A RECENT report that no fewer than 50 “repentant thugs” in Kano were converted to Police Special Constabulary, PSC, by the Kano State Police Command has generated understandable concerns among the populace. The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Usaini Gumel, while addressing the “repentant thugs” at a ceremony held at Sani Abacha Stadium was quoted as saying: “Today is a happy day for the good people of Kano State and the Police Command because we passed out 50 youths from the 222 repentant thugs, who have since surrendered themselves and promised never to engage in thuggery and other social vices that have been bedevilling the state, especially during the second quarter of the year 2023.”

The CP recalled that about three months earlier, the Command invited some identified “notorious individuals” believed to be “behind the escalation of thuggery and other heinous crimes” in the state for dialogue. “We forwarded their details to the state governor for them to be supported by way of engaging them in some life-changing programmes…. It is from this number that 50 volunteered to work with the police and to contribute to the security and development of the state. Taking into consideration their commitment to ensuring peace in the state since their repentance, we trained them in classes and the field and kitted them as members of the Special Constabulary.”

It was not clear from the reports how long the ‘thugs’ had been repentant or the duration of their training before they “volunteered to work with the Police”. Kano State is, however, not the only state that has tried to rehabilitate ‘thugs’. The Daily Nigerian of September 5, 2022 reported that “two gangs of political thugs in Zamfara State embraced peace and urged the state government to engage them positively so as to contribute positively to societal development”. Members of the gang reportedly said they regretted being used by some politicians to cause mayhem on innocent citizens. The groups, said to be led by one Baba Karami and Garba Lawal, aka Vice, said they have joined the All Progressives Congress, APC, and would “support government efforts to restore peace in the state”.

There are a number of issues involved here: One is the notion of thugs. It would appear that the Kano State government used the word ‘thug’ as a generic sense to encompass all manner of socially unacceptable activity – from ruffians who may not necessarily have engaged in crimes to those suspected to be behind sundry crimes. For instance, the International Centre for Investigative Reporting in a report on October 17, 2023 noted: “On Monday, October 16, the ICIR saw pictures of Nasiru Abdullahi, popularly known as Chile Maidoki, donning a Kano State constabulary uniform alongside the State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Kiyawa. Sometime this year, Abdullahi and two other notorious criminals were declared wanted by the Kano State Police Command with a bounty of N100,000 each. A subsequent statement by the command confirmed that he surrendered himself to the command upon hearing the bounty placed on his head.”

While in Kano State we were told of “repentant thugs”, in Zamfara State, it seemed that the focus was more narrowly on “political thugs”. Though this is narrower than the concept of ‘thug’ it is still broad because it could be an umbrella term for all manner of people working for politicians – from private security men to political enforcers, hangers-on and hired political assassins. Again, like in Zamfara, it is not clear if the political thugs had committed any crime, and if so, whether they have been convicted by a competent court of law.

It would seem that in Kano State, the apparent inability of the police to segregate the ‘repentant thugs’ into groups according to their suspected levels of involvement in crime and then convince the populace that those allowed to become members of the Special Police Constabulary are no threats, is one of the reasons for the push back by the people. The truth is that not all thugs are criminals – which may partly explain why ‘agberos’ these days want to be called ‘road transport workers’.

To be “repentant” means that one is conscious of having down something wrong. An average motor park thug or political thugs will most likely opt for a more respectable job if offered the opportunity to do so, which means that in their own case, there may be nothing to ‘repent from’. The notion of ‘repentant thugs’ thus unfairly criminalises the dregs of the society who have never committed any crime but took to a life of hustling only because they have no other options.

Two, related to the above is the question of recidivism. Recidivism in penology and criminology is the act of a person repeating an undesirable behaviour after having been trained to abandon such. It is also used to refer to the percentage of former prisoners who are rearrested for a similar offence. Since the terminology of ‘repentant thug’ implies association with crimes, there are legitimate concerns about the said ‘repentant’ thugs returning to their old ways.

