NEWS
Demotion Of Police Officers Who Survived Gunmen’s Attack Sparks Outrage
The decision by the Police authorities to demote three officers in the Nsukka Division, Enugu state, who narrowly escaped an attack by unknown gunmen a few months ago, has triggered widespread public anger.
The officers in question, namely Inspector Ernest Ogbonna AP No 201118, Inspector Aboh Justin AP No 274182, and Inspector Kingsley Ugwuja AP No 326239, were on duty along Nsukka-Ibagwa Ani road last June when they came under attack by over ten heavily armed hoodlums arriving in a white Hilux and Siena bus.
The daring criminals initiated gunfire towards the officers, prompting the courageous policemen to return fire, the intense exchange of bullets lasted for approximately one hour.
Following this fierce confrontation, the police officers managed to fend off the attackers and drive them away.
Some of the criminals sustained injuries during the altercation. Regrettably, the criminals managed to set fire to the police van, but fortunately, there were no casualties, the police retained their firearms, and none of the officers on the team were injured.
Following their fortunate escape, police sources revealed that the officers were subjected to a formal inquiry, resulting in an orderly room trial.
Subsequently, the trial’s outcome led to a demotion in rank for these valiant officers. This decision was further validated by the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) at Zone 13, Ukpo, Anambra state, responsible for overseeing police activities in Enugu and Anambra states.
The news of this disciplinary action sent shockwaves through the ranks of both police commands, as officers in these regions have frequently been targeted by criminals posing as “unknown gunmen” in ongoing attacks.
Police officers who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid being punished told reporters that they had been in a very low spirit after the unfair punishment was meted out to the gallant officers.
According to the officers, “Does it mean that the authorities expected them to die and be decorated in death after they performed so gallantly? There were only three ill-equipped officers but they were able to confront a heavily armed gang of criminals numbering over ten.
“They came out without injuries and loss of arms yet the accolade police gave them was to try them and reduce their ranks. This is outrageous and we cry to high heavens for justice.”
Reports indicate that the affected officers have lodged appeals against the perceived injustice they faced and are now anxiously anticipating a response from the Inspector General of Police.
Meanwhile, a human rights organization in Enugu, the Alliance for Justice, has voiced concerns about the deteriorating morale among officers, particularly in Enugu state. They argue that the unjust orderly room trial has significantly contributed to this decline in morale.
The group’s spokesman, Dr. Okwui Eze lamented: “This is the greatest height of injustice I have seen in this century. Just a few days ago, gallant police officers and soldiers were gruesomely killed by these criminals in Imo state; see the incessant kidnappings now going on in Enugu state and at the end of the day, the police will wickedly treat their gallant officers that survived such attack in this heart-rending manner.
“Where then lies justice? How do you expect our long-suffering and ill-equipped officers and men to continue to fight criminals?
In response to the situation, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Enugu State Command, Dan Ndukwe, stated that he would seek to verify and confirm the exact details of the trial.
He said “orderly trial is purely an internal administrative or disciplinary matter of the NPF. Hence if any police personnel is aggrieved with the outcome of such trials, he/she certainly knows the best channel through which judgments are appealed”.
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has criticized the federal government’s plan to secure an additional N1.7 trillion loan through Eurobonds to cover a shortfall in the 2024 budget, describing the borrowing as unsustainable and harmful to Nigeria’s economy.
In a statement shared on Thursday via his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Atiku accused the Bola Tinubu-led administration of burdening Nigerians with debt while failing to provide clear answers about the country’s fiscal challenges.
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He also faulted the National Assembly for enabling what he called a “voracious appetite” for loans.
The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate expressed alarm over a recent World Bank report ranking Nigeria as the third most indebted country to the International Development Association (IDA), calling the development troubling.
“The recent report released by the World Bank, showing Nigeria as the third most indebted country to the International Development Association (IDA), is very concerning,” Atiku stated.
