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Buhari approves more security operatives, arms for Imo
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a fresh range of solutions, including the deployment of more security personnel, arms and ammunition to douse the security situation in Imo State.
Imo Governor Hope Uzodinma, who revealed the outcome of his meeting with Buhari in Abuja, also denied allegations of the culpability of his administration in the reign of terror that had pervaded the state, describing such allegations as illogical.
Buhari invited the Governor over recent security developments within his state, as well as the entirety of the Southeast region.
The President also met with the Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, and his Chief Economic Adviser, Professor Doyin Salami, in two other separate meetings over the crises rocking the power sector and economy in general.
Disclosing some details of the conversation he held with the President, the Governor said Buhari granted all his requests with regards to solving the security crises.
“You must have heard that the President sent for me and I have gone to see him and based on issues, which we have adequately addressed, particularly the resurgence of insecurity in the Southeast and what is required to ensure that it’s properly controlled.
“We discussed all that and he took seriously my recommendations and indeed I can tell you he immediately gave approval to all that, which includes increase in manpower to security agencies and then other logistics supports, ranging from additional arms and ammunition.
“Also, we are making use of our local vigilante and the involvement of community leaders to ensure that through community arrangement, additional security is provided to the people.
“You will recall that few days ago, the home of the President-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo was attacked by bandits and the same night, a police station in Umuguma, Owerri West, was also attacked.
“For a very long time, if you’ll remember, we’ve never had such a situation and this happened at a time that people are already relaxed and thought that insecurity has become a thing of the past.
“But to the glory of God, security agencies rose to it, the second day they were probably repelled by security agencies, particularly men of the Directorate of State Service. They’ve been very useful, working with other security agencies.
“We didn’t also wait, we initiated a community-oriented program where the vigilante approach has been re-enacted and the community leaders have shown sufficient interest. We’ll get there.”
Reacting to the allegation that his administration might be culpable in the crisis in his state, as it had been accused of sponsoring some of the people behind the trouble, including the ‘unknown gunmen’ phenomenon, Uzodinma described such thinking as abnormal.
“Well, thank God that you called us government and I don’t know how a government, with paraphernalia of office available to it, ranging from the army, the police, the air force, the navy, the DSS, the Civil Defense, will now go for non-state actors to be used for governance.
“As civilized people, you also represent the elites, you should be able to advise such minds to reason well and think well because the only person that officially has power for coercion is government. If anything is to go by, we are a God-fearing government, that is why we have not used force as the only way of controlling the violence in Imo State.”
THE NATION
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US Civil Rights Organisation Appoints Deji Adeyanju to Board
US Civil Rights Organisation Appoints Deji Adeyanju to Board
Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has been appointed to the Board of the Katutu Civil Rights Center, an international civil rights organisation headquartered in New York, United States.
The appointment was formally communicated to THE WHISTLER on Friday by the organisation, confirming Adeyanju’s inclusion in its global leadership structure.
The Katutu Civil Rights Center is a civil rights and advocacy organisation known for its work in human rights protection, policy engagement, and support for vulnerable and marginalised communities across different regions of the world.
In his acceptance, Adeyanju expressed gratitude for the appointment, saying he was honoured to support the organisation’s mission of advancing human rights and strengthening civic participation globally.
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He noted that the role would further enable him to contribute to justice-oriented advocacy beyond Nigeria, while working alongside international stakeholders focused on democratic governance and civil liberties.
Adeyanju, who has been active in human rights advocacy for over a decade, is widely known for his campaigns against police brutality, civic repression, and abuse of power in Nigeria.
His appointment has been interpreted by observers as international recognition of his long-standing involvement in democracy advocacy, social justice campaigns, and legal representation of activists and citizens in high-profile rights cases.
The Katutu Civil Rights Center said Adeyanju’s selection reflects its commitment to including diverse voices from different regions in its governance structure, particularly individuals with hands-on experience in grassroots human rights work.
The organisation also highlighted his track record in legal activism and public advocacy as key factors in his appointment.
The development has sparked reactions across civic and human rights circles, with supporters describing it as a significant milestone for Nigerian civil society engagement on the global stage.
Adeyanju’s new role is expected to further expand his involvement in international human rights conversations, particularly around accountability, rule of law, and protection of civic freedoms.
US Civil Rights Organisation Appoints Deji Adeyanju to Board
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Woman Gets 20-Year Jail Term For Supporting Terrorism Activities
Woman Gets 20-Year Jail Term For Supporting Terrorism Activities
A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a housewife, Halima Umar, to 20 years imprisonment after she was found guilty of offences linked to terrorism financing, illegal arms movement, and unlawful possession of ammunition allegedly meant for bandits operating in Plateau State.
Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa delivered the judgment on Friday after the defendant pleaded guilty to two out of a four-count charge filed against her by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The court ruled that offences involving terrorism, illegal arms trafficking, and support for criminal groups posed serious threats to Nigeria’s national security and therefore required stiff punishment.
According to details presented during the trial, Umar admitted acting as a courier responsible for transporting 302 rounds of AK-47 ammunition to suspected bandits.
A DSS operative, Fahad Tahir, who testified before the court, said the defendant was arrested on July 6, 2025, while allegedly transporting the ammunition alongside N57,100 cash.
Investigations later revealed that Umar was allegedly instructed by one Alhaji Sani to travel to Zaria in Kaduna State, where she collected the ammunition from another contact before attempting to deliver it onward.
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The prosecution further told the court that the defendant was transferred to the DSS National Headquarters in Abuja on August 11, 2025, where she made additional confessional statements in the presence of a lawyer from the Legal Aid Council.
During the proceedings, prosecution counsel, Dr. Callistus Samson Ezeh, tendered the recovered ammunition, the cash sum, and the defendant’s confessional statements as exhibits. The defence did not object to the admissibility of the evidence.
Umar also personally admitted before the court that she was in possession of the ammunition and cash at the time of her arrest.
The charges against her included providing support for terrorism-related activities under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and unlawful possession of ammunition under the Firearms Act, 2004.
Although the convict pleaded for leniency and expressed remorse, Justice Yilwa held that crimes connected to terrorism support, arms trafficking, and the movement of illegal ammunition could not be treated lightly because of their grave implications for public safety and national stability.
Following her guilty plea and the evidence presented by the DSS, the court convicted and sentenced her to 20 years imprisonment.
The conviction comes amid intensified efforts by Nigerian security agencies to tackle banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, and the illegal movement of weapons across the country.
Woman Gets 20-Year Jail Term For Supporting Terrorism Activities
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Police Dismiss Five Inspectors, Prosecute Three Over Robbery, Kidnapping in Rivers
Police Dismiss Five Inspectors, Prosecute Three Over Robbery, Kidnapping in Rivers
The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed five inspectors and initiated prosecution proceedings against three others over alleged involvement in armed robbery, kidnapping, extortion, and abuse of office in Rivers State.
The development was confirmed on Friday during the parade of the affected officers at the Rivers State Police Command headquarters on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Anthony Placid.
Placid said the disciplinary actions followed extensive investigations into multiple complaints of criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, stealing, extortion, and misconduct allegedly carried out by officers operating within Rivers State and other parts of the country.
According to the police spokesperson, three inspectors attached to Zone 16 Headquarters, Yenagoa — identified as Ayanniyi Jelil, Durojaye Francis, and Olayemi Titus — were arrested over the alleged abduction and robbery of a man identified as Festus Saturday. He explained that the officers were allegedly operating an illegal patrol team along the Igboh-Etche axis when they stopped the victim and his cousin during a stop-and-search operation in November 2025.
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The officers were said to have assaulted the victims, forced them to unlock their mobile phones, and gained access to their banking applications and cryptocurrency wallets, before allegedly stealing about ₦7.3 million and $1,742. Placid further alleged that the suspects used AK-47 rifles during the operation and had carried out similar attacks on other unsuspecting residents across Rivers State. Recovered items reportedly include three Toyota Sienna buses allegedly linked to the operation, while three additional officers connected to the case are currently on the run.
In a separate case, five officers attached to the Operations Department of the Rivers State Police Command were dismissed following investigations into allegations of armed robbery, kidnapping, extortion, and abuse of office. The dismissed officers were identified as John Okoi, Eyibo Asuquo, Udo Ndipmong, Bright Nwachukwu, and Anele Ikechukwu.
Their case followed petitions filed by the Behind Bars Human Rights Foundation on behalf of victims who accused the officers of operating illegal patrol teams and abducting civilians around Port Harcourt. Police investigations reportedly showed that the officers routinely seized victims’ phones, accessed bank details, and transferred funds from accounts and cryptocurrency wallets.
One of the victims, Felix Favour, was allegedly forced to transfer about $4 million in cryptocurrency, while another victim reportedly lost ₦940,000 after being kidnapped along Aba Road. Another complainant, Okparaocha David Ugochukwu, was said to have lost ₦1.3 million, as well as jewellery and a wristwatch valued at over ₦6 million. Investigators also alleged that the officers falsely claimed to be operatives of Zone 16 Headquarters to intimidate victims and evade detection.
Placid said all the affected officers were subjected to orderly room trial procedures before their dismissal, while those indicted in the criminal cases have been recommended for prosecution. He added that the Nigeria Police Force remains committed to internal discipline and will not tolerate misconduct that undermines public trust, stressing that efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects and ensure accountability.
Police Dismiss Five Inspectors, Prosecute Three Over Robbery, Kidnapping in Rivers
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