Recidivism is in fact a general concern across the world in conversations about the rehabilitation of offenders such as former prisoners or terrorists. For instance, in Norway, which has one of the lowest recidivism rates in the world, about 20 per cent (or a fifth) of former offenders, still end up re-offending? In the United Kingdom, figures from the National Statistics show that proven re-offending statistics for the period January to March 2021 was 24.3 per cent – meaning that nearly one-fourth of every rehabilitated offender ended up re-offending.

In the US, which has one of the highest recidivism rates in the world, almost 44 per cent of criminals released returned to prison within their first year out. In Nigeria, though there is a dearth of reliable data, a 2021 study of recidivism published in the African Journal of Social Issues, found that recidivism rate increased from 37.3 per cent in 2005 to 52.4 per cent in 2010, meaning that more than half of offenders released either from prison or under various reformation programmes, re-offended.

These figures will, therefore, seem to validate the fears about injecting “50 repentant thugs” into the Police Special Constabulary. As mentioned earlier, these concerns were exacerbated by the Police’s failure to segregate the thugs according to their levels of exposure to crime, and ensuring that only those who had not taken part in crimes or been convicted of crimes were recruited into the PSC. In fact, had the Police segregated the ‘repentant thugs’ according to their levels of exposure to different forms of crimes, it would have been easier to discuss integration programmes that could be appropriate for each category of the ‘repentant thugs’.

Three, given the unsavoury image of the Police, there is a special angst about the ‘repentant thugs’ being integrated into the Special Constabulary Police. Typically, Special Constables are volunteer Police Officers who have the same police powers, uniforms and equipment as regular Police Officers but sacrifice their free time on a voluntary basis. In the United Kingdom and most parts of the Western world, they do not get paid, but are reimbursed for expenses. A Special (as they are often called) is someone who will be valued, supported and integrated into the wider policing family.

In Nigeria, there remains a lack of clarity on the status of the Special Constabularies such that in August 2022, some 1,056 Special Constables recruited in Kwara State took to the streets to protest the non-payment of 18 months’ salary by the government and police authorities. It should be recalled that the idea of Police Special Constables was mooted in October 2020 when President Buhari directed the police hierarchy to commence recruitment of some special constables with a N13 billion take-off grant.

It is obvious that the Police Special Constables cannot work on the basis of volunteer scheme in Nigeria as is the case in other parts of the world because most of those recruited into the scheme do not seem to have any other visible means of livelihood. Whatever may be the status of the Nigerian Special Police Constabularies, the mere fact of giving people considered to be “undesirable elements” police uniforms, after only two months or so of training, is a legitimate source of concern.

Four, what are the options for the government when it comes to rehabilitating and re-integrating undesirable elements into the society? A starting point will be a proper segregation of the undesirable elements into their levels of exposure to crimes and then targeting each group with a rehabilitation programme appropriate for each category. For some categories of offenders, the state will have no option but to accommodate a community’s often justified unwillingness to welcome such elements into its fold

Barely 3 weeks to the opening of ballots in the off cycle governorship elections in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised serious concerns over the spate of violence that is threatening the delivery of a free and fair polls in the respective states.

Prof Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of INEC stated his concerns during the commission’s Quarterly Consultative Meeting with Political Parties in Abuja noting that all the parties and their candidates have a responsibility to call their supporters to order during the campaigns and procession.

While he charged the political parties, Inter-Party Consultative Advisory Council, and the security agencies to actively engage to mitigate the tension, Prof Yakubu maintained that a free and fair poll can only be possible under a peaceful atmosphere, saying the election is a process involving humans whose personal safety is equally important.

“As electioneering campaigns continue to intensify, the Commission reiterates its concern about the spate of violence in the three States involving parties and candidates. I wish to remind you as party leaders that free and fair elections are only possible in an atmosphere of peace. After all, an election is a process involving human beings such as voters, election officials, observers, and the media whose safety is of paramount concern to us.

