Security
CSO-PTF Support Group queries commissioning of substandard police equipment
The CSO-PTF Support and Oversight Group has expressed dismay over the Commissioning by President Buhari of alleged substandard police equipments that were alleged to be fraudulently purchased by the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) Management.
In a joint statement by the group, they indicated that fighting corruption is one of President Buhari’s signature commitments and the mantra on which he campaigned to be elected President.
However, they said they were at a loss as to why president Buhari will commission the equipment despite the widely reported scandal associated with the procurement
“It is unbecoming of the President that despite the alleged scandal associated with this procurement which allegedly breached due process and despite the ongoing investigation by the ICPC over the petition alleging fraud and corruption, the President went ahead to commission those equipment.
“Our concern arises from the fact, not only that the said equipment were fraudulently purchased in utter violation of the PTF Act, but also that the equipment are currently subjects of ongoing investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)”
The investigation they said is based on a petition alleging abuse of due process, corruption and mismanagement of funds by the PTF Management.
“Several news media reported this scandal. According to the Vanguard Newspapers report of September 20, 2021 captioned “N11bn police equipment contract fraud: How infighting within NPTF management led to ICPC’s petition, investigation” over N11 billion substandard equipment were fraudulently purchased for the Nigeria Police by the management of the PTF.
“The report further revealed that ‘sharing formula of proceeds from the fraudulent purchase of substandard equipment led to the petition’.
“The Chairman of the PTF Board of Trustees former IGP Abba Suleiman was reported to have testified before ICPC investigators as a witness, during which he made startling revelations of fraud, abuse of due process and mismanagement of the PTF funds by the management.
According to the statement, the Management staff of the NPTF have also been invited by ICPC over the matter.
“It was further alleged that a former Deputy Governor who is a serving Senator eyeing 2023, and a Minister were fingered in the substandard equipment purchase.
“It was, for instance, alleged that the bullet proof vests that ought to possess double sided shields were found to only possess shield on one side.
“It was further alleged that the helmets were too small and the Toyota Buffalo vehicles procured were largely substandard.”
The statement indicated that the chairman of the board was quoted to have denied knowledge of the procurement process and that the management of the NPTF has been frustrating him from resuming work with his staff at the office provided by the Nigeria Police Force.
The statement asked rhetorically, “Is it that the President is unaware of these facts depsite being widely reported in the media or is it that someone or a group of people are misleading the President?
“We, the undersigned members of the CSO-PTF Support and Oversight Group have received with serious concern the news of President Muhammadu Buhari’s commissioning on the 13th of January 2022 of 200 Buffalo Toyota operational vehicles and other equipment purchased by the Police Trust Fund for the Nigeria Police Force through alleged contract fraud.
“We note that President Buhari was represented at the commissioning by the Minister of Police Affairs who was quoted to have described the provision of the equipment as part of the ongoing reformation of the Nigeria Police Force. “How can the commissioning of equipment that are alleged to be substandard and capable of exposing police personnel to grave danger if faced with criminals be part of any reformation?
“The Minister, speaking for President Buhari also commended the Board of Trustees, Management and Staff of the NPTF “for meticulously and meritoriously completing the project.”
“We dare to ask: what can be meticulous and meritorious about an alleged fraudulent act that breaches the laws of the country?
The group also quoted the IGP, Usman Baba in his remark during the commissioning to have said that ‘the items provided for the force are largely in line with requisite operational specification, tested and found to be standard that would enhance effective and efficient policing’.
“Again, we dare to ask: on what did the IGP base this assessment? We are not aware that the ICPC has concluded or made public the outcome of its investigation into allegations that the equipment were substandard and unsuitable, in fact dangerous, for use by the police.
“Again the IGP’s remark is preemptive of and prejudicial to the ongoing ICPC investigation.
“Was the IGP under pressure or in cahoots with those accused of mismanagement of police trust fund?
The group therefore called on the ICPC to expedite action, conclude its investigation into the serious allegations of fraud and mismanagement of PTF funds and make its findings public.
“All those found to be involved in the allegations should be brought to account.
They said, ICPC owes Nigerians the legal, moral and sacred duty of ensuring that nobody or group of individuals or groups, no matter how powerful, should be allowed to interfere with or derail the investigation
“We in the CSO Observatory will continue to monitor and regularly update Nigerians on the progress of this investigation and generally on the operations of the PTF.”
