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Ex Senate President, David Mark, Lays-Off 120 Staff, Including His Son, Brother

Sen. David mark
Sen. David mark

The immediate past Senate President, David Mark is said to have shed off no fewer than 120 personal assistants and domestic workers, including his son and younger brother, following his loosing hold of power he wielded as Senate President.

Mark’s son, Babatunde Mark was his Special Assistant on Special Duties and Interior while his brother, Igoche Mark was his Personal Assistant (PA).

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under which platform he was elected, is now in minority whereas the former major opposition, All Progressives Congress (APC) controls the majority and therefore, the Presidency of the red chamber.

Information reaching Greenbarge Reporters showed that David Mark decided to dispose of the excess staff as a way of cutting costs of running his new, lowly office..

Mark led the Senate for eight years, a feat no legislator has achieved in the history of Nigeria.He was believed to have maintained as much as over 300 personal assistants and domestic workers.

However, things fell apart after PDP was booted out of power and the mantle of leadership was taken away from the retired soldier to Bukola Saraki; hence his decision to cut cost by disengaging some of his workers.

An insider hinted that some of his domestic workers were even been owed for several months before they were sacked.

“What is the essence of keeping them when he is no longer in power? What will an ordinary floor member of the Senate be doing with over 200 workers? The money is no longer coming so he had to cut his coat according to his cloth.

“To tell you how serious it is, his son, Tunde was also affected and his brother, Igoche as well. However, Igoche is still working closely with him”, he hinted.

Asked why he sacked his own son, the source said: “His son, Tunde is not an illiterate. He studied Biochemistry and immunology from the prestigious Kings College, London. He needs to start his own life since his father is no longer in power. He has since flown out of the country following his disengagement”.

“Sometimes in the past, hotels in Otukpo would be fully booked because of some persons who came from far and wide to meet with him. Now even hotel owners are complaining of low patronage,” the insider claimed.

Asked if the yearly Mark ‘D Ball basket ball competition will still hold, the insider said, “Igoche is the one in charge of that. But considering the expenses involved, I am not sure the event would hold this year.”

Mark, a former governor of Niger State under General Ibrahim Babangida and one time Minister for Communication was a pioneer member of the Peoples Democratic Party.

He has been in the senate since 1999 and had affirmed that he would not leave the party despite its defeat in the last general election. [myad]

 

Speaker Dogara Plays ‘Maradona’ In Rowdy Reps Session, Adjourns It To July 21

Yakubu Dogara
Yakubu Dogara

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara played a fast one on his colleagues today when he promptly adjourned the House plenary to July 21 amidst rowdy session that nearly resulted into physical fight amongst the two opposing members of All Progressives Congress (APC).

The rowdy session today was the continuation of the crisis that has since engulfed the lower chamber of the National Assembly over who occupied the position of principal officers among members of the majority APC.

The lawmakers at today plenary, were almost engaged in fisticuffs, even as the Speaker was held hostage on his seat for over an hour.

In the ensuing confusion which started immediately the plenary commenced, some lawmakers, believed to be opposed to the emergence of Dogara as the Speaker, attempted to hijack the mace, but were unsuccessful. The mace, a symbol of was subsequently smuggled into the inner office of the Speaker by security men.

In the confusion which lasted more than an hour, the pro-Speaker lawmakers were shouting, “Dogara, Dogara,” while those supporting the position of APC on the allocation of the position of the principal officers were shouting “on party supremacy we stand.”

However, supporters of the Speaker swiftly moved to form a ring around him even as he remained on his seat, occasionally consulting with some members while the confusion lasted.

While some lawmakers remained glued to their seats while the confusion lasted, others were on their feet, shuffling and shouting at one another.

It was gathered that the House was scheduled to decide on those to occupy the position of the principal officers during Thursday’s plenary.

The Speaker appealed for unity among members after order was restored after the over one hour confusion as he emphasized that Nigerians expect so much from the National Assembly.

He promptly adjourned the plenary to 21 July.

The leadership of APC had in a letter to Dogara, proposed Femi Gbajabiamila who was defeated by Dogara in the June 9 election, as house leader, Alhassan Doguwa, as the deputy house leader, Mohammed Monguno as chief whip and Pally Iriase as deputy chief whip.

Dogara however failed to read the letter during the plenary. It was not clear if the Speaker had intended to read the letter before the fracas that broke out in the House today.

