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Gunmen Kill APC Publicity Secretary, Relaxation Spot Owner in Plateau
From Jude Dangwam, Jos
Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Plateau State Chapter, Sylvanus Namang is said to have been killed by suspected kidnappers at a relaxation spot alongside with the owner of the joint Mr Sunny Best Okwonko.
Namang was said to have been killed on Saturday around 7:00pm at Sunny Best relaxation spot in Pankshin town of Pankshin Local Government Area of the state.
A source around the area who narrated to our correspondent via telephone, on condition of anonymity said gunmen stormed the Sunny Best and shot sporadically.
“The owner of the relaxation spot, Sunny Best Okwonko seemed to be their target.
He was the first to be shot and kidnapped away.“Somebody came and went straight into the provision store section of the relaxation spot looking for the owner of the joint.
“In fact, he asked who is the Sunny Best? Before people would realize it, he pulled his gun and shot at the owner of the shop. His colleagues came shooting and they dragged him out of the provisions store.
“Hunters and security men were busy chasing the gunmen but they were seriously firing at the hunters too.
“This thing started around 7:00pm of Saturday when businesses were still going on! It was gunshots all through up to 10:00pm. Everywhere was confusion.
“The gunmen were overpowered by the firepower of the hunters while dragging the owner of the relaxation joint into the bush.
“They matcheted him and dumped his body in the bush and run away,” the witness narrated.
The source explained that a car bearing FRCN on its number plate had earlier come and parked at the joint.
“The owner of the car also came down, relaxing before when the gunmen stormed the place and people started running helter skelter for safety.
“The owner of the car later stood up when many had run away, maybe he thought the trouble was over. Unfortunately, some gunmen were still around and they shot at him. He died instantly,” The source in Pankshin narrated.
An official of the party who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview, adding that further details on the incident were yet to be established by the party.
Namang was said to have left home on Saturday to attend a burial in Pankshin where he met his untimely death.
He was a retiree with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).
The Plateau State Commissioner of Police Plateau, Hassan Yabanet in a statement, signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Alfred Alabo said the unfortunate development targeted at Mr Sunny Okwonko but also claimed the life of one of his customers who happened to be the State Publicity Secretary of the APC in Plateau State, Sylvanus Namang.
The statement reads in part, “On the 17/02/2024 at about 2000hrs, we received information that some unknown gunmen suspected to be kidnappers, numbering about seven invaded the relaxation center of one Mr Sunny Okonkwo, located along Pankshin-Jos road and kidnapped the owner.
“While in the process, a customer, one Sylvanus Namang was shot dead by the assailants.”
Yabanet noted that men of the Pankshin Area Command engaged the hoodlums in a gun battle and due to the men’s superior gun power, they were able to foil the kidnap attempt.
“The suspects ran away with serious gunshot injuries. The victim was rescued and rushed to the General Hospital, Pankshin for treatment of both bullet and matchet injuries.
“After much struggling for his life, the victim was later confirmed dead by the medical doctor,” the police stated
Speaking on the violent crisis in Plateau State, the General Officer Controlling 3 Armour Division, Nigeria Army and Commander Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), Major General Abdusalam Abubakar lamented that crisis merchants are feeding on the lingering decades of crisis that claimed so many lives with property worth billions of naira destroyed.
The commander stated this when he received the local organizing committee of Middle Belt Journalists Forum (MBJF) on a courtesy visit led by its National President, Comrade Jonathan Ipaa at the 3 Armour Division Maxwell Khobe Cantonment Barracks.
The forum was in Jos to intimate the commander on the forthcoming National Convention/Retreat on Military/Civil Society Partnership in Mitigating Crisis in the North-Central region of Nigeria.
He said the choice of partnership is key in addressing the misgivings citizens have on the assignment of the military in the state occasioned by fake news and bad reportage that continue to fuel the insecurity bedeviling the states of the region.
Abubakar reiterated that the military can only play 30 percent role with kinetic approach while citizens and government have 70 percent of the role to play by ensuring citizens are law abiding towards optimal results in the attainment of sustainable peace in Plateau State and the region.
According to the GOC, the absence of security is peace while their presence shows insecurity in any given society and urged government and communities to play their part for the attainment of lasting peace.
Abubakar lamented that the lingering unrest in Plateau State and the North Central geopolitical zone is driven by crisis merchants and the spread of fake news.
The GOC reassured that they are not deterred but remain resolute in ensuring that the desired peace is achieved in the operational area of his assignment as GOC and commander of the special force, OPSH.
The National President of Middle Belt Journalist Forum Comrade Ipaa said the retreat billed for 28 Feb. in Jos, Plateau State on Military/Civil Society Partnership was part of the organization’s effort towards Mitigating the Crisis in the North-Central region by restoring the confidence of citizens in the security agencies for maximum results while holding the military accountable in line with their constitutional responsibilities.
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja Federal Government says it will consider using private sector funds through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) as a funding option for certain key projects in the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology.This was disclosed when the Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Dr Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh, paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr Uche Nnaji.
