Nigeria’s membership of OIC is unconstitutional – HURIWA

A prominent civil Rights platform – HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) said it was illegal and unconstitutional for President Muhammadu Buhari to attend a summit exclusively convoked for Islamic nations under the aegis of organization of Islamic cooperation(OIC).

It is the contention of the Rights advocacy body that Nigeria’s presence in such a body offends sections 10 and 42 of the 1999 constitution since Nigeria is a secular or at least a multi-religious nation.

Besides, the Rights group noted that the fact that the former military dictator General Ibrahim Badamosi Babagida who suspended the then constitution and used military fiat to railroad the country into an organization that is fundamentally set up to protect, promote and nurture only pro-Islamic religious issues, makes it imperative that the action of enrolling Nigeria remains a nullity just as it is contradictory that Nigeria whose grund norm in section 10 specifically prohibits Nigeria from doing things that promotes one religion as a state religion would continue to disobey the constitution only because a military despot without regard for the constitution enrolled Nigeria as a member of OIC makes Nigeria a laughing stock before the international community. HURIWA says it was for constitutional purity that it is making the strategic intervention to demand for the right cause of action in line with the Constitution to be followed. 

“We condemn the continuous patronage, attendance and participation of Nigeria in OIC when Nigeria is either an Arab state nor is it a Moslem nation. Nigeria is made up of Moslems, Christians, Atheists and adherents of African traditional religions. We must preserve, promote and defend Mr. Constitution”.

“How does it feel that only about 24 hours ago, the current president took an oath of allegiance to defend Nigerian constitution, only for him to immediately turn his back on the same constitution which in section 10 rules out the possibility of elevating any religion as state religion even as section 42 speaks and indeed outlaws policies  that are discriminatory?”.

Section 10 says : “The Government of the Federation or a State shall  not adopt any religion as State Religion”.

Section 42 (1) states thus: “A citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person:-
(a) Be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any executive or administrative action of the government, to disabilities or restrictions to which citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions are not made subject; or (b) Be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any such executive or administrative action, any privilege or advantage that is not accorded to citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions."

HURIWA recalled that under its status, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations with a membership of 57 states spread over four continents. The Organization is the collective voice of the Muslim world. It endeavors to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world.

HURIWA recalled that the Organization was established upon a decision of the historical summit which took place in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco on 12th Rajab 1389 Hijra (25 September 1969) following what the Arabs regards rightly or wrongly as the criminal arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem.

Also, HURIWA recalled that the Organization has the singular honor to galvanize the Ummah into a unified body and have actively represented the Muslims by espousing all causes close to the hearts of over 1.5 billion Muslims of the world. The Organization has consultative and cooperative relations with the UN and other inter-governmental organizations to protect the vital interests of the Muslims and to work for the settlement of conflicts and disputes involving Member States. In safeguarding the true values of Islam and the Muslims, the organization has taken various steps to remove misperceptions and has strongly advocated elimination of discrimination against Muslims in all forms and manifestations."

HURIWA said whilst it may be the right thing for the organised body of Moslems in Nigeria like the Islamic Council of Nigeria to join such a religious body to protect the religious affairs of their members but at the same time abide by the Nigerian constitution, it remains illegal and unconstitutional for Nigeria as a SECULAR and Multi -Religious geopolitical entity to maintain such a membership relationship with a religious body. "It is like Nigeria becoming a member of the Roman Curia in the Vatican City". 

HURIWA said it is good enough that the Country maintain diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia as well as all other Islamic nations but it is illegal to identify Nigeria as either an Arab nation or an Islamic nation. 

HURIWA TO SERVICE CHIEFS-: LEAVE GOD OUT OF YOUR INCOMPETENCE PLEASE:

A prominent Civil Rights Advocacy group- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has expressed strong shock, consternation and disappointment at a statement credited to the Chief of Naval Staff Rear Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas to the effect that only God can police the Nigerian borders just as the group dismissed such tepid; heretical and discouraging remarks as the clearest sign of the gross incompetence and crass incapacity on the part of the service chiefs to enforce the minimum demands of their constitutional mandates. 

HURIWA said it will not accept that the statement credited to the Naval Chief represents that of all the service Chiefs given that for instance the Army Chief Lieutenant General Yusuf Tukur Buratai has on many occasions assured Nigerians that the Nigerian Army under his command possess the necessary capacity and competence to secure the territorial independence and security of Nigerians.