Some lawmakers who are in support of the party’s position had walked out of the chamber before order was restored.

But some lawmakers, especially those who supported Dogara to emerge Speaker in defiance of the preference of APC had opposed the nomination from the party.

The North-central and the Southeast caucuses of APC had Wednesday rejected the zoning of the offices as proposed in the letter by the party national chairman.

The two caucuses had at a press conference in Abuja decried the exclusion of their zones from the principal positions of the house.

Ahman Pategi who spoke for the North-central APC caucus noted that the directive of the party to the leadership of the House to take necessary action on the purported choice made ‎by the party, was a clear usurpation of the powers of the zonal caucuses and their members as guaranteed by the constitution and the standing rules of the House of Representatives.

He added that the North-central caucus “believes that there should be fairness and equity in the selection of other principal positions of the House of Representatives following the emergence of both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.”

Also, Austin Chukwukere from Imo state, on behalf of the southeast caucus of the APC in the house, said if the southeast was not involved in the appointment of principal officers, it would not be able to serve the party. [myad]

Vice President Osinbajo Picks Hole In Nigeria’s Constitution On Principle Of Federal Character

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo
Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo

“In every successful system in the world, you start by placing people first in order of merit, then you have a percentage for affirmative action, you have a percentage for federal character. You don’t start by saying lets have federal character first, and then merit.”
These were the views of the Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yomi Osinbajo when he spoke today in Calabar, Cross River State, at the 10th Year Memorial Anniversary lecture of late Justice Peter Odo Effiong Bassey, which held at the University of Calabar International Conference Centre. The event, with the theme: “Social virtues in the Nigerian Renaissance,” was organized by the P. O. E Bassey Foundation.
Professor Osinbajo insisted that one of the reasons “why we have had a lot of difficulty in getting quality people into government is because we insist first on federal character before we insist on merit. We must start with merit and then go to federal character.”
He was disturbed by what he called misunderstanding of the Federal Character principle  contained in the Nigerian constitution over merit, which he said should not be the first rule.
Saying that the concept of federal character should be observed as an exception to the rule, the Vice President explained that the federal character has succeeded in breeding impunity in the way businesses are run in this country.
Professor Osinbajo said: “when somebody commits an offense, the rule of law kicks in and they face the consequence. The reason why we have the chaos in the past years is because there has been no consequence for wrongful conduct; people get away with anything,” the attitude which he said is now becoming cultural.
He called on Nigerians to respect the rule of law and that the “moral call we must make is that we must accept that at any time, the judgment can come very close to home.”
The Vice President spoke about hard work, integrity and social justice which he said are the other essential principles a country needs to prosper.
According to him, successful nations of the world were built on these sets of values.
“A nation can only advance if it’s values are clear and settled. It is by right behaviour, character and good virtues that a nation grows or develops.
“There is no society that has developed today, wherever that society may be that has not kept to some core values and those values are captured in the words -social virtues or righteousness. There is no nation in the world that has developed that can be considered great, considered successful that has not had to base its ideals and  governance on these principles.”
Vice President Osinbajo who said the late Justice P.O.E Bassey was a professional to the core and an epitome of integrity, commended his children for upholding his good name and virtues.
The Governor of Cross River State, Senator Ben Ayade congratulated the family of the late Justice for upholding his legacy and keeping his memory alive even as the daughter of the late Justice, Professor Ekanem Wokoma said the foundation promotes the law profession and education in general through the award of scholarships and building of libraries among other programmes and projects.
The guest speakers at the occasion, including former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke and former minister of education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, stressed the need for Nigerians to uphold the rule of law and imbibe positive core values in their daily affairs. They stressed the need for Justice and fairness for all.
Highlight of the event was the  unveiling by the wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, of the last book that was authored by the late Justice, titled: “The Nigeria Judiciary, the departing glory.” Foreword to the book was written by the Vice President, when he was Attorney-General of Lagos State.
Justice P. O. E. Bassey was the first High Court Judge of the then South Eastern State. He contributed immensely to the foundation for the Cross River State and Akwa Ibom State judiciaries. He died on 27 February 2005.  [myad]

N125 Billion Allegedly Spent On 2015 Polls Angers Election Stakeholders

Election in progress

Election stakeholders have condemned the N125 allegedly spent by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) on the recently concluded 2015 general polls.

