FG cautions against used cell phones, pre-registered SIM

Mike Omeri

Mike Omeri, Director General of National Orientation Agency

Mike Omeri, Director General of National Orientation Agency
Mike Omeri, Director General of National Orientation Agency

The Federal Government on Tuesday cautioned Nigerians against buying used cell phones and pre-registered SIM cards, saying that they might have been used by terrorists for untoward activities.

Mr Mike Omeri, the Coordinator, National Information Centre, issued the warning while giving update on the security situation in the North East.

“This caution becomes necessary to save members of the public the embarrassment of being apprehended for criminal activities committed with the phones and SIM card found in their possession.

“Accordingly, the public is strongly advised to report cases of stolen phones and SIMs to the police, and refrain from buying second hand phones and SIM cards from unknown sources,” he said.

Omeri said the recent recapture of Bama from the insurgents by troops was an attestation that the military had might to defend and safeguard the nation’s territorial integrity.

He said the troops were intensifying efforts to dislodge the Boko Haram terrorists from Gulak and Baza in Madagali and Michika Local Government Areas of Adamawa.

The coordinator said this was in spite of the odds that had confronted their operations in those areas, and urged the people to support the military with useful information.

“Officers and men (of the military) are doing the best they can to ensure that these areas are safe and people free to go about their normal businesses.

“I spoke with the son of Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, an army officer; a Lt.-Col. who was involved in the incident of yesterday (Monday).

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“He is in high spirit and he is assuring Nigerians that what is on his mind now is to get well and go back to the field, to defend his fatherland.

“That was what he told me, and this is the kind of patriotism and spirit all of us, even those of us who are not on the line should exhibit,” he said.

On small arms and light weapons, Omeri noted the motive of most manufacturers and marketers of small arms across the globe was to promote violence rather than to facilitate peace.

He assured the committee on small arms that the agency would support the effort to rid the country of such weapons.

Omeri said that a campaign tagged: “Do the Right Thing: Stop illegal use of small arms and light weapons, would be launch soon by the agency to bolster the committee’s efforts.

Earlier, the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons said Nigeria was becoming a major destination for trade in such weapons.

Amb. Emmanuel Imoghen, Chairman of the committee, stated this when he led other members on courtesy visit to Omeri, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

Imoghen noted that trade in the weapons thrive in Nigeria because of the existence of ethnic militia groups across the country.

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