News
How I negotiated with bandits as LG Chairman – Niger governor’s aide
Worried by endless banditry attacks in Niger State, the the Special Adviser to the governor of Niger State on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Gambo Kagara said informants and some miscreants are responsible for the increasing rate of banditry activities in part of Kagara and its environs.
Alhaji Gambo who was speaking in an exclusive interview with CAPITAL POST in Minna, said the activities of the informants is even more worrisome than the activities of the armed bandits in Kagara town.
He noted that most of the armed banditry attacks on Kagara town and its surrounding communities were being carried out by strangers that come from neighbouring States of Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna through information received from their informants who are mostly residing in Kagara town, adding that the informants know the movement of the people and gives out detail of their transaction before the bandits carry out their operations.
According to him, with the support of the informants, the bandits will infitrate the town and successfully carry out their attack on their victims freely without any hindrance before going out of the town, stating that without such informants, “there was no way that the bandits will succeed without being arrested by the security agencies”.
Gambo said: “At times these bandits will even tell their victims that you sold your farm products and your livestocks in so so and so markets.
“And you are in possession of some amount of money. You eigther bring out the money or you risk being kidnapped and you will pay huge amount of money. You are left with an option to decide on your own what is good for you”, he said.
Alhaji Gambo Kagara, who was the immediate past Chairman of Rafi Local Government Council explained that during his tenure as the Council chairman, he was able to use his political will to invite some of the identified notorious bandits within the neghbouring States of Katsina, Kaduna and Zamfara states for a dialogue along with relevant stakeholders and security chiefs in the State where he extended his hands of fellowship to them to see reasons to renounce their banditry activities in Kagara town and its environs which brought about the relative peace he was able to enjoyed during his administration as the council chairman of Rafi Local Government.
“That singular political will, I adopted by bringing out the bandits for a negotiation brought about the relatively peace in Kagara town and its surrounding communities. Uptill the time I left the council I never had any banditry attacks on Kagara again untill now” he told CAPITAL POST.
He pointed out that when his opinion was sought on how to curtail the increasing rate of armed banditry attacks in recent times, he said by the time the informants were flushed out from the town, the activities of the bandits will be brought under control and to the barest level.
By the time the informants were given the maximum punishment which will serve as a deterrent to other bandits, it would curtail the incessant activities of banditry attacks on Kagara and the neighbouring villages.
“When I was at the council as chairman, my opinion was sought on how to curtail the banditry activities in Kagara town. I told them that I don’t have any problem with the bandits but their informants that lives with us in the town.
“For me if the bandits were arrested, they should allow them to go but their informants should face the music by flushing them out so that they would not exist to give out informations to the bandits for them to carry out their attack on the town anymore.
“By the time, two or five of the informants were flushes out, it will send a signal to the bandits. They will not come to carry out their activities in Kagara, because their informants were no more. That was my stand then. And up till the time I ended up my administration, I never had any attack by armed bandits throughout the end of my tenure as Council chairman” he added.
He noted that security should be seen as a collective responsibility of every citizens stressing the needs for all stakeholders to partner with relevants security agencies in the State to fight the security challenges across the country through the needed support and cooperation to the security agencies, assuring that through such synergy the increasing rate of armed banditry activities in the state will be brought to the barest level.
He appealed to the people of Kagara to always keep a watch on their neighbourhoods and be vigilant at all times, stating that they should endeavour to report unusual movement in their midst to the appropriate security agencies for prompt attention this according to him will assist in curtailing the increasing proportion of banditry activities in the area.
The President of the Nigerian Senate Godswill Obot Akpabio said, he will not be distracted by the baseless allegation and antics of Elisha Abbo who formerly represented Adamawa North Senatorial District in the Senate, stating that it was unfortunate that the ex-lawmaker has started another round of malicious campaign against him.
This was contained in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Senate President, Hon Eseme Eyiboh, declaring that Elisha Abbo’s outbursts are those of a failed politician who fraudulently represented Adamawa North Senatorial District before the Court intervention cleared him out of way.
Akpabio through his aide was reacting to Elisha Abbo’s blame on Akpabio, suggesting that he was responsible for his electoral woes in an interview he granted on Arise Television on Wednesday while he featured on politics today.
Part of the statement read: “The attention of the Office of the President of the Senate has been drawn to another round of spurious and malicious accusations by Mr. Elisha Abbo, who unlawfully represented Adamawa North Senatorial District save a judicial intervention.
“He has again sought to blame the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, for the travail of his judicial sanction that occasioned his ouster from the Senate.”
Akpabio said he was perturbed the more over Elisha’s outburst on him over an issue he has regretted and apologized to him publicly in 2023—after admitting that his earlier accusation was “premature and based on the available information at his disposal.
