Category: Northern Reports

In a bid to curb the level of insecurity in the state, the Sokoto State Government has imposed a ban on vigilante groups operating across the state.

The government advised citizens desirous of contributing to the fight against criminals to join legitimately constituted vigilante groups that would operate under the supervision and direction of the state police command and other security outfits in the state.

This was disclosed by Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal at the signing into law of the  Yan Sa Kai (Self-styled Vanguards) (Prohibition] Order 2021” at a stakeholders’ security meeting held at the Sultan Maccido Institute for Qur’anic and General Studies, Sokoto.

The step, according to the governor, was to further the drive towards curbing the proliferation of banditry and sundry crimes bedevilling the state, especially the eastern flank and other parts of Sokoto State.

Prior to the signing of the law, Tambuwal said the meeting was convened “to see how best we could support the vigilante groups in Sokoto.

“We know the history of banditry and what happened in Zamfara and the role of Yan Sa Kai, which they are still playing in Zamfara State; and how that exacerbated the security situation in Zamfara State.

The order while outlawing “the organisation, operation, and activities of Yan Sa Kai,” stipulates that any contravention shall be “punished in accordance with the provisions of the Penal Code Law 2019.”

Consequently, any offender that contravened Section 4 (a, b, c and d) shall be guilty and liable on conviction to a fine of N500, 000 or imprisonment for a term of 14 years or both.

Section five also provides that “any person who, while in public, has with him offensive weapons or missiles, otherwise than in pursuance of lawful authority, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of N200, 000 or imprisonment for a term of seven years or to both such fine and imprisonment.”

Also, the Sokoto State House of Assembly yesterday approved the state government’s request for 3rd Quarter Capital and Recurrent Virement Warrant in the 2021 budget worth N3.27 billion.

This followed a motion by Alhaji Bello Ambarura, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Leader of the Assembly after the consideration of a letter addressed to the Speaker, Alhaji Aminu Achida by Governor Aminu Tambuwal.

Ambarura said the request was necessitated by the administration’s desire to address a number of shortfalls.

Labana Rice Mills Kebbi State has concluded an arrangement with the Benin Republic to commence large-scale production of parboiled rice in the country.

The General Manager of the company, Alhaji Abdullahi Idris Zuru, confirmed this in a statement to reporters in Birnin-Kebbi, headquarters of the rice mills.

He said: “Arrangements have been concluded for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Labana Rice Mills and the Government of the Republic of Benin for large-scale rice production.”

Zuru explained that the Benin Republic Government’s acceptance of the partnership with the Nigerian company in agribusiness was conveyed to the Chairman of Labana Rice Mills through a letter signed by Mr Alfred Sourou Akossoun on behalf of the Ambassador of Benin Republic in Nigeria.

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The letter stated: “Benin Republic Authorities have graciously granted your request for the establishment of a partnership for rice cultivation in the Republic of Benin.”

Zuru noted that “at the end, the leader of the delegation Senator (Deputee) Issa Saley Salifou expressed satisfaction with the capacity of the rice mills and quality of its products as well as the quality and capacity of the machinery being used at Labana Farms, stressing that the partnership  will be beneficial to the two countries.

He added that the Government of Benin Republic is expected to provide a substantial number of hectares of land for Labana for the cultivation of rice for Labana Rice Mills whose annual paddy requirement will hit 300,000 metric tons.

Kogi State House of Assembly has opened 2022 budget defence by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) with advice for them to ensure equity, accountability and transparency to transform Kogi in all sectors.

Mr Aderonke Aro (APC-Yagba East) who declared the defences open yesterday in Lokoja said the exercise was part of the constitutional mandate of the Assembly to scrutinise official spending in government institutions.

Aro expressed optimism that the exercise would enable the emergence of an implementable budget with adequate provisions for various sectors, capable of transforming and making the state a better place.

Defending the budget of the Government House Administration, Mrs Stella Ayodele, Director of Administration and Finance (DAF), said new projects were not captured in the 2022 budget as the focus was on the completion of ongoing ones.

Ayodele, in her submission before the House Standing Committee on Protocol, Privileges, said the Government House was not a revenue-generating agency.

