COVID- 19 Palliatives: Group queries SERAP over requests on humanitarian affairs minister

The Change Africa Crusade Ambassadors (CACA) has expressed disgust at Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) over the request that the Federal Government make certain disclosures on COVID-19 palliatives in the country.

According to the group, this is aimed to blackmail the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disasters Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq. 

Recall that SERAP, had last week, filed a lawsuit against the Federal High Court, Abuja to order the FG and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over COVID-19 palliatives in the country.

In a statement signed by Ambassador Benjamin Akinyemi, on Monday, CACA said SERAP is “insensitive to the point where it constitutes itself into a distraction at a time that all efforts are geared towards minimizing human misery arising from the COVID-19”. 

It added that there is “nothing to gain from compromising the integrity of the palliatives and relief distribution system simply to pander to the whims of a paid-for-hire platform like SERAP”. 

CACA, however, warned SERAP to allow the minister to focus on the task on the ground of minimizing human misery arising from the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Read the full statement below:

Change Africa Crusade Ambassadors (CACA) is appalled by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), which filed a lawsuit against the Federal High Court, Abuja to order the federal government and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to make certain disclosures over COVID-19 palliatives in the country. 

CACA has since discovered that the suit, rather than aiming for transparency and accountability in government, is actually aimed at the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disasters Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouk, the CBN Governor – Mr Godwin Emefiele and other government officials that SERAP is out to blackmail.  This is an unfortunate situation that has again outed SERAP as a cheap political tool that detractors are able to deploy on the fly.

We find it irresponsible that SERAP is insensitive to the point where it constitutes itself into a distraction at a time that all efforts are geared towards minimizing human misery arising from the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The lawsuit before the Federal High Court seeking names of beneficiaries of the FG’s intervention for vulnerable Nigerians is a clear display of SERAP’s hatred and double standard as a confused organization that is no longer able to tell its right from left. 

The lawsuit is not because SERAP is not aware of the numerous testimonies by Nigerians that have benefitted immensely from the transparency and accountability which the Honourable Minister has displayed in the discharge of her duties especially on the distribution of palliatives and cash to well-deserving Nigeria, but because SERAP is desperate to retire the numerous funding it gets from foreign governments and agencies whose sole aim is to recolonize Nigeria. 

The haste behind SERAP’s request becomes particularly questionable knowing that disclosing the names of beneficiaries at this sensitive time, when the distribution of palliatives is still ongoing, may discourage some vulnerable families from stepping forward to receive the palliatives. It is also on record that some individuals and organizations had elected to be unanimous, so, publishing their names could lead to a situation where non-governmental support for the palliatives dries up because the identities of donors were not protected.

There is, therefore, nothing to gain from compromising the integrity of the palliatives and relief distribution system simply to pander to the whims of a paid-for-hire platform like SERAP, which dubiously dabbles into the matter beyond its capacity and scope.

What SERAP should have done is to wait for the virus to be successfully managed and them come forward with its demand at a time when such action will not constitute a distraction or threat to the process of shielding vulnerable Nigerians from suffering. It must also be stated that there is the statutory year-end audit that will answer the questions that SERAP is currently jumping the gun to ask, reports of such audits are usually public.

CACA advises SERAP, its affiliates and partners in its questionable endeavour to stop distracting the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management and the CBN Governor so that they can focus on the task at hand.  SERAP is at liberty to decide whether it will refund the amount it has been mobilized with for the exercise to its clients or simply go ahead and defraud its clients as it has done in the past.

In the meantime, we urge the officeholders and institutions that have been frivolously sued by SERAP to approach the court to throw out the suit for the reason of its frivolity.

Hushpuppi: Protesters at US Embassy demand investigation of Atiku, Frank over alleged links

Some protesters, on Monday besieged the US Embassy, Abuja, demanding a forensic investigation of ex-Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, associate, Timi Frank and some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains over alleged links to fraudster, Raymond Abbas Igbalode, popularly known as Hushpuppi. 

The group, under the aegis of Concerned Citizens Forum (CCF) submitted a letter to the US Ambassador and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, urging a thorough probe of Hushpuppi’s political allies.

Recall that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had alleged “criminal conspiracy linking the top echelon of the opposition” to Hushpuppi.

According to the APC, ” the PDP leadership turned Dubai into their ‘Strategic’ meeting place ahead of the 2019 general elections

In its petition signed by Comrade Adamu Kabir Matazu, the protesters called on the US, through relevant agencies, to investigate the connection between these high profile Nigerians and Hushpuppi so as to recover fully the proceeds of crime or make it difficult for such monies to be laundered in Nigeria.

The group alleged that Atiku’s frequent reliance on cyber experts and reference to internet server and frequent trips to Dubai prior to last year’s elections may not be unconnected to Hushpuppi. 

It, therefore, urged the US to go after Atiku, Timi Frank and other PDP stalwarts who through their actions and associations with the fraudster may have helped to launder the proceeds of crime.

Read full statement below:

Permit us to congratulate you on your appointment as the United States ambassador to Nigeria by US President, Donald Trump, and for the successful presentation of your credentials to Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari in December, 2019.

We are a group of eminent Nigerians with keen interest in building a positive image for our country through the promotion of credible best practices and exposure of acts capable of soiling the image of Nigeria.

In the light of the fact that we share common ideals of accountability and good citizenship, we wish to bring to your attention, certain facts that will further build citizens’ capacity for best practices.

Dear Ambassador, we are sure you are aware that within the period you arrived Nigeria and shortly before that, some of our citizens have been arrested for alleged criminal activities like cyber crime, internet fraud and money laundering in many countries in Europe, Asia and America including your country, the United States.

