FRSC deploys 22,225 marshals, 689 vehicles for Easter patrols – Newstrends
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FRSC deploys 22,225 marshals, 689 vehicles for Easter patrols

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Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, has ordered the deployment of 25,224 regular and special marshals to effectively cover 29 critical corridors during the Easter Special Patrol expected to commence from 13 to 20 April 2022 .

Giving the breakdown of the deployment, the Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, said in a statement that the personnel would include 7,100 officers, 18,124 marshals and 15,225 special marshals to cover all the identified areas across the country.

He said the aimed was to ensure free flow of traffic and reduce road traffic fatalities by 15 per cent during the period.

According to him, the management staff, Zonal Commanding Officers, Sector Commanders and other senior officers of the rank of Deputy Corps Commanders (DCC) in the national headquarters as well as corridor commanders are also deployed to the field commands to ensure compliance with the operational guidelines issued at the beginning of the exercise.

Accordingly, a total of 580 patrol vehicles, 92 ambulances, 17 tow trucks and 73 motorbikes are being deployed as part of the patrol logistics. In addition, 2096 reflective jackets , 1,000 traffic crones, 73 tyre pressure gauges, a number of extricating machines and digital breathalyzers are part of the tools set aside for the special operations.

Kazeem also stated that part of the strategies in place is the activation of 22 Help Areas to ensure prompt removal of obstructions, death and injuries during the period.

The statement said, “This is in addition to the ten traffic control camps which would be dedicated solely to identifying traffic gridlock areas to be manned by personnel on a 24/7 basis during the Easter celebration.

“In addition, the Corps Marshal directed Commanding Officers to swing into action by combining the engagement of the motoring public through purposeful and impactful public education programmes, strengthened surveillance activities to regulate unprofessional excesses, sustained effective patrol operations as well as adequate monitoring on the highways.

“Further to that, all Commanding Officers have equally been directed to step up patrol operations and ensure strict enforcement of critical offences like overloading, driving rickety vehicles, excessive smoke emission, speed limit violations, overloading violations, tyre violations, light signs violations including directional lights headlights, backlight and break light, among others.

“The corps has also put in place a situation Room at the National Headquarters to monitor the activities across the country, collate and process information for dissemination to relevant commands and stakeholders as the case may be. This is in addition to the activation of 28 road traffic crash clinics and 48 Zebra points located along the major routes which would be covered by 92 ambulances that would be fully utilized to respond promptly to cases of rescue and convey injured victims to hospitals for more professional attention.”

The FRSC’s spokesperson quoted the corps marshal as saying, “We are very conscious of the fact that FRSC alone cannot shoulder the responsibilities of ensuring safer road environments, I have directed Commanding Officers to liaise with other strategic stakeholders within their operational areas for the needed moral and logistics as well as security support.

“I am also convinced and have confidence in the disposition, the crop and quality of personnel and logistics that have been deployed to ensure the safety of travellers during the Easter celebration. However, it is also expedient to state without mincing words that the Corps will not be able to achieve desired result that would make trips safer for all if the cooperation of the motoring public is not in place.”

By this fact, Oyeyemi urged the entire community of road users to give the corps maximum support and cooperation by complying with all safety measures and abiding by all established traffic laws so that incidences of road traffic crashes could be drastically minimised.

He further advised that in situations of emergency, the 122 toll free number and the National Traffic Radio live lines: 08052998090, 09067000015, and 08052998012 are viable means to reach FRSC to report traffic situations anywhere in the country for swift response.

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Anambra vigilantes torture man to death over water tank theft

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Anambra vigilantes torture man to death over water tank theft

A 60-year-old resident of Nza Ozubulu in the Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, identified only as Mr. Kenneth, was reportedly tortured to death by operatives of local vigilantes hired by his younger brother.

Activist Harrison Gwamnishu shared a video on X, showing the sexagenarian with his hands tied behind him, being repeatedly beaten with cutlasses and sticks by his assailants.

Mr. Kenneth had sold a water tank in his family house to address family issues, which his younger brother disagreed with. Consequently, the brother called for the local vigilante group, who arrested and tortured Mr. Kenneth until he succumbed to his injuries.

In the video of his torture posted by Gwamnishu, Mr. Kenneth could be heard shouting “They have killed me. It is death. I am dying! What did I do?”

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As his torturers took turns to beat him, voices could be heard in the background saying in Igbo language, “You stole. It is a general property,” amongst other unclear words.

Meanwhile, Gwamnishu noted that “Currently his wife and children are subjected to fear and intimidation as they have vowed to deal with them if they continue to seek justice for the death of Mr. Kenneth.”

Demanding justice for the deceased, the activist said, “Ndi Nza Ozubulu, Anambra State, stop shying away from this case and protect the deceased wife and children.”

When SaharaReporters contacted the Anambra State Police Command for confirmation of the incident and reaction, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Toochukwu Ikenga, said he was not aware of the incident.

The police spokesperson who asked the family of the deceased to reach out to him said, “There is no report like that before me, please. Can the victim’s relatives see me please.”

Anambra vigilantes torture man to death over water tank theft

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Niger: Residents flee community as troops withdraw after deadly ambush

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Niger: Residents flee community as troops withdraw after deadly ambush

The Nigerian military has dismantled their tents and withdrawn their services from communities in Niger State following deadly attacks by bandits and terrorists.

Two officers and four soldiers lost their lives last Friday in the Allawa community in Shiroro Local Government Area of the state during an ambush by the bandits which left over eight persons dead.

