The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Gov. Abdulaziz Yari

  • Banditry: Troops arrest Anka LGA Vice chairman

    Troops of the “Operation Sharan Daji” in Zamfara have arrested the Vice Chairman of Anka Local Government of the state, Mr Yahuza Wuya for alleged link to bandits.

    The Acting Information Officer of the operation, Maj. Clement Abiade confirmed the arrest of Wuya in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja Thursday.

    Abiade said the council vice chairman was picked up on April 13 based on credible intelligence linking him to bandits’ activities in Wuya and Sunke communities.

    He alleged that Wuya “seamlessly assist in selling rustled/stolen cows and donkeys as well as giving information about troops, other security agencies and vigilantes’ movement to the bandits.’’

    The acting information officer also alleged that the suspect aided “the release of a notorious gun runner (Sani Yaro) from the Gusau prison.’’

    In another related development, Abiade said troops arrested two suspected informants along Burukusuma-Sabon Birni road in Sokoto State.

    He named them as Malam Ibrahim Bangaje and Mallam Ado Bayero.

    Abiade said that they would be handed over to relevant security agency for possible prosecution after initial investigation.

    Meanwhile, the Force Commander Operation Sharan Daji, Maj.-Gen. Hakeem Otiki has restated the commitment of troops toward enduring peace in Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi and Sokoto states.

    Otiki, who is the GOC 8 Division Sokoto, appealed to the public to support the operation by reporting suspicious activities and movement of bandits to nearest security agencies for prompt action.

    NAN reports that on April 10, Gov.  Abdulaziz Yari, said 3,526 persons were killed by armed bandits in the state in the last five years.

    Speaking during a Town Hall Meeting attended by the acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, Yari said nearly 500 villages had also been devastated and 8,219 persons were injured, some are still in critical condition.

    He also said that over 13,000 hectares of farmlands were either destroyed or made useless as the farmers can no longer farm them.

    “The economy of the state has seriously suffered because thousands of shops were destroyed by the rampaging bandits who had displaced thousands of our people from their places of abode, many of whom cannot sleep with their two eyes closed because of fear,” he added.

    Yari said the government had written volumes of reports containing over 7,000 pages, giving details of the crises right from the beginning to the infiltration from Libya and Boko Haram.

    He disclosed that the government was aware of eight prominent bandits camps at different bush locations in the state, and urged that they should all be neutralized in order to decimate the criminals.

  • Yari presents N135.3bn budget for 2019

    Zamfara State Governor, Abdula’ziz Yari on Monday, presented a budget of N135.32 billion for the 2019 fiscal to the state Assembly for approval.

    Yari said that N62.71 billion was proposed for recurrent expenditure while N72.61 billion was earmarked for capital expenditure.

    According to Yari, the N72.61 billion allocated the Capital Expenditure would go agriculture, livestock, forestry, manufacturing, power supply, transport, commerce, cooperatives and finance.

    The governor explained that Transport sector was allocated N15.38 billion, Agricultural, N3.45 billion; Power Supply, N2.55 billion; Manufacturing, N1.13 billion.

    Also Livestock takes N570 million; Forestry, N160 million; Fisheries, N85 million, while Commerce, Cooperatives and Finance was allocated N125 million.

    He said that the Social Service Sector was allocated N22.96 billion, representing 32%, with education getting the highest allocation of N11.170 billion.

    ”This is followed by Health with N8,450,000,000.00, Information with N1,645,000,000.00, Youth with
    N830,000,000.00 and Social Welfare with N865,000,000.00,” he said.

    He added that the Environment Sector would receive N16.59 billion, representing 23% of the budget size.

    Yari thanked members of the House
    for their support, encouragement, understanding and cooperation throughout his tenure.

    ”This hallowed chamber is indeed the backbone of our success.

    ”I, therefore, commend your contributions to the general success of our administration from
    inception to date.”

    He also thanked people of the state, saying: ”I cannot thank you enough for your immense support, cooperation and understanding that enabled us to fulfil most of our campaign promises, especially during the turbulent times in the history of our state.

    ”I deeply appreciate your prayers, patience, and understanding throughout our moments of trial.

