Uncategorized
Unknown Gunmen Means Irresponsible Government
Emmanuel Onwubiko
“Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.
This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. This is not a way of life at all in any true sense. Under the clouds of war, it is humanity hanging on a cross of iron”.Dwight D. Eisenhower.
For all of last week up until Yesterday, I was in the South East and Imo State to be very specific for my Easter festivity and for the duration of my stay, what worries a lot of my people who are Igbo and their guests from other parts of Nigeria who live amongst us are the phenomenal violence that has come to signpost the daily routine of a lot of places and in these violent times and attacks, those who have been ascribed as UNKNOWN GUNMEN are blamed for much of it.
Shamefully, the law enforcement agencies whose operatives are ubiquitous on the many illegal road blocks that dots the entire South East of Nigeria are complicit in these attackers because they have neither broken into them or stopped the harvest of deaths from happening.
One negativity about all of these incidents of blood, pains, pangs and suffering visited on millions of citizens of the South East who are mostly law abiding, hardworking, God-fearing and profoundly industrious is that businesses are crumbling, developments in terms of infrastructural projects by government and the private sector have significantly waned due to the climate of fear that pervades the entire geographical space of Igboland by these group of killers who have been described by even the law enforcement authority as UNKNOWN GUNMEN.
As I pondered over the cases of blood cuddling violence unleashed on the people including such attacks that are targeted at strategic national security assets and other publicly built assets such as offices built from the taxes paid by Igbo people for them in their local government area councils spread across Igboland. Imo State has become the hot bed of this undeclared insurgency by these characters now identified as UNKNOWN GUNMEN which beats every imagination and even logical reasoning because if you already identified the attacker why are they STILL UNKNOWN?
This is the subject matter of this reflection which results from my visitation to Imo State of South East of Nigeria. These clouds of uncertainty, fear, blood and suffering need to be mitigated and the way to begin is to ascertain what the government of South East of Nigeria are doing about these disturbing phenomena. The Anambra State governor and all of the governors are not exactly synergising in a collective drive to put down these social disturbances.
And the basic question to ask is why are there unknown gunmen when there is a known government in place and why has government in whose domain all apparatuses of controlled violence are domiciled claiming to be unable to decisively confront these attackers?
What then is the role of government if there are still certain forces that are actually working at cross purposes from the duties and Responsibilities of Government?
Does the government still retain some credibility and moral high ground to exercise authority in this clear case of willful inability to stop the killings in large numbers of their own citizens who ought to enjoy the constitutional obligation of care and protection from those who exercise authority as government?
Why is nobody paying the price of this dereliction of duty resulting in these unwarranted killings of the citizens? But first, let us examine quickly the roles and legal obligations of government to the Citizens.
These are the duties and Responsibilities of Government to the Citizens as compiled by Walyben and posted on www.walyben.com.
These writers listed the duties and Responsibilities as Provision of Security; Welfare of Citizens; Promotion of Political Activities; Provision and Promotion of Economic Activities; Provision of Social Amenities. It is the duty of the government to secure the life and property of individuals and the state. The security of life and property is paramount for the existence of the state. It is the responsibility of the government to create agencies like the police, army and state security service for the protection of the state.
The protection of life and property implies that the citizens would move about without fear, intimidation or attack. Though, the security in Nigeria has not reached that height, which has resulted in foreign investors leaving the country due to insecurity.
The government has the duty of providing the citizens with goods health facilities, road network, pipe borne water, schools, recreational parks, communication network etc. Responsive government is expected to take care of the young and old, the sick, underprivileged children in our society.
It is the duty of the government to maintain the security and stability of the nation and the states even as the Provision and Promotion of Economic Activities is also the duty of government given that government is duty bound to provide an efficient dynamic and self reliant economy.
So in my stay in Imo State, I saw a state in which there is virtually absence of governance in many ways and there is absolutely lawlessness on the part of the security agencies that ought to provide security to lives and property. The presence of these persons the law enforcement authority have labelled as unknown gunmen has obviously planted fears and anxieties in the minds of the citizens and they can no longer go about their civic duties and their legitimate businesses.
