The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bauchi

  • Flood: Bauchi builds alternative road linking North-East, North-West

    Flood: Bauchi builds alternative road linking North-East, North-West

    The Bauchi state government has started building an alternative road linking the North-East and North-West regions to reduce the impact of floods that destroyed major highway bridges in the state.

    Bauchi was among the worst-hit states during last year’s rainy season when key roads were cut off, affecting movement and slowing the economy of the two regions.

    The new project is a 24-kilometre road meant to connect communities and serve as another route for travellers.

    During a media tour on Sunday, the Project Manager of Habibu Engineering Company, Waelyanes Ali, said the project was one of the toughest jobs because of the swampy ground.

    “This road is 24.5 kilometres long, with about five kilometres running through swamp areas. We built three major bridges, measuring 225 metres, 160 metres and 145 metres.

    “We also added retaining walls between one and four metres high, and several box culverts of different sizes. By October, Insha Allah, this project will be done. The road is 7.3 metres wide with 1.5-metre shoulders on each side. Despite the tough work, we are proud of the progress,” Ali said.

    Also speaking, the Bauchi Commissioner for Information and Communication, Usman Muhammad, said the road would not only connect Itas and Gadau but also serve as a key route for motorists moving between the North-East, North-West, and North-Central.

    “Even if you hate His Excellency, Governor Bala Mohammed, you must thank him for this project. Whenever the Kano–Maiduguri highway is blocked by floods, travellers use this road. It links big towns such as Azare, Hadeja in Jigawa, and even connects to Yobe.

    “This road is helping transport and farming. In the dry season, people farm a lot here. With this road, they can carry their crops to the markets. Since the First Republic, this road was left undone because of the high cost and hard work, but Governor Mohammed has completed it,” Muhammad said.

    He promised that the project would be finished soon and would serve as a steady route for motorists across the North-East and beyond.

    This is happening as the federal government has issued a new flood warning for 17 states, saying heavy rainfall could cause flooding between September 6 and 8, 2025.

  • Hisbah bans DJs, restricts women from male gatherings in Bauchi

    Hisbah bans DJs, restricts women from male gatherings in Bauchi

    The Hisbah Command of the Bauchi State Sharia Commission has introduced strict new rules for social events, prohibiting the use of Disk Jockeys (DJs) and restricting women from attending male gatherings.

    The directive, dated July 16, 2025, and signed by the Permanent Commissioner, Barrister Aminu Balarabe Isah, cited increasing public complaints about social vices and disturbances during weddings, birthdays, and other ceremonies.

    The circular, titled “Guidelines Governing the Conduct of Marriage Ceremonies and Other Festivals in Bauchi State,” outlines several measures, including bans on the mixing of men and women, inter-gender dancing in the presence of children, sale or use of intoxicants, and entry of armed individuals into event venues.

    Additional provisions mandate gender-based seating, suspension of activities during prayer times, and adherence to traditional dress codes. 

    The directive also prohibits abusive or blasphemous language, cultural practices such as Sharo, Shadi, Garaya, and Kauyawa Day, as well as DJ entertainment, Gala, and Aloba.

    Read Also: Bauchi plans economic summit to unlock investments

    Other banned activities include gambling, prostitution, pornography, and any birthday celebrations deemed immoral.

    “All recreational centers, clubs, and cultural groups must comply with these directives or face sanctions,” the circular warned.

    Confirming the development, Hisbah Commander Muhammad Muhammad Bununu said, “Yes, it is from us. We issued it.”

  • 748 arrested, N38m recovered in Bauchi police crackdown

    748 arrested, N38m recovered in Bauchi police crackdown

    The Bauchi State Police Command says it has arrested 748 suspects and recovered over N38 million along with stolen property in the last six months.

    Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, who disclosed this at a press briefing on Thursday to mark his six months in office, said the Command also recorded 394 criminal cases across the state within the period.