He raised further concerns about the government’s decision to benchmark the proposed loan at an exchange rate of 1 USD to N800, despite the Central Bank of Nigeria’s official rate being over N1,600.
“What makes this particular loan proposal even more concerning is that it is benchmarked at the exchange rate of 1 USD to N800, whereas the current exchange rate from the Central Bank of Nigeria stands at over N1,600 to 1 USD,” he said.
Atiku questioned the need for additional borrowing, given the government’s earlier claims of record-high revenue collection.
“In July this year, Tinubu boasted that the FIRS and Customs under his watch had collected all-time high revenues to finance the budget. Why are they still borrowing?” he said
He accused the government of a lack of transparency, describing the borrowing spree as detrimental to Nigerians already struggling under economic hardship.
“There is something that they are not telling Nigerians, even as they are being crushed by a combination of their failed trial-and-error policies and loan rackets.”
Atiku also referenced a report by BudgIT, a budget monitoring group, which criticized the 2024 budget for its inefficiencies.
He alleged that corruption, rather than infrastructure or development needs, was driving the government’s borrowing decisions.
“These loans are powered by corruption and not for infrastructure and development needs. This voracious appetite for humongous loans is deeply concerning,” he said.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s financial history, Atiku lamented the return to significant foreign indebtedness just years after former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration cleared the country’s debt.
“It is agonizing to see that just a few years after the Obasanjo administration took us out of foreign indebtedness, we are today back at the top spot in the same conundrum,” he stated.
He called for a more cautious approach to borrowing, urging the government to prioritize fiscal responsibility and transparency to avoid worsening Nigeria’s economic challenges.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has taken a historic step, issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The charges include crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed during Israel’s recent assault on Gaza.
In a detailed statement, the ICC accused the Israeli leaders of “intentionally and knowingly depriving the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity.”
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The ICC’s move marks a significant escalation in international scrutiny of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Netanyahu and Gallant are alleged to have orchestrated policies that caused severe harm to the civilian population in Gaza, leading to widespread condemnation from human rights organizations.
Alongside the charges against Israeli officials, the ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif. Deif has long been a central figure in Hamas’s military operations. Israel’s military claims to have killed him in a July airstrike, although this has not been independently verified.
The warrants highlight growing calls for accountability amid the ongoing conflict in the region. The ICC’s actions are likely to provoke heated debate and may complicate diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the crisis.
With the warrants issued, global attention now turns to how the international community will respond and whether any practical steps will be taken to enforce them.
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has inaugurated a 12-member committee tasked with recovering government vehicles reportedly in private hands.
The committee, led by Kelly Okungbowa, has been given a two-week mandate to retrieve the vehicles and ensure their return to the state government.
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Speaking during the inauguration ceremony in Benin City, Governor Okpebholo emphasized the importance of accountability in the management of public resources.
He urged the committee to carry out its assignment thoroughly and within the bounds of the law.
In his response, Okungbowa expressed gratitude to the governor for entrusting the team with the assignment, vowing to deliver results within the stipulated timeframe.
“A lot of vehicles used by the past administration are missing, as those in custody of the vehicles have refused to return them,” Okungbowa said.
“The governor deemed it fit to inaugurate us today with a mandate to recover all government vehicles in private hands.”
The committee, which includes representatives from Edo’s three senatorial districts, is set to investigate and recover the vehicles based on credible intelligence already at their disposal.
“We already have vital information regarding some persons still holding government vehicles,” Okungbowa stated. “We will do the job according to the law, and both the government and the people will be satisfied with the outcome.”
He also called on members of the public to assist the committee by providing information about any government vehicles that may still be in private possession.
“We want to appeal to members of the public who might be aware of anyone still keeping government vehicles in their houses to please inform us to enable the committee to recover such for the Edo State Government,” Okungbowa said.
The committee’s vice chairman, Rt. Hon. Victor Edoror, a former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, will work alongside other members to ensure the success of the initiative. The public can reach the committee at 08110165121.
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