The Nation Newspaper

Tag: GOMBE

  • Photo: Eid-el-Fitr celebrations in Nigeria

    Photo: Eid-el-Fitr celebrations in Nigeria

  • IDPs flood Gombe

    The Gombe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has raised the alarm on the influx of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) into the state.

    The Executive Secretary, Dr. Danlami Arabs Rukujei, said the IDPs are mostly from Damboa in Borno State.

    He said over 1,000 IDPs had come the state within the last two days and the number still swelling.

    “Since I took over this responsibility, this has been the largest influx of IDPs and as I speak to you, we have not finished the registration.”

    One of the victims, Mohammed Abdulrahman, said Boko Haram insurgents invaded Damboa last Friday, killing, maiming and destroying properties and because there were no security operatives in Damboa.

  • Suicide bomb attempt foiled in Gombe

    The police in Gombe State foiled yesterday what would have been a deadly attack in Gombe metropolis. It was gathered that the incident occurred at 10:45am at the Government Day Secondary School, Pilot, opposite Dukku Motor Park, when students were writing the National Examination Council (NECO) mathematics examination.

    Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were found under the back seat, near the fuel tank and within the engine of a grey Honda Odyssey.

    The vehicle was driven into the school wall and abandoned before the police arrived and defused the explosives.

    Commissioner of Police Abdullahi Kudu Nma said officers responded swiftly to the distress call.

    “A vehicle rammed into the school wall located opposite a market and a motor park and on searching the vehicle, we discovered some IEDs.”

    Recovered from the vehicle were three units of four feet cylinders, two units of two feet cylinders, three military tools boxes, two military ammunitions boxes and one stainless vacuum flask fabricated into IEDs.

    He said the devastation was capable of covering about 800 square metres.

    Other structures within the range include the Police Area Command, Fire Service Station, Local Government Service Commission, police barracks and a poultry production unit on the opposite side.

    On the same side of the road with the school are a private hospital, a hotel and another school.

    Nma said: “Only a quick response saved the situation and a close observation by the officers deployed saved the day because of the way it was hidden in the vehicle.

    “There was no and no suspect was arrested but investigations are still going on.”

     

     

  • Four killed in Gombe military barracks bomb blast

    At least three military men and a civilian were feared dead in Gombe when an explosion rocked a military formation in the state capital at about 11:30 am on Sunday.

    Sources said a suicide bomber, a woman approached the Quarter Guard area of the 301 Artillery Regiment under the pretence that she was going to lodge a complaint.

    She was said to have blown up herself and the three military personnel interrogating her at the entrance of the Quarter Guard.

    There was however disagreement  about the suicide bomber’s sex following widespread speculations that she was probably man who disguised as a woman to gain entrance to her destination.

    An eyewitness confirmed the explosion but however said he did not notice a woman around the spot when the  explosion occurred.

    Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, Fwaje Atajiri DSP over the issue proved abortive as he did not  pick his call.

     

     

     

  • Kingmakers reconstituted

    Kingmakers reconstituted

    The Gombe State Government has reconstituted kingmakers for Gombe emirate.

    Secretary to the State Government Abubakar Sulei Bage said: “The powers vested in Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo by Section 8 (4) of the creation of Emirates, Districts, Villages, Wards and appointment and deposition of Emirs and Chief Law of 2004 has approved the reconstitution of kingmakers for Gombe Emirate.

    “Members of the eight-man council are Wazirin Gombe (Chairman); Ubandoma of Gombe (Deputy Chairman); Dan Lawal of Gombe; Sarkin Malaman of Gombe; Sarkin Ban of Gombe; Chief Imam of Gombe; Ajiyan of Gombe and Durbin of Gombe.”

  • APC raises alarm over arrest, intimidation of members in Gombe

    APC raises alarm over arrest, intimidation of members in Gombe

    The All Progressives  Congress (APC) alleged yesterday systematic arrest, harassment and intimidation of its members and supporters in Gombe by the PDP-led government in the state and the police.

    Interim National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said in a statement in Lagos that the Gombe clampdown on APC members is similar to what obtains in Bayelsa State, “over which the party had cause to raise the alarm on May 14th, and is sure to extend to other states as the 2015 general elections approach, because of the desperation and anti-democratic credentials of the PDP.”

    The situation in Gombe State, Alhaji Mohammed said, is marked by the continuous destruction of APC properties, including offices, flags, posters, banners and billboards in most of the local government areas and party headquarters.

    ‘’Sadly, the police who are maintained by taxpayers’ funds and are expected to be non-partisan have been providing cover for the PDP agents who engage in this destructive spree, while being quick to arrest our members and supporters who try to resist the destruction of our party’s properties,” he said.

    ‘’In addition, the police engage in frequent arrest and detention of our youths and supporters, who are then charged to court in an action that is clearly aimed at weakening their resolve to exercise their constitutional rights of free association, and ultimately to destabilize our party.

    ‘’Such arrests and intimidation of our youth and other supporters have occurred in Dukku, Balanga, Kaltungo, Akko, Nafada and Gombe, and the latest occurred a few days ago involving the mass arrest of our members, especially youths.’’

