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Insecurity: Over 971 Nigerians kidnapped in October 2024 – Report

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

No fewer than 971 Nigerians were abducted across the country in October 2024, LEADING REPORTERS gathered.

The revelation is coming amid the emergence of a new terror group, ‘Lakurawa’ in the northwestern part of the country.

The data is contained in the ‘October 2024 Nigeria Security Report’ by Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited, BSIL, a security risk management and intelligence consulting company, and made available to DAILY POST on Tuesday.

The report said there’s a deterioration of security metrics of incidents, abductions and fatalities in the country, warning that the rising numbers suggested that 2024 was likely to be the worst year in security performance in about a decade.

It explained that the month under review was marked mainly by developments associated with violent activities, including killings and kidnapping for ransom mainly by non-state armed groups (NSAGs), criminal gangs, cult groups, and armed ethnic militias, and social unrest in the form of protests and labour action triggered by the harsh socio-economic circumstances in the country and political activities.

The security firm revealed that data collected indicated that the country recorded a 51% rise in fatalities and 24.42% increase in abductions.

A breakdown of the report according to BEACON INTEL showed Nigeria recorded 861 security incidents, of which 64.92% (559) were attributed to security threats, 24.79% (215) consisted of security forces operations, and 4.99% (43) were attributed to safety incidents from October 1-31, 2024.

In the month under review, the country also recorded 1545 fatalities, with 67.70% attributed to civilian deaths, 25.89% to criminals/non-state armed groups (NSAGs), and 6.40% attributed to security forces and 971 individuals abducted.

In terms of distribution across the country, the North East and North West regions were the most affected by security incidents, which account for 52.03% of the total incidents, respectively, whereas the South East reported the fewest incidents at 7.78%.

The number of individuals abducted increased from 807 in September 2024 to 971 in October 2024, marking a 20.32% increase and a shift from the 11.03% decline recorded in September 2024.

“The North West was the hardest hit, with 83.83% of all abductions occurring in this region, while the South West region experienced the least number of abductions with 0.21%.

“Of the total number of abducted individuals, Northern Nigeria accounted for 954 (98.25%), while Southern Nigeria accounted for 17 (1.75%),” the report added.

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Headlines

20 RCCG Members Not Kidnapped – Ogun Police

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Nigerian Police, Ogun Command has debunked a report by a certain Pastor Gbenga Obaleye that bandits kidnapped 20 members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God( RCCG) at Kara in Ifo Local Government Area.

The Command said the report was false and inciting, insisting bandits were not targeting worshippers at the Redemption Camp.

Obaleye, who claimed to be an RCCG Pastor alleged that bandits kidnapped 20 members of his church on the way to the annual convention of the church.

In a post on his Facebook page, Obaleye urged the police and other security agencies to do something urgently, saying he could not believe that the criminal elements were operating everywhere.

According to him: “This is not spoiling any tribe, my members in my church were coming from camp this morning at 5:30. The Fulanis came out from the Kara where they use to sell cows. 20 people have been taken into the bush, that little bush, my members left the car and ran back shooting. They came back all money, laptop ATM have been taken, the phone they stole we used now to locate where they are as at 7am. Please police in Ogun axis pls help us not to disturb people in that area, truly they are all over I can’t believe this.”

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EntertainmentHeadlines

Two Nollywood Actors Kidnapped

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Two Nollywood actors, Clemson Cornel popularly known as Agbogidi and Cynthia Okereke have been reportedly abducted yesterday, while filming in Enugu State.

According to a statement released on social media, by the Director of Communications, Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Mrs Monalisa Chinda-Coker, the family of the actors confirmed that they haven’t returned home since they left a film location at Ozalla Town, Enugu.

The statement reads in part: “The two members of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Cynthia Okereke and Clenson Cornel aka Agbogidi were suspected missing after their family members confirmed they didn’t come back from a film location at Ozalla Town, Enugu State.

“The two members were suspected to have been kidnapped and this has increased fear amongst members about the safety of actors filming in the country.

“In view of this sad development, the National President of the Guild, Mr. Ejezie Emeka Rollas, has instructed all actors to avoid going to the outskirt of cities to film except full security cover is provided to ensure their safety,”

Mr Rollas, however, expressed shock over the ugly development while urging the security agencies to speed up investigations that would lead to their safe rescue.