The stakeholders who gathered in Abuja today to take a look at the conduct of the 2015 general elections in the country, called for a reduction in the cost of conducting election in the country henceforth due to the economic meltdown that the country is experiencing.

Speaking at a public presentation of the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) final report on the 2015 election, Samson Itodo, the head of Research, Policy and Advocacy  of the Youth Initiative for advocacy growth and advancement (YIAGA) said that although the INEC intends to make the report on the election funding public next week, election stakeholders are deeply concerned about the huge fund expended.

“We all know that election is a very expensive activity especially in a country like Nigeria that has a very high electoral demography and a vast population; however there is a need for us as a nation to cut down the cost of running elections”

“Nigeria as a country cannot continue spending that much on election, INEC have to devise means to cut down the cost

“The country cannot be procuring electoral equipments every time the country have to embark on election, it is frivolous

“INEC  spent huge amount of money for the recruitment of ad-hoc staffs for the election, that is quite understandable, I think Nigerians too should be able to make some sacrifices, we need to have volunteers that will assist INEC during elections, this will go a long way in cutting the cost of election in the country” he said.

He also advised President Muhammadu Buhari to consider the appointment of the next INEC Chairman as a matter of great importance.

“If there is anything that the President should be greatly concerned about at the moment, it is the appointment of a very credible person to head the INEC

“Buhari should not bring another character like Iwu or any person that will come and tarnish the good image that the outgoing Chairman, Attahiru Jega has laboured to provide, Nigerians need a person with high integrity to pilot the affairs of INEC in years to come,” he added.

The deputy country director of the Mac Arthur Foundation, Oladayo Olaide who also spoke at the session, expressed great concern about the future of elections in the country

The TMG Chairman, Ibrahim Zikirullahi who presented the report, advised INEC to improve on the technical aspects of its activities in future elections.

Cholera Outbreak Ravages Ebonyi, Claims 3 Today

Cholera patients

Cholera outbreak has hit Ebonyi state in South East Nigeria, resulting into the death of no fewer than three persons. This brings the number of death to 28 since the outbreak in the state since February this year.

The latest deaths were recorded in Ndiogbu Ndieze village in Izzi Local Government Area of the state, while 17 are hospitalized.

Those hospitalised are currently receiving treatment in Sudan United Mission Hospital and Iboko General Hospital in the local government.

The State Epidemiologist, Dr.Francis Onwe, and other officials of the state Ministry of Health, who visited the area today, distributed drugs including ORS, sanitizers, chlorine for water disinfection to the residents to control the epidemic.

Director of Public Health and Disease Control in the state, Dr. Christian Achi, had confirmed more deaths in Ikwo community, Ikwo Local Government Area of the state as a result of fresh outbreak of the disease in the area.

A stakeholder of Ndiogbu Ndieze village, Chief Austin Igwe Edeze, whose younger brother was among those that died following the outbreak, said that people who attended burial of a resident of the area came back and started vomiting and defecating uncontrollably.

“Nobody suspected that cholera was responsible for the frequent vomiting and defecation by the people that attended the burial ceremony.

“So before we noticed it was cholera, it was already late, as he was vomiting and stooling. We took him to the hospital and he died early in the morning. ‘We raised alarm to the Ministry of Health and the officials advised that we should quickly bury him to avoid the disease spreading to other people around which we obeyed.

“The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry sent a team who visited us for enlightenment on the prevention of the disease and donated some drugs after the lecture’’ he said.

While addressing the people on the outbreak of the disease in the area, the state Epidemiologist, Dr. Francis Onwe, said the state health officials were contacted by Chief Austin Igwe Edeze, whose younger brother was among those that died as a result of the epidemic. [myad]

 

Nigeria Drug Law Agency Nabs Alleged International Drug Baron In Anambra

Drug Baron

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) has arrested a suspected international drug kingpin, Mr. Chukwunwendu Sylvester Ikejiakwu aka Blessed. The agency discovered that three laboratories used for illegal production of methamphetamine were linked to the big-time drug baron.

According to the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade, the illegal drug factories were discovered in Anambra State South East Nigeria, adding that Sylvester is found to be the owner of the laboratories and that he is also the leader of an International Drug Trafficking Organisation (DTO) that recruits and sponsors drug couriers to China, Malaysia, Turkey and Italy.

