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President Muhammadu Buhari has said his government focused on tackling the menace of corruption, insecurity and climate change in the country. The president made the claim during the opening ceremony of the Future Investment Initiative Institute conference on Tuesday. The three-day plenary sessions, focuses on the theme, “Invest in Humanity”. He said when he assumed power six years ago, his government took the decision to invest for a long-term future with a focus on more inclusive sectors such as agriculture, ICT and mining. Buhari also claimed his government had been proactive in tackling corruption, insecurity and climate change and introducing a Social Investment Programme. His speech reads: “Investing in humanity is investing in our collective survival. This is why we in Nigeria we believe that public and private partnership should focus on increasing investments in health, education, capacity building, youth empowerment, gender equality, poverty eradication, climate change and food security. By so doing, it will go a long way in re- energizing the global economy in a post COVID-19 era. “Nigeria’s population today exceeds 200 million people. Some 70 percent are under 35 years old. When we came into government in 2015, we were quick to realise that long-term peace and stability of our country is dependent on having inclusive and humane policies. “In the past six years, our government took very painful but necessary decisions to invest for a long-term prosperous future knowing very well that this will come with short term pains. “We focused on the following areas: a. diversification from oil to more inclusive sectors such as agriculture, ICT and mining; b. tackling corruption, insecurity and climate change; and c. introducing a Social Investment Program. “We introduced policies that supported investments in agriculture and food processing. We provided loans and technical support to small holder farmers, through the Anchor Borrowers Program.” By SaharaReporters, New York Source:http://saharareporters.com/2021/10/26/my-government-has-focused-tackling-insecurity-corruption-others-%E2%80%94-buhari-boasts-saudi

The United Nations Working Group has asked Nigerian and Kenyan governments to explain how the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu was arrested and subsequently extradited. The Nigerian government had in June announced Kanu’s arrest and ‘extradition’ from Kenya to continue to face trial in Nigeria. He is facing charges bordering on treasonable felony instituted against him at the court in response to years of the campaign for the Independent Republic of Biafra through IPOB. The IPOB leader was granted bail in April 2017 for health reasons but he fled Nigeria following an invasion of his home in Abia State by the military. However, the United Nations Working Group on arbitrary detention, under the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR), demanded explanations regarding Kanu’s illegal arrest and abduction in separate letters to the Nigerian and Kenyan governments on August 26, 2021. The UN group noted in both letters that it also sent the British government, and the Nigerian or Kenyan government as the case may be. The group comprises scholars and experts who specialise in human rights issues and related laws. It noted in both letters that it received information “concerning allegations of enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, by Kenyan security officials, as well as his illegal rendition to Nigeria, to face trial for terrorism related charges, which are believed to be linked to his leadership of the ‘Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)’ group. It asked the government to respond to the allegations of Kanu’s illegal abduction, ill treatment and others”. It noted that as part of the allegations, “In May 2021, Mr. Kanu travelled to Nairobi, Kenya. On 19 June 2021, he went to pick up a friend from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and was allegedly abducted. For the next ten days, Mr. Kanu’s fate and whereabouts were unknown. “It was later reported that during his enforced disappearance, Mr. Kanu had been arrested at the airport’s parking lot, by a group of armed men in uniform believed to be Kenyan officials, without warrant or judicial order, who handcuffed and blindfolded him and pushed him into a vehicle. He was then taken to a private house, where he was detained for 8 days and allegedly subjected to torture and ill-treatment. During this period, Mr. Kanu was chained to the floor at all times, regularly beaten with a cloth over his mouth to prevent him from screaming, taunted and called a ‘terrorist Jew Biafran’, denied access to bath and toilet facilities, requiring him to urinate and defecate where he was chained, and was fed bread and water once a day. “After 8 days of arbitrary detention in Kenya, Mr. Kanu was driven to the tarmac of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, handed over to Nigerian security officials, without any form of extradition or judicial process, and taken aboard a private jet to Abuja, Nigeria. On 29 June 2021, Mr. Kanu appeared before the Nigerian Federal High Court, in Abuja, in handcuffs and leg restraints, and was arraigned, without access to legal representation, based on previous charges brought against him in 2015.” The UN group, therefore, stated that: “In view of the urgency of the matter, we would appreciate a response on the initial steps taken by your Excellency’s Government to safeguard the rights of the above-mentioned person in compliance with international instruments.” From the Nigerian Government led by Muhammadu Buhari, it requested that it should “Please provide any additional information and any comment you may have on the above-mentioned