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Beam searchlights on state governors, MURIC tells Nigerians

Published

1 year ago

October 2, 2024

Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola

Beam searchlights on state governors, MURIC tells Nigerians

An Islamic human rights organisation, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has tasked Nigerians to beam their searchlights on state governors as they celebrate the 64th anniversary of the country’s independence.

This was contained in the independence message circulated to the media on Tuesday, 1st October, 2024 by the Founder and Executive Director of the organisation, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

MURIC argued that this will ensure a level playing ground in the search for transparency, probity and accountability which will eventually lead to good governance.

The message read: “The Muslim Rights Concern felicitates Nigerians of all tribes, faiths and shades. As we mark the 64th anniversary of our nation’s independence, we call the attention of fellow Nigerians to the lopsided and short-sighted manner we have been searching for good governance.

“Nigerians have always restricted their interest in government’s activities to the centre whereas our commonwealth is not kept at the centre alone. It is shared among all the 36 states. It is therefore myopic to always expect transparency, probity and accountability at the centre alone. We remain on a wild goose chase for good governance until we begin to monitor state governors and hold them accountable.

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“Neither is it fair to always mobilise agitations against the centre at all times. The citizenry must grow up. It is time to get to the next level of activism. It is high time we started practising mature and responsible activism. It is only when this is done that we can ensure a level playing ground in the search for transparency, probity and accountability which will eventually lead to good governance.

“At the age of 64 we must stop being short-sighted. At the age of 64 we must widen our horizon. At the age of 64 we must think outside the box. We must look beyond the centre, beyond Abuja, beyond the federal government and beyond the president. We must take our governors to task.

“The governors also share our money in Abuja. It is not the federal government alone that sits on our common patrimony. We must ask our state governments what they are doing to improve the people’s welfare.

“We must feel independent, feel 64, feel liberated. We must free our minds from fixated prejudice against the centre. We must liberate ourselves from state level shenaniganism. We must ask the governors just as we have been asking the president. Get ready to ask your governor.”

Beam searchlights on state governors, MURIC tells Nigerians

Related Topics:governors MURIC Nigerians

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Akwa Ibom Barber Jailed 14 Years for Defiling 12-Year-Old Girl

Published

1 hour ago

April 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Akwa Ibom Barber Jailed 14 Years for Defiling 12-Year-Old Girl

An Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Ikot Ekpene has sentenced 32-year-old barber, Ofonime Augustine Etim, to 14 years’ imprisonment without an option of fine for defiling a 12-year-old girl, reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to child protection and sexual offence enforcement.

The convict, who hails from Abama village, Obot Akara Local Government Area, was found guilty of committing the offence on May 10, 2023, in Ikot Obong Otoro, Abak Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.

During the trial, the State Ministry of Justice prosecution team called three witnesses, including the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) and a consultant gynecologist, and tendered documentary evidence. The medical evidence was pivotal, with the gynecologist confirming a 2cm deep vaginal wall laceration and multiple bruises, consistent with forceful sexual penetration.

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The IPO testified that the victim had been abducted and taken to the convict’s residence, while the victim’s elder sister recounted that the girl had been missing for several days before being rescued and taken to a hospital for treatment.

Justice Augustine D. Odokwo, who presided over the case, ruled that the prosecution had proven the case beyond reasonable doubt, dismissing the convict’s own testimony as unsubstantiated. The judge emphasized the gravity of the offence, stating, “The law is designed not only to punish but to deter others from such acts. Children must be protected.”

The court ordered that the time Etim has spent in custody since May 13, 2023, be deducted from his sentence. It also directed that the convict’s name be entered into the State Sex Offenders Register, while all exhibits tendered during the trial remain in court custody pending any appeal.

Child protection advocates hailed the verdict, noting that it sends a strong message that perpetrators of child defilement and sexual abuse will face strict penalties, reinforcing justice and safety for minors across the state.