He said that there were sufficient evidences to nail the suspect, whose arrest he described as the latest outstanding operational success recorded by the Agency, adding: “the Special Enforcement Team (SET) of the NDLEA has concluded a model investigation of an International Drug Trafficking Organisation (DTO). The Agency apprehended the suspected leader of a drug syndicate in his country home at Ozubulu after thirteen months of intense surveillance. Three additional clandestine laboratories that produce methamphetamine had been discovered in his home town in Anambra State.”

Giade said that based on intelligence report received on April 23, 2014, a high level covert operation commenced on the suspect Mr. Chukwunwendu Sylvester Ikejiakwu aka Blessed of Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State. “The 37 year old suspected drug kingpin was found to be deeply involved in Unlawful Exportation of illicit drugs, Unlawful Assembling as well as running of methamphetamine production laboratories in the Eastern part of Nigeria. He shuttles between his country home in Ozubulu, Nnewi and No. 2, St, James Close Ajao Estate Isolo Lagos where he resides in Lagos for his drug business.”

The Agency also discovered that Chukwunwendu Sylvester Ikejiakwu aka Blessed is the Group Managing Director of Blessed Group of Companies. He hides under the cover of motorcycle parts business in running a drug cell that has international affiliation. His companies include Blessed Benita Global Limited, Ideal Motorcycle Company Limited and God’s Special Enterprise Limited. He specializes in recruiting and sponsoring drug couriers to China, Malaysia, Turkey and Italy. He also pays his couriers an average of $5,000 dollars per trip.

He runs the clandestine methamphetamine laboratories in his premises located in Akubuezem Nnewi, Anambra State.

It was gathered that he hired one Raphael who is a professional methamphetamine cook to work for him. He pays him five hundred thousand naira (N500,000) for his service and seven hundred thousand naira (N700,000) for the purchase of precursor chemicals per production cycle. The production capacity per cycle is 14kg.

“During a search on one of the laboratories at his Nnewi house, 2.615kg of liquid methamphetamine was found inside a yellow plastic jug and 250grammes of crystallized methamphetamine concealed in a white transparent polythene bag. Methamphetamine laboratory equipment seized from his house include the following; One (1) approximate volume measuring scale, Six (6) heating filters, Six giant conical flasks, industrial tubes and cups of  sodium hydroxide. Others are containers of iodine, Acetone, Hydrochloric Acid, weighing scale, masks and hand gloves among others” the NDLEA boss added.

Drug Baron House                                                         The House of Sylvester in Anambra

Also recovered from him are paraphernalia for drug concealment similar to the ones seized with drugs at the airports and land borders. They include an electronic weighing scale, assorted artifacts, laptop bags, motorcycle parts, air compressors, bus and truck mirrors, araldite and Atiso paint, processed brown envelopes and impulse sealer. Others are transparent packing nylon and carbon paper, tower foil paper, needles, threads, super glue and many more.

The suspect had two Nigeria International passports and one Ghana passport all bearing his photographs with different names. Details of his three passports are as follows; Ikechukwu Sylvester Chukwunwe, Nigeria passport with No: 04272646; Samson Odinakar: Nigeria passport No: A03472814 and Anthony Yeboah Frank, Ghana passport No: H2437245. Two other passports belonging to suspected drug couriers were also seized.

While surveillance on this criminal group was ongoing, the NDLEA intercepted 23kg of methamphetamine along Badagry expressway, Lagos en-route Cotonou. The seized drug was ultimately traced to Chukwunwendu Sylvester Ikejiakwu aka BLESSED. One AZUBIKE is now standing trial at the Federal High court Lagos in respect of that seizure. Some drug couriers sponsored by him have been arrested and are in prison custody in China, Turkey and Malaysia.

Some of the assets believed to be purchased with drug proceeds had been traced.

“We are investigating over sixteen bank accounts belonging to him in different banks. He has a Toyota Venza with vehicle registration No AAA 18 BP, a Peugeot 406 with vehicle registration No FST 587 AS; a Q5 Audi four runner with vehicle registration No EPE 546 CF and a Toyota Sienna SUV with vehicle registration No KRD 399 CG.

He allegedly bought a piece of land at No. 21A Joy Avenue, Ajao Estate in 2009 at the cost of twenty five million naira (N25,000,000) and rebuilt it in 2012 to three (3) story building at the cost of ninety million naira (N90,000,000) only. He also bought a property at No 2 St. James Close Ajao Estate for seventeen million naira (N17,000,000) and built a five (5) bedroom duplex on it at the cost of twenty five million naira (N25,000,000) only.

