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Tag: Kaduna state

  • 51 families of dead officers get N29m cheque

    The Nigeria Police Force on Thursday presented cheque of N29,836,378 million to 51 families of police officers who lost their lives while serving.

    Beneficiaries cut across FCT, Niger and Kaduna State.

    The Assistant Inspector-General (AIG), of police in charge of Zone 7, Taiwo Lakanu who presented cheques to the beneficiaries in Abuja, said it was the duty of the force to take care of officers and their families.

    Lakanu said Commissioners of Police in the state under the zone would present the remaining cheques to other beneficiaries.

    Speaking while presenting the cheques, Lakanu said: “On behalf of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), I will like to present these cheque leaves to you: it is symbolic.”

    “Without these officers, most of us will not be where we are today because they carried out our instructions, they are most sincerely appreciated.”

    He added that the late officers paid the supreme price to curtail crimes and criminality in the country.

    Lakanu also said the IGP restated his commitment to ensure that what accrued to the families of the deceased officers was given to them.

    Read Also: Eid-el-Fitr: Police to beef up of security in Edo, Delta, Bayelsa

    He pointed out that apart from the group life insurance for officers, the IG took it upon himself  to create special welfare fund known as IGP Welfare Fund to boost the package.

    Lakanu noted that the essence of the gesture was not the money but the idea behind it which is to let the families know that they are not forgotten.

    He said: “This package is just one of the things the IGP in his wisdom planned for widows and children of the late officers.”

    He condoled with the beneficiaries and assured them of continued support of the force.

    Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Andrew Moses appealed to the Force to continue to support the families.

    He commended the IGP for the fatherly care and urged him not to relent in efforts to support families of late officers.

  • 50 ‘Sarasuka’ gangsters arrested in Kaduna

    Fifty gangsters, known variously as ‘Yan Sarasuka or Yan Shara’, have been arrested in Kaduna state.

    The state government disclosed this in Kaduna on Wednesday saying that, the suspects will be arraigned before a magistrate court after security agencies conclude investigations.

    The suspects were arrested in different locations in Kaduna town as security agencies investigate last weekend’s outrage by hoodlums in parts in Kaduna town.

    A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Nasir El-Rufai on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, said the governor directed security agencies to deal decisively with the menace of urban hoodlums.

    According to the statement, “the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has received briefings from security agencies on the outrage perpetrated by urban gangsters, notoriously known as Yan Shara or Sarasuka. The Governor has also visited Abakpa community where he interacted with some members of the community and condemned the criminal actions of the gangsters.

    Read Also:One student killed, 42 others hospitalized, as diarrhoea outbreak hits Kaduna

    “Security agencies have informed the Governor of the arrest updates on the arrest of over 50 suspects. The governor requested that the police and the Ministry of Justice to ensure prompt investigations and diligent prosecution of whoever is indicted. He urged the police to ensure that fleeing suspects do not escape justice, declaring that all government agencies must work to collectively end the menace.”

    Similarly, Aruwan also clarified the position of the Kaduna State Government on the proliferation of vigilante groups in the state.

    “The Kaduna State Government has made it clear that only the Kaduna State Vigilance Service is empowered by the law to regulate vigilante activity in the state. Any community that wishes to make a contribution to security and intelligence gathering in their area should forward the persons they are presenting to the Kaduna State Vigilance Service and the security agencies for thorough screening.  This is to ensure they such persons have no criminal records or tendencies that could compromise the security and well-being of the citizenry.

    “By this clarification, communities should liaise with the Kaduna State Vigilance Service to make arrangements for their communities.”

  • LG polls: APC lawmakers escape lynching for stealing election materials

    Two All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers in Kaduna state and an electoral officer accused of stealing election materials, narrowly escaped being lynched during the rescheduled local government elections on Wednesday in Kujama, headquarters of Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna state.

    Chikun is one of the councils where elections were inconclusive during the May 12 council polls and a re-run was scheduled for June 6, alongside Kaura and Jaba councils.

    However, a member of the House of Representatives, Abubakar Mohamammed Mamadi, representing Igabi federal constituency and Markus Yari, a member of the Kaduna state House of Assembly representing Chikun, were allegedly caught stealing election materials at the council secretariat in Kujama.

    The two APC lawmakers were alleged to have arrived the council secretariat along side a top government official, thugs and some policemen.

    They were beaten by angry mob who stormed the secretariat while their thugs were alleged to have escaped to Kaduna with the voting machines.

