Crime
Insecurity: 11 National Parks Receive Patrol Vehicles from ACReSAL
Insecurity: 11 National Parks Receive Patrol Vehicles from ACReSAL
By: Michael Mike
Policing of the nation’s forest to ward off the threats of insurgents, banditry and other criminal activities receive a boost with the donation of Toyota Hilux Vehicles to 11 National Parks in Northern Nigeria.
The donation was made at the weekend by the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) to the National Park Service of Nigeria.
Speaking during the presentation of the 11 vehicles one to each of the 11 national parks in the North by the National Project Coordinator, Mr. Abdulhamid Umar to the Conservator-General of the NPC, Dr Ibrahim Goni, the Minister of Environment, Alhaji Balarabe Lawal said the occasion marked another milestone in our collective efforts to protect and preserve Nigeria’s rich natural resources.
He said: “The handover of these vehicles to the National Park Service of Nigeria is a demonstration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’scommitment to enhancing the capacity of our National Park Service in the task of providing transportation for the Park Ranger Guards, National Park Personnel, Tourists to the Parks, and Researchers.”
He noted that: “Indeed, the deployment of these vehicles will significantly improve the Service’s effectiveness in combating the dangerous trend of poaching and preservation of the wildlife. Improved patrol capacities and real-time monitoring will boost surveillance and rapid response to potential threats to our National Parks located in 11 states.
He added that: “The ACReSAL Project has made tremendous strides in building community resilience and increasing sustainable landscape management practices, aligning perfectly with our ministry’s vision for environmental sustainability and biodiversity conservation.”
The Minister said: “Notable achievements of the Project include the development of 6 Strategic Watershed Management Plans, restoration total of 77,271 hectares of degraded landscapes, planted 1,698,694 trees across the 19 participating states of the north and FCT through shelterbelt, woodlot, agro-forestry, and other land restoration activities. Additionally, the project has improved conservation and park management in Yankari Game Reserve, Jos Wildlife Park, Gombe State Department of Forestry, and the National Park Service.
“Furthermore, the ACReSAL project under my leadership as the Chairman of the Federal Steering Committee has procured and distributed ICT equipment to various ministries, departments, and agencies at both federal and state levels, significantly improving operational efficiency and effectiveness. Additionally, office buildings and conference halls of some MDAs are being renovated, providing a more conducive environment for implementing environmental policies, plans, and programs for sustainability of the Project.”
He added that: “A total of 1,003,000 people have benefited from the project since commencement in 2022, with 49% being female. The project has also promoted peace-building and conflict resolution efforts through the engagement of Search for Common Ground.”
On his part, National Project Coordinator for Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL), Mr Abdulhamid Umar said: “We are here to provide succour and direct support for biodiversity and revival of the ecosystem that speaks and take care of fauna and flora.
“We are here because of the standing rules of the national park in providing conservation of international repute.”
He noted that the vehicles would only for resumption of activities in the forest and around the national parks that were disturbed by insurgency and banditry, and subsequently revamp the land affected by deforestation.
The Conservator-General of the National Park Service (NPS), Dr Ibrahim Goni while commending ACReSAL for its gesture, promised that the vehicles would be deployed to good use, he equally assured that the ICT equipment earlier donated by ACReSAL would be used to deliver efficient services in the national parks.
He commended ACReSAL for their support to the Service, while appealing for more of such gestures to be made extended.
Insecurity: 11 National Parks Receive Patrol Vehicles from ACReSAL
Two drug kingpins convicted, sentenced to 10 years imprisonment
By: Michael Mike
The National Drug Law Enforcement Against (NDLEA) has gotten two drug kingpins convicted and sentenced by a Federal High Court in Lagos.
A statement on Tuesday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency Femi Babafemi read that: “Two notorious drug kingpins: 37-year-old Ajetsibo Emami popularly known as ‘Warri Kinsman’ and 51-year-old Solomon Akpomuai have been convicted and sentenced to a combined 10 years imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Lagos.”
