The people of Moriki town in the Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State are in fear as the deadline given them by notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji, to pay an imposed N30m levy expired.

But reacting to the development on Tuesday, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, described the bandit kingpin as a deranged person, wowing that the military would soon capture him.

The bandit kingpin, it was learnt, imposed the N30m levy on the community, following the killing of over 100 cows belonging to him by the military some weeks ago.

In a message, he sent to the community, the dreaded bandit kingpin demanded that the community pay him N30m or face his wrath.

He gave them up to Monday, September 9 but our correspondent learnt that the community had not been able to raise the funds, despite launching an appeal.

The PUNCH gathered that some people were already fleeing the town.

An indigene of the town, Sani Musa told The PUNCH on the phone that he had since last Monday evacuated his family and moved to Kaura-Namoda town.

“I am quite sure that this terrible person and his men will soon attack our community because of the non-payment of the N30m.

“We did our best to get the money but due to economic hardship, we were not able to get even half of the amount.

“I was asked to give N20,000 as my own contribution but as I am talking to you now, I don’t have the amount.

“I tried to sell my farm but nobody is interested in buying the land due to the security situation in the area.”

Another indigene of the area, Zayyanu Hassan, expressed hopelessness, saying despite the threat of attack, he was too weak, because of age and ill health, to flee the community.

“I don’t know where to go because of my age and health condition. I will remain here despite the threat from Bello Turji,” Hassan said.

According to Hassan, there are many people like him who are unable to flee the community despite the threat of attack.

Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, the Chief of Defence Staff, vowed that the military would put an end to the imposition on levies on citizens by non-state actors, such as bandits.

Musa said, “On the issue of Turji, as I said, he is just a deranged individual who feels power, but I can bet you that it’s just a matter of time. It is a matter of time; we’re going to get him, and I can assure you that it will be within the shortest possible time. We’re going to address that issue on the issue of payment of levy (to bandits).”

The CDS said it had been found that bandits live on the money they levy on innocent citizens but said the military would end the menance.

“One, even when they get the money, they don’t have a way to use it. Two is that the money they’re getting, they know, is blood money. And that is why we all must come together to work with members of the armed forces and security agencies to deny them the ability to move freely within our communities.”

He said the support received by the bandits from residents was fuelling their activities.

Musa said, “Please do not give them any support. Do not give them information on the movement of troops because this is what is happening. Most of the area where this thing is continuing is because we have informants within the communities.”

Musa stated that the operations in the North-West have harmonised after it was reviewed.

He said, “We have reviewed the entire operation and realised that we need to harmonise our operations together. As you notice, we have Operation Hadrin Daiji and Operation Whirl Stroke, both within the Northwest region. We have seen the need for us to harmonize those operations into one operation like we did in the Northeast where you have operation Hadin Kai.

“The same thing is being done now for the North-West operation. We have one unified operation. It’s going to be called Operation Kasar Yamma, which is securing the North-West.

“Now the intention is to ensure that we synergise all our efforts in addressing the security challenges in the North-West. So now, what we are doing is that since we are harmonising the whole operation, we will come under one commander. And then the commander will be able to utilise all the equipment and troops together to ensure that we address this critically. And I think that’s the best solution we have for it. And I can assure you, all the assets that are required to do that will be done.”

He CDS appealed to the citizens to stop giving support to bandits, lamenting that locals invited the bandits to attack the troops’ armoured vehicles when they broke down.

Musa said, “The bandits intend to just show that they are present. And that’s why we’re appealing to Nigerians not to provide any support. If you remember, the last time we had this issue where our APC was, the MRAP was bogged down, and the terrorists came. It was some people who called them and told them that the troops were having issues with their vehicle and they should come around. And they came en masse. That was what exactly happened. And that’s why we’re appealing to individuals.”

The General Officer Commanding, GOC, 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. J H Abdusallam has vowed that the Nigerian Army will continue to conduct operations in Okuama community, Ughelli South LGA of Delta State, until its equipments and arms which were allegedly carted away by hoodlums are recovered.

“We will continue to conduct operations until our equipments and our arms that were carted away are recovered,” the GOC declared while addressing journalists on Tuesday.

He remembered with sadness how troops were brutally murdered in Okuama community in March 2024.

Abdusallam denied reports that the Army invaded the community on Monday.

“This is nigeria. I don’t understand when you say Nigerian Army invaded a place. When Nigeria Army go to operations in a place it is called operations. Why do you say it’s invasion?

“If we are conducting normal military operations in other places, it’s normal military operation not invasion. So it’s normal military operation that the military went to conduct in Okuama not invasion.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide immediate assistance to victims of the devastating flood in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

The flood, described as the worst in recent decades, has displaced thousands of residents and affected critical facilities such as the Post Office and Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by his special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President expressed deep concern over the disaster, triggered by the overflow of the Alau Dam, and extended his condolences to the government and people of Borno State, particularly families who have lost their livelihoods.

