The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Jigawa

  • Bomb manufacturer arrested in Jigawa

    Bomb manufacturer arrested in Jigawa

    Operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF) from the 3rd Brigade Kazaure Local Government Area of Jigawa State have arrested a terrorist, suspected to be bomb manufacturer in Kazaure after a gun battle in a residence.
     In a statement, the spokesman of the JTF, Captain Ikedichi Iweha  disclosed that one terrorist was apprehended after a gun battle; while three women and three toddlers were rescued unhurt.
    At the end of operations, Ikedichi said five AK 47 rifles, five magazines, and 333 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and various improvised explosive devices were recovered from the residence after an intensive search.
    According to Captain Iweha, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is an Improvised Explosive Devices manufacturer and his residence is used as a staging ground for terrorist activities in Kano.
    ‘’You may recollect that the JTF had earlier alerted members of the general public of fleeing terrorists from major theatres of operation in the North east axis of the country to ‘cooler ‘ areas due to pressure being mounted on them by the on-going military operations in these areas’’
    ‘’Members of the general public are once again enjoined to continue complimenting the efforts of the JTF by carrying out thorough checks on the background of persons who wish to rent properties, especially in cool zones or at the outskirt areas of major towns, adding that the 3 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Kano would not allow its area of operational responsibility to be used as haven for terrorists.’’
    ‘’The appeals of the JTF will continue to be complimented with the destruction of properties, where terrorists reside in and the arrests of their owners, emphasizing the  that the efforst of the JTF would not be successful without the cooperation of the residents.’’
     The spokesman  therefore urged  all residents not to relent in the fight against terrorists, who are seeking refuge by reporting any suspicious persons, regardless of gender for immediate action to prevent the loss of lives and properties.

    Also, the Captain Iweha enjoined members of the general public to go about their normal lawful businesses without any fear and to contact the JTF through its telephone numbers in the event of any distress for rapid response.

  • Jigawa Assembly summons finance commissioner

    The Jigawa State House of Assembly has summoned the state Commissioner of Finance to appear before it for allegedly delaying the progress of the state government’s low-cost housing policy. The Assembly blamed the commissioner for the delay in the implementation of the housing policy by ignoring the directive for the release of the sum of N95,161,934.07million for the purchase of a Hydro Fom block-making machines for mass production of blocks for the project. The House took the decision yesterday after a report presented by the Chairman, House Committee on Land, Housing, Urban Development and Regional Planning, Honourable Shehu Liman Wan. Part of the report recommended that the commissioner be invited to explain the reason behind the delay. Presenting the report, Hon. Wan wondered why the state ministry of finance has effused to release the funds for the purchase of the machines despite government’s directive to the State Housing Authority to commence work on the construction of houses. He said: “Even the Secretary to the State Government had to intervene, and spoke to the commissioner of finance to hasten action in the release of the fund, but yet no response. “The policy is in line with the desire of the Lamido administration to provide affordable housing accommodation to the people of the state. The block-making machines will provide employment opportunity to the teeming youths across the state, as well as generate revenue for the government.”

  • Jigawa sports scribe says athletes in top shape

    Jafaru Mohammed, the Secretary, Jigawa Sports Council, on Tuesday said that preparations for the National Youth Games (NYG) scheduled to hold from Dec. 5 to Dec. 15 in Abuja, had begun.

    Mohammed told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that an enabling environment would be provided by the state government, to aid the athletes’ preparations for the fiesta. He said that the athletes would commence camping from Nov. 18 to Dec. 2, before heading for the Games.

    “Our state is peaceful, there is no security threat. So, nothing will disturb or discourage our athletes from training and bringing out their best. We are intensifying our preparation, and we look forward to starting camping two weeks before the competition proper,” he said.

    Mohammed said that age would be a crucial benchmark in selecting the athletes, and that the Games were age-graded, with the aim of developing athletes at the grassroots. He said the sports council had organised competitions locally, to select athletes that would represent the state.

    “We have some local athletes on ground and more would be discovered at the Games, in the different age categories on merit,” the Jigawa official said.

    Mohammed expressed satisfaction with the experience of the technical crew, saying that they had the pedigree to produce a formidable team.

    “Our goal is to be at the top of the medals table, and I believe that with hard work and God on our side, we will make the state proud,” Mohammed said.

    He advised the government and corporate organisations to sponsor similar national competitions like the NYG, to discover sports talents for the country.

  • Jigawa to revamp grassroots sports development

    Director of Sports, Jigawa Sports Council (JSC), Mohammed Hadeja said on Wednesday that the council would soon revamp sporting activities at the grassroots.

    Hadejia told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on telephone that the drive would be in line with the state’s sports policy.

    “We are particular about grassroots development. The governor has mandated us to scout for young talents at the grassroots, that could be nurtured to stardom. So far, we have been able to discover quite a sizeable number of them and they have been performing fairly well. We will give them all the necessary support for their success, which will ultimately bring glory to the state,” he said.

    He also told NAN that the discovered athletes would be exposed to competitions in the North-east zone.

    He added that they would represent the state at the maiden U-17 National Youths Games (NYG), slated for Abuja from December 5 to Dec. 15.

  • Jigawa to revamp grassroots sports development

    Director of Sports, Jigawa Sports Council (JSC), Mohammed Hadeja said on Wednesday that the council would soon revamp sporting activities at the grassroots.

    Hadejia told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on telephone that the drive would be in line with the state’s sports policy.