    The party expressed concern that the arrests and other acts of intimidation are about to increase, as the Gombe Division of the Police has been tacitly empowered with a fleet of Hilux vans to destabilize the APC in Gombe Metropolis, which is the epi-centre of the arrest, detention and torture of APC members.

    The APC called the attention of the Police to the fact that the “destabilization of opposition political parties, arrest and intimidation of opposition members and supporters and the provision of cover for thugs to destroy the properties of opposition political parties are not part of the constitutional duties of the police, hence they should desist from engaging in what is clearly an unconstitutional act.”

    It asked the Police authorities to “ call their officers and men in Gombe to order, now that they have become an accomplice to political brigandage and also become glaringly partisan.’’

  • Photo: Gombe fire disaster

    Photo: Gombe fire disaster

  • Gombe Utd pummel Nembe City 6-0

    Gombe Utd pummel Nembe City 6-0

    GOMBE United recorded their biggest win of the season as they handed relegation bound Nembe City their worst defeat so far following a 6-0 bashing in a Match Day 11 game decided yesterday at the Pantami Stadium.

    The game which was brought forward at the instance of the Bayelsa team complains to the League Management Company (LMC) that their bus broke down while travelling to honour the game, saw the Savannah Scorpions making the most of a traumatised Nembe City side.

    Adamu Mohammed made history this season after he became the first Globacom Premier League player to score four goals in a match, while Haruna Babalo and Al-Hassan Yusuf too were on the goals scorers’ sheet too.

    Speaking with SportingLife after the match,Taminu Umar, the Savannah Scorpions media manager said: “It was a game we didn’t expect to have won easily, as our players outmatched their Nembe City counterparts.

    “However, I have to be candid with you; Gombe United could have won the game 10 or 12-0 as our players at one point became wasteful in front of goal.

    “It was as if the players were satisfied with the 6-0 scoreline or otherwise.”

    “Today’s (Thursday) result will definitely go a long way to spur our players as the matches come.

    “If the fixtures are correct, we should play away to Kano Pillars on Match Day 12 come next week Wednesday as we look forward to pick our first point on the road.”

    The Savannah Scorpions are now placed 13th on the log with 14 points.

  • Gombe Utd to ambush Sharks, Dolphins

    Gombe Utd to ambush Sharks, Dolphins

    Gombe United striker Sanusi Sani is hoping they will win their two straight home fixtures against Sharks and Dolphins in order to revive their fortunes in the Glo Premier League.

    Sani admitted they have not played up to their potential and are determined to improve on their position in the premiership by clinching the six points available from both matches. He added that they needed to justify the support given them by the management by rising to the occasion.

    “We are not just looking forward to beating Sharks, but clinching the six points from the two consecutive home matches we have next,” Sani told Supersport.com.

    “After Sharks we play Dolphins, and we need to win both games to make up for our poor start to the season. We’re not happy with the way we have started. Just one win in five games is nothing to write home about.

    “I haven’t scored any goals, while the team has only scored two goals. The Management has encouraged us. We went to Ibadan by air for our last game against Crown, but unfortunately we lost 1-0. We missed a penalty in the match.

    “It’s about time we get our act together and there isn’t a better opportunity than winning both games.

    “Hopefully, victory in both games would bring back the confidence that has been eluding us.”

    Sani said they would take the games one at a time. They are presently focusing on Sunday’s game against Sharks.

    “We are concentrating on the Sharks game for now. We had the opportunity to watch the Port Harcourt derby between Sharks and Dolphins on television. I think Sharks have some new players and are still finding their feet.

    “From what I saw we should be able to beat them, but we will have to work hard for it. With the caliber of players we have, once we get going there would be no stopping us,” he told Supersport.com.

    The Savannah Scorpions are 17th in the Glo Premier League with four points from five matches.

  • Gombe guarantee security of Corp Members

    Gombe guarantee security of Corp Members

    Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe state has guaranteed the security of the Batch ‘B’ NYSC Members posted to the state while they served for the mandatory one year.

    He also announced the presentation of N 17 million largesse of which N10,000 would be disbursed to each of the 1,717 corp members of Borno and Gombe states who have just undergone their orientation camp in the state.

    The Governor spoke at the NYSC permanent orientation camp at Malam-Sidi in Kwami local government area of Gombe state.

    He said the amount is to facilitate the Corp Members movement around their places of primary assignments.

    He noted that most of them would be posted to schools in the rural areas and therefore, he urged them to “help groom the students to be better citizens of tomorrow.”

    “You should therefore inculcate sound moral values to them as they will regard you as role models,” said the Governor.

    He charged them to make their host communities a haven by initiating and executing laudable projects that would be beneficial to them”, even as he urged them to accept their various places of primary assignments with good faith.

    “Your immense contribution will go a long way in consolidating the gains of the scheme in our dear state. You are expected to exhibit high sense of commitment and dedication towards contributing your own quota to the development of our dear nation,” the Governor told Corps Members.