Category: Northern Reports

The Zandam Area Development Association (ZADA), a non-government organisation (NGO), in collaboration with We-Girls Development Initiatives and M.S Ideas, has conducted one-day safety training for 9,000 secondary school students in Katsina State.

They were trained in skills of school evacuation and security tips during banditry attacks and school invasions.

Addressing reporters at the one-day training which was held at Government Girls’ Senior Secondary School Katsina, the Chief Executive Officer M.S and Data Mustapha Shehu, said the training was necessary as a result of incessant attacks and abductions of school students across the state and the country at large, which, according to him, had shown that schools are no longer safe.

He further explained that step down training on safe schools’ declaration and escapes plans in the state, will assist in educating the students with the requisite knowledge on how to escape with minimum harm as well as provide first aid treatment for their fellow students if there is any sudden attack.

He said: “The project is also championed by the state Ministry of Education, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other partners to meet the set target of training about 9,000 students in the state.”

The Coordinator of the ZADA association, Ambassador Gidado Sulaiman Fafaru, said most schools in Katsina State have relocated to cities because of banditry attacks in their localities. He called on the state government to support the initiative to achieve the target of ensuring the safety of schools.

He called on parents and guardians of the students to also wake up to their responsibilities of inculcating good morals in their children for a better society.

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR), AgroLog, a Kaduna-based agricultural company, has distributed foodstuffs and provided medical care worth N20 million to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in over 15 camps in southern and central parts of Kaduna State.

 The medical care, according to AgroLog, was targeted at the survivors of banditry attacks, who sustained bullet injuries and fractures among others, during attacks on their communities. He said it was also meant for some of those who had been amputated due to lack of access to medical care.

 In a chat with reporters shortly before the distribution of the foodstuffs and other daily needs at the weekend, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of AgroLog Company, Dr Manzo Maigari, said the gesture was designed to alleviate the sufferings of the IDPs.

 “As long as banditry attacks continue unabated, people will always be in need. So, we will continue to assist people as part of our giving back to society,” he said.

 Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU) President, Jonathan Asake said: “I am overwhelmed. I lack words to express my happiness with this gesture coming from someone who is not a politician. I thank all the partners for providing these items for our people who are suffering because of banditry attacks.

“Some of the displaced persons are not in official camps. We have camps in Chikun, Zonkwa, Kafanchan and other areas in neighbouring communities. We have over 15 camps in these zones. Some of these victims go begging for food. Some need medical care. So, I am happy that an organisation such as this is carrying out this social responsibility for our people,” he said.

The Senator representing Gombe Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Muhammad Danjuma Goje has launched distribution of foodstuffs to over 4,000 People Living with Disabilities (PLWDs) in his constituency.

The project tagged; ‘Zero- Hunger,’ was meant to alleviate poverty among the vulnerable and people living with disability in the constituency, comprising Akko and Yamaltu/Deba local council areas.

While flagging off the distribution yesterday at his Gombe residence, Senator Goje, represented by Secretary of the Zero Hunger Scheme, Abubakar Sadiq Kurba, said over 4,390 PLWDs from the two councils are targeted to benefit from the exercise.

Kurba explained that each beneficiary would receive a plastic box containing rice; rice, beans, noodles, palm oil, groundnut oil, seasoning cubes, tomatoes paste and wrapper.

He added that the physically challenged were selected to benefit from the scheme, in order to bring succour to them being the most downtrodden members of the society.

“The Senator targeted the disabled because these people are in dire need of the food items, especially with the level of hunger and poverty that are prevalent in the state today,” he said.

The lawmaker stated that aside his empowerment initiatives, Senator Goje is facilitating federal projects in the constituency.

“Of recent are the proposed Federal Medical Centre and the ongoing construction of Model Primary School in Deba Town.”

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, state chairman of PLWDs, Comrade Umar Ali Goro commended the Senator for the gesture and urged all disabled to register and get voters’ cards so that they could elect good representatives in the forthcoming elections.

Goro further sought for employment opportunities for the PLWDs in the state and establishment of special centre, to empower the physically challenged with vocational skills, “to help our members become self-reliant.”

The National President of the Nigerian Youth Union (NYU) Comrade Chinonso Obasi, has said the 2023 general election is an opportunity for youths to take a stand and reclaim the country.

 Obasi, a former leader of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), made the call at the first non-elective convention of the youth group, with delegates drawn from the 774 local government areas of the country within the age bracket of between 18 and 35 years.

