Security
Edo election: Heavy presence of security personnel worries residents
Some residents of Benin City, Edo, have expressed worry over the heavy presence of security personnel particularly in the state capital, ahead of the Saturday governorship election.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who went round town on Friday to feel the pulse among Benin residents reports that most residents are not comfortable with the development.
The residents said the situation could scare people away from coming out in their numbers to vote on Saturday.
Mr Fidelis Osatohamwen, a cab driver, told NAN that the heavy security presence would rather cause more harm than good as several people might not come out to vote due to fear.
Osatohamwen, who spoke in pidgin English, said that if the security agencies could handle security challenges in the country with the same vigour disposed to Saturday’s governorship election, the challenges would be surmounted.
“Now, because it is election, ordinary governorship election, see the number of security personnel sent to one state,’’ he said.
Similarly, Mr Lucky Igbinoba, a resident, said the number of security personnel deployed for the Edo election was shocking.
“Truth be told, there may be voter apathy tomorrow because with the presence of this number of security personnel, nobody will want to risk coming out and be manhandled.
“For me though, I will come out after the election to go about my business,’’ he said.
Another resident, Mrs Doris Ebhodaghe said that the heavy presence of security personnel would change nothing in the electoral process.
Ebhodaghe said that what was required in the country was a systemic change, adding that unless that was done, Nigerians and not just Edo residents would continue going round the same circle.
Mr Amos Obadoni, another cab driver, said that the heavy presence of the security personnel had further killed the morale of some people.
NAN reports that no fewer than 41, 464 security personnel comprising 35,000 Police men and 6,464 personnel from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been deployed for Saturday election.
NA N also reports that two Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, four Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and 10 Commissioners of Police were also deployed for the election. (NAN)
A student of the Federal University Birnin Kebbi (FUBK) has been abducted by unidentified gunmen following an off-campus hostel attack.
Channels reports that the incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday at Istijaba Villa in Unguwar Jeji area of the state.
Witness accounts said five armed men entered the hostel to demand money from students who were taking a walk outside.
But the students refused to give in to their demands, which led to an assault from the attackers.
A resident, who was said to have attempted intervention, was shot dead while a final-year student of economics, simply identified as Madubiya, was whisked away by the assailants.
Responding to the incident, Muhammad Zaiyan-Umar, the vice-chancellor of FUBK, visited the scene in the company of the officers from the Kalgo police division and Department of State Services (DSS).
Addressing the students, Zaiyan-Umar said the university is committed to ensuring their safety and security.
It is understood that the VC has communicated the incident to Nasir Idris, the governor of Kebbi state, through the secretary to the state government and the director of security services at the cabinet office.
As of this reporting, the Kebbi state police command has yet to respond to enquiries about the incident.
In 2021, rumours soared of a planned attack by bandits after a heavy security presence was observed on campus.
At the time, the management of FUBK dismissed the claims.
The National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu has expressed the Federal Government’s determination in finding a lasting solution to the incessant attacks and killings in Plateau State.
Speaking at Operation Safe Haven headquarters in Jos during an operational visit in the aftermath of attacks in some communities of the Bokkos Local Government Area LGA) of the state, Ribadu promised to end the killings.
Over fifty persons were killed within a week in attacks over five communities that left over three hundred houses burnt by suspected herdsmen.
The Plateau State Government, through the Secretary to the Government Samuel Jatau, also visited some of the affected communities to ascertain the extent of damages and also donate relief materials to affected victims.
Adu expressed the Federal Government’s determination in finding solutions to the incessant attacks and killings.
Also, speaking about the killings, the District Head of Manguna wants the government to provide more security personnel in the affected communities to curb rural-urban migration.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has expressed sadness over the recent frightening attacks by terror groups on defenseless communities in Plateau State, which resulted in the tragic deaths of several people, including children.
The forum calls on the federal government to be constitutionally responsible for the protection of the lives and properties of citizens. It said this will ensure that such renewed attacks and killings on the Plateau and other communities in the Northern region and other parts of the country are stopped immediately.
In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, Tukur Muhammad-Baba, it asked the Federal Government to declare a state of security emergency on vulnerable and banditry-prone communities and to initiate effective early-warning and early-response strategies that incorporate the participation of community members.
“ACF reiterates its long-standing stance that every new such experience is one too many. Clearly, the people are in great pain, with their situation compounded by existential economic challenges. The killing spree on the Plateau must be stopped immediately, and peace must return to the State,” it said.
It also called on intensified efforts in actionable intelligence gathering, processing, and deployment by all relevant security agencies to establish the immediate and remote causes of the latest skirmishes, as well as for security agencies to investigate, identify, arrest, and prosecute perpetrators and enablers of the attacks.
Furthermore, ACF demanded full compensation for the victims of the attack and the extension of relief to those injured by the attackers.
“ACF deeply mourns the dead and unequivocally condemns the attacks. The Forum particularly extends sympathy and condolence to the affected communities, the Government, and the people of Plateau State,” part of the statement read.
“The Forum identifies with the deep pains of families of the victims, prays to God to grant the deceased eternal rest, for surviving victims to be fortified with strength to bear the losses and for quick return to full health for all who suffered injuries.”
It also asked the Federal Government and the Plateau State Government to empower community leaders, elders, clergy, traditional leaders, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to embark on community dialogue for conflict resolution, reconciliation, and cooperation.
“Citizens should avail the security agencies with credible information on the activities of insurgents and criminals; and members of the National Assembly to do more to hold the FGN and the national security agencies to account and to demand concrete evidence of a firm resolve to exterminate the current terror on citizens,” the statement added.