The biggest and most recent of such, is the arrest of Mr. Raymond Abbas Igbalode, the Instagram celebrity, also known as Hushpuppi and 12 others who are alleged to have scammed over 1.9 million people across the globe of over $35 million.

We commend the international community for the vigilance which has led to the arrest of these persons whose activities have deprived many of their legitimate sources of livelihood and brought shame to Nigeria.

Dear Ambassador, following the extradition of Hushpuppi and his associates to the US to undergo trial for alleged cyber fraud, we wish to offer our suggestions on how the investigations would be thorough to achieve the goal of exposing all those suspected to have either aided the fraud or those who have through their actions and associations with the fraudsters, helped to launder the proceeds of crime.

This, we believe would ensure that all those involved  in the crime are brought to book so as to serve as a deterrent to others.

You will agree with us, dear Ambassador, that all the global instruments on financial crime including FATF, clearly identity several ways in which proceeds from financial crimes can be whitewashed and presented as legit.

Some of these processes include association with politically exposed persons, channeling the resources through existing organisations and partnering with already established businesses.

We wish to inform you that since 2016 when Mr. Igbalode pulled his first heist and leaped into living a luxurious life of opulence, his major channel for laundering the proceeds of his crime have been through open association with notable Nigerian politicians as well as former and serving public officials. 

Such meetings are usually presented to the public through videos and other photos of the event which are usually held in posh hotels or other expensive venues around the world on Instagram and other online media.

The aim of such videos and photos, Dear Ambassador, as you are aware, is to further scam the public by presenting such fraudsters and their ill gotten wealth as clean business men with legit income that anybody can do business with.

The photo and video shoots from such events serve as open endorsements of such characters, making it easy for the proceeds of these cyber fraud to be brought into Nigeria and to be accepted by unsuspecting members of the public as normal which further makes it difficult for investigating agencies to track.

We wish to report you, dear Ambassador, that some of the persons who have lent their high profile personalities to cover up for such shady transactions include a former vice president of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a former senator, Dino Melaye, and a top member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  Mr. Timi Frank and others.

Videos clips of their association with Mr.Igbalode have been posted and reposted on major internet outlets like Facebook, Internet and YouTube for all to see.

We have every reason to suspect that their open association with Mr. Igbalode (Hushpuppi), was not a coincidence as they are trying to make people believe, but was well planned to sell the fraudster to Nigerians as a legitimate businessman who associates with respected and eminent members of the society.

It is in the light of this, dear Ambassador, that we urge you,  to use your good office as the representative of the United States Government in Nigeria, to call the attention of the US government of the possibility that the major accomplices of Mr. Igbalode are still roaming about freely in Nigeria.

We call on the US Government to in the bid to help fight cyber crime, money laundering and possible terrorists financing, to draw the attention of the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, Mr. Christopher A. Wray and the  Secretary General of Interpol, Mr. Jürgen Stock to these facts.

We are aware that both the 

FBI and Interpol have range of legal authorities that enables them investigate federal crimes and threats to national security, as well as to gather intelligence and assist other law enforcement agencies in countries outside the US.

Hushpuppi is known to have defrauded millions of people across the world and is wanted for fraud crimes in Europe, the United States and Nigeria.

We are aware that Title 28, U.S. Code, Section 533, authorizes the Attorney General of the US, to appoint officials to detect and prosecute crimes against the United States. 

The investigation we are asking these agencies to carry out are clearly crimes against the United States as well as other countries and we are aware that the FBI, unlike many domestic intelligence agencies around the world, can investigate crime in other countries, more so as the investigative jurisdiction of the FBI extends to most federal criminal laws in more than 200 areas, including computer crime (cybercrime), embezzlement, money laundering, organized crime (including extortion and racketeering), piracy and hijacking, sabotage, sedition, terrorism (including ecoterrorism).

We are also aware that these agencies have helped in tracking down crimes in other countries.

We also know that the FBI has in the past worked with The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Nigeria, to identify and prosecute local partners of international fraudsters and had arrested 281 individuals, including 167 in Nigeria, for their involvement in fraudulent business email compromise (BEC) schemes.

Dear Ambassador you may wish to know that the EFCC in Nigeria, has said that details of Mr. Igbalode’s money laundering transactions involves many high-profile cyber criminals facing trial in Nigeria.

We are happy that EFCC is also eager to engage with the EFCC in tracking victims of Mr.  Igbalode’s fraudulent transactions and other fraudsters having direct involvement with him.

We are interested in having these persons investigated because we believe they may have aided in laundering the proceeds of crime by Mr.Igbalode either directly or indirectly, which if established, makes them accomplices in the crime.

Our suspicion is heightened by the frequent visits of these persons to Dubai in the United Arab Emirate, UAE, where Mr. Igbalode was arrested, at the slightest instance, one of which was the celebrated meeting of the associates of the former vice president shortly before the 2019 Nigeria general elections.

Again, we have every reason to suspect that the frequent reliance on cyber experts and reference to internet server by the former vice president and his associates, may not be unconnected with their relationship with these cyber criminals.

We therefore call on the US Government to assist through the relevant agencies to investigate the connection between these high profile Nigerians and the internet fraudster so as to recover fully the proceeds of crime or make it difficult for such monies to be laundered in Nigeria.

Boko Haram: Group wants UN sanctions against organizations sympathetic to terrorism

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) has called on the United Nations to change its approach to the Boko Haram terrorism and announce sanctions against organizations and countries promoting and sponsoring the group. 