 The former NANS leader, who lamented the myriad of problems currently confronting the country, was as a result of the “leadership gap and non-involvement of youths in policy and decision-making,” noted that one of the objectives of NYU was to ensure the inclusion of youths in governance.

 He said: “In exactly 12 months’ time, another opportunity will beckon for Nigerians to elect their leaders. The 2023 general election is, therefore, an opportunity for Nigerian youths to take a stand and reclaim the country.

 “The 2023 election is our time to make it or mar our chances of engendering inclusive and purposeful governance.

 “Recent events have shown that the same dimensions to 2015 and 2019 are being propagated. Grandfathers are fighting for space with their grandsons because they believe that Nigerians are suicidal in their choice of leadership.

 “We shall, in the next few weeks, begin an aggressive voter registration campaign such that same way Nigerian youths waved the national flag as its symbol of resistance and call for renewal during the #ENDSARS protest. Every one of our members should arm him/herself with a permanent voter’s card.

 “We shall task aspiring leaders on their blueprint for addressing insecurity, hunger, lack of educational and health facilities in the country.

 “We shall interface with aspiring leaders and subject them to debates and discussions aimed at bringing out the best and demarketing the old.”

The community of Unguwar Dadin Kowa in Ningi Local Government of Bauchi State was thrown into mourning following the death of a 14-year- old, Mohammed Salisu Haruna, who committed suicide by hanging himself yesterday.

The victim’s corpse, which was recovered inside his room, was said to have been deposited at the General hospital Ningi after he was certified dead.

Though some residents told The Nation that Haruna may have resorted to suicide following a disagreement he had with his father, Haruna Shuaibu, 38; the father in his written statement to the police, however, alleged that his son had been battling mental illness.

Confirming the incident, Spokesman of the State Police Command,  SP Ahmad Mohammed Wakil in a phone interview with The Nation, said,” On the 18 February at about 00 hours,  one Haruna Shuaibu, 38 reported at the Divisional Police headquarters in Ningi, that his son by name Mohammed Salisu Haruna, hanged himself at an uncompleted building in his house.”

He added that the State Commissioner of Police, Umar Sanda, has directed discrete investigation into the causes of the boy’s death.

In another development, the Police in Bogoro LGA are on the trail of a 70-year-old man popularly known as ‘Zimbabwe’ for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl.

Information has it that the man who is a resident of Kurmin Boi village of Bogoro LGA raped the girl who is an SS2 student of one of the secondary schools in the area.

According to a personnel of the JTF in the area, Kabir Garba, “Zimbabwe is now at large after he committed the offense and aware that the Police and other security operatives are now after him.”

Ahead of the forthcoming local government elections in Katsina State slated to hold April 11, the Katsina State governor, Aminu Bello Masari, has signed a new law tagged, “The Security Challenges (Containment) Executive Order, which banned all political thuggery and associated crimes in the state.”

A press statement, which was signed by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Culture and Home Affairs, said the order was in line with the Executive Governor’s powers conferred on him by Section 176(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended and all other powers enabling him on that behalf.

He said “The order, which took effect on the 1st of January, 2022, covers all forms of political thuggery and other associated crimes, which are now totally banned along with indiscriminate posting of political posters and banners at roundabouts, government buildings as well as offices and public places.

“Gathering and movement of political thugs known as Bacha, Kauraye or under any other name or guise to intimidate, harass and maim the innocent populace are totally banned.

“Any person or group that contravenes the provisions of this order will be charged for committing an offence punishable under section 114 of the penal code law.”

Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has commended the Federal Government and Governor Mai Mala Buni for jointly awarding a multi-billion naira livestock development projects in Jakusko Nasari Grazing Reserves, Yobe State.

In a statement by the National President, Hon Khalil Mohd Bello, the association said: “Our commendation is necessitated by the fact that we view it as a positive move in a right direction, especially at this time when herders all over the country are experiencing untold hardship due to the negative impact of global warming. Global warming has brought about a shortage of animals feeds and water points and that is causing herders to be moving from one place to another in search of animal feeds and water.

“The livestock development project includes a milking collection centre, milking parlour, veterinary clinic, dispensary, primary school, aquaculture, feed milk, warehouse, earth dams, access road, security post, admin block, mosque, 40 housing units, etc. It deserves commendation and expression of gratefulness by us, the pastoralists, stakeholders, and all peace loving Nigerians.”

