The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Adamawa

  • Adamawa killings: Force headquarters to dispatch five mobile police units – IG

    Adamawa killings: Force headquarters to dispatch five mobile police units – IG

    The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, said on Saturday that the force would deploy five mobile police units to Adamawa to prevent future clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the state.

    Idris made this known in Yola when he paid a courtesy call on Gov. Mohammed Bindow to commiserate with him and the people of the state.

    About 20 people were feared killed and several others injured following a clash between farmers and Fulani herdsmen in Numan Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

    The attack occurred on Monday night following the killing of a farmer by suspected Fulani herdsmen resulting in a reprisal attack by the farming communities of Shaforon, Kodomti and Kikan all in Numan local government area of the state.

    The IG said that the five units would reinvigorate security operations to prevent further bloody clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the state.

    He also promised to deploy tracking units of the force for the investigation of previous incidents.

    He assured the people of the state that the incidents would be thoroughly investigated to prevent a repeat.

    Idris commended the traditional institution and other stakeholders in the state for wading into the crisis with a view to ending it.

    He said he was in the state to commiserate with the people over the unfortunate bombing in Mubi and killings in Numan Local Government Area of the state.

    Responding, Bindow urged the IG to deploy his men to investigate the incident in Numan.

    He assured that the perpetrators would be brought to book upon investigation.

    He thanked the IG for the visit, saying that it was a demonstration  of his concern for the people.

    NAN

  • CAN, Muslim council condemn Adamawa killings

    CAN, Muslim council condemn Adamawa killings

    The Adamawa Chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN ) and Muslim Council have condemned the perpetrators of the Mubi Mosque suicide attack and the killings in Numan that led to loss of many lives and properties in the state.

    The groups, in separate news conferences in Yola, presided by the Chairman of CAN, Most Rev. Stephen Mamza, and his counterpart of Muslim Council, Alhaji Abubakar Sahabo, called for the fishing out of the perpetrators to face justice.

    While calling for panel of inquiry to fish out the perpetrators of the killings, the faith organizations called on their members to be extra vigilant and check persons and vehicles entering places of worship to curtail suicide attacks.

    “We are deeply distressed over the killings of women and children in some villages of Numan LGA on Monday. CAN condemns in strong terms, the killings of unarmed civilians especially little children and women.

    “This is by all standard of war, condemnable and unacceptable. We call on the government to bring to book the perpetrators of this wicked act to forestall any future occurrence,” Mamza said.

    He reiterated CAN’s commitment to peaceful coexistence with all individual and groups.

    “We call on all to embrace peace, shun hate speech and anything that will incite the general public to breach of public order.”

    Sahabo on his part, called on the state government to take full responsibility of injured victims including compensation for the dead, and tasked security agencies to provide adequate security cover in all vulnerable places.

    “The Muslim Council wishes to reiterate its commitment to help in the maintenance of peace and peaceful coexistence among diverse people of the state.

    “However, we urge the state government and security agencies to always take decisive and necessary lawful measures on those elements and agents who provoke state of fear and destruction in the state,” Sahabo said.

    The many people died in Monday’s Numan attack and Tuesday Mubi mosque bomb blast suspected to be perpetrated by Boko Haram and a militia group.

    NAN

  • NLC alarmed over Boko Haram resurgence

    NLC alarmed over Boko Haram resurgence

    The Nigeria Labour Congress( NLC ) has expressed concern over the resurgence of strikes at vulnerable targets by Boko Haram in the North East.

    NLC President Ayuba Wabba, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, described the killings as reprehensible.

    “The Nigeria Labour Congress wishes to commiserate with the government and people of Adamawa State over the killing of 50 worshippers in Mubi by a suspected Boko Haram suicide bomber.

    “We also condemn the slaying of 30 herders by yet to be identified assailants. These cold-blooded killings are shocking and reprehensible. We demand that the perpetrators be found and brought to book.

    “On the killings of worshippers in the mosques, we are worried by this resurgence of strikes the by Boko Haram elements operating from fall back positions.”

    Wabba, while urging security and intelligence officers to do more, said that the NLC appreciated the difficulties associated with policing an area as vast as the North-East.

    He also called for the strengthening of security awareness and intelligence gathering among the local populace as well as the de-radicalisation campaign generally by the military personnel.

    “We believe the Boko Haram insurgents have been defeated. What we are witnessing may not be another phase of the war hopefully but a desperate attempt by a handful ragtags to create one by striking fear in the hearts of the people,’’ he added.

    In a separate statement, the NLC commiserated with the government and people of Anambra over the demise of former Vice President Alex Ekwueme.

    Wabba described the late Ekwueme as a “Jewel in the Pack”, adding that his death had robbed not just the political class but the Nigerian nation, the wise counsel of “one among a few who have seen it all”.

    “Dr Ekwueme was a distinguished architect, intellectual, affable politician, a credible personality and a respected elder statesman rolled into one.