He called for the immediate evacuation of people from affected areas and assured Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of federal support to address the humanitarian needs of the affected population.

As relevant authorities assess the damage, President Tinubu pledged to mobilize federal resources to support the state during this challenging time.

“President Bola Tinubu expresses deep concern about the flooding in parts of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.

“The worst flood in recent decades has displaced thousands of residents and affected facilities such as the Post office and the Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

“President Tinubu extends his heartfelt condolences to the government and people of the state, especially to the families that have lost their means of livelihood due to the disaster triggered by the overflow of the Alau Dam.

“While relevant authorities are still assessing the damage wrought by the flood, the President calls for the immediate evacuation of people from affected areas.

“President Tinubu assures Governor Babagana Umara Zulum that the Federal Government is ready to collaborate to address the immediate humanitarian needs of the affected people.

“He orders the National Emergency Management Agency to assist the flood victims.

“The President remains committed to mobilising federal resources to support the state during this difficult time”, the statement said.

The Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has empowered 95 Ebonyians drawn from the 13 Local Government Areas of the state.

The beneficiaries spent over two months outside Ebonyi State at their training centre in Agbani, Enugu State, where they were trained in fishery, poultry, piggery farming and business management skills.

Governor Nwifuru while receiving the trainees at the State Executive Chamber yesterday, September 9, 2024, registered his utter delight at the fact that the trainees were persistent and focused – staying away from home for over two months to acquire vocational skills.

In a statement released by the Special Assistant to the Governor New Media, Leo Ekene Oketa, the governor expressed satisfaction that the empowerment is channelled at beneficiaries who have been trained. As such, the funds will be judiciously and purposefully utilized.

Through an open application to the State Executive Council by the Honourable Commissioner for Human Capital Development – Hon. Mrs. Ann Aligwe, which was approved, the Governor pronounced the empowerment of 95 of the trainees with Three Million Naira (3,000,000.00) each, for them to set up farms and practice what they learnt.

According to the Commissioner, 100 persons were nominated, but some left the camp because of their unwillingness to spend over two months outside home. Others cited different reasons. The Governor reminded the 95 beneficiaries that they will be monitored to ensure proper use of the funds. The training is under the aegis of Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru Empowerment Programme (FONEP) – the pilot batch.

The Department of State Services (DSS) says its operatives did not unlawfully invade the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) office in Abuja.

On Monday, SERAP said the DSS agents were “unlawfully occupying” its office in Abuja, adding that they had demanded to see its directors.

The group had asked President Bola Tinubu to direct the DSS to end the harassment, intimidation, and attack on the rights of Nigerians.

In a statement on Tuesday, the DSS said its operatives were lawfully detailed on routine investigation to the SERAP office in Abuja.

The secret police said they have been inundated with multiple enquiries on what transpired.

“This narrative is inaccurate and misleading in its intent,” the statement reads.

“For the records, a team of two (2) unarmed Service operatives were lawfully detailed on routine investigation to SERAP office in Abuja, which has sadly been skewed and misinterpreted as unlawful, harassment and intimidation of SERAP officials.

“The Service further wishes to state that such official enquiries and liaison are traditional and does not in any way amount to illegality or raid.

“While it assures of in-depth investigation of these malicious contents, it sues for citizens’ participation in national security management.”

The DSS asked the public to disregard “false narratives”, restating its commitment to professionalism in discharging its core mandate with utmost dedication and integrity.

The Inspector General of Police, through legal officer S.O. Ayodele from the Federal Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon Close, Ikoyi, Lagos, has filed a two-count charge of obtaining money by false pretenses and theft against Nigerian businessman Ebi Otisaye Ogionwo.

In the charges presented before the Federal High Court in Lagos, Ayodele alleges that in 2022, Ogionwo fraudulently obtained $300,000 from Mr. Oluwatosin Adefila of Beltzemo Nigeria Limited. The funds were purportedly meant to finance an oil trading business, but this representation was false.

The charges against Ogionwo are in violation of Section 1 (1) (c) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006.

The two count charge as filed before the court.

Count one:

That you, Ebi Otsaye Ogionwo “M” sometimes in 2022,in Lagos, within the Judicial Division of this Honorable Court, did by false pretence and with intent to defraud obtained the sum of Three Hundred Thousand Dollars (S300,000:00) from one Mr. Oluwatosin Adefila of Boltzemo Nigeria Limited under the guise of using the said funds for financing Oil Trading Business, a representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offer contrary to Section 1(1)(c) and punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fec,raud and other Related Offences Act 2006, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

Count two:

That you Ebi Otsaye Ogionwo “M” on the same date, time and place, and in the aforementioned Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, did steal the sum of Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00) from one Mr.Oluwatosin Adefila of Belztzemo Nigeria Limited and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 383 and punishable under section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Act,Cap C 38,Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,2004.

Meanwhile, 14th of October, 2024 has been fixed for the arraignment of the defendant.