allegations. “Please provide detailed information on the current state of health of Mr. Kanu and the measures undertaken, or forseen, to prevent any irreparable damage to his life and personal integrity and to ensure that he has access to the medications and medical treatment required by his health conditions. “Please provide detailed information on the circumstances under which Mr. Kanu was arrested, forcibly disappeared before being handed over to Nigerian authorities and transferred from Nairobi to Abuja. Please also clarify any international cooperation measures that may have taken place to arrest and transfer Mr. Kanu and provide any international arrest warrant that may have been issued against him, prior to his arrest. “Please provide detailed information on the factual and legal grounds of the arrest and detention of Mr. Kanu, as well as formal charges against him, and the legal provisions used to charge him. “Please provide full information on the period between 19 - 29 June 2021, during which Mr. Kanu was subjected to enforced disappearance, including his whereabouts and the conditions in which he was held, on the informal detention facilities during this period and explain how this is compatible with the international human rights obligations of Nigeria. Please provide information on whether an investigation was carried out into the alleged enforced disappearance of Mr. Kanu during this period of time, and whether those responsible have been held accountable. “Please provide information on the measures taken to investigate the above-mentioned allegations of torture and ill-treatment perpetrated against Mr. Kanu during his detention in Nigeria and to hold those responsible accountable. “Please provide full information on measures which have been taken, or which are foreseen, to guarantee the conduct of criminal proceedings by independent and impartial judicial authorities, in full compliance with the norms of due process recognised by international law, and the observance of fundamental safeguards, including unrestrained and confidential access a lawyer, to consular assistance, and to an independent medical doctor, as well as regular contact with his family. “Please provide information in details of how your Excellency’s Government’s counter-terrorism efforts comply with the United Nations Security Council resolutions 1373 (2001), 1456(2003), 1566 (2004), 1624 (2005), 2178 (2014), 2341 (2017), 2354 (2017), 2368 (2017), 2370 (2017), 2395 (2017) and 2396 (2017); as well as Human Rights Council resolution 35/34 and General Assembly resolutions 49/60, 51/210, 72/123, 72/180 and 73/174 in particular with international human rights law, refugee law, and humanitarian law contained therein.” Meanwhile, in its letter to the Kenyan government led by President Uhuru Kenyatta, it requested: “Please provide any additional information and any comment you may have on the above-mentioned allegations. “Please provide detailed information on the circumstances under which Mr. Kanu was arrested, forcibly disappeared before being handed over to Nigerian authorities and transferred from Nairobi to Abuja. Please also clarify any international cooperation measures that may have taken place to arrest and transfer Mr. Kanu, and provide any international arrest warrant that may have been issued against him, prior to his arrest, and the authorities who arrested and detained him in Kenya. “Please provide detailed information on the factual and legal grounds of the arrest and detention of Mr. Kanu, as well as formal charges against him, and the legal provisions used to charge him. “Please provide full information on the period between 19 - 29 June 2021, during which Mr. Kanu was subjected to enforced disappearance, including his whereabouts and the conditions in which he was held, on the informal detention facilities during this period and explain how this is compatible with the international human rights obligations of Kenya. Please provide information on whether an investigation was carried out into the alleged enforced disappearance of Mr. Kanu during this period of time, and whether those responsible have been held accountable. “Please provide detailed information, where available, on risk assessment carried out by the Kenyan authorities to ascertain the risk Mr. Kanu may incur, including being subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment as well as arbitrary detention upon his extradition to Nigeria, and how this assessment is compatible with the international standards. “Please provide information on the measures taken to investigate the above-mentioned allegations of torture and ill-treatment perpetrated against Mr. Kanu during his detention in Kenya and to hold those responsible accountable.” “This communication and any response received from your Excellency’s Government will be made public via the communications reporting website within 60 days. They will also subsequently be made available in the usual report to be presented to the Human Rights Council,” the UN group added in both letters. By SaharaReporters, New York Source:http://saharareporters.com/2021/10/26/documents-list-un-demands-queries-nigerian-kenyan-governments-over-nnamdi-kanu%E2%80%99s-arrest

