The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Duku JOEL

  • Osinbajo to flag off distribution of relief materials in North East

    Osinbajo to flag off distribution of relief materials in North East

    There is tight security in and around Maiduguri metropolis as the Acting President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is expected to arrive Maiduguri today to flag off a Special Relief Intervention to states of the Northeast affected by the Boko Haram crisis.

    All major roads in Maiduguri from the Airport, through Borno Express down to the Post Office and to the Government House have been blocked making clearance for the Acting President and his entourage for easy movement. The road to the venue of the event which is Bakasi IDP Camp is also under heavy security.

    The tight security in the town is not far from last night Boko Haram attack in Maiduguri which has left many people in panic with some leaving their houses in confusion.

    Apparently, the blockage of roads in the town has caused heavy traffic challenge to residents and motorists in the metropolis as many are been stuck into traffic jam at different locations in the town.

    While in Maiduguri, the Acting President is expected to distribute over 30, 000 metric tons of cereal.

    In a statement from the Head, Media and Public Relation, NEMA, Sani Datti said the distribution would be done directly to the affected people and communities by NEMA.

    The statement reads: “The Federal Government will distribute 30,000 metric tonnes (1,032 trucks) of cereal directly to affected persons in the Northeastern states of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi and Gombe. The exercise is expected to be flagged off by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo on Thursday 8th June, 2017 in Maiduguri, Borno State.

    “This special relief intervention has the objective of highlighting the strategies that would be adopted for distribution of relief materials approved by the federal government for displaced persons in the North East in accordance with the humanitarian principles.

    “It will also serves as litmus test for full cycle of intervention adapting world best practices while considering our own local peculiarities, exhibiting the best of transparency, accountability and in full consideration of the protection and integrity of the affected persons.

    “Each household beneficiary would be issued with a voucher, which is redeemed at the receipt of the household allocation of the food basket. It also involves taking the materials to the doorsteps of the affected persons.

    “The distribution, which is based on Dry ration calculations of 6 persons per household and food ration per individual for 30days at 280grams x30/1000k = 8.4 kg times individual requirement per household, is 50.4 kg.

    “Relief intervention will be also airlifted for areas that have inaccessible roads or security threat by the Nigeria Air force,”.

    The statement disclosed that the DG NEMA Engr. Mustapha Maihaja has assured of transparency in the distribution of the relief materials to the beneficiaries.

    “The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Engr. Mustapha Maihaja said adequate measures have been put in place to ensure that the distribution was done in transparent manners for optimal accomplishment of task and operational objectives,” the statement said.

  • Yobe Gov condemns military, police clashes

    Yobe Gov condemns military, police clashes

    • Gaidam calls for better synergy among security agencies against Boko Haram

    Yobe state Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has called for better synergy and collaboration between security agencies in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency.

    The governor who was speaking at a two-day National Sensitization Workshop on the implementation of National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) for Adamawa, Taraba and Yobe states at Government House, Damaturu felt sad over the recent clashes between troops of Operation Lafiya Dole and men of Mobile Police Force (MPF) that claimed the lives of several policemen and a soldier in Damaturu, the state capital on April 12, 2017.

    According to the governor, both military troops and the police are a key component in the security architecture in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency and therefore should not be at each other’s throat but work in harmony to defeat Boko Haram.

    “At this point, I would like to appreciate the important role played and sacrifices being made by the security agencies and the Vigilante groups who subject their persons to risk in order to protect the honour of other law abiding citizens of the wider community.However, I should also stress that in order to carry out their duties with commitment, all the security agencies cannot succeed without working very closely and in harmony with each other. In this respect, I wish to once again condemn the recent unfortunate clash between some men of the Nigeria Army and the Police Mobile force which occurred on Wednesday, 12th April 2017. Let me express my heartfelt condolences to the families of the officers who lost their loved ones,

    However, I should also stress that in order to carry out their duties with commitment, all the security agencies cannot succeed without working very closely and in harmony with each other. In this respect, I wish to once again condemn the recent unfortunate clash between some men of the Nigeria Army and the Police Mobile force which occurred on Wednesday, 12th April 2017.

    Let me express my heartfelt condolences to the families of the officers who lost their loved ones, sympathise with those who sustained injuries and express the hope that proactive steps will be taken by the Command Headquarters of the Army and the Police to forestall a recurrence,” Gov. Gaidam said.

