They Throw Money At Our Problems

1,497 Illegal Routes Into Nigeria – Interior Minister

Posted: May 24, 2013 - 00:46

By SaharaReporters, New York

There are no fewer than 1,497 illegal routes that lead into Nigeria. The startling disclosure was made earlier today by Nigeria’s Interior Minister, Abba Moro.

Mr. Moro spoke in Abuja while briefing the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the party's national headquarters.
In order to curb the security crisis associated with porous borders, the minister said Nigeria needed more than $244 million. The fund would go into installation of electronic surveillance round the nation's borders.
The minister added that the crisis of insecurity in the country was being compounded by the operation of 30 illegal guard companies in the country. He announced that only the operator of one of them had been arrested.
Mr. Moro also revealed that some scam artists “opened a website in the name of the ministry which they have been using to dupe unsuspecting members of the public.”

He added: “One of them even used my name to open such [a] website, but we have been able to arrest him somewhere in Asokoro, Abuja, when I asked one of his would-be victims to play along with him.”
The minister underscored the fact that Nigeria’s vast borders were porous, making it possible for the 1,497 illegal routes to exist. "We are making efforts to procure appropriate modern technology to be installed along our borders and we are collaborating the USAt and a private Chinese company on this 
"With the assistance of the US State Department, we realised that some components of the offer we got from the private firm was contained in what the State Department would be offering us.

"When we have done this, the temptation of illegal entry into Nigeria will be reduced".




As You Make Your Bed,....

The Rough (Roforofo) And Tumble Of Politics

I have no quarrel with Jonathan - Amaechi

PUNCH - APRIL 26, 2013 BY FRIDAY OLOKOR, ABUJA

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has described as a “media creation” the purported rift between him and President Goodluck Jonathan.

“I am not aware that Mr. President and I are quarrelling. As far as I am concerned, we are not quarrelling”, Amaechi told reporters on Thursday in Kano State.

The governor stated this even as he said the planned election into the Nigerian Governors’ Forum was not a do-or-die.

Amaechi was in the ancient city on the invitation of his Kano State counterpart, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Read More

The Confidence Of A Good Candidate

Buhari: I’ll Stand Down for Better APC Candidate

Thisday - 02 May 2013

Aisha Wakaso

The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) national leader and its candidate in the 2011 presidential election, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, has stated that he is ready to drop his presidential ambition for the survival of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a conglomeration of the nation’s major opposition parties, including CPC.

Buhari told reporters in Minna yesterday that he would forgo his ambition to run for a record fourth time if a better candidate emerges.

The former military head of state, who was in Minna for the maiden edition of the Sam Nda-Isaiah Annual Lecture Series, said he was willing to drop his ambition for the progress of democracy and the good of the country.

“I am willing to step down if there is a formidable and better candidate than me. It is not about me but for the survival of the party. APC is about ensuring internal democracy, whoever emerges is the person I will support. Yes I will be ready to step down,” he said..........

The Bad News That Could Have Been Good News

Bad news could just have become good news! Just!

Here is how: An Inspector General of Police was sacked for his failure to rein in Boko Haram. He fled to the UK and applied for asylum, claiming Boko Haram may kill him should he return to Nigeria. As the British authorities were weighing up his application, news came via Nigerian newspapers that gunmen had stormed his hometown and had “taken over” his personal residence.  

Normally, this kind of news should notch up the asylum applicant’s chances, right? However, when the dust settled, the news that emerged defined the gunmen as armed robbers (not Boko Haram) who came solely for one operation.... to rob the only bank in the town! Where does that place our man’s application?

                                     

Read the two news stories
Read story number two

Gunmen attack former IG Ringim’s residence

VANguard -  APRIL 29, 2013 · 

 By Aliyu Dangida

There was pandemonium in Ringim town, headquarters of Ringim local government area of Jigawa state Sunday night as gunmen stormed the town and  started shooting.

An indigene of the town who spoke to Vanguard on phone said the gunmen arrived Ringim town around 8 pm and took over the personal residence of former Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim as well as the Divisional Police headquarters, while people deserted their business places and entered their respective homes.

He added that there were bomb explosions in the town. As at press time Sunday night shooting was still going on as the residents were locked up inside their houses.

Contacted the PPRO Jigawa State Command, ASP Abdul Jinjiri confirmed the incident but said the police had little information to give to the press.

