The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kaduna

  • JNI, Shariah council talk tough on Plateau killings

    …ask FG to bring killers of Gen. Alkali, others to book

     

     

    Jama’atu Nasirl Islam (JNI) and the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria have spoken on the killings in Plateau state, asking the Federal Government and Army authorities to fish out and prosecute those involved, especially in the recent disappearance of Major General I.M Alkali and other Muslims passersby in Du part of the state.

    The Supreme Council for Islamic Shariah in Nigeria at a separate press conference in Kaduna said, Plateau has become the most spectacular theatre of mass killings, especially of Muslims and Hausa Fulani people.

    The Secretary-General of JNI, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu during a press conferences in Kaduna on Monday called on the government to as a matter of reconciliation and fairness, set up a commission of inquiry over the remote cause(s) and proffer far reaching solutions and implement them on the unfortunate reoccurrences of crisis on the Plateau.

    The Muslim bodies said the atrocities being committed along that route against innocent Nigerians travelers must end saying, “It is sad that the atrocities have been allowed to go on for so long until an Army General was murdered that the authorities woke up to take action.”

    JNI also tasked the government to go beyond mere condemnation of incidences of this magnitude but should be seen to act swiftly in restoring law and order, especially in legendary troubled areas.

    “We call on Government and the Nigerian Army not to be deterred on the professional search for Major General I. M. Alkali and whosoever is found wanting on his abduction and/or murder should be dealt with, within the confine of the rule of law. Hence, the Nigerian Army is strongly called upon to continue to investigate the matter and we call on the people of Plateau state to cooperate accordingly.

    “Equally, government should decisively act against some prominent ethnic chauvinists and religious bigots who are working hands in gloves in fanning the embers of ethno-religious polarisation in the state, as well as in Nigeria.”

    JNI further urged the government to be more proactive in saving the lives and property of innocent Nigerians adding, “All ponds in Lafendeng, Dura Du District, and/or human abattoirs within Riyom, Heipang and Kassa in Barikin Ladi axis should be uncovered, including their criminal hideouts, as Nigeria and Nigerians would be shocked over the startling revelations that would come out of the exercise.”

    While calling on Muslims particularly those residing on the Plateau should be steadfast with supplications, he called for the involvement of committed experts of Demobilisation, Disarmament and Reintegration (DDR) to mop-up arms from all and sundry on the Plateau and treat as criminals anyone found with arms.

    Engineer AbdulRahman Hassan who addressed newsmen alongside other members of the Supreme Council of Shariah said, the government should as a matter of urgency drain the Du pond where vehicles, including that of the missing General Alkali were found for more possible discovery.

    According to Shariah Council, “A conservative estimate of the cases of genocide and ethnic cleansing of Muslims across the country, especially the Middle Belt, has engulfed the lives, put at over 200,000 innocent souls, with properties worth billions of Naira destroyed.

    “Since early 2001, the Plateau has become the most spectacular theatre of mass killings and destruction of properties by the so called “indigenous Christians”.

    “We will not for a single moment forget the horrendous atrocities perpetrated by Christian militia on various Muslim communities at different occasions and at different parts of this country, in places like Mambila Plateau, Numan, Wase, Wukari, Kuru Jenta, Zangon Kataf, Kafanchan, Zonkwa, Kaduna, Tafawa Balewa etc.

    The one that stands indelible in our memory is the plight of over 100 Muslim women and children that were abducted and carted away by Christians as “booty” after the 2004 massacre in Yelwan Shendam, Plateau State. Some of them are still in captivity despite the several complaints we lodged with relevant authorities.

    “The startling discovery of General Alkali’s car and others in the deadly pond of the Du community, has established the existence of these ponds on the Plateau where the bodies of intentionally murdered Nigerians that are either Muslims or Hausa-Fulanis, are wickedly dumped by the Berom Christian Terrorist.

