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Eid-el Kabir: CP assures Ekiti residents of adequate security
The Commissioner of Police in Ekiti, Mr Akinwale Adeniran, said the command had taken measures to beef up security in the state to ensure a hitch-free celebration of this year’s Eid-el kabir celebration.
This is contained in a statement issued by the command’s Spokesman, DSP Sunday Abutu, in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday.
Adeniran congratulated the Muslim faithful on the celebration and admonished them to use the period to pray for the peace and progress of the country.
He directed the Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Heads of Tactical and Intelligence Units to strategically beef up security in their areas of responsibility.
He further directed them to ensure the deployment of adequate operatives to all the strategic points and places of celebration across the state.
The state police boss warned the officers and men “to discharge their duties with professionalism, legality, firmness and respect for the rights of citizens.”
He also implored the public to cooperate with the police and other security agencies detailed to provide security in different parts pf the state during and after the celebration.
He appealed to parents and guardians to warn their children and wards to shun any acts that could defeat the essence of the celebration or alter the peaceful atmosphere currently enjoyed in the state.
According to him, anybody caught threatening the peace and security would be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.
He urged the residents to be security conscious, vigilant and report any untoward incident or happening observed in their locality to the nearest police station or call 08062335577.
By Titus Atondu, Makurdi
Benue State Go Governor Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyicenth Alia has disclosed that a commission of enquiry will be set up by the state government to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the violent protest that took place in Ukum local government of the state.
Alia made the disclosure on Thursday night during a live broadcast on the mayhem that occured in Ukum local government area, reiterated his administration’s unwavering commitment to the safety of all residents of the state.
He vowed not to sit back and allow anyone or a group of persons to frustrate the peace of the State and destabilize government activities.
The governor sympathized with victims of the attack, said government was intensifying efforts in collaborating with security agencies to bring the perpetrators of the violent and criminal acts to justice as well as work on preventive measures to ensure such incident does not reoccur.
Governor revealed that combined security agents had raided the hidout of bandits in Ukum and subsequently neutralized two bandits, recovered seven motorcycle, two English pistols, a Toyota camry, and commercial tricycle and lots of charms.
He explained that as a reprisal, some bandits hit some soft target and killed six civilians at Ayati in Ukum, believing that the members of Ayati community were responsible for giving information on their operations and hidouts.
The governor further explained that the action led to an initial protest of anger and frustration by family members and women regarding the killings of their loved ones on the Ayati-Sai road down to Sankera but Regretted that the peaceful protests was hijacked by bandits and miscreants who had carefully planned to undertake and unleash mayhem on businesses and peace-loving people of Sankera.
He appealed to the people of Sankera and its environs to remain calm and exercise restraint, emphasized that his administration for the last time, extends hands of fellowship to all youths who have chosen to reside in the forests and continually launch attacks on innocent citizens.
He stressed that his government was running out of patience and shall no longer guarantee the olive leaf branch extended to them.
Nigerian NewsDirect reports that representative of Kastina-Ala, Ukum, Logo federal constituency, Solomon Wombo who was at the broadcast, thanked governor Alia for the steps taken to restore calm in the area promising to collaborate with government to find lasting solution to the insecurity in the constituency.
By Atondu Titus
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has assured the people of Ukum Local Government Area in the Sankera axis that normalcy will soon return to the area, following an incident involving criminal elements on Wednesday.
The Governor, represented by his deputy, Barr. Dr. Sam Ode, condemned the actions as “barbaric” and reiterated that the government will not tolerate anything less than peace and security of lives and properties.
“We are committed to ensuring that peace and normalcy return to this area. The curfew imposed on the area from 6pm to 6am daily will remain in place until further notice,” Governor Alia said.
The Police Commissioner, Mr. Hassan Steve Yabanet, also reassured residents that normalcy has returned to the area, saying, “We are on top of the situation.”
The Governor’s visit to Ukum was seen as a move to show solidarity with the affected communities and to reiterate the government’s commitment to ensuring that justice is served. During the tour, the Governor’s delegation visited several locations, including Ukum Local Government Secretariat, INEC office, Government College Zaki Biam, Benue State High Court, Benue Links Park, St Paul Nursery Primary and Secondary School, Magistrate.
Odu’a Investment Company Ltd., (OICL) and the Nigerian Philanthropy Office have concluded plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide grants to spur industrialisation in the South-West Zone.
Group Chairman, Odua Investment Company Ltd., Chief Bimbo Ashiru, confirmed this in an interview on Thursday in Lagos.
Ashiru spoke on the sidelines of a meeting between the Board/Management of OICL and the Nigerian Philanthropy Office team, under the office of the Vice President, to discuss areas of partnership and collaboration between the duo.
He said the project, designed to cater for between 500 and 1,000 persons, was geared towards growing businesses, alleviating poverty, promoting agriculture and education.
According to him, the parties will sign the MoU on the partnership tentatively by July 15 to guarantee OICL take ownership of the project in the South-West Zone.
Ashiru said that the amount of the fund for the grant was still under discussion and would be announced when finalised.
The chairman explained that the South-West Governors, who are proprietors of Odu’a Investment, are involved in the project, while OICL was the initiative’s flagship company.
“The collaboration between the parties would spread across several areas, but particularly, to support businesses of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Agriculture and Education that will lead to industrialisation.
“We have so many companies, banks, that are partners too on the project, but Odu’a is the flagship for the South-West Zone, while there are other companies for the South-East and the North.
“MSMEs are the drivers of any economy in the world; they are about 90 per cent, while the multinationals are just about 10 per cent.
“They create about 90 per cent of jobs across the world, but have problems with funding; this partnership is geared towards addressing the problem and alleviating poverty,” he said.
According to Ashiru, if the Government focuses on such empowerment, it will reduce the level of poverty and create more jobs.
He expressed the willingness of the parties to ensure that everybody that was qualified benefited from the initiative, hence, the ongoing fine tuning of the MoU before finally signing.
Ashiru said, “We will ensure that people that are qualified get the fund and the right calibre of people are put at the helm of affairs of the project.
“That is why the Government is not handling it, so that people with vested interest will not hijack it.
“The most important thing in the area of Philanthropy is to have direct impact and be sustainable, and that we will ensure.
Benue Govt to investigate Ukum protest, sets up commission of enquiry
Ogun Customs command generates N12.8bn in six months