    According to him, the cases included 57 incidents of armed robbery with 113 suspects arrested, 78 homicide cases with 171 suspects, and 44 rape and indecent assault cases involving 72 suspects.

    He added that 117 fraud cases led to 106 arrests, while kidnapping, theft, forgery, breach of peace and other offences made up the rest.

    The CP cited the July 12 armed robbery of a Bauchi resident, Abdulkadir Garba, who was dispossessed of cash and valuables worth millions before being forced to transfer ₦3.3m to assailants. Nine suspects were arrested in connection with the crime, and arms were recovered.

    On August 21, detectives intercepted a stolen Toyota Corolla on Bauchi–Jos Road and arrested one Salisu Ibrahim, suspected of operating a car theft syndicate across states.

    Read Also: Bauchi police nab notorious online scammer behind 40 fraud cases

    That same day, police in Jama’are arrested Stanley Lukman, a dismissed soldier, who allegedly stole vehicles after luring a driver into an ambush. Several cars, including a Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen Golf, were recovered.

    Exhibits recovered during the period include: firearms and ammunition, seven stolen vehicles, motorcycles, plasma TVs, laptops, N38m cash, POS machines, cement bags, illicit fertiliser, and food items.

    Aliyu said the achievements were made possible through intelligence-led operations, commitment of officers, and support from the public.

    “We have remained steadfast in tackling crime and sustaining peace in Bauchi State. Our resolve is to create a crime-free society and prosecute offenders without delay,” he stated.

  • Let Bauchi follow suit

    Let Bauchi follow suit

    Marker Day seems to have outlived its usefulness in the state,
    it should emulate states that have banned it

    Marker Day, originally organised by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, a private grant-making foundation, is a day to celebrate, preserve, and maintain historic markers across the United States. It is a family-friendly event in which volunteers participate in cleaning and restoring the markers that are often found near significant historical locations.

    But the Nigerian variant is an aberration of the original concept. What is supposed to be a harmless celebration of school graduation or year-end milestone, at least in Nigeria, Marker Day has become a breeding ground for indecency and all manner of immoral and anti-social behaviours in the country.

    Bauchi State presents a vivid example of such as students closed for the last academic session, last month.

    Thanks to the social media on which some of these activities trended.

    It is significant that in about 23 schools where the videos were recorded, 20 were public schools. Only three came from private schools. Even then, two of the three were not shot within the school premises, but on the streets. The majority of the remaining 20 shots occurred on the premises of some secondary schools in the state.

    It is unfortunate that what started as a practice whereby graduating students sign on each other’s uniforms with markers to signify the end of an important chapter in their lives has graduated to something else. In one of the videos online, one graduating female student was seen removing her blouse while a male student knelt in her front and inscribed some things right on her left breast!

    It is not clear whether this was part of the Bauchi incidents or it was taken from somewhere else. What is clear is that it just represents the depth to which the society has sunk.

    It was for this reason of immoral behaviours that are unexpected, even of adults in public, that states like Adamawa and Yobe, among others, have banned Marker Day.

    In banning it last month, Yobe State government said in a statement by its permanent secretary, ministry of basic and secondary education, Dr. Bukar Aji Bukar, that “The celebrations have strayed far from acceptable school practices to now pose serious threats to discipline and security within the learning environment.”

    A circular signed by the Adamawa State Commissioner in charge of the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Dr. Umar Pella, banning the signing-out ceremony said, “The decision to ban the celebrations was taken in response to the growing incidence of unruly behaviour, erosion of cultural values, and security threats linked to the events.”

    Other state governments like Gombe and Katsina that have similarly outlawed the event adduced similar reasons.

    Read Also: Nigeria reaffirms commitment to stronger ties with Cote d’Ivoire — Tuggar

    We agree with them entirely.

    True, there is nothing bad in students unwinding after finishing a milestone like secondary education. It, indeed, calls for celebration. Whether the students would proceed to tertiary institutions after leaving secondary school or not, the fact that they have finished another leg, and an important one as secondary education for that matter, signifies freedom on the scale they probably never witnessed before.

