DEFENCE
“I Told my Daughter Not to Recognise me ”- Father of Abducted Jangebe Student
The father of one of the abducted Jangebe school girls, who himself had been in captivity, regained his freedom on Monday night with tales of sadness and joy, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
Mallam Iliya Gwaram, who was brought to Government House, Gusau around 9 p.
m. on Monday, said he told his daughter not to recognise him in the den of their abductors.Gwaram, rescued along with nine other victims, including nursing mothers and three toddlers, driven in a heavily guarded motorcade.
He said: “I have been in captivity with these other people for more than three months when on that Friday morning, l saw the school girls being brought into where we were camped by our abductors.
“At first, l didn’t know who they were or where they were coming from, until l saw the face of my scared daughter looking at me.
“I quickly told some of the girls who were brought along with her and sat near me to tell my child not to show any indication that she even knew me.
“The girls were brave enough and they kept our little secret up to the last day of their four days stay with us.
“l never cried in the whole of my life like l cried the day the girls were taken back because l felt it was the last time l would see my daughter.
“Fortunately and unknown to me, my daughter informed Gov. Matawalle of our whereabouts and the poor health conditions we were, which led to our freedom today as facilitated by the governor and his security people,” he said.
On whether money was given to secure their freedom, Gwaram said he did not know as all that mattered to them was to return to their homes.
“Look at those two women that we were rescued along with me, two million naira was said to have been raised by their relatives to give to the bandits more than two months ago.
“But the money could not be traced as it was suspected that it was a different gang that intercepted the man bringing the money and took it from him,” he said.
Gwaram further told NAN that his daughter would continue with her education.
“If she wasn’t educated, she would have exposed me when she saw me and that would have put the two of us in danger.
“I thank God for that and l will continue to pray that such a thing never happens to even my worst enemy,” Gwaram said.
NAN recalls that 279 of the Jangebe school girls, abducted by gunmen from their school on March 2, were released four days later after reported negotiations between the bandits and state government agents, security men and some repentant bandits. (NAN)
The Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna has urged residents of Mando, Tsamiya, Kauya and Afaka general areas not to panic over its scheduled shooting exercise.This
This is contained in a statement issued by the NDA Public Relations Officer, Maj. Mohammed Maidawa, on Wednesday in Kaduna.
Maidawa, said the exercise is for the Army cadets of 73 and 74 Regular Courses.
The exercises, he said, are scheduled to hold from April 18 to April 20 abd from April 26 to April 27.
“The NDA assures the general public that all necessary safety measures have been put in place for the successful conduct of the exercise.
“However, the general public is advised to avoid trespassing in the general area throughout the period of the exercise,” the army said.
.(NAN)
The Police Command in Enugu State has arrested an Enugu resident, one Mmaduabuchi Okonkwo, 24, suspected to be in possession of, and transacting in, fake Naira notes.
A statement by the Command’s spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe, said that operatives serving in Abakaliki Road Police Division, with the support of law-abiding citizens, arrested Okonkwo of Mkpologu, Emene, Enugu, at the Old IMT Bus Stop, Abakaliki Road, Enugu, on April 10.
According to him, the suspect’s arrest is sequel to his alleged possession, and transacting in, counterfeited Naira notes.
“A total of ₦40,000 suspected counterfeited one thousand denominated Naira notes were recovered from him.
“A preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect boarded a minibus from New Haven Junction to Old IMT Bus Stop, Enugu, and gave the driver one of the counterfeited notes.
“The driver, however, scrutinised and observed that the currency was fake, and quickly raised an alarm that led to the suspect’s arrest.
“Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to having paid the sum of ₦25,000 genuine Naira notes to his cohort at large for the counterfeited Naira notes worth ₦50,000,” he said.
Ndukwe said that he further confessed to having spent ₦10,000 out of the fake notes, with the remaining ₦40,000 recovered from him.
“The suspect will be arraigned and prosecuted once investigations are concluded,” he said. (NAN)
Umar Mohammed, the Kwara Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), on Tuesday in Ibadan called for an increase in vigilance.
He said the appeal was necessary to confront the challenges of insecurity, violence and other social vices in various communities in the state.
The Commandant said the recent rise in security challenges in the state necessitated the upgrading of the police outpost to a fully operational divisional office.
p”This is in order to address insecurity more effectively.
“The establishment of the division will no doubt improve operational efficiency, thereby reducing possible threats to peaceful coexistence,” he said.
The Commandant applauded the people of Ipee community, most especially Mr Olayiwola Oyebode, Deputy Speaker of Kwara House of Assembly, for their unwavering commitment and support for the project.
He assured the community that their efforts would not go in vain.
”I promise utmost security and well-being, and the NSCDC will work tirelessly to address all your security challenges,” Mohammed said.
He urged members of the community to remain vigilant and actively support the Corps by providing credible and timely information that would enhance their operations.
“Security is a collective responsibility and everyone should play their part in keeping their community safe, by working together and sharing information promptly,” the Commandant said.
The Deputy Speaker of State House of Assembly, Mr Olayiwola Oyebode, thanked the Commandant for his cooperation and efforts in ensuring the protection of lives and properties in the community and the state in general.
He urged the Commandant to deploy additional personnel to the new division in order to increase the safety and security of the people in the community.
In his remark, the Onipe of Ipee, Oba Lawal Adebayo, expressed gratitude to the Corps for the steadfast dedication to ensuring safety in the community and urged for sustained efforts.
Oba Adebayo also thanked Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for his continuous support in upholding peace and security within the state.(NAN)
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