“While we will continue to work with the security agencies in this regard, political parties acting individually or collectively through the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) also have an obligation to impress on your members, candidates, and supporters to maintain peace during the campaign rallies and procession. I urge you to also appeal to them to maintain the same disposition on Election Day and beyond”

On the readiness of the INEC for the election, the INEC chairman explained that following the mock accreditation carried out in the State , the commission’s State offices have concluded the readiness assessment of our facilities as well as the movement of critical facilities to our 56 Local Government offices across the three States.

“These changes have been reflected in the updated list of parties and candidates on our website. However, this decision is without prejudice to any pending appeal by the affected candidates or their political parties” he stressed.

[DailyIndependent]

An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Tuesday sentenced the Medical Director of Optical Cancer Care Foundation, Dr Olufemi Olaleye, to double life imprisonment for defiling his wife’s 16-year-old niece.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Rahman Oshodi held that the prosecution proved the two-count charge of defilement and sexual assault by penetration brought against Olaleye.

DAILY POST reported that Olaleye was prosecuted on a two-count charge of defilement and sexual penetration against a minor.

The defendant had pleaded not guilty at his arraignment.

However, Justice Oshodi said that the evidence adduced before the court against the defendant was compelling and proved the offences beyond reasonable doubt.

According him, the confessional statement of the defendant, made before his lawyer, Mr Olalekan Buruji, and the DPO of Anthony Police Station, in which he stated that he regretted his act, proved that he committed the offences.

The judge said that the oral statement which the defendant denied, had the Buruji’s NBA seal on it and his denial did not hold waters.

“You are dangerous offender and you must be ashamed,” the judge said, referring to the convict.

[DailyPost]

The Ijaw leader, Edwin Clark, has called for the exclusion of Abia, Imo and Ondo states from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Clark said the states were included in the first place in the 2000 NDDC Act for convenience, though a political aberration.

The former national commissioner therefore urged President Bola Tinubu to re-enact a new bill for the Oil production that is Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo and Akwa Ibom.

Details shortly…

[Nation]

The Corporate Affairs Commission says it has uncovered 189 fake companies used to secure land allocations in the Federal Capital Territory.

The Registrar General of the commission, Hussaini Magaji, disclosed this during a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja.

Magaji stated that the discovery was made following a complaint from the Federal Capital Territory Administration to verify the status of a non-existing company seeking land allocation.

He explained that the discovery of the non-existent company led him to investigate further, resulting in the identification of other companies.

He added that two suspects including a lawyer have been apprehended and a cartel involving staff of Abuja Geographical Information System, lawyers, and the commission have been identified.

He said, “Let me use this opportunity to inform the public that one of the major milestones achieved so far since I assumed office, is our ability to bust a cartel or a link of individuals that are creating havoc for the commission.

“This cartel creates companies through collaboration with some lawyers claiming to be accredited agents of the commission and staff of Abuja Geographical Information System to secure land allocations in the FCT and we only knew this crime after a complaint from the Federal Capital Territory Administration asking us to verify some applications made by some entities, which turned out to be non-existent on our system.

“With the information available to us, I gave a directive on the issue and we have so far identified 189 fake companies used to secure land allocation in the FCT. We have also facilitated the arrest of two suspects.

Explaining their mode of operations, the CAC boss said the cartel manoeuvred the land process to make their applications for land allocation priority over existing applications aiding land fraud in the capital city.

He noted, “The nature of their crime is they create fake entities through connivance with some lawyers claiming to be accredited agents of the commission and staff of Abuja geographical information system and apply for land at the FCT, manoeuvring their ways to a priority application over existing application in other to take over lands and they have been quite successful before we discovered it.

“As of yesterday we arrested two suspects including a lawyer and we are interrogating them to get more information and clampdown on other members of this cartel.

“In the course of our investigation and research, we found that the companies do not exist. And with the collaboration of security agents, we arrested a suspect and by arresting him, he has volunteered some information and from that, we have gotten a clue that something like this is happening and we are working hard to stop this menace.”

Speaking further on the vision of the commission, the registrar-general promised to increase the commission’s revenue base by sanctioning companies who fail to disclose their annual returns amongst other penalties.

