Former Nigerian ambassadors have said the new upward review of the fees for Nigerian passports would not reduce the japa syndrome but rather worsen the hardship afflicting the people.

The Nigeria Immigration Service recently announced that a 100 per cent price increment for the passport would begin on September 1, 2024 to ensure the quality and integrity of the Nigerian Standard Passport system.

The NIS said a 32-page passport booklet with five-year validity previously charged at N35,000 has increased to N50,000, while a 64-page passport booklet with 10-year validity which was N70,000 will be N100,000.

But speaking with Sunday PUNCH, a former ambassador to the Philippines, Yemi Farounbi, explained that although the increment might be necessary given the upsurge in inflation rate, the move would only worsen the hardship in the country.

The former ambassador said, “There is nothing whose price has not gone up in the last one year. Unfortunately, the poor people are the carriers of this burden so rather than ease the burden on the common man or the average Nigerian, we have only added to it. Increasing the cost of passports by almost 100 per cent or thereabouts will not discourage those who want to leave because they are being pulled by stronger forces than the cost of passports.”

Also speaking, a former Nigeria Consul to Cameroon, Rasheed Akinkuolie, noted that there were important issues the government should concentrate on rather than increasing the passport fees as more people were currently suffering from insecurity and the high inflation rate affecting prices of items.

In a shocking incident in Cross River State, a young woman known as Pretty Goddess has been accused of luring her friend, identified as Debit Queen, to a hotel where she brutally assaulted her, stripped her naked, and posted videos of the ordeal online.

Our correspondent learnt that the disturbing act, which has sparked outrage on social media, was reported to have occurred on Thursday evening.

According to several online video sources, the victim, Pretty Goddess, whose real name has not been disclosed, discovered that Debit Queen, whose real name is also not publicly known, was allegedly involved with her boyfriend, identified as Ralph.

In a fit of rage and under the pretext of a friendly visit, Pretty Goddess arranged a meeting with Debit Queen at a local hotel in Calabar, the state’s capital.

Debit Queen, unaware of the true motive behind the invitation, arrived at the hotel where she was quickly rounded up by the four girls, and flogged.

The situation escalated rapidly when Pretty Goddess accused Debit Queen of having an affair with Ralph.

The confrontation turned violent as Pretty Goddess and her friends subjected Debit Queen to severe physical assault.

The attack included flogging her with a cane, stripping her naked, and recording the entire incident on video.

Pretty Goddess later posted online videos, including images of Debit Queen in a compromising state.

Our correspondent can confirm that traces of the nude videos of Debit Queen have been trending on X for over 48 hours.

Also, in swift retaliation, another popular X blogger (name withheld) posted Pretty Goddess’ nude videos online, tagging several other blogs, our correspondent can confirm.

This act of humiliation and violence has provoked widespread condemnation and distress among the public.

Debit Queen, recounting the harrowing experience in a video she made after the incident and posted by a popular blog on X on Saturday morning, revealed that she was unaware of the conflict with Pretty Goddess’s boyfriend and expressed her shock at the brutal treatment she received.

“There were four girls in the room,” she said. “There was nothing I could do. She was with her friends and I was alone.”

Debit Queen claimed that Pretty Goddess had invited her under false pretences, initially presenting the meeting as a casual visit for a house party.

“She said there was a party, and I agreed to go. When I arrived, she began beating me,” she recounted.

The victim also denied the allegations of infidelity.

“I know him (Ralph) but he is not my friend. I have not seen him before. I didn’t sleep with him. It is untrue that I was caught sleeping with her boyfriend,” she asserted.

In a controversial attempt to justify her actions, Pretty Goddess admitted to luring Debit Queen to the hotel and subjecting her to physical assault.

She explained that she was driven by anger upon discovering that Debit Queen had been in contact with her boyfriend.

“I checked my boyfriend’s phone and saw that he had her number, which he didn’t have before. I also noticed they had been chatting recently,” she said.

She added that her anger was further fueled when she found out that Debit Queen had allegedly slept with her boyfriend.

Pretty Goddess claimed that the assault was not premeditated and that the intensity of the attack was an expression of her rage.

“I didn’t plan to beat her up. It was anger. All I wanted to know was if she had my boyfriend’s number,” she explained.