The PUNCH learnt that following the withdrawal of the soldiers on Thursday, hundreds of residents, including women, children, and the elderly have started vacating their ancestral homes and, trekking several kilometres to safety.

A resident, who is privy to the development, said that they were shocked to find the soldiers dismantling their tents ahead of withdrawing their services to the communities and called on the Niger State Government to quickly intervene to avert any attack by the bandits.

According to one of the residents who spoke to the media under the condition of anonymity, the withdrawal of the soldiers came two days after a military vehicle stepped on a landmine along the Allawa-Pandogari road, resulting in the casualty of an unspecified number of soldiers.

“We woke up on Thursday morning to find the soldiers dismantling their tents in readiness to leave the community. I don’t know if you are aware that on Tuesday, a military vehicle carrying some personnel on their way to Allawa stepped on an IED. There was a heavy casualty as many soldiers lost their lives while some were injured. The injured are in the hospital. The incident happened on Allawa-pandogari road,” the resident said.

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It would be recalled that Tuesday’s incident occurred less than a week after the two officers, four soldiers, a vigilante, and a hunter lost their lives in an ambush at Roro when bandits ambushed them in Roro, Karaga, Rumace, and other farming communities.

Another resident, who gave his name as Yahuza Allawa, told the media that dozens of residents vacated their communities as early as 4 am trekking several kilometres heading towards Erena, Gwada, Kuta, or Zumba for safety.

“We are leaving our communities now and there are insufficient motorcycles and vehicles to take us out as quickly as possible. We are afraid. We left our belongings behind because we could not carry so many things. So many other people have left already

“We are moving to either Erena, Gwada, Kuta, or Zumba. And from Allawa to Erena which is the only exit road for us and it is at least 42km and we are trekking. We cannot wait to be killed by these heartless bandits and Boko Haram. This is a serious issue, please help us report this issue,” Allawa pleaded.

The residents lamented that with the withdrawal of the military personnel, they were now more vulnerable to attacks by bandits and called for immediate intervention from the state government.

Last year, no fewer than 30 officers and men lost their lives in attacks by the bandits and terrorists in Niger State. In August 2023, 20 soldiers lost their lives while others including vigilantes sustained injuries during an ambush along Zungeru-Tegina road while responding to distress calls in some communities in Wushishi LGA.

Less than 24 hours after that incident, an MI-171 NAF Helicopter was on a casualty evacuation mission when it crashed at about 1.00 pm near Chukuba Village, Shiroro. The crash was confirmed by the Nigeria Air Force authorities. An unconfirmed report, however, said that the helicopter was shot down by suspected bandits. The pilot died in the crash.

The PUNCH learnt from anonymous military sources that the military authorities complained that they could no longer bear the incessant killing of soldiers by bandits in the state.

In his reaction, the Niger State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Bello Abdullahi, a retired Brigadier General, confirmed the withdrawal of the soldiers, saying it was part of the arrangements by the military to re-strategise on the best ways to tackle insecurity.

He said, “The whole thing is about administrative arrangements by the military to re-strategise to return in full strength”.

Niger: Residents flee community as troops withdraw after deadly ambush

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Police arrest abductors of Taraba varsity student 

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Police arrest abductors of Taraba varsity student 

The Taraba State police command has confirmed the arrest of 28 suspects for various crimes, including the abduction of varsity students in the state.

State Police Commissioner CP. David Iloyanomon disclosed this during a press briefing in Jalingo on Thursday. He also revealed that the command is searching for the former Chairman of Takum Local Government Area, Mr. Shiban Tikari, in connection with the 2017 murder of a member of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Hosea Ibi. Tikari is currently on the run.

Two suspects in Ibi’s murder were sentenced to life imprisonment last month for their involvement in the kidnapping and subsequent murder of the legislator. All suspects confessed that Tikari was the one who ordered the kidnapping and murder, prompting the judge to request his arrest.

Iloyanomon disclosed that the command has also recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition, as well as a tricycle, charms, 102 cows, a motorcycle, and other items.

He said, “There is no doubt that the Police Command, leveraging the support and cooperation of security agencies in the state and the good people of Taraba State, have worked assiduously to fight head-on all forms of criminality with remarkable achievements. Some of them are presented below.”

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The commissioner then proceeded to detail some of the arrests made, including:

  • Abdulkarim Ibrahim: Arrested in Perogal Tunga village, Sardauna LGA, for terrorizing villages in the local government. He confessed to involvement in several kidnappings.
  • Garba Yahaya and Abdullahi Usman Mohammed: Arrested in Gassol LGA for their involvement in a series of kidnappings and collecting ransom money.
  • Laulo Alhaji Adamu: A notorious kidnapper arrested in Bamanda Village, Lau LGA, for terrorizing Jimlari and Marraraban Kunini villages. He has confessed to several kidnappings.

Other criminal suspects were arrested for various crimes, including culpable homicide, armed robbery, illegal possession of arms, cyber crimes, banditry, criminal conspiracy, theft, and cattle rustling.

Iloyanomon also highlighted an incident where officers of the command turned down a bribe of ₦8,000,000 while on patrol. The Inspector General of Police commended these officers for their professionalism and urged others to emulate them.

The commissioner concluded by thanking the Governor of Taraba State for his commitment to combating crime and supporting security agencies in ensuring peace and security in the state. He reaffirmed the Taraba State Police Command’s commitment to upholding law and order.

Police arrest abductors of Taraba varsity student

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