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Tag: Adamawa

  • 11 die, 47 injured as vehicles crash into Easter procession in Gombe, Adamawa

    NINE persons were confirmed dead and 47 others injured yesterday as vehicles crashed into religious processions in Gombe and Adamawa states.

    In Gombe, an operative of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) rammed his car into a procession of Christian youths on Sunday night, killing no fewer than eight of them and injuring 30.

    A commercial bus driver crashed into worshippers on their way to “Galilee”. Seventeen of them were injured.

    The youths, who were celebrating Easter, ran after the killer-NSCDC man and another occupant of his car. They were allegedly lynched.

    A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report said the incident happened in Alheri junction, Biu Road, Gombe State.

    The NSCDC official and his passenger, identified as a police officer, died from the beating.

    The chairman of the Gombe State Battalion Brigade of the Boys Brigade, Isaac Kwadang, told reporters that he received information about the incident around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday.

    Read also: Gunmen attack Adamawa community, kill 4

    He said: “The NSCDC officer, though not on official duty, met the procession, exchanged words with the youth, and drove past them. He allegedly switched off his car’s full lights, reversed the vehicle and rammed into the procession killing eight people on the spot.”

    Many of the victims were members of the Boys Brigade.

    Kwadang confirmed that the aggrieved youths chased the security officers, caught up with them and mobbed them to death.

    According to him, the youths were still being prevailed upon not to let peace reign.

    The Chief Medical Director of the Gombe State Specialist Hospital, Shuaibu Muazu, confirmed that some dead bodies were deposited in their facility.

    The Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Godwin Omuko, confirmed the incident to reporters.

    He said his men were among those who evacuated the bodies to the hospital.

    Elsewhere in Adamawa State, a commercial bus ran into worshippers yesterday. Seventeen people were injured.

    The bus ran into the worshippers in the Numan Local Government Area while celebrating the Easter Monday.

    The injured, many of them with bone fractures, were admitted into hospitals around Numan.

    Witnesses said the accident happened around 10am. They said the bus had been impounded and the driver arrested.

    One of the witnesses, Stanley Jaule, said the affected worshippers were marching towards a mountain which the locals call Galilee when the bus crashed into their procession from the rear.

    “While they were in Easter procession, a passenger bus just came from behind them and injured so many people, mostly women and children,” Jaule said.

    Reacting to the crash in Gombe, Acting Inspector-General IG Mohammed Adamu ordered a speedy and comprehensive investigation into the incident.

    A statement by Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), said the accident occurred on Gombe-Biu Road.

    The statement reads: “Eye-witness accounts reveal that the accident occurred as a result of loss of control of the vehicle by the driver while driving along Gadan Malale and heading towards central roundabout, and on reaching a point at Unguwan Waja, rammed into a procession of crowd, evidently celebrating Easter.

    “With assistance of the policemen from Gombe Division, the victims were immediately rushed to Gombe Specialist Hospital where the driver one Corp Assistant Adamu Abdullahi, a staff of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) attached to Government House, Gombe and 10 others were confirmed dead and their bodies deposited at the morgue while thirty (30) other persons injured are currently receiving treatment.

    “The Gombe Commissioner of Police visited the scene of the accident to have an on-the-spot assessment as well as the hospital to monitor the treatment of the victims.

    “The IGP, while condoling with the families and friends of the dead and the injured victim, has advised motorists to exercise utmost caution by obeying all traffic signs, rules and regulations while driving especially this festive period and beyond.”

  • Used tyres: SON intensifies surveillance in Adamawa

    The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) is intensifying its surveillance across markets in Adamawa, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    Mr Sunday Galadima, the state Coordinator of the organisation, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Yola that the exercise followed reports of influx of used tyres in the state.

    Galadima said the state office embarked on the surveillance to rid the state of the dangers of used or second hand tyres and other substandard goods.

    “We conducted enforcement where we seized most of substandard and used tyres.

    “In fact, during the operations we seized new expired tyres from some shops,” Galadima said.

    READ ALSO: Firm’s MD remanded for allegedly dealing in substandard engine oil

    He said the state office was collaborating with Nigeria Customs Service and other sister agencies to checkmate the influx of substandard goods into the state.

    On the number of substandard goods seized, he assured the record would be made public as soon as it was ready.

    He therefore urged the general public to report any suspicious product to the state office for verification.