CESJET gave this charge on Monday in a statement signed by Executive Secretary, Comrade Ikpa Isaac, following the recent shooting of a UN helicopter. 

While condemning the attack as ” lowest act of cowardice yet on the part of Boko Haram terrorists”, the centre said that this a wake up call to the UN. 

According to CESJET, the United Nations has smooched Boko Haram’s sponsors for too long and now is the time to quit playing the ostrich. 

It added that the Intergovernmental organization must accept the truth about the sponsors and promoters of the terrorist groups that are killing civilians in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa. 

CESJET, therefore, called on UN to “announce actions that send strong signals to the countries that are sponsoring and supporting Boko Haram, including the non-profits and non-governmental organizations as well as corporations and big businesses that answer to these countries”. 

Read full statement below:

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) has followed recent development in the north-east of Nigeria with concerns, particularly the shooting damage of a helicopter belonging to the United Nations (UN) by Boko Haram terrorists. The attack is the final indication that the UN must change its approach to the handling of the Boko Haram menace.

CESJET is worried that the attack, which also resulted in civilian deaths, has not met with the expected level of outrage even from the United Nations that suffered damage from it. All that has been heard from the world body so far is the tepid statement from a lowly UN humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, giving updates and situation reports.

On our part, we condemn the attack as the lowest act of cowardice yet on the part of Boko Haram terrorists and we see such desperation to score a hit as indication that the terrorists will shoot at just about any target now that they are mortally cornered by the Nigerian Military that has taken the war to the heart of terrorists’ camps.

The attack on the helicopter is a wakeup call to the United Nations that it is time for a change in its stance of indifference to the crimes being committed by Boko Haram and by extension the corporations and the third party nations that are using the terrorists to pursue their geo-strategic agenda in the Lake Chad Basin. The UN had maintained an attitude of treating Boko Haram as Nigeria’s problem to which it was providing relief for civilian population caught up in the crisis instead of seeing and treating as the treat it is to humanity. 

The presence of the airship in the vicinity could easily be mistaken for the UN being engaged in something meaningful in ridding north east Nigeria of Boko Haram and all its mutations but in reality, this is far from the truth. What the UN is doing in Nigeria’s northeast, flying aid missions, is akin to constantly mopping a flooded room without taking steps to fix the broken pipe from which the water is spilling. It does not make sense that the world body is flying aid missions without taking a firm position against the countries that are manipulating Boko Haram to destabilize Nigeria.

If the UN had taken the difficult decision of crafting a resolution to curb the countries that are behind Boko Haram and bringing its hammer down on the sponsors and promoters of terrorism in Nigeria and the west Africa sub- region, then it would not need to fly humanitarian sorties that expose its equipment and personnel to terrorist gunfire. 

The United Nations has smooched the Boko Haram’s sponsors for too long while pussy footing on taking decisive actions against the group. If the UN had thought this approach will cast it as neutral and insulated from being a target, Saturday’s attack has now proven that the terrorists have no distinctions in the targets they select to attack as long as they can report back to their sponsors that they have again terrorized humanity.  

The UN must now quit playing the ostrich and admit that it is time for the world to accept the truth about the sponsors and promoters of the terrorist groups that are killing civilians in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa. It is time for the UN to lead charge in cutting off these terrorists from among humans like the cancer that they are in the region.

CESJET charges the UN to in the coming days announce actions that send strong signals to the countries that are sponsoring and supporting Boko Haram, including the non-profits and non-governmental organizations as well as corporations and big businesses that answer to these countries and are supporting Boko Haram. Should the UN fail to do this and continues with its tradition of indifference then it stands to reason that Boko Haram will henceforth specifically target UN’s interests in the region because it would have proven itself as a toothless world body.

Nigerian Army and the numerous reasons to laud Buratai

By Idoko Ainoko

The Nigerian Army is arguably one of the best in the African continent. Its exploits have been recognized globally by the United Nations, and other entities that have has reasons to give it a pass mark.

This is indeed no mean feat in the sense that most countries regarded by the strength of its military. Constitutionally, the Army is mandated to protect the territorial integrity of the country from external aggression, as well as the preservation of its sovereignty as in the case of Nigeria. This much has been achieved in Nigeria through professionalism and dedication by officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army. It is therefore not farfetched on why the Nigerian Army is regarded as the pride of the nation.

However, a lot seems to have happened in the Nigerian Army since the return of democracy in Nigeria in 1999. Some have indeed stated in numerous forums that the Nigerian Army suffered neglect under a democracy by previous administration starting from the era of former president Olusegun Obasanjo, who upon assumption of office retired over 93 top military officers whom he considered as politically exposed. I recall that the reason advanced by Olusegun Obasanjo was that the decision was to stabilize and save the country’s democracy.

This position of Olusegun Obasanjo was punctured by some school of thoughts who argued that the principal reason was to prevent a coup against his government. They also contended that Olusegun Obasanjo indeed starved the Nigerian Army of the required funds for its operations in a bid to keep them in check.

While all of these positions cannot be verified, it somewhat points to the fact that the Nigerian Army indeed suffered neglect at some point and this affected its effectiveness and professionalism which was exposed when the Boko Haram terrorist group began its violent campaign against Nigeria in 2009.

We were all witnesses to how the Nigerian Army struggled to keep pace with the activities of the insurgents. Due to years of neglect, those of us in the defence headquarters could easily sense the rustiness in its operations, dearth of equipment, lack of knowledge in asymmetric warfare and many others.