    ”This cooperation from you has remained our source of hope and strength.

    ”I wish to call on the entire people of our state to extend their legendary support and cooperation to the incoming administration which is going to be a government of continuity so that it will succeed the same way this administration had succeeded.”

    Responding, the Speaker, Alhaji Sanusi Rikiji, pledged speedy passage of the budget. (NAN)

  • How APC won Zamfara elections in 24 hours, by Yari

    Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara has attributed the successes recorded by the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the Feb. 23 and March 9 general elections in the state despite the party’s crisis to “divine intervention’’.

    Yari disclosed this when he fielded questions from State House correspondents in Abuja on Friday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the APC was allowed to field candidates for all the elections in the state only a week before the first day of elections (Feb. 23) when a Court of Appeal in Sokoto, Sokoto State, reversed an earlier decision of a lower court, which had banned the party from the elections.

    The Zamfara State Collation Officer, Prof. Kabir Bala of the Ahmadu Bello (ABU) Zaria, had announced that the APC Presidential candidate, President Buhari, won the Feb. 23 presidential election in the state with 438,682 votes while the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, scored 125,423 votes.

    Bala also disclosed that the APC had won the three senatorial seats and the seven seats in the House of Representatives from the state in the Feb. 23 presidential and parliamentary elections.

    He said the APC governorship candidate won the state governorship election with 534,541 to defeat Bello Muhammad Mutawalle of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who got 189,452 while the APC also won all the 24 seats in the Zamfara State House of Assembly.

    Yari, who spoke to State House correspondents in Abuja on Friday, said he was happy with the outcome of the elections, saying that it was God that gave this political victory to the APC in the state.

    He said: “You know the turmoil that Zamfara elections put on Nigeria, disagreements upon disagreements, from the party to court and then to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which disagreed.

    ”Then, we went back to court and finally under 24 hours, we were cleared and we were back on the ballot box.

    “Only God has done this and given us the victory.

    “I am very happy with the outcome of the elections. I also want to appreciate my people, despite the fact that some people felt I was carried away by the activities at the centre, insinuating I abandoned the seat, especially with the security problem, but the people are aware of what the administration has been doing and they appreciate it.

    “Despite the daily attacks, the security agencies were up and doing and their presence in the state was well appreciated by the people.

    “They also appreciated the efforts of Mr President which took us to where we are. Like I said only God could have done it.’’

    The governor also disclosed that he had succeeded in reconciling all the aggrieved APC aspirants in the state.

    He said his pass experience as party chairman in the state, member, House of Representatives and governor for eight years had helped him to restore peace and tranquility within the governing APC in the state.

    “In my state, there were only seven or eight people contesting for the governorship position and I have said it that if I could preside over primaries where 18 people contested and succeeded, why can’t I manage eight, nine or 10 in my state?

    “I have been on ground since 1999 to date and I know the system and how it works.

    “I have been party secretary, party chairman, House of Representative and a two-term Governor, is with this experience that I was able to manage.

    “Unfortunately, there were a lot of misunderstanding between the party in the state and the national body but in the end we ended in the court and the court gave the verdict and INEC compiled.

    “Though, it came late, but if you are with the grassroots definitely everything must work well.

    “The people appreciated what we have been doing and when it came to voting, they voted wisely,’’ he added.

    Yari, whose tenure as chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum would expire by May 29, expressed the hope that the forum would remain united and work in tandem with the federal government’s agenda.(NAN)

  • Informants fueling insecurity in Zamfara – Yari

    Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara has blamed the continued killings in the state on informants who support the bandits and kidnappers.

    Yari stated this at a press conference in Gusau on Thursday, urging the people of the state to support the government in tackling the situation.

    He said that both state and federal governments, as well as security agencies, had been making efforts to address the situation.

    Read also: Yari supports ‘State of Emergency’ in Zamfara

    He lamented that informants had made it difficult for security agencies in the state to operate effectively.

    The governor said that most of the bandits and kidnappers received information from people in the state, which he said was “unfortunate”.

    He said that President Muhammadu Buhari was doing his best to end the situation and had deployed more security personnel to the state.