    Freedom from the many restrictions they faced through their academic career up till the time they leave secondary school is worthy of celebration.

    But the relevant authorities have to step in when the ceremony is now being observed dysfunctionally.

    We expect Bauchi State to ban the signing-out ceremony as well. This is much more so that most of the immoral conducts that trended online on the ceremony in the state occurred in the state’s public schools.

    The state governments that have banned the celebration are not necessarily opposed to celebrating the milestone; what they are saying is that since those involved cannot celebrate it responsibly, they had no choice but to ban it.

    Not only that, they directed school heads to take full responsibility for enforcement, making it clear that violators would face sanctions appropriately.

    We cannot watch our country’s future leaders erode our culture so blatantly.

    As a matter of fact, we expect sanctions against some of the identifiable culprits, to serve as deterrence to students who might want to toe a similar path in the future.

  • Bauchi woos Southeast investors as Gov declares State “haven of peace”

    Bauchi woos Southeast investors as Gov declares State “haven of peace”

    Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed has described Bauchi as a “haven of peace” and a rising hub of opportunity, calling on investors from the Southeast to tap into the state’s expanding economy.

    Speaking in Enugu during the Southeast unveiling of the upcoming 2025 Bauchi State Economic and Investment Summit, the Governor—represented by Secretary to the State Government, Aminu Hammayo—said Bauchi has built strong, stable institutions anchored on the rule of law, which have made it attractive to both local and foreign investors.

    The summit, scheduled for October 8–9, 2025, is themed “Rebuilding a resilient economy: Optimising investment & partnerships.” It aims to draw investors, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and policy makers to explore Bauchi’s untapped potential.

    Read Also: Bandits kidnap four in attack on Bauchi community

    “Bauchi is a haven of peace, with great respect for the rule of law. We’ve invested massively in building institutions that are stable, functional, and capable of adapting to societal trends,” he said.

    Mohammed noted that over the past six years, his administration has transformed the state’s economic landscape by investing in critical infrastructure, improving rural connectivity, and ensuring access to social services in previously underserved agrarian communities.

    He highlighted agriculture, livestock, mining, renewable energy, and human capital as sectors ripe for investment. “We are guided by a clear vision and a development plan aligned with national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals,” he stated.

    According to him, the summit aims to: attract new domestic and international investments; showcase investment-ready projects; promote SME growth through market access and partnerships, and foster strategic collaborations via MoUs and joint ventures.

    He urged Southeast investors to consider Bauchi as a viable destination for long-term investments, promising a supportive, peaceful, and policy-friendly environment.

  • Ex-Bauchi SSG, PDP governorship candidate Kashim resigns from party

    Ex-Bauchi SSG, PDP governorship candidate Kashim resigns from party

    Former Secretary to the Bauchi State Government and 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Barrister Ibrahim Muhammad Kashim, has officially resigned from the party.

    In a letter dated July 21 and obtained by The Nation on Monday, Kashim did not disclose the reasons for his resignation but expressed gratitude to the PDP leadership and his ward executives for the trust and opportunity to serve.

    “After careful thought, I’ve decided to resign from the PDP. I intend to explore other ways to serve our people with dedication, integrity, and the fear of God,” he stated.

    Read Also: By-election: PDP picks Aikpitanyin as candidate for Ovia federal constituency

    Kashim was the PDP governorship candidate in the build-up to the 2023 general elections but stepped down for Governor Bala Mohammed, who returned to the race after his failed bid for the PDP presidential ticket. He subsequently resumed his role as SSG and actively joined the governor’s re-election campaign across the state.

    In January 2025, he also resigned from his position as Secretary to the State Government, a move he said was made at the instruction of Governor Mohammed.

    While Kashim has yet to announce his next political step, there is growing speculation that he may contest the 2027 governorship election under a different political platform.