The attendant result of this fact saw the Nigerian Army suffering severe casualties in the battle with Boko Haram as they gained more grounds to the extent of taking over 16 local government areas in North-East Nigeria.
The Nigerian Army indeed struggled to keep pace with the activities of the Boko Haram group who were initially engaged in guerrilla warfare. What made matters worse was that they were operating in challenging terrain, and this gave them the more advantage.

From 2009 till date, the process of rebuilding the Nigerian Army started. I must admit as an insider that indeed former president Goodluck Jonathan began to the process of rebuilding the Nigerian Army. However, his efforts were not complemented by those saddled with running the affairs of the Nigerian Army as it were. I would say without fear or favour that indeed their greed got the better part of them and things got worse despite the enormous allocations.

Monies meant for welfare were diverted to private pockets, monies meant for arms and ammunition were also hijacked and in most instances, substandard and refurbished arms and ammunitions were purchased at very exorbitant prices. And the circle continued not until the coming of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

I won’t say that President Muhammadu Buhari came with the magic wand. However, he indeed did something that reset not just the Nigerian Army, as well as the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force. His body language was indeed too loud such that things began to take shape. This much the generality of Nigerians would not know, they felt because he was a former army general, it was expected that his attention would be more on the Nigerian Armed Forces.

That was not the case. What changed the story for the Nigerian Army was the choice of its Service Chief in the person of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai. I must admit that not many of us saw his appointment coming as there were others in the Army headquarters that has positioned themselves for the appointment. I recall that Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai was faraway in North-East Nigeria serving as the Commander of the Multinational Joint Taskforce (MJTNF) under the auspices of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and Benin Republic.

So in a way, he was out of the scheming to become Chief of Army Staff as he wasn’t amongst the anointed and positioned ones close to the seat of power as it were. I recall mentioning to a colleague of mine that President Muhammadu Buhari was going to place great emphasis on the Nigerian Army in the appointment of the Chief of Army Staff due to its strategic importance in the fight against Boko Haram. This was going to be strictly on merit regardless of all the scheming and lobbying by top army officers in the Army headquarters.

I would say this for the first time. When the announcement was made, there was indeed palpable silence at the Army headquarters as well as the defence headquarters as some struggled to locate the present position of Tukur Buratai since he was lost somewhere in North-East Nigeria and shuttling between the trenches in the Lake Chad Basin region. And today the rest is history.
Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratia hit the ground running so much so that rumours started making the rounds in the defence headquarters that it was because he is from Borno State which is the epicentre of the war and as such he took the prosecution of the Boko Haram war personal. But they were wrong in the sense that here was an infantry general that has been in the trenches as the Commander of the Multinational Joint Taskforce consisting of about four countries mandated to address the Boko Haram crisis which was fast gaining a regional dimension.

So it was expected that he was going to be proactive in his approach and I must admit that that was precisely what Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai did and the Nigerian Army of today is indeed better for it. He introduced some very tough reforms in the operations of the Nigeria Army. There was the reintroduction of training and capacity building for army personnel. I recall that special attention was given to providing local and foreign training opportunities for all cadres of officers and soldiers.

Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai introduced improved welfare packages for officers and soldiers which was lacking and mostly responsible for the lethargy in the Nigerian Army as it were. And this indeed did the magic because you can’t get the best out of people when they are not adequately taken care of or motivated.. This was more strategic in the bid to curb the lethargy that had enveloped the Nigerian Army at the time.

The Nigerian Army has also witnessed a rapid transformation in the area of infrastructural development with the renovations of barracks across the country, improved and upgraded medical facilities to cater for the health needs of officers and soldiers. A good example is the recently commissioned 200 bedded Army Reference Hospital in Maiduguri, Borno State to provide for the healthcare of soldiers who sustained injuries while fighting the counter-insurgency war.

The educational sector of the Nigerian Army has also witnessed a total revamp with the upgrade of all command secondary schools across the country. The Nigerian Military School was also not left out with the reintroduction of military training which was earlier suspended.

The establishment of the Nigerian Army University in Bui, Borno State as a training institution for the development of middle and high-level manpower in the areas of technological empowerment for civilians, appreciation for military policy; logistics and strategy is also worthy of mention.

The Nigerian Army has also embarked on the production of light tactical vehicles and other weapons at the Nigerian Army Vehicle Manufacturing Company (NAVMC) that was commissioned by the Chief of Army Staff in 2019. This marked an indelible milestone in the history of the Nigerian Army’s march towards self-reliance in the production and maintenance of Armored Fighting Vehicles and other classes of vehicles as over the years the Nigerian Army have relied on the importation of such vehicles thereby spending substantial foreign exchange which in turn depletes capital allocations. The strategic importance of the Nigerian Army Vehicle Manufacturing Company is the promotion of the Nigerian Army’s indigenization policy through self-sustenance in armoured and soft skin vehicles.

There has also been the entrenchment of transparency and accountability in the operations and procurement process of the Nigerian Army. This much can be said to be the hallmark of the administrative style of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai as the Chief of Army Staff.

I must state that the list is in indeed endless in the reforms that have taken place in the Nigerian Army since the appointment of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai as the Chief of Army Staff. In all honesty, there is a lot to be grateful for. This is aside from the fact that the Nigerian Army has been able to take the battle to the Boko Haram insurgents in North-East Nigeria with improved and superior arms and ammunitions as well as an improved and coordinated command structure that saw to the displacement of the insurgents from their operational headquarters in Sambisa forest and the subsequent takeover of all local governments areas hitherto under the control of the Boko Haram insurgents.