    As a way of nipping any security challenge from the bud, Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam called on the Commissioner of Police, Sumonu Abdulmaliki to set machinery for the re-introduction of orientation programme for members of Vigilante group on the rudiments of arrest and treatment of
    suspected criminals.

    “The commissioner of police could direct Divisional Police Officers and other officials to give full recognition and encouragement to all registered Vigilante groups to complement the efforts of the security agencies in the state,” urged Gaidam.

    He called on the general public to be waery of stangers in their midst and continue to give information on the movement of suspicious individuals and groups to the security agencies for necessary action; while assuring the confidentiality of the sources of such information.

    he equally charged traditional rulers to also reactivate the old tradition of monitoring the presence of strangers and suspicious faces in their communities, while directing the council chairmen to give maximum support to vigilante groups in their respective council areas.

    Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam also made a passionate appeal to the Federal Government through the Office of National Security Adviser to intensify efforts in mopping up of Boko Haram remnants in the nooks and crannies of Northeast.

    “The mopping up exercises is to be carried out in conjunction with the Vigilante groups, and with the aid of organized community policing and surveillance training,” he said.

  • 250 IDPs to write WAEC in Maiduguri

    250 IDPs to write WAEC in Maiduguri

    • 94 girls, ‎156 boys

    Not fewer than two hundred and fifty Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), mostly children are currently engaged in this year’s West African Examination Council’s examination in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

    This development is coming at the directives of Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima that some of the students displaced along with their parents be evaluated to sit for the exam and continue their education.

    The Chairman, Borno State Emergency Management Agency, Engr Ahmed Satomi ‎who monitored the IDPs participation at three centres in Maiduguri on Wednesday, disclosed that the 250 IDP’S were those who passed a special mock exam conducted for about 1,000 IDPs students who were in final year at secondary schools before they were displaced.

    The Chairman said the students underwent special classes and comprehensive tutorials organised for them in camps on the orders of Governor Shettima with volunteer tutors from some local NGOS, some aides of Governor Shettima and some graduates associated with the Governor took part in guiding all SS 3 IDP’s through WAEC syllabus.

    Our correspondent gathered it was the first time IDPs’ students are writing the WAEC since they were forced out of their homes by Boko Haram insurgents at different times in 2014.

    IDPs students writing exams in maiduguri
    IDPs students writing exams in Maiduguri

    The demographic distribution of the students included 94 female students and 156 male students drawn from hundreds of students whose schools and communities were attacked ‎by Boko Haram resulting in their displacement.

    The 250 students are mostly from Kukawa, Gwoza, Ngala, Bama, Monguno, Guzamala and Nganzai local government areas.

    The students who took the practicals exams today Wednesday at three designated WAEC centres in Maiduguri which include Government College, Government Girls College and ‎Mustapha Umar Elkanemi Arabic Teachers College all in Maiduguri.

    The Borno SEMA boss further explained that, “the students were first evaluated and enrolled into four senior secondary schools: Government Secondary School, Jajeri, Govt Girls Second school, Yerwa, Govt College, Maiduguri and Government Girls College Maiduguri and provided with free uniforms, sandals, bags and books in addition to special tutorials after school hours to enable them catch up after missing school due to displacement.

    “Governor Kashim Shettima released funds to the Borno State Emergency Management Agency which we used to pay the WAEC fees of all the students. As you know, in Borno, the State ‎Government pays for WAEC but parents pay a counterpart of N6,500 as a show of commitment.

    “So, what SEMA paid was the counterpart since the Government already paid for all WAEC students across Borno State. Mock exam was organised for over 1,000 IDP’S but out of them, 250 did well and were believed to be emotionally and academically set for this year’s WAEC. The Governor also asked us to secure JAMB forms for all of them which is being done, we hope that all of them will do well to become eligible for University admission by end of the year,” Satomi said.

    ‎He added that “Governor Shettima had authorized the purchase of JAMB forms for the 250 students while some of the 1,000 IDP’S who showed some good signs after the mock exams are likely to sit for exams to gain entry into other tertiary schools even though they will undergo more tutorials to prepare them for next WAEC examinations in their communities since Government doesn’t hope that they remain in IDP’S by next year”.