    “Sadly, based on the formal and informal reports of missing people along that axis, we can factually state that, this cowardly act has been going on for long. This, we come to know! The “Berom organizations” as they called themselves, under the auspices of Berom Educational and Cultural Organization (BECO), Berom Women Development Association (BEWDA) and Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM) are clearly accomplice in this murderous act. The brazen show of shame by more than 500 Berom Christian women that protested against the search at the pond in order to stop the Army from draining it is a strong indicator to the complicity of the whole community.

    “The Despite the thousands of lives trapped, abducted, maimed, killed, and dishonourably dumped in ponds and wells for so long, it is now apparent that if, an Army General was not abducted, many Nigerians have the feeling that, our security agencies wouldn’t have done anything regarding this dastardly act. It seems it doesn’t matter to the Governments that citizens have been disappearing to the hands of syndicates of murderous communities such as that of Berom,” Supreme Council for Shariah said.

  • 2019: Why Atiku can’t be president – Group

    A group identified as Buhari National Votes Guards and Awareness on Monday reacted to the emergence of the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), saying that, Atiku cannot rule Nigeria.

    The group said the former Vice President is no match for President Muhammadu Buhari, as they opined that, his political background has been marred with corruption allegations.

    The Coordinator of the group, Engineer Kailani Muhammad at a press conference in Kaduna on Monday however described Atiku’s emergence as a good omen for President Buhari.

    Kailani said “the main fact however, according to the majority of Nigerians is that for a certainty, Atiku Abubakar is no match for president Muhammadu Buhari in the presidential election of 2019 because of his alleged political corrupt marred background and President Muhammadu Buhari’s antecedent as a man of impeccable pedigree that is focused towards building a socio-political and economic development.

    He explained that the former Vice President before securing his ticket under PDP has made four unsuccessful attempts to get a party ticket to contest for the presidency, but “he is not suitable to lead Nigeria at this moment,” as Nigerians have made their stand.

    Kailani explained that, “Politics in our country today is big-time business. The only impediment for actualization of aspirations in the space in our mother Nigeria is the financial capacity and muscle. It is in no doubt either that Atiku has both in abundance. Nigerians are aware that those with the financial muscle to procure the venture hope to reap a million fold.

    Read Also: Buhari, Oshiomhole others to grace book launch on Bénin Monarchy

    He said the Buhari’s government has achieved in 3 years, what previous administrations failed to achieve in 16 years, which includes rapid economic growth, transformation in power sector, education, empowerment of Nigerians and among others.

    While commending the president’s achievements so far in the fight against corruption and insecurity, Kailani also remarked that “Mr President has taken a giant stride to improve the image of the country at the global stage. This are the glaring evidences on ground that some politicians refused to acknowledge.” He said.

  • APC primaries: Buhari against automatic tickets – El-Rufai

    *Says APC may lose Kaduna to other parties due to automatic ticket to Sani

     

    Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai on Friday said that President Muhammadu Buhari is against giving out automatic tickets to aspirants.

    According to him, the President has promised to wade into the various issues of automatic tickets granted to some politicians among other problems experienced in some states during the primary elections.

    He spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said “Many contestants that have been screened by the committee, were removed from the list unilaterally by some elements in the party, there are rumors that some people have been granted automatic tickets. But by yesterday when the representatives of the progressive governors forum met with Mr President and National chairman, we thought that this rumour of automatic ticket which has no place in our constitution and any enlighten democracy have been resolved.

    “But up to the time I left Kaduna this morning and came to see the President, we did not receive the list of those that will contest the legislative elections.

    “On my way I received a list of our state party structure but it seems to me there are still exclusions. As you know exclusion are one of the many reasons elections are lost at the tribunal level.

    “We are being careful in Kaduna state, we do not practice imposition, force people to step down for anyone, we believe in elections and we like people to subject themselves to full democratic process.

    “In some states, you have one list from the governor, we don’t have any list. We gave everyone a level playing ground as subject to meeting the requirements of the party, everyone is allowed to contest and may the best man win.” he said

    On the President’s response, he said “The President restated his position that he is a democrat, product of elections and he has never encouraged non-election.

