Bandits will run if they hear my name – Wike – Newstrends
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Bandits will run if they hear my name – Wike

Published

3 years ago

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Nyesom Ezenwo Wike

Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has told delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba State that if he secures the party’s ticket and wins the election, he will take the war to bandits.

He said: “The one problem that our PDP government(under me if elected) must solve is to bring down the level of insecurity in this country otherwise there is no way the economy can grow.

“When bandits hear my name they will run because I will take the war to them. I will be the Commander- in-Chief in action.

“I’ll be commanding in projects, in security, in agriculture and the economy together with the armed forces. I’ll be commanding every aspects of life that will make Nigerians happy. This is because I have the capacity to solve the problems of Nigeria.”

Wike in a statement by his Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, also said the establishment of state police would be one enduring approach to addressing the festering insecurity in Nigeria.

The Governor, while wooing delegates of PDP in Taraba State in Jalingo on Thursday, dismissed the argument against the need for state police.

He said: “The Federal Government, you cannot stop this insecurity if you don’t have state police. You must have state police, there is no two ways about it.

“Having a state police does not mean you will not have a federal police. All over the federal system, even councils have their own police so that you employ people who know the environment.

“You cannot take a stranger to go to Mabila, it will take him years to understand that place. You can’t take a stranger and go to Donga or Chanchangi. So, you need people who know the environment so they will be able to take care of the place.

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“If federal offences are committed, the federal police should handle them. If they are state offences, the state police should handle. So one key thing to stop this insecurity in Nigeria is to have state police.”

The Rivers governor said those opposing state police often argued that if allowed, governors would use it against their opponents.

He said: “The question is will the governors be in office permanently? So, that argument is neither here or there. If this party called APC government loves Nigeria and committed to Nigeria, one project that they would have given to Nigeria is the creation of State police.”

Wike explained that the beauty of establishing state police was to ensure that people indigenous to an area were engaged in policing their environment.

Wike told the delegates that he was presenting himself to them to be given the presidential ticket to fly the party’s flag in the 2023 election because he was prepared to end the many troubles facing Nigeria.

He amented incidences of bomb blast in parts of the country and on railway tracks.

Taraba Governor, Darius Ishaku harped the need for creation of state police.

He lamented the state of insecurity in Nigeria and expressed optimism that if PDP returned to power in 2023, the party would restore the lost glory of the country.

He said: “He (Wike) speaks the truth, he fears nobody, and he is a workaholic. You have seen how he has turned Rivers State to a working site. We welcome him. We know what he has said, if God permits he will do it.

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“Nigeria is yearning for leadership. He has said it, hunger doesn’t east, south or west. Kidnapping doesn’t know south, east or west. Security is security. If there is no security there is no economy. If there is no economy, the country is not existing.”

On his part, former Gombe Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo described Wike as a faithful party man with requisite experience to lead Nigeria.

He said: “He is a true party man. Wike joined the party in 1998 and he is still in the party. He has never left even when the going was tough.

“When great people ran away, Wike stayed. He did not only stay, because he did not have anywhere to go, he contributed in building the party, in making the party stable and ensuring that the party continue as a growing concern.

“I have been to Rivers State while I was a governor, and have also been to Rivers State while I left as a governor. This is a man that has performed extremely very well. In education, health, social interaction of people and most importantly in security. In the area of security which is our major problem in Nigeria today, Wike has stabilise the Niger Delta today, particularly his own state of Rivers.

“You can remember how Rivers was eight years ago and you see how Rivers has become one of the most visited states in Nigeria today.

“Companies are coming back, revenues have double, you know this is important in all the states, when you lost revenue because people are leaving. People have come back, investments have come back, development is in force.”

THE NATION

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Four Nigerian students arrested after drug ring bust in India

Published

7 hours ago

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April 1, 2025

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Four Nigerian students arrested after drug ring bust in India

The India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), along with Delhi Police, busted a drug cartel, arrested five suspects including four foreign students from an “influential Nigerian family” and seized MDMA, high-quality crystal meth and Afghan heroin worth Rs 27 crore.

The raid was conducted in the Chattarpur area of Delhi on Monday, March 31, 2025.

Announcing the seizure in a statement on the social media platform X,  Union Home Minister, Amit Shah praised the agencies, saying, “Our relentless hunt against the illicit trade continues.”

According to officials, the NCB and the Delhi Police’s Special Cell traced the source of the drugs to a rented accommodation of an African national, where the MDMA was being synthesised.

Five, including four African nationals belonging to an influential family of Nigeria, have been arrested, a senior MHA official said.

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Acting on inputs about a high-quality methamphetamine transaction in Chhatarpur area, a joint team of NCB and the Special Cell intercepted a vehicle carrying 5.103 kg of crystal methamphetamine, valued at Rs 10.2 crore.

