15112022

8 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022
:Vanguard News
:@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058
MEETING: From left,
CEO, Nigerian
Midstream and
Downstream
Petroleum Regulatory
Authority, NMDPRA,
Farouk Ahmed;
Minister of State for
Petroleum Resources,
Timipre Sylva and
Group Chief
Executive Officer,
Nigerian National
Petroleum Company
Limited, NNPC Ltd,
Mallam Mele Kyari,
during a meeting with
stakeholder in the oil
and gas sector on fuel
availability during the
Christmas season, at
the NNPC Towers in
Abuja, yesterday.
Terrorism: DHQ declares Bello Turji,
Ado Aliero, 17 other kingpins wanted
•Offers N5m reward for information leading to arrest of each terrorist •N5m reward is
too small —Col. Stan-Labo •It’s a good devt as elections approach, says Ex-DSS
Director, Ejiofor •ACF, MBF welcome devt •NAF kill bandits with rockets in
Kaduna,hostages escape; destroy terrorists camps
By Kingsley
Omonobi, Peter
Duru, Gabriel
Olawale & Ibrahim
Hassan-Wuyo
D
E F E N C E
HEADQUARTERS
yesterday released a list of 19 most
wanted terrorist kingpins and
commanders under the manhunt
of troops and security agencies,
including notorious bandit
leaders, Bello Turji and Ado Aliero,
who had been terrorising states
in the North West, especially
Zamfara and Katsina.
DHQ also announced the offer
of N5million reward for
information that could lead to the
whereabout and arrest of each of
the terrorist commanders.
The release of the list of the
terrorists elicited the support of
some security experts and
regional socio-political groups,
such as retired Col StanLabo,
former DSS Director, Mike Ejiofor,
the Arewa Consultative Forum,
ACF, and the Middle Belt Forum,
MBF.
Although Col Stan-Labo
welcomed the development, he
however described as too meagre
the N5million reward for
information placed on each of the
wanted terrorists.
Photographs of the terrorists
with their names and places of
origin, accompanied with numbers
to call for dissemination of the
information, were displayed at
military and security locations,
including the Defence
headquarters in Abuja, yesterday.
The 19 wanted terrorists are
Sani Dangote, from Dumburum
Village, Zurmi LGA, Zamfara
State; Bello Turji Gudda from
Fakai Village, Shinkafi LGA,
Zamfara State; Alhaji Ado Aliero,
Yankuzo Village, Tsafe LGA,
Zamfara State; Monore from
Yantumaki Village, Danmusa
LGA, Katsina State; Leko from
Muzoji Village. Matazu LGA of
Katsina State; and Dogo Nahali
from Yar Tsavtyar Jino Village,
Kankara LGA, Katsina State.
Others are Halilu Sububu, from
Sububu Village in Maradun LGA
of Zamfara State; Nasanda from
Kwashabawa Village in Zurmi
LGA of Zamfara State; Isa
Kwashen Garwafrom Kamfarin
Daudawa Village in Faskari LGA
of Kastsina State; Ali Kachala, aka
Ali Kawaje, from Kuyambaka
vIllage in Dansadau District,
Maru LGA of Zamfara State; and
Baleri from Shinkafi LGA of
Zamfara State.
Also on the list are Nagona from
Angwan Galadima Village in Isa
LGA of Sokoto State; Abu Radde
from Varanda Village in Batsari
LGA of Katsina State; Dan-Da
from Varanda Village in Batsari
LGA of Katsina State; Mamudu
Tainange from Varanda Village in
Batsari LGA of Katsina
State;Umaru Dan Nigeria from
Rafi Village, Mada District in
Gusau LGA of Zamfara State;
Sani Gurgu from Varanda Village
in Batsari LGA of Katsina State;
and Magala from Maru LGA of
Zamfara State.
“If you have any information,
call 09135904467,” the DHQ list
stated.
N5m reward is too
small —Col. Stan-Labo
Reacting to the list yesterday,
former Army Intelligence Officer,
Col. Hassan Stan-Labo, retd, said
with the current value of the
naira, the ransom of N5 million is
too small.
He said such ridiculous amount
of money might not convince
people to disclose information
about the wanted terrorist
kingpins.
“These wanted terrorists live
among us in the communities,
placing ransom on them can make
people that are busy hiding them
to have a change of mind to
surrender them to the appropriate
authorities.
“But placing N5 million on
terrorist kingpins is not money.
There are people who will
overlook that kind of money
because N5 million in today’s
highly devalued Nigeria naira is
nothing. If you want to place
ransom, you have to make it
difficult for anybody to look away.