When I was in Imo State the officials of the independent National Electoral Commission who went about registering the citizens for the issuance of their permanent voters cards were viciously attacked and killed somewhere not too far from the State capital. Orlu has become practically a ghost town because there are ongoing military operations in which civilians who have nothing to do with this madness of unknown gunmen are gunned down by soldiers go on rampage soon after they have a feeling that members of the Indigenous People of Biafra are present. But the now proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra has denied involvement as members of the so-called unknown gunmen.
Worried by the unending bloodletting and carnage in the South-East geographical zone, civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, on Monday, called on the President, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, to take quick, decisive actions to stem the ugly trend.
HURIWA, in a statement on Monday by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, lamented that it is saddening that security forces including the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services, and other intelligence and security agencies have failed to halt the barbaric killings in the South-East and demystify the “unknown gunmen” phenomenon.
The list of the horrific killings by the unknown gunmen are endless but fresh in the serial murder is the killing of Sule Mathew, a first-class graduate of the Information and Media Studies, Bayero University Kano. Mathew was killed this February by gunmen along with some passengers he was travelling with at Ekwulobia, a town in Anambra State.
In May 2021, the same unknown gunmen shot dead a former presidential aide, Ahmed Gulak, on his way to the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Imo State.
In September 2021, the rampaging gunmen also brutally murdered Dr. Chike Akunyili, widower of the late Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Dora Akunyili, in Anambra State.
Commenting on the serial murders, Onwubiko said it was disturbing that the President is “comfortable” with the descent of the South-East into another North-East ravaged by insurgency.
He said, “It is alarming that despite the inability and failure of the security forces especially police and DSS to conclusively prove the exact identities of these mass murderers, the President is very comfortable working with heads of these institutions who clearly have demonstrated a classical failure of their key mandate.
“Finger-pointing is needless and of no value to any Nigerians. Security agents must not allow the killings to continue. The South-East is gradually emaciating economically and in tourism due to the insecurity created by the “unknown gunmen” The security agents must quit rhetoric and apprehend those responsible, regardless of who they are. There must be no cover-ups and sacred cows.
“Incompetent heads of security agencies who can’t deliver on a simple mandate of his job should be fired immediately. The President must not sit idly with underperforming commanders at security meetings.
“Security agents and their bosses should sit up and deploy intelligence-led operations to uncover the kingpins of the unknown gunmen rather than the current modus operandi of the use of brute force and extrajudicial killings of mostly innocent Igbo youths and the destruction of towns and villages by security forces any time their personnel are killed by these so-called unknown gunmen or hoodlums.”
This is a clarion call on my friend and brother the governor of Imo State distinguished Senator Hope Odidika Uzodinma to please organise real interfaces with the stakeholders including representatives of both the unrecognised and recognised youth groups to fashion out a truce and to reach a determination on what we need to do at different levers of government and the people to totally stop these attacks by these so-called unknown gunmen in Imo State and other parts of the South East of Nigeria.
Governor Uzodinma and all politicians should drop politics and confront our common enemy which is violence and terrorism threatening the stability, peace and sustainable development of our Igboland.
It is now or we are doomed!
Emmanuel Onwubiko is head of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA).
Uncategorized
Town Planners Task Benue Govt On Regional Devt, Master Plans

By David Torough, Abuja
The President, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Dr. Chime Ogbonna, has urged the Benue State Government to urgently undertake a comprehensive regional development plan and master plans to begin implementing long-overdue urban planning policies across the state.
He made the call on Wednesday in Makurdi during the opening ceremony of the 26th Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programme (MCPDP), hosted by the NITP in conjunction with the Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria (TOPREC).
Addressing town planning professionals from across the country, Dr. Ogbonna decried the glaring shortfall of town planners in Benue and the administrative confusion surrounding physical planning in the state.
“From what we saw during the town hall meeting, there’s a dangerous absence of coordinated planning,” he said. “The Benue State Government needs to develop and implement a regional plan for the entire state and establish master plans for all urban areas.”