The meeting which was at the instance of the ICRC DG, sought partnership between the two government bodies to harness PPPs to advance critical projects that can boost the economic and technological growth of the nation. Speaking during the meeting, Dr Ewalefoh said that science and technology, if properly deployed, can serve as a key driver of the economic growth and progress of Nigeria.“Many countries around the world have used Science and Technology to drive the economic growth and prosperity of their country and people.“We are here to brainstorm with you and find ways by which we can deepen the usage of science and technology for the advancement of our country.“Over the last two decades, countries and businesses have harnessed technology and innovation for upscaling their economy and improve the efficiency in their service delivery.“That is where we want our country to go, and we believe that is the vision you are championing under the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.“It is, therefore, my aspiration that your ministry will partner with the ICRC to see areas where we can champion private sector funding through Public Private Partnership to develop some of the projects specific to the ministry,” he said.The DG informed the Minister that there was already a collaboration with an agency under its purview but stressed that there were other key areas where PPP could be harnessed to deliver laudable projects in the Ministry.He added that the commission has streamlined its processes to accelerate PPP project delivery and deliver important services to the Nigerian people, pointing out that some key private sector operators have already verbalised their desire to work with the Ministry in a PPP arrangement.In his remarks, the Minister expressed his excitement at the appointment of Dr Ewalefoh as the DG of ICRC, saying that the DG’s wealth of experience will revolutionise the PPP sphere in Nigeria, adding that, indeed, a square peg has been placed in a square hole.The Minister emphasised that the Ministry served as a key enabler of economic growth and has had the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu demonstrated through major approvals granted the Ministry.He said that the President had given approval for methanol production, saying that although the implementation process were still being finalised, foreign direct investments for the project has reached over $1.5 billion.“We want to go into beneficiation of raw materials and we have the presidential executive order number 5 to back it, such that we don’t have to export our raw materials, but process it to a level before exporting. We are looking at doing green hydrogen, too,” he said.He stressed that Nigeria could make a lot more from cassava export than it was currently making if the raw cassava was processed before export.“We believe that with ICRC, we will partner in doing things right and enabling us to forge a better outlook for most of these projects.“In methanol, we are going to involve ICRC more closely to see the way forward and how it can benefit the country better.“I am happy that you are here; coming here shows that you know what you are doing. You are taking services to those that need it,” he said.
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Gunmen suspected to be Fulani armed militia, on Wednesday night, reportedly invaded Anyiin town in the Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.
Multiple reports indicated that no fewer than 15 persons were killed in the attack, leaving several others with varying degrees of injuries while yet to be ascertained number were missing.
The attack, which was said to have been launched at about 6:30pm by the well-armed Fulani herders, caught the community unawares as the invaders reportedly emerged from different locations shooting at everyone in sight.
The attackers, who were said to be numbering about 200, were reported to be wielding AK-47 rifles and other sophisticated weapons, operated for about three hours.
An eyewitness and community leader in Anyiin town, Chief Joseph Anawah, said the armed herders overwhelmed security operatives stationed in the town because of their large numbers.
He said it was a coordinated operation, stating that the alleged Fulani terrorists took residents of the town unawares, surrounded the town and shot sporadically.
Anawah said some of the villagers who ran for their dear lives were caught in an ambush laid by the invaders.
He listed some of the victims to include: Mr Orihundu Ati, a retired primary school supervisor and the son of a kindred head.
Also killed was a son to a Chief of Staff to a former Logo council chairman, Tordoo Suswam and a relation of a late District head of Ukemberagya, Zaki John Chembe.
Anawah listed Ukemberagya, Tswarev, Mbawar, Gov, Mbainange, and Tombo among neighbouring communities earlier displaced by the invaders and whose residents were taking refuge in Anyiin before the latest attack.
The community leaders appealed to the federal government and the Benue state government to revive an abandoned Mobile Police barracks project along Akwana-Anyiin-Wukari road to secure the lives and property in the communities.
They lamented that farmers in the affected communities could not harvest their crops because they were being killed and abducted on their farms by the armed invaders.
According to them, communities along the Benue-Taraba border are the worst hit by the marauders’ incessant attacks.”This is the second attack in one month by the Fulani terrorists. On Oct. 9, they attacked Ayilamo town, the headquarters of Tombo Council Ward and killed scores of people. As I speak, people are deserting Anyiin town for fear of the unknown”, Chief Anawah said.
By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas yesterday described growing malnutrition and food insecurity as great threat to Nigeria’s economic stability and public health.
Inaugurating the Local Organizing Committee for the National Assembly summit on nutrition and food security in Abuja, the Speaker reiterated the urgent need for legislative action to restore the country’s productivity and public health.
Abbas who was represented by Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Okezie Kalu noted that Nigeria’s rate of malnutrition is among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa.
He noted that malnutrition, especially among children, stunts physical and cognitive development, impacting long-term educational and economic potential and contributing to broader societal challenges.
The Speaker assured the lawmakers’ full support for the committee’s initiatives, urging collaboration with State Houses of Assembly to create a unified approach to combating food insecurity.
He said, “The need for this National Summit on Nutrition and Food Security has never been more urgent.
“This organizing committee’s mission is to foster collaboration across ministries, engage both public and private sectors, and create a platform for lawmakers, experts, and community leaders to address the root causes of food security challenges.”
The chairman of the committee, Chike Okafor said there is malnutrition across Nigeria, particularly in the north spiking by 51 percent among children.
He described the situation as a humanitarian crisis exacerbated by recent floods in Adamawa, Maiduguri, and Jigawa, which have disrupted food supplies nationwide.
According to him, the summit will help to in the formulation of policies to tackle food insecurity.
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