11052021 - Insecurity: Bandits attack Katsina mosque, abduct 10

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vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES 018773962, 08052867058 Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 11, 2021— 5 POCKET CARTOON Lawyers from the eight branches of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, in Anambra State stormed Government House in Awka to press home their demand for financial autonomy and independence of judiciary in the state. COVID-19: FG re-imposes nationwide curfew •Limits gatherings to 50 persons By Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA — Disturbed by the resurgence of COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Government yesterday announced reintroduction of all extant control measures aimed at mitigating the impact of the deadly scourge. Accordingly, the Presidential Steering Committee, PSC, on COVID-19 reimposed nationwide curfew earlier put in place to control the spread of the virus. It also limited gatherings, especially in enclosed spaces, to a maximum of 50 persons, urging state governments to inaugurate mobile courts to try offenders. Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, and chairman of the PSC, Mr Boss Mustapha, said the committee also considered several preemptive measures to be taken to mitigate the likely impact of the variants of concern, should they get imported into Nigeria. “Accordingly, the PSC has produced new Implementation Guidelines, being Phase IV of our Eased Restrictions of COVID- 19 Lock-down in the country. Why restrictions are coming back — PSC “This step has become compelling in view of the fragile state of our health systems, the disruption to the vaccines delivery and the lack of compliance with the extant public health measures and social measures contained in the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Health Protection Regulations 2021. "The PSC has, therefore, considered it imperative to re-institute the various public health measures that were put in place under the health Protection Regulations. “In taking this step, the PSC requests state governments to please step up to play lead roles in the area of enforcement and sanctions. "Similarly, our appeal goes to traditional, religious and community leaders to take up more ownership and responsibility for risk communication and community engagement on the virulent nature of the pandemic, concerns over the variants of concern and the need for compliance," the SGF stated. He added that the Authorities of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government has fixed the cost of COVID-19 testing, whether PCR or otherwise, at $50 (Fifty US Dollars) at all Points of Entry with effect from 17th May, 2021. The decision, he said, was to ease travel and trade among citizens of ECOWAS States traveling within the region. PSC’s Head of Technical Secretariat, Dr Mukhtar Mohammed, said persons without face masks will no longer be allowed into government institutions while it directed security agencies to enforce the use of such masks and other nonpharmaceutical interventions in the transportation sector. According to him, most government meetings are also now to hold virtually, while only essential international travels are encouraged, with adherence to all protocols. ‘No restrictions on inter-state travel’ Mohammed was, however, emphatic that there are no restrictions on intra-state travels. “The PSC continues to reinforce the surveillance system at the country’s points of entry. While our vaccine roll-out has began, there is a shortage in global supplies affected by the current situation in India. "This translates to a delay in vaccinating a large proportion of the population and therefore a risk of a large outbreak especially in the context of poor adherence to the recommended public health and social measures. "The level of adherence to the use of face masks, physical distancing, temperature checks in public spaces, handwashing and limits on large gatherings remain very poor. In some areas, these are even nonexistent. "In line with the increasing risk of a surge in cases, the PSC is therefore maintaining the enforcement of the COVID-19 Health Protection Regulations. This is to mitigate the risk of a spike in new cases while the nationwide vaccine roll out continues. "Further to these recommendations and effective from 0001hours of Tuesday, May 11, 2021, this Phase 4 of the phased restriction of movement shall come into effect. We shall maintain restrictions on mass gatherings outside work settings with a maximum number of 50 people in any enclosed space. "Approved gatherings must be held with physical distancing measures and other nonpharmaceutical interventions in place. Enforcement of a mandatory requirement of a seven-day quarantine for all international passengers arriving from foreign destinations, while institutional quarantine