    “He has never supported imposition and he has never asked anyone to grant anybody automatic tickets.

    “The position was restated yesterday to the progressive governors forum and he told me this and said he will take necessary steps to communicate this very clearly to the party leadership.” he said

    On the prospects of the candidates for Kaduna State governorship seat, he said “It is not me, I only have one vote as the governor of the state, it’s up to the delegates in the Kaduna state APC to vote for Shehu Sani or vote for other candidates.

    “But what democracy said is that every person should be given a chance to contest. Shehu Sani has done things against the interest of the people of Kaduna state and it is time for him to explain why he did what he did and ask the delegates to vote for him but to avoid facing the consequences of your actions by getting what is called automatic ticket is a recipe to losing the election to other parties.” he stated

    Reminded that there is deadline for the primary elections, he said “There is time, we have three elections, do two elections the same day and three contest, the House of reps is 16, the house of assembly is the more difficult one because there are 34.

    “But I believe we can meet the deadline provided that we have a list that does not reasonably and capriciously excludes the contestants.” he said.

    Read Also: Jimi Agbaje wins Lagos PDP guber primary

    El-Rufai went on ” I have been elected as the candidate of the party but it is up to the party at the headquarters to do the right thing and allow the constitution of the APC to be complied with which is to do primaries.”

    He alleged that Shehu Sani was largely responsible for Kaduna state losing N100 billion loan from the World Bank at 1 percent interest payable over 50 years invested in building schools, hospitals and other infrastructure.

    He said “Everyone in Kaduna knows this and many people are predictably angry. It’s an act of sabotage. It’s time for him to go and explain why he did what he did, if his actions are justified I am sure the delegates will vote for him.

    “The state apparatus is a very small component of Kaduna state. There are 10 million people in Kaduna state and the apparatus is only 80 thousand people but what can we do.

    “But Shehu Sani cannot even campaign in the market square in Kaduna central market. I challenge him let’s go to Kaduna central market and let’s see who will come out unscathed.

    “It is a well known fact that he had done this and many people are angry. Like I said he has his reasons which he can justify to those voting in the election. All we ask for is a free and fair contest. We are not going to manipulate any process. Lets have all those that are qualified to contest for democratic competition.” he said.

     

  • Kaduna: El-Rufai polls 2,427 votes to emerge APC’s candidate

    Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Sunday returned unopposed after polling 2,427 votes out of 2,457 to emerge the gubernatorial candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2019 general elections.
    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries at the Kaduna International Trade Fair Complex was ongoing as at the time of filing this report, as only five out of the 23 local government areas in the state had voted as at 8:00pm.
    Meanwhile, announcing the APC gubernatorial primaries result at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Hall of Murtala Mohammed Square kadina, Chairman APC Electoral Committee in Kaduna state, Mr Mathew Idoriyekemwem said 2,457 out of 3,200 delegates from the 23 local government areas of Kaduna State voted in the primaries.
    According to him, “we have a total of 30 invalid votes, and 2,427 votes for the only aspirant who remain the candidate of APC for the governorship election of Kaduna state
    “We hereby return as elected as gubernatorial candidate of APC, Malam Nasir el-Rufai. Your Excellency congratulations,” the electoral umpire said.
    Governor El-Rufai in his acceptance speech said he accepted the nomination as a vote of confidence of the delegates in him. He promised to use the mandate of the delegates to work towards the greatness of the state.
    The Governor called on the delegates, party members and leaders of the party to support him in the race to win the 2019 gubernatorial election, saying that, “we have traveled far together since July 2013, we have worked together but the journey ahead is still long and rough.
    “It’s with delight and humility that I accept your nomination as the party’s gubernatorial candidate. I accept this nomination as your vote of confidence to continue the work. I use my acceptance of your nomination as a mandate not to relent but to continue to work for the greatness of Kaduna state,”  El-Rufai said.
    Meanwhile, nine aspirants were still slugging it out for PDP governorship ticket.
    One of the aspirants, Alhaji Ja’afaru Sa’ad had on the floor of the primaries after two local government had withdrawn from the contest.