He said that increasing its revenue base would enable the commission to perform its objective as a world-class commission.

[Punch]

Galatasaray and Bayern Munich will face off in what will be a top-table leader decider on matchday three of Group A of the UEFA Champions League.

Galatasaray stunned Manchester United in the second round of the Champions League the last time out in a 2-3 win at Old Trafford. They host Bayern Munich with high prospects of extending their points in the standings, as they failed to win their first match against Copenhagen FC. Bayern Munchen might be facing a team that will give them a run for their money in the quest to make it three wins in three games.

Galatasaray are flying high this season; they have a 23-game unbeaten run with eight wins in nine matches in the Turkish Super Leagues, sitting second just below Fenerbahce. Bayern’s rival Leverkusen’s resoluteness is what keeps them from being the league leaders despite their impressive start to the season.

Form 

Galatasaray: WWWWWW

Bayern Munich: WWWDW

Team news

Galatasaray are a bunch of healthy team at the moment, with no senior team player sidelined with it. In their last match against Manchester United in this competition, they lost Lucas Torriera to injury in the second half, but the Uruguayan is back in the squad.

Bayern’s squad is still facing shortages as they prepare for a challenging trip to Istanbul. None of Noussair Mazraoui, Manuel Neuer, Dayot Upamecano, Gabriel Marusic, Raphael Guerreiro, or Tarek Buchmann are expected to be available due to various injuries.

The injury situation for Bayern got even worse in their recent victory over Mainz, as midfielder Leon Goretzka was suspected to have a broken finger. Although Serge Gnabry is nearing a return from a fractured forearm, there is uncertainty about his availability as of now.

Predictions 

Galatasaray can take ample advantage of Bayern Munich’s depleted squad and pose a great challenge. It will be interesting to see.

Galatasaray 2 vs Bayern Munich 2

[Vanguard]

The Federal Government has revealed that it has received 108 irregular Nigerian migrants stranded in neighbouring country, Niger Republic.

The Southwest Zonal Coordinator, National Commission For Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Mr Alexander Oturu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to the commission, Nigerians received include 32 males, 29 females, 44 children and three infants.

“The migrants were conveyed to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, camp where the NCFRMI and International Organisation for Migration (IOM) have a tripartite agreement to provide temporary shelter for the returnees.

“Before they are provided with onward transportation allowance to enable them get to their final destinations,” he added.

Oturu said the return was facilitated by the Nigerian Mission in Niamey and the IOM.

Amidst the inflationary impact of the removal of petrol subsidy, President Bola Tinubu has indicated that the measure has achieved desired objectives.

But leading economists and investment analysts faulted the position of the President, saying the economy is still struggling as the measures are yet to yield the desired positive impact on the economy.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 29th edition of the annual Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) Tinubu stated that in addition to the removal of the subsidy the regime directed the unification of foreign exchange rates to stimulate economic growth.

He said, “To stimulate economic growth, we announced the end of a crippling fuel subsidy regime and the unification of foreign exchange rates.

“Combined with the effects of an unsustainable fiscal deficit and hidden subsidies, these factors distorted the money supply and created an unfair playing field for an elite crop of unpatriotic forces. But that is no more. These changes have been tackled head on.”

President Tinubu also said his government has introduced several other measures to revive the economy including the N500 billion intervention to support small businesses and the agricultural sector, adding “by January 2024, the new student loan program and consumer credit schemes will have come into effect; New and affordable homes will also be built at record pace.”

Tinubu however, added, “We have all felt the pain of these reforms; soon, we shall begin to reap the rewards. It is my hope that this summit will deliberate and proffer yet more solutions to complement the programs mentioned above.”

Further on his regime’s economic recovery efforts, Tinubu said, “To mobilise finance for sustainable development, we have simultaneously commenced an aggressive domestic and external mobilisation of financial resources and capital from a wide range of partners.

“Amongst several initiatives, we are progressing forward with the development of wide-ranging reforms to our fiscal and tax policies to ensure an efficient, fair and growth-friendly fiscal environment.

