The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kaduna state

  • El-Rufai urged to be magnanimous in victory

    The Movement for Islamic Centre Awareness (MICA), Kaduna State chapter, has advised  Governor Nasir El Rufai to ensure even distribution of developmental projects across the 23 local governments.

    El Rufai was re-elected for another four years term after he was announced winner of the Kaduna State Governorship election on Monday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    In a congratulatory message to the Governor, the organisation through its General Secretary, Abu Ni’inah, described El-Rufai’s victory at the poll as a testament of his administration’s untiring, doggedness and uncommon commitment to good governance, security, economic prosperity and high level of industry.

    MICA urged well-meaning Kaduna State indigenes as well as residents to cooperate with the government to move the state forward.

    Read also: 12 feared killed, nine injured as armed men attack Kaduna community

    The statement reads: “Your resounding victory and re-election as the Governor of Kaduna State for the next four years does not come as a surprise to us who are attentive political watchers in the state.  It is a testament of your administration’s uncommon commitment to good governance, security, economic prosperity and high level of industry.

    “This is not only a victory for your party, the All Progressive Congress (APC), but a victory for all progressive-thinking people of Kaduna State.  MICA Kaduna, is committed to education, social welfare and health-care access for the downtrodden in the society. We welcome the chance of partnering with us to take Kaduna State to greater heights.

  • El-Rufa’i seeks opposition parties’ support to build better Kaduna State

    The re-elected Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufa’i has called on the people of the state, irrespective of their political parties, to join hands with his administration in building a better state.

    El-Rufa’i made the appeal in his acceptance speech on his reelection as Governor of the state, on Monday in Kaduna.

    “In this moment of victory, we acknowledge and respect the preferences of our fellow citizens who did not vote for us.

    “We would listen to their concerns, but we invite them to join hands with us so that we can together build a better Kaduna State’’, he said.

    The governor said that since the elections were over, it was time to come together and continue the work of rebuilding the state.

    “Where there has been strife, let us seek calm through accord and conciliation.

    “Where suspicion and ill-will have reigned, let us enthrone goodwill. We can do so much for the good of our state and its entire people when we come together.

    “We are committed to uniting the state around common values, anchored on equal citizenship, law and order, and protection of constitutional rights.”

    He assured that the administration was committed to tackling poverty, improving health care, providing decent education, creating jobs for youths, and securing all communities.

    El-Rufa’i also thanked the people for their massive support, adding that with their votes Kaduna State had made history by electing a woman as Deputy Governor, the first elected in the far North of the country.

    According to him, the victory is a resounding vote in support of governance reforms.

    “We were threatened with dire electoral consequences because we dared to disengage unqualified teachers, redundant public servants, restructured district administrations and over-bloated local government staff.

    “We were warned that even though we were doing the right things and doing them right, the beneficiaries of our policies – the ordinary citizens of our state will not understand and will vote us out.

    “We never relented, confident that you know that we are working honestly for you. You did not disappoint us. We thank you again,” he added, (NAN)

  • Police confirm 16 people killed by gunmen in Kaduna

    The Kaduna State Police Command on Monday said no fewer than 16 persons were killed by unknown gunmen at Barde Village under Maro in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.

    The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Yakubu Sabo, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

    Sabo said at about 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, some unknown armed men entered Barde Village under Maro in Kajuru Local Government Area and started shooting sporadically which resulted to the death of 16 persons.

    He said on receipt of the information, the command mobilised teams of police operatives led by Kajuru Divisional Police Officer (DPO) alongside military personnel with a view to apprehend the perpetrators and restore normalcy to the area.

    Read also: Air Force destroys insurgents’ logistics in Borno

    He added that operation was ongoing and the situation had been brought under control.

    ”While investigation is in progress, the Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Abdurrahman, has vowed to uncover the masterminds of this dastardly act and bring them to justice,” he said.

    He appealed for calm and extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of those who were affected by the recent carnage. (NAN)

  • 17 killed, 1 missing in fresh Kajuru attack

    Seventeen persons have been reported killed in a fresh attack on Ungwan Barde in Kajuru Local Government of Kaduna State by yet- to- be identified gunmen in the early hours of Sunday.

    The state government confirmed the fresh attack and extended its sympathy to the community and the families of the victims.

    The Nation learnt trouble started on Saturday when a man identified as Nemi left for his farm shortly after voting on and did not return by evening.

    A source said when some members of the community noticed his absence, they decided to send a team of five persons to search for him.

    The source said the team on their way met some armed men by a small stream who asked them to go back leading to an exchange between the two groups.

    He said: “As the five persons who were on bikes turned to go, they were given a hot chase by the armed and in the process four escaped but one of them fell and has not been seen since yesterday.”

    Meanwhile, our correspondent learnt that the gunmen trailed the villagers to their community and attacked the village Sunday morning killing 16 other persons.

    Read also: Police confirm 29 killed, houses razed in Kajuru

    Jonah Luka Sarki, village head of Doka told newsmen that, while the remains of the first missing person have been found, there is no trace of other person who he identified as Danlami.