The Nigerian Police Force will be conducting a two-day show of force ahead of the November 6 Anambra State governorship election to warn criminal individuals and groups planning to foment trouble. The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, revealed that 34,587 personnel would be deployed for the Anambra State election following a security threat analysis carried out by the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB). According to a 25-page document obtained by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, the personnel would be selected from 27 state police commands, which are: Anambra, Delta, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Lagos, Edo, Imo, Abia, Rivers, Bayelsa, Kogi, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Niger, Nasarawa, Enugu, Ebonyi, Cross River, Kano, Kwara, Plateau, Bauchi and Taraba. Personnel from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) command and visiting police officers from the IGP’s secretariat, force headquarters, and so on, will also be in the state for the election. According to the police operation order for Anambra election, the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) across the state’s land borders such as Ndoni/Ogbaru in Rivers State, Asaba/Ogbaru in Delta State and others are to ensure the lockdown of the borders. Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU) and military officers would be equally deployed to enforce restrictions of movement along the identified roads throughout the period of the election. There would also be a show of force on Thursday, November 4, at about 9:30am, and a repeat of it on Friday, November 5, at about 8am in all the three senatorial districts of Anambra. In the election to be held on November 6, 18 political parties across 326 wards of 21 local government areas will be vying for the seat of Anambra State Governor. Voting exercises are expected to take place at 5,720 polling units. By SaharaReporters, New York Source:http://saharareporters.com/2021/10/26/nigeria-police-plan-two-day-show-force-ahead-anambra-election

There is anxiety in the rank of the Peoples Democratic Party as the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is set to hear the appeal filed by the suspended National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, today (Tuesday). On August 23, 2021, some interested members of the party had instituted a suit marked PHC/2183/CS/2021 at the High Court of Rivers State, Port Harcourt Judicial Division, with Secondus and the PDP as defendants. On September 10, 2021, the court delivered its judgment and restrained Secondus from performing the functions of the national chairman of the PDP. The suspended chairman subsequently filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal seeking an order of injunction restraining the PDP, its officers and representatives from holding or conducting the national convention scheduled for October 30 and 31, 2021, or any other date pending the hearing and final determination of the appeal. However, the PDP has continued to insist that its convention will hold as scheduled, while also negotiating with Secondus to drop the suit. Secondus’ lawyer, Mr Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), told The PUNCH on Monday that the appeal would go on as scheduled. Oyetibo said he had not received any instruction from Secondus to withdraw the case, adding that the PDP had also not filed a response to the appeal. “As we speak, I have no instruction from Prince Secondus to drop the case. Also, the PDP has not filed any response to our appeal. The appeal will be heard on Tuesday (today),” the senior advocate said. But the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the party’s plan to hold its national convention on October 30 and 31 was on course. He told reporters in Abuja on Monday that the party was not in receipt of any court process barring it from going ahead with the scheduled activities. In response to a question on a pending litigation before a Kaduna High Court seeking to stop the convention, Ologbondiyan said, “As far as the Peoples Democratic Party is concerned, the party does not work on speculations. There is no court judgment before the party. “You cannot be talking about court issues; it is only when there is a judgment from the court that we will begin to talk about court issues as far as the party is concerned. All the plans have been set out for the national convention.” Speaking on preparations for the national convention, he stated, “The preparation for the national convention is in place, and as far as the party is concerned, the dates for the convention remain October 30 and 31. “I want to bring to the attention of my dear colleagues that the national convention organising committee’s leaders are in town, and these are the Chairman and the governor of Adamawa State, Mr Umaru Fintiri; the Deputy Chairman and governor of Bayelsa State, Diri Duoye; as well as the governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, who is the Secretary of the committee; the three of them are in Abuja to oversee the convention process. “All the respective subcommittees are working. I am the secretary of the publicity subcommittee. All the committees are working; we have about 15 subcommittees for the purpose of the convention and they’re all working.” Ologbondiyan denied reports of a disconnect between members of the committee and its leadership just as he said the National Working Committee of the party, of which he is a member, was doing its bit to ensure the smooth running of the PDP ahead of the convention. He also denied that members of the NWC had abandoned their offices, stating, “That is totally and absolutely incorrect, and some of your colleagues went upstairs into the NWC hall to meet with members of the NWC, who took their respective seats and were deliberating on the success of the forthcoming national convention.” The party spokesman said the venue for the convention had been secured and arrangements were in top gear to ensure a successful programme. By Punch Reporters Source:https://punchng.com/pdp-crisis-deepens-secondus-pursues-suit-as-party-plans-convention/

