The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kaduna

  • Child Right Act to be domesticated in Kaduna

    Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has said the Child Rights Act will be domesticated in the state.

    The governor hinted that the amended Child Right Bill was before the House of Assembly for consideration.

    El-Rufai spoke at the weekend when he received some Civil Society Organisations (CSO) at the Government House in Kaduna.

    Addressing reporters after the meeting, El-Rufai said domestication of the Child Right Act becomes imperative following the penalty for child abusers like rapists.

    He noted that the Act, which since 2003 has been a federal law, could not be domesticated in Kaduna due to issues raised by traditional and religious leaders on the specified age for a girl to marry.

  • 21 LGAs to experience flooding in North – NEMA

    21 LGAs to experience flooding in North – NEMA

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), says about 21 Local Government Areas will be affected by flood in the North West zone.

    The North-West Zonal Coordinator, Musa Ilallah, made this known while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Tuesday.

    The coordinator said that the agency has taken all a proactive measures to curtail the flood menace .in the zone.

    According to him, NEMA has reached out to relevant agencies in the affected states and within the zone to be on alert.

    He mentioned the Local Govenments to be affected in Kaduna as Kaduna North and South, Igabi, kubau, Soba Kajuru and Kachia While in Kano, Wudil, Warawa, Tudun Wada, Bebeji, Gwarzo, Dawakin Tofa, Kiru and Bagwai.

    Others are Katsina; Malumfashi, Funtua, Daura and Baure also Jigawa; Hadejia, Auyo,Kafin Hausa, Ringim, Taura and Jahun.

    He also disclosed that, the river basin cut-across Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara and Katsina states, while river Hadejia cut across Jigawa, Kano and part of Bauchi.

    He urged the State governments to urgently embark on a massive sensitisation programme on the affected Communities to see the need of moving away from the prone areas.

    “On our part, NEMA and Executive Secretary of Hydrological Services Agency already carried out a Hausa programmes on radio in cognizance of targeting this communities that are likely to be affected.

    “The alert shows that if the rain continues as experienced in the last one week for the next four days, it is a signal that part of river Niger will be flooded.

    “And by implication a number of places will be affected with flood and going by the warning the experience of flood in 2012 will be a Child’s play this year while several states will be affected.

    “My concern is the north west, particularly Kaduna, Jigawa , Kano and Katsina states following the warnings by the Director General of the agency.

    “Though we are able to reach out to States Emergency Management Agencies to enable them alert the communities living along the river banks linked with river Niger.

    ”It was just two days ago Nigerian government received an alert from the Niger issuing a warning that all people living along the river banks should be evacuated.” he said.

    Illalah warned residents against indiscriminate dumping of refuse and building along water ways.

    He enjoined relevant authorities in the states to be up and doing to check flooding.

  • Tremor unsettles Kaduna community

    Tremor unsettles Kaduna community

    Since a rock shook and emitted sounds in Hayin Magina in Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State, the residents have been in terror.

    One eyewitness Aminu Na Dare Abubakar said around 10pm on the fateful day, deafening sounds were heard in their community amid serious vibrations of all houses around the rock.

    He said, “People rushed out of their houses when they heard the loud sound. It was the first time we heard such a thing in the community.

    “The vibration by the rock sent fear into the minds of the people. That was why I immediately went to inform the police Divisional Officer (DPO) in the area. The vibration continued for days before it stopped. But it affected majority of the houses located close to the rock as they all have cracks on their walls.

    “The following day, I decided to look round the rock again, that was when I now discovered cracks around the rock base and I noticed some powder-like substances that came out of the rock, obviously during the explosion. Then, I went back to the police to inform them that the sound we earlier heard was from the rock,” he said.

    Similarly, a housewife in one of the houses near the rock, Zainab Abdullahi said they now sleep with one eye open.

    She said, “We are tenants in this house. If it warrants us vacating it  for our safety we are ready to do so because the situation is scary and beyond our powers.

    “The whole thing started around 10pm at night. We were seated in the compound when we heard a loud sound; even the chickens in the building were scared. The well was closed but opened by itself as a result of the loud sound. Our eyes were open till daybreak as we couldn’t sleep out of fear of loud sounds emanating from the rock.