    The Nation gathered that, three Peugeot saloon cars, including the one allegedly carrying the election materials were deflated.

    Hundreds of armed security personnel deployed to the area had a hectic time trying to prevent protect the lawmakers and the Electoral Officer from the mob who forced their way to the premises of the secretariat by breaking the gates.

    The lawmakers were held hostage at the secretariat for hours before a combination of heavily armed soldiers and the Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) was deployed to rescue them.

    The SARS had to fire several tear gas canisters to clear the way as they moved the lawmakers and the electoral officer out in a patrol van neck breaking speed.

    Read Also: Sequence of elections

    The mob responded by throwing stones at the police.

    An official of the Kaduna State Electoral Commission (KAD-SIECOM) who was posted to the area for the election said the theft of the election materials occurred at about 6:00 am on Wednesday.

    The official who pleaded anonymity the lawmakers came with a top government and a larger number of thugs who were armed.

    “They went and carried a former the electoral officer of the local government at gun point and ordered her to opened the place. She opened it and they took the electronic voting machines and the thugs and the government official left.

    “Unfortunately for them, she didn’t give them the result sheet. It was the members lawmakers  that collected the forms.

    “The youths were immediately alerted and they stormed the secretariat and descended on them. They would have killed them were it not for the police.” He said.

    However, in his reaction, Yari denied the allegations, saying he had no hand in the stealing of election materials.

    According to Yari, “I was told that some election materials were missing, as a member of the state assembly representing this area, I decided to drive straight to this place to ascertain and ensure the final distribution of materials.

    “As I was trying to find out, low and behold these thugs came in. It was confirmed that the materials were not there but I don’t know whether the materials were taken to other places, it is unimaginable.

    “They voted me so whenever they see me they asked questions that I cannot answer. They now said I was the one that stole the materials and I asked them, is it possible for me to steal materials and still come back here?

    “I was attacked, I was molested. They stole my money and my phones. But I am their own.” He explained.

  • One student killed, 42 others hospitalized, as diarrhoea outbreak hits Kaduna

    One student of Government Girls Secondary School, Kawo in Kaduna North local government area has been killed and about 50 others hospitalised over choleral outbreak in the school at the weekend.

    Kaduna State Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Jafaru Sani confirmed the death of the student (name witheld).

    When our correspondent visited the school on Monday, officials of Red Cross Nigeria, who were at the school in collaboration with other emergency organizations to put the situation under control said, 42 students were affected and were having diarrhea and vomiting as a result of unhygienic environment.

    As at the time of filing this report, the health workers have been deployed to the school to manage the situation.

    Read Also: Kaduna: Hunkuyi, Shehu Sani set to dump APC

    The officials of State’s Ministry of Health and Principal of the school who are on ground declined to comment on the issue.

    But, Deputy Director, Disease Control Centre, Ibrahim Suleiman told newsmen that, he could only confirm 39 who have been evacuated from their hostels to the hospital.

    According to him, “we have 39 cases on admission due to diarrhea and vomit. We are yet to confirm the real cause but there are a lot of contamination around the water source the students are using which may be a serious contributory factor.

    “Apart from these 39 students on admission, we are also investigating another 89 cases apart from diarrhea and vomiting.” He said.

    The students are however receiving treatment at General Hospital Kawo, in Kaduna North local government area.

  • Sexual harassment: Governing Council reinstate `randy’ bursar

    Students of the Shehu Idris College of Health Science Technology Makarfi, Kaduna State have expressed concern over the decision of the college governing council to reinstate a randy bursar sacked for sexual harassment.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the management of the college sacked the bursar following series of petitions bordering on sexual harassment filed by his victims.

    He however appealed the decision, and the Governing Council was directed by the state Ministry of Health to further investigate the matter.

    In the final report, the five-man committee set up by the council said “the allegation of sexual harassment against the accused, Labaran Muntari Usman should be disregarded.”

    It suggested that the ex-bursar “may be exonerated from the allegations.”

    However, some staff and students of the college told NAN on Friday that the governing council was wrong in its decision, warning that the reinstatement of the accused may lead to a breach of the peace.

    One of the victim of the bursar sexual escapade Malama Ziyanatu Musa said: “Any move by the governing council to exonerate the ex-bursar will amount to breach of peace and an attempt to restore immorality in the college.”

