with global practices, where accountability was upheld for young individuals who commit serious offenses.
Adejobi said the clarification followed public opinion over the arraignment of 76 alleged minors over terrorism, arson and treasonable felony by the Nigeria Police.
According to him, in managing the detention and arraignment of these suspects, the Nigeria Police has rigorously adhered to legal provisions to ensure fairness and accountability under the rule of law.
He said the suspects were initially presented in court, where they were formally charged, with a remand order issued by the court.
“Throughout this process, the police have worked to balance justice with compassion, ensuring that each suspect’s basic rights and privileges are respected, including access to medical care and other necessary provisions.
“An unexpected incident in court saw six of the suspects suddenly rush out and faint on Oct. 1, drawing media attention in a deliberate and scripted manner to draw negative attention.
“Medical aid was promptly provided to these individuals, demonstrating the Police Force’s commitment to the welfare of those in its custody, irrespective of the allegations they face.
“While committed to upholding justice, the Nigeria Police Force remains sensitive to the rights of all individuals, including young persons,” he said.
According to him, as seen in other jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, age does not exempt individuals from facing legal consequences.
He said the Nigeria Police was aware of public interest in the case and assured that its officers would maintain professionalism throughout the legal process.
Adejobi enjoined the public to view the case without undue bias, adding that the force remains focused on a transparent pursuit of justice.
He said the force would remain committed to aligning with best practices, upholding both the rule of law and respect for human dignity. (NAN)
Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun, on Saturday awarded 91 students of the institution First Class (Honours) at its 16th Convocation Ceremonies.
The convocation ceremonies are for the 2023/2024 academic session.
Ojediran said that a total of 969 students graduated in the academic session.
He said that they comprised the 91 students who made First Class grade, 505 who secured Second Class (Upper Division), 313 with Second Class (Lower Division) and 60 graduating with Third Class.
The vice-chancellor said that 220 students were graduating in the post-graduate category.
Mr Sally Farouk from the university’s Department of Architecture emerged the overall best student with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.
94, according to Ojediran.He said that the institution set out to proffer best solutions from collective knowledge, shared experiences and resources, recognising that education was a lifelong activity.
The vice-chancellor lauded the staff of the university for cooperation and dedication to giving the students quality education.
“You have joined hands with the management of the institution to work on this fertile ground,” he said.
The Pro-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Bart Nnaji, said that university was the first private university of technology in Nigeria, noting that it was established in 2005.
Nnaji said that the institution had made remarkable achievements in teaching and research as part of its vision to contribute to the growth and development of Nigeria.
“Let me also congratulate the graduating students who have distinguished themselves through their hard work and discipline and are being rewarded today.” he said.
In his remarks, the Chancellor of the institution, Dr Ibrahim Dankwambo, commended former President Olusegun Obasanjo for contributions to education development in the country.
Dankwambo also congratulated a former Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Peter Okebukola, and the Executive Director of Sahara Group, Mr Temitope Shonubi, for honorary doctoral degree given them by the university.
Report says that Okebukola and Shonubi were conferred with the degree for their outstanding pedigrees and services to humanity. (NAN)
The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has said that suspects arrested during the #Endbadgovernance protest in August 2024 were not remanded in any of its adult custodial centres in Abuja.
The Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO) Abubakar Umar confirmed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.
our correspondent gathered that the suspects arrested for treason during the #Endbadgovernance protest that held in August 2024, were on Friday, arraigned before Justice Obiora Egwuatu at the Federal High Court, Abuja Division.
Umar said that there were misleading reports making the rounds in some sections of the media purporting that the suspects were remanded in one of the adult custodial centres in Abuja.
According to the NCoS spokesman, the said report has no iota of truth.
”The service operates under the best correctional and global practices.
“To set records straight, the NCoS Act 2019 has empowered the Controllers of Corrections as well as Superintendents-in-charge of Custodial Centres not to admit juveniles in facilities meant for adults.
“The Act also mandates the service to reject more intake of inmates where it is apparent that the custodial facility in question is filled to capacity.
“The service wishes to inform the public that the said suspects were rejected and none of them were remanded in adult custodial facilities as insinuated by the said report.
“The service assures the public that NCoS will continue to emphasise professionalism as well as respect for human rights in line with the United Nations Minimum Standard Rules for the Treatment of Juvenile offenders.
“Furthermore, the general public is enjoined to disregard the said report because it is not the true position of things,”he said.(NAN)
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