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has claimed that no police officer was reported for committing any crime against civilians during #EndSARS memorial protest in the state. Odumosu said he witnessed the protest, adding that no one came to make a formal complaint, and the police was not obliged to trail the officers based on newspaper reports. The CP, who made this known while addressing journalists on Sunday, ruled out sanctions against the police officers who assaulted Uber driver, Adedotun Clement, during the one-year anniversary of the protest. “To the best of my knowledge, no single officer has been reported to have committed an infraction. The officers of the Neighborhood Watch were identified. “I told a journalist on that day that we have our procedures; we need an official complaint to be made to be able to try any policeman that has been complained against. “If you know the policeman that assaulted you and you also have witnesses, lodge a formal complaint against the policeman. “There must be a complainant; we have internal trials as we don’t trail people on the pages of newspapers; somebody needs to stand and give evidence.” The commissioner asserted that he called the Lagos State traffic agency to release the Uber driver’s vehicle, noting that Clement had not been to their office to lodge any complaint about the matter. “The Uber driver has not lodged any complaint; I got his number, called him personally and he told me about his vehicle and I called the General Manager, LASTMA, forwarded his number to him that they should release his vehicle. “He has not lodged any complaint against anybody and our disciplinary procedure must be documented,” he added. Clement, while on duty at the Lekki toll gate during the one-year anniversary of the #EndSARS protest, was assaulted by policemen and other security operatives The officials of the neighbourhood watch involved in the molestation were suspended by the agency, after the video of the incident was shared on social media, Meanwhile, Clement is demanding N500million compensation from the Lagos government in a suit his lawyer has filed. By SaharaReporters, New York Source:#EndSARS Protest: We Need Formal Complaints To Punish Erring Policemen – Lagos Police Commissioner

The 36 House of Assembly speakers has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare bandits as terrorists and enemies of the nation. This was their resolution at a Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly in Katsina State on Sunday. The call of the Conference of Speakers comes a day after Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari toed the path of his Kaduna counterpart, Nasir El-Rufai and the National Assembly that the Nigerian government should declare a state of emergency on the nation’s security and declare bandits as terrorists. Chairman of the Conference, who is also Bauchi State Speaker, Abubakar Suleiman said the resolution was part of their five-point communiqué at the end of their eight-hour deliberations. The speakers have just concluded their third annual meeting. He said, “We call on President (Muhammadu) Buhari to declare bandits as terrorists and enemies of the state. The conference has observed all the activities carried out by the bandits as containing the same mode of operations used by terrorists. “The Conference also decried the state of insecurity in the country and resolved to work out legislative frameworks, to complement the efforts of the Federal Government to address the security challenges in the country. “In addition, the Conference also resolved to make appropriate laws to address the fundamental issues that breed insecurity in the land, as well as create employment for the youths and curb the menace of insecurity in the country.” The Speakers’ Conference further commended governors who gave their assents to the fund management bills passed by their respective state Assemblies and called on those yet to do so to expedite action on the bill for effective implementation of financial autonomy for the state legislatures and judiciary. By SaharaReporters, New York Source:http://saharareporters.com/2021/10/25/all-36-speakers-state-assemblies-ask-buhari-declare-bandits-terrorists-enemies-state

Thousands of ad hoc workers for the Anambra State governorship election have resigned due to fear of attacks by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), SaharaReporters learnt. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had in May increased the polling units in Anambra State from 4,608 to 5,720 with about 10,000 ad hoc workers required for the governorship poll. However, despite its declaration of preparedness, many of those who signed up for the role have resigned. A source said: “INEC is now short of thousands of ad-hoc staff members due to IPOB instructions. Those who initially signed up have now resigned en-masse.” Meanwhile, there had been a poor response by ad hoc workers who will conduct the poll because of the security situation in the southeast region, particularly with the activities of IPOB. The group had issued a 12-day ultimatum to the Nigerian Government for the “unconditional release” of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, failure of which the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State may not hold. IPOB in a statement signed by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, on Sunday, gave the Nigerian Government up till November 4 to release Kanu unconditionally, or it would commence a one-week lockdown in the region effective November 5. The group explained that the one-week sit-at-home order, which would end on November 10, was to press for the release of their leader whom the Nigerian Government was prepared to keep in incarceration ad infinitum for nothing. The statement read: “Following the adjournment of our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s court case to 10th of November 2021 by the Federal High Court, Abuja, we, the great movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), wish to inform