    “It happened like a month before the commencement of the Ramadan fast. It happened for four days.

    “The second time, we experienced it around 4pm. We performed ablutions and were about to say our Asri prayers when it happened. It was as if someone was checking the house. The sound was like that of a gun sound. We saw cracks on the rock.

    “After an interval of say like 10 days, and when we were already thinking that was all, the thing reoccurred. In fact, we were thinking it was someone who was doing something to scare us, only for us to discover it was not so. A man was caught in respect to that but after investigation he was released when we discovered he was innocent.

    “The last time we experienced these was some days to the end of Ramadan fast. But as we speak to you we sleep with one eye closed. In fact, some of our neighbours have vacated the house.”

    Another housewife, Halima Nasiru said, “When people go on top of the rock and you hear the sound, you will think it is child’s play.

    “We were in the compound one evening when it happened. We ran outside and when people saw us, they asked us what happened and we told them the rock made another sound. So, the youths turned around to see what happened. They were on top of the rock when it made another sound with smoke coming out of it and everyone scattered and ran for their lives.

    “We stop experiencing this after some time now. But the unfortunate thing is the crack on the walls of our houses as a result of the loud sound. As it is any other strike anything can happen particularly that people are living inside the houses.”

    Village Head of Hayin Magina area of Ikara, Malam Umaru Garba confirmed the incidents and said they were ready to cooperate with the government on relocating people close to the rock.

  • Kaduna Citizens condemn call for prosecution of soldiers over Army-Shiite clash

    A group under the aegis of Kaduna State Citizen for Peace yesterday condemned the prosecution of soldiers involved in the Army-Shiite clash that occurred in the state recently. The group, during a peaceful protest, expressed displeasure over the outcome of the investigation team that probed the crises. Its National President, Richard Augustine, in a statement in Abuja on Monday, said that it was wrong to prosecute the soldiers when the IMN mercenaries were still walking around the state freely. The statement said: “They are building up again and outsiders are empowering them. When the trouble comes it will be us Kaduna State Citizens that would be left to answer for the consequences.  “The sufferings of previous religious crises are still being borne by us. We still suffer today even several years after fanatics scattered and destroyed our state. The story does not change.

    “Whenever Kaduna is about to recover they will again spill blood. Each time the population starts uniting they will find division. Whenever we want to return to living as one they find problems for us. We have to end this and that is what must happen. “Since December of last year, they have done everything to make the Shiite problem in Zaria come to other parts of our state. For several years Zaria people lamented as they suffered under Shiite occupation run by Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN). We have feared what happened in December 2015 was a matter of time and we even feared it would spread to other parts of our state.

    “Then these extremists confronted the military and they were flushed out. We thought we have been finally liberated. We believed our people in Zaria would finally be free. We thought the soldiers that risked their lives to end the rule of extremism would have been respected as representing Nigeria but they came under attack. “As we march today to demand that there is no room for religious extremism in our state, we are also demanding justice for soldiers who also lost their lives during the Shiite-Army clash in Zaria.

    “The so called request is depending on the Judicial Commission of Inquiry that Mallam Nasir el-Rufai set to investigate the Zaria clash. “We therefore find it ridiculous that they want the same panel’s report to be used as a basis for trial. The trials they are demanding are meant to hold in Nigerian courts that IMN in their fanaticism had refused to recognize in the past. We therefore have reason to suspect that the whole call for trial is a prelude to bigger evils that could be unleashed on Kaduna state.

    “To the Kaduna State Government and the Attorney General we want to categorically reject the trial of any soldier. That line of thought is to scare security agencies from curbing IMN excesses as to allow them carryout a coup and install the long awaited Shiite government in the state and later nationwide without any form of opposition.”

  • Lagos, Ogun, Kaduna, others to copy Osun’s school feeding template

    Representatives of various states including Lagos ,Ogun,Kaduna and others have vowed to follow Osun’s school feeding template after a three-day study of the programme in the state.

    They concluded that Osun state government has set a good template for the implementation of the nationwide school feeding program.

    They praised Governor Rauf Aregbesola, for identifying school feeding as one huge opportunity for social welfare and an instrument of economic strength for Nigeria.

