Tinubu Approves 1,000 Forest Guards, Orders 5,000 CCTV Cameras to Boost Security in Plateau

President Bola Tinubu has approved major security measures for Plateau State, including the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards and the deployment of over 5,000 CCTV cameras, following the recent deadly attacks in Jos.

The announcement was made by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Sunday Dare, who shared the development via his verified X handle. The approval aims to strengthen security across the state, particularly in vulnerable areas prone to communal clashes and criminal activities.

The President revealed the directives during a town hall meeting in Jos, where he met with political, traditional, and community leaders. The meeting followed the Palm Sunday attack in Angwan Rukuba, which left at least 27 people dead and triggered widespread concern over safety in Plateau State.

“The Honourable Minister for Communication is here to give you assurance that we are going to install immediately a network of cameras that will help law enforcement agencies identify troublemakers instantly, over 5,000 of them,” Tinubu said, inviting the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, to explain the operational plan.

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Tinubu also stressed the importance of holding perpetrators accountable, directing the Inspector-General of Police, Chief of Defence Staff, and the Minister of Defence to intensify efforts to apprehend the attackers. “You must unearth and find the killers,” he said, acknowledging the sacrifices of security personnel and the need for swift justice.

In addition to surveillance and security reinforcement, the President announced plans to set up a committee to assess victims’ losses and recommend compensation, including representatives from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the Plateau State Government. He noted, “We cannot replace human beings, but we can give them minimum comfort.”

Governor Caleb Mutfwang thanked President Tinubu for the support, highlighting that the recruitment of forest guards would enhance grassroots security and complement existing military and police operations. The deployment of CCTV cameras, many equipped with AI-based monitoring technology, is intended to improve real-time surveillance and intelligence gathering across Jos and other high-risk areas.

The President’s visit also included engagement with victims of the Angwan Rukuba attack, including families who lost loved ones. The federal measures reflect an ongoing effort to curb violence, protect communities, and reassure residents that security agencies are actively addressing threats in Plateau State.

Tinubu Approves 1,000 Forest Guards, Orders 5,000 CCTV Cameras to Boost Security in Plateau

EFCC Seeks Permanent Forfeiture of 57 Properties Linked to Ex‑AGF Malami

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to permanently seize 57 properties allegedly linked to former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), as part of its investigation into suspected proceeds of unlawful activities.

The anti‑graft agency presented the application before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, urging the court to grant a final forfeiture order in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria after an earlier interim forfeiture order was issued in January. The case is filed as FHC/ABJ/CS/20/2026.

In a motion filed by its legal team led by Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, and Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, the EFCC maintained that the respondents — including Malami, his relatives, and multiple corporate entities — have failed to justify why the interim forfeiture order should be reversed.

The commission grounded its application in Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud‑Related Offences Act, 2006, which empowers courts to confiscate assets reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful conduct, even without a criminal conviction. The EFCC argued that due process was followed, including the publication of the interim forfeiture order in THISDAY newspaper on January 9, 2026.

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“This honourable court made an interim order forfeiting the properties to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” Okutepa told the court, adding that “no sufficient cause has been shown why the properties… should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

An affidavit deposed to by EFCC investigator Daniel Adebayo outlined the scope of the probe, which began after multiple petitions accused Malami of corruption, abuse of office and fraud. Investigators examined financial records from commercial banks and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and obtained information from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). Land registries and geographical information systems in Kebbi, Sokoto, Kano and Abuja were also consulted, and physical inspections and valuations of the properties were conducted.

Adebayo informed the court that the assets’ value was disproportionate to Malami’s lawful earnings while in office between 2015 and 2023. According to evidence presented:

• Malami earned a total salary of ₦89,664,000 during his eight years in office, averaging about ₦962,663.68 per month.
• He received a ₦12,158,400 severance allowance upon leaving office.
• He declared estacode (travel) allowances totalling ₦253,608,500 for official trips between 2015 and 2023, as documented in an addendum to his asset declaration form submitted to the CCB in June 2023.

Copies of Malami’s asset declaration forms and supporting documentation were seized during an EFCC search of his residence and tendered as Exhibits EFCC 2 & 3.

The affidavit further states that many properties were acquired through proxies and corporate entities — such as Rayhaan University (Kebbi), Amasdul Oil and Gas Ltd, Mountain View Gold and Jewellery Ltd, Azbir Arena Nigeria Ltd, Meethaq Hotels Ltd, and others — raising suspicion about their provenance. Several structures were allegedly developed without appropriate building permits or approvals, particularly in Kano and Kebbi states.

Adebayo also noted that the properties’ total value is estimated at about ₦213.2 billion, geographically spread across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states.

Malami, his wife Hajia Bashir Asabe, his son Abiru’ Rahman Abubakar Malami, and the corporate respondents have challenged the interim forfeiture order and asked the court to set it aside. The matter is now slated for a full hearing on April 21, 2026 before Justice Abdulmalik.

This application follows an earlier ruling on January 8, 2026, by Justice Emeka Nwite, which granted the EFCC’s ex parte request for interim forfeiture and ordered publication to allow interested parties to contest it within 14 days — a window that has since lapsed without successful challenges to overturn the interim order.

Legal experts note that final forfeiture applications such as this one test the non‑conviction based forfeiture regime and could shape future asset recovery efforts in high‑profile corruption cases in Nigeria.

EFCC Seeks Permanent Forfeiture of 57 Properties Linked to Ex‑AGF Malami

Police Detain Four Over Military Uniforms, Recover Arms

Abia State Police Command has arrested four suspects in Umuahia for allegedly wearing military uniforms illegally, recovering firearms and ammunition in a major security operation. The arrests are part of intensified efforts to clamp down on criminal activities across the state.

Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa, revealed that the suspects are being interrogated at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and assured that prosecution would follow upon the conclusion of investigations.

“The people arrested with army uniform are being investigated. There are about three or four of them. They are undergoing interrogation,” CP Isa said during a press briefing.

The operation forms part of a broader campaign that has seen over 200 arrests between January and April for various offences, including robbery, cultism, and other criminal acts. Security forces also recovered 32 firearms and assorted ammunition, underscoring the commitment of the police to maintain law and order.

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While reporting a decline in major crimes such as kidnapping and armed robbery, CP Isa expressed concern over a rise in cult-related activities, noting that 13 cultism cases were addressed within the period, resulting in the prosecution and remand of 23 suspects.

The CP also clarified reports surrounding a patient’s death at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), stating it was a case of suicide, not murder. The deceased reportedly took his own life after failing to meet obligations tied to funds collected as a job recruiter.

Authorities urged residents to support the police with timely and credible information and warned against extortion, emphasizing that bail is free and encouraging direct reporting of any intimidation attempts.

As part of welfare initiatives, the Command disbursed N11,960,244.88 under the Inspector-General of Police welfare package to families of fallen officers. Grace Nwogu, speaking on behalf of beneficiaries, praised the IGP for providing vital relief to affected families.

The CP also provided updates on the ongoing police recruitment exercise, reporting that 771 candidates have been screened out of 1,005 applicants, with recruitment continuing until April 18. Newly deployed officers have also filled key positions, including replacing the late Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations, Chris Okoro, and promoting the former DCP CID.

The Abia State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining security operations, protecting lives, and curbing criminal activities across the state.

Police Detain Four Over Military Uniforms, Recover Arms