“To harness our Human Capital, we must protect the socio-economically vulnerable and vanquish forever the crippling multidimensional poverty affecting our land as we move aggressively to end hunger and protect all Nigerian children.

“Consistent with our commitment to enshrining fairness and the rule of law in our country, this government will uphold the sanctity of every legitimate contract. Specifically, as it relates to foreign exchange obligations of the government, all forward contracts that the government has entered will be honoured and a framework has been put in place to ensure that these obligations are met in due course.

“My government is not blind to the challenges several of you are facing in the financial markets. I can allay these concerns by revealing that we have a good line of sight for the additional foreign exchange liquidity that is required to restore market confidence.

“Further details elaborating on the specifics of these far-ranging initiatives to deepen foreign exchange liquidity and improve confidence across all stakeholders would be shared by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria”.

$1trn economy achievable

On the general economic outlook, Tinubu stated: “A One Trillion Dollar Nigerian Economy is possible by 2026, and a Three Trillion Dollar Economy is possible within this decade. We can do it with double-digit, inclusive, sustainable and competitive growth.

“This is our agenda, and I would like to charge you, the captains of industry here present, to commit and redouble your commitment to our vision of a Renewed and more Prosperous Nigeria, a better Nigeria for all.

“I am confident that by working closely with all of you in the private sector, financing our $3 trillion National Infrastructure Stock can be achieved in 10 years and not in 300 years. Building megacities in every geopolitical zone of the size and scale of Lagos must not take us another six decades. We can do it in one decade.”

No strike under my watch

President Tinubu also assured that there will be no more strikes under his administration for the sake of protecting the future of Nigerian youths and students.

To this effect, he said, all agreements entered into by his administration will be honoured.

According to the President, the government would focus on enduring poverty alleviation programmes, food security, economic growth and job creation; inclusive growth, security of lives and property, anti-corruption and implementation of sound economic policies.

The president equally charged NESG and the private sector for a prosperous Nigeria saying that his administration will deliver on its promises.

The Police Service Commission (PSC) Chairman, Solomon Arase, has praised Nigerian youths for showing intent in their pursuit of a career with the Nigeria Police Force.

He said this while revealing that the PSC had received 288,266 applications to join the force within a week.

He assured them that the Commission would ensure the ongoing recruitment exercise is transparent and merit-driven.

Ikechukwu Ani, Head, Press and Public Relations, in a statement on Tuesday, said Arase called on the youths to continue to visit the recruitment portal to apply for consideration for recruitment.

The statement added that as of 7 p.m. on Monday, October 23 2023, the recruitment portal had received 288,266 applications.

According to the statement, out of the 288,266 applications already received, 217,105 applications met the basic requirements for further consideration in the subsequent stages of the recruitment process.

It said 217,300 youths have so far applied for the general duty posts, while 70,676 applied for specialist posts. Sixty-nine thousand four hundred twenty-six applications have so far been rejected for their inability to meet the requirements for further consideration, out of which 46,868 were rejected for over age requirements.

“51,213 general duty applications were rejected while 18,213 specialists applications were also rejected”, it said.

The portal opened on Sunday, 15th October 2023, and will be closed on the 26th of November 2023 to satisfy the Federal Character Commission requirement of six weeks for eligible candidates to apply for any government agency vacancies.

“The online application requirements include that applicants shall be of Nigerian origin and birth and must possess the National Identification Number, NIN.

“Applicants must possess a minimum of 5 credits in not more than two sittings in WAEC/NECO or its equivalent with credit passes in English and Mathematics. Applicants must be aged between 18 -25 years.

“Applicants must have a valid email address and phone number and SSCE statements of results or certificates relating to examinations taken before 2015 will not be accepted,” it said.

It said the application has no monetary implications whatsoever.

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a gang of suspected thieves who specialize in stealing industrial power generators in the Azare town of the Katagum Local Government Area of the State.

Addressing journalists in Azare on Tuesday, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Auwal Musa Muhammad, said the gang confessed to having carried out a series of operations in the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and Cold Room close to the NTA station within the town.