Akwa Ibom Barber Jailed 14 Years for Defiling 12-Year-Old Girl

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Lagos Taskforce Launches Anti‑Crime Patrol Unit to Curb Rising Criminality

Published

2 hours ago

April 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Akerele addressing operatives of the unit. Photo: Taskforce

Lagos Taskforce Launches Anti‑Crime Patrol Unit to Curb Rising Criminality

The Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences has officially launched a dedicated anti‑crime patrol unit to tackle escalating criminal activities, environmental offences, and street-level threats across the state. The launch took place on Wednesday at the task force’s headquarters in Bolade, Oshodi, and was led by the agency’s Chairman, CSP Adetayo Akerele.

The new patrol unit is designed to operate as a rapid-response team, patrolling crime hotspots 24/7 to proactively detect, deter, and neutralise criminal activities before they escalate into serious threats to public safety. According to Akerele, the unit’s mandate covers a wide spectrum of offences, including drug peddling, street urchinism, area boys activities (locally called “Omotaku”), one-chance robbery syndicates, attacks on government officials, quackery, and indiscriminate waste disposal.

“The unit will operate all out to stamp out criminal activities in the state this year. No stone will be left unturned to compel criminals to desist from their acts or relocate from Lagos State,” Akerele stated. He urged residents to support law enforcement efforts by providing timely and credible information that could aid operations.

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The initiative also comes after the Lagos State Police Command withdrew the task force from traffic enforcement, allowing it to focus entirely on security operations and law enforcement against criminality. Akerele emphasized that while traffic duties have been reassigned, the task force’s core functions remain intact, and the anti-crime patrol unit will intensify surveillance and intelligence-driven operations in known flashpoints.

Law enforcement observers note that Lagos, being Nigeria’s commercial hub, faces persistent street crime, drug offences, and environmental violations, making the launch of this unit a strategic move to reinforce public safety and protect lives and property. The task force aims to enhance Lagos State’s security architecture by deploying personnel in high-risk areas and responding swiftly to incidents reported by residents.

The state government hopes that this enhanced patrol unit will serve as a deterrent against criminality, ensuring a safer environment for both residents and businesses as the city continues to grow and urbanize.

Lagos Taskforce Launches Anti‑Crime Patrol Unit to Curb Rising Criminality

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Couple Jailed 15 Years for Selling Infant, Toddler in Calabar

Published

2 hours ago

April 2, 2026

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Couple Jailed 15 Years for Selling Infant, Toddler in Calabar

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Cross River State Command, has secured convictions against a husband and wife for selling their children for monetary gain in Calabar. The couple, Esther Ini Udo (32) and Eyo Stephen Udo (34), were sentenced to 15 years in prison each and fined ₦2 million, following a four-count charge for child trafficking and exploitation.

The Federal High Court, Calabar heard that Esther sold her newborn baby to a trafficker, Oluchi Judith (at large), for ₦300,000, while the couple also bought a one-year-old baby from accomplices, Blessing and Uduak, for ₦150,000 and resold the child to the same trafficker for ₦400,000. The court strongly condemned the actions, describing them as a gross violation of child rights and anti-trafficking laws.

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Both defendants initially pleaded not guilty, but the court found them guilty on all counts. Justice I. Ojukwu, presiding over the case (Suit No: FHC/CA/19C/2025), sentenced Esther and Eyo Stephen to 15-year jail terms, to run concurrently from April 1, 2026, the date of judgment.

The court also directed NAPTIP to arrest Oluchi Judith, who is wanted in connection with this and other human trafficking cases. Authorities emphasize that child trafficking remains a serious offense in Nigeria, with law enforcement intensifying efforts to dismantle networks involved in the sale and exploitation of infants and toddlers.

NAPTIP hailed the convictions as a significant victory against human trafficking, urging communities to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities involving children. Officials stressed that such harsh sentences serve as a deterrent to traffickers and perpetrators of child exploitation across the country.