Kaduna state is now battling with huge influx of criminals who specialize in cyber fraud as well as the menace of illegal miners.

The Acting Zonal Director, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kaduna Zonal Directorate, Bawa Usman Kaltungo on Friday visited the Executive Officials of Kaduna State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) along with his management team on courtesy call where he xpressed gratitude to the NUJ members for the support and cooperation given to the Commission over the years, and pleaded that the support should be sustained for the good of the society.

However, the EFCC Zonal boss disclosed that Visa racketeering, cybercrimes and illegal mining are becoming alarming in Kaduna State, and appealed to journalists to enlighten the general public on the danger of engaging in such crimes and other crimes.

The EFCC Director called on journalists in the State to always feel free to balance their stories from the Commission to avoid damaging the image and reputation of the Commission whenever the need raises.

“It is part of our routine that whenever a new Zonal Director is appointed we come on courtesy visit to our strategic partners of which NUJ is one of them. It is a thank you visit and to ask for more support like Oliver Twist.

The collaboration that is existing between NUJ and EFCC cannot be separated. So we are here to say thank you for all that you have been doing and to encourage you that if there is any report that will portray the Commission in bad image, you can reach out to us so that you can have a balance report. So this is the essence of our coming to you.

“You are going to look out for a renewed vigour in the fight against corruption, and this issue of cybercrimes that our youths are indulged in, is becoming alarming. So the Commission is devising new strategy to nib it in the bud.

“So we don’t want it to spread because if youths who are the leaders of tomorrow and today they are engaged in corruption, so what does it mean tomorrow, does it mean that corrupt people will be in position of leadership tomorrow. It means that there will be no development and progress. It is now incumbent on us to nib it in the bud.

“Another trend that we discovered in Kaduna that is alarming is the issue of Visa racketeering, more especially during lesser Hajj and during pilgrimage, what we call Baban Sallah. You find out that alot of people have been duped of their hard earned money in the name of Visa by traveling agents, in the name of international passport and stuff like that. So many people have parted with their money without getting value for it. It is alarming in Kaduna State. And to worsening it, even married women are involved in it.

“So we want to use this opportunity to appeal to couples to advise their fellow couple to desist from such act because it is not our wish to go and arrest married woman but when she got herself involved, definitely the law does not say that married men or women have immunity, we will go after them. So we want to call on the people of Kaduna State and Niger State to make sure that people are not involved in anything that will attract us to them.

“Another area that is so disturbing which has terrorism related to, and banditry related to, is the issue of illegal mining which is becoming alarming. Everybody want to go into illegal mining. You cannot go into mining without appropriate documents from appropriate authorities. Mining is exclusive preserve of the federal government. So for any company and for any individual to go into mining they must obtain licence from the federal ministry of mining. You cannot go on your own and start doing mining.

“We want to call on the people that are into illegal mining to make sure that they obtain proper license so that they will not incur the wrath of the Commission because by the time we arrest you doing illegal mining, certainly we will take you to Court. And we have been doing that. We want to thank NUJ for the support. And also call on NUJ to continue to corporate with us and support to enlighten the public about what we do and let them understand what we do at the Commission” Kaltungo said.

In his welcome address, Alabelewe said, I want to assure you on behalf of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State council that as media practitioners we don’t have option than to support what EFCC is doing because by our training we are socially responsible to the society and as well hold public officers accountable to members of the society. We have enjoyed good working relationship with Kaduna Directorate of the EFCC over the years through the media department.”

The highest authority of the Nigeria Police, has said the Force is willing and ready to work with the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS), in tackling insecurity challenges in the country.

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, gave the assurance Wednesday when the Commander General of NFSS, Dr. Wole Joshua Osatimehin, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.

Egbetokun who was represented by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations, Bzigu Yakubu Kwazi, , praised the NFSS CG, as well as officers and men of NFSS of the Service the good job they are doing so farr, adding that he was sure that when the Bill for the establishment of the organization is signed into law by the President Bola Tinubu, the Service would be empowered to do more in their task of safeguarding forested areas of the country by making them inaccessible for criminal elements.