This they said they would do to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of the PTF and to ensure that the purpose of establishing the fund- which is to fill the funding gap for the Nigeria Police with a view to enhancing their operational capabilities to effectively discharge their functions of securing and protecting Nigerians from crimes and insecurity is achieved.
The group which is a Civil Society Organisations Observatory on the Implementation of the Police Act 2020 and the Police Trust Fund Act 2019 is a coalition of over 200 civil society organisations and activists spread across Nigeria and committed to promoting transparency and accountability in the implementation of the NPTF Act.
The group is established to act as a catalyst to spur the Police Trust Fund to deliver on its mandate and to carry out vigorous and sustained sensitisation to create public awareness across the geo-political zones on the existence of Police Trust Fund and its mandate.
The 33 CSOs who jointly signed the statement include:
- Rule of Law And Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Lagos
- International Peace And Civic Responsibility Centre (IPCRC), Anambra State
3.Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution. Lokoja, Kogi State
- Centre For Human Rights And Ethics in Development (CHRED), Oyo State
- Initiative For Gender Equality And Advancement, IGEA/ Edo Civil Society Organization, Edo State
- Community Outreach For Development And Welfare Advocacy (CODWA), Kwara State
7.Human Rights Social Development And Environmental Foundation (HURSDEF), Rivers State
- COMPPART Foundation For Justice And Peace Building
- Habitatcare And Protection Initiative
- Centre For The Advocacy of Justice, And Rights (CAJR), Plateau state
- Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), Lagos State
- Foundation For Environmental Rights Advocacy And Development (FENRAD) Nigeria, Abia State
- Young innovators And Vocational Training Initiative (YIVTI), Kaduna State
14.International Solidarity For Peace And Human Rights Initative, Enugu State
- Vivacious Development Initiative, Abia State
- Vision Spring Initiatives, Lagos
- Anthony Opara, a private citizen
- Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), Enugu
- Elixir Trust Foundation, Benue State
- Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD), Rivers State
- Social and Integral Development Center (SIDEC),
Anambra State - African Centre for Entrepreneurship and Information Development (ACEIDEV), Abuja
- Centre for Mmadu on Human Rights, Enugu
- Grassroots Development Monitoring and Advocacy Centre (GDMAC), Ilorin Kwara State
- Women Environment and Youth Development Initiative (WOYODEV),
Kwara State - Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women, Kaduna State
- Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP), Lagos
- Nnabuihe Azinkpali, Activist, Abuja
- Initiative for Safety Security and Educational Development (IPSSED NETWORK), Enugu State
- Centre for Transparency Advocacy, Abuja
- Koyenum Immalah Foundation, Benin
- ONYIGBUO, Stephen Uche, Private, Enugu.
- Social Intervention Advocacy Foundation (SIAF), Lagos
***Operates Across 10 Local Government Areas
The newly identified terror group, Lukarawa, has reportedly set up camps across 10 local government areas in Sokoto and Bauchi states, with a growing influence and activities in the region.
Although their presence was only recently confirmed to the public, the group is believed to have been planning their operations for years, with camps established near the Nigeria-Niger border before expanding into Nigerian territories.
According to local sources, Lukarawa initially operated in remote areas bordering Nigeria and Niger, including villages like Gwanaguano and Mulawa.
The group is known to move frequently, setting up temporary camps in communities like Tangaza and Gudu in Sokoto State, which they’ve named “Darul Islam.”
The group’s members, estimated to be between 18 and 50 years old, use Hausa, Fulfulde, and Arabic in their activities.
Their leaders, reportedly including Abu Khadijah, Abdulrahaman (Idi), and Musa Walia, enforce “taxes” on livestock in local communities, collecting a percentage of cattle from residents in Gudu, Tangaza, and Illela.
Dr. Murtala Rufa’i, a researcher at Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto, revealed that Lukarawa has been operating with the goal of establishing a caliphate.
The group’s constant movement, primarily on motorcycles, makes it challenging for security forces to locate them.
Rufa’i estimates that the group has between 1,500 and 1,800 followers, including clerics and youths in Tangaza and Gudu, the ancestral home of Lukarawa’s leaders.
The group has been active in Tangaza, Gudu, Illela, and other LGAs in Sokoto State and even extends into parts of Kebbi State. Lukarawa has also attracted followers by providing locals with cash, agricultural support, and pumping machines, appealing to those struggling with poverty.
