TODAY

GOOD MORNING NIGERIANS AND WELCOME TO YOUR EVER DEPENDABLE PEOPLE’S SECURITY MONITOR.

OUR CARDINAL RESPONSIBILITY ON THIS PROGRAMME IS TO
SERVE AS A PLATFORM FOR ALL NIGERIANS TO RAISE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW BEST
TO IMPROVE THE NATION’S SECURITY SYSTEM.ESPECIALLY AS IT CONCERNS OUR
VARIOUS SECURITY ACTORS AND THEIR AGENCIES IN COLLABORATION WITH THE
REST OF NIGERIANS.

NO DOUBT WE ARE IN A VERY CHALLENGING SITUATION AS
INSECURITY APPEARS TO HAVE WEIGHED US DOWN AND THIS EXPLAINS WHY WE
ALL SHOULD TAKE IT AS A POINT OF DUTY TO JOIN HANDS TOGETHER WITH ALL
OUR SECURITY OPERATIVES TO HELP RESCUE NIGERIA FROM THE CLAWS OF
INSECURITY AGENTS. WE CAN’T JUST CONTINUE WITH THE OBVIOUS ENDLESS
BLOOD LETTING.

I AM ISIAKA MUSTAPHA AND I SHALL BE DIRECTING THE AFFAIRS OF THIS
PROGRAMME FOR THE NEXT ONE HOUR
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LETS TAKE A SHORT BREAK, PLEASE STAY TUNED WE SHALL RETURN SOON
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WELCOME BACK PLEASE DON’T FORGET THAT PEOPLE’S SECURITY MONITOR IS
COMING YOUR WAY FROM CITIZEN FM 93.7 ON THE FOURTH FLOOR OF LABOUR
HOUSE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT OF ABUJA…NIGERIA’S SEAT OF POWER

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WE TAKE A SHORT BREAK

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SECURITY NEWS BITS

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The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, said its troops had executed a series of air interdiction operations targeting terrorist positions located deep within the Alawa Forest in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

Air Commodore Olusola F. Akinboyewa, Director, Public Relations and Information, Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, in a statement said the aim was to support power restoration efforts in Kaduna and other northwestern states.

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The Nigerian Army has declared 44 soldiers posted to fight Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists in Borno State wanted for desertion.

The soldiers were declared as deserters bound to face dire consequences if found.

The Army authorities have also frozen the bank accounts of the affected personnel.

According to reports, the affected soldiers were deployed from various units and formations to 403 Amphibious Brigade in Baga community, Borno State.

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The Osun Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has arrested a Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) truck driver, Afeez Adegbola, on allegations of diverting 10,000 litres of petrol intended for the company.

The arrest of the suspect, Adebola and his two motorboys, was disclosed by the Osun NSCDC Commandant, Igbalawole Sotiyo during a public parade in Osogbo on Saturday.

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The operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Ekiti State Command have arrested a suspected illegal farmer operating a cannabis plantation on more than ten hectares of land in the state.

The NSCDC disclosed that the illegal farm was located along the Ilawe/Ikere and Igbara-Odo axis of the state and spread to neighbouring towns.

The cannabis farm was discovered by the operatives of the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) attached to the Ekiti NSCDC command.

AND THAT ENDS SECURITY NEWS BITS

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The recent declaration of war on beggars in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, by the minister, Nyesom Wike, is drawing mixed reactions.

The minister spoke during the official commencement of the access road construction from Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway by N16 to Judges Quarters in Katampe District, Abuja, stating that the move was necessary over concerns that Abuja was turning into a beggars’ city.

Findings revealed that this is not the first war against beggars by the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA.

In April 2023, the FCTA sent back 217 street beggars, street boys and vagabonds to their home states.

At the time, the FCTA was reported saying they were to be returned mostly to Katsina, Kaduna, Niger, Jigawa, Kano, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi states.

