The monarch who was installed as the 46th Alaafin about five months ago maintained that he had sworn with Yoruba ancestors never to denigrate the culture, tradition and norms of the race.
He said, “Oyo simply rose to prominence through wealth gained from trade and its military skills. It was the largest West African empire, the most important and authoritative of all the early Yoruba principalities. More so, the British, as it was in their tradition, recognised lineage as meaningful supremacy and legitimacy, preferring to sign the Treaty of Cessation with the Alaafin as the Superior Head of the Yoruba Nation.”
Adding that he has sworn to his ancestors to defend and add glamour to Yoruba tradition, he stressed he would never be in a supremacy battle with any king.
According to him, “Why Alaafin does not need to get into any battle for supremacy with any Oba, either in Yorubaland or anywhere in the universe? These immortal words of Alexander Graham Bell – The most successful men in the end are those whose success is the result of steady accretion”.
Surprisingly, the monarch avoided any other comments relating to his strained relationship with the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Eniitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi who he ordered to withdraw the chieftaincy title he conferred on a business magnate, Chief Jubril Dotun Sanusi.
The statement further read, “At the hallowed ground of the Yoruba ancient shrine, as Owoade made a covenant with illustrious Yoruba ancestors that he would defend, protect and add glamour to the Yoruba norms and tradition.”
The statement explained that Alaafin is a veritable custodian of Yoruba culture and tradition, and has always taken into consideration the safety and welfare of his subjects at all times. It added that the monarch relied heavily on the will and wishes of his subjects.
“The monarch operates a government that is judged by its result, as prosperity, security and well-being of the people dictated his popularity both in the palace and in the empire at large.
It is the man who carefully advances step by step, with his mind becoming wider and wider, and progressively be able to grasp any theme or situation -persevering in what he knows to be practical, and concentrating his thought upon it, who is bound to succeed in the greatest degree” – sum up the life voyage of Owoade, an indomitable monarch with an unequalled passion for the great good of all”.
“He (Alaafin) is a veritable custodian of Yoruba culture and tradition, and has always taken into consideration the safety and welfare of his subjects and will never compromise tradition, culture and development of his people for a pot of porridge. The history has been so kind and friendly to Alaafin Owoade publicity since he ascended the throne of his forefathers, as he does not need to get into any battle for supremacy with any oba, either in Yorubaland or anywhere in the universe.
“Alaafin combines humility with royalty to meet the modern-day demands. Kabiyesi (the king who no one questions). Iku Baba Yeye (The one who commands death/he who is parent to death). Alashe (He who wields authority). Ekeji Orisha (Second-in-command to the gods). The Alaafin was inducted into the mysteries of various gods like Ifa, Sango etc, to be the direct representative of these deities on earth.”
“At the hallowed ground of the Yoruba ancient shrine, as Owoade made a covenant with illustrious Yoruba ancestors that he would defend, protect and add glamour to the Yoruba norms and tradition. Oduduwa’s Principal minister and grandson, Oranmiyan (Because Oduduwa begot Okanbi, (an only child and Okanbi begot Oranmiyan, among others, namely Ila-Orangun, Oni-Sabe, Olu-Popo, Ala-Ketu, Oba-Benin) founded the city of Oyo when a prolonged drought struck Ile-Ife as a result of people’s emigration.
“In politics also, he is concerned about the sanctity of his position, and whatever happens on the welfare of his people. Customs and all traditional practices of today in government, religion and economic life have had distance, and possibly age-long origins which were based on valid and accepted tenets that emerged from the synthesis and aggregated experience of a particular society.
“One of such societies is the ancient city of Oyo, reputed for cultural resources that are of rich non-material and material attributes and transmitted through generations. Moreover, the precepts and concepts of Alaafin’s administration have continued to support and nurture the people’s ancient culture and sophisticated civilisation from time immemorial.
“The basic concept of government was monarchy with a rigid adherence to the monolithic Oduduwa dynasty and of the paternal line.”
Olugbon appeals for caution
Meanwhile, the Vice Chairman of Oyo State Traditional Council, Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Olushola Alao, has cautioned supporters of both kings to stop ongoing media comments capable of escalating the crisis.
Oba Alao said he had discussed with both leading monarchs and confirmed that they are both interested in unity and peace in Yorubaland.
Oba Alao described the ongoing controversy as unnecessary and speculative.
>>Both you and the Alaafin of Oyo are complete morons. Your British colonial masters have no say in Yorubaland. Nigeria is an independent nation. No treaty signed by any stupid colonial master has any meaning or legal backing after Nigeria became independent, you idiots. There is no superiority or inferiority between Ooni of Ife and Alaafin of Oyo, you dummies. Both of you are first class thieves <<.
In a message dated August 21, 2025 at 3:28:56 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, .....t...@yahoo.com writes:"Oga, this man repeated the same thing you said about Dele Giwa and then cursed you with words that fit him perfectly. Does it mean he doesn't understand that he said the same thing that you had already said? Before before I be dey think say the man sabi English o....!"
On Thu, Aug 21, 2025 at 7:05 PM, Nebukadineze Adiele<nebuka...@aol.com> wrote:
>>Both you and the Alaafin of Oyo are complete morons. Your British colonial masters have no say in Yorubaland. Nigeria is an independent nation. No treaty signed by any stupid colonial master has any meaning or legal backing after Nigeria became independent, you idiots. There is no superiority or inferiority between Ooni of Ife and Alaafin of Oyo, you dummies. Both of you are first class thieves <<.
The Yoruba wannabe, Deranged Ape Kayode Adebammuọjọ, has the temerity to abuse Yoruba monarchs this rancidly? That he is doing so over a subject on which he is shamefully, semi-literately, and moronically wrong shows that wonders will never cease with this accursed Ukwuani urchin. Normally, I don't respond to the cretin -- because I blocked him and I don't get his drivels -- but on the instances when his response misleads youngsters, responding to his drivel becomes a mandatory duty.All agreements that are not obsolete by terms of the agreement or by virtue of time, signed by the British with our native authorities/Nigeria's pre independent leaders, remain valid till today. Honoring these agreements within their life span was one of the conditions that our nationalists signed for securing Nigeria's independence. If this Alaafin is correct that agreement was signed between the colonial authority and the Yoruba monarchy, as to the order of precedence for Yoruba traditional institutions, then such an agreement remains valid. Young folks, do not let this deranged ape's loquaciousness with vulgarities confuse you enough to ascribing intellectual gravitas to him; he is patently limited in intellectual endowment.Just yesterday, I wrote as follows about Dele Giwa: "The truth is that Dele Giwa the man, not the excellent journalist, was not a choirboy and had severally stepped on toes he shouldn't have stepped". Unbeknownst to me, the deranged ape responded as follows: "Dele Giwa was an excellent and outstanding journalist.....", (the rest were insults that perfectly suit his miserable existence). This led a reasonable forumite to inquire as follows from me in private communication:
In a message dated August 21, 2025 at 3:28:56 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, .....t...@yahoo.com writes:"Oga, this man repeated the same thing you said about Dele Giwa and then cursed you with words that fit him perfectly. Does it mean he doesn't understand that he said the same thing that you had already said? Before before I be dey think say the man sabi English o....!"I responded to him that the deranged ape's intellectual limitations blinded him to the fact that I separated Dele Giwa the man from Dele Giwa the journalist. Not understanding that sentence is how you know exactly who dropped out of college and does a menial job -- they always get lost in sentences that are above grade school level.Anyone who values facts and reason should never take anything posted by the Deranged Ape at face value. Notice that he was confused as to who, Alaafin or Ooni, made the statement he was criticizing.Tufiakwa!Nebukadineze Adiele
On Thursday, August 21, 2025 at 05:12:53 PM EDT, Abraham Madu <abraha...@yahoo.com> wrote:
On Thu, Aug 21, 2025 at 9:04 PM, Kayode Adebayo<kayu...@yahoo.com> wrote:
On Fri, Aug 22, 2025 at 5:17 AM, Chukwuemeka Okala<reu...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
"The truth is that Dele Giwa the man, not the excellent journalist, was not a choirboy and had severally stepped on toes he shouldn't have stepped" -- Nebukadineze Adiele
"Dele Giwa the man, not the excellent journalist, means you're talking about two different Dele Giwas, in your attempt to denigrate Dele Giwa. The word NOT in your statement distinguished two Dele Giwas. We call that Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), Multiple Personality Disorder, Derealization Disorder, Splitting or Autoscopy. It means you're confused, mentally deranged and hallucinating." - Kayode Adebayo
On Fri, Aug 22, 2025 at 9:52 AM, Chukwuemeka Okala<reu...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
Some operators of Computer-Based Test centres accredited by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board have been alleged to be involved in large-scale malpractices during the last Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
Investigations by Saturday PUNCH showed that the operators supplied technical information to tech-savvy individuals, who then hacked into servers and manipulated the conduct of the examination.
JAMB had in May experienced technical glitches that marred the 2025 UTME, resulting in mass failure as 1.5 million out of the 1.9 million candidates who sat the exam scored below 200 out of the total 400 marks.
The development generated outrage as the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, broke down in tears on May 14 while admitting that technical errors had affected some candidates’ scores.
No fewer than 20 suspects were arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja for hacking some CBT centres.
Following this, in June, JAMB raised the alarm over candidates using Artificial Intelligence to impersonate others and falsely claim albinism as a means of cheating.
By July, data presented at the board’s 2025 policy meeting revealed that CBT centres in Imo and Anambra states topped the list of places caught engaging in finger-pairing malpractices
Overall, 19 centres were exposed nationwide: Anambra accounted for six, Imo had four, Abia and Edo recorded one each, Kano had two, while Ebonyi, Delta, Kaduna, Rivers, and Enugu recorded one centre apiece.
In August, JAMB announced that 6,458 admission seekers were under investigation for involvement in technology-enabled examination malpractice during the 2025 UTME.
The board inaugurated a 23-member Special Committee on Examination Infraction to investigate the cases and submit its report within 21 days.
Saturday PUNCH gathered that operators of the “miracle centres,” who usually guaranteed success to desperate candidates, contributed to the technical glitches of the exam.
Speaking on how CBT servers were breached, a hacker who identified himself only as Ahmed and has been in the business for 10 years, said there was little JAMB could do to curb exam malpractice because some of the centre operators were actively involved in the process.
Ahmed disclosed that centre operators released the Internet Protocol address to hackers to log into servers undetected, while mercenaries would write exams for some candidates.
Mercenaries are regarded as persons who illegally take exams for candidates.
An IP address is a unique set of numbers assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication.
He said, “There are some centres that make their IPs available to hackers. With this, they are able to penetrate and gain access to questions and login details of candidates. There is no way they can monitor all the IP addresses in Nigeria.
“While candidates are physically present at CBT centres, hired mercenaries remain outside with remote access to the centres’ servers to write the exams on their behalf.”
He said candidates who initially logged in at centres would be deliberately logged out to enable mercenaries outside to take over.
Ahmed added that the candidates would have been instructed to remain silent whenever their systems were logged out.
He said, “While the questions are being answered by the mercenaries, we ask the candidates to time themselves for 20 or 25 minutes, then complain that their systems logged them out. During this period, we already have access to their portals and are helping them attempt the questions with mercenaries.
“By the time they notify the examiners at the centres, we are already done answering the questions for them. When they are logged in again, they will see that all the questions have been answered. They only need to click on ‘Submit,’ and that is the end.
The only thing we use to run this is just to get the IP address and insert some codes, which are simply numeric. After that, we input the digits, and that is all. This enables us to have access to anything related to the JAMB server.”
An education consultant, who runs a coaching centre at Badagry, Lagos, corroborated Ahmed’s claim, saying many of the centres had compromised operators, who enabled exam malpractices.
The consultant confirmed that hackers breach servers of identified CBT centres by compromising the IP address supplied by the operators.
He said, “This would be impossible without an insider from the centres. Without an insider, there is no way we could get the IP address to get it done. These are the backdoors to this activity. These people are being paid millions of naira. The parents of these candidates have already paid everything to the centres.
“There is nothing they can do to curb this malpractice; there will always be an insider who will show how to penetrate the server. Once we gain access to the server, our candidates already pass their exams because we will do it for them remotely.”
A CBT operator based in Lagos who was also involved in the business revealed that the centres were usually aware that their servers had been compromised but would not act.
He said, “The owners of the centres know that their servers are compromised but they wouldn’t do anything about it because they are profiting from the fraudulent activities. The mercenaries are paying them huge amounts of money.
These centres also have their contact persons in JAMB, who are like a backbone to them. The claim that JAMB’s technology is working against malpractice is not true. There are many students still being helped to pass their exams. What these people do is use the backdoor of a particular centre’s server to carry out their work seamlessly, using mercenaries to write the exams.
“JAMB is not even able to detect their faces or anything. Some of these people do not rely on insiders; they hack directly into the centre’s database.”
But JAMB spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, said hacking the board’s website was not possible, adding that it did not host questions on its website.
“Our systems are locally connected. It is through a Local Area Network, not Internet-enabled. So, no one can see it anywhere. No question has ever been on our website. The examination is not internet-enabled,” he added.
He clarified that what some individuals claimed to hack was the local server of some centres in connivance with owners of such places.
Fabian said, “There is no way somebody will see our questions, because they are like a text message in speed and delivery. We transmit our questions via a model to the centres, similar to that of a text message. It is a candidate’s biometric that grants access to the questions.”
Also, the National President of the Computer Based Test Centre Proprietors Association of Nigeria, Austin Ohaekelem, while applauding the JAMB registrar for reducing exam malpractices, said not all CBT centres were involved in exam fraud.
He noted that some genuine exam glitches were being erroneously tagged as fraud.
Ohaekelem stated, “Somehow, there are still some glitches along the line either at the point of exam registration or during the exam that happened inadvertently. It is now being seen as a fraud and a deliberate act to sabotage the examination.”
Explaining the cases of JAMB’s technical glitches, the national president expressed concern over the blacklisting of innocent centres over the issues.
He said, “There is a centre in Anambra State which was registering a candidate and the network went off, but the candidate picture had been captured. Because the network had a problem, it didn’t submit.
“The next candidate came to register and the person registering the former candidate started to register the new candidate, not knowing that the details of the first candidate were still there. The picture of the second person was used on the details of the first person. It was not deliberate. They got to know at the close of registration when they wanted to print a notification slip.
“There are other issues like biometric capture where each candidate will come and the scanner is not picking it and they keep trying, and the candidates are usually apprehensive. What should be the target of what is called fraud is when a person has the intention of undermining or compromising the examination.”
Commenting on the matter, the Secretary of the Association of Tutorial School Operators in Oyo State, Ogundokun Olufunso, raised concerns over desperate tactics employed by candidates to beat the system during examinations.
Olufunso, in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, said some students connived with technology experts to manipulate biometrics, while others fell victim to errors beyond their control.
“Sometimes, some students, out of desperation, connive with tech engineers. Sometimes, they do biometric manipulation. Other students fall victim without doing anything because when their biometric is not accepted, they will assume such a candidate is among those being investigated, and they will not let them sit the examination.”
Olufunso stressed that while eradication of exam malpractice might be difficult, it could be reduced significantly if proper checks were maintained.
Olufunso, in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, said some students connived with technology experts to manipulate biometrics, while others fell victim to errors beyond their control.
“Sometimes, some students, out of desperation, connive with tech engineers. Sometimes, they do biometric manipulation. Other students fall victim without doing anything because when their biometric is not accepted, they will assume such a candidate is among those being investigated, and they will not let them sit the examination.”
Olufunso stressed that while eradication of exam malpractice might be difficult, it could be reduced significantly if proper checks were maintained.
On the issue of “miracle centres,” he stated that most tutorial centres in the state had distanced themselves from such practices because of the risks involved.
He said, “I can categorically tell you that most tutorial centres are no longer involved in such things because it is risky, and we warn against it. How much will a student offer you to risk your future and career, and risk going to jail? If you go to jail, these students will continue their lives. So, all tutorial centres now have that mentality that it is better.”
He, however, urged JAMB to carry out internal reviews and ensure loopholes in its system were blocked to prevent manipulation.
Similarly, the Director of Toppers Coaching Centre, Ogun State, Emehinola Omodara, urged JAMB to re-examine its system and close loopholes that could encourage exam malpractice.
Omodara said, “You can’t come up with allegations without evidence. JAMB should go back to the drawing board and reappraise their system. They are trying, but all these loopholes should be worked on so that they can get a vote of confidence from the people.
“If they put their things in order, miracle centres will not exist. They should not be shifting blame, but look inward at their staff members and how the leakages are happening.”
Also speaking, the founder of Campusinfo Consult Limited, Taiwo Folorunsho, emphasised the need for a comprehensive upgrade of the JAMB’s technology to effectively curb malpractice and address its operational shortcomings.
On Fri, Aug 22, 2025 at 3:48 PM, Nebukadineze Adiele<nebuka...@aol.com> wrote:
On Aug 30, 2025, at 10:55 AM, 'Kayode Adebayo' via ||NaijaObserver|| <naijao...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
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Gbam! Pathological Liar Called Kemi Dick Sucker Badenoch:
Like I said, before, the idiot and pathological liar called Kemi Kemi Dick Sucker will never be Prime Minister of UK in this lifetime, no matter how hard she sucks white man's dick in UK. All her lies will come back to haunt her. She thought she was in Nigeria where she could lie and get away with it. There are records in America and you can't get away with lies. You will be exposed in no time.
What a liar!
Kayode
The Cable
Kemi Badenoch, leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, is facing fresh questions over her past after a former Stanford University admissions officer disputed her claim that she once received an offer to study pre-med in the United States.
Badenoch has repeatedly cited the supposed offer in interviews, portraying it as an example of her parents’ financial struggles to secure her the best education despite her strong academic record.
In a 2017 interview, Badenoch said her dreams of being a doctor like her parents were cut short at 16 because she went to a “very bad school” in the UK.
Badenoch attributed part of her growing up to the US because “my mother worked internationally, so when she travelled, so did the kids”.
“I had actually got admission into medical school in the US – I got into Stanford pre-med – and I got into medical school in Nigeria, but I came here (the UK) because being a citizen, it was just a lot cheaper,” she said in the Huffington Post interview.
The claim was repeated in another interview feature published by the Times last year.
“At 16, her US SAT scores won her a partial pre-med scholarship to Stanford, but her family still couldn’t afford the place,” the report said.
The narrative was also featured in other UK dailies.
However, Stanford does not have a pre-med major, according to its website.
“For any of the health professions, you may major in any discipline,” the notice adds.
FORMER ADMISSIONS OFFICER DISPUTES CLAIM
Jon Reider, the Stanford admissions officer at the time of Badenoch’s application who was responsible for international students and the allocation of bursaries, challenged the politician’s claim.
Reider said he would have been responsible for offering Badenoch a place and had not done so.
“Although 30 years have passed, I would definitely remember if we had admitted a Nigerian student with any financial aid. The answer is that we did not do so,” he said, according to The Guardian UK.
“I assure you that we would not have admitted a student based on test scores alone, nor would we have mailed an invitation to apply to any overseas students based on test scores.
“O-levels would not have been sufficient, and we would have been very nervous admitting a 16-year-old. She would have had to have an extraordinary record.”
Reider noted that it was implausible for a student to be offered a partial scholarship that they could not afford to take up.
“If an applicant needed, say, $30,000 a year to attend Stanford, we would offer them the full amount. There was no point in offering them less because they would not have been able to attend. If we admitted them, we wanted them to enrol,” he said.
He added that none of his decisions as the admission officer was overruled by any of the deans whom he worked for.
DAILY POST recalls that Ekpa was arrested by Finnish authorities on 21 November 2024, following an investigation by the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) into allegations of inciting terrorism and promoting violence through social media, activity that was believed to have contributed to unrest in southeastern Nigeria.
Following his arrest, Ekpa was remanded in custody by the Päijät-Häme District Court, which determined that the charge was based on “public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent”, alleged offenses dating from August 2021 to November 2024.
During this period, the NBI also froze Ekpa’s assets, as well as those of his associates and related companies.
On Sep 1, 2025, at 6:03 AM, 'femi Olajide' via ||NaijaObserver|| <naijao...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
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It came on a day president of Mzough U Tiv UK (MUTUK), Victor Aleva, also said nothing had changed in Yelewata since President Tinubu visited Benue State, in the wake of the deadly herdsmen’s attack on the community which claimed over 200 lives in June.
This is even as Senator Ali Ndume said Boko Haram terrorists are blind to faith as they target Christians, Muslims as well as those who don’t believe in either of the two.
The President’s declaration drew the excitement of stakeholders in the polity, especially regional socio-political and cultural groups which have been in the forefront in the call for state police in the country.
They include the Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere; its counterpart in the north, the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF; and Middle Belt Forum, MBF.
Speaking at the Presidential Villa in Abuja during a courtesy visit by a delegation of prominent Katsina indigenes, led by Governor Dikko Radda, late Tuesday, Tinubu said the Federal Government is committed to confronting insecurity head-on.
The President reiterated the declaration when he met with governors of the North-East yesterday, stressing that there is need to discuss with the National Assembly leadership on the issue.
He directed security agencies to reassess their operations in Katsina State, which has witnessed a spike in banditry, and disclosed that advanced military equipment and surveillance technology would be deployed.
While also revealing plans to enhance the capacity of newly-recruited forest guards in the state, Tinubu stressed that while the country faces serious security challenges, they can be resolved with determination and strategy.
He said: “The security challenges that we are facing are surmountable. Yes, we have porous borders. We inherited weaknesses that could have been addressed earlier. It is a challenge that we must fix, and we are facing it.
“I have directed all the security agencies to energise further and look at the strategies. We have approved additional acquisition of drones.”
The president further instructed that he be given daily updates on security operations in Katsina, saying:
“I am reviewing all the aspects of security; I have to create state police. We are looking at that holistically.
We will defeat insecurity. We must protect our children, our people, our livelihood, our places of worship, and our recreational spaces. They can’t intimidate us.”
Tinubu reminded the delegation that in February 2024, the Federal Government formed a committee to study the framework for state policing.
The president also paid tribute to former President Muhammadu Buhari, assuring that his legacy will be preserved.
“The time we lost our brother, President Buhari, is a loss for all of us. It is the will of God Almighty, but he has left in a good way.
“He didn’t hand over a defeated country, a battered political structure, but a legacy of success, and that is the most important thing,’’ the President said.
In his remarks, leader of the delegation, Governor Radda expressed gratitude to Tinubu for his consistent support.
“Mr President, I would like to thank you very much, and I want to say before our elders that there was never a time I came to the President with a request that he rejected,” Radda said.
Other speakers, including former Governor Aminu Masari and Ibrahim Ida, the Wazirin Katsina, commended Tinubu for honouring Buhari and investing in infrastructure projects in the state.
Ida, however, urged the Federal Government to prioritise the upgrade of the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport and intensify security in Southern Katsina.
Recall that following the rising waves of insecurity across the country, a host of stakeholders have been calling for state police.
Last May, in a new consensus, the Northern Governors Forum, NGF, endorsed the creation of state police as a major step to fight insecurity in the country.
In a communique issued at the end of its meeting in Kaduna, Forum Chairman and governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya, noted that the current centralised policing system is grossly incapable of confronting the scale and complexity of local security threats, particularly in the Northern region.
The Forum then called on the National Assembly “to expedite action on the enactment of the legal framework for its take-off.”
Similar calls have also been made by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, House of Assembly speakers in the 36 states of the federation and other stakeholders.
State Police overdue —Afenifere
Reacting to the President’s remarks yesterday, the Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, said the need for state police was long overdue.
Speaking on behalf of Afenifere, the Chairman of its National Executive Committee, NEC, Oba Olu Falae, commended the move, adding that there is need to implement it as soon as possible.
Falae, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who spoke with Vanguard, said: “State Police is something we should have had 50 years ago. Policing is a local matter and, therefore, until you have local policing, we won’t have effective policing in our country.
“In the colonial times, every region and town had its own police force. There were three policing systems in Nigeria. That we are now returning to state police is welcome and I hope the states will take decisions to recruit people immediately, train and equip them for an effective security mechanism in the states and in the country. It is overdue.”
We’re looking forward to see it work — ACF
On his part, the National Publicity Secretary of Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Prof Tukur Baba, said the ACF is looking forward to see how it would work.
Step in theright direction — MBF
Also reacting, the Middle Belt Forum, MBF, said President Tinubu’s declaration to create was a step in the right direction.
National President of MBF, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, in a statement, said the Forum had been leading the advocacy for creation of county or local government police.
He said: “We have been advocating for state police all along. Our own even goes down to the local government level, that is down to the county level because we said we pretended we are practising true federalism while we are not.
In a true federal system, security is structured to cover all strata of our existence. So, we support that as a first step towards addressing the issue, since governors are not in control of the national security architecture, whether it is the police, the military or the paramilitary.
“So having state police, similar to what we had before the military took over, is best for us in the country. We used to have the Native Authority Police which we can equate now to the state police and we had the Nigerian police and it worked.
“So it is going to be a step forward in the right direction, especially in areas where our security has been compromised, which is unfortunate anyway.”
On whether it could be used as tool by governors to oppress perceived political enemies, Dr. Pogu said: “If we look at it that way, we can also say the Federal Government could have been using the federal police or federal security architecture or network to achieve its own objectives.
‘’So we cannot stop what is beneficial to the well-being and security of our people by considering the behaviour of a few individuals because, yes it is true some governors might exploit that window, but it will not mean that every governor will exploit that window.
’The most important thing is let’s secure the lives and property of our people.”
It won’t work in Nigeria, retired general tells Tinubu
But Gen. Ijioma Nwokoro Ijioma, retd, disagreed, saying governors will convert the personnel into thugs to hunt perceived enemies.
He insisted that state police is no solution to the festering insecurity in the country, arguing that nothing was actually wrong with the federal police if the spirit with which it operated in the past was revived.
He said: “Who is going to be the person that will issue orders to those state police? Is it the governors that you have today?
“I am not in support of state policing. It will not work in Nigeria. That state police will become the thugs for the state governors. Take my word for it.
“Nothing is wrong with the federal police. If the police are constituted and allowed to function the way police have been functioning before, there is nothing absolutely wrong with the police system we have had before.
“When you make the police dysfunctional, then you start looking for state police. And when you now introduce state police, it becomes a frank incest. Then the governors will pocket them and use them to do their own bidding. And we start another thing altogether. Then, we start the cry all over again. I will advise Mr. President not to toe that line.”
Declare state of emergency in North to save us — NEF
Meanwhile, northern elders yesterday urged President Tinubu to declare state of emergency in the north, following the protracted insecurity that has devastated the socio-economic life and development of the region.
Acting under the aegis of Northern Elders Forum, NEF, the northern elders in a communique by their spokesman, Prof Abubakar Jiddere, expressed deep concern over the spate of violent attacks, abductions and killings across the region, asking the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the north.
They warned that if a state of emergency was not declared, the development might lead to self-help situation and anarchy, which currently threaten Nigeria’s stability and regional peace.
The elders also recalled that on August 19, there was a bloody attack on a mosque in Unguwan Mantau village where armed assailants killed about 27 worshippers and injured many during early morning prayers, while hundreds of people were displaced.
The communique equally alluded to the execution of 38 abductees in Zamfara State, despite ransom payments, as well as two separate attacks in Kaduna State’s Kauru and Kudan Local Government Areas, which killed eight persons and injured eight others.
It read: “Declare a state of emergency in northern Nigeria, acknowledging the extraordinary scale of the crisis; deploy adequately trained armed, and equipped security forces with clear rules of engagement to protect civilian populations and secure international border regions; and provide adequate compensation, rehabilitation, and humanitarian assistance to victims, including displaced persons, in line with international humanitarian standards.’’
The communique also called the “strengthening of border control and regional cooperation with neighboring states under ECOWAS and the African Union protocols, to stem cross-border incursions by armed criminal groups.
“Engaging international partners, including the African Union, AU, and United Nations, UN, for technical and humanitarian support.
“The NEF observes with deep regret that the state security architecture remains inadequate, overstretched, and in some cases complicit through inaction and silence, leaving citizens vulnerable and helpless, while eroding public trust in government institutions.’’
Quoting Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ICCPR, which states that the inherent right to life shall be protected by law, and no one shall arbitrarily be deprived of life, the northern elders pledged to continue monitoring developments while engaging stakeholders nationally and internationally to ensure urgent relief for affected northern communities.
Yelewata: Nothing has changed since Tinubu’s Benue visit, says Tiv leader.
Also reflecting on the security situation in the north, especially Benue State, the president of Mzough U Tiv UK (MUTUK), Victor Aleva, said no efforts had been made to rebuild the Yelewata community in Benue State, following the deadly herdsmen attack in June.
Recall that President Tinubu had visited Benue, following renewed killings in the state that left scores dead, several injured, and many others displaced in June.
But months after that visit, Aleva insisted that the Yelewata community remains in ruins, despite the President’s visit to the state in response to the incident.
“I was there in Yelewata last week Saturday and I saw things myself and I want to tell you that it is quite unfortunate. It is not about playing to the gallery or just saying things and being political. As I speak, nothing has changed.
“I told you here during my earlier interview that nothing good is going to come out of the President’s visit to Benue State. All those are just political, nothing is happening in Yelewata, I have video evidence, I have interview from the locals, I was there live with my entourage,’’ Aleva said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme yesterday.
During the president’s visit to Yelewata, he ordered that service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) arrest those behind the dastardly attack.
Few days after Tinubu’s arrest order, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, announced the arrest of 26 persons suspected to be masterminds of the killings in Yelewata.
However, Aleva dismissed the reported arrest of the attack masterminds by the police, describing it as “a lie”.
He said: “You know that is a lie. Because the president went there and scolded the Inspector-General of Police and just less than 48 hours or thereabouts, they paraded some people.
“Where are the people? That incident actually happened I think on the 13th and 14th of June, this is more than two months, where are the people?”
Aleva maintained that the attack in Yelewata had nothing to do with herders-farmers clash, but a calculated attempt to exterminate the people living in the village.
He said the people of the state expected the president to order the rebuilding of the community and not ‘playing to the gallery’.
Boko Haram blind to faith, targets Muslims, Christians — Ndume
in a similar development, Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South), said yesterday Boko Haram terrorists were blind to faith as they target Christians, Muslims as well as those who don’t believe in either of the two.
He appealed to Nigerians, especially the media, to resist the temptation of profiling victims of the terror gang’s atrocities and unite to defeat the insurgents.
The federal lawmaker, who made the appeal in a statement he issued in Abuja yesterday, was reacting to reports of weekend attacks at Ngoshe village in Gwoza Local Government Area and Mussa community in Askira-Uba Local Government areas of Borno State.
In the two separate incidents, the insurgents killed five farmers in the two villages.
Of those killed, two Muslims were killed in Ngoshe while the three killed in Mussa were Christians who were murdered by the terror gang the following day. Both communities are located in Askira-Uba Local Government area of Borno State.
Media reports indicate that the terrorists also razed dozens of houses in the two attacks.
Ndume, who was former chairman, Senate Committee on Army, said: “It is unethical and unconscionable for any media outlet to drive the narrative that Christians are the targets of these attacks by the terror group in Borno, or anywhere in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria.
“The forces behind these mindless killings are blind to faith and tribe. We should avoid this dangerous profiling which can distract us. It has the tendency of doing us more harm.
“It can even inflame negative passion in our soldiers, dampen the morale of men who toil day and night, determined to ensure that they wipe out this dangerous sect.
“Our people, whose only pursuit is peace and livelihood, continue to fall victim to the cruelty of insurgents. These men and women deserve to live, to farm and to dream, but their lives are being cut short by those who thrive on violence and destruction.”
Ndume commended the military for sustaining the battle against the terrorists, restating his appeal to the federal government to increase funding and level of support for the men and women in uniform to boost their morale to do more.
Nations must link security with good governance to defeat terrorism — Defence Minister
Similarly, the Defence Minister, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, said yesterday that nations of the West African sub-region and the Sahel must link security with governance, and utilise timely intelligence to confront transnational terrorism plaguing the sub-region
He also said operationalisation of the ECOWAS Standby Force must be pursued with renewed vigour, while harmonisation of legal frameworks across member states would ensure terrorists and their support networks found no safe haven.
Badaru, who stated this at the regional conference on combating emerging terrorist groups and strengthening sustainable security in ECOWAS/Sahel region in Abuja, said: “Capacity building is essential. Our forces require not only modern equipment but also advanced training to meet the evolving challenges of counter-terrorism.
“The creation of a regional counter-terrorism task force, fully trained and equipped for rapid deployment, is an initiative we must embrace.
“Terrorism has become one of the greatest threats to peace and stability in West Africa and the Sahel. It exploits porous borders, weak governance and deep socio-economic disparities. It takes root in communities where grievances are left unaddressed, and it spreads through ungoverned spaces where institutions are absent.
“These realities are stark, but they do not define our destiny. They are challenges we must confront collectively with determination, innovation and solidarity.
“Terrorism in our time has assumed a more complex and dangerous character. We are dealing with adversaries who are adaptive, highly networked and increasingly sophisticated in their methods.
“Their collaboration with international terrorist organizations has created a web of instability that stretches across borders. They exploit encrypted communication platforms, deploy unmanned aerial systems and radicalize vulnerable youth online.
“This evolution underscores the urgency of our meeting today. Terrorism, insurgency and insecurity are not abstract threats. They are existential challenges that endanger our people, our economies, and our shared future.’’
Speaking further, the minister said: “The operationalisation of the ECOWAS standby force must be pursued with renewed vigour. Harmonisation of legal frameworks across member states will ensure terrorists and their support networks find no safe haven.
“Thirdly, we must address the root causes of radicalisation. Military force is necessary but not sufficient. Poverty, unemployment, exclusion and poor governance provide fertile ground for extremist ideologies, Investing in education, strengthening community resilience and ensuring good governance are equally critical to our long-term security.
“Winning the hearts and minds of our populations will deny extremist groups the local support they seek to exploit.
“The task before us is clear. We must combine military strength with governance reforms and socio-economic development. This comprehensive approach is the only way to deliver sustainable peace.’’
“I am reviewing all the aspects of security; I have to create state police. We are looking at that holistically.
“We will defeat insecurity. We must protect our children, our people, our livelihood, our places of worship, and our recreational spaces. They can’t intimidate us.”