HURIWA in a statement by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director Miss Zainab Yusuf has asked President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to determine if the Naval Chief spoke the minds of the entire body and membership of the current National security and defence team and if that is the case it therefore follows that they should be immediately dismissed for the abysmal lack of the will power to do the needful to safeguard the territorial integrity of Nigeria which is the basic Constitutional demands of their duties as clearly spelt out in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999 (as amended). 

HURIWA said it was absolutely intolerable that a full-fledged Military General in whom Nigeria's tax payers resources have over the past thirty years or so been invested in carrying out varying degrees of professional trainings, retraining, capacity building and other institutional support services to upgrade their qualifications can therefore see that one of such a highly trained Generals that Nigeria has at the top most echelons of the military establishment is engaged in the double speak and the dramatization of crass incompetence hiding under some incomprehensible but certainly abominable theology of transferring the mandate of practically safeguarding the geographical and territorial sovereignty of Nigeria to the Supreme Being -God as if to say Nigeria is now a Theocracy.  Nigeria is and remains a federal Republic guided by the provisions of the constitution Of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999 of which made no mention of God as the Chief border security officer of Nigeria. 

Besides, the Rights group accused the service chief of running out of idea on what to do to retake the control of all of our national territory from all sorts of armed freelance hoodlums, bandits, kidnappers and Islamic terrorists all of whom have constituted the gravest threats to the Sovereignty of Nigeria and have put our national security on the line. 

HURIWA expressed utter consternation why a professional soldier will play the diversionary religious card of bringing God into the fray when in actual fact what has clearly manifested is that for four years the current Federal Government has remained unfortunately bereft of functional, effective, efficient and result -oriented strategic mechanisms for defending the territorial independence of Nigeria so constitutional democracy can be sustained over time. "By the way, if the Naval Chief is deficient in elementary religious knowledge may he be told that God is perfect and therefore wouldn't be associated with the complete display of incapacity by the Armed forces of Nigeria in securing the TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AND JURISDICTION of our nation State". 

HURIWA said that the greatest asset of any independent geopolitical entity is the ability of the Armed forces of such a Sovereign entity to defend, protect, nurture and promote the territorial security, integrity and safety of the Country and her people and the moment it becomes apparent that certain key security chiefs lack the necessary techniques, QUALITATIVE strategies and the will to execute the constitutional mandates imposed by law on their offices, such a person who must be deemed a failure would either be dismissed or if the person has some element of discipline and decency the best bet is to resign immediately after tendering profound apologies for the spectacular show of shame which is what his crass incompetence represents. 

HURIWA expressed further shock that such a hollow statement could be made by a serving four star General after the Security Chiefs had met with the President Muhammadu Buhari only for the fellow to have said only God can police the country’s border.

"May we therefore know why these men are sworn in and assigned the critical security responsibility of protecting Nigeria only for them to now outsource the job to the Supreme being in Heaven but still continued to enjoy take home salaries and other juicy pay packages? Was God ever mentioned in the Nigerian Constitution as the Guardian Angel of Nigeria's borders or was that a part of discussions at one of their seemingly ineffective security meetings with Buhari at the State House, Abuja, and why are the country’s security chiefs blaming the porous border for the rising insecurity in Nigeria when in the first instance their Constitutional job prescriptions says the Defence institutions are in place to safeguard the TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF NIGERIA? This is an unfathomable scandal and a slap on the faces of intelligent Nigerians". 

"To even read in the press that the security chiefs including; the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Abubakar Sadique.

Others are National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno; Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan- Ali, Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Abubakar, Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu and the Director General of Department for State Service (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi spent over two hours meeting with the president only to come out with this bunkum of an irrational remark is to say the least very embarrassing. "These men must stop playing on our collective psyche and intelligence because Nigerians are some of the most widely traveled human beings on earth and they know how professionally excellent armed security forces in civilized and developed climes go all out to defend their  borders. If China with such an extensive borders can defend her borders how much more such a small nation like Nigeria compared to China?" 

HURIWA has therefore reminded the President and his service chiefs that they must leave God alone and face their job which is clearly stated in Chapter 6. Part 3. Section 217 specifying the Establishment And Composition Of The Armed Force Of The Federation stating thus: "(1) There shall be an armed forces for the Federation which shall consist of an army, a navy, an Air Force and such other branches of the armed forces of the Federation as may be established by an Act of the National Assembly.

(2) The Federation shall, subject to an Act of the National Assembly made in that behalf equip and maintain the armed forces as may be considered adequate and effective for the purpose of

(a) defending Nigeria from external aggression;

(b) maintaining its territorial integrity and securing its borders from violation on land, sea, or air;

(c) suppressing insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order when called upon to do so by the President, but subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly; and

(d) performance such other functions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.

