News
Insecurity Tales: Between Reality and Toxic Hype in Anambra – Aburime
By Christian ABURIME
The Chief press Secretary to the Anambra state government, CHRISTIAN ABURIME has reacted to the insecurity Tales both in Anambra state and the country at large.
According to Aburime, the issue of insecurity is a global phenomenon, and today it is not the exclusive preserve of any society. Every nation has its share of security risks and breaches.
He said while responsible governments try their best to fulfill their constitutional primary responsibility of securing lives and property, no society in the world is ever totally safe.
His words: In fact, according to a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report, 6 in 7 people worldwide are plagued by feelings of insecurity. Also, the report further confirms that about 1.2 billion people live in conflict-affected areas, with almost half of them (560 million) in countries not usually considered to be fragile.
This means that, whether in the developed world or developing continents, vulnerability to insecurity is universal. Gun violence is an ever present threat in the US. Fatal stabbings are common in the UK. Terrorism abounds in the Middle East. Deadly crimes occur in Asia. South America has their drug cartel and mafia-related killings.
And most countries in Africa face diverse insecurity crises, including South Africa where crimes and killings are regular. But despite all the spate of insecurity across the developed societies, visitors, tourists and investors never cease travelling there; neither do their citizens badmouth their countries to the outside world.
This makes one wonder why when it comes to the case of Nigeria, some subversive elements are bent on disparaging their own state with exaggerated tales of insecurity, especially in Anambra State.
They have appointed themselves as town-criers of not good tidings, but of horror stories and pull-down-Anambra narratives just to make the government look bad. What a criminal indulgence!
Every day, insecurity rears its ugly head in different parts of Nigeria as daily reported in the news. For instance, banditry and kidnappings are daily tales in the North zone of the country. Weeks ago, five students of Federal University, Gusau in Zamfara State were kidnapped and yet to be released. Sectarian killings continue in Kaduna, Plateau, Niger, Kogi and Benue.
Gallant Nigerian soldiers recently arrested some rail track vandals in Nasarawa, just as policemen lately engaged armed robbers in a gun battle in Gombe State. Abuja, the seat of power that should be supposedly most secure, is a theatre of kidnappings and stabbings.
Over the past weeks, there have been several reported incidents of fatal stabbings across Abuja, from Wuse II to Gwarimpa, Airport Road to Gwagwalada, and Utako to Jabi.
Coming down to the Southwest, the zone has its own share of insecurity crises. Armed robberies and ritual killings do occur in Lagos, Ogun, Ondo and other states.
South-south and Southeast regions are not spared either.
In all of this, citizens of various states don’t indulge in mischievous hyping up of terrifying insecurity to discourage visitors and investors as some misguided few Anambra State’s own citizens do. And in spite of isolated incidents of violence and crime, Anambra State today can still be reckoned as one of the safest states in Nigeria.
The relative security in the state is not a mere coincidence, but rather the result of deliberate and concerted efforts by the Soludo-led government to continue to secure lives and protect property.
So, instead of campaign of calumny and pull-it-down syndrome by critics who never see anything good in their state, Anambra State government under the visionary leadership of Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, deserves commendation for its unwavering dedication to ensuring the security of lives and property within its jurisdiction.
The government has made substantial investments in law enforcement agencies, equipped them with modern technology, and provided adequate incentives to enhance their effectiveness.
Furthermore, the government has created an enabling environment for the security agencies to operate optimally, fostering collaboration and intelligence sharing among them.
However, as citizens of this remarkable state, it is crucial to recognize the responsibility we bear in maintaining the positive strides that Anambra State has made in other aspects.
We must refrain from indulging in the temptation to badmouth our own state or spread exaggerated stories of insecurity. While it is natural to discuss and address any security issues that may arise, let conversations be constructive and tend towards improvement.
We must discuss our security situation with caution and accuracy, avoiding the trap of sensationalism in social media platforms that could unjustly scare away visitors and investors.
As it is a universally acknowledged fact that no society is ever totally free from insecurity, the Anambra State government will continue to do all things possible to strengthen the state’s security architecture. And with Ndi Anambra providing their goodwill and support, fostering a healthy environment of positivity, the state will surely flourish under the protective wings of a proactive government led by Governor Soludo.
By so doing, we will attract the much-need development investments that will ultimately help in making Anambra a secure, livable, progressive and prosperous state we can all be proud of.
