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100 Days In Office: Security Experts Pass Verdict On Tinubu Govt

Published

2 years ago

September 10, 2023

As President Bola Tinubu marks his 100 days in office, some experts have expressed divergent views on the state of the country’s security situation.

DAILY POST reports that terrorism, banditry and other criminal activities were the major crisis bedeviling the nation prior to May 29 2023 when President Tinubu took over the mantle of leadership from his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.

While some experts are of the view that the wanton killing, kidnapping and other heinous activities perpetrated by the bloodthirsty assailants have drastically reduced, others are saying that nothing has changed so far.

Recall that in an effort to quell the age long security crisis ravaging the country, President Tinubu after a few days in office, overhauled the security architecture with new service chiefs.

Although the President’s action stimulated a new hope amongst Nigerians who were hitherto in despair over the havoc being wrecked by the daredevil terrorists and bandits, killings and abduction of unsuspecting citizens have continued.

The criminal elements are still on rampage in the Federal Capital Territory and other parts of the nation despite efforts of the new government to tackle the menace.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported in August that no fewer than 23 local government areas are controlled by bandits in Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi states.

More worrisome is the deteriorating situation in Sokoto and Zamfara states where residents are forcefully sacked from their ancestral homes, abandoning their various sources of livelihood.

DAILY POST gathered on Saturday that the security of lives and property in the eastern part of Sokoto State recently hit an all-time low as the criminal elements continued their killing sprees, kidnapping and maiming innocent members of the communities.

According to a source, Mr Muhammed Magaji, who is conversant with the ugly situation, the development has instilled fear in residents, especially those in Isa, Sabon Birni, Rabah, Goronyo, and Illela local council areas of the State.

Kaduna State has also been a den of the criminal elements with several abductions, killings occuring incessantly.

Recent among the numerous attacks was the incident that occurred on Thursday when the unscrupulous elements burnt down the parish house of Saint Raphael’s Catholic Church in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of the State, killing a Seminarian in the process.

Locals, who witnessed the attack, said the miscreants in their large numbers stormed the Saint Raphael Parish at Fadan Kamantan, Kafanchan Diocese on Thursday night and set the building ablaze alongside a vehicle parked in the premises.

The perpetrators of the dastardly act causing mayhem across the country did not exempt the nation’s capital as bandits continued to terrorize parts of the city, particularly the satellite areas.

On Thursday, September 8, about 19 persons were kidnapped in the Bwari Area Council by gunmen yet-to-be identified.

The development was revealed during the maiden meeting between the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and the six area council chairmen.

The Minister, who was concerned about the developments, said he would summon the FCT Director of Department of State Services, DSS, as well as the Commissioner of Police, to be comprehensively briefed about the kidnap incident and facilitate rescue operations.

Similarly, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Haruna G. Garba on Thursday paraded no fewer than 15 suspected criminals who were nabbed for various crimes, including murder and abduction across the territory.

DAILY POST reports that while the Southerners are enjoying relative peace, some states in the region including Rivers and Edo have been in the news following activities of suspected cultists.

Recall that armed men suspected to be cultists terrorizing parts of Rivers State on Friday night killed a Divisional Police Officer, DPO, identified as Bako Amgbanshin.

A viral video which surfaced on the Internet revealed how Angbanshin’s head, hand and his private part were cut off.

Experts view and recommendations

President of the Eagle Crime Awareness Prevention Initiative, ECAPI, Samuel Eniola Adam told DAILY POST on Saturday that the insecurity situation in the country has tremendously reduced.

Adams claimed that the crime rate in the country has in the last four months reduced from at least 100 to 50%, citing the level of killings prior to Tinubu’s assumption of office.

He said, “To me, the insecurity in Nigeria has so far reduced from at least 100 to 50%.

“Majority of the security crisis we faced during the past government has really gone down.

“Although we still have some elements causing trouble in the north, it cannot be compared to what Nigerians were facing during the past administrations.

“Go to the Southeast and you will understand what I’m saying. Kidnapping and other activities of the unknown gunmen have drastically reduced since the President took over the leadership of Nigeria.”

Mr Adams, however, admitted that the fight against insecurity would yield more positive results when the county’s economy is in good shape.

“I think the only thing that is affecting the society now is the economy. People are hungry and I believe that if the President can tackle the hardship problems, insecurity will be a thing of the past.

“My advice to Nigerians at the moment is to exercise patience. I am sure that by the time the economy is revived, every other thing will fall in place. I’m begging Nigerians to have patience; this is the only country we can call our own.

“It is better to prevent crime than fighting crimes. Economy is the problem in Nigeria. There are no jobs anywhere. The federal ministries and even the states have no employment going on and that is why our children are joining bad gangs to perpetrate evil.

“If the majority of the youths are engaged through employment, the general crime rate will be reduced to a minimum. Both adults and even children are now into internet fraud because there is no job.

“I don’t blame them, I blame both the government and the parents. Everybody wants their children to go to university whereas the highest qualification that is recognized in Nigeria is secondary school. With such certificates you can become governor and even president.

“Parents should encourage their children to acquire skills. If you have a skill, for instance, a fashion designer, you don’t need a job from the government. You will engage yourself and earn good money”, he added.

