Air chief urges endless offensive on criminals as police record zero crime in Niger

• FCTA to revoke 1,035 abandoned property
• Leaders pray for the release of Leah, monarch
• Yobe alerts residents on detonation of explosives
• Bauchi youths, Dogara differ on insecurity

The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, has urged troops of Operation Gama Aiki (OPGA) and 013 Quick Response Force (013 QRF), Minna, Niger State, to sustain the tempo of operations against criminals.

This was as the state’s police command said it recorded no crime during the Christmas celebrations.

Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Headquarters, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, disclosed the air chief’s message in a statement, yesterday, in Abuja.

Director of Operations, NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Sunday Aneke, reportedly delivered the charge when he represented Amao at the Christmas celebration of the Air Component of OPGA, in Minna.

Amao noted that the celebration provided an opportunity for the service to remember the sacrifices of fallen heroes, who paid the supreme price in the service to the country.

HOWEVER, the Niger Commissioner of Police, Monday Kurya, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), yesterday, in Minna, that reports from the 25 local councils indicated that the celebration went on peacefully, without threat to life and property.

“We had a hitch-free Christmas celebration across the state and no arrests were made during and after the festivity,” he said, commending residents for cooperating with security operatives in the state.

Due to security concerns, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has concluded arrangements to revoke the titles of 435 abandoned/uncompleted structures.

The FCT Director of Land Administration, Adamu Hussaini, disclosed to journalists in Abuja that the action was to ensure adequate security.

He advised the owners of such abandoned buildings to swiftly work towards their completion, as such structures breach security breach in the city.

Hussaini also disclosed that the same fate might befall owners of about 600 undeveloped plots in the city, emphasising that such undeveloped plots remain an eyesore in Abuja, despite the huge amount of money spent to provide basic infrastructure in the districts.

IN another vein, President of ‘Release Leah Sharibu Organisation’, Rev. Para Mallam, has urged all Christians and Muslims to pray fervently for the release of Leah Sharibu and several others still in captivity.

Mallam disclosed this in his New Year message to Nigerians, who are in search of peace and justice in the country.

Also yesterday, President of Gindiri Old Students Association (GOSA), Sunday Hyat, said he received with shock the kidnap of the paramount ruler of Gindiri, an active member of GOSA, HRH Charles Dakat, on Sunday.

A statement yesterday in Jos by the Public Relations officer of GOSA, Yakubu Tadi, prayed that the abductors should reconsider their stance and release the monarch immediately.

YOBE State Government has alerted residents of a planned detonation of explosive ordnances by Sector 2 Operation Hadin Kai Headquarters of the Nigerian Army in Damaturu.

This is contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Affairs Brig-Gen. Dahiru Abdulsalam (rtd.), in Damatur, yesterday.

Abdulsalam said the detonation of explosives would take place near the state university, Damaturu on Gujba Road and on Maiduguri Road.

BUT youths from the Constituency of the former Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, have refuted a security threat alert by the lawmaker in Bogoro Local Council of Bauchi State.

Mwari Youth and Zauren Baba Peter Gonto Youth Forums are planning a memorial anniversary for a Zaar sage, Baba Gonto. It was alleged that Dogara had written a letter to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) not to allow such a gathering to avoid breakdown of law and order.

Dogara’s media aide, Turaki Hassan, did not respond to The Guardian’s inquiry as at press time.

The late Baba Gonto, an evangelist, political leader and freedom fighter, insisted on “liberation of the Zaar people from all forms of slavery”.