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NSCDC records 1,204 criminal, civil cases in Jigawa

The Jigawa Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC ) recorded 1,204 cases comprising 321 criminal and 883 civil matters in 2017.

The state Commandant of the corps, Mr Muhammad Durumin-Iya, made the disclosure at a news conference in Dutse on Monday.

Durumin-Iya said that the command recorded 777 cases made up of 144 criminal and 633 civil cases in 2016.

The commandant said that the cases recorded in 2017 included armed robbery, theft, fraud, gross indecency, conspiracy and gross misconduct.

According to the commandant, the other cases included, assault, arson, trespass, breach of trust, homosexuality, rape and defilement.

Read also: NSCDC arrests 57 in Edo

He said that the command also recorded cases of family, contract, communal, land, tenancy, farmers/herdsmen disputes as well as cases of diversion of petroleum products, larceny, trespass, vandalism and drug abuse.

He said that the command secured 180 convictions out of the 321 criminal cases in 2017, adding that 134 cases were transferred to the relevant agencies while seven were pending.

The commandant said that all the 883 civil cases were settled out of court by the command.

Durumin-Iya attributed the increase in the cases to urbanisation, increase in population, unemployment, rural and urban drift, and harsh economic situation.

He called for collaboration of security agencies in the state in tackling crime.

“The solutions to the problem should include synergy of all security agencies, training and re-training of officers and men, aggressive public awareness campaigns and cooperation from the general public,” he said.

According to him, lack of adequate operational vehicles and office accommodation in the 27 LGAs of the state had been militating against the command’s operations.

Durumin-Iya called on the federal, state and local governments to come to the aid of the command.

He, however, hailed the state government for support, and thanked the mass media for publicising activities of the command.

The commandant also hailed officers and men of the command for dedication, and called for continued support and cooperation of the people of the state.

NAN

January 8, 2018
Kazaure Emirate distributes grains to 5,538 families

Kazaure Emirate Council, Jigawa, on Friday said it had distributed grain worth N12 million as Zakkat ( alms ) to 5,538 families in the area.

Malam Gambo Garba, the spokesperson of the emirate, disclosed this in an interview in Dutse.

Garba said the grain was distributed to deserving families in three districts of the emirate.

Read also: Jigawa emirate gives Zakkat to district heads

He commended those who voluntarily gave out alms in support of the needy and reaffirmed the commitment of the emirate towards uplifting the living standard of the people of the area.

Garba urged wealthy people in the area to support the vulnerable and less privileged in the society to reduce poverty in emirate.

NAN

January 5, 2018
Petrol scarcity bites harder in Jigawa

As petrol scarcity bites harder in Dutse, residents have urged the Federal Government to take decisive measures to restore normalcy in the supply of the product to the Jigawa capital.

A correspondent who visited all the filling stations in Jigawa state capital, reported that only the NNPC Mega Station was dispensing petroleum products to long queues of vehicles.

A cross section of the motorists on Friday noted that the scarcity was artificial, pointing accusing fingers at activities of economic saboteurs.

A resident, Malam Abubakar Umar, said: “People, especially the poor, are exposed to difficulties in sourcing for the product due to its acute scarcity.

“The Federal Government must adopt practical measures to check petrol scarcity; such measures are imperative to address this lingering problem once and for all.”

Another resident, Malam Sani Muhammad, said that the exorbitant prices of petrol had exposed many people to unnecessary hardships and forced some to park their vehicles and alternated with commercial ones.

Read also: Abuja residents spend Christmas in petrol queues

Muhammad, who attributed the problem to diversion of the product and hike in its prices by some petroleum marketers, added “even the price of ordinary kola-nuts has now increased”.

A civil servant, Malam Ahmad Balarabe, bemoaned the devastating effect of the scarcity on many residents in the state capital.

“Look at the situation most of us find ourselves now; to fuel vehicles, to travel, to buy food stuff, in fact, to do everything now has become a problem.

“Almost everything is affected by the present fuel scarcity across the country.

“So the Federal government and other parties concerned should do everything possible within their powers to bring an end to this unnecessary hardship we are experiencing.

“However, we know that the Federal Government is doing its best for Nigerians,” Balarabe said.

As at Jan. 4, only the Dutse NNPC Mega Station was selling the commodity to consumers at the official pump price of N145 per litre.

However, the product is sold for between N250 and N300 per litre at the black market.

NAN

January 5, 2018
15 die in Jigawa accident

About 15 persons died in last Saturday’s accident involving a Sharon bus and a truck on Gujungu-Gumel road in Kaugama Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

Police spokesman Abdu Jinjiri told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday that the accident happened about 7.30 pm.

According to him, the Sharon vehicle, which should contain seven passengers, was overloaded with 14 people.

He said: “A seven passenger-capacity vehicle overloaded with 14 passengers rammed into a truck coming from the opposite direction on Gujungu-Gumel road.