But a security analyst, James Adakole, who spoke to our correspondent in Abuja on Saturday, said nothing has changed since the President took over power.

He said, “I have not seen any change. Have the bandits stopped attacking innocent people? Has the killing in the Northeast stopped?

“Are the Fulani militias no longer killing people in Benue, Kogi and other states? Where is the change?

“Everyday we keep hearing of attacks, abductions, killings everywhere. The thing is, when people are unhappy, the crime rate automatically increases. Nigerians are not happy so the crime rate is increasing rather than reducing.

“Many people are now going into the business of kidnapping to survive. Yes, many of them refer to the crime as business. Yahoo boys are multiplying everyday and these boys are now into something else. They now use human life as a sacrifice to boost their crimes.

“So when people say the security has improved, I don’t understand. Maybe I will understand better when things begin to work well. When the cost of living reduces and Nigerians are happy.”

Adakole also pointed out that “the best way to tackle security problems is to improve the lives of the people. Many people are into what they naturally don’t like doing but they feel that is the only option for them.

“When the government puts up measures to better the lives of the citizens, people will change. You hardly hear of this security crisis in most developed countries and that is because things are easy for them.”

DAILY POST

Headline

Trump Administration Proposes New Rule Limiting Nigerians, Others

Published

12 hours ago

August 28, 2025

Editor

The Trump administration has unveiled a proposal that would restrict the length of time international students can remain in the United States for their studies.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the regulation, which is expected to be published on Thursday, would impose a four-year cap on student visas and other categories of temporary admissions.

According to Fox News, the DHS said the proposal is part of efforts to curb “visa abuse” and strengthen the government’s ability to “properly vet and oversee these individuals.”

It added that some students have “taken advantage of U.S. generosity” and become “forever” students by staying enrolled in colleges to prolong their residence.

“For too long, past Administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain in the U.S. virtually indefinitely, posing safety risks, costing untold amount of taxpayer dollars, and disadvantaging U.S. citizens,” a DHS spokesperson stated.

“This new proposed rule would end that abuse once and for all by limiting the amount of time certain visa holders are allowed to remain in the U.S., easing the burden on the federal government to properly oversee foreign students and their history,” the spokesperson continued.

Currently, F visa holders may stay in the U.S. for the “duration of status,” meaning the period they are enrolled full-time. The new proposal would allow stays for the length of a programme but would not permit them to exceed four years, generally less than the time needed for postgraduate studies.

Foreign journalists would also be affected. Under the plan, they would receive an initial admission period of 240 days, with the possibility of a single extension for another 240 days, but not longer than their assignment.

The DHS said regular assessments would provide “proper oversight” and help reduce the number of people residing in the U.S. on temporary visas.

But education experts warned the measure could hurt universities financially. International students typically pay higher tuition and have fewer opportunities for scholarships, which contributes significantly to the financial support of American colleges.

“It will certainly act as an additional deterrent to international students choosing to study in the United States, to the detriment of American economies, innovation, and global competitiveness,” Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, said in a statement to Politico.

Headline

Russia Hits Ukraine With ‘Massive’ Deadly Overnight Strikes

Published

16 hours ago

August 28, 2025

Editor

Russian forces launched a “massive” attack on Kyiv on Thursday, hitting the Ukrainian capital with strikes that killed at least four people and wounded around 30 others, Ukrainian officials said.

The attack came as Moscow and Kyiv traded blame over an impasse in diplomatic efforts towards a peace deal spearheaded by US President Donald Trump.

AFP journalists in Kyiv witnessed powerful explosions that illuminated the night sky and left behind a column of smoke.

Ukraine’s Interior Minister Igor Klymenko said the strikes killed four people and wounded “about 30 people.”

Those killed included a 14-year-old girl, while five children aged seven to 17 were among those who sustained “injuries of varying severity,” Tymur Tkachenko, the head of the city’s military administration, said.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko described the strikes as a “massive attack” that caused damage in several districts of the capital.

Tkachenko said Moscow had fired ballistic and cruise missiles as well as Iranian-designed Shahed drones from different directions to “systematically” target residential buildings.

Red tracer bullets sailed through the night sky in an effort to intercept drones above the city centre, an AFP journalist saw. At least one missile appeared to be shot down.

Around 100 people took refuge in a subway station, with some lying in sleeping bags and others holding their pets.

A five-story building in the Darnytsky district had collapsed, and a shopping mall was hit in the city centre, Klitschko reported.

– Ukrainian attacks on Russia –
Kyiv suffered one of its worst attacks of the over three-year war on July 31, leaving more than 30 people dead including five children.

Ukrainian officials also reported a Russian strike in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region on Thursday.

Russian authorities said they destroyed over 100 Ukrainian drones overnight. A Ukrainian attack sparked a fire at an oil refinery in the Krasnodar region but caused no casualties, according to local officials.

Russian forces have been slowly but steadily gaining ground in Ukraine in recent months, as diplomatic efforts have accelerated.

Trump held a high-profile summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska this month, followed by a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky and European allies.

But there has been little progress since then.