He warned that without deliberate planning, even small settlements in Benue state, which are bound to grow into urban areas will culminate into chaotic development. “Planning is not just for Makurdi. Every settlement, no matter how small, deserves a guide for growth,” he emphasized.
Dr. Ogbonna also advocated for the full implementation of Nigeria’s 1992 Urban and Regional Planning Law, saying it is the only way to ensure equitable and sustainable development across Benue’s urban and rural areas.
In a keynote address delivered on behalf of the President of TOPREC, Isyaku Muhtar Kura, the council’s representative, Tpl Prof. Timothy Gyuse, emphasized the need for innovation in tackling emerging urban planning challenges.
He described the MCPDP not just as a statutory event but also a platform to equip planners with modern tools, strategies, and collaborative approaches for building resilient communities.
“This training must go beyond routine. It’s a call to prepare for a future where sustainable cities become the norm,” he said.
The program has been billed to take place this year in three venues namely: Osogbo, Awka, and Makurdi. Osogbo and Awka have already hosted the programme while Makurdi is now hosting the 3rd and final leg of the programme.
Declaring the event open, Governor Hyacinth Alia, represented by the Director-General of Benue Geographic Information Service (BenGIS), Prof. Daniel Amine, welcomed the dialogue and promised government action on the planners’ recommendations.
“If you don’t plan, you will plan to fail,” Prof. Amine asserted. “This workshop has raised critical issues. We will expect formal communication from your institute, and we shall present it to the governor for prompt action.”
Prof. Amine praised Governor Alia’s commitment to urban development, noting that three senior staff of the BenGIS are certified town planners.
However, he cautioned against unregulated construction in the state. “If we allow people to build wherever they want, one day you may not even be able to drive out of your home,” he warned.
Amine also challenged NITP and TOPREC to hold their members accountable, especially those who contribute to planning irregularities. “Your institute must be ready to sanction planners who cause confusion,” he added.
In his remarks, the chairman of the MCPDP planning committee, Dr. Osunsanmi Gbolabo, expressed gratitude to participants and reiterated the historical importance of the training.
He said the MCPDP, now in its 26th year, has evolved to meet the dynamic demands of the profession. “We are not just shaping spaces; we are shaping futures,” he said, highlighting new syndicate sessions and smart training methods introduced to enhance the learning experience.
Several other speakers took the stage, including Dr. Jesse Nor, NITP’s National Public Relations Secretary, emphasized that the MCPDP is a vital platform to sharpen skills and improve planning outcomes in Nigeria’s growing cities.
“For this year, Makurdi was chosen among the other three venues to host the program. The Makurdi venue is thus the last leg of the program for the year.
Indeed, the MCPDP is a gathering of city planners to explore new frontiers of knowledge, training, and skill development, and how all of these influence planning practice and with the overarching aim of developing our towns, regions and cities in a sustainable manner”, he stated.
A highlight of the event was a paper presented by by Dr Osunsanmi Ogbolabo, on behalf of Prof. Ayo Olajuyigbe, of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, who traced the origins of town planning from ancient civilizations to contemporary practices. He stressed the need for financial and political will to enforce master plans, pointing to widespread violations due to weak implementation and institutional gaps.
In another presentation, Tpl Patrick Nyame, on behalf of Dr. Daniel Adamu from Nasarawa State University, advocated for strategic synergy between governments, ministries, private sectors, and non-state actors.
“Collaboration is not weakness; it’s wisdom. Government alone cannot achieve the level of development we seek,” he said.
The MCPDP, which began with a town hall meeting on Tuesday, will run through Thursday, featuring further presentations and roundtable discussions aimed at addressing Nigeria’s growing planning concerns and generating policy-focused solutions for sustainable development.
ReplyReply allForwardAdd reaction |
Uncategorized
Decline in Global Aid to Africa: President Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, Gov Makinde Champion Agriculture-Led Transformation for Africa’s Future

By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
As global aid to Africa declines, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde joins the President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio and global development experts Dr. Simeon Ehui, Director General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and Dr.
