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Ex-insurgents Complete Deradicalisation Programme in Gombe
The Nigerian Army on Wednesday graduated 22 ex-Boko Haram members after undergoing months of Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) programme in Gombe State.
The graduation ceremony of the repentant terrorists took place at Malam Sidi camp in Kwami Local Government Area of the state.
In his address, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen.
Christopher Musa, said the DRR was being executed under Operation Safe Corridor (OSC), was a very significant non-kinetic approach of the Federal Government towards resolving the menace of terrorism and insurgency.Musa said that since the programme began in 2016, no fewer than 2, 168 clients had been trained and reintegrated into the society.
The CDS said he had directed the overhauling of the OSC for improved outcomes.
He said that the overhaul include modifying the curriculum, and digitising the profiling system of the participants.
Musa, who was represented by Maj.-Gen. Muhammed Ahmed, said efforts were on to reengineer the monitoring process of graduates of the scheme, especially with regard to their conducts and activities in the society.
According to him, the successes and failures of the scheme are being evaluated constantly to
ensure that it has not derail from its original focus.
The CDS assured Nigerians that the OSC was not recycling terrorists and insurgents back to the society as being peddled by mischievous people.
He said those peddling negative narrative about the programme were not only peddling falsehood but also clearly unpatriotic.
“Others have gone to the extent of alleging that the graduates of the scheme are covertly recruited into the Armed forces of Nigeria, the Nigerian Police and other related government security agencies.
“Arising from such insinuations which are mostly perpetrated by mischief makers, are misguided patriots.
“I want to reassure our citizens with all forms of patriotism and responsibility, that the Armed forces of Nigeria under my watch will not allow such unfounded imaginations to happen,” the CDS said.
Musa appealed to hosts communities where the clients would be integrated, and the entire society, to accept, tolerate and treat them kindly.
“Consider them as worthy individuals who are victims of circumstances that need help and care so as to erase agonies of terrorism and insurgency in their minds,” he said.
The Coordinator of OPS, Brig.-Gen. Suleiman Adamu, said that the 22 clients having graduated from the programme, would be reintegrated into their communities.
Adamu said that the graduating clients arrived the camp between February and April 2023, and
had undergone various activities aimed at equipping them with acceptable cultural and religious values.
The coordinator said that the clients were also subjected to various therapies to ascertain their mental state and readiness for reintegration.
According to him, the graduates did well during the deradicalisation programme and have been certified fit for graduation and reintegration into the society as better citizens of Nigeria.
Adamu commended the CDS and all critical stakeholders for their support towards ensuring that the clients became better citizens.
On his part, Mohammed Kyari, one of the graduating clients who spoke on behalf of the others, appreciated President Bola Tinubu and all officials of OSC.
Kyari assured that he and his colleagues would turn a new leaf and become good citizens of the country.
He said that they would be loyal to constituted authority and leverage their training at the camp to impact positively on their host communities.(NAN)
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Don’t Diminish Your Influence by Your Actions, Shehu Sani Tells NASS Members
A former member of the Senate, Shehu Sani, has cautioned the National Assembly against allowing its influence to be diminished by its actions.
Sani stated this while speaking at the opening of the National Assembly Legislative Aides’ Forum (NASSLAF) Week on Tuesday in Abuja.
The pro-democracy activist also urged the legislators to selflessly live up to their responsibilities, for the good of the country.
According to him, a subservient posture by the legislature is not in the interest of the country, warning that such can impede good governance and undermine democracy.
Sani compared the current national assembly with the Eighth Assembly, led by Sen.
Bukola Saraki, praising it (Eighth Assembly) for standing firm against executive’s overreach.He observed, with dismay, that the powers of the national assembly appeared to be eroded with time.
“In our time, it was unthinkable for heads of MDAs to ignore our summons. They understood the gravity of our oversight functions,” he said.
Sani warned that the current assembly risked becoming a “rubber stamp” for the executive, sacrificing its independence and weakening democratic checks and balances.
Sani, therefore, cautioned the lawmakers against prioritising their personal gains over their constitutional responsibilities.
