Metro
Army’s Irresponsible Killings and Police Undeserved Sympathy
By Eric Elezuo
The deaths of Inspector Eddie Edidale, Sergeants Usman Danzumi and Dahiru Musa in Taraba State while on official assignment by alleged trigger-happy soldiers of the 93 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, in Takum, Taraba State, took many by surprise.
The reasons for the surprise lies in the fact that the army, surprisingly unlike the counterparts in the Police Force, are not known to be trigger happy as they boast of adequate and excellent training. Again, it is said that the soldiers are so disciplined in the use of arms, shoot only when they have express command from a superior. So why did these particular soldiers snuff the life out of three promising cops even when it was said they revealed their identity.
In the army’s press statement, the it has claimed that the policemen were mistaken for kidnappers, and so fire was opened on them. But the Police have faulted the claim, saying the slain cops were well identified before being executed at close range.
The deaths have pitched public sympathy for the police against the army in a sudden turn of events. The army, hitherto, has been well respected following their no nonsense stand and risk in the territorial defence of the nation. More so as many of them are being slaughtered almost on a daily basis at various insurgency wars across the length and breadth of the country in recent times.
The army don’t just shoot and kill; the police are believed to posses such unenviable status. And of course, a lot of instance abound where the police have snuffed life out of Innocent citizens, sometimes for little or no provocation.
The situation now has therefore become suspicious. The reason is not farfetched: if the soldier has to kill in this manner, he definitely did so via instruction, and soldiers don’t joke with superior instructions. This has raised the question: who ordered the massacre of the there policemen. Who is interested in the release a notorious kidnapper, Alhaji Amisu Bala Wadume, who was successfully apprehended by the police.
As to be expected, considering the no love lost relationship of the police and army over time, the force headquarters has faulted the defence headquarters claims of mistaken identity. They have therefore posited certain queries for the army among which is the whereabouts of the kidnapper-victim whom they claimed to have rescued and the identity of the so called whistle blower who alerted them.
It is obvious that the army cannot give answers to these queries as there are in the real sense no answers to them.
Maybe for the first time, Nigerians seem to be on the side of the police, and bluntly ask the army to speak the truth in this matter, no matter whose ox is gored. It is a good thing however, that President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered a detailed investigation into the matter. But then, most Nigerians have lost fate in the enquires of the Buhari administration, claiming that nothing will come out of it, and the case will be swept under the carpet like many others in the past.
Howbeit, the Police is not the only the casualty here, the entire nation, even the person or persons at whose behest the gallant officers were slaughtered and Wadume escaped. This is because a criminal will always remain a criminal. Who knows who he will come after tomorrow.
The trio of Edaile, Danzumi and Musa were reported as among the stars of the force, whose discipline, proficiency and hardwork were worthy of emulation.
They had distinguished themselves in various field assignments including the arrest of notorious kidnapper Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans, in 2017, rescue of Musa Umar Uba, an in-law of President Muhammadu Buhari, who was in captivity for two months and the arrest of Umar Abdulmalik, a Boko Haram commander, as well as 22 Boko Haram terrorists responsible for the 2014 abduction of 276 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno.
While everyone mourns the irresponsible killing of the officers, a clarion call is made to the army to redeem its honour and unmask the bad eggs in its ranks, produce the captured or released kidnapper. That will go a long way to assuage the anger of the Nigerian populace.
Abuja, the nation’s federal capital, came alive with joy and excitement on Wednesday as a new set of winners in the ongoing Globacom Festival of Joy promotion received mouth-watering prizes they won at a special presentation ceremony held at the premises of Globacom at Aminu Kano Crescent.
A glittering brand new Toyota Prado, a brand new Kia Picanto, tricycles (Keke Napep) and scores of other prizes including power generating sets, sewing machines and grinding machines were handed over to joyful winners.
Sarah Ilya Madu was presented the keys to her brand-new Toyota Prado by Senator Simon Lalong, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth Development, supported by a stellar cast of celebrities and influencers.
Sarah, a federal civil servant from Borno State, who emerged winner of the Toyota Prado in the draw of the promotion held in Abuja last Friday, expressed shock when she was called up. She dropped the call from Globacom several times because the news was too good to be believed.
She said, “I was prevailed upon by my colleagues to do a video call with the Glo staff who called me. Even when I saw the office environment, I was still doubtful.” She added that when she eventually agreed to visit the Glo office, she went with a hefty colleague just in case she was being set up.
Ufot Victor, a 43-year-old businessman based in the FCT, was expectant about winning as he had been recharging regularly so as to cross the minimum requirement for a car. Winning a brand new Kia Picanto was a huge reward for his dedication.
Other lucky winners also went home with tricycles (Keke), power generating sets, sewing machines and grinding machines. Ireimiya Mallo, a SIM registration agent and native of Nasarawa State, who won Keke, said, ”I was so joyful on learning I had won a Keke”. He disclosed that he would be deploying it for commercial purpose”, while the winner of a power generating set, Felix Gabriel, thanked Globacom for always remembering Nigerians every year in its annual promos.
The Special Guest, Senator Simon Lalong, praised the Chairman of Globacom for putting the promo in place for Nigerians and also extolled his strong support for sports. He said he would love to be a winner in the Glo promo one day soon. Also Senator Yemi Adaramodu, the spokesman of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth Development, said Globacom has always been a brand after his heart, adding that the network is not just attracting customers but also giving out to show that it means well not only for the customers but also for Nigerians.
In his remarks at the event, Globacom’s Head of Division, North West, Mr. Kazeem Kaka, said that to participate in the Festival of Joy promo, new and existing subscribers should dial *611# so as to opt into the promo and to keep recharging thereafter to meet the threshold for the various prizes. He added that new subscribers can participate immediately by purchasing a new SIM, registering it and dialing *611#.
Guests at the event included representatives of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Mariam Imam, Assistant Director, Consumer Affairs at the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Moses Iyi; comedians, Tee A, Seyi Law, and Gordons.
Others were Nollywood duo of Ebube Nwagbo and Juliet Ibrahim as well as popular content creator, Kiekie.
U.S immigration and border officials will be able to arrest migrants at so-called “sensitive” locations again, after the Trump administration overturned policies limiting where such arrests could happen.
Officers will now be able to make arrests at designated “sensitive” areas, including houses of worship, schools, and hospitals.
Officials have been prohibited from doing this since 2011.
Later, the Biden administration expanded the regulation, further restricting the authority’s powers.
“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.
“The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense.”
A second directive reinstates the ability for the U.S. to quickly deport any undocumented person arrested who is unable to prove they have been in the country for more than two years.
A 23-year-old Turkish OnlyFans model, Azranur AV aka Ezra Vandan, has been arrested by Istanbul police after announcing her plan to engage in sexual activity with 100 men within 24 hours.
Vandan’s social media post, in which she declared her intention to live-stream the act in an attempt to set a national record, was deemed “obscene” and “damaging” to public morals by authorities.
“My goal is to break a Turkish record first, then a world record!” she wrote in the now-viral post.
Her arrest was carried out by the Morality Bureau of the Istanbul Security Branch Directorate at a cosmetic surgery clinic in Atasehir, Istanbul.