for international passengers arriving from the three countries of India, Brazil and Turkey. Continues on Page 28 By Yinka Latona On how FG, States can tackle spate of insecurity The Minister of Information recently said that ‘bandits cannot be prosecuted by the FG’, however, ransom is being advised to be paid by CBN. I will recommend State Policing be prioritized, increase capacity and funds to enable them carry out their duty of combating insecurity, protecting the lives and property of citizens. —Jude Oseh, Development Advocate One of the underlying issues with insecurity in Nigeria is the centralisation of the police system. Each state should have its own police to enforce the laws and secure citizens, while the FG should have its own police to handle federal-related issues but is not allowed to overrule the state police. When this is done, the security of each state will depend on the state and they can be held to account where there are gaps. —Oladejo Joshua, Consultant When Dai Lama said that a lack of transparency results in distrust and a deep sense of insecurity, he must have had Nigeria in mind. The current unrest and scary level of mutual suspicion among Nigerians, is due to lack of transparency in leadership. Govt’s duty is to protect our lives and property; they have all the security agencies at their disposal so equip, encourage and put them to full use against the enemies of state. If you want peace, then be prepared for war. —Folorunso F. Adisa, Mediaprenuer If truly 110 million Nigerians (60%) of the population is hungry as reported by World Food Program, I don’t think there’s a best approach to be employed by govt to tackle insecurity other than giving the citizens a friendly economy. No nation is secure when majority of its citizens are hungry. The more the hunger, the more the insecurity. —Hashim Yussuf, Student It is often said that “a city that attacked its security should be ready for the criminals.” The problem of insecurity in Nigeria happened as result of failure on the part of our government. It has political undertone. I advise the government of the day to search her corridors and sweep away bad eggs among them. —Mike-Seejoy, Writer The insecurity at this time is so deep that it seems attaining peace with this administration might be impossible. I suggest the FG rights its wrongs by stopping all negotiations with terrorists. They should then mobilise all the security agencies in the 6 geo-political zones, draw up strategies to tackle insecurity according to the peculiarities in each zone, implement these strategies by providing adequate funding and training to the personnel. —Addola Osunkoya, Media personality
6— Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 11, 2021 Strange disease: Kano govt confirms outbreak, says 6 persons dead By Bashir Bello KANO— THE Kano State Government, yesterday, confirmed six persons dead of a strange disease in Koya, Minjibir Local Government Area of the state. The Commissioner for Health, Dr Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa, who confirmed the outbreak, which has symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea, said 52 persons were affected by the outbreak of which six died, 28 discharged and 18 still on admission. The commissioner attributed the root cause of the outbreak to open defecation and unhygienic practices by the citizens. He said: “The outbreak with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea manifested in Koya, Minjibir LGA on Friday. 52 persons were affected by the outbreak, of which six died. Some died at home while some died in the hospital when efforts were on top gear to rescue their lives. “As of last night (Sunday), 28 victims were discharged and 18 were still on admission. Most of the victims were children. “The personnel of the ministry had since swung into action, especially in the aspect of public enlightenment on the residents to keep their environment clean. “We are also enlightening them on first aid measures of giving oral rehydration salt to patients before getting to the hospital. “The enlightenment is carried out across all local government area in the state as a similar outbreak was experienced in Kumbotso and Gaya but has been put under control.” Police kill 2 suspected robbers in Ogun By James Ogunnaike ABEOKUTA—Men of the Ogun State Police Command, Sunday, shot and killed two suspected armed robbers at Sagamu interchange, along Lagos- Ibadan expressway. The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who disclosed this, yesterday, in a statement said the police engaged the robbers in a gun battle during a robbery operation. According to Oyeyemi, the police at the Sagamu Division received a distress call that “a robbery operation was going on at Sagamu interchange and that one of their victims has been seriously injured. “Upon the distress call, the DPO of the division, CSP Okiki Agunbiade, quickly led his patrol