He noted further that Abbo had once discussed with him last year and acknowledge that “he was not involved in the judicial process that led to his ouster from the Senate.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Court of Appeal, after a thorough legal process, ruled unequivocally that Mr. Abbo’s presence in the Red Chamber was in error. The court determined that he was not validly elected as the Senator for Adamawa North, and consequently, he was removed.
“The court acted in accordance with the extant laws and the Constitution within its sacred duty to uphold the rule of law. Senator Akpabio, a seasoned lawyer and democrat, holds the independence of the judiciary in the highest regard and would never interfere in its processes.”
Given that Abbo has exonerated him, Akpabio said he found it illogical and irresponsible for him to now turn around and heap blames on him.
“Mr. Abbo has also sought to create the impression that he was unjustly denied official benefits following his ouster. He claims entitlement to salaries, allowances, and even an official vehicle, despite the court’s declaration that his tenure was null and void ab initio.”
Akpabio noted that he has no executive fiat to approve finances, except such has been duly vetted and forwarded to him by the appropriate administrative units in line with the public finance guidelines.
If any of Mr. Abbo’s claims for payment did not reach the desk of the Senate President, it is because they failed to meet these lawful standards—not because of any personal or political vendetta.
It is unfortunate that instead of accepting the consequences of his legal and political failings, Mr. Abbo continues to resort to media theatrics and reckless finger-pointing. Even more telling is his record of public conduct. Nigerians will recall that in 2019, he was caught on video assaulting a female citizen in Abuja—an incident for which he was ordered by a competent court to pay N50 million in damages. This is a matter of public record and speaks volumes about his temperament and disposition.
His recent outbursts about unpaid travels and imagined plots further reinforce the conclusion that his actions are driven not by facts or principle, but by bitterness and desperation to remain politically relevant. These claims are not only baseless, but they reek of grievance and a refusal to accept personal responsibility for his removal and loss of public trust.
Senator Godswill Akpabio remains focused on the noble task of nation-building, providing purposeful leadership in the Senate, and strengthening democratic institutions—especially the independence of the judiciary. He will not be distracted by the antics of individuals who seek to rewrite history to mask personal failures.
We urge Mr. Abbo to reflect deeply, respect the rule of law, and focus on rebuilding the confidence of his constituents if he hopes to return to public life. Nigeria’s democracy can only thrive when its actors show maturity, responsibility, and an abiding respect for the truth.
Structured HQ Legal, (SHQ) has issued a public notice warning against any transactions involving the buying, selling, leasing, or letting of the Hampton Harbour landed property.
The landed property measuring at 19.5 hectares is located at Elegushi Royal Family Land, Ikate Ancient City, Eti Osa, Local Government Area, Lagos State with reference number 376/376/2777GC and belongs to the Baggeren International Company.
In an official press statement issued to the news men, the firm disclosed that the property is currently under legal scrutiny, cautioning that any individual or entity engaging in transactions related to Hampton Harbour does so at their own risk. They also emphasized that unauthorized dealings could lead to significant financial loss and expose parties involved to legal consequences.
SHQ further noted that any person(s) who proceeds with any dealings in relation to the Hampton Harbour property risks both financial loss and potential legal actions noting that such transactions may result in criminal and civil liabilities for trespass or fraud.
The public is strongly advised to exercise caution and ensure due diligence before engaging in any transactions concerning Hampton Harbour. Prospective buyers, investors, or stakeholders must seek formal confirmation and approval from Structured HQ Legal or Baggeren International Company Limited to avoid financial and legal risks.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Thursday said, requirements for recalling Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan representing Kogi Central Senatorial District were lacking in the petition.
In a statement to update circumstances surrounding a purported petition against Natasha, the INEC said, it has rejected the petition.
The Commission said, Natasha is a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and there are requirements to recall her or any other Senator, but it cannot consider the petitions that lack merits.
Earlier the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, acknowledged receipt of petition against the embattled lawmaker from her constituents after submitting it to the INEC headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan representing Kogi Central Senatorial District was the former Chairman of Senate Committee on Local Contents, but was suspended from the Senate over alleged breach of Senate Standing Rules.
Natasha disclosed that she has approached the Court to quash her suspension which she claimed was illegal.
According to the petitioners, over 250,000 constituents’ signed the petition, out of about 480,000 registered voters in the senatorial district.
The petition was titled Constituents’ Petition for the Recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Grounds of Loss of Confidence’.
In a brief statement on Thursday, the Commission said, “The petition for the recall of the Senator representing the Kogi Central Senatorial District has not met the requirement of Section 69(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).”
The female lawmaker also on Tuesday defied ban by Kogi State Government and visited her Senatorial District in what she said, was a Sallah visit to felicitate with those who gave her their mandate.
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