I expect to hear something like
N50 million, then whoever is
hiding these notorious terrorists
will think twice.”
He admonished both the
military personnel and general
public to handle the information
with care, “General public that
wants to assist security agencies
should not treat the information
in such a way that the whole
neighbour will know that they are
the one that provided it. Also the
military should ensure that the
identity of the person providing
the information is protected,'' Col.
Stan-Labo said.
It’s a good devt
says ex-DSS Director,
Ejiofor
Also reacting, former Director
of Department of State Security
Services, DSS, Mr. Mike Ejiofor,
said that going after terrorists who
were capable of wreaking havoc
during election is a good
development.
Ejiofor, who commended the
military on the ongoing fight
against terrorists, said
government must ensure that
anything that would disturb the
election is not tolerated.
He described the release of the
names of the terrorists kingpins
as a good development,
considering the fact that people
might be living with terrorists
unaware.
“The issue is that these terrorists
are from communities. They have
friends and relatives who might
not even know that they are
terrorists, but with this
development, the general public
will be aware. As I always say,
security is a collective
responsibility.
“For government to attach
reward to the arrest of these
terrorists shows that they are
aware that these guys are very
dangerous. This will also
encourage members of the public
to at least go after them for the
purpose of reward or safety of the
general public,'' Ejiofor said.
ACF reacts to list of
19 terrorist leaders
Reacting to the list realsed by
DHQ yesterday, Secretary-
General of Arewa Consultative
Forum, ACF, Murtala Aliyu, said:
"ACF welcomes the fact that the
military has identified the
kingpins in the crime circle. We
encourage them to continue to
do more because beyond this list
of 19, we are sure there are more.
"So we should be able to get
them and move towards peace,
especially towards the election.
We must secure every part of the
country to ensure the elections
hold credibly."
Military has all
intelligence to
arrest wanted
terrorists —MBF
Similarly, the National
President of the Middle Belt
Forum, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, said the
Nigerian military had all the
intelligence to apprehend
masterminds of terrorism in the
country.“He said: "The military
has high intelligence than you
and I. The DMI, DIA and lots of
their other organisations have lots
of intels than all of us.“"Now if
they feel that this wanted
terrorists are not easy to hunt and
that they need public assistance,
so be it. Nobody will say no if
something will add value to our
situation.“"But the truth remains
that these people (military) know
where the terrorists are. I believe
our military has adequate intel to
track these people. To me, it is
more of a diversion than what it
really should be.“"So let the
military put its acts together and
let's make progress. We know that
our military is capable of routing
this thing out from wherever it is
so that we can have peace in this
country. So let's watch and see
the genuineness in whatever
they have said.
"But my belief all along, which
is true, is that our security services
have adequate information and
they have the capacity and
capability to nip it in the bud all
along, it's just that Nigeria has
become something else, may God
help us."
NAF kill bandits
with rockets in
Kaduna, hostages
escape
Meanwhile, Nigerian Air Force
jets have bombarded terrorists
locations across Kaduna State,
killing many bandits, while some
kidnapped hostages escaped.
Kaduna State Commissioner of
Internal Security and Home
Affairs,Samuel Aruwan, who
disclosed this yesterday, said
"details of these missions were
made known via operational
feedback to Kaduna State
government."
He said in Kawara area of Igabi
LGA, a strike was carried out on
an identified bandit location
where three bandits were
confirmed neutralized by the
strike, which paved way for escape
of some kidnapped victims.
Aruwan stated further:
''Similarly, in Walawa, Giwa LGA,
an active location was targeted
and struck successfully.
''In Chikun LGA, armed
surveillance was carried out over
Faka, Kangon Kadi, Damba,
Ungwan Turai, Galbi, Gwagwada
and environs. Terrorists were
sighted about 4km Northwest of
Godani, and neutralized.
"In Kuduru, an active terrorists'
location was sighted and struck
with rockets. In Igabi LGA,
operations were conducted over
Riyawa, Isiaka, Rima, Riyawa,
Rumana, Ungwan Liman, Mai
Gishiri and the Kaduna Airport
area, with no significant activity
noticed. A similar situation
obtained in Sabon Birnin, Anaba,
Malumi, Wusono and Kerawa.
"Also covered by the aerial
patrols were the Kaduna-Abuja
road and rail line, as well as Jere,
Katari, Olam Farms, Gwagwada,
Sarkin Pawa, Abulo, Mangoro,
Chikwale and environs. Normal
human and vehicular activities
were observed, with no threats
encountered.