She also mentioned that while she initially intended to keep the video private, it was inadvertently shared by her friends.

In an apology addressed to Debit Queen, the lady said, “I am very sorry. I didn’t mean to take it this far. I will take care of anything you want and do anything you want. Please, find a place in your heart to forgive me.”

Police to probe incident

The Cross River State Police, led by Commissioner Augustine Grimah, has responded swiftly to the incident.

Following the viral spread of the assault video, the police have ordered an immediate investigation, calling for the perpetrator’s arrest.

Grimah condemned the act, stating that it involved severe physical assault and trauma.

“The arrest will assist the police in ascertaining the circumstances surrounding the disturbing incident and bringing the perpetrators to justice,” he said.

In a statement sent to Sunday PUNCH by the police command’s spokesperson, Iren Ugbo, Grimah emphasised the need for vigilance within the hospitality industry.

“We urge hotels to conduct thorough background checks on guests to prevent such incidents,” the statement read.

The police also confirmed that Debit Queen was receiving medical attention in a hospital in Calabar due to the injuries sustained during the assault.

The authorities have promised to keep the public informed about the progress of the investigation.

Netizens’ outrage

The incident between the two ladies has ignited a fierce reaction on social media platforms.

Many users have expressed outrage over the brutal nature of the assault and the public humiliation suffered by Debit Queen.

Reactions ranged from calls for legal action to condemnation of Pretty Goddess’s actions.

On X (formerly Twitter), user @FGirlrita wrote, “I’ve never seen someone carry a cane and beat someone like that. Even if there were five of them, I’d still stand up to them. This is unacceptable.”

Another user, @AgbakaEye, demanded immediate action: “They need to arrest that girl. What is this?”

Samuel, another concerned individual, said, “That girl needs to be taught a lesson. I’m personally working on it!!”

Chima Echefule expressed support for legal action, stating, “She needs to be arrested for such an act.”

The sharing of explicit videos online has only amplified the public’s response, with many condemning the act as an egregious violation of privacy and dignity.

In Nigeria, assault is governed by several legal frameworks, including the Penal Code, the Criminal Code, and specific state laws.

These laws define assault as any form of force or threat used against another person without their consent. Under the Penal Code, applicable in Northern Nigeria, assault includes physical violence and the threat of harm.

The Criminal Code, relevant in Southern Nigeria, distinguishes between different types of assault, such as common assault and more serious forms that result in actual bodily harm.

A human rights lawyer, Mrs Selena Onuoha, speaking to our correspondent, said, Pretty Goddess’s actions could be classified as assault under Nigerian law.

“If the flogging caused physical injury, it would be considered assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Even in the absence of visible injury, the use of force without consent constitutes assault. 

“The legal consequences for such actions can include criminal charges, with potential penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment, depending on the severity of the assault and local laws. Additionally, Debit Queen may seek civil remedies, such as compensation for the harm suffered.

“Victims of assault are encouraged to file reports with the police, who will investigate the matter and take appropriate legal actions based on the evidence. Legal counsel is also recommended to understand one’s rights and available options,” she said.

FORMER Federal Commissioner for Information and South South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark has asked President Bola Tinubu to as a matter of urgency,  declare state of emergency on food as Nigerians are hungry and angry, just as he urged Ministers who are misadvising the President to wake up or resign now.

Speaking yesterday at his Asokoro residence in Abuja when the President of  Host Communities of Nigeria producing Oil and Gas ( HOSTCOM) High Chief Benjamin Tamaranebi led a delegation of his team on a visit to him, Chief Clark said that Nigerians voted for President Tinubu, have been supporting him and his government, but he should not take Nigerians for a ride, adding that he must come down and align with the people.

According to him, two years after the signing into law, the Petroleum Industry Bill, now PIA, it is not working because it was rashly passed and the problem of leadership is affecting its implementation, adding, “The PIB which has been signed into law with 3% to be paid to hostcom, not regularly paid. Not only that, signed into law 2 years ago, almost 2 years ago, but it’s not implemented.