Questioning of the accused and technical tracking led them to an ‘African Kitchen’ in West Delhi’s Tilak Nagar, identified as the source of the contraband.

From this location, 1.156 kgs of crystal methamphetamine, 4.142 kgs of Afghan heroin, and 5.776 kgs of MDMA (Ecstasy pills) have been recovered, officials said.

Further probe led to a follow-up search at a rented apartment in Greater Noida from where 389 grams of Afghan heroin and 26 grams of cocaine have been recovered.

According to the officials, the accused are students of private universities in NCR and Punjab. Besides drugs, they are also suspected to be involved in cryptocurrency trade.

Four Nigerian students arrested after drug ring bust in India

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Ponzi schemes promoters in Nigeria now face 10 years jail

Published

8 hours ago

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April 1, 2025

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Ponzi schemes promoters in Nigeria now face 10 years jail

The Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, has warned that promoters and operators of any Ponzi Scheme in the country risk a penalty of not less than N20 million or imprisonment to a term of 10 years or both, upon conviction as prescribed by the provisions of the newly signed Investments and Securities Act 2025.

The SEC’s Director-General, Dr. Emomotimi Agama who stated this in Abuja, said the goal of the new legislation is to strengthen the legal framework governing Nigeria’s capital market, better protect investors, and introduce reforms that will promote market integrity, transparency, and sustainable growth.

He explained that previously, the SEC lacked the legal power to prosecute Ponzi scheme operators, which made it difficult to bring offenders to justice.

However, under the new law, those convicted of operating Ponzi schemes face a jail term of 10 years or more. “With the new law, they now face a 10-year jail term and beyond,” he said.

He further explained that the Act stipulates a minimum fine of N10 million for anyone operating a Ponzi scheme in Nigeria.

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“So, N10 million is not the entire penalty or the entire money that will be charged or sanctioned to any suspecting or any accused capital market or non-capital market operator. It is just part of the penalties and or the sanctions that will be meted against such persons,” Agama explained.

The SEC Director-General also said that sanctions will include “disgorgement,” meaning that any profits or gains obtained from defrauding Nigerians will be recovered adding “It is not about the quantum of the fraud, it is about sanctions that would deter people from even getting into it”.

Also, Agama said the new ISA has also provided the SEC with the power to be able to obtain and request telephone conversations and all other conversations that are required to Prosecute Ponzi operators.

“We recognize that a lot of Nigerians have fallen prey to these sponsor schemes and the reason why that is the case is because there were no sanctions. You know enough to deter them from doing this so what this Act has done is to introduce measures for Ponzi scheme operators and intending Ponzi scheme operators not to be able to do this again against the wish and will of Nigerians.

“Protecting the investors in Nigeria is a cardinal responsibility of the SEC and this law has provided the SEC with stronger powers to be able to do that. This law has also been able to provide the SEC with the power to be able to search phones and get phone records for people who are interested in dealing with Nigerians or interested in duping Nigerians. We are able to get these records and quickly provide enforcement actions for the people that are involved so for us it is limitless,” he added.

Ponzi schemes promoters in Nigeria now face 10 years jail

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Kogi LG imposes curfew ahead of Natasha’s homecoming event

Published

8 hours ago

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April 1, 2025

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Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

Kogi LG imposes curfew ahead of Natasha’s homecoming event

The Chairman of Okehi Local Government Area, Kogi State, Amoka Monday, has imposed a curfew across the council.

Monday cited security concerns following the ban on political rallies and unauthorised public gatherings.

In a statement he signed on Monday, he explained that the curfew was necessary to ensure peace and order in line with directives from the Kogi State Government and Commissioner of Police.

He noted that anyone found loitering or assembling in restricted zones without clearance from the relevant authorities will be arrested and prosecuted.

According to him: “The curfew, which takes immediate effect, restricts movement and gatherings in designated areas.

“Anyone found loitering or assembling in restricted zones without clearance from the relevant authorities will be arrested and prosecuted.

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“The safety of our people is paramount. We will not allow any situation that could jeopardise the peace and stability of our communities.”

The chairman emphasized that the curfew was a proactive step to prevent any potential security threats.

He reassured residents that the local government administration was working closely with security agencies to monitor the situation and take necessary measures to maintain law and order.

The curfew and the ban on political rallies are part of the Kogi State Government’s broader efforts to preserve peace, curb misinformation, and ensure that public gatherings adhere to legal guidelines.

Residents have been urged to comply with the directive and cooperate with security agencies to safeguard lives and property.

The administration also appealed for calm, encouraging the public to go about their daily activities within the confines of the law.

Kogi LG imposes curfew ahead of Natasha’s homecoming event

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