     The coordinator of the National Home Grown School Feeding programme, Mrs. Abimbola Adesanya had led a team, which came to understudy Osun school feeding programme (O’ Meal) to Osun.

    Adesanya commended Osun for what she described as its ingenious way it has moved the program from what it was originally to an enviable one.

    “National Home Grown  School Feeding programme is part of Government’s effort to uplift indigent out of poverty in the country.

     “Our coming to Osun was basically to have insight into the synergy within the government structure in running the programme, the strength and challenges involved.

     “The programme is for the people and it has transformed the state’s education and economic activities,” Adesanmi said.

    The representative of Oyo State, Mrs. Folashade Adekunle, giving her commendation on the feeding program said, “We have learnt so many things sir and we going back to our state to implement, we going to see how this thing can fit into our state, we are not saying totally but we will seat down to see how this thing will work in our state. The trip to Osun has helped us, we are greateful for this and we want to say thank you to the National team.”

    Mrs Ibiyemi Jegede representing Lagos State, said, “we must commend the workable model, I think I said that during our briefing, a model was actually designed and it is working for Osun state and then it is also sustainable, that is really impressed. I was amazed about the synergy, its impressive.”

     The Governor said social investment on the youths, particularly the school children, is necessary in order to eradicate poverty in the society.

     He stated that more than half of the population of the country levels in abject poverty, saying therefore government must get the school feeding programme right.

      According to him,  poverty makes everything difficult for human existence, saying everything should be done to alleviate it in all ramifications.

     He charged the Federal Government to sustain it’s fight against corruption because it contributes immensely to the level of poverty in the country.

     He averred that if the Federal Government succeeds in introducing and sustaining the Home Grown School Feeding the country’s economy is on the way to total recovery.

     He stated that if the feeding programme had been introduced a decade ago by successive governments, the horrendous killing and destruction the country is witnessing today in the North-East would not have arisen.

     He stated that O’Meal is an all-inclusive programme, which is impacting on all stakeholders in the state.

     “Social investment on children is a necessity. This will halt the wave of poverty in the country.

     “Corruption is one of the causes of poverty. This is why there is increase in survival tendencies. We must fight, check or attenuate corruption before its corrosive effect ruins the nation.

     “If the Federal Government gets this national feeding programme right, we will be back on the right track,” Aregbesola said.

  • Gunmen abduct ECWA pastor in Kaduna

    … Demand N2m ransom 

    Barely hours after kidnap of a Monarch in Ondo state, unknown gunmen were also said to have kidnapped a senior pastor with Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Rev. Yusuf Magaga of Kabene-surubu village in Kauru local government area of Kaduna State.

     The Nation gathered that the abductors have demanded N2 million ransom for their victim’s family.

    A source and resident of the Kabene-surubu village, Mr. Jacob Wakili who told our Correspondent that the sad event took place at about 2:00am Wednesday, also said the gunmen destroyed part of the church and left some persons injured.

    Wakili said the intervention of the local vigilantes saved the situation if not it would have been worst.

    According to him: “My village was attacked by fulani herdsmen, but thank God the people were able to mobilise for defence, but the criminals still destroyed part of ECWA church, took away the Pastor of the church and left few injured.”

    He further stated that the kidnappers are demanding for the sum of two million Naira as ransom to release the clergy.

    Effort to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Aliyu Usman to confirm the incidence proved abortive as calls made to his mobile phone were not going through.

  • El Rufai: Bringing change to Kaduna

    SIR: When I read in the FORBES recently that ‘’democracy is delivering impossible results,’’ I didn’t understand until I met the indefatigable governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El Rufai.

    He shocked many on assumption of office when he reduced the number of commissioners from 24 to 13 as part of reducing the cost of governance. Again, after the historic launch of the free school feeding programme early this year, the governor revealed that the programme increased enrolment in schools by 60 percent. The school feeding programme should be celebrated for many reasons. First, good nourishing food has cognitive impact on the growing pupil. Second, the programme certainly would boost the economy of the state. Third, jobless youths who have been granted loans for the production of all kinds of food stuff for the feeding programme can no longer bestride the streets of Kaduna or conscripted for the purpose of extinguishing innocent souls in the name of religion.