    “We are particular about grassroots development. The governor has mandated us to scout for young talents at the grassroots, that could be nurtured to stardom. So far, we have been able to discover quite a sizeable number of them and they have been performing fairly well. We will give them all the necessary support for their success, which will ultimately bring glory to the state,” he said.

    He also told NAN that the discovered athletes would be exposed to competitions in the North-east zone.

    He added that they would represent the state at the maiden U-17 National Youths Games (NYG), slated for Abuja from December 5 to Dec. 15.

  • PDP wins Jigawa by-election

    The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) candidate, Alhaji Murtala M. Abubakar, has been declared the winner of last Saturday’s by-election into Ringim Constituency in the Jigawa State House of Assembly.

    Announcing the result, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), through its Chief Returning Officer, Malam Sani Hussaini Kazaure, said Alhaji Abubakar won the election with 22,430 votes, defeating his opponent from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Aminu Sule Sankara, who got 11, 536 votes.

    The chief returning officer said the election was conducted in 11 wards, which comprised 157 polling units.

    But an APC chieftain and a former member of the House of Representatives, Faruk Adamu Aliyu Nasiru, condemned the election. He said it was not free and fair, adding that violence marred it in many polling units.

    A combined team of soldiers and police at the weekend arrested the eldest son of a senator from the state for alleged electoral fraud. Police chief Kabiru Mohammed confirmed the arrest.

  • 14 perish in Hadejia-Kano road auto crash

    No fewer than fourteen people confirmed dead in an auto crash that occurred after Ringim town along Hadejia-Kano road Monday evening

    Eleven of the victims were were palace guard to the Emir of Hadejia in Jigawa State.

    Reports from the state had it that the palace guards were in an 18-seater bus from Hadejia en route Kano to receive the Emir, His Highness Alhaji Adamu Abubakar Maje Haruna at Aminu Kano International Airport when the accident took place.

    Confirming the incident to our reporter in the state, the Information Officer of Hadejia Local Government, Muhammad Garba Talaki said the accident was as a result of heavy downpour at that time the bus conveying the palace guards had a head-on collision with tanker containing highly inflammable content.

    The vehicle which was coming from the opposite direction (Kano side) to Hadejia, instantly went up in flames burned all the people occupants of the bus beyond recognition.

    He said the palace guards and occupants of the trailer were burnt while their bodies had been taken to Hadejia for burial.

    An eye witness, Malam Shuaibu said “their (Royal Guard) bus was coming from Hadejia to Kano on a top speed, when it had a head-on collision with the tanker trailer and the tanker caught fire from behind. Within some seconds, all the vehilces where in flame”.

  • NSCDC arrests impersonator in Jigawa

    NSCDC arrests impersonator in Jigawa

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Jigawa on Thursday said it arrested a 27-year-old man for allegedly parading himself as an officer of the command.

    The NSCDC Commandant in the state, Mr Muhammad Gidado, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse that the suspect was arrested on Wednesday in Kiyawa Local Government Area.

    Gidado said that the arrest was made after the command received complaints from people patronising the popular Shuwarin market in Kiyawa town.

    He said that the suspect allegedly paraded himself as an officer of the civil defence and extorted money from members of the public.

    “We arrested the suspect after receiving complaints from people who patronised the Shuwarin market in Kiyawa town.

    “The suspect paraded himself as a staff of the command and collected money from people who came to the market,” he said.

    The commandant said that the suspect had confessed to committing the offence, adding that he would soon be arraigned in the court. (NAN)

  • Sacked policeman kills man, 40, in Jigawa

    A dismissed policeman has killed a 40-year-old man, simply identified as Malam Magaji, and injured three others at Galadanchi Quarters in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

    The Commandant of the state Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Malam Muhammad Gigado Fari, addressed reporters on the killing.

    He identified the killer as “Abbati, a former police constable”.

    The NSCDC commandant said Abbati “attacked and killed a middle-aged man over a minor dispute”.

    He gave the name of the victim as Magaji Ringim who, until his death, was a worker at the School of Legal Studies, Ringim.

    Three others, Auwalu Dan Dungure, Amadu Abdullahi and Hafizu Aminu, were seriously injured and taken to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, for treatment.

    The suspect was reportedly arrested by the NSCDC and the police.

  • Tears as Jigawa Assembly bids Deputy Speaker final bye

    MEMBERS of the Jigawa State House of Assembly yesterday wept during a valedictory session for the late Deputy Speaker Inuwa Sule Udi.

    The late Deputy Speaker died last Thursday night in an auto accident on the Kano-Ringim-Hadejia Road. He was 56.

    The special session was attended by the State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Salisu Mamuda and his deputy; Majority Leader Adamu Jafaru; the Chairman of Ringim Local Government, Alhaji Murtala Abubakar as well as several people from Udi’s constituency.

    Opening the session, Speaker Adamu Ahmed Sarawa described the late Udi as hard working, loyal and committed.

    The Speaker said: “In all our stay with him as my deputy for over six years, he never disobeyed me. We never had any misunderstanding. He also never refused my orders.

    “I was optimistic and confident in him to represents the Assembly and me on whatever issue or matter. That’s because I never expected failure or a misrepresentation.”

    The Speaker, who broke down in tears, prayed for his former deputy’s soul to rest in peace.

    The House Leader, the Majority Whip and other members paid glowing tributes to the late Udi.

    They urged the House leadership to name an important place after him.

    They prayed Allah to “grant him Al-Jannah fir’daous”.

    The late Udi is survived by two wives, 18 children, and grand-children.