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Headlines

President Buhari state among northern states declared highly unsafe by Britain

by Leading Reporters
written by Leading Reporters

Katsina State, the home state of Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari is among the northern states in Nigeria the United Kingdom has warned its citizens to extensively avoid, describing it as highly unsafe

Other states include Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Zamfara, Gombe and Kaduna state where suspected terrorists bombed an Abuja- Kaduna moving passenger train on Monday.

The terror attack left in its wake over 20 persons dead, several wounded and many kidnapped by the criminals who planted explosives on the rail track and later shot at stranded passengers.
Few days before the train bombing, suspected bandits had also attacked an international airport in Kaduna.

President Muhammadu Buhari has since ordered security agencies to hunt down the terrorists.

In spite of this, the UK government said in a travel advisory on Thursday that the designated states are not safe because of the rising level of insecurity.

The directory issued by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office FCDO, warned that the states any high risk areas where criminal group are still kidnapping people and killing others.

Part of the directory reads in parts: “The FCDO advise against all travel to Borno State, Yobe State, Adamawa State, Gombe State, Kaduna State, Katsina State, and Zamfara State. Violent attacks are frequent and there is a high threat of kidnap,” the post read.

“On 26 March 2022, gunmen launched an attack against Kaduna airport, killing at least one airport official in the latest in a series of attacks by gunmen in the north of Nigeria. On the evening of 29 March 2022, an apparent Improvised Explosive Device attack took place against a train travelling from Abuja to Kaduna. Reports suggest that a number of people were killed and that others were abducted by gunmen. Train services are now suspended between Abuja and Kaduna.”

“The threat level in North-East Nigeria, including around Maiduguri is increasing, particularly around transport hubs, religious areas, and large gatherings. Kidnaps have taken place on the roads in and out of Maiduguri. As the dry season starts in October, this risk is expected to increase even further,” the advisory further said.

“If the security situation in Maiduguri were to deteriorate any further, there is a significant likelihood that it could be extremely difficult for you to leave the city. We do not advise travelling by road.”

“If you’re in the North East against FCDO advice, keep in touch with the authorities and the wider community on the security situation and make sure your procedures and contingency plans are up to date. If you are working in the North East of Nigeria you should be fully confident in your employer’s ability to extract you from the North East in the event of any emergency,” FCDO said

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Headlines

Train Attack: Rotimi Amaechi heaps blame on the presidency; claims he forewarned FG

by Leading Reporters
written by Leading Reporters

Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of transportation has said that the terrorist attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train would have been avoided if the Federal Government had hearkened to his warning on same.  The Minister, following the attack said that he has severally warned of possible attack on the train and rail facilities, but for the insincerity of his colleagues in government who misconstrued his genuine demand for more money.

“When you come with sincerity to government and your colleagues and people are stopping you, it is annoying.”

The minister said that it was imperative to have necessary digital security and crime prevention equipment that could forestall event as was witnessed few days ago where many Nigerians lost their lives and others kidnapped by terrorists.

Addressing journalists after visiting the scene of the incident on Tuesday, the expressed dissatisfaction over the incident, which he claimed, could have been averted with relevant digital security equipment in place.

“We knew what the problem would be. We knew we needed to have digital security equipment. We applied for it. But it was not granted us”.

“Because if we had those equipment, you will see nobody on that track. And I warned that lives will be lost. Now, lives are lost. Eight persons dead, 25 persons in the hospital.

“We don’t know how many persons have been kidnapped. And the cost of that equipment is just N3 billion. The cost of what we’ve lost is more than N3 billion.

The Minister said that to fix it would cost Nigeria more now to get the destroyed facilities fixed, and even to get the digital security instruments, going by the rising cost of dollar.

“All the things on that track now, will cost us more than N3 billion. And now even the things we said give us approval to buy – at the time we asked for it, dollar was N400, now it is N500.

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Headlines

BREAKING: Terrorists Storm Kaduna Airport, Stop Aircraft From Taking Off

by Leading Reporters
written by Leading Reporters

Palpable tension in Kaduna State as bandits stormed Kaduna airport and stopped an aircraft  from taking off from the Airport.

Findings gathered that the aircraft was scheduled for Lagos on Saturday, when the Terrorists stormed the runaway forcing the officials of the airline and passengers to run for safety.
According to source who pleaded for anonymity disclosed that a staff of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) was also shot and killed by the bandits.

