The Lumine News

Tag: #NPF

  • Citizens Solution Network Calls On Government To Wade Into The OKu Killings In Boki LGA Of CRS

    Citizens Solution Network Calls On Government To Wade Into The OKu Killings In Boki LGA Of CRS

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    Citizens Solution Network, a non governmental organization has called on the government of Cross River State and the Nigerian Police to ensure that the perpetrators of the killings in Oku community in Boki local government area on the frivolous allegations of witches and wizards should be prosecuted in line with the necessary laws to avert further reoccurrence.

    In a release signed by the Country Director of Citizens Solution Network, Comr. Richard Ifono and made available to THE LUMINE NEWS, indicates that other elderly citizens are still living in fears and coma that they may also be attacked.

    Full text of the release “A very disturbing information has got to us here at Citizens’ Solution Network’s Office, Calabar Secretariat that several women have been burnt to death in Oku Community in Boki Local Government Area in Cross River State on the unacceptable allegation that these women_ our elderly citizens, mothers and sisters are witches and wizards. Also Chief Bernard Kekong was among the number of persons that were killed by the arsonists that carried out these reprehensible killings.

    As we speak John Otu and Edward Kekong have sustained severe injuries, and are struggling to survive as a result of these killings targeted at them and others that were accused of witchcraft.

    Also information reaching us here shows that many elderly citizens are scared of being attacked and are on the run for their lives over such useless and senseless accusation of being tagged witches.

    Let it be in public registry that we condemn in the strongest terms the killings of Chief Kekong Bernard and several women that were burnt to death in Oku Community in Boki, Cross River State on the outrageous claims that they were witches and wizards.

    We call on the Nigerian Police Force to speed into action to safeguard Oku Community to prevent more senseless killings of our elderly citizens, and to ensure that all those who are responsible for these heinous crimes of murder are brought to justice.

    This is a terrible precedence that must not be allowed to stand. The idea that a miscreant would accused a fellow citizen of witchcraft and get such human burnt to death should be strongly rejected and condemned unanimously by all. All extra judicial killings must be investigated and the perpetrated prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law to discourage such killings in future.

    The Nigerian Police Force and the Ayade-led Government must ensure that all those responsible are arrested, prosecuted and given the heaviest of sentences for these multiple homicides. No level of excuses from the Oku killing gang should be accepted.

    Signed

    Richard F. Inoyo
    Country Director, Citizens Solution Network.

    For: Civilian Population and Council.

  • UN Agency Alerts Nigeria On Impending Terrorist’s Attack

    UN Agency Alerts Nigeria On Impending Terrorist’s Attack

     

    By Kelvin Obanbom

    The United Nations Department for Safety and Security (UNDSS) has alerted Nigeria on the looming complex and coordinated attacks on the nation’s critical infrastructure, calling for urgent review and implementation of anti-terrorism measures.

    According to the UNDSS Nigeria, information received indicated an increased likelihood of terrorists activity, including the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and complex attacks against critical national infrastructure and High-Value Targets (HVTs) in Nigeria.

    The UN agency, in its latest Security Threat Information (STI) and Advisory report on Nigeria said based on the information at its disposal, Boko Haram was likely planning to exploit the momentum of the host government’s strain due to COVID-19 spread to conduct a series of coordinated simultaneous attacks and so weaken the government’s efforts, to disturb and distract military activities in the North-east and to gain greater local and regional attention and acceptance.

    A copy of the report released on Wednesday by the Chief Security Adviser (CSA) and UNDSS Representative to Nigeria, Mr. Robert Marinovic, said: “It is assessed that we are at the beginning of the security crisis characterised by a wide spectrum of interconnected crisis (civil unrests, crime and the increasing threat of terrorism), that were fuming for quite some time and now released by COVID-19 impact on the government and population.

    “In this context, the critical infrastructure are considered any of economic or security entities and their premises (petrol industry installations, banks, governmental facilities, shopping malls, hotels, etc), at any location in the country, especially state capitals, including Lagos and Abuja.

    “Though the UN in Nigeria is not the primary target for the terrorist activity, it is assessed that the UN can be impacted as collaterally (while visiting governmental installations, banks, shopping malls, e.t.c.), but also as the target of opportunity, if seen to be less protected (‘soft target’).”

    The UNDSS added that it had already assessed the likelihood of such terrorist activity and included it in all respective areas of UN Security Management Systems’ (UNSMS) Security Risk Management (SRMs) in Nigeria, stressing therefore that, the strict implementation of and compliance with standing security measures are of paramount importance.

    However, the UNDSS recommended among others that Nigeria should ensure that all SRM measures, especially those against terrorism threats, are urgently reviewed and fully implemented.

    It directed its Security Focal Points (SFPs) to alert security guards and host government security in and around UN compounds, on the above-described threat so to be vigilant against possible hostile surveillance (that usually precedes terrorist attack).

    It said UN personnel should patronise only neighborhood markets and Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), rather than big shopping malls or banks, to avoid unnecessary risk.

    It also advised that emergency phone numbers (emergency contact card distributed by UNDSS SWA) should be kept handy at all times; while respective Security Operations Centres (SOC) should be informed of all suspicious movements/observations.

    It also urged SFPs to circulate and disseminate the message to their respective personnel.

    Source: ThisDay