2015: Bank robberies, kidnappings, Boko Haram hold sway

...a year of losses, pains, tears

Suspected bank robbers

Alleged arms suppliers of bank robbers

As the curtain draws close on 2015, Nigerians will not forget security issues that trended and sent shivers down their spins. Indeed, bank robberies, kidnappings and Boko Haram attacks are some of the major security challenges that held Nigerians spell bound. 

It’s however necessary to note that most of these major security challenges led to a lot of bloodletting. 
The year is one that ushered in a new president; in the person of Muhammadu Burhari.
The President is fixated on war against corrupt individuals. The latest issue, which is on the front burner of all security experts and stakeholders, is the trending story of the former National Security Adviser (NSA) to the former President of Nigeria, Sambo Dasuki. In what has become the greatest scandal of all time, now tagged, Dasukigate, the former NSA was arrested on December 1, 2015 for allegedly diverting 2. 1 billion dollars meant for purchase of arms for Nigerian Troops.
The Nigerian Troops have often cried that they were being sent on suicide missions because their opponents, the Boko Haram, were better armed. 
Dasuki was accused of awarding phantom contracts to buy 12 helicopters, four fighter jets and ammunition for the military, but investigations revealed that the arms were never bought. After his arrest, Dasuki started singing like a bird. 
He mentioned names and fingered those involved in sharing of the arms money.
They shared the money while Nigerian soldiers were slaughtered on the battle field by Boko Haram members. One major event in 2015, that many Nigerians applauded, was the commuting of the death sentences of 66 soldiers to 10 years imprisonment. 
The Army had in September 2014, arraigned 71 soldiers on several count charges, including criminal conspiracy, conspiracy to commit mutiny, attempt to commit an offence (murder), disobedience to particular orders, insubordinate behaviour and false accusation, among others. 

