Governor Nyesom Wike has accused President Buhari of attempting to shift his constitutional role of securing lives and property to governors.

Recall that during an interview with Arise TV on Thursday, Buhari said he told two south-west governors who came to meet him in Abuja, to return to their states and tackle the security challenges their people are facing because they also campaigned for their position just like him. 

Reacting to this while commissioning the 21-kilometre Odufor-Akpoku-Umuoye Road in Etche Local Government Area of the State on Tuesday June 15, Wike enjoined the federal government to admit that it can no longer fulfil the promises it made to Nigerians, adding that admitting weakness publicly when there is failure makes a leader respectable.

He also mocked the President by saying that he is not only in-charge when it comes to borrowing money for the country. 

Wike said;

“Mr President, you are the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. You appoint Inspector-General of Police, you appoint the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, the Commissioner of Police, Director of Department of State Service, and other heads of security.

“Which one do we appoint? How can people appointed by Mr President be under me?

“It is not only to borrow money for Nigeria that you’re in charge. You must also be in charge of other things including security. Who signed order 10? Is it the governors?

“Mr. President was short of calling names of those governors who run to Aso Rock when they are supposed to stay in their states to see the needs of their states and people. Mr. President should have come out openly and said, my APC governors, stop worrying me. Go back to your states and do your work. On that, I support him.

“Thank God, Mr. President knows that I am not one of those that go to visit him over one problem or the other. I, as the governor of Rivers under PDP, you’ll never find me there.”

Nigeria has lost N24.72bn in 10 days due to the Twitter ban imposed by the Federal government.

The Federal government on June 5 placed an indefinite suspension of the operations of the microblogging app in Nigeria after the site took down a tweet posted on the President’s handle.

The Federal government last week said the microblogging site has since reached out for discussions and that the Federal government will now give operating licence to such sites if they want to operate in Nigeria.

According to NetBlocks Cost of Shutdown Tool, an international Internet monitor, Nigeria loses N102.9m ($250,600) every hour to the ban.

The digital rights advocacy platform estimates the economic impact of an internet disruption, mobile data blackout or app restriction using indicators from the World Bank, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Eurostat amongst others. According to its analysis, an estimated N2.1 billion naira was lost when Nigeria shut down Twitter for 24 hours.

According to a report by Statista, Nigeria has about 33 million active social media users with about 26 per cent on Twitter.

The Director-General of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture, Ayoola Olukanni, while commenting on the ban, said it has a more adverse effect on micro, small and medium businesses who rely on social media to conduct their business.

 “Communication is a significant part of sales and marketing in this digital age.  Consequently, the Twitter ban will likely impact negatively and disrupt businesses especially Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises who rely on social media, such as Facebook, Instagram including Twitter to conduct business.

It will therefore most likely negatively impact the IT sector of the economy which is already facing several other challenges.

While it may be considered that there are alternative social media platforms, the abrupt nature of the suspension would mean a loss of existing contacts and a cost of migration.

We must of course also not and cannot, discountenance the national security dimension of the misuse of social media and micro-blogging platforms to inspire violence outside its use to conduct Business.”Olukanni said

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa has said that he’s been receiving death threats since he was appointed chairman of the anti-graft agency. 

Bawa disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily.

He recalled how someone who isn’t investigated by the agency, threatened to kill him. The EFCC Chairman said; 

“Last week I was in New York. A very senior citizen received a phone call from somebody who is not even under EFCC investigation. What he said to him is that I am going to kill the EFCC boss, the young man.

“This to tell you how real corruption can fight back. Yes because if you look at it, almost everywhere there are elements of it (corruption), but I am very optimistic we will succeed in taming the monster of corruption in this country.”

Bawa also revealed that the commission is expending energy on how to crack down on the gatekeepers of the proceeds of corruption in the country.

He said; 

“Our attention is geared toward dealing with the issue of the utilization of funds whether in the private or public sector. We are looking at the avenue in which they are laundering the proceeds.

“We are looking forward to dealing with what we call gatekeepers in money laundering to have rigorous and effective control over them.”

He added that since Nigerians are very religious, the commission has designed a manual to engage religious bodies.