  • Workers shun directive in Kaduna, Yobe

    Government offices remained open yesterday in Kaduna and Yobe states in spite of the nationwide strike began by the Organised Labour.

     

    Kaduna civil servants at duty posts

     

    A visit round public offices in Kaduna, the state capital, showed that workers were at their duty posts, including Obasanjo House, the state government Secretariat.

    Also opened were schools, some banks including the Central Bank of Nigeria, hospitals and other public sector offices in the state capital.

    A nurse at the Barau Dikko Hospital, which witnessed high number of patients, told NAN in confidence that there has been no formal notice from the state labour unions to begin the strike.

    “We only heard of the strike order in the media, there has been no formal notice yet either from the Nigeria Labour Congress or our union, the nurses’ union, but we are waiting,” she said.

    Normal activities went on at the state High Court, although local union officials there said they would meet to agree on whether to join the nationwide strike.

    At the secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress, officials were in a meeting on ways to enforce compliance to the strike.

    Civil servants, business operators, parents condemn strike in Yobe

     

    Civil servants, the business community and parents in Damaturu, Yobe, have condemned the Nigeria Labour Congress  (NLC) warning strike which began yesterday,  describing it as grossly unnecessary and counter-productive.

    A cross-section of the respondents, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), noted that  schools and other public institutions in the state were still providing services in spite of the directive by the NLC for workers to embark on warning strike.

    Abdullahi Musa, a civil servant, said: “Time has come for the trade unions to be decentralised for every state to face its peculiar problems, to avoid holding the country to ransom of unnecessary strike.

    “Some state and local government workers have not been paid salaries for several months, NLC has never intervened but they drag every state into problems affecting federal civil servants; that is gross injustice.

    “Similarly, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) does not fight for the staff of state owned universities but pull state universities into affairs of federal-owned universities, it shouldn’t be so.”

    Alhaji Bukar Kaku, a businessman, said strikes had always been an exercise in futility, warning that it would affect the economy badly.

    Hajara Umar, a mother of five, said the strike would only have negative impact on the lives of the poor.

  • Customs apprehend three trailers with smuggled goods

    The Federal Operation Unit Zone ‘B’, of the Nigeria Customs Service has seized three trucks loaded with contraband foreign pasta and rice with Duty Paid Value of N74million.

    The trucks which were loaded with 1,800 cartons of smuggled pasta were said to have been apprehended along Jibiya katsina axis last Monday.

    Parading the the seized contraband goods at the FOU headquarters in Kaduna on Wednesday, the Area Controller of the zone, Mohammed Mustapha, vowed that the Nigeria Customs Service will not relent in its efforts to track down smugglers and bring them to book.

    According to him, “the command seized three trucks including Dangote truck along zaria Kaduna road with 120 bags of 50kg per boiled rice and another Boa truck along same axis with 55 bags of 50kg of Smuggled rice.”

    He said that, as soon as documentation is finalised the seized items would be transferred to the service headquarters in Abuja for necessary action.

    Read Also:Review age limit on FRSC recruitment, Applicants urge FG

    According to him, that suspected smugglers were arrested in the course of the seizure and are in detention for proper prosecution.

    He however advised smugglers to embrace other legitimate business than the illegal means

    ”We are going to continue with the seizure and they are going to lose ,they should embraced good business. Rice is being produce in all states of the country and Federal Government is trying to diversify and make our economy better and to avoid foreign exchange wasted on imported rice.

    “While on health ground it has been establish that most of the rice brought in through the land boarders have already expired which they usually rebag them in neighbouring countries.” He said.