team to the scene where they met the robbers attacking another victim, Agba Enoch. “The team engaged them in a gun battle, at the end of which two members of the gang were fatally injured, while others escaped with gunshot injuries. “The injured victim, one Adekunle Adewale, who was seriously macheted on the head was rushed to hospital.” We abducted 4 persons taking shelter at bus stop after missing target — Suspect By Dayo Johnson AKURE—ONE of the four sus pected kidnappers arrested by the Ondo State security outfit, Amotekun, Usman Garuba, has disclosed that the four persons abducted by them were not their target. Garuba, Yaman Muhammed, Umar Ali and Abubakar Sidiku were paraded by the Amotekun operatives in Akure for allegedly abducting four persons at Oda Road in the state capital. Garuba said they missed their target, a businessman living around Oda road area in the metropolis, but resorted to abducting four persons, who were taking shelter at a bus stop in the area following rainfall. Vanguard gathered that two of the victims were rescued but the kidnappers reportedly changed location and held on to the remaining victim, demanding ransom. It was in the course of collecting ransom that Garuba was arrested by Amotekun operatives. 37-year-old Garuba took the security operatives to their hideouts where others were arrested and the remaining female victims rescued. In an interview with Vanguard, Garuba said he was introduced to the business by his master, who promised to give him a job. According to him, it was Mohammed that raped their victim, while Sanni beat up a woman who refused to pay ransom. He said: “It was my oga that brought me and told me there was a job for me. He went to a man and collected N100,000 after threatening to kidnap him. By Ugochukwu Alaribe UMUAHIA—A woman, Mrs Amaka Ejike, whose husband died while on a business trip to China, has called on the Nigerian Embassy in the country to facilitate the return of his corpse for burial in Nigeria. Amaka, who disclosed that her husband died in China on December 31, 2020, lamented that she has made efforts to get the assistance of the Nigerian Embassy in Shanghai, but was told that they could not do anything to help her. Narrating her ordeal during the Aba South constituency summit, with the theme; ‘Enhancing small scale business opportunities between Nigeria and China in the COVID-19 Era’, in Aba, Abia State, Amaka further said she declined offers to cremate her husband’s corpse because it is against Igbo tradition, which prefers giving honour to the departed family member. “My husband died on December 31, 2020, four days after he went on a business trip to China. Up till today, I have made every effort with the Nigerian Embassy in Shanghai to see how his body can be brought to Nigeria for burial, but they told me that the borders are shut, that there is nothing they can do about the situation. “They were suggesting we cremate his remains. And I found out that it is their culture. Cremation is not our culture, especially in Igbo land because we have roots with the Jews who used to lay their people to rest and give them the last honour." •Says ‘we didn’t want to go back empty handed’ The suspected kidnappers paraded by Ondo Amotekun in Akure. “We missed our target. They told us the person has money and described the house but we didn’t meet the target. It was on our way back that we kidnapped these people. I came to Akure for a job. We shared N100,000 after our first operation “They promised to give me work and I was introduced to one man who I followed to the first kidnap job. We kidnapped the man and three of us realised N100,000 from the job. “We are working with some Yoruba people who usually bring job for us. The man told us that our target is rich and we planned to kidnap According to her, life has been very difficult taking care of his two children, aged nine and seven and urged Nigerian officials serving in China to come to her aid. “I have two little children, nine and sven years. It has been very difficult since my husband died. It is now a year and five months. I made every effort to him but we didn’t see him. “He told us to go to the man and that he could not follow us because they know him in the area, but when we were returning it started raining and we met the four people at the bus stop where we kidnapped them so that we will not go back empty-handed. “l want to beg for forgiveness and I promise not to go near this kidnapping business again. I know it is not good but I was introduced to the business because I needed to work and make money to feed myself. I never knew they were into kidnapping." How we arrested Facilitate return of my husband's corpse, woman appeals to Nigerian Embassy in China contact the Ambassador. I went to the website; nobody was ready to give me the contact or anything. I found out that there was no update on the Ambassador’s numbers to reach him. “Finally, I