Category: Northern Reports

The Senate President Ahmad Lawan, yesterday called for a thorough investigation into the incident in which a motor driver was reportedly shot dead at Garin Alkali in Bursari Local Government of Yobe State.

The incident ignited violent protests in the neighbouring town of Gashua, the headquarters of Bade Local Government on Saturday.

According to Lawan in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media), Ola Awoniyi, in Abuja, the probe has become necessary with a view to bringing whoever has a hand in the killing to book.

He expressed sadness over the incident and sympathised with the family of the victim.

“I am deeply saddened by the tragic news at Garin Alkali on Saturday and the violent reactions that followed it. The killing of the innocent driver is wicked and reprehensible. It should not be condoned for whatever reason.

“My heart goes out to the family of the victim. May Allah console them over their bereavement.

“I urge the authorities to thoroughly investigate the incident with a view to establishing why and how it happened and applying appropriate sanctions to deter future reoccurrence.

“I also appeal for calm and assure the peace-loving members of the community that justice will be served in this matter.

“I urge members of the community never to take the law into their hands whatever the provocation as such reactions often lead to further tragedies,” Lawan said.

The Senate President commended the Yobe State Government and the police for their quick intervention which helped to quickly douse the tension and restore normalcy to the affected community.

The Niger State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged the Governor Abubakar Sani Bello-led administration to display the projects it has executed in the past seven years.

The PDP  stated that the state government could not take Vice-President Yemi Osibanjo and APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu around the state when they visited at different occasions.

The PDP, in a statement by the Niger State Secretary, Suleiman Zhigun, the party said the governor has not  delivered any people-oriented programme in the past seven years.

The PDP said the state government has drawn the state many years backwards, adding that the PDP states that if the APC disputes their words, they should invite President Buhari to the state and inaugurate the projects completed by the state government like other states have been doing.

The management of Al-Qalam University Katsina yesterday dismissed rumours of a purported bomb blast in the varsity premises being circulated in a Katsina-based social media.

The university, in a statement by Head, Public Affairs, Akilu Atiku and made available to reporters in katsina, said the story is unfortunate, unfounded, fake and misleading.

He said: “What happened was that the tyre of a moving truck along Dutsinma Road burst around 8:30 p.m. but mischief makers capitalised on the incident to spread the rumour about the bomb blast inside the university.

”The university calls on the general public to disregard the fake information and further wishes to assure that the university is completely safe.

“Investigation is now on with a view to fishing out the source of the fake information.”

Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe has ordered investigation into the alleged killing of a driver, Mohammed Toli, by armed men in Garin Alkali, Bade Local Government Area of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Toli was allegedly shot dead on Friday evening at a petrol station while scampering for safety, when the armed men arrived on a motorcycle.

Buni, in a statement by his Director-General, Press and Media Affairs, Alhaji Mamman Mohammed, on Saturday in Damaturu, described the incident as unfortunate after a long period of return of peace in the area and the state.

“Government and the security authorities will not tolerate any act of recklessness capable of disrupting our hard-earned peace.

“I, therefore, assure you that the government will properly investigate the matter and deal with it decisively.

“I also appeal to our good people of Bade Local Government Area and the entire state to remain calm and law abiding.

“We should avoid anything detrimental to our peace. You are advised to be good Muslims and take it as the will of Allah and avoid bonfire on the roads.

“May Allah (SWT) forgive the deceased of his shortcomings, grant him Aljannatur Firdaus and to his family, the fortitude to bear the loss,” the governor said.

Irate youths had on Saturday morning barricaded Filin Tanda area in Gashua town, protesting the arbitrary killing of Toli.

They set tires and other property ablaze and demanded justice for the deceased whom they described as a peaceful and law abiding person.

When contacted, spokesman of the Police Command in Yobe, ASP Dungus Abdulkarim, confirmed the unrest, saying police had restored law and order in the area.

He said the matter was under investigation and anyone found wanting would face the full wrath of the law.

Vwang, the host community of Karl Kumm University in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, has urged the state governor, Simon Lalong, not to intervene in the controversy tearing apart parties involved in the institution.