    “Before Buhari’s administration, we have few security personnel in this state, but today we have about 4000 security personnel including Army, Police and Civil Defence.

    “I held a meeting earlier today with traditional rulers and local government council chairmen. We are working hand in hand with all stakeholders to ensure that we end this situation,” he said.

    He urged the people of the state to stop blaming the government for security challenges.

    “I am calling on communities to always support security agencies with information on suspicious movement in their respective areas,” he said. (NAN)

  • Yari offers N1m reward on every illegal AK 47 rifle

    Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara on Thursday announced a reward of N1 million on every illegal AK 47 rifle returned to the state government.

    The governor, who announced this at a news conference in Gusau, said the gesture had become necessary following the unabated increase in crime, especially abduction in the state.

    He wondered why “in 2015, with just about 250 soldiers, the crime rate was low but with over 1,600 soldiers of different categories, we cannot contain crime in the state”.

    He said with the proposed engagement of 8,500 youths as civilian task force, those involved would be better equipped in the fight against armed banditry, cattle rustling and kidnapping in the state.

    He said that many of the youths that would be engaged would come from the rural areas where the crime rate was higher.

    “I am confident that since the locals know the people in their surroundings, they will be quick in detecting any new comer or suspicious movement.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that armed bandits have continued to storm various communities in the state, especially at the rural areas where they kill, maim, abduct people and burn houses, shops and other properties. (NAN)

  • Police intercept vehicles carrying arms in Zamfara

    Police intercept vehicles carrying arms in Zamfara

    The Zamfara State Police Command on Wednesday intercepted two vehicles carrying arms in different parts of the state.

    The spokesman of the command, Mr Muhammad Shehu, confirmed the development in Gusau.

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that items recovered from the vehicles were three AK47 riffles, an automatic pistol, locally-made pistol, magazines and live ammunitions.

    According to him, other items recovered include N103, 435 cash, ATM card, three voters’ cards, military camouflage and a stamp of the Cattle Traders Association of Nigeria in the Bukuru Local Government Area of Plateau.

    Shehu said that the drivers of the two cars, a Honda Civic marked Sokoto State BDN358AA and another marked Kano State KMC 321AA, were arrested and were now assisting the police in investigations.

    The spokesman explained that a police patrol team arrested one of the suspects, a native of Birnin-Yero village in the Shinkafi Local Government Council of Sokoto State on Sept. 25 on the Gusau-Sokoto highway

    He named items recovered from the vehicle as two AK 47 Riffles with number 3745485 and 1977CK22457 respectively and five magazines with 165 rounds of live ammunition,

    “Others items recovered are N68, 750 cash, ATM card and three 3 voters’ cards, military camouflage and several mobile phones.’’

    He said also that the police similarly, caught another suspect, a native of Bassa Local Government Council in Plateau on the Kauran-Namoda-Jibiya road.

    Shehu said that exhibits recovered in the man’s vehicle were one AK 47 riffle with number 804151, two magazines with 20 rounds of live ammunition and one pistol with four bullets.

    “Other items recovered are a locally-made pistol, eight mobile phones, cash of N34,685, two pairs of military camouflage and a stamp of the Cattle Traders Association of Nigeria, Bukuru Local Government Area of Plateau State.”

    The police image maker said that investigation into the matter was going on at the command’s Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, after which the suspects would be charged to court.

    He said that the successes recorded showed the level of commitment of the command led by the Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Shaba Alkali.

    Shehu assured residents of the state of adequate security coverage and the determination of the command to reduce crime in the state.

    He appealed to members of the public to always cooperate with the police and other security agencies in the state.

    “Therefore, we should support the police with useful information on security from our respective areas.”

    Meanwhile, Gov. Abdul’aziz Yari has chided security agencies in the state for their poor performances in tackling security challenges in the state.

    Yari, who voiced his displeasure over the poor security in the state, while meeting with heads of security agencies in the state, described the security situation as worrisome.

  • Yari replies critics over security expenditure

    Yari replies critics over security expenditure

    Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara state said he had actually spent over N13 billion on security to contain challenges faced by communities in the state.