The EFCC Chairman said; 

 “Nigeria is a very religious country and that is why one of the issues that we do in public enlightenment is to engage with leaders of religious bodies.

“We are soon going to launch our interface with the Christian and Islamic communities to engage them on the ills of corruption.

“We have already designed the manual for that.”

Men of the Kano state police command have arrested a 13-year-old boy for killing two men suspected to be bandits in the state.
 

The spokesperson of the state police command, Gambo Isah, who confirmed this to newsmen, said the boy simply identified as Mati, was once an errand boy to a bandits’ leader, Ardo Nashaware, who resides in Birnin Magaji forest, Zamfara State.


Isah mentioned that when interrogated, the boy said he was taken away from his parents under the guise that he would assist in rearing cows for his masters, adding that instead, he was taught how to operate AK-47 rifles and served as a guard for kidnap victims.

“The boy, who demonstrated skills in handling AK-47, also confessed to have been bullied by some elderly bandits, who provoked him, and as a result, (he) picked an AK-47 rifle and shot dead two of the elderly bandits,” Isah said
 

Isah added that two suspected bandits, Ibrahim Lawal, 45, of Kabobi village; and Mamman Shu’aibu, 39, of Garin Runji Fulani settlement, in the Batsari Local Government Area, have been arrested by the police. He said the suspected who were said to be terrorizing the Batsari Local Government Area of the state, were arrested on Wednesday.
 

The spokesperson mentioned that the suspects who are notorious for cattle rustling and kidnapping in the state would be prosecuted after the completion of investigations.

Zambia President, Edgar Lungu collapsed in the capital, Lusaka, during the 45th Defense Forces Day Commemoration and Investiture ceremony on Sunday, June 13.

The Private Secretary to the Zambia President, Simon Miti made it known in a statement that the President truly collapsed at the event but recovered immediately after experiencing sudden dizziness.

The statement read, “The President of the Republic of Zambia, Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, this afternoon experienced sudden dizziness whilst officiating at the 45th Defence Force Day Commemoration and Investiture Ceremony.

“His Excellency recovered immediately and walked to the official car and returned to his residence at State House.

“The President wishes to assure the general public and all concerned citizens and the international community that he is well and has continued to discharge his duties as Head of State, Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force.”

The four-hour ceremony took place at the Freedom Statute on Independence Avenue where the Defence Forces show-cased their military ware.

President Lungu also used the Commemoration to conduct an Investiture Ceremony to honour gallant men and women in Uniform.

The Zambian leader had a similar experience in 2015, caused by what the presidency said was an “oesophagus condition”.

Governor Samuel Ortom has said that the violent attacks against residents of Benue state won’t make his administration repeal the anti-grazing law. 

Ortom who spoke during a media parley, disclosed that the recent attacks has made him commence the process of recruiting responsible people of 50 years and below into the Volunteer Guards. 

Insisting that they’ve cried enough, the Governor added that the duty of the Volunteer Guards is to support the conventional security agencies in defending their communities.

He said; 

“A few weeks ago, Benue stakeholders met and gave this administration the mandate to activate and implement the Community Volunteer Guards Law enacted in 2000.

“We have already commenced the process of recruiting responsible people of 50 years and below into the Volunteer Guards.

“Their duty is to support the conventional security agencies in defending their communities. We have cried enough. We will cry no more. Now is time for action.

“Let me remind those who think that sustained attacks on the Benue people will force us to repeal the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law that they are making a mistake.

“This law has come to stay and no amount of intimidation can make us repeal it. Instead, we will soon amend the law in order to increase the penalties against offenders.”

No fewer than 100,000 bottles of codeine syrup with a total weight of 15,325kilograms have been intercepted and seized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Onne seaport, Port Harcourt, Rivers state.

A statement released by Femi Babafemi, spokesperson of the command, states that the illicit substance, cough syrup with codeine (100mg), packed in 500 cartons and concealed in a container marked MRKU 1565305, bearing imported food masks made in India, was discovered on Thursday, 10th June 2021 in a warehouse at the Onne port complex during a joint examination with officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, State Security Service, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, among others.