  • Bandits kidnap four in attack on Bauchi community

    Bandits kidnap four in attack on Bauchi community

    Four persons have been abducted and several shops looted in Gyale village, Mansur District of Alkaleri Local Government Area, Bauchi State.

    The incident, which occurred yesterday, was confirmed by the State Police Command through its spokesperson, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Ahmed Mohammed Wakil.

    According to Wakil, the bandits gained access to the village around 11:30 p.m. through the Yankari Game Reserve and looted five stores before abducting four residents.

    The victims were identified as Tasiu Malam Yahaya (32), Hakilu Ubayo (15), Abdul Aziz Suleiman (28), and Rabiu Ganjua (16), all of whom own or operate the shops.They were taken to an unknown destination.

    Read Also: Bauchi 2027: Tough battle ahead for Foreign Minister Tuggar

    Upon receiving the report, the Commissioner of Police, Sani Omolori-Aliyu, directed the Divisional Police Officer in Alkaleri, along with vigilantes and hunters, to launch a search-and-rescue operation.

    “The area is now calm, but our operatives are still combing the nearby bushes to locate and rescue the victims. We are hopeful of making arrests and bringing the perpetrators to justice,” Wali said.

    He added that the Command is stepping up measures to curb rising incidents of kidnapping and other crimes in the area.

  • Bauchi government woo investors kick kick-starts roadshow

    Bauchi government woo investors kick kick-starts roadshow

    The deputy governor of Bauchi state, Mohamed Auwal Jatau, has urged both local and international investors to consider moving to the state, assuring that security is strong and there have been no internal or external conflicts or disturbances threatening the peace of the state.

    Jatau made this appeal at the Bauchi state economic and investment roadshow summit in Abuja, themed “rebuilding a resilient economy.”

    The objectives include planning for investment, optimising investment, and fostering partnerships, all aimed at bringing together key stakeholders from across domestic and international communities.

    According to Jatau, the summit will take place in October 2025 in Bauchi state.

    The roadshow aims to raise awareness nationwide to attract investors. The state development plan for 2024-2033 aligns with the national development agenda and the sustainable development goals of the state.

    He said, “It has become imperative for the state government to leverage on the abundance of resources in agriculture, livestock, mineral resources, oil and gas and its large capital base by inviting investors, knowing that harnessing these resources will be beneficial to all foreign and local investors and the country in general.

    “The Bauchi state government has embarked on a lot of projects, like expanding the road network, providing access roads to the communities with the basic social services required. This is to create a trajectory of sustainable development and prosperity for the state and the country at large. Which is why we are planning to hold the Bauchi state summit.

    “The summit is to showcase investment opportunities through exhibitions. To promote the growth of SMEs in the state and ensure facilitations to market through partnership. To foster communication by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU and creation of joint ventures.

    Read Also: NDLEA arrests 127, seizes over 1,200kg of illicit drugs in Bauchi

    Speaking with the organiser of the roadshow, Hajia Ladi Katagum, she said the roadshow will take place in three states, Abuja, Enugu and Lagos.

    The idea is to draw attention to the state with all its potential. “Investment in Bauchi is safe because presently it is one of the safest states in the country”.

    The state is safe because the government and the people have been proactive on security issues, and the people are very involved in protecting lives and property. This is the reason for the peace and quiet in the state. Bauchi has a lot of mineral resources, including oil and agriculture. We need the world to know that we have untapped resources in Bauchi; there, investors from far and near are welcome.

  • Bauchi governor inaugurates committee to curb farmer-herder clashes

    Bauchi governor inaugurates committee to curb farmer-herder clashes

    Concerned about the ongoing clashes between farmers and herders, Bauchi state governor, Bala Mohammed, has inaugurated a farmer-herder conflict prevention committee to address the crisis and promote peaceful coexistence in the state.

    The inauguration ceremony was held at the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. 