  • Gov Gaidam appoints Saleh Head of Service 

    Gov Gaidam appoints Saleh Head of Service 

    Yobe State, governor Ibrahim Gaidam has appointed Alhaji Saleh Abubakar as the new Head of Sevice to the State Government.
    Mr Saleh Abubakar replaces Alhaji Dauda Yahaya who has served out his mandatory 35 years in the state civil service.
    Until his appointment, Abubakar was the Chief of State to Gov. Gaidam.
    Born in Gashu’a Town, Bade Local Government on 27th November 1958, he attended Central Primary School, Gashu’a 1965-1972; General Murtala Mohammed College (GMMC) 1972-1976; SBS Zaria 1977-78; ABU Zaria 1979-1982where he bagged B.Sc. Degree in Political Science.
    He started his career with old Borno State Civil Service in 1983; joined the services of Ministry of External Affairs (now foreign affairs) in 1984; then re-joined the services of old Borno State in 1989 as Admin Officer.
    As an indigene of Yobe, he Moved to Yobe State after creation in 1991like any other person as Director Political Affairs in the Governor’s Office.
    In 1995, he became Director Administration, also in the Governor’s Office. In 1999, he was appointed Deputy Permanent Secretary, Admin, a position he held till 2004 when he was posted to Ministry of Land and Survey as Deputy Permanent Secretary.
    The new Head of Service returned to the Governor’s office in 2006 as Deputy Permanent Secretary Administration till 2007 when he was appointed Permanent Secretary/Chief of Staff to the Governor.
    Alhaji Saleh Abubakar served as Chief of Staff to the Governor for a decade until his new appointment as Yobe State Head of Service by His Excellency Governor Ibrahim Gaidam.
  • Army parade three female suicide bombers

    Army parade three female suicide bombers

    The Nigerian Army has arrested and paraded three girls on suicide bomb mission in Borno State.
    Parading the arrested suicide bombers, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Lucky Irabor said the arrest of the girls has probably saved many lives as no one knows the kind of havoc they would have caused.
    He also explained that the girls were paraded to let the public know that some of the suicide missions are been averted by vigilant security personnel. 
    Major General Lucky Irabor who was speaking on a live media briefing on the activities of Operation Lafiya Dole on Wednesday, also took a swipe at Amnesty International for its report on the operation of the Nigerian Army.
    According to him, the Amnesty International is deliberately and unjustly attacking the Nigerian Army to undermine the success it has recorded on  the Boko Haram crisis.
  • ‘How NEMA is coping with economic recession’

    ‘How NEMA is coping with economic recession’

    • Donates relief materials to victims of fire disaster in Yobe

    The Director General of National Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Mohammadu Sani Sidi has said that his agency is trying her bests to meet the humanitarian needs of the victims of terror and other disasters in the country.

    The Director General who was in Nguru, Yobe State last weekend to donate relief materials to traders of a fire disaster at the Nguru market said, the agency has so many challenges competing with little resources at its disposal.

    He, however, added that despite the financial challenges which is a global problem, his agency will never be overwhelmed but continue to execute its mandate as the number one humanitarian agency of the
    country.

    Alhaji Sani Sidi praised, the international donors and other humanitarian agencies working in the country especially the ones at the front line in the northeastern part of the country where over 2million people have been displaced due to the Boko Haram insurgency.

    He pledged that NEMA will continue to give the desired leadership and coordination of all humanitarian activities in the region as whereas build seamless ties and synergies with the affected states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe for the better management of issues that affect the displaced people.

    While condoling with the victims of the fire, the DG charged traders to maintain some minimum safety standards in markets so as to avoid frequent fire cases in markets, adding that, “this is necessary in order to show the Federal Government’s concern for its citizens.

    Market fire is among the major disasters that cause incalculable losses in the country. All hands must be on deck to put in place a robust disaster risk reduction programme that will be geared toward disaster prevention and mitigation in our environment,’’ Sidi said.

    The DG who was in Yobe State in company of the Senate Majority Leader, an indigene of the state and the senator representing the people of the fire disaster announced a donation of both food and non-food
    materials including 100 cartons of milk, 100 cartons of spaghetti, 100 bags of beans, 100 cartons of tin tomatoes, 100 bags of guinea corn, 600, bundles of roofing sheets, 3000 pieces of ceiling boards, 100 bags of 3inc nails and 100 packets of zinc nails.

    The Nation recalls that the Nguru market was gutted by fire in December last year and NEMA swiftly went and took an assessment of the impact of the fire.