He said the seizure followed an intelligence received by NDLEA, as a result of which the container was put on hold and moved to the Customs Government warehouse within the port complex. No importer or agent has however come forward in respect of the container but efforts are ongoing to track the owner for further investigation and prosecution.

In a related development, NDLEA operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, NAIA, have seized nine cartons of khat, weighing 146.95kilograms at the cargo wing of the airport. The consignment packaged as dried green tea was shipped from Addis Ababa, on board Ethiopian airline flight ET911.

”After initial examination and suspicion, a clearing agent was asked to report with the consignee before the release but failed to do so for fear of arrest, a development that led to a laboratory test on the consignment, which tested positive to khat and the eventual seizure.”the statement read

The Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has hailed the synergy among various government agencies at the Onne port and charged them not to rest on their oars as they daily work hard to keep Nigeria safe. He particularly commended the Commander, officers and men of the Port Harcourt Port Command and their Abuja airport Command counterparts for their vigilance and commitment to the task of ridding Nigeria of illicit drugs.

”The damage 100,000 bottles of codeine would have done to our youths if they had slipped through the port to our villages, towns and cities is unimaginable. 146.95 kilograms of khat could have done the same damage if allowed to go into our streets. We will continue to motivate our officers and men so that they can give their best in the discharge of their responsibilities across the country and ultimately with the support of all our stakeholders and partners, we will win the battle against illicit drug trafficking and abuse” Gen. Marwa said

Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen have killed six farmers including four women in a Tiv settlement in Keana Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

President, Tiv Development Association (TIDA) Nasarawa State, Comrade Peter Ahemba, who confirmed the incident on Saturday June 12, said the gunmen invaded Tse-Jimin village, Jimin-Gbaka in Aloshi kingdom of Keana LGA at about 9:45pm on Friday, June 11. 

“At about 9:45pm yesterday, unknown gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen attacked Tse-Jimin village, Jimin Gbaka is in Aloshi kingdom of Keana LG, six persons were killed , two males and four females,” he said.

Comrade Ahemba said those killed include Batholomi Yahaya, Mnena Gideon, Ityokugh Yakubu, Timothy Aye, Ababi Tsavbee and Blessing Oliver.

The TIDA president said one of the women who survived the attacked confirmed that they were Fulani herdsmen.

“My call to the government of Nasarawa State is to strengthen the security of lives and properties of the citizens including that of the Tiv people of Nasarawa State, this attack is unprovoked,”

“Highly unprovoked, there was nothing , they just came and attacked our people, so I’m appealing to the governnent of Nasarawa and federal government to come to the aid of the Tiv people of Nasarawa State

“We are being annihilated, they are chasing us away from Nasarawa State for what we don’t know, we are very peaceful people and committed to promoting peace among the diverse nationalities of Nasarawa State

“I want to commend the prompt intervention of the security agents in Keana LG and the traditional rulers “the traditional ruler of Aloshi has summon a meeting of Tiv and Fulani leaders in the area to find lasting solution.” he added. 

To commemorate this year’s Democracy Day, President Buhari will on Saturday morning, June 12, at 7am address the nation.

A statement released by presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, states that Television, radio stations, and other electronic media outlets are enjoined to hook up to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority and Radio Nigeria for the broadcast.

President Muhammadu Buhari has announced his government’s plan to recruit 10,000 new police officers to boost national security.

The President disclosed this on Thursday June 10, while delivering a speech in Lagos on his one-day visit for the inauguration of various  projects.

Buhari said; 

“We are currently recruiting 10,000 new police officers to reinforce our personnel capacity across the country.

“I have directed the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission to carry out an upward review of Police salaries and benefits”.

The President also maintained that no government since 1999 has been as committed as his administration in reforming and repositioning the Nigeria Police Force and national policing architecture.

Buhari added; 

“In 2019, I signed into law the Act establishing the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, the first in the history of the Force, to provide guaranteed funding to support Police welfare, logistics and equipment.

“In September 2020, I assented to the bill amending the Nigeria Police Act, which was originally enacted in 1943.

“This new Act, a vast improvement over the old one, among other things spells out the modalities for the implementation of a National Community Policing Scheme in Nigeria.

“This new scheme will build confidence within our local communities and make them active stakeholders in the safety and security of their environs.”