Crime
Uproar as President Buhari considers granting Boko Haram Amnesty
HE Presidency has said that granting amnesty to Boko Haram insurgents would make them drop their arms, embrace peace, stop bloodshed and save resources for the country.
The Presidency also explained that President Muhammadu Buhari has remained silent over his second term ambition because his focus was to deliver good governance to the country.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said in an interview in Abuja that President Buhari’s achievements would give him victory in 2019, if he decides to contest.
He also told some retired army generals that had ruled the country in the past, who had advised him to drop second term ambition, to summon the courage and contest against the president, stressing that President Buhari will defeat all of them. On the assertion that President Buhari was shielding killer herdsmen from prosecution and even begging them to accept amnesty, Shehu argued that if the terrorists should embrace amnesty, it would stop the killings in the polity.
However, some notable Nigerians, including Second Republic lawmaker, Junaid Mohammed; Senator Femi Okorounmu, NBA Vice President, Monday Ubani; Niger Delta activist, Ann Kio-Briggs, and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara, disagreed with government, saying Boko Haram insurgents have not demonstrated remorse to warrant amnesty.
But Garba Shehu said: “Well, I hope you also realise that the social media has brought a lot of good things to the world and it has also brought a lot of problems not only in Nigeria but everywhere in the world. “Nations of the world are talking about regulations and control, this is happening in Germany in the UK, even the US, you see that a lot of these technology companies are being fined for infringements that they cause.
“The thing is that there is a tendency to see things from a negative point of view when your point of view is shaped and coloured by the social media. “It’s always been heard that the default position of social media itself is to be negative, so people have turned out to ignore grand reality and project images that are very negative. “Otherwise I wonder, this is an administration that has done extremely well and to a President who has sworn to an oath to defend the constitution and protect every life and property, it is very unfair and uncharitable to say that he will shield anybody.
“In any case, the President controls only one layer of authority, what are the governors doing? Is the social media also saying that the governors are protecting the herdsmen from the law? Are they saying the local governments are also protecting them? “You see, it has to take everyone at various levels of authority to shield somebody from the law in those circumstances, and the President himself, his passion is for the country, this is a President whose passion is not even for the office, even when everyone is asking him to go for a second term, he is keeping quiet because his focus remains the nation and the problem of the country. “Whoever is peddling these rumours that Boko Haram is being granted amnesty and so on, I would ask them who doesn’t want to make peace with the enemy? In any case, as it is proverbially said, all wars end up in the boardroom.
“You can defeat people technically in the field but at the end, you must come to the conference room to resolve all issues. So, if Boko Baram would lay down their arms and stop fighting and stop preaching that negative ideology, the country should be able to embrace them, welcome all of them so that they continue to live normal lives and be useful to the nation.
“What that means is that we will be saving cost, saving lives that are being lost through bombing, killing of service personnel and we will be saving money that we are using to procure weapons so that such money can go into services and infrastructure and welfare of the citizens of this country. It is a win-win situation.”
On Buhari’s administration On his rating of the Buhari-led government since inception, especially in infrastructure development, Shehu said: “I want to say that the records are there for everyone to see, that no government, no past administration in Nigeria, has invested as much as we have done, or let me say we are currently doing in infrastructure development.
“From day one when he took power, the President gave a target of not less than 30% of annual appropriation devoted to infrastructure development. Without infrastructure, we cannot lay the foundation for growth. “When this administration came to power, between 95 and 96 per cent of public expenditure was going into overhead cost, leaving only about five or four per cent for infrastructure. The allocation of 30 per cent under this administration has led to tremendous improvement in the provision of infrastructure so far in the country. “Now there is a lot of work going on, building new rail lines and the rehabilitation of the old rail system networks; roads are being done all across the country; you only need to drive around to see for yourself.
“The amount of work this administration has done on roads, for instance the expressway, from Enugu to Port Harcourt, has not been done in the eight years of the previous administrations. We are hoping that within this year, before the next election, Lagos-Ibadan expressway will be completed. It’s a lot of money, we are doing it, government is laying the sod now for the construction of a six-lane road from Abuja to Kano. “So, there is so much that is going on in terms of that. We are doing power, you know that this administration has doubled availability of power in the country.
When we came in, it stood at about 3,000 MW, we have hit 7,000 MW and we are doing more, so it depends on what you are looking at. “This is a government that has spent N1.3 trillion in capital expenses under 2016 Budget and has also spent as much as that under the 2017 budget and it’s almost closing on records for last year which was N1.3 trillion.”
