The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has dropped a total sum of N4 million cash as relief assistance to the family of the deceased officer who lost his life in active service in Jigawa State.

Speaking to newsmen in Dutse, the Comptroller General, Idris Isa Jere, said he was in the state personally to condole with the family of Muhammad Abdullahi who died and also to check on two other officers who sustained injuries during an encounter with gunmen at Gaaladi/Birniwa axis of Nigeria-Niger boarder in Maigatari Local Government Area less than 3/kilometer to Niger Republic.

Jere said the two injured officers were also beneficiaries of the cash assistance, adding that the NIS is proud of the sacrifice made by Muhammad Abdul, the two injured officers and other members of patrol team.

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He said it is the duty of the Immigration Service to defend the territorial border of the country and ensure no miscreant, criminal or unlawful items are allowed into the country, adding that whoever sustains injuries or dies in the course of such duty has not died in vain.

“I’m therefore, in Jigawa to appreciate and honour his gallantry, sacrifice and commitment to the safety and protection of our national territorial integrity. Abdullahi Mohammed remains one of our finest gentlemen, a hero and a great patriot. I assure his immediate family that their dear son has not died in vain. On behalf of my Officers and Men, we wish him eternal rest.

“I also visited two of his colleagues who sustained some injuries during the attack. They are currently responding well to treatment in a medical facility here in Jigawa State. It is important that I state that on assumption of office, I made staff welfare a critical component of my agenda”.

This is, he said, is to ensure that officers and men are accorded decent considerations, dignity and honour in national service.”

He announced the federal government has approved the deployment of CCTV camera, drones and other electoral gadgets for the surveillance of the country’s borders.

Jere noted that the operation of e-border patrol is money demanding, and called on the federal government to increase the agency’s annual budgetary allocation to enable it discharged its duties effectively.

Sokoto State Police Command has charged a college graduating student to court for allegedly crushing a female colleague of Khalifa International Model School, Sokoto, with a car while jubilating.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Sanusi Abubakar, said the accident was reported to the police by the school’s authority and in a swift response, the police arrested the student-driver.

“We had since conducted our investigation and the suspect had been charged to court for further judicial process,” he said.

The victim, it was learnt, was outside the school premises after their final examination when another student driving a car on a high speed reportedly crushed her.

According to the College’s Director, Mr Emmanuel James, the driver was not a student of the school.

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He said, ”the accident occurred when the graduating students were anxiously waiting for their parents to convey them home in a joyous mood.

“However, upon hearing the accident, the school authority moved to the scene and rushed the victim to Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, in company of the police.

“That was where she was booked for amputation considering the severity of the mutilation of her leg.

“Moreover, the school’s authority has been supporting the victim who is currently on sick bed with all possible means to ensure that she recovers quickly from the trauma, ” he said.

James added that the parents of the victim had requested for the provision of an artificial leg for the victim by the parents of the lone-driver who is also a graduate of another secondary school in Sokoto.

He said that  the management had since requested for the provision of speed breakers and zebra crossing from the authorities along the road, with a view to forestalling recurrence of the ugly incident.

Supporters of the All Progressives Congress in Plateau State have hailed the appointment of Governor Simon Lalong as Director-General for Tinubu/Shettima 2023 Campaign Council.

The group which identified itself as APC Strategic Monitoring Team (APC-SMT) said the appointment is a round peg in round hole.

Coordinator of the group, Golepji Wambutda and Secretary, Bukhari Auwal, who delivered the text at a press conference yesterday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists office in Jos, said, “For most of us, a Presidential Campaign Director-General is not just a mere appointment in the campaign council, rather it is in the heartbeat of the whole transition process and political negotiations that the foundation of a new Government is set after winning an election.

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“The appointment of Lalong as the Director-General of the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council provides the other leg of the tripod on which the much-yearned inclusion, fairness and equity is needed to stand.

“The campaign DG, as a most critical component of the transition process, will promote the needed balance expected of a diverse entity like Nigeria, including the concerns of faith.

“Should he be vilified for his decision to accept the position of a DG Campaign? No! Not at all! Because it doesn’t make sense for the whole field to be deserted and be left without a mark and effort to correct the anomaly.”

The group insists it will give Lalong all necessary support to ensure victory for the party in 2023.

The Bauchi State Government has said it rescued 69 captives from kidnappers’ dens across different local government areas of the state.

