National
RUSSIAN FLAGS AT KANO PROTESTS: Sack Service Chiefs Now;Group
A northern Group, Arewa intelligentia Caucus (AIC) has asked the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to relieve the service chiefs of their appointment over the hoisting of Russian flag in Kano and the lingering protests.
This was contained in a lengthy press release issued by the body on Monday in kaduna and signed by both the President and Publicly Secretary, Abubakar Ciroma and Nasir Adamu.
They said recent events had demonstrated the inefficiency and inefficacy of the current service chiefs to defend the integrity amd sovereignty of the country .
The body frowned at lack of proactiveness, foresight and the non application of intelligence thought the top notch of the armed forces in the country.
“It does not require a security and intelligence expert to understand the volatility of any form of mass gathering in Kano State. Some recent antecedents even attest to how civil dissent could escalate disproportionately to the actual subject of discontent.”
“Two recent cases in point should suffice.
In November 2023, hundreds of youths took to the streets of Kano, protesting the appeal court judgment that sacked Governor Abba Yusuf as the state’s governor. That protest took a violent turn as some of the protesters said they were ready to die as they demanded justice.
Also, in May this year, the repeal of the Kano Emirates Council Law by the Kano State House of Assembly, leading to the deposition of Aminu Ado Bayero and the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as Emir of Kano, sparked violent protests.”
“It was therefore unsurprising when, on the first day of the #EndBadGovernance protest, tacitly endorsed and supported by Governor Yusuf, events took a violent turn, leading to the destruction of billboards and streetlights, looting of shops and public facilities, and attacks on flashy vehicles.”
“Despite a 24-hour curfew imposed by the governor, the second day of the protest was marred by more violence. ”
“When security operatives attempted to disperse some youths who defied the curfew to continue the #EndBadGovernance protest, it was met with fierce resistance.
But more worrying, in terms of the implication and significance of the protest, was the waving of the Russian flag by some protesters urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to intervene in Nigeria. ”
“One has to be a fool to believe that those Russian flags were hurriedly and expressly delivered for use between the night of the first day of protest and the following morning.”
“And why Russia? Is it because Putin has finally chosen to actively subscribe to the playground of proxy wars among world powers which West Africa has recently turned into, with his affiliation to political disruptions in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali?”
“Undermining democracy has been a strategic objective of Russia’s African policy for the past two decades. Authoritarian governments lacking domestic checks and balances provide permissive environment for enabling Russian influence on the African continent.”
“Russian interest to undercurrent democracy in Africa occurs a range of methods with disinformation. In the desperation by Moscow, 22 countries targeted for electoral interference and extra- constitutional claims to power.”
“Sadly, 13 of the 28 countries where Russia is actively endangering democracy are in conflict. This according to researc hers,represents over 3 -forth of African countries in conflict.”
“Worst still, Russian support to military government in Sudan for example helped to derail the democratic transition in the country, thereby precipitating the ensuing conflict. It’s on record that 11 out of the 15 African countries with the highest levels of forced population displacement have been targets of Russian intervention to undermine democracy.
African countries such as Algeria
, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon,CAR, Comoros, Congo, Cote d’ Ivoire, DRC, Egypt, Eritrea, Ghana, Guinea, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe, all have different tales of woes of political interference by Russia.”
“How could irate youths protesting against hunger and hardship pull together resources to procure the flag of another country notoriously noted to have dessimated the political fortunes of many African countries. ”
“The answer is simple:
They didn’t; they just did as instigated by some unpatriotic forces in high places.
Some questions are pertinent: Where was the governor who prides himself as the “Chief Security Officer of the state?”
Are we to believe that he suddenly lost his gumption and disappeared from the public view?”
“And how, on earth, did such a brazen and unpatriotic act by protesters waving Russian flags take the security services by surprise? It’s an indictment that some tailors somewhere in Kano made dozens of Russian flags and flooded different protest venues across the city with the flags without being questioned and, obviously, without any prior intelligence! .”
“How were the flags distributed unnoticed on a day when the security services were supposed to be on maximum alert?
The Service Chiefs must answer these questions! ”
“While we condemn, in strong terms, the treasonable action of protesters in Kano waving the Russian flag, we observe with dismay that the same flag was also spotted in some suburbs of Abuja, the nation’s capital. ”
“We also strongly hold that the action is a serious indictment on the security chiefs.
We, therefore, call on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Tinubu, to be ready to wield the big stick and declare a state of emergency in any state or region if the political leaders of the affected area(s) are not acting decisively.”
“As the Chairman of ECOWAS, President Tinubu owes the West African sub-region the responsibility to ensure that the sub-region does not allow external forces to further derail democracy.
Already, systematic efforts by Russia to undermine democracy in Africa have subdued democratic development in many African countries.”
“The president should immediately nip Russia’s threat in the bud and punish its home-based enablers.”
“To this end, We humbly demand immediate sack of the indolent Service Chiefs by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the the Republic Federal of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. ”
“We also submit that those behind the treasonable action in Kano and Abuja be fished out for prosecution. ”
“Thirdly, we demand that state of emergency be imposed on the state’s where the treasonable action took place during the ongoing Endbad governance protests.”
The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has called on the national assembly to fast-track the passage of the bill for the creation of state police.
Muhammadu Yahaya, governor of Gombe and chairman of the forum, spoke in Kaduna on Saturday at the end of a joint meeting with members of the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council.
Yahaya said the forum also called for a review of the country’s security strategy to address the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks and violent killings in the north-central zone.
He said a mutually beneficial resolution was reached on the tax reform bills following the position of the forum on the matter.
Yahaya said the forum commended President Bola Tinubu for listening to stakeholders on the matter and his “commitment to inclusive governance”.