A year before then, more than 150 beggars, said to be mainly women, children and aged men, were arrested at various locations in the city by the FCTA’s enforcement squad.

Reacting to Wike’s threat, the FCT chapter of the African Action Congress, AAC, condemned in strong terms the order to arrest helpless Nigerians in the FCT, blaming President Bola Tinubu’s government and economic policies that have brought untold hardship to the average Nigerian.

The AAC FCT Chairman, Agena Robert Ande, in a statement, said the order of the FCT administration shows that the government is not in tune with the economic realities facing Nigerians.

Similarly, the Socio-Economic Rights Accountability Project, SERAP, threatened a lawsuit against the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, if he did not withdraw the ultimatum he issued to beggars in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

In a post on its official X handle, SERAP stated that no one should be criminalised for their socio-economic status, urging the minister to rather provide opportunities to help the beggars rebuild their lives.

The group said it would not hesitate to file a lawsuit against the minister if he implemented the threat.

Furthermore, a Non-Governmental Organization, Long Term Solution for Destitute Initiative urged President Bola Tinubu to warn the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Neysom Wike over the ultimatum handed over to beggars to vacate the streets of Abuja,

Reacting to the ultimatum by the FCT minister to the beggars, the Arewa Youths for Peaceful Coexistence said the decision was not targeted at northerners.

In a statement, the group appealed to northern religious, political and traditional leaders to stop attacking the minister for taking a bold action to rid the FCT of miscreants.

The group said begging in Abuja, which cuts across all ethnic nationalities in the country, has become a big-time business that must not be encouraged, apart from the fact that it poses security threats to the nation’s capital.

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Nigerians have expressed outrage over the arraignment of 76 suspects, including 32 minors, before Justice Obiora Egwuatu at the Abuja division of the Federal High Court for participating in the #EndBadGovernance protests in August.

Civil society groups and rights activists slammed the police and the government over the matter.

The defendants, who have been in detention for three months, were arrested in the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja); as well as Kaduna, Gombe, Jos, Katsina, and Kano states.

They were arraigned by the Inspector General of Police on 10 counts bordering on treason, intent to destabilise Nigeria and inciting to mutiny by calling on the military to take over the government from President Bola Tinubu, among others.

The nationwide protest against economic hardship and poor governance happened from August 1 to 10, with demonstrators calling for reduced governance costs, the reinstatement of petrol subsidy, food security, and greater fiscal discipline.

The protest turned violent in some states, leading to incidents of looting and vandalism.

Among the 76 defendants arraigned on Friday, 32 of them were minors between the ages of 14 and 17.

The minors, who looked unkempt and malnourished, were seen scrambling for water and biscuits in video clips that went viral on social media on Friday.

As proceedings commenced, the visibly unwell children were called to the dock to enter their pleas.

But in a sudden turn of events, four of the children suddenly collapsed and were rushed out of the courtroom, forcing the presiding judge to suspend the session until order was restored.

The minors wriggled in pain and made a screeching sound on the floor as both lawyers and prison officials hurriedly carried them up, holding their hands and legs. They were then taken out of the courtroom, as they couldn’t stand on their feet.

Watching with a bewildered look of pity and irritation, Justice Egwuatu abruptly rose and went into his chambers.

The prosecution proceeded to ask the court to strike out the names of the sick defendants and discharge them pending when they get well to be brought back to the court to answer to their charges.

The defense counsel, Marshall Abubakar, however, asked the court to discharge and acquit them.

The prosecution, however, objected to the defence counsel’s submission, insisting that the defendants, who had been detained since August when they were arrested, were well catered for in the police cell where they had been kept.

He, however, asked the court to grant the defendants bail.

The court, on the submission of the prosecution, discharged the four sick defendants – Umar Yunusa, Usman Suraju, Musa Isiyaku and Abdul Ganiu – pending when they get well.

The court, however, refused to acquit them.