  • Yola gangsters kill student, injure octogenarian, others

    A notorious gang of youths known in Adamawa State as Shilla Boys has killed a 24-year-old student and injured an octogenarian as well as some other people in three separate incidents around Jimeta, Yola, during the week.

    In Hospital road area, the Shilla Boys rounded up a Computer Science student of the Adamawa State Polytechnic, Emmanuel Hassan and beat him to death.

    The murder of Hassan, who was described as an easy going, hard- working young man who combined studies with work, has become a source of grief to his aged father and other relatives now in grieving at their Post Office area residence in Jimeta.

    Emmanuel’s elder sister, Lydia Hassan, who spoke to our correspondent on the incident on Friday, said the hoodlums surrounded Emmanuel at a famous joint Madam State and began to beat him.

    She said when Emmanuel struggled to climb over a nearby fence to the other side in a bid to escape, his attackers shouted ‘barawo, barawo’ in Hausa, meaning ‘thief, thief’, following which a crowd which had gathered, joined the Shilla Boys in subjecting the deceased to jungle justice.

    “We were told by those who witnessed the incident that Emmanuel’s terrified exclamations that he was not a thief fell on deaf ears and they punched him to death,” the sister said.

    Lydia said the family was not aware that Emmanuel had any issue that could warrant the ruthlessness of the Shilla Boys but she was sure Emmanuel did not have the mind or time to be a thief.

    “Emmanuel was always busy at school or at the Azuri club where he did part time work as a maintenance electrician. He had no time or need for criminal activities,” she said.

    At the Wauro-jabbe community in the same Jimeta in Yola North LGA, the Shilla Boys also abducted a minor, Kumaga Yohanna.

    They were reportedly on their way to the bush with him when they encountered a team of police and vigilante who rescued him after giving the armed youths a chase.

    At the Bachure area of Jimeta, the Shila Boys stabbed a woman, said to be in her 80s.

    It was gathered she had to be admitted in a hospital.

    A source said the boys had earlier carried out mass attack in a street in Bachure where they injured some people.

    They were said to have descended on the octogenarian when they could not get her son.

    The police confirmed the incidents but said 16 people had so far been arrested.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Othman Abubakar, assured the suspects will be treated in accordance to the dictates of the law.

  • UN calls for protection for women, men, children forced to relocate to Maiduguri

    Mr Edward Kallon, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, has called on Federal Government to protect up to 10,000 women, men and children who were forced to relocate to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno, from a town 40km.

    Kallon in a statement by Samantha Newport, Head of Communications, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), on Thursday in Maiduguri, the Nigerian military ordered the immediate departure of and relocation of up to 10,000 civilians in the middle of the night, without prior warning, from Jakana town.

    He said that the military transported the IDPs by bus or truck to Bakassi camp for internally displaced people.

    According to the military the civilians were relocated for security reasons ahead of planned operations in the area.

    “The entire town of Jakana was emptied, and people were forced to move to Maiduguri with very little time to collect personal belongings, some of them said they arrived in Maiduguri with nothing, not even with shoes on their feet.

    “The UN is urging the Government to urgently provide safety, shelter, food, water and medical care to the displaced civilians, in addition to information about when they will be allowed to return home,” Kallon said.

    The UN official also called on the government to adopt practical measures to ensure the protection of civilians and respect of the rights of individuals in accordance with its obligations under international humanitarian law; international human rights law and Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement.

    Kallon reiterated the commitments of the UN to provide humanitarian assistance to persons displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

  • Adamawa Election Tribunal begins sitting on 19 petitions

    The Adamawa Election Petitions Tribunal began sitting in Yola on Monday with a total of 19 petitions to deliberate on.

    The chairman of the three-member tribunal, Justice Suleiman Akanmbi, pledged at the inaugural sitting held at the High Court complex in Jimeta, that the tribunal would pursue expeditious deliberations and appealed to counsels to avoid ‘undue technicalities’ that could delay the process.

    “We solicit the cooperation of the members of the Bar, the media and the general public to join in ensuring fair and expeditious trial and conclusion of the great task ahead,” the tribunal chairman said.

    The 19 petitions which the tribunal has received so far, according to the Tribunal Secretary, Godwin Ezenwa, comprise two senatorial, seven House of Representatives, and 10 House of Assembly petitions.

    The two petitions challenging the outcome of the senatorial election were filed from Adamawa North and Adamawa South senatorial zones.

    Read Also: Adamawa election petition tribunal begins sitting Monday

    Incumbent Senator Binta Garba (Adamawa North) who is of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is challenging the election of Ishaku Cliff of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Ishaku winner of the Adamawa North senatorial election after he polled 79,337 votes against Binta’s 63,219 votes.