“Nine of the passengers died on the spot, while the rest were rushed to Gumel General Hospital. Nine men, including the driver of the Sharon bus, four women and two children, died.

“It was possible the driver was over speeding but investigation will reveal the real cause of the accident.”

The truck driver, 22, is in police custody, he added.

January 1, 2018
Police arrest suspected robbers in Jigawa

The Police Command in Jigawa on Wednesday said it had arrested four suspected armed robbers in Dutse Local Government Area of the state.

The command’s Spokesman, SP Abdu Jinjiri, said in Dutse that the suspects were arrested in Nerawa village at about 3:30 a.m.

Jinjiri said the suspects, aged between 22 and 30, were arrested by a joint team of police and a vigilance group operating in the area.

He said the suspects allegedly attacked and robbed one Alhaji Umar Maiwake at his residence in Kudai village at about 3 a.m.

“The three suspects were arrested over alleged criminal conspiracy, trespass, causing grievous hurt and armed robbery.

“The incident was reported at about 3:30 a.m. by one of the residents of the area that a group of 11 armed robbers stormed the residence of the victim at about 3 a.m. and robbed him of two mobile phones, unspecified amount of money and inflicted injuries on him.

Read also: 2 robbery suspects killed in Nsukka

“Footsteps followed by joint patrol team between police and vigilante to Nerawa village led to the arrest of the four of the suspects,” Jinjiri said.

He said one cow and two motorcycles ( Bajaj ) suspected to have been stolen were recovered from the suspects during the arrest.

The spokesman added that the victim was rushed to Federal University Dutse ( FUD ) Teaching Hospital, Dutse, for medical attention.

He said investigation into the case had begun, after which the suspects would be charged to court.

NAN

December 20, 2017
Jigawa begins disbursement of N57.4m grant to 5,740

The Jigawa Government has commenced the disbursement of N57.4 million grants to 5,740 small-scale business holders across the state.

Special Adviser to Governor on Economic Empowerment, Alhaji Muhammad Mujaddadi, said 20 beneficiaries were selected from each of the eleven wards in Dutse Local Government Area.

He said the beneficiaries included local food vendors, engine oil sellers and groundnut millers.

He explained that N2.2 million was disbursed to the beneficiaries as 110 of them received N5,000 each while 55 of them received N10,000 each and 55 others also received N20,000 each.

The governor’s aide pointed out that the fund was not a loan, but a free from the state government.

Mujaddadi said the grant was one of the administrations’ efforts at enhancing the economic fortunes of the under-privileged people in the state.

He pointed out that the programme was also to encourage women, particularly those in rural areas, to engage in productive activities.

‘’This money was distributed to the beneficiaries for free to enhance their small businesses. An eight-member committee was set up to select the beneficiaries irrespective of their political affiliations or backgrounds.

‘’The government just saw the need to assist small scale business holders across the state, considering the economic hardship in the state and the country at large,’’ Mujaddadi said.

He said the gesture would be extended to the rest 26 local government areas of the state, where another batch of 20 beneficiaries would be selected from each of the wards.

‘’This one in Dutse is just the starting point as the committee will go to the other 26 local government areas and do the same thing,” he said.

He urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the gesture so as to achieve the desired goals.

December 20, 2017
Legislative council sets up committee on missing property

The Legislative Council of Gwaram Local Government of Jigawa has inaugurated a six-member committee to investigate some missing property in its various offices.

The Information Officer of the local government, Alhaji Nasiru Yusif, announced this in Dutse on Tuesday.

Yusif said the committee was inaugurated during the council’s sitting, presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Isyaku Mustapha, on Monday.

He explained that the committee was expected to investigate the missing of property at the offices of the legislators, the Chairman’s official residence, staff quarters, as well as offices of Heads of Department.

Read also: Jigawa gets N420m from Fed Govt

The spokesman added that the deputy speaker, who described the rampant cases of theft as “unfortunate”, said that the legislative council decided to investigate the issue to end the menace.

According to him, Mustapha urged members of the committee to justify the confidence reposed on them by identifying the culprits and the property stolen.

The committee has Malam Isa Usaini as Chairman and Isyaku Mustapha as Secretary, while others include Usman Haruna, Abdu Adamu and Ibrahim Musa.

It has two weeks to submit its report.

NAN

December 19, 2017
NDLEA arrests 617 suspects, recover drugs in Jigawa

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA ) command in Jigawa says it arrested over 617 suspects and recovered 3.5 tonnes of assorted narcotics between January and December 13 in the state.

The NDLEA Commander in the state, Josephine Obi, made this known at a news conference in Dutse on Monday.

Obi said that out of the 617 arrested suspects, the command had secured conviction of 106 to various jail terms ranging from six to 36 months imprisoment.

He added that 450 of the suspects had been counseled by the command within the period under review.

The commandant pointed out that 70 per cent of the seized drugs was psychotropic substances.

