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State Police Off Agenda As NEC Meets Thursday

Deliberations for the creation of state police are off the agenda as the National Economic Council meets on Thursday April 24, multiple sources in the Presidency confirmed to The PUNCH late Sunday. Vice President Kashim Shettima is expected to chair Thursday’s meeting, the second in 2025, at the Council Chamber of Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja. “The meeting is for the 24th of this month. But state police is not part of the things they will be talking about,” one of the sources with knowledge of the activities of the council confirmed to our correspondent, adding that the NEC secretariat has submitted the details of the next meeting to the Vice President’s office. Another source added, “The VP is the one who decides what goes in there (the agenda). But as of now (Sunday night), there is no talk about the state police on what I saw. Some are pushing for it to be discussed. But as of now, it is not there.” Thursday’s meeting comes amid fresh attacks in Plateau, Benue and Enugu states. Since early April, more than 120 locals have been shot, hacked or burnt to death in Plateau State alone, according to Amnesty International and multiple eyewitness accounts. Relief agencies say the toll is higher, citing coordinated night raids on Bokkos and Bassa that left burnt homes and 3,000 displaced in Plateau. In Benue, at least 56 people were killed in Logo and Gbagir after twin assaults blamed on armed herders. On February 15, 2024, the Federal Government, alongside the 36 states, began talks expected to culminate in the creation of state police. This formed part of agreements reached at an emergency meeting between President Bola Tinubu and state governors at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja. It followed similar pockets of killings and kidnappings recorded nationwide, hikes in food prices and economic hardship. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who addressed journalists after the meeting, explained that the process was still in its infancy and would only take shape after more deliberations between stakeholders. “The Federal Government and the state governments are mulling the possibility of setting up state police,” Idris said, adding that “this is still going to be further discussed.” He explained, “A lot of work must be done in that direction. But if our government and the state governments agree to the necessity of having state police, this is a significant shift.” Following this, the National Economic Council requested each state to submit detailed reports outlining their positions and plans for implementing state police. By March 2024, 16 states submitted their reports, with the remaining 20 expected to do so by May of that year. However, the process foot-dragged until December 2024, when all states finally submitted their reports. At its 147th meeting that month December, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State revealed that the council had received reports from all 36 states (excluding the FCT). Sani announced, “Today, one of the discussions we had at the NEC meeting was the update on the creation of state police. As you are aware, there was a submission by states toward the establishment of state police. “Thirty-six states have submitted, minus FCT. FCT is not a state. They explained why they had not submitted it. But 36 states have all submitted their own position on state police. “From what is available, virtually most of the states are in agreement with the establishment of state police in Nigeria. I want to say here clearly that most of us are in agreement with the establishment of State Police.” The Kaduna State Governor explained that the consensus stemmed from various security challenges across states. He cited the vast ungoverned spaces in Nigeria and the acute shortage of security personnel, including the police, army and other relevant agencies, which are unable to cover all areas adequately. “That is why most of us agreed that the establishment of state police in Nigeria is the way forward toward addressing the problem of insecurity in our own country,” Sani stated. However, the Council deferred conclusive discussions until January to allow further stakeholder engagement and to compile a comprehensive report at the NEC Secretariat. Governor Sani explained, “But today, the Council decided to step down the discussion until the next council meeting because we need to come up with a report from the secretariat. And after the report, there will be deliberation at the next NEC meeting, which will likely take place in January. “Not only that. There was also a resolution in the last NEC meeting, which today the secretariat agreed on, stating that there will be further stakeholder engagement after the panel and deliberation by the members of the NEC.” However, the council did not sit in January 2025. Sources in the Presidency and the Council, told our correspondent that January 31 was suggested, but this was derailed by an emergency meeting of governors from the Peoples Democratic Party in Asaba, the Delta State capital, that Friday. One source, who asked to remain anonymous, said, “We had suggested January 31 for the NEC meeting to finalise the discussions not only on state police but other matters as well. “But the PDP Governors’ are meeting on Friday too. And these governors are part of the council. So, we had no choice but to stand down the NEC meeting.” At its 146th meeting on November 21, 2024 the Council said it is determined to hasten the process and get its members to submit their reports by November 28, 2024. Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa who briefed journalists at the time said, “On the issue of State Police today, when the decision was taken, even before it was, the three states in question, one of them (Adamawa) was represented by the Deputy Governor, had earlier made submissions that they presented their report. “So, that was why NEC could not come out immediately to say ‘A or B,’ but rather give a timeline. And that timeline, as you can see, was very short: one week for them to go and do whatever they are doing so that decisions will be made by the next NEC meeting. “And, from how they reacted, I’m sure that maybe we have some bureaucracy regarding the submission.” Stakeholders in favour of state policing argue that a decentralised structure can better tackle region-specific security threats and improve accountability at the local level. Opponents, however, worry about potential misuse by state governments, which could breed political intimidation and weaken national cohesion. Despite the consensus among states, finalising any framework requires constitutional amendments and extensive coordination between the FG and states. A source familiar with the deliberations, who also spoke on condition of anonymity said, “I can tell you that all the states have submitted their reports. FCT is not a state. So, the FCT said that whatever the Federal Government agrees, it will go with it. It can’t submit anything because it’s not a state. “You know that NEC is not an approving body. It is only meant to advise Mr. President. The thing is slow because of politics. There is a lot of politics involved, that’s why they are not talking about it. “Look at the issues we are facing today. This is what we need now because of the killings in Plateau and Benue. “The governors need it now because the states cannot control the police. Even when you want to create a joint task force, those ones still need to get approval from Abuja before they do anything,” the source explained.