  • 2019: Crisis rocks Kaduna PDP

    Five Governorship aspirants of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State on Friday passed vote of no confidence on the party’s State Chairman, Hassan  Hyat, for allegedly favouring a particular aspirant ahead of the party’s primaries.
    The Aspirants who addressed a press conference in Kaduna under the Forum of PDP Governorship Aspirants, kicked against the alleged  imposition of the one of the aspirants by some members of the State Working Committee (SWC).
    The forum aspirants include Sen. Suleiman Hunkuyi, Alhaji Mohammed Sani-Sidi, Ramalan Yero,  Muhammed Sani-Bello and Dr Shuaibu Idris-Mikati.
    Speaking on behalf of the aspirants, Ahmed Maiyaki, head of Media team for Sani-Sidi, said that the stand of the forum was for the love and progress of the party in the state.
    The five governorship aspirants appealed to the party’s National Body to take charge of affairs in the state to avoid crisis during the primary elections.
    ” The  forum deems it a duty to intimate the national leadership of our great party, teeming party members, supporters and the general public on the following concerns:
    “‘Prior to and after losing the 2015 general elections, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) had never been a more ‘cherished bride’ with the prospects of winning almost all the elective posts in Kaduna State than now with more people willing to join and participate actively in rescuing our state and the nation at large.
    ‘”As democrats, the Forum insists that power must truly return to the people through open and transparent process anchored on internal democratic process in our great party.
    “The forum also observed with dismay the deliberate attempt  to subvert the democratic process ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial primaries slated for the 28th of September, 2018.
    “The Forum condemns strongly the activities of the Kaduna State Chairman of our Party, Hon Felix Hassan Hyet, who has openly attached himself to one of the gubernatorial aspirants, which is against the norm and the principle of fair play.”
    The forum accused the state party chairman of openly working against the aspirations of the other gubernatorial aspirants in favour of his ‘anointed candidate’.
    The aspirants claimed that the chairman had been promised the position of a running mate to the favoured aspirant.
    “After the recent congresses in which ad-hoc delegates were elected, the State Chairman threw caution to the wind by tempering with delegate lists of several Local Governments areas sent to the State Party Secretariat to the advantage of his ‘anointed one’.
    “There is great tension in the State as a result of the partiality of the Party Chairman; whereby the bright prospects of “bringing back” Kaduna State to the PDP is in jeopardy.
     “Forum further notes, the attempt by the Party Chairman to surreptitiously foist the preferred candidate using a certain group called “Southern Kaduna Stakeholders Chairmen Forum”.
    ‘This act is capable of destabilizing the party and its prospect in the 2019 polls and undermining the efforts of the aspirants to find consensus among themselves.
    ” Inview of the above, the Forum humbly requests the National leadership of our great party to take full charge of the Party’s activities in Kaduna State, in order to rescue the situation and restore the confidence of majority of Party members and loyalists in the state once more.
    “The Forum also called on teeming party members, delegates and supporters to resist all attempts to subvert democratic process and vote for aspirants of their choice.
    “The Forum wishes to reassure all that discussions are ongoing to reach a consensus among the aspirants.” (NAN)

  • Nigeria’s foreign debt stands at $22.08bn

    Nigeria’s foreign debt currently stands at $22.08 billion according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

    The bureau puts domestic debt at N3.48 billion.

    The NBS in the Nigerian Domestic and Foreign Debt Q2 2018 report released in Abuja shows that $10.88billion of the debt is multilateral and $274.98 million is bilateral.

    Multilateral debts are debts owed by developing countries to the World Bank and IMF, known as the Bretton Woods Institutions, while bilateral debt is a simple loan arrangement between a single borrower and a single lender.

    The NBS report says: “There is another $2.12billion bilateral from the Exim Bank of China, Japan International Cooperation Agency, India and KfW bank while $8.80billion is commercial.

    Read Also: NBS insists Nigeria out of recession

    The bureau said Lagos State has the highest foreign debt profile among the 36 states while  the FCT accounts for 34.17 per cent.