    Represented by his Principal Private Secretary, Alhaji Hashimu Yakubu, Governor Mohammed highlighted the severe toll the recurring conflict has taken, including loss of lives and destruction of property, both in Bauchi and across Nigeria.

    The governor said the committee is a strategic initiative designed to ease tensions and provide lasting solutions. He also reaffirmed Bauchi State’s commitment to the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project, which seeks to enhance livestock management through improved pasture, disease control, access to water, and supplementary feeding.

    Read Also: Bauchi shops demolition: Relocating the traders

    The newly formed committee has been tasked with monitoring herder movements along designated grazing routes, educating farmers and herders on peaceful coexistence, resolving disputes, and facilitating compensation for destroyed crops or livestock.

    Governor Mohammed urged members to approach their assignment with diligence and a sense of responsibility.

    In his remarks, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Livestock Development, Dr. Ibrahim Muhammad Bello, praised the governor’s proactive approach and pledged the ministry’s full support.

    Also speaking at the event, L-PRES National Project Coordinator, Alhaji Sunusi Abubakar, represented by Social Safeguard Officer Nazif Ibrahim Wada, called on the committee to help reshape public perception of farmer-herder relations and restore trust between the two groups.

  • UNICEF moves to tackle polio vaccine myths in Bauchi

    UNICEF moves to tackle polio vaccine myths in Bauchi

    Despite years of mass immunisation campaigns and growing awareness, polio vaccine rejection however remains a troubling concern among some fathers in Bauchi State.

    But, the United Nations Children Fund, UNICEF, is actively addressing polio vaccine myths to improve immunization coverage and reduce the number of “zero-dose” children in Bauchi State, Nigeria. 

    This effort includes strengthening community outreach.

    Speaking in an interview with journalists in Katagum, Salisu Haruna, a father of 28, one of the skeptics of the polio vaccination said for four years, he refused to allow his children to be vaccinated, fearing the vaccine could cause infertility or harm. But after repeated engagement by health workers, he changed his mind—and now champions the campaign.

    “I used to think the vaccine would harm my children,” Haruna admitted. “But since they got it, they’ve been stronger. I now tell other fathers to support it.”

    Still, not everyone has followed suit. In Itas-Gadau, 27-year-old Bashir Ahmed refused to vaccinate his two children, citing his upbringing and doubts fueled by lack of religious approval.

    He later allowed the vaccination after persistent advocacy from health officials and support from the United Nations Children Funds, UNICEF—but remains undecided about future doses.

    In another case, a father permitted only three out of four of his children to be vaccinated. Health workers had to return several times to persuade him to vaccinate the last child.

    In an interview with journalists in Katagum local government area, UNICEF Health Specialist, Dr. David Audu, said the turn out for polio vaccination has been positive, adding that there  was only   resistance in a few places. 

    He, however, said the resistance is slowly giving way to acceptance. 

    According to him, UNICEF is supporting a network of local advocates, including Village Community Mobilizers (VCMs) and members of the Front-line Family Health Groups (FFGH), to engage directly with communities. 

    “These advocates play a crucial role in raising awareness and addressing concerns within their local areas.” he said 

    The campaigns are designed to reach every caregiver and child, ensuring that they understand the benefits of vaccination.”

    Speaking also in an interval with journalists in the Nasarawa community in Itas Gadau Local Government, a village head,  Bano Usamatu  said his community in Nasarawa no longer battles vaccine rejection.

    “The era of rejection is gone. We want to save the future of our children,” he told our correspondent, crediting UNICEF and the state government for their support.

    Meanwhile, UNICEF recently reported a milestone in Azare LGA, where 51 Quranic schools and 95 churches participated in the latest round of vaccinations. Of 842 non-compliant households, 503 were successfully engaged in just two days.

    The agency remains focused on reaching children in high-risk, zero-dose communities and continues to partner with civil society groups to build trust and awareness.