(3) The composition of the officer corps an other ranks of the armed forces of the Federation shall reflect the federal character of Nigeria."

HURIWA has therefore asked President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the National Assembly to investigate this anomalous and unusually cowardly statement to ascertain if indeed it is the stand of the entire service chiefs and not just that of the person that unleashed these embarrassing statements who is the Naval Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and if this is their consensus opinion they must be dismissed and or forced to apologize to Nigerians and resign forthwith. 

CRYING/DANCING THERESA MAY QUITS ....... BY Emmanuel Onwubiko

Few months back in faraway Nairobi, Kenya, the visiting premier of Britain Mrs. Theresa May was caught dancing to some African beats during a visit to that beautiful African Nation. Kenya is apparently a great tourists destination point for most European tourists. The late Princess Diana was a notable frequent visitor to the beautiful city of Nairobi. So when the Premier of Britain and indeed the second Woman PM of Great Britain took those amazing dance steps, she reminded most watchers of Africa about the exploits of the departed Princess Diana who glomourised charity and giving as a virtue. 

The dancing Theresa May was then in August 2018 paying a three-day trip to Africa which began in South Africa. Theresa May also danced in South Africa during her visit there. Theresa May also became a dancing queen somewhere in Manchester during her Conservative party's convention when she opened her speech by dancing to the legendary song titled "the dancing Queen" by the Iconic British singers- ABBA. Theresa May has a rich history of dances. It was at a dance that she met her husband. Her rise in politics can only be summed as dancing in the sun(apologies to Onyeka Onwenu, the Nigerian Music maestro). Theresa May danced twice whilst visiting Africa. Theresa danced at a party function recently too.

However, today, the then dancing Theresa May was captured on television broadcasting virtually shedding tears of political sorrow following a forced resignation from office as a result of her failure to get a good deal from the parliament for the British people most of whom had two years ago voted to quit the European Union.

She literally became the CRYING QUEEN overnight. 

It can then be said that in Theresa May are the quintessential qualities of man which are symbolised by the polarising opposites of crying and dancing. 

As I watched her pathetically sorrowful resignation broadcast on the British Broadcasting Corporation Television from my Garki Two Abuja office, I felt the urge to embark on a brief voyage of discovery on who truly is Theresa May. 

In my Journey of Imagination, I encounter Jeff Wallenteldt who did an entry on Theresa May as recorded in www.britannica.com . 

I consider this version of who Theresa May is as one of the finest in terms of objectivity and purity of intellect. 

The writer recorded that Theresa May, in full Theresa Mary May, née Theresa Mary Brasier, (born October 1, 1956, Eastbourne, Sussex, England), British politician who became the second woman prime minister of the United Kingdom in British history in July 2016 after replacing David Cameron as the leader of the Conservative Party.

The writer recorded that the only child of an Anglican minister, Theresa Brasier grew up in rural Oxfordshire. 

She then attended both state-run and private schools before matriculating at the University of Oxford, where she studied geography. 

At a dance at Oxford, another student, Benazir Bhutto, the future prime minister of Pakistan, introduced Brasier to Philip May, whom she married in 1980. 

Both she and her husband undertook careers in banking. She worked for the Bank of England before moving on to the Association for Payment Clearing Services (APACS), where she served as head of the European Affairs Unit and senior adviser on international affairs.

May as we were told began her political career in 1986 as councillor in the London borough of Merton, a position she held until 1994. 

After failing as a Conservative candidate for the House of Commons twice, May was elected to represent Maidenhead in 1997. So we can say that she danced into the House of parliament after two previous unsuccessful attempts. 

Quick on the dance floor as we have seen on many occasions, this lady reportedly  moved quickly from the back to the front bench, becoming shadow secretary of state for education and employment (1999–2001), shadow secretary of state for transport, local government, and the regions (2001–02), shadow secretary of state for the family (2004–05), shadow secretary of state for culture, media, and sport (2005), and shadow leader of the House of Commons (2005–09). 

In a meteoric rise in 2002 Theresa May became the first woman to chair the Conservative Party, and in that capacity she strove to increase the number of female Tory MPs and to modernize the party, famously saying it had come to be viewed as the “nasty party.” 

Even as she earned a reputation as a moralistic no-nonsense legislator and tough negotiator, May also gained attention for her stylish footwear.