Yes, there may be pockets of Boko Haram attacks in North-East Nigeria. However, these attacks are not in the magnitude been reported in the media. Nigerians must come to understand that under Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Nigerian Army has indeed fared well. Those of us inside and conversant with all the complexity involved in warfare are full of praises for his numerous efforts in the prosecution of the war so far. Some of the details are not for public consumption. But in all, I must say that they are indeed numerous reasons to laud Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai.

Ainoko is a public affairs analyst and wrote from Kaduna.

COVID-19: Ebonyi indigenes pray quick recovery for Gov. Umahi

The Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in Diaspora (AESID) world-wide has extended its heartfelt sympathy to the governor of Ebonyi state, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, who recently announced that he has been tested positive to the Coronavirus disease on the wee hours of Saturday, July 4th, 2020.

In a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja, signed by the President, World-wide of AESID, Ambassador Paschal Oluchukwu, expressed shock and prayed that pandemic be successfully managed and further spread curbed in Ebonyi state, Nigeria and in the world generally.

While wishing governor Umahi a speedy recovery, Amb. Oluchukwu, commended the governor for handing over the affairs of governance of Ebonyi state to his deputy, Barr. Eric Kelechi Igwe, to lead the frontline coordination of the battle to contain and manage further spread of the dreaded COVID-19 virus in the state.

The statement said: “Even as we were astonished when he(Governor Umahi) personally broke the news on the social media that the results from the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) indicated that he and some of his close aides also tested positive to COVI-19, we are gladdened by the disposition of his faith that all affected persons will soon test negative to the virus. Like the world already is aware; testing positive to the deadly pandemic is actually not a death sentence.

“While assuring that we have His Excellency, the Governor and all the affected aides in our esteemed prayers and wishing him and others a very speedy recovery to enable him continue to pilot the affairs of governance of our dear state, we also commend him for handing over the affairs of governance of the State to his Deputy, Barr. Eric Kelechi Igwe to lead the frontline coordination of the battle to contain and manage further spread of the dreaded COVID-19 virus which is already at community transmission level in our dear state.”

The association urged every Ebonyian to take the NCDC warnings and protocols very seriously, abide strictly by them and support all efforts by government at all levels in Nigeria in the sustained fight against the dreaded COVID-19 virus.

“It is our earnest desire therefore that the pandemic be successfully managed and further spread curbed in our dear state by all concerned just as we urge every Ebonyian to take the NCDC warnings and protocols very seriously, abide strictly by them and support all efforts by government at all levels in Nigeria in the sustained fight against the dreaded COVID-19 virus. It is real and it has come to stay!

“May God Almighty continue to uplift our dear state as the salt of the Nation.”

Insecurity: Don’t distract Buhari, Service Chiefs, Kuanum warns

Foremost security analyst and renowned author, Mr. Terence Kwuanum, has advised against acts or utterances capable of distracting the attention of  President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigeria’s security chiefs from focusing on winning the ongoing war against banditry and terrorism in Nigeria.

Kuanum, in an exclusive interview with our correspondent, said the advice is coming on the heels of attempts by some self serving individuals to divert the attention of the President from the success of the ongoing war against banditry and terrorism by introducing pettiness to  serious issues of security.

The security expert said what the President and the security chiefs need now is support and cooperation from all citizens, not politically induced cynicism stressing that since the fight against terrorism and banditry is succeeding going by what the military has been able to achieve in the last three months, the military high command cannot afford to allow anything that will take its eyes off the ball.

He said every second is crucial at this critical time that the war is about to be concluded and the insurgents and bandits have been overwhelmed and boxed to a corner.

“There’s the need to allow for full concentration otherwise the criminals who are praying for something to distract the sevice chiefs may want to take advantage and strike once they notice the slightest opportunity.

“You will notice that immediately the Chief of Army Staff left the theatre of operations to brief Abuja on the successes being recorded in the Northeast, that was when the terrorists struck at Gubio.

“From this, it is obvious that the insurgents are looking for the slightest opportunity to unleash mayhem and may make an attempt once it is clear that the attention of the military chiefs has shifted to something else,” he said.

Kwuanum advised the members of the public who are not abreast with security issues to desist from making comments that are capable of distracting  the attention of the President and the service chiefs.

He said, “Mr. President did not just appoint these service chiefs from nowhere but as a general who had served his country creditably well even during war, his choice of who will work with him on security matters was done after thorough screening and background checks informed by high standards and capabilities.

“Each of these sevice chiefs came with high recommendation and the President has observed that the country has never had it so good since the insurgency started in the Northeast hence has reinforced his conviction that he made the right choice by appointing them, so the least we could do to assist the President is allow the service chiefs concentrate on their jobs.”

Kwuanum said the various operations launched by the military in various parts of the country have all been fruitful without exception saying this suggests that the service chiefs know what they’re doing.

He said when Buratai was appointed Chief of Army Staff in 2015, he launched the first military operation, codenamed  Operation Lafiya Dole in July, 2015 while others like Operation Crocodile Smiles which was aimed at beefing up  internal security in riverine communities followed.

Kwuanum said the army chief went ahead to launch Operation Harbin Kunama to cover the Northwest while the Northcentral and parts of Northwest got Exercise Ayam Akpatuma and the Southeast, Operation Python Dance to rid the region of crimes like kidnapping and banditry.

He said others like Operation Last Hold, which is taking care of other aspects of security operations in the Northeast has been tremendously profound in dealing with insurgency.

Kuanum said all the operations have been highly successful as they achieved their aims as several high-profile terrorists’ and bandits’ leaders have been neutralised while several criminals have also surrendered.