He added that “the jigawa command of the NDLEA from January to December 13, despite challenges faced, has achieved a lot in its drug war viz-a-viz arrest and seizure, prosecution and counselling.

“The command arrested over 617 suspects within the period under review, while a total seizure quantity of of 3.5 tonnes of various types of illicit drugs was made.

“The command also convicted 106 drug suspects to various jail terms, while 450 of suspects were counseled.”

Read Also: NDLEA arrest 250 suspects, seize drugs in Delta

According to her, the agency conducted Drug Education activities in the state aimed at educating students and individuals of the dangers of drug abuse and trafficking.

Obi noted that the command was able to reach more than 40,000 people through various public enlightenments it carried out in schools, markets and places of public interest.

“We also conducted about 11 programmes to educate people on the dangers of drug abuse and trafficking.

“The programmes were aimed at creating awareness and counseling drug users as well as enhancing activities of relevant stakeholders’ involvement in fighting drug menace.

“Drug-Free Clubs were also established in various schools within the state,” Obi explained.

She, therefore, urged the public to always give the command credible information that would assist it in tackling the menace of abuse of illicit drugs.

“The abuse of psychotropic substance and cough syrup had been a worrisome development which the command had been battling to address.

“All hands must be on deck to tackle the menace.”

December 18, 2017
Eight die in Jigawa accident

Eight persons died in an accident at Jahun roundabout in Jahun Local Government Area at the weekend. An expectant woman was among the victims.

An over speeding Honda Civic (AA 160 KMC?), approaching from Gujungu Jahun road, tried to avert colliding into the roundabout, but instead hit motorist waiting at a bus stop.

An eyewitness said victims were mostly women and children, and a male, while the injured were rushed to Jahun General Hospital.

Another eyewitness said efforts to rescue the expectant woman and her baby were unsuccessful; both died after the woman was operated upon.

The driver, who was said to be alone in the vehicle, ran away and abandoned the badly car at the scene.

December 18, 2017
Argungu Fishing Festival: FG, tourism stakeholders to partner Kebbi State

Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria ( FTAN ) says it will partner with the Kebbi State Government to revamp the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival.

Mr Nura Sani Kangiwa, the Vice President of FTAN ( North West Zone ), made this known in an interview in Abuja on Monday.

Kangiwa said that this was part of the decisions reached at the 9^th National Council on Tourism, Culture and National Orientation conference held in Dutse, Jigawa State recently.

The National Council on Tourism, Culture and National Orientation is an annual gathering aimed at bringing together stakeholders to discuss ways the sector can contribute effectively to improve the country’s Gross Domestic Products ( GDP ).

Kangiwa said that part of the decisions reached at the meeting was the revamping of the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival as it was set to make a big comeback.

“Based on the resolution recently reached by the National Council on Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, it was agreed that the Federal Government and all tourism stakeholders will partake in the revamping of the festival.

“So, all tourism stakeholders are going to partner with the Kebbi State Government to ensure that the festival, which has been comatose for some years is revived in order to promote our country as a tourism destination,” he said.

He said that the Federal Government in its effort to diversify the economy had recognised the creative industry, which culture and tourism were integral part aimed at creating jobs and improve foreign exchange earnings.

Read also: Argungu Festival shines at UNESCO’s session

“This was reflected in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017 to 2020.

“Cultural Tourism is a source of revenue generation. As an “invisible export” it creates a flow of foreign currency into the economy of a nation.

“The Culture and Tourism Sector is gaining more recognition and visibility and evolving economic activities capable of reducing extreme poverty, creating jobs and generating revenues for national growth and development.

“Therefore, in line with the mission of the current political dispensation for diversification of economic activities, revamping the Argungu International Fishing Festival will no doubt satisfy the yearnings of our people,” he said.

Kangiwa, who is `Turakin Kebbi’ described the Argungu International Fishng and Cultural Festival as “second to none in Africa’’.

“It has been a beehive of activities for fun seeking tourists for decades. It is a cornucopia of cultural heritage and it astonished the world in both authenticity and variety of contents.

“It is a festival that is already a tourism product that is acclaimed worldwide; no doubt UNESCO inscribed it in its prestigious list of Intangible Cultural Heritage for Humanity.

“A study from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) reveals that 80 per cent of international tourists visit destinations on the world heritage list.

“This no doubt gave Kebbi honour, dignity and pride,” he said.

The Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival is expected to hold in March 2018.

The four-day yearly festival held in Kebbi is one of Nigeria’s internationally recognised tourism attractions.

The festival has not been held since the last edition in 2009 largely due to the security situation the country has been faced with and this had posed a huge revenue loss to the local economy and the country.

On the issue of security, Kangiwa said Kebbi State was undoubtedly the safest state in the country in spite of its diverse religious and ethnic groups, adding that the level of youth restiveness and religious crisis remained the lowest.

NAN

December 11, 2017