Biafrans, friends of Biafra and lovers of freedom that IPOB will lock down Biafra land from November 5 to 10 except Sunday, November 7, a day our people worship the Almighty God, Chukwu Okike Abiama, if the Nigeria government fails to release our leader unconditionally before November 4, 2021. “Our leader, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu must be released unconditionally on or before November 4, 2021, because he has not committed any offence known to any law. Failure to release our leader on or before November 4, 2021, our one-week sit-at-home begins on November 5, 2021, till November 10." The statement continued: “Although we quite understand the pains and adverse effects of this option on our people, we are compelled to take it to achieve a better purpose in the collective interest of Biafrans. “We have taken time to analyse what transpired on October 21 when our leader was arraigned in court and discovered that the Federal Government is not sincere, and only wants to humiliate him and keep him perpetually in DSS custody to rot there. “We all saw how lawyers, journalists, Igbo delegates and respected traditional rulers and other people who came from all around the world to witness his court case were restricted and denied access into the court premises by security agents who kept them outside under the scorching heat of the sun. What a humiliation and wickedness! “We cannot accept that anymore. We can never allow our leader Onyendu Kanu to be tried secretly, and we can never also allow him to be tried under Sharia law under any guise. Nigeria must follow international laws in handling our leader. “Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is in a DSS dungeon today because of his passion for Biafra’s independence, and we must sacrifice all we can to ensure that he regains his freedom. He has sacrificed so much for us all, so we must be prepared to sacrifice a little for him. “Unless the Federal Government releases him unconditionally before November 4, we shall sacrifice one week for him as a warning protest to convey to our oppressors, that Nnamdi Kanu represents over 70 million Biafrans. “He is innocent of all the charges preferred against him. As long as he is in detention, our individual businesses do not matter so much because he is suffering for us all and we can’t abandon him.” While regretting the inconveniences that the development may cause the people, it stated that it is a “necessary sacrifice we need to make until we have our full independence. Nobody resident in Biafra land is expected to flout this directive as doing so amounts to challenging the will of the people on the Biafra project. “This one-week sit-at-home is also to let our oppressors understand that we are not going to tolerate any plan to torment or abandon our leader in the DSS’ custody through frivolous court adjournment. Any plans to subject him to trauma in detention through long adjournment while real terrorists and mass murderers are having fun across the country cannot fly. “Nnamdi Kanu must be freed because he committed no crime. Asking for a referendum so that Biafrans will decide whether or not they want to continue as part of Nigeria is no crime. He should not suffer for seeking justice for his people. “We have been enslaved and caged enough by the Fulani-controlled Federal Government of Nigeria and its allies. If we shut down Biafra land just for one week to secure our permanent freedom, it is worth the sacrifice. Everybody should brace up for this sacrifice.” By SaharaReporters, New York Source:http://saharareporters.com/2021/10/25/breaking-anambra-election-runs-ditch-thousands-electoral-adhoc-workers-resign-en-masse

A coalition of civil society organizations in the South-East has urged the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to immediately withdraw the sit-at-home order it issued ahead of the Anambra State governorship election. The election, scheduled for November 6, is now under threat with the IPOB ordering a sit-at-home from November 5 to November 10. At an international press conference in Enugu, on Sunday, the CSOs said should the order be carried out, the Federal Government would have no option other than to impose a state of emergency on the state and the citizens would be the ultimate losers. Although the CSOs demanded the unconditional release of the IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, they maintained that the sit-at-home order was not well considered and should be withdrawn. The press conference addressed by Comrade Emeka Umeagbalasi was under the aegis of Int’l Society For Civil Liberties and Rule Of Law, assisted by leaders of Southeast CLO and Coalition of Southeast Democracy and Human Rights Organizations. According to the group, “if for instance on the day of that election, people cannot come out, transporters are nowhere to be found, even INEC ad-hoc staff cannot find their way to polling units, it clearly indicates a state of the breakdown of law and order and what will follow is the pronouncement of state of emergency.” Meanwhile, the CSOs condemned the crackdown on secessionists, noting that it was within the ambit of the law to seek self determination. While claiming that over 2000 Igbos were languishing in several detention facilities, the group said “the hate policy of the present Nigerian Government including structural, physical and cultural violence and violent crackdowns are responsible for resort by the agitators to violent self defense. Available statistics have clearly indicated that not less than 480 unarmed members of the self determination groups and uninvolved members of the civilian population were killed by security forces and not less than 700 others shot with live bullets and seriously injured between August 2015 and Sept 2017. “Several dozens also disappeared