He said criminal activities in many parts of the country stopped because the criminals surrendered to the superior fire power of and intelligence of troops.

The security expert said the military, through these operations were also able to wipe out key Boko Haram and ISWAP commanders, destroy their logistics bases and cut off their supply routes in the Northeast while in the Northcentral region, criminals who have been destroying farmlands or rustling cows and causing communal conflicts have been arrested while several assorted fire arms used by them were also recovered.

Kwuanum added that it is an indication of the success of military operations that cattle rustling have been busted with the several recovery of cows  which have been duly returned to their owners.

“There are many more that the military have been able to achieve but this is the few I remember but I can assure you that what I’ve mentioned are not even one third of the successes recorded.

“Is it the recovery of local governments lost to terrorists during the past administration or the return of internally displaced persons back to their communities? So let us allow these people do their jobs and we will all be happier for it,” he stated. 

Kwuanum however called for the review of Operation Last Hold in order to consolidate on the gains so far achieved and to enable the military round up insurgency operations in good time.

He called on the political leadeship to support the efforts of the military by creating an enabling environment for peace to thrive so that economic activities would resume fully to engage the youths and take their minds off criminal activities.

The security expert added that for the process of bringing banditry and terrorism to an all time low, the Nigeria Police  and the Department of State Security, DSS,  should take over the administration of criminal justice while the civil populace should be up and doing in reporting suspicious activities so as to ensure lasting peace and security in the country.

Counter-Terrorism: Group insists Nigeria has done better than other countries

…… lauds FG’s actions on Covid-19, economic development

The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe (ANPE) says President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Armed Forces have done much better than other countries in the fight against terrorism. 

The group of Nigerians also hailed the Federal Government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and the general socio-economic development of the country. 

ANPE made this known in a communique signed by its President, Dr Agwu Onyeke and seven others at the end of a virtual consultative assembly held by its leadership on the state of affairs in Nigeria.

Among others, ANPE unanimously agreed that the spate of insecurity had been propelled by politicians that want to score political points as well as distract the Service Chiefs.  

It added that “no country facing the multilayers of security threats like Nigeria has done better in the handling of the various threats”. 

While hailing the security heads for discharging their duties despite the campaign of calumny, the group said troops have displayed an enviable level of professionalism in tackling insecurity. 

However, ANPE advised Nigerians not to give in to conspiracy theories by dubious entities doubting the existence of COVID-19. 

Introduction: 

The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe is the umbrella body of Nigerian professionals in various fields of endeavours in Europe. The association amongst other things serves a think tank of ideas for the socio-economic development of Nigerian through its robust database that consists of distinguished Nigerians that have excelled in their chosen fields that span through finance and economics, politics, engineering, international relations, banking, criminology, insurance, science and technology and other areas of human endeavours.

The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe has over the years availed developmental ideas and policy framework to past administrations in Nigeria at the various tiers of government to hasten the socio-economic development of Nigeria.

The Convocation of the virtual consultative assembly: 

The leadership of the Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe in the light of the issues bedevilling Nigeria convoked an emergency consultative assembly to deliberate on the state of the nation.

The emergency consultative assembly was attended by members from various countries in Europe to deliberate on the state of the nation Nigeria. 

The Deliberations: 

The deliberations touched on critical sectors of the Nigerian economy such as insecurity, COVID 19 pandemic, and the general socio-economic development of Nigeria. After extensive debates and paper presentations by members in various disciplines, the following resolves were made:

The Resolve: 

Insecurity: 

The Association of Nigerian Professionals unanimously agreed that the spate of insecurity in Nigeria had been propelled mainly by politicians that want to score political points towards the 2023 general elections.

That there seems to be a grand plot to undermine the efforts of the government to address the security challenges in the country through the sponsorship of groups to cause violence and bloodletting in some parts of the country to paint a general picture of incapacity of the government to provide sound leadership direction in the country. 

That there is also a grand plot to cause a distraction for the Service Chiefs in the country through the sponsorship of a distractive campaign calling for the sack of Service Chiefs in the country.  

COVID 19 Pandemic: 

That indeed, the outbreak of COVID 19 has affected the socio-economic development of Nigeria as it is globally.

That the number of cases has been on the increase due to the testing of more people by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) 

That community transmission is at its peak due to the nonchalance of Nigerian citizens towards the observation of the laid down government protocol towards halting the further spread of the disease.  

That a large chunk of Nigerians does not believe in the existence of COVID 19 and the need to adhere to all laid down precautions.

Our Position: 

The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe after extensive deliberations on the state of the nation in Nigeria as a result of this makes the following statements:

That no country facing the multilayers of security threats like Nigeria has done better in the handling of the various threats. 

That the Nigerian Military has displayed an enviable level of professionalism in tackling insecurity in Nigeria.

That the Nigerian Army has been exceptional in the prosecution of the Boko Haram war in North-East Nigeria

That the various heads of security agencies have continued to be focused in the discharge of their duties despite the campaign of calumny against them in the media.

That investigation has shown that the government has improved on Defense spending and accountability in the last five years.

That a regime of transparency and discipline has been enthroned in the military, notably the Nigerian Army under Lt. Gen TY Buratai. 

That the government response to the COVID 19 pandemic has been outstanding given the circumstances

That the Nigerian Police Force has been outstanding in the handling of cases of kidnappings and farmer-herder crisis 

Recommendation/Conclusion: 

The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe wishes to conclude that the COVID19 pandemic has hampered the socio-economic development in Nigeria. However, the response of the government has been impressive through its various interventions. 