    The school feeding programme has been targeted at feeding at least 1.5million pupils in the state! UNESCO statistics has shown that 10. 8million Nigerian children of school age are roaming, hawking, labouring and begging on the streets, particularly in the northern Nigeria, where more than 90 percent of that figure is domiciled!

    As a promoter of freedom of worship, Governor El Rufai swiftly condemned the attack on one Francis Emmanuel a Christian and a carpenter in the Kakuri Kaduna area of the state who was stabbed by unknown youths for eating during the Ramadan fast. The governor’s swift reaction barely 24hours after the incident and subsequent visit to the victim calmed frayed nerves.

    As a true reformer, who believes in the saying that ‘’if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us,’’  the governor removed 13,000 suspected ghost workers from the state’s payroll, promising to deal decisively with those who have swindled the state.

    On the controversy generated by the state’s religious bill that has attracted negative responses from both Christian and Muslim scholars, El Rufai has been listening and discussing with relevant stakeholders, noting that what is being done is with clear and honest intentions. He has stressed that no sensitive government will take decisions contrary to the religious beliefs of the people.

    The state has saved a whopping sum of N221million naira by stopping sponsorship of pilgrimage, blocked multiple taxation, commenced renovation of over 4,000 schools and other massive urban renewal and developmental strides. These speak volume of his avowed commitment to good governance, equity and social justice.

    • Erasmus_Ikhide,

    Lagos.

  • Kaduna battles child-rape

    Kaduna battles child-rape

    A 71-year-old grandfather has been arraigned at a Kaduna magistrate court, accused of raping a minor. With him in the court were two other suspects. The Kaduna State government wants to put a stop to the development, which is said to be quite rampant these days.

    One of the suspects is a woman who is accused of facilitating the crime by luring minors to their violators.

    It was against this backdrop that the state government declared war on rapists, especially those who attack minors. The state has also provided phone numbers on which victims and their relatives can contact security operatives. The state equally pledged to track every reported case and prosecute suspects.

    Governor Nasir el-Rufai who addressed a press conference through his spokesman, Mr. Samuel Aruwan revealed that the 19 Northern state governments were collaborating in order to curb the menace. One of the steps they have taken is reviewing the penal code to replace the obsolete punitive measures attached to cases of rape in the region.

    He said his administration will use every legal means to deal with the menace. A bill to that effect is currently being worked on by the state Assembly.

    “The issue of rape has even gone beyond adults as it used to be, but minors are now falling victim by the day,” he said.

    Spokesperson of Kaduna Police Command, SP Zubairu Abubakar, who confirmed the arrest of the 71-year-old suspect, told  The Nation that available medical report indicated that the victim had been earlier abused by another man in the neighborhood.

    The police spokesman said, “Medical reports showed that one Mohammed Auwal, 30, who happened to be her neighbour had earlier uncovered the girl’s nakedness and he was arrested in connection to the case and investigation was ongoing.

    Meanwhile, Safiya’s mother, Hindatu Mohammed who was very reluctant to report her daughter’s case, said the incident occurred on June 13 at about 1pm in their residential apartment located in Tudun Wada, Kaduna.

    She said, “After my six-year old daughter returned from school, I sent her to buy detergent for me, but she didn’t return early as expected. So I became worried and began looking for her. Then one boy came to my house to inform me that my daughter has just been raped. That boy told me that it was a woman who was passing by that caught the old man in the act in an uncompleted building within the area and she called for help, which resulted to his arrest.

    “So I went out to see for myself and was accompanied by my co-wife; we went to the police station at Tudun Nupawa. When we got to the police station, I learnt that my daughter had been taken to hospital for test to ascertain if she was actually raped, and it was confirmed that she was raped.

    “Now, I am so afraid that she might be infected with HIV/Aids and I was told that after the doctors’ investigation that it was discovered that she has been raped earlier by another person before that of the 71-year old man.

    “And it was our neighbour (name withheld) my daughter identified and the police had already arrested him, they are both in police custody. Initially, I didn’t even know that this other person had raped my daughter because we are neighbours,” she stressed.

    One of the suspects confessed to the crime, saying “This is my second time of raping a minor. Presently I have a case at the police station for raping a different victim and the case is ongoing. What happened to me is that, I allow my evil mind to lead me into committing the act. Now, I have realised that I have destroyed my life completely.