Her Ascent To Power is reported  as follows: When Cameron became prime minister in 2010, May was named secretary of state for the home department. 

As the longest-serving home secretary in over a century, May advocated limiting immigration and was critical of the police. 

 When Cameron announced his imminent resignation after voters chose to depart the EU in the national referendum in June, that Theresa May emerged on the bigger stage.  But her greatest undoing is her failure to deliver an acceptable Brexit deal for the British people.

 Here is the full text of Mrs May's speech from Downing Street on Friday morning:

"Ever since I first stepped through the door behind me as Prime Minister, I have striven to make the UK a country that works not just for a privileged few but for everyone, and to honour the result of the EU referendum.

"Back in 2016 we gave the British people a choice. Against all predictions the British people voted to leave the EU. I feel as certain today as I did three years ago that in a democracy if you give people a choice you have a duty to implement what they decide. I have done my best to do that.

"I negotiated the terms of our exit and a new relationship with our closest neighbours that protects jobs, our security and our union. I have done everything I can to convince MPs to back that deal. Sadly I have not been able to do so. I tried three times.

"I believe it was right to persevere even when the odds against success seemed high. But it is now clear to me that it is in the best interests of the country for a new Prime Minister to lead that effort. So I am today announcing that I will resign as leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party on Friday, June 7, so that a successor can be chosen.

"I have agreed with the party chairman, and the chairman of the 1922 Committee, that the process for electing a new leader should begin in the following week.

"I have kept Her Majesty The Queen fully informed of my intentions and I will continue to serve as her Prime Minister until the process has concluded.

"It is and will always remain a matter of deep regret to me that I have not been able to deliver Brexit. It will be for my successor to seek a way forward that honours the result of the referendum. To succeed, he or she will have to find consensus in Parliament where I have not.

"Such a consensus can only be reached if those on all sides of the debate are willing to compromise.

"For many years, the great humanitarian Sir Nicholas Winton - who saved the lives of hundreds of children by arranging their evacuation from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia through Kindertransport - was my constituent in Maidenhead. At another time of political controversy, a few years before his death, he took me to one side at a local event and gave me a piece of advice.

"He said: 'Never forget that compromise is not a dirty word. Life depends on compromise.' He was right.

"As we strive to find the compromises we need in our politics, whether to deliver Brexit or restore devolved government in Northern Ireland, we must remember what brought us here.

"Because the referendum was not just a call to leave the EU, but for profound change in our country, a call to make the UK a country that truly works for everyone. I am proud of the progress we have made over the last three years.

"We have completed the work that David Cameron and George Osborne started. The deficit is almost eliminated, our national debt is falling and we are bringing an end to austerity.

"My focus has been on ensuring that the good jobs of the future will be created in communities across the whole country - not just in London and the south-east - through our modern industrial strategy.

"We have helped more people than ever enjoy the security of a job. We are building more homes and helping first-time buyers onto the housing ladder so that young people can enjoy the opportunities their parent did.

"And we are protecting the environment: eliminating plastic waste, tackling climate change and improving air quality. This is what a decent, moderate and patriotic Conservative government, on the common ground of British politics, can achieve - even as we tackle the biggest peacetime challenge of any government has faced.

"I know that the Conservative Party can renew itself in the years ahead. That we can deliver Brexit and serve the British people with policies inspired by our values. Security, freedom and opportunity: those values have guided me throughout my career.

"But the unique privilege of this office is to use this platform to give a voice to the voiceless. To fight the burning injustices that still scar our society. That is why I put proper funding for mental health at the heart of our NHS long-term plan, it's why I'm ending the postcode lottery for survivors of domestic abuse. It is why the race disparity audit and gender pay reporting are shining a light on inequality so it has nowhere to hide.

"And it is why I set up the independent public inquiry into the tragedy at Grenfell Tower, to search for the truth so nothing like it can ever happen again, and so the people who lost their lives that night are never forgotten.

"Because this country is a union, not just a family of four nations. But a union of people. All of us. Whatever our background, the color of our skin or who we love, we stand together. And together, we have a great future.

"Our politics may be under strain, but there is so much that is good about this country. So much to be proud of. So much to be optimistic about.

"I will shortly leave the job that has been the honour of my life to hold.

"The second female Prime Minister, but certainly not the last.

"I do so with no ill will, but with enormous and enduring gratitude to have had the opportunity to serve the country I love."

This writer wishes her good luck in her future endeavours and awaits how the next Prime Minister will dance out of the current quagmire of getting a great Brexit deal for Great Britain because as great people only the great deal is good for the British. 