We state that though great efforts are in place, more still has to be done in ensuring that the effect of the COVID19 pandemic in Nigeria is mitigated. 

The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe also commends the Service Chiefs in Nigeria (Army, Navy, Air force, Police and the DSS) for their commitment towards addressing the various security challenges in the country. 

The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe acknowledges that no nation facing the kind of multilayered insurgency like Nigeria is facing has done better than Nigeria.   

The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe lauds the government on its investments in critical infrastructures across the country, which to an extent is driven by the current borrowing plan of the government. This is indeed commendable and the right way of spending for the future, even though emphasis should be placed on other critical sectors that require adequate funding. 

The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe advises Nigerians not to give in to conspiracy theories by dubious entities doubting the existence of COVID 19, as it is real. No government is playing politics as the world has seen considerable improvements. 

Nigerians the world over are therefore encouraged to support the administration in any possible ways to ensure that insecurity is entirely addressed. 

Why General Buratai deserves our accolades

By Mohammed Dikko

Shortly after bandits attacked  communities in Northwest Nigeria in June, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General TY Buratai, responded quickly by assuring the people of the region, especially, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara States, that he will soon be there to ensure that the madness of the bandits is put in proper check.

Within days that the army chief made the promise, he moved to the Northwest and launched series of operations there with large contingent of military personnel sent to the area who were able to track and apprehend and take out lare number of the terrorists.

Troops wasted no time in pursuing and overtaking many of the bandits leaving many of them dead while several others were arrested.

In the series of operations to flush the bandits, many victims of kidnap were rescued while hundreds members of various communities that were fleeing from their homes returned.

The action of the army chief proved not only prompt but quite effective.

The response of the military to a similar assault that occurred in the Northeast at about the same time was no less effective.

Boko Haram terrorists had struck at a community in Gubio local government of Borno State within the same period when the Chief of Army Staff had gone to Abuja to brief the President on the success of the military operations since he relocated to the zone and killed many.

immediately the Nigerian Army received reports of the attack, it vowed to track, capture or eliminate all the terrorists, bandits and their collaborators and also launched operations I  the area and went after the insurgents, destroying their camps, weapons and taking out many of them, such that many of the terrorists involved in the attack were neutralised.

The army also went ahead to consolidate its grip in the Northeast by making it difficult for the terrorists to attack communities at will.

Few days ago, troops of the Nigerian Army stationed in  Damasak, Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno State, repelled attacks by Boko Haram insurgents who swarmed the area at about 2:30 pm and overpowered them in a battle which lasted for over two hours.

The insurgents had arrived in about 13 gun trucks and one gulf car  and attempted to attack the military location from different angles by trying to envelope their camp, but soldiers reportedly beat them to it as the blood thirsty insurgents were seen by residents fleeing in disarray.

Residents were to report that several dead bodies of the terrorists littered the ground in the area after the operation.

The ground operation was followed by another one by the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE which obliterated a Boko Haram Terrorists’ (BHTs’) meeting venue, along with other structures, and killed several of their fighters at Mainyakare on the fringes of the Sambisa Forest in Borno State.

Official figures say the military has eliminated about 2,000 number of terrorists and bandits in the North in the last three months.

The figure is made up of over 1600 in the Northeast, and 392 bandits in the North West and North Central regions.

It is such quick actions by the military that have endeared it to the people as security experts say this was the element that was missing in the past administrations.

In an emotion laden piece written by recently by a resident of Biu in Borno State, the writer said  the people of the Northeast say they cannot afford not like  the army chief considering his usual quick response to attacks, well planned strategies and effective tactics that has sent insurgents fleeing from their communities.

He said states like Taraba, Gombe, Bauchi and even Adamawa have since put the horrors of the insurgents behind them and are living normal lives all thanks to the efforts of troops while only those communities close to the borders in Borno and Yobe States suffer occasional attacks.

He said, “These days, when movement of insurgents are sighted in the region, the people are not alarmed as they know that they will definitely be crushed by the ever ready troops in the area. 

“This is why Buratai is highly loved and respected in the region. He has given the people their lives back.”

In Kaduna, a group of youths at a press conference also commended the military for what it has done and is doing in the Northwest.

The group said, “when the military came, the level of crime and sheer banditry dropped drastically.

“The Kaduna-Abuja expressway regained its verve and people travelled almost at anytime of the day that they wished without fear of molestation and attack.

“Even in theaters of banditry like Birnin-Gwari, the people began to heave sighs of relief as the threat to their lives began to disappear.”

It is such testimonies that have made people especially those in areas affected by the activities of terrorists and bandits to continue to hail President Muhammadu Buhari and the military high command.

Dikko wrote this piece from Katsina.

Hushpuppi: APC wants links with PDP investigated

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has called for an investigation into alleged reports of the criminal conspiracy linking the top echelon of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with Ramon Olorunwa Abbas also known as Ray Hushpuppi.

Hushpuppi was recently arrested along with associate(s) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and extradited to the United States of America to face trial over cyber-enabled fraud and Business Email Compromise (BEC) schemes.

The APC said such report  should be a matter of serious interest to relevant authorities in Nigeria.

In a statement signed Saturday in Abuja by its spokesman, Yekini Nabena, the party said that the PDP leadership turned Dubai into their “Strategic” meeting place ahead of the 2019 general elections in Nigeria and “Hushpuppi’s” affinity with the PDP leadership is not mere coincidence.

“We note that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has already declared the arraigned Instagram celebrity wanted over fraud allegations. However, the EFCC, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and other sister agencies must investigate money laundering reports linking some PDP leaders and financiers to the Dubai-based international criminal ring.