Also commenting on the allegation in some quarters that the President has failed in the area of security, basing their arguments on the farmers/ herders crises, Shehu said the problem between farmers and herdsmen predated the independence of Nigeria. He said: “If you read history, you will see that farmers and herdsmen had fought for space in this country, even when British colonial rulers were here, so this is not something new, I am not saying it is welcome but I think it is over amplified now.
“There is a media spotlight on it because the opposition cannot engage Buhari administration on any other issue other than this lacuna that they have found. “They cannot discuss the war against corruption because that’s a very uncomfortable area for them; they don’t want to discuss issues of infrastructure with Buhari, they don’t want to discuss economic diversification which this administration has achieved a lot of success. “Today, we have 12 million rice farmers in this country, six million new jobs are being created in other sectors by agriculture alone, food import has gone down by 95 per cent, we are feeding ourselves.
“This year, the government is planning a ban on rice importation. So we are doing so well moving from over reliance on oil to agriculture and manufacturing. Therefore, I am not saying that it is okay that the farmers and herdsmen are fighting but we are doing a lot.
Fielding question on the call by the President’s contemporaries in the military and former Presidents on him not to seek re-election, Shehu said: “My response to them is that if they like, they can come and contest against President Buhari. He will defeat them, all of them.”
Also on his advice for Nigerians who think that Buhari should not be talking about second term when people are hungry, he said: “With all the noise the PDP is making, even during their time, did they give breakfast, lunch and dinner to every citizen? Is there any country in which someone does not go hungry? “I am not saying it is perfectly in order but they are just politicizing these issues.
This is a government that has removed this country from the shame of food importation, every state of the country now is into rice production, and we are feeding not only Nigeria but west Africa.
Amnesty will not stop Boko Haram —
Mohammed In his reaction, Second Republic lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, said he does not believe granting amnesty to Boko Haram will solve the problems of insurgency. He said: “I don’t believe the amnesty will stop anything because so far so good, we do not know how far the negotiations between the Federal Government and Boko Haram has gone. Also, we do not know whether it is an honest negotiation that is ongoing or the one based on commercial purposes. “If negotiations are ongoing and we do not know how far they have gone but we are hearing money is exchanging hands, then it is simply blackmail and I can say that at the end of the day, we will realize that FG had not been interfacing with the real leaders of Boko Haram and all the negotiations have been based on commercial purposes.”
It’ll bring Jihad to Nigeria — Okurounmu
Sen. Femi Okurounmun said the call to grant amnesty to Boko Haram is to systematically bring Jihad in the country by President Buhari. He said: “The amnesty move is to call for Jihad and I can say that the herdsmen menace ravaging the country is not different from Boko Haram. Why should they give amnesty to terrorists? I think Nigerians should speak against this call because it is the same people they give amnesty to who will turn around and slaughter people within the country.”
It’s like granting amnesty to Bin Laden — Opara
Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representative, Austin Opara, said granting amnesty to Boko Haram can be likened to giving Bin Laden or Al-Qaeda amnesty. He said: “I think this government is trying to mix criminality and terrorism side by side. Granting any amnesty to Boko Haram organisation is unfortunate and I hope this government is thinking about the unity of this country? This development is not only unfortunate but a sad development for this country.”
Did Boko Haram say it wants amnesty?— Ubani
Speaking on the subject, Second Vice President of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Monday Ubani, said: “Did the Boko Haram sect indicate interest that it needs amnesty? Have the insurgents displayed any remorse that they are tired of killing? This is a sect that has killed so many people and they are still killing. “If they have not indicated interest that they want to stop killing or displayed any form of repentance, why is the Federal Government talking about amnesty? This is a government that I support but sometimes it takes actions that make people say things about it.”
Don’t use Niger-Delta oil money to grant foreigners amnesty – Ann Kio-Briggs
Environmental Rights Activist and Convener of Niger-Delta Self-Determination Movement, NDSDM, Ann Kio-Briggs, opposed amnesty for Boko Haram, saying that doing so would amount to the government admitting that Nigeria has failed and it is incapable of saving Nigerians from torrorists and foreign invaders. She said: ‘’Boko Haram has owned up to being a terrorist group. It has declared its support and affiliation to the ISIS, a renowned world terrorist organisation. If the government wants to grant amnesty to a terrorist group, I think this country is finished. It means kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminals can be granted amnesty. “I hope they don’t want to use Niger Delta oil money for the amnesty programme.?” Renowned Niger Delta environmental activist, Comrade Alagoa Morris said: “It is indeed with mixed feelings that I receive this latest news about Boko Haram credited to Mr. President. First of all, the past administration also tinkered with the idea of amnesty for this group whose grouse for all their killings and destructions many Nigerians are yet to know. “It also shows how this nation won’t be able to withstand external aggression. If Amnesty is to be granted these terror group after it has destroyed hundreds of lives and property worth billions of Nigeria, for not justifiable reason; then the Federal Government should go it all and provide Social security for all Nigerians who are 70 and above without pension and all unemployed graduates.”