began to speak with the Consulate officer, one Mrs Safiya, who told me that nothing can be done. And her religion doesn’t allow her to go to the mortuary or do anything." My close shave with death in the hands of SWAT operatives —Victim By Nimat Otori Abusinessman, Sunday Michael, has disclosed how he was allegedly tortured by operatives of the newly created Special Weapon and Tactics Team, SWAT, which replaced the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, in the Akodo area of Lagos State. Michael, 30, explained that he was driving back home from his site in Osoroko area of Ibeju-Lekki, with his brother in-law, Moses, last Thursday, when his car developed a fault. According to him, “I parked by the side of the road to call my mechanic, who advised me on what to do to allow the engine to cool. It was around 6 pm then. “My brother-in-law (Moses) went to get water while I stood by the car. Some policemen with the inscription FCID on their jackets came and started asking me questions. I later got to know that they were SWAT officers from Abuja. I told them where I was coming from and what happened to my vehicle. “They searched my vehicle but did not find anything incriminating and they moved away and stayed in their vehicle. Some land thugs came with guns, matches and other dangerous weapons and ordered Moses, who had come with the water and me, to go inside the policemen’s vehicle. “Our attempt to find out what the matter was resulted in beating. They took us to the parked police vehicle, where we were confronted with another round of beating from the policemen. “ The policemen hit our knee caps with every available object in their vehicle. They drove us to Akodo Divisional Police Station but did not take us inside to write any statement. One policeman whom they referred to as their leader met us in front of the police station and asked what the matter was. He expressed helplessness, saying that his boss in Abuja, who I later learned to be ACP Sanusi, had the final say on my release. “Often, the other policemen in the police vehicle would come down and ask Felix who was driving my car if I had cooperated or said anything but he kept telling them that I had not spoken and when it was getting late I had to bail myself with over N20,000.” The spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command said he had not been briefed on the matter when contacted. suspects — Amotekun Parading the suspects, the Commander, Adetunji Adeleye, said other security agencies joined in the rescue operation. Adeleye said: “We were able to rescue two victims that same day but the kidnappers held onto others. We sold a decoy to them of ransom payment and in the course of that we were able to nab one of them who led us to their hideouts and we arrested others. Umar Garuba has confessed to carrying out other kidnapping activities.” Adeleye said the suspects would soon be handed over to the police for further interrogation and prosecution. Village head suspended after allegedly beating wife to death in Bauchi By Charly Agwam BAUCHI—THE Village Head of Sabon Layi Kwara in Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State, ASP Salka Daniel (retd), has been suspended by the Chairman of Bogoro council area over alleged domestic violence that led to the death of his wife, Hajara. According to a copy of the letter sighted by Vanguard, the suspension was approved last Friday by the Chairman of Bogoro council area, Iliya Habila, as a measure to return peace to the area and forestall the breakdown of law and order. In the letter signed on his behalf by the Director, Administration and General Services, Marcus Nehemiah, the suspension was with immediate effect pending the outcome of an investigation by the police to determine the remote and immediate cause(s) of the death. It was gathered that the suspended chief had beaten his late wife, Hajara, to death on April 19, 2021, in the village following a family dispute, after which he was arrested by a combined team of vigilante and DSS on April 26, 2021, in Bayara, a Bauchi suburban where he ran to escape arrest. Speaking on the alleged crime, spokesperson, Bauchi State Police Command, Wakili Ahmed, said he could not confirm the incident because the report from Bogoro Division had not reached the command.
Page 1 and 2: COVID-19: FG re-imposes nationwide
Page 3: 4 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 11 , 2
Page 7 and 8: 8 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 11, 20
Page 9 and 10: 10 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 11 ,
Page 23 and 24: 24 — Niger-Delta Voice, TUESDAY,
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Page 29 and 30: C M Y Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 11, 20
Page 31 and 32: Pirlo’s a dead man walking! •Mi

11052021 - Insecurity: Bandits attack Katsina mosque, abduct 10

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