    He said the area is however calm as there are security agents in the area.

    However, the state government in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Nasir El-Rufai on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, appealed for calm in the area, urging all communities to uphold peace.

    According to the statement: “Heads of security agencies in Kaduna State have informed Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai of an attack on Ungwan Barde community by unknown bandits, today, 10th March 2019.

    “The government condemns this violent attack and extends its sympathy to the families of the victims and the entire community.

    “The security agencies have informed the governor that measures are being taken to contain the situation and to secure the general area. More troops have been deployed to the community, while the Nigerian Air Force personnel are carrying out aerial surveillance and reconnaissance.

    “The security agencies will provide further updates. The Governor has also directed the State Emergency Management Agency to proceed to the community for immediate assessment and delivery of relief materials.

    “The government appeals to all our communities to do their utmost for peace and harmony.”

    This is the fourth time in the last five weeks that, villages in Kajuru local government area have come under gunmen attacks.

  • El-Rufai wins polling unit

    Kaduna State Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has won his polling unit 024, Ungwar Sarki ward, Kaduna.

    Read Also: I am confident of El-Rufai’s re-election – Uba Sani

    El-Rufai on Saturday garnered 367 votes at his polling unit, while his major contender, Hon. Isa Ashiru of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) polled 59 votes.

    Abdullahi Sadiq, the Presiding Officer announced the results at the polling.

  • Guber Poll: INEC, police read riot act in Kaduna

    As the nation holds its governorship and House of Assembly elections today, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Kaduna State and the State Police Command have read the riot act to voters.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Alhaji Kaugama Abdullahi, warned yesterday that there will be no voting wherever there is no card reader.

    The State Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Abdulrahman, also warned those who have no business with moving around on election day to stay off the streets.

    The INEC boss and the Police Commissioner addressed a joint press briefing at the INEC headquarters in Kaduna.

    Abdullahi said that all INEC ad-hoc staff were drawn from higher institutions and that they are men of integrity who are capable of handling the election processes.

    He assured that the issue of late arrival of election materials to some polling units and wards have been taken care of, adding that 8,012 card readers had been dispatched for the elections.

    The REC said: “The card reader is election itself. No card reader, no voting. This is just to let you know that card reader operators were given refresher training.

    “We have 34,000 ad-hoc staff to conduct the elections, and out of this figure, 10,000 are members of the NYSC while the rest are from other higher institutions.

    “Our staff are people of high integrity who are capable of conducting the election process. We sourced them from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, so they are capable for the election jobs.”

    The Commissioner of Police said: “We have finished our deployments. We have banned food vendors from polling areas in order to stop them from the likelihood of accommodating vote-buyers.

    “We have ordered for a good number of helicopters to hover around the state during the election.

    “We will pick anybody wandering about without PVC and keep him or her where necessary until the election is over.

    “We have equally banned members of the vigilante from coming out with dangerous weapons during the election. In fact, we have arrested 34 of them so far. They look deadly.”

  • Guber poll: EFCC warns against vote buying

    Ahead of the Saturday gubernatorial and state House of Assembly elections the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has warned against vote buying during.

    The new Head of Kaduna zonal office of the commission, Mailafia Yakubu gave the warning in Kaduna on Thursday when he paid a courtesy call to Kaduna State council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

    Yakubu while calling on journalists to help in the fight against corruption said, vote buying is a big crime that attracts 12 years in prison or an option of fine of N500, 000

    He said the commission has a way of tracking down vote sellers and buyers, but will not disclose such strategy for security reasons.

    This was even as he commended the journalists for making EFCC a success story in the state, adding that, “am a friend to all in order to make my work a success.

    “The election is here, and we will like to tell members of the public that vote buying is a big crime. We all owe the State and the country a duty to expose culprits.

    Read Also: EFCC arrests Atiku’s campaign chief

    “Offender of vote buying if eventually found guilty, he or she will spend 12 years in prison or an option of N500, 000 fine.

    “We are ever ready to partner journalists and NUJ in general in the fight against corruption, as well as the fight against vote buying in this election period”. The EFCC Head said.

    Earlier, the NUJ State chairman, Comrade Adamu Yusuf thanked the EFCC boss for the visit, assuring him that the State council is always prepared to partner with the Commission for the benefit of the larger society.

  • 49 parties, 32 candidates step down for El-Rufai

    32 gubernatorial candidates in Kaduna State under the auspices of Kaduna State Progressive Governorship Candidates Forum have unanimously stepped down for Governor Nasir El-Rufai of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    They adopted the governor as their candidate in Saturday’s governorship poll.

    They made their decision public on Monday where the 32 candidates and 49 political parties endorsed El-Rufai, affirming him as their consensus candidate.

    Chairman of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Comrade Auwal Abdullahi Aliyu said they came out to support the governor towards ensuring he continues with his good works, stressing that he has done well to deserve the endorsement.

    According to him: “We have been consulting and have finally taken a decision. Because of the love for Kaduna State, because we can’t win, what we intend to do is what he is already doing, so we decided to join forces with him.

