The Nigeria Police have successfully rescued Nine (9) Police Officers who earlier went missing on 8th November, 2020 between Kankara town and Sheme in Katsina State after the night commercial bus they were traveling in came under attack by heavily armed men, all dressed in Military Camouflage, but suspected to be bandits.

The officers, all Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs), were on their way to Gusau in Zamfara State from Maiduguri at the time of the incident. Two of the officers are currently receiving medical attention in a hospital, while the remaining seven are being debriefed. Covert operation to locate and rescue the officers commenced immediately they were discovered missing en-route to their destination. Thus, the apparent delay in commenting on the unfortunate incident was a deliberate decision aimed at protecting the integrity and confidentiality of the rescue operation and the concomitant safety of the officers. It is also important to state that preliminary investigation has shown that the attack on the vehicle was an opportunistic crime as the officers were all traveling in mufti, unarmed and alongside other private citizens in the commercial vehicle.

The total number of officers involved in the incident is nine (9) and not twelve (12) as previously, wrongly reported in some sections of the media. Follow-up investigation into the incident is still ongoing. Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni reassures Nigerians that the Force is working assiduously to ensure an improved safety and tactical presence of police personnel on our highways as the yuletide approaches.

The National President and Chairman Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Governing Council, Mukhtar Zubairu Sirajo fnipr has commended the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency for improved information dissemination as regards its activities. Sirajo made this known when he led a delegation of NIPR Governing Council and the FCT Chapter Executive on a courtesy visit to FERMA Headquarters today 18th November, 2020. In his remarks, the President said the purpose of the visit was to seek areas of partnership with FERMA that will be beneficial to both parties.

He said “eye on the road”, a weekly programme by the Agency was highly effective in disseminating information about the activities of the Agency to the Public. Adding, the President said he could attest to the fact that FERMA is always on her toes, working tirelessly to ensure federal roads are motorable to the users of the roads and to foster economic growth. He said, “I can imagine the adverse effect on roads across the nation if FERMA is off the roads for months”. Sirajo congratulated the Managing Director, FERMA for releasing one of her best staff in person of Mrs. Maryam M. Sanusi, mnipr, as the Chairman, FCT Chapter. He said Maryam who is Director, Communications and Public Relations in FERMA has brought improvement to the leadership in NIPR thereby transforming it within the short time she has spent there. The President further commended FERMA for not falling short of NIPR’s standard of allowing professionals to head the Public Relations Department. He pledges NIPR readiness to partner FERMA for seamless communication process and advice on crisis management.

The Managing Director/CEO, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, Engr. Nuruddeen A. Rafindadi FNSE in his response appreciated the NIPR team for recognizing the effort FERMA has made in showcasing to the public her activities. He attributed the success of the performance of FERMA to the professional manner the Public Relations handlers have carried out their job. Appreciating the Director, Communication and Public Relations, he said, but for her doggedness in ensuring that the activities of the Agency are showcased to the public through the media, it would have been difficult for the public to know and appreciate what the Agency is doing due to the paucity of fund as a result of low budgetary releases. The MD said, “When I assumed office in October 2017, the Agency had only received 1 billion out of 25 billion of its capital budget for the year and as at December 2017, the Agency only got about 35% of its budget. The funding in FERMA is very low, but not withstanding, we must communicate often with the public, and the Communications and Public Relations handlers have been doing so effectively to the extent that the public know of our reality and challenges and appreciate our effort in fixing federal roads despite the low funding”. The MD said partnership with the NIPR was a necessity and very important to FERMA especially with regards to crisis management.

He pledged the Agency readiness for a continued partnership, while thanking NIPR for given the Public Relations handlers in the Agency a platform to develop, considering that all staff of Communications and Public Relations Unit are members of NIPR. Rafindadi enjoined NIPR to continue to project FERMA’s good image to the public, saying that work would commence soon on the federal roads across the country before Christmas as the Agency is working tirelessly to ensure the COVID-19 Intervention projects is concluded soon. Other members of the Council commended the Agency for its prompt intervention on Nigerian roads and prayed for the Agency to witness growth and progress in its activities to the benefits of the road users. The Managing Director was invited to be a special guest during the Annual General Meeting of NIPR which will take place in Bauchi early next year.