    “I have eight children and they are all alive and I have two wives but my first wife left me immediately she learnt of the crime I committed,” he added.

    The police prosecutor, Inspector Akinga Akila who presented the accused persons before Magistrate Naheed Abdallah on charges of rape and gross indecency confirmed to the magistrate that one the accused persons had committed the crime on Monday June 13, 2016 in an uncompleted building located in Tudun Wada area Kaduna metropolis.

  • Looters must return stolen money – Archbishop

    From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

    The Archbishop Catholic Arch Diocese of Kaduna, Most Rev. Mathew Man-Oso Ndagoso has called on those who have stolen the nation’s money and kept in America or elsewhere to repent and return the funds.

    Archbishop said Nigeria is almost like a begging nation now, urging President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently address the sufferings of the people.

    Speaking with journalists in Kaduna to mark World Year of Mercy Celebration, Archbishop Ndagoso explained that, there are very clear signs that people are suffering in the country, noting that the hardship is caused by recklessness and lack of concerns for others.

    Archbishop Ndagoso said, “If the stolen funds are returned, they should be properly used to make a life worth living for Nigerians”.

    He warned that recovering looted funds only to be re-looted again would be dangerous.

    Archbishop Ndagoso stressed, “Our nation is almost like a begging nation now, because workers cannot be paid, pensioners are dying everybody is suffering and people are asking again what do we do with these people? Well again we are people of hope, for those who have stolen our wealth; I know mercy and justice go together. God is merciful and just God”.

    “Those who have stolen our money if they can bring it back, restitute it is a sign you are repentant and therefore those who stole our money and kept in America, whether they have built houses in Abuja or Kaduna or anywhere I think they should return it and if it is returned it should be properly used to make a life worth living for Nigerians and warned of the danger of recovering looted funds only to be re-looted again”.

    “For us Christians look at what happened to good thief on the cross at the very last minute that he made paradise. So the point simply is that you can never say it is over until somebody breaths his last”

    Archbishop added, “We all know what is happening in the country, even myself as Archbishop I am feeling the pinch, there are very clear signs that people are suffering in the land”.

    ENDS

  • Grandpa defiles 6-year-old girl in Kaduna

    Grandpa defiles 6-year-old girl in Kaduna

    A 67 year old grandfather identified as Yahaya Umar is presently cooling his feet in the custody of Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Kaduna for allegedly defiling six-year-old minor who happened to be his neighbour in an uncompleted building.

    Spokesperson of Kaduna Police Command, DSP Zubairu Abubakar, who confirmed the arrest of the suspect to Journalists yesterday in Kaduna, added that available medical report indicated that the victim had been earlier abused by another man within the neighborhood.

    “Medical reports showed that one Mohammed Auwal, 30, who happened to be her neighbour had earlier uncovered the girl’s nakedness and he was arrested in connection to the case and investigation is ongoing.

    DSP Abubakar however assured that the two suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigation into the allegation is completed.

    Mother of the girl, Hindatu Mohammed, said the incident occurred on Monday 13th June, 2016 at about 1pm in their residential apartment located in Tudun Wada, Kaduna.

    According to her, “today is exactly one week at Tudun Wada, Soba street, hospital line. After my daughter Safiya, six-year-old returned from school, I sent her to go and buy detergent for me, but she didn’t return early as expected.

    “So I became worried and began looking after her. Then one boy came to my house to inform me that my daughter has just been raped. That boy told me that it was a woman who was passing by that caught the old man in the act in an uncompleted building within the area and she called for help resulted to his arrest.

    “So I went out to see for myself and was accompanied by my co-wife, we went to the police station at Tudun Nupawa.

    “When we reached the Police station, I learnt that my daughter has been taken to hospital for test to ascertain if she was actually raped was confirmed that she was raped.

    “I am so afraid that she might be infected with HIV/Aids and I was told that after the Doctors investigation that it was discover that she has been rape earlier by another person before that of the 67 years old man

    “And it was our neighbor mohammed Auwal my daughter identified and the police had already arrested him, they are both in police custody. Initially, I didn’t even know that this other person has been raping her daughter because we are neighbours,” she stressed.