News
29,828 Killed, 15,404 Abducted In Three Years – Report

No fewer than 29,828 people were killed while 15,430 were kidnapped across the country between January 2021 and December 2023.
Also, a total of 14,145 attacks occurred across 736 local government areas out of 774 LGs of the country.
This is according to the 2023 Nigeria Security Report by an Abuja-based security risk management and intelligence company, Beacon Consulting.
According to the report obtained by Saturday PUNCH, in 2021, 8,372 people killed and 5,031 were abducted.
Also, in 2022, 11,714 people were killed, and 6,319 abducted, while in 2023, 9,742 were killed, and 4,080 were abducted.
READ ALSO: Insecurity: Tinubu Mulls Deployment Of Forest Guards
Speaking with The PUNCH correspondent, the Chief Executive Officer, Beacon Consulting, Dr Kabir Adamu, faulted current Nigeria’s security architecture, saying the leadership had failed in implementing a crucial part of the architecture.
He also stated the security sector lacked operational, financial, and democratic accountability, a development he said, had made it difficult to attain the desired success.
He said, “The security architecture at the moment is not accountable. This is a carryover from the previous administration. Critical national consequences occur and nobody within the security architecture is held accountable.
“We look at accountability in two ways; operational accountability where failures lead to the loss of assets like lives and others. The other is financial accountability.
READ ALSO: Facts To Know About The Africa Cup Of Nations
“The security sector is the sector with the highest budgetary provisions and I think I won’t be wrong if I say that the sector is not giving us value for money.
“This year alone, according to my firm, over 8,000 people have been killed. So, there is no accountability within the sector. There is also the absence of democratic accountability.
“Outside what has happened in Plateau State, in Zamfara State, as of January 4, at least four local government areas have almost been completely taken over by these bandits.”
He maintained that the Federal Government must strength institutional capacity within the current architecture, saying, “We are not following the provision of the security architecture.”
READ ALSO: Man In Court For Allegedly Stealing Employer’s N3.5m
According to him, part of the architecture that the Federal Government has failed is the convening of the National Security Council meeting which the President Bola Tinubu-led government has not held since it resumed office on May 29, 2023.
“There are certain aspects of the architecture that are not been complied with. For instance, when was the last time that the Federal Government held the National Security Council meeting? In other countries, and by the provision of our law, after the recent incident, the Council should have been convened.
“How many of our citizens have been killed? That Council has not sat, likewise the National Defence Council, and National Police Council aside from after the present IGP was appointed. Another aspect of that architecture is the need for an ombudsman to monitor certain things within the security sector.
“The constitutional provision for the appointment of an ombudsman for example is the intelligence community. Till today, we don’t have an ombudsman in the intelligence community.”
PUNCH
News
Shatta Wale Bailed Burna Boy From Ghana Prison After Arrest For Smoking Weed – Captan

Ghanian singer, Captan, has claimed that his former record label boss, Shatta Wale, once bailed Nigerian singer Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana after he was allegedly arrested for smoking weed.
Speaking in a recent podcast interview, Captan claimed that Shatta Wale sent him and others to free Burna Boy from police custody.
He also claimed that Shatta Wale and his group once accommodated Burna Boy when he was being hunted by some dangerous men.
READ ALSO: Wale Edun Opens Up After Sack
Captan said, “I once bailed Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana when he was arrested for smoking weed. Shatta Wale sent me and some guys to go and free him from police custody.
“There was a time we also accommodated him when some people were after his life. We helped him settle the case.”
He added that he and Burna Boy are no longer in good terms after the Nigerian artist’s fallout with his mentor, Shatta Wale.
He, however, said he and Shatta Wale are open to reconciling with Burna Boy if he asks for it.
Watch the video here
News
Children’s Day: Chaos At Ogbe Stadium As Dozens Faint

Chaos erupted on Wednesday during the Children’s Day celebration as dozens of students reportedly collapsed following a stampede triggered by the use of pepper spray.
The event,
organised by the Edo State Ministry of Education at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was disrupted after some male students of Ihogbe College allegedly made uncompromising advances towards female students at the venue.
A parent who identified himself as Oboh Emmanuel said, “the behaviour of those uncultured students attracted the attention of bouncers stationed at the stadium as they rebuked the male students.”
Oboh said the affected students later regrouped and attacked the bouncers, leading to a confrontation within the crowded arena.
READ ALSO:Children’s Day: Edo Commits To Child Protection
It was gathered that in the ensuing confusion, the bouncers were reported to have deployed pepper spray in an area occupied by a large number of students.
Several students, particularly female students, reportedly fainted after inhaling the substance, while others sustained injuries after being stepped on during the ensuing melee.
The panic was said to have spread across the stadium as students, teachers and parents scampered for safety.
Many of the affected students were reportedly rushed to the Edo Specialist Hospital for medical attention.
READ ALSO: Egor LG Chair, Ogbemudia, Vice, Osawe Impeached
Reacting to the incident, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Dr Patrick Ebojele, said the security personnel that fired the tear gas had been detained.
He said all the students, except two, that were rushed to the hospital have been discharged.
Ebojele stated that doctors wanted to observe the students till tomorrow before allowing them to go home.
“The two students are not seriously injured. Doctors want to observe them overnight. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education is still at the hospital. The man who used pepper spray has been detained.
“The incident did not happen the way it is being exaggerated. All modalities were put in place to ensure the children enjoyed their day.”
News
Okpebholo Salutes Edo Muslims, Seeks Continued Support, Prayers

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has urged Muslims and all Nigerians to continue to pray for peace, unity and progress in the country even as they celebrate the annual Eid-al-Adha
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, stated this during the annual Eid-al-Adha celebration with Muslim faithfuls held at Government House in Benin City.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to fairness, inclusivity and equal opportunities for all citizens irrespective of religion and tribe.
READ ALSO:ADC Penetrates Okpebholo’s District As Defections Strengthen Party in Edo Central
According to him, the present administration remains determined to building a government that reflects the diversity of Edo State, noting that competent and qualified Muslims have continued to play vital roles in his government because of their capacity, integrity and commitment to service.
“As a government, we remain committed to fairness, inclusivity and equal opportunity for every Edo citizen, irrespective of religion, ethnicity or political affiliation. This is why quality and competent Muslims are serving in key positions in our administration.”
Okpebholo appreciated the Muslim community in Edo State for their unwavering support and continuous prayers for his administration, noting that such prayers and support have contributed immensely to the peace and steady development being witnessed across the state.
READ ALSO:Okpebholo Felicitates Muslims On Eid-el-Fitr Celebration
He then called on all Nigerians to use the occasion of Eid-al-Adha to pray for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stressing that the country needs collective prayers, unity and cooperation to overcome its present economic and security challenges.
“I urge all Muslims and indeed all Nigerians to use this occasion to pray for our dear nation and for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Nigeria needs our collective prayers, unity and support as we strive to overcome our challenges and build a more prosperous future for all.”
In his remarks, the Chief Imam of Edo State, Abdulfatai Enabulele, applauded the governor for what he described as remarkable developmental strides recorded in less than two years in office.
The cleric commended the administration for ongoing infrastructural development and efforts geared towards improving governance in the state, but appealed to the government to revisit and complete some abandoned projects inherited from the previous administration for the benefit of the people.
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