    “His death represents a curtain call on (not a final one though) the second Republic politicians, much vilified for their excesses but whom history mercifully redeemed by the more daring excesses of successor rulers or politicians.

    “We make bold to say that even when it was a patriotic act to condemn the Second Republic politicians, Ekwueme was a jewel in the pack as he was neither found wanting in government nor by the probe panel set up by the soldiers that overthrew that government.

    “Indeed, of him, it was said that he left government poorer than he joined it,” Wabba said.

    He stressed that the least that could be done in Ekwueme’s memory was to imbibe his “endearing personal qualities”.

  • Mubi blast: Gov. Bindow urges residents to be security conscious

    Mubi blast: Gov. Bindow urges residents to be security conscious

    Gov. Mohammed Bindow of Adamawa on Wednesday urged residents of the state to be more security conscious to avert further suicide attacks.

    Bindow made the call when he visited victims of the Mubi bomb blast at the Federal Medical Centre, Yola.

    He announced that he would hold a Security Council meeting in order to restore stable and secure environment.

    He also said that he would reach out to the Mubi community and hold a meeting with the traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the area.

    The Governor condemned the bomb attack, saying that he was saddened by the development.

    He assured that the State Government would not relent in its responsibility of providing security to lives and property.

    The Chief Medical Director of the Hospital, Prof. Auwal Mohammed, said that 16 victims of the attack were received by the centre.

    Mohammed said that those with serious injuries were operated upon, and that their condition was stable.

    He also said that no death had been recorded.

    NAN recalls that a suicide bomber who disguised as a worshiper, blew himself up during early morning prayers at a Mosque in Dazala area of Mubi on Tuesday, killing dozens and injuring many others.

    Read Also: Mubi attack: Death toll rises to 50

  • 50 die in Adamawa mosque attack

    50 die in Adamawa mosque attack

    •Buhari: it’s cruel, dastardly

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday described the killing of over 50 people in a suicide attack in Adamawa State as “very cruel and dastardly”

    The attack happened in Dazala, Mubi town yesterday around 5 a.m. when Muslims were observing the early morning prayer.

    It was the first attack in three years since the liberation of Mubi from Boko Haram insurgents in 2014

    The police in Adamawa State confirmed that no fewer than 50 people died in the explosion

    Its spokesman Othman Abubakar told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that a young boy was responsible for the blast which occurred during the early morning prayer.

    “We have 50 dead and we are now trying to get the exact number of those injured,” Abubakar said.

    Commiserating with the families, government and people of the state, President Buhari assured them that government would do everything required to secure the state from the deadly menace of Boko Haram.

    The President, in a statement by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, enjoined the people in the entire North-east to be more vigilant and report suspicious persons to security agencies in order to avert further attacks on soft targets by the terrorist group.

    He has also directed the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to deploy more police personnel in the area  to prevent further attacks by armed bandits in Zamfara State.

    Noting the current moves by the IGP to review police personnel and strategy in the state, the President directed him to visit the state and report back his findings about the deadly attacks.

    The directives followed recent killings and wanton destruction carried out by unknown gunmen on communities in Shinkafi and Maradun Local Government Areas of the state.

    President Buhari prayed that God would console the bereaved families in the Adamawa and Zamfara incidents, heal the injured, and grant rest to the souls of the departed.

  • Mubi attack: Death toll rises to 50

    Mubi attack: Death toll rises to 50

    The Adamawa Police Command says the death toll in Tuesday’s Mubi mosque suicide attack has risen to 50.

    The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Othman Abubakar, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday.

    Abubakar said that a young boy was responsible for the blast which occurred during the early morning prayer.

    “We have 50 dead and we are now trying to get the exact number of those injured ,” Abubakar said.

    Read: Scores killed in Mubi bomb blast

    NAN reports that the attack happened in Dazala area of Mubi town in Adamawa on Tuesday around 5 a.m. when Muslims were observing the early morning prayer.

    The incident was the first in three years since the liberation of Mubi town from Boko Haram insurgents in 2014.

    Read Also: Update on Mubi attack: Suicide bombers kill 15, injure 20

  • Adamawa pays N20m counterpart fund to scale up FADAMA project

    Adamawa pays N20m counterpart fund to scale up FADAMA project

    The Adamawa Government has paid N20 million counterpart fund for the implementation of the FADAMA III Second Additional Financing (AFII) programme to fast-track efforts to restore people’s livelihoods in the state.

    Mr Mohammed Bello, the State Project Coordinator of FADAMA, made this known on Friday in Yola, while presenting a report to the FADAMA mission team led by Dr Ben Herbert.

    Bello said that the FADAMA III (AFII) project, also known as North East Security and Livelihood Emergency Support Project, was initiated to respond to the food and livelihood needs of families who were hitherto displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency.

    He noted that the feats recorded in the project encouraged the state government to pay the counterpart fund.

