The Nation Newspaper

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  • Sultan urges prayers

    Sultan urges prayers

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged intending pilgrims to pray for peace and unity of the country while in the holy land.

    He made the call in Sokoto at the beginning of training for Hajj officials from the 23 local government areas of the state.

    The training was organised by the Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko Foundation and the Islamic Development Forum, Sokoto State chapter.

    According to the Sultan: “They should also pray for themselves and the socio -economic prosperity of Nigeria.

    “Nigeria belongs to all of us and we should fervently pray for sustainable peace and unity.”

    Abubakar, who was represented by Alhaji Abdullahi Ahmed, said that Hajj was an important pillar of Islam which required those embarking on it to be knowledgeable of the rites.

    Alhaji Mukhtari Shagari, the state deputy governor said that the state government was fully committed to ensuring the success of this year’s Hajj.

    Shagari, who is also the leader of the state’s delegation for the 2012 Hajj, appealed to the intending pilgrims to be law abiding and protect the integrity of the state and Nigeria while in the holy land.

  • Council improves market

    Council improves market

    The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State, Hon. Idris Babatunde Lapade, in his efforts to ensure healthy environment, has commissioned eight public toilets and four boreholes in the four major markets in the area.
    The inauguration and handover of the facilities to market users took place at Gbaremu, Bodija, Sango and Moloka markets respectively.
    The facility include: two blocks of pubic toilets with three conveniences, two tap water pools and a borehole each at the market The council chief who was accompanied by his secretary, Mr. Adamu Bello, members of his committee, ACN chairman in the local government Alhaji  Akibu Animasahun while commissioning the projects, urged the benefited markets to make use of the facilities as he charged them to use them well,  saying there will be effective monitoring to ensure  maintenance
    He said the motive behind the provision  of the toilets  and  markets is to meet the demand of stakeholders who have been urging the council to ensure healthy environment in the market.
    The council boss, therefore, urged residentts   of the state to support the governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi,  in his quest to rebuild the  the state and meet the desires of all and sundry.
  • Abdulfatah lays foundation for world-class skill Centre

    Abdulfatah lays foundation for world-class skill Centre

    Kwara State Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed has laid the foundation of one of the best vocational centres in the country.
    The centre, located in Ajase-Ipo, Irepodun Local Government Area of the state, is expected to train youths that would be marketable and employable within and outside the country.
    Also, graduates of the centre would assist the government in addressing the current gap in the building industry for competent and trained artisans, the governor said.
    Ahmed explained that his administration placed high premium on youth empowerment through job creation because of the recognition that youths constitutes 70 per cent of the state population and “are significant agents of positive change, if properly harnessed. Any serious effort to transform the lives of our people must therefore incorporate youth economic empowerment.”
    He emphasised that the education reform agenda embarked upon by his predecessor, Senator Bukola Saraki was still on course, pledging to continue to use education to add value to the lives of the youths and unemployed graduates in the state by turning them into job creators rather than job seekers.
    He said this would be vigorously pursued through his government’s numerous human capital development strategies.
    The governor added: “I am therefore pleased to be part of history today as we take another firm step towards transforming our youths into successful economic actors with the foundation-laying of the international vocational centre.
    “Today’s ceremony testifies to my administration’s strong resolve to create a new generation of highly-employable artisans and prosperous youth entrepreneurs through the provision of market-relevant skills under our Shared prosperity programme.
    “At the end of the training period, successful students will be awarded globally-recognised certificates and diplomas moderated by the London-based City and Guilds. Towards this end, curriculum for the centre has been structured to address the need to meet not only international standards but also industry and business needs.”
    Ahmed added that the state government had brokered job opportunities for about 10,000 Kwarans from the federal government.
    He said that the state had also provided jobs for not less than 2000 youth as wells as absorbed 1,430 into its civil service.
    Earlier, the state Education and Human Capital Development Commissioner, Alhaji Saka Onimago said the foundation-laying today “is not just for the vocation center, but also for a better and improved Kwara.
    “This is where our youths will acquire skills to be self-reliant, independent and be supportive in moving the state forward. They will not only be employable but marketable anywhere in the world. Graduates of international vocational centre will be adequately equipped to compete with their counterparts in Korea, China and other developed countries of the world. This is in line with your vision of shared prosperity.
    Onimago added that: “The world as a global village is electronically driven. Our mechanics, artisans and technicians have to adopt more techniques and training if they want to remain relevant within this dynamic world. This is what international vocational centre is all about.
    “The policy thrust is also targeted at the existing vocational centres to improve on their training procedures so that competent skilled artisans whose services will be desired anywhere in the world can be produced. The state is prepared to reduce unemployment of our youths. This government does not want our youths to be instruments of violence and other social vices. This administration is doing all within its capacity to support our youth to be gainfully employed.”
    In a remark, the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, Oba Sikiru Atanda who spoke through one of the elders of the town, Rasak Alabi said when the centre becomes fully operation it impact positively on the commercial and social lives of the people of the community.
    Oba Atanda added that “more jobs will be created and more accommodation will be required and of course, new settlement will spring up around this axis to accommodate the attendant rise in population.”
    He added that hitherto, many had doubted the sincerity of government on the project, adding that “cynics had field day telling those who cared to listen that it was just one of those political promises which government has no intention to fulfil. Our anxiety was growing by the day.
    “However, our gathering here today has at last demonstrated once again that this administration which is a continuity of the previous one is one that keeps its promises one made.”
  • Church holds programme