Briefing newsmen, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Abdulrazaq Nuhu Zaki, said the feat was achieved by the combined efforts of security agencies and vigilantes who stormed dens of bandits in various forests of the state.

Zaki said most of those rescued were strangers from different states, adding that they have been allowed to go to their respective homes and families.

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In his words, “Few weeks after the governor went round to assess the activities of kidnappers and other criminal elements ravaging the state which necessitated a directive to go after them, Bauchi State Government is making headway in the fight, as no fewer than 69 abductees have been saved from dens of kidnappers across the state.”

Zaki mentioned some of the infiltrated forests in the various LGAs as Toro, Alkaleri, Tafawa Balewa, and Ningi.

According to him, the State Governor, Sen. Bala Mohammed, took the battle to the bandits when he visited the affected areas and commiserated with the people as well as encouraged them to resist the kidnappers.

‘’The governor boosted the morals of the council chairmen, vigilantes, traditional rulers, security personnel, and all stakeholders in the fight against insecurity in the state.”

Following an all-inclusive consultations embarked upon by the Plateau State government for the rebuilding of the Jos Main Market, stakeholders in Jos North Local Government Area have given their consent to the project.

The stakeholders gave their consent to the project in a press conference held in Jos.

Mr. Bitrus Pada of  Anaguta community who read the resolution on behalf of the other communities said, ‘We the People of Jos North are wholly and fully in support of the laudable move and effort of the administration to rebuild the Jos Main Market as this is the desire and collective aspiration of our people.

“We agree that the State Government’s efforts should be intensified towards rebuilding the market, as the market serves a symbol of unity, a source of integration and a place for synergy for meaningful development. Rebuilding the market will further enhance and solidify the efforts towards enhancing trust, peace, unity and reintegration of our people.

“We agreed that rebuilding the market will further restore the lost beauty of the city centre, thereby enhancing its tourism potentials. It will also boost the business environment for which Jos is known.”

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The stakeholders therefore call on the Governor to carry on the rebuilding project. He should remain focused and deflect any distractions from his political traducers.

“We understand all issues surrounding the Memorandum of Understanding between the State Government and the potential Investors, the terms of the MOU has been clearly and expressly explained to us sufficiently, and we are in the full understanding of and we are abreast of the issues. We understand also that this will bring about the rapid recovery of the economy of the State.

“We the people of Jos North LGA see the market as a symbol of our sacrifice, heritage and material culture for the advancement of prosperity for our people and the State at large.

“We are pained by the callous and grave disregard for our monumental contribution to the growth of the economy of the State by insensitive remarks suggesting that the market should not be rebuilt or that it should only be rebuilt at a different location other than Jos North. We totally and unequivocally reject and condemn such calls.

“We strongly encourage the rebuilding of this edifice as we believe that it will reduce the rate of crime and criminality in the derelict structure. It will also avail employment opportunities for the vast citizens. Over 75% of the people of Jos North LGA rely on commerce as their means of livelihood, survival and progress.

The people further insist that if the agitation against the rebuilding of the market continues, “We shall appeal to His Excellency to consider restoring the land to its rightful owners (the people of Jos North LGA). We shall immediately embark on rebuilding the market by every means available to us.”

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Taraba State Chapter, has elected, Dr Bako Ali Istifanus as the State Chairman at its 2022 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference held in Jalingo.

The newly elected chairman who is medical director of the Taraba State University Medical Clinic, promised to ensure the provision of efficient and qualitative healthcare delivery to the people of Taraba State.

While applauding the outgoing Executive Council for their stewardship and ability to end their tenure successfully and very strong, he appreciated members for the vote of confidence placed in him and the new SOC to pilot the affairs of the association.

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He promised to ensure that the dream for universal health coverage for Tarabans saw the light of the day.

“It is attainable through Public-Private–Partnership (PPP) advocacy and by advising the State Government to functionally and actively domesticate the Taraba State Contributory Health Insurance Agency (TSCHIA) tenets in the state.

“The collaborations and partnerships with NGO’s and various health organisations (UNICEF, WHO, TACA etc) are giant strides which will be guarded and sustained, with the aim of improving the health indices of the people of Taraba State,” Istifanus stated.

He promised a five-year strategic plan with the aim of consolidating on its external collaboration, promoting the profession and upgrading the financial base of the association.