‘It’s good news’ Mr. Joseph Ambakederemo,
Convener, South South Reawakening Group, SSRG, expressed support for the Federal Government’s plan to grant amnesty to the Boko Haram insurgents. He said: “For me, it is a welcome development only if they could see it through to its logical conclusion. The rate of destruction of lives and property is becoming alarming. Therefore, it is good news we have to explore.”
It’s cheap political encomiums — Ohanaeze
The Igbo apex body, yesterday, stated that the Federal government’s move to give amnesty to members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect was aimed at achieving undeserved and cheap political encomiums from uninformed and gullible Nigerians. In a statement issued in Abakaliki, the National Publicity secretary of the organisation, Prince Uche Achi-Okpaga, asked: “How can you grant amnesty to a globally recognised terrorist organization and label an armless organisation, IPOB, a terrorist organisation? “Even after they have fought our armed forces, occupied Nigerian territory, raped, plundered and looted Nigerians. I have no doubt any longer to agree with the constituency that insist that the whole drama is tailored to achieve undeserved and cheap political encomiums. “One may also guess right that the next amnesty will be in favour of the dastardly, cantankerous and dare devil herdsmen that have as well destabilised and truncated the unity of Nigeria and have been killing Nigerians with callous impunity in unabated crescendo. “We keep our fingers crossed as we beseech God Almighty to have mercy on Nigerians.”
Source : VANGUARD
A civic advocacy organisation, Zamfara Accountability and Development Coalition (ZADC), has accused top officials in the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal of hijacking and diverting funds meant for local government development across the state.
In a statement released on Sunday, signed by its president, Salisu Bako Maradun, the group said the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Commissioner for Finance, the Accountant-General, and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs have allegedly formed a “self-serving alliance” that controls and misappropriates local council allocations.
“These individuals have captured the financial architecture of Zamfara’s 14 local governments. Their actions amount to economic sabotage and a betrayal of public trust,” the statement read.
ZADC said the funds sent to local governments from the Federation Account are routinely withheld and mismanaged at the state level, leaving the local councils unable to deliver basic services or execute projects that could ease the suffering of residents.
“Local governments in Zamfara have become ceremonial offices. The real work of looting is done in Gusau. Month after month, huge allocations arrive, but they disappear before they reach the grassroots,” the group said.
According to the group, this alleged financial malpractice is responsible for the worsening state of infrastructure and public services in rural areas of Zamfara, where insecurity, poverty, and neglect continue to define daily life.
“Health centres have no medicines, schools are empty shells, and rural roads are death traps. Yet the officials at the top are living in obscene luxury,” ZADC said.
The group also accused Governor Lawal of enabling the rot through silence and inaction, despite widespread reports of mismanagement under his watch.
“Governor Lawal cannot continue to look the other way while Zamfara’s commonwealth is stolen in broad daylight. His failure to act has emboldened those bleeding the state dry,” the group stated.
They also describe the state’s Joint Allocation Committee (JAC) as compromised and opaque, claiming that local government chairmen are kept in the dark about the actual figures shared each month.
“The JAC process has become a monthly ritual of secrecy. Funds are shared without documentation, accountability, or transparency. What we have is a complete breakdown of fiscal responsibility,” the group lamented.
ZADC claimed that over the past six months, the state has received billions of naira in local government allocations, yet there has been “zero reflection” of that money in any council area.
“Communities in Talata Mafara, Maru, Bukkuyum, and Tsafe have not seen any government project in over a year. The same can be said for Gummi, Kaura-Namoda, and Bakura. This is not just neglect. It is organised looting,” it said.
The group, therefore, called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to launch a full investigation into the finances of Zamfara’s local government ministry and arrest those found culpable.
“We are calling on the EFCC to intervene without delay. This is not the time for subtlety. The commissioner for local government, commissioner for finance, accountant-general, and the permanent secretary must be arrested and charged with corruption,” the statement added.
ZADC noted that the people of Zamfara have suffered enough and can no longer afford to have their future traded by those in power.