    Musa who claimed to be one of those continuously harassed by the accused, said even though she did not succumb, it would be unfair to victims of the bursar’s alleged sexual harassment to allow him to resume.

    A staff, Malam Sabitu Sani alleged that the lifestyle of the ex-bursar was so open, to the extent that students use it to taunt his daughter studying at the college.

    “This is what led to series of petitions against the ex-bursar and the petitions yielded positive results that led to his sack,” he said.

    NAN recalls the Kaduna State Government recently reconstituted the management of the college following the failure of the previous officials to ensure morality and protect students.

    When contacted, the new Sole Administrator of the college, Malam Yusuf Arrigasiyyun said he was not aware of the decision taken by the governing council and promised to get details on the matter.

  • Reps member Jagaba dumps APC for PDP

    The member representing Kachia/Kagarko, Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, Rep. Adams Jagaba has defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Jagaba formally announced the defection in his letter to the House of Representatives at Wednesday’s plenary.

    The lawmaker said he left the APC following his suspension from the party at the state level.

    He said that the party suspended him for being vocal against the killing of innocent Nigerians across the country.

    “My unwarranted suspension by the party because I was vocal against the killings in the state and across the country made me to take that decision,” he said.

  • Bandits kill 10 in fresh Birnin-Gwari attack 

    Barely 48 hours after the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai launched 2 Battalion Forward Operation Base (FOB) to flush out armed bandits from Birnin-Gwari area of Kaduna State, the criminals have reportedly killed 10 persons in attacks on four villages in the area.

    The attacks which occurred on Wednesday evening also left scores seriously injured.

    The Nation recalled that, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai had on Monday launched the FOB, and charged his troops to bring victory against the bandits to him in three weeks.

    However, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mukhtar Aliyu who confirmed the incident, said seven persons were killed in the attack which he said occurred on Wednesday.

    He added that, the bandits invaded Mashigi, Dakwaro, Sabongida villages at about 5pm on Wednesday evening, shooting sporadically and burning down houses and farmlands in the affected villages.

    Aliyu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said seven were killed and five others in the attack.

    Read Also: Updated: Again, armed bandits kill 45 in Kaduna village

    He said the Commissioner of Police, Austin Iwar had ordered the immediate deployment of mobile police to the communities.

    The attack came on the heels of the flagged-off of the  two Battalion Forward Operation Base (FOB) at Birnin-Gwari for the ‘operation Idon Raini’ at the Kanfsnin Doka Village proposed base.

    The villages raided by the bandits include; Mashigi, Dakwaro, Sabon gida and one other village close to Dakwaro.

    The attack, according our source occurred at about 5.00pm, according to our source lasted for more than three and half hours.

    He also said the bandits, who rode on motorbikes, as usual in large numbers, killed, burnt houses and food stuff in the various villages that they attacked.

    The source added that the ten bodies of those killed had been recovered from the bush while the volunteers and hunters as well as security operatives were still combing bushes.

    Members of the community under the aegis of the Birnin-Gwari Vanguard for Security and Good Governance said “A member of volunteers, Malam Umar said so far ten bodies of people killed were recovered, while many are unaccounted for. Also the Armed bandits burnt houses and grains stock of the affected villages.

    “Already volunteers from the southern axis of Birnin-Gwari and Security men were mobilized to ascertain the number of casualties.

    “The affected villages are in need of aid, such as food, shelter and clothes.

    “Despite this attacks and Kidnappings daily along Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road, we are saluting the Federal government and security agencies for deployment of personnel to deal with the situation in Birnin-Gwari.

    “We hope more troops and special police task force will be deployed.”

     

  • Senate summons service chiefs, IGP over Birnin Gwari killings

    The Senate Wednesday invited the Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) over the continued killings in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State.

    The resolution followed a point of order by Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central) at plenary on the security situation in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    Sani said, “I will say again that there is the need by the Federal Government to take Birnin Gwari as seriously as other parts of Nigeria. It is very clear that the people have been crying and raising issues but nobody is listening. Birnin Gwari has gradually become the Sambisa Forest of the North West region in Nigeria.”

    President of the Senate, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, decried the killings in Birnin Gwari and other parts of the country.

    Read Also:Senate summons service chiefs over arms proliferation

    Saraki said that the security chiefs were invited to brief the lawmakers on their efforts to check the growing insecurity in that part of the country.

    He said, “This is a matter that is very serious. It is a case where we have in our society people being killed daily and kidnapped in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, particularly the events of last week where many were killed. Doing nothing does not give hope to our people. We must continue to be seen to be addressing these concerns.