    Edo has 6.57 per cent; Kaduna 5.48 per cent; Cross River 4.56 per cent and Bauchi followed closely with 3.18 per cent.

    “Similarly, total domestic debt was N3.48 trillion with Lagos state accounting for 14.88 per cent of the total domestic debt stock,” it said.

    Anambra State has the least debt in this category with a contribution of 0.08 per cent.

  • Kaduna govt to pay outstanding salaries to teachers

    The Kaduna state government is to pay all outstanding salaries of the newly recruited primary school teachers in the state by end of September.

    Malam Ja’afaru Sani, Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology made this known on Friday in Kaduna at a training for primary teachers.

    Primary one teachers in the state are undergoing training on Jolly phonics teaching methodology, organised by Universal Learning Solutions (ULS), in collaboration with Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government had in March 2018 recruited 11,395 qualified teachers for its public primary schools.

    The recruitment was the first batch of 25,000 vacancies announced by the state government to fill the gaps created after the sack of about 22,000 alleged unqualified primary teachers in January.

    However, the new teachers posted to all primary schools across the 23 local government areas of the state were owed between three to four months salaries.

    He explained that the decision to clear the outstanding salaries was the outcome of a meeting with Gov. Nasir El-Rufai on the issue on Monday.

    “In addition to clearing all the backlog of salaries, the Governor has equally directed that the responsibility of payment of primary school teachers’ salaries and allowances be transferred to the state’s Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) from the respective local government councils,” Sani said.

    The commissioner also said that the governor had also declared free education for all female students in the state’s public secondary schools.

    He explained that the state government decided to remove all hindrance to girl-child education because of the strategic role of women in Nation building.

    He said that the ministry had sent a directive to that effect to all zonal offices and secondary schools for implementation.

    “Primary one to six were the ones enjoying free education in the state, but the governor, considering the importance of girl child education decided that all female students should be educated for free,” he said.

    Sani said that the training was one among several capacity building programmes organised to strengthen the capacity of teachers in the state.

    “This is because we cannot achieve the quality we desire in our public schools without improving the quality of our teachers.

    “We will continue to do our best in ensuring that teachers are well motivated and equipped with skills to deliver quality teaching in public schools so our children can have a better future,” Sani said.

    Earlier, Senior Project Manager in the NGO, Mr Richard Turnbull, said that the NGO is training 960 primary one teachers and 40 education officials in the Zaria, Kaduna and Zankwa centres.

    Read Also: Presidency tackles Saraki for disparaging Buhari

    Turnbull described Jolly phonics as a special literacy teaching method of using sounds, letters and fun to teach primary pupils how to read and write.

    He explained that the method was designed to equip teachers with the expertise and tools required to improve reading and writing skills in English of primary one pupils in public schools.

    “Jolly phonics is a fun and child-centred approach to teaching literacy through synthetic sounds, widely recognised as the most effective way to teach children to read and write in English.

    “We are delighted to be partnering with Kaduna SUBEB to deliver this intensive training to teachers and dedicated government officials of Kaduna State,” he said.

    He thanked the state government for the opportunity to work together for the children of the state toward a brighter future.

  • Flood claims 53 lives in Katsina, Kaduna states in four months

    The North West zone of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said  yesterday that 53 lives were lost to floods in Katsina and Kaduna states over the last four months.

    30 other  people were reported missing during the same period in the two states ,according to Mr Ishaya Chonoko, North West Zonal Coordinator of the agency.

    The floods did not spare Edo,Delta,Kwara and Kogi, among other states .

    Chonoko told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna that  the agency recorded 51 deaths in Katsina State, two in Kaduna State, while 30 persons were confirmed missing in Jibiya, a border town in Katsina State.

    The floods occurred between May 3 and September 8 in 29 local government areas (LGAs) of the two states.

    Chonoko said a total of 12, 041 persons and 262 houses were affected in Katsina State, while 3,775 houses and 7,929 farmlands were similarly affected in Kaduna State.