Before concluding any peace agreement, Ukraine wants security guarantees from the West to deter any future Russian attacks.

Moscow has cast Kyiv’s demands as unrealistic and has raised particular objection to the notion of stationing Western peacekeeping troops in Ukraine.

Zelensky said on Wednesday that members of his administration would meet with US officials in New York on Friday.

The Ukrainian leader said he saw “very arrogant and negative signals from Moscow regarding the negotiations”, urging extra “pressure” to “force Russia to take real steps”.

AFP

Headline

Two US Pastors Arrested In $50m Human Trafficking, Fraud Case

Published

17 hours ago

August 28, 2025

Editor

Two church leaders in the United States have been arrested in an alleged multi-million-dollar conspiracy after multiple Federal Bureau of Investigation raids across the country on Wednesday, including one in Hillsborough County’s exclusive Avila neighborhood.

In a statement issued via its website on Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice said Michelle Brannon, 56, was arrested at a mansion near Tampa, while David Taylor, 53, was arrested in North Carolina over allegations of multi-million dollar money laundering, forced labour and human trafficking.

According to the DOJ, Taylor and Brannon are the leaders of Kingdom of God Global Church, formerly known as Joshua Media Ministries International.

The Justice Department said Taylor referred to himself as “Apostle” and to Brannon as his Executive Director.

FBI officials said law enforcement arrested Brannon early Wednesday at 706 Guisando De Avila in Hillsborough County, which is owned by the church, according to property records.

Investigators arrested Taylor on Wednesday morning in North Carolina, while SWAT and FBI agents also raided a hotel owned by the church in Houston.

A 10-count indictment alleged that Taylor and Brannon ran call centres in Florida, Texas, Missouri, and Michigan to solicit donations to the church.

The pair convinced their victims to work at the call centres and work for Taylor as personal servants – referred to as “armour bearers” – for long hours without pay, according to the indictment.

Federal investigators said Taylor and Brannon “controlled every aspect of the daily living of their victims,” who slept at the call centre or in a “ministry” house and were not allowed to leave without permission.

The indictment also says the suspects forced the victims to transport women to Taylor and ensure that those women took Plan B emergency contraceptives.

The church received about $50 million in donations through its call centres dating back to 2014, according to the DOJ.

Taylor and Brannon are accused of using much of that money to buy luxury properties, luxury vehicles, and sporting equipment such as boats, jet skis, and ATVs.

Taylor and Brannon face charges of forced labour, conspiracy to commit forced labour, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Each alleged crime carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Michigan returned a 10-count indictment against two defendants for their alleged roles in a forced labour and money laundering conspiracy that victimised individuals in Michigan, Florida, Texas, and Missouri.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said the two defendants were arrested in North Carolina and Florida in a nationwide takedown of their forced labour organistion.

“Combating human trafficking is a top priority for the Department of Justice.

“We are committed to relentlessly pursuing and ending this scourge and obtaining justice for the victims,” he said.

Also speaking, U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr. for the Eastern District of Michigan, said, “We will use every lawful tool against human traffickers and seek justice for their victims.

“A case like this is only possible through a concerted effort with our federal partners across the country and the non-governmental agencies who provide victim support. We thank them all.”

“The indictment of David Taylor and Michelle Brannon demonstrates the FBI’s steadfast efforts to protect the American people from human exploitation and financial crimes, including forced labour and money laundering.

“The alleged actions are deeply troubling. I want to thank the members of the FBI Detroit Field Office, with strong support from our federal and agency partners in the FBI Tampa Field Office, FBI Jacksonville Field Office, FBI St. Louis Field Office, FBI Charlotte Field Office, FBI Houston Field Office, and the Detroit IRS-CI Field Office, in addition to several local, county and state law enforcement partners, for their role in executing this multi-state operation.

“The FBI in Michigan will continue to investigate those who violate federal law and remain focused on ensuring the protection and safety of our nation,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Reuben Coleman of the FBI Detroit Field Office.

“Money laundering is tax evasion in progress, and in this case, the proceeds funded an alleged human trafficking ring and supported a luxury lifestyle under the guise of a religious ministry.

“IRS-CI stands committed to fighting human trafficking and labor exploitation, and pursuing those who hide their profits gained from the extreme victimization of the vulnerable,” said Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of IRS Criminal Investigation, Detroit Field Office.

According to the DOJ, conspiracy to commit forced labour carries up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $250,000, while forced labour carries up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $250,000.

It noted that conspiracy to commit money laundering carries up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $500,000 or twice the value of the properties involved in the money laundering transactions.

It was gathered that Brannon appeared in federal court in Tampa on Wednesday afternoon, but an attorney for Brannon wasn’t present.

A judge asked where her attorney was and whether she had representation.

Brannon told the judge that she had two private attorneys, out of St. Louis and Oklahoma, who were already working with them. However, she said she hadn’t heard from either of them.

The judge said the attorneys were not able to be reached through the phone numbers provided to federal prosecutors. It’s not clear if Brannon has legal representation at this point.

The judge continued Brannon’s hearing to Thursday afternoon. He instructed Brannon to find an attorney in the Tampa area in the meantime.