The illegal drug activities of the suspect have grave economic, social and political consequences on the nation. Methamphetamine production generates toxic waste that pollutes the environment and exposes workers, neighbours and guests to health hazards. Young and active youths are used as drug couriers to smuggle produced drugs outside the country. This is in addition to creating local drug addicts due to availability of the drugs at affordable cost.

Some of the drug couriers he sponsored are languishing in jail in China, Malaysia, Turkey and Italy.  Some are believed to have died in foreign prisons. Besides, Nigeria has suffered international embarrassment due to arrest of our nationals abroad

Notwithstanding the challenges, Giade said that the era of in-depth and analytical investigations have come to stay in the NDLEA. A solid foundation has been established and we shall continue to build on the existing structures. The Agency shall ensure that this case is diligently prosecuted and all assets traced to the suspect and his group is forfeited to the federal government.

He reassured members of the public that no drug baron shall go unpunished. At the most expedient time, more drug barons shall be exposed and prosecuted.  I wish to thank the officers that took part in the operation and urge them not to relent as every outstanding performance shall be rewarded. [myad]

 

Buhari Sets To Reorganize Aso Rock Security Personnel, Femi Adesina Announces

Adesina

Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Femi Adesina has given an indication of the move by the President to soon effect some reorganization of security personnel in the Aso Presidential Villa.

In a statement today to deny the rumours that personnel of the State Security Service have been expelled from the Presidential Villa, Adesina said however that “it is true that a reorganization of security at the Presidential Villa, which involves the realignment of personnel from various services is underway,”

According to him such reorganization would not amount to the expulsion of Directorate of State Service personnel from the Aso Rock premises.

“The changes being made are routine adjustments which are not unexpected in any dynamic environment from time to time.” [myad]

 

Jega Advocates Election Risk Management For African Countries

Jega announcing
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega has suggested the introduction of the Election Risk Management (ERM) in the election management of other African countries, against the backdrop of its successful use in the Nigeria’s 2015 general elections.
According to Jega, the ERM tool had afforded the electoral risk mapping to generate data and do analysis to support a range of activities targeted at either mitigating risks or taking proactive measures in ensuring the conduct of free, fair, credible and especially peaceful elections.
The INEC Chairman made the recommendation yesterday, at a workshop on ERM post-elections analysis organized in collaboration with International IDEA and African Union, held at INEC’s Electoral Institute in Abuja.
While encouraging the use of the ERM tool due to its effectiveness, Professor Jega expressed INEC’s readiness “to share experiences and willingness to participate in whatever role it can, in order to ensure utilization of its objective in expanding the organization of the tool in the African continent”.
The INEC Chairman was full of appreciation to the Embassy of the Netherlands, the African Union and International IDEA for their support towards deployment of the tool and also the successful conduct of the 2015 general elections.
He urged participants at the workshop to contribute ideas in terms of how to continually improve the framework and the methodology of preventing conflicts and violence in elections.
Earlier, the International IDEA Africa Programe representative, Professor Adebayo Olukoshi, paid tribute to the INEC Chairman for his exemplary leadership qualities and for “raising the face of the country.”
He urged that the Nigerian experience be used as a template to share with other African countries.
On his part, the representative of the Embassy of the Netherlands, Maurice Paulson, described the 2015 general elections as peaceful and commended the INEC Chairman for the success of the elections.
He emphasized the role of the deployment of the ERM tool in mitigating violence in the 2015 general elections, adding that his country will encourage its deployment in other African countries. [myad]

Professor Jega Bows Out End Of June, Promises To Clear Backlog Of Promotion

Prof Jega INEC
The legendary chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega is expected to retire at the end of June even as he vowed to clear the backlog of all promotions in the Commission before he leaves.
In what looked like a valedictory speech, the INEC Chairman said that the Commission under his watch had laid a good foundation on which subsequent Commissions could build.
Speaking at a gala night organized for outgoing Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) at the Le Meridien Hotel, Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, Professor Jega said he felt fulfilled with the outcome of the 2015 general elections, which he said was appreciated by most Nigerians.
Professor Jega was quick to acknowledge, however, that the brilliant performance of the Commission was as a result of the combined efforts of the management and staff who worked tirelessly and under difficult circumstances.
He attributed the success of the elections to the manner the management and staff worked and related like a family.
Though he said the task of electoral reforms had just begun, but said: “the foundation for good, continuous elections have been laid. Thank you for supporting me and working for the success we have achieved.”
Professor Jega prayed that God should bless the Commission’s workers who he said raised the bar by giving their best, adding: “may God give you the best in your life endeavours. May God Almighty continue to bless you.”
He said it was a privilege and honoured for him to lead people with tremendous integrity and intellectual ability.
Barrister Mike Igini who gave the vote of thanks at the occasion, said that Professor Jega delivered on his promise to conduct free, fair and credible elections.

