The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Reports

  • CSO uncover plots to cause crisis among security chiefs

    CSO uncover plots to cause crisis among security chiefs

    A rights group, Centre for Advancement of Peace, Security and Social Development (CAPSSD) has said the spate of “highly sensational and promotional articles” published in national dailies recently about top security officers in the country was a deliberate ploy to cause disaffection amongst leaders of various security agencies.

    The CSO, in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Mustapha Funtua, cautioned that the trend, if not quickly checked, will not only jeopardise the security but also set the officers and the units they represented against each other and the enemy.

    The statement reads: “”We are appalled with the media coverage of sensitive personnel and units in our security architecture. The perpetrators of this act are intentional in causing disaffection amongst the security chiefs but have been hiding under the banner of promoting their targets. This is dangerous for our fragile security situation and must not be allowed to go unchecked.”

    Read Also: Tension in Anambra as security operatives stop protest

    The CSO equally drew the attention of Nigerians to the fact that intelligence gathering and security operations are private and secret undertakings.

    “Deliberately exposing the names of serving officers in missions and publishing details of their actions is tantamount with leaking classified information to the enemy. It has become necessary for the Army, the Police and other security agencies to tighten their grip over sensitive information as many people are now abusing the privilege that comes with free flow of information under the Freedom of Information Act. Writing promotional articles about serving officers should, therefore, be considered as leakage of classified information and tagged treasonable”, the statement added.

    The CSO further called on the media to vet the information published through their platforms well before allowing it to reach the public and enjoined the media to desist from creating the impression that only few persons or security agencies are working since security was a team work and couldn’t be effectively prosecuted by just one team or group of persons.

  • 20 families of deceased policemen receive N29m in Jigawa

    20 families of deceased policemen receive N29m in Jigawa

    The Commissioner of Police in Jigawa, Mr Emmanuel Ekot, has presented N29 million cheques to families of policemen who died in active service.

    This was announced in a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Lawan Shiisu, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP) in Dutse yesterday.

    He said the money was from the Police Family Welfare Insurance Scheme instituted by the Inspector-General of Police to provide succour to families of deceased personnel.

    He explained that 20 families were presented with the cheques at the command’s headquarters in Dutse.

    “The Commissioner of Police, Jigawa State Police Command, Emmanuel Ekot, has presented cheques worth N29,280,412 to 20 families of Police Officers who died while in active service, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba.

    “The beneficiaries, who were presented with cheques, are the Next of Kin of the deceased Police Officers,” he said.

    The spokesperson added that the presentation of the cheques was part of the IGP’s Family Welfare Insurance Scheme being given to the family of deceased officers.

    According to him, while presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries, Ekot appreciated the effort of the IGP for improving the welfare of the officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force.

    He urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the money for their betterment.

  • Ganduje: forgive me for I have forgiven all who wronged me

    Ganduje: forgive me for I have forgiven all who wronged me

    With 43 days remaining for him to leave office, Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje is begging for forgiveness from those he might have trampled in the course of steering the state.

    “Forgive me, for I have forgiven all,” he said.

    The governor spoke at a Ramadan lecture series at Al Furqan Juma’at Mosque located at Nasarawa GRA, Kano.

    Ganduje will be completing his second term of eight years on May 29, when he will hand over the baton of power to the governor-elect, Abba Kabir Yusuf, who is elected governor from the opposition New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

    Read Also: Runsewe lauds Ganduje over  Kano Golf Club’s status

    Governor Ganduje, who was deputy governor before becoming governor, had campaigned for his deputy, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, to succeed him in office.

    “I have forgiven anyone who at one time disparaged my person and my character for whatever reasons. On my part, I equally beg or seek your forgiveness for all that I have done wrong to you,” he said.

    “My tenure as governor of Kano state has come to an end, and this is a farewell greeting. I wish you all the best. For those who we have wronged, forgive us. On my part, I have forgiven those who wronged me no matter the weight of the offense,” he added.

    The governor said he drew the inspiration (to seek forgiveness) from the position of Islam, adding that “as espoused by the leader of this Mosque, forgiveness occupies a prime spot in our religion”.

  • Minister raises alarm over abuse of children at motor parks

    Minister raises alarm over abuse of children at motor parks

    Worried over the rate of abuse of children, especially girls at different motor parks nationwide, Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen has called for a drastic action against what she described as a menace.

