CRIME
ICPC Boss Tasks Experts, Stakeholders on Security Votes

BY Gom Mirian, Ahuja
The Chairman independent corrupt practices and other related offences commissions (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, has tasked experts and key stakeholders to proffer out modalities that would lift the issue of security votes in the country.
The ICPC chairman said this at the Quarterly Policy Dialogue on Accountability for Security Votes organised by the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), the training arm of the ICPC, in Abuja on Wednesday.
security vote is a monthly allowance that is allocated to the 36 states for the sole purpose of funding security services within such states and it runs into billions of Naira based on the level of security required by the individual state.
According to Owasanoye,there should be mechanisms that would ensure that secrecy did not void accountability in the issue of security votes, saying accountability is key to diminishing corruption which is vital to national security and development.
He further noted that the Commission focuses on security votes since is an easy and attractive route for stealing public funds and a veritable avenue for abuse of public trust and escalation of poverty and underdevelopment and ironically escalation of insecurity.
“This is because the money that should ordinarily be available for social and economic development is appropriated as security votes and used discretionarily.
“The 2019 Budget as appropriately by law, 162 Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) had monies appropriated as security votes. The MDAs include Boards, Committees, National Parks, among others,” He maintained.
He said that the number and categories of MDAs given security votes suggested that something was wrong with the parameters for determining the agencies entitled to security votes.
ICPC, Chike Okafor, ICPC.
He however expressed sadness over the existing lacuna in the budgeting process and lack of guiding principles on security votes, urging stakeholders to close the gaps that facilitate corruption and as much proffer ways of mitigating the menace.
Earlier in his remarks, the Provost of the academy, Prof. Sola Akinrinade, said the Policy Dialogue series was aimed to bring topical Anti-Corruption issues to the fore of national discourse.
Prof. Akinrinade stated that the abuse of security votes constituted major threats to the security of the Nation.
Adding that the preventive and educational measures in the fight against corruption were crucial to achieving a corruption-free society on a long-term sustainable basis.
Also in a keynote address, the Governor of Ekiti State and chairman Nigerians Governor’s forum, His excellency Dr. Kayode Fayemi refuted that security votes is not illegal, quoting from the constitution and other relevant authorities to emphasize the fact that security votes are not only legal but have been in existence since the colonial Era.
“Governments all over the world have security votes but they may not call it the same name as ours because, for obvious reasons, government business may not necessarily be all in the public glare
CRIME
Prison break: Heavy Security Presence in Kuje Communities

Security has been tightened in most parts of Kuje communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), following sporadic gunshots and bomb blast reportedly heard at the Kuje Correctional Centre on Tuesday night.
Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who went round the area, observed heavy security presence with fierce-looking armed personnel in areas considered as flash points.
NAN reports that armoured tanks have been positioned around Kuje Prison junction, while various teams of security personnel in siren-blaring vehicles patrol the area.
The Police, in conjunction with other security operatives, have cordoned off the roads leading to the prison area and movements have been restricted in the area.
Police helicopters were seen flying above the area as banks and some schools remained closed due to the tension in the area.
Other security agents are also on red alert to forestall any breach of peace.
Residents leaving close to the area told NAN that the heavy gunshots which started at about 10.p.m. lasted close to an hour.
They said it was not clear who the gunmen were but it was believed they were some criminal elements. (NAN)
CRIME
Gunmen Abduct Chinese National, Kill one Security Personnel in Kwara

From Alfred Babs, Ilorin
Unknown gunmen believed to be bandits last Thursday invaded a quarry in Shao, Moro Local Government Area of Kwara state, abducted an expatriate and shot dead a Police officer during the operation.
The gunmen who struck at the quarry site in the area also killed a Police inspector, while another policeman sustained gunshot injury during the operation before abducting the Chinese citizen, it was gathered.
It was further gathered that the gunmen burnt the car allegedly used in the operation and disappeared into thin air.
The injured police operative in the attack was reportedly said to be receiving medical attention at an undisclosed location in the state.
Sources said that unkown gunmen struck at a quarry site in Shao town, killing one mobile police officer and abducting a Chinese expatriate in the process.
When contacted, the spokesman of the Kwara state police command, SP Ajayi Okasanmi, said ” the command is working round the clock to get the victim rescued and perpetrators apprehended.
“One police inspector was killed while a Chinese was abducted in Shao three days ago(Sunday) ,” Okasanmi stated.
“Meanwhile, the command is in a mourning mood over the killing of one of our operatives,” he added.
According to the spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Tuesday Assayomo, has set up a special investigation team to investigate the matter.
He said “the people of Kwara State would be briefed accordingly of our progress please.”
Meanwhile, Kwara state House of Assembly has urged the state governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to direct all the 16 local government area in the state to Reinvigorate and empower the local Vigilante Group to provide security surveillance within their council areas.
The Assembly in a resolution reached at the plenary on Tuesday also urged the governor to give necessary support to the state Commissioner of Police to deploy the recently recruited Constabulary Police for Surveillance, intelligence and other policing services in line with the original objectives of the scheme.
It also urged Traditional Rulers in the state to assist the Government checkmate the incursion of strangers into their domain through sensitisation of the local population on the need for prompt report of strange movements and persons.
CRIME
Bandits Attack Buhari’s Advance Team Convoy in Daura

By Mathew Dadiya, Abuja
The Presidency has described as sad and unwelcome, the shooting incident near Dutsinma, Katsina State, at the convoy of cars carrying the Advance Team of security guards, protocol and media officers ahead of the President, Muhammadu Buhari’s trip to Daura for Sallah.
The attackers opened fire on the convoy from ambush positions but were repelled by the military, police and DSS personnel accompanying the convoy.
Presidential Spokesperson, Garba Shehu in a statement, said two persons in the convoy were receiving treatment for the minor injuries they suffered.
Shehu said “all the other personnel, staff and vehicles made it safely to Daura”.