The community urged the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), proprietor of Karl Kum University, Vom, to commence implementation of a memoranda of understanding (MoU) signed with host community by confirming the appointment of Daniel Kim as registrar for the smooth take off of the institution.

President of Vwang Development Association (VDA), Jonah Gworu, at a press briefing in Jos, said the community had donated land worth N1.5 billion besides computers and cement for the building of the institution. He expressed dismay that Chairman of the Governing Council, Ochapa Onazi, and Vice Chancellor, Nanven Gambo, were plotting to drop Kim as registrar against the wish of the COCIN proprietor.

The community described a visit by the pro-chancellor and Council of the University to the Governor led by Prof. Ochapa Onazi is a ploy by the government to take over the running of affairs of the university through the backdoor.

The Nation reports that Karl Kumm University established in Jos South LGA by the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), was shut down shortly after it got its operational license in 2021 due to misunderstanding with the host community over the appointment of a Registrar for the institution in line with an MOU signed with them.

Since then, the new university has remained under lock and key without any academic activities while its operational licence has been withdrawn by the NUC.

During the pro-chancellor’s visit to the Governor last week, Lalong had pledged. to intervene in the matter and directed the Commissioner for Higher Education and the Head of Service to immediately engage all stakeholders in resolving the misunderstanding that led to the suspension of the licence of the university .

But the host community, however, rejected the governor’s intervention, describing it as an invitation to disaster.

They alleged that the confusion that led to its closure by the National Universities Commission started when some people complained about the alleged dominance by persons of Berom extraction and sought to review the appointment of Kim.

“The KKU proprietor should immediately assume effective possession of its property. We advise COCIN to immediately set the machinery in motion for the review of the statues of the KKU in line with the global best practices. The proprietor should continue with the process it has started with the host community towards resolving the impasse.

“The entire land on which the Karl Kumm University is developed, valued at N1.4 billion was donated by the host community. Another expanse of land, also donated for future development and expansion of the university is waiting.”

“So far, of the N3.8 billion spent in the infrastructure development of Karl Kumm University, the land donated by the host community accounts for 36.8 percent. This does not include other contributions like trailer loads of cement, computer sets and other items.”

The Community further insist on strict adherence to established channels of communication by all appointees of the institution, especially heads of unit, BoT, Governing Council and the vice Chancellor, noting that the church should assume responsibility and address issues at stake as they have no MoU with Prof. Elias Bogoro, Onazi or the Plateau State Government.

Members of the National Youth Service Corps, Medical/ Health Team and Red Cross Community Development Service, CDS, operating in Katsina have dewormed 700 Almajiries resident in Rafukka Community in Katsina Local Government Area, as part of their sensitisation programme on Intestinal Worm Infestation and Mass Deworming exercises.

The Mass Deworming exercise also witnessed massive turnout of the members of the community led by the ward’s head, Alhaji Salisu Sani.

The Nation also confirmed at the event that apart from deworming the Almajiries, relief materials such as detergents, foot wears, clothing, and plastic buckets were also distributed by the corps members.

Speaking at the event, the President of the NYSC group, Abubakar Usman Dauda KT/21A/1403 and his Deputy Samuel Esther KT/21A/0654 disclosed that they decided to carry out the exercise in that community as part of their Community Development Service to assist the people and the children and educate them on the importance of hygiene and good health practices

The Coordinator NYSC Katsina State, Alhaji Ahidjo Yahaya, represented by the Assistant Head of Community Development Service (CDS), Alhaji Suleiman Sumaila, commended the corps members for the initiative and appealed to the communities to always encourage corps members to carry out projects that would benefit the community.

Ward Head of the community, Alhaji Salisu Sani appreciated the Corps members for selecting the community for such a viable project.

Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State has slammed a N10 billion lawsuit against two FCT Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) leaders for alleged defamation of character.

The governor also demanded that the reporters tender a written apology and publish same in eight national dailies within the next one week.

Findings by The Nation revealed that Masari’s suit was not unconnected with a press statement issued on January 2, by two journalists: Emmanuel Ogbeche and Ochaika Ugwu, Chairman and Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, respectively.

In their statement, the reporters had accused Masari of ordering security operatives to arrest another reporter, Nelson Omonu who works with the Summit Post Newspaper, Abuja.