    The petitioner from Adamawa South Senatorial Zone, Mo’allayidi Ahmed, is also an incumbent senator who similarly lost to a fresher and PDP contender, Binos Dauda who polled 144,403 against Ahmed’s 118,209 votes.

  • We’ll reclaim stolen mandates in Sokoto, Adamawa, Bauchi-APC

    All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, has faulted the credibility of the recent governorship re-run elections in Bauchi, Sokoto, and Adamawa.

    Nabena alleged that the supplementary elections in the states fell short of the minimum standard.

    He made the observation on Thursday in Abuja while interacting with newsmen, stressing that APC would reclaim its stolen mandates through the election tribunal.

    “In Bauchi, Bala Mohammed was declared winner after a controversial re-run election, in Adamawa, Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the governorship election.

    Read Also: APC chieftain to Saraki, Dogara: steer clear of selection of National Assembly leaders

    “And in Sokoto State, the incumbent Aminu Tambuwal was declared winner with a contestable margin, “ he said.

    Nabena observed that the re-run elections in the states were not conducted in line with laid down rules and regulations of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He added that following a review of the governorship re-run election in Bauchi, Sokoto and Adamawa states, it was evident that the exercise was characterised by massive rigging, thuggery and vote buying.

    “It should be noted that while the APC has over two third of the members of the State House of Assembly in Bauchi and a clear majority in Sokoto State from the governorship election, the re-run was rigged and were conducted without regards to INEC laid down rules and regulations.

    “To this end, the outcome of these re-runs will be challenged at the election tribunals to reclaim our mandates given to us by the people in those states,“ Nabena said.

     

     

  • Fintiri’s election signifies new dawn in Adamawa, says Atiku

    The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has said that the election of Mr Ahmadu Fintiri as governor of Adamawa State is a dawn of a glorious new era for the state.

    The former Vice President expressed delight that the PDP came victorious in the governorship election in his home state, and that the decision of the vast majority of Nigerians to vote for the PDP signified that the party is truly a party of the people.

    In a statement Friday by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku said, “My home state of Adamawa has chosen the PDP to lead them. I am truly proud of this and let me assure you that you have chosen a leader with the zeal and determination to put Adamawa on the best path.

    Read Also: Atiku, PDP get tribunal’s nod to serve Buhari through APC

    “You have chosen a leader who appreciates Adamawa’s diversity and who will run an inclusive government for the betterment of all”.

    He congratulated governor-elect on his resounding victory at the polls, adding that Fintiri won the poll in spite of the various antics of the ruling party to frustrate the wishes of the people in the state.

    “Our people have stood with Governor-Elect Fintiri in the course of this election with an abiding commitment never to allow the power that be to rob them of their votes.

    “I congratulate you on your election, while I also hail our people for making the right decision to choose you as leader at this point in time. I am confident that the hope reposed in you is well placed and that your tenure will launch our state to greater heights”.

  • 7 reasons why Bindow lost Adamawa’s gov poll

    Adamawa Governor Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow finally fell to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Umaru Fintiri on Friday at the end of the supplementary poll.

    Bindow’s ouster was evident immediately after the March 9 election when Fintiri went ahead of him by 32,467 votes.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the election inconclusive only because Fintiri’s 32,467 margin of lead was smaller than the number of cancelled votes- 40,948.

    Fintri won at the 44 polling units in 14 LGAs where the supplementary poll held.

    While Fintiri got 9,081 in the rerun to raise his 367,471 in the main election to 375, 552, Bindow could only get 1,391 in the rerun to improve his 334,995 votes to 336,386.

    Here are seven main reasons why the sitting governor was defeated:

    1. Fintiri’s popularity: When Fintiri got the PDP governorship ticket last year, many also expected he could stage an upset. “I knew that Bindow would have a fight in his hands the instant Fintiri got the nomination of his party last year. Fintiri was PDP’s best choice if the mission was to defeat Bindow,” Andah Ibrahim, a political analyst, said.

    Fintiri achieved his popularity with Adamawa people when he rose from being Speaker of the House of Assembly to become acting governor in 2014 between when former Governor Murtala Nyako was impeached and Nyako’s deputy was made governor following a court process.

    In between the times, Fintiri reigned as acting governor for less than three months. But he acquainted himself as an action governor with a heart for workers’ welfare.