Justice Egwuatu declared that until they meet their bail terms, defendants who are 18 years and above should be remanded in the Kuje Custodial Centre while the minors (18 years and below) be remanded in the Borstal Centre in Gwagwalada.

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Nigerians condemned the undue detention and arraignment of the defendants, describing them as a violation of human rights and an indication of the government’s approach to civil dissent.

The charges brought against them read in part, “That between July 31, 2024, and August 4, 2024, at the Abuja FCT and Kano Metropolis, within the jurisdiction of this court, while acting in concert and with intent to destabilise Nigeria, conspired together to commit felony to wit: treason.”

Count two, “That within the jurisdiction of this court, while acting in concert and with intent to destabilise Nigeria conspired together to commit felony to wit: inciting to mutiny, thereby committing an offence.

Count three, “That between July 31, 2024 and August 10, 2024, in Abuja FCT, Kaduna, Kano and Gombe, within the jurisdiction of this court, while acting in concert with Andrew Martin Wynne (aka Andrew Povich) a British citizen, with intent to destabilise Nigeria, levies war against the state in order to intimidate or overawe the president, by attacking and injuring police officers and burning police stations, High Court Complex, NCC Complex, Kano Printing Press, Government House Kano, Kaduna Investment and Promotions Agency office, NURTW office and several other buildings and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 410 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN 2004”.

The FG also accused them of having the plan to destabilise Nigeria by calling on the military to take over government from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and by chanting, ‘Tinubu most go,’ ‘It is military we want’, while rioting and disturbing public peace.

Justice Egwuatu, however, granted the protesters bail in the total sum of N760m with two sureties in like sum.

The judge further held that one of the sureties must be a level 15 civil servant and the other a parent to the defendants.

He also ordered that the sureties make available to the court a means of identification, letter of last promotion, letter of appointment, means of Identification and a verified address.

Justice Egwuatu said, “The defendants are granted bail in the sum of N10m each with two sureties in like sum.

Reacting, the Nigerian Bar Association said subjecting minors to such treatment not only violates domestic and international legal protections, but also paints Nigeria in a negative light on the global stage.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Isiaka Olagunju, condemned the arraignment.

He said the law permits children to be arraigned in a family court rather than a Federal High Court, adding that justice administration was clearly stated in the Child Rights Act.

According to him, keeping the children in detention for more than 48 hours and their eventual arraignment at a Federal High Court was a gross violation of the provision of the Act and the entire constitution.

Another lawyer, Festus Ogun, said it was “shameful” that Nigerian authorities charged “poor, homeless, malnourished and out-of-school children” to court for participating in #EndBadGovernance protest.

He argued that the persecution of children by the Federal Government was unacceptable and constituted a gross violation of human rights.

Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, described the arrest and detention of the minors as a violation of their fundamental human rights.

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Meanwhile immense condemnation has continued to trail the arraignment of the minors in court.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said the detention and prosecution of the minors had exposed the inhuman nature of the Tinubu administration.

Atiku, in a statement issued by his media team in Abuja, lamented that the pitiable sight of the children in the courtroom was reminiscent of the infamous Nazi concentration camp.

The Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election also noted that it was an “utter violation” of Section 11 of the Child’s Rights Act, which guarantees that no child should be subjected to physical, mental, or emotional injury as well as torture and inhumane punishment.

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, also expressed dismay over the treatment of the minors.

The lawmaker representing Niger East (APC), Senator Sani Musa, called on the IG to investigate the inhumane detention and prosecution of the protesters.

Musa, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, urged the NJC to probe the decision of the judge who presided over their case.

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Break

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Meanwhile President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday, vowed to bring to book any public official found liable in the prosecution of the minors and other suspects involved in the August #Endbadgovernance protests.

Tinubu directed the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to ensure the immediate release of all minors being prosecuted over the #Endbadgovernance protests in different parts of the country.

The president also asked the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to reunite the detained minors with their families.

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QUESTIONNAIRE

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