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Train Attack: Senators in hopeless lamentations, blame failure of government

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***Renew call for state police

Lawmakers at plenary on Tuesday expressed anger over the new wave of insecurity that has shifted from the usual highway attacks to Airport and railway with privileged Nigerians as targets.

They blamed the new dimensions on failure of leadership on the part of the government at national level and in Kaduna State that has now become the new theater.
They spoke against the backdrop of the attack on the Kaduna train bound conveying about 970 passengers in which more than 50 were killed, while others sustained various degrees of injuries, as some were also abducted

In the late hours of Monday bandits planted explosives on the train track and demobilised it around Kateri and Rijana by 8pm.

Both the Kaduna State government and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) had since confirmed the attack and evacuation of passengers.

The NRC has since suspended train services between Abuja and Kaduna until further notice following the attack by bandits. 

The attack was coming barely two days after suspected bandits attempted to attack the Kaduna airport where they prevented the plane from taking off

These were happening about seven months after bandits attacked the Nigerian Defence College, the Nigerian Defence College in the state, killing two officers and abducting one. 
A Kaduna senator, Suleiman Kwari, had called on the National Assembly and the federal government to revisit talks of state police.
The National Assembly had ignored the clamour for state police by some governors and many other Nigerians in the Constitution amendment conducted last month. 

The lawmaker representing Kaduna North senatorial district, made the call during plenary on Tuesday as the Senate deliberated a motion on Monday’s train attack. 

“We had live chats with people that were caught in the unfortunate incident and was really scary.

“A woman with a baby in her arm in the ill fated train was calling for mercy that she had an aged mother by her side and was pleading that she came only for medical attention she was pleading for mercy instead of mercy she had her head shattered right before other travellers.

“Fortunately some of the military personnel had to induct some people on the act of crawling that was what saved the situation, many of them crawled from the VIP coaches to the economy coaches which helped in reducing the casualty. “Unfortunately the drones and other advanced technologies that have been advocated for have not been acquired by the government.

He said federal police, policing the roads and the forests is something that cannot stand, hence he renewed call for State police.

In his contribution, Mr Kwari who described the incident as pathetic, said state police would make the security of lives and properties easier. 
“I think we need to look again, more closely to the call for state police because unless this is done, having a federal police policing our bushes and our roads is something that cannot stand,” he said. 

While he lamented the delay in response time by the military, he commended them for “the last-minute intervention.”
Another Kaduna senator, Uba Sani, had raised a point of order on “the continuing attacks on Communities and public facilities in Kaduna State.”

In his motion, he said terrorists have in recent times stepped up attacks on some communities and public facilities in Kaduna State. 
The lawmaker narrated how the incident took place,
“The latest attacks took place in some communities in Giwa Local Government, namely Angwan Sarki Yahya, Tashar Shari, Bare-Bari, Tsaunin Natal, Dillalai, Durumi and Jatin Kanwa, all on Yakawada Ward. 
“Other places affected include Kaya community, Mai kyauro and Fatika where over 50 people were killed and over 100 kidnapped. 
“Not done with their devilish acts, they made an attempt to penetrate the Kaduna International Airport. 
“Although the attack was foiled by vigilant security operatives, one person lost his life. When people were trying to come to grips with a week-long wanton destruction of lives and property, the terrorists struck again.”

While the lawmaker complained that the attacks are aimed at instilling fear in the people and destroying economies, he questioned the strategies and tactics being adopted by security forces. 
He also said the advocacy for creation of state police would bring law enforcement closer to the people. 
“Effective gathering of intelligence and sustained security operations at the local level will make life uncomfortable for terrorists.”
On his part, Benue senator, Gabriel Suswam, blamed the recurring attacks on the failure of the leadership of the state. 
He wondered why the Kaduna State government has done very little to stop the attacks and called on the leadership of the federal government to “address the issue.”
Like his colleague, Danjuma La’ah (APC, Kaduna Central) asked the state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to speak up and call for help if he is overwhelmed.
After a lengthy debate which saw senators expressing anger, frustration and fear, the Senate called on the Army and Airforce to, as a matter of urgency, bombard terrorist enclaves with a view to restoring peace and stability in the country.
The Senate also called on the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant government agencies to assist the affected communities with relief materials.
While they urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movements to security operatives, the lawmakers asked the Military to put special focus on the vicinity of Nigerian Airports especially the Abuja Airport. 
They also urged the relevant agencies of the government to step up their information gathering mechanism to forestall this kind of incident. 
For the umpteenth time they observed another minute silence to mourn victims of the Monday night terror attack on Kaduna bound train.