    Church holds programme

    The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Mercy Sanctuary Parish, is to hold a three-day programme with the theme: You shall be free. It will begin on September 26 and end on September 28. For September 26 and 27, the programme will hold from 6.30pm to 8.00pm but will run as Praise Night on September 28, from 10pm till dawn.

    The venue is 36, Owulade Avenue Irawo Bus-Stop, Ajegunle, Agboyi/Ketu LCDA, Ikorodu, Lagos State.

    Speaking with the host, Pastor Rotimi Akintan, he said: “It is our season of Jubilee. Anyone who attends will receive salvation. He or she will be free from sorrow, indebtedness, spiritual bondage among others.

    Ministers expected at the event include: Pastor Femi Okuneye, Pastor Akin George with song ministration from such artistes as Mercy Voice and The Godwins.

  • NGO to walk for child cancer

    NGO to walk for child cancer

    To create awareness of children suffering from cancer, a non-governmental organisation, Children Living With Cancer Foundation (CLWCF), is planning a three kilometre walkathon on Saturday, September 22.
    The walkathon starts by 7:00am at the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital and proceeds to National Stadium, Surulere and back to LUTH.
    Highlighting the plight of some cases she has handled in the past, CLWCF founder, Dr. Nneka Nwobbi said, “most of the children die, not from cancer itself but from the lack of support system.”
    Apart from creating awareness of children having cancer, the NGO aims to uses the Walkathon as avenue to raise about ten million naira, to buy a 12-bag cold centrifuge for the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba.
    The cold centrifuge is a machine which separates the different components of blood and is particularly useful in the cur of cancer patients who particularly require specific blood components.
    CLWCF over the years have been caring for children afflicted with different kinds of cancer as well as their families. Participants in the walkathon are expected to register with five thousand naira at 23, Olatunde Ayoola Street, Anthony Village, Lagos or online via www.clwcf.
  • Youths urge Jonathan to fulfil jobs promise

    Youths urge Jonathan to fulfil jobs promise

    A group, Great Nation Global Youth Organisation (GNGYO), has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to fulfill his campaign promise of proving three million jobs for youths as part of the transformation agenda.
    It urged unemployed youths to acquire skills to earn a living, to shun violence and to work towards strengthening the country’s unity.
    In a communiqué issued at after its national working committee meeting, signed by the President, Charles Omini; National Secretary, Mohammed Tukar and National Organising Secretary Kingsley Udoh, the group said more jobs are needed to alleviate the suffering of the Nigerian masses.
    The group sued for peace, urging religious leaders to promote peace and non-violence among their members, and parents to be good examples and leave worthy legacies to their children.
    Omini praised the President for compelling his cabinet members to sign a performance agreement, saying it would help speed up the country’s transformation.
    He said GNGYO was ready to partner the Federal Government in all areas of the economy, especially security and job creation in order to boost the living standard of Nigerian youths.
  • Group hails Elechi’s performance

