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NAF Helicopter crash: Group calls for prayer for military
Unity Advocacy Group (UAG), a civil society organisation, has solicited support and prayers for the Armed Forces of Nigeria as they continue to make sacrifices for peace and stability of the country.
The group made the call in a statement by its Convener, Ifeanyi Aigbedion, on Wednesday in Abuja.
Aigbedion also commiserated with the military over the crash of the Nigerian Air Force MI-171 Helicopter while on a rescue mission on Monday and ambush of troops in the Shiroro area of Niger.
He said the Armed Forces of Nigeria, more than any other institution in the country, had made sacrifices for the country and deserved the support and prayer from all Nigerians.
Aigbedion said that UAG was convinced that the armed forces under Gen. Christopher Musa would continue to pursue and eliminate enemies of the country, in spite of the recent incidents.
The group commended the military for the successes been recorded in the various theatres of operations, saying it was an indication that there would be no hiding place for the enemies of peace and development.
“The recent surrender of 78 more Boko Haram terrorists and their family members to the troops of Sector 3 Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and Operation Hadin Kai in Monguno Local Government Area of Borno is a result of sustained onslaught on their hideouts by troops.
“We urge Nigerians to continue to support and pray for our troops, ably led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Musa.
“With our support and prayers, light will definitely be at the end of the tunnel.
“Their sacrifices for peace and stability cannot be matched by any other institution in the country.
“We use this opportunity to appeal to terrorists and other criminals in the society to lay down arms, because the AFN from our observation, will not give up in their pursuit. Now is the time, to surrender and turn a new leaf before it is too late,” the group said.
The Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN has warned against obstructing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from carrying out its lawful duty .
Fagbemi’s warning is contained in a statement in Abuja.
“This is a matter of very grave concern, it is now beyond doubt that the EFCC is given power by the law to invite any person of interest to interact with them in the course of their investigations into any matter, regardless of status.
“Therefore, the least that we can all do when invited, is not to put any obstruction in the way of EFCC, but to honourably answer their invitation.
“A situation where public officials who are themselves subject of protection by law enforcement agents will set up a stratagem of obstruction to the civil and commendable efforts of the EFCC to perform its duty is to say the least, insufferably disquieting’’.
He added that running away from the law will not resolve issues at stake but only exacerbate them.
“Nigeria has a vibrant judicial system that is capable of protecting everyone who follows the rule of law in seeking protection.
“I therefore encourage anyone who has been invited by the EFCC or any other agency to immediately toe the path of decency and civility by honouring such invitation instead of embarking on a temporising self-help and escapism.
“This can only put our country in bad light before the rest of the world’’.
He said institutions of state should be allowed to function effectively and efficiently.
“I stand for the rule of law and will promptly call EFCC, and indeed any other agency to order when there is an indication of any transgressions of the fundamental rights of any Nigerian by any of the agencies’’.
NAN reports that the EFCC had on Wednesday warned members of the public that it was a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties.
Section 38(2)(a(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties. Culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years.
The warning , the EFCC said, became necessary against the background of the increasing tendency by persons and groups under investigation by the Commission to take the laws into their hands by recruiting thugs to obstruct lawful operations of the EFCC.
On several occasions, the anti graft agency said, operatives of the Commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order.
Some unknown gunmen have kidnapped Joshua Rogers, the ChannelsTV reporter in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Politics Nigeria learnt that Rogers was picked up close to his residence at Rumuosi in Port Harcourt and to an unknown destination by the gunmen around 9pm on Thursday, April 11.
The reporter was driving his official ChannelsTV branded car when the hoodlums accosted, pointed a gun at him and took him away in the same vehicle.
Rogers was said to be returning from his official assignment in Government House after a trip to Andoni for a government event when the incident happened.
Already, the gunmen were said to have contacted his wife and demanded a N30million ransom for bis release.
His cameraman confirmed the incident and appealed to his abductors to set him free unconditionally.
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