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Zulum declares fasting, prayer as operatives nab wanted bandit at Hajj Camp
The Nigeria–United States Parliamentary Friendship Group has faulted the notions held abroad that religious war is at the heart of isolated cases of killings across the country.
To overcome insecurity. Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has declared today a day of voluntary fasting and prayer across the state.
Security operatives have reportedly arrested a notorious bandit, ‘Yahaya Zango’, at the Hajj Camp in Abuja while he attempted to disguise himself as a pilgrim preparing for this year’s pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Led by Jesse Oke-Joe Onuakalusi, the group, during the visit to the Commonwealth Secretariat, Marlborough House, told the Assistant Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Prof Luis Franceschi, that virtually all the killings were perpetrated by criminals across the country.
Onuakalusi identified the amendment of the Electoral Act to mandate electronic transmission of election results as a panacea to vote rigging in the country. He stressed the need to replace the manual process of vote collation that often allows room for manipulation.
The lawmaker representing Oshodi-Isolo 1 federal constituency of Lagos State on the platform of Labour Party (LP) asserted that the antidote to electoral fraud and irregularities lies in amending the Electoral Act ahead of the 2027 poll.
The Onuakalusi-led group also engaged members of the British Parliament, the House of Lords, focusing on strengthening the existing parliamentary relationship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom through programmes, practices, and procedures aimed at enhancing socio-economic values, promoting good governance and deepening legislative ties between the two countries.
Prof. David Alton, who spent 20 years in the House of Commons, warmly received the Onuakalusi-led group, expressing concern about religious killings and persecution in Nigeria.
In response, Onuakalusi clarified that often portrayed as religious violence in Nigeria is criminality, emphasising that Christians and Muslims in Nigeria largely live in peace.
ANNOUNCING the religious exercise during a statewide broadcast in Maiduguri, at the weekend, Zulum pledged to strengthen the volunteer forces and improve intelligence gathering at the community level as well as early warning systems, as part of a commitment to address the menace.
“In recent months, I have held extensive consultations with our federal partners and the leadership of various security agencies. I am pleased to inform you that the collaboration between Borno and the Federal Government is stronger than ever.
“Together, we are working on comprehensive strategies to strengthen our security architecture, enhance intelligence sharing, and equip our security agents with the necessary tools to confront the threats before us,” Zulum stated.
The governor restated that President Bola Tinubu had given an assurance to tackle the surge in the security challenges head-on.
ZANGO, who has been on the wanted list of security agencies for alleged involvement in banditry and kidnapping across northern Nigeria, was apprehended during the routine screening of intending pilgrims.
A reliable security source hinted Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency media expert, yesterday, that the suspect was intercepted while trying to board a bus alongside other pilgrims headed for the airport.
The source disclosed that the arrest followed credible intelligence, which prompted enhanced surveillance and internal screening within the camp.
Meanwhile, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police (CP), Wale Ajao, confirmed the arrest, adding: He has confessed to his crimes. He is in our custody.”
English (US) ·