    He made the clarification when he received the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouq who paid him a courtesy visit in Gusau on Thursday.

    NAN reports that the Federal Commissioner was in the state to present relief materials donated by the Federal Government to Internally Displaced Persons (IPDs).

    The governor, who, was reacting to critics on his request to federal government to refund the state government the sum of N13 billion it spent in fighting crime in the state in the last five years.

    The governor said, “people should learn to respect their leaders and what the leaders say and ask for clarification on what they do not know.”

    He said armed bandits, cattle rustlers and kidnappers had caused lots of damages to people’s lives and property during the period until the state government made frantic efforts to contain the situation.

    He further explained that the state government constituted a committee which was chaired by the Deputy Governor, Mallam Ibrahim Wakkala pointing out that the committee negotiated with the bandits.

    This, he said, resulted in many of them renouncing the criminal act and surrendering their weapons.

    He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to refund the money to the state government.

    NAN recalled that Gov. Yari first requested for the refund of the money when the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mansur Dan-Ali came to the state on an official visit in March.

  •  Meningitis: Yari visits over 500 patients in hospitals

     Meningitis: Yari visits over 500 patients in hospitals

    Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State on Monday paid unscheduled visits to no fewer than 500 victims of meningitis currently receiving treatment at various hospitals in the state.

    The governor was accompanied on the visits by members of the state’s Meningitis Control Committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Abdullahi Shinkafi, and other top government officials.

    The governor interacted with individual patients, sympathized with their conditions and encouraged them during the visit to no less than 10 hospitals across the state.

    Yari said the state government had made adequate provision for their treatment and assured them that his administration would continue to handle such emergency cases free of charge.

    The governor, who, said he was sad with the way many of the patients were lying on only mats spread on sand ordered immediate supply of mattresses to all the centres.

    He said anyone caught selling drugs meant for the treatment of the patients would have himself to blame.

    He said that the chairman of the committee should be briefing him regularly on its activities, especially, on why some patients had to be buying drugs or sleeping on the ground.

    Yari said this was also exposing the patients to other diseases.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the patients were receiving treatments in camps located in Gusau, Kaura-Namoda, Shinkafi, Moriki and Talata-Mafara hospitals and others.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there had been an outbreak of the diseases in neighbouring states that claimed several lives.

  • Scores of cattle rustlers, armed bandits flee Zamfara- Buratai

    Scores of cattle rustlers, armed bandits flee Zamfara- Buratai

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai in Gusau on Thursday said that intelligence reports indicated that many cattle rustlers and bandits were already fleeing the forest in Gusau.

    Buratai made the disclosure during activities to mark the Army Day celebration in Gusau.

    “We have also got the report that many of the criminals are already on the run in the forest.

    “We understand that they are trying to escape from the ongoing operation but this will not deter us from going on with the operations,” he said.

    He noted that the Army would sustain the offensive against the criminals until all known enclaves in the forest were cleared.

    The Army chief assured the people of the state and residents of the entire North-West that the present efforts would address the security challenge in the region.

    On his part, Gov. Abdulaziz Yari said local vigilantes and members of some border communities in the state had reported seeing some of the criminals escaping from the Dansadau forest.

    He said some of the bandits had informed the communities that they were fleeing their enclaves in the forest with plans to return in the future.

    Yari said there was need for the military to establish a unit near the troubled communities to forestall a re-occurrence of the attacks on communities by the criminals.

    “We have received reports from our people in the border towns and villages about the mass movement of the criminals.

    “Many of them are reported to have escaped to villages across the border outside Nigeria for fear of the Army.

    “Our worry is that they may return after the soldiers leave, they indeed wrote to the communities that they were leaving to return after the military operation.

    “The solution, therefore, is for the Federal Government to establish an Army unit in the state to deter these criminals from returning,” he said.

    He commended the efforts put on ground so far to address the menace of cattle rustling and armed banditry.

    Yari said the state had lost so much to the activities of both rustlers and armed bandits in the state.

    Scores of bandits and cattle rustlers have been arrested by the Army in recent operations in the North-West while thousands of cattle have also been recovered in different operations by security agencies in the region.