*Emmanuel Onwubiko Heads HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) andblogs@www.emmanuelonwubiko.com;www.huriwa@blogspot.com;www.thenigerianinsidernews.com. 

Why Kidnappers are in charge

By Emmanuel Onwubiko

The Nigerian police council headed by the Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari had on Thursday May 23^rd 2019 confirmed Mr. Adamu Mohammed of Nasarawa state as the substantive inspector General of police. 

Mohammed had acted as the nation’s chief law enforcement officer for nearly six months.

Incidentally, the police council which is a constitutional body is also made up of state governors.

It is important to emphasize the aspect of the membership of the police council by the state governors because the bulk of the policing jobs are usually done amongst the people in the different states and local councils of the federation whereby the substantial percentage of the constituents reside. As we may be aware, section 14 of the Constitution says the Sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria. Also the primary purpose of government is the provision of security of lives and property of the Nigerian citizens. 

So it is safe to state that the confirmation of a staff on probation goes to show that the person has performed optimally. 

There is no doubt that since coming on board, around early January when the loquacious erstwhile Inspector General of police Alhaji Kpodum Idris from Niger State exited after a disgraceful and lackluster tenure, the now confirmed IGP has shown sparks of his willingness to perform. 

The other question is to ascertain if he has been able to transform his body language to perform with the reality of meeting up with the realities of our times given that Nigeria is now in a monumental security nightmare. 

To the second question of whether he has performed, one is left to say that it is only just too early to authoritatively assert if he has performed or not but one certainty is that his job is well cut out for him. This is made manifest by the increasingly emerging security challenges in the whole of Nigeria. 

The ball is therefore in the court of the newly confirmed inspector General of police to show remarkable distinction between himself and the immediate past police boss who almost crippled the police operationally.

The Nigeria Police Force is not really a force to reckon with because of the obvious failures of law enforcement by the police which has resulted in the collapse of law and order all across Nigeria with the North West and North East of Nigeria representing spectacles in instability and insecurity.

The most disturbing criminal phenomenon that Nigeria face at this moment are the state of overwhelming control of the public space by armed kidnappers.

The central and state governments have shown lack of political will to tackle the insecurity.

The federal government as currently composed has failed to bring the situation of anarchy and doom being spread by bandits and kidnappers to a close. This is because the security services and especially the police seems to be lacking the capacity to confront these dare devil kidnappers and bandits.

Although the situation has not really collapsed totally because we can at least be consoled that the police has in the last couple of months informed Nigerians about the arrests of some of those armed bandits and kidnappers. The missing link is the absence of a robustly executed prosecution making use of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act signed into law in 2015(ACJA of 2015).  I will return to this ACJA of 2015. Lets review the profiles of arrests of kidnappers in the past couple of months and then juxtapose this development with the absence of effective and efficient prosecution of kidnappers which creates a climate of impunity which culminates in the state of anarchy and doom that Nigeria represents now. 

The Nigeria Police Force on Thursday May 15^th 2019 paraded 93 suspected kidnappers and armed robbers terrorizing Niger, Katsina and Kaduna States, especially Kaduna-Abuja highway.

It said 35; AK47 Rifles, 21 Dane Guns, 500 live ammunition and a host of other weapons including a Rocket launcher were recovered from the suspects.

Parading the suspects at Katari village along Kaduna-Abuja highway, the Force Spokesman, DCP Frank Mba, said the 93 suspected kidnappers and armed robbers were arrested within the past two weeks in joint operations in Kaduna, Niger and Katsina States.

According to Mba, 35 AK47 Rifles, 21 Dane Guns and more than 500 live ammunition were recovered from the suspects.

The Force Spokesman attributed the successful arrests and seizures to Operation Puff Adder launched to clear criminals away from Kaduna-Abuja expressway and Nigeria at large.

DCP Mba who was flanked by the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Aji Ali Janga said, the joint operations comprised policemen from operations, intelligence, technical, counter terrorism and special protection units among others.

He said that the operation was designed largely to tackle kidnapping, robbery and banditry giving Nigerians sleepless nights, adding that the successes recorded so far were huge.

According to him, “The suspects were arrested from Matari Forest, Niger axis and some were pursued to as far as Katsina.

The Plateau State Police Command around March also paraded seventeen persons over crimes ranging from culpable homicide, armed robbery criminal conspiracy, rape, abduction among others.

The command stated this through the Commissioner of Police, Isaac Akinmoyede, while briefing journalists at its headquarters in Jos.

The Ondo State Police Command Wednesday April 10^th 2019 paraded five suspected kidnappers who were members of gangs terrorizing the Akunnu Akoko area of the state

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Undie Adie, while addressing journalists during the parade of the suspects, said the men were members of the gang that abducted one Prince Omoghae Igbegbon on April 2, 2019, on Akunnu-Akoko/Auga-Akoko road.

According to the state police boss, the suspects allegedly disposed their victim of the sum of N185,000 before demanding N30 million ransom for his release.

FCT Police Command on March 29^th 2019, paraded 37 suspects for kidnapping, armed robbery, car theft, phone snatching and other sundry crimes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Parading the suspects, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma, said the command will continue to be proactive in its fight against crime by deploying crime fighting strategies that will satisfy the security yearnings of residents.

He noted that the command in its renewed efforts to rid the city of crimes, embarked on raids and stop search operations, to deny hoodlums freedom of operation.

Reeling the successes of the command, he said the command’s anti-kidnapping squad on March 16, 2019 arrested 20-year-old Nasiru Mohammed, 19-year-old Sale Bello, and 30-year-old Hassan Audu and rescued seven-year-old Rejoice Godwin, and nine-year-old Seke Godwin, who were abducted on March 8, in Yemi, Zuba, from their captors at Lambata, in Niger State.

The Kaduna State Police Command on April 26^th 2019 paraded 34 suspected criminals, including kidnappers and armed bandits terrorizing the state.

The command also arrested suspects alleged to have rustled over 300 cattle and sheep. All the suspects are currently undergoing further investigation.

The Nigeria Police Force, Sokoto command on December 17^th 2018 paraded 19 suspects, for participating in criminal activities ranging from kidnapping, armed robbers, Cattle rustling, banditry and other forms of criminal activities within the state.

Parading the suspects at the state headquarters on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Cordelia Nwaiwe that one Lawali Aliyu (M), from More, Kware Local Government Area, was apprehended with live ammunition.

The suspect was nabbed at a village called Araba of Illela Local Government, a border town between Nigeria and Republic of Niger while trying to smuggle about 4,000 AK 47 live ammunition for onward distribution to Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi State.

Aliyu, who confessed to have been in the business for long claimed he got the ammunition from one Ibrahim who resides in Galmi, a town in the Niger Republic. He also confessed to have participated in several kidnappings and robbery operations in the aforementioned States.

Also paraded alongside Aliyu are Muh’d Dankani (America) of Dingim village who also supplies arms to be delivered to one Malama Rahmatu, Muh’d Dogo S/Garin Akuzo in Tursa village of Rabah Local Governmennt.

Other suspected criminal paraded by the police are Abdullahi Isah, Musa Na Malam Lawali, Muh’d Lawali, Muh’d Sani, Ibrahim Alh Shuaibu, Alh Haruna Tursa, Ibrahim Garba, Bello Alhaji Danbaba, Umar Maude and Muh’d Rabiu, all are members of the operation group.

In Abuja also, the Nigeria Police in 2018 November, paraded fifty-nine (59) kidnapping, armed robbery and cattle rustling gangs including those responsible for the kidnap and murder of Vice Chairman of Abaji area council and other recent kidnappings and armed robberies in Kaduna, Niger, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto States.

The name of the suspects are Bello Alhaji Lawal ‘M’ 60Yrs – Gang Leader, Armourer Of The Gang, Sadiq Danladi ‘M’ 29Yrs, Abubakar Mohammed ‘M’ 25Yrs, Abubakar Usman ‘M’ 28Yrs, Abdullahi Idris ‘M’ 50Yrs, Abubakar Suleiman ‘M’ 20Yrs, Ibrahim Babangida ‘M’ 26Yrs

According to then Force Public Relations Officer, Ag. Dcp Jimoh Moshood at the Force Headquarters, Abuja he said that on 24th November, 2018, the IGP Special Strike Force on violent crimes attached to Operation Absolute Sanity in Gawu Babaginda, Niger State led by DCP Yusuf Kolo, working on actionable intelligence in a follow up of a case of Criminal Conspiracy, Armed Robbery and Kidnapping of the Vice Chairman of Abaji Area Council and four (4) others along Suleja-Minna Road, Niger State, trailed and arrested the suspects in their hideout at Tunga Maje Forest along Zuba-Gwagwalada Road, Abuja, where the syndicate plan their operations and keep hostage of their kidnap victims.

He also said that fifty-two (52) kidnapping/armed robbery and cattle rustling syndicate responsible for recent kidnapping/armed robbery in Nasarawa, Niger, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto States.

The names of the 1ST GANG are: ABDULRA’UF YUSUF ‘M’ 45YRS(Gang Leader), a Libya trained Gorilla Fighter, BASHIRU AMINU ‘M’ 30YRS (buys and supply firearms and ammunition to armed bandits and other members of the group), ALIYU SAIDU ‘M’ 33YRS, MUSA ADAMU ‘M’ 35YRS, ISAH HARUNA ‘M’ 55YRS, ABDULLAHI HARUNA ‘M’ 56YRS, MOHAMMED TUKUR ‘M’ 25YRS, ABDULLAHI BUHARI ‘M’ 27YRS, ALIYU ABUDULLAHI ‘M’ 29YRS, TUKUR HASSAN ‘M’ 26YRS, MANDE ALERI ‘M’ 30YRS, SANI ALI ‘M’ 21YRS, SHEHU UMAR ‘M’ 30YRS, IBRAHIM GARBA ‘M’ 21YRS, MOHAMMED SANI ‘M’ 30YRS, MOHHAMED BELLO ‘M’ 35YRS, SULE DAMBULE ‘M’ 48YRS, AHMADU BUBA ‘M’ 27YRS, MOHAMMED BAUDE ‘M’ 63YRS, ABUBAKAR UMAR ‘M’ 52YRS, ABUBAKAR TURAI ‘M’ 66YRS, ABUBAKAR SALA ‘M’ 37YRS, IBRAHIM MOHAMMED ‘M’ 31YRS, ABUBAKAR MANDE ‘M’ 20YRS, ABUBAKAR HUSSAINI ‘M’ 60YRS, USMAN HASSAN ‘M’ 65YRS, SHEHU ABUBAKAR ‘M’ 70YRS, USMAN UMAR ‘M’ 18YRS, YAHAYA LAWAL ‘M’ 55YRS.

The names of the 2ND GANG are : ISIYAKU SAMAILA ‘M’ 37 YRS, MOHAMMED RILWANU ‘M’ 40YRS, USMAN SANI ‘M’ 35YRS, MOHAMMED SHUAIBU ‘M’ 49YRS, RABIU TUKUR ‘M’ 30YRS, SURAJO SULEIMAN ‘M’ 45YRS, ABDULLAHI YA’U ‘M’ 30YRS, ABDULLAHI IBRAHIM ‘M’ 58YRS, ABUBAKAR AHMED ‘M’ 42YRS, MUSA ABDULLAHI ‘M’ 48YRS, ISAH WAZIRI ‘M’ 35YRS, SHUAIBU IBRAHIM ‘M’ 25YRS, SHUAIBU USMAN ‘M’ 18YRS, FAISAL SURAJO ‘M’ 18YRS, KAMALU ABDULMUMINI ‘M’ 30 YRS, IBRAHIM MUSA ‘M’ 28YRS

The names of the 3RD GANG are: ABDULKARIM ADAMU ‘M’ 27YRS, SANI ALH LAWAL ‘M’ 20YRS, UMAR GARBA ‘M’ 22YRS, HUSSAINI MAMMAN ‘M’ 25YRS, SANI UMAR ‘M’ 23YRS, MUSA IBRAHIM ‘M’ 28YRS, UMAR KIRUWA ‘M’ 30YRS.

The EXHIBITS: Eight (8) AK47 Rifles, One (1) G3 Rifle, Two (2) Single Barrel Gun, One (1) Dane Gun, One (1) Revolver Pistol, One Hundred and Forty Five (145) Ammunition, Five (5) Live Cartridges, Sixteen (16) Swords, Three (3) Operational Vehicles of the gangs, Two (2) Bajaj Motorcycle and Charms.

In Kaduna, the Commissioner of Police Ahmad Abdul-Raman, on December 19^th 2018 paraded the suspects at the Command Headquarters; said kidnapping was taking a new turn with females leading the gang. He said the two female, Kaduna State Police Command has paraded two notorious female kidnappers and their male accomplice for killing a man after collecting N1.5m ransom.

Commissioner of Police Ahmad Abdul-Raman, who paraded the suspects at the Command Headquarters said kidnapping was taking a new turn with females leading the gang.

He said the two female kidnappers Hashiya Dauda, 23, and Safara’u Mohammed Tahir, 23, were arrested alongside Ishaq Tanimu Sulaiman, 33, Sale Ya’u, 20, Yusuf Sulaiman, 23, and Iliyasu Ali, 22.

