… Banditry: Residents Deserts 50 Niger Villages

…Abductors Kill Two More Greenfield Varsity Students

…Gbajabiamila Meets Buhari

…Army Records Seven Casualties, Kill Several Insurgents

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday broke its silence over the rising spate of insecurity across the country with an admittance that the country is under siege.

In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, National Secretary of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Sen. John Akpanudoedehe also appealed to Nigerians to eschew partisanship and unite to rescue the nation.

Akpanudoedehe said the issue of insecurity in the country has found expression in terrorist and criminal activities of Boko Haram, bandits, kidnappers, rustlers and recently the highly condemnable attacks on security formations in some states, saying such are current realities that face the country today.

He said the party is well focused on identifying and bringing to book the perpetrators and sponsors of the insecurity, adding that it is only in an atmosphere of tranquility that development will thrive.  

“These are current realities and the All Progressives Congress (APC) will not play politics with matters of life and our collective wellbeing as a nation.

“As a progressive party in government, we are fully-focused on identifying and bringing to book the perpetrators and sponsors of this hydra-headed insecurity monster and consolidating on our visible development strides. While the party sympathizes with all affected by the security incidents, we call on all to unite against insecurity and criminality, however expressed. 

“Only in safety can we enjoy the current agriculture revolution which has seen Nigeria achieve self-sufficiency in rice and other staple food items. Only in safety can we enjoy the current infrastructure revolution that has witnessed the rehabilitation, construction and reconstruction of over 13,000 kilometers of critical federal roads, construction of thousands of affordable and acceptable housing.”

The APC scribe added that the security services are doing their best to contain the situation and appealed to the people to show understanding and support them.

“We must shun the antics and activities of unpatriotic and sectarian opportunists fanning divisive embers, promote peaceful coexistence, eschew bitterness and unite against insecurity and crime, for the development of the country.

“Despite our natural differences in culture, religion and ethnicities, we are more patriotic, alike and united than bigots, sectarian opportunists and unpatriotic partisans try to make us believe. We have a collective stake in our country’s security and ensuring that Nigeria works for all,” Akpanudoedehe added.

… Banditry: Residents Deserts 50 Niger Villages

Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, yesterday said no fewer than 50 villages across five local government areas of the state have been disserted as a result of banditry, causing humanitarian crisis in the state.

Governor Bello stated this when he declared opened a two day workshop on strategies for enhancing Internally Generated Revenue of Local Government Councils in Minna.

Bello, who acknowledged that  the workshop is apt, stressing the need for local government Councils to look inwards  and strengthen Internally Generated Revenue by expanding the tax net so as to meet the increasing demands in their Local Government Areas in particular and the State in general.

He noted that the present IGR cannot sustain the developmental aspirations of the State particularly with the security challenges that have bedeviled some parts of the State, stressing that while Government is making efforts to boost its revenue, “It must block leakages, cut down cost, adding that it will not hesitate to do away with Local Government Staff that are not adding value.

“As we speak we have not less than 50 villages deserted across 5 local governments now where do we get the resources to take care of them if 80% of our resources go to those that do not add value to the system?

“Now we have to deal with humanitarian problems and security problems all these require resources that we do not have. So the only way we can survive is to increase our IGR.

“At the moment we have over 3,000 IDPs in Minna, apart from other local governments, he said.

The Governor urged participants to be attentive, actively participate and make meaningful contributions that will give them more insight into strategies of enhancing IGR for socioeconomic development at the local government levels.

Chairman, Local Government Service Commission Muhammad Ahmed Dabban and the Permanent Secretary of the Commission Nuhu Garba Ngaski in their separate remarks explained that the workshop was organized for Local Government Directors of Administration and Finance, Revenue officers as well as heads of finance of development areas in Niger State.

They both said that the workshop is primarily to ensure proper and accurate implementation of financial memoranda, have internal control system for enhancing revenue collection by the councils, enhance capacity as well as improve the quality of participants in their respective duties among others at the local government levels.

The Resource Person Malam Haruna Yahaya, who gave the synopsis of the workshop said the objectives of the workshop was to ascertain full understanding of revenue profile , develop comprehensive strategies to ensure enhanced revenue based of each local government and to promote transparency as well as accountability towards proper accounting for the revenue.

