[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Federal Government has approved N13.3 billion for take-off of Community Policing initiative.

This was contained in a report submitted to the National Economic Council (NEC) presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday.

The report was submitted by the NEC’s ad-hoc committee on Security and Policing chaired by Ekiti Governor Kayode Fayemi.

Disclosing the outcomes of the virtual meeting to State House Correspondents, Nasarawa Governor Abdulahi Sule, said the ad-hoc committee met on August 4 to review the escalating security challenges in the country.

According to him, there were briefings and presentations from the National Security Adviser (NSA), Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Chief of Defense Staff and the Department of State Services (DSS).

“Council resolved that the Chair of the NGF (Nigeria Governors’ Forum) with two other governors would be meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Finance Minister and the Inspector-General of Police to co-ordinate the proper utilization of the funding of community policing in the states. The federal government has already approved N13billion for this same purpose.”

He said the meeting also observed the Office of the NSA has not been adequately funded in the last five years to enable it carry out its mandate effectively.

“State governments have been overwhelmed by insecurity expenditures and there is therefore the need by the Federal Government to inject more funds to augment expenses by the states, amongst others,” he stated.

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Campaign Council of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship flagbearer, has told the state governor and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Godwin Obaseki that his second term ambition is not worth the blood and life of citizens of the state.

Accusing the governor of been desperate of winning the September 19, governorship election, the APC governorship candidate campaign council, alleged that Obaseki has embarked on executing plans to prevent the people of the State from delivering a verdict on the four-year misrule of Obaseki at the polls with violence and other criminal acts of intimidation.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Friday, the deputy head of the media and publicity committee of the APC National Campaign Council, Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon said the governor and the PDP candidate have resorted to coercing the people of the state in desperation to get re-elected despite his rejection by the people.

He alleged that the governor and his party have engaged in illegal importation of dangerous arms and ammunition for thugs and criminals from neighboring PDP States, particularly Delta, with the sole aim of causing mayhem and disrupting the peaceful conduct of the election in most parts of Edo State.

According to Obahiagbon, “Less than one month to the Edo Governorship election, and with defeat staring Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his party of tax-collectors, the PDP, in the face, they have both abandoned their pretense at democracy and guided participation in the election, and brazenly embarked on the execution of their plans to prevent the people of Edo State from delivering a verdict on the four-year misrule of Obaseki at the polls on the 19th of September with violence and other criminal acts of intimidation.

“Let it be known by the whole world that the Governor of Edo State and his government, in continuation of their disregard for the rule of law, democratic ethics and constitutionalism, has intensified their illegal importation of dangerous arms and ammunition, as well as the daily recruitment and importation of notorious thugs and criminals from neighboring PDP States, particularly Delta, for the purpose of causing mayhem and disrupting the peaceful conduct of the election in most parts of Edo State.

“We have it on good authority that that the Edo State Government and members of its kitchen cabinet have drawn up a list of prominent APC leaders across Edo State that they gave targeted for maiming, physical assault, assassination, kidnapping and sponsored robbery attacks whilst also tinkering with the idea of using heavy duty trailers to orchestrate road accidents of APC leader, before or on the day of the September 19th Governorship elections.”

The campaign council said it was alarmed at the rapid multiplication of firearms in the state and the wanton violence and shooting that characterised the PDP campaign, causing residents to flee their homes upon hearing news of the outgoing Governor’s visit.

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he police in Delta State have arrested a man for allegedly raping an 11-year-old girl in Sapele Local Government Area of the state. A Closed-circuit television (CCTV) installed in the apartment where the incident took place reportedly caught the man after earlier denying involvement.

Sources told our correspondent that the suspect simply identified Jomaph committed the act when the victim had gone to use the convenience.

Jomaph, 30, allegedly carried out the crime last Wednesday.

Another source further stated that upon seeing the footage of the CCTV, the suspect started apologizing for his action until police operatives were invited to arrest him.

Confirming the incident, Delta Police spokesperson, DSP Onome Onowakpoyeya, said the victim was caught in CCTV footage after earlier denying his involvement.

“But later, they brought CCTV footage showing how the man went inside the toilet. I was told the man later agreed after he saw the footage. The man was arrested by police in Sapele.”

[dropcap]E[/dropcap]lder statesman and former minister of information, Chief Edwin Clark, has warned the Federal Government against scrapping the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) for repentant militants in the once restive Niger Delta region.

Clark warned further that scrapping the programme could spell doom and crisis in the already tensed region, appealing that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration not to “Wake A Sleeping Lion.”

The convener of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) gave the warning on Monday in a zoom live press conference with journalists across Nigeria.

The former minister warned of the consequences of ending the programme which he claimed has helped checkmate the insecurity in the region.

Clark was speaking following reports that the Federal Government may scrap PAP by December this year on the recommendation of 4-man investigative panel headed by Amb. A. A. Lawal through the office of the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Mohammed Monguno (rtd).

The former lawmaker contended, “Just about 11 (eleven) days ago, I held a Press Briefing advising and cautioning the Vice President, His Excellency, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, to tread cautiously on Niger Delta Affairs, I have cause to, again, advice/warn the Federal Government, to desist from anything that will truncate the fragile peace that we have in the Niger Delta region.

“I say this because, just yesterday, rumours were rife, that the 4-man investigative panel headed by Amb. A. A. Lawal, set up by the Federal Government, through the Office of the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Mohammed Monguno (rtd), to look into the activities of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), has recommended the scrapping of the Programme by December this year, 2020.

“If this is true, it will be an epic example of what we say in local parlance ‘trouble dey sleep, yanga go wake am’. This is not a threat; it is stating the obvious of what will actually happen.

“When I got this information yesterday, my temper was high because how can a region which contributes so much to the economic growth, and by extension, political and social growth of the country be treated with so much disdain and spite.”

Clark appealed to President Buhari to still allow the amnesty programme to continue in the interest of promoting peace in the fragile region.

“The Federal Government, like I said earlier, through the Office of the National Security adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno, rtd, set up a 4-man Investigative Panel headed by Amb. A. A. Lawal, from Bauchi State and other three northern as members, on 28th February, 2020, and the job of this Panel, which all through its sitting, I understand, sat in the Office of the NSA, which was to end on 24th April, 2020, has lingered until today, they have, uptill this moment, taken over the administration of the PAP, operating from the NSA’s Office. Now we are getting information, that this ‘Investigative Panel’ is recommending the scrapping of the PAP by December this year, 2020.

“The question is, did Amb. Lawal and his team ever travel to the Niger Delta region to find out if the objective of setting up the Programme such as infrastructural development of sand filling; building low cost houses, building roads, etc, which are to be carried out by the PAP as its Second Phase activities contained in the Proclamation, been achieved?

“As someone outside of the region does he really understand or feel the sufferings of the people of the region? Also, what measures have been put in place by the Federal Government to fulfill its promises to the region such as setting up modular refineries, the relocation of the operational headquarters of the International Oil Companies (IOCs) and the Ogoni Clean-Up as contained in the 16-Point Agenda of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) which we presented to Mr. President at the Presidential Villa on 1st November, 2017?

“Our living condition in the region has worsened. The PAP should be allowed to continue for some more time.

“Once again, I wish to advise the Federal Government to tread cautiously, except they have prepared another ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’. Wake not a sleeping lion. This is not a threat; it is a clarion call for peace”, he added.