"The Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road
and adjoining areas were similarly
covered: Buruku, Labi, Udawa,
Manini and Polewire up to Kajuru,
Jaka da Rabi and Maguzawa."
"Normal activities were
observed during aerial patrols over
Kajuru, Kankomi, Kutura, Kuzo,
Ungwan Magami and Ruga areas.
''The governor of Kaduna State
received the feedback with
gratitude, and commended the
fighter crews for their precision
and consistency in the aerial
missions. Ground and air patrols
will continue in these and other
locations."
Remove subsidy immediately, el-Rufai tells FG
By Emma Ujah,
Abuja Bureau Chief
ABUJA—THE governor of
Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir
El-Rufai, has called for the
immediate removal of petrol
subsidy.
He made the call, yesterday,
at the "State-of-the-State"
session at the on-going NESG,
in Abuja.
When the governor who was on
panel during session was asked what
should be the priority of the
government, he said, "remove fuel
subsidy immediately."
El -Rufai disclosed that governors
of the 36 states and federal
government officials, at the National
Economic Council, had agreed to
the removal of petrol subsidy in
September 2021.
He expressed surprise that
President Muhammadu Buhari
failed to implement the decision,
despite the immense fiscal pressure
the subsidy had brought on
government finances and the
corruption associated with it.
According to him, the
transparency of the administration
of the subsidy, which should have
forced the federal government to
end the regime before now remains
in doubt.
The governor also said the
National Economic Council, NEC,
envisaged that without removing
the subsidy, a time would come
when the Nigerian National
Petroleum Company Limited,
NNPCL, would say the nation's
entire monthly oil earnings had
been spent on subsidy.
He said: "The framers of our
constitution envisaged that for the
economy to work well, there should
be a level of coordination between
the federal and state governments.
"That was why the National
Economic Council was created,
with the Vice President as
Chairman. All 36 governors are
members and some federal
government officials like the
Minister of Finance.
"Under this administration, we
have met religiously, almost every
month, because we have only one
economy.
"I think if NEC decisions were
faithfully implemented by the
national government, some of the
current economic issues will not
arise - because NGF provided
technical support to study this
subsidy issue when it started
looming and at N800 billion."
"We projected that if left
unchecked, it would lead to trillions
of leakage. As pointed out earlier,
we are not even sure if these figures
are real or just manufactured on
paper to take out money.
'We envisaged at that point that
a time would come when the NNPC
would come to FAAC and say guys,
we need cheque from you to cover
for subsidy- not to contribute but to
say we are spending more than we
are receiving from crude oil. That
time has come.
"We took a decision to remove
subsidy in September 2021. The
Minister of Finance also agreed. We
agreed that the money from there
should be channelled into health,
education and infrastructure.
"Even this ASUU problem, we
agreed to provide funding for
ASUU. The NEC took that
decision but the national
government failed to implement that
decision. Till today, we do not know
why this decision taken in 2021 has
not been implemented."
Security vote, big way of stealing money;
I’ll abolish it if elected —Kwankwaso
By Juliet Umeh
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE of
New Nigeria Peoples Party,
NNPP, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has said
he would abolish the security vote
system if elected.
He also said Nigeria has enough
money to take care of every of its
citizens, adding that the
government would not borrow to
pay salaries.
Security vote refers to a monthly
allocation disbursed to states and
other agencies for improved security.
Kwankwaso, who made the
pledge while speaking at a town
hall series organised for presidential
candidates by Channels Television
Sunday night, said the system
should be reviewed since, according
to him, it is a way of getting away
with “stealing” state funds.
He said: “For the eight years I
was governor, I never took one naira
for the issue of security vote. It’s
not even there.
“I have inherited governments
that were taking N10 million in a
day, seven times. In fact, at a state,
we had a record of 12 times because
the governor can only approve N10
million. So, they would take N10
million, times whatever number
they want.
“If the CP or director of SSS or
anybody wants to do anything,
we’ll listen to him. He should defend
it. And once we are satisfied,
anything above N10 million, I’ll take
it to the council.
“The only thing that we did not
publish for the eight years I was
governor was the money given to
the security agents, but we have
the records.
“Security vote, in our own
opinion, is a big way of stealing
money. That is why I have never
done it. And if I have the opportunity
again, there will never be anything
like security vote in the presidency.
“We have seen cases where a lot
of money is being siphoned in the
name of security vote and nobody
can defend it. In my opinion, that
should be stopped using whatever
means, because it’s only a good way
of taking cash from the treasury.”