“This is a state battling chronic insecurity, mass unemployment, and underdevelopment. Yet those in charge of local government finances are behaving like warlords in a conquered territory,” the group said.
It concluded by demanding that all stolen funds be recovered and channelled back to community projects to give Zamfara’s grassroots a fighting chance.
“We want every kobo accounted for. Zamfara belongs to its people, not a few godfathers and greedy bureaucrats. This impunity must stop now,” the group declared.
Crime
“My Children And I Are Not Safe If You Release Mukaila Salau Actor” – Idowu Keshinro’s Widow Begs Lagos Attorney General
The widow of Idowu Keshinro, a staffer of Ikosi-Ejirin local government who was killed in April 2024 has cried out to the Attorney General of Lagos, Mr. Lawal Pedro, Governor Babajide Sanwoolu over rumours that those arrested in connection to the death of her husband, especially Mukaila Salau Actor will be soon be released unconditionally.
The Widow, Funke Keshinro, in an interview made it known that one of the suspects, Abubakar Sulaimon Miyaki, who has been released, has been boasting of his connection with the attorney general, making it known that the other suspect arrested will soon be released.
She made it known that if they are released as rumoured, the lives of her and the children of the deceased are not safe because the suspects are ready to cause more mayhem for them.
She revealed that rumours have it that the Attorney general of Lagos state has collected the case file for a review of the case and this has stalled sitting on the matter in court. She urged those in power to intervene in the matter to ensure justice prevails.
“Abubakar Sulaiman Miyaki has been saying he has settled attorney general and that they will release those that have been arrested in connection with the death of Idowu Keshinro, my late husband who was shot multiple times and died on April 4 2024. If they are released, my three children and I are not safe because we won’t be able to go anywhere.
“Anyone that is killed is meant to be killed but when criminals are released, they will continue doing what they have done. I want to please urge Governor Sanwoolu to intervene in this matter, I am begging those in power to please help in this matter.
“I learnt the Attorney General has collected the case file for a review and because of that, they are yet to sit on the matter in court. I don’t know what to do other than begging those that can intervene to please help my family.”
Meanwhile, a petition has been written to the Attorney General and Governor Babajide Sanwoolu about the rumoured proposed release of Mukaila Salau Actor and other suspect who had been declared wanted by the Nigeria Police for criminal offences.
“Further to our brief, the aforesaid persons are notorious criminals having criminal cases hanging on their neck as a golden chain. As a result of the criminal activities perpetrated by MUKAILA OLALEKAN SALAU (A.K.A ACTOR), he was declared WANTED by the Nigeria Police for the offences of Criminal Conspiracy, Murder and unlawful possession of fire arms in Moro Village, Ikorodu, Lagos State sometimes in 2017. MUKAILA SALAU (A.K.A ACTOR) and the aforesaid persons have become conkerworms in the lives of the inhabitants of Isiu, Ota-Ikosi Via Agbowa, Ikorodu, Lagos. The said persons are notorious cult members leaders committed crime with impunity at will without any regards to the rule of law. It is painful to stress here that, the said persons perpetrated heinous crime at different times, got arrested but later released without any justification, hence the boast of the aforesald persons that they are well connected and as a result could escape justice even where murder is committed lIke in the instance of our jants thereof. The photocopy of the police special bulletin where MUKAILA OLALEKAN SALAU (AKA A ACTOR) was declared WANTED and photographs of the said person and one of his syndicate are hereby annexed for ease of reference”
It was also noted that Abubakar Sulaimon has also been allegedly committing heinous crimes since his release. The Attorney General was also fingered in the petition as the official that initiated the release of the suspect.
“That upon the preceding paragraph, the Attorney General of Lagos State in a very strange twist of event ordered for a review of the said Legal Advice by the Director of Public Prosecution, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos and thereupon set free, and terminated the court proceeding against Abubakar Sulaimon Mayaki for the said murder of the said IDOWU KESHINRO to the total shock of all and sundry.”
