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Kaduna needs 7,000 more policemen-El-Rufai
From Andrew Agbese, Kaduna
Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai yesterday requested for 7,000 additional policemen in the state.
He made the request to the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, who was at the Government House to receive 107 Hilux patrol vehicles and 230 bullet-proof vests donated to the police and other security agencies in the state.
“We need more policemen in Kaduna because we have 13,000 policemen in the state which is about five percent of the country’s police population. So we need additional 7,000 policemen”, he said.
IGP Solomon Arase while commissioning the vehicles said El-Rufai was determined to eliminate from the state.
He promised on behalf of the police and the other security agencies to put the vehicles and vests into judicious use.
“For Governor El-Rufai to use the state’s resources to procure such laudable items shows that he is determined to stamp out crime. The police will live up to expectation by doubling efforts and will use the items judiciously”, he said.
Earlier, Governor El-Rufai said his administration’s partnership with security agencies had yielded positive results in the past six months by routing out criminals, particularly cattle rustlers from forests that have boundaries with neighbouring states.
Audu will be remembered for his legacies-ACF
From Andrew Agbese, Kaduna
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) says former Kogi State governor and APC governorship candidate in the November 21 poll, Prince Abubakar Audu who died Sunday, would be remembered for his legacies such as the Kogi State University, Kogi State Polytechnic and many other projects he executed.
“Kogi people and indeed Nigerians will miss his elegance and flamboyant dressing and most importantly his political tenacity and determination to have participated in all governorship elections held in Kogi State from 1998-2015,” the ACF said in a statement yesterday.
The statement by its national publicity secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, said Audu was a foundation member of the ACF.
We repaired 282 roads in 6 months-LSPWC
From Femi Akinola, Lagos
General Manager of the Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC), Engr. Ayotunde Sodeinde, yesterday said the corporation rehabilitated 282 roads in the state in the past six months, just as it assured residents that the ongoing road construction work across the state would be completed soon.
Sodeinde who was briefing newsmen on the work done so far by his agency said Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s desire was to see that roads across the state were made motorable as soon as possible.
“We have done 282 roads since June 2015. We have listed another 189 roads and anytime from now, we will start work on them. We will work every day and night to ensure that we make life more comfortable for residents of the state,” Sodeninde said.
He listed some of the roads completed and fully rehabilitated to include Metal Box Road, Acme Road in Ogba area, Ejigbo-Ikotun road, among others while extensive fixing of potholes were also carried out on other roads.
Insurgency will soon end-Dan Ali
From Maryam Ahmadu-Suka, Kaduna
Minister of Defence, retired Brig. General Mohammed Dan Ali, has again assured the nation that the activities of Boko Haram insurgents would soon end.
Delivering an address at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Kaduna after commissioning projects for the Training Command, Dan Ali said he was fully convinced that the Nigerian military was the viable tool in tackling national insecurity.
“I am convinced that the activities of the insurgents will soon be a thing of the past and all areas under occupation will be liberated for people to go about their normal lives.
I am particularly impressed with the new approach of winning the hearts and minds of the populace through advocacy and outreach programmes of the armed forces as emplaced by the current leadership of Mr President, the Commander-in-Chief.
“I sincerely commend the Nigerian Air Force for the successes recorded in the renewed vigour of routing out the insurgents and effectively degrading their capabilities. I am confident that this fight will bring more people into the fight against the insurgents thereby making the task of our armed forces much easier through the cooperation of the locals, especially in the provision of real time information and intelligence gathering”, he said.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said in order to overcome the challenges Nigeria faces as a nation, there was need for knowledge, which is why the NAF had decided to invest in training facilities so that officers would have the right environment to acquire knowledge.
?”We are aware of the fact that this is an era of change and we must change the way we do things, and therefore we quickly put together this infrastructure so that instructor pilots and pilots that are coming in for flight training will have a place to live so that they can pursue their training programmes without difficulties”, he said.
3 escape death as container crushes car
From Yahaya Ibrahim & Eugene Agha, Lagos
Three people escaped death yesterday when a container fell off a truck and crushed a car at Itire Bus Stop along the Apapa-Oshodi express road in Lagos.
Daily Trust gathered that three people were in the car and the driver of the truck were injured and taken to hospital by sympathisers. The car was badly damaged.
In another development, a petroleum tanker fell on the Sagamu-Ikorodu express road yesterday, spilling petrol on the road before being ignited.
The National Emergency Management Agency South West region spokesman, Ibrahim Farinloye, said no life was lost in the incident.
He added that men of the Lagos State Fire Service were quickly drafted to the scene and put out the fire before spreading.
Man nabbed with IED materials
From Habibu Umar Aminu, Katsina
Police in Katsina State have confirmed the arrest of 20-year old Lawal Suleiman with items believed to be used for Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
Suleiman was apprehended by worshippers at Yartafki Village in Funtua LG during morning prayers yesterday.
Witnesses said he was at the mosque where he dropped the bad containing the items, arousing suspicion among worshippers.
Police spokesman, DSP Aminu Sadiq, said items found in the bag included a small battery, two handsets, powder and several wires meant for the improvised bomb.
He said the command’s bomb squad had swept the area and found it safe and investigation had fully commenced. Sadiq urged the people to always be vigilant and report those with questionable character to the nearest police station.
No Igbo trader killed in Madala market-Police
From Ahmed Tahir Ajobe, Minna
Police in Niger State have debunked online reports purporting the killing of five Igbo traders for failing to recite the Quran in the popular Madala market.
The command spokesman, ASP Bala Elkana, in a statement in Minna yesterday described the report as blatant falsehood aimed at creating tension among different ethnic and religious groups that have cohabited peacefully. He urged members of the public to ignore the report and go about their lawful duties.