and hundreds abducted or unlawfully arrested and detained for years without trial. Then, the casualty figures on the side of security forces were acutely asymmetrical. Members of the self- determination groups in Eastern Nigeria also maintained nonviolence for five years or from August 2015 to Nov 2020 but were forced into violent self defense by the Nigerian Government in Dec 2020, following the formation of the Eastern Security Network. Conversely, recent statistics showed that out of over 600 non-state actor deaths perpetrated by security forces in Eastern Nigeria since January 2021, 550 were unarmed and defenseless citizens and about 50 were armed members of the self determination groups. Security forces also recorded not less than 400 combatant or battlefield casualties.” They demanded that “The Nigerian Government must free Nnamdi Kanu and end all forms of violent crackdowns and state persecutions against agitators and innocent and defenseless members of the Eastern Nigeria population. “The condemnable act of the Nigerian Government in this regard also constitutes a serious threat to international peace and security and derogation of international customary, human rights and humanitarian law obligations and has portrayed the country in bad light and presented her as ‘a rogue Member-State of the United Nations and African Union’.” On Anambra Governorship Election scheduled for 6th November, 2021, the CSOs said they expertly found that “it has no iota of negative impact on the ongoing self determination agitation. Rather, holding it and allowing voters to vote will raise more public consciousness and support required and further serve as a litmus test for the agitation and emancipation of the Southeast. “To allow the Election to be massively and scientifically rigged or to be stopped will be disastrously calamitous and placed the State under ‘Khaki or Agbada Caliphate’ and ‘a nomadic rainforest State’. “Therefore, the agitators are called upon to channel resources and energies against poll rigging and riggers and ensure that the Nov 6 Governorship Poll is popularly and credibly conducted and won.” By Emmanuel Uzodinma Source:https://dailypost.ng/2021/10/25/anambra-ipob-preparing-ground-for-state-of-emergency-csos-condemn-sit-at-home/

Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has vowed that all inmates who escaped from the Abolongo Custodial Centre of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Oyo State, on Friday night will be recaptured. The Minister gave the assurance during an inspection visit to the facility on Sunday morning. In a copy of the speech delivered during the visitation, the minister claimed that attacks on prisons in the country were premeditated and meant to ridicule the government. He lamented that jailbreaks and attacks on prisons worsened after the #EndSARS protest in the country. He said, “External attacks on custodial facilities were a rarity hitherto. What was common, and for which our system had been well primed, was an internal breach. But beginning with the spontaneous #EndSARS protests of last year which dovetailed into massive riots, there have been consistent attacks on our facilities in Owerri, Benin, Kabba, and now Oyo. “This is not just some random happenings. These are premeditated, planned and coordinated attacks meant to make Nigeria unsafe and ridicule the government. “I’m assuring Nigerians that the Federal Government will pursue not just those who attacked our facility, but those who have escaped lawful custody. “The attack was unconscionable, I commend officers of the Nigeria Correctional Service and other members of sister security agencies who provided perimeter security for our facility for fighting gallantly and holding the fort before the attackers were able to gain access to the awaiting trial section of the facility, however, those who escaped are already being pursued. Some have been rearrested, many more will still be captured,” the Minister stated. Giving more details about those who escaped, Aregbesola noted that 446 out of 907 escapees have been recaptured, whilst 69 never left the facility. “As at the last count, 446 of the escapees have been recaptured leaving 392 still at large. We want to assure Nigerians that the service have an updated database of the escapees which includes their biometrics. We are sharing the database with all security agencies in the country including Interpol, so those who escape our recapture efforts can be nabbed. “To those on the run, be assured you have nowhere to hide. You can run, but you can’t hide. We’ll fish you out! We are publishing details of those we escaped in the mass media so the public can assist in that effort,” the Minister reiterated. Also speaking during the inspection, the Controller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service, NCoS, Haliru Nababa, noted that so far, the service has successfully prevented internal jailbreaks in all her facilities. “The NCoS have so far prevented internal jailbreaks in the country. What we have reoccurring in recent times are external attacks on our facilities. We have been retraining our officers not just on securing those in lawful custody but prevent external attacks. “We are collaborating with other security agencies in the country to make such attacks near impossible and where they do occur, the attacks will have not live to regret it,” the CG stated. On the instruction given by the Minister of Interior to immediately begin remediation work on the facility, CG Nababa noted that work has begun already. “As you can see, workers are already on site fixing damaged doors, broken windows and mounting walls. Before the end of today, work would have been completed on it,” Nababa stated. By Sodiq Oyeleke Source:https://punchng.com/prison-attacks-meant-to-ridicule-government-aregbesola/