Hafez Ghanem, Senior Fellow at Brookings Africa, in a powerful call for agriculture-led transformation to drive the continent’s development.In a new article published by Brookings Africa, they outlines a visionary path for Africa to harness its vast agricultural potential, with Oyo State and Sierra Leone’s #FeedSalone initiative serving as inspiring models of progress.
Titled “With declining global aid, Africa must cultivate its own growth,” the Brookings Africa article emphasizes that agriculture is Africa’s greatest asset for achieving self-reliance and economic prosperity.
Governor Makinde, a leading advocate for agribusiness, highlights Oyo State’s transformative efforts, such as the revitalization of the Fashola Agribusiness Hub, which has boosted food production and created jobs for thousands.
“Our fields are our future,” Makinde stated.
“By investing in agriculture, we are not only feeding our people but also building a foundation for sustainable economic growth.”
Oyo State’s agricultural revolution under Makinde’s leadership includes modernized farming techniques, expanded access to credit for farmers, and infrastructure projects like the 34-kilometer Oyo-Oke Ogun road, connecting rural farmers to markets.
These initiatives align with the article’s call for policies that prioritize productivity, innovation, and market access to transform African agriculture.
Drawing inspiration from Sierra Leone’s #FeedSalone program, which has increased local food production and reduced import dependency, the article underscores the need for African-led solutions.
Dr. Ehui, whose IITA is headquartered in Oyo State, praised Makinde’s commitment to agribusiness, noting, “Oyo State’s model demonstrates how strategic investments in agriculture can drive food security and economic resilience.”
Dr. Ghanem added, “Africa’s youth and arable land are unmatched assets.
Leaders like Governor Makinde are showing how to turn potential into prosperity.”
The Brookings Africa article calls for a continent-wide shift toward agriculture-led development, urging African governments to invest in rural infrastructure, technology, and youth empowerment.
Governor Makinde’s policies in Oyo State, including the Agribusiness Development Agency and partnerships with IITA, exemplify this vision, positioning the state as a hub for agricultural innovation.
As Nigeria and Africa face economic challenges, Makinde’s leadership offers a blueprint for self-reliance.
“We cannot wait for external aid to solve our problems,” Makinde said. “Our greatest potential lies in our fields, and together, we can cultivate a brighter future for Africa.”
Uncategorized
Concentrate on Edo Devt, not Obaseki Probe, Wike Counsels Okpebholo

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has urged the Governor of Edo State, Sen. Monday Okpebholo to concentrate on the development of the State, rather than dissipating his energy and resources to probe of his immediate predecessor, Godwin Obaseki.
Wike, who spoke in Benin, Edo State on Sunday said probing the former governor will achieve no meaningful results, adding that it was better for Governor Okpebholo to deploy his time and the State resources towards achieving his developmental goals Edo State and its people.
According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the FCT Minister Wike said; “If there is someone who would have encouraged Okpebholo to probe and prosecute Obaseki, that person should be me, but what I suffered in ensuring that he returned for a second term and how he paid me back is now in the past.
“We must pass through this process in life, move on for the development of Edo State. Don’t do it, I’m the one that should have told you to pursue this man, I know what I passed through.
“I should be the one to prosecute Obaseki but what is it in life when God has given you your position. If it were to be his power, you wouldn’t be here, but God has told him, you don’t have it and I have given it to whom I want to give.”
Facing former Governor of Edo State, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Wike said; “Leader, I know how pained you are and what you passed through, I know the sufferings, you suffered and it was like a humiliation to you. I was part of it because I humiliated you.
“I apologized on national TV to you, sorry for what I did to you, leave it and let them carry their wahala and go, focus on the development of Edo and you will see what you will achieve at the end of the day.”
Wike was in Benin, Edo State yesterday, to commission the New Edo Line terminal, which is the second phase of the Edo State Benin Central Bus Terminal, today. The event was however cancelled owing to the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari.