​No Fulani, Northerner has been given quit notice in Igboland ― Ohanaeze

Ohanaeze Ndigbo has denied that Fulani or any Northerner for that matter in the South East was issued any quit notice orders to leave the region.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo has therefore called on the elite of Northern and Southern Nigeria to desist from inflammatory statements, warning that such statements that could trigger conflicts and inflame passions.

The Igbo apex socio-cultural body however condemned vehemently, the activities of herdsmen instigating crises in the land through the invasion of farmlands, vandalism, rape, and murders.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo tasked the Northern leaders to work for a return to the lawful herdsmen with whom our communities have interacted in various Hausa settlements across the South East over many decades.

Ohanaeze, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo is concerned about recent developments in Nigeria around the activities of herdsmen of Fulani stock said to be foreigners from outside Nigeria who have caused damage across the land and elicited negative reactions. While that is disturbing enough, we are distressed by the tenor of conversations on the subject pushed by persons who should otherwise do better.

“Many are framing it as a North versus South conflict. This is not correct. Ohanaeze Ndigbo calls on the elite of Northern and Southern Nigeria to desist from inflammatory rhetoric and the canvassing of narratives that could stoke conflict and inflame passions. No one would gain from the consequences of such idle chatter but Nigeria will lose big time.

“Specifically, we assert that no one in the South, not the least the South East, has issued quit orders to all Northerners or will ask Northerners to leave. Ndigbo are nation builders and not destroyers.

“Rather, what has happened in both the South West, the South South, South East and the Middle Belt of Nigeria are plaintive cries of citizens and their governments for lawless inhabitants of our forests and lands to stop criminality? Surely, no upright and well-meaning citizens will dispute the imperative of having law-abiding citizens who pursue their vocations without doing harm to others.

“We declare that our people demand the observance of due process by all groups. We deplore rash and unlawful retaliatory actions. We condemn even more the activities of herdsmen instigating crises in the land through the invasion of farmlands, vandalism, rape, and murders.

“We call on Northern leaders to enjoin a return to the lawful herdsmen with whom our communities have interacted in various Hausa settlements across the South East over many decades. It is the same call that citizens are making in the South West, South-South and the North-Central.

“Leaders must restrain themselves from sharing the wrong narratives and perspectives. No one is driving Northerners away from the South. Ohanaeze calls on Northern leaders to join in the call against lawlessness and impunity by the few who do not represent the majority”.

​BREAKING: Buhari’s extension of IGP’s tenure unlawful ― Adegboruwa, SAN

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has said that the extension of the tenure of Inspector General of Police, Muhammad Adamu by President Muhammadu Buhari is an unlawful act

Speaking with Vanguard, Adegboruwa said that the implication of Buhari’s action is that Nigeria presently does not have Inspector General of Police.

“The Federal Republic of Nigeria presently has no IGP properly so recognized by law,” he said.

Stating the position of the law on the issue, he stated, “When the tenure of a serving IGP expires on the ground of completing the mandatory 35 years of service, he cannot be asked to continue in office beyond his mandatory tenure. An IGP who has served the mandatory years of service ceases to be a member of the Nigeria Police Force from the date of his completion of service. In this case, Mr Adamu ceases to be a member of the NPF from February 2, 2021.

“Under and by virtue of section 215(1)(a) of the Constitution and section 7(3) of the Police Act, 2020, only a SERVING member of the Nigeria Police Force can be appointed as IGP. Mr Adamu having completed his mandatory years of service in February 2, 2021, he cannot be appointed as IGP, from outside the force.

“The President lacks the power to reabsorb a retired police officer back into the NPF through a purported tenure extension, which is not contemplated by law. The President cannot appoint an IGP or extend the tenure of a retired IGP without the advice of the Nigeria Police Council, which in this case has not met to consider, let alone approve such tenure extension.”

​DSS warns against ethnic, religious violence in Lagos, Sokoto, Kaduna, Rivers, Oyo, S-East, others

The Department of State Services, DSS, has again warned against plans by some persons and groups to exploit some fault lines to cause ethno-religious violence in some parts of the country.

The Public Relations Officer of the Service, Dr Peter Afunanya, who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja yesterday, listed Lagos, Oyo, Sokoto, Kaduna, Kano, Rivers, Plateau and states in the South East as areas being targeted.

DSS had on January 11, issued an alert of plans by some elements working with external forces to incite religious violence across the country.

The alert also listed the above states as those being targeted.

It said the plan was to cause inter-religious conflicts by the plotters who would use their foot soldiers to attack some worship centres, religious leaders, personalities, as well as key and vulnerable points, adding that the latest developments on the alert indicated desperate efforts by these groups to subvert public order.

Afunanya said those behind the plot have continued to resort to inciting unguarded and divisive statements, plotting also to pit citizens against one another to apparently inflame the embers of tribal and religious discords.

“For the umpteenth time, the Service strongly warns these elements to desist forthwith from their (planned) nefarious acts or face the full wrath of the law.

“The DSS will, in collaboration with other security and law enforcement agencies take necessary steps to ensure the safety of lives and property of the citizenry,” he said.

Meanwhile, reacting to the DSS’ alarm yesterday, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, warned the Federal Government, particularly law enforcement agencies to guard against politicisation of security issues, saying such acts could undermine the safety of lives and properties.

In a statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to CAN President, Pastor Bayo Oladeji, in Abuja, Can said: “Whenever the DSS raises any alarm over the security of the country, ordinarily, one should take them seriously because of the fact that their primary responsibility includes but not limited to intelligence gathering.

“We recall that the agency raised similar alarm recently. But how many suspects have been arrested, detained and arraigned over the last ones?

“All the killings in the country have been happening without bringing those responsible to book. Are they not aware? People are being kidnapped on the highways and in their residences without any arrest. We wonder why?

“Those shedding the innocent blood and those involved in the crime of kidnapping for ransom are they spirits?

“The Christian Association of Nigeria calls on those responsible for the security of lives and property of the people to wake up to their constitutional responsibilities.

“The least that is expected of any responsible government is the protection of lives and property of the citizens which our governments have not been able to do.

“Sometimes, some suspects will be paraded but their prosecutions remain unknown. This doesn’t speak well of us as a nation.

“Terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminals are not invincible and until they are being apprehended and successfully prosecuted, people will no longer have respect for those in charge of the security.

“Imagine the ongoing controversy trailing the tenure of the Inspector General of Police. Is that good for the country when we all know the aftermath of prolonging the tenure of the immediate past Service Chiefs?

“Our government should stop politicising our security. It is high time the media stood up and asked our governments serious questions through front page comments and editorial.”

On its own, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, under the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has asked the DSS, and other security agencies to find and prosecute those behind the plot to incite a nationwide ethno-religious violence.

In a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Alhaji Ibrahim Aselemi in Abuja, NSCIA said: “The leadership of the NSCIA is worried about the security alert issued by the DSS, National Headquarters Abuja, made available by its PRO, Dr. Peter Afunanya.

“We fervently appeal to these faceless persons planning to subvert the public peace and order in the country to sheathe their swords.

“On our part, we shall continue to advocate for respect for the religious beliefs of all and peaceful religious coexistence in Nigeria. We sincerely believe that we are greater together.

“We, hereby, call on the security agencies, especially the DSS to fish out these enemies of the state and prosecute them This is because it is only when criminal elements are punished that we can effectively give potency to deterrence.

“We call on Nigerians to help the security agencies with credible information on criminals and their hideouts.”

We cannot leave security matters to security agencies alone. If you see something, say something.”