He identified the suspects as Adamu Ibrahim ‘m’ 30 of Zigau in Shira Local Government Area, Ibrahim Adamu ‘m’ aged 22 of Azare, Musa Aliyu alias Manager ‘m’ 48 of Gwoza, Borno State, Umar ‘m’ of Azare, Alh Sani ‘m’ of Kano State.

Others are Sani Adamu ‘m’ 22 of Gadau, Itas-Gadau LGA; Rilwanu Saidu ‘m’ of Kano State; Victor Moses ‘m’ aged 29 of Hotoro via Fagge LGA, Kano State; Isaac Success ‘m’ 35 of Sabon Gari, Kano State; Adamu Ahmad ‘m’ Azare town, Katagum LGA; and Destiny Ihekwoabah ‘m’ aged 35 of Dutsen Bukuma, FCT Abuja; the receiver of some of the stolen generators.

Exhibits recovered from them included seven Mikano generators.

According to the CP, “During interrogation, the said Adamu Ibrahim stated that he was introduced to the gang through one Umar Abdullahi of Azare town, who is a friend of Alh. Sani ‘m’ of Kano State.

“The suspect participated in two operations carried out within Azare town and benefitted sixty thousand naira (60,000) from the first operation and fifty thousand naira (N50,000) as his share of the proceeds of the crime in the second operation from the gang leader “Alh. Sani” of Kano State.”

“The said Ibrahim Adamu corroborated the statement mentioned above. That he benefitted thirty thousand naira (30,000) from the proceeds of the crime. The third suspect Musa Aliyu, popularly known as Manager, who was residing in Mopol base Dutse, Jigawa State, stated that this was his first operation with the group along Azare-Giade road in an MTN mast with a J5 bus where they tied the security guard and stole away one Mekano Marapko generator white in color in the year 2022.

“In 2023, precisely October, he participated in two other separate operations at the Cold Room medicine store opposite NTA Television station Azare and the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Azare Study Center along Kano-Azare road and stole Mikano Generator from the two locations.

“He confessed that he benefitted fifty thousand naira (50,000) for the first operation and thirty thousand naira (30,000) for the second operation as his proceeds of crime. He equally confessed to having participated in other several operations in Jigawa State and stole one mixer machine in Dutse, Jigawa State close to the House of Assembly Quarters, One Basic Generator in an old water reservoir along Gujungu via Taura LGA Jigawa State, and one Mekano in Garo LGA Kano State. He benefitted the sum of fifty-five thousand nairas (55,000) from the three operations carried out in Jigawa and Kano States, respectively.”

“The fourth suspect Sani Adamu ‘m’ aged 22yrs of Gadau area Itas-Gadau LGA, Bauchi State, confessed to having participated in the two operations at Medicine cold store and National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Azare town and he benefited eighty thousand naira (N80,000) as his share of the proceed of crime.”

The CP further said, “Adamu Ahmad (habitual and unrepentant criminal) ‘m’ aged 33 yrs of Matsango area of Azare town Katagum LGA, confessed to have fully engaged in many criminal activities within and outside of Azare town, he has participated in an operation of vandalizing transformer oil sometime precisely December in the year 2022 and was arraigned in court, later he was released, soon after his release he joined this gang that attacked the National Open University and killed the security guard and stole away one Mekano, took to Abuja and sold to one Destiny Ihekwoabah.

“Kabiru Haruna ‘m’ aged 35yrs of ‘Yan Lemo Na’ibawa Kano State, confessed to the crime and stated that he engaged in two operations at Medicine Cold Store and the National Open University all in Azare town and benefitted the sum of four hundred thousand naira (400,000) as his proceed of the crime.

“Victor and Isaac also confessed to having participated in the two operations carried out by the gang in Azare town which led to the beaten up of a security guard during the National Open University’s operation which led to the death of the security man, investigation is still ongoing, the effort is on top gear to arrest the remaining accomplices who are at large, after which the suspect will be charged to court for prosecution.”