“This thing was rushed and the President Buhari, signed the PIB law as one of the quickest or something that he has to do. Only to realize that they have made mistakes and they said for 18 months or 2 years before it will be implemented. Today, it has not been implemented.

“Things have not changed. I thought we were going to talk about Niger Delta hostcom problems. I prepared a very long address which I wanted to read, but now that I am surprised why you brought this into me.

“Big problem of this oil subsidy has been on for years. Oil subsidy is not confined to Nigeria alone, everywhere in the world, but it’s the management that will exist. Everything in Nigeria does not work because of poor management, poor leadership.

“True, we all realize later that the oil subsidy was a scam. It did not even exist sometime, and the money was just fleeting. That was why in 2012, during the administration of President Jonathan, in January 2012, his government removed the oil subsidy.

“And there was a lot of agitation in this country. When people talk down protests against government, they are not being sincere, they are not talking the truth. You cannot violate your own constitution, not only violating it, prevent people from speaking their minds, prevent people from moving around, fighting for their rights.

£Nigeria has become a true country. As you already mentioned, the middle class has been fighting to deal with poverty. People are begging, people are very worried, they talk about all this.

“The government is spending so much money on issues that could be delayed with the introduction of the stoppage of the oil subsidy, which has caused problems, which was never anticipated by President Tinubu in fairness to him. And I want to say at this juncture, President Tinubu did not, I say again, did not remove the oil subsidies himself. It has history.

“During the 2023 presidential campaign, all the major parties talked about removal of subsidies. How it will come about, nobody knew. But in 2020, 2020, 2021, the President of Nigeria, at that time, President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of Finance, Ahmed, and the Minister of State Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, announced to Nigerians that there was no longer subsidy in Nigeria.”

Speaking on the recent protest by Nigerians, the Elderstatesman who noted that Protest is a way of following the constitution where the people are defending their rights, said that the government cannot stop the people from protesting as it has been part of us in the past, just as he said that President Tinubu organised protest that lasted some weeks against President Goodluck Jonathan when he removed oil subsidy.

The leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum,  PANDEF said, “What is wrong with the procession, a protest now? The constitution allows it. So, I do not blame Tinubu, President Tinubu.And therefore, in 2021, there was no subsidy in the budget. But how it came back, nobody knew. But in 2021, let me go back again, in 2012, when it was removed, it was Mr. President himself, President Tinubu, who sponsored procession, bring Jonathan’s government down.

“And members of the APC who are here now, all of them were together. Our own organization, PANDEF, our South-South People’s Assembly, we have to gather people to counteract them. Every day, they were demonstrating.

“They supported a strike, general strike, to bring Jonathan’s Government down because of the subsidy. We have to, we’re replying them. I invited all our people, leaders, from the six states, from the Middle Belt, and from, even from the South, East, and West.

“We gathered in my house here for the period of two weeks. Replying to the protests, the agitation, we were lucky. When I sent for them, Ayakame, who was our secretary, Dr. Ayakame, whiskey.

“They were able to fly in that Sunday, before the strike was to start. And we had a series of meetings to counteract the procession. Food was being provided by them.”

Edwin Clark who noted that  President Bola Tinubu should not be blamed for the removal of fuel subsidy since budgetary provision for it , ended in June 2023, however advised the government to find practical  means of alleviating poverty ,fuel  subsidy removal is inflicting on many Nigerians.

Earlier in his remarks,  HOSTCOM President , High Chief Benjamin Tamaranebi who  called on the federal government to end the incessant fuel scarcity in the Country,  also lampooned the International Oil Companies ( IOCs) and others , for allegedly frustrating the Dangote Refinery from accessing crude oil from them for local refining and production .

Chief Tamaranebi who lamented that as a result of scarcity of fuel supply , a lite of PMS is now sold for N2,000.00 in most parts  of the Niger Delta now ,where the crude are explored, exploited and exported outside the country, said that the International Oil Companies ( IOCs) are not helping matter by refusing to sell crude to Dangote Refinery which has 650, 000 litres capacity per day .

He said : ” Our visit to the residence of our Leader and Father in the Niger Delta Region today , is voice out our displeasure to the federal government and in particular , publicly owned key players in the oil sector on the endless fuel scarcity in the country.