He said Emami was arrested in Ikeja Lagos on Saturday 28th June 2025 after NDLEA operatives dismantled his drug trafficking network in a three-day operation leading to the arrest of three other suspects.
He added that recovered from Emami’s network were 24 jumbo bags containing 681 pouches of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 414.2 kilogrammes.
Babafemi said the bust of Emami’s drug ring followed credible intelligence on his attempt to move the shipment to Lekki area of Lagos, from where it will be distributed to other parts of the state and across the country.
He said Emami was subsequently arraigned before Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court 8 Lagos in charge number FHC/L/636C/2025 bordering on dealing in illicit drugs.
In his ruling delivered on Monday, the trial judge convicted Emami on the one count charge filed against him by NDLEA prosecutor Assistant Commander of Narcotics Buhari Abdullahi, sentencing him to six years in prison with an option of N50 million fine in lieu of jail.
Babafemi said, in his case, Solomon Akpomuai was first arrested by men of Customs Service along Shagamu-Ijebu-Ode expressway with 2,197.8 kilogrammes of skunk, a strain of cannabis on 3rd June 2025 and transferred to NDLEA on 16th June after which he was arraigned in charge number FHC/L/635C before Justice Dipeolu for trafficking illicit drugs in large commercial quantity. Also delivering his judgement on the matter, the trial judge convicted and sentenced Akpomuai to four years in prison with an option of N50million fine.
Meanwhile the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) has described the conviction of the two drug kingpins as an indication that Nigeria will sooner than later surmount the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking as a result of the positive outcomes of the current balanced approach to the agency’s drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
He commended the judiciary, NDLEA officers involved in the investigation and prosecution of the cases as well as other stakeholders for their commitment to the cause of a drug free country.
Two drug kingpins convicted, sentenced to 10 years imprisonment
Kidnappers forced to abandon ransom, arms after accident in Nasarawa
By: Zagazola Makama
Kidnappers operating around Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State have abandoned a ransom and arms after their getaway vehicle was involved in an accident.
The incident occurred on Monday morning at Angwan Mayo, along Kokona axis, when the gang’s Peugeot 406 car, loaded with guns, crashed shortly after collecting ransom from their victims.
Witnesses said the kidnappers managed to escape the scene, leaving behind the money and weapons.
Troops of the Nigerian Army were swiftly deployed, securing the vehicle and recovering the abandoned items.
Security forces have intensified pursuit of the fleeing suspects.
Kidnappers forced to abandon ransom, arms after accident in Nasarawa
Police arrest INEC officials, recover election materials in Taraba by-election
By: Zagazola Makama
The Police Command in Taraba has arrested some Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials and recovered election materials allegedly diverted during the by-election for Karim Lamido I Constituency of the State House of Assembly.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that on Sunday that the arrests followed credible intelligence provided by party agents.
The sources said the incident occurred on Aug. 16 at about 2:20 p.m. when a team of policemen intercepted the suspects at a private residence in Angwan Sarkin Panya village.
Those arrested included Gideon Amos, 49, an Assistant Presiding Officer II assigned to Polling Unit 16, Angwan Yusuf Dogo, Bikwin Ward, and two others identified as Matthew Jayi, 47, and Tiasama Mathias Musa, 32.
The suspects allegedly diverted materials meant for three polling units PU 005 Gandara, PU 016 Angwan Yusuf Dogo, and PU 029 Angwan Sarkin Primary School — to the residence.
Items recovered from them included three ballot boxes, two BIVAS machines, 19 booklets and 20 pieces of ballot papers, two stamp pads with ink, one marker, and two result sheets.
The sources also disclosed that in the process of resisting the diversion, a police officer on election duty, PC Christian Garba, had his uniform forcibly removed by hoodlums who fled with it.
The sources added that voting had ended in most polling units and collation of results was in progress while investigations into the incident were ongoing.
End
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