“Further to our brief, the aforesaid persons are notorious criminals having criminal cases hanging on their neck as a golden chain. As a result of the criminal activities perpetrated by MUKAILA OLALEKAN SALAU (A.K.A ACTOR), he was declared WANTED by the Nigeria Police for the offences of Criminal Conspiracy, Murder and unlawful possession of fire arms in Moro Village, Ikorodu, Lagos State sometimes in 2017. MUKAILA SALAU (A.K.A ACTOR) and the aforesaid persons have become conkerworms in the lives of the inhabitants of Isiu, Ota-Ikosi Via Agbowa, Ikorodu, Lagos. The said persons are notorious cult members leaders committed crime with impunity at will without any regards to the rule of law. It is painful to stress here that, the said persons perpetrated heinous crime at different times, got arrested but later released without any justification, hence the boast of the aforesaid persons that they are well connected and as a result could escape justice even where murder is committed lIke in the instance of our jants thereof. The photocopy of the police special bulletin where MUKATLA¿LALEKAN SALAU (AKA A ACTOR) was declared WANTED and photographs of the said person and one of his syndicate are hereby annexed for ease of reference”
The petition also noted that Abubakar Suleimon has been boasting of his connection with powerful politicians, making it known that he will ensure others in custody are released.
“We have the brief of our clients that ABUBAKAH SULEIMON MIYAKI and others continue to boast that MUKAILA SALAU (AKA ACTOR) would be released unconditionally as they clairned to have connection to few politicians who would lead them to the office of the Attorney General and or have sufficient money to access the said office so as to ensure the Attorney General exercises his prerogative powers under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to release MUKAILA SALAU (A.K A ACTOR) and others in the above mentioned charge.”
It would be recalled that the deceased, Idowu Keshinro, before he died mentioned names of people he identified as his killers. Among them was Abubakar Suleimon Miyaki, Mukaila Salau ACTOR, and several others at large.
The widow of Idowu Keshinro, the murdered Ota Ikosi Ejinrin LCDA staff has cried out for justice following the gruesome killing of her husband whom she had three children with.
The widow, Funke Keshinro stated that since her husband was killed, life has not been the same for her and the children because the deceased was the breadwinner of the family.
She revealed that she had to change the schools of the children because it’s been difficult to afford the private schools their father had enrolled them in before he died.
‘’Since my husband died, life has not been easy at all because when he was alive, he never joked with his children but now, it’s just me alone and it’s not easy. Since he died, I had to change the schools of the children to government-owned schools from private schools because I can’t continue all he used to do.’’
While speaking on what she wants from the government, Funke asserted that she wants justice for deceased husband. She mentioned that she doesn’t want the person that killed her husband to live because there are rumours that the arrested suspect would be released at the next court sitting slated for November 26.
Some of the suspects involved in this murder include Mukaila Salau, Tiamiyu Ahmed, Waliu Suleimon, Ibrahim Ekemode, Akande Ahmed Omogbemi, Abubakar Suleiman Mayaki, and others who are currently at large.
Funke tearfully noted that the children can’t recognize their father because they are still small, explaining how it’s been difficult raising them alone because their father’s life was cut short.
“I want the government to please fast-track justice; the person that killed him should also die. I want justice and nothing more. We have heard that they have arrested some people but we are waiting for judgement. I want a judgment that would be good for the three children and me. These children cannot even recognize their father because they are still young and I have also heard they want to release some of those who were arrested. Please, the government should help me, everyone that knows about my husband’s death should be judged accordingly.”
Meanwhile, in a petition dated October 18th 2024 written to the attorney general of Lagos state, it was noted that the suspects that have been arrested are currently boasting that they will be released at the next court sitting. They had been arraigned at Ogba Magistrate court on two occasions for their involvement in the murder of Idowun Keshinro.
The family of the deceased however, in the petition, called on the Lagos state government and Ministry of justice to ensure justice isn’t perverted for the sake of the deceased family and the peace of the community.
‘’It is our further brief that; other persons who are still at large with their syndicate are now intensifying efforts to ensure that they and the aforementioned persons escape justice by way of perversion of the cause of justice in respect of the subject matter.’’
‘’Furthermore, we have the brief of our client that the said persons and one KABIRU ABUBAKAR SULAIMON who is a brother to one of the defendants in the said charge continue to boast that the defendants would be released unconditionally as they claim to have connection to few politicians who would lead them to the office of the Attorney General and or have enough money to access same so as to ensure the Attorney General exercises his prerogative powers under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to release the Defendants in the above charge unconditionally’’
‘’We believe that the office of the Attorney General is dignifiedly sacred and clothed with Honour and same deserves utmost respect or regard from all and sundry as the case maybe. The noise cum brag of the aforementioned persons to pervert cause of justice at all cost in the above mentioned charge has now become deafening in the circumstance of our client thereof Our client and members of his family are hapless and continue to live in perpetual despair and would suffer untoward agony in the event the above mentioned persons make do of their boast and intention to escape justice in respect of the said charge’’, the petition reads in part.
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