He said the five suspects were undergoing investigations for criminal conspiracy, kidnapping and being in possession of firearms and will be charged to court soon.

The police in Niger State on February 14^th 2019 paraded four suspected kidnappers terrorizing Fota village in Lapai Local Government.

The suspected kidnappers, Mohammed Abubakar, Mamuda Mohammed, Mohammed Mohammed and Amadu Garba , admitted to committing the crime, adding that their profits engendered them to live big like directors in ministries.

The police in Oyo State on May 25^th 2019 paraded a 28-year old Naval officer, Jimoh Adesoye, and 14 others arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad for robbery kidnapping and other crimes.

According to a report by Vanguard newspaper on Friday, two of the suspects are twin brothers.

Speaking with journalist at Police Headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan Thursday, the Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude, said the Naval officer was arrested with 12 members of his gang who had been on the wanted list of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Lagos.

“Six of the suspects were arrested in their criminal hideout at Ilasa area, Ogbomoso. This led to the arrest of other members of the gang at various locations,” he said

“The lance corporal often used his position and uniform to transport vehicles snatched by the gang and helped dispose of the stolen vehicles,” he said.

‘’The gang, which is also on the wanted list of SARS in Lagos and Kwara states, was responsible for the spate of armed robbery and car snatching along the Ogbomoso-Ilorin Expressway, Oyo State, Lagos, Kwara and other states in the South-West.’

The Borno state Police Command on 1^st January 2019 paraded four-man suspected gang in connection with the kidnapping of one Usman Hassan of Tugs village of Damboa local government of Borno state, where they demanded the ransom of N21 million.

Parading the suspects at the Police headquarters, Maiduguri, the Borno state capital Monday night, the Police Commissioner. Mr. Damain Chukwu said "on 13th December, 2018 at about 02;00 hours one Usman Hassan of Tugs village of Damboa local government area was kidnapped".

" On 17 December, 2018, at about 20:10 hours, information reached DPO Askira Uba of the kidnap, I mobilized personnel and the Civilian JTF moved to the victim's house and laid ambush on the date the kidnappers came to collect the ransom of N21 million from the relatives".

"One Usman Abdul took the police to to their hideouts,where two other suspected were arrested and the victim rescued. One Musa Haruna in whose house the plan was hatched was equally arrested," Chukwu said.

The problem is with prosecution and punishment for these kidnappers. We can see that over 200 kidnappers have been paraded but with the exception of Lagos state and Delta State judicial systems that have sentenced less than 5 kidnappers to various terms of imprisonments, not one of those paraded with an array of sophisticated weapons in the entire Northern Nigeria have been successfully prosecuted and jailed. The state of Nigerian prisons are also so pathetic that there are cases of jail breaks. But why are these armed kidnappers not been prosecuted even with a new fast-tract legal mechanism known as administration of criminal justice Act? The ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT, 2015 is an Act to provide for the administration of criminal justice in the courts of the Federal Capital Territory and other federal courts in Nigeria; and for related matters.

ENACTED by the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria: PART 1-PRELIMINARY

1.    A. The purpose of this Act is to ensure that the system of administration of criminal justice in Nigeria promotes efficient management of criminal justice institutions, speedy dispensation of justice, protection of the society from crime and protection of the rights and interests of the suspect, the defendant, and the victim. B.   The courts, law enforcement agencies and other authorities or persons involved in criminal justice administration shall ensure compliance with the provisions of this Act for the realization of its purposes. 2.    A. Without prejudice to section 86 of this Act, the provisions of this Act shall apply to criminal trials for offences established by an Act of the National Assembly and other offences punishable in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.B. The provisions of this Act shall not apply to a Court Martial.

It would appear that the law is not the obstacle but the enforcers of the law. This is where the new IGP and the Attorneys Generals of Nigerian federation and States must act decisively. The level of corruption and compromises amongst the police and the justice department are such that we must address if we hope to arrest the trend of the evil menace of armed kidnappers holding us by the jugular. We must reform the police and effectively monitor and oversight the officers who carry out prosecutions and judges who must be compelled to act as ministers in the Temple of justice. So long as impunity reigns supreme in high places, kidnappers will keep roaming about the public spaces constituting SPECTACULAR SECURITY NIGHTMARES TO ALL IRRESPECTIVE OF CLASSES. 

*Emmanuel Onwubiko heads HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) and blogs@www.thenigerianinsidernews.com;www.emmanuelonwubiko.com; www.huriwa@blogspot.com;www.huriwanigeria.com.