    Group hails Elechi’s performance

    THE farmers are having a great time. When you buy one fertilizer, you get two free. People are being empowered. Youths are being encouraged to go to Songhai to study agriculture, and when they come back, each man gets N4m to set up his own farm and become an employer of labour. He has done very well.”
    That was how Chief John Williams Nwode, chairman of the Platform of Peace Organisation, a group based in Ebonyi State, described the administration of Governor Martin Elechi.
    The impact of the administration is said to be felt in diverse areas of the state, as it should be. Infratructure is renewed, roads are built, communities without electricity are lit up, hospitals are being revived and restocked, among other things.
    The secretary of the organisation, Chief Nkama Nkama Ude, also had similar words to describe the Elechi administration.
    The group was responding to a news magazine report that the administration was not doing anything.
    “A particular news magazine ran a story portraying our governor, Chief Martin Elechi, as a non-performer. We wish to tell members of the public that there is no truth in that mischievous publication.”
    Ude, who is also the secretary of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in the state, said the report was not balanced.
    “In one breath, [the writer] says the governor has not done anything since he came to power. In another breath, he says Governor Elechi is doing all the projects in the rural areas. Then he reels out some of the projects the governor is doing in Abakaliki, but claims the projects have no impact on the lives of the people. It makes little sense.”
    But, Ude asked, “is it not obvious that rural roads are very important in a state like Ebonyi where the bulk of the people are farmers living in the rural areas? So how do they get their produce to Abakaliki and other towns if the roads in the rural areas are bad? Does it make sense?”
    The state ALGON chief also spoke on projects carried out in Abakiliki, the state capital. He said some of these projects have bee completed while others are still ongoing. He said the magnificent Staff Development Centre was done by the present governor, amidst other projects.
    “The Ochudo city that is being built is aimed at transforming the state capital. And the international market is going to provide jobs for the people. This man is building over 34 bridges across the state, and 32 of them have been completed.  Ebonyi receives the least allocation in the country, but Governor Elechi has just awarded the sum of N2.6 billion contract for the construction, rehabilitation and equipping of 13 general hospitals across the state to improve healthcare delivery at the grassroots. The governor has worked very hard in the area of healthcare delivery. This state has remained polio free since 2009.”
    Apart from electricity provided in sundry communities, teh administration has also introduced the boarding system in schools.
     “Right now, there are 26 standard, functional boarding schools that are being subsidised by the government. The local governments are doing very well. The Nigerian Union of Journalists even held an award for outstanding council bosses recently. The cement industry that was sold off before he became governor, [Elechi] struggled to retrieve. The hatchery that is no longer working was a drainpipe. People were just using it to milk the state and were making private money from it, and  needed to be stopped.”
    Ude said the government is building two water projects in the state, among which is the Oferekpe mega-scheme.
    “When completed, these water schemes can supply water to the whole state. The Ebonyi State Ultra-modern International Market which occupies  48 hectares of land has 5,300 stalls, fire service, police station and banks, is 55 per cent completed. The government is also dualising the Enugu-Abakaliki Road starting from the NNPC Mega Station to Ogoja Road.”
    He named some finished projects, among which are roads, bridges at Edda, Idembia Ezza and Ebyia. There is also the Ebonyi Pilot Schools project involving the building and rehabilitation of 30 secondary schools in the state. There is a Cancer Screening Centre in Abakaliki, the ultra-modern Staff Development Centre, aamong others, built by the Elechi administration.
  • Senate, House to CBN: don’t print N5000 note

    Senate, House to CBN: don’t print N5000 note

    Lawmakers will urge Jonathan to stop Sanusi

     

    AFTER a brief lull, the N5,000 banknote row resurfaced yesterday.

    Senators were angry with Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s insistence on introducing the N5000 banknote.

    They unanimously vowed to stop the CBN from re-denominating and issuing N5000 note.

    It was their first sitting after a long break.

    The lawmakers resolved “to urge President Goodluck Jonathan and the CBN to stop issuance of N5000 note and all issues connected therewith”.

    This followed the unanimous adoption of a motion entitled “Introduction of N5000 notes by the CBN”.

    The motion, sponsored by Rules and Business Committee chair Senator Ita Enang (Akwa Ibom North East) saw Senators express anger over what they described as exhibition of “arrogance, high handedness and claim of monopoly of knowledge” by Sanusi

    Senate President David Mark noted that it was obvious that the argument for the introduction of N5000 “is not convincing”. “The disadvantages of the N5000 note, at the moment, far outweigh not introducing it and, on balance, we should not go for it,” he said.

    Mark said: “I also heard it from the news the way you heard it. I was not briefed. The only briefing I had about this issue was in the national dailies.

    “The important thing is that if Nigerians say they don’t want a particular policy at any given moment, there is no harm in government retracing their stand on the issue and I think that is the situation that we find ourselves.

    “I have listened to the arguments from those who support it, but those arguments are simply not convincing.

    “They appear to me to be highly theoretical and technical in nature and they do not address any practical issue on ground.

    “Any policy that does not address issues directly but just talking about indices we cannot verify for now should wait.

