News
Uba Sani Promises All-Inclusive Government, Assures Of Tackling Insecurity
L By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
Governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Uba Sani, has promised to run an all-inclusive government in the state, saying that his government is for all irrespective of political party differences.
He averred that he would ensure that insecurity became thing of the past in the State, while assuring of synergy with other governors in the zone.
Governor Uba Sani asserted this during his inaugural speech at the Murtala Square in Kaduna on Monday, where he pleaded with the residents of the state to work with the government towards achieving peace, safety and security across every community in this state.
“I will work assiduously to guarantee the safety and security of our hardworking farmers to actively return to their farms during the current farming season.
“The prevailing security situation in the country demands for a significant shift in the current structure. In this regards, I will work with my colleague Governors and members of the National and State Assemblies to make State Police a reality. I was in the forefront of advocacy for State Police in the 9th Senate. I strongly believe that State Police is the panacea for our perennial security challenges. Security is basically a local affair and it demands for a local approach.
“My administration will consolidate and build on the unprecedented infrastructural upgrade, which was targeted at enhancing public welfare and accelerated economic growth. Going forward, we shall promote accelerated rural development by extending infrastructure to all local government areas with the goal of supporting our rural communities to achieve rapid economic growth.
“Our governance agenda in the economic sector will seek to sustain the enviable status of Kaduna State as a foremost investment destination in Nigeria, attract investments across more sectors, create jobs and promote the transfer of technology.
“Kaduna State under my leadership shall continue to focus on agriculture for food security and economic prosperity. We have perfected plans for the expansion of support for Agriculture in several areas,” Uba Sani explained.
Speaking further, he said: “this administration will be devoted to building and empowering people for development and prosperity. Our commitment to human capital development shall entail detailed focus on social welfare and empowerment through dedicated funds for women and youths, robust social investment programmes for vulnerable persons and extensive pro-poor interventions. We shall also ensure access to education for every child in the state from primary to secondary school; expand access to higher education through a multi-campus system for tertiary institutions; enhance Teachers’ Welfare & Teaching Standards; improve School Infrastructure; build ICT competence in our students from basic education level; and intensify investments in Technical & Vocational Education.”
The governor who applauded the immediate governor, described El-rufai as a pace-setter, whose innovative has changed the face of Kaduna State and made it the envy of all.
“The high standards he has set is both a source of pride and a challenge to we his associates and loyalists,” Uba Sani noted.
A group known as the Guardians of Justice and Democratic Leadership has strongly condemned the escalating crisis in Zamfara State, calling for a state of emergency to be declared due to Governor Dauda Lawal’s alleged disregard for the rule of law and inaction on insecurity.
The group cited the ongoing power tussle between the governor and the Zamfara State House of Assembly, which has resulted in two parallel leaderships and a breakdown in governance.
The group’s executive director, Patriot Abel Adams, expressed deep concern over the state’s worsening security situation, with 14 local government councils experiencing rampant insecurity, killings, and destruction of properties.
Adams accused Governor Lawal of being one of the worst-performing governors in the country, lacking the capacity to govern and engaging in frivolous spending while the people suffered.
According to Adams, the governor’s actions have emboldened bandits and kidnappers, who have sacked whole communities and made life unbearable for the people of the state.
“Rather than strenuously work at eliminating the hydra-headed challenges of poverty, kidnapping, and banditry, the governor would rather engage in frivolous spending, make hypocritical sympathy visits to victims of the almost daily attacks and the families of the dead,” Adams said.
The group also criticised Lawal for presenting the state’s 2025 budget to an illegitimate assembly leadership, further exacerbating the crisis.
They pointed out that the governor’s actions are a clear disregard for the rule of law and the principles of separation of powers, which are fundamental to democracy.
“The governor should know that the same election that brought him to office and grants legitimacy to him as the governor is the same election that guarantees constitutional powers to the members of the State House of Assembly to act and represent their constituencies,” Adams said.
“No authority confers on him a more deserving priority order than that he is the governor of the State and must act within the constitutional allowance of his office.
“He is required to observe the principles of the rule of law, the principles of separation of powers and the observance of Checks and Balance, tenets without which democracy is no longer democracy but authoritarianism.
“The governor in failing to truly understand the tenets of democracy and uphold same, has also failed to take a cursory look at the House Standing Rules, but instead has gone on a miserable sightseeing, thinking that as a governor he has total tyrannical control and that the State Legislators are stooges and thus intends to turn them to effective rubber stamps.
“He failed woefully and has mis-constructed and misconstrued our democracy and the separation of powers, undermining it and insulting our collective sensibilities. He also underestimated the resilience of the 24 gallant patriots of democracy.
“Unfortunately, he is left with no option but must obey the new leadership of the House of Assembly or face the wrath of the people in an escalating crisis, which will make the State completely ungovernable for him and directly compel a declaration of the State of Emergency.
“We believe that the governor’s actions are a recipe for chaos and anarchy, and it’s only a matter of time before the situation becomes ungovernable. We call on the authorities to intervene and restore order in Zamfara State, ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens.”
The Guardians of Justice and Democratic Leadership also commended the 10 lawmakers who have been fighting for their rights and the rights of their constituents, despite facing intimidation and harassment from the governor’s camp.
“These lawmakers have shown courage and conviction in standing up for what is right, and we urge them to continue to defend the interests of their constituents,” Adams said.
The group’s call for a state of emergency in Zamfara State is based on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended), which empowers the president to declare a state of emergency in a state where the structure of government has broken down.