    She spoke in Abuja at the 10th National Delegate Conference of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN).

    Tallen urged the leadership of the association to enlighten its members by mounting graphics on Gender-based violence around parks.

    She said: “When I sometimes visit parks in the company of family, I still see young children; girls and boys hawking when they should be in school. Yet, your members turn blind eyes to such scenarios. In some cases, these children become victims of exploitation and abuse. And because they are powerless, they have no voice and are afraid to report and so the cycle of abuse continues. Even women have reported such abuses in the parks”.

    While delivering his acceptance speech after he was unanimously adopted as the RTEAN’s 10th national president, Musa Muhammed, urged the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prioritize the transportation sector as it: “creates employment and directs the economy”.

    In a similar development, RTEAN in collaboration with Wema Bank and Digix Technologies, also launched a technology to provide a hitch-free transportation system for Nigerians.

    Muhammed, represented by the association’s deputy national president administration, Muhammad Abubakar Bishara, said the technology named, ‘Karry go’, was in line with the cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    Muhammed said the programme during implementation will put in check issues of insecurity, as all information about the travellers final destinations would have been collated from the digital manifest generated in the cause of processing their payment for the journey.

    “It is our hope that when this programme comes into full implementation, a lot more sanity would have been enthroned in the road transport sector. After this official launching, all our members across the country will be properly trained on what should be done to achieve greater results. This is because we need personnel and men to handle the equipment to be used. For instance, non-internet P.O.S, which will function without a network, because those in the remote areas would be deployed,” he said.

  • Mass defection imminent in PDP camp over Melaye’s emergence as party candidate

    Mass defection imminent in PDP camp over Melaye’s emergence as party candidate

    The controversial emergence of Senator Dino Melaye as the People’s Democratic Party’s governorship candidate in Kogi State has created a huge crack within the ranks of the main opposition.

    No fewer than 1,000 members of the party including two former governors, an ex-deputy governor as well as other senior stalwarts have threatened to decamp to the All Progressives Congress in protest over Melaye’s candidature.

    Recall that the former lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District at the National Assembly was adjudged to have polled a total of 313 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Idoko Ilonah with 124 in an indirect primary.

    However, before the exercise, some aspirants raised an alarm that the delegates list had been manipulated in favour of Melaye.

    Former Deputy Governor, Yomi Awoniyi, said: “We are calling this meeting to address the great anomalies that have come to the fore regarding the PDP primary election slated for Sunday.

    “With me here are photocopies of the authentic delegates list, which had been duly certified by INEC as the result of what transpired on March 29 at the PDP congress in Kogi.

    “We have copies of the delegates list for the twenty-one local government areas and the entire two hundred thirty-nine wards across the state supported by the state’s PDP executives.

    “It’s trite to say that while the party sets up guidelines for due process and the process is adhered to, it’s unreasonable to have the same party jeopardising the same process by importing strange names into the delegates list.

    “There will be serious and grave consequences for the PDP if the approved delegates list isn’t used.”

    Another frontline aspirant, Dr Bolufemi Rotimi, added: “Failure not to use the authentic list will result in cancellation of the whole process.

    “If they forge any list on Sunday for the primary election, there’s going to be a serious crisis.”

    A PDP senatorial candidate for Kogi West, Tajudeen Yusuf branded the manipulated delegates list as a terrible development and an attempt to commit fraud.

    It now appears that further chaos beckons in the PDP which has been embroiled in a national crisis of some sort that led to its defeat at the presidential poll.

    There are indications that the six disgruntled aspirants will work against Melaye in the November 11th guber poll, with the APC candidate Usman Ododo their likely choice.

    The group has reportedly finalised plans to join the ruling party and sources say Governor Yahaya Bello has promised to accommodate them.

    Meanwhile, two former governors are said to be on their way to the APC as well over the PDP primary which has been described as “fraudulent, phony, and unacceptable”.

    They claim to accept Melaye as their candidate, a man with questionable character enmeshed in numerous scandals,
    will be a betrayal of all the virtues they represent.

    “When Melaye is mentioned, controversies jump out. In a sane society, this man should be in jail. He lacks the morals, decency, and qualities to hold public offices,” a former governor who doesn’t want to be revealed said.

    “An uncultured character, he earned national honours in breaking down and collapsing on the streets of Abuja. Dino is a bad example to the younger generation.