Although security agencies dislodged the group around 2020, they reportedly regrouped in late 2023. The group is said to have origins linked to Jama’atu Muslimina, a Sahelian terror network, and its leader, Ahmadu Kofa, is believed to be Malian-based, with ancestral ties to the Kebbi region in Nigeria.
Residents in affected areas are reluctant to report the group due to fear, as Lukarawa has reportedly warned locals against sharing information, claiming they monitor communities with drones. One resident in Tangaza LGA, identified as Mainasara, recounted the recent abduction and killing of a youth suspected of cooperating with security forces.
Government Response
The National Counter-Terrorism Centre has assessed Lukarawa’s active fighters to be around 150, describing the group as “insignificant” but noting its recruitment efforts to expand its influence. Speaking to journalists, Major General Adamu Laka, the National Coordinator of the Centre, assured that counter-terrorism efforts are underway and downplayed the threat posed by Lukarawa, asserting that the group would soon be neutralized.
The Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has arrived in Sokoto for his first operational visit to the 8th Division Area of Responsibility, following reports of increased terrorist activities by a new group, ‘Lakurawa,’ in Sokoto and Kebbi states.
During his visit, General Oluyede will engage with the Sultan of Sokoto and other local leaders and stakeholders, as well as troops involved in Operation Fasan Yamma, the military’s counter-terrorism effort in the northwest.
His visit is coming just days after the Defence Headquarters confirmed the emergence of Lakurawa, a terror group believed to be linked to militants in the Sahel, particularly from Mali and Niger.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, explained that the group’s rise follows recent regional instability and the breakdown of security collaboration between Nigeria and Niger after the recent coup in Niger.
“We’re now facing a new terrorist sect in the northwest region known as Lakurawa. They’ve been identified as affiliates of terror networks in Mali and Niger,” General Buba said. “Their infiltration is centered in northern Nigeria, mainly Sokoto and Kebbi states.”
Five local government areas in Sokoto are reportedly under threat from the group, which has intensified local security challenges.
In response, Nigerian troops have scaled up their operations to contain Lakurawa’s spread, with intensified patrols and surveillance in affected regions.
The military has also released a list of nine individuals wanted in connection with the security issues facing the northwest.
General Oluyede’s visit reaffirms the military’s resolve to combat the rise in terrorism and reinforce security efforts in vulnerable regions. By meeting local leaders and frontline troops, the Acting Army Chief is reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to stabilizing the region and protecting communities from emerging threats.
Security
Nigeria Fortifies Cyber Defenses with Landmark Workshop to Safeguard Critical Infrastructure
In a decisive move to strengthen Nigeria’s defenses against cyber threats, the Federal Government has hosted a Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Protection and Resilience Workshop, bringing together key policymakers, security agencies, and sector regulators at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in Abuja.
The workshop, a landmark event aimed at fortifying cybersecurity across critical sectors, saw the participation of high-profile leaders including Finance Minister Wale Edun, Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru, and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. 
Director of Information and Public Relations Muhammed Manga in a statement said the workshop underscored the growing importance of cybersecurity in protecting Nigeria’s digital infrastructure amidst a global rise in cyber threats.
The statement quoted Edun to have highlighted the urgency of safeguarding digital assets, noting a surge in cyber threats impacting government and private sectors.
“To truly understand the extent of the commitment made to cybersecurity, one only needs to look at this gathering of our nation’s foremost leaders,” Edun stated, adding that Nigeria’s cybersecurity efforts are critical for both national security and economic resilience.
National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu outlined the workshop’s key objectives, emphasizing a coordinated strategy to protect Nigeria’s digital landscape from cyber-attacks.
Ribadu explained that the event was integral to fulfilling an executive mandate under the amended Cybercrimes Act, which authorizes the designation of essential computer systems and networks as critical infrastructure.
This designation mandates their protection, ensuring the security of key systems that support both the nation’s security and its economic infrastructure.
The workshop attracted significant stakeholders in national security and governance, including EFCC Executive Chairman Olanipekun Olukoyede, NSCDC Commandant General Ahmed Audi, and Nigeria Governors’ Forum Director General Abdulateef Shittu, reflecting the priority given to cybersecurity at the highest levels of government.
The event will culminate in a strategic action plan aimed at fortifying cybersecurity resilience across Nigeria’s essential infrastructure sectors.
This comprehensive roadmap will guide efforts to implement effective cybersecurity measures to ensure the resilience
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