“It is a sad commentary to state here that a country like Nigeria, an oil producing Nation, the 2nd largest oil producer in Africa, that has four  Refineries is still suffering from endless fuel scarcity and bent on importation of refined Petroleum Products to her Country for over 20 years.

“Only recently, some Nigerians trooped to the street in all parts of the country to protest against hardship in the country. Some of them were calling for the re- introduction of OIL, SUBSIDY.

“We are  aware that the current fuel scarcity in some parts of the country is caused by marketers’ refusal to import petrol into the country due to the huge debt issue. It is alleged that NNPC is owing marketers huge sums of monies and as such, they can no longer continue to import when NNPCL is owing them, while same NNPCL is coming to celebrate gain but using same token to appeal to use the profit for subsidy, what an IRONY?

“We are here today to appeal through you to call on the Federal government ably led by our dear President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to have a rethink.

“Just last Saturday, I bought a liter of fuel at Yenagoa, Bayelsa State at N1200, while I was reliably told that at the creeks in Ekeremor LGA, Southern Ijaw LGA down to other riverine communities they are buying at rate of N2000 per litre. This is indeed very worrisome,.

“We therefore call on the government to ensure that the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna Refineries are fixed immediately and made to work optimally.

“We are also  calling on the Federal government to as a matter of urgency,  compel the International oil companies operating in our Niger Delta to begin sale of crude oil to Dangote Refinery and other local Refinery in Naira so as to reduce and possibly eliminate importation of finished petroleum products into Nigeria.

“With the Nigeria Refineries producing locally, the price of petrol will reduce, which will ultimately reduce inflation and hardship in the country so that prices of commodities and staple foods like Fufu, Rice, Garri ete can come down.”

Suspect owns Badagry mansion

Detectives in Lagos have continued to unleash terror on kidnappers and have carried out several onslaughts against their deadly activities by making several arrests. 

Notably, a major victory was recorded in Ajah, a suburb of Lagos, the sequel to the recent killing of nine notorious billionaire kidnappers in the city.

The victory took place after a gang of kidnappers abducted an oil magnet at Ado Road in Ajah, a few months back, and escaped through the waterways to the creeks in far-away Ondo State.

The oil magnet was in his dredging site when a six-man armed gang came to kidnap him into a flying boat and took him to an unknown destination through the waterway.

The heavily armed kidnappers shot sporadically into the air to scare everyone who might approach them.

Attempted escape

While in motion, the hostage managed to jump from the flying boat into the river in a desperate bid to escape but they also plunged into the river and went after him.

After catching him, they whisked him away to their stronghold in the creek at Ikorodu area of Lagos. The kidnappers, who transferred him from the flying boat into a wooden canoe to access the creek, only allowed him to make contact with his family on the third day when they demanded a ransom of N200 million.

N42m ransom

The family was able to raise N42 million which they converted to dollars as demanded by the kidnappers and it gave them 30, 000 U.S dollars and an additional cash of N100, 000 which they packaged and got ready for the trip to an unknown direction.

When the elder brother of the victim volunteered to deliver the ransom, they rather insisted that they must speak with the wife of their victim.

Shockingly, when the victim’s wife spoke with them, they insisted she must personally deliver the ransom to them.
Passionate pleas by the distraught lady that she was almost on the verge of delivering a new baby failed as they shouted back, asserting that if she failed to deliver the ransom, they would kill her husband.

At this stage, the love for her husband took over, and she assured that she would carry out their directives.

Early the next day, she took off with a driver from their home in Ajah, and they directed her on the phone to move towards Ore, about 167 kilometres from Lagos. As their journey progressed, the kidnappers kept on monitoring and dishing out orders on where to stop and proceed. Eventually, when they got to Ore, the daredevils directed them to turn back and stop at Sagamu. They did as directed and, at Sagamu, a call came again directing them to move back to Ajah.

All this while, the kidnappers were warning that any attempt to engage the police would make them kill their victim, the lady and her driver, stating that they were closely and keenly monitoring their movement.

From Ajah, their call came again, ordering that they should move back to Sagamu. In total, the kilometres travelled were more the 334.

