Tag: Kaduna

Kaduna State Impact Assessment Committee on Flood has identified erection of buildings without approvals and dumping of refuse on waterways, as one of the major causes of recurrent flooding and other environmental disasters in the state.

The Committee chaired by Malam Liman Sani Kila, Chief of Staff to Governor Uba Sani, said residents of the State must desist from the two harmful acts to bring a permanent end to flooding in the state.

The Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA) had recently announced that over 2,000 houses were affected by flood in Zaria and Sabon Gari Local Government Areas of the State alone.

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Against that background, Governor Uba Sani set up the Liman Sani Kila led Committee to determine the extent of damage caused by flooding at Muchia, Sabon Gari Local Government Area and other locations in the state, as well as identify factors that make the areas prone to flooding and any other disaster and advise on short and long term measures that government should take to avert future occurrence of similar disaster.

Leading some of the Committee members on an assessment tour of areas affected by flood within Kaduna Central Senatorial District, the Chief of Staff said, Governor Uba Sani is concerned about the plights of the people affected by flooding.

He, however, assured that, the Governor was committed to taking measures that would permanently address the problem of flood in affected communities, in order to prevent future occurrence of the devastating disaster.

Bandits have reportedly abducted no fewer than 15 persons in Mani Village, located opposite Indomie Factory, Rido Ward of Chikun Local Government area of Kaduna State on Thursday morning.

As of the time of filing this report, the Kaduna Police Command and Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs werre yet to make any official statement on the incident.

However, an unofficial but credible voice in the area, who spoke in confidence, lamented six of his relatives were among those kidnapped.

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The source said: “15 persons were abducted from three houses in Mani village opposite Indomie company Rido Ward of Chikun LGA Kaduna state in the early hours of today.

“I know the names (withheld) of my relatives involved. We are in deep thought as I send this message especially as we are yet to hear from the abductors.

“They include a nursing mother with four kids, young persons, and an infant.”

The source appealed to the Federal and State Governments to facilitate the quick rescue of his relatives while the incident was still fresh.

Chikun has remained the hot bed for kidnapping for some years. 

Troops conducting fighting patrols have neutralised eight bandits in Birnin Gwari Local Government Areas of Kaduna State. 

The Overseeing Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, who disclosed this on Thursday said, the troops also recovered ammunitions and motorcycles during the operation.

According Aruwan, the troops commenced the fighting patrol to Kampanin Doka general area, and on arrival at the location, made contact with bandits. 

He said the troops promptly engaged and neutralised seven of the bandits.

According to him: “On securing and searching the area, the troops recovered the following: three AK-47 rifles – eight AK-47 magazines; four empty and four loaded with a total of 120 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, one magazine carrier,  six motorcycles,  three mobile phones, two Baofeng radio sets  and three pairs of civilian clothes. 

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“During the concluding leg of the patrol, further contact was made with bandits around Gayam general area. The troops neutralized one, as others were suspected to have escaped with gunshot wounds. 

“The Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, thanked the security forces for the feedback and commended the troops – under the leadership of the General Officer Commanding, 1 Division Nigerian Army/Commander Operation Whirl Punch (OPWP) Major General MLD Saraso – for their valiant efforts and notable breakthrough. 

“Citizens are urged to report suspicious persons seeking treatment for gunshot injuries to the Security Operations Room on the phone lines 09034000060 and 08170189999,” Aruwan urged. 

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) airstrikes have eliminated scores of terrorists in Kaduna and Zamfara states, and destroyed 25 illegal refining sites in Imo and Rivers states.

The Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, AVM Edward Gabkwet, made this known in a statement yesterday in Abuja.

Gabkwet said the Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch had continued in its efforts to track, locate and eliminate the terrorists responsible for the recent upsurge of terrorists’ activities.He said intelligence had revealed that terrorists responsible for recent attacks on civilians, abductions and cattle rustling within Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger were domiciled in Kaduna State.

According to him, additional intelligence revealed the sightings of these terrorists relocating from Alawa Forest in Niger, to their stronghold in Malum Forest in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

“Consequently, the Air Component planned and executed an Air Interdiction mission on the terrorists’ stronghold at Malum Forest on Aug 21.

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“Battle damage assessment and feedback from local sources revealed several of the terrorists were eliminated as a result of the strike.

“Similar strikes were also conducted on terrorists’ hideouts at Bayan Ruwa in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara.

“The terrorists were tracked to the zinc roofed structures in a vegetated area with few footpaths and a river line Northwest of the location.

“The targets were then acquired and engaged in successive passes,’’ he said.

In the Niger Delta, Gabkwet said that the air component of Operation Delta Safe destroyed 25 illegal refining sites and overhead tanks in Ohaji/Egbema in Imo and Degema and Cawthorne Channel in Rivers.

Hon. Gabriel Saleh Zock, the House of Representatives member for Kachia/Kagarko Federal Constituency in Kaduna State, has given the sum of N100 million in business grants to 1,000 women and youths in his constituency.

Of the recipients, 900 individuals from the 22 wards received N50,000 each while about 100 others with exceptional business proposals were awarded between N300,000 and N7 million.

Hon. Zock who carried out the constituency empowerment programme in collaboration with the National Productivity Centre, said the gesture was aimed at empowering the women and youths to start or uplift their businesses so that they can be financially independent.

Addressing the beneficiaries in Kachia at the weekend, the lawmakers urged them to utilize the fund judiciously, so that they can become financially independent and also assist others.

“This empowerment grant is in response to the economic situation of the country. We are aware of the challenges of the masers. So, this empowerment is to show that we are with the masses by lifting our constituents, to help them start businesses and for farmers to get farm inputs, which will assist them to get a better living.