    “He uses disrespectful and profane words with a total lack of respect always. This man can strip naked to prove a point. The records of his misconduct are well documented.

    “He was once declared wanted by the Police on a charge of supplying illegal arms to his political supporters. He was also at the center of academic fraud.

    “There was a time he was accused of offering to bribe a federal judge. The same man jumped out of a police van to try and escape custody. Kogi people deserve better. I’d rather quit than watch this uncultured being fly my party’s flag. Never!”

    Speaking to newsmen, a respected stakeholder Omachonu Achimugu said the emergence of Melaye marks the end of the PDP in Kogi State.

    He said while the APC is getting stronger, Melaye epitomises division, crisis, and failure.

    Achmugu, therefore, said that unless something drastic is done, an imminent defeat awaits the party in November.

  • NYSC offers free medicare to 2000 villagers in Katsina

    NYSC offers free medicare to 2000 villagers in Katsina

    No fewer than 2000 villagers turned out for the NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers in Tasnni village in Batatagarawa local Government Area of Katsina State.

    The NYSC State Coordinator, Hajiya Aisha Muhammad, who flagged- off the first quota of the programme at Tsanni community in Batagarawa Local Government Area of Katsina State, commended the high turnout for the event. 

    She said the turnout of the villagers, led by the chairman of the local government council, Alhaji Bala Garuba Tsanni, was impressive and overwhelming, as the elderly, women and children were seen already seated waiting patiently for the NYSC personnel to arrive as early as 7am.

    At the flag-off ceremony, the NYSC Katsina State Coordinator, Hajiya Aisha Muhammed, told the gathering that the selection of Tsanni community wasn’t by accident but a fallout from the good gesture of the chairman and the good people of Batagarawa Local Government to the NYSC members. 

    She said: “The local government authorities were always there to provide assistance to corps members to carry out community development service in Katsina State.”

    She further explained that the honourable chairman of Batagarawa Local Government, Alhaji Bala Garuba Tsanni, has sponsored so many community-oriented projects for NYSC Corps Members irrespective of the places where those projects were to be executed in the state.

    Hajia Muhammed also called on other local government authorities in the state to emulate the Batagarawa chairman, so as to also benefit from other activities of the National Youth Service Corps.

    Earlier, the Chairman Batagarawa Local Government Area, Alhaji Bala Garuba Tsanni had warmly welcomed the NYSC State Coordinator and  entourage  to Tsanni community.

  • Minna residents groan over 100% increase in electricity bill

    Minna residents groan over 100% increase in electricity bill

    Residents of Minna metropolis and its environs have complained over the increase of the estimated electricity tariff despite the unavailability of power across the state capital.

    The Nation learned that the March electricity bill that was shared between Thursday and Friday showed that some customers who used to pay N7,000 are to pay N15,000; some who pay N6,000 are to pay N16,700 while those who pay N10,000 are now to pay N30,200.

    The residents across the state capital and its environs complained about how they would pay such high bills for the electricity they did not use, especially during the Ramadan season, insisting that the overbilling by the distribution company had become too much.

    The residents complained over inability to conduct their businesses or sleep at night because of the heat.

    Gimba Abubakar said, “AEDC is not helping matters. They are expecting customers to pay without rendering services. My own house’s electricity bill monthly is supposed to be N9,000 but in this holy month, my current charge is N14,000. How and why AEDC?”

    Mohammed Umar said, “I have a one-room self-contain apartment and I was given a N16,000 bill from the N6,000 I usually pay. AEDC is not being fair to us. Imagine in Minna, no light, no water, how are we going to survive?”

    Adetunji Abdullahi said, “AEDC increased my bill from N8,000 to N15,000 despite the fact that there is no light o! And my house has just three rooms. Have AEDC turned to scammers or what are we to call this?”

  • Developers to FCT residents: Be wary of land grabbers

    Developers to FCT residents: Be wary of land grabbers

    Developers under the aegis of Real Estate Developers Association Of Nigeria (REDAN) have warned residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to be wary of the activities of land grabbers in the nation’s capital.

    The developers said people are being evicted from their homes and forced to give up their lands due to activities of land grabbers, adding that this had become a reoccurring incident.

    President of REDAN, Aliyu Wamakko, said land grabbers daily encroach on lands that do not belong to them with impunity by carrying out construction activities.

