NEWS
Insecurity: Our Efforts Will Soon Yield Positive Results – Mahmoud
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud has assured residents of the territory that the efforts put in place by the FCT Administration to address the issues of insecurity across the territory, will soon yield positive results.
The Minister gave this assurance when she paid a sympathetic visit to the family of Al-Kadriyar Mansoor, whose daughters were recently released after several days in the kidnappers’ den.
Mahmoud, stressed that since the reported cases of kidnapping in recent times, the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has been on his feet doing all that is necessary to improve on the security situation in the city centre including the satellite towns.
In her words; “I am sure the people of FCT will also bear witness of our collective efforts in tackling insecurity. They have seen how we have been up and doing since this incident of kidnapping and other security matters.
“His Excellency, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has been on his feet. We have been doing all that is necessary to improve our security situation in FCT.
“All the support to be given to the security agencies has been put in place and also some materials and equipment they need to carry out their works are also in the process.
“So also the issue of access roads, we think will also improve the security situation in FCT and the satellite towns.
“I am sure you too have seen that the issue of kidnapping is going down, but we want it at a zero level.”
She, however, expressed satisfaction over the victims’ state of health, noting that they are in a stable condition.
According to her; “we are here today in the house of Mr. Alkadriyar Mansoor, because of the tragedy that happened to the family.
“Precisely the issue of kidnapping of his five female children but released by the support of the government and family members.
“So we have come to support the family and to tell them that the FCT Administration is with them.
“By and large, we are here to see how they are coping psychologically, mentally and also spiritually. And we thank Almighty Allah for their lives and health because they are in a stable condition.”
In his response, the father of the children who was also a victim, Mr. Alkadriyar Mansoor, thanked the minister for the show of love, even as he called on the Administration to extend the same to other victims.
He also called on the Administration to equip the security agencies more, adding that the current equipment used by security agencies cannot measure up with the equipment used by the bandits.
He said; “I am highly elated that the FCT Administration deemed it necessary to pay my family visit of which there are several other families who have been victims of kidnappers.
“And I wish they would extend the gesture they have extended to me to other families who have been kidnapped like this as well.
“Nevertheless, I want the government to improve on the security in the local areas within FCT, Bwari most especially is so porous. Bwari is bordering about three or four states. And of which if action is not taken it might escalate to other things I don’t expect.
“And the Nigerian Police Force needs to be empowered more. Most especially those in the rural areas and not in the city centres.
“What they are having in their hands, the equipment they have cannot really measure up with what the criminals are using nowadays.
“So buying them vehicles is not the only thing. Buy them gadgets that they will use to work”.
The minister was accompanied by the Mandate Secretary, Women Affairs Secretariat, Hon. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, the Director FCT Reforms Coordination and Service Improvement, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu and the Deputy Director in charge of Child Development, Mr. Idris Yahaya.
The highlight of the visit was the presentation of items and undisclosed amount of cash to the family.
NEWS
Police Detain Woman for Alleged Killing of Co-wife in Bauchi
The police command in Bauchi State, said it has apprehended a housewife over alleged killing of her co-wife following a domestic violence incident in Bauchi metropolis.
This was contained in a statement by the spokesman of the command, SP Nafiu Habib, on Monday in Bauchi.
He said that the command detained the suspect (name withheld) on Sept.
27 for alleged culpable homicide following a domestic incident at Tafawa Balewa Housing Estate in Bauchi.Habib said that on Sept. 27, at about 4:05 p.m., the Police C-Division, Bauchi, received credible information that there was a domestic incident between two wives residing in the same household belonging to their husband.
He said that preliminary investigation revealed that the 33-year-old suspect, who is the second wife, allegedly acting under hallucinations, struck the first wife with pestle on the forehead, and the victim fell unconscious.
“Upon receipt of the report, detectives attached to C-Division immediately mobilised to the scene.
“The scene was documented, and the victim was rushed to the Specialist Hospital, Bauchi, where she was certified dead by a medical doctor. The corpse has been deposited at the hospital mortuary for autopsy,” he said.
Habib said that the police recovered the pestle used in committing the offence.
He quoted the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, as directing the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discreet investigation and prosecution.
Aliyu condoled with the bereaved family and cautioned against domestic violence.
The CP also advised husbands to seek timely medical and psycho-social support for members of their families exhibiting mental health challenges. (NAN)
NEWS
FRSC Deploys 170 Ambulances Nationwide for Emergency Rescue
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has deployed more than 170 ambulances across the country as part of efforts to strengthen emergency response and rescue operations on Nigerian roads.
The Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO), Osondu Ohaeri, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja, while responding to questions on the operational capacity of the corps emergency ambulance network and its response to Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs).
Ohaeri said the FRSC had the largest number of ambulances among emergency response agencies in Nigeria, with more than 170 ambulances and 60 Zebra points across the country.
He said the figure should however not be interpreted as the number of ambulances currently operational or serviceable as of September 2026.
According to him, an accurate current figure of serviceable ambulances will require the latest fleet-status report from the corps medical and rescue office.
He explained that the figures demonstrated the scale of the corps emergency response network, while the availability of individual ambulances was managed operationally based on their location, condition and assignment.
On the adequacy of the ambulances for emergency rescue, he said the corps continued to maintain and deploy its assets as part of its emergency response responsibilities, stressing that the status of individual vehicles could vary depending on their operational condition and assignment.
The CPEO said the corps was also focused on improving its emergency response capacity, particularly by strengthening rescue deployment and collaboration with other relevant agencies.
He also said that the corps had historically recorded an average response time of about 15 minutes under its documented emergency-response programme.
He cautioned against presenting the figure as the current nationwide average without updated operational data.
According to him, response time varies depending on several factors including the location of a crash, traffic congestion, distance from the nearest ambulance point and accessibility of the crash scene.
He added that the accuracy and timeliness of information provided by callers could also affect the speed with which rescue teams reached crash scenes.
Other factors he said include the possibility of emergency teams responding to other incidents simultaneously.
Ohaeri stressed that the corps had identified faster response to road traffic crashes and other emergencies as one of its management priorities in 2026.
He said efforts were therefore ongoing to strengthen rescue deployment and inter-agency collaboration to improve emergency response to road crashes.
He added that the FRSC remained committed to improving emergency rescue operations, strengthening the deployment of its resources and working with relevant stakeholders to ensure better outcomes for road crash victims.
He reiterated that complaints concerning emergency response, evacuation, treatment of victims or other forms of alleged misconduct should be channeled through the appropriate authorities for investigation and necessary action.
The CPEO further assured that the corps would continue to strengthen its emergency response mechanisms as part of broader efforts to reduce the consequences of road traffic crashes and improve the safety of road users nationwide.(NAN)
NEWS
NBA Decries Rising Insecurity in Plateau, Urges Urgent Action
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has decried the spate of security challenges currently confronting Plateau and other parts of Nigeria.
The Chairman of Jos Branch of the association, Morgan Dung, said this during a joint news conference on Monday in Jos.
Dung spoke on behalf of the Jos, Bukuru and Pankshin branches of the association.
The chairman particularly decried the recent attacks and killings in Mangu, Barkin-Ladi, Riyom, Bokkos, Bassa, Wase and Kanam Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
Dung, who described the continuous killings of innocent residents as “unfortunate and unacceptable”, called on the Federal Government and the security agencies to tackle the menace.
“The protection of lives and property remain the most fundamental responsibility of government as contained in section 33 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“NBA frowns at the inability of the government to prevent the continuous loss of lives and property in Plateau and beyond.
“We particularly condemn the recent killing of members of community vigilantes at their duty posts in Mangu, Barkin-Ladi, Riyom, Bokkos and Bassa LGAs
“We call on the government and security agencies to bring the perpetrators to book. This menace must also stop,”he said.
Dung, however, commended president Bola Tinubu over his recent visit to Plateau and the move to establish State Police in the country.
He further called on the government to sponsor an executive bill to fully domicile security issues under the concurrent legislative list.
Dung urged the government to properly and adequately equip security agencies, strengthen border surveillance and secure all forests serving as hideouts for bandits and other criminal elements.
The chairman also commended Gov. Caleb Mutfwang for revamping Operation Rainbow, a state-owned security outfit and training of 2,000 personnel of the neighbourhoods watch.
He, however, called for the licensing of Operation Rainbow to operate with kinetic facilities, implement the anti-land grabbing law and provide structures for police division and forward operation bases in the state.
Dung advised security agencies to deploy more personnel and equipment to flashpoints in the state, insisting that such a move would ensure prompt response to threats.
The chairman, who called on the judiciary to ensure timely dispensation of terrorism cases, advised governors to sign death warrants of convicted terrorists to serve as a deterrent to others.
He pledged NBA’s readiness to promote access to justice, document evidence of atrocities and pursue public interest litigation to ensure accountability (NAN)