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Worldnews

In Vatican City, Mourners And The Curious Gather After Pope Francis Dies

Thousands pay their respects at St Peter’s Square as more visitors are expected over the nine-day mourning period. Vatican City – Thousands gathered in St Peter’s Square on Monday to pay their respects to Pope Francis after his death that morning. A multitude of languages could be heard as people, many carrying flowers, spoke to each other in hushed tones. As the sun set, a prayer was held for the late Argentinian pontiff, who died at the age of 88 following a stroke and heart failure. His death came at a symbolic time, not just because it was Easter Monday, a day marking resurrection and new life, but also because it is the year of the Jubilee, a Catholic pilgrimage that occurs every quarter of a century. Pope Francis had opened the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica just four months earlier to mark the beginning of the Jubilee as he welcomed millions of pilgrims to the Vatican. He had invited the world in, and now, as Cardinal Kevin Farrell, camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church announced on Monday morning, he has “returned to the house of the Father”. Miguel Cofarro, a 61-year-old devout Catholic from Rome, was at St Peter’s Square with three friends on Monday evening. He said he felt like he had lost his grandfather – an “honest” character who had the people’s best interests at heart. “Pope Francis took charge of the Vatican, fought corruption, and was more open with information. He felt authentic,” he said firmly, his friends nodding in agreement. When Cofarro finished work, he made his way to the square with no real plan. He was, he said, like many Romans, still in shock. Jessica Hernandez, a 39-year-old hotel worker originally from Mexico, said although she is not particularly religious, she was raised in a Catholic household, and the news had been a “powerful and upsetting shock”. She had spent most of the evening on the phone to her mother in Mexico, describing the mood in St Peter’s Square. Kevin de la Rosa, a 26-year-old bar worker from Venezuela, sat watching people gather at a heavily guarded, fenced-off area in front of the grand facade of St Peter’s Basilica, which is flanked by colossal statues of saints and opens onto the vast expanse of St Peter’s Square. He said he came to the Vatican out of curiosity to witness how people were reacting and to experience the atmosphere on the historic day, which he described as “sombre” and “respectful”. For de la Rosa, the mood evoked many childhood memories of his home country, where he attended a Catholic school. Seeing how the pope’s death has moved people in Rome has helped him rediscover his respect for the Church, he said, explaining how, for him, the pontiff was an important figure who stood up for the poor. Luciano Biteno, a member of the International Red Cross, looked out over the square, adjusting his walkie-talkie as he communicated with 20 colleagues or so who were deployed to the area. About a dozen ambulances flanked the periphery of the square. Biteno said Monday was calm and there had been no medical emergencies to handle, but he expected many more people to arrive from around the world over the next few days. He said all the authorities, including the police and military, are increasing their presence in the Vatican to handle the anticipated increase in the number of visitors following the pope’s death. Hernandez said the hotel she works at is now fully booked for the next 15 days, and hotel staff have been told to prepare for overtime. On Tuesday, she said, “Rome will change. It will be full of people – we have bookings from all over the world, and it feels like everyone is coming to this city.” For now, the seat of St Peter is vacant, and the papal apartments are sealed. The College of Cardinals, comprised of senior Catholic clergy, will have to choose Pope Francis’s successor, but, for now, there will be a nine-day mourning period in the Vatican as cardinals arrive from around the world. Pope Francis’s funeral will be held on Saturday, April 26. Follow Al Jazeera English:...