Suspects

They were tried, discharged on some charges but found guilty and convicted on other charges, which included mutiny. Among the 71 soldiers, 66 were found guilty on some of the charges and sentenced to death by firing squad.
Five were discharged and acquitted and one was given 28-day imprisonment. Spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, Colonel Sani Usman, said: “Following a series of petitions, the Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai, a Lieutenant General, ordered a legal review of the cases.
The directive was carried out to examine the merit of each case. It was on the basis of the review and recommendations that the Chief of Army Staff commuted the death sentences of the 66 soldiers to 10-year jail term. The sentences are to run concurrently.” The year witnessed Mr. Solomon Arase announced as the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) on April 21, 2015.
He was confirmed as the substantive IGP on May, 12, 2015. After his appointment, one of the things Arase kicked against, was extra-judicial killings in different Special Anti-Robbery Squads (SARS) in Nigeria. Not only did he raise a committee to go and check SARS cells, leading to massive decongestions, he also decentralized SARS. Some SARS operatives, who were accused of extra-judicial killings, were tried for murder.
The year witnessed a preponderant of bank robberies, oil pipeline vandals, and massive attacks of homes by robbers and killings of law enforcement agents. A particular gang of bank robbers, later dubbed ‘waterway robbers,’ who used to come through waterways, believed to be former Niger Delta militants, unleashed hell in Lagos State. The gang members, who were always in military camouflage uniforms, blew up banks, security doors with dynamites in order to get access into banks.
They had severally carted away millions of naira and foreign currencies from different banks in Lagos and Ogun states. The gang was also responsible for vandalising oil pipelines in both states, including killing and stealing bodies of law enforcement officers they killed. The gang members also had a penchant for killing law enforcement officers found along oil pipelines. Once they kill these officers, they disappear with their corpses.
They had once killed four policemen at Ikorodu, and another four at Igando. Three officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were also killed this year and the gang disappeared with their bodies. In September 2015, the gang killed between eight and 12 officers of the Department of State and Services (DSS). They disappeared with their bodies and rifles.
The leader of the gang, Kelly Fotor 35, aka Kelvin, was arrested in November 21, 2015, just days after a bloody bank robbery at Agbara, Ogun State, where a pregnant woman and policeman were killed. They also carted away millions of naira from banks. He was arrested by Arase’s Special Intelligence Response Team (SIRT) at Sapele, during a wedding ceremony. He told police:
“I led the gang in all the five major bank robberies. We killed and buried the DSS personnel in Ishawo Ikorodu area two months ago. We are two gangs; but we used to join forces in time of operations. My group and I used to come from Delta for operations. We would join Lagos group. The Lagos group specialised in pipeline vandalism.
Once we join forces to rob banks, we share the money.” The robbers attacked banks in Lekki in March. On June 1, 2015, they attacked banks at Ijede, Ikorodu; on June 24, 2015 they swooped on banks at Ogolonto, Ikorodu. On October 15, they attacked banks at FESTAC Town, where they killed a mother and her child. On November 19, they paid a visit to banks at Agbara, Ogun State.
Some SARS operatives attributed the sudden increase in robberies in 2015, to Arase’s halting of extra-judicial killings of suspected robbers The operatives insisted that the criminals sent messages to their underworld colleagues about the new order. The news, supposedly made criminals to start crawling out from their holes.
On July, 13, 2015, Buhari effected a shakeup in the leadership of the Nigerian armed forces, which saw former service chiefs of the Navy, Air force, and Army removed. The shakeup in the hierarchy of the Nigerian Armed Forces saw a renewed war being waged against the Boko Haram insurgents, with Nigerian Troops recording successes.
The soldiers invaded forests that they had hitherto shied from. They rescued several victims. Due to the rescue operations and war between Nigerian Troops and Boko Haram, Nigeria today has 3.3 million persons displaced. According to Internal Displaced Monitoring Centre (IDMC), this is the highest number in Africa. Although Boko Haram attacks continued in 2015, Nigerian Troops however gave the insurgents a run for their money. Kidnapping for ransom remains unabated in 2015; in fact, the year saw high profile kidnappings. Chief Olu Falae, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, was kidnapped on September 21, 2015.
He was kidnapped in his farm, on his 77th birthday. His abductors later demanded for N100 million ransom. He was released on September 24, after paying ransom. On September 14, 2015, Mrs. Toyin Nwosu, wife of Deputy Managing Director (DMD) of the Sun Publishing Limited, Mr. Steve Nwosu, was kidnapped from her home in Lagos. The mother of four was freed on September 17, after three nights with the abductors. Just like Falae, she was freed after her family paid ransom.
Vanguard newspaper Columnist, Donu Kogbara was also abducted in Port Harcourt in August 2015 and later released on September 11, after payment of ransom. As 2015 draws to a close, kidnapping continued. 2015 was the year, Nnamdi Kenny Okwu Kanu, who has repeatedly described himself as a Political activist, appeared on the scene. He drew attention when he started his radio station, Radio Biafra.
He alleged that Igbos were marginalized and demanded for a Republic of Biafra. On October 18, 2015, Kanu was arrested by Department of State Services (DSS). The news of his arrest led to mass protests across some parts of eastern states. Since the Kanu and DSS saga started, at least 18 Igbo protesters had died.
On September 5, 2015, Kanu was a guest speaker at World Igbo Congress which was held in California. He demanded for guns and bullets. On December 21, the Federal Government of Nigeria slammed Kanu with treason charge. Cattle herdsmen otherwise known as Fulani herdsmen, was this year finally realised as one of the ever growing security problems in Nigeria. In 12015, many deaths, attacks and injuries were placed at the doors of cattle herdsmen. Some security experts described them as terrorist groups masquerading as nomadic herdsmen.
This is an area law enforcement agents urgently need to pay serious attention. The Shiíte Islamic Movement of Nigeria and Nigerian Army clashed on December 12. Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said that it was by divine intervention he escaped being assassinated by the sect members. The sect on its part claimed that at least one thousand of its members were killed by soldiers, who later evacuated their bodies.
The clash started after Shite members allegedly refused to allow Buratai’s convoy to drive through. Most of the horrifying bank robberies this year occurred in Lagos. Law enforcement agents had been brainstorming on ways to tackle the issue. Governor Akinwunmi Ambode however came up with a plan; equipment for the police. Ambode on November 26, 2015, handed over series of security equipment and vehicles to the Lagos State Police Command and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS). He charged them to ensure that the equipment was deployed effectively to tackle criminal activities as residents would no longer accept excuses.
The Governor handed over 100 4-Door Salon Cars, 55 Ford Ranger Pick-Ups, 10 Toyota Land Cruiser Pick-Ups, 15 BMW Power Bikes, 100 Power Bikes, Isuzu Trucks, three (3) Helicopters, two (2) Gun Boats, 15 Armoured Personnel Carriers, Revolving Lights, Siren and Public Address System, Vehicular Radio Communicators, Security Gadgets including Bullet Proof Vests, Helmets, Handcuffs, etc, Uniforms, Kits and Improved Insurance and Death Benefit Schemes for officers.
The total cost of the equipment was N4.765bn. On November 4, in Igarra, Akoko- Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, policemen recovered from fleeing bank robbers; N4.4 million cash, 11 AK-47 rifles, 41 AK-47 magazines, three T06 rifles, two vehicles, 21 unexploded bombs, 46 T06 live ammunition, seven mobile phones and seven exploded cases of bombs.