“As a way of ensuring judicious use of the fund, we have collaborated with a microfinance bank which will disburse the fund and monitor it. We are also confident, because every beneficiary has proven to us beyond reasonable doubt, what they will do with the money.

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“We have also through the microfinance bank trained the beneficiaries on business management. We are going to monitor their business performance through the microfinance bank.

“Our plan is not to empower people to use the money to feed, we are empowering them to become employers of labour so that in the nearest future, they can also empower other people. In that way, we will have a better constituency,” he said.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Speaker of Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Henry Danjuma said the empowerment will go a long way in alleviating poverty in the constituency.

While commending the House of Representatives member for the gesture the deputy speaker called on the beneficiaries to ensure judicious use of the fund.

One of the beneficiaries, Samuel Umar expressed appreciation to Hon. Saleh Zock for the gesture, saying that, he would use the fund to buy farm input to boost yields of his ginger and maize farm.

Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS),  has sealed four hotels and recreation centres in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government area over unsettled tax liabilities amounting to 

N16,737,488.54 million.

The hotels sealed by the Revenue Agency include: Kyus Hotel, Secretariat Road Kafanchan, Sunshine Lodge Hotel, Secretariat Road Kafanchan, Bayan Hotel, Madakiya Road, Kafanchan and Cloud -9 Lounge Unguwan Musa, Kafanchan. 

Leading the enforcement team, KADIRS Chairman, Mr Jerry Adams, said, the Service had secured court order for the immediate closure and taking over of the entire properties of the defaulting businesses until all unpaid taxes are settled.

He said KADIRS as backed by the law, will ensure that all taxes that are due to the State are remitted to the government coffers.

According to him: “As a tax administration body of Kaduna State, we are backed by the law to ensure that all taxes that are due to the State are remitted to the state. But, we have some recalcitrant tax payers who would never voluntarily comply tkk on our tax laws.

“So, this exercise today is to enforce and ensure that, ever tax payer expected to pay tax to the government pays and we will continue to enforce because we have the backing of the law. 

“The state needs the monies to provide infrastructures. As you can see, the Governor, Senator Uba is doing so much despite the huge debt burden on the state.”

Adams said the Service will go to all the major cities on the enforcement exercise, calling on all individuals and organizations to pay their taxes.

Bandits have abducted the village chief’s wife of Galadimawa Village in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State and two of his children.

The attack reportedly occurred around 11:30 pm on Monday when the assailants, who arrived in large numbers, fired shots to terrorise the community before breaking into the village head’s residence.

The Kaduna Police Command is yet to issue a statement on the incident as of the time of filing this report while efforts to reach the Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, via phone calls were unsuccessful.

The abducted victims are Fatima Aliyu, the wife of the village Chief of Galadimawa and their sons, Abdullahi and Kamal Aliyu.

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Confirming the incident, the Sarkin Fadar Galadimawa, Hussaini Umar said: “Our security here is inadequate. Last night, the armed bandits broke into the residence of our Village Chief, Alhaji Aliyu Haruna Galadimawa, and kidnapped his second wife along with two of his children. The community is in a state of shock, and we desperately need help.”

He urged the State Government to strengthen security in the area, criticising the current mobile police unit as insufficient.

“We are calling on the authorities to protect Galadimawa village from these attacks. The frequent abductions and violence have taken a heavy toll on us. Around 20 neighboring villages have relocated to Galadimawa due to the insecurity,” Umar added.

The Village Head of Gefe village in Kallah Ward of Kufana Chiefdom, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State and one other local have been reported killed when bandits attacked their community on Thursday night.

The bandits, according to locals, attacked the village around 11:30pm and abducted many women and children from the community.

Although the Police were yet to react, a community leader in the area, Markus Danja, said that the Village Head identified as Mr. Emmanuel Idan and the other local, were shot by the bandits.

According to him: ”They arrived and started shooting sporadically after surrounding the community. People who were outside ran for safety. Unfortunately, our Village Head was among those outside and was shot while trying to flee.The other person was chased into his room and shot dead before the attackers took away his wife. The bandits went house to house picking their victims.”

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Markus said his brother’s wives and children were among those taken away by the hoodlums.  

In another attack on Keke community of Millennium City, Chikun LGA on Thursday night, a journalist‘s wife and his two daughters were abducted.

A source informed the victims, who were in Kaduna for holiday, were abducted with eight members of the same family.

In a terse statement on Friday, the journalist identified as Mohammed Bashir, who is a correspondent of a national daily in Kogi State, sought for prayers for the release of the victims.  

According to him: “My dear colleagues, please, I need your prayers. My two daughters and their mother, along with eight others, were kidnapped yesterday by unknown gunmen in Kaduna, where they went for a holiday.Please pray for me.”

In Zaria, an Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Isma’il Gausi. was reported to have been abducted by bandits during an attack on Gausi’s residence.

It was gathered the bandits shot sporadically before taking Sheikh Gausi away in a truck on the night of Wednesday 

“The noise of gunshots was alarming. We saw the bandits forcefully taking away the Sheikh. We are deeply worried and call on the authorities to ensure the safe return of our loved ones,” a local said.

The Kaduna State Security Council has not reviewed the 24-hour curfew imposed on Kaduna and Zaria towns and their environs.

The Overseeing Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, stated in a statement issued on Wednesday in Kaduna.

Aruwan said, “The 24-hour curfew is still in place, and being actively enforced by the security agencies, contrary to insinuations that it has been reviewed.

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“The citizens are enjoined to observe the curfew strictly, and shun rumours or unverified reports.

“Reliable and accurate updates will be duly communicated to the public through official channels,”Aruwan said.

(NAN)