The statement said, the wanton clashes between herders and farmers would have been a thing of the past, if all governors in the North had been instituting such project.

Newly appointed Katsina State Police Commissioner, CP Idrisu Dauda Dabban, has warned terrorists operating in the state to either repent from their devilish activities and surrender or the police force will get at them.

CP Dabban, who gave the warning shortly after reporting for duty at the Katsina State command where he was posted to replace his predecessor and newly appointed AIG, Sanusi Buba, said his posting to Katsina was to ensure he continues from where his predecessor, whom he noted did very well, stopped.

He said: “We are well aware of the main problem facing this command, which is mainly banditry. The banditry situation is very unfortunate but we’ll try our best and with the help of God we will move forward.’’

“We know the terrain and are aware of all that has been happening and we will do all things necessary to see how we can reduce to the nearest minimum acts of criminality in the state, especially as it relates to banditry.’’

“Anything that’s criminal doesn’t pay. Bandits should abandon their devilish activities and surrender or we will get to them by the special grace of God.”

CP Dabban also reiterated the need for cooperation and support from citizens in the state to overcome the menace of banditry and other crimes in the state.

He said, “I am soliciting for the support of the people in the state to help us with useful information, so that we can succeed. Without the right information and intelligence, we will find it difficult to clamp down on criminals. So, we are soliciting for the support and cooperation of citizens in the state to succeed in bringing banditry to an end in the state.”

Dabban holds a Master’s Degree in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and has attended several leadership and strategic courses within and outside Nigeria.

Until his recent posting, he was the CP Communications, Department of Information and Communication Technology, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State yesterday told 2021 Batch A, Stream 1 Youth Corps members, during their passing out parade, that the state cherishes hard work and dedication to duty, urging them to return to their respective states with the notions.

Masari, who was represented at the occasion by his Special Adviser on Youths, Alhaji Ibrahim Kalil Ahmed, also declared that one of the virtues of the NYSC is to inculcate in the youths the virtues of hard work even in their private lives

He said, “I also want to thank you for your roles in our ongoing drive to sensitise our people on the deadly HIV/AIDS and Corona virus pandemic.

“Your roles in campaigning for safety in our roads through the Road Safety Club and through your quality radio programme are equally commendable and I pray that God will reward you.”

The Katsina State NYSC Coordinator, Alhaji Ahmadu Ahidjo commended the NYSC Scheme, which he said has over the years changed the mindset of many Nigerians towards development projects and put them on the road to national prominence.

In a related development, the newly appointed 17 Brigade Commander Nigeria Army, Katsina State, Brigadier General Ibikunle Ajose has called on Corps members serving in the state to be security conscious at all times.

General Ibikunle made the call at the NYSC Camp, Mani Road during the one-day NHIS/NYSC sensitisation programme, advising them “not to travel too early in the morning and also at midnight.”

Kebbi State governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, has restated his administration’s commitment to returning all Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), to their various towns and villages.

The governor made the pronouncement on Friday when he addressed the IDPs at GSS Dirin Daji, Linzamiya Primary School, Ayuba Dan Bauchi/ GDSS Dirin Daji, in Sakaba LGA and Junior Secondary School Chonoko in Danko Wasagu LGA of the state.

The governor said the three tiers of government, security agencies and other critical stakeholders are doing their best possible to ensure that normalcy is restored as soon as possible to the affected areas.

Bagudu also expressed his heartfelt condolences on the death of three persons due to bandits’ attacks in the area, while also promising them relief assistance by Friday.

He vowed to assist them to restart their various socio-economic lives upon return to their bases, adding that more attention would be focussed on women and children.

The Chairman of Sakaba Local Government, Hon. Dauda Muhammad, commended the governor for his tireless efforts to ensure the return of peace and security to the area.

The Chief of Sakaba, Ladan Musa, lauded the governor for working round the clock to safeguard lives and properties of the people, even as he requested for more security in the area.

Some of the IDPs, Hadiza Leke, Hajara Alhaji Gareji, Fati Samaila Makuku, Wasila Ahmad and Amina Makuku took time to narrate their ordeal to the governor, and appealed for the deployment of additional soldiers in the villages.

At Linzamiya Primary School in Dirin Daji, the governor met Sakina Sanusi, a female IDP who gave birth to twins in the camp.

Some of the communities affected by the bandits attack include Makuku, Sanganga, Janbirni, Kwagano, Maganda, Leke, Kango, Gareji, Daura, Dankolo and Dokabere.