They alleged that Masari ordered the arrest over an allegation of character defamation by Nelson, and whisked him away in ‘commando style’ to Katsina.

Recall also that the two journalists had since issued another statement some hours after the first one, where they apologised for mistaking Masari for another person who had ordered the reporters arrest.

However, the Governor through his lawyer, E.O Obunadike, said the apology was inadequate, even as he demanded for N10 billion in damages and an apology in eight national dailies.

Masari’s lawyer said, “The first press statement had in no small measure, blisteringly defamed, injured the character and hard earned reputation of our client which was painstakingly built and nurtured over decades, thereby exposing him to a lot of embarrassment, public ridicule and condemnation.”

The Lawyer further threatened that his client would take legitimate steps in accordance with the provisions of the law towards initiating criminal and civil proceedings should the reporters refuse to respond within seven days.

The legislator representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju/ Kajola/Iwajowa Federal Constituency of Oyo State at the House of Representatives, Honorable Shina Abiola Peller, has said that for peace to reign in Nigeria, a president from Southern extraction should be elected in the 2023 general elections.

According to Peller, the unity and peace of the country should be put into consideration while electing a new leader for the country.

Peller stated this while fielding questions from newsmen after he held a closed-door meeting with former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida at his Uphill residence in Minna.

“The most important thing we need to think about is the peace of the nation at the moment. The Presidency should be in the South because it will aid in the promotion of peace.

“For you to promote peace in the country, you should be able to take the presidency to the South but if you do not want to promote peace, you can do otherwise. Right now, we should all put the unity and peace of Nigeria and Nigerians first.”

The Legislator said his visit to Minna is part of his Ayedero Peace Tour, which is his mandate as the Ayedero of Yorubaland (promoter of peace in the land), adding that the peace tour is necessary in the light of the forthcoming general election.

He then called on politicians to change their style of politics and allow the people to have their say while also urging the people to identify candidates who have criteria that can promote the unity and peace of the country.

Peller said the intention of the Peace Tour may be misconstrued to be a campaign to garner support for a Southern Presidential candidate, but said whoever wants to read meaning to it.

“We are in the campaign year and there have already been insecurity in the nation; the level of insecurity is bound to escalate, so we must be able to take practical steps to ensure peace is maintained in Nigeria.”

He said the Peace Tour will go round the six geo-political zones of the country, “especially places hit by insecurity and banditry. Niger State is the first state that we are coming to and we hope to ensure there is peace in the country.”

He explained that General Babangida has given his support for the Peace Tour and had tasked him to ensure that the youths do not allow themselves to be used as tools for destruction during the campaigns and elections.

After leaving the Uphill residence of General Babangida, Peller and his entourage which include the Ayedero council of traditional rulers proceeded to the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Farouk Bahago’s palace where they were well received by the Emir.

Operatives of the Nigeria Police in Adamawa State have killed two suspected kidnappers in a gun duel.

The policemen, who worked with local hunters in Ganye Local Government Area of the state, rescued a man and young women who were abducted by the neutralised suspects.

Authorities at the Police Command headquarters in Yola said in a statement Saturday, that operatives attached to the Ganye Police Division in Ganye LGA and the hunters also recovered two fabricated rifles, chains, padlocks, charms and N72,000 cash from the suspects.

Spokesman of the Command, DSP Suleiman Nguroje, who signed the statement, named the two rescued victims as Abdullahi Buba, 60, and Halima Ishaku, 20.

The police spokesman said the two who are of Sulti luga Ibi village, Sugu District, Ganye LGA, were abducted on the 19th of this month.

“The operation was carried out on the 21st January, 2022, at Shiga da Niya Hill situated at a remote side of Gangtum village in Ganye LGA,” Nguroje stated.

He added that the joint effort disconnected the criminal network linking part of Gangtum District and Ganye.

“The breakthrough followed cases bordering on kidnapping, armed robbery, cattle rustling, unlawful possession of firearms, among others,” he explained.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Barde, commended the Ganye DPO and his men and hunters for their gallant performance and charged other DPOs to rise to challenges in their respective areas of operation.