“We are aware that the NFSS has been doing its best in protecting our forests. I am not talking about deforestation here. We are talking about our forests that are been occupied by criminal element, non-sate actors.

“There is no member of the national assembly, be it in the senate or house of representatives, that does not know that the forests have become a threat to us. It is also a challenge to all security agencies, including the military, the police, customs, immigration, civil defence and NDLEA; the forest, instead of bringing in revenue through timber that is legalized, we have to fall back on importation from different countries to import wood to make furniture for domestic and office uses, which takes lot of revenue from our country.

“NFSS coming in as a security agency, is a welcome development. You have my support with my entire management team to support you in whatever way we can. We are ready to work with you as partners in the task of security our country,” the IGP stated.

Earlier in his remark, Dr. Wole Joshua Osatimehin said he led some top officers of the NFSS on the visit to thank the Police for the support it has been given the Service across the states while they carry out their duties.

Osatimehin who described the Police as “our parenting father,” recalled that the Force has been at the forefront of training its personnel since the NFSS was established in 2016, saying Police has trained hundreds of operatives across their various training schools across the country.”

The NFSS boss took time to brief the Police Chief on the content of the NFSS Bill which he said has been passed by the two chambers of the national assembly and on the table of President Bola Tinubu for assent, pledging that Nigeria’s forested areas would be a no-go-area for terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminals when NFSS becomes a full-fledged government agency.

Reacting to the development, the Deputy Commander General (Intelligence) of NFSS, Ambassador John Metchie, commended Dr. Wole Osatimehin for his leadership qualities which he said has helped to make the Service a force to reckon with in the country.

Metchie praised IGP Egbetokun, the Director General of the Department of State Security Service (DSS), Mr. Adeola Ajayi as well as officers and men of the two security agencies, for their patriotic disposition which has helped to cement and deepen the trust them and the Nigeria Forest Security Service.

He thanked commissioners of Police in the 36 states and FCT for the corporation and support they have been giving to NFSS operatives, saying reports from across the country indicate that Police has always received intelligence shared to them by NFSS operatives with open mind.

Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, a former president of Nigeria, has said his personal experiences with hardship growing up, shaped his lifelong commitment to peace and service to humanity.

Speaking at a reception in Abuja organised by “Friends of Dr Goodluck Jonathan” to honour his recent recognition with the 2025 Sunhak Global Peace Prize Award, Jonathan said his deep empathy for people in distress drives his work.

The former president said it had always being his desire to impact lives and promote peace in his space.

“I wouldn’t say much, but only to thank you and to reassure you that my commitment to peace will continue. I will continue to do my little best until the last day I will live on earth. I believe that’s the only way I can serve God, by serving man,” Jonathan said.

Jonathan said because he suffered while growing up as a child due to his humble background, he always felt sad seeing people suffering or seeing a country going through crisis.

The former Governor of Bayelsa added that it was his desire to see that no Nigerian suffer any lack, even though it was not so easy or possible for any president to achieve that.

“That has been my fear, and that was why I was very reluctant when I was approached to come to the centre, to be a vice president.

“I said, ‘Look, Bayelsa is a small state. Let me see what I can do with this small state, whether I can make significant changes’, but today here I am,” he said.

Jonathan appreciated the organisers of the Sunhak Global Peace Prize Award for counting him worthy, saying I never expected it.

Jonathan also appreciated the organisers of the reception for the great honour, even though he initially declined it.

“I also appreciate all those who attended this reception. I have listened to the comments from all of you, and I can only say thank you for those good words. They are quite encouraging,” he said.

The 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, said Nigeria would continue to celebrate Jonathan for the sacrifices he had made to make the country peaceful.

Obi, who was the chairman of the occasion, said everybody knew what Jonathan represented and the hope he had brought to Nigeria’s democracy.

“There is no special day to celebrate this award than today, Easter day, which is a day of sacrifice. We will continue to celebrate you for the sacrifice you made for this country to be at peace.

“You have put in a lot of efforts to ensure there is peace in Nigeria, Africa and the world as a whole,” Obi said.

The Chief Host of the occasion, Robert Azibaola, said that the friends of Jonathan found it worthy to celebrate him for the global recognition.