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Worldnews

Israeli Spy Chief Accuses Netanyahu Of Demanding Illegal Operations

Ronen Bar fires latest salvo in ongoing showdown with Israeli PM that has divided country. Israel’s spy chief has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to fire him for his refusal to commit illegal acts aimed at protecting the leader’s personal and political interests. Ronen Bar, chief of Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence service, made the assertion in an affidavit to the Supreme Court on Monday. Netanyahu’s move last month to dismiss Bar was suspended by the court pending an investigation, and the ensuing tussle has provoked large protests, with crowds accusing the prime minister of endangering democracy. Netanyahu said he would sack the spy chief due to a breakdown in trust, supposedly linked to Hamas’s attack in October 2023 that led to the Gaza war. However, Bar said Netanyahu’s decision was motivated by a series of events between November 2024 and February 2025. In the unclassified part of the court submission, Bar said Netanyahu had told him “on more than one occasion” that he expected Shin Bet to take action against Israelis involved in antigovernment demonstrations, “with a particular focus on monitoring the protests’ financial backers”. The Shin Bet head also said he had refused to sign off on a security request aimed at relieving Netanyahu from testifying at an ongoing corruption trial in which he faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of public trust. Netanyahu’s bid to oust Bar came as Shin Bet was investigating financial ties between the prime minister’s office and Qatar, a key mediator in the Gaza war. Critics say the firing is tainted by a conflict of interest and was meant to derail that inquiry. Shin Bet also happened to be carrying out an inquiry based on suspicion that the government had ignored warnings in advance of Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, when the armed Palestinian group killed more than 1,100 people and took about 250 captive. More than 50 of them remain in Gaza. Netanyahu and the hardline Zionist parties that support his government have faced harsh criticism for their failure to agree to a ceasefire and the return of the remaining prisoners. Israel’s onslaught on Gaza has killed more than 51,000 people, according to the enclave’s Ministry of Health. Netanyahu’s office has said Bar’s affidavit was “full of lies”, and later responded to several of his claims, stating that he had “failed miserably” when Hamas attacked Israel. It also denied that the move to sack Bar was aimed at thwarting the so-called “Qatargate” investigation. “The dismissal was not intended to prevent the investigation. Rather, the investigation was intended to prevent the dismissal,” it said. Netanyahu’s move to sack Bar was suspended by the Supreme Court after political watchdogs and opposition lawmakers argued the dismissal was unlawful. The bid to unseat the spy chief and the continuing fight have further fuelled the protests over the government’s failure to secure the captives from Gaza. Bar has accepted Shin Bet’s failure to stop Hamas’s attack, saying on Monday that he would “soon announce the date of my resignation”. Follow Al Jazeera English:...

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Worldnews

Israeli Attack Kills Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya Leader In Lebanon

Attack on Hezbollah ally one of two deadly strikes as Lebanon PM under pressure to dismantle armed groups. A top commander of the armed wing of the Lebanese party al-Jamaa al-Islamiya has been killed in an Israeli drone attack in Lebanon. The attack on Hussein Atoui’s car south of Beirut was one of two deadly strikes launched by Israel on Tuesday. The strikes were part of a wave of ongoing violations from both sides of the border of the ceasefire agreement struck last November between Israel and Lebanon’s armed group Hezbollah, risking a flare-up of hostilities. Lebanon’s Civil Defence confirmed that “an Israeli drone targeted a car” near the coastal town of Damour, about 20km (12.5 miles) south of Beirut, and rescuers recovered a man’s body from the vehicle. Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya, which is allied with Iran-linked groups Hezbollah and Hamas in Palestine, confirmed the death of Atoui, calling him an “academic leader and university professor” who had been “targeted” in his car as he travelled to work, in a statement. The AFP news agency, quoting an unnamed security official, said Atoui was a leader of al-Jamaa al-Islamiya’s armed wing, al-Fajr Forces. Separately, Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health said another Israeli attack on the southern Tyre district also killed one person. Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya claimed responsibility for multiple attacks against Israel during more than a year of cross-border hostilities, including two months of all-out war that saw thousands killed in Lebanon in Israeli air raids before the November ceasefire deal was struck. Under the truce, Hezbollah, a powerful political and military force in Lebanon, was to withdraw fighters from south of the Litani River, about 27km (17 miles) north of the border with Israel, and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure there. Israel was to withdraw all its forces from south Lebanon. However, it has maintained troops in five positions it deems “strategic”. It has pointed to continued sporadic rocket fire from across the border to justify its continued attacks. On Sunday, it said it killed two senior Hezbollah members in strikes. The United Nations said last week that Israeli forces have killed at least 71 civilians in Lebanon since the ceasefire. Lebanon, meanwhile, says it is trying to meet its obligations to disarm Hezbollah and other groups and have its military take control of southern regions. After unclaimed rocket fire against Israel in late March, the Lebanese army said last week it had arrested several Lebanese and Palestinian suspects, while a security official said they included three Hamas members. However, the United States has been applying sustained pressure on Beirut to accelerate the process of disarming Hezbollah. That has seen Lebanese President Joseph Aoun announce that he hopes to complete the process by the end of 2025, although he insisted on Sunday that he would not be rushed and warned that dismantling the group is a “sensitive, delicate issue”. Follow Al Jazeera English:...