    He listed the affected areas in Kaduna State as Abubakar Kigo Road, Tudun wada, Malali and Ungwar Rimi in Kaduna North.

    Others are: Barnawa in Kaduna South; Karatudu, Narayi, Rido village, Goningora and Sabon Tasha in Chikun; Hayin Na’iya, Rafin Guza, Hayin Dan- Mani and Kawo in Igabi LGAs.

    Areas in Katsina State included Malumfashi, Kafur, Bakori, Kusada, Kankai, Rimi, Musawa, Daura, Baure, Maiaduwa, Dutse – ma, Batsari, Kaita, Zango, Sandamu, Kurfi and Faskari LGAs.

    Chonoko said the agency had distributed relief materials to victims of the flood in the state.

    He said blankets, corn, rice, mattresses, cement and detergents were distributed because these were the immediate needs of the victims.

    The agency attributed the flood to blocked drainages, construction of structures along water channels and illegal mining along river banks.

     

    Kwara communities count losses after flooding

    Floods resulting from penultimate Thursday’s torrential rains  wreaked havoc in many parts of Kwara State including Ilorin,the state capital.

    Most  affected were Harmony Estate, Akerebiata, Gerin

    Alimi, Isale Koko and Kulende, all in Ilorin.

    Several  vehicles were swept away while houses and shops  were submerged.

    Over 72 communities in the riverine area of the Edu Local Government Area of the  state were similarly affected.

    These include Kpasha, Pututa, Lalagi, Yikpata and Belle.

    Thousands of residents were rendered homeless.

     

    Edo victims  refuse to leave communities

    Hundreds of flood victims in  over 14 communities in Edo State are refusing  to move into the resettlement centres  built by the Federal Government in 2012 and five other centre provided by local government authorities

    They say they cannot leave their ancestral land for a place they will have to depend solely on government for their basic needs.

    The communities include Udaba, Ofukpo, Agbaburu, Osomegbe, Ukpeko, Ugochi, Ifeku Island and Anegbette.

    Over 12,000 residents were affected and the people opted to live in tree houses and devised means to survive on the water.

    Schools and health centres in the communities have been shut.

    Mr. Johnson Agadaga, who was seen harvesting cassava, told reporters that he would not leave his farm and community because of flood.

    He said he and his family would survive.

    Chairman of Estako Central, Mr. John Akhigbe, who visited the communities with the aid of a speed boat asked the federal government to send relief materials to the people.

    Akhigbe stated that some of the affected communities promised to leave on Sunday after harvesting their corps.

     

    Delta victims seek succour on higher grounds  

    Hundreds of  Abuta residents in Asaba, Delta State capital,  have  fled to higher grounds as rising floods continue  to ravage their homes.

    The Abuta community, which lies on the banks of the River Niger, is currently under threat of being washed away.

    The  flood sacked residents in the early hours of yesterday following a torrential rainfall.

    Most of the submerged houses have been deserted by their occupants who were said to have mobilised wooden boats and tricycles to evacuate their property.

    Although no life was lost to the flood, many churches including Pasture of Life were submerged under water, while two other churches, including Celica Church of Christ and a branch of Deeper Life are under threat of being washed away.

    Workers at the Pasture of Life Church were busy salvaging church’s property as they were dismantling the air conditioners mounted on the walls of the building.

    A resident in the area, who simply identified herself as Mama Faith, lamented that her children had not eaten for about 24 hours since  the flooding incident, adding that there was simply no place to set up fire for cooking.

     

    No relief in sight in Kogi

    64 communities in Kogi State have been submerged by flood in the last one month,according to the State Emergency Management Agency.

    At least, one life  has been lost and property damaged.

    A representative of the Head of Operations at the NEMA headquarters, Abuja, Reuben Babatunde, during the on-the-spot assessment of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp at Edeha, said five temporary camps have been set up for victims.

    The Kogi  State Government on Monday advised residents of flood-prone communities in the state to relocate to a safer place to avoid loss of lives and property.