    He also urged its members to comply with other Extant Laws on money laundering and counter-terrorism by reporting transactions as stated by the Special Control Unit on Money Laundering and Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit.

    Wamakko said: “A recent case was the ugly incident where seven suspects were arrested within Guzape II over land racketeering, who are bent on grabbing lands that do not belong to them. There are other pockets of cases where land grabbing cases occur.

    “It will interest our audience to know that the majority of the land grabbers are not Members of REDAN. This is because they do not want to be subjected to the Code of Membership of REDAN.

    “As a self-regulatory organisation for Real Estate and organised real estate firms in the business of housing and estate development nationwide, we hereby state emphatically and categorically that we detest such anomalies.”

    Wamakko advised that anyone who is interested in getting land should procure it genuinely by approaching the government or the owners and not encroach on land which is not legally ACQUIRED.

  • Elections over, it’s time to build peaceful Nigeria – Don

    Elections over, it’s time to build peaceful Nigeria – Don

    A senior lecturer in the Mass Communication Department of the Nasarawa State University, Professor Anthony Igyuve, on Saturday, appealed to Nigerians to put the elections behind them and join hands to build a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.

    The varsity don, who spoke as Guest Speaker at the launch of the “Peace-for-Free” lecture series in Kaduna argued that his position was premised on the fact that what people may see as worse democracy is better than the best of military rule, hence the need to eschew violence and embrace peace through dialogue or legal means with one another.

    According to him, “Our democracy and elections are revolving and that is why we need to be a credible part of that process; so that at the end of the day, we can be proud that we have contributed to democracy sustainability because the worst democracy is better than the best military rule.

    “So in essence, what we have tried to convey to the people of Kaduna State is a simple message that elections are over and it is now time to build our country, and the people they have elected as their representatives should be allowed to serve and deliver on their electoral promises which can only be done in the atmosphere of peace.

    “We have targeted young persons in this peace campaign series because they are the tools some politicians are using to disrupt societal peace.

    “So, once they have the understanding of a peaceful atmosphere as peace ambassadors, then, those using them to cause violence will have no option but to use legal means to seek redress”, he said.

    In an interview with newsmen on the sideline of the campaign, Founder and Convener, Peace For Free Initiative, Chris Oge Kalu said the peace campaign was a fallout of the 2023 rounds of elections.

    “As we all know, a lot of people claimed that the process was marred with a lot of irregularities and all that. So, as a civil society organisation, we quickly moved in to engage the people, especially youth, and ask them to eschew violence and toll the part of peace.

    “This is a national peace campaign. We started the campaign in Asaba, Delta State, Lagos in Lagos State, Abakalii, Ebonyi State, Maiduguri, Borno State. We are now in Kaduna from where we will be moving to Jos, Plateau State.”

  • Your prayers sustained troops against Boko Haram, Commander tells priest

    Your prayers sustained troops against Boko Haram, Commander tells priest

    The Commander, Sector II, Operation  Hadin Kai Major General Mayirenso Lander David  Saraso said the prayers of Christian leaders  and other religious leaders in the state has had a great impact on the fight against Boko Haram insurgency.

    The commander, who received the Parish Priest of St. Mary’s Catholic Church Damaturu, Rev Fr Aloysius Ebuka  Okpala, in his office yesterday said the troops in the theatre apart from the kinetic fight against the insurgents, have also remained close to God for spiritual upliftment and protection from their enemies.

    The Commander stated that the prayers of people in the northeast region especially the Christian and the Muslim communities have sustained the troops in their works in the theatre of operations.

    Major General Saraso thanked the Catholic priest for coming to the command to visit him and prayed for the troops.

    He promised to sustain a cordial relationship with the religious group which he noted are key in the fight against insurgency and the counter insurgency period.

    “Considering the large congregation and the followers that you religious leaders command, your position is vital to the counter insurgency fight against the insurgents,” Maj. Gen Saraso said

    Rev Fr. Okpala thanked the commander for reaching out to the widows in his church during the Easter festive period.

    He lauded the military for securing the northeast region for everyone to live in peace.

    “The people of St. Mary’s Catholic , Damaturu appreciate your good work in the region. You have fought very hard and continued to do that for all of us to have peace. We are grateful to you and will continue to pray for you to succeed,” Fr Okpala said.