“We believe that the situation in Zamfara State meets this criteria, and it’s imperative that the authorities take swift action to restore order and stability,” Adams said.
The group warned that if the situation is not addressed, it could lead to further escalation of violence, displacement of people, and humanitarian crisis.
They urged the authorities to take immediate action to address the security challenges and ensure that the government is accountable to the people.
The Guardians of Justice and Democratic Leadership urged the authorities to take immediate action to restore order and stability in Zamfara State, ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens.
News
Nigerian Army’s Operation LAFIYAN JAMAA Nets Bandits, Military Imposter, and Arms Cache in Taraba State
By Nahum Sule, Jalingo
Troops of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army, under Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have achieved significant successes in their ongoing mission, Operation LAFIYAN JAMAA, aimed at eliminating criminal elements in Taraba State.
In a statement issued By OLUBODUNDE ONI, Captain, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Brigade Nigerian Army said Over the past week, coordinated operations across multiple local government areas (LGAs) led to the arrest of a wanted bandit, the apprehension of a military imposter, and the recovery of a substantial cache of arms and ammunition.
“On April 16, 2025, troops responded to a distress call from a local hunter and raided a suspected bandit camp at Dutsen Kachalla in Lainde, Lau LGA. The criminals fled into the mountains upon spotting the troops, leaving behind an AK-47 magazine, an AK-47 rifle butt, military headgear, and a National Identification Card belongingAdamu Umaru Jauro
On April 19, acting on intelligence, troops arrested Yusuf Hammadu, alias “Dogo,” in Lainde Jessy, Lau LGA. Hammadu, a known criminal on security watchlists, confessed to involvement in a kidnapping syndicate operating across Jalingo, Ardo-Kola, Lau, and Yorro LGAs”.
“In a separate operation on April 22, troops apprehended Richard Ongu, a fraudster posing as a Nigerian Army Major in Gashaka. Ongu, who claimed to be a discharged Nigerian Air Force Flight Sergeant, was involved in multiple scams, including defrauding a car dealer of a Toyota Corolla worth ₦5.2 million, extorting ₦1.6 million for a fake Beniseed supply deal, and soliciting money for fraudulent military recruitment schemes in Bali and Gassol LGAs. He will be handed over to authorities for prosecution following military investigations.
On April 24, a joint operation with the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) at Jatau-Nyimu village in Donga LGA resulted in the recovery of 86 rounds of 5.6mm ammunition, a Tarvor magazine, four cartridges, a Beofeng handheld radio, three single-barrel guns, and two military camouflage uniforms.”
Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, Commander of 6 Brigade, praised the troops’ professionalism and reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to restoring peace in Taraba State. He urged the public to provide timely information to support operations and warned against individuals soliciting payment for military recruitment, emphasizing that enlistment is free and merit-based.
Calls for Investigation of Refineries
A group of lawyers and civil society organizations (CSOs) early this morning stormed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters in Abuja with a petition against Mele Kyari, the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).
The petition alleged that Kyari perpetrated monumental fraud, tax evasion, economic sabotage, and abuse of office during his tenure from July 2019 to February 2025.
According to the Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law led by Asika Raymond, Kyari collaborated with certain consultants and contractors to conceal the actual cost of refineries rehabilitation projects and evade taxes due to the Federal Government.
One notable example cited was the Port Harcourt Refinery, where the group alleged that the NNPCL under Kyari’s leadership expended $1.5 billion, despite initial estimates of $1 billion for the three refineries.
The petitioners questioned the transparency and accountability of the payments made to consultants and contractors handling the refineries’ rehabilitation projects.
The petition also alleged that crude oil allocations were diverted and financial transactions were carried out under the guise of “pipeline security” at a suspicious rate of 80,000 barrels per day, with no transparent process or accountability mechanism.
Additionally, the AKK Gas Pipeline Project, initially valued at $5 billion, was said to be riddled with irregularities in contract awards and execution.
Furthermore, the petitioners raised concerns about fuel subsidy fraud, citing repeated allegations of inflated imports and false claims.
They also questioned the value of NNPCL’s crude-backed loans, which totaled $21.565 billion since 2019, with questionable purposes and outcomes.
The petition added: “There is credible information that crude oil allocations were diverted, and financial transactions were carried out under the guise of ‘pipeline security’ at a suspicious rate of 80,000 barrels per day, with no transparent process or accountability mechanism.
“The AKK Pipeline Project, initially valued at $5 billion has been riddled with irregularities in the award and execution of contracts. Despite several budgetary provisions and foreign financing arrangements, there is little physical progress or transparency in fund utilization.
“There have been repeated allegations of fraud tied to the payment of fuel subsidy. It is instructive to note that while the rest of the world witnessed a decline in fuel consumption in 2020 due to COVID, NNPCL increased its imports of petroleum products during the same period.
“Under Mele Kyari, NNPCL took various crude-backed loans which hit $21.565 billion since 2019. Aside from mortgaging future production, the structure of these loans disadvantaged Nigeria as the upside from trading Nigeria’s crude in the international market was ceded to traders.
“The former GCEO also supervised massive spending on oil exploration activities in the aforementioned states. These explorations, allegedly running into several billions of Naira lack proper documentation, feasibility outcomes, or any demonstrable economic returns. ”
The group urged the EFCC to investigate Kyari, forensically audit all payments made to consultants and contractors from 2019 to 2025, recover misappropriated public funds, and collaborate with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to probe suspected tax evasion.
The EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, received the petition on behalf of the Chairman and promised that the Commission will look into it swiftly.