“I am pleased to report that through the platform of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the national economic council, and in consultation with the leadership of the national assembly, we found a way forward that will lead to a mutually beneficial resolution of the matter,” he said.
“We recommend that going forward, such a collaborative approach should guide all matters of intergovernmental relations in the interest of the people.”
The Gombe governor said the state of infrastructure in the northern region is worrisome, adding that some projects awarded in the past have been neglected.
“The state of infrastructure in Northern Nigeria remains a cause for major concern,” he said.
“While we acknowledge President Tinubu’s commitment to completing the ongoing Kaduna-Kano-Katsina-Maradi rail line, the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano expressway, and the AKK gas pipeline among many others, other projects like the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line, Kano-Maiduguri expressway, and Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu expressway which were awarded in the past, remain in a serious state of neglect.
“In the same vein, no state of the north-east was captured in the federal government’s superhighway project.
“We must therefore explore innovative financing options, including public-private partnerships and infrastructure bonds, in order to bridge this gap and lay a solid foundation for agricultural production, industrialization and growth.”
In a communique released at the end of the meeting, the forum said it resolved to immediately “set up inter-state platforms to coordinate surveillance on our joint borders”.
“The forum resolved to liaise with the Nigerian Governors Forum to work out modalities of how to increase support to the federal security forces,” the communique reads.
“The forum reiterated its support for the creation of the State Police and called on the national assembly to expedite action on the enactment of the legal framework for its take-off.”
The bill for the creation of state police is currently at the national assembly.
The legislation proposes to transfer the term “police” in the 1999 constitution (as amended) from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list.
However, critics have argued that state governors could abuse such a policing system, using it as a tool to intimidate dissenting voices.
Proponents of the state police believe that the system will allow states to tackle their insecurity challenges at the local level without relying on the federal government.
The Northern Youth Congress of Nigeria (NYC) has honoured Dr. Ibrahim Aminu Trader, Executive Director of the Regional Sustainable Energy Centre of Excellence for Sub-Saharan Africa (RSECE), with its coveted Northern Elders Award of Excellence, “Garkuwan Marayun Arewa,” in recognition of his outstanding service to youth empowerment, national unity and social development.
The prestigious award, which translates to “Shield of Northern Orphans,” was conferred during a colourful ceremony at the RSECE headquarters in Abuja.
The event drew a cross-section of youth leaders, civil society groups, and stakeholders from the public and private sectors.
National President of the NYC, Ambassador Auwalu Mohammed Majiri, commended Dr. Trader’s enduring commitment to nation-building.
“This recognition is rooted in Dr. Trader’s consistent efforts to empower young people and his unwavering role as a bridge-builder in Nigeria’s journey toward unity and peace,” he said.
Dr. Trader, who has a storied career in public service and finance, expressed deep gratitude to the NYC.
He described the recognition as “humbling,” adding that his passion for uplifting the next generation remains central to his work.
“As someone who became the first Northerner to graduate at the age of 19, and having held top roles in the civil service and banking sector, I understand the power of opportunity,” he stated.
“Through RSECE, I continue to support youth initiatives and encourage entrepreneurship as a tool for nation-building.”
The award serves as a powerful endorsement of Dr. Trader’s leadership, humanitarian values and grassroots impact, particularly among marginalised communities.
His honour, according to observers, stands as a beacon of hope and a call to action for others committed to Nigeria’s collective progress.
National
Talata Mafara Resident Praises Tinubu, Matawalle For Eliminating Bandit Leaders Jijji, Kachallah Sagili
Residents of Talata Mafara Local Government Area in Zamfara State have expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, Minister of State for Defence Dr Bello Matawalle, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa for their roles in the elimination of two notorious bandit leaders
The operation, which targeted Jajji Ɗan Auta and Kachallah Sagili, has been hailed as a significant step towards restoring peace in the troubled region.
Yakubu Ibrahim Mafara, speaking on behalf of the Talata Mafara community, issued a statement on Friday commending the concerted efforts of the Nigerian government and security forces.
“We are very grateful to Matawalle, Tinubu, NSA, and others,” he said, reflecting the community’s relief and optimism following the operation.
The statement underscored the profound impact of the operation on the local population, which has long endured the terror inflicted by bandit groups in Zamfara State.
The operation took place on Thursday in Maikwanugga, a community within Talata Mafara Local Government Area, where security forces, alongside local vigilante groups, conducted targeted patrols along the Mafara axis.
According to the statement, reports indicate that Jijji Ɗan Auta and Kachallah Sagili, both feared bandit leaders responsible for numerous attacks, kidnappings, and extortion in the region, were neutralised during the operation.
” Their deaths have been described as a turning point for the community, which has suffered years of violence and insecurity.
“The killing of Jijji Ɗan Auta has brought relief and fresh air into our community,” Yakubu said, echoing the sentiments of residents who have lived under the shadow of banditry for years.
The operation is seen as a direct response to the escalating violence in Zamfara, where armed groups have terrorised rural communities, disrupted livelihoods, and displaced thousands.
The community’s gratitude reflects growing confidence in the government’s commitment to tackling insecurity in Nigeria’s northwest.
Meanwhile, the operation was a collaborative effort involving the Nigerian military and local vigilantes, who have increasingly played a critical role in intelligence-gathering and community defence.
The patrols in the Mafara axis were part of a broader strategy to dismantle bandit strongholds and restore normalcy to Zamfara, a state that has become a hotspot for banditry and kidnapping in recent years.
“The elimination of Jijji Ɗan Auta and Kachallah Sagili is expected to weaken the operational capacity of bandit groups in the region.”