“Looking back, your team, working with you, conducted credible and acceptable elections, though not perfect,” Igini noted.
Meanwhile Professor Jega has ruled out the prospect of any “automatic promotion for the INEC staff.
This was even as he said that states which did not create or activate Registration Area Centres (RACs) during the last general elections will be directed to account for their inability.
He warned about reverting to what obtained in the past where Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and Electoral Officers (EOs) returned election outcomes, insisting that by appointing Returning Officers outside INEC, “remarkable improvement was brought to the process.”
He observed that the strain on RECs and EOs during elections was too much and further saddling them with the task of returning election outcomes tended to make them prone to mistakes.
“The strain is too much. They are not superhuman and they will make mistakes.”
He expressed delight that most of the Returning Officers appointed by the Commission in the 2011 and 2015 General Elections were above board.
He observed that the retreat made a number of brilliant suggestions, which when taken on board by the next Commission, would remarkably improve the electoral process. [myad]

Uncle Of Former Justice Minister, Bello Adoke, Arrested For Alleged Kidnapping In Kogi

IGP Aranse

A 72-year-old Ahmed Adoke, an uncle to the former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, has been arrested by special security squad for allegedly involved in the spate of kidnappings that have recently taken over the state. He was among the 45 that were paraded to newsmen in Lokoja and accused of belonging to the gang of kidnappers  and armed robbery.
Also paraded was the All Progressive Congress, (APC) candidate  for the Okehi constituency in the state  House of Assembly in the last election, Idris Ozi Shuabu; and a cripple who were paraded for being an accessory to  the criminal gang terrorizing the people of the state.

Addressing newsmen in Lokoja, the Force Public Relations Officer, Commissioner of Police  Emmanuel Ojukwu, said the harvest of arrests was consequent on the Special Anti- Crime Task Force led by Chris Ezike, a Commissioner of Police of the Federal Special Anti- Robbery Squad assigned by the Inspector General (IG) to combat the menace of  kidnapping and armed robbery rocking the state.
“Following the upsurge in the activities of high profile kidnapping and  armed banditry along theAuchi-Okene-Lokoja, Ajaokuta-Lokoja, Kabba-Obajana highways, the  IG, Solomon Arase, directed the Special Anti-crime Task Force to relocate to Kogi State and quickly address the situation.
“The team, which  arrived Lokoja on May 27, 2015 and was supported by a strong force of 350 specialists police officers  drawn from across Nigeria swung into action in earnest with the arrests of over 45 criminals from mostly the central senatorial district of the state.
“In the past three weeks, the squad quickly design a template to contain the situation, identify all criminal syndicates, identify kidnappers hideout and carry out sporadic raids of their houses. Today, 45 persons have been arrested in connection to the criminal activities in the state during the operation,” Ojukwu disclosed.
The force PRO alleged  that  the high rates of criminality in the state was due to the engagement of youths in thuggery and political violence, sponsored by highly placed politicians who have over the years recycled the hoodlums.
He stressed that it was their  assistance in  procuring  illicit firearms that was responsible for criminality in the state
Ojukwu gave other  reasons behind the criminality as  Kogi State being the gateway to over nine  states which criss cross the state to Abuja, the nation capital; the intra and inter clan conflicts which resulted in avoidable violence and free use of firearms; the rising influence of hard drugs and other intoxicating substances; cultism; and the activities of awaiting trial and convicted criminals, who escaped from Koton/karfe prison during the two infamous jail breaks in 2013 and 2014.”
Ojukwu who said during the three weeks operation, one police officer, Benjamin Agada, from Enugu State was killed, urged the people of the state to embrace the N5 Million promised by the state governor, Capt. Idris Wada, as compensation for  anyone who gives useful information towards the smashing of  kidnappers gang.
Items recovered during the three weeks operation are two AK47; nine single and double barrel guns; gun manufacturing equipment; cutlasses and other weapons. [myad]

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