Political leaders often take wrong decisions either to please their constituencies  or pander to the whims and sentiments of religious bodies.Such wrong decisions could also be for self aggrandizement or to score cheap political points.

Most times, the decisions could boomerang to the detriment of the leaders and society.

One of such ill- thought decisions is the one recently taken by the Governor of Kastina state, Dikko Umaru Radda who assumed office on May 29, 2023 under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.The APC and by extension, Governor Radda inherited a debilitating security situation that has been ravaging the country since 2009.The Governor is not a foreigner. He is a Nigerian who resides in Nigeria. He does not reside abroad.He didn’t fly into the country on the morning of May 29, 2023 to be sworn- as governor. He has always resided in Nigeria hence he is fully aware of the heinous crimes terrorists have been meting out to innocent Nigerians in the last 17 years but Governor Radda who had served as  the Director-General of SMEDAN and also as Chief of Staff to a former Katsina governor would rather  pamper murderous terrorists than see them face justice and rot in jail- terrorists and bandits that have also killed a plethora of indigenes of his state, took many hostage and destroyed crops and properties running into billions of Naira. Yet, these heartless and cursed humans are the people Governor Radda has chosen to fraternise with in the guise of peace deal. And to concretise the unsettling fraternity, Governor Radda is insistent on releasing 70 of them from prison custody! Haba!  Mr Governor, you are urinating and dancing on the graves and corpses of victims of terrorism in your state and in Nigeria at large! Governor Radda, you are mocking victims of terrorism in Nigeria!

It is indeed heartbreaking to note that a sitting governor is mulling the idea of freeing 70 bandits- 70 terrorists with blood on their hands.This is worrisome.

A letter signed by the state’s Director of Public Prosecution, Abdurahman Umar had requested the immediate release of 70 suspects described as part of the conditions agreed upon by bandits to sustain a peace deal with the government.

The questions on the lips of many reasonable Nigerians is why should  the governor maintain a line of communication with bandits- armed non state actors? What has light got to do with darkness? Is the governor not aware that the blood of innocent citizens of Kastina state had been shed by the bandits and terrorists he wants to release? The Governor is of course quite aware, yet, here the terrorists are, being offered unmerited freedom.What happens to the families of their victims? Should they be laugh, clapping and applauding Governor Radda? How exactly does the governor want families of victims of  terrorism in his state to perceive him and his administration?

I’m of the view that the governor is making a costly mistake.These bandits/ terrorists will likely return to the forests to join their Comrades to continue with the killing and kidnapping spree once they breathe the air of freedom.

According to Henry Ford who was an American industrialist and founder  of the Ford Motors, “the only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing”. Also according to the late American President, John Kennedy “an error doesn’t become a mistake until you refuse to correct it.” It is therefore obvious that the governor who ought to know the implication of his executive actions  is welcoming chaos into his state in form of granting freedom to the bandits. Let’s remember that the military had indulged the so-called repentant Boko Haram terrorists but later realize it was a  grave error.

Now, assuming without conceding that a condition or reason exists for the release of the 70 terrorists, Is  Governor Radda or Kastina state government in the right position to effect it? Legal luminaries over to to you! I thought that issues around prosecution of terrorists are exclusively handled by the federal government through the Attorney- General of the Federation and Minister for Justice.One had therefore, expected  the Kastina state government to immediately hand over the terrorists to the federal authorities upon their arrest and not to start discussing with them.

Terrorism is a crime under federal law, state governments, including Kastina, have no business dabbling into it. A word is enough for the wise.

Celebrating my security friends with a heart of gratitude (2)

In my over four decades of crime and security writing, including activities of security agencies,  I can’t forget Sir Mike Mbama Okiro who was the 13th Inspector-General of Police. While in service he was a very media-friendly police Chief. He included my name among the officials who travelled to Haiti on a United Nation, UN peacekeeping mission. On the trip was also Deputy Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Adamu who later rose to become the Inspector-General of Police. The soft spoken IGP Adamu who had shown interest in vying for the governorship position in Nasawara state seems to be  the only retired senior  police officer presently in politics.

Before his ascension to higher office,  Okiro was incharge of Lagos state police command as Commissioner of police.

I cannot also forge former Inspector -General of police,  Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie who ordered police formations nationwide to allow me to interview arrested notorious armed robbers in custody, including those detained by the dissolved special Anti Robbery Squad(SARS) which was under the crack police officers like  CP Simeon Midenda rtd, DCP Amusa Bello rtd, DCP Aremu rtd, DSP Maichibi Sunday rtd, DSP Sunday Abioye rtd, Inspr. Odogu (late)  DCP, Dalhatu (still in service), DCP Lawal Unazi still in service), DSP Joe Allan rtd and Frederick Taiwo Lakanu (who later read Law and  retired as Deputy Inspector- General of police)

Indee while appreciating my police friends, I cannot also easily forget my Customs friends and  Comptroller- General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi whom I first him met when he was the Public Relations Officer under Comptroller-General  Hamman Bello Ahmed in 2008. Since then our relationship has blossomed until he became the Comptroller- General. CGC Adeniyi is a workaholic who always picked his call and returned missed calls as Public Relation Officer. No wonder his tenure as the CGC has dramatically transformed the institution thus giving credence to his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the best choice avilable. Today the Customs under his watch has superseded the effort of past Comptroller-Generals in all ramification, including in the area of revenue collection.Today, under Adeniyi’s watch, discipline in the Customs is top notch.

Another fine gentleman Customs officer that  crossed my path is Dera Nnadi mni, Deputy-Comptroller-General of Customs (Incharge of Strategic Research & Policy).A resourceful,humble and strategic officer who strategically turned around Tincan Island for the overall interest of both Customs officers operating at the port.

Another unforgettable officer from the Nigerian Immigration Service is Comptroller-General Muhammed Babandede who transformed the physical structures of the Service. He, it was who noticed my health challenges and sponsored my medical trip to Cairo, Egypt not minding that I am not of the same tribe and religion as him. The compassion and love he showered on me demonstrated the humanity in him and projected him as a true  Muslim. His kind gestures remain indelible in my heart.

I can’t end this piece without mentioning past Chairmen of the EFCC like DIG Nuhu Ribadu rtd, AIG Farida Waziri rtd,  Ibrahim Magu and Ibrahim Lamorde. These were exceptional and patriotic Nigerians who helped to fight corruption and recover billions of Naira and property for the country, however, unfortunately corruption fought them back ferociously.

I have come to see the life of a crime  journalist as that of a hunter who, each time he enters the bush or the forest  will have his presence announced by birds who are seen as gate keepers. Interestingly, these patriotic Nigerians I’m celebrating in this piece were the gate keepers of their institutions. They were always at alert come rain come shine. They could not afford to starve crime and security journalists of information.

I let me finally end the part two of this series with a heartfelt felicitations to DIG Frank Mbah , Wilson Uwajere of EFCC who is today an Assistant Director and Femi Baba Femi who crossed over from EFCC to NDLEA and is today NDLEA  Media Director, for their meritorious rise to the top ladder of their careers.

(To be Continued)