    “We have not reached that level where we are just talking of hypothetical cases all the time.

    “I think the disadvantages of the N5000 notes at the moment far outweigh not introducing it and on balance, we should not go for it.

    “And also, from the contributions on the floor, we are all in support of the fact that the timing is wrong and the policy is unnecessary at the moment and the arguments being advanced is not convincing and there is no urgent need for it to take place now.

    “There is no ambiguity on our stand on the issue. I am not sure that Sanusi is aware of the Constitution. If he was, he would make reference to us before addressing the issue.”

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu noted that though he may not be an economist, he understood the implications of the controversial fiscal policy.

    Ekweremadu said on the basis of sovereignty, Nigerians have spoken through their representatives, “it is in the interest of the government to listen and withdraw from this course they are pursuing”.

    Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba (Cross River Central), who seconded the motion described it as timely.

    Ndoma-Egba noted that in a democracy, nobody should claim a monopoly of knowledge or wisdom.

    According to him, monopoly of knowledge and wisdom is strange to democracy and “even if the policy were to be for the good of the people and they say they don’t want it, it is their right to reject something that is even good for them”.

    “This is one moment that our policy makers must listen to every Nigerian, even those in the street, Ndoma-Egba said, adding:

    “In this case, I am not an economist and I don’t pretend to be one, but former heads of state of this nation has spoken.

    “Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has spoken against this policy and, recently, the very respected Yakubu Gowon spoke against it.

    “They may not be economists, as has been alluded, but with their knowledge or lack of knowledge to manage the economy of this country for very many years, we must listen to them.”

    Ndoma-Egba said that Nigerians must reaffirm their commitment to the fight against corruption.

    He said, “We cannot in one breadth be saying we are committed to the fight and in the same breadth we make it convenient for people to move around with millions of Naira in their pockets. So, on those two points, because I believe that there are several other points against but with just these two, I support this motion and urge our other colleagues to support it.”

    Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi (Ekiti North) said that the debate of the planned redenomination of the naira is important because it has a lot of technical contents as well as emotional aspects.

    He added that the parliament must be able to distinguish between both and be seen to inform the public appropriately.

    He said, “There are about four platforms upon which this policy is predicated and over the period of the holiday, I had the privilege of doing extensive study to find out what really is the motive behind this policy, which has generated a lot of debate.  The very first one is the issue of dollarization.

    “A respected member of the Economic Management Team of Mr President had said and I quote, Mr. Atedo Peterside:

    “Money is a store of value and all these thieves and vagabonds running around the various states and all over the country, when they steal money, they will want to keep it outside the banking system.

    “So, they need higher denominational notes. Right now, they are using the $100 notes all over Nigeria because they are the best store of values for them.

    “If you give them a better store of value, they will move away from dollar and reduce the demands for American notes and move into our currency as opposed to the use of dollars to hide their loot.”

    “This was Atedo Peterside speaking to Nigerian media on the reason why Nigerians should support this policy of government and here we are as a legislature, part of the ruling class that is being referred to, that this note is meant for us to hide loot.

    “This is a serious issue. It is true that the US dollar and British Pounds is a store of value outside the United States and the United Kingdom.

    “You want to store your value in a currency that is stable and hard, not in naira.

    “We need to work naira to the level of reputation that other international currencies are enjoying now before we can position naira to store value locally.

    “We are also told that the equivalent of this N5000 naira is just about 30 dollars.”

    Senator Smart Adeyemi (Kogi West) described the planned fiscal policy as “ungodly, satanic, unconstitutional and uncalled for and does not make reasonable economic sense”.

    Adeyemi cautioned President Jonathan to be wary of some of his aides.

    He said Sanusi has turned out to be one of those misleading Jonathan.

    He said it is ungodly for Sanusi to attempt to divide Nigerians through the introduction of a currency that would be used by only a section of Nigerians.

    Finance Committee chair, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, said the statement by Sanusi that the N5000 is not for every Nigerian is a slight on Nigerians.

    He said that the CBN boss woke up and announced a major fiscal policy, thereby taking Nigerians for granted.

    Enang, in his lead debate, urged the Senate to note that on Thursday, the 23rd of August, 2012, the CBN announced the introduction of the 5000 Naira note as legal tender in Nigeria and the redenomination of the Naira.

    He said the Senate should consider the proposal as a direct negation of the cashless policy of the Jonathan administration, which discourages cash transaction in preference for electronic cashless transactions now in operation.