Lastly, the rigmarole, which kicked off around 6 am with the pregnant lady groaning in pain, ended around Odogbolu in Ogun State where they were directed to stop and trek through a bush path for about twenty minutes and drop the ransom.
This was around 6 pm. After that, they were shouted upon to race back to the road without looking back by three stern-looking and heavily armed young men.

Luckily, when they got back to base in Ajah, their breadwinner was already in the house. He regained freedom eventually in another riverside area in Epe from where he found his way home.

He narrated that his abductors dispossessed him of a gold necklace valued at N25m, a gold hand chain valued N11.8m and two gold rings valued N3.4m. His abductors called their colleagues immediately after they got the money to release him.

Police sources said that after the kidnapping took place, relations to the victim reported the case but failed to carry detectives along in their efforts to pay the ransom. 

Based on this, it was learned that the state Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, directed his technical team, led by CSP Kehinde Oni, to swing into action and arrest perpetrators of the crime.

Police sources said they kept a tab on both the family and other criminal elements in the area, but narrowly missed their target while they were going to drop the ransom hence they resorted to scientific, technical and human intelligence gathering.

At the end of their frantic operation, three of the kidnappers, namely Adelaja Ikuesan, 37, Tosin Oke, 40, and Oluwabunmi Yusuf, 39, were arrested in their hideout after they shared their loot.

Confession

The suspects narrated how the operation was carried out to Sunday Vanguard and lamented that, if set free, they would never take part in any criminal act again in life. Ikuesan said to be a professional speedboat driver, told our reporter: “I am from Pare town in Igbokoda LGA of Ondo State. “I own two flying boats code-named Trips on Marine, with each of them having a 40HP engine.

“I knew the other suspects when we were doing bunkering, i.e., stealing petroleum products from vandalized pipelines within the creeks. “Three weeks before the operation, we met in a hotel at Ajegunle, where we finalized plans to carry out the kidnapping.

“Tosin Oke whom we call Old Soldier, brought the engine of the flying boat. “On the day of the operation, two of our members were armed with AK47s, and before taking the hostage to the creeks, we disposed him of his gold chains and other valuables.

“When we got to the creeks, I left them with Old Soldier and came back to Apapa. We benefitted from both the sale of the gold chains and the ransom paid later”.

Police sources disclosed that Oke (a.k.a Old Soldier) had been involved in bunkering and kidnapping for a long and had erected a mansion in Badary area of Lagos. The suspect admitted that he benefitted from the ransom and used it to take care of his family problems. He denied building the mansion alone from the proceeds of his crime but stated that he erected it with some members of his family.

“I honestly regret getting myself involved in this”, Oke said.

“Even my family members were questioning my involvement because they were surprised knowing I don’t involve myself in any sort of bad act. “Before, I was an agent for police at Zone 2. What could have made me involve myself in this kind of thing?.

“I don’t know. Maybe, it was juju Adelaja (his colleague) used in talking me into it, I don’t know, only God understands because it is not like I didn’t have money to feed or for other things before I followed them to do this.
“I just don’t understand how the situation happened.

I don’t understand.” On his part, Adelaja said: “After he (the third suspect) met me and Old Soldier, Old Soldier collected the hand chain we collected from the victim and sold it.
“After selling it, he sent N150,000 and later, N250,000 to me. A total of N400,000 was what he sent to me. It was Old Soldier who gave me money, he was the one who changed it. He transferred from POS. “In all, I got N2.3 million from the operation”.

The second suspect, Adelaja, also said that he used his share of the ransom to buy a new boat. The suspects said they were married. While Old Soldier said he has nine children from different women but is now married to only one, Adelaja said he has just one wife and a daughter.

No more than 130 pan-Yoruba groups have concluded plans to discuss the state of the nation.

Leaders from civil rights and community-based organisations from Ekiti, Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Kwara, Delta and Edo states will be in attendance.

They are set to meet in Lagos on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at a summit themed: ‘Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria: The Role of Non-state Actors.’

The gathering, according to its organisers, is expected to draw some 1,500 participants including but not limited to the media, professional groups and representatives of the South-West state governors among others.