    “The scope and scale up of Fadama III (AFII) project activities in the six northeastern states of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi and Gombe is aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the project.

    “Adamawa is one of the participating states and it is expected that over 4,000 households in the state would have been supported by the end of the project.

    “FADAMA III (AFII) project covers all the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.

    “From the 4,000 supported households, 2,240 persons were returnees and 1,760 persons were from the host communities, while the project also engaged 20 facilitators across the state,’’ he said.

    He said that the FADAMA III (AFII) project had built the capacity of the beneficiaries and provided advisory services for them.

    “With regard to crop production, 2,331 households were supported under the project, which also supported fisheries.

    “The inputs distribution pattern showed that 12,950 kilogrammes of rice varieties like Faro 44 variety were distributed, while 207 hectares of rice farmlands were cultivated.

    “Other crops that were distributed include maize, sorghum, groundnut and onion, while fertilisers, herbicides and insecticides, among other inputs, were also dispensed.

    “Advisory services were given to 4,000 household beneficiaries across the state, with 2,331 beneficiaries in the crop sub-sector and 1,669 in the livestock sub-sector,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Adamawa arms 500 hunters, others to battle insurgency

    The Adamawa State government has empowered 500 hunters and vigilance group members in Madagali Local Government Area to fight insurgency.

    Chairman of Madagali council Yusuf Mohammed spoke in an interview with reporters yesterday. Mohammed said the hunters, who know the terrain, are being supported with cartridges and feeding allowances to sustain their contribution in the fight.

    According to him, there were about six attacks in the last one week, with the latest on Wednesday in Sabon Gari village.

    Mohammed lauded efforts of security agents and local hunters in repelling the attacks.

    He called on the Federal Government and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, to deploy more military personnel in the area, which he said was experiencing growing attacks due to its closeness to Sambisa forest.

    “Our area is under siege, our people now live in fear; we can’t go to the farm or travel with ease.

    “I plead for more deployment of military and other security agents,” Mohammed said.

    The government has confirmed Wednesday’s attack in Sabon-Gari in Madagali council.

    Commissioner for Information and Strategy Ahmad Sajoh said two of the insurgents were killed.

  • Court fixes Dec. 6 for hearing on N1bn libel suit against Adamawa Assembly

    Court fixes Dec. 6 for hearing on N1bn libel suit against Adamawa Assembly

    A Yola High Court  on Tuesday fixed Dec. 6 for hearing of the motion on notice in a N1 billion libel suit filed against the Adamawa House of Assembly.

    A construction firm handling a N1.2 billion World Bank-assisted rural road project in the state, had dragged the Speaker, Kabiru Mijinyawa, to court for alleged libel.

    Also joined in the suit are the House Committee on Rural and Community Development and seven others.

    The firm alleged that the house committee had in a newspaper publication accused it of defrauding the bank and the people.

    It alleged that the defendant accused it of conniving with the Ministry of Rural Development and Rural Access Mobility Project ( RAMP-2 ) to commit the act.

    When the case came up for hearing, counsel to the defendant, Mr Abubakar Sa’ad, said the house was not ready as it had not been served with the motion on notice.

    “We are not ready for the montion on notice. We have not been served with the motion; we only got the writs of summon”, he said.

    Counsel to the plaintiff, Mr Ahmed Garba, however, insisted that the house was served with the motion.

    “We served them. We took our time to ensure the service,” Garba said.

    The Judge, Nathan Musa, directed counsel to the company to serve the defendant’s counsel with the motion during the court’s sitting which he did.

    Musa adjourned the case till Dec.6 for hearing.

    The court had last week, granted an order of interim injunction, restraining the assembly from taking any action against the firm and its officials, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

    NAN

  • Women drivers use seat belt more than men in Adamawa – FRSC

    Women drivers use seat belt more than men in Adamawa – FRSC

    The Federal Road Safety Commission ( FRSC ), Adamawa Sector Command, on Thursday, said women drivers used seat belts more than men drivers in the state.

    The Sector Commander, Adegoke Adetunji, said this during Ember Months Campaign Awareness in Yola.

    According to him, women drivers have low involvement record in accidents compared with men in the state.

    Adetunji said available records showed that “in every 10 female drivers, seven to eight used seat belts, while in every 10 males, only three to four drivers used seat belt.”

    He added that investigations conducted by the FRSC command revealed that women drivers abide by road traffic rules and regulations more than men.

    He noted that “our investigation also shows that of the few women drivers arrested over violation of road traffic, majority of them committed the offence mistakenly.

    “Majority of women drivers show remorse after arrest, unlike male drivers who may be indifferent or give excuses.”

    On the ember months campaign awareness, he said the cardinal objective was to educate the public on the need to be road safety conscious.

    He added that “as the month of December and New Year approach, it is clear that the period record increase of travellings and festivities.

    “Safety on our highways is our collective responsibility, hence the need to abide by traffic rules and regulations for our safety,” Adetunji said.

    NAN