“At different times, “Hushpuppi” was been photographed in Dubai meeting with the PDP’s 2019 presidential candidate, Alh. Atiku Abubakar; former Senate President, Bukola Saraki; former Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; Senator Dino Melaye among other PDP stalwarts.

“While relevant authorities investigate the nature of their relationship and business partnership, we also challenge the PDP leadership to do same by opening up on the nature of the relationship, particularly the kind of services the arrested “Hushpuppi” provided them.”

On the forthcoming Edo and Ondo governorship elections, the APC, however, renewed call against monetised elections and vote buying schemes, alleging that PDP had serially deployed such tactics during elections.

“In the leadup to the Edo and Ondo governorship elections, we renew our call against monetised elections and vote buying schemes which the PDP has serially deployed in elections. We call on relevant authorities to up their guard to prevent this practices that threaten the sanctity of our elections. The people’s will and votes should determine elections, not illicit money used to buy votes.”

Yoruba group hails PMB, Service Chiefs for restricting terrorists

The Oduduwa Youth Vanguard, OYV, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Service Chiefs for putting the heat on Boko Haram terrorists such that they are not able to operate beyond a tiny fringe in the Lake Chad region.

President of the OYV, Comrade Emmanuel Kolawole Abe, gave the commendation while appraising the success of the war against terrorism and banditry in Nigeria.

He said it is an indication of the sustained pressure against the terrorists that they have not been able to move about and cause havoc around the country as they wish but resort to hiding in border towns between Nigeria and other neighbouring countries to launch surprise attacks on soft targets just to give the impression that they exist.

The activist said anyone with fair knowledge of warfare would confirm that such tactics as deployed by the Boko Haram now are used by the losing side in a war as a means of propaganda.

Abe, who was one time, Public Relations Officer of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), said when President Buhari initially renewed the tenure of the sevice chiefs, he was at a loss what informed the decision, but explained that it was later he began to see the strategic planning the chiefs were bringing into the war which has tilted the scale against the terrorists. 

“The president was obviously seeing what we were not seeing and we commend him for acting true to his conviction which is now bearing fruit,” he said.

Abe said the efforts of the sevice chiefs would be better appreciated if Nigerians know the depth of planning that has gone into the war since this administration which has made it possible for the military to be recording series of successes continually against a side that is both suicidal and desperate.

He said another indication that the days of Boko Haram are numbered is in the fact that  what was then considered a national security issue has been reduced to attacks on far removed communities.

“Before, even those of us in the Southwest were not sure what would happen next as kept hearing how they have moved from Borno to Kano to Abuja. But we are grateful to Mr. President and the service chiefs that we no longer harbour such fears,” he said.

Abe said “beyond that, the fight against the insurgents has moved from a battle between two sides to one in which one side is gasping for breath under the yoke of the pain inflicted by the other and the other is not relaxing its grip.

He said, “When people hear of attacks on communities,they get emotional and start calling for the removal of sevice chiefs without acknowledging the change and successes they have brought to bear  on the war.”

The forme NANS spokesman said if not for the current set of service chiefs, Abuja and many parts of the north would have continued to suffer attacks and recalled that during the past administration, the fear was more about how to stop them from crossing the River Niger.

He explained that it is the coming of the current  administration that the fear fizzled out as the military was able to kill a vast number of the terrorists while those that survived went into hiding in Chad until they had problems there and were flushed out by the Chadian government.

“Since then, the Boko Haram terrorists have remained subdued and life is going on as usual in the Southwest except for crime which are being handled by the police. 

Kolawole thanked  Lt. Gen TY Buratai for relocating to the Northeast at the time he did saying that action has saved Nigeria from what would have been several bloody attacks by the insurgents.

“It was when the army chief moved to the Northeast that Nigerians got the assurance they were looking for.

“It was at that time that the narrative changed to victory after victory culminating in the killing of 1429 terrorists in three months and the capture of over 100 of their collaborators,” he stated.

President of the OYV described those in the Southwest who are criticizing the military as ignorant saying they do not appreciate what the institution has done to Oduduwa sons and daughters.

He said, “Most people sit in their comfort zones and ask why Boko Haram is able to launch an attack at a particular location when they do so in probably a spate of three months but nobody is asking why the frequency of the attack has reduced from the daily occurrence in different locations that it used to be to the once in a while attack and run that it is now.

“Again people fail to ask why it is has become impossible for Boko Haram to attack major cities and towns as they were doing before but have to resort to attacking tiny settlements in remote areas to show that they still exist.”

He said Nigeria should consider itself lucky for having the current set of people at the helm of affairs of the armed forces otherwise the devastation would have been much if the Boko Haram have been allowed to continue with their bloody campaigns on the other side of the River Niger.

Abe said it is an indication of defeat that the Boko Haram could only strike when the Chief of Army staff was reported to have left the Northeast to brief President Buhari on the progress made at the battle field as they did recently, saying  it’s normal in any war situation for the loser to attempt daring attacks just to give the impression that they are around.

He said that however does not mean the terrorists areas strong as they would want people to believe but only be exhibiting a trait common with terrorists who are losing on all fronts but desperately seeking relevance.

He said, “The Yoruba nation at a time was taking about the establishment of the Amotekun because of the level of insecurity in the Southwest, but when the military moved against all criminals in different operations, the sensation about operating a regional  security outfit died down.”

The activist also commended the operations of the military in the Northwest, Northcentral and other parts of the country saying the people now live in peace.