    “I will want to suggest that next week and on this particular issue as well, we do get a briefing from the state security, the military and the police. I don’t think any of us have any objection to that. If there is none, I will rule on it, that we direct these three agencies, next week, to come and brief us on this.”

  • Kaduna LG polls: I don’t care if APC loses or wins – El-Rufai

    …election cancelled in 2 LGs over violence

     

    As Kaduna State made history on Saturday as the first to introduce electronic voting in Nigeria, Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has said that he does not care whether his party wins in the local government elections or not.

    The Governor  hinged the temporary itches experienced during the Saturday local government polls on last minutes denial of card readers by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    El-Rufai who spoke  while addressing newsmen after casting his vote at Ungwan Sarki also announced cancellation of elections in Jabba and Kaura local government areas due to violence that broke out in some of the polling units in the areas.

    He said if INEC had briefed the state earlier about the card readers, the state would have included that in the design of electronic voting machine (EVM).

    He however said he was satisfied with election process so far, though he regretted the violence in Jabba and Kaura believing to be the stronghold of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    “The process has been smooth. I had reports that, two out of the 23 local government would be rescheduled by the electoral body. We envisaged there was going to be crisis there because PDP believes that is their stronghold.

    “I came here and got accredited and casted my vote. Unfortunately, INEC denied us card reader so we have to do manual accreditation. The whole voting process was less than 10 seconds.

    “I was told there was initial itches with the code and was sorted out and everything now going on smoothly. I think it is a very good process.

    “Like I said, if we had know INEC would not give us card reader, we would have included that in the design of the machine since it was possible to do that. But we were assured by INEC that they will give us card reader until the last minutes.”

    Commenting on the election, a former Commissioner for LG and Chairman, Zone II, PDP, Shehu Giant described the process at Angwan Sarki as good.

    “I have been to other places where we received a lot of complaints whereby machines were not taken to polling units and so on. But here in Kaduna North, where I cast my vote, I can testify there is no any itch,” said Giant.

    Meanwhile, our correspondent who monitored the election in parts of Igabi, Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Chikun and Kajuru local government areas, all in Kaduna Central Senatorial District reported that the process was generally peaceful, even tough late arrival of materials almost marred the polls.

    Also in Kaduna South Senatorial District, reports said, early morning downpour caused delay of the election process, while the exercise was general peaceful in Kaduna North Senatorial District.

    However, APC Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani described the whole election process as a drama.

    Senator Sani on his Facebook wall said, “The Local Government election about to commence in Kaduna is nothing but a charade.Its a comical drama scripted, produced and directed by the state Government. If APC members cannot get justice from APC Government, what is a non APC member expecting?

    He added that, “The election will go the way of the ‘APC ward congresses’, writing list in HOTEL ROOMS and announcing winners. Shame.”

    Meanwhile, as at the time of filing this report, results from the various local governments were being awaited.

  • Kaduna LG Election: Voters await election officials, materials

    Delay in the distribution of election materials have left voters stranded in most parts of Kaduna metropolis, Chikun and Igabi Local Areas who turned out to elect their local government officials on Saturday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that election materials were yet to be deployed to voting centres monitored as at 11:00 am, raising concerns among some of the as to whether the election would hold.

    In parts of Chikun, Kaduna South  and Kajuru LGAs ithe election materials were yet to be distributed.

    A voter at High cost polling unit,  Michael Akok said he was out since 7a.m expecting that the election would commence on time.

    He said other residents were out also waiting to be verified before they can start voting but the officials were no where around the polling unit.

    An official Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission at Narayi Collation center,  Mr Vincent Joshua, said that the delay emanated from commission local government office.

    He said the officials were out since 6a.m in order to get materials to go to their various polling units but there was delay.

    In Chikun Local Government, turn out in most of the areas was impressive  as people were seen at different polling units awaiting commencement of the exercise

    “We came out early for accreditation and voting but to our surprise we have not seen anything yet.

    “This is 10:20 am and no polling station have started doing anything.
    We want to vote and exercise our franchise but the officials are not here for us to vote.
    As of the time of surveillance,  no security official was found on the road from Barnawa to Kujama.

    However, in Rigasa, Igabi Local Government, the distribution of election materials to the 26 polling units in the area was concluded early.

    There was also heavy deployment of security personnel comprising the police, civil defence corps.