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NSCDC Boss Mourns Personnel Killed in Kuje Prison Attack, Promises Better Security Measures
The Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has mourned the death of personnel of the Corps, who was killed during the terrorists invasion of Kuje Minimum Correctional Custodial Centre.
Following the unfortunate attack on the facility, Audi, on Wednesday, joined other service commanders to conduct an on-the-spot assessment, and later received President Muhammadu Buhari who also visited the facility.
According to a statement by the Corps’ Director, Public Relations, DCC Olusola Odumosu, the CG was in company of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Dr Shauibu Belgore, Inspector General of Police, Controller General of Corrections Service, Comptroller General of the Federal Fire Service, representative of the Comptroller of Nigeria Immigration Service and Director Special Duties in the Ministry of Interior, Dr Funsho Alabi.
The Corps helmsman sympathized with the family of a personnel of the Corps, Inspector Ilyasu Abraham serving at the Federal Capital Territory command and deployed to the Custodial centre on guard duty but unfortunately paid the supreme price as he lost his life during the attack.
The CG commiserates with his immediate family and pray God to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
He added that Ilyasu was a gallant officer who fought a good fight and died in active service defending the land.
Audi assured that the family of the deceased will be reached out to and necessary compensation delivered in due time.
He urged citizens to keep calm as NSCDC in collaboration with other security agencies are working tirelessly to ensure the safety of lives and protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure.
The CG said that adequate measures will be put in place to avoid such reoccurrence across the country.
Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed dissatisfaction over the action of the Rivers State House of Assembly, which denied him entry to the quarters on Wednesday.
Fubara addressed residents of the Khana Local Government Area during the commissioning of some health facilities shortly after the drama at the Assembly quarters.
The governor insisted that he communicated his intention to visit the lawmakers to Speaker Martins Amaewhule before he showed up at the quarters to re-represent the 2025 Budget as directed by the Assembly following the verdict of the Supreme Court on February 28, 2025.
“I still believe, maybe, they might be instructed later. If they are instructed, I’m still ready to come any day to get this particular issue sorted out,” the governor said.
Also, the Rivers State Government shared a letter notifying the House of the governor’s visit.
On Friday, February 28, 2025, the Supreme Court handed a raft of decisions on the protracted political situation in the oil-rich South-South state.
In the judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye, the five-man panel of the court unanimously dismissed the cross-appeal filed by Fubara challenging the validity of the House of Assembly presided over by Amaewhule as the Speaker.
In dismissing Fubara’s appeal, the court ordered Amaewhule to resume sitting immediately with other elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The apex court barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation, and other agencies from releasing funds to the Government of Rivers State until it purges itself of what the court described as flagrant disobedience to court orders.
Also, the apex court declared the local government election conducted in the state on October 5, 2024, as invalid.
Fubara subsequently said he would fully implement the judgments of the apex court and directed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to come up with modalities for the fresh election.
The electoral commission fixed August 9, 2025, to conduct a fresh local government poll in the state. The Assembly later issued an arrest warrant against RSIEC Chief, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), over failure to appear before the House.
Furthermore, the Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo, in a letter dated March 7, 2025, sought a meeting with the lawmakers for March 10, 2025 to discuss the re-presentation of the 2025 budget and a peace talk but the Assembly asked the governor to channel his invitation properly.
The Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, has asked for the partnership and support of the European Union to actualize Police reforms, and reiterate the efforts of the Federal Government to create a more responsive and professional police service in Nigeria, according to a statement by the Deputy Director, Information & Public Relations Unit, Mr. Bolaji Kazeem, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP).
Gaidam made the observation during a courtesy visit of the European Union Embassy delegation led by Ambassador Gautier Mignot to the Headquarters of the Ministry in Abuja.
The Minister said the expertise, resources, and experience in police reform and governance could significantly contribute greatly to the efforts of the government in Nigeria.
“Your Excellency, I would like to brief you on the ongoing Nigerian Police reform exercise, which is being overseen by the Ministry of Police Affairs. This initiative aims to enhance the effectiveness, accountability, and community engagement of the Nigerian Police Force,” he said.
Gaidam posited that key areas of focus include improved training, better resource allocation, and the establishment of more robust oversight mechanisms to ensure transparency and public trust.
He recalled that European Union has been at the forefront of supporting regional security initiatives, including the West Africa Police Information System (WAPIS). This initiative, supported by INTERPOL, has significantly enhanced the ability of law enforcement agencies across West Africa to share critical police information electronically. The Minister stressed.
According to him, “By improving coordination, WAPIS has played a vital role in combating transnational crimes such as drug trafficking, human smuggling, and terrorism threats that continue to challenge our national security.
The Minister posited that, the European Union and ECOWAS have remained committed to ensuring the full rollout of WAPIS across all ECOWAS countries and Mauritania. Noting that funding was made available for the initiative from November 2017 and extended to May 2025.
He expressed the prevailing security challenges in Nigeria and the broader West African region adding that, it is imperative that they work towards securing continuous EU funding for the full implementation and sustainability of the WAPIS system.
“Additional technical assistance and capacity-building support will further enhance Nigeria’s law enforcement capabilities and ensure that we maximize the impact of this crucial initiative|”. Gaidam noted.
Earlier, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Gautier Mignot reiterated that the Ministry of Police Affairs is one of the Ministries they reach out to and one of the main partners adding that, the cooperation is base on share values and interests, respect for rule of law, human rights, democracy noting that the police is the core of the expression of these values.
He said that stability and security in Nigeria and ECOWAS is of interest to European Union and at a time that the world is evolving very quickly on issues relating to the regional environment and the need to reform and strengthen the criminal justice system, tackle gender-based violence, fight against human trafficking in person.
“Migration issues, we are addressing issues we are facing worldwide with the very powerful criminal networks, this is very so important to work hand in hand to fight the networks, dismantle them and protect the victims,” he said.
The Kaduna chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) says it will not lose sleep over the defection of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
El-Rufai, earlier on Monday, announced his resignation from the APC, expressing disappointment with the ruling party’s leadership style.
He accused it of straying from the progressive ideals of its founding members.
However, in its reaction, the Kaduna State chapter of the APC in a statement by its secretary, Yahaya Pate, said the party remained unperturbed by the defection of the former governor.
According to him, the APC is focused on delivering Kaduna State to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani in 2027.
“We are unperturbed by former governor Nasir El-Rufai’s defection to another party. Our focus in Kaduna is on how to deliver the state to both President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani come 2027.
“The APC in Kaduna State is growing day by day, judging from the calibre of politicians streaming into the party daily. So, we are not disturbed by anybody defecting to another party based on our governor’s inclusive governance in Kaduna State. We are not disturbed and we are not going to lose sleep over El-Rufai’s moves”.
El-Rufai said his defection was over the party leaders’ unwillingness to address certain issues he had raised.
“At this point in my political journey, I have come to the conclusion that I must seek another political platform for the pursuit of the progressive values I cherish,” the former governor said.
“My eight-year tenure in Kaduna State was devoted to implementing progressive policies to advance human development. These records count for little in the current APC that has castrated its organs and treated its membership with contempt in the last two years, I find this no longer acceptable.”
The former governor was a founding member of the ruling party, leading Kaduna State for eight years under it. El-Rufai was also instrumental in the APC win of the presidential election in 2015 and played a similar role in President Tinubu’s 2023 victory.
While he was shortlisted for a ministerial role following Tinubu’s win, El-Rufai did not scale the screening process, a move that fractured his relationship with the president and the ruling party.