  • Troops arrests four Boko Haram with 100 concealed motor bikes

    Troops arrests four Boko Haram with 100 concealed motor bikes

    Troops of 27 Task Force Brigade in Yobe State have arrested four fleeing Boko Haram Terrorist with 100 concealed motor cycles during a mop operation in Madaki Village in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State.
    The operations according to the Director, Army Public Relation Brig. Gen. Sani Usman was conducted by troops of 27 Task Force Brigade stationed at Bara in Yobe State who apprehended the terrorists at the outskirt of the village.
    He added that the suspects, names Mauzu Gogobir, Mamman Shauibu, Mohammadu Mohammadu and Isa Ibrahim are currently undergoing investigation in the hands of the troops.
    The statement reads; “Following the dislodgement and subsequent occupation of Boko Haram stronghold at Camp Zairo, Sambisa forest, the terrorists have been escaping the theatre to avoid capture and prosecution.
    “It is in this vein that troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE intensified searches, patrols, raids and mop up operations.
    “During one of such patrols to Madaki village in Biu Local Government Area, Borno State, troops of 27 Task Force Brigade stationed in Bara arrested 4 suspected fleeing members of Boko Haram terrorists on Wednesday afternoon whose names were given as Muazu Gogobir, Mamman Shuaibu, Muhammadu Muhammadu and Isah Ibrahim. 
    “They were intercepted along with 100 concealed motorcycles at the outskirt of the town. The suspected Boko Haram terrorists are undergoing preliminary investigation”.
  • Borno Police confirms nine killed in fresh car explosion

    Borno Police confirms nine killed in fresh car explosion

    The police in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital has confirmed another fresh car explosion on Tuesday at Gubio road in Maiduguri.
    The Police State Public Relation Office, DSP Victor Isuku told our correspondent that “There was an explosion today along Gubio road just before the military checkpoint.

    “According to the preliminary report, a pickup van with nine persons onboard, emerged from a bush path to join the road to Gubio town, when it exploded killing all the persons,” DSP Isuku said.

    Today’s blast is the fifth in a wake of recent bomb attacks within and around Maiduguri in the last three weeks.
  • Chibok community goes agog as FG confirms release of girls

    Chibok community goes agog as FG confirms release of girls

    Reports from Chibok Community says, the entire community is in celebration mood as news of the release of some of their abducted girls by Boko Haram has been confirmed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, a source from Chibok has said.

    Though some of the parents are still not sure  whether their children are among the batch of the released girls notwithstanding they could not stop in joining in the celebration of the news.
    Investigation reveals that Other communities like Ymir Ali, Njoma, Gwandan Rimirgu, Mikabu as well as Chanchan bulguma in Askira Uba axis of  southern Borno went on wild jubilation on hearing the cheering news of the release.
    The Senior Special Advise to President Mohammadu Buhari, Garba Shehu confirmed the release of the girls on Thursday morning through a social media post.
    “The names of the released girls follow shortly,” Shehu said.
  • Maiduguri car explosion kills eight

    Maiduguri car explosion kills eight

    Barely 24 hours after Boko Haram killed  about five villagers at the outskirts of Maiduguri on Tuesday, MAIDUGURI today is yet hit with a car suicide explosion which has claimed eight life and 15 people injured.

    The explosion which involved a Volkswagen Golf car at Muna Garage Junction in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, was said to have been concealed in the car overnight as passengers unknowingly boarded the vehicle which was about taken off from the garage when the prime IEDs went off, a NEMA official who does not want his name explained.

    “We have evacuated eight dead bodies, and fifteen injured persons to the general hospital Maiduguri, ” the NEMA official informed. The incident according to an eye-witness who did not want his name mentioned in print said,

    Isa Alhaji, who escaped the explosion by whisker informed The Nation that many people were seriously wounded in the blasts, “I fear that the death toll may rise”, he said.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Borno State Command, ASP Victor Isuku confirmed the blast in a statement, insisting that all the five occupants of the vehicle were killed.

    Mr. Isuku informed officials of Police Anti-bomb Squad, men of the Civilian JTF and other humanitarian agencies like National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and Borno State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA were quickly mobilized to the scene to evacuate both the charred bodies of the dead and the injured ones to the hospital.

    Confirming the incident, Isuku said, “At about 08:30hours, there was an IED explosion onboard a Golf 1 motor vehicle with reg. No JERE 349 XA, body S/No RTEAN 7179 taxi colour carry 5 passengers (4 females and a male driver), by Muna along Maiduguri /Gamboru Ngala road. The explosion occurred when the taxi was attempting to join the convoy of other vehicles heading to Gamboru town.

    “The suicide bomber who is reasonably believed to be one of the female casualties was picked along the road.