    “We are not looking at ourselves, we are looking at Kaduna and its people.”

    Read Also: PDP plans to disrupt elections – El-Rufai

    He said that even though they have their own programmes and manifestos, they are supporting him to deliver Kaduna.

    The governoship candidates include: Auwal Aliyu UDP; Matoh Yakubu AGA; Umar Uba NIP; Fatima Uba RP; Kabiru Idris MPN; Ahmed Zagi GPN; Mansur Suleiman AA; Alhaji Yahaya Marafa UPN; Abdulfatai Yusuf WTPN and Umar Suleiman Abubakar DA, Jubril Muhammed ID

    Others are Mustapha Bakano APA; Haliru Tafida MRDD; Abubakar Aliyu CAP; Abubakar Abdullahi ZLP; Aminu Sabo ANNP; Hajiya Rabiatu Suleiman Shula NAC; Kabiru Jibril PPA; Adamu Idris Chado DPC; Suleiman Abdulrasheed MMN; Sani Abdulkadir; Mohammed Jamilu Accord Party and Yahaya Solomon NPC among others.

  • AIB begins probe on crashed NCAT aircraft

    The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) said Sunday it has commenced investigations into the accident involving  a Tampico (TB9) aircraft marked 5N-CBP belonging to the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, which occurred on March 1, 2019 at Rumi forest, Sabon Birnin,Birnin Gwari Local Government Area , Kaduna State.

    Its spokesman, Tunji Oketumbi disclosed this in a statement.

    According to Oketumbi, who cited information from NCAT ; the aircraft was on a Test Flight  conducted by a Pilot and an Engineer.

    The aircraft, Oketumbi said  was “force landed” ,  at 14:40 as a result of an engine failure.
    He said there was no fatality after the forced landing.

    Oketumbi said : ” Our team of safety investigators have commenced investigation.”
    Sources hinted that the  pilot made a successful forced-landing about 7 nautical miles North-West of Kaduna  at Rumi forest, Sabon Birni,Birnin Gwari LGA, Kaduna State.

    After the accident, NCAT notified the  Accident Investigation Bureau in line with standard practice, as prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

    Meanwhile, reports suggested  that after the plane crashed and the pilot evacuated some armed bandits rushed to the scene  and rained bullets on the aircraft and set it on fire thinking that it was one of the jets in the fleet of the Nigerian Airforce (NAF) that had been bombarding their camps since the beginning of the year.

    Already NAF personnel, the Inspector General of Police and management of the school have been to the scene of the crash , but no official statement has been released on the matter.

  • Gunmen kill six, injure eight in Kaduna

    Six people have been reportedly killed by unknown gunmen while eight others sustained gunshot injuries at Sabon Sara,  near Kidandan village in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    Investigation by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) revealed that the hoodlums attacked the village at about 1:30 a.m. of Saturday morning in an attempt to kidnap one Alhaji Nasidi, a large scale farmer in the area.

    An eye witness, who pleaded for anonymity, said the gunmen who stormed the village in large numbers were unable to kidnap the farmer instead, they whisked away  his wife.

    The source added that the villagers mobilised themselves and chased the gunmen and eventually retrieved the woman from captivity.

    “In an attempt to rescue the woman, the bandits opened fire on us killing six persons while eight other people among us escaped with gunshot wounds.

    “The deceased have been buried according to Islamic rites in the presence of Giwa Local Govt Chairman, Engr. Abubakar Shehu Lawal Giwa and the Council Secretary, Alhaji Usman Ismail.

    “While the eight injured persons were rushed to Kauran Wali Clinic in Zaria for medical attention,” the source said.

    When NAN checked the  Kauran Wali Clinic located on Gaskiya Junction, some of the victims were on drip, however, it seemed that the necessary urgent medical attention was not actually given to their case.

    One of the victims was discharged on the grounds that his multiple injuries needed to be taken care of in a traditional manner.

    NAN got some names of the deceased to include; Ibrahim Bakanike, Lawal S/pawa, Lawal Belo, Tukur Bilyaminu Kafinta and Ummaru Abdullahi Mai Rake while one Fatima Ahmad died as a result of high blood pressure.

    Those with gunshot injuries are; Malam Abdullahi Umar, Aminu Ya’u, Rabilu Isa, Salisu Usman, Sabi’u Ya’u, Muhammad Musa, Ibrahim Sani and Malam Sani Ahmad Buzu while another victim, Yahuza Tukur was hospitalised because of high blood pressure.

    All efforts to get reactions of the police proved abortive as the  Public Relations Officer of the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Yakubu Sabo refused to respond to several phone calls.

    Read also: Southern Kaduna asks Makarfi, Sambo, to explain PDP’s failure in north

    He, however, in a text message, promised to get back to the reporter later.

    When contacted on his mobile phone, the Council Secretary, Usman Ismail confirmed the incident and appealed to members of the community to remain calm.

    While urging them to pray to Almighty Allah to forgive those that lost their lives and seek quick recovery of the injured, the secretary assured that the council was doing everything possible to ensure security of lives and property of its residents. (NAN)