Defence Ministry civilian staff protest against brutality from soldiers

June 11th, 2024

Africa News

By Oyenike

Defence Ministry civilian staff protest against brutality from soldiers

Civilian staff of the Ministry of Defence Nigeria protested against alleged brutalisation by military personnel. They blocked entry and exit to the complex, claiming that their colleagues were being mistreated without regard for civil laws.

The President of the Joint Executive Council, Didam Joel, addressed journalists, expressing concern that civilian staff are an endangered species. He mentioned incidents of brutality, including the recent case of an assistant director being attacked by private soldiers at a school in Lagos.

Didam Joel highlighted previous instances where colleagues were killed or locked up, emphasising that they have not seen any action taken. As a result, civilian staff nationwide have withdrawn their services from the Ministry of Defence.

President of the Joint Executive Council, Didam Joel during the protest

Joel stressed the need to put a stop to the brutality and killing of civilian staff. He stated that if they can’t be defended and protected, there won’t be a need for the Ministry of Defence in Nigeria.

A video showing a civilian being brutalised by soldiers at the school went viral. Joel confirmed that the civilian in the video is a Grade 15 staff member of the Ministry of Defence. The ministry’s spokesperson, Henshaw Ogubike, could not be reached for comment.

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Unknown gunmen shot two police officers, and one civilian in Imo State, Nigera

An unfortunate incident happened in Akabo, Imo State. Two police officers and a passer-by were shot by gunmen. The attackers caught the officers off guard and quickly fled the scene in a Sienna bus. The Imo State Police Command has responded by deploying their Special Tactical Squad to work with other security agencies and bring the culprits to justice.

The Imo State Police Command

The Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, personally visited the crime scene to assess the situation. He’s determined to investigate this senseless act of violence and has set up a high-powered team for that purpose. The bodies of the officers and the civilian victim have been recovered and taken to a mortuary for preservation. It’s really heartbreaking that such a tragedy occurred.

Two police officers and a passer-by were shot by gunmen

Eyewitnesses suspect that the gunmen may be members of the prescribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN). The police are intensifying their operations to apprehend these hoodlums and ensure they face the consequences of their actions. It is important for the community to come together and support the authorities in bringing peace and justice back to the area.

Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)

The Imo State Police Command hope that the investigation leads to the swift apprehension and prosecution of those responsible. It’s crucial for our society to stand against violence and work towards a safer future.

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Nigeria reps summon Minister for recent train mishaps

The Nigeria House of Representatives summoned the Minister of Transportation Sa’idu Ahmad Alkali, they want to question him about the frequent train mishaps on the Abuja-Kaduna railway. The member representing Makarfi-Kudan Federal Constituency, Umar Ajilo, brought up the issue during plenary. He expressed concern over the recent derailments and emphasised the importance of rail transportation safety.

The Nigeria Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali

The House is worried about the increasing number of derailments on the Abuja-Kaduna rail line. The most recent one happened on June 5, 2024, at Asha station. This was the second incident in just two weeks, with the previous one occurring on May 26.

These derailments have left passengers stranded and it’s becoming a serious problem. To address this, the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, instructed the House Committee on Land Transportation to invite the Minister of Transportation and other stakeholders in the railway sector.

Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas

They want them to explain the reasons behind the repeated derailments and the measures being taken to prevent future incidents. The committee has been given four weeks to investigate the causes of these recurring derailments and report back to the House.

The Nigeria House of Representatives

The Members of Nigeria House of Representatives are taking these incidents seriously and want to prevent them from turning into a national calamity. Rail transportation is supposed to be a safe mode of travel, and it’s important to ensure the safety of passengers.

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Nigeria President calls security agents to track down assailants in Katsina

Nigeria President Bola Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has criticised the recent killings in Dutsin-Ma and Kankara Local Government Areas of Katsina State. As stated online, about 20 people, including police officers and members of the state-owned Community Watch Corps, were killed by suspected bandits in Gidan Tofa and Dan Nakwabo villages on Sunday.

Suspected bandits killed in Gidan Tofa and Dan Nakwabo villages on Sunday

President Bola Tinubu strongly condemned these gruesome attacks and expressed his sorrow in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale. He promised that his administration would take further steps to ensure the security of citizens and to combat terrorists and those responsible for spreading death and sorrow in any part of the country.

President Bola Tinubu by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale

President Tinubu has directed security agencies to track down the assailants and ensure that they face justice for their actions. He also offered his condolences to the families of the deceased, as well as the government and people of Katsina State. His prayers are with the souls of those who lost their lives.

 President Tinubu is taking a strong stance against these attacks and emphasising the need for security agencies to take action. The loss of innocent lives is truly tragic, and it’s important that those responsible are held accountable for their actions.

Nigerians hope that the efforts of the security agencies in tracking down the assailants will lead to justice being served and help prevent such incidents from happening in the future.

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Nigeria House of Representatives changes committees

On Tuesday, June 11, the House of Representatives made changes to four of its committees. They decided to move the chairmen from one committee to another. For example, Hon. Abdulmumini Jibrin, who was the former chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, was moved to the Committee on Housing and Habitat as the new chairman. Another change was Oluwole Oke, who was moved from Judiciary to Foreign Affairs.

Hon. Abdulmumini Jibrin moved to the Committee on Housing and Habitat as the new chairman

Additionally, the former chairman of the Committee on Housing and Habitat, Hon. Aminu Balele, was moved to the committee on Army as the new chairman. And Hon. Abdullah Mamuda took on the role of chairman for the committee on Judiciary.

The Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, announced these changes with the aim of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the House. It’s always great to see efforts being made to enhance the way things are run.

The House of Representatives reshuffled its committees, moving chairmen from one committee to another. This included changes to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Housing and Habitat, Army, and Judiciary. The Speaker hopes that these changes will lead to better functioning of the House.

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