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Crime

Police neutralize 2 suspected kidnappers in Kogi

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***CP restates commitment to safety of lives, property in Kogi

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.

The Nigeria Police, Kogi State Command has confirmed the killing of two suspected kidnappers during a gun duel in Ankumi forest, near Obajana in Lokoja Local Government Area of the state.

A statement from SP William Ovye Aya, the Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO) on Tuesday in Lokoja said that the two suspected kidnappers were fatally wounded in an exchange of fire with the Police and died as they were being taken to the hospital.

Aya said the operation which was in continuation of the ongoing onslaught against banditry, kidnapping and other heinous crime in Kogi State also led to the recovery of one AK 47 Rifle with two magazines and two live Ammunition.

He explained that the operation was consequent upon a tip off received on Monday, May 27 at about 11:30hrs, that some armed hoodlums numbering about three were sighted inside Ankumi forest.

“Immediately the Divisional Police Officer of Obajana Division, CSP Oguche Richard, mobilized his patrol team in collaboration with the Fulani Vigilantes and moved to the area at about 14:30hrs”, he said.

According to the PPRO, on sighting the team, the hoodlums opened fire on them, attracting corresponding response from the team resulting in a gun duel that lasted a while.

Aya said, “Due to the superior firepower of the Police team, two of the hoodlums were fatally wounded while the other escaped with bullet wounds.

“Items recovered from the scene include, one AK 47 rifle with two magazines and two rounds of live Ammunition. Effort is on going to trail and apprehend the fleeing suspect.”

The Command’s Spokesman further told newsmen that the suspects were confirmed dead in a hospital at Obajana and their bodies were brought to the command headquarters in Lokoja.

He said that the bodies were deposited at the Federal University Teaching Hospital morgue in Lokoja.

Aya further said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Bethrand C. Onuoha, commended the officers for their unwavering commitment and dedication in sustaining the tempo in the ongoing onslaught against crime and criminality.

The Commissioner, he said, also assured Kogi people that the Police “is ever determined to sustain the tempo, in synergy with other Security Agencies, in ensuring the safety of lives and property in the state.” (Ends)

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Crime

Gunmen waylay Dangote Cement bus, abduct scores of Workers In Edo

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An unspecified number of workers of Dangote Cement Company Plc, Okpella, Etsako West local government of Edo state have been abducted after unknown gunmen Wayland the staff bus

The unfortunate incident was said to have happened on Monday.

The workers were in a staff bus conveying them back to Okpella town after the close of work when they were intercepted and abducted by the gunmen.

An eyewitness confirmed to this online newspaper that the incident happened after the gunmen laid ambush for the workers after emerging from the bush and forcing the bus to a halt at gunpoint before taking their victims into the bush.
“They were in a Coaster bus coming to Okpella after work when they were kidnapped by gunmen. But, we don’t know the numbers of the workers that have been kidnapped,” the source added.

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Two security guards of Ajayi Crowther University in Police net over alleged rape

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The alleged rape of a female student of the Ajayi Crowther University by two security guards is not being treated with kids gloves as the authorities of the institution have commenced investigations

This was contained in a statement issued by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Olufemi John Atoyebi.

Atoyebi said, “Management of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo received with shock a report of an alleged rape of one of our female students last night, Thursday May 9, 2024 by two members of our vigilance group.

“The Management promptly handed over to the police, the two people alleged to have committed the crime while the university has set up its own internal panel of inquiry to investigate the allegation.

“The Management wishes to assure all stakeholders that ACU will not tolerate any act of misconduct capable of tarnishing its enviable image.

“Raising Godly intellectuals is our primary goal in ACU and we will not allow any act of misconduct capable of diverting our attention from our goal.

“Heavy penalty awaits anyone who is found culpable after our thorough investigation.

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