News
Alleged Coup Plotters Plead Not Guilty
Consequently, they are remanded in the DSS custody following Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjournment of the matter till April 27 for commencement of trial and for bail hearing.
Six persons linked to an alleged plot to topple the government of President Bola Tinubu have pleaded not guilty to the charges in the case holding at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Consequently, they are remanded in the DSS custody following Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjournment of the matter till April 27 for commencement of trial and for bail hearing.
Retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana (brought to the courtroom in a wheelchair), retired Naval Captain Erasmus Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani are accused of having conspired in 2025 to “levy war against the state” and overthrow the President.
The Attorney General, Lateef who instituted the lawsuit attended as the lead prosecutor in the matter.
The defendants face a 13-count charge which includes the allegation that they shared over N71 million for terrorism financing, failed to report prior knowledge of a treasonable plot by one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others, and neglected to prevent it.
Former Minister of State for Petroleum Timipre Sylva is named but remains at large.
Subsequent counts allege that the accused knew of an impending act of treason and terrorism by Colonel Ma’aji and others but failed to disclose it to the relevant authorities, in violation of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Abdulkadir Sani, a Zaria-based cleric, is accused of indirectly retaining N2,000,000 in a Jaiz Bank account, while Bukar Kashim Goni allegedly retained N50 million in his First Bank account. Zekeri Umoru faces charges of accepting N10 million in cash from Colonel Ma’aji and retaining nearly N8.8 million in a Zenith Bank account — all sums reasonably suspected to be proceeds of terrorism financing.
After the defendants took their plea, the Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi prayed the court to remand the defendants in DSS custody.
He urged counsel to all six defendants to follow protocols, assuring that none of them would be barred from accessing their clients if they do so.
Fagbemi noted this after a number of the defendants’ clients said they had not been allowed access while they were on remand in custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency DIA.
News
LASG Fixes Last Saturdays Monthly Environmental Sanitation 6:30 am – 8:30 am
In a statement on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed that the exercise is set to resume on Saturday, April 25, 2026, with movement restrictions and enforcement measures in place.
• Tokunbo Wahab
The Lagos State government declared that environmental sanitation exercise will hold every last Saturday of the month between the hours of 6:30 am and 8:30 am.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed that the exercise is set to resume on Saturday, April 25, 2026, with movement restrictions and enforcement measures in place.
“During this period, there will be controlled movement across the state to allow residents to carry out thorough cleaning of their homes, surroundings and drainage frontages,” he’s said.
He stated that enforcement teams comprising officials of the ministry, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, Kick Against Indiscipline, Lagos Waste Management Authority, and local government sanitation inspectors would “conduct physical inspections during and after the sanitation window to ensure compliance.
“Defaulters will be sanctioned in accordance with the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017,” he warned.
Wahab added that LAWMA intervention trucks will go around to cart away bagged wastes generated during the exercise,” noting that “there will be rewards for the cleanest Local Government Area, Local Council Development Area, and the cleanest street as part of efforts to encourage healthy competition and community participation.”
The alleged coup plotters in Nigeria’s foiled treason scheme will be arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik at the Federal High Court at noon This Wednesday.
The Attorney-General’s office confirmed the development moments ago.
On Monday, the federal government filed charges under FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026, signed by the Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, accusing retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani of conspiring in 2025 to “levy war against the state” and overthrow the President—punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.
The charges also allege they shared over N71 million for terrorism financing, failed to report prior knowledge of a treasonable plot by one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others, and neglected to prevent it. Former Minister of State for Petroleum Timipre Sylva is named but remains at large.
In Count One, the defendants are accused of conspiring with others sometime in 2025 in Abuja to levy war against the state in order to overthrow Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu — an offence punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.
Subsequent counts allege that the accused knew of an impending act of treason and terrorism by Colonel Ma’aji and others but failed to disclose it to the relevant authorities, in violation of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Particularly damning are the money laundering and terrorism financing counts.
Abdulkadir Sani, a Zaria-based cleric, is accused of indirectly retaining N2,000,000 in a Jaiz Bank account, while Bukar Kashim Goni allegedly retained N50 million in his First Bank account.
Zekeri Umoru faces charges of accepting N10 million in cash from Colonel Ma’aji and retaining nearly N8.8 million in a Zenith Bank account — all sums reasonably suspected to be proceeds of terrorism financing.
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