General Secretary of the groups, Mr Popoola Ajayi, in a statement, said: “Leaders of Yoruba associations in West African Coast and Northern, Middle Belt and South Eastern Nigeria will be attending the event. Nigeria is passing through a critical moment in its history. As you may be aware, the AYDM is the largest coalition of Pan Yoruba groups made up of 130 coalition members drawn from community-based, artisan and professional groups.

“AYDM coalition members include but are not limited to South West Professional, (SOWPROF); O’odua Peoples Congress, (OPC); Agbekoya; South-West Farmers Forum,(SWFAF); United Itsekiri Peoples Congress, (UIPC); ANAMMACO, representing Okada Riders in the South West; South West Students Coalition, (SWSC); O’odua Nationalist Coalition, (ONAC); Yoruba Community Association in Northern Nigeria, (YOCANN); Ilaje Peoples Assembly; Igbimo Omo Oodua in Diaspora, Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association, (NATA), with some 5million registered members of mechanics established in 1953; Covenant Group of South-West Professionals (SOWPROF); Association of Yoruba Communities in West Africa (AYOCWA); Yoruba Artisan and Traders Association, (NATA); O’odua International Democratic Movement, (OIDEM); O’odua Muslim-Christian Dialogue Group,(OIDEM) among many others.”

A group of elder statesmen under the aegis of The Patriots and led by Chief Emeka Anyaoku visited President Bola Tinubu to demand for a new, People’s Constitution. Specifically, the statesmen made two demands: “We urged him to send a president’s Executive Bill to the National Assembly, a Bill that will call for two essential measures: One the convening of a National Constituents Assembly, to be mandated to produce a new Draft Constitution. 

And we suggested that such National Constituents Assembly should consist of individuals elected by the people on non-party basis”. Anyaoku revealed what the group told Tinubu during their session with him in an interview with State House reporters. Excerpts:

We had a very constructive meeting with the President. We The Patriots are a non-partisan group of eminent Nigerians who are committed to the unity of our country and good governance of our country under a legitimate People’s Democratic Constitution.

So, we came to convey this view that Nigeria needs a People’s Democratic Constitution. Nigeria, we affirmed to Mr. President, is a pluralistic country.

And you all know that pluralistic countries exist all over the world. Those of them that addressed their pluralism by having true federal constitutions have survived. Example is India and Canada. But those pluralistic countries that failed to address their basic challenge of pluralism through federal constitutions have ended up disintegrating.

Examples of that are Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia and here in Africa Sudan. These countries existed in the case of Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia for about 100 years as one country, but they eventually disintegrated because they could not manage their pluralism through truly federal constitutions.

And we put some proposals to Mr. President and we urged him to send a president’s Executive Bill to the National Assembly, a Bill that will call for two essential measures: One the convening of a National Constituent Assembly, to be mandated to produce a new Draft Constitution. And we suggested that such National Constituent Assembly should consist of individuals elected by the people on non-party basis.

Say for example, three individuals per each of the 36 states and one from the Federal Capital Territory and they should be mandated to produce a new Draft Constitution. And we also suggested that in the Bill, the National Assembly should be asked to legislate for a national referendum because as our laws stand at the moment, we have no provision for a national referendum.

And we concluded by saying that the Draft Constitution to emerge from the Constituent Assembly should be subjected to national referendum in order to give the peoples of Nigeria a chance to determine the new Constitution.

On the cost of Constituent Assembly, we’ve had similar meetings in the past. I do not believe that, with the challenges facing this country, the challenge of national unity, challenge of insecurity, the challenge of poverty and hunger, the cost of setting up a Constituent Assembly, with the mandate to produce a Constitution due to the inappropriateness of the Constitution that we have at present, is too much. (There is) the inappropriateness of the governance system we have at present. And I’m sure that, when a Constituent Assembly looks at all these and looks at all the recommendations of past efforts to call a National Conference and produce a Draft Constitution, their job will be easier.

Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, director-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), has resigned.

Abubakar tendered his resignation letter to President Bola Tinubu on Saturday.

Speaking to State House correspondents, Abubakar said his letter had been accepted by the president, but did not specify the reason for his resignation.

“It’s a routine thing from time to time to brief the president on situations, and today is no exception. After the briefing today, I tendered my resignation and Mr. President graciously approved and accepted the resignation,” he said.