Even though, news about the shooting of the airport staff is still scanty but it was learnt that the deceased was shot around the runway by one of the Terrorists

It was gathered that the  aircraft which was billed  to take off  at 12.30pm on Saturday could not because of the presence of the bandits around the runway of the airport.

‘’As I speak to you now, there is already military presence to beef up security , though most of the staff are scared with the killing of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) staff, the source said.

As at the time of filing the report,  more than 10  military trucks have been deployed to the airport  to reinforce the security network around the airport.

It would be recalled, that last year, bandits stormed the staff quarters located within the vicinity of the airport  and kidnapped 10 staff of FAAN and NAMA.

Also, the security agencies our the airport are yet to react at the time of filing the report.
News credit: tribuneonlineng.com

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Headlines

Attack on NDA: Nigeria’s intelligence network has collapsed

by Leading Reporters
written by Leading Reporters

Northern elders have attributed Tuesday’s morning attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, Kaduna, by bandits leaving two military officers dead and an officer abducted, to failure of Nigeria’s intelligence network.

Recall that the Nigerian Army had earlier confirmed the killing of two of its officers and abduction of a senior officer at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), in Afaka, Kaduna State.

Witnesses said the bandits came in a large number in the early hours of Tuesday, adding that apart from the officers killed and kidnapped, some others sustained gunshot injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the NDA hospital.

The organisation,which said the development was an indication that no Nigerian no matter his or her status was safe in the country, therefore, demanded immediate review of security architecture.

According to the group,the entire security formations were to be blamed.

The group under the aegis of Coalition of Northern Elders for Peace and Development (CNEPD), in the statement by its national coordinator, Engr. Zana Goni, while blaming President Muhammadu Buhari for leaving Monguno behind at the time he replaced service chiefs, however, expressed unflinching support to the president and his party, the ruling All Progressives Congress,APC

Noting that their position was based on patriotism to the country,the elders insisted that it was time for the president to do away with Monguno following the worsening insecurity in the country.

The deteriorating security situation, according to the Coalition,is a sign that Monguno,who manages the nation’s security situation was not on top of his game.

The statement berated stakeholders in the region over what  the group described as “their long silence in the face of unbearable criminal acts by armed herdsmen across the country ‘thereby giving a bad image of the region.”

“We find it once more expedient to comment on the worsening security situation in the country, especially the latest attack on a military formation,the Nigerian Defence Academy,which is the training institute of military personnel.

“We woke up to the sad news of the attack on the NDA, leaving two officers killed and another abducted by bandits with heavy hearts. If it was not the confirmation of this unbelievable action by the Academy’s spokesperson, Bashir Jajira, we would have still been in doubt.

“The fact that a fortified military institute could be so easily invaded by armed militias without maximum resistance has left us with the conclusion that no part of this country and no citizen,no matter his or status is safe again.

“Without mincing words,we wish to attribute this ugly development to intelligence failure. We wish to strongly say here that the attack is a slap on the Nigeria intelligence community.

“The retention of the National Security Adviser, General Babagana Monguno, at the time the president listened to the voice of reason and replaced service chiefs, may be contributing to the continuous deteriorating security situation in the country.

“Given the situation, we wish to humbly and respectively appeal to our dear President, Muhammadu Buhari, to as a matter of urgent national importance, replace the NSA, whose tenure since his assumption of office, has been characterised by heightened Boko Haram activities, banditry, kidnap for ransom and other heinous crimes without end in sight.

We reinstate unequivocally that Monguno has failed to provide useful advice to address the scourging insecurity in the country and therefore,does not deserve continuous stay in office.

As Northern elders,we have found it very important to call on President Buhari to remove the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (retd), whose office and responsibilities are critical to the achievement of comprehensive security all over the country but hasn’t used the high esteem of his office in any productive ways since his appointment as NSA.

‘The reason for this call is not farfetched. We believe that Major-Gen Monguno was part of the gross failure associated with the tenure of the former security chiefs and his continued presence in office will make the success Buhari intended to achieve with the changes very difficult, if not completely impossible.

‘It is important that the NSA be replaced so that the process of injecting fresh blood can be completed.

‘We believe that the service chiefs need a clean slate to succced as to avoid being tied to the springs of the past fatal failures. This call is both patriotic and totally apolitical as a responsible group of elders in our dear region.

‘It would be to the highest interests of Nigeria for the president to heed this call and act on it immediately, ”the group said.

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