    He noted that the Senate should be aware that in cashless economies, such as Nigeria, high bills or currency notes, such as the proposed N5000, are not required as transactions are conducted from the payer to the payee’s accounts without any need for physical exchange or handling of cash by either of the parties.

    The Senate, he said, should be worried that the policy will create multiple economic problems, such as inflation, corruption and security challenges, and would erode the value of the nation’s currency and ruin the economy.

    Other Senators who supported the motion included Senators Abdul Ningi, Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, Isa Galadu, Atai Idoko, Bello Tukur, Mohammed Ali Ndume and Bassey Otu.

  • Atiku seeks law to prune President’s powers

    Atiku seeks law to prune President’s powers

    •Tinubu: INEC must be truly independent

     

    Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar stirred a fresh debate on the powers of the President yesterday.

    The National Assembly should prune the President’s powers as part of the review of the constitution, he said, because  with such excessive powers, the President can easily undermine any institution of the state.

    Former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must be made truly independent to guarantee free and fair polls.

    He advocated a unicameral legislature at the federal level, saying the Senate should be scrapped.

    It was all at the Annual Conference and Award Ceremony of the Leadership Newspaper Group in Abuja.

    Former Defence Minister Gen. Theophilus Danjuma was presented with the award of “Leadership man of the Year”.

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi was decorated as “Governor of the Year”, among other honours at the occasion.

    Atiku  said the President is constitutionally the most powerful president in the world. He recalled that he (Atiku) was a victim of the power when his former boss, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, exercised it. He insisted that “it must be changed”.

    The theme of the conference was: “Is the opposition a serious alternative in Nigeria?”

    Atiku recalled that former Vice President Alex Ekwueme canvassed the creation of geo-political zones. He should have supported Ekwueme had he known that the Nigerian federal structure would be as it is today, with  concentration of excessive power at the centre, Atiku said.

    The Nigerian judiciary, said Atiku, “is bloated and pro-establishment. He would like to see a judiciary that is the hope of the common man.

    The ex-Vice President also advised the National Assembly to pass laws for the adoption of a two-party political  system since the ruling party abhors strong opposition.

    He added that states that are ready for state police should be allowed to establish them.

    Atiku also lamented that there was unnecessary debates and pandemonium over states having their anthems and flags, which is commonplace in the United States.

    He urged Nigeria to desist from relying on sharing oil revenue, but to encourage revenue generation.

    The former Vice President urged the country to sustain the achievements of the forefathers that didn’t have oil revenue by adopting “a system of distribution rather than sharing.”

    On sharing of oil revenue, Atiku said: “I  don’t know of any country that developed from sharing.”

    He said he followed a debate whether the Niger Delta can survive, like Singapore, without oil, but he is of the opinion that all that is necessary is human capital and good governance for the oil-rich region to be as wealthy as Singapore.

    He insisted that he was not a product of oil boom as the scholarship did not come from oil revenue.

    National Leader of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Asiwaju Tinubu said to cut cost of governance, Nigeria should adopt a uni-camera legislature by scrapping the Senate.

    Tinubu said unless INEC is truly independent, it will always do the bidding of Mr. president, who appoints the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

    He said: “We gave INEC power and authority to act on our behalf, to be independent from government; why won’t we allow the buck to stop on the desk of the INEC chair? Why will INEC not be able to appoint those in the branches? why will they be appointed by the President who said they will rule for 60 years? How will we have a reliable system? We have struggled for power as opposition and we are ready to wrest power from them.”

    But Gen. Danjuma vehemently disagreed with those who complained of a concentration of power at the centre. He said the challenges in the country are not posed solely by the Federal Government but mostly by governors, “who pocket the State Assembly and dissolve local government councils.”

    According to Gen. Danjuma, governors of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have retained the right of nominating ministerial candidates.

    Pointing to Atiku, Gen. Danjuma said: “You cannot become the President of this country, unless the governors want you. So, the governors are too powerful and until we find solution to it, we are in trouble.”

    While condemning opposition parties for not posing a formidable challenge to the ruling party, Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima. He  was represented by the Secretary to the State Government,  Ambassador Ahmed Baba Jida.

    Former Minister of Power Paul Onongo warned the country of the impending danger of a break-up which he predicted would come in two years, unless the necessary steps are taken to rescue the country.

    “I can even see two years before the war signals. Talk to the bigmen who are enjoying life that they should start sleeping with one eye open.”

    Guest Speaker Prof. Pat Utomi argued that there are no political parties in Nigeria but “vehicles for getting own shares”.

    He said: “I try not to argue that there is no opposition parties in Nigeria, but all we have is for sharing of the national cake.”