“This institution needs respect. If you turn yourselves into stooges, you will lose that respect. Our era defended legislative independence, but it came at a cost,” he said.
The former senator further stated that their insistence on doing the right thing birthed frosty relationships with the executive and caused delay in bills’ passage, warning that excessive cooperation was dangerous, as it could breed tyranny.
Sani cited instances where heads of MDAs openly challenged lawmakers during oversight functions, a behaviour which, he said, would not have been tolerated by previous assemblies.
“The senate president must ensure that nominees for appointments and executive proposals undergo serious scrutiny. This is not a place for automatic approval,” he stated.
Sani reminded the lawmakers that their primary duty was to serve Nigerians, not the presidency.
Sani also acknowledged what he called the vital but often over-looked roles of legislative aides, describing them as the backbone of the legislature, instrumental to drafting laws and policies for the country’s governance. (NAN)
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Court Remands Man, 50, for Alleged Unlawful Possession of Gun
An Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, on Tuesday remanded a 50-year-old man, Ismaila Aborode, in a correctional facility for allegedly being in possession of a gun, life and expended cartridges.
Aborode, whose address was not provided, was charged with unlawful possession of firearms.
The Magistrate, Mrs Gladys Oladele did not take the plea of the defendant for want of jurisdiction.
She directed the police to return the casefile to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.
She adjourned the case until Jan. 7, 2025, for mention.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Samuel Owolabi told the court that the defendant allegedly committed the offence on Nov.
30, about 5.00 p.m, in Olede area of Ibadan.Owolabi said the defendant unlawfully possessed one locally made double barrel gun, one life cartridge and one expended cartridge, without lawful authority.
He said the offence contravened Section 3 of the Robbery and Firearms Laws of Nigeria, 2004. (NAN)
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Police Trust Fund Begins Construction of Divisional Station in Kogi
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Nigerian Police Trust Fund has commenced the construction of a modern Divisional Police station to enhance the security of Ekin-Adde community in Ijumu Local Government area (LGA) of Kogi.
The Executive Secretary, the Nigerian Police Trust Fund, Alh.
Mohammed Seidu, who performed the Groundbreaking over the weekend in Ekinrin-Adde, said the project would enable police personnel to have a good working environment towards a more secure society.According to him, Kogi is strategically located at the Centre of Nigeria and Ijumu LGA borders four States, and it is key to locate such a divisional station in the area.
He commended the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun for his continued support in the agency’s efforts to strengthen and provide better welfare and good working conditions for the Nigerian Police.
This, he said, had been enabling the police personnel to perform effectively in protecting the lives and property of the people.
He assured that such a project would be relocated nationwide across the 36 States of the federation including FCT.
Seidu urged the contractor to do a quality job and ensure strict compliance with the specified standard, and deliver the project within the timeframe of four months.
In his remarks, the Kogi Commissioner of Police, Bethrand Onuoha said the command was happy for the gigantic project as it would take security closer to the people at the grassroots.
“You can see that this area actually requires more security presence, and when this project is completed it will attract larger personnel to this place.
“A good working and enabling environment will bring out the best in our personnel. On our side, we are going to redouble our efforts to make sure this area is safe and secured,” Onuoha said.
The CP stressed that the police and other security agencies are committed to doing their best to make sure that Kogi remains safe especially during this festive season.
The Chairman of Ijumu LGA, Alh. Haruna Ibrahim, commended the police trust fund for the gesture, and promised to support and create an enabling environment for the success of the project.
In his address, the Olu-Ade of Ekin-Adde, HRM, Oba Anthony Bamigbaiye commended the police trust fund for the gesture, saying it was a thing that the community had been yearning for.
The royal father noted that the community with over 25,000 populations had only one policeman to secure the entire community.
He stressed that the divisional station would foster economic development and security of lives and property of the people in his domain and the entire Ijumu LGA.
The traditional ruler specifically appreciated the Executive Secretary of the police trust fund being an indigene of the community for facilitating the project to boost the security of lives and property of the people.
The Project Contractor, Alh. Toyin Abubakar of RASWAS Nig. Ltd promised to execute a quality job and delivered within the timeframe by the end of March 2025