Three cops, two others killed in Ringim bombing

DAILY TRUST -  Tuesday, 30 April 2013

by Abdullahi Anako, Dutse

Five persons, among them three policemen, have been confirmed killed when gunmen attacked some places in Ringim town of Jigawa State on Sunday. Some of the places bombed included a police station and Unity Bank building.

Jigawa Deputy Commissioner of Police Muhammmed KabirMuhammed, who led state deputy governor Ahmed Mahmud Gumel to the scene of the crime, said armed robbers first attacked the Ringim police station where they killed three policemen, set fire on police patrol van in front of former IG Hafiz Ringim’s house before they proceeded to the Unity Bank building where they threw explosives on it killing two civilian security men.

He said the former IG’s house was not torched.

The police boss said the robbers could not cart away money before the arrival of reinforcement of policemen and soldiers who battled them for hours before they succeeded in chasing them away.

An army vehicle inspected by the deputy governor was also riddled with bullets by the robbers.

No official of the bank was available for comment as the bank was totally cordoned off with anti-bomb squad combing the area.

At the palace of Emir of Ringim AlhajiSayyadi Mahmud Abubakar, the deputy governor commiserated with the Emir over the incident and promised that government will leave no stone unturned to unravel the perpetrators.

“Jigawa is a peaceful state and we have been living in peace. This incident is very shocking. The government has been doing its best in terms of justice and fairness which is responsible for the peace we are enjoying in the state.

“This is the second time such kind of armed robbery attack is taking place in Jigawa. The first was last year in Gwaram and now Ringim. We pray this is the last time. We are calling for prayers but surely government will address this issue with all the urgency it requires”, he said.

The Emir of Ringim, in his response, thanked the governor for the visit and security agents for their effort.  

“On behalf of myself and my council, I wish to thank the Deputy Governor and his team for the prompt response they gave the incident. I must also commend the police, especially the DPO who crossed the fence and instructed the over 500 Islammiyya students to lie down on the floor.

“Only God knows what would have happened because the Islamiyya is close to the police station. It was the DPO who later helped to evacuate the kids. I have never seen this type of attack in my life. I call on everyone to continue to pray for peace because it is only prayer that can save us”, he said.

Partial Rewording of : Look, Who's Getting A Good Hiding!

Recently, the Inspector General of Police, Nigeria pronounced a ban on vehicles with tinted glasses, claiming that “criminal elements including suspected terrorists” hide behind them to commit all manner of evil, shady activities. He ordered his men to impound such vehicles and arrest their owners.

Read more…

Nigeria Police to seize vehicles with tinted glasses

Nigeria Police to seize vehicles with tinted glasses

Premium Times

Published: March 21,2013

The Inspector General of Police has described use of tinted vehicles as unlawful.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has directed state Commissioners of Police to arrest vehicles with tinted glasses and prosecute their owners in line with extant laws.

Mr. Abubakar also extended the directive to all Zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs).

The directive is contained in a statement issued by Frank Mba, the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, on Thursday in Abuja.

“Police Officers nationwide have been directed to commence a massive operation aimed at enforcing all existing laws bordering on tinted glasses and the use of unregistered/unlicensed vehicles,” it said.

The statement quoted the IG as describing as alarming and unlawful the use of such vehicles by some motorists across the country.

It also noted with “grave” concern the use of unregistered/unlicensed vehicles by some motorists on the highways in spite of repeated warnings from police authority.

“This unbecoming attitude has the capacity not only to heighten criminal activities but to place unnecessary pressure on security agencies and law abiding citizens,” it said.

The statement noted that their indiscriminate use posed danger as security reports indicated that “`criminal elements including suspected terrorists” hide behind them to execute their nefarious activities.

“The IG wishes to remind Nigerians from all walks of life, including politicians, military and security personnel that the ban on unlawful and indiscriminate use of tinted glasses and legislation forbidding the plying of unregistered vehicles are still in force. He wishes to clearly state that the Nigeria Police will no longer tolerate few misguided Nigerians who abuse the use of tinted glasses and unregistered/unlicensed vehicles. Similarly, owners of unregistered/unlicensed vehicles are advised to immediately register them and obtain appropriate licences or withdraw them forthwith from public roads,” the statement noted.

The statement said that the habit complicated the challenge of effectively policing the country and endangered the lives and property of law abiding citizens.

(NAN)

Officialdom