Muktar Bajeh (APC-Okehi), Chief Whip and Chairman, House Committee on Government House Administration, called for better performance in the 2022 fiscal year.

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Governor Yahaya Bello, on October 28, presented an Appropriation Bill of N145.89 billion tagged “Budget of Accelerated Results” to the Assembly for scrutiny and approval.

Also, the Kogi State House of Assembly has suspended the Chairman of Okene Local Government Area Abdulrazak Muhammed Yusuf, with immediate effect over alleged undue arrest, intimidation and torture of those indigenous to the area.

The suspension followed the adoption of a letter from the Executive read on the floor of the House yesterday in Lokoja, alleging abuse of power on the part of the chairman.

According to the letter, the allegation was contained in the report from the Department of State Security Services (DSS) to Governor Yahaya Bello.

The report alleged that the suspended chairman used his position to carry out undue arrest, intimidation and torture of people perceived to be against his Oziogu Clan and faith.

Prince Kolawole directed the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to carry out an independent investigation and report back to the House.

Kolawole said the council chairman would remain suspended until investigations by the DSS and the House Committee were concluded.

The Speaker also directed the Vice-Chairman of the council to take over the affairs of the council with immediate effect.

The House had, on August 25, suspended the Chairman of Kogi Koton-Karfe Local Government Abdulkareem Isah Sanni over alleged criminal activities preferred against him by the DSS.

Kolawole, who read the DSS report on the floor of the House had said the suspension was to enable the security agencies to carry out their investigations without hindrances.

Ajima Hama Danyaya, first wife of the Emir of Ningi, Alhaji Yunusa Danyaya, is dead.

According to a statement by the Ningi Emirate Council, made available to reporters yesterday, she died on Monday at the age of 85.

“Innalillahi Wa Inna Ilaihim Rajiun! This is to announce the death of Hajima Hama Yunusa Danyaya, the wife of His Royal Highness, the Emir of Ningi, Alhaji (Dr.) Muhammad Yunusa Danyaya.

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“She died on Monday afternoon at the age of 85. She got married to His Royal Highness in 1952. She was the first wife of His Royal Highness and was also his cousin.

“She left behind eight children, five males and three females, among them, are the Chiroman Ningi, Alhaji Haruna Yunusa and the Damburam Ningi, Alhaji Yusuf Yunusa,” the statement read.

Women rights advocacy groups have suggested ways to curb the rising spate of sexual violence against the female gender in the various Internally Displaced People’s (IDP) camps across the country.

The suggestion formed part of the resolutions contained in a communique issued at the end of the second annual national women’s conference held in Abuja between November 24 and 25 this year.

“To address sexual violence ‘food for sex’ in IDP camps, more women must be involved in the sharing of food at IDP camps to address this ugly situation,” the conference, attended by about 320 participants from across the country, said.

The conference demanded that more research on gender-based violence (GBV), peace and security across the country to determine the context of the issues and their solutions and to provide statistics.

It was resolved that, to lift women out of poverty, women themselves must take on the task by empowering girls and women, taking up leadership and political roles; and synergising with men and stakeholders.

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“More organisations should be supported to embark on awareness and sensitisation, total empowerment and interventions for inclusion in order to improve the lives of women and girls.

The conference’s spokesperson and a member of one of the participating groups, the Nigeria Feminist Forum (NFF), Angela Nkwo explained that the conference was an offshoot of the Women Voices and Leadership-Nigeria (WVL) project which targets women’s rights organisations across Nigeria, a project supported by ActionAid Nigeria and funded by Global Affairs Canada.

“This year’s conference tagged: ‘Women Peace and Security, Perspective on Inclusion, Issues and Progress,’ addressed the surge of insecurity and crime across the country, insurgency, with its attendant effect of loss of human lives, especially women and girls and wanton destruction of property.

“The conference has different papers delivered by different speakers in different sessions and discussed issues ranging from security, migration and effects, female political participation, inclusion in leadership spaces, violence, movement building, social justice, gender equality and equality, resourcing/financing the women peace and security agenda/movement-building, and women development,” Nkwo said.