    House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal said with good leadership, there is hope for the country.

    At the ceremony were Fayemi, Alhaji Maitama Sule, former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, ACN chairman Chief Bisi Akande, Gen. Jeremiah Useni, Minister of State for Power Darius Ishaku, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Senator Lawal Shaibu, Hon. Farouk Lawan, Ndudi Elumelu and others.

     

  • Gunmen kill commissioner in Borno

    Gunmen kill commissioner in Borno

    •Council chair shot dead in Adamawa

     

    Fundamentalist sect Boko Haram yesterday intensified its killing spree, which started at the weekend.

    Two government officials were shot dead in Borno and Adamawa states.

    Former Comptroller  General of Prison Alhaji Ibrahim Jarma, shot on Monday by gunmen in front of a mosque in Azare, Bauchi State, died in the hospital yesterday.

    But the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Kano unveiled the arms and ammunition it claimed to have recovered from the sect’s members.

    It also shed more light on its raid on the sect, which led to the killing of a top shot and the arrest of two others.

    The Borno State Justice Ministry yesterday confirmed the killing of Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General Zanna Malam Gana.

    Gana was shot dead in his home town of Bama.

    On Monday, security sources said the JTF killed Abu Qaqa,  the sect’s spokesman and arrested two other senior members.

    There has been no response from the sect on the claim.

    Gunmen on Monday night shot dead the acting Chairman of Maiha Local Government Council of Adamawa State, Lawan Datti.

    Some residents of Kochifa Ward in Mubi town, where the incident took place, said the deceased was shot around 8p.m in his home, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

    “It is a very sad incident. We buried him this (Tuesday) afternoon,” said one of his neighbours, who preferred anonymity.

    Adamawa police spokesman Mohammed Ibrahim confirmed the incident, but gave no details.

    “All I can tell you for now is that the incident took place on Monday night,” he said.

    Kano JTF Spokesman , Lt. Ikedichi Iweha said a planned attack by the terrorist group was foiled.

    In a statement, he said the attack was planned to wreak havoc on Kano people.

    “It has equally further depleted the capacity of the terrorist group to operate. The JTF would like to use this medium to reiterate its resolve to continue to work assiduously towards the protection of lives and property in the state. “

    “The relative peace, which Kano enjoys today, can be attributed to the collective effort and prayers of the good people of Kano State. The JTF continues to count on you for the provision of information as it assures you of the utmost confidentiality in dealing with such information.”

    “Residents are therefore enjoined to go about their normal lawful business activities without any fear, as security agents are ready and will respond swiftly to any threat to life and property in any part of the state.”

    Items recovered during the gun battle with the terrorists  at their heavily wired IED hideout, include: Two  AK-47 rifles, two Pump Action rifles, one Berretta rifle, one smoke discharger, 433 rounds of 7.62 Nato ammunition, 80 rounds of 7.62 special ammunition and 2 AK-47 magazines.

    Others are: 36 prepared IEDs, 13 laptops, two motorcycles, four printers, one photocopier, one 33 slots Zenith disc writer, one TG 3900Ez generator set, religious books, large quantity of CD plates, two decoders, two satellite dish, one 21’’ television set, one DVD player, two bags of Urea fertilizer, one elite dry cell 12v battery, one blue gate UPS, One stabiliser, 10 hand held Motorola radios and five battery chargers.

    Jarma died yesterday afternoon at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi (ATBUTH), Bauchi while receiving treatment as a result of injuries he sustained from the gunshots.

    The former prisons boss was shot near his house in Azare headquarters of Katagum Local Government area of Bauchi state by unknown gunmen as he was coming out from the mosque after observing the Ishai prayer.

    The gunmen also killed one of his security guards, a prison warder and injured one when they opened fire at the security guards in Azare.

    Chief Medical Director of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Dr Mohammed Alkali confirmed the death of Alhaji Jarma in a telephone interview with reporters.

    Alkali said that the former Comptroller General of Prisons was transferred to ATBUTH from Federal medical centre Azare on Monday night but died while receiving treatment yesterday afternoon.

    Jarma, who retired from the service as Comptroller General of Prison in 2002, contested the governorship election in 2003 on the platform of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) against Former Governor Adamu Mu’azu.

    Holder of the traditional title of the Jarman Katagum, the former Prisons boss  was educated at the famous Barewa College, Zaria, Kaduna State, was at the wedding of the governor Isa Yuguda’s son held at the Emir of Katagum’s Palace  a fortnight ago and was part of the marriage process.