“I thanked him for giving me the opportunity to serve Nigeria under his transformational leadership for a period, for an extended period of 15 months. It is very rare, by the way, to have the opportunity to serve two presidents. So, I thanked him very well, and I promised to remain professionally dedicated to our country and noble causes.

“I’m very, very grateful for the opportunity that the president gave me—actually to serve the country and his leadership—the encouragement I got, the confidence he had in me and my service, the opportunity to listen to me, to read briefing notes and advice, and so on. I think this is everything to me, and I have had the opportunity to mentor officers and staff for all the time I have been DG. This is the seventh year, by the way.” 

When asked the reason for his resignation, Abubakar said: “There are quite a number of reasons one will do that, some personal family issues, but nothing very serious, actually, and the friendship will continue. I discussed this with Mr President, and he understood very well.”

He attended Bayero University in Kano, where he bagged bachelor’s and master’s degrees in French. He also speaks English and Arabic.

Abubakar, a 71-year-old retired career foreign service officer from Katsina state, was appointed head of the agency by former President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2018. His tenure was extended in 2021.

Abubakar joined the security department of the Nigerian Foreign Service in 1993. In 2015, he was appointed senior special assistant to the president (SSAP) on international relations and foreign affairs.

The Nasarawa state police command has arrested one Hauwa Sani with 124 rounds of suspected anti-aircraft ammunition concealed in a gallon of palm oil.

The woman, alongside a two-year-old child were arrested in Keffi LGA of the state on Friday.

Rahman Nansel, spokesperson of the command, said the woman received the ammunition from Doma LGA and was arrested on her way to Katsina.

“On 23/8/2024 at about 1710hrs, based on credible information, police operatives attached to Keffi division intercepted and got one Hauwa Sani ‘F’ alongside a 2 years old child of Doro village, Katsina state arrested,” he said.

“Consequently, one hundred and twenty-four (124) rounds of anti aircraft ammunition concealed in a gallon of palm oil, one Tecno mobile phone, and cash sum of Seventy-eight thousand and five hundred Naira (N78,500) were recovered from the suspect as exhibits.

“Preliminary findings revealed that the suspect received supply of the ammunition at Rafin Sanyi village of Doma local government area of Nasarawa State, and concealed the items in a gallon of palm oil en route Katsina State before nemesis caught up with her.”

The spokesperson said Umar Shehu, commissioner of police in the state, has ordered the transfer of the suspect and exhibits to the force intelligence department in Abuja for further investigation.

The Joint Task Force, codenamed Operation Delta Safe, has paraded two suspects who specialised in the printing of fake documents to facilitate the sale of stolen crude oil in the Niger Delta region.

JTF Commander John Okeke, told journalists on Saturday at the command headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, that Magaji Musa and Umar Musa were arrested when troops stormed their Port Harcourt residence early on Tuesday.

Okeke said, “This syndicate specialised in printing fake documents for stolen crude oil in the Operation Delta Safe Joint Operation Area. This syndicate is responsible for procuring fake documents to provide free passage for oil thieves’ activities in the Joint Operation Area.

“Such act has made it possible for oil thieves to evade arrest, which has indeed contributed largely to the reported illegal oil bunkering operations in the oil-producing region.

“However, acting on intelligence on the activities of the syndicate, troops of Operation Delta Safe stormed the Port Harcourt residence of the ring leader, one Mr Magaji Musa and Umar Musa, in the early hours of Tuesday, August 20, 2024, and apprehended him.

“Subsequently, documents were recovered from his house bearing fake stamps of some associations and waybills and forged identity cards were recovered from his house.

“The suspects had confessed to procuring fake waybills, illegal sales of crude and diversion of stolen crude oil from pipelines.

“Presently, the culprits are in the custody of the Joint Task Force, South-South Operation Delta Safe, and they will be paraded before the media and subsequently face prosecution in due course.”

Okeke assured all that no stone would be left unturned until criminality is eradicated or reduced to the barest minimum in the oil-producing region.

He also reiterated the commitment of the Joint Task Force towards stamping out illegal oil refining and oil facility vandalism in the region.

Musa, who is said to be the ring leader of the syndicate, revealed to journalists that he has been in the stolen crude oil business since 2011.