    A good number of his 375,000 votes in the just concluded election came from those who want a repeat performance of the ‘ATM governor’, as he became known.
    2. Atiku’s factor: Bindow was also undone by the presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2019 election, Atiku Abubakar, a son of the soil. His people who, in 1999, voted for him as Governor became he became Vice President resisted the otherwise strong wind that blow across the Northeast and Northwest based on President Muhammadu Buhari’s cult-like followership.

    Atiku polled 412, 266 to defeat President Muhammadu Buhari with 377,488 votes in Adamawa during the presidential race to prove he is really the son of the soil. At the governorship poll, it was only normal for Adamawa residents to sustain the trend.

    The Atiku factor in the presidential election appeared to have carried over to the governorship poll to add value to Fintiri’s quest. Bindow’s fallout with Atiku when the latter defected to the PDP also didn’t help matters at all.
    3. PDP’s strong presence: The PDP has always been in power in Adamawa since 1999 until Bindow became governor during the Buhari tsunami that swept through the north-east. Incidentally, the governor and Atiku were in the same party in 2015.

    But since they fell apart, Bindow became disadvantaged. Despite being out of power for four years, the PDP always remained a strong party across the state.

    4. APC’s rancorous primaries: Another factor that worked against Bindow outside his own making has been the internal wrangling within his party. One form of conflict or the other might have existed within the APC but the most telling conflict erupted late last year around the question of who was to bear its flag in the 2019 governorship election.

    Three aspirants were to battle for the party’s ticket in the primary of the party in October. The primary election came and went so it appeared but Bindow was declared winner. He was the only one of the three contenders who agreed that the primary election was duly conducted.

    Ahmed Halilu, better known as Modi, a brother- in- law to

  • Let’s run Adamawa together, Fintiri tells Bindow, others

    The Adamawa State Governor-elect, Rt Hon Umaru Fintiri, has appealed to all those who contested in the just concluded governorship election, including incumbent Governor Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow, to join hands with him in the task of running the state and taking it to higher heights.

    Fintiri was in the early hours of Friday declared winner of the state governorship election after the conclusion of the rerun by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which announced that Fintiri’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 376,552 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Bindow of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who got a total of 336,386 votes.

    Fintiri who addressed the press on his victory Friday afternoon in Yola, said he would need the support and contributions of everyone, including those who contested against him, to discharge his mandate for the good of the state.

    He promised to lead a socially accountable government where the best interests of the people would be the focus.

    The Nation correspondent reports that Friday was for Fintiri a defining one, as a court case challenging the election which produced him was quashed just hours after the declaration of his election by INEC.

    The candidate of the Movement for the Restoration and Defence of Democracy (MRDD), Eric Theman, had approached the state high court to allege that INEC omitted the logo of his party from the ballot paper for the March 9 election, for which reason he asked the court to annul that election and stop the supplementary election announced to correct the ‘inconclusive’ nature of that election.

    While the court immediately granted the injunction which prevented the holding of the supplementary governorship election in Adamawa State until Thursday March 28, the court continued hearing

  • Fintri promises to implement proposed N30, 000 minimum wage

    Adamawa Governor-elect, Ahmadu Fintiri, has promised to implement the new minimum wage of N30, 000 when approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Fintiri, who emerged winner on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made the promise on Friday while speaking with newsmen in Yola.

    He defeated incumbent Gov. Muhammadu Bindow of All Progressives Congress (APC) and 28 other candidates in the just-concluded supplementary governorship election.

    He said: “I will give civil service priority attention and make it more effective.

    “As a matter of matter of priority, I will be first to implement it, so that we don’t experience any workers strike,” Fintiri said.

    He also assured students that his administration would be committed to resuscitating scholarship scheme, youth empowerment and other programmes to move the state forward.

    “We are also going to pay WAEC and NECO fees for students to reduce burden on parents,” Fintiri said.

    He thanked the people of the state for electing him and promised not to disappoint them.

    “The people have given us their mandate and God has actualised it today.

    Read Also: Court dismisses suit challenging Adamawa gov’ship election

    “We will ensure that we deliver on our campaign promises and manifesto to them.

    “We urged them to remain calm, law-abiding as they celebrate and wait for our swearing-in ceremony,” Fintiri said.

    Fintiri a former Speaker of Adamawa State House of Assembly and Acting Governor, emerged winner scoring 376,552 votes to beat his closest rival, Gov. Bindow who scored 336,386 votes. (NAN)