Ibrahim Abdullahi, the alleged mastermind of the 2022 train attack in Abuja and Kaduna, has reportedly been taken into custody by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

Updates on force operations were given by police public relations officer (PPRO) Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Thursday while she was in Kaduna.

According to Adejobi, on January 12, the Kaduna State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) anti-kidnapping squad arrested Abdullahi, also known as Mande. According to a military spokesman, Abdullahi acknowledged leading a kidnapping ring that terrorised the Kaduna-Abuja route.

On March 28, 2022, gunmen ambushed a train travelling from Kaduna to Abuja, killing numerous people on board.

Several others were injured while 61 persons were also abducted during the attack.

All the abducted passengers were released at various intervals, with the latest batch freed after seven months.

Adejobi said Mande was also involved in the abduction of students of Greenfield University in Kaduna state.

On April 20, 2021, armed bandits attacked the institution and abducted 20 students and three officials.

Five of the students and a male warden were killed while in captivity.

The students and staff were also released in batches with the last batch freed on May 29, 2021.

“On January 12, 2024, police operatives attached to the anti-kidnapping unit of the Kaduna State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), based on credible information, swooped on and arrested one Ibrahim Abdullahi, also known as Mande, at the Abuja-Kaduna road flyover by Rido junction,” Adejobi said.

“The suspect confessed to being the leader of a kidnap syndicate terrorising the Kaduna-Abuja highway, ranked among other criminals like Dogo Gide and Bello Turji.

“He had participated in various kidnapping incidents, including the abduction at Green Field University, and he was involved in almost all the kidnappings along the Abuja-Kaduna highway. He was also involved in the popular Kaduna-Abuja train attack but had run away. We promised Nigerians that he would be arrested.”

The police spokesperson said the strategy of the force has paid off.

He added that a helicopter has been deployed to serve as an escort for trains using the route to provide aerial support for the ground troops, including police, and other security agencies deployed along the corridor.

“This proactive measure aims to prevent attacks and act as a first responder in the event of any untoward incidents,” he said.

Adejobi said the police also arrested 81 suspects for armed robbery; 40 for kidnapping; 73  for murder/homicide; 36 for rape; 22 involved in cult-related crimes, and 28 for engaging in other criminal activities.

He said 16 firearms of various calibre with 226 ammunition of diverse types were recovered.

The police spokesperson added that 28 stolen vehicles, over 200 harmful weapons, and 600 bags of fertilisers have been retrieved, while 158 kidnapped victims have been rescued.

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Advisor (NSA), has instructed all law enforcement organisations, regulators, companies, and interested parties to set up procedures for the complete execution and enforcing of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act 2024.

In order to do this, the National Cybercrime Fund will receive payment and be credited with a charge of 0.5 percent of the value of all electronic transactions made by the businesses listed in the Second Schedule to the Cybercrimes Act.

According to a statement by Zakari Mijinyawa, Head of the NSA’s Strategic Communications Office, all obstacles have been removed in order for the Cybercrimes law to fully go into effect.

It reads, “Arising from the high level African International Counter Terrorism Meeting in Abuja between April 22 and 23, 2024, African leaders stressed the urgent need for the improved deployment of greater support and resources towards strengthening cybersecurity activities in Africa and taking concrete steps to prevent the use of social media and other platforms by terrorists and organised criminal groups.

“In view of the need to secure Nigeria’s digital space and safeguard national security and economic interests, as well as deploy additional resources to counter terrorism and violent extremism as provided in section 44(5) of the Cybercrimes Act, all law enforcement agencies, regulators, businesses and stakeholders have been communicated by this office to put in place mechanisms for the full implementation and enforcement of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Amendment Act 2024.

“By this amendment, all impediments to the full operationalisation of the Cybercrimes law have been addressed.

“Consequently, a levy of 0.5 percent of all electronic transactions value by the specified businesses in the Second Schedule to the Act shall be paid and credited into the National Cybercrime Fund.”

It will be recall that on July 6, 2022. Nigeria joined 66 other countries that have signed and ratified the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime to enhance international cooperation, provide common platform and procedural tools for efficient and safe cyberspace pursuant to section 41(2) (a) of the Cybercrime Act 2015.

The government’s massive purchases of food as palliatives, according to Olayemi Cardoso, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, are a major factor in the nation’s skyrocketing food inflation.

In his remarks during the March Monetary Policy Committee, which were posted on the CBN website, he made this claim. The benchmark interest rate was raised from 22.75 percent to 24.75 percent by the MPC.

The group stated that combating inflation was the goal of its aggressive approach.

Nonetheless, the nation’s inflation rate surged to 33.2% in March, with food inflation hitting 40.01%, a 15.56 percentage point increase from 24.45% in March 2023 on a year-over-year basis.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the surge in food inflation could be attributed to rising prices for items such as garri, millet, yam tuber, water yam, and others.

Following the removal of fuel subsidy, the Federal Government approved N5bn for each state and the Federal Capital Territory to enable them to procure food items for distribution to the poor in their respective states.

In his comments, the CBN governor noted that inflationary pressure had failed to abate despite the hike in the interest rate in February.

He said, “Despite notable stability in the foreign exchange market resulting from decisions taken at that 293rd MPC meeting, inflationary pressure remains unabated. While there is the argument that the significant tightening since the last MPC meeting is yet to fully permeate the system and yield its expected impact, the risk of galloping inflation persists. If such a hyperinflationary scenario is to become reality, available options to control inflation could be severely constrained. From the facts presented to the MPC, there is a clear indication that the monetary factors contributing to inflation are diminishing in their significance.

“This could be considered as evidence of the impact of decisions reached at the 293rd MPC meeting. Staff reports show that the principal drivers of acceleration in inflation are hikes in food and energy prices which are associated with structural factors. Further, new dimensions of inflationary pressure are emerging. First, ‘seller inflation’ arising from the oligopolistic structure of commodity markets such as noticed in the prices of local commodities is gaining significance. In addition, huge purchases by the government for distribution as palliatives to vulnerable citizenry is adding another dimension to the food price inflation, with seasonal factors of food price increases during religious fasting and festive periods, adding price cyclicality.”

He further said that the new sources of inflation were better addressed by the fiscal authorities to complement the efforts of monetary policy.

Another member of the committee, Bala Bello, echoed a similar sentiment about the rising inflationary trend, saying, “Both food and core inflation rose in February 2024, underpinning acceleration in headline inflation to 31.70 per cent in February 2024 from 29.90 per cent in the previous month. This continued rise in inflation was mainly due to persisting high production costs, lingering security challenges and exchange rate pressures.

“Inflation is currently unacceptably high and requires decisive and coordinated efforts to curb it, given its adverse impact on citizens’ purchasing power, investment decisions and broad output performance.

According to Bala, the Federal Government’s initiatives at addressing food insecurity, such as the release of grains from the strategic reserves, distribution of seeds and fertilisers, and support for dry season farming, are important and commendable.