Security

Tinubu Orders Security Agencies to Rescue Abducted Victims

By Web News 377

President Bola Tinubu has directed security and intelligence agencies to immediately rescue the abducted vulnerable victims, internally displaced persons in Borno State, and students in Kaduna State.

The President, who condemned the abduction, also ordered all relevant government agencies to ensure that justice is served against the perpetrators of the abominable acts.

President Tinubu in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale was quoted as saying, “I have received briefing from security chiefs on the two incidents, and I am confident that the victims will be rescued. Nothing else is acceptable to me and the waiting family members of these abducted citizens. Justice will be decisively administered.”

He sympathized with the families of the victims, assuring them that they would soon be reunited with their loved ones.

Vanguard/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Crime

Borno Youths Take Fermented Urine, Lizard Dung, NDLEA Raises Alarm

By Web News 537

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, on Thursday, raised the alarm that youths in Borno State are drinking fermented human urine, preserved over 10 days, as an alternative to hard drugs.

The Commander of Narcotics of the NDLEA in Borno State, Iliyasu Mani, disclosed this in a statement in Maiduguri.

He said abuse of psychoactive substances was prevalent among the youths, noting that they also take other unusual substances such as lizard dung, camel urine, Lipton soaked in gin, and Mentholated spirit mixed with soft drinks.

He said they also inhale toilet fumes and gutter dirt in their quest to get intoxicated.

Mani said, “Let me state categorically here that these new psychoactive substances that are commonly abused today include Cannabis Sativa, skunk, Cough syrup with codeine; Ice, Tramadol, Rohypnol, Diazepam, Pentazocine, rubber solution, glue, gutter dirt, toilet fumes, lizard dung.

“Others include Lipton soaked in gin, camel urine, Mentholated spirit in soft drinks; 10-day-old human Urine, and so on.”

Mani said the NDLEA command, under his watch, had fought a hard battle against drug abuse but “unfortunately, the issue of substance abuse is even getting challenging, especially with the involvement of young teens in the abuse of new psychoactive substances, especially women.”

“Despite all these, we must not lose our hope as the agency has strengthened its efforts towards prevention strategy through the establishment of remodelled counselling/rehab centre within the premises of Borno State Command,” the NDLEA commander said.

Mani said his command had also established drop-in centres across all tertiary institutions to serve as drug abuse research centres for the benefit of all.

He said the command, under his watch, had seized  4.5 tonnes of illicit substances and arrested 863 suspects.

Of those arrested, he said 53 had been convicted while 736 were undergoing counselling.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime household survey conducted in 2018 but reviewed in 2021 and 2022 placed the level of substance abuse in Nigeria at 14.3 per cent, which was three times higher than the 5.6 per cent global average.

The survey further showed that the prevalence of illicit drugs in the North-East was put at 13.6 per cent and North-West, 12 per cent, while North-Central is said to be at 10 per cent.

Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Environment

Borno Govt Demolishes Factory

By Web News 577

Borno State government has demolished an ice block factory for illegally connecting the business premises to the generator used in powering street lights and for encroaching road reservations. 

The Executive Secretary Borno Geographic Information Service BOGIS Alhaji Adam Bababe said the factory which has about thirty constructed industrial fridges illegally tapped its source of power from the generator used to supply street lights to communities in the new GRA of Maiduguri metropolis. 

Alhaji Bababe explained that the illegal act has led to the damage of two 250kv generators purchased by the Borno state government in the last year.

According to him, a good Samaritan reported the matter to the relevant authority and after a thorough investigation, the culprit was arrested by security operatives. 

The Executive Secretary said the business premises in January this year were marked for illegal encroachment on road reservations before unraveling the recent act.

The activity of the economic saboteur Alhaji Bababe said has brought untold hardship to the community which informed residents to closely monitor the illegal act. 

He warned other economic saboteurs to desist or face the full wrath of the law.

A resident of new GRA Mohammed Al’amin claimed that the culprit attempted to bribe him with one million naira but resisted.

He said the act was uncovered around one o’clock Tuesday morning and immediately reported the incident to security agents. 

FRCN Abuja/Adetutu Adetule

Lifestyle

UN Pledges Support for Reintegration of Repentant Boko Haram

By Web News 501

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has promised to support the reintegration process for repentant Boko Haram fighters into society.

The Secretary-General made the promise when he paid a courtesy to Borno state Governor Babagana Zulum at the Government House, Maiduguri. 

The war against the Boko Haram insurgency had in the last one year assumed a different dimension with the mass surrendering of fighters and members of their families. 

So far more than fifty thousand combatants and non-combatants have surrendered to authorities in Borno state and are currently undergoing rehabilitation. 

This unprecedented act has attracted global attention and the United Nations Secretary-General is personally leading a delegation to assess the situation. 

Mr Antonio Guterres during a courtesy visit to Governor Babagana Zulum commended the state government for putting in place the right mechanism to fighting terrorism.

According to him, investing in the livelihood of victims of insurgency and reintegration of repentant Boko Haram fighters remains the greatest way of ending the crisis. 

“I was amazed to see today in a centre those that have been terrorists they want to integrate into the society, want to contribute to the society and the policy that has been here, is a policy of reconciliation, the policy of reintegration is a policy aiming at a development perspective to allow for terrorism to be eliminated,” Mr Guterres said.

The UN Secretary-General called on the international community to support Borno state in addressing the humanitarian needs of internally displaced persons and returnees. 

He noted that humanitarian aid is not the major concern of IDPs in Borno, rather providing favourable conditions to enable them to return back to their ancestral homes in safety and dignity. 

Borno state Governor Babagana Zulum appreciated the United Nations system for rendering life-saving humanitarian and development assistance during the twelve years of insurgency. 

He appealed to the United Nations to assist in resuscitation of the Lake Chad and strategic humanitarian support to IDPs outside Maiduguri. 

Governor Zulum assured that his administration would continue to partner with the United Nations to ensure victims of insurgency live in dignity and be productive members of the society. 

The UN Chief and members of his delegation had earlier visited Gubio road IDP camp and one of the facilities for the repentant insurgents.

 Dauda Iliya/Daniel Adejo