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Borno seeks collaboration from NISS in the ongoing Deradicalization process of repentant terrorists

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Borno seeks collaboration from NISS in the ongoing Deradicalization process of repentant terrorists

By Ndahi Marama

Borno State Government under the leadership of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has called on Faculty Members and participants of Course 16, National Institute for Security Studies, NISS, Abuja to lay their helping hands in the ongoing Deradicalization and Reintegration (DDR) of over 80,000 surrendered Boko Haram members who are mostly camped at a designated centres in Maiduguri.

The call was made yesterday when the Deputy Commandant of NISS, Mr. David Egbeji led staff and the participants for a courtesy call on the Chairman of DDR and Deputy Governor of Borno State, Dr. Umar Kadafur at his office, Government House, Maiduguri, the state capital.

Kadafur said, since inception on 29th May, 2019, the present administration under the good leadership of Professor Zulum had invested huge resources on managing the over decade insecurity posed by terrorists, which according to him, the commitment and synergy displaced by the military, other security agencies, members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, CJTF, Non-Governmental Organizations, NGOs and other stakeholders led to the relative peace currently enjoyed across the state.

In addition, the Deputy Governor said, millions of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs have been relocated to their ancestral homes, with scores of Boko Haram members, including their families and those forcefully conscripted laid down their arms and surrendered to troops.

Kadafur however said, what is needed now is for all and sundry including members of the NISS to key into the State Government’s DDR, Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Process for sustainable development.

“On behalf of my Principal, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, i welcome you to Borno state, the ‘Home of Peace’. I understand that you are here for a Study Tour, which is a welcome development, knowing fully well that Borno has suffered alot in the hands of terrorists for over a decade.

“As responsible government, we call on you to please lay your helping hands in the ongoing Deradicalization and Reintegration (DDR) of over 80,000 surrendered Boko Haram members who are mostly camped at a designated centres in Maiduguri.

“Since we came on Board, precisely on 29th May, 2019, the present administration under the good leadership of Professor Zulum had invest huge resources on managing the over decades insecurity posed by the terrorists. I want to inform you that the commitment and synergy displaced by the present administration with support from the military, other security agencies, members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, CJTF, Non-Governmental Organizations, NGOs and other stakeholders led to the relative peace currently enjoyed across the state.

“This is in addition to millions of our Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs who have been relocated to their ancestral homes, with scores of Boko Haram members, including their families and those forcefully conscripted laid down their arms and surrendered to troops.

“Your visit to Borno is timely, because what is needed now is for all and sundry including your Faculty members and the participants/students to key into the State Government’s DDR, Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Process for sustainable development.” Dr. Kadafur stated.

He therefore assured the delegation of Government’s continuous cooperation and collaboration with the institution so as to improve security situation in the state, and to also achieve their mission and  purpose of the Study Tour. 

Earlier in his address, the Deputy Commandant of the institution, Mr. David Egbeji told the Deputy Governor that participants who are undergoing 10-Month security Course at the institution were drawn from military, para-military, regulatory agencies, MDAs and other four African countries including Rwanda, Gambia, Chad and Niger Republic.

Egbeji pointed out that the course is intended to equip participants with requisite knowledge to address dynamic and complex security challenges in their respective
countries and foster inter-agency cooperation to ensure adequate
security.

He further said, the participants were in Borno to fulfil the requirement of interface with relevant stakeholders and have a firsthand information on the security situation in the state, in addition to planned visits to some other states of the federation on how best to document or profer durable solutions.

The Deputy Commandant, while commending Governor Zulum and his Deputy, Kadafur for their doggedness and commitment in the fight against terrorists, pledged that NISS will partner with State Government and other relevant stakeholders to ensure peace is restored in the  Borno and the country as a whole.

Borno seeks collaboration from NISS in the ongoing Deradicalization process of repentant terrorists

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NBMA Debunks Allegations of Negligence, Compromise Against It

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NBMA Debunks Allegations of Negligence, Compromise Against It

By: Michael Mike

The Director General and Chief Executive Officer (DG/CEO) of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Dr. Yemisi Asagbra debunked some allegations level against the agency by some non governmental organisations (NGOs) concerning negligence and compromise.

Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, Asagbra said: “The negative statements circulating are misleading and lack credible scientific backing. The agency asks these organisations to present verifiable scientific evidence for their claims and we relies on sound scientific research and internationally recognized protocols to make informed decisions. It is part of the Cartagena Protocol with over 180 parties, our mandate is to protect the health of Nigerians and the environment. It will not compromise on this as it is an agency of integrity.