 Abductors Kill Two More Greenfield Varsity Students

Kaduna state Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr.Samuel Aruwan, has confirmed the killing of two more students of Greenfield University Kaduna.

He said on Monday, that the Government will update the citizenry on further developments. “On a sad note, security agencies have just reported to the Kaduna State Government the recovery of two more dead bodies of Greenfield University students, killed by armed bandits today, Monday 26th April 2021.

“The retrieved corpses have been evacuated to a mortuary, and the university has been notified of the development. ” “The Government of Kaduna State under the leadership of Malam Nasir El-Rufai is saddened by this evil perpetrated against innocent students abducted while pursuing their education for a glorious future. ” “The Government sends its deep empathy to their families and the university management and prays for the repose of their souls. ” “The Government will update the citizenry on further developments,” he said. This now brings the number of students to 5 who were killed by the kidnappers, while demanding N800 million ransom from the parents.

Gbajabiamila Meets Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari met behind closed doors yesterday with the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, over the spate of insecurity in the country.

.The meeting was part of the ongoing strategic engagements of the president with relevant stakeholders aimed at finding solutions to the nation’s security and socio-economic challenges.

Speaking to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting with the president, Gbajabiamila reiterated the commitment of the National Assembly to continue to assist President Buhari as “he works hard to find a lasting solution to the present security challenges confronting the nation.’’

He explained that his discussion with the president centred on security and other matters related to the development of the country.

He said: “We always speak about the state of security because that is number one; we spoke about the economy; we spoke about the politics of it all. At least he has a listening ear.

“We proffer ideas and he tells us his own views and we come to some consensus one way or the other.

“Some of these things, you cannot be privy to them for now. We are still working on a way out and all I will always say is, uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.”

According to the speaker, the president is very passionate about finding a solution to the problem.

“The President is dealing with a very difficult situation and he is as passionate as anybody else, to bring it to a closure and we are here to help him achieve that,” he added.

He revealed that the House of Representatives had since set up a special committee that would offer solution to the nation’s security challenges.

“You are aware that the House of Representatives sometimes passed a resolution where we set up a special ad-hoc committee, which involves all Principal Officers and 30 other members of the House.

“We are going to start that process by looking at different solutions and we would be bringing the report to the President.

“He is fully aware of it and he is open to any and everything that would help us in coming to a resolution in this security matter,” he said.

Army Records Seven Casualties, Kills Several Insurgents  

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army foiled multiple attacks lunched by Boko-Haram terrorists and those of Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) at Mainok town of Borno State 

A statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima on Monday, explained that troops of Operation Lafiya Dole deployed in Mainok, Borno State, on Sunday came under multi-directional attacks by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists mounted on unconfirmed number of Gun Trucks as well as foot soldiers with possible intent of establishing a phantom caliphate in the town. 

According to Yerima, the terrorists were held by the gallant troops of 156 Task Force Battalion until the arrival of reinforcement teams from 7 Division, Special Army Super Camp Ngamdu and Army Super Camp 4, Benesheik. 

He said during the fire fight which lasted several hours, the gallant troops tactically lured a number of the terrorists into a killing zone within their camp where the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole scrambled Alpha jets and helicopter gunboats which took turns in decimating the already trapped terrorists. 

“In the aftermath of the encounter, scores of Boko Haram terrorists were neutralized with their body part littering the area and a number of their gun trucks destroyed.

” Regrettably, one gallant Officer and six soldiers paid the supreme sacrifice while 5 other soldiers sustained various degrees of injuries”,he said 

He said the wounded soldiers have already been evacuated to the military medical facility for treatment.

As he said troops have taken full control of Mainok and environ as exploitation for fleeing terrorists is ongoing. 

“The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru has applauded troops of Operation Lafiya Dole for their resilience, commitment and doggedness and further reassured Nigerians of the Army’s unalloyed commitment to defeating Boko Haram/SWAP terrorists while urging citizens to always avail the troops with accurate and timely information for prompt action”.