Crime
Insecurity: Why N’Assembly must pass Nigerian Armed Forces Support Fund Bill -Kalu
The Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, has said, the passage of the Nigerian Armed Forces Support Fund Bill would go along way to strengthen the fight against insecurity in Nigeria.
The Bill was sponsored by the Member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency and Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Rep. Babajimi Benson.
This was, even as, the Abia lawmaker unfolded the legislative plans for 2021 fiscal year in tackling insecurity in the country.
Kalu in an interview with journalists in Abuja this weekend, said the House of Representatives has already come up with a comprehensive approach to tackle the problem of insecurity in Nigeria.
According to the House Spokesman, “We have set for ourselves, certain measurable actions for the short, mid and long term” to ensure that Nigerians and their property are secured.
Shedding light on the national security action plan already adopted by the Green Chamber, Rep. Kalu listed the lower House action plan to include the provision of, “funding in the 2021 and 2022 Budget for recruitment and training of new security operatives to strengthen the security sector workforce;
“Enact legislation and appropriate funds in the 2021 and 2022 Budgets to fund the implementation of community policing, civil-military relations, and crime prevention;
“Approve the procurement of modern security equipment in line with the Defence Procurement Policy;
“Enact laws to support structured funding of the Armed Forces to improve military readiness and enhance our capacity to respond to present and emerging threats to national security”.
Speaking specifically on the seemingly unending insurgency in the Northeast as well as the herders and farmers clashes in the middle belt and Southern part of Nigeria, Rep. Kalu decried the lack of adequate equipment for the Nigerian security agencies in the face of daunting challenges before it.
He said, “For over a decade, Nigeria has contended with a recalcitrant insurgency in the North-Eastern part of the country that continues to transform, adapting itself to changing circumstances, yet remaining a significant threat to lives and property, and a drain on limited national resources.
“Similarly, the North-West and North-Central have witnessed several incidences of banditry, cattle rustling and community clashes between farmers and herders while the South-South and South-East regions have continued to experience various agitations. In addition to these are criminal activities such as cybercrime, drug trafficking, organised crime, human trafficking, piracy and kidnapping, amongst others.
“While struggling valiantly to address these challenges, the security forces are not suitably equipped to prevail in the herculean task of protecting our lives, property and territorial integrity”.
Kalu, however, said that a bill was already before the House which is intended to fix the funding gap for the Nigerian armed forces in order to provide a lasting solution to the problems facing the security forces.
“We also promised Nigerians that between June 2020 and May 2021, we would enact legislation to support structured funding of the Armed Forces to improve military readiness and enhance our capacity to respond to present and emerging threats to national security.
“It will interest you to know that presently, we already have The Nigerian Armed Forces Support Fund (Establishment) Bill 2020, sponsored by Rep. Babajimi Benson, which has passed second reading and is scheduled for public hearing upon resumption.
“The essence of the bill is to provide Special Financial Support for the revamping of the Nigerian Armed Forces, and to also provide for regular training of Armed Forces Personnel as well as the provision of modern security and defence equipment and other related matters,” Kalu explained.
The House Spokesman urged Nigerians to “actively participate in the public hearing of the Nigerian Armed Forces Support Fund (Establishment) Bill which will come up as soon as the House resumes from the long vacation”.
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A 17-year-old boy, Quadri Taiwo, on Monday appeared in an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly threatening the life of his mother.
The Police charged Taiwo for breach of peace and threat to life, punishable under sections 168 and 56 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty.
The Prosecutor, ASP Kehinde Ajayi, told the court that the defendant committed the offence in November 2020 at Balogun Street, Orile-Agege in Lagos State.
Ajayi said that the defendant threatened the life of Mojisola Taiwo, over a conflicting issue.
He said that Taiwo also conducted himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by sending a series of abusive text messages to his mother. adsbygoogle || []).push({});
“Taiwo was, however, arrested after a thorough investigation,’’ Ajayi said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 56 stipulates a one-year jail term for threatening violence.
Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.O Ajibade, however, granted the defendant N50,000 bail with one surety in like sum.
She adjourned the case until Feb. 11, for mention.
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- Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media and ICT Consultant, Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.
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President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the immediate resignation of the Service Chiefs and their retirement from service.
Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s spokesman confirmed this development in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.
Those involved are the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.
President Buhari thanked the outgoing Service Chiefs for what he called their “overwhelming achievements in our efforts at bringing enduring peace to our dear country’’
He wished them well in their future endeavours.
Meanwhile, the President has approved the appointment of new Service Chiefs.
They are Maj.-Gen. Leo Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff; Maj.-Gen. I. Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Adm. A. Z. Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff and AVM I.O. Amao, Chief of Air Staff.
The President congratulated the new service chiefs and urged them to be loyal and dedicated in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Author Profile
- Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media and ICT Consultant, Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.
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The Defence Headquarters has disclosed that troops of Operation ACCORD have intensified the onslaught against armed bandits in the North West zone with attendant successes.
According to the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche in a statement in Abuja, he explained that following credible intelligence on movement of suspected bandits, troops of Operation ACCORD on 26 November 2020 arrested 6 youths at Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
”The suspects claimed to have returned from Shinkafi Local Government Area. Preliminary investigation revealed that 2 of them were confirmed to be bandits while 2 others were suspected to be new recruits into the camp of a notorious bandit known as Turji. adsbygoogle || []).push({});
”Further search of their phones showed pictures of suspects practicing weapon handling. The suspects confessed to be bandits as alleged. Currently the suspects are in custody for further action, ‘he said.
He further said that troops have continued to dominate the general area with aggressive patrols to deny bandits freedom of action.
He encouraged the general public to provide credible information to the troops operating within their localities.
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