She added that: “The agency is transparent and accountable in its operations. It invites review of its processes and rigorous evaluations of GMO products. We are confident in our procedures that it’s meet global standards and it is a leader in effective regulation in Africa”.

On the source of the allegations, she said “over the years they have been advocating to have their presence in the board where all these products coming will be thoroughly Investigated, but it hasn’t been given. Most times we rely on the information given by Nigeria Custom Service to furnish them with needed information, which most time is not always easy if they have other things doing.

The Head planning, research and statistics National Biosafety Management Agency Mrs. Bello Scholastica said the agency is concerned with safety to our health and safety to our environment.

She further reiterated that what NBMA stands for is to establish first regulation from identification of the gene of interest, “of what you are interested in, from then till commercialization, and even after commercialization, they still follow suit to make sure that the approvals they gave hasn’t caused any harm, or those that were given approval to that they stay put to what they were asked to do”.

She further explained that the agency has put in effort to promote environmental conservation and biosafety in Nigeria.

NBMA Debunks Allegations of Negligence, Compromise Against It

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House of Reps Assures on Passage of Human Rights Defenders Bill

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House of Reps Assures on Passage of Human Rights Defenders Bill

By: Michael Mike

The House of Representatives has revealed that it is interested in the passage of the Human Rights Defenders Bill into law, saying that the bill has already passed the first reading and will soon be subjected to second reading.

The House also promised to take the necessary steps to ensure an improvement in the 2025 budget of the NHRC, pointing out that the N5 billion approved for it in the 2024 budget is inadequate considering the myriad of human rights violations in the country.

The Chairman House Committee on Human Rights, Hon. Abiola Makinde made this disclosure during the oversight visit of Committee to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

The Chairman, who was represented at the occasion by his Deputy, Hon. Mudashiru Lukeman assured the NHRC that the Committee would continue to advance the course of human rights in Nigeria by ensuring that the House of Representatives passes critical bills on human rights issues as well as makes adequate budgetary provisions to ease the work of the Commission.

Makinde also stated that in a bid to improve some aspects of Civil and Political Rights, the House of Representatives had ensured the establishment of human rights desks in all police formations and Headquarters across the 36 States of the Federation.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu who received the lawmakers with his management staff told the Human Rights Committee that the Commission relies heavily on them for the enactment of human rights friendly laws and enhanced budgetary provisions to discharge it broad mandate of promotion, protection and enforcement of human rights in the country.

He used the opportunity to commend the legislators for their role in the amendment of the NHRC Act 2010 as well as the support of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila in the payment of compensation to victims of human rights violations by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigeria Police Force.

He equally informed the legislators who were on oversight visit about the recent report released by the Commission following the findings of the Special Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations in Counter-Insurgency Operations in the North East Nigeria , which he noted has saved the country from possible invitation by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

He noted that the aforementioned wide spread allegations of human rights infractions against some government institutions could result in the ICC extending invitations to some of the leaders to respond to the allegations, but the Commission has done the needful in compliance with the international principles of omplementarity.

He thanked the Committee for promising to improve the budgetary allocation of the Commission in the 2025 fiscal year.

House of Reps Assures on Passage of Human Rights Defenders Bill

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FG Confirms Arrest of Simon Ekpa

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FG Confirms Arrest of Simon Ekpa

By: Michael Mike

The arrest of Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa in Finland has been confirmed by the federal government.

A statement on Friday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Nigerian-Finnish citizen and prominent leader of the proscribed Indigenous People
of Biafra (IPOB), was arrested by Finnish authorities on Thursday.

According to the statement, Ekpa was
charged with inciting terrorism and promoting violence.

The Finnish District Court of
Päijät-Häme ruled to detain him on probable cause for publicly inciting crimes with terrorist intent.

The Finnish authorities alleged that Mr. Ekpa used social media platforms to spread
separatist propaganda, incite violence and encourage illegal actions, which had caused
significant disruptions in the South-East of Nigeria. Finnish investigators had also linked
him to incidents of violence in Nigeria, which were believed to had been fueled by his
online activities.

The statement said “the arrest of Mr. Simon Njoku Ekpa follows sustained diplomatic
pressure by the Nigerian government on Finland, to take action against his activities,
which were linked to violence and instability in the South-East of Nigeria. The request
for action featured during high level engagements between countries.”

The Ministry stated that the arrest of Ekpa, is a significant development in addressing the activities of IPOB, and also neutralizing the influence of transnational actors and “their impact on our national security.